Critic Work

1979 in Black Comics History: Amazing Spider-Man #194 by Keith Pollard

“Pollard’s decision to leave the field out of a totally financial concern is one that felt really rare to hear about during this era from the “greats” and “legends”. As Black people, there’s always the focus on survival and being able to take care of ourselves. Sometimes there’s no option to pursue aims at building a legacy in some niche industry when you need to make sure you and yours are eating: again, however, that’s just speculation. Pollard’s new rates could have still been comfortable, but then it’s become the case of him knowing his worth. Were George Perez’s rates dipping?”

Falcon and Winter Soldier #5 Finally Commits, but is it a little Too Late?

Sam taking up the mantle represents a very Obama-era viewpoint which tracks with when Sam took up the shield in the comics and for me does not hold the same impact as it does today. The same Obama who showed that Black people can be president is the same Obama who says “Defund the police” is a harmful slogan. Kamala Harris the first woman, Black, and Asian American VP was California’s “Top Cop”. Even more topical with Lori Lightfoot, the Black Woman mayor of Chicago, is complicit in the violence of the police towards Black and brown kids in the state. Representation alone, does not undo the harm done in white supremacist structures, which is at it’s core, America. 

But again this is a Disney show and I am sure Anthony Mackie’s contract has “Captain America” written on it so the show must go on. 

Sundance 2021 Film Festival Diary: Day 3

Another "catch-up" film was FLEE which was a really incredible animated documentary by Jonas Poher Rasmussen. The film is essentially an interview with an Afghan refugee recounting his journey towards his new life. The animation was used to preserve the identity of the subject however it brings to mind an idea from Scott McCloud about cartooning, which is that the simpler a face is, the more an audience can imprint themselves onto that character, and getting to see such a harrowing and emotionally charged story through animation really created such a uniquely emotional experience. There also was definitely a fear watching this one that it would be an overwhelming focus on how "tragic" stories of the Middle East are but there's a lot of beauty in this film, particularly centered around the protagonist’s Queer identity that outright made me sob from the joy at where his story ended up. Definitely one of the standouts of the festival so far.