#henry lennix

[romancomicsnews]

Who should play Martian Manhunter in the DCU?

Martian Manhunter always felt like one of the most important members of the Justice League to me. He is an alien, making him a sort of mentor and friend to Superman, but he is not an Earthling like most. He is a foreigner, the last of his kind, and must shift his likeness in order to assimilate to a new world. As a person of color, his story always felt the most sad, and all too real.

While the Manhunter from Mars is an original member of the Justice League and a staple member of JLA in Justice League Unlimited, J'onn J'onzz has been largely absent from live action films.

While he was retconned as Calvin Swanwick in Zack Snyder's Justice League, we don't get much of him, and he doesn't really contribute to any fight.

With the DCU reboot already featuring alien/alien adjacent heroes such as Blue Beetle, Hawkgirl, Superman, and Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter's return can fit in nicely real soon.

If that is to be true, I have a couple of picks I think can add something new to the character, and become a very fun recurring character for The Justice League and other DCU movies to come.

First, as always, let's answer some questions:

What depictions are we drawing from?

When it comes to Manhunter, there are quite a few solid iterations in both Live Action and Animation. Let's start with the big one.

Carl Lumbly - Justice League/Justice League Unlimited

It's hard to not talk Martian Manhunter without bringing up Justice League Unlimited.

Carl Lumbly provided the voice for the character, which is often the voice people hear when they think of Manhunter. He brings wisdom, strength, and sorrow to the character that people often try to emulate, but can never truly duplicate.

He also brought an awkward energy to humanity I quite love. I think it has been missing in other versions. I'd love our Manhunter to be unfamiliar with earth customs, and more importantly question them.

David Harewood - Arrowverse

I don't think any show or movie has used Martian Manhunter as effectively as Supergirl.

The initial twist of not being Hank Henshaw and instead being the last son of Mars is still one of my favorite moments in the series. Ever since then, J'onn is used as a mentor to most heroes, sometimes team leader, but always the inspiration of the team.

David Harewood brings a righteous anger to Manhunter at times that I absolutely love. I'd love to carry that over.

This version of J'onn is slightly more optimistic than most, seeing the good in humanity, and believing the world deserves saving.

Overall, he is a fantastic Manhunter, and if you haven't seen Supergirl, you should definitely give it a shot.

Henry Lennix - DCEU

While he is mostly a shut in, there are aspects of this character I quite like.

Manhunter being a reveal in the DC Universe is fun for fans. Trying to figure out what a guy is up to and turning out to be one of the best DC heroes can be a delight if done right.

I also like that this Manhunter is working behind the scenes to help heroes like Superman. Having him starting as a mentor character already and then being a mentor superhero is a fun concept.

While I don't like how much he is on the sidelines for the DCEU, setting him up in multiple movies to finally face his fear and come from the shadows as a person we've already known could've been amazing had Snyder continued on.

And of course, Lennix also has a fantastic voice.

What ethnicity is Martian Manhunter?

Well, he's a martian.

In most depictions, Manhunter is portrayed by black actors. I think continuing this is important, as his story is an immigrant story, and it appears to be a staple aspect of the character.

Any other stipulations?

I'd like our Manhunter to feel older than our other main characters. If Superman is 30, I'd like Manhunter to feel a couple decades older.

I'm looking for someone in the 50-70 range, but I'd say more towards 50 as he has to feel formidable.

This actor should have a great voice, feel like he a mentor, project strength and sadness, and most importantly, be able to be part of an ensemble.

I'm not looking for a leading man technically. Manhunter feels crucial to the League, but I don't necessarily see him leading his own project. More like Vision in the MCU who comes up in key places and is always a delight.

Unlike other heroes, Manhunters build is inconsequential, as he can shape shift into Manhunter using CGI. So really, any build is good.

As always, I don't want an actor widely known for any other superhero role.

Unlike most of my fancasts, I think I found three I like a lot and would be extremely happy with any of them. It was very close and I went real back and forth. Let's get into it:

3. Rick Worthy

While he is known for other roles such as Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, The Man in the High Castle, or Vampire Diaries, Rick Worthy has caught my attention from his role as Dean Henry Fogg in The Magicians.

As the Dean, Worthy mentors young heroes on how best to use their abilities all while keeping secrets of his own on a looming threat. If that doesn't scream Manhunter, I don't know what does.

Worthy's Manhunter could be a little more fun than the others. I can see him poking fun at the man dressed as the Bat, or shape shifting into the other heroes to mock them.

I think having a character with a background in Sci-Fi could make the Manhunter reveal harder for people to see coming. I also think Worthy is an actor who won't be bigger than the role.

My main concern is I think he could struggle with the mentoring of heroes without being sarcastic. I'm not sure how genuine Worthy can be as Manhunter, which is why I have him third.

