DC Comics, Marvel, Movies, Television14 Comments

The Live Action Superhero Costume Problem

March 19, 2014October 9, 2014 Keith Chow

I’ve already written about how my love of G.I. Joe and Batman comics informed my entry into NOChood. But I’d be disingenuous if I continued to assert that comics are still my nerdiest obsession. Don’t get me wrong, my shelves are still filled with trade paperbacks and graphic novels, and my parents’ house is still full of longboxes that contain issues belonging to me and my brother. But when I think of what makes me a nerd, it isn’t really comics. Or video games. Or sci-fi/fantasy.

No, I’m really only a nerd for two things: live action adaptations of comic book superheroes and action figures. (And candidly, most of those action figures are based on those same live action adaptations. Movie Masters forever, yo!) The irony is that while I will always identify first as a DC fanboy, I’ve come to the realization that when it comes to my nerd vehicle of choice — the live action adaptation — “Make Mine Marvel!”

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DC Comics, Television12 Comments

The Flash Might be the Most Diverse Superhero Show on TV

February 11, 2014April 12, 2019 Keith Chow

Over the last month or so, the supporting cast for The CW’s upcoming Arrow spin-off The Flash has been fleshed out, and we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what the show will look like. In addition to the casting announcement for the series’ villains (Professor Zoom and Killer Frost, respectively), it looks like series regulars will include Barry’s love interest, her police detective father, and a mechanical engineer named Cisco. But while the inclusion of such characters isn’t really all that groundbreaking, who they’ve cast in these roles definitely is. Also, “Cisco” refers to Cisco Ramon, a.k.a. Vibe. That’s right, y’all, Flash isn’t going to be the only DC hero on the show. We’re actually getting a live action Vibe, too.

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Movies, Television1 Comment

2013: The Year in Review

December 6, 2013March 7, 2014 The Nerds of Color

As we barrel toward the end of the year, we figured it was a good time to go on hiatus and take stock of Hard NOC Life before returning on the other side of the new year with a better experience for the viewers. If you have any suggestions on how to improve the show, please feel free to let us know in the comments!

For our special year-end wrap up, Keith (@the_real_chow) has asked a roster of panel all-stars to come back one more time to the topics of the day. Joining the show are Raymond Chow, Julie Kang (@JulieKang), N’Jaila Rhee (@BlasianBytch), Shawn Smith, and Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria (@rscspokenword). As always, Hard N.O.C. Life is directed by the indomitable Nelson Wong (@aarisings).

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Television5 Comments

What’s on TV?

September 6, 2013January 19, 2024 The Nerds of Color

“Hard N.O.C. Life” is back for its second episode!

Keith welcomes fellow NOCs Raymond Chow, Julie Kang, Shawn Smith, and Jason Sperber to preview the upcoming Fall television season.

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Animation, DC Comics, Movies, Television8 Comments

The Many Faces of Amanda Waller

September 5, 2013January 27, 2015 Keith Chow

Yesterday, it was announced that Spartacus: War of the Damned star Cynthia Addai-Robinson has been cast as Amanda Waller in season two of The CW’s Arrow. This casting news came pretty quickly considering rumors of Waller appearing in Arrow only surfaced a few days ago. Confirmation of her presence in the Arrow-verse is further proof that season two will be including more of the DC Comics mythology than was delivered in the first season. In addition to Waller, there will be story arcs involving Deadshot and Bronze Tiger (played by Michael Jai White) which pretty much confirms that the Suicide Squad is coming to Starling City (Is it wrong that I’m still bothered by the name of the city in this show?), not to mention the much-hyped appearance of The Flash/Barry Allen some time during the season.

Addai-Robinson’s take on Amanda Waller won’t be the first stab at the character in live action. In fact, multiple actresses have tackled the role in recent years, showing that The Wall is a major structural foundation of any iteration of the DC Universe (ha, see what I did there?). After the jump, we’re going to look back at all of the acclaimed actresses who have brought Amanda Waller to life. From CCH Pounder to Pam Grier and Angela Bassett, Cynthia Addai-Robinson is going to have some rather large shoes to fill (well, not that large, since it seems The CW is going with the slimmed-down and sexed-up New 52 version of the character. Ugh, have I mentioned how much I dislike the DCnU?)