The Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett-produced Dcau has had many shows and films that have attained the status of modern classics. Shows such as Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League, and Teen Titans have been classics in the animated TV realm for a generation while the films have constantly been well-received.
While Marvel achieved many milestones through their live-action MCU, they seem to be way behind their DC counterparts. Only a few shows with their most profitable IP such as X-Men and Spider-Man have fared well with audiences. Alan Burnett, who served as a co-producer and writer on many Dcau shows and films reportedly has the reason why.
How Did Alan Burnett Get Into The Dcau? A still from Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett’s Batman: The Animated Series
Alan Burnett reportedly did not study animation when he went to film school. The producer reportedly ended up in the industry,...
While Marvel achieved many milestones through their live-action MCU, they seem to be way behind their DC counterparts. Only a few shows with their most profitable IP such as X-Men and Spider-Man have fared well with audiences. Alan Burnett, who served as a co-producer and writer on many Dcau shows and films reportedly has the reason why.
How Did Alan Burnett Get Into The Dcau? A still from Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett’s Batman: The Animated Series
Alan Burnett reportedly did not study animation when he went to film school. The producer reportedly ended up in the industry,...
- 4/24/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Legendary DC writer Alan Burnett was never in line with an idea tossed around the studio for quite a while to make a shocking twist with the character of Batman. Burnett has had mastery over the DC characters in regard to animated features and series. He also has an astounding list of credits to his name including Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond, and Justice League.
A still from Batman Beyond
Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Alan Burnett-created show, Batman Beyond, was a critical darling and the has an astonishing connection to the 2004 series Justice League Unlimited surrounding the character of Batman. In a twist of events, the shocking revelation of Batman intensified the whole narrative to the core.
Alan Burnett Will not Accept Bruce Timm’s Surprising Twist To Batman Beyond
Alan Burnett. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Alan Burnett restricted himself from...
A still from Batman Beyond
Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Alan Burnett-created show, Batman Beyond, was a critical darling and the has an astonishing connection to the 2004 series Justice League Unlimited surrounding the character of Batman. In a twist of events, the shocking revelation of Batman intensified the whole narrative to the core.
Alan Burnett Will not Accept Bruce Timm’s Surprising Twist To Batman Beyond
Alan Burnett. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Alan Burnett restricted himself from...
- 4/20/2024
- by Lachit Roy
- FandomWire
Alan Moore is a legend. The comics that he has created have become some of the most significant in DC Studios, having been behind iconic works like Batman: The Killing Joke, Night Olympics, and Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow. He has a reputation for creating works that are the perfect blend of literary genius and mainstream comics.
Justice League Unlimited
Despite all of the iconic works he created, the writer famously hated his works being adapted onto the screen. It did not matter if it was live-action, animation, or retellings; if they were using his comics as source material, he wanted nothing to do with it.
Suggested“It was all white people like me”: HBO Didn’t Want Damon Lindelof to Unmask One Watchmen Character That Alan Moore Didn’t Even Dare To
However, he did make one exception for an episode in the Dcau series, Justice League Unlimited.
Justice League Unlimited
Despite all of the iconic works he created, the writer famously hated his works being adapted onto the screen. It did not matter if it was live-action, animation, or retellings; if they were using his comics as source material, he wanted nothing to do with it.
Suggested“It was all white people like me”: HBO Didn’t Want Damon Lindelof to Unmask One Watchmen Character That Alan Moore Didn’t Even Dare To
However, he did make one exception for an episode in the Dcau series, Justice League Unlimited.
- 4/7/2024
- by Ananya Godboley
- FandomWire
While the ’90s were filled with acclaimed stories, surrounding A-list comic characters, including Batman and Spider-man, there was a lack of teenage heroes in the mainstream landscape. To fill that gap, Dwayne McDuffie created the teenage sensation Static Shock, who would go on to enjoy his own animated show in the 2000s, which would go on for 4 seasons.
Although originally created for Milestone Media, the comic-book company pioneered by McDuffie, the character was later incorporated into the Dcau through its animated series. According to McDuffie, the teenage hero took heavy inspiration from the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Static Shock Was Influenced by the Late-Eighties Spider-Man
Static Shock | Milestone Media
During the ’90s, the Spider-Man comics featured an adult Peter Parker, which, while great in its own right, didn’t speak to McDuffie personally, as he was more leaned towards the teenage version. To fill that void, he created Static Shock for Milestone Media comics,...
Although originally created for Milestone Media, the comic-book company pioneered by McDuffie, the character was later incorporated into the Dcau through its animated series. According to McDuffie, the teenage hero took heavy inspiration from the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Static Shock Was Influenced by the Late-Eighties Spider-Man
Static Shock | Milestone Media
During the ’90s, the Spider-Man comics featured an adult Peter Parker, which, while great in its own right, didn’t speak to McDuffie personally, as he was more leaned towards the teenage version. To fill that void, he created Static Shock for Milestone Media comics,...
- 4/6/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
There has always been a talk about Justice League among superhero lovers. Matt S. Wayne had an idea that could have given some more action to the comic lovers. Throughout the world, a lot of superhero fans prefer comics, and Justice League Unlimited is one of the most famous comics in demand.
Matt Wayne | Source: IMDb
American writer Matt S. Wayne joined as the Head Writer of Justice League Unlimited from season three onwards. Acclaimed for his works like the animated series Niko and the Sword of Light, Cannon Busters, and Ben 10: Omniverse, Wayne is a pretty famous name in the world of comics. Wayne was even looking forward to making some additions to the Justice League Unlimited.
Matt S. Wayne Wanted to Focus on Two Superheroes While Writing for Justice League Unlimited
Recently, Matt S. Wayne, the Head Writer of Justice League Unlimited, produced by Bruce Timm, exchanged...
Matt Wayne | Source: IMDb
American writer Matt S. Wayne joined as the Head Writer of Justice League Unlimited from season three onwards. Acclaimed for his works like the animated series Niko and the Sword of Light, Cannon Busters, and Ben 10: Omniverse, Wayne is a pretty famous name in the world of comics. Wayne was even looking forward to making some additions to the Justice League Unlimited.
Matt S. Wayne Wanted to Focus on Two Superheroes While Writing for Justice League Unlimited
Recently, Matt S. Wayne, the Head Writer of Justice League Unlimited, produced by Bruce Timm, exchanged...
- 4/2/2024
- by Ankita
- FandomWire
Writer Matt Wayne is most popularly known for his work on the animated series Niko and the Sword of Light, Ben 10: Omniverse, and Cannon Busters. The writer served as the managing editor at Milestone Media, where he worked on titles such as Icon and Hardware. Milestone Media was co-founded by Dwayne McDuffie, who worked on Bruce Timm’s Justice League Unlimited. Wayne is also the writer of Shadow Cabinet and Heroes.
Matt Wayne joined Justice League Unlimited in season three as the head writer. As the name suggests, specifically based on the Justice League team, the animated series featured an array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe. The series is said to be a direct sequel to the Justice League animated series and served as the eighth and concluding animated series in the Dcau. Matt Wayne, in an interview, revealed the heroes he had the most fun writing for.
Matt Wayne joined Justice League Unlimited in season three as the head writer. As the name suggests, specifically based on the Justice League team, the animated series featured an array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe. The series is said to be a direct sequel to the Justice League animated series and served as the eighth and concluding animated series in the Dcau. Matt Wayne, in an interview, revealed the heroes he had the most fun writing for.
- 4/1/2024
- by Avneet Ahluwalia
- FandomWire
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’ s All-Star Superman is described as the finest salute to Silver Age ever to be written, embracing all the silliness and heart found in the Mort Weisinger-edited run of the Superman family of titles. Distilled down into a feature animated film, the story remains the same, just tighter.
The 2011 Warner Home Entertainment release is back, making its 4K Ultra HD debut. I liked it when first released, and the new edition is sharper and crisper, the 2060p transfer is excellent. Is it enough to upgrade? That’s up to you, but it belongs in your home video library in one form or another.
The strength in the adaptation has everything to do with the late Dwayne McDuffie’s screen adaptation, aided and enhanced by a wonderful score by composer Christopher Drake
The DTS-hd 5.1 Master Audio track is the same as the 2011 release and sounds just fine.
The 2011 Warner Home Entertainment release is back, making its 4K Ultra HD debut. I liked it when first released, and the new edition is sharper and crisper, the 2060p transfer is excellent. Is it enough to upgrade? That’s up to you, but it belongs in your home video library in one form or another.
The strength in the adaptation has everything to do with the late Dwayne McDuffie’s screen adaptation, aided and enhanced by a wonderful score by composer Christopher Drake
The DTS-hd 5.1 Master Audio track is the same as the 2011 release and sounds just fine.
- 5/1/2023
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Burbank, CA – One of the Man of Steel’s most personal tales in DC history – from the mind of comics icon Grant Morrison, and produced under the expert oversight of animation legends Bruce Timm and Dwayne McDuffie – All-Star Superman will be available to own on 4K Ultra HD for the very first time on April 18, 2023 from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment.
Grant Morrison’s beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Superman’s heroic final days on Earth is brought to exquisite, animated life in All-Star Superman. The film begins as the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) but, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation – which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms – finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor’s perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth’s...
Grant Morrison’s beloved, Eisner Award-winning vision of Superman’s heroic final days on Earth is brought to exquisite, animated life in All-Star Superman. The film begins as the Man of Steel rescues an ill-fated mission to the Sun (sabotaged by Lex Luthor) but, in the process, is oversaturated by radiation – which accelerates his cell degeneration. Sensing even he will be unable to cheat death, Superman ventures into new realms – finally revealing his secret to Lois, confronting Lex Luthor’s perspective of humanity, and attempting to ensure Earth’s...
- 2/19/2023
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
This article appears in the next issue of Den Of Geek magazine. Get your copy here.
Thirty years ago this month, Milestone Media launched and the comics world listened. Hardware #1 from legendary creators Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan was the company’s first book in February 1993. It was nothing less than a statement of purpose, a book about a Black genius fighting his white industrialist boss (who’s secretly a crime lord) to get pay and recognition for his inventions.