I can still see Worthy playing this role for decades to come, and really chew up scenery.

2. Blair Underwood

Known for roles in films like Rules of Engagement, Set it off and shows such as Agents of SHIELD, American Crime Story, and Dear White People, you've probably seen Blair Underwood in a really well acted piece of media.

Underwood has a smoothness the other actors do not. I can absolutely see Underwood's Manhunter gain a high level job based on his skill and charm.

Underwood also has the most experience being a part of great ensembles. It's an often overlooked skill to be great and amplify the skills of other great actors without being overshadowed. Underwood has that skill which is why he has such an incredible career.

He has experience playing FBI, experience playing a shape shifter in Agents of SHIELD, a mentor (although a bad one) in Dear White People, and perfected all of them.

If I had to put money down as to who would get this role, Underwood has my bet. I could see him cast tomorrow for Superman Legacy and fit in perfectly. But I do have one more I really love.

1. Andre Braugher

You see it now don't you?

Known for roles in The Good Fight, Bojack Horseman and Men of a Certain Age, Braugher really launched into the zeitgeist as Captain Raymond Holt in Brooklyn Nine Nine.

Captain Holt may be the perfect audition tape for Martian Manhunter.

Older experienced mentor who is othered for being different, doesn't always understand social human interactions, extremely smart, kind, but with a righteous anger.

That's Manhunter.

Braugher through his time in Brooklyn Nine Nine also demonstrated how funny and/or dramatically poignant he can be. Both are needed for Manhunter.

Much like Underwood, Braugher has experience being in large ensembles and bringing out some of the best in other actors. Imagine a scene as good and emotional as the final scene between Holt and Jake between Manhunter and Superman.

That's the kind of Manhunter the DCU needs.

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[anicomicgeek]

Let the record show that I can’t do a decent likeness of an actor to save my life.  I mean, seriously, do any of these look like the people I tried to base them on?

[oceanusborealis]

Man of Steel (2013) Review – Exploring the Past

TL;DR –. It’s a generally sound foundation, even if it falls apart a bit at the end.    ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5. Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-Credit Scene. Man of Steel Review – As the DCEU came to an end, I found myself with some unfinished business. I had watched and reviewed every movie in the franchise, bar one, the film that started it all. Well, it is time to fix that…

[historyhermann]

Young Love Spoiler-Filled Review

Young Love is a mature animated comedy spun off from the short film, Hair Love, by Matthew A. Cherry, Everett Downing Jr., and Bruce W. Smith. Cherry, who created this series, began working in the entertainment industry in 2007. Downing created the Afrofuturist series My Dad the Bounty Hunter. Smith created The Proud Family and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Sony Pictures Animation, Blue Key Entertainment, and Lion Forge Animation produced this series. This article was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of actors currently on strike, Young Love, being reviewed here, wouldn't exist.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the fifty-third article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on October 18, 2023.

This series comes at a time that there are growing number of Black-centered animated series on streaming services, including My Dad the Bounty Hunter, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Craig of the Creek, Supa Team 4, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, Central Park, and Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. There are also ongoing indie animations, like Guardian Instance, Diver: The Animated Series, and Silver Lin, by Black animator Brandon Wright. In addition, indie animations such as Defenders of Alodia, LimeLight, and Captain Zero are in development. Iwájú, Dantai, Cookies & Milk, Tiana, and Iyanu: Child of Wonder are five animated series set to premiere on streaming platforms in the future.

Young Love follows a tight-knit Black family trying to pursue their dreams. It goes beyond what is depicted in Hair Love. Only Angela Young (voiced by Issa Rae), spoke in that film. In this series, Rae reprises her role. Kid Cudi and Brooke Monroe Conaway join her. Cudi voices her partner, Stephen Love. Conaway voices her daughter, Zuri Michaela Young-Love. The first episode pulls you into their world, as does the animation style. Stephen is an aspiring music producer. Angela is a hair stylist. She enters her workplace, the salon, Sister Locs, two months after she left the hospital, but is out of practice.

The episode goes on from there, with Stephen and Angela showing support for their daughter at a school auction. Star (voiced by Tamar Braxton) and Angela's parents, Russell Young (voiced by Henry Lennix) and Gigi Young (voiced by Loretta Devine), are introduced. Stephen and Angela rent their apartment from Russell, who is often hounding Stephen to pay the rent. Stephen, Angela, and Zuri often have fun together, despite their challenges. However, there are tensions. Angela wants to complete her bucket list, which she put together before her chemotherapy. Zuri has dug tunnels through the apartment, so she moves through undetected. At other times, Stephen and Angela help Zuri with her school projects.

