There are so many fun, interesting backstories to how films were made, what they could have been, castings that almost happened and much more. Let’s dive into some of your favorite movies over the years and reveal some iconic details that you may have missed or stories that you never knew!
Did You Know? ‘Super Mario Bros.’
So …. Did You Know?
Remember 1993’s “Super Mario Bros.”?
There are so many fun, interesting backstories to how films were made, what they could have been, castings that almost happened and much more. Let’s dive into some of your favorite movies over the years and reveal some iconic details that you may have missed or stories that you never knew!
Read: Did You Know? ‘TMNT 2 Secret of the Ooze’
So …. Did You Know?
Anime literally means “animation” in Japanese and the multi-faceted world that has been created over the past century is arguably the most vibrant, complex, and exciting in all of fandom.
Anime for Beginners: Blake’s Take on ‘Sirius the Jaeger’
So with so much out there where to begin?? Luckily our very own Anime team takes us through the world of anime in mini bite-size videos to help even the newest of newbies break into this amazing art form!
This article is part of a larger series. Check out Sean’s announcement and how you can send him suggestions for readings.
The first issue I reviewed as part of this series was Amazing Spider-Man #1 and it was a hit with you all – thank you so much! It actually received the most comments we’ve ever had thus far and that engagement means the world to me!
So going down the list of recommendations that was left for me on my original TikTok announcement, the next one was left by one of our own Nerd Initiative members, Jeremy Bowersock (also known as JJs Comic Stuff):
The first Hulk run is always a decent read!
jjs_comic_stuff
So I opened my Marvel Unlimited app, read the very first issue of Incredible Hulk, and here are my thoughts and observations about it
Overall, this comic was set against the backdrop of the Cold War. Similarly to Amazing Spider-Man #1, Incredible Hulk #1 was also split into four different parts inside the same issue, but it flowed as a continuous story, unlike the Spider-Man issue. And just like any of the classic comics, this issue has some obvious influences, some awkward era-based dialogue, and fun tidbits that we see in the beloved character today.
Although Bruce Banner is popularly known for changing into the Hulk whenever he loses his anger, this is a different story in the first issue. In fact, Bruce figured out that he turns into the Hulk at night; his anger did not impact his transformation at all. Now, future issues may have revealed the anger trigger or may have retconned it later on, but there’s no indication here. In fact, nowhere in this story was the transformation associated with having an angry event prior to it. (By the way, this was a great panel using the colors and shading to show a “transformation” of sorts!)
I really don’t think they tried to hide the fact that this was supposed to have resemblances to Frankenstein’s Monster. His head structure is similar to what we see in popular culture, and Dr. Banner’s assistant is named Igor for crying out loud!
In the MCU, the Hulk is depicted as not having advanced language skills and knowledge (and I haven’t read a recent Hulk comic to know how he’s depicted in the comics now – I am planning to change that soon). But in the first issue, the Hulk is shown as having an intelligible conversation with people around him and can speak in complete, unbroken sentences. So this gave more of a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde vibe more than anything else.
Many of you may know the story that the Hulk was originally gray, which we see on the front cover. The story goes that the gray prints didn’t work out very well and that other colors seeped through (as you can see here). But some of the panels in the second or third issue showed the Hulk with shades of green and Stan Lee liked it so much that he decided to keep him in his green form. But it’s definitely a little jarring seeing the Hulk in this odd shade of blue at first!
For a scientist that works with the military, it’s clear that they are not the best in solving mysteries or hiding secure materials. The image on the left shows how the military police (MP) have been searching for the Russian spy Igor, even though he’s been Bruce’s assistant and openly talked to and been in the presence of the military. The image on the right shows where Bruce hid his top secret report, which was written in large letters and taped to the bottom of a transparent beaker. Nick Fury would be furious!
This issue came out at a time when certain language was acceptable and this issue was no exception. On the left, we see the image where General Ross speaks to his daughter Betty about “man talk” and how she shouldn’t butt in (oof!). The image on the right is a page that shows even in the early days of comics, politics were always a part of the stories and discourse in their characters’ stories.
So those are the details that I picked up from reading this issue and loved. It’s been really fun going back to some of these first issues and getting a sense of how they started and how they changed and remain the same over time.
Below is my TikTok video going over these details. If there is a comic issue you want to suggest I read, feel free to reach out to me on social media (@CaptionedLife) and let me know!
@captionedlife Replying to @jjs_comic_stuff here are my thoughts on the Incredible Hulk #1 #Comics #ComicsAreForEveryone #ComicBooksOfTikTok #Hulk #RetroComicReads ♬ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Official Trailer Music (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Official Soundtrack) – Sh4d0wStrider
Growing up on “Slam Dunk,” “Sakura Card Captor,” and “Captain Tsubasa,” I’ve had the amazing privilege of being part of the Manga fandom since I can remember. I was here when the first chapters/episodes of the Big Three (Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece) came out.
They were my companion through different moments in my life: immigration, high school, university…even now as an adult!
