Steve Borock essentially set some of the grading standards we know today in comics.
As a lifelong fan of the hobby, Steve had a background in restoration detection, so when CGC was looking for the man to lay the groundwork for this new form of collecting in the early 2000’s, he was their guy.
He would later start CBCS, another comic grading house, and advance the collecting method even further with new cases, new grades and more.
Comic collecting legend Steve Borock
We sat down with the icon to talk about his early days as a kid buying and selling books, and how the hobby has evolved.
He also has and had one of the best collections in the industry, having owned two Action Comics #1s, know as THE golden age grail as the book is the first appearance of Superman. Watch the full interview below!
For many of us who were born prior to the 21st century, we grew up on physical copies of comic books. The only way to get comics (or movies, or any medium for that matter) was to go to a store or library and purchase or check out that particular issue in order to read the latest story from your favorite publisher about your favorite characters.
As we got into the 21st century however, technology boomed, which changed how we interacted with the world around us. One of those instances is digital reading. The year 2007 in particular was special because that was the year we were introduced to two life-changing products in this field: Amazon Kindles and Marvel Unlimited.
If you’re not familiar with Marvel Unlimited, think of it as a “Netflix for Marvel Comics”. It’s a digital platform that Marvel provides their users. For a monthly or annual fee, users can have access to over 29,000 issues that Marvel has released since it first started (there are some exceptions, like the latest issues that Marvel has released or others that have contractual obligations to other parties).
Since its release, many comics fans have used this app for many reasons. For others, this has changed the way that comics have played a role in their lives.
Below are some ways that Marvel Unlimited has impacted some of the creators for Nerd Initiative:
Donavan Rose
“I first got into Marvel in 2014 after accidentally seeing Captain America and The Winter Soldier in theaters. I fell in love with the MCU but whenever I wanted to try to get into comics I’d walk into a comic store and panic because I would have zero idea where to begin. There were hundreds of thousands of comics and I was completely overwhelmed so I stuck to the movies. As I developed a deeper love for Marvel and connections to characters, it started to feel more like a home to me than a franchise I really aspired to learn more about it. I found out about Marvel Unlimited through TikTok in 2019 and still use it today! At first glance, it may still be a little overwhelming as it’s filled with tons of amazing comics. However, once you look you can find it’s completely organized and you can search by author, character, issue, etc. I began with my favorite characters; Spider-Man and Iron Man and then found stories or characters that interested me and read them. Now before every phase four movie and show is released I go to Marvel Unlimited and read up on the character or group being introduced or the issue it’s based on so I can get a general idea of what I’m going into. Right now I’m almost finished with what they have of Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan just in time for the show! I’ve learned a lot about my favorite franchise and characters thanks to Marvel Unlimited and it’s helped me appreciate Marvel more as a whole. I would’ve never been able to manage reading the comics without the App. I highly suggest this app for both old and new MCU and/or Marvel Comic fans!”
Rianna “Marvel Twin” Paez
“My love for Marvel first began when Thor was released in theaters. I was in awe at the beautiful storyline and characters, and I was eager for more. As the years went on and with every Marvel film released, I wanted to know more in-depth about characters and their origin. Besides relying on researching on the internet, I felt like I needed a more accurate source. I knew nothing would be more accurate than the Marvel comics. With a tremendous number of comics available, I knew it would be nearly impossible and expensive to start buying them. When I was introduced to Marvel Unlimited, it was truly like a breath of fresh air. Being able to read any comic, at any time at the press of a button was exciting. As soon as I signed up for Marvel Unlimited, I began my quest to reading the stories of all the characters I’ve come to see on the big screen. This is truly the best resource for any fan, established or new to really get in tune with their favorite characters.”
Sean “The Sean Hulk” Winningham
“I was first introduced to comics by my uncle who had boxes and boxes of the Silver Age comics. The first ones I remember reading were Daredevil and the first issue of ‘The X-Men’, and they were instantly my favorite comics and characters.
As I got into high school, I got away from collecting and reading comics (and to my own regret, I got rid of my collection!). Around 2017, I learned about the Marvel Unlimited app and decided to give it a try, and of course, when I found out that they had the first issue of X-Men in their catalog, that was the first comic I read on the app and I got hooked immediately. 5 years later, that has led me to become an avid comic reader again but it helped me start a podcast about comics and pop culture and collect and read physical copies of comics again.”