Through it all, comedy is part and parcel of this series, mixed with occasional coarse language, suggestive dialogue, and violence. Young Love doesn't sugarcoat life in Chicago or tense family dynamics, but shows them realistically instead. At the same time, the series highlights the role of the sharing economy, sexist beliefs from men (claims of women's incapability), and gangs. The latter is manifested in Lil Ankh (voiced by Idrys). He is a rap/hip hop star and Stephen works for him. When it comes to the sharing economy, Angela convinces her fellow co-worker, Cheri, to use a digital app for booking appointments.

The series has a strong slice-of-life vibe, from the fight between Russell and a 1970s washing machine (he finally wins when he puts it at the curb), Zuri and Gigi going to apartments managed by Russell to collect rent (to prove women aren't incapable). At the same time, it provides commentary on social media influencers. In the fourth episode, for instance, Zuri becomes friends with Stacy, after she objects to the book selection by the school librarian, Ms. Green and feels guilt for her homelessness, resulting in her inviting Stacey and her family to stay in the Young's apartment.

This quickly goes wrong when Angela becomes a social media influencer and exploits the new residents, using them to gain followers. They strike back by mooching off her. Angela and Zuri get their new occupants (Stacey and her family) to leave by getting them a hotel room. In the end, they do very well for themselves. Supporters gift them an entire house, while Zuri, Stephen, and Angela don't even have a whole house. In some ways, Angela and Zuri get what they deserve. Overall, the episode is critical of social media influencers and their negative influence. Crowdfunding's positives are hinted. This episode has a similar message to that communicated about such individuals in Karma's World and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

The value of art and the creative process is key theme in Young Love. For instance, in the fourth episode, Stephen connects with his nephew, Amir (voiced by Noah Cottrell), who likes to spray paint. He brings him to a modern art exhibit, exciting him. This goes further in the next episode, when Stephen puts aside his contract with Lil Ankh, after the latter rejects his beats, and tries to ink a deal with a White male advertising executive. He hopes that this will help him break free of Ankh.

The firm is steeped in White bro culture. It is racist but hidden behind niceties. The executive he met previously is joined by a few others. They all dress like Black people, claim they "get" them, and are "allies." While he cringes, he goes along with it because of the compensation. This episode criticizes "inclusive" corporate culture. In reality, the culture of this corporation is the "same old race shit." This gets worse when Stephen uncovers that he's making a racially tinged laundry detergent jingle.

What follows is a funny sequence: a Twitter bird chases Stephen and Star. They are confronted by historical Black figures who warn them against making the jingle. They ignore this, and make a subversive jingle, with Black power themes. The White ad execs don't know better. This is squashed when Lil Ankh releases a similar song, and they have to return the money. Even worse, Lil Ankh calls out Stephen as "trash" and a "traitor." It is no accident that in the same episode, Angela bonds with a new client, a Black woman named Jade, one of the only Black women who leads a PR firm. Zuri tries to sell cookies to "get back" at the Girl Scouts.

This series is more than a mix of slice-of-life and drama. The episodes often come with warnings for strong or coarse language, and occasional violence. Unlike other series, aimed at all ages, Young Love is aimed at mature adults. It doesn't whitewash anything. Take for example, the sixth episode, when Stephen tries to figure out who he is without Lil Ankh, who stole his beats without credit, and ends up in a bad funk. After he brings Zuri to school, his beat-up car breaks down. He gets four flat tires. It is almost a manifestation of 1998 hit by The Coup, "Cars & Shoes."

If that isn't bad enough, Ankh refuses to give him credit. Star continues working with Ankh despite him being a scumbag. With this defeat, he imagines everyone criticizing his work, and even fills out employment applications that Russell gave him. There is then a twist: Russell once was drummer for a funk band! He declares that he sees potential in Stephen, saying he believes in him and says music is Stephen's identity. This is just the inspiration he needs. It is not mistake that everyone learns a lesson by the end of the episode: Angela learns that she should stop meddling in people's lives as a life coach and Zuri stops trying to tell people's fortunes with a demonic cootie-catcher. The episode ends with Stephen teaching Zuri piano chords. Angela welcomes further bonding between Zuri and Stephen.

The next episode of Young Love is one of my favorites since it contains social commentary on pyramid schemes, video game addiction, and comedy (known as throwing shade in this series). For the first of these topics, Angela tries to extract her mom from a pyramid scheme called Ruminate, to sell reported "holy water." This changes when the devious speaker declares that a benefit is an "all-exclusive" trip to Paris. She then accepts it since a vacation to Paris is on her bucket list.

They end up hawking this to more people until they realize the obvious: it is a swindle. They get a ticket, but to Paris, Illinois, not Paris, France, infuriating them. Angela says that Chicago's broken educational system was a cause for her poor choice. She thanks her mom for teaching her to believe in herself again. While Angela and her mom round up "the crew" (those they roped into the scheme) to take down Ruminate, no one believes their tall tale, which appears partially fabricated.