I have read it all. Even if it wasn’t good, I read it: Shonen, Shojo, Seinen. It did not matter to me as long as the story was good. So, naturally, while waiting for new chapters of my favorite mangas to release, I saw the rise of a “new” genre called Manhwa or Webtoon. That’s right. You’re soon to be new favorite read isn’t even a manga. But what is a Manwha?
A Manhwa is a web novel adaptation usually full of color and is characterized by a different art style than what we are used to with Mangas.
The term “Manhwa” became popular in Korea during the 1920s to describe the political cartoons in newspapers criticizing the Japanese occupation (1910 to 1945). Later in the 20th century, Manhwa became the general Korean term used to describe comics and print cartoons, bringing us to today.
Over time, Manwha has developed a loyal and large fanbase, allowing the medium to step into the world of animation, bringing us to the show’s star — Solo Leveling!
This Korean web novel turned Manhwa is one of the best works of artistic storytelling I have ever read. Believe me when I say that I am not making this statement lightly. After all, I have been reading mangas and watching anime for the past 20 years.
Solo Leveling is going to take the anime world by storm. Mark my words: 2023 will be the year of Sung Jin-Woo, the main character of Solo Leveling.
Solo Leveling, alternatively translated as Only I Level Up, is a South Korean web novel by Chugong in 2016. It was later adapted into a webtoon by the fantastic illustrator Jang-Sung Rak (aka Dubu), who died of a chronic health condition on July 23, 2022, a couple of months after the last chapter was published.
The plot follows Sung Jin-Woo in a world where multi-dimensional “gates” start appearing, connecting earth to a world full of monsters, and humans are given the magical ability to become “hunters.” Unfortunately, there is an Alphabetical ranking system for the Hunters, and Sung Jin-Woo is the weakest of them all (Level E).
One day, while riding a double dungeon, Sung Jin-Woo faces a deadly threat that changes his life forever. But, after narrowly surviving, he gains the ability to “control the system” and to level up his powers continuously.
From here, Jin-Woo starts a new journey where he faces many enemies to reach his final goal: Understanding and beating the system.
“The System Uses Me, and I Use the System.”
– Sung Jin woo (Solo Leveling)
The success of this webtoon is so big that a role-playing video game and an anime television series are in development. Netmarble will make the game while the anime is set to premiere in 2023 with A-1 Pictures. (Dong, Bamboo (July 3, 2022). “Crunchyroll Unveils Solo Leveling, Tomo-chan Is a Girl! Anime”. Anime News Network. Retrieved July 3, 2022.)
I have to be honest with you all; this is a weak synopsis if you compare it to the beauty and the richness you will experience while reading this webtoon. It isn’t easy to describe this incredible story without spoiling anything!
Words fail to explain what I felt reading the first few chapters: I was on the edge of my seat, adrenaline pumping through my veins, and I couldn’t get enough! I did not sleep the night I stumbled upon Solo Leveling. I had to read everything available to me that same night.
What a journey it has been! [Sigh]…The Manhwa was completed earlier this year, and I honestly feel the same void after reading the last chapter of Naruto Shippuden. By the way, Naruto was part of my routine for close to my whole life!!!
What can I tell you? Every ingredient to make a fantastic story was added while making Solo Leveling. The story is incredibly written, the protagonist is one of a kind, the action scenes are so incredible you could freeze, the art style sucks you in, it is funny AND a little bit scary in all the right ways…it’s Solo Leveling!
On July 4, 2022, Crunchyroll released the trailer for the Solo Leveling. The anime is set to be released in 2023. It is also available to read on TappyToon.com. Need more recommendations? Check out the Anime Onlies Recommendation page to find what you should watch or read next.
As a reviewer of movies and content creator, I get a lot of comments like “Don’t hate me…” or “Don’t come after me for this…” because people are seemingly afraid I or others will disagree with them or go after them for their opinions.
I’m not going to go after anyone for having a different take on a film or art than me. In fact I truly love that with art in general, not everything is for everyone.
It makes for great discussions and revelations, when two people don’t see art the same way. We all like different things and that’s what makes art and pop culture so great.
If we all loved the exact same films or fandoms, it would be dull to talk about.
Think about this. How many times have you and a friend both loved the exact the same things about a film? Did you go on and on about it or did you both say, “liked that part” or they just agree and the conversation kind of ended?
This has happened to me countless times, especially when watching comedies or films with simplistic plots. This seems to happen less when the plot is more complex or the topic is more than surface deep.
Now don’t misunderstand, I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t enjoy the simplicity of those types of films, but unless there is disagreement, the back and fourth ends quickly in my experience.
Some of the longest and most fulfilling discussions I’ve had about film, were when there were descenting voices in the conversation and we didn’t all see things the same way.
The problem I see most often with film and art is people make it a part of their personality or they think that other peoples views will impact how they feel about the film, song, show or whatever is being critiqued.
This means if you say you don’t like something or would have changed something it’s taken as a personal attack. Viewers and critics alike need to take a step back and realize art is subjective and the closest person to match your film preferences will not be an exact match and that is a beautiful thing.
How I view a film will always be dependent on my mood, the day I’ve had, who I’m watching with, the reviews or spoilers I’ve heard, other movies I’ve seen as well as many more factors.
