AI is more than just a bad guy in sci-fi films. How close are we to creating computers that actually think on their own?
Source: The Verge
This New Approach to Building Human Consciousness in a Computer Is Intriguing for So Many Reasons
A Preview of Kelly Sue DeConnick’s Women-Centric Comic
There is a page early on in “Bitch Planet” where the women prisoners are ushered through processing like soon-to-be slaughtered cattle. They are completely naked with no convenient art direction or obstacles to block their nudity. While most of the women are clearly uncomfortable to be made into such a spectacle, there is one character, Penny, who seems to revel in other’s discomfort. She is large, very large. She moves with a confidence that almost implies she’s there voluntarily, gives the guards sh*t just because she can, and by the time you’re halfway through this first issue, you’ll realize she doesn’t give a damn about how uncomfortable you are staring at her naked ass. This is “Bitch Planet,” the house that Kelly Sue DeConnick built, and it’s not like anything else on comic book shelves today.
Working with artist Valentine De Landro (“X-Factor,” “Marvel Knights”), “Bitch Planet” is a story about a not-too-distant future where women “criminals” are sent to an all-women’s prison … on another planet. I put criminals in quotations as some of these women may be guilty of murder or thievery and some of them may be guilty of being women. The individual stories of who these women are and how they came to be there is part of the reason why this comic can go in so many different directions. As I said previously, “Bitch Planet” looks like it will be different than most books out, even as it comes from Image, publisher of another of DeConnick’s largely innovative books. That doesn’t mean that DeConnick doesn’t draw from various inspirations, especially prison break and exploitation films like “Caged Heat,” “Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion” and “Victory.”
One of the immediate things about the characters that will stand out to you is not just the fact that they are mostly women, but that they are mostly women of color. I asked DeConnick what motivated her to diversify the characters to this extent and she replied that she wanted to flip the “White Default” when it comes to populating a roster:
“I wrote a letter to Valentine and just asked him to make the deal with me that unless a character was specified as white, they would be of color. I was hesitant … my concern was that we’re doing a prison book, and so of course most of our characters are incarcerated. And I worried about what that choice said. Was I working against my own intention?”
Read more from William Evans at blacknerdproblems.com
Graphic Novel ‘Legend of the Mantamaji’ Pushes Ahead With Second Book
With the release of Book Two of the “Legend of the Mantamaji” graphic novel series, television director Eric Dean Seaton continues to appeal to superhero fans of all ages with multicultural characters and a thrilling plot full of action and fun. “Legend of the Mantamaji: Book Two” is available for pre-order ahead of its Dec. 11 release, just in time for the holidays.
Superhero and comic book culture shows no sign of slowing down, and with the announcement of more diverse characters on screen, parents of kids and teens who love superheroes are quietly hopeful the trend continues. The wait for a Black lead in a franchise film will be three years, leaving parents still looking for quality media with heroes of color. Enter “Legend of the Mantamaji,” a three-book graphic novel series by Eric Dean Seaton, top director of hit shows like TBS’s Ground Floor, NBC’s Undateable, Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally and Nickelodeon’s Ricky, Nicky, Dicky and Dawn.
Launched Oct. 8 and available on all platforms, the series features African-American male and female leads; a multicultural cast and strong storytelling from Seaton. Book One begins with hotshot Assistant District Attorney Elijah Alexander at the top of his career and the height of his selfishness. Little does he know his career success is directly connected to a secret that will put it in jeopardy. When a mysterious stranger appears, Elijah learns something incredibly shocking – he is not even human. Suddenly he has superpowers and is thrown into a world of magic, mystery and legendary evil.
“I’m just like the rest of the comic-loving world – I’m excited for the upcoming Black Panther movie,” Seaton said. “I’m a huge Black Panther fan, the comic was part of what inspired me growing up as a kid in Cleveland, Ohio. I always knew I wanted to create a comic book with a big back story and I wanted to create a superhero that looked like me. People of color have been an afterthought in superhero and sci-fi/fantasy stories. I also wanted to create a story that appealed to a wide range of comic book and graphic novel fans – that is why the book has no swearing and the story is layered and nuanced for adult comic and graphic novel lovers.”
