Viola Davis Loses Oscar by a Hair; The Blue Area Continues; Porn Kickstarter?; Santorum's Rise; Blackface @Oscars & More-Afronerd Radio 2nite @7pm!

What's up loyal Afronerd Radio/Comic Shoppe listeners! Pull up a chair and listen to our (oftentimes) fiery broadcast this Wednesday evening at 7pm eastern standard time. Join the Captain and Dburt as they highlight the following current event laden issues: The Help's Viola Davis loses the Oscar to Meryl Streep but gained attention for her natural hairstyle; speaking of the Academy Awards, veteran comedian and show host, Billy Crystal catches heat for not only his Sammy Davis "blackface" impersonation but also a off color racial tinged joke connected to The Help; for our Blue Area "positive" copy segment, we pick up what we failed to discuss due to time constraints from last week's show-the opening of the Smithsonian's Black History Museum; is Offbeatr the porn equivalent of Kickstarter? and lastly, in light of Governor Romney's wins in Arizona and Michigan.....what exactly is the deal with his rival, Rick Santorum (i.e. stance on religion, education, etc)? AGAIN...feel free to give us a call "live" at 646-915-9620 or via email/IM at afronerdradio@yahoo.com.

Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review

And for those who would to a grasp of all the hoopla regarding Billy Crystal's appearance at the Oscars, check out the show's opening montage to see the Sammy Davis, Jr. impression:

Now The Start of Our Regular Double Feature! The Comic Shoppe @6pm & Afronerd @7pm TONIGHT! Call in Live at 646-915-9620

Welcome, loyal readers/listeners. As alluded to in our previous blog entry, due to time constraints (and perhaps appropriate happenstance), The Comic Shoppe has moved to Sundays at 6pm. Join Daryll B., Captain Kirk and Dburt as they discuss the following sci-fi/graphic novel/fantasy fare: not surprisingly, the Brits have done it again with another superlative fantasy TV series entitled, The Fades which just wrapped up its first season; another comic book geek fantasy turns into reality, a deceased man's comic book collection found by a relative gets auctioned off to the tune of 3.5 million dollars!!!; our thoughts on the latest release of the Justice League: Doom direct to DVD animated movie; Ghost Rider 2 thoughts and lastly, picking up on a them that was left on the table from a few shows past....as Black History Month comes to a conclusion, we will close out our discussion of the history of the Black image in comicdom detailing the advent of the modern Black comic book hero.

And now for the second half....Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk airs right after The Comic Shoppe at 7pm. The topics up for grabs are: dovetailing off a theme that was extrapolated during the excellent FreedomTrainOnline podcast, we will, in like-minded fashion, "unpack" our thoughts on the origins (and demise) of the Neo-Soul era of music; model, actress and former talk show host, Tyra Banks graduates from Harvard University's Executive Education Owner/President Manager Program; The Grio website provides some interesting facts about the Academy Awards and past winners of color; and for our Blue Area segment, it must be noted that our nations's first Black POTUS breaks ground on the Smithsonian Black History Musuem and lastly, on the tech front, the famed online business development site, Kickstarter has given birth (unintentionally) to a doppelganger site entitled, Offbeatr-for adult business idea. Call us live for BOTH shows at the same number-646-915-9620 or via email/IM at afronerdradio@yahoo.com.

And in homage of the double feature concept, does anyone remember the Creature-Feature TV intros from back-in-the-day?




Our Double Feature Broadcast! The Comic Shoppe & Afronerd Radio air back 2 back!

And least we forget, here is the latest blog entry from The Shoppe's Daryll B:

AfroNerds Unite!

Hello once again valued readers! First I would like to apologize for my absence from blogging and the ComicShoppe over the past 2 weeks. A shift in work hours has sent me for a loop and when it comes to cash, well we are all slaves to its whims. I shall return... but it isn't like I didn't keep an eye out on all the latest newsworthy Sci-Fi stories in my absence. As a valued hero once remarked: "They may shackle my body in this prison but my mind remains free to explore!" With that, let's see what got my mind going this week:

The Ghost Rider movie was a slight improvement over the first in a couple of respects but the most glaring improvement was Nicholas Cage himself. It seemed to me that in this go around, Cage felt looser in the role of Johnny Blaze and wasn't so stiff. As a result, those who acted around him didn't tread on eggshells around him, making for a "fun" atmosphere coming across in the acting. BlackOut was a creepy yet interesting villain and I loved the geek heaven casting thoughout the film.