I assume from my experiences and watching people throughout my life this is true for everyone. We are social creatures that are influenced by the world around us and no one is watching movies in a vacuum.
This means there is no set standard for taste. This is why remembering the subjectivity of art is so important.
I think Roger Ebert said it best when he said “In my reviews, I feel it’s good to make it clear that I’m not proposing objective truth, but subjective reactions; a review should reflect the immediate experience.”
I’d like to think I take this approach, on my podcast or doing TikTok film reviews as well as in my approach to talking about art overall.
We need more discourse and far more nuanced discussions. We need less of people thinking art is objective or can be defined by specific people or groups. We need to help people understand why art is subjective and help bring more people into the discussion.
At the end of the day, each of us is going to feel what we feel. I am going to love the art I love and I don’t care if people hate it. I hope everyone can do the same.
There are so many fun, interesting backstories to how films were made, what they could have been, castings that almost happened and much more.
Let’s dive into some of your favorite movies over the years and reveal some iconic details that you may have missed or stories that you never knew!
Read More: Did You Know? Anime Yu Yu Hakusho almost never made it to America!
So …. Did You Know?
It’s been a week since D23, so let’s look back and give an honest analysis of the big Disney convention and what we loved and what maybe could be better.
First, let’s tackle the good. I will say that the cosplay is the best I have EVER seen! Hands down. I have been to Comic-Con and D23’s cosplay was beyond epic.
So, when it comes to cosplay, if that’s your thing, then start planning for D23 in 2024! It will NOT let you down!
5 Reasons To Go To the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2)
While many fans complained about the lack of trailers watching at home, people in attendance got almost a dozen clips involving projects yet to come.
From seeing the casts of Loki, Daredevil, Echo and so much more, we were treated to panel after panel with MCU stars and teasers of what’s to come!
We literally saw Kevin Feige walking the floor, checking out the Marvel exhibit and talking to fans.
That’s the kind of con I want to attend!
The exhibits were also amazing with Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and more giving fans an inside look at costumes, interviews and free gifts.
Let’s dig a little into the downsides of the convention.
They still don’t have the merch down. There were 5-8 hour long virtual lines to buy merchandise, then on Sunday, you could just walk in and buy what you want.
On the first day, fans were walking out with 10 or more lightsabers, on the second, collectors were getting multiple copies of the special Spider-Man comic given out at the 60th anniversary panel, and the whole process was kind of a mess.
I wish there was a lottery system to possibly get merch blocks of time, so that we didn’t have to sit on our phones for hours looking to get into one of the dozen of rooms where they sold exclusive merch.
Also, once we did get into one of the rooms, it was just a bunch of t-shirts. It would help to know more about what’s offered ahead of time.
We picked up the preferred passes so that we could more easily get into panels. They are much more expensive than your regular weekend passes.
We later found out, those passes only really helped for Hall 23, which is great for the Marvel panel, but what about the Spider-Man 60th or some of the other exciting panels that weren’t at Hall 23.
My advice to those going in the future is to plan out your weekend and make sure something like preferred passes is right for you.
There are a lot of overlapping panels happening all at once and don’t try to do to much.
Also join some fan groups on social to learn how to navigate the convention.
DO NOT TRY TO JUST WING IT. That’s what we did and while we had a blast, we def missed out on some things I would have loved to see. I’m still bitter about not getting that Spider-Man comic.
All in all, I’d give D23 a 7.5/10 – It’s a great time, but a little pricey and a little confusing for the average convention goer. But I’d still go again!
John Caglione Jr. is one of the most prolific and iconic makeup artists in cinematic history.
He’s also one of the nicest, most humble people you will ever meet.
Artist Profile: Branflakes.Art – Hands Down Some of the Most Creative, Spectacular Art Around
Take a journey with the Oscar winner and inspiration for so many iconic characters in movie history.
From Dick Tracy to Dark Knight, Caglione has had a big hand in creating some of the best characters we’ve ever seen!
He’s also taken to YouTube and other platforms to share his expertise about makeup and design in a dynamic, informative video series.
If you are a fan of conventions, cosplay or just like learning from the best of the best — “The Makeup Artist’s Workshop” is a must, must watch!
Hasbro continues to shine the warm light of nostalgia upon us with the Marvel Legends X-Men Animated Series VHS wave of action figures. Today they opened pre-orders for a fan favorite of the X-men, the mutant shape-shifter Mystique!
The VHS cassette inspired box includes amazing original artwork, inspired by the 90’s Animated series! Inside you’ll find the 6-inch scale Mystique figure with the iconic cell-shaded paint application and 5 accessories: 2 firearms, 2 alternate hands, and… A BABY NIGHTCRAWLER?! How cute is that! It really feels like that it makes this character figure a one of kind in and of itself!
Inspired by the 90’s X-men Animated Series, the figure has a unique sculpt and painting to recreate the character’s classic animated show appearance, including her gold skull belt, white dress, blue skin, and yellow eyes! Fans of the show, as well as the comics will be pleased with the look of this figure!
Hasbro has already produced several figures in the line such as Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey, Jubilee, Morph and Mister Sinister. This specific figure retails for $27.99 and can be pre-ordered from Hasbro Pulse