But it wasn’t until the Static Shock cartoon launched on TV in 2004 that Milestone made a broad cultural impact. “For so many of us in that generation, Static [Shock], the cartoon, was the door that opened a lot of things up,” Jordan Clark, a member of the Milestone Initiative’s inaugural class, tells Den of Geek magazine.
Milestone Media and the superheroes it developed—Static and Hardware, Icon and Rocket,...
Thirty years ago this month, Milestone Media launched and the comics world listened. Hardware #1 from legendary creators Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan was the company’s first book in February 1993. It was nothing less than a statement of purpose, a book about a Black genius fighting his white industrialist boss (who’s secretly a crime lord) to get pay and recognition for his inventions.
But it wasn’t until the Static Shock cartoon launched on TV in 2004 that Milestone made a broad cultural impact. “For so many of us in that generation, Static [Shock], the cartoon, was the door that opened a lot of things up,” Jordan Clark, a member of the Milestone Initiative’s inaugural class, tells Den of Geek magazine.
Milestone Media and the superheroes it developed—Static and Hardware, Icon and Rocket,...
- 2/17/2023
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Denys Cowan’s comics career spans decades. Perhaps most famous for his work on mainline DC characters like Batman and his “mature readers” take on The Question with Denny O’Neil, Cowan is also one of the architects of Milestone Media, the trailblazing company that grew out of the classic ‘90s comics publisher, Milestone Comics. While the original run of Milestone only lasted a few years, it spawned a beloved animated series (Static Shock), and is now a key imprint at DC Comics, who have recently revived much of the key characters and titles for new tales for a modern audience.
You can listen to the full episode as part of our DC Standom podcast series, or read highlights below.
Den of Geek: We’re two years into the Milestone revival. Was there a five-year plan when you set out to do this? What can you tell us about how far...
You can listen to the full episode as part of our DC Standom podcast series, or read highlights below.
Den of Geek: We’re two years into the Milestone revival. Was there a five-year plan when you set out to do this? What can you tell us about how far...
- 9/9/2022
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
This post contains light spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Loki season one.
After much speculation, we finally know the name of the next two Avengers movies! Scheduled for release in 2025, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars will cap off Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which begins with Fantastic Four in 2024. We’ve known for some time that Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors, will be the prime villain of the next MCU arc, now titled the Multiverse Saga.
But Secret Wars is something of a surprise, in part because it could refer to four very different storylines. It’s pretty unlikely that the movie will integrate parts of Secret War from 2004 – 2005, a black-ops story involving Nick Fury and Shield. But the other three are all real candidates for adaptation, so let’s take a look at the storylines and what they offer.
After much speculation, we finally know the name of the next two Avengers movies! Scheduled for release in 2025, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars will cap off Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which begins with Fantastic Four in 2024. We’ve known for some time that Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors, will be the prime villain of the next MCU arc, now titled the Multiverse Saga.
But Secret Wars is something of a surprise, in part because it could refer to four very different storylines. It’s pretty unlikely that the movie will integrate parts of Secret War from 2004 – 2005, a black-ops story involving Nick Fury and Shield. But the other three are all real candidates for adaptation, so let’s take a look at the storylines and what they offer.
- 8/12/2022
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
This article contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel Episode 1 and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Teenagers are naturally reckless, even the most well-meaning among them. When you add in superpowers, the results may be disastrous. So it’s no surprise that following the power Kamala Khan manifested at Avenger Con in the first episode of Ms. Marvel, she would receive the same treatment given to poor Peter Parker and friends in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In the post-credit scene of the Ms. Marvel premier, we see footage of Kamala at Avenger Con being watched by Agent P. Cleary (Arian Moayed) of the Department of Damage Control (Dodc).
This isn’t the first time that Agent Cleary has dealt with a superhero. We last saw him in No Way Home investigating Peter, Mj, Ned, and Aunt May, after Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s secret identity to the world. Those scenes gave us a taste of Cleary’s wily ways,...
Teenagers are naturally reckless, even the most well-meaning among them. When you add in superpowers, the results may be disastrous. So it’s no surprise that following the power Kamala Khan manifested at Avenger Con in the first episode of Ms. Marvel, she would receive the same treatment given to poor Peter Parker and friends in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In the post-credit scene of the Ms. Marvel premier, we see footage of Kamala at Avenger Con being watched by Agent P. Cleary (Arian Moayed) of the Department of Damage Control (Dodc).
This isn’t the first time that Agent Cleary has dealt with a superhero. We last saw him in No Way Home investigating Peter, Mj, Ned, and Aunt May, after Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s secret identity to the world. Those scenes gave us a taste of Cleary’s wily ways,...
- 6/8/2022
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Mark McCorkle & Bob Schooley, best known for creating, writing and executive producing Disney Channel’s Kim Possible, will receive the WGA West’s 2021 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award. The honor will be bestowed next month at the group’s virtual awards ceremony and member meeting.
The pair have specialized in adapting movie characters into TV series, with credits including Penguins of Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens, Disney’s Hercules, and Disney’s Aladdin: The Series. On the big screen, their credits include Hotel for Dogs and Sky High.
They also EPed two TV movies based on Kim Possible: Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time and Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama.
The long-time writing and producing team met while working as entertainment managers at Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed play park in Pennsylvania (both attended Temple University). They both started in the mailroom of Dic Entertainment, eventually landing staff...
The pair have specialized in adapting movie characters into TV series, with credits including Penguins of Madagascar, Monsters vs. Aliens, Disney’s Hercules, and Disney’s Aladdin: The Series. On the big screen, their credits include Hotel for Dogs and Sky High.
They also EPed two TV movies based on Kim Possible: Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time and Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama.
The long-time writing and producing team met while working as entertainment managers at Sesame Place, a Sesame Street-themed play park in Pennsylvania (both attended Temple University). They both started in the mailroom of Dic Entertainment, eventually landing staff...
- 12/20/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Comic-book characters like Static, Icon and Hardware once broke open new opportunities for minorities to gain representation in mainstream super-hero titles. Now the company that published their exploits hopes to bring new creators — and advertising opportunities — into the mix.
WarnerMedia will through its DC comics unit launch the Milestone Initiative, a bid to identify new writers and artists with diverse background in the comic book industry. The effort is a nod to Milestone Media, the now iconic line of comics that was devised by a group of Black creators in the early 1990s and published with DC. Ally Financial, a digitally-focused financial-services company, will support the program with advertising and sponsorships.
“Super hero and comic culture is massive and has a broad reach, so I think we are going to get a really big universe of people that will really be into this,” says Andrea Brimmer, Ally’s chief marketing and public relations officer,...
WarnerMedia will through its DC comics unit launch the Milestone Initiative, a bid to identify new writers and artists with diverse background in the comic book industry. The effort is a nod to Milestone Media, the now iconic line of comics that was devised by a group of Black creators in the early 1990s and published with DC. Ally Financial, a digitally-focused financial-services company, will support the program with advertising and sponsorships.
“Super hero and comic culture is massive and has a broad reach, so I think we are going to get a really big universe of people that will really be into this,” says Andrea Brimmer, Ally’s chief marketing and public relations officer,...
- 10/16/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
John Paul Leon. Photo by Luigi Novi.
John Paul Leon was part of an elite group, the Bad Boy Studio Mentor program. That program’s goal is to help people of color gain entry into comic books and related businesses.
It does not stop there—the main goal is to pay it forward.
Each member of Bad Boy Studios is charged with advancing the next generation and living up to the program motto: Each One Teaches One.
When John came into the program, it was evident he was a star in the making. He began at Bad Boy during the period I was at Milestone Media.
Milestone’s business structure was just as innovative as Denys Cowan’s idea to create the company. The creative partners at Milestone took no salary; we were to be paid for our comic book work.
As an example, I wore many hats at Milestone,...
John Paul Leon was part of an elite group, the Bad Boy Studio Mentor program. That program’s goal is to help people of color gain entry into comic books and related businesses.
It does not stop there—the main goal is to pay it forward.
Each member of Bad Boy Studios is charged with advancing the next generation and living up to the program motto: Each One Teaches One.
When John came into the program, it was evident he was a star in the making. He began at Bad Boy during the period I was at Milestone Media.
Milestone’s business structure was just as innovative as Denys Cowan’s idea to create the company. The creative partners at Milestone took no salary; we were to be paid for our comic book work.
As an example, I wore many hats at Milestone,...
- 5/11/2021
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Randy McKinnon, who broke out writing Disney+’s football drama “Safety,” will write the “Static Shock” script for DC Films and Warner Bros., according to an individual with knowledge of the project.
Michael B. Jordan and Reginald Hudlin will produce the project, which was first revealed during the DC FanDome event last August.
“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” Hudlin said at FanDome. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said, ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”
The character of...
Michael B. Jordan and Reginald Hudlin will produce the project, which was first revealed during the DC FanDome event last August.
“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” Hudlin said at FanDome. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said, ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”
The character of...
- 3/26/2021
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Craig Miller will receive the WGA West’s 2020 Animation Writers Caucus Animation Writing Award in recognition of his distinguished career and contributions to the animation field. The award will be presented by his longtime collaborator, comic book writer Marv Wolman, at the Caucus’ virtual awards ceremony on Tuesday.
Miller, who chairs the Caucus, has more than 300 credits to his name, including The Smurfs, Curious George, and Pocket Dragon Adventures.
“In his long distinguished career, Craig has been a tireless advocate for the writers of animation, working diligently to get writers like himself covered under a WGA contract,” the guild said. “The WGA West board of directors is proud and honored to give him this well-deserved award.”
Miller started his career in Hollywood as a publicity executive, working as a consultant to Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Disney and Universal. He worked alongside George Lucas, Jim Henson and numerous others on a long...
Miller, who chairs the Caucus, has more than 300 credits to his name, including The Smurfs, Curious George, and Pocket Dragon Adventures.