Tony “Mr. MARVELite” Abdullah
“As a kid that got into comic books in the 90s and being in a single parent home, the luxury of being able to get an entire run of a comic was a fantasy. I can remember pulling out my comic stash and reading an issue and then contemplating what would happen next in the story. When I became an adult, I was able to subscribe to ComiXology, and for a time, I was able to read an entire saga: Civil War, Age of Ultron, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Superior Spider-Man stories were not enough, and were getting expensive. In 2015, I started buying the actual physical comics and that got too expensive. Finally, I discovered Marvel Unlimited and for the cost of a couple of issues, I have access to the vast library of Marvel content. This is what provided me the opportunity to delve deep into comic lore. It can feel overwhelming with the amount of content at your fingers, but honestly, the directory and recommendations from staff are really helpful. I highly recommend it to any new fan or person that wants to get deep in the Marvel mythos… or to finally stop fantasizing about what happened next in that story… look it up!”
We got yet another rematch between Vader and Obi-Wan and it was through the use of love, his emotional memories and more that Obi-Wan was able to best Vader through ways of the Force.
No one saw that coming and when he slashed Vader’s mask open, which resulted in a mix of Vader and Anakin’s voice talking to his old master, that scene immediately cut deep.
“You didn’t kill Anakin, I did,” Vader explains after losing to his old master. This confirms a thread we’ve seen in the Vader comics that his alter ego and Anakin Skywalker are two very different personalities and yes, it was Vader that killed the former Jedi to become the mighty Sith lord.
Another powerful climax in the episode was Reva being unable to kill a young Luke Skywalker.
After learning of who this child really was, the former Youngling was on a collision course to take out the seed of Anakin and complete her task at revenge.
— Star Wars | Andor Now Streaming On Disney+ (@starwars) June 22, 2022
The scene that will bring tears is when the old Jedi Knight tells Leia how she inherited the best of both her parents.
“I wish I could tell you more,” he says.
You said enough, Obi-Wan!
And I hope we get a second season, because we have just begun to see the magic that Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen can create when they face off against each other in these roles.
There’s so much more to explore and I’m willing, ready and able for the next adventure!
Deciding to create a TikTok account to share my personal views on movies and talk about the MCU was one of the scariest and most exciting things I have ever done.
Peace everyone it’s your girl Amira and let me talk to you about my journey on Tiktok!
Tiktok provided me with the possibility to add my voice as a Muslim woman in a community that I thought was closed to me. It also gave me the possibility to push forward positive Muslim representation.
Sharing my first video was really intimidating, but I realized quickly that people were more welcoming than anything else. There was a whole group of creators who was working hard to make a safe space.
This is how I met Tony (Mr.Marvelite) and later Michael (SuperheroTok). These two had an idea and just like Nick Fury, they had a team to assemble, an initiative to start.
I feel lucky to be part of the Nerd Initiative. I get to do what I am passionate about, learn more about movies and be unapologetically me.
I truly hope that my content pushes for a respectful and open dialogue about Muslim representation in media. I wish for it to help other Muslims create and feel included in the narrative too!
I understand that this takes time, but guess what? change already started!
It’s safe to say that we have all heard the phrase “Representation Matters,” especially when discussing shows like Ms. Marvel and movies like The Eternals or Shang-Chi.
We all have heard it shouted from the rooftops to get more than just the generic lead in film and television. We want to lead, to save the world, to be in the spotlight. And in my personal experience and being Asian American, I don’t think that everyone understands what that phrase means or why “representation matters.” But I think it is important that people take the time to learn the “why” of it all.
So, let’s imagine one morning, you go grab some breakfast and sit down to eat. You find that one of your favorite YouTube channels has a new episode out and it’s about a movie you absolutely love and have a connection with. Five minutes into the video, you pause. Not because the video is bad, but because you have a sudden realization, an epiphany.
You realize whenever you watch this movie, whenever people have engaging discussions about it, whenever you listen to the soundtrack, you feel so much at once. Your heart swells, goosebumps appear on your arms, and your appreciation and love for this movie grows exponentially. You wish there was a way to take the entire movie and somehow frame it on your wall because that’s how much you love this movie.
You even go through every actor and actress’ filmography to see more of their work so you can try to support them further. And it’s all because of the connection you had, and the fact you felt your story and your experiences told so authentically within an already massive universe. That was me just a few mornings ago with regard to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
And while I know many will disagree, I’m not afraid to admit that ever since Shang-Chi released nearly a year ago, it has become my favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe project of all-time. I also see it as one of the better projects to have come out from the MCU. It twists martial arts styles into a graceful dance as we’re immersed into a breathtaking magical world but also ensures that its comedic moments are well-balanced with scenes that are heartbreaking and intense.
