Daryll B.'s Latest Blog Dropping! Inner Thoughts About Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

I been loving and dreading this moment for years. It is Thursday 7:45 am and I’m standing out here in a light rain waiting for the doors to open. Work comes for me at 2pm but I’m not thinking about that. All I am thinking about is Spider-Nikes.

Wait. What?

I suppose I should start at the beginning. Before Daryll B became a “villain” truly. Before I met a lot of folks who would change how I act and behave in this literary world, I was a punk. Never had ran from this truth. Not proud of it now. But there were several factors that opened my mind and changed me for the better.

One was Miles Morales. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli for this Ultimate Universe line, Miles was the “replacement” for a fallen Peter Parker. With a Earth without a Spider-Man, he was going to be the universe’s gap filler.

He was Afro-Latino.

And I hated it.

I thought this was just going to be checking off boxes. Filling in a quota for minorities and not going to be anywhere as important to me as I wanted...as I hoped. So I thought, I trust Bendis from Powers and Spidey so far, I’ll give it an arc and then that it...

I was WRONG. I am so, SO GLAD I was wrong.

From jump, this was personally relatable on a lot of levels for me. Here’s Miles who sees his hero die literally feet away from him, knowing he had the power to help but paralyzed by fear to act. Then is eaten up with guilt and that spurs him to action. Man if that isn’t a referendum on my life, I don’t know what is. So me being me, I was eager after 10 issues while being in the comic shop to talk with a friend about it.

His response: Yeah but how long before they put him in Spider-Nikes? This just a money grab...

Not the retort I thought I was going to get. I thought that the quality representation was going to be reciprocated but this actually forced me to look at myself. And how I was acting towards other fans. It was literally a broken mirror to myself at that time.

Which brings me to now.

I’m standing in front of my AMC Theater looking at the Into The SpiderVerse poster about to enter and looking at his feet as he is caught mid-flip. Well what do you know? He’s wearing Spider-Nikes. Where did I hear that before?

*Deep Breath As I Enter* Please Don’t Suck....

*Exiting the theatre* OMIGAWD THIS WAS AWESOME!!!!

Firstly, the movie capitalized on the biggest deficiency of the comics: if you say Miles is Afro-Latino, have elements of both cultures. Sorry Brían, but you really didn’t take advantage of the Latino side of Miles. The movie did several times and man, I can only imagine how young Latinx felt during that early scene of Miles going to school.

Wait. I don’t have to because all through this I felt seen. I felt like: damn Junior High me been captured on film. From the trepidation to the validation, if I ever got powers, this encapsulated it all. On top of it all, the creators got my weakness for alternate universes and “What If” stories. That is the essence of SpiderVerse, whether comic or movie, What If the circumstances were just a bit different..? Credit to Ramsey, Lord & Miller for not only making this a thinking question but an access point for new viewers/readers.

I have often said that Batman: Mask of The Phantasm was my all time favorite comic book movie but yo...! It has to move over for this! This black kid in a man’s body has to give it up for SONY Animation for this.

(Taking things that I don’t think Daryll would ever say for 1000)

Yes. I said it. From beginning to end, I felt this movie...I LIVED THROUGH this movie. I’m the dude that has the infamous Paul Jenkins/Mark Buckingham “Black Spider-Man” pic as his lock screen. I have always said that ANYONE could be a hero under the mask. This movie was wish fulfillment for me on several levels.

Black Kid-
Loving Family-
Fun Hijinks-
What if? premise-
Cartoon taking full advantage of its medium a la Looney Tunes-

Closest thing to the perfect Daryll movie. Biggest compliment I could give any movie actually. Great job to everyone involved.