“In his long distinguished career, Craig has been a tireless advocate for the writers of animation, working diligently to get writers like himself covered under a WGA contract,” the guild said. “The WGA West board of directors is proud and honored to give him this well-deserved award.”
Miller started his career in Hollywood as a publicity executive, working as a consultant to Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Disney and Universal. He worked alongside George Lucas, Jim Henson and numerous others on a long...
- 11/23/2020
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Fans were taken by surprise when it was announced at DC FanDome that a live-action Static Shock movie is now in early development, and that it’ll be a theatrical venture, not something made for HBO Max.
It was unexpected, sure, but certainly came as welcome news and while there’s still no word on casting or plot details, The Hollywood Reporter brings word tonight that none other than Michael B. Jordan will be producing the project through Outlier Society, his Warner Bros.-based banner.
Again, no word on who’ll star in the feature, but speaking about his excitement to be involved, here’s what the actor shared:
“I’m proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around black superheroes; our community deserves that. Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner...
It was unexpected, sure, but certainly came as welcome news and while there’s still no word on casting or plot details, The Hollywood Reporter brings word tonight that none other than Michael B. Jordan will be producing the project through Outlier Society, his Warner Bros.-based banner.
Again, no word on who’ll star in the feature, but speaking about his excitement to be involved, here’s what the actor shared:
“I’m proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around black superheroes; our community deserves that. Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner...
- 10/16/2020
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
Michael B. Jordan will produce a movie based on DC Comics’ “Static Shock,” according to an individual with knowledge of the project. Jordan will produce via Outlier Society, his Warners-based banner.
Jordan joins Reginald Hudlin on the project that was first revealed during August’s DC FanDome event.
“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” said Hudlin. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”
Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T.
Jordan joins Reginald Hudlin on the project that was first revealed during August’s DC FanDome event.
“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” said Hudlin. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”
Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T.
- 10/16/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
DC’s Milestone revival kicked off at FanDome earlier this month, with the promise of new and old material returning the beloved characters to comics. And at the second stage of FanDome, they followed through, with the release of Milestone Returns #0, free to read only during the digital convention. Now, they’re fulfilling another stage of that promise: Hardware and Icon are being published digitally for the first time ever.
This week saw the release of Hardware: The Man in the Machine, the first volume of Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan and J.J. Birch’s origin/revenge tale about genius inventor Curt Metcalf, on ComiXology and other digital platforms. And over the next two weeks, the first two volumes of Icon (A Hero’s Welcome and The Mothership Connection), from M.D. Bright and McDuffie, will go on sale online as well.
These three collections were made available to read...
This week saw the release of Hardware: The Man in the Machine, the first volume of Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan and J.J. Birch’s origin/revenge tale about genius inventor Curt Metcalf, on ComiXology and other digital platforms. And over the next two weeks, the first two volumes of Icon (A Hero’s Welcome and The Mothership Connection), from M.D. Bright and McDuffie, will go on sale online as well.
These three collections were made available to read...
- 9/30/2020
- by Jim Dandy
- Den of Geek
A movie based on DC Comics’ “Static Shock” is being put into development, filmmaker Reginald Hudlin said at DC Fandome on Saturday.
“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” said Hudlin. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”
Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle, African-American teenager Virgil Ovid Hawkins becomes a new kind of hero, named Static, after exposure to a radioactive chemical renders him capable of electromagnetic control and generation.
“One of the things we’re really excited about, we really want to live up to the name of the company, Milestone Media,” said Hudlin. “When we spoke to Jim [Lee] about reviving the Milestone line, we said ‘Look, we all know this has been a hit comic book and hit animated series. It’s time to expand back into all those areas and then some.’ So we’re in serious conversations about, as we’re launching the comic book series, developing the ‘Static Shock’ movie. That will be a theatrical feature film.”
Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and Derek T. Dingle, African-American teenager Virgil Ovid Hawkins becomes a new kind of hero, named Static, after exposure to a radioactive chemical renders him capable of electromagnetic control and generation.
- 8/23/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Good news, Static fans! During a surprise Milestone Comics panel as part of the DC FanDome digital event, fan-favorite Black Panther writer Reginald Hudlin teased that the company was developing a Static Shock movie based on the beloved comic book character.
While Hudlin didn’t have much more to say other than the fact that the film was “in development,” this was still one of the most exciting reveals in a day packed with massive moments. Not only will Milestone Comics be relaunching under DC Comics in February, with a new Static Ogn as well as a new digital-first series no less, but there is a good chance that we’ll finally get to see Static come to the big screen. Created by the original Milestone founders Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek Dingle, the Black teen superhero found a massive fanbase in both comics readers and young...
While Hudlin didn’t have much more to say other than the fact that the film was “in development,” this was still one of the most exciting reveals in a day packed with massive moments. Not only will Milestone Comics be relaunching under DC Comics in February, with a new Static Ogn as well as a new digital-first series no less, but there is a good chance that we’ll finally get to see Static come to the big screen. Created by the original Milestone founders Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis, and Derek Dingle, the Black teen superhero found a massive fanbase in both comics readers and young...
- 8/23/2020
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Fans were guessing we’d get at least one new movie announcement at DC FanDome and that expectation proved to be correct. One mystery spot on the schedule for Saturday’s virtual event was only labelled as Surprise DC Comics Panel. When it kicked off, we discovered it was for Milestone Comics, the previously defunct DC label dedicated to African-American characters, like Static Shock.
Along with the reveal that Milestone is coming back to the comics world, it was unveiled that a live-action movie is in early development based on arguably the line’s most iconic hero. Filmmaker Reginald Hudlin stated during the panel that there have been “serious conversations” at Warner Bros. about bringing the electro-powered teen to the silver screen in the near future. He also confirmed that it would be a theatrical venture and not something aimed at HBO Max.
Static Shock is the common alter ego of 16-year-old Virgil Hawkins,...
Along with the reveal that Milestone is coming back to the comics world, it was unveiled that a live-action movie is in early development based on arguably the line’s most iconic hero. Filmmaker Reginald Hudlin stated during the panel that there have been “serious conversations” at Warner Bros. about bringing the electro-powered teen to the silver screen in the near future. He also confirmed that it would be a theatrical venture and not something aimed at HBO Max.
Static Shock is the common alter ego of 16-year-old Virgil Hawkins,...
- 8/22/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Fans tuning in to the DC FanDome Hall of Heroes received unexpected and welcome news today, courtesy of a surprise panel announcing the return of Milestone to DC publishing.
Moderator Marc Bernardin and DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee were joined by Milestone partner/producer Reggie Hudlin and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, along with Phil Lamarr, the iconic voice of the Static Shock animated series.
The panelists discussed the origins and history of this groundbreaking imprint, the indelible impact, and legacy of Milestone co-founder, Dwayne McDuffie. Hudlin also discussed plans to create multimedia opportunities spotlighting Milestone characters, including feature films, animated movies and podcasts
Milestone’s return to publishing will be led by an all-new Static Shock digital comic series scheduled for February 2021. Future offerings will include a Static Shock original graphic novel written by Hudlin with art by Kyle Baker, plus the return of Milestone heroes Icon & Rocket,...
Moderator Marc Bernardin and DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee were joined by Milestone partner/producer Reggie Hudlin and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan, along with Phil Lamarr, the iconic voice of the Static Shock animated series.
The panelists discussed the origins and history of this groundbreaking imprint, the indelible impact, and legacy of Milestone co-founder, Dwayne McDuffie. Hudlin also discussed plans to create multimedia opportunities spotlighting Milestone characters, including feature films, animated movies and podcasts
Milestone’s return to publishing will be led by an all-new Static Shock digital comic series scheduled for February 2021. Future offerings will include a Static Shock original graphic novel written by Hudlin with art by Kyle Baker, plus the return of Milestone heroes Icon & Rocket,...
- 8/22/2020
- by ComicMix Staff
- Comicmix.com
Written by Various | Art by Various | Published by DC Comics
DC character 80th anniversaries are the gift that keep on giving for everyone. For fans like me, these Specials have been fantastic. For creators, a chance to do a stand-alone tale from a specific era, or for a creator with a long history with that character a chance to go home again. Obviously for DC, those balance sheets should look decent too. Green Lantern’s 80th is slightly different, in that there have been many Green Lantern’s down the years. The most famous, Hal Jordan, didn’t appear until the dawn of the Silver Age in the 1950’s, so DC are cheating a little here, as it’s really the 80th anniversary of the original Green Lantern himself, Alan Scott. My favourite Justice Society of America member, as it happens, but probably not a guy to carry a 100 page book by himself.
DC character 80th anniversaries are the gift that keep on giving for everyone. For fans like me, these Specials have been fantastic. For creators, a chance to do a stand-alone tale from a specific era, or for a creator with a long history with that character a chance to go home again. Obviously for DC, those balance sheets should look decent too. Green Lantern’s 80th is slightly different, in that there have been many Green Lantern’s down the years. The most famous, Hal Jordan, didn’t appear until the dawn of the Silver Age in the 1950’s, so DC are cheating a little here, as it’s really the 80th anniversary of the original Green Lantern himself, Alan Scott. My favourite Justice Society of America member, as it happens, but probably not a guy to carry a 100 page book by himself.
- 6/26/2020
- by Dean Fuller
- Nerdly
No celebration of the history of Green Lantern would be complete without acknowledging Dwayne McDuffie. McDuffie was a titan in both the comic book and animation industries before he passed in 2011, co-founding Milestone Comics and helping turn Milestone character Static into a successful, beloved Saturday morning cartoon (Static Shock), among a myriad of other accomplishments in both mediums.
But to many superhero fans, McDuffie’s most iconic work was on Justice League Unlimited, the massively popular cartoon expansion of the Batman: The Animated Series universe. It was there that McDuffie paired John Stewart and Hawkgirl in what became a definitive romantic pairing for a generation of DC superhero fans. To honor his work with Stewart, Charlotte Fullerton McDuffie, his widow, and ChrisCross, his friend and former artistic collaborator, got together to jam out a John/Shayera story for June’s Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular.
