‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Narrative Team Talks ‘War for Wakanda’ Expansion

August 16, 2021August 16, 2021 Jamal Michel

Marvel’s Avengers highly anticipated War for Wakanda DLC drops tomorrow and gamers are preparing for the arrival of the king of Wakanda himself. It was announced this summer that T’Challa would be voiced by the illustrious Christopher Judge (God of War, 2018), and also that T’Challa was going to bring fans a different kind of story from the folks at Crystal Dynamics.

Gaming, Video Games

Nintendo Indie World Showcase Live Updates!

August 10, 2021August 16, 2021 Jamal Michel

Today Nintendo announced a 20 minute presentation on loads of great indie titles on the Nintendo Switch. The live presentation will take place August 11 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET and The Nerds of Color blog has you covered with live updates here!

Art, Comics

‘La Borinqueña’ Returns with Issue #3 and New Heroes

August 10, 2021February 28, 2023 Jamal Michel

Eisner Award-winning graphic novelist and philanthropist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez has released La Borinqueña #3, the long-awaited third issue in the creator-owned independently published graphic novel series. La Borinqueña #3 completes the first major story arc for Miranda-Rodriguez’s series with a new story with plot twists, revelations, and the introduction of the new superhero team The Nitainos.

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

Niantic Responds After Players Boycott ‘Pokémon GO’ Ahead of Significant Changes

August 6, 2021August 19, 2021 Jamal Michel

Pokémon GO, the 2016 mobile game phenomenon that spanned the globe, is currently facing a boycott. Thousands of players, and dozens of high-profile POGO influencers, believe developers are ignoring their concerns over significant quality of life changes in-game. Over the last year, Niantic, the developers of Pokémon GO, have been pivoting and adjusting to pandemic constraints with new changes to gameplay mechanics.

Gaming, Interview, Movies1 Comment

Twitch and YouTube Legends Ninja and Jacksepticeye Talk about Their ‘Free Guy’ Cameos

August 4, 2021August 4, 2021 Jamal Michel

It’s a huge day for gaming and movie nerds here at The Nerds of Color blog. With Ryan Reynold’s Free Guy around the corner, the NOC had the immense privilege and super special opportunity to speak with two of the gaming world’s biggest names.

Gaming, Video Games1 Comment

‘Pokémon UNITE’ Reveals First Major Update

August 3, 2021August 3, 2021 Jamal Michel

The Pokémon MOBA on Nintendo Switch, Pokémon UNITE, is set to receive its first and most impactful update since its release. The game’s official Twitter page tweeted yesterday that the update would be rolling out Wednesday, August 4 12AM PDT/ 7:00 UTC, with significant balancing changes at the heart of the update.

Marvel, Video Games

Square Enix Reveals New Outfits for Black Panther in ‘War for Wakanda’

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 Jamal Michel

T’Challa’s influence as Black Panther can be traced back to his inception in 1966 and since then, he’s made countless appearances in film, television, animated series, and more. Some of his most iconic outfits and costumes come from the Silver and Bronze age of comic books, with memorable suits like the classic all black ensemble with gloves and boots to match featured in 1976’s Jungle Action (Vol. 2) #23.

Gaming, Video Games

Summer Got You Down? These Upcoming Feel Good Video Games Will Lift Your Spirits

August 1, 2021August 1, 2021 Jamal Michel

What if Tony Hawk was actually a bird? What kind of game choices would you make playing as a postwoman in the ‘80s? Could you use your emotions to help guide a quartet in a forest? The summer has been overwhelming for the most part for many of us — from mounting pandemic concerns, to even more polarizing political conversations, it’s easy to quickly find yourself doom-scrolling for hours into the night. Thankfully, video games like Skatebird and The Forest Quartet exist to help ease our minds out of the hubbub of the real world and into the vibes of a video game experience that really feels good.

Movies, Sports, Streaming

Will Smith Sets the Stage as Venus and Serena Williams’ Father in ‘King Richard’

August 1, 2021August 1, 2021 Jamal Michel

Will Smith’s legendary resume of star biopic roles continues to grow with the upcoming release of King Richard. The biographical drama directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin captures the life and times of father and coach of tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams.

Marvel, Video Games

‘Marvel’s Avengers: War for Wakanda’ DLC Launches in August

July 29, 2021July 29, 2021 Jamal Michel

Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix have been on a tear with news and updates regarding the new DLC for their Avengers roleplaying game. While the player base has seen substantial decline since the game’s launch September of last year, the recent news about War for Wakanda has many players understandably hyped.

Gaming, Interview, Nerdcore

‘Fightin’ Words’ Episode Two: Nerdcore Rapper Mega Ran

July 28, 2021July 29, 2021 Jamal Michel

Super nerd, Guinness World Record holder, and hip-hop extraordinaire Raheem “Mega Ran” Jarbo sat down with The Nerds of Color blog for another episode of Fightin’ Words and talked gaming, hip-hop, and adjusting to life during the pandemic. The former teacher turned elite nerdcore rapper has had his hands full, juggling live events, his Twitch channel, making music, and of course spending time with family.

Horror, Reviews, Video Games

‘Mundaun’ is a Haunting First-Person Horror Game with a Dark Story

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 Jamal Michel

The first-person, single-player horror game Mundaun is out now for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms. It’s a hand-drawn tale of a grandson returning to his hometown for his grandfather’s funeral but upon arriving makes a grisly discovery.

