Not only In Marvel’s Black Panther topping the box office, it’s topping music charts as well.
Though only 3 songs from the album are featured that didn’t stop it from climbing to the top.
Black Panther: The Album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. According to Nielsen Music, the album sold 154,000 albums in the week ending Feb. 15. Of that sum, 52,000 are in traditional album sales.
Kendrick Lamar who produced the album is also featured in numerous songs. Other artists on the soundtrack include SZA, Schoolboy Q, The Weeknd, and 2 Chainz.
Black Panther is the second soundtrack to top the 200 chart in 2018. The first is The Greatest Showman.
Black Panther was released Feb. 16 and has grossed $426 million worldwide and counting.
The creative team behind Bojack Horseman is working with Netflix on their next project, another animated series called Tuca & Bertie. In addition to acting as an Executive Producer, Girls Trip star Tiffany Haddish will voice lead character Tuca, according to Deadline.
Tiffany Haddish Joins Bojack Horseman Team
Haddish’s role in the ensemble film Girls Trip earned her mainstream fame. Prior to Girls Trip, Haddish also appeared in Keanu and Meet the Spartans, as well as a handful of television movies and series. Tuca & Bertie marks her first project as a voice actress, as well as her first credit as Executive Producer.
She is also working with HBO on her production company She Ready. Haddish named her company after her stand-up special Tiffany Haddish: She Ready! which aired on Showtime in late 2017.
In the tradition of Bojack’s anthropomorphized main character, Tuca and Bertie are bird-women in their 30s. The show is set to stream exclusively on Netflix, where Bojack Horseman, now in its fifth season, also premiered. Bojack was the first adult animated series produced by Netflix. Netflix has since also produced F is for Family and Castlevania.
[easy-tweet tweet=”Netflix ordered a ten-episode series of ‘Tuca & Bertie’. from Tiffany Haddish and ‘Bojack Horseman’ creators. ” user=”Jenisaur”]The show was created by Lisa Hanawalt, who executive produces along with her Bojack alumnae Raphael Bob-Waksberg, Noel Bright, Steve A. Cohen, and Tiffany Haddish. The series does not currently have a release date.
Last week I wrote about how putting a season pass in Farcry 5 eliminates my want to buy it. By placing items and levels behind paywalls, many AAA developers have robbed gamers of an experience. Remember how great it felt beating a game and finding out you just unlocked something by doing so? It gave gamers like myself a great sense of accomplishment.
Unlocking Rumbleman in Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2 after beating arcade mode 11 times on hard added so much replay value to the game. This type of achievement was common back in 2000. Now if you want to unlock a player, item, or mission you better pray they’re in a random loot box.
Or just go to the digital store and buy them outright. Adding an extra fee or fees to the actual retail price. Imagine Bob Barker hosting a video game version of The Price Is Right? “Actual retail price of the game is $60 but when you add the season pass and microtransactions it’s $120 so Martha you were the highest bidder come on down”!
While loot boxes are receiving rightful scrutiny, developers have realized they’ve crossed the line. The problem is many gamers aren’t moving the line back with them as developers cross back over it. This became evident last week. When Sea of Thieves Executive Producer Joe Neate spoke to IGN about the game not having loot boxes but it will implement microtransactions a few months after release.
When asked why the $60 game needs microtransactions, Neate said, “It’s always an interesting topic, but ultimately I have to look at the reality of running a game-as-service as a business. My goal and everyone else’s goal here is to have as many people as possible working on this, and just keep giving people reasons to return, reasons to have fun. We have to run that like a business, you need revenue coming in”. Before I dissect that quote let me say this.
I like that a developer has supposedly seen the error of EA’s ways and decided not to put in a gambling system like loot boxes. Especially when many of them have been tied to player and character progression. But Sea of Thieves is still a $60 game with microtransactions. You know how you build revenue and get people to return and have fun without putting microtransactons in?
By selling them a full experience when they pay full price. While Sea of Thieves will supposedly contain more extra content that’s free (back in the day content like that was just part of the game and not labeled “free”) it is not a free-to-play game where microtransactions are the only way Rare makes money. Going back to last week’s One Limb Left, developers cannot use cost as an excuse to gut a $60 game. While I applaud the no loot box decision, that is not enough for me.