“I specifically asked if...
But to many superhero fans, McDuffie’s most iconic work was on Justice League Unlimited, the massively popular cartoon expansion of the Batman: The Animated Series universe. It was there that McDuffie paired John Stewart and Hawkgirl in what became a definitive romantic pairing for a generation of DC superhero fans. To honor his work with Stewart, Charlotte Fullerton McDuffie, his widow, and ChrisCross, his friend and former artistic collaborator, got together to jam out a John/Shayera story for June’s Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Spectacular.
“I specifically asked if...
- 5/26/2020
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
You might think that at some point we’re going to run out of comic book superheroes. Fortunately, you would be super wrong, because there’s a hell of a lot more in the world of comics than the Avengers and Justice League. And just in the last couple of weeks projects based on Rob Leifeld’s “Prophet” and Scott Lodbell’s “Ball and Chain” were announced. So here are 13 heroes we think are long overdue for the live action film treatment, from fan favorites to cult classics. Hollywood, use your Covid-19 free time and get on this now.
1. Richard Rider (Nova)
Rider is the most famous member of Nova Corps, the intergalactic cops seen in 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” — think of them as Marvel’s version of the Green Lanterns. In comics he’s crossed paths with the Guardians, Captain Marvel and Thor over the years — in other...
1. Richard Rider (Nova)
Rider is the most famous member of Nova Corps, the intergalactic cops seen in 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” — think of them as Marvel’s version of the Green Lanterns. In comics he’s crossed paths with the Guardians, Captain Marvel and Thor over the years — in other...
- 5/19/2020
- by Umberto Gonzalez and Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Milestone Media’s best-known character, Static, is back in the third volume of his animated adventures after the release of the first two seasons last year. Static Shock was somewhat revolutionary back in the day, featuring an African-American teen super-hero who juggled classes, girls, villains, and parents, not all that dissimilar to a certain wall-crawler. The comic was long gone, but he left a mark.
Virgil Hawkins (Phil Lamarr) arrived for the Static Shock the Complete Third Season sporting a brand new costume and during the season, his Bff Richie (Jason Marsden) gained powers, taking on the name Gear. Throughout the thirteen episodes comprising the series, which aired in the Kids’ WB, he left the confines of Dakota and journeyed to Africa and even partnered with Superman after fighting alongside the Justice League.
It helped that there were strong scripts from Milestone co-founder Dwayne McDuffie, backed by Paul Dini, Len Uhley,...
Virgil Hawkins (Phil Lamarr) arrived for the Static Shock the Complete Third Season sporting a brand new costume and during the season, his Bff Richie (Jason Marsden) gained powers, taking on the name Gear. Throughout the thirteen episodes comprising the series, which aired in the Kids’ WB, he left the confines of Dakota and journeyed to Africa and even partnered with Superman after fighting alongside the Justice League.
It helped that there were strong scripts from Milestone co-founder Dwayne McDuffie, backed by Paul Dini, Len Uhley,...
- 2/5/2018
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
I’ve said many times no one was more Milestone than Dwayne McDuffie. Denys Cowan’s larger than life idea created the company. Dwayne showed up with the details for that idea.
Milestone has made an impact on the comics world to be sure. Most would say comics have had an impact on the world and I would agree.
Just as no one was more Milestone than Dwayne, there was no one more ‘comics’ than Len Wein. That may be my opinion, but I defy anyone who knew Len to prove me wrong. Comics at their best induce moments where you’re living within the world you’re reading about. As an adult, if you’re lucky that feeling will last a few minutes if you achieve it at all.
As a child, those moments lasted hours maybe even longer depending on your level of interest and in my case your level of pain.
Milestone has made an impact on the comics world to be sure. Most would say comics have had an impact on the world and I would agree.
Just as no one was more Milestone than Dwayne, there was no one more ‘comics’ than Len Wein. That may be my opinion, but I defy anyone who knew Len to prove me wrong. Comics at their best induce moments where you’re living within the world you’re reading about. As an adult, if you’re lucky that feeling will last a few minutes if you achieve it at all.
As a child, those moments lasted hours maybe even longer depending on your level of interest and in my case your level of pain.
- 10/3/2017
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
This past weekend I saw Spider-Man Homecoming with my friend Chap. We went to the theater right by us early in the afternoon on Saturday. It was the best experience I’ve had seeing a Spider-Man movie in theaters since I saw Spider-Man 2 with fellow ComicMix writer Arthur Tebbel back in 2004. That was thirteen years ago.
So much of what makes this movie work is Spider-Man himself. Tom Holland (no relation to Alec Holland, a.k.a. Swamp Thing) manages to nail playing both a boy with a superhero physique with enough awkward mannerisms to make it totally believable that he would be perceived as big nerd even by nerd science school standards. He handles the social anxiety and doubt of a teenage Peter Parker better than just about anyone else I’d seen play it or write it. Tom Holland approaches the character with a neediness, desperation, love,...
So much of what makes this movie work is Spider-Man himself. Tom Holland (no relation to Alec Holland, a.k.a. Swamp Thing) manages to nail playing both a boy with a superhero physique with enough awkward mannerisms to make it totally believable that he would be perceived as big nerd even by nerd science school standards. He handles the social anxiety and doubt of a teenage Peter Parker better than just about anyone else I’d seen play it or write it. Tom Holland approaches the character with a neediness, desperation, love,...
- 7/11/2017
- by Joe Corallo
- Comicmix.com
James Hunt Jul 5, 2017
We take a look at the questions that Spider-Man: Homecoming leaves behind...
Spider-Man: Homecoming has firmly established the webslinger’s presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a fresh take on Peter Parker and his supporting cast. But like any comic book movie, you might still have questions – about who characters are, about whether there were easter eggs you missed, and about what happened. Here, we’ll do our best to clear things up for you.
Spoilers for the entire film follow right after the return of the spoiler squirrel...
What’s Damage Control?
In the McU, as in the comics, Damage Control is an entity that exists specifically to clear up the mess made by superhero battles. Created by Dwayne McDuffie and Ernie Colon in 1988, the company was originally co-owned by Tony Stark and Wilson Fisk, who were the two largest shareholders. It was run, as in the films,...
We take a look at the questions that Spider-Man: Homecoming leaves behind...
Spider-Man: Homecoming has firmly established the webslinger’s presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a fresh take on Peter Parker and his supporting cast. But like any comic book movie, you might still have questions – about who characters are, about whether there were easter eggs you missed, and about what happened. Here, we’ll do our best to clear things up for you.
Spoilers for the entire film follow right after the return of the spoiler squirrel...
What’s Damage Control?
In the McU, as in the comics, Damage Control is an entity that exists specifically to clear up the mess made by superhero battles. Created by Dwayne McDuffie and Ernie Colon in 1988, the company was originally co-owned by Tony Stark and Wilson Fisk, who were the two largest shareholders. It was run, as in the films,...
- 7/5/2017
- Den of Geek
This article processes some hard truths many won’t like.
The first part of this narrative, Milestone Is Dead, got a lot of people talking.
Nothing and I mean nothing in that article was new. I’ve written about what and why I thought the holdup at Milestone was many times. The only thing that was new was the title.
Every move Milestone has made I’ve predicted beforehand, and done so in writing.
But as always put a new spin on an old point, and people see something bright and shiny and want to play with it.
Now people are paying attention.
Paying attention to see whether or not I’m going to throw more shade at my former partners. I didn’t throw any in the first place. I told the truth Milestone 2.0 formed almost seven years ago, and there are no books.
Milestone is dead for four reasons.
The first part of this narrative, Milestone Is Dead, got a lot of people talking.
Nothing and I mean nothing in that article was new. I’ve written about what and why I thought the holdup at Milestone was many times. The only thing that was new was the title.
Every move Milestone has made I’ve predicted beforehand, and done so in writing.
But as always put a new spin on an old point, and people see something bright and shiny and want to play with it.
Now people are paying attention.
Paying attention to see whether or not I’m going to throw more shade at my former partners. I didn’t throw any in the first place. I told the truth Milestone 2.0 formed almost seven years ago, and there are no books.
Milestone is dead for four reasons.
- 6/24/2017
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
This fall The CW may need to consider changing its name to the DC Super Hero Network or something similar with as many super hero shows as it has lined up. Starting with Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl. If that weren't enough, soon they will also launch Black Lightning. As many of us have already seen, they have already released a promo image as well as a trailer for the show. This show as confirmed by the CW President Mark Pedowitz will not be part of the Arrowverse as they are not looking to make a 5 way crossover, not to mention that while the other shows are produced in Vancouver, Black Lightning is produced in Atlanta. But I think that they will be crossed over at some point. Supergirl wasn't supposed to cross over either but that quickly changed as well all remember. So for now with...
- 6/18/2017
- by Emmanuel Gomez
- LRMonline.com
1993
More than 20 years ago my swagger caused a rift between DC Comics and myself and that caused problems between DC and Milestone.
The pressure was put on Milestone to silence me. Silence me from what you ask? Calling DC Comics on their shit is what.
I gave up a significant income to concentrate on Milestone. DC was in breach of my deal, and as a result, I lived more than a year on my savings waiting for these people to pay me.
I did well, and my lifestyle conveyed that. My wife and I moved three times in just as many years. Our space got more luxurious until I found a loft, so dope (throwback slang it means fucking fantastic) thought I’d never want to leave there.
How dope?
If Milestone wanted to impress anyone those meetings took place in my new loft. That lifestyle was not because of...
More than 20 years ago my swagger caused a rift between DC Comics and myself and that caused problems between DC and Milestone.
The pressure was put on Milestone to silence me. Silence me from what you ask? Calling DC Comics on their shit is what.
I gave up a significant income to concentrate on Milestone. DC was in breach of my deal, and as a result, I lived more than a year on my savings waiting for these people to pay me.
I did well, and my lifestyle conveyed that. My wife and I moved three times in just as many years. Our space got more luxurious until I found a loft, so dope (throwback slang it means fucking fantastic) thought I’d never want to leave there.