Special Year in Review Show Incl. Last Minute Controversies & Trailers-Wed 7pm

The Special Year in Review Show Airs 12.26.18 

Happy Holidays!  Simply our "Year in Review" podcast!  Airing this Wednesday at 7pm and steam powered by the Afronerd Radio Machine.  Topics to be hashed out are: the main occurrences, trials, trevails and controversies of 2019 in addition to some late developing stories-comedic superstar, Chris Rock gets into a bit of hot water over a 2011 interview with a few of his stand up contemporaries including Louis CK's use/misuse of the N-word (with Rock's perceived "approval"); filmmaker, Jordan Peele's US trailer gets released into the cyberverse with a great deal of excitement; a Black high school student athlete is forced to cut his dreads during a wrestling match to accommodate officials (allegedly); our belated thoughts about the Aquaman film;  a recent Vibe piece highlights the mining of Black scholastic/intellectual writing talent by Marvel Comics to redirect and refresh their stories;  Richard Roundtree and Samuel L. Jackson return to Shaft; Doom Patrol trailer; THAT Titans finale; is the Isaiah Bradley story ready for some shine via the MCU and lastly, Lebron James' apologies for an anti-semitic rap quote.  Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.  

Facebook Scandal; Banking While Black; More on the Spiderverse; MWIR 7pm

Not even Wakanda can escape gentrification. @blavity @blackpanther @urbanintellectuals @forever21 #forever21 pic.twitter.com/XBwJyyUCk2

— Jesuorobo's Thoughts (@Jesuorobo) December 18, 2018

The Mid Week in Review airs 12.19.18

The Yuletide edition of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review (MWIR) podcast returns with even more to discuss this Wednesday at 7pm eastern. The topics to be covered are: Facebook reportedly shared their users' private messages with a myriad of fellow tech companies-Amazon,Netflix and Microsoft with issues of consent being in question; another DNWB (Doing Nothing While Black) case comes into focus.....this time a Black man attempting to cash a modest (and authenticated) check at a local Bank raised suspicions and therefore a requisite 911 call; perhaps spoiler talk for the newly released Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse; legendary actress/director, Penny Marshall passes due to diabetic complications; more deliberation on whether whites (or white models) can wear Black Panther movie (or by extension Black cultural IPs) or not; what do you do if you are an African-American football player with a recent multi million dollar contract who is about to marry a young woman who might be a racist-we ponder the question; Pulitzer prize winning author, Alice Walker is under fire for supporting an allegedly anti-semitic writer; Disney exec hints that we might still see Marvel Netflix shows on Disney+ in the near future;  Lastly, superstar, Will Smith shows us his "human" form in the forthcoming Aladdin reboot and twitter clowns.  Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.

A Reminder Why Afronerd.Com Exists: Highlighting Tech Wunderkind, Mr. Iddris Sandu

Offset is a typical man, thought that Cardi would appreciate this “grand gesture”(trash) on a night that was supposed to be about HER, her accomplishments and her music. She was the first female to headline rolling loud but all anybody will remember is his corny ass 🙄

— fran drescher (@franniiedee) December 16, 2018

I think it's safe to assume that the author of the above tweet is not really the famed comedic actress Fran Drescher but I am sure that the tweet below is from CNN commentator, Symone Sanders:

 

The festival facilitated the hijacking of Cardi B’s set by a man whose only concern is himself. Do not show up at my job trying to work out our personal biz. This is selfish, the mngmt was unprofessional & I hope there is legal action Cardi can take. Also delete this tweet. https://t.co/H26GXVgtzY

— Symone D. Sanders (@SymoneDSanders) December 16, 2018

What do both tweets have in common, you ask?  The adherence to an almost Trumpian level of cognitive dissonance. Avid listeners to Afronerd Radio are keenly aware that we not only highlight "Blerd" popular culture but also actively promote the branding of the Black intellect. African brainwork. Black calculation.  Here's a good one-Black American cogitation.  If we ever expect to erect a real life Wakanda (Akon's efforts, notwithstanding), the exaltation of the absurd must cease. I have seen countless tweets, and even think pieces, devoted to varied phenomena that align aspiration with patent dysfunction and again, this must stop.  The specific phrase that "triggered" (why did I have to use that word but it does apply) me is  "her accomplishments."   Check out one of Ms. B.'s accomplishments as displayed in the lyrical content of one her popular songs, Bartier Cardi via the link below (nope...such filth will not grace this site)-

 https://genius.com/Cardi-b-bartier-cardi-lyrics    

We cannot continue with the subtext that Black/Brown dysfunction as popular culture is "ok" even though the success derived from it comes at the expense of your community.  Or more specifically, your people are the first casualties as you ascend up the ranks as a corporate neo-minstrel.

