Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Review)

The time has finally come for the return of a TRUE Dragon Ball Legend (pun intended). Someone who fans have been waiting for for years (I know I have). That is none other than the Saiyan Savage himself, Broly!!!

Since the start of the Dragon Ball Super franchise, there have been several characters who have returned to be a part of this latest chapter of the Dragon Ball canon (Frieza, Android 17, Android 18, Hercule to name a few). There have also been some new additions to the Z Fighter Team (Beerus, Whis). We have also seen newly formidable enemies in the Tournament of Power (Hit, Jiren). However, one character that fans have been demanding the most is the Legendary Super Saiyan Broly. There has been a new character added named Kale who is an homage to Broly, but it is not acknowledged as such. The biggest problem with this was that Broly was not part of the Official Dragon Ball Canon. Now, things have changed with this Game-changing movie which is fittingly named after him. Recently, Dragon Ball Super has been putting out great quality content. The best we have seen since Dragon Ball Z itself. Now, they have taken things to even greater heights with the release of this movie. Now, time to dive in.

I saw this movie in a packed out Theater with other fans eagerly awaiting. The movie picks up with the Saiyan Origin Story on Planet Vegeta. The animation is amazing with the Frieza ships flying up to the Planet. The story starts off over 40 years ago. We see cameos from DBZ originals like Zarbon, Dodoria and Guldo who were, of course, part of Frieza's army along with the Ginyu Force. All of these characters played pivotal roles in the Namek/Frieza Saga, which was my favorite Saga of the original DBZ series. As Frieza and his Father King Cold land on Planet Vegeta with their army, they are greeted by King Vegeta himself along with his team of Saiyan Warriors. King Cold announces that he will be retiring as ruler of the Saiyans as he places his son Frieza in charge. As a long time DBZ fan, I did not even know this part of the story. I just thought that Frieza waged war with them and killed them while taking Vegeta captive. However, this movie gives more detail to the origin as Frieza supplies the Saiyans with Scouters. I did not realize how petty King Vegeta really was until I saw this. When King Vegeta sees Broly, he considers him a lower class Saiyan who could not possibly have a power level superior to that of his son (sounds familiar?). When the Saiyan soldiers scan Broly's power level, it goes beyond measure to the point where one of the Scouters got destroyed. King Vegeta sees Broly as a threat and sends him into exile to another planet to the disapproval of Colonel Paragus, Broly's father. Paragus goes on a journey with one of the fellow Saiyans to search for Broly. Paragus discovers Broly on a planet called Vampa living like a scavenger in order to survive. Broly develops a friendship with a creature called Bah. Paragus shoots Bah's ear off. Broly wears the ear around his waist as a tribute. They both learn to live on that planet throughout Broly's life until they are recruited by the Frieza force. We also transition to Goku and Vegeta and where they are now after the Tournament of Power with a very comedic element before encountering their next major threat.



We are also treated with flashbacks of Goku and Vegeta like never before in the DBZ series. Bardock's story gets tweaked compared to the original movie "Bardock: Father of Goku". The biggest difference is the inclusion of Goku's Mother Gine, who is also a Saiyan. In the Bardock origin movie, we see Bardock wearing a blood-soaked bandana on his head in honor of his fallen friend. However, Bardock does not wear a headband in this movie. In fact, his armor is totally different. This was the toughest scene for me in this movie, because I almost felt that pain when Bardock and Gine sent Goku to Earth. Goku even started crying. They also reference Raditz on a separate mission. However, they had to do it for Goku's safety because Frieza was ready to deliver his signature fireball to destroy them. In the original backstory, we see Bardock with his army behind him as he fires one final blast before Frieza destroys them. In this movie, Bardock just fires up the blast while they are still on the planet. The end result is still death. The retcon of Bardock was interesting as it had elements of Dragon Ball Minus. On the other hand, we also see a flashback of a young Nappa with hair along with the kid versions of Vegeta and Raditz. The flashbacks give fans the chance to see how the decisions of a few Saiyans shaped the destinies of Goku, Vegeta, and Broly. This movie gives Broly a fleshed out backstory because it gives this popular savage brute something that he never had before: personality. Broly not only has a defined character, but his tragic history gives fans a reason to feel sympathetic. He also develops a love interest in this movie. Cheelai plays a major part in helping Broly break out of his shell, as she takes the taser away from Paragus.

As we get ready for the battle, Goku and Vegeta confront Frieza and Paragus as they get off the ship. Paragus reveals that he wants revenge on King Vegeta through the death of Prince Vegeta himself. Frieza takes the seven Dragon Balls from Bulma. Whis tells Bulma that there is a larger problem than Frieza. He calls it the "blessing and curse" of the Warrior race. Paragus calls for his greatest weapon, Broly. There were talks of a "Legendary" Super Saiyan, but nobody knew who carried that power. It would be revealed during the battle. Broly had not had formal fighting or training experience except for his sparring sessions with Paragus. This was his first real test, and he was very impressive as Paragus and Frieza were there to observe. Vegeta was first up to jump into the fire, and he was incredible. Vegeta transformed from Super Saiyan to Super Saiyan god as he got the best of Broly in the beginning. Vegeta's skill and technique got the best of Broly's raw power. However, Broly was not finished as he powered up once he fell into the water. It was revealed that Broly possessed the power of the Great Ape, but it was controlled. Goku was highly impressed by how much Broly kept up with Vegeta in his base form. This version of Broly adapts to his opponents which is what fascinated me about him. Vegeta observed that at the beginning of his fight. Meanwhile, the original Broly was in his powerhouse Legendary Super Saiyan form throughout the fight in the first movie. I actually like this difference in character because even though he is still formidable, it is not just a typical one-sided beatdown. When Broly makes his comeback, he gets the best of Vegeta as Goku warms up to get his share of the action. Broly even unleashes a blast from his mouth that destroyed one of the mountains. During the battle, Broly continues to power up but I noticed a glaring difference. Broly had never turned Super Saiyan at this point.