How dope?
If Milestone wanted to impress anyone those meetings took place in my new loft. That lifestyle was not because of...
- 5/21/2017
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Diversity is in the news!
Warner Bros. spent an estimated $145 million on a movie about King Arthur, directed by Guy Ritchie, hoping to have a new tentpole hit like his Sherlock Holmes films. Instead, the movie opened in third place, far behind Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which had already been out for two weeks, and Snatched, starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn.
In other words, a movie based on a male hero of white culture (albeit one with a random but beautiful black man) flopped behind a movie about a multi-racial multi-species space gang and a movie about two women, one of them old enough to have grown children and one of them not conventionally movie-star beautiful.
I’m not here to say that King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, failed because it is not a good movie, or that the two other movies I mentioned here are of higher quality.
Warner Bros. spent an estimated $145 million on a movie about King Arthur, directed by Guy Ritchie, hoping to have a new tentpole hit like his Sherlock Holmes films. Instead, the movie opened in third place, far behind Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which had already been out for two weeks, and Snatched, starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn.
In other words, a movie based on a male hero of white culture (albeit one with a random but beautiful black man) flopped behind a movie about a multi-racial multi-species space gang and a movie about two women, one of them old enough to have grown children and one of them not conventionally movie-star beautiful.
I’m not here to say that King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, failed because it is not a good movie, or that the two other movies I mentioned here are of higher quality.
- 5/19/2017
- by Martha Thomases
- Comicmix.com
“What we heard was that people didn’t want any more diversity. They didn’t want female characters out there. That’s what we heard, whether we believe that or not.” Marvel VP of Sales David Gabriel, Marvel Retailer Summit, March 2017
“Let’s find a place they say, somewhere far away, With no blacks, no Jews and no gays” The Machine, Lyrics from There But For The Grace Of God, Go I, Dec 1979
“Now the big publishing guns are on this diversity thing, but for how long? Think it’s going to last? It won’t. It won’t because it’s a trend, a ploy. It’s a stunt. This, my friend, is nothing but business.” Michael Davis, Bleeding Cool, Feb 2015
Just as I predicted the fate of comic’s only true diversity architect, Milestone Media, I said the current diversity bug would go away. I did not think...
“Let’s find a place they say, somewhere far away, With no blacks, no Jews and no gays” The Machine, Lyrics from There But For The Grace Of God, Go I, Dec 1979
“Now the big publishing guns are on this diversity thing, but for how long? Think it’s going to last? It won’t. It won’t because it’s a trend, a ploy. It’s a stunt. This, my friend, is nothing but business.” Michael Davis, Bleeding Cool, Feb 2015
Just as I predicted the fate of comic’s only true diversity architect, Milestone Media, I said the current diversity bug would go away. I did not think...
- 4/18/2017
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
“What we heard was that people didn’t want any more diversity. They didn’t want female characters out there. That’s what we heard, whether we believe that or not.” Marvel VP of Sales David Gabriel, Marvel Retailer Summit, March 2017
“Let’s find a place they say, somewhere far away, With no blacks, no Jews and no gays” The Machine, Lyrics from There But For The Grace Of God, Go I, Dec 1979
“Now the big publishing guns are on this diversity thing, but for how long? Think it’s going to last? It won’t. It won’t because it’s a trend, a ploy. It’s a stunt. This, my friend, is nothing but business.” Michael Davis, Bleeding Cool, Feb 2015
Just as I predicted the fate of comic’s only true diversity architect, Milestone Media, I said the current diversity bug would go away. I did not think...
“Let’s find a place they say, somewhere far away, With no blacks, no Jews and no gays” The Machine, Lyrics from There But For The Grace Of God, Go I, Dec 1979
“Now the big publishing guns are on this diversity thing, but for how long? Think it’s going to last? It won’t. It won’t because it’s a trend, a ploy. It’s a stunt. This, my friend, is nothing but business.” Michael Davis, Bleeding Cool, Feb 2015
Just as I predicted the fate of comic’s only true diversity architect, Milestone Media, I said the current diversity bug would go away. I did not think...
- 4/18/2017
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Animated fare was very slow to integrate, largely because there was a paucity of useful source material to mine from. In the 1990s, that began to change, largely thanks to Milestone Media, a multicultural operation that had a line of comics distributed through DC Comics.
Milestone’s best known character is Static, a young urban teen with a definite modern-day Peter Parker vibe to him. Virgil Hawkins just wanted live his life when he was accidentally exposed to mutagen gas, giving him electromagnetic powers. Donning a self-made outfit, he protected his corner of the ‘Hood as Static.
The show arrived in 2000 with a bang and became a cause because it not only featured a positive image of a black male, but closely resembled the source material thanks to Milestone co-creators Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan being heavily involved in the show. Static has been back every now and then and...
Milestone’s best known character is Static, a young urban teen with a definite modern-day Peter Parker vibe to him. Virgil Hawkins just wanted live his life when he was accidentally exposed to mutagen gas, giving him electromagnetic powers. Donning a self-made outfit, he protected his corner of the ‘Hood as Static.
The show arrived in 2000 with a bang and became a cause because it not only featured a positive image of a black male, but closely resembled the source material thanks to Milestone co-creators Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan being heavily involved in the show. Static has been back every now and then and...
- 3/29/2017
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Ok, this is a tough one pal. When I started posting here years ago, my idea was to create new roles for minority characters instead of rewriting their ethnicity. This seemed to work well for Vibe, and now Raptor, but aside from them; who else has benefited? (Please answer below.) In Marvel Comics; Ms. Marvel and Miss America have all been cast as minorities now. My hope has always been that the late great Dwayne McDuffie's work would bleed into DC and Marvel, and we would see characters like Static, Icon, and Hardware become a mainstay in our society. The Inhumans have introduced many new minorities, but I feel DC is lacking in this area.
So when Iron Fist was announced, a character that has always been blonde and white, there was a slight controversy that Iron Fist would be a white guy. As it turns out, an Asian-American...
So when Iron Fist was announced, a character that has always been blonde and white, there was a slight controversy that Iron Fist would be a white guy. As it turns out, an Asian-American...
- 3/21/2017
- by Drew Carlton
- LRMonline.com
This past weekend I found myself at a convention once again with Molly Jackson, but now joined by ComicMix’s own Glenn Hauman. It was an island getaway. Sure, it was Long Island, but it was still technically a getaway so I’m sticking to it.
The convention in question was I-con, and no, it is not a convention dedicated to the superhero Icon of Milestone Media fame, but he should really be used more over at DC and his original run written by Dwayne McDuffie and penciled by M. D. Bright should be collected in its entirely as it has never been before.
I-con is a long running non-profit science fiction, fact, and fantasy convention. This show was billed as I-con 32, but the convention was on hiatus after I-con 31 in 2012. This new iteration debuted at a new location, Suffolk Community College.
Having grown up on Long Island, I had...
The convention in question was I-con, and no, it is not a convention dedicated to the superhero Icon of Milestone Media fame, but he should really be used more over at DC and his original run written by Dwayne McDuffie and penciled by M. D. Bright should be collected in its entirely as it has never been before.
I-con is a long running non-profit science fiction, fact, and fantasy convention. This show was billed as I-con 32, but the convention was on hiatus after I-con 31 in 2012. This new iteration debuted at a new location, Suffolk Community College.
Having grown up on Long Island, I had...
- 3/21/2017
- by Joe Corallo
- Comicmix.com
Today we celebrate the birthdays of two great Americans.
I realize for many celebrating on a day called President’s Day is now just a day to be off work.
The current President of the United States is all the reason some need to never celebrate on President’s day again. How can some support the racist comments and actions coming from the now leader of the free world?
No idea, but many seem embolden by these activities – including the hotel I’d thought was making a change for the better.
Maybe what’s wrong with America is we keep looking for what’s wrong with America.
I try to look at what’s right and work to make what isn’t so.
A bit over a year ago I was thrown out of a Hilton in Orange County California for what can only be a racist reason. I gave...
I realize for many celebrating on a day called President’s Day is now just a day to be off work.
The current President of the United States is all the reason some need to never celebrate on President’s day again. How can some support the racist comments and actions coming from the now leader of the free world?
No idea, but many seem embolden by these activities – including the hotel I’d thought was making a change for the better.
Maybe what’s wrong with America is we keep looking for what’s wrong with America.
I try to look at what’s right and work to make what isn’t so.
A bit over a year ago I was thrown out of a Hilton in Orange County California for what can only be a racist reason. I gave...
- 2/20/2017
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
In recent years, Greg Berlanti has become a huge name in television thanks to his adaptation of comic book characters and his ability to both please the casual viewer and to satisfy the hardcore comic fan. The man has given us Arrow, Flash, Legends Of Tomorrow, and Supergirl to appease our comic addictions, and recently Fox signed him on to helm Black Lightning.
After watching the CBS Supergirl and Flash network crossover, we had high hopes of Black Lightning electrifying Barry Allen's (The Flash) world, and perhaps there was a way to tie in the Speedforce (the cosmic force that gives The Flash his powers) to Black Lightning's own skill-set.
When Berlanti was recently asked about a crossover and he gave a disappointing reply (via Cbr).
"I don’t think so, if we’re lucky enough that that exists, that that show exists, I don’t think those worlds will cross over.
After watching the CBS Supergirl and Flash network crossover, we had high hopes of Black Lightning electrifying Barry Allen's (The Flash) world, and perhaps there was a way to tie in the Speedforce (the cosmic force that gives The Flash his powers) to Black Lightning's own skill-set.
When Berlanti was recently asked about a crossover and he gave a disappointing reply (via Cbr).
"I don’t think so, if we’re lucky enough that that exists, that that show exists, I don’t think those worlds will cross over.
- 1/9/2017
- by Drew Carlton
- LRMonline.com
Please read the first two installments in the series if you have not done so.
From Dream Killer 2:
Full discloser: For two decades I was not welcome at DC.
“What did you do?” I’ve gotten that question countless times. “What did they do?” Not as many have asked, but more than a few. What’s the difference between those who ask the first question as opposed to the second?
And why and how despite being blackballed by one of the big two was I able to not only survive in the industry but thrive?
What did I do? I refused to accept unjust treatment and called attention to it often. That was my right.
What did they do? They got fed up with dealing with me. That was their right.
I haven’t any idea rather or not I’m welcome at DC Comics these days. The perception...
From Dream Killer 2:
Full discloser: For two decades I was not welcome at DC.
“What did you do?” I’ve gotten that question countless times. “What did they do?” Not as many have asked, but more than a few. What’s the difference between those who ask the first question as opposed to the second?
And why and how despite being blackballed by one of the big two was I able to not only survive in the industry but thrive?
What did I do? I refused to accept unjust treatment and called attention to it often. That was my right.
What did they do? They got fed up with dealing with me. That was their right.
I haven’t any idea rather or not I’m welcome at DC Comics these days. The perception...
- 10/19/2016
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
The Dream Killer series continues next week.
I was attending The Pratt Institute and needed all the bank I could get. Pratt’s one of the world’s great art schools and cheap it was not. I had to come up with most of the tuition because no one talked to me about how financial aid went away if grades fall below a C.
I was a poor black kid from the projects talks like that rarely happen in inner cities. Those lucky enough to raise above our assigned station in life have to fend for ourselves. Our talks revolve around staying away from drugs, gangs, and cops.
American families middle class or above think nothing of seemingly little things like dad or mom talking to them at dinner about their college life.
Mum: My dear sweet Reginal you’ve many things to look forward to while at college!
Reginal:...
I was attending The Pratt Institute and needed all the bank I could get. Pratt’s one of the world’s great art schools and cheap it was not. I had to come up with most of the tuition because no one talked to me about how financial aid went away if grades fall below a C.
I was a poor black kid from the projects talks like that rarely happen in inner cities. Those lucky enough to raise above our assigned station in life have to fend for ourselves. Our talks revolve around staying away from drugs, gangs, and cops.
American families middle class or above think nothing of seemingly little things like dad or mom talking to them at dinner about their college life.
Mum: My dear sweet Reginal you’ve many things to look forward to while at college!
Reginal:...
- 10/14/2016
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
This was written for Bleeding Cool and a version of it will appear there. I decided a while ago not to run the same article on both Bleeding Cool and ComicMix. Two different audiences is not the reason I write individual articles for each website. My voice remains the same regardless.
I write a different column for each because it’s an honor to write for each and both deserve an original effort from me. That is unless I happen upon a subject that I think is important enough to share on both.
Like… this one.
When I’m absent for lengthy periods of time, I feel it’s my responsibly to give you an explanation. I try to write what my readers will have a response to and not just what gets my goat. That doesn’t always work, but I do attempt to step back and breath a...
I write a different column for each because it’s an honor to write for each and both deserve an original effort from me. That is unless I happen upon a subject that I think is important enough to share on both.
Like… this one.
When I’m absent for lengthy periods of time, I feel it’s my responsibly to give you an explanation. I try to write what my readers will have a response to and not just what gets my goat. That doesn’t always work, but I do attempt to step back and breath a...
- 9/9/2016
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Lisa K. Weber (Hex Comix)
A fantastic comic book series will kick off its second arc on July 20th called Hex11 published by Hex Comix. This book is scripted by Kelly Sue Milano and the Artwork is done by Lisa K. Weber. Here is a brief description of the book as stated on their website www.hexcomix.com :
HEX11 is the epic story of one young witch living in a futuristic dystopia where magic has been discovered as a new technology. When she stumbles on a firefight between a demon mercenary and a black market magic dealer, she finds herself in the center of a sinister corporate conspiracy.
Ellie (our heroine in this book) has gone through quite a bit in the first volume, and it looks like she will not only be fighting a visible enemy but an invisible one that seems to lurk inside of her trying...
A fantastic comic book series will kick off its second arc on July 20th called Hex11 published by Hex Comix. This book is scripted by Kelly Sue Milano and the Artwork is done by Lisa K. Weber. Here is a brief description of the book as stated on their website www.hexcomix.com :
HEX11 is the epic story of one young witch living in a futuristic dystopia where magic has been discovered as a new technology. When she stumbles on a firefight between a demon mercenary and a black market magic dealer, she finds herself in the center of a sinister corporate conspiracy.
Ellie (our heroine in this book) has gone through quite a bit in the first volume, and it looks like she will not only be fighting a visible enemy but an invisible one that seems to lurk inside of her trying...
- 7/13/2016
- by Emmanuel Gomez
- LRMonline.com
I’m done.
I’m So done trying to help anyone do anything.
I’m done with the Black Panel, the Bad Boy Studio mentor program, and Dream City my free management company.
Don’t know any of my work? Here.
My disdain started when a rumor damn near became fact. The rumor spreading like a Donald Trump lie was that Milestone stole their business plan from Brotherman. It damn near broke my heart.
But then, the show of support for Milestone was overwhelming!
I could hardly contain my tears of joy so much was the love I felt from the thousands of fans who stood by us. So with all the love shown us why was this the beginning of the end for me?
Because there was no love, the above paragraph was an invention just like the rumor.
Instead of love many, some thought to be friends, jumped...
I’m So done trying to help anyone do anything.
I’m done with the Black Panel, the Bad Boy Studio mentor program, and Dream City my free management company.
Don’t know any of my work? Here.
My disdain started when a rumor damn near became fact. The rumor spreading like a Donald Trump lie was that Milestone stole their business plan from Brotherman. It damn near broke my heart.
But then, the show of support for Milestone was overwhelming!
I could hardly contain my tears of joy so much was the love I felt from the thousands of fans who stood by us. So with all the love shown us why was this the beginning of the end for me?
Because there was no love, the above paragraph was an invention just like the rumor.
Instead of love many, some thought to be friends, jumped...
- 6/28/2016
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
I was 16, coming home on the subway from a party in Manhattan. It was 2 or so in the morning, and I was on the A train. Regardless of what romantic notion you may have of the A train because of Duke Ellington’s immortal song “Take the A Train,” that train is the last place you want to be at 2 in the morning.
What took my situation from bad-to-worse, the A train is (or was, this was 30 plus years ago) a local at that time in the morning. For those of you who deprived of the sheer delight – or utter dread – of an NYC subway ride, a local train stops at all stations on the line.
No matter where I boarded, I was going to the end of the line.
The “end of the line” on the A train on two occasions was not just my destination, but nearly a bad New York Post headline. One night while waiting for the A train I was stabbed during an attempted mugging. Another time while trying to defend a young white girl some thug put a gun to my forehead, pulled the trigger, but his gun jammed.
For asking him to be cool, I almost get shot in the head.
Take the A train? No. The Duke, a musical genius? Yes. Giver of great advice? No.
On this particular early morning, I was sitting alone with my feet up on another seat. My feet were up for a couple of reasons; the first was so I could look hard. Hard in a “do not mess with me because I’m hard and may have a weapon on me because I’m hard” kind of way.
The second reason my feet were placed on the seat next to mine was to discourage people from sitting there. Before the Rudy Giuliani era in New York, the subway was a Mecca for the homeless, and you don’t want a New York City homeless person sitting next to you.
After all these years I’m now a bleeding heart liberal, and I feel for those less fortunate than I. These days’ homeless people sadden me.
That’s these days.
At 16 what I felt for the homeless was an evident scorn. I may have felt that way because my mother, sister and I were truly just a grandmother and a paycheck away from being homeless ourselves. That perhaps hardened my heart towards homeless people. Maybe I didn’t want to be reminded that there for the grace of God go I… yada, yadda, yadda…bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, yadda, yadda and yadda.
I’m not that deep now, and I certainly was not that deep at 16.
The real reason I did not want a homeless person sitting next to me is that they stank.
You have not smelled stank until you smell an NYC homeless person. The smell is beyond horrible. Somehow NYC homeless people all manage to stink the same. The smell is indescribably bad to the point you’d almost rather die than get even a small whiff of it.
So, there I was, 16 years old at 2 in the morning riding the A train trying my best to look hard so a smelly homeless person would not sit next to me and force me to deal with my mortality.
At the Howard Beach stop a black man in his mid 20s boards the train. He made a beeline right to me even though there were plenty of empty seats. “Can I sit here?” He asked very nicely. I moved my feet so he could sit down. Frankly I was glad he asked because the train was waiting at the Howard Beach stop for some reason or another and since we were the only two black people on the train at that point I welcomed the company.
Howard Beach was known as hardcore crazy white boy territory during the time I grew up. In 1986 a young black man was beaten to death by a mob of white boys in a racially motivated attack. There have been incidents before and since. Black people knew not to mess with those crazy white boys in Howard Beach and not just because of racist attitudes there.
Howard Beach was also the home of John Gotti, the then-head of the Gambino crime family. I don’t like fish, so the idea of sleeping with them was not one that appealed to me. This was a place where African Americans had better fear to tread. I did indeed welcome this guy’s company because clearly we were on enemy ground.
Brandon was his name, and we clicked immediately. That may have been because we were both keenly aware that any minute a gang of crazy white boys could board the train and lynch us both. Our getting along so fast, I’m sure, was due to the fact we wanted to present a united front. Both hoping that would give the illusion we were two badass motherfuckers and any lynch mob should think twice about harassing us, strength in numbers and all that.
We sat at Howard Beach for another quarter hour when the doors finally closed and we could relax a little. The next stop was Broad Channel. Broad Channel was not nearly as bad as Howard Beach – it was more akin to crazy white boys lite, but still crazy white boys.
I realize I’m throwing “crazy white boys” around a lot. Back when I was 16 “crazy white boys” were my mindset and referring to white people in an all-white neighborhood where black people feared to tread was how I saw things.
After Broad Channel was the beginning of the hood, so Brandon and I needed just to chill (chill means just to be calm, but you knew that from reruns of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, didn’t you?) until the perceived danger was past. Broad Channel came and went as did our gangster conversation.