The commentary on video game addiction and comedy is more straightforward. Stephen becomes resolute and determined to beat Hustle Quest, a video game that his nephew Amir made. After several days, he is victorious. However, Zuri easily beats the game in a few minutes, surprising Stephen. The latter makes clear that becoming obsessed with something short-lived is a waste of time. It implies that people have different forms of obsession. Video game addiction is listed in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). However, there isn't a consensus on whether it is separate disorder or manifestation of other disorders.

When it comes to comedy, Zuri learns from Amir how to show "shade" on people. She stands up to Twan (voiced by Debra Wilson), who is calling people names. Both end up in the principal's office. He chastises them for their behavior. The principal says that if they continue, they will become comedians who charge pennies for jokes. Zuri and Twan decide to team up and tell jokes together, and charge people for it.

The principal's line may be a dig at comedians and how some will do anything to be funny, even if it takes others down. On the other hand, it might be more tongue-and-cheek, considering the comedy of Young Love itself. Consider the next episode. Zuri believes that her parents are having sex. Instead, they are trying to coordinate a schedule. Zuri's initiation is somewhat right: after she leaves, they try to have sex. However, Stephen's desire for chicken wins out, annoying Angela.

Of all the episodes, the eighth episode touches on the value of artwork, drug use in the Black community, the value of artwork, and "spicing up" romance. For the first of these topics, Amir bonds with Zuri. Amir honors his father by spray painting on a wall. Zuri unknowingly helps him, as does a young Black man wearing a face mask. This empowering message about art fits with other episodes. In comparison, series such as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder do not have similar messages.

On the second of the topics, Stephen and Angela try to find a place where they went early on in their relationship. However, the restaurant has disappeared, and they feel out of place in a now-gentrified neighborhood. Focusing on gentrification in Young Love is not unique. Kizazi Moto, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, City of Ghosts, and Birdie Wing did the same. Stephen and Angela are skeptical about going into a shop, sitting where the restaurant they loved was located. They only enter to charge their phones. A White woman runs the store. She welcomes them, bowing, and welcomes them with "namaste." In some ways, she represents spiritualist White people.

This soon changes. Angela and Stephen drink their tea. It's infused with THC, otherwise known as tetrahydrocannabinol. It's the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. They remain high for the rest of the episode. This doesn't stop them from giving zingers to White people. Angela calls gentrification "domestic imperialism" and describes a nearby White shop owner as a "colonizer." They find the food truck run by the chef who once ran their beloved restaurant. They are so high that Angela doesn't discipline Zuri for leaving the house (she was supposed to stay put). Stephen just vibes while this happens.

Apart from The Freak Brothers, an indie animated series which is absolute dreck, and an allusion in an episode of Steven Universe Future, I can't think of any other series which gives a positive portrayal of getting high. None of the other Black animated series I mentioned earlier even approach the topic of drug use at all. Executives would consider it "too mature" for all-ages series. Perhaps they think it could increase drug use since one study suggested popular music about cannabis could do. More likely, they have certain perceptions of children's wants, which don't always align with reality.

Otherwise, the final plot thread, of spicing up romance, takes place between Russell and Gigi. They give each other presents, but Gigi remains annoyed that each year repeats itself. Rain continues to stop Russell's plans to go out for their romantic anniversary. She demands they change things up and Russell ends up delivering. He returns in the uniform of a letter carrier (his former job). The message this communicates is that love is possible between anyone, no matter their age. It fits with the rest of the series, in which Russell, Gigi, Angela, Stephen, and Zuri live in the same building. In fact, Stephen, Zuri, and Angela live above Gigi and Russell, and have a cat named Rocky, who is a character in some ways, but never speaks.

Later episodes involve Stephen and Angela either helping their daughter, Zuri, or trying to bond with others. The latter is on display when Amir goes with Stephen to buy expensive sneakers, which cost $300.00. Angela begins to come into her own, as she runs the salon, known as Sister Locs, and realizes that she can't be the "cool" boss, but needs firm instead. Stephen tries to compose some beats and realizes he shouldn't be like Lil Ankh, but should chart his own path. When it comes to helping Zuri, her parents get her out of a situation where she caused students to riot over coffee cake, after she thought she was Angela Davis.

These episodes set the stage for the final two episodes of Young Love. In the first of these episodes, Angela's parents (and Zuri's grandparents by extension) demand that Zuri come to church after she complains that God is ignoring her prayers. They are horrified after Stephen calls out religion as corrupt and Angela says spirituality is what is best for Zuri. Going to church is uncomfortable for Stephen and Angela. In the process, Angela lies. She claims she's married to Stephen. At the same time, the episode shows how certain people can be charlatans. Zuri poses as the "chosen one" so she can one-up her friend, Sky. She even tries to take away the Star student idea when Sky begins questioning her.