Everything for Your Minstrel Show......even if the rest of us suffer.

Enter tech wunderkind, Iddrs Sandu:

Hat tip goes to our resident cinephile and redoubtable Afronerd Radio supporter, Sergio Mims for bringing this young gentleman's quantifiable accomplishments to our attention. Here's an excerpt on Sandu from CNBC.com:

While other kids were at home watching television, a 13-year-old named Iddris Sandu spent most of his childhood in the library, reading texts about the theory of relativity and studying the German industrial designer Dieter Rams.

Now 21, the self-made entrepreneur and California native has made quite a name for himself in the worlds of technology and entertainment.

With a passion for tech and culture, Sandu has written algorithms and code for tech giants like Uber, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, received the Presidential Scholar Award from President Barack Obama.

And there's even a more introspective expose on Sandu, courtesy of Face2FaceAfrica.com (below):

At just 21, Iddris Sandu is the tech genius behind Uber, Instagram and Snapchat

And there's Sandu in accordance to his own words:

Notice what's written on the sole of Sandu's kicks as worn in the above clip:

The inclusion of the fictional Tony Stark cannot be discounted even if it is to the chagrin of Bill Maher.  

Again, to reiterate the main premise of this blog drop, let's start to rally around true Black excellence and actually place focus toward young folk of color who engender advancement as opposed to regression.  Reciting the words to Bodak Yellow en route to neo-Black Wall Street/Wakanda is highly unlikely but with Mr. Sandu's software engineering skills, one might have a fighting chance at finding its location.    

Into The Spiderverse; Deadpool 2 (Again!); Nancy Wilson Passes; The Grind 6pm ET

The Grindhouse Airs 12.16.18

Ok folks...time is of the essence, so let's just get to it! Welcome to The Grindhouse podcast as engineered by Afronerd Radio Machineworks-airing every Sunday at 6pm eastern,  Join your favorite AFROnerdists as they wax prolific about the following topics:  we give our spoiler free first impressions of Sony's animated Miles Morales story, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse;  Dburt check's out the Princess Bride-Fred Savage infused Deadpool 2 rerelease, Once Upon a Deadpool; iconic Jazz vocalist and actress, Nancy Wilson passes at 81; Mike Judge does it again! Dburt lauds over Judge's Tales from the Tour Bus, S2 E7-highlighting the misadventures of Morris Day and the Time; it's Marvel vs Religion as portrayed in Uncanny X-Men #5 and as expected controversy ensues: Titans S1 just finished up-our thoughts; there's another Idris on the horizon with a slightly different spelling and vocation, Iddris Sandu and what would Instagram, Uber and Snapchat be without him;  actor, Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out, Sorry to Bother You) wants to play the Joker one day...hmmm (you know there's always Dr. Achebe); Lastly, I don't recollect my history classes covering slave twerking! (sigh). Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.


And now.....The Time! (Courtesy of Mike Judge)

Elseworlds; Columbia Student's White Fright; Godzilla 2-MWIR, 7pm ET

Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review 12/11/18

Listen to the latest installment of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review airing every Wednesday at 7pm eastern. The topics to be addressed are:  per usual, we pick up where we left off during Sunday's Grindhouse-Dburt waxes about Mark Millar's new spy thriller comic with it's Black "Bond" analogue lead, Prodigy; he also dissects the implications of Doomsday Clock #8;  our impressions of the CW 's annual crossover event, entitled Elseworlds, and featuring a first look at Batwoman in primetime; a Columbia University student has a meltdown while professing his love for White culture; a video surfaces of NYPD officers ripping a 1 year old infant from the hands of his mother who was waiting in line at a public food assistance center;  the Godzilla 2 trailer hits the internets like a sonic (atomic) blast; Dburt finally addresses his thoughts about "fake news" for Black folk; Doctor Strange slated for a 2021 release;  And lastly, what's the deal with Marvel planning a major retcon to the Fantastic Four origin story?  Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.   