Jim Sterling said it best recently in his weekly series The Jimquisition, “The more the industry crosses the line, the previous lines become more acceptable. And I’m gonna get called an asshole for saying it’s still not cool. But “just microtransactions” in a paid game is still not cool”. To which I agree.
The first wave of microtransactions is going to be pets you can give your character. But what will be next? Ships? Weapons? Characters themselves?
People need to realize this is how this type of content progresses. Start off small, cosmetic, and away from launch so it doesn’t piss players off. Then do the same but with bigger and better content because by that time they’ve become accustomed to paying for it. A lot of articles I’ve read about this have the “That’s the industry nowadays” mindset.
It’s the wrong mindset to have. There are more ways we as a community can push back against microtransactions in AAA games. Whether it be social media, blogging, and/or podcasting. Or just not buying the game at all.
I’m not calling for a boycott of the game, I just get concerned when I see developers trying to pull a blindfold over gamers’ eyes, and gamers helping them pull it down faster. I want AAA games to contain the same level of content and offer the same experiences that they gave just 10 or so years ago. If Nintendo can go without microtransactions in Super Mario Odyssey, why can’t Rare (which was purchased by Microsoft in 2002) do the same with their game?
That fact alone blows many holes in Neate’s reasoning. You’re a company that’s owned by Microsoft. You’re a first-party developer for them. There is no reason for Sea of Thieves to cost $60 and have content that’s behind a paywall.
Another developer Activision Blizzard made $4 billion alone from paid content last year. Microtransactions in AAA games are also still a thing because they play on peoples’ want. You want to drive the same Batmobile Michael Keaton drove in Batman? Pay a fee and you can use it in Batman: Arkham Knight but only in one mode.
Having a tough time performing fatalities in Mortal Kombat? Well if you pay a fee you can perform a certain number of them by pressing one button. Want a pet monkey to help distinguish your character from others in Sea of Thieves? It’ll cost you.We also live in a time where we can have any movie and TV show we want in an instant without commercials for a fee.
Developers are capitalizing on that by giving people a paid option to get all of the content quicker even though they can afford to do so by just making things easier to unlock in-game. My biggest hope is that more and more people realize this and help pull the line back to where it originally was. In politics and society, the pendulum swings both ways. In the gaming community, developers saw it swing towards them and they’ve grabbed it, we should not help them tighten their grip.
#GiveDivasAChance was a trending Twitter topic of early 2015, and it definitely garnered the attention of those in charge at the WWE. Now, Dennis Hopeless is showing some love to the women with a new storyline beginning with BOOM! Studios WWE #14.
We get to meet Bayley as a fresh-faced newbie to the WWE Performance Center. Her story begins as a bit of a whirlwind, but that’s true to how swiftly the Women’s Revolution has taken place. The fast-paced story emanates how overwhelmed Bayley is at first, but she quickly solidifies her place in NXT with her Four Horsewomen sisters Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks.
We feel sorry for Bayley as she gets left behind in NXT as her friends make their move to the WWE main roster, but we’re left with an optimistic impression that she won’t be far behind.
ART
Serg Acuna’s artwork is fantastic, as usual. However, his visuals of Charlotte and Sasha seem a bit off; they just don’t look as much like their human counterparts as much as the other girls do. With making Bayley’s eye wide and almost anime-like, it makes us believe that she truly is a deer in the headlights. She’s child-like and innocent, and we definitely feel that throughout the comic.
Doug Garbark uses a lot of pink throughout the issue, which gives the story a feminine tone. Yes, there’s still action within the story, but the pastel accents keep the rest of the tale lighthearted and optimistic.
Artwork: BOOM! Studios
SIDE STORY
We couldn’t talk about the Women’s Revolution without mentioning the one woman that no one is ready for, Asuka. Tini Howard’s short at the end of the comic introduces us to “The Empress of Tomorrow” subtly. Hyeonjin Kim hides the pink-haired goddess in the panels, mingling silently with her NXT colleagues. This definitely mimics Asuka’s arrival in the WWE, and this story captures that flawlessly.
CONCLUSION
Seeing the women of the WWE take center stage on television has been refreshing and satisfying. Seeing them take the forefront in this comic series is groundbreaking, and I’m excited to see where this storyline takes us.
Disney has announced the official Blu-Ray/Digital HD release date for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
The latest installment in the Skywalker saga will be released digitally on March 13, with its Blu-Ray version coming out on March 27. Star Warshas unveiled the film’s list of special features, and it includes a good amount of extra content. Get the details below.