As Broly's rage continued to grow, Goku got into his mind and used his Super Saiyan god powers to freeze him in place. However, it did not work as Broly broke free and proceeded to decimate Goku. As Goku attacked, I noticed that Broly grew because of his power-ups. Broly even grabbed Goku by the foot and threw him around like the Hulk did to Loki in Avengers 1 and Thor in Thor: Ragnarok. It only makes sense considering that Broly's colors are green and purple. Much like the Hulk, Broly gets stronger when he gets angrier as the fight continues. Goku transforms into Super Saiyan Blue to mount a comeback. However, Broly turns the tide by releasing an Energy ball that destroys the icy mountains, turning them into a volcanic wasteland. Frieza observes the fight and finds a way to trigger Broly's Super Saiyan power. The tyrant alien has a flashback to when he killed Krillin in order for Goku to turn Super Saiyan. As a result, Frieza turns to Paragus and kills him with a finger laser. Frieza tells Broly that his Father was accidentally killed in battle. Vegeta transforms into Super Saiyan Blue to team up for a double Kamehameha wave. Goku and Vegeta draw Broly towards Frieza as a decoy so that they could escape meeting Piccolo for their fusion. After they teleport, Broly runs into Frieza to beat the brakes off of him. This buys Vegeta and Goku enough time to meet Piccolo to practice the Fusion. After two comedic fails, they finally have the proper alignment to form Gogeta. When Gogeta returns to fight Broly, he turns Super Saiyan Blue for the final battle. This Battle did not disappoint at all, as Broly was completely jacked in Legendary Super Saiyan form. Broly's transformation is a spectacle all by itself, because of the visuals. The longer Broly fights, the stronger he gets. Whis even jumps into the battle. Broly gets mad and attacks Whis, but he can't touch him. As Gogeta blasts Broly with the Stardust Breaker, Cheelai and Lemo make a wish for Broly to survive. Instead of dying, Broly is sent to Vampa.

The ending shows Goku going to Vampa where he meets Cheelai and Lemo as he gives them capsules that turn into a home for them to live in along with food and water. Before he leaves, Goku finds Broly and tells him that he wants to train with him in the future. Goku also tells Broly to call him "Kakarot". Nice reference to the original movie. Overall, I was very excited and impressed by this movie as it is by far my favorite movie in the History of the Dragon Ball Franchise. It has been a long time coming, and Akira Toriyama definitely delivered. You could tell that he really took his time with this. I had more anticipation for this than anything else within the Era of Super. It is a great callback to the vintage Broly movie but finds a great way to fit into the Canon. 9.5/10.

Avengers Infinity War: The Epic Showdown

10 Years in the Making! From the beginning with Ironman, we have been on a roller coaster adventure that has all lead to this point. This movie was a Hall of Fame Roster of Marvel Superheroes teamed up together for the Ultimate Worldbeating Villain himself, Thanos. Through the Good, Bad, Ugly and in between, this journey has to lead to this very point. This was the MCU Dream Team of All-Time Greats teaming up for an Epic War of Massive Proportions. For years, Marvel's biggest flaw was in their Villain Department. The Heroes were well written, but their Achilles Heel was always the rival. Fans complained for years about how the Villains are not very well developed and how they are easily beatable. With the exception of Loki, the average MCU Villain was one and done. However, Marvel has slowly but surely turned things around as of late. From Vulture (Spider-Man Homecoming) to Hela (Thor: Ragnarok) to Killmonger (Black Panther), the MCU has slowly been turning the tide to make improvements to balance things out between the Heroes and Villains.

In order to be a truly great Hero, you need a great Dance Partner to bounce off of. This time, Marvel made the biggest improvement because Thanos is the culmination of everything they have been building up to. Even when everyone was talking about the greatness of Erik Killmonger, I kept saying "You haven't seen anything yet" because I was referring to Thanos. As good as Killmonger was, Thanos makes him look like a Boyscout. With the hype building further for this movie, I knew that it would go beyond expectations and I was not disappointed. With the previews, I already knew this would be a wild ride, and it truly was. Marvel kept a slow build up in the beginning as Black Panther was gaining momentum. Once Black Panther became a surprise smash hit at the Box Office, Marvel revved up the engine for the Infinity War marketing machine. From that point, it was off to the races. With all of the speculation and predictions about the movie, I knew my prediction about the beginning would become a reality. It is time to get into that and more.

This movie did not waste time establishing how much of a Monster Villain Thanos is because things got savage very quickly. Infinity War starts off where Thor Ragnarok ended where we saw Thor and Loki staring at a Giant Spaceship which turned out to be Thanos' ship. From that point, the movie starts off with the Asgardian Refugee ship destroyed with the bodies of dead Asgardians laying on the floor. Thanos watches over the dead bodies with his minions the Black Order. Meanwhile, they surround Loki as he watches Thanos grab Thor by the head to torture him. As Thanos burns Thor's head with the Power Stone, Loki tells him to stop as he reveals the Tesseract (Space Stone). Loki gives Thanos the Space Stone to spare Thor's life. Before that happens, Loki tells Thanos that there is a Hulk on the ship. He used the same line that Tony Stark used on him to send Hulk to attack him in the first Avengers Movie "We have a Hulk". The Incredible Hulk rushes in to attack Thanos and gives him a sick combo. However, Thanos counters Hulk to get out of the corner. From that point, Thanos proceeded to annihilate The Hulk from a series of combos to a Gorilla Press Slam. Heimdall sends Hulk to Earth, only for Thanos to stab him with the Sword. as Loki gives Thanos the Tesseract he also tries to betray him by pulling out a dagger. Thanos would not be fooled by Loki's shenanigans, as he also reminds Loki of his failure from the battle of New York. Loki's arm freezes as he attempts to stab Thanos. The Mad Titan grabs Loki by the throat to kill him by breaking his neck. Thanos would say "There will be no Resurrection" meaning Loki is gone for good. Thor watches helplessly while his brother is killed mercilessly. After Thanos kills Loki, he leaves with the Black Order while destroying the Asgardian Ship. Meanwhile, Thor floats into Space after the chaos.