New Podcast Alert! Endgame & Brightburn Trailers; Kevin Hart=Retro Public Litigation; The Grind@6pm

Afronerd Radio's Grindhouse Airs Live-12.9.18 


As we go deeper into the holiday season, why not check out continued installments of Afronerd Radio's Grindhouse podcast-airing every Sunday at 6pm eastern. Your (mostly) consistent  AFROnerdist podcasters will rhapsodize about the following issues: the Avengers trailer finally arrives with a formal title, expected solemnity and a whopping 289M views in 24 hours!!; with the release of the James Gunn produced Brightburn trailer, it looks like audiences will finally get their dark or horror infused Superman tale; superstar comedian, Kevin Hart gets into trouble due to past homophobic stand-up routines/tweets causing him to opt out of hosting this year's Oscars; and due to the Hart fiasco, Dburt questions the media's (social and traditional) trend of "retroactively litigating" ALL past phenomena (classic songs, Franklin from Peanuts, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer cartoon, etc) while using a 2019 microscope; impressions of Mark Miller's new Prodigy comic; Dburt also waxes about the latest issue of Doomsday Clock; the Guardian highlights the recent spate of Afro-surrealistic cinema; Lastly, our thoughts about The Black Panther's chances at the Golden Globes and Oscars.  Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.   

The Blackburn trailer.....

PC culture or Retroactive Social Media Litigation?

Shang Chi's Closeup; Facebook's Black Problem; Daredevil's Future-MWIR 7pm ET

The Mid Week in Review Airs 12.5.18


Happy Holidays to the AFROnerdist community!   In keeping matters terse, listen to a new episode of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review (MWIR) airing this Wednesday at 7pm eastern.  The topics to be analyzed are: we literally pick up where we left off during our last podcast when we left a slew of issues untouched; we even failed to discuss comic book storylines or ideas we would like to see explored in print if given the opportunity; Marvel announced that they are looking to strike similar Black Panther box office gold by fast tracking a predominantly Asian production of The Hands of Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu; we explore the notion of reports that Facebook has a "Black problem"; And lastly, again, failing to address this in a previous show-the ethics of China's CRISPR babies and how this could usher the world into a dystopian eugenics race like right out of a science fiction novel-but its very real.  Oh and the lead scientist that claimed to be able to successfully develop the gene editing process has disappeared.  Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.      

In the interim, cool your heels and check out Black Panther channeling Brucewaynism:

Daredevil Cancelled; Neil Degrasse Tyson #Metoo'd?; Blue Beetle-The Grind 6pm ET

New Grindhouse Podcast airing 12.2.18



Happy Festivus!  Welcome to the latest installment of The Grindhouse podcast powered by the Afronerd Radio Machine-airing every Sunday at 6pm eastern.  Your favorite AFROnerdists are waxing about the following issues: impressions of the Widows movie starring Viola Davis and Liam Neeson; Daredevil gets canceled but the show's producer asserts that Netflix dropped the program not Disney/Marvel (what about Luke Cage, Iron Fist?); noted astrophysicist, Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson has been accused of sexual misconduct by three women; DC annouces plans for a Blue Beetle film, hence heralding a mainstream Latinx hero for the masses; DC/WB are also reportedly looking into films focusing on Zatanna in addition to the previously annouced Supergirl and Batgirl movies; meanwhile the Man of Steel 2 and Flash films are purportedly losing steam; educator/media pundit, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill gets canned from CNN for recent remarks he made during a speech at the UN many deemed to be anti-Semitic; Blade Runner gets its an anime translation via Adult Swim for 13 episodes; more Funk with Mike Judge's Tales from the Tour Bus S2, this time highlighting James Brown parts 1 and 2 (like his records); * Some topics we forgot to discuss per the last show. And lastly, comedian Bill Burr returns to Netflix with F Is for Family, S2. Call LIVE at 646-915-9620.

Here.....smell some animated Funk, courtesy of Mike Judge: