A Perspective on ‘Black Panther’ and James Brown Star Chadwick Boseman (RIP)

“Purpose crosses disciplines. Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason you are on the planet at this particular time in history.” — Chadwick Boseman (Nov. 29, 1976 – Aug. 28, 2020)

I know it’s been asked countless times already, but hasn’t the year 2020 been something else? I’m putting it very modestly. The passing of Los Angeles Lakers great, Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other seven passengers who died in the helicopter crash. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Tony McDade. I definitely can’t fail to mention the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that continues to wreak havoc on the world. Now it’s Chadwick Boseman, who starred as King T’Challa in Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” died at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.

Artist Spotlight: Remembering Michael Turner, Comic Book Creator (24 Iconic Art Images!)

What’s up everyone! Ralph “The Perennial Aesthete” is here. With Avengers: Endgame being all set to shatter our senses, toy with our emotions and guaranteed to run rampant at the movie box office this weekend. There couldn’t be better time to be a comic book enthusiast or a superhero movie fan. In relation to that, I want to take a moment to pay homage and wish the late great Michael Layne Turner a very happy belated birthday. His birthday was this past Sunday, April 21, 2019.

‘Aquaman’ Raises the DCEU From the Depths; Conquers Christmas Box Office

First and foremost, I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and a happy holiday. I hope that as you read through my latest post, that you are found in the best of health, peace, prosperity and family fellowship. As many of you know, I’m a voracious movie devotee and avid comic book reader. Some folks are so quick to compare the success of Marvel/ Disney’s Cinematic Universe (MCU) to the DC Comics/ Warner Bros. Extended Universe (DCEU). I think it’s a bit unfair because Marvel was able to get a successful jump on their cinematic universe, and as I explained in an earlier post on the Justice League film, the movies of the DCEU have been overly scrutinized and dissected. Before I dive deeper into this review, I want to warn you of some minor spoilers ahead. As long as the waters are calm for you to navigate, please read on. Just a little Aquaman humor there.

‘Captain Marvel’ Trailer 2: Brie Larson Lights Up The MCU Unlike Never Before

The second trailer to Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel is here and Brie Larson aka Carol Danvers, lights up the Marvel Cinematic Universe unlike never before. During Monday night’s NFL game between the Washington Redskins and Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles, Disney-Marvel shared the second trailer for 2019’s Captain Marvel. The first trailer arrived in September, and has been viewed an incredible 46 million times on YouTube.

Here’s 13 Hints and Details In ‘Avengers: Infinity War’s’ Stellar New Trailer

In case you missed it, the first trailer to Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War has arrived and it looks spectacular.  The trailer to the upcoming Marvel blockbuster has set a new record for the most trailer views in a single day, racking up more than 200 million views in 24 hours.  If you ask me, that’s absolutely incredible.

Directed by the Russo Brothers, the film will host the biggest ensemble of superheroes to ever been cast in film history.  The buildup to Infinity War has been over a decade in the making, with the first Iron Man film setting the stage for things to come.  From the looks of things in the Infinity War trailer, I have a feeling that all the fun and cheerfulness that was present in Thor: Ragnarok, will be nonexistent in this film.  Things appear to be grim and futile for our heroes as Thanos shows up in style with a grin on his face and some prophetically, ill-boding words:  “In time, you will know what it’s like to lose.”