From that point, we also see the Team-Up of Ironman, Dr. Strange and Bruce Banner in New York outside of the Sanctum Santorum with the invasion Ebony and Obsidian. Banner tells Stark and Strange about Thanos and his mission to gather all of the Infinity Stones. Bruce still cannot transform because the Hulk lost his confidence. Meanwhile, Ironman and Dr. Strange battle Thanos' henchmen until Thanos' ship arrives on Earth. The battle continues there. Meanwhile, Peter Parker sees the ship from his Bus as he escapes to become Spider-Man. Parker gets on the ship, but Ironman finds him as he deploys the Iron-Spider suit for Peter to wear. Tony and Dr. Strange get into an argument about how they got in this position. Meanwhile, Tony is also trying to figure out how Peter got into this situation. Dr. Strange is tortured by one of the Black Order members as they try to take the Time Stone from him before Ironman makes short work of him. From that point, they arrive on Thanos' Home Planet of Titan.

The movie goes to the Guardians of the Galaxy storyline as they are flying the Milano Spaceship. As they are flying, they see a mysterious body floating from Space as it lands on their windshield. When the Guardians bring the body inside, they find out it is Thor. I actually enjoyed this interaction as well, because it seems like a great matchup. When Thor wakes up, Starlord stares him down as he mocks his accent. When you team up Thor with the Guardians, expect some jokes at some point. Thor tells his story as he tells them about Thanos and his quest to gather the Infinity Stones. As Thor talks about the Soul Stone, Gamora has a look on her face as if she already knows about it. Gamora tells Starlord that she knows where the Soul Stone is, but she got rid of the Map. She tells Quill to promise to kill her over the Soul Stone. From that point, you knew that her time was ticking. Fast forward to when they see Thanos as he collects the Reality Stone. The Guardians think that they have beaten Thanos, but he uses the Reality Stone to trick them as he takes Gamora to Soul World. In order to retrieve the Soul Stone, you have to sacrifice something or someone that you love and that someone who Thanos loved was Gamora. We are also met with an unexpected surprise with the appearance of the Red Skull on the Mountain where Thanos sacrifices Gamora. As Thanos looks over, Gamora tells him that he loves nothing. However, Thanos sheds a tear as the Red Skull tells Gamora that those tears are for her. Tragically, Thanos kills Gamora by throwing her off the cliff for the sake of the Soul Stone. This shows how ruthless Thanos can be to get what he wants the most. We also witness a flashback to when Thanos first took Gamora as his Daughter.

In between that time, we see Vision and Scarlet Witch together in Scotland where they have taken residence following Civil War. Vision has taken on a human form to disguise himself so that they can separate themselves from their lifestyles as Avengers. However, their time together is interrupted by an attack from the Black Order as they try to take the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, Captain America comes in for the rescue. Proxima Midnight throws her Spear at Cap, only for him to catch it. Falcon and Black Widow join in for the save as well. From that point, they meet War Machine to discuss how to save Vision. They are also met by Bruce Banner. When they talk about a way to receive help from someone Technologically Advanced, Rogers says that he knows who can help. This is where the Black Panther music plays as we transition to Wakanda. Cap flies the jet to Wakanda to meet with King T'Challa and his Army of Dora Milaje led by General Okoye. Here, T'Challa gives everyone the marching orders as he tells his people to give Cap a new Shield. Meanwhile, Shuri scans Vision's database and his mind to heal him. Black Panther tells his team to give "White Wolf" aka Bucky Barnes a new Metal Arm. Steve reunites with Bucky to take on the aliens that Thanos sends to invade Wakanda.



When Thanos arrives at Titan, he is met by the Guardians, Ironman, Spider-Man, and Dr. Strange where they have another Great Battle with great attacks from Ironman, Spider-Man as well as Starlord and Strange. However, the course of their mission is drastically changed when Thanos is held down by Ironman and the others as he shares the tragic news of Gamora's death. Starlord finds this out as he goes into a rage over her death. Instead of helping his Team take the Gauntlet away from Thanos, Quill takes his frustrations out on him in a blind rage. It got so bad to the point where Ironman had to hold him back. Ironman goes toe to toe with Thanos in an Epic Showdown where it looked like Ironman would die. Thanos even said "I hope they remember you" after he stabs Stark. However, Dr. Strange came in for the save as he gives Thanos the Time Stone to save Tony's life. Strange also tells everyone that out of 14,000.000 outcomes, they only win one so this is their "Endgame" as he tells them. With the Time Stone, Thanos goes to the last place of Battle, Wakanda.

While all of these things are going on, Thor has been on his own side Mission with Rocket and Groot to go to the Planet where Mjolnir was built. There, he receives assistance from one of the Giant Dwarfs played by Peter Dinklage from Game of Thrones. It was amazing to see how they made him such a Giant. Thor has to go into a device where he forges his new Weapon, Stormbreaker out of the heart of a dying star. It was so intense that Thor almost died. However, Groot came through at the most crucial time as he saw the Axe had been formed. Groot chops off one of his arms to create the handle that this new weapon needs. From that point, it is on to the Final Showdown with Thanos. As Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, the Jobari Tribe (M'Baku's Team) and others fight alongside Cap and his team, lightning strikes as Thor, Groot, and Rocket make their Grand Entrance to Wakanda to clean house. While that is going on, Thanos finds Vision to take the Mind Stone. However, Scarlet Witch takes the Stone out of Vision's head to destroy it. Unfortunately, Thanos uses the Time Stone to reverse Time to the point where the Mind Stone was destroyed so that he could put it back together. When Thanos puts the Stone back together, he kills Vision. At this point, Thanos accomplished his mission of collecting all of the Infinity Stones. Thor gets the chance for revenge as he throws Stormbreaker at Thanos as it stabs him in the heart. We think that the Avengers have won, but Thanos is still alive. Thanos tells Thor that he should've aimed for the head, and for good reason. Suddenly, Thanos performs his most Iconic Move from the Comic Book as he snaps his fingers to wipe out half of the Universe. Gamora and Thanos have each mentioned this previously. From this point, we see the aftermath of Thanos' action. Out of nowhere, we see people dissolving into dust as they are wiped out. The most notable characters and biggest surprises were Black Panther and Spider-Man. Other characters that turned into dust included Scarlet Witch, Bucky, Falcon, Groot, Starlord, Drax, Dr. Strange, and Mantis. The Original Avengers Team survived, along with War Machine, Okoye, Rocket and Nebula. On Titan, Tony mourns the death of Peter Parker as he cries before he leaves. That was the most touching scene along with Gamora's Death and T'Challa's death.