Brandon asked where I was getting off, and I told him. Beach 60th Street. “You want to come hang at my house?” Brandon inquired. That made me a bit uncomfortable. The Howard Beach threat over, I now returned to my general suspicions of those not from my hood.
“I’ve got stuff I’ve got to do at home,” I said. Yeah, I had to get into my bed and give the impression that I was home all night before my mother got in from working the midnight to 8 in the morning shift at the nursing home this after she had the 3 in the afternoon to 11 at another job. She would be in no mood to lecture me or even hit me, after her 16 plus hour day she would go straight to the .38 and shoot me.
I couldn’t come out and say to Brandon “my mommy would kill me if I’m not home” that did not fit my hard-core persona.
“Come on. We can have some real fun.” Brandon said, his hand now on my leg. That hand was slowly but steadily creeping up. He seemed to be talking in a much softer voice and was smiling in a strange way.
Where had I seen that kind of smile before? Shit, I know where! I’ve seen it on me whenever I happened to glance in a mirror while alone in my room with some Vaseline and a Penthouse magazine.
Now I get it!
Brandon was a faggot and he wanted to ravish my young sexiness. Yeah, I said the ‘F’ word, I was 16, remember? Unfortunately, that was my mindset then.
Brandon still had his hand on my leg, and it was still creeping up. “What the fuck are you doing?” I said, trying to sound real hard. I wanted to look thuggish, but I was scared, so my voice rose and I sounded like I girl.
Not just any girl. Shirley Temple. So, imagine Shirley Temple saying “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Come on; it’s cool.” He responded even more softly than before. “Get your motherfucking hands off me, faggot!” screamed Shirley Temple. I was hoping, this time, he could see I was pissed and back off.
Nope. He squeezed my crouch. I guess he was into hardcore black boys from the hood with Shirley Temple voices. Then again, who isn’t?
I leaned back as far as I could on the seat and kicked him squarely in the chest. I wanted to kick him in his face but felt at the last moment if I leaned back any further I would have fallen off my seat. I hit him so hard he fell off his seat landed on the floor his head slamming against the subway floor. I may have sounded like Shirley Temple, but I kicked like Bruce Lee.
“Motherfucker, I’m not a goddamn faggot!” I shrieked at the top of my Shirley Temple lungs while looking to land my next kick right between his good ship lollipops. Brandon sat up his hands in front of him making a “no more” gesture. He looked up at me and said “Jesus, man what is your problem?”
It was with that I realized most of what I thought was going on, wasn’t. His hand was on my leg, but it wasn’t slowly but steadily creeping up. He did not grab my crouch nor had his voiced gotten softer. I had turned an innocent most likely accidental touch into a full on man rape in my mind.
So absorbed in my own horribly tainted view of the world I had imagined this was what was on his mind. To make matters as worse as they could be I then kicked away any guilt I felt at being wrong by responding; “Get the fuck away me.”
That was over 30 years ago. Today I would never use the ‘F’ word to describe a gay person. I hate to use the cliché some of my best friends are gay, but… some of my best friends are gay. My attitude towards gay people changed when I changed high schools in the 11th grade. My new school, the High School of Art & Design, had a diverse student body and being gay there was not a big deal at all. But being stupid was.
Stupid I was when I said something so gross my first week at Art & Design it could have tainted my entire time there. It was a gay guy named Frank who saved my ass by laughing at an insult giving the impression to everybody present I was making a joke. I wasn’t and Frank knew I was wasn’t. He whispered “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Michael, grow up.”
Thank god, I did.
After meeting and getting to know many gay people in my new school it dawned on me that they were no different than I was. They just happened to like sex with the same gender. Hell, in high school outside my loving relationship with the girls of Penthouse I was not having any sex at all, so they were one up on me.
Accepting gay people, having grown up in the severe anti-gay atmosphere of a black housing project was not as hard as you would imagine for me. My mother had a “no prejudice” rule in our home. Remarkable when you know just how dreadfully bad her encounters were with racists growing up.
Changing my position on gay people wasn’t hard, but it was still a huge deal for me because of my environment. It represented the first of many sea changes for me in my existence.
When I was not in school, I was still a resident of Edgemere projects in Far Rockaway Queens, which at the time was well on its way to being one of the worst projects in New York.
I was living a double life, and I intended to keep it that way. There was no way in Hell I would have ever acknowledged that I no longer found gay people repulsive to anyone in Edgemere.
Oh no, that would certainly not do. Why not stand up for my beliefs?
In the African American community where I grew up, there was little love for individuals who accept gay people. I may as well have stood up for and proudly proclaimed the Klan as the greatest group since The Temptations. Repealing my position on gay people would have gotten me branded as such, my ass kicked or worse in Edgemere.
At 16, noble I was not. No longer being able to participate in any reindeer games would have had a profound effect on me. It did not occur to me till much later that may have been a good thing.
I don’t want to give the impression that all black people I grew up with condemned the gay lifestyle, not the case at all. Many saw gay people as having every right as anyone else. But even today unfortunately among some in the African American community I’m in the minority, at odds with those, still light years if not eons away from embracing gay people at least in public.
“I gotta find this guy.”
Dwayne McDuffie said as he and I searched the corridors of a New York City comics convention in 1992. We were looking for Ivan Velez Jr., the remarkable writer of Tales of the Closet. The book was a look at the high school lives of gay and lesbian students and what they experienced.
Exceptionally written and drawn with a simple yet effective style the book instantly drew me back to A&D and thoughts of Frank and his crew. Ivan is a man of little words outside of what he puts on the page. He’s a big, gentle, quiet soul who lets his work do the talking for him. However, when he feels he has something to say few can match his oratory abilities, so it’s best not to engage him on the wrong side of an issue.
I thought about Frank, Ivan, the creators and fans of Prism Comics and my brother from another mother Andy Mangels when I heard the news of the Orlando massacre. I thought about how it must feel just to want to love who you want and be slaughtered for it.
I thought about how stupid I was at 16 and wondered how on earth some who claim to love their God can commit cold blooded murder on his behalf. I wonder how Donald Trump could brag about predicting another attack then hours later issue a more humane statement and not express his outrage or even mention the Lgbt community then blatantly lie about the murderer being born in Afghanistan.
He wasn’t. He was born in the good old USA.
So was I and as far as I know most of the people at the Pulse nightclub, that night was born here also.
This was an attack on a lifestyle, an attack on America and an attack on freedom everywhere. Yes, it was all that.
It was also an attack on Frank, Ivan, Prism Comics and Andy. It was an attack on my friends. If you fuck with my friends, you fuck with me because unlike some people I know I stand with my friends no matter what.
No matter what.
If you don’t, soon they will come for you. They will because no matter who you are or what you believe in, you’re at risk. If you let this horror go then the next before long knowing you stand for no one but yourself, then those who disagree will know you stand alone.
Malcolm X said a man who will stand for nothing will fall for anything.
And fall you will.
What took my situation from bad-to-worse, the A train is (or was, this was 30 plus years ago) a local at that time in the morning. For those of you who deprived of the sheer delight – or utter dread – of an NYC subway ride, a local train stops at all stations on the line.
No matter where I boarded, I was going to the end of the line.
The “end of the line” on the A train on two occasions was not just my destination, but nearly a bad New York Post headline. One night while waiting for the A train I was stabbed during an attempted mugging. Another time while trying to defend a young white girl some thug put a gun to my forehead, pulled the trigger, but his gun jammed.
For asking him to be cool, I almost get shot in the head.
Take the A train? No. The Duke, a musical genius? Yes. Giver of great advice? No.
On this particular early morning, I was sitting alone with my feet up on another seat. My feet were up for a couple of reasons; the first was so I could look hard. Hard in a “do not mess with me because I’m hard and may have a weapon on me because I’m hard” kind of way.
The second reason my feet were placed on the seat next to mine was to discourage people from sitting there. Before the Rudy Giuliani era in New York, the subway was a Mecca for the homeless, and you don’t want a New York City homeless person sitting next to you.
After all these years I’m now a bleeding heart liberal, and I feel for those less fortunate than I. These days’ homeless people sadden me.
That’s these days.
At 16 what I felt for the homeless was an evident scorn. I may have felt that way because my mother, sister and I were truly just a grandmother and a paycheck away from being homeless ourselves. That perhaps hardened my heart towards homeless people. Maybe I didn’t want to be reminded that there for the grace of God go I… yada, yadda, yadda…bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, yadda, yadda and yadda.
I’m not that deep now, and I certainly was not that deep at 16.
The real reason I did not want a homeless person sitting next to me is that they stank.
You have not smelled stank until you smell an NYC homeless person. The smell is beyond horrible. Somehow NYC homeless people all manage to stink the same. The smell is indescribably bad to the point you’d almost rather die than get even a small whiff of it.
So, there I was, 16 years old at 2 in the morning riding the A train trying my best to look hard so a smelly homeless person would not sit next to me and force me to deal with my mortality.
At the Howard Beach stop a black man in his mid 20s boards the train. He made a beeline right to me even though there were plenty of empty seats. “Can I sit here?” He asked very nicely. I moved my feet so he could sit down. Frankly I was glad he asked because the train was waiting at the Howard Beach stop for some reason or another and since we were the only two black people on the train at that point I welcomed the company.
Howard Beach was known as hardcore crazy white boy territory during the time I grew up. In 1986 a young black man was beaten to death by a mob of white boys in a racially motivated attack. There have been incidents before and since. Black people knew not to mess with those crazy white boys in Howard Beach and not just because of racist attitudes there.
Howard Beach was also the home of John Gotti, the then-head of the Gambino crime family. I don’t like fish, so the idea of sleeping with them was not one that appealed to me. This was a place where African Americans had better fear to tread. I did indeed welcome this guy’s company because clearly we were on enemy ground.
Brandon was his name, and we clicked immediately. That may have been because we were both keenly aware that any minute a gang of crazy white boys could board the train and lynch us both. Our getting along so fast, I’m sure, was due to the fact we wanted to present a united front. Both hoping that would give the illusion we were two badass motherfuckers and any lynch mob should think twice about harassing us, strength in numbers and all that.