In this series, God is a Black man. He is remarkably busy and claims to not have time to involve himself in people's affairs. He is similar to the God, with a light bulb as a head, in Disenchantment, voiced by Phil LaMarr, a well-known Black male voice actor. The episode has an interesting twist. It turns out that the financial advisor who helped Angela and Stephen get their finances in order, and deal with their overdue payments, was God himself. In addition, the Principal's worry about lawsuits (when Zuri claims she is the chosen one) and separation of church and state is timely, since some sneer at legal prohibition of religious involvement in public schools, in the U.S., and desire the re-introduction of (Christian) prayer.

This nuanced approach to religion in Young Love, ending with Angela's parents remaining religious, while Angela, Zuri, and Stephen are spiritualists, is unique. It differs from lip service the Simpsons family shows to churchgoing in The Simpsons, or lack of religious worship in The Proud Family, and its reboot. This nuance reflects the fact that only 16% of Americans committed to attending religious services in person. A 2021 survey is even more pertinent. One-in-five Black Americans told survey takers they are religiously unaffiliated. Instead, they identify as agnostic, atheist, or “nothing in particular.” This is especially the case among Gen Z and Millennials. In addition, a recent survey attested that over 10% of Asian Americans are non-religious.

The Young Love series finale builds upon the penultimate episode. It begins with Zuri's declaration that she will marry her classmate, BJ. This goes awry when he swallows a strawberry with a ring inside. Following this, Zuri, and Angela's parents, pressure Stephen and Angela to get married. At first, neither wants this. They laud their freedom from "binding chains of matrimony." Both describe themselves, to the school principal, as loving parents committed to providing Zuri with a stable home. Non-marriage between Angela and Stephen remained in part because of Stephen's repeated failures to propose marriage.

Russell's claim that no weddings or marriages will cause an apocalypse impacts this decision. A recent poll is relevant: Americans expressed worries about declining marriages. Even so, Catholics and historically Black Protestants, especially, had less concern about those with fewer children. That poll also noted that larger groups took a neutral view. They believed that the declining number of marriages is neither positive nor negative for society. At the same time, many women said, in a related poll, of Americans that they took the traditional, and patriarchal route, by taking their husband's surname in opposite-sex marriages.

As such, Russell's view is unhinged. Society has existed, and will continue to exist, without marriage. There is public support among Americans for a nuclear family, even though few see parenthood or marriage as "central to living a fulfilling life." Russell's response is akin to the "No on Infinity" ad in the Futurama "Proposition Infinity" episode. That ad satirizes people against same-sex marriage. Russell's fear combines with Angela's fear that she will become a 1950s-style housewife, a path she thinks Zuri will follow. At the same time, Stephen fears Angela will leave him, causing him to live alone in a house in 1980s-style situation.

The episode ends with both eschewing the idea of marriage, after Angela says they are going too fast, Stephen remains unsure, and Angela's therapist says she should not put everyone else's needs before her own. Gigi stops Zuri's brainless child bride marriage proposal to BJ. Stephen and Angela agree to have a very long romantic engagement instead of marriage, saying that love is holding their little family together. Even so, there is a marriage between Gigi and Russell. It is a re-marriage, a re-stating of commitment between them. The wedding goes on its head, after they play a song Stephen produced and begin throwing cake at each other. Overall, this episode is a clever way to end Young Love. It makes clear that love isn't only possible through marriage.

In this way, it makes a different point that Spy x Family, with Loid and Yor's marriage of convenience, made without either being in love with one another, at first. The views of Angela and Stephen on marriage align with criticism of the marriage institution, even of same-sex marriage. Critics argue that marriage perpetuates a system which makes married people "more worthy of...health care and economic rights" than others. Such critics include Michael Warner (in his book The Trouble with Normal), Kate Millett, Shulamith Firestone, Simone de Beauvoir, Eleanor Leacock, Clare Chambers, and Dean Spade.

Obviously, Young Love is not some political manifesto extolling how marriage is not the be-all, end-all for love. But it is a breath of fresh air from the many series out there, either directly (Tangled) or indirectly stating that marriage is the only way to ensure that love can be long-lasting. There can still be romantic friendships and romances without any legally binding life-long commitments. Unfortunately, popular culture depictions of those friendships or romances are rare. Instead, shows fit with the societal expectation of marriage and the idea that unmarried/single people are abhorrent, bizarre, or "suspicious." This mentality has seeped into online communities of fans who enjoy yuri or yaoi. Such fans believe that two or more characters in love need to marry.