When it was all said and done, Thanos sits down looking at the Sunset reflecting on what he accomplished. The only Post Credit Scene shows Nick Fury with agent Maria Hill as they are involved in a car accident. The people that were driving before had suddenly disappeared. The camera shows Agent Hill disappearing, followed by Agent Fury himself while he pages someone. The person that Fury pages turn out to be Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel.

Overall, I was very pleased with this Movie. It reminded me of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back because of the cliffhanger ending. The Storylines were well established and developed as each character had plenty of screen time. Enough to go around for everyone to share. Thanos had great battles with everyone in their own special way. Even though there were characters everywhere, the Russo Brothers knew how to create a healthy balance between them. My Co-MVPs for this Movie would have to be Thanos and Thor with Ironman and Dr. Strange following right behind them. This was Thanos' Movie, Thor was the Most Improved since Ragnarok, Ironman was seen as the Building Block of the Avengers, and Dr. Strange came through in the clutch by saving Tony's life. I would give this Movie 10 out of 10 Infinity Gauntlets.

Black Panther: Cultural Gamechanger

As we draw closer to the Premiere of the MCU Blockbuster "Black Panther", I would like to dive into the History of the Most Significant Black Superhero in History, The Black Panther himself. I would also like to share my thoughts about what Black Panther means to me as a Black Comic Book fan. This Movie has already broken records for Most Presale Tickets sold for any Superhero Movie ever, and that INCLUDES "Captain America: Civil War", where Chadwick Boseman made his debut as the King of Wakanda. However, Black Panther's roots go deeper than his appearance in Civil War.

Concept and Origin:
Created by Writer Stan Lee and Artist Jack Kirby, the Black Panther made his debut in Issue #52 of the Fantastic Four in July-August 1966 along with Fantastic Four Annual #5 in 1967. T'Challa took fans by storm as he defeated the Fantastic Four by himself, and in very convincing fashion. Although the character predates the actual Black Panther Party (Founded in October 1966), it came at a very crucial time in history. The Character also shares the same name as the World War II Black Panthers Tank Battalion. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby wanted to present their African American fanbase with a hero that they can see themselves in and live through that character. Hence, the Black Panther was created.

He is the first Black Superhero in American Mainstream Comic Books. Before him, virtually no black heroes were created, especially none with actual superpowers. Following his debut in the Fantastic Four features, Black Panther would appear with Captain America in Tales of Suspense #97 (January-March 1968). T'Challa comes from the fictional African Country of Wakanda, the most Technologically Advanced Country in the World. He is the Leader of that Country and owns the largest supply of Vibranium, the same metal that Captain America's shield is made out of. Vibranium in Wakanda is the equivalent of Diamonds, Oil, Minerals, etc in the Real African Countries. We all know how History turned out in that regard. With that being said, the Story of Wakanda tells a strong message about how important it is for Africans and African Americans have to defend their property from Outsiders who look to pillage their land and steal their most prized possessions. Black Panther would receive his first official starring feature in Jungle Action #5 (July 1973), a reprint of the Central Black Panther Story in Avengers #62 (March 1969). Black Panther has also defeated the KKK in one of his most Legendary Issues (Jungle Action Vol. 2, #21, May 1976).

Background:
The Black Panther is a mantle passed from generation to generation. It is the ceremonial title given to the King of the Panther Tribe of Wakanda. In addition to ruling the country, T'Challa rules various other tribes within Wakanda. In the distant past, a meteorite made of the vibration-absorbing mineral known as Vibranium crashed in Wakanda and was unearthed. Knowing that outsiders could invade their country and steal this valuable resource, King T'Chaka like his father before him, concealed his country from the outside world. T'Challa would also follow suit to make sure that Wakanda does not suffer from colonization. Marvel has a very strategic way of sending a message to us regarding history. Even though T'Challa is next in line to carry the Black Panther Mantle based on his bloodline, he still had to earn his stripes through the Wakandan Rites of Passage. He would eventually succeed in this process to become the new King of Wakanda. Along the way, T'Challa met a young woman named Ororo Monroe, later known as X-Men Mutant Storm. The two would fall in love, but would soon break up because of T'Challa's desire to avenge his father's death and wanting to become the man who could suitably lead a Nation like Wakanda. They would eventually see each other again in the future. T'Challa earned the title and attributes of The Black Panther by defeating the many different champions of Wakanda. Black Panther's Archrival is Erik Killmonger, along with other adversaries from Ulysses Klaw, Man-Ape, etc. Killmonger is to Black Panther what Sabretooth is to Wolverine, what Loki is to Thor, Venom to Spider-Man, etc. You could even say that Killmonger is the Joker to T'Challa's Batman.

Avengers Affiliation:
Along with being the King of the Nation of Wakanda, Black Panther also splits time as a Member of the Avengers. He has helped them defeat the Sons of the Serpent as well as the Skrulls in "Secret Invasion" among other adventures. T'Challa played a pivotal role in "Captain America: Civil War" during the Sokovia Accords during his quest to avenge his father's murder at the UN Building as King T'Chaka was going to sign the Sokovia Accords Agreement. T'Challa would eventually leave his Active Avengers Membership to return to Wakanda on the brink of Civil War. He would also accept the aide of Agent Everett K. Ross as he faces multiple threats to the sovereignty of Wakanda.