And then came along Ms. Marvel. With only 2 episodes out currently, I feel the same sensations as I did with Shang-Chi: The emotions, the goosebumps, the heart swelling. I am simply in awe of what Ms. Marvel has been able to bring to the table, and I’m certain there’s so much more to come. Between the animations that reflect the inner workings of Kamala’s mind, and the family dynamics and immense amount of representation of South Asian culture, it took me way back to my childhood and my teen years.
At this point, I am absolutely confident that by the time the finale airs, Ms. Marvel will be equally matched to Shang-Chi for me. There is something so unique and special about both Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel that I know is just not understood by people who downplay both projects heavily.
Shang-Chi initially faced criticisms like not using enough martial arts, having poor CGI, and there were even comments that the magical elements didn’t make sense at the end of the movie. Ms. Marvel faces criticism in different ways but a portion of it involves the show being too childish, too much like a Disney Channel original show, and that it’s “not relatable enough.” But to all of those critiques, I always ask the question: Were you actually watching?
You can say that you saw that movie or say you’ve seen this show, but it’s different when you sit down and truly watch a piece of media. And when you watch both projects closely, it’s clear that Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel explore and expand upon much deeper topics than just martial arts or high school woes.
They are both made in such a beautiful and unique fashion, speaking truthfully about the Asian diasporic experience, while also maintaining relatability to others outside the community. From the strained parent-child relationships to the discussion of religion and culture as well as family and traditional values, there is a much stronger impact that both pieces of media have on its audience. Meanwhile, people who look like us and share our personal experiences are now on the screen, and we’re no longer just in the background.
It has all led to the experience of Asians who were born and raised in North America being explored in more ways than we ever thought possible. We are collectively unleashing tears of grief and trauma, but also tears of happiness and relief. I can immediately turn to my husband in the middle of a movie and discuss our shared experiences as Asian Americans. I can turn to a friend from Canada at a book tour and giggle over a moment of courtesy that just occurred but is common in Asian households. I can talk to my non-Asian best friend who can now see a glimpse into what it’s like growing up Asian and living life now as an adult. They are small moments that happen more frequently now because of the representation shown in media like Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel.
It’s why there is also so much noise from the Asian community over media like Domee Shi’s Turning Red, The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All At Once, Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever, and Jon M. Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians. I watched my parents become excited and gleeful when they saw a South Asian actor on the screen, even if they had only a minute of screen time.
Now, I get to see Asians of different backgrounds take the lead and be the romantic interest, or to be the hero and save the day. The daydreams I had of seeing someone who looked like me being in those roles are now a reality. I, too, am excited and gleeful because I get characters like Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel who speak to me. Both my heart and soul are on fire because now, I feel seen.
Ms. Marvel episode 2 released on Disney+ earlier this week and once again, gave viewers a genuine look and insight into Muslim culture in America, a coming of age story and so, so much more.
We sat down with three of our incredible creators to talk about what this show means to them and what they thought of this impactful episode.
In 1993, fans were given their first glimpse of the world of Jurassic Park. As much as it was an adventure, there were many perils along the way. The concept of corporate greed leading to catastrophe by playing god and cloning once extinct monsters has captured our attention for almost 30 years. Jurassic World Dominion is reportedly the end of that era. Here is why I think that works and what the future could hold.
The Legacy Story
Since the failed tour on Isla Nublar and the failed attempt of Biosyn to steal what advancements InGen had made, we have experienced 6 movies within this story line. Dominion comes full circle and addresses the intent of executive Lewis Dodgson (Cameron Thor-1993, Campbell Scott-2022) to have Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) steal the embryos of the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.
Since the events of Fallen Kingdom, four years ago, dinosaurs have roamed freely and been trafficked in the black market all over the world. Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) return seeking to help these creatures in their own way. Biosyn is given complete control in containing the dinosaurs that are captured and continue the genetic research by making dinosaurs without modifications. Dodgson is not as benevolent as he is advertised to be and fans will expect that from the beginning. Biosyn is absolutely playing with genetics in a way that is about to cause all life to go extinct if not stopped. This is the premise that brings our legacy characters, Alan Grant (Sam Niel), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), back into action to save the day.
Jurassic World Dominion – The Cons
There are multiple sub plots that attempt to fill in gaps within the franchise and some don’t always hit right. There is plenty of exposition, some that is helpful and some that is unnecessary and only showcases the actor giving it. This movie also attempts to give each character some sort of payoff that is not entirely necessary and too far of a reach for one movie to accomplish for a 30 year franchise.
