Erik Killmonger, Villain? [Spoilers Ahead]

OK...So I saw Black Panther yesterday and I was blown away. It was amazing. It lived up to all the hype and was just incredible. One reason the movie is so good is Micheal B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. Jordan is just electric. Every scene he is in, he steals it. But I could go on all day about the movie and do a review, but I want to talk about how Killmonger really isn't a villain per say. Spoilers are ahead so if you haven't seen the movie turn back now, but come back after you have. The stuff that Killmonger does in the movie some would say is villainous, but he has a clear and well-thought out motive. All the past Marvel villains sought to either destroy or rule the world. Killmonger wants to show the world who Wakanda is and take the people who are oppressed in the world, give them something to fight with, and shift the way the world works. N'Jobu, Killmonger's father and T'Chaka's brother tried to do the same, he saw people killing people, the rich getting richer oppression getting worse and Wakanda doing nothing and he was going to do something. But teaming with Ulysses Klaue was his downfall, and that is way Killmonger kills Klaue, and it also gains him the trust of the Wakandans who wanted Klaue dead for so long, but King T'Chaka could not provide that for them. Killmonger's motives have a racial undertone to them as well, as in the end he says as he dies, "Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, cause they knew death was better than bondage." And in the opening scene when we hear the story of Wakanda and the Black Panther, we see slaves being loaded on ships, while in the background Wakanda is growing and developing doing nothing to stop this horrible occurrence. Killmonger is a young boy in California in 1992 during the L.A. Riots, a time of civil unrest and uncertainty. T'Challa even tells his his father that they are the ones who created Killmonger. T'Challa tells his father that Wakanda can no longer sit by and do nothing for the outside world. Erik Killmonger or N'Jadaka's actions are villainous, yes. But motive, no. He sees wrong in the world, oppression and racial unrest. He sees that his supposed "home" has done nothing about it for centuries and it is his turn to do something about it. It is his turn to be the hero! 

🔍 On the Hunt! 🔎

Don't you love when you are looking for that next comic book to add to your collection and you are looking at rows and rows of long boxes, hoping to find a jem and lo and behold you find one. Let me tell you of a few experiences I have had on the hunt.


One of the best buys I still think I have had out of the comics I have gotten was Thundercats #1 from Marvel. It was in a 50¢ long box and the book itself is a mid grade book, about a 5 or 6, which can go for about $12. An instant win!

The next was DC Comics Presents #26 and #47, issue 26 being the first appearance of  Raven,Starfire and Cyborg and Issue 47 being the Masters of Universe's first appearance in a regular, DC, comic book (The action figures included mini-comic books) and this is the first appearance of He-Man as Prince Adam; In this point of time, the animated cartoon had not been aired. He-Man, in the original mini-comic books included in the first action figures series, had no secret identity. I bought both at mid grade, 6 or 7, for a total $85. Alone that is what each can cost at that grade. I almost died when I found those in that long box!

Next is one of those cool, one off finds. Uncanny X-Men #132, purchased to help complete the run of the Dark Phoenix Saga. I didn't think anything of it, but when I opened the book, on the front page, it was signed by Terry Austin! Now that's cool.

These are just a few of some cool "On the Hunt" stories from me, and I would love to here some of yours. I know we all have interesting ones to tell. 

Spider-Man:The Definitive Cartoon

The 1990s was a great time for Marvel in the cartoon world. With shows like X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man. But today we are going to focus on Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which ran from 1994 to 1998. What a show! To me, it is the definitive Spider-Man cartoon and the things done in the cartoon really help bring Spider-Man and his world to a whole new audience.

A big part of the series that won a lot of people over and myself was the voice performance of Christopher Daniel Barnes as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. His performance was so raw and emotional, you believed everything he was going through. Like when he loses Mary Jane and yells out her name and vows to hunt down the Green Goblin. MAN! Its so good. Just his performance is worth the rewatch.

Now lets talk theme song. I would have to say it's one of the best animated theme songs of all times. Right up there with the X-Men: The Animated Series. Written by Shuki Levy and performed by Joe Perry, from Aerosmith, it just hooks you right away and you know you are in for a good time.

What was crazy about Spider-Man: The Animated Series was the episodes, or should I say episode lay out. It knew what it was. It was a cartoon based on a comic book and treated it as such. Episodes could be stand alone, but could be part of a more over arcing story taking part that season. How unique and different.

Some of the best episodes from the series in my opinion are Episodes 8,9 and 10; The Alien Costume Parts 1-3, Episode 19; Morbius, Episode 22; Blade, the Vampire Hunter, Episode 23; The Immortal Vampire, Episode 31; Enter the Green Goblin, Episode 32; Rocket Racer, Episode 39; The Spot, Episode 41; The Turning Point, Episode 42; Guilty, and Episode 49; The Return of The Green Goblin.

If you haven't watched Spider-Man:The Animated Series, I suggest you do. It is so good! Everytime I read a Spider-Man comic, the voices from the series ring in my head as the characters and the series helped solidify Spidey as my favorite comic book character.

 

Below is a link to Channel Awesome's Top 5 best Spider-Man: TAS, check it out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqXRIDkI7iM

The Comics that got me into Comics.

When I think back to how I started reading and collecting comics, it all starts with my Dad. My Dad had a collection of comics given to him by one of his friends. At the time he didn't think anything of them, and neither did his friend. He kept them in an old duffel bag and he would let me go read them whenever I wanted and soon the collection became mine. But their were three in particular that I would read over and over again until I remembered them panel for panel. Those three would be Spider-Man #1 (Gold Edition), Nomad Vol. 2 #1, and Sleepwalker #3. There was something about those books that just called to me.

I fell immediately in love with Spider-Man. I watched the 1990s animated series and was lucky enough to watch the 2002 Spider-Man film in theaters. So this comic made me love the character even more! And Todd McFarlane's art and storytelling. WOW!

Nomad was such a cool comic and the character of Jack Monroe was unique as he felt betrayed by his country and felt like he was a man without a place. Roaming from town to town, city to city fighting criminals superheroes like Iron Man or his mentor Captain America wouldn't even worry about. I was hooked!

Sleepwalker is definitely a strange and unique character. 

He is really underrated in the Marvel catalog of characters. I think the thing that drew me to this comic was the cover. What a great cover! This is also Sleepwalker's origin issue, so you learn more about him and who he is. I wore this one out.

If you haven't read any of these issues, I highly recommend them. Spider-Man #1 is the start of the five part arc "Torment" which is incredible and Nomad #1 and Sleepwalker #3 are just fun reads. 

Thank you for reading my journey into comics and this is only the beginning. I promise a fun and entertaining blog all about the world of comic books!