Marriage to Storm:
After helping his old flame Ororo Monroe (Storm) reunite with her family, T'Challa later proposes. The two married in a large Wakandan ceremony attended by many superheroes, including Captain America and Ironman. Together, they would fight alongside Captain America's anti-registration forces. During the end battle, the Wakandan embassy in Manhattan is heavily destroyed, but no Wakandans are hurt. After the battle, Panther and Storm briefly fill in for vacationing Fantastic Four Members Reed and Sue Richards before returning to Wakanda.

Secret Wars:
During the "Secret Wars", Black Panther teams with Mr. Fantastic, Starlord, Spider-Man, Thor (Jane Foster), Captain Marvel, and a Phoenix enhanced Cyclops to fight off Dr. Doom. Dr. Strange retrieves an Infinity Gauntlet to help T'Challa fight off Dr. Doom. Strange ensures T'Challa that the Gauntlet would work in the location where Doom built his main fortress. The Gauntlet works, as Black Panther uses the Time Gem to go back to Wakanda to tell lead his people.




Powers/Abilities:
Black Panther has Enhanced Strength, Agility, Speed, Stamina, Healing, Reflexes, Athleticism and Superhuman Senses thanks to a Special Heart-Shaped Herb from Wakanda. He is also a skilled scientist, inventor, hunter, strategist, tracker and politician with a Ph.D. in physics from Oxford University. T'Challa is also a master of multiple African Martial Arts and a Gymnast that trains rigorously. Black Panther is a brilliant inventor on par with the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards, and an excellent combat strategist on par with that of Captain America. T'Challa holds victories over Ironman and Cap in 1-on-1 Combat. Black Panther also has access to various magical artifacts, along with advanced Wakandan Military and Technological Hardware. His bodyguards are the Wakandan Warriors known as the Dora Milaje (The Adorned Ones). Black Panther will certainly be a Powerful Asset during the Infinity War against Thanos.

Legacy:

The Legacy of the Black Panther is that of prestige and prominence. Black Panther is the benchmark that every other Black Superhero, Past, Present, and Future is measured by. He is not the traditional Black Sidekick (War Machine, Falcon, Cyborg), nor the Black Alternative (John Stewart-Green Lantern, Miles Morales-Spiderman). With all due respect to those characters, they don't move the needle of the Culture the way that Black Panther does. T'Challa is Africa's Equivalent of Steve Rogers (Capt. America). Steve takes pride in his heritage as an American, while T'Challa takes pride in his Wakandan heritage. They are the Primary National Symbols of their respective Countries. Cap has a Shield made of Vibranium, while Black Panther's Entire Suit is made of Vibranium. If it wasn't for Vibranium, Cap would not have his Signature Shield. That is a Testament to Wakanda's influence on the Outside World. It also mirrors the Influence that Black People as a Collective have on Culture. Wakanda has had connections to the MCU ever since Ironman 2. As Nick Fury and Tony Stark have their conversation about the Avengers Initiative, there is a Map in the background. If you look very carefully, you will see Wakanda. In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers is fascinated by the Prototype Shield that Howard Stark had laying around. Howard tells him it is made out of Vibranium (I wonder where he got it from). In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Bruce Banner mispronounces Wakanda before finally making the correction. Finally, in Civil War, Black Panther makes his arrival. It was the culmination of things coming full circle for the history of Black Panther in the MCU before he makes his debut solo film. It was fascinating to see Cap go face to face with the man that owns the very Metal that his Shield is made out of. Wakanda went from being a blip on the Radar in Ironman 2 to becoming a Central Location right before Infinity War. It went from being mentioned passively in previous Marvel films to becoming a place of Prominence in the MCU. This goes to show that the Last shall be First and the First shall be Last. Here, we have a character that is not portrayed as a Sidekick, a Parody, a Thug, Drug Dealer, Slave, or any other negative Black Stereotype. I look for nothing but the best from this Movie and expect it to make a significant impact on the Genre. Will it be a Movie that will change the world overnight? No, but it is great to see us portrayed in the best light possible. While he is not the first Black Superhero onscreen (Meteor Man, Blank Man, Blade), he will make the biggest impact. Blank Man and Meteor Man were Caricatures of Black Heroes and were not taken seriously at all. As nostalgic as those characters are within the Black Community, they were simply Parodies, and we cannot afford to be seen that way any longer. Wesley Snipes originally wanted to play Black Panther before he became Blade. Black Panther destroys Stereotypes of Black Heroes and just Black Characters in General on the Bigscreen. The Best is yet to come. Long Live the King, Wakanda Forever!!

Thor Ragnarok Review

November got kicked off in a Major way with the release of the highly anticipated "Thor: Ragnarok". I knew this would be Thor's Best Film from the Previews alone, so I was very excited. From the Hulk as the Gladiator to Hela breaking the Hammer, to the Led Zeppelin Music to build things up, I just knew this would be epic. I was Super Amped up for this Movie, to the point where I even got an Electronic Thor Hammer and Action Figure along with an Advanced Ticket. A Movie has to be EXTREMELY Special in order for me to go to those lengths. I also made sure that I wore my Thor/Hulk T-Shirt. However, I must say that when I initially saw the title Ragnarok, I thought he was going to die since he dies in one of the early Ragnarok storylines from the Comics. However, this Movie proved otherwise.