The fact that Young Love grew from a short film named Hair Love, which is less than seven minutes long, is phenomenal. Hair Love features a young Black girl awoken by a cat, trying out a new hair style, and following a video of her mother, who has an easy-to-use hair tutorial. In Hair Love, neither she, nor her dad, who tries to help her with her hair, which he fights, akin to what Moon Girl/Lunella in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur did, speaks. Her mother has the only speaking role.

Young Love wasn't crowdfunded like Hair Love. However, the same company produced it: Lion Forge Animation, along with other companies. That animation studio, a division of Lion Forge Entertainment, is known for Drawn In, Rhymes Through the Times, The Park Bench; and Rise Up, Sing Out. In addition, the studio announced work on a film (Heiress) and TV series (Iyanu: Child of Wonder and Hero's Journey the Series).

As I mentioned in my last review, Max screwed over this series by posting four episodes a week. This made the series almost impossible to keep up with. It ensured that not even one Wikipedian would create a page for the series. Instead, the series is only a redirect on the Hair Love page. This is unfortunate, since social media chatter on X/Twitter is generally positive, except for a few people using clips out of context to bash the show. Users call it cute, slick, cool, hilarious, hip, perfect, and heartwarming. On other social media platforms, and among critics, the reception appears to be positive.

Issa Rae, Kid Cudi, Brooke Monroe Conaway, Tamar Braxton, Henry Lennix, Loretta Devine, Idrys, Debra Wilson, and Noah Cottrell, voice actors for this series, bring their talent to the table. Mara Junot (as Cynthia Love), Mike Smith (as Dwayne), and many others, join them. Their experience allows the series to tackle topics like bullying, masculinity, gender roles, marketing, racial justice, exploitation of Black culture with ease. Even so, not everything gets equal emotional weight.

Rae is new to voice acting, apart from voicing the mother in Hair Love and Jessica Drew in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Similarly, Cudi voiced Jabari in Entergalactic and Clay in Trolls Band Together. Junot recently voiced Beta in My Dad the Bounty Hunter. Devine has voiced many characters, as have Lennix and Smith. Wilson recently voiced Amanda Waller in My Adventures with Superman, Terra Snapdragon in The Owl House, Quinn's mother in Final Space, and Z'oto in Star Trek: Lower Decks. In contrast, this series is the first voice role for Conaway, Cottrell, and Braxton.

I hope that this series gets a second season. It would give new/newish screenwriters like Brian Ashburn, Breannah Gibson, R. Malcolm Jones, Kelsey Barry, Jackson DeLoach, Juston Gordon-Montgomery, Guillermo Martinez, story writer Jeanine Daniels, executive story editor Keisha Zollar, and seasoned writers such as Willie Hunter, Carl Jones, Randa Sheppard, and Dayna Lynne North, a chance to shine again. Knowing how turbulent the animation industry, in the U.S., is right now, and how the executives are stonewalling SAG-AFTRA (resulting in a continued actor's strike), I am doubting it will happen.

Young Love is currently streaming on Max.

© 2023 Burkely Hermann. All rights reserved.

[cinematografiacritica]

Batfleck | O Batman que eu não escolhi, mas aquele que eu queria

Por Gustavo Mariano

“Eu quero que você se lembre, Clark, em todos os anos por vir, em seus momentos mais íntimos. Eu quero que você se lembre da minha mão na sua garganta, eu quero que você se lembre do único homem que te derrotou.”

Foi com a clássica frase da famosa graphic novel de Frank Miller, O Cavaleiro das Trevas, que Harry Lennix (Calvin Swanwick de O Homem de Aço), anunciou, na San Diego Comic-Con 2013, que o Homem-Morcego enfrentaria o Homem de Aço nos cinemas. Recém terminada a trilogia de Christopher Nolan com Christian Bale no papel do herói, todos aguardavam o anúncio do ator escolhido para vestir o capuz do Batman.

Há 10 anos (mais precisamente em 22 de agosto de 2013), Ben Affleck era escolhido para ser o novo Batman; mais velho, mais experiente, mais “Frank Miller”. "Ben será um contraste interessante ao Superman de Henry Cavill. Ele tem as habilidades necessárias de atuação para dar uma interpretação cheia de nuances a um homem que é mais velho e sábio que Clark Kent e traz as cicatrizes de um veterano combatente do crime e ao mesmo tempo mostrar o charme do bilionário Bruce Wayne. Mal posso esperar para trabalhar com ele", comentou o diretor Zack Snyder na época.