“Legend of The Mantamaji,” a 2014 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive, is perfect for comic and graphic novel enthusiasts, ages 9 and up.
Read more from Eric Dean Seaton at legendofthemantamaji.com
This Is How the Caribbean Can Build a Young Tech Community to Compete on a Global Scale
Technology could place the Caribbean’s youth on a level playing field and kick start the region’s stalling economies.
Source: Latin America and The Caribbean
A Black Nerd’s Interactions at Comic Con
Oct. 31 was a Friday, and despite the fact there was already plenty of reason to celebrate because it was Halloween and the end of my workweek, it was also the opening day of Ohio’s Comic Con as a part of the Wizard Con circuit. I clocked out of work, threw on some jeans and my Attack on Titan Survey Corps shirt and headed straight for the convention, since there were precious hours left for the day.
Once I made it down there, grabbed my press pass (weoutchea) and made it to the floor, it was as I expected: steeped in glorious geekery. As Leslie had written about so eloquently before, not everyone can make it to New York or San Diego for the mother and father of all Cons in North America, and the smaller ones definitely have value. As this was my first year attending, I was just trying to make the rounds and soak in as much as I could without committing to anything or really planning on writing about it (you see how that worked out).
At some point, between my buying an original sketch of Master Chief and taking a picture of a homie in an awesome Deathstroke cosplay (Arkham: Origins edition), a guy came up to me pointing emphatically. “Awesome shirt, man!” I thanked him, but it is, in fact, an awesome shirt, so I get that a lot. “Check this out.” He put a long box on the table in front of us and pulled out a replica Survey Corps blade. While not sharpened steel, it was solid metal and polished, a nice collectible whether you intended to hang it on the wall or wander into the woods beyond Columbus and hunt titans. I nerded out with my new-found friend and enthusiast for a moment before making my way to the very display he had made the purchase from.
The table was glorious, just about every bladed weapon from nerd lore were on the tables, all handled with care, all available for a price. There was Jon Snow’s “Longclaw,” Cloud Strife’s sword “Buster,” Nariko’s “Heavenly Sword” and many, many more. I picked up “Buster” and marveled at its weight. This thing was awesome. I had no idea where I would put it, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t contemplate dropping some credits on it. I mean, come on: FINAL FANTASY VII MEMORABILIA!
Read more from William Evans at blacknerdproblems.com
Ethnic Diversity in the Dragon Age’s Fantasy World
I’m going to assume that everyone here has seen the second movie in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of “The Hobbit,” generously titled The Devious Cashgrabination of a Beloved Story. Do you remember the scene in Laketown, where we find out that this sleepy harbor area is actually the most diverse place in all of Middle Earth? Here, allow me to refresh your memory.
I’m going somewhere with this, stay with me.
A year ago, a fan asked BioWare writer David Gaider about the lack of ethnic diversity among humans in Dragon Age’s fantasy world, Thedas:
To see Dragon Age fall back on that trope of “Humans Are White, Fantastic Races are POC” was really disheartening and just plain tiresome, to be honest. This has been a thing for as long as I can remember in fantasy, especially sword and sorcery fantasy in fantasy counterpart versions of medieval Europe like Thedas. People of color, if they exist at all in these settings, are typically either Orientalist Yellow Peril monsters from the Forbidden East, or dark barbarian hordes from the wastelands outside the pristine lily white lands of the heroes, always threatening the white status quo somehow. At best, we’re noble savages who can teach the white heroes ancient wisdom and life lessons about how to be better people. This, despite so much history available about the diversity of medieval Europe, how it was much less white than people generally believe it to be. I know that Thedas really relies on the fantasy counterpart culture idea, but in a land of blood magic and dwarves and darkspawn, the idea that societies are racially and ethnically homogeneous is…weird? Squicky? F***ed up?