Gaming, News, Video Games1 Comment

Activision Blizzard’s Toxic Culture is Part of a Larger, Ongoing Conversation about Video Games

July 27, 2021July 28, 2021 Jamal Michel

This week, employees at Activision Blizzard plan to walkout in protest over work conditions and leadership’s poor response to workplace treatment of women — particularly women of color, transgender women, nonbinary people, and other marginalized groups, according to a Kotaku report. On July 20, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a la w suit alleging that the company cultivated a toxic and sexist, “frat boy” workplace environment, and since the bombshell news dropped, scores of former and current employees, reporters, and gaming leaders have voiced their concerns over the lack of accountability on the part of Activision Blizzard.

Gaming, Interview, Video Games

Fighting Game Legend Justin Wong Talks Gaming, Fatherhood, and More

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 Jamal Michel

When I happened upon Street Fighter IV on the Xbox 360 in 2009, it came years after playing Super Street Fighter II on the Super Nintendo and falling victim to the cheap tactics of my cousin’s Dhalsim. I had zero knowledge of fighting game mechanics like footsies, whiff punishing, or zoning, but in 2009 I was consumed by everything Street Fighter. Justin Wong was among some of my earliest impressions of the fighting game community’s most prolific figures, clashing with FGC rivals and icons Daigo Umehara, Christopher “NYChrisG” Gonzalez, and Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi throughout the early 2010s.

Gaming, Interview, Video Games1 Comment

Flightless Studios Talks New Indie Game ‘Doomsday Vault’ on the Nintendo Switch

July 27, 2021July 27, 2021 Jamal Michel

The New Zealand indie game development studio Flightless has been hard at work expanding their library of thoughtful and rich games that combine a unique experience with an imaginative atmosphere. John O’Reilly, its co-founder and creative director, said that the studio came into the indie development landscape after working on commercial projects the last few years and realized their talents could be applied to making video games as well. O’Reilly and co-founder Greg Harding, who also works as Flightless’s technical director, have made it a point to bring their passion projects to life, with titles like Element and Doomsday Vault.

Streaming, Television1 Comment

Live-Action Pokémon Series in the Works at Netflix

July 26, 2021July 26, 2021 Jamal Michel

Variety broke the exclusive news that Lucifer executive producer Joe Henderson is “attached to write and produce” a live-action Pokémon series for Netflix. Henderson’s current title is that of co-showrunner for Netflix’s Lucifer, as the series reaches its sixth and final season. Sources at Variety also reported that the live-action series is looking to match the same style of Detective Pikachu, the 2019 comedy starring Justice Smith and Ryan Reynolds.

Cosplay, Fandom, Interview

‘Superhero Diaries’ Cast and Creator Talk New YouTube Series

July 26, 2021July 26, 2021 Jamal Michel

Superhero Diaries had its soft launch in early 2021, with advance episodes produced during the height of the pandemic. It quickly became clear that talent would need to record alone and only work together via green screen and editing and yet they were still able to put together webseries gold. With its official debut, the fantastic satire series is now able to bring actors together on-set, to parody the multiverse galaxies, in ways that could never actually happen but do.

Horror, Movies

Jordan Peele Reveals Poster for ‘Nope’ Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Jamal Michel

We have it, folks. We finally have the name, movie poster, and official release date for the next Jordan Peele cultural masterpiece. Nope, starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun will be dropping July 22, 2022, with a note highlighting how select sequences were filmed with IMAX cameras.

Marvel, Movies

Michaela Coel Set to Join Incredible Cast of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Jamal Michel

Today, Variety dropped some exclusive news regarding Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Insiders at Variety reported earlier today that Coel would be joining the elite cast of the film amid airtight details surrounding the ensemble.

Conventions, Horror, Streaming

‘Army of the Dead’ Prequel ‘Army of Thieves’ Drops Official Key Art

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 Jamal Michel

The prequel to director Zack Snyder’s kick-ass zombie heist movie has dropped official art from its teaser and it’s looking like another zombie hit is on the way. Army of Thieves takes place before Army of the Dead and follows the goings-on of small-town bank teller Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer) after he gets drawn into the adventure of a lifetime. We’re excited to see how well Schweighöfer’s unforgettable performance as Dieter in Snyder’s film sheds light on his character’s past.

Marvel, Movies

Marvel Taps ‘Mogul Mowgli’ Director Bassam Tariq to Direct ‘Blade’

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 Jamal Michel

Today, Deadline broke the exclusive news that Marvel is set to choose Mogul Mowgli director Bassam Tariq to direct the new ‘Blade’ film starring Mahershala Ali. Sources close to Deadline say that while deal hasn’t been finalized, it does come at the end of a fairly long and considerate search for the film’s director. When the deal is officially inked, Tariq will become Marvel’s sixth director of color, rounding out the list of his contemporaries that include Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao, and Taika Waititi.

Animation, Movies, Sports2 Comments

‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ Puts Black Joy on Full Display

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 Jamal Michel

The reviews for LeBron James’ and SpringHill Entertainment’s Space Jam: A New Legacy are rolling in and they paint a considerably dismal picture of the imagination critics go to the movies with today. For some context, Steven Spielberg’s 2018 IP extravaganza Ready Player One sits with a decent aggregate rating of 72% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, particularly because of the way the film sets up its action sequences and because it is a Spielberg flick. A New Legacy, however, is already down to 32% from critics and that’s mainly because there are “too many IPs,” and the film doesn’t make algorithms function the way they should in the real world.

Sports, Streaming, Television

Grammy Award-Winning Artist Common to Narrate USA Men’s Basketball Docuseries

July 16, 2021July 16, 2021 Jamal Michel

I told myself I wouldn’t begin this news about the dope new docuseries coming to Peacock mentioning LeBron James and I’ve clearly already failed. While James’ absence from the USA Men’s National Basketball team isn’t new, the real highlights of the highs and lows of the Olympics have been shouldered by the NBA’s new elite squad, specifically younger players like Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, and Bam Adebayo.