It is weird though, I didn't know the pedigee of the director who took over the franchise when I watched the movie, but I remarked to a friend that GR2 felt like "a demonic Crank". Then I go to find out that the creative team of Neveldine and Taylor were the ones behind Crank. Funny how these things work out huh? By no means is the film redefining the genre, but it's a good 90-108 minute diversion from life...

David Brothers picks up on something at Marvel that I have complained about for years:

http://4thletter.net/2012/02/thats-a-one-hot-team-every-ten-issues-average/

Meanwhile, Afronerd himself sent me an article by Marty Mar concerning his thoughts about Static Shock:

http://geekmodeonline.com/how-they-should-have-handled-static-shock/

Why did I group these 2 thought provoking articles together? Well it goes back to an old argument I have had with the comic companies about doing "bait and switch" tactics in terms of their characters and creative teams. Why put writers and artists on high profile books if they can't give you a ten to twelve issue run straight to get readers in? Why do the fans, including myself, keep on buying this schlock mindlessly expecting change? Let's face it: we are all lemmings to this addiction. We all know the potholes and traps ahead of us in continuing this path but still charge headlong off the cliff anyway buying the crap. Marvel and DC KNOW that they got us and will never change their tactics..... no matter how much we complain. This is like a bad S&M relationship that continues eternally, even though one of the participants is bored and the other has suffered major blood loss....

Static Shock, and to a lesser extent, Mister Terrific were doomed by a lack of foresight and were just kneejerk conceptions by DC to gain better PR at the time. Both characters were cut off at the knees by removing their histories and then the continuing flux in regards to their creative teams put the final nails in the coffin. I said it when the books began. I said it when the Rozum situation was revealed. I said it when Mr. Terrific went through 3 artists in the first 4 issues of his book. I believe it still now. Both books could have been mined for interesting stories if everything that made the characters essentiial wasn't stripped from them.....

Time for AfroLink-Blogging.....

Star Wars Die Hards? When I say it is hard to take you all seriously when you say how much you hate the "prequels", this is why....

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/24/star-wars-the-phantom-menace-passes-1-billion-at-box-office/

For a movie you universally 'hate' a lot of you certainly went back to the box office and spent money on it.... That's like me saying how much I hate the "Avengers vs X-Men" schlock.. Then going out and then buying every issue of it....

This news is cool yet kills me at the same time:

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/24/fringe-producers-discuss-shows-future-and-the-end-of-all-things/

Man... If you saw this Friday's episode, then you should be right with me in that there is NO WAY they'll answer all the questions in my head in the remaining half a season... if that is all that is left in Fringe's lifespan...

Black History Month and of course I learn something new:

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/balloonless-jackie-ormes-the-first-african-american-woman-cartoonist/

I swear I never knew Jackie Ormes existed before this and it now makes me wonder about how many of them are out there who never got a "spotlight"?

Finally, in keeping with the female power part of the program, I know by now most of you have heard or seen Kelly Thompson's piece at Comics Should Be Good about portrayals of Men and Women Superheroes within comics:

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/21/she-has-no-head-no-its-not-equal/

...but what I bet is your didn't see Gail Simone's answer to some of the more 'shallow' comments made to the article by readers of Kelly's blog...

http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/18048046730/sometimes-i-get-a-little-discouraged

There's nothing more to be added to this by me about some "fans" on the internet. To them, it will always be a crime to think a little differently about a subject.... and THAT'S the true shame in all of this. Remember that thing about the Internet being used as a tool for informational and interlectual enlightenment by the mass of humanity? Forget that jazz now... We are all stuck with: "My idea is right and you suck because you don't think the same.."

There it is... I'm back.... and until next time AfroNerd Readers: Keep Fantasizing!

Newsflash! The Comic Shoppe is Closed on Tues & Reopens (4 Now) on Sun @6pm B4 Afronerd Radio! On Wed's Show-Magic Johnson, Racist Tweets & More!

Hello,folks! As always, it is imperative to keep our ever faithful listening audience informed about the "goings on" of Afronerd Radio and by extension The Comic Shoppe. Due to unforeseeable scheduling conflicts, The Comic Shoppe will now air an hour before Afronerd Radio's Week in Review broadcast every Sunday at 6pm eastern standard time. Afronerd Featuring Captain Kirk remains unchanged, with Wednesday and Sunday shows starting 7pm. The issue to be covered for Wednesday's show are: The Supreme Court revisits the subject of Affirmative Action with many experts believing that the future of government sanctioned anti-discriminatory policies are in jeopardy; are we starting to witness the unveiling of Asian vs Black tensions centered on race? An Asian R & B songwriter recently made incendiary tweets toward African--Americans in response to boxer, Floyd Mayweather's remarks toward the Knicks' Jeremy Lin and NY Daily News columnist, Stanley Crouch waxes in his latest piece on similar tensions coming from mainland China; on the "nerdic" front, can an invisibility cloak (reminiscent of Harry Potter's) safeguard buildings in the case of an earthquake and lastly, for our Blue Area positive spin segment, kudos go to former Laker and now entrepreneur, Earvin "Magic" Johnson is set to start a new and ambitious TV network entitled, Aspire with the specific intent to disseminate positive Black imagery...whew! Call us live at 646-915-9620 or send us your comments/questions/protestations at afronerdradio@yahoo.com.

Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review broadcast!

Afronerd Radio Airs Sun @ 7pm-Discussing A Dad's (In)Famous Utube Rant; The Blue Area; More on Jeremy Lin, Race Stories in Schools & More!

Salutations to our ever faithful (and discerning) listenership! Join us this evening at 7pm to catch another episode of Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk as the team deliberate on the following topics: a father's Youtube response to his daughter's disrespectful Facebook rant has garnered a whopping 27 million views; for our Blue Area segment, an out of work Wall Streeter reinvents himself as an urban farmer; with the rise of Knicks' point guard Jeremy Lin, there also appears to be a rise in untoward racial connotations against the star athlete by the media and lastly, there are more race stories involving a White teacher suing for his right to use the "n-word" and a Connecticut magnate school student who was bullied for not "acting Black enough"...whew! AGAIN...check us out this evening at 7pm and feel free to call us live at: 646-915-9620 or contact us via email/IM at-afronerdradio@yahoo.com.


And as alluded to in the above synopsis, check out SNL's take on the uptick of racial taunts being levied against basketball phenom, Jeremy Lin:

Afronerd Radio Airs Wed & Sun @7pm EST-Issues: More on Whitney; Jeremy Lin v The Haters; Sam Jackson's Not So Cool; The Blue Area & More!

Wow! For the sake of full disclosure, I was never a real big sports fan but now due to a case of "linsanity" I'm coming around. And I suspect that anyone that got the chance to check out last night's Knicks vs Raptors game (especially the last 30 seconds, as noted in the video clip), undoubtedly came down with the same affliction. Anyway folks, it's Wednesday and thusly it signifies that the Mid Week in Review of the Afronerd Radio broadcast airs tonight at 7pm eastern standard time. Join Dburt and Captain Kirk this evening as they use their conservative (and oftentimes independent) stethoscopes to diagnose the following current event laden topical maladies: more on the Whitney Houston tragedy; throwing water on boxer, Floyd Mayweather's assertion that the Knicks' point guard phenom, Jeremy Lin, is gaining popularity due to his ethnicity; we finally get to our positive spin segment, The Blue Area, which deals with The Root's top 25 young Black innovators of 2012; actor/movie star, Sam Jackson in a recent Ebony magazine article admits that he voted for President Obama solely based on matching ethnicity; CNN commentator, Roland Martin's indefinite suspension and if time permits, a brief discussion on the PBS TV special entitled, Slavery by Another Name. AGAIN...stop by at 7pm and call in live at 646-915-9620 or via email/IM-afronerdradio@yahoo.com.


Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review broadcast!

The Comic Shoppe Airs 2nite @7pm EST-Discussing: A Black Supes?; Transformers 4 a Reboot?; Alcatraz; Real Life BTF Hoverboard & Daryll B's latest blog

You know what time it is! It's time for the gang at Afronerd radio to open The Comic Shoppe show for the business of pulp discussion. Our colloquial store opens Tuesday at 7pm with the following items...ahem, issues available for purchase: after a 20 year deliberation, Mattel finally decides to release the Marty McFly hoverboard used in the Back to The Future franchise; although famed (or is that hack?) director, Michael Bey is slated to return to the Transformers franchise in 2014, the word "reboot" has been tossed around for the film's fourth installment; DC experiments with an alternative Superman (of color) in an upcoming issue of Action Comics; JJ Abrams' Alcatraz continues to shine with high ratings and sprinkles of comic book shout-outs; the UK version of Being Human returns for a fourth season; our thoughts on Kevin Smith's Comic Book Men and lastly, our favorite graphic novel picks from the previous weeks. AGAIN...join Captain Kirk, Daryll B and Dburt for tonight's festive broadcast by calling in live at 646-915-9620 or via email/IM at: afronerdradio@yahoo.com. Make mine Marvel...ahem, DC...ahem Afronerd Radio!


