Remembering Dwayne McDuffie | Marvel Heroes | Comic News | News | Marvel.com

Marvel has posted a great article on the life of Dwayne McDuffie in his honor. They published a few words from people who worked with him and knew him. One was from one of corroborators Gregory Wright. Wright recounts a behind the scenes incident that I had no idea about. Back in the early 1990's, Captain America had a sidekick named "Bucky" - who happened to be black. The writer Mark Gruenwald had no idea how offensive a term "Bucky" was for black people (at the time I didn't know the history either) and after speaking to McDuffie, Gruenwald changed the character's name to Battlestar. For the first time I now know why the change was made.

Gregory Wright said:

While we were both assistant editors, Dwayne quietly pointed out to me that my boss Mark Gruenwald had written something particularly racially offensive. He had created a new partner for the wannabe Captain America, USAgent. He was an African-American Bucky. At the time, I didn't quite get what the problem was, but Dwayne explained it to me, and said that this made him lose some respect for Mark. I explained that Mark couldn't have done this on purpose, and would be very upset at this mistake. Dwayne was dubious. Mark was far too intelligent to not know what he was doing. So I decided that Dwayne should speak to Mark.
Dwayne was not thrilled with this, as he was already that subversive guy to some. And this could get him in labeled something else. I told him Mark was different, and besides, he didn't think DAMAGE CONTROL was subversive. He loved it. Dwayne very calmly expressed his view to Mark, who was absolutely horrified. He had no idea that “Bucky” was an offensive term. He quizzed Dwayne for a while on the history of the offensive nature of the term and asked him to help him solve this problem in the most sensitive way possible. So the very next issue of CAPTAIN AMERICA that Mark wrote, Bucky became Battlestar. And Mark and Dwayne had a newfound respect for each other.

I also enjoyed reading the remarks from Reggie Hudlin. He and Wright had the most to say about who McDuffie was as a person and some of the trials he had to face and how he overcame them. From their recollections, I think his life would make an interesting book and movie.


More on Marvel.com: http://marvel.com/news/story/15329/remembering_dwayne_mcduffie#ixzz1Fi2g9H00


Remembering Dwayne McDuffie | Marvel Heroes | Comic News | News | Marvel.com

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Reginald Hudlin on the Black Panther

Here are a couple of Reginald Hudlin discussing being a black writer in the Entertainment Industries

The ‘Black Panther’ Animated Series Arrives On DVD - Check Out An Exclusive Clip & Interview!

I am so going to buy a copy of this DVD. I do want more episodes made. In this article there is a short interview with Reginald Hudlin. He answered some questions about the production that I had wanted to know. He even revealed that the show was made in the United States and not animated in Taiwan, China, or Japan like most animated series these days. If you missed the series you have the chance to go get a copy and do your part to get more episodes of this series made.

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The ‘Black Panther’ Animated Series Arrives On DVD - Check Out An Exclusive Clip & Interview!

Politics in "Black Panther" Animated Series

I think the reason why the Black Panther animated series will not be broadcasted in the United States is  because it is "too controversial". Mustn't let black children think about history and culture and how empires were built in Africa and North America.You may or may not be aware of the Black Panther animated series that was supposed to be on BET in 2009 from a collaboration between Marvel Animation and BET. IT didn't happen but the show was shown in Australia (no idea why?) in 2010. What happened was that the shows were supposed to be available on iTunes. However it was pulled from there as well. So why ? Why won't they just broadcast it on  TV or make it available over the Internet or DVD? I think the answer may be found in the clip below. Recall that the Black Panther is king over a fictional sovereign nation, Wakanda. This clip sets up a flashback of what happened to his father who was assassinated to gain power of Wakanda. The scene shows the Black Panther's father, King T'Chaka, interacting with other nations at an international  economic summit.




Watch Politics in "Black Panther" in Animation  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Look at what T'Chaka says about the greed and acts of the western patterns. This is true. I think that stance against racism is  unavoidable. It wasn't just that Wakanda was disliked they were hated because of their technology, ethics, and the fact that they are black. In real life we see this same reaction. Recall, the 2008 Presidential Election? People did not know how to relate to Obama, because like T'Chaka, he didn't meet the ideas of what a Black man should be like in their minds. I think that the telling the storjavascript:void(0)y in fiction also bring up what really happened in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and even today. The metaphor could be extended to black celebrities and how they become embroiled in scandals with white women. There is a lot there that could lead to much discussion and debate. But it seems like the powers that be in control over what get distributed is not ready for such discussions initiated by black artists like Denys Cowan, and Reggie Hudlin. It's sad to me. I've seen the whole series and anyone who hasn't is really missing something. For all I know, maybe Disney pulled the plug. I've been looking for an official announcement and have not found one yet explaining the situation.

YouTube - T.V. Rants: Black Panther Animated Series

I found this video on YouTube and while I commend the author for his "enlightened" view about televised violence - especially - at 17 years of age, I must respectfully disagree. To be fair, the young man is not real familiar with the Black Panther character and based his whole opinion on this trailer that has been rolling round the internet since 2008. He also told me that he has not read the 6 issues of the comic book on which the animated series is based. All that being said I'd like to comment on the animated series now that I have seen 2 episodes in their entirety.


Both the books and the show make it clear that Wakanda (Black Panther's nation) was

Image via Wikipedia

under attack by a hostile tribe. What happened was violent yest, but needed. The Wakandans handled the situation with finality and left one alive so he could spread the word: Leave Wakanda alone. The story contains must political intrigue
and social commentary - that isn't politically correct but historically correct for a work of fiction. The Black Panther is the fist black superhero in all of fiction to be solo and not not connected to an established white character. He is iconic. The animated series' choice to adapt Hudlin' first 6 issues was genius because it's a great jumping on point for anyone who knows nothing about the character and establishes that Storm (yes, of the X-Men) will eventually marry him.

Now about the violence. The young man remarked that in the X-Men cartoons, Wolverine does not kill, however anyone who knows Wolverine from the comic books know that he crosses the line repeatedly. In the cartoon, it was for children and back then you could not show blood in children's programs. Same thing is true for the Batman and Superman series. Batman does not kill either but he toes that line. Remember when he threatened to drawn a suspect in the Gotham Bay while he dangled him by one hand from the Batwing? That was from the animated series' first season. Superman gives it a much wider breadth. The reason why those series worked was that they stayed with source material. The producers for Black Panther are doing the same.

What about the morality of the Panther's actions? I'll table the discussion of Superman, Batman, and Wolverine for later. I don't see a problem with the Panther's actions in the Who is the Black Panther story arc because the Panther is never shown killing anyone. Even in trying to avenge his Father, it's not about murder. Remember killing and murder are not the same thing. The men in the clip below came to steal, kill, and destroy Wakanda. There is nothing in the Bible against self defense. If someone starts a war with you, it's perfectly moral to end it. sometimes that mean ending them. I want to end with a quote from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Here is what the young man posted:



What do you think?

YouTube - T.V. Rants: Black Panther Animated Series