Hard N.O.C. Life

As we do every year, we take some time to preview the upcoming debuts of our favorite superhero shows. And since Netflix recently announced The Flash will be joining Arrow to stream, everyone can catch up before both shows return next week. To discuss those shows and others, criminology professor 'Shawn Smith makes his triumphant return to the NOC, joining our resident Flash recapper and TV superfan Christelle Gonzales (@christellexoxo).

One week after retailers unleashed the power of #ForceFriday on Star Wars fans across the stars, Keith assesses the aftermath with fellow action figure and Star Wars enthusiast David Yeh (@coheteboy) of the Disney/Lucasfilm fansite Endor Express. We also announce the winner of the Finn action figure from last week's Force Friday giveaway.

Prolific comic writer Jeremy Whitley (@jrome58) steps into the Hard NOC Life this week to talk about his latest books, including his short story in Marvel Comics' romance anthology Secret Wars: Secret Love and issue #2 of Princeless: The Pirate Princess from Action Lab Entertainment, both in stores next week.

Last week, one of the most-lauded science fiction films of the year was released digitally, on demand, and in cinemas in New York and the Bay Area. The film, Advantageous, a special jury award-winner at Sundance, tells the story of a single mother and the sacrifices she makes for her daughter in a pre-dystopian, near-future not unlike our own time. Starring Jacqueline Kim (Star Trek Generations), Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover), the film's writer/director Jennifer Phang recently joined Keith for a special one-on-one edition of Hard NOC Life.

Last month, we brought you the trailer and poster for the upcoming fantasy film Yamasong: March of the Hollows. The film, which is a follow-up to a 2010 short, seeks to bring puppetry back to mainstream genre audiences with an all-star cast and backing from a couple of dynastic names in the world of cinematic puppetry. On the latest edition of Hard NOC Life, Keith sits down with the two men who launched the world of Yamasong half a decade ago: writer-director Sam Koji Hale and composer Shoji Kameda to discuss working with an all-star cast of nerd-friendly actors such as Nathan Fillion, Whoopi Goldberg, George Takei, Malcolm McDowell, and more.

On the eve of June and the post-Convergence DC Universe next week, we are in breathless anticipation to see the new, more diverse DC Universe as promised by the publisher's "DC You" campaign. Part of that diversity is represented by the all-star writing talent attached to the flagship books of DC's most iconic character: Superman. Hard NOC Life was honored to welcome Action Comics writer Greg Pak (@gregpak) and new Superman writer Gene Luen Yang (@geneluenyang) on the show to talk all things Man of Steel.

Ever since Marvel dropped Daredevil on Netflix, the nerdosphere has been head over heels for the show. Now that Netflix has announced a second season of their hit superhero series, Hard NOC Life returns to talk about how Marvel is taking over the streaming television game with Black Nerd Problems' Jordan Calhoun (@jordanmcalhoun) -- whose Daredevil piece you've probably read -- and returning Hard NOC champ Raymond Chow.

Hard NOC Life emerges from its winter hibernation, and you can thank Michelle Rodriguez for that. After telling TMZ POCs need to "stop stealing white people's superheroes," the actress took to Facebook to say she meant POCs need to focus on creating their own stories. Naturally, Keith had to discuss this with William Evans of Black Nerd Problems and newest NOC contributor Valerie Complex. The false choice between supporting independent comic creators of color and wanting representation in mainstream comics Whether superheroes really do belong only to white people Why casting actors of color in roles that are traditionally white is not diversity for diversity's sake, especially when traditionally non-white characters are cast with white people all the time

Our own special crossover featuring our Flash and Arrow recappers Constance (@ConStar24) and Christelle (@christellexoxo). Together for the first time! Join us to sort out all of your thoughts and feels about your two favorite shows. Topics covered on the show include: Constance on season one of The Flash so far Christelle reviews how Arrow has evolved over two and a half seasons Keith draws parallels between Flash, Arrow, and Smallville How the Flarrow crossover might be a game changer for these kinds of shows What the DC Cinematic Universe means for fan reaction to the DC television universe How social media has changed how fans consume superhero shows and movies The panel also wades into the dangerous waters of shipping and makes suggestions for ways both shows can improve