And without further delay, take a gander at The Shoppe's own Daryll B. with his latest comic book/fantasy/pulp flavored blog entry:

Afro Linkblogging

1. The Ghost Rider Commercials are looking real good but as always real life comes back to taint it for me. This Marvel/Disney vs Gary Friedrich thing has gotten ugly with somehow HE owing Marvel 17,000 dollars. As usual the comics community is stepping up to help out a brother in arms...

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/11/ghost-rider-creator-sues-marvel-17000/

Seriously Marvel?

2. In case you missed the Sunday Mid-Season Premiere of The Walking Dead, Spinoff Online has a nice and tidy recap for you:

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/13/recap-the-walking-dead-nebraska/

Bye, Bye Sophia.... bye bye survivor unity?

3. Tony Moore vs Robert Kirkman over The Walking Dead royalty percentage:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36950

Golden Rule: ALWAYS read the contract before you sign over rights of any type!

4. You may have heard about the big story turn in Buffy Season Nine #6. In case you haven't, here is the Kelly Thompson take on it.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/13/she-has-no-head-a-love-letter-to-buffy/

She is one of the biggest Buffy fans and even so, I find this opinion more rational than others I have read. Some people get so worked up about this subject that it is almost impossible to have an intelligent discussion.

5. OMG! These are absolutely beautiful!

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/12/marissa-garner-stained-glass-art/

As if I needed to spend my little meager money on anything else...? Marissa Garner has to make these.....

6. Yes GOD! YESYESYESYESYESYES!

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/10/comic-doctor-who-star-trek-next-generation/

*ahem* Sorry about that I just went nuts with happiness.... First I get Star Trek/Legion and now this? That's a win for me....

7. AfroNerd, as an unabashed Power Girl fan, might need to have his rage quelled at this development...

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/10/power-girl-boob-window-gets-closed-in-a-new-costume/

8. Finally, I am going to leave you with 4th Letter's David Brothers who takes apart a statement by Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley:

http://4thletter.net/2012/02/we-do-not-do-crossover-events-and-we-have-always-been-at-war-with-eurasia/

Yeahhhhhhh right.... Marvel doesn't do linewide crossovers and in other news, the Jeremy Lin thing with the Knicks has been a mass illusion perpetrated by the illuminati to steal the world's M&M supply... Who's he trying to kid?

That's it for me this week AfroNerd Readers. Until Next Time, Keep Fantasizing!

R.I.P. Whitney Houston-1963-2012-Afronerd Radio Airs 2nite @ 7pm-Topics: Whitney; Michele Bachmann v. Howard Stern; Show Leftovers & More!

Well, here we are again, with the untimely passing of an icon, Whitney Houston. We, here at Afronerd.com and AfronerdRadio.com send our sincerest condolences to friends, family and fans of this truly legendary artist. In the midst of this tragedy, Afronerd featuring Captain Kirk will continue to persevere and we implore you pull up a chair and listen to our latest broadcast airing tonight at 7pm eastern standard time. The topics on the table this evening are: of course, our thoughts on Whitney Houston's death; picking up on our Blue Area segment (The Root's highlighting of young innovators of color) from last week's show; Michele Bachmann, Michele Bachmann (reminds me of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman0...the congresswoman is in the line of fire with radio broadcaster, Howard Stern and additionally, Bachmann and former game show host, Chuck Woolery had some interesting things to say about Civil Rights and if time permits,football great, Tony Dorsett is suing the NFL for their alleged failure to address retired players' mental and physical problems many attribute to their days while in the employee of the league. Again, not the show to miss...call in live at 646-915-9620 or contact us via email/IM at afronerdradio@yahoo.com.

In the interim, let's take a look back at one of Ms. Houston's legendary performances with the phenomenal Chaka Khan!:

Remember To Check Out Afronerd Radio Wed @7pm EST-Discussing Jimmy Kimmel; NYPD Shootings; The Blue Area with Upcoming Futurists & More!

Tell your friends and family (or frenemies) that Afronerd Radio airs Wednesdays at 7pm eastern standard time. Join Captain Kirk and Dburt as they "unpack" and wax on the following topics: our thoughts on the above Jimmy Kimmel skit from a few days ago which was intended to be a playful spin on race relations but was it more telling?; three young men of color are killed by NYPD in the span of a week; for our Blue Area segment, The Root website highlights 25 young Black innovators for the future and lastly, perhaps Gisele Bundchen and CNN's Roland Martin have something in common-speaking off the cuff can get you in hot water. Call in with your questions at: 646-915-9620. See you all at 7pm sharp.