Jurassic World Dominion – The Pros
Apart from some of the short falls in this film, it is a decent entry to the Jurassic Franchise. The dinosaurs are impressive and visually stunning. The mixture of CGI and Animatronics help to blur the lines of fantasy and the physical. Action is fast-paced and there are many different landscapes that this movie covers to give the overall understanding that dinosaurs are able to exist in every conceivable environment. We get the introduction of new dinosaurs like the Giganotosarus, Pyroraptor, Therizinosarus, Atrociraptors, and one I am entirely excited for…the Dimetrodon which until this film was only hinted at in the original Jurassic Park toy line! There are also plenty of pay off moments, easter eggs, and nods to the previous films. Dominion is also able to correct some of the problems from previous stories and leave our characters in a better place then they were left last we saw them.
Is This Really The End?
Probably not, there is definitely Season 5 of Camp Cretaceous on Netflix that is hinting at filling in some of the gaps from Dominion. I personally think that stories could continue, but in a manner similar to the Disney+ Star Wars shows, within universe but smaller stories. There is so much potential for movies involving people being terrorized by dinosaurs in the mainland, that I would love to see. Check out Battle at Big Rock on Youtube for the concept.
Jurassic World Dominion – Overall Opinion
Jurassic World Dominion is exactly what is expected in a Jurassic Era film, a dinosaur spectacle with plenty of action and jump scares. Some people will be disappointed as this film does not get much of a world full of dinosaurs with the exception of some filler scenes. This movie follows a very similar trend with all Jurassic movies, people try to contain dinosaurs, dinosaurs break free and eat people, some people survive and grow close in their shared traumatic experience… or and Karma is a Dilophosaur!
Fans rejoiced all around the globe as Thor: Love And Thunder tickets officially went on sale Monday. The Marvel Studios epic is easily one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
We received the film’s official trailer in late May, giving us an idea of what to expect in the upcoming film. The introduction of Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster as Mighty Thor, Christian Bale’s portrayal of Gorr The God Butcher, and the introduction of another deity mythos (such as the gods of Greek mythology) have had everyone abuzz about what to expect with the 4th Thor movie (by the way, Thor is the first character in the MCU to have a 4th movie in the MCU).
Like many comic book fans, I wanted to learn a little more about what comics I could read in preparation for this film. As someone who just recently got back into reading comics, I haven’t read many Thor comics, so I wasn’t sure where to start. Luckily, thanks to the power of Twitter, I’ve become friends with another avid comic book reader who I consider to be one of Thor’s #1 fans and is my show’s expert advisor or anything related to Thor.
JT, or “Fat Thor” as he is known on Twitter, joined me in a Zoom call to guide me on the best comics to read for this film based on what he knows about the Thor comics and what he’s seen in the trailers so far. There are three main series he recommended, and he even shortened it for us to focus on just what we may want to know about the characters and stories we will see in the movie.
VIDEO: What To Read Before Watching “Thor: Love And Thunder” (by The Captioned Life Show)
Thor: God Of Thunder
Years Published: 2012 – 2013
Issues: 1-11
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Esad Ribic, Dean White, and Virtual Calligr,
Summary And Film Connection
This series introduces us to Gorr The God Butcher, his origin story, and who he is as a character. Thor faces him in three different eras where eventually all three Thors team up to face off against Gorr and stop him from releasing a doomsday weapon that would completely kill off all gods from existence. This series interestingly enough also has a number of religious metaphors and compositions.
Thor
Years Published: 2014 – 2015
Issues: 1-8
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, Joe Sabino, and Frank Martin
Summary And Film Connection:
Due to prior events, Thor Odinson is no longer considered worthy to wield Mjolnir, but there must always be a Thor. So Mjolnir chooses an all-new Thor! This is the first time we see Jane Foster take up the mantle of Thor.
The Mighty Thor
Years Published: 2015 – 2018
Issues: 1-5, 12, 700-706
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, and Joe Sabino
Summary And Film Connection:
This series dives into Jane’s origin story of her becoming Thor and why she was deemed worthy to take up the mantle. Issue 12 also dives into the origin of Mjolnir and how it came to be.
Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale. Directed by Taika Waititi. In theaters July 8, 2022.
By presenting us with Ms. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Marvel, open the door to conversations about diversity, representation, and different experiences of growing up in America.