We sat at Howard Beach for another quarter hour when the doors finally closed and we could relax a little. The next stop was Broad Channel. Broad Channel was not nearly as bad as Howard Beach – it was more akin to crazy white boys lite, but still crazy white boys.
I realize I’m throwing “crazy white boys” around a lot. Back when I was 16 “crazy white boys” were my mindset and referring to white people in an all-white neighborhood where black people feared to tread was how I saw things.
After Broad Channel was the beginning of the hood, so Brandon and I needed just to chill (chill means just to be calm, but you knew that from reruns of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, didn’t you?) until the perceived danger was past. Broad Channel came and went as did our gangster conversation.
Brandon asked where I was getting off, and I told him. Beach 60th Street. “You want to come hang at my house?” Brandon inquired. That made me a bit uncomfortable. The Howard Beach threat over, I now returned to my general suspicions of those not from my hood.
“I’ve got stuff I’ve got to do at home,” I said. Yeah, I had to get into my bed and give the impression that I was home all night before my mother got in from working the midnight to 8 in the morning shift at the nursing home this after she had the 3 in the afternoon to 11 at another job. She would be in no mood to lecture me or even hit me, after her 16 plus hour day she would go straight to the .38 and shoot me.
I couldn’t come out and say to Brandon “my mommy would kill me if I’m not home” that did not fit my hard-core persona.
“Come on. We can have some real fun.” Brandon said, his hand now on my leg. That hand was slowly but steadily creeping up. He seemed to be talking in a much softer voice and was smiling in a strange way.
Where had I seen that kind of smile before? Shit, I know where! I’ve seen it on me whenever I happened to glance in a mirror while alone in my room with some Vaseline and a Penthouse magazine.
Now I get it!
Brandon was a faggot and he wanted to ravish my young sexiness. Yeah, I said the ‘F’ word, I was 16, remember? Unfortunately, that was my mindset then.
Brandon still had his hand on my leg, and it was still creeping up. “What the fuck are you doing?” I said, trying to sound real hard. I wanted to look thuggish, but I was scared, so my voice rose and I sounded like I girl.
Not just any girl. Shirley Temple. So, imagine Shirley Temple saying “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Come on; it’s cool.” He responded even more softly than before. “Get your motherfucking hands off me, faggot!” screamed Shirley Temple. I was hoping, this time, he could see I was pissed and back off.
Nope. He squeezed my crouch. I guess he was into hardcore black boys from the hood with Shirley Temple voices. Then again, who isn’t?
I leaned back as far as I could on the seat and kicked him squarely in the chest. I wanted to kick him in his face but felt at the last moment if I leaned back any further I would have fallen off my seat. I hit him so hard he fell off his seat landed on the floor his head slamming against the subway floor. I may have sounded like Shirley Temple, but I kicked like Bruce Lee.
“Motherfucker, I’m not a goddamn faggot!” I shrieked at the top of my Shirley Temple lungs while looking to land my next kick right between his good ship lollipops. Brandon sat up his hands in front of him making a “no more” gesture. He looked up at me and said “Jesus, man what is your problem?”
It was with that I realized most of what I thought was going on, wasn’t. His hand was on my leg, but it wasn’t slowly but steadily creeping up. He did not grab my crouch nor had his voiced gotten softer. I had turned an innocent most likely accidental touch into a full on man rape in my mind.
So absorbed in my own horribly tainted view of the world I had imagined this was what was on his mind. To make matters as worse as they could be I then kicked away any guilt I felt at being wrong by responding; “Get the fuck away me.”
That was over 30 years ago. Today I would never use the ‘F’ word to describe a gay person. I hate to use the cliché some of my best friends are gay, but… some of my best friends are gay. My attitude towards gay people changed when I changed high schools in the 11th grade. My new school, the High School of Art & Design, had a diverse student body and being gay there was not a big deal at all. But being stupid was.
Stupid I was when I said something so gross my first week at Art & Design it could have tainted my entire time there. It was a gay guy named Frank who saved my ass by laughing at an insult giving the impression to everybody present I was making a joke. I wasn’t and Frank knew I was wasn’t. He whispered “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Michael, grow up.”
Thank god, I did.
After meeting and getting to know many gay people in my new school it dawned on me that they were no different than I was. They just happened to like sex with the same gender. Hell, in high school outside my loving relationship with the girls of Penthouse I was not having any sex at all, so they were one up on me.
Accepting gay people, having grown up in the severe anti-gay atmosphere of a black housing project was not as hard as you would imagine for me. My mother had a “no prejudice” rule in our home. Remarkable when you know just how dreadfully bad her encounters were with racists growing up.
Changing my position on gay people wasn’t hard, but it was still a huge deal for me because of my environment. It represented the first of many sea changes for me in my existence.
When I was not in school, I was still a resident of Edgemere projects in Far Rockaway Queens, which at the time was well on its way to being one of the worst projects in New York.
I was living a double life, and I intended to keep it that way. There was no way in Hell I would have ever acknowledged that I no longer found gay people repulsive to anyone in Edgemere.
Oh no, that would certainly not do. Why not stand up for my beliefs?
In the African American community where I grew up, there was little love for individuals who accept gay people. I may as well have stood up for and proudly proclaimed the Klan as the greatest group since The Temptations. Repealing my position on gay people would have gotten me branded as such, my ass kicked or worse in Edgemere.
At 16, noble I was not. No longer being able to participate in any reindeer games would have had a profound effect on me. It did not occur to me till much later that may have been a good thing.
I don’t want to give the impression that all black people I grew up with condemned the gay lifestyle, not the case at all. Many saw gay people as having every right as anyone else. But even today unfortunately among some in the African American community I’m in the minority, at odds with those, still light years if not eons away from embracing gay people at least in public.
“I gotta find this guy.”
Dwayne McDuffie said as he and I searched the corridors of a New York City comics convention in 1992. We were looking for Ivan Velez Jr., the remarkable writer of Tales of the Closet. The book was a look at the high school lives of gay and lesbian students and what they experienced.
Exceptionally written and drawn with a simple yet effective style the book instantly drew me back to A&D and thoughts of Frank and his crew. Ivan is a man of little words outside of what he puts on the page. He’s a big, gentle, quiet soul who lets his work do the talking for him. However, when he feels he has something to say few can match his oratory abilities, so it’s best not to engage him on the wrong side of an issue.
I thought about Frank, Ivan, the creators and fans of Prism Comics and my brother from another mother Andy Mangels when I heard the news of the Orlando massacre. I thought about how it must feel just to want to love who you want and be slaughtered for it.
I thought about how stupid I was at 16 and wondered how on earth some who claim to love their God can commit cold blooded murder on his behalf. I wonder how Donald Trump could brag about predicting another attack then hours later issue a more humane statement and not express his outrage or even mention the Lgbt community then blatantly lie about the murderer being born in Afghanistan.
He wasn’t. He was born in the good old USA.
So was I and as far as I know most of the people at the Pulse nightclub, that night was born here also.
This was an attack on a lifestyle, an attack on America and an attack on freedom everywhere. Yes, it was all that.
It was also an attack on Frank, Ivan, Prism Comics and Andy. It was an attack on my friends. If you fuck with my friends, you fuck with me because unlike some people I know I stand with my friends no matter what.
No matter what.
If you don’t, soon they will come for you. They will because no matter who you are or what you believe in, you’re at risk. If you let this horror go then the next before long knowing you stand for no one but yourself, then those who disagree will know you stand alone.
Malcolm X said a man who will stand for nothing will fall for anything.
And fall you will.
- 6/14/2016
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Some weeks ago a Hilton manager made a very big mistake. Once Hilton Corporate realized who and what they were dealing with, I was asked what I wanted. This question, always asked in situations where litigation is an option, is a ploy devised to test you. Your answer determines their resolve, your intelligence and rather or not a hotel offers you $50.00 off your next stay or $50 million for you to go away.
Back in the early 2000s two people swore I was at the DC booth during the San Diego Comic Con loudly calling DC racist. So loud and vulgar was my purposive verbal assault the result was to kill a merchandising deal I had with Warner Bros. Consumers Products.
I don’t want to give the impression DC Comics acted against me as a collective in a conspiracy to take me down. They did not. It was a different...
Back in the early 2000s two people swore I was at the DC booth during the San Diego Comic Con loudly calling DC racist. So loud and vulgar was my purposive verbal assault the result was to kill a merchandising deal I had with Warner Bros. Consumers Products.
I don’t want to give the impression DC Comics acted against me as a collective in a conspiracy to take me down. They did not. It was a different...
- 2/28/2016
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
Hey Sharon,
Happy Birthday, Sis!
I know I know I haven’t written to you in years and this is reaching you a dozen days after your birthday Nov. 10th. That’s not really that bad if you consider you’re been gone 35 years and change. Before you get all bent out of shape you’re not doing so well in the- keep in contract with your brother department either.
Even when you were alive you weren’t much of a letter writer, but you have not visited me in my dreams in well over a year. In fact the last time I talked to you in a dream was the day Jean died. I’d like to think you have been busy catching up with our 26-year-old mother. You remember the day she came home on her 26th birthday and declared loudly so the entire neighborhood heard, “Sharon, Michael,...
Happy Birthday, Sis!
I know I know I haven’t written to you in years and this is reaching you a dozen days after your birthday Nov. 10th. That’s not really that bad if you consider you’re been gone 35 years and change. Before you get all bent out of shape you’re not doing so well in the- keep in contract with your brother department either.
Even when you were alive you weren’t much of a letter writer, but you have not visited me in my dreams in well over a year. In fact the last time I talked to you in a dream was the day Jean died. I’d like to think you have been busy catching up with our 26-year-old mother. You remember the day she came home on her 26th birthday and declared loudly so the entire neighborhood heard, “Sharon, Michael,...
- 11/22/2015
- by Michael Davis
- Comicmix.com
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