The Giants Did It! And The Comic Shoppe Airs @7pm-The Topics: Avengers Superbowl spot; Continuing POC in Comics; Evolution of Image Comics, Vs & More

Well, the Giants did it but imagine if Tom Brady was actually successful with his "Hail Mary" pass in the last remaining seconds of Sunday's Superbowl....whew-missed it by that much. Anyway, join us tonight at 7pm eastern standard time as the team discuss the following: our thoughts on the Superbowl's extended Avengers trailer (as well as GI Joe: Retaliation; John Carter, Battleship, etc) and speaking of trailers, The Amazing Spiderman reboot hits the web in an impressive way; for our Versus segment, let's keep it fun and easy this time...channeling the Geoff Johns redux on Aquaman (and how he has made the character actually interesting), which hero takes it? Aquaman vs Sub-Mariner!; we continue with last week's topic in honor of Black History month-Black portrayals in comic books from the early beginnings to the present and lastly, the evolution of Image Comics-does the company's resiliency make them the anti DC/Marvel corporate establishment? Call up live with your questions, comments and/or protestations at: 646-915-9620 or via email/IM at-afronerdradio@yahoo.com. Imperius Rex and all that!


And with out further adieu, check out the latest musings from The Shoppe's Daryll B:

Morning AfroNerd Followers. I'm still in the midst of a Super Bowl Hangover so no full blog today. Here are my top links of the past week though:

1. Before Watchmen..... Newsarama lists its top ten surprises involving the project:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/10-before-watchmen-surprises-120201.html

I know. I know. It a cash grab. It is a nostalgia project. But can't I say the same about any major book based on the past these days? All-Star Superman and Batman & Robin Folks.... NOTHING can be considered sacred when there's a chance to make money in this economic climate.

2. Newsarama chooses its favorite Image Series in this its 20th Anniversary:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/image-comics-20th-anniversary-120203.html

For the record, my favorite Image book was Tellos followed by Stormwatch....

3. Meanwhile, this isn't very good news for me:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/mark-waid-irredeemable-end-120203.html

...but hopefully Waid can tie up both series' runs satisfactorily.....

4. Woo-Hoo! Finally one of my favorite arcade games makes it to home consoles: The Simpsons Arcade Game from the 90's

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36816

Homer Bowling Ball Attack!

5. David McGregor lists his top 8 video game consoles of all time

http://www.411mania.com/games/columns/223088

I'm partial to the Super Nintendo myself....

6. Inspired by Chronicle (which I REALLY recommend), Jeremy Thomas lists his top 8 "found footage" films of all time

http://www.411mania.com/movies/columns/223191

7. Ok.. Andrew Garfield just earned some major points in my book and you'll know exactly when in this Andy Khouri coverage of the Amazing Spider-Man interview/preview:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/06/amazing-spider-man-miles-morales-andrew-garfield-emma-stone/

Waiting for certain groups to get pissed off in 3...2....1....

8. Oh yeah, I think a lot of eyes saw this but I'll add it anyway:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/02/05/avengers-movie-trailer-superbowl-extended-video/

How anyone is hating on this movie right now is beyond me?!?!?!

9. But I will hate on this:

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2012/02/06/battleship-super-bowl-spot-boasts-armored-aliens-lots-of-explosions/

Come on! It's freaking Bayformers 4!!!!! They just sunk my childhood fondness for Battleship!!

Okies I hope everyone had a good weekend. Until next time Sci-Fi fans, Keep Fantasizing!

Hump Day Strut! Afronerd Radio Airs Wed @7pm-Soul Train Legend Don Cornelius Passes; Mitt Romney & The Poor; Aviator of Note in the Blue Area & More

Good Evening, folks! Our Mid Week in Review show airs tonight at 7pm! Join Dburt and Captain Kirk as they pontificate and/or elucidate on the following current event laden topics: Legendary TV host and producer, Don Cornelius of Soul Train fame, dies at 75 in a violent and tragic way; for our positive turn-Blue Area segment-the UNCF recently honored aviator Barrington Irving, founder of the non profit org Experience Aviation; and speaking of aviation, Dburt retells his Comic Shoppe story regarding the censoring of a Black astronaut comic book story; Gov. Romney wins the Florida primary but did he misstep by stating that he will not focus on the "very poor"; today is the first day of BHM, and we received a link to an archival letter from a former slave addressed to his former captor and lastly, a "quick clean-up" pertaining to stories that we left on the table from the last broadcast. See you all at 7pm eastern. Call in live at 646-915-9620 or contact us via email/IM-afronerdradio@yahoo.com.