From the moment “Blinding Lights” by the Weekend started playing in the pilot episode of Ms. Marvel on Disney+, and my daughter’s head began to bob with the beat, I could tell this was going to be a very different Marvel experience for the two of us.
The two of us share Marvel. It has been our common ground of fandom for years. We have watched the movies, read the comics, and poured over the (age appropriate) TV shows (no Daredevil, Punisher or Jessica Jones for her yet).
My Daughter and I started reading the adventures of Kamala Kahn about five years ago when she was in second grade. She was struggling with reading, and it was hard to find stories that lit her passion.
I wanted to get her into reading and so I turned to my first love of reading: comics. At the time, a friend was telling me how the “new” Ms. Marvel had become her favorite character. I decided to give it a try and my daughter and I read the first issue. We were both hooked.
Much like this first episode of the Disney+ show, the deeper themes of assimilation, representation and identity went over her head at the time. What did speak to her was a girl, with her head in the clouds, proving everyone wrong. When everyone says you should be X … this hero says “No, I won’t.”
Kamala Kahn’s impact on representation and diversity in the comic world should not and cannot be overstated. She defied the conventional wisdom that a female lead could not sell comics to a broad audience. Also, and perhaps most importantly and what made her character stand out, it that she did not look like everyone else.
All rights reserved – Marvel.com/ Marvel Entertainment 2022
As her character in the show says, “It’s not really the brown girls from Jersey City who save the world”. And the conventional, steeped in patriarchal, misogynistic thinking, and racist ideologies, was that they couldn’t sell comic books or action figures either. A character like Kamala could not possibly speak to a broad audience.
However, all that conventional wisdom that was proved wrong in 2014 with Ms. Marvel, has been proved wrong again in 2022. After the head bobbing, and transfixed wide eyes, when the show ended my daughter turned to me and said, “Wow, I loved it!”
She loved how the show captured the spirit of Kamala. Everything that character means to my daughter, and to me as a father, was conveyed on screen. My daughter noted the changes from the comic but reasoned that they were telling a slightly different Kamala origin story.
Kamala’s greatest power to me as a father is that she tells my daughter it is okay to be weird, and that weird, powerful and being a girl do not have to be contradictory ideas. For my daughter, Kamala makes the word “weird” a good one. She does what is right, not what is convenient or easy. She, along with so many teen female hero’s that have come along in the last seven years, is the role model I want for my daughters.
Iman Vellani in Ms. Marvel – All rights reserved Marvel Entertainment 2022
Iman Vellani, has taken a character from the pages of a comic and given her life, and now expands the myth of Ms. Marvel. She makes Kamala exactly the kind of girl that I hope my daughters grow into. A person who struggles, fails, keeps trying and never stops dreaming.
In a few years, my daughter will revisit the show and see where she fits into Kamala’s narrative and where her narrative differs from her own. She will see similarities and differences between being a Jewish girl several generations in growing up in America and being a Pakistani American girl growing up with immigrant parents. These are important differences and conversations, some which began right after the show (she wanted to know where Pakistan was) and some that will have to wait as she learns more about herself and the world.
For now my daughter sees no difference between her experience as an American girl and Kamala’s. She will one day see the differences – good and bad. And I will be there with her to help her through that journey. There is so much more left for Kamal Kahn to teach her and show her. The comics and this show will help her learn and grow a sensitivity and awareness that will serve her well in the world.
By presenting us with Ms. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Marvel, open the door to conversations about diversity, representation, and different experiences of growing up in America. The MCU might be a story about fictional people on a fictional Earth, but the issues it tackles are real. They allow my family to grow. They give me an opportunity to have conversations with my children that are natural but important.
Personally, I loved the show. I found it entertaining, fun, and it reminded me of growing up. But this is not a show for me to enjoy. It is a show for my daughter. It is a show that is going to entertain us all, but also teach us all.
It will teach us about other cultures that do not always get as much representation and normalization as they should. It will teach young girls that they can be heroes and old white men that seeing different colors and genders on screen does sell. It will teach that us about what makes a hero and that anything is possible if we dream. These are just the lessons my daughter got from the first episode. We can’t wait to see where Ms. Kahn’s adventure goes and what this show teaches us from here!
Ms. Marvel released on Disney+ earlier this week and quickly became one of the most unique, inventive and representative shows we’ve seen on the streaming service or even in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
We sat down with two of our incredible creators — Yaseenthatguy and samosasandpopcorn — to talk about what this show means to different cultures, the Muslim community and so much more.
All rights reserved – Marvel Entertainment 2022
Check out the full video below and let us know what you thought about the first episode!