Surprisingly, this movie took much more of a Comedic turn, which is a far cry from the previous Thor Movies. Fans have had many complaints about how uninteresting Thor's movies were, which caused the character's legacy to take a serious hit among fans. Out of the Big 4 Avengers (Cap, Ironman, Thor, Incredible Hulk), Thor was the least popular. This Movie would make a change to those ideas about Thor. He made his debut with the 2010 standalone movie, which was released during Marvel Studios formative years. The movie portrayed the Asgardians as interdimensional figures rather than figures of Norse Mythology. It was painted in a Shakespearean style with the conflict between Thor and his brother Loki.The investment paid off well, which compelled Marvel to create a sequel. Thor: The Dark World took a clearly much darker turn, but for the worst with an awful villain (Malekith). Whether he is in his own movie or teaming with the Avengers, Chris Hemsworth (Thor) is most at ease when he is doing something funny.

Ever since the first two Avengers Movies, we discover that Thor is really just some goofy, musclebound, blonde surfer dude that just happens to wield a Mighty Hammer. Director Taiki Waititi is a Master at bringing that element out of Hemsworth, as it clearly showed. Fast forward to Thor: Ragnarok, the first Thor solo Movie in four years. As the film opens, we find Thor chained by Surtur, the giant fire demon intent on the destruction of Asgard, known as Ragnarok. In the beginning, Thor explains his journey through the cosmos searching for the Infinity Stones before being trapped. As Thor is having a conversation with Surtur, he finds a way to escape his clutches so that he could finally return home. Upon Thor's arrival, he sees Loki disguised as their Father Odin making jokes. Meanwhile, Thor takes Loki with him to search for Odin. Thor and Loki make a brief journey to Earth in search of Odin. Dr. Strange makes a cameo and opens the portal for them to discover Odin's whereabouts in Norweigh. Odin tells them that the destruction of Asgard is underway and Hela has been unleashed. When Hela arrives, Thor and Loki are ready for attack. When Thor throws his Hammer, Hela catches it and shatters it like glass (As Loki would say).

Thor and Loki chase Hela as she reaches Asgard. However, they both fall into another Planet called Sakaar where the Comedy ensues. Thor is captured by a scavenger who we find out has her own connection with Asgard (Tessa Thompson). She makes him a prisoner for the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). On the journey to the Grandmaster, Thor is in a chair going through what looks like a ride in Disneyland. Meanwhile, the Willy Wonka theme song is playing in the background. Everything happens at a quick pace as the Grandmaster challenges Thor to fight his Champion, who is a Dominant Gladiator. Here we find out about the Contest of Champions,  a series of brutal fights inside of a Coliseum. Thor gets stuck with a character named Korg (voiced by Waititi) who has to be the funniest character in the film. Korg warns Thor of the Champion so that he does not become another Doug (running joke of the film). As he prepares for battle, Thor grabs a sword and tells Korg the story about his Hammer and Korg realizes how much Thor missed his favorite Weapon. Thor sees the scavenger and realizes that she is a Valkyrie because of a symbol on her arm. She later electrocutes Thor again like she did when she first captured him. Thor is later strapped to a chair for a haircut by none other than Stan Lee himself (with hands like Edward Scissorhands). Thor begs for mercy before Stan trims his Golden Hair with his fragile hands. As Thor enters the Arena, we see him with a haircut and a new helmet. We also find out that the Champion is none other than The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Hulk is in his Gladiator Hulk outfit. Thor cheers and tells everyone that they know each other from work (Avengers reference). Loki is traumatized when he sees the Hulk because he remembers what Hulk did to him. Thor tries to calm Hulk down, but it is too late as the fight is underway. This Battle was the Best Fight that Thor and Hulk have ever had, considering their history of the head to head clashes. This was what I and many other fans have been waiting for. After the fight, Thor looks for a way to escape as Hulk points out the Quinjet from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Initially, Hulk doesn't want to leave, but Thor talks him into it. Thor finally takes the device Valkyrie used to electrocute him and tries to talk her into joining his team to fight Hela. At first, Valkyrie declines. Later, she helps them and decides to join. Along the way, they form a Team called the Revengers making their way to Asgard through "The Devil's Anus". You can't make this stuff up.

Hemsworth is absolutely in his element in this movie, and Cate Blanchett gives him a run for his money as Hela. Their fight scene was a thrill. During the fight, Thor has a vision where he talks to his Father. Thor doubts himself saying he is nothing without his Hammer, only for Odin to say "Are you the god of Hammers?". Odin tells Thor that the Hammer was only made to control his Powers as Thor realizes that his Strength was from within. After receiving his affirmation, Thor shocks Hela with a lightning blast to escape just in time to help Asgard defeat their Enemies. Meanwhile, Loki uses Surtur's crown to resurrect him to bring forth Ragnarok. When Hela thinks she has defeated them, Thor leaves the rest of the Battle to Surtur to destroy Asgard and defeat Hela.



Thor finally claims his Throne as King of Asgard and discovers his destiny. Even though the Movie was very lighthearted, it helped repair Thor's image. This Movie was a Complete Joy and a Thrill to watch. Even though Thor lost his Hammer, he tapped deep into his Powers and unleashed his True Strength. For the people that think Thor is nothing without his Hammer (Mjolnir), this movie proves otherwise. In the post credits, we see a glimpse of what is to come for Infinity War.

Overall, I was very impressed and proud of this movie. My fandom of Thor has gone up tremendously and this shows why Thor deserves more respect. I give this Movie 5 out of 5 Mjolnir Hammers.