The Director and the Jedi – Go deep behind the scenes with writer-director Rian Johnson on an intimate and personal journey through the production of the movie—and experience what it’s like to helm a global franchise and cultural phenomenon.
Balance of the Force – Explore the mythology of the Force and why Rian Johnson chose to interpret its role in such a unique way.
Scene Breakdowns
Lighting the Spark: Creating the Space Battle – Get a close-up look at the epic space battle, from the sounds that help propel the action, through the practical and visual effects, to the characters who bring it all to life.
Snoke and Mirrors – Motion capture and Star Wars collide as the filmmakers take us through the detailed process of creating the movie’s malevolent master villain.
Showdown on Crait – Break down everything that went into creating the stunning world seen in the movie’s final confrontation, including the interplay between real-word locations and visual effects, reimagining the walkers, designing the crystal foxes, and much more.
Andy Serkis Live! (One Night Only) – Writer-director Rian Johnson presents two exclusive sequences from the movie featuring Andy Serkis’ riveting, raw on-set performance before his digital makeover into Snoke.
Deleted Scenes – With an introduction and optional commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
Audio Commentary – View the movie with in-depth feature audio commentary by writer-director Rian Johnson.
* Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer.
Though I’m not one to buy much physical media, this Star Wars: The Last Jedi is an undeniably great product. The design is stellar, and the package comes with some appealing bonus features. Balance of the Force is the most interesting to me, as I want Director Rian Johnson to explain his reasoning behind key elements of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
“Luke Skywalker’s peaceful and solitary existence gets upended when he encounters Rey, a young woman who shows strong signs of the Force. Her desire to learn the ways of the Jedi forces Luke to make a decision that changes their lives forever. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren and General Hux lead the First Order in an all-out assault against Leia and the Resistance for supremacy of the galaxy”
Star Wars: The Last Jedi stars Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Benicio Del Toro, Andy Serkis, Laura Dern, Domnhall Gleeson, and Gwendoline Christie.
What did you think of the film? Sound off in the comments below
After grossing $25 Million on opening night, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther has brought in $242 Million over the long weekend, according to Deadline. The outlet is reporting that Disney confirmed Black Panther‘s opening weekend numbers as $241.96 Million, beating the recent Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Black Panther is an undeniable hit critically, culturally, and financially. The film appeals to such a wide audience and paints such a beautiful picture of Wakanda. Ryan Coogler did a spectacular job at blending Marvel’s style with his own, which gave us one of the better Marvel Cinematic Universe movies to date.
“After the events of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakanadan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.”
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Agela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Sterling K. Brown.
This weekend, Black Panther crowds were inspired to become informed voters, according to Deadline.
Black Panther And the Modern Vote
The Electoral Justice Project, part of The Movement for Black Lives launched their “Wakanda the Vote” campaign the day before the movie hit theatres. MBL counted on the massive popularity of Black Panther–especially with Black audiences. Their campaign encourages moviegoers to organize events at local theatres, or register themselves using a texting service.
The EJP fights for the advancement of the rights of the Black community through electoral strategy. With the 2018 midterm elections right around the corner, EJP hopes to encourage the community to vote during this divisive time in our country and make change.
Launching “Wakanda the Vote” now is good timing. Obviously, tying it to the film increases exposure. Additionally it will increase the number of Black voters in time for the 2018 midterm election. The campaign remains politically neutral, focusing instead on information about voter rights and registration. Fliers for the event on Twitter remind organizers that they “cannot tell people who to vote for.”
Black Panther and Activism
Black Panther itself does not remain as neutral. Erik Killmonger, T’Challa’s main rival in the film, plans on taking the throne of Wakanda for himself. His main goal is to take all the resources Wakanda has to offer in order to assist Black communities around the world, which will of course expose the cloaked country which has survived largely because of its secrecy.
Wakanda the Vote will likely have added impact for audiences leaving the theatre, following the film’s discussions around activism and community engagement.
Black Panther is based on the Marvel Comics property of the same name. The film stars Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), and Danai Gurira (Okoye). The cast also includes Martin Freeman (Agent Ross), Andy Serkis (Ulysses Klaue), Daniel Kaluuya (W’Kabi), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Forest Whitaker (Zuri) and Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda). Black Panther is directed and written by Ryan Coogler, with additional writing by Joe Robert Cole.