Contudo, como é de praxe, a escolha foi extremamente criticada pelos fãs do Morcego. Inclusive, foi feito um abaixo-assinado para tirar o ator e várias ameaças de boicote aconteceram. Entretanto, as coisas começaram a mudar quando saiu a primeira foto de Affleck com o uniforme do herói; as opiniões começaram a se transformar. O uniforme padrão não era uma armadura, o tecido reforçado era cinza (como os fãs vinham pedindo há anos), a máscara, pela primeira vez, fazia jus ao apelido Cruzado Encapuzado e Affleck estava com o físico - e o queixo - digno do Batman de Miller.

As opiniões melhoraram ainda mais com o primeiro trailer que mostrava o Batfleck (como ficou conhecido) em ação. Com o lançamento do filme, Batman vs Superman: A Origem da Justiça tudo virou completamente a favor do ator. Entre muitas polêmicas sobre o filme - que não entraremos no mérito aqui - o Batman de Ben Affleck foi elogiado, e chamado de O Melhor Batman dos cinemas por diversas pessoas. E é inegável que o Batfleck foi um Batman diferente dos demais, o mais fiel aos quadrinhos. A começar pelo uniforme - cinza e preto, extremamente fiel e com direito a armadura e seus olhos brancos retirados das páginas da HQ de Frank Miller para enfrentar o Superman. Os gadgets do herói ganharam destaque; foram usados com sabedoria e mostraram todo o preparo do cinto de utilidades. As cenas de ação talvez tenham sido a principal mudança em relações as representações anteriores. Um Batman que usa todos os seus recursos e mostra todos os seus anos de treinamento em diversas artes marciais fizeram com que todo fã do Cavaleiro das Trevas se empolgasse com a incrível cena de luta no armazém.

E muito além do ótimo Batman, Affleck conseguiu demonstrar todo o peso que Bruce Wayne carrega consigo, depois de anos na batalha contra o crime em Gotham City - e até mesmo já tendo perdido um de seus Garotos Prodígio.

Ben Affleck consolidou-se, em apenas um filme, como o Batman preferido de muitos. O ator vinha de um momento crescente na carreira (vencedor do Oscar por Argo em 2013) e estava consolidando seu nome como diretor. Assim, Affleck foi anunciado como roteirista e diretor do filme solo do seu personagem; que, infelizmente, nunca aconteceu - os problemas com álcool voltaram a afetar sua vida e tudo piorou ainda mais após as terríveis regravações de Liga da Justiça com Joss Whedon em 2017. Para quem não se lembra, a Warner, nada feliz com Zack Snyder, demitiu o cineasta e contratou o diretor de Vingadores para comandar uma série de mudanças no roteiro e regravações dolorosas para os atores (vários deles pronunciaram-se contra os abusos de Whedon após o desastre do lançamento de Liga da Justiça).

Tudo isso culminou em Affleck abandonando o seu projeto (que acabaria transformando-se em The Batman de Matt Reeves - mas sem nenhuma ligação com o filme anterior que nunca foi produzido). Entretanto, com o enorme hype em cima do tão aguardado “SnyderCut”, o ator aceitou retornar ao papel do herói para gravar novas cenas para a versão da Liga da Justiça de Zack Snyder.

Em 2021, 8 anos depois, o cenário que Affleck enfrentava com o Batman era muito diferente daquele quando ele foi anunciado no papel. As pessoas celebravam a volta do ator como o Morcego de Gotham no “SnyderCut”. Estava claro para todas as pessoas que o tempo do ator como Batman já havia passado, mas para a felicidade dos fãs do Batfleck, ele ganhou uma participação especial em The Flash nesse ano. Affleck, ao contrario do que aconteceu em Liga da Justiça, adorou sua última experi��ncia com a capa do herói e deixou isso claro em diversas entrevistas. Sua pequena presença no filme foi muito elogiada - tanto suas cenas como Batman quanto como Bruce Wayne.

A fala final de Bruce, um adeus para Barry Allen, também foi um adeus para os fãs. Hoje, Batfleck é o Batman favorito de muitos, e mesmo não tendo um filme solo, Ben Affleck é o ator que mais vestiu o capuz do herói nos cinemas.

Voltando 10 anos no tempo, a minha reação à escolha do ator foi um sonoro “não” . Hoje, é a minha versão preferida do herói nas telas grandes. Definitivamente, Ben Affleck não foi o Batman que eu escolhi, mas foi o Batman que eu queria.

Barry: Nós podemos passar um tempo juntos...

Bruce Wayne: Não dessa vez. Talvez outra hora.

[dhampiravidi]

Audiovisual Headcanons, Part 2 (The Justice League)

did Bruce here:

Diana: my qUEEN. I’m so used to Susan Eisenberg, who voiced Diana in several movies & shows, including Justice League Unlimited. Loved that show as a kid. I would've loved to see Lynn Collins play Diana a while back (she’s a warrior princess in the movie John Carter...sort of). My favorite WW costume is the current one in the DCEU. Also: Diana has killer thighs & she’s taller than Bruce AND Clark 😚 I mean, she IS an Amazon.