Hard NOC Life returns with a look at the phenomenon that is Disney’s Big Hero 6. Joining Keith on the panel are Christelle Gonzales (@christellexoxo), the newest NOC to join the fam, and comics artist David Nakayama (@davidnakayama), who penciled the 2008 Big Hero 6 comic series for Marvel and co-created Wasabi No Ginger and Fredzilla with Chris Claremont. Topics covered on the show include: Welcoming Christelle to her first episode of Hard NOC Life Why it's important that the heroes of Big Hero 6 are people of color David Nakayama's run on the Big Hero 6 comic in 2008 and co-creating Wasabi and Fred What it was like to see his name credited on the big screen Whether it was a good thing to racebend some of the originally Japanese characters from the comic David's initial reaction upon finding out Disney was going to adapt Big Hero 6 What Disney gets right in their adaptation and comics-based easter eggs Why Big Hero 6's Marvel connections weren't part of Disney's marketing efforts What other Marvel properties the panel would like to see get the Disney treatment and what Disney properties they'd like to see get Disney-fied.

In a special edition of Hard NOC Life, guest host Nelson Wong (@aarisings) has a one-on-one with Los Angeles-based rapper Jason Chu (@jasonchumusic) about his latest single Marvels and the Kickstarter-funded music video to accompany the song.

The latest Hard NOC Life dives headfirst into the internet controversy that is #GamerGate. Joining guest host N'Jaila Rhee are Jeopardy! champion Arthur Chu, from This Week in Blackness Aaron Rand Freeman, #StopGamerGate2014 creator Veerender Jubbal, and Tanya, creator of the #INeedDiverseGames hashtag. Topics covered on the show include: What it means to identify as a "gamer" How have these controversies tarnished the image of gaming culture The origins of "GamerGate" and the type of harassment certain gamers have experienced The fallacy of "objective" games journalism Why pointing out racism or sexism in video games (or any media) is just common sense The off-shoot of GamerGate, #NotYourShield and the role of people of color in the controversy The origins of the hashtags #StopGamerGate2014 and #INeedDiverseGames

In this week's episode, guest host Nelson Wong sits down with Artistic Justice Games' Alex Lim to talk about the company's latest project, Dragon Tides, and officially licensed tabletop game featuring the likenesses of Bruce and Brandon Lee. The project is only a few thousand dollars away from its goal on Kickstarter. Topics covered on the show include: What games inspired and influenced Alex to begin designing his own The status of their previous Kickstarter projects Martial Arts: The Card Game and Fairytale Games Why they had to re-launch Dragon Tides on Kickstarter The benefits and drawbacks of using Kickstarter for game development Some advice for other game developers

David Walker (@DavidWalker1201) is the writer of Dynamite Entertainment's new Shaft comics. Luckily, Keith (@the_real_chow) was able to talk with David about how he came to write the book for Dynamite -- and the state of diversity in the comic book industry more broadly -- in this special one-on-one conversation.

William Evans (@willevanswrites) of Black Nerd Problems joins Keith (@the_real_chow) and N'Jaila (@blasianbytch) to talk about this fall's slate of nerd-centric superhero television shows, including The CW's Arrow and Flash and ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter.

In a special one-on-one conversation, Keith talks to award-winning cartoonist MariNaomi about her recently launched Cartoonists of Color database and forthcoming graphic memoir "Dragon's Breath and Other True Stories."