I’ve cherry-picked the most interesting part of Mr. Gaider’s response:
“I suppose you’re correct that, on some level, there seemed to be less thematic need to address issues of racism within human societies with there being such a visible ‘other’ for them to deal with. Perhaps one could say that skin color isn’t such a big issue in Thedas when there are elves and dwarves and qunari who are so much more different among them … or perhaps that’s a cheap way to look at it? Something to think about. That said, I don’t think the societies in Thedas are as racially homogenous as you believe — or, at least, they’re not intended to be. How well have we shown that in-game? Probably not very well.”
Read more from Troy L. Wiggins at afrofantasy.wordpress.com
Kickstarter Campaign Started for Feature Film ‘Bar Star City’
Author of “Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi and Fantasy Culture” Ytasha L. Womack is embarking on completing her first trippy feature film, Bar Star City. After reading the description for myself, I got the sensation of experiencing one of those really late-night Adult Swim bumpers on a roller coaster. Or a fever dream of the Chalmun Cantina, with Black people:
A goddess, a war veteran and the captain of a spaceship meet in a bar…
We’ve all gone to bars and met unique, quirky personalities. But what happens when seemingly ordinary people are quite extraordinary? This film follows several not-so-ordinary regulars of a bar that’s become a home for the galactic and well-traveled.
A sci-fi film with Afrofuturist themes, Bar Star City looks at love, deception, memory and alienation among a group of bar regulars who just want a place to call home.
The Kickstarter campaign to get the funds to really make a cinematic classic piece of Afrofuturist history has 16 days left to raise $9,500. For science-fiction fans who dare to dream, this Bar Star City teaser produces an aesthetic; it asks questions and thrives on our curiosity with its images and soundtrack that is worth the investment.
Womack’s book on the movement is an innovative read that builds a case for Afrofuturism’s history, present, and daring future in our stadium of artistic expression. Bar Star City is such an exciting next step for Womack and Black science-fiction cinema. Donate, share, and rave about this proposal to your clans far and wide.
Source: graveyardshiftsisters.com
This Innovative Audi Can Seriously Make Searching For Parking A Thing Of The Past
7 Epic Comic Book Deaths That Deserve Far More Attention
Let’s get it out of the way. Yes, we all know death is not the end in comic books. Now there are certain deaths that have stuck and are defining: Gwen Stacy’s and Bruce Wayne’s parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, will always be staples in comic book deaths. However, I think it is time for an update to the list of meaningful deaths or at least to acknowledge more recent deaths that should be staples of the new age we are in. Let me just say what I am presenting IS NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER. I’m just throwing out some deaths and sacrifices of people I think should be on these lists when we talk about Top 10 dead or well … stayed dead.
This list is presented courtesy of Omar Holmon from Blacknerdproblems.
‘All New Ghost Rider #9 Masters Action’ — Review
Well, I’m happy to report that “All New Ghost Rider” is still delivering on what it promised from Day One. There are few books out there that do cartoonishly violent, ridiculous, over-the-top action as well as this one. Felipe Smith has been consistently killing it, crafting a slightly younger chapter of the “Ghost Rider” legacy.
This issue picks up with Robbie Reyes not quite in control of things. Eli Morrow, who isn’t quite the friend Robbie thought he was, has taken the wheel and set out to close a few old accounts with the Russian mob. Meanwhile, Johnny Blaze, the original Ghost Rider is out looking for a rematch with Morrow to teach him that there’s no school like the old school. Smith does a pretty good job pacing what is mainly a passing of the torch to the next generation. It’s a nice change to see the Rider’s other side having slightly different, more human aims (even if they’re as douche-y as Morrow’s are), making for a more reluctant team up almost akin to supernatural “48 Hours.”
Damion Scott’s pencils are the best suited to follow up Tradd Moore’s anime-invoking style. The battles are consistently epic and detailed, the downside being that this can sometimes result in Chris Bachalo Disease (meaning panels can be SO detailed at times, you can get lost in figuring out what’s what).
Bottom Line: Rider vs. Rider has been an excellent platform toward the new one proving itself (as a character and a book) with enough tidbits to keep us looking forward to next time. 8 out of 10.
Source: Oz Longworth at blacknerdproblems.com