Ric Flair: 30 for 30 Review

Last Week, ESPN premiered their first 30 for 30 Documentary on a Professional Wrestler. That Wrestler was none other than 16-Time World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. The Documentary was publicized almost heavily. There were Interviews with Ric's Family, from his First Wife to his Fiance, along with Charlotte Flair and David Flair. Also featured in the Documentary were Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, JR, Sting, and others. You also had celebrity interviews with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Michelle Beadle. The Story starts off with Ric's early childhood where he was originally adopted as a Child. Flair says that his Parents only saw him wrestle at least twice, which tells me he had abandonment issues. Ric goes on to talk about how he dropped out of College to pursue his Career in Professional Wrestling. Flair goes into detail about the Infamous Plane Crash in 1975. Doctors said that he would never wrestle again, which motivated him to train even harder than ever. When Ric was in rehab, he had the idea of being a great heel champion with blonde hair. Flair would call himself the "Nature Boy" because he was influenced by the Original "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. The rest was history. Flair talks about when he won his first World Title on September 17, 1981, when he defeated Dusty Rhodes, his future rival. My favorite part of the Documentary was when they showed the parallels between Ric Flair and his counterpart up North, Hulk Hogan. Jim Cornette said that the NWA was like the Boston Celtics, and the WWF was like the Harlem Globetrotters. I would say Hogan was more like the Los Angeles Lakers. It was great to see ESPN go into detail about the contrasts between the two Icons. Flair said that Hogan was into telling kids to eat their Vitamins and Saying their Prayers while he was into booze and women. However, this Documentary did make Hogan look like a second wheel compared to Flair. Hulk even said that Ric was "Ten Times Better, No Brainer". That was the bombshell for me because it was surprising to hear Hogan speak so humbly and put Flair over like that. They also talk about how they never had the Epic WrestleMania Match that so many people wanted and how their chemistry didn't always click. Triple H definitely touched on this point. Another big takeaway from this Documentary was when Flair revealed that he slept with 10,000 Women within at least 20 years of his Career. This obviously led to turmoil within his Marriage. Ric's Infidelities would later come back to bite him with the strain of his relationships with his children. The Story also goes into Flair's second stint leading to his retirement. This is where Shawn Michaels comes into the picture because Ric Flair was his hero growing up. HBK was straightforward when he said that Ric Flair is a Myth, Richard Fleihr is the real person. He also said Ric hasn't really gotten to know himself. I don't even want to touch the TNA Chapter because it was shameful.

Overall, it was a great way to Humanize Ric Flair for the Casual Fans. It was nice to see Ric's Influence on the World of Wrestling and Pop Culture.

Mike Tyson: Baddest Man on the Planet

There are fighters that you truly know are "Once In A Lifetime". Along with fighters like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis, Mike Tyson fits that title very well. Iron Mike was a wrecking ball of destruction in the Boxing Ring, constantly coming to his opponents at full speed and force. From the time that he broke into the Sport at 18 (3/6/1985), Tyson was an attraction. Tyson's Aggression came from his background growing up in the streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn New York. Tyson lived near Bedford Stuyvesant, the same area as Rap Icon Biggie Smalls. Mike knew that Boxing was his way out of the streets the same way that Biggie knew Rap was his way out of the streets. Iron Mike was Box Office because fans wanted to see how fast Tyson would destroy his opponents. Tyson won 26 of his first 28 fights by KO or TKO. His Punching Power was like something never seen before, and his head movements were a perfect compliment. While Muhammad Ali personified Showmanship, Mike Tyson personified Ruthless Aggression. In his prime, Mike was both the Irresistible Force and the Immovable Object wrapped together in one. Mike took the world by storm when he became the Youngest World Heavyweight Champion in History at the of 20 when he defeated Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986. Tyson was the Master of the Peekaboo style of Boxing, thanks to his trainer Cus D'Amato. It helped him slip under and weave his opponent's punches while timing his own. Tyson's greatest weapons were his right hook and uppercut. During his rise in popularity, Tyson even had his own game, the legendary "Mike Tyson Punch Out" featuring Lil' Mac in 1987. Tyson would leave a trail of bodies in his wake, including Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes. From 86-89, Tyson was an Unstoppable World Beater as he ruled the World of Boxing as he ruled with an Iron Fist. His Knockouts are the stuff of Boxing Legend.

However, when talking about the Mike Tyson Mystique, you must also include the Controversy and trouble tied to his legacy. Mike has had his fair of hardships along with his fame. Since the death of Cus D'Amato, Tyson would slowly unravel as his fame grew. When Don King took over, Mike would be taken advantage of financially because of Don's shark like nature as a Promoter. We also know about the drama that he had with Robin Givens. Mike Tyson's Armor would soon suffer some other some other serious hits. In 1990, Tyson was defeated by Journeyman Fighter James "Buster" Douglas in what many would consider being the greatest upset in Boxing History. Buster became the new Heavyweight Champion. It took everyone by surprise as the Unbeatable became Beatable, and it remains one of the dents in Tyson's Illustrious Career. Douglas would later lose the Title to Tyson's Greatest Adversary, Evander Holyfield. The trouble wouldn't end there. Tyson was arrested for the rape of Desiree Washington, Miss Black Rhode Island in July 1991. Tyson would be found guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison on March 26, 1992. However, Mike served half that time as he was released in March 1995. During that time, Tyson converted to Islam. He also lost some serious years of his prime. Meanwhile, Mr. Holyfield was the dominant force in the Heavyweight Division. By 1996, it was time for these long time rivals to finally meet in the ring after YEARS of waiting. Tyson was making his comeback, even though his best years were clearly behind him. Meanwhile, Holyfield just came off three classic fights with Riddick Bowe which took a lot out of him. By this point, he was moving out of his best years as well. The fight itself was a major attraction. Holyfield took Tyson to the distance and won. The rematch would live on in Boxing Infamy. During the fight, Tyson was getting frustrated with not only losing, but with the headbutts from Evander. As they were tangled, Mike bit Holyfield's ear. The entire world saw that and couldn't believe it. One can only imagine if that happened in the Social Media Era. The Memes and GIFs would be endless, and Twitter would shut down. Tyson's next fights were clearly not very spectacular as we truly saw him as a shell of who he once was. Nevertheless, Mike Tyson is a figure that has left an enormous mark in the History of Boxing. His influence has been major. Street Fighter's Balrog was based on Mike Tyson. Mike was one of my favorite Boxers to use in Fight Night Round 4. In 58 Fights, Mike Tyson has won 50 and lost only 6 with two no contests. He has also delivered 44 Knockouts. Tyson has 2 WBC Heavyweight Titles and 2 WBA Heavyweight Titles along with being named the Fighter of the Year twice by The Ring Magazine ('86, '88) among many other accolades. He has also been named as one of the 100 Greatest Boxers by the Ring Magazine and one of ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers. In 2011, Tyson was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Tyson was even inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012 for his involvement at WrestleMania XIV. Mike Tyson is a One of a Kind and a Boxing Icon.