Clark/Kal-El: I think George Newbern does the best job of voicing Superman, which he did in both Injustice games. I think Henry Cavill looks more like Superman, but I grew up with Tom Welling’s version on Smallville, so I’ll always like his version, too. Just give him the teeny hair curl!

Hal: suddenly I have developed a crush on this guy. Shh...anyway! For some reason, Nolan North & Nathan Fillion sound super similar on the thing I watched...anyway, I like their voices. I’d be fine with Jensen Ackles or Taylor Kitsch playing Hal. They’ve both played cocky heroes before.

Barry: *pats Barry* OK so, I grew up with Wally on the JLU cartoon. So I’m biased--Michael Rosenbaum (who voiced Barry in JL: Doom & played Lex Luthor in Smallville) is my favorite Flash. This might sound weird, since he played Green Arrow in Smallville, but I want to see Justin Hartley as the Flash. (I also want to see HalBarry in a movie, but 😡.)

Ollie: the fact that Charlie Hunnam hasn’t played Oliver is a shame. Just LOOK. I mean, I remember people fancasting him when Arrow was announced. ANYWAY, caught between Kin Shriner & Alan Tudyk for the voice.

Dinah: again, it is a shame--that Katheryn Winnick hasn’t played Black Canary. I’ve seen her in a bunch of fancasts & she’s a badass in pretty much everything she’s in. Vanessa Marshall did a good job of voicing her in YJ. I actually like most of Dinah’s costumes (probably because the image of her kicking people & then riding away on a motorcycle while wearing fishnets is just too BADASS to pass up).

J’onn: tbh I never read much about him, but I always thought his powers were cool. I think Carl Lumbly (JLU, JL: Doom & Injustice)’s voice fits. It was nice to see J’onn in the JL live-action played by Harry Lennix, but I wish he looked a little less human (for example, the cartoon gives him really angular features).

Arthur: I really just read Aquaman stuff to see Mera on occasion, lol. I’m down with Jason Momoa voicing and playing Arthur, I just want the DCEU to make him a bit more serious. This is my favorite Aqua-costume (sorry it’s a picture of a toy).

Zatanna: Jennifer Hale did a great job voicing her in JLU (there’s an episode where WW is turned into a pig. Watch it.) Serinda Swan played her in Smallville & I wouldn’t mind seeing her again (especially alongside Matt Ryan or Keanu Reeves’s Constantine). This is my favorite Zatanna outfit.

Shayera (or Kendra): I love Maria Canals-Barrera’s Hawkgirl, who’s in the JL cartoon. Usually I don’t like costumes that bare the midriff, but Hawkgirl’s Injustice suit is the only one of hers I’ve ever liked. In YJ she covers up, but she’s also wearing a skirt (which for some reason I don’t like for her). Meh. Take off the weird helmet, give her pants & a real top, please. I want to see Milla Jovovich play her. Please.

[danman007]

[abduloki]

Martian Manhunter 

That unexpected cameo appearance was probably one of the best one I’ve seen in Zack Synder’s Justice League! I really didn’t expect him to appear, much less seeing a familiar character, General Calvin Swanwick as Martian Manhunter. 

It reminds me of CW Supergirl where the Martian Manhunter alter ego is a military personnel as well, or to be more accurate, Director of DEO (Director of Extra-normal Operations) who turns out be looking after Supergirl.

What if a similar story happens here where he was just looking out for Superman. It’s quite interesting to see how the story will go from here and see their relations develop, the same way it did with Supergirl.

And speaking of Supergirl, now that DCEU has cast Sasha Calle as its big screen Supergirl, I wonder if we get a chance to see them together. Would be awesome seeing her with the Justice League.

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

A Christmas Together With You 

Premiering Saturday, November 20th, 8pm/7c on the Hallmark Channel. 

Starring Laura Vandervoort, Harry Lennix, and Neal Matter. 

Part of Countdown to Christmas. 

[the-concierge-of-crying]

fRIP Liz (fake Rest in Peace)

[mndvx]

MAN OF STEEL (2013) directed by Zack Snyder | written by David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan ››› Henry Cavill as Clark Kent / Superman ››› Harry Lennix as General Calvin Swanwick / J'onn J'onzz / The Martian Manhunter

[letsdanthemanone]

This is a JLA I can get behind.

[wwprice1]

Some of my favorite ZSJL moments. Whatever comes next, I’ll always be thankful we got these scenes...

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

[angels-in-overcoats]

DC Extended Universe VS Arrowverse

Part 1/?

[rhaenyratargeryn]