No Afronerd Radio Today but We will Return later this week......But Some Links & Musings in the Interim

Afronerd Radio returns in full effect next week to discuss a number of pertinent issues but the Palin-Biden debate and its aftermath must be discussed-so stay tuned. Meanwhile, let's talk about my perfect fusion moment.....when politics and comicdom merge. One of our readers emailed us a few days ago highlighting some recent comments made by former Marvel Comics president, Stan Lee concerning Will Smith, Captain America and black imagery. For the record, I am a big supporter of Mr. Lee and no true graphic novel aficionado worth his weight in gold would say anything disparaging against someone with such a legendary resume-but Will Smith as Cap? This casting rumor has been discussed and debunked on Afronerd before but Lee is not exactly dispelling the thought. Here's Lee at his best, courtesy of Starpulse.com:

Stan Lee Wants To Make Will Smith A Black Captain America - Sort Of

Stan LeeComic book creator Stan Lee wants to make Will Smith the first black Captain America - if Barack Obama wins the presidential election. A movie version of the Marvel graphic novel is being planned for 2011.

Matthew McConaughey's name has been linked with the role - but Lee hints it could go to Smith, if Obama becomes the first black president.

Lee tells Moviefone, "I would love us to do something with Will Smith. It would be a real leap to make Captain America black... then again, I don't know. It might be a really smart thing. If Barack Obama becomes President who knows... suddenly a lot of our characters will be black!"

If I am to be completely candid-I, too, have wondered just how long could the current state of African-American imagery remain in "minstrel stasis," if the leader of the free world is a man of color. Mr. Lee may be overstating the matter for the sake of political correctness, but is he on to something? I'm not sure about Smith as Captain America unless Kyle Baker's The Truth retcon storyline was introduced for the movie but the part about expanded Black characterization in comics (and dare we say beyond) might be what the doctor ordered. Tell us what you think about Lee's assertions. Is he blowing smoke (from the Terrigen Mists....excuse the geek humor)?


And did anyone catch Chris Rock on 106 & Park? It appears that his brand of humor went over the heads of the rocket scientists that inhabit the place but he was able to slyly defecate on the minstrel network nonetheless-



And why wasn't it bigger news that Reginald Hudlin left the cable network?





And lastly, our conservative leanings (and oxymoronic support for Senator Obama)
notwithstanding....does anyone believe Palin has a chance against Biden after the poor performance displayed above? It's less about being conservative at this juncture and more about being competent. Unless Palin is giving the public (and more specifically, her evangelical base) a serious mind-f*#k-I will be shocked if the governor doesn't do a Stockdale......is it 1992 all over again?