Notorious BIG: King of Brooklyn

"It was all a Dream, I used to read Word Up Magazines, Salt & Pepa and Heavy D all in the Limousines. Hangin' pictures on my wall, every Saturday Rap attack Mr. Magic Marly Marl". With that line, a Legend was created.

I would like to take the time to share my thoughts on a Musician that was a Giant and still is a Giant in my view even 20 years after his death. The Notorious BIG was larger than life and is still a revered figure in the history of rap. Biggie was a genius with his wordplay and freestyles. He had a way of captivating the listener that very few could. When I saw "Life of Biggie" on A&E, it gave me even more of a deeper glimpse into how brilliant his IQ was as a songwriter and lyricist. During the Documentary, Jay-Z and Nas talked about the song "Who Shot Ya" and how complex his vocabulary was. Nas even said that he thought about quitting after hearing that record. That is a testament to what kind of presence Biggie had. Biggie was a master when it came to samples and remixes. My favorite song is "One More Chance" (Remix). It was incredible to see how he got his hands on DeBarge's "Stay With Me" and put his own swagger on it. He showed what kind of Smooth Operator he could be and that song exemplified that aspect. He even used a sample of Mary J. Blige's "Don't Go" on that song as well. That also shows how creative he was to blend the music of different eras and build a masterpiece of his own. You could say the same for "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". His debut "Ready to Die" was a Mega Album. It was like a Spirit Bomb from Goku. Whatever Biggie touched, he turned to gold. The same way that Biggie could be the Smooth Brooklyn Kingpin, he could also show how much of a Savage he was coming from the Streets with a song like "Gimme the Loot" and "Unbelievable". In order to succeed, you need versatility, and Biggie had it to a Science. If you gave LL Cool J a song like "One More Chance", people wouldn't receive it as well, because they would just look at that as the usual LL material. However, it became a breakout song for Biggie. I have said it many times, and LL himself would even admit it. I mention that song, because of a lyric that sticks out the most for me "Heartthrob never, black and ugly as ever, however, I stay Coogi down to the socks, rings and watch filled with rocks". That was his way of saying, "I don't look like everybody's sex symbol, but I have style and you will love me for it".

On the other hand, the most tragic part of the Biggie story is how miscommunication not only dissolved his relationship with Tupac, but it also cost them their lives. Charlamagne even Tweeted this during the Documentary. After Tupac was shot at the studio and robbed, Biggie even tried to reach out to Tupac to get things clarified. However, Pac didn't want to hear it, because he felt betrayed. Then, you add the elements of Suge Knight and the Media and that turns this into a fireball that is out of control. This was the most painful part of the Documentary. Ms. Voletta Wallace even said that she felt uncomfortable with her son going to California. Never question a Mother's Intuition. We all know how that story ended. Add that along with Biggie's separation from Faith Evans over infidelity (Tupac, Lil Kim). It was just unfortunate the way things turned out. Miscommunication tore him and Tupac apart, and lack of trust tore him and Faith apart. All Biggie wanted to do was bring reconciliation and he became another casualty in this war perpetuated by the Media. This saga was "Game of Thrones" LONG before Jon Snow, House of Stark, the Whitewalkers, etc.

In the aftermath of this, we lose the two biggest cultural figures the Rap Industry has ever seen. Biggie and Tupac made more of an impact within 25 years of life than what many people could ever make in a lifetime. Biggie has created more of a legacy within a three-year career than what others have done in at least 25 or 30 years. In the wake of his death, "Life After Death" went Diamond. I believe it even could've gone Diamond if Biggie had survived because of the Album's Quality Overall.

Biggie Smalls was a figure that transcended culture. Mere words are not enough to describe his presence in not just Rap culture, but Pop Culture collectively. You could tell what kind of void he has left whenever Diddy, Faith Evans, Lil Cease, Lil Kim, etc talk about him. That is a pain that can never go away no matter how much time passes, because of how great of an impact he had the potential to make. I am also of the mentality that if Biggie survived, Jay-Z would have to wait longer to be where he is now. Biggie's style imprint is still felt to this day. He helped to popularize Coogi sweaters. Conor McGregor even calls himself "The Notorious MMA". The Iconic Image of him wearing his Crown is one of the Greatest Photos in Rap History. It is certainly my favorite, as it has been duplicated in different variations. I have at least three shirts with that image. I have one with Biggie himself wearing the Crown. I also have other shirts with Black Panther and Thanos wearing that same Crown. With the Thanos shirt, his Crown has the Infinity Stones. My Marvel Comics fans will understand. Anyway, that speaks volumes to how symbolic Biggie was and what he meant to many people. That Crown picture also represents how he was like Royalty in New York. It represents how he watched over his Kingdom and looked to conquer even more. Biggie is to New York what Magic Johnson is to Los Angeles, MJ to Chicago, even Jerry Rice in San Francisco. No other rapper carried an entire City on his back the way that Biggie carried NY representing Brooklyn. Bad Boy was the House that Biggie built. The Brooklyn Nets even honored Biggie as they retired a Special Number in Memory of him. There was even a Basketball Court in New York named after him. As brilliant as Jay Z has been, Biggie will always be the symbol of Brooklyn. "Live from Bedford Stuyvesant, the livest one, representing BK to the fullest". I am honored just to share how I feel about my personal favorite Rapper. Notorious BIG was a trendsetter, trailblazer, lyrical machine and a World Beater in Rap. Long Live King Biggie. If you don't know, now you know. Biggie Smalls is the Illest.