In Case You Missed It, Marvel Has Blessed Us With A New ‘Black Panther’ Trailer

I can’t say this enough.  It’s a wonderful time to be either a comic book creative, a fan or a little of both.  Technology has caught up and continues to advance at a rapid pace.  The things you can do with cinematography and filmmaking nowadays is incredible.  You can literally create stunning, virtual worlds on the movie screen, where it’s only limits is the extent of the creator’s imagination.  That concept alone, brings us to the world of Wakanda, which is an Afrofuturist fantasy land.  By the looks of the trailer, Black Panther is shaping up to be Marvel’s most ambitious, breathtaking film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Watching it for the 100th time now, I’m still blown away by the action sequences, the costume designs and the music choices.  Have you noticed the cast?!  This could be the most talented (and beautiful) group of people pulled together for a Marvel film!  Besides acting standouts Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o, there’s The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira (fellow fighter Okoye), Angela Bassett (T’Challa’s mother, Ramonda), Michael B. Jordan (T’Challa’s Wakandan rival Erik Killmonger), Get Out’s Daniel Kaluuya (T’Challa’s second-in-command, W’Kabi), recent Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown (the mysterious N’Jobu), Forest Whitaker (warrior Zuri), and Marvel returnees Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross) and Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue/Klaw).

20 Cool Photos From the First Annual Five Points Festival 2017 in NYC

This past weekend on New York City’s Lower East Side was the inaugural Five Points Festival, a brand new fan convention curated by Clutter magazine and presented by Midtown Comics.  The festival is a collision of toys, comics, street art, and counterculture, replete with food trucks and craft beer.  This was pretty much a geek’s version of Valhalla.sThe Five Points Festival was held at Pier 36, on the lower east side of Manhattan.  Comic book creatives such as Amy Reeder, Dan Slott, Jamal Igle, Greg Capullo, and Scott Snyder made an appearance.  Several toy and art guests were on hand as well, including Amanda Louise Spayd, Tokidoki’s Simone Legno, and Tara McPherson, founder of The Cotton Candy Machine art boutique in Brooklyn, NYC.

Film Review: Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ Was Pure Sci-Fi Bliss

What’s up guys?  Ralph a.k.a. the “Perennial Aesthete” is here.  It’s been awhile, but I hope you’re all in the best of health and happiness.  Speaking of being happy, to describe Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the sequel to Marvel’s 2014 swash-buckling science-fiction adventure, I’d have to say it was pure euphoric bliss.  It brought back memories from my childhood when I used to sit in my room drawing comic book characters and reading my favorite comics such as Iron Man, the Avengers, Spider-Man and the Mighty Thor.

‘Kong: Skull Island’ Review: The Ape King Makes A Gargantuan Return – But Kong Is Not The Only King

If you’ve already watched Kong: Skull Island and you stayed past the end credits, you should be clear on one thing—that Kong is not the only king.  You should also know that the ‘Toho Initiative’ is a go.  That’s just a mere reference to Nick Fury’s (Samuel Jackson) visit to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in Marvel Studio’s 2008 film, Iron Man, in which Fury informs Stark that he’s putting together a team of superheroes.  In this case, Kong: Skull Island, is the next chapter of Legendary Picture’s “MonsterVerse,” a new cinematic universe that’s highly anticipated to reach a pinnacle in a Godzilla vs. Kong movie in 2020.

Marvel’s Final Trailer To ‘Captain America: Civil War’ Featuring Spider-Man!

So Marvel gave us the second trailer to ‘Captain America: Civil War’ and a first look at the newest variant of Spider-Man, the version that will connect to a solo Spider-Man film co-produced by Sony’s Amy Pascal and Marvel Studio head Kevin Feige. With Civil War being the biggest Marvel movie to date, the brand new trailer looks absolutely fantastic!  Black Panther in action is amazing and long overdue, the tension between Cap and Tony is intensely, self-evident and last but not least, we got Spider-Man swinging into the MCU!  But of course–as if with all superhero movies, you’re going to get a broad range of reactions from ordinary movie-goers, sacrificial geeks and die-hard fanboys.  To some, the suit looks like someone in the design department had a bit too much funny with the CGI effects.  While others instantly recognized and welcomed the Silver Age-inspired design.  As far as Spidey’s suit is concerned, I’m just hoping that it’s not the finished product.  I mean he does look a little weird… but hopefully, the suit will be a bit more polished by the time the movie rolls around this coming May.