Last month, I got a chance to visit the set of Black Lightning and meet with the cast and the creator/show runner Salim Akil. Akil is best known for dramas and comedies celebrating the black experience like movies Drylongso (1999) and Jumping the Broom (2011) both of which he directed. Together with his wife, Award Winning Writer/Producer Mara Brock Akil, the duo have created some iconic shows including The Game (2013-2015), Being Mary Jane (2013-2017), and Love Is_ (2018). Last year, the Akils signed a 3 year overall deal with Warner Bros, and Black Lightning, which airs on the CW every Tuesday night, was a result of that partnership.

Now in its 2nd season, Black Lightning has achieved what many thought was pretty risky. Adapting a relatively unknown DC comic book character (to millennials anyway) and turn it into a successful series outside of the Arrowverse. What most don’t know is that Akil is actually a comic book fan and was waiting for the right opportunity to present itself to dust off his director’s chair. I got a chance to ask him a few questions about Season 2 and how he developed the show. 

As most of you know by now, I’m going to be doing interviews for SYFY Wire on the LIVE STAGE at New York Comic Con this year. I will also be running around the con talking to creators. If you’re attending and you’ve been a supporter or a follower of mine and want to say “hi” come on by! (It would also be amazing to have some love in the audience, because I’m a bit nervous). For my full SYFY Wire Live stage schedule and a map where to find it, read on.

Ralph Breaks the Internet is The follow up to Wreck It Ralph, the 2012 Disney video game movie about an 80’s arcade game character Ralph (John C. Reilly) who gets tired of being the bad guy in Fix It Felix, Jr. a fictional Donkey Kong style arcade game. With the help of  Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), a glitched character from a racing game Sugar Rush they make their escape. In the process, Vanellope realizes that she’s actually a princess with amnesia and he’s not really a bad guy and the two become best friends.

In the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, coming to theaters this Thanksgiving, Ralph and Vanellope find their way out of the arcade and onto the internet, where their next adventure ensues. Disney Animation invited me out to their studios in Glendale, CA for a special presentation of select scenes to see first hand the story, animation and execution process of the movie. I also got a chance to talk to Oscar winning and directing team  Rich Moore and Phil Johnston about what went into the films. (I’ll share that interview soon!)  But here’s what I learned about the upcoming movie.

For years The Harvey Awards were a mainstay of Baltimore Comic-Con, but two years ago, awards show announced that they were leaving and restructuring. Leaving many wondering what was going to become of the popular (if not lengthy) comic book and science fiction awards show. Then last year came the official announcement, that ReedPOP was bringing the full Harvey Awards ceremony to New York Comic Con. Over the summer nominations were opened and last month the Harvey team resurfaced, not only confirming that the 30th year of the awards are to be held next month at the Javitz Center, but also revealing fewer awards categories will more book categories.

Ever scroll through Instagram and stumble across some amazing artwork by an artist that you’ve never heard of? That’s happened to me. When I thought about it, I realized that I’m probably not the only one. So every month, I’m going to start highlighting 10 (or more) artists that I think are pretty phenomenal. Every name is a link to their page, so follow and support folks!

1. Annie Wu

For those of you who were unaware, September 15, 2018 was officially Batman Day. The fifth annual holiday of DC and Batman fans. (For those of you Marvel fans who haven’t stopped playing Spider-Man PS4 since it dropped last week, take a break and check out some of what went on today).  On top of the comic book sales, toys and even special treats for kids it was also the day that DC Comics launched it’s new streaming service DC Universe. (Not to be confused with the DC gaming app DC Universe Online). The service has been teased for months. Mostly to promote several new original series,TITANS, Doom Patrol and the one I’m personally waiting for Young Justice: Outsiders. 

DC Universe didn’t launch any of those  shows today. But it did

The summer is over! If you are relaxing into the end of your Labor Day holiday or if you’ve just gotten home from the repast after Aretha’s funeral (may she rest in glorious peace), I will offer you a few things to binge watch this week while you wait for the fall shows to return. I even have some comic book suggestions. Also, I talk a little bit about the Madden/Jacksonville shooting, how 3 black teens in science persevered after online trolls tried to keep them out of a NASA competition, and how amazing it would be if Wesley Snipes actually returns as BLADE. And there are a couple of comics coming out that I’m going to ask everyone to pre-order. Please listen, comment and subscribe! You can listen below or find theblerdgurl podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play and Soundcloud  And also, check below for links to some of the stuff I talk about in this episode.

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Now if you’re a die-hard fan of the original Teen Titans animated series that aired on Cartoon Network starting in 2003 and you will accept nothing else, this is going to be hard for you. (Well actually, the post-credits scene was made for you, but you’ve got to watch the whole movie first). For those of you who watch the current animated series and think it’s a hoot, you’re gonna LOVE this movie. And if you were like me, a geek who watched the original, didn’t really care that the animation style changed between 2003 and 2013, and are a fan of puns and random acts of song, then you are really gonna have some fun. (mild spoilers ahead)