Marvel Comics is announcing new creative teams for its FRESH START relaunch of the company, the first was Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness for Avengers, and now we have Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman taking on Venom.
“The greatest Venom stories, to me at least, are a mixture of the alien outside and the human inside. Ryan and I are certainly amping things up here. Venom is a character that I’ve been wanting to write since I was nine years old, and this is my opportunity to really sit down on a title and tell an enormous story. This is the biggest, most ambitious thing I’ve ever attempted for sure. It’s such an incredible honor to be steering the Venom ship during this amazing time in the characters life. With the 30th anniversary and the movie this year, we certainly wanted to shoot for the moon here. The ramifications of the Venom title will be felt line-wide in the months and years to come. If y’all thought Thanos and Strange were insane…well, strap in, because you ain’t seen nothing yet,” said Cates to Comic Book.
About Venom #1: In the wake of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s collapse, an ancient and primordial evil has been awakened beneath the streets of New York, and with it, something equally evil has awakened in that most Wicked of Webslingers – VENOM! Still a Lethal Protector of the innocents in New York, this never-before-seen threat could force Venom to relinquish everything it holds dear – including Eddie Brock!
Venom #1 hits your local comic book store in May.
Are you excited for Marvel’s FRESH START? Comment below.
Netflix Tuesday afternoon, released what they are calling a ‘franchise’ trailer for Marvel’s Jessica Jones with flashes back to the first season, and hints to season two, plus some booze and action.
The new tagline by Netflix – Jessica is back and doing things her way.
Watch the trailer below.
Netflix drops the second season on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2018.
About Season Two: New York City private investigator Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is beginning to put her life back together after taking down her tormenter, Kilgrave. Now known throughout the city as a super-powered killer, a new case makes her reluctantly confront who she really is while digging deeper into her past to explore the reasons why.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones stars Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Carrie-Anne Moss, Eka Darville, Janet McTeer, and J.R. Ramirez.
Are you excited for season two of Jessica Jones? Comment below.
Marvel Comics makes a puzzling announcement a bit out of left-field today. Announcing another line-wide reboot for the publisher. Marvel’s “Fresh Start” promises a jumping on point for new readers and a tonal shift for all titles, including new creative teams. The relaunch is supposed to begin in May 2018.
Not even a year into Marvel Legacy, here we are with yet another relaunch for Marvel. Certainly losing Brian Michael Bendis and Axel Alonso weren’t in Marvel’s plans, but did these two sudden changes cause the publisher to pull the plug and start again? Certainly Marvel could recover from losing a legendary but stale voice in Bendis. Perhaps new EIC C.B. Cebulski wanted to seize the opportunity to mold the line in his specific vision.
One thing is for sure, this is the new norm. It’s actually been this way for a long time, but this shift solidifies the yearly relaunch as the only way Marvel knows how to sell comics anymore. Marvel Legacy accomplished exactly what it set out to do for the most part. It was a course correction for the 616 universe and realignment of their cornerstone titles.
There’s been actual buzz in the comic book communities about what’s happening in Marvel Comics rather than what’s happening to them. Legacy brought us back to heroes versus villains in the classic spectrum, rather than the stale hero versus hero concept that has plagued Marvel since the success of Civil War. None of that matters now as we see that Marvel has already moved on, hoping we’ll all follow along once again.
Not only will the Legacy banner be removed from their line of comics, but apparently the numbering as well. Just to make it nearly impossible for anyone less than a “hardcore” reader to follow along, the numbering will revert to “Pre-Legacy” numbering.
The first title to be announced is Avengers #1 by Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness. That’s a stellar creative team and a promising looking cover but how excited can we be for a new #1 knowing it’ll be cancelled or rebooted before it hits twelve issues?
It’s not easy being a loyal Marvel fan these days, the publisher continues to alienate their loyal readers in pursuit of the mysterious “new readers” they can never seem to actually reel-in with these constant relaunches. Perhaps Marvel should overhaul their PR and Marketing departments rather than their comics line.
This announcement holds some promise by way of stories and characters, but at what cost? “Fresh Start” is a firm “f*ck you” to retailers and readers.
In the tradition of Bojack’s anthropomorphized main character, Tuca and Bertie are bird-women in their 30s. The show is set to stream exclusively on Netflix, where Bojack Horseman, 
Wakanda the Vote will likely have added impact for audiences leaving the theatre, following the film’s discussions around activism and community engagement.