At a time when many comics fans are clamoring for more gender and race representation in superhero comics, one character has been the benchmark for strong women heroes of color for decades. And the X-Men's Storm is currently receiving a bit of a creative renaissance with Marvel recently launching her first ever solo series. On the latest episode of Hard N.O.C. Life, guest host Shawn Taylor (@reallovepunk) discusses the importance of the character with an all-star panel: Storm writer Greg Pak (@gregpak), actress Maya Glick (@MayaSokora) -- creator of the Kickstarted Storm fan film Rain, and Storm superfan Jamie Broadnax of @BlackGirlNerds. Topics covered on the show include: Why Storm is such an vital character and how she brought Jamie and Maya to comics How Storm brought forth Shawn's first "danger erection" The politics of Storm's mohawk and black hair Why Storm has been so poorly served in the live action X-Men movies The demographics of movie audiences and how that will or will not be reflected in Hollywood How the first issue of the Storm ongoing series finally gets Storm right Storm's love life (Forge, Wolverine, Black Panther) get thoroughly discussed Whether comics are myths or soap operas or a bit of both What led Maya to create the Rain short film

The Nerds can't stop talking about Guardians of the Galaxy! For this week's Hard N.O.C. Life, the panel tackles the phenomenon that is Marvel Studios' latest blockbuster success and what that means for the Distinguished Competition across the street. Joining Keith on the panel are Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Yang (@originalspin), and former Jeopardy champ Arthur Chu (@arthur_affect) along with regular panelists N'Jaila Rhee (@blasianbytch) and Rodrigo Sanchez-Chavarria (@rscpokenword). Topics covered on the show include: Why Jeff thinks Guardians was less than good because plot holes Why Jeff is wrong and why everyone else thinks Guardians was actually kind of awesome The difference between bright and colorful Marvel Studios and the grimdark of the DC movies How the movie taps into everyone's nostalgia for big, fun, loud action comedies The episodic serialization of the MCU versus the scattered continuities of DC's live action properties Why Chris Pratt might be an a-hole but not 100% a dick And watch as Jeff battles his own "Demon in a Bottle" Tony Stark-style throughout the episode! All this and more on Hard NOC Life!

Another year, and another San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone. In the wake of the annual ritual of nerds gathering in Southern California, the Hard N.O.C. Life crew convene to discuss the biggest announcements that emerged from the convention! Joining Keith on the panel are Comics and Cosplay host Ian (@ComixNCosplay), ODU criminology prof Shawn, and nerdcore extraordinaire -- and Comic-Con attendee -- Random aka Mega Ran (@MegaRan). Topics covered on the show include: The reveal of DC's holy trinity and the surprise appearance of Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Gal Gadot in Hall H The teaser footage's Frank Miller overtones and whether it's time for a new, non-Miller interpretation of Batman The Wonder Woman costume, its alleged Xena influences, and internet haters Marvel Studios' relative lack of big announcements, and if it even matters anymore How movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man, and Doctor Strange proves Marvel can do anything If Marvel has the capital or desire to make a Black Panther movie The corporate synergy of Marvel publishing Star Wars comics, including a solo Princess Leia book Mega Ran's upcoming documentary Mega-Lo-Mania All this and more on Hard NOC Life!

One of the pillars of con-going is dressing up as your favorite character and hitting the floor in costume. So Hard N.O.C. Life returns with an episode dedicated to the art of cosplay! Joining Keith on the panel is newest NOC contributor -- and host of Comics and Cosplay on YouTube -- Ian (@ComixNCosplay), NYC-based comics collector and enthusiast Jay Justice (@MsJayJustice), cosplayer and costuming tutor on Saturday Morning Cosplay Nel (@NelsRandomLife), and ComicsAlliance's superhero sartorialist Betty Felon (@BettyFelon). Topics covered on the show include: The panel recounts their first cosplaying experience What shows like Heroes of Cosplay mean for the "mainstreaming" of cosplay Why some people on the con floor feel they have the right to gawk at cosplayers How do you define "cosplay?" What happens when people of color cosplay as different races, genders, etc. How will Marvel's recent announcements be reflected on the con floor? What the new Batgirl design mean for comics fans and cosplayers And why Dragon*Con is the best con All this and more on Hard NOC Life!