Trap Nerds: ILLuminati with AWA Studios and Best of Class 1998
Digest
This podcast episode delves into the world of comics with a focus on the new release "Illuminati," a comic book exploring the Black Illuminati and the price of fame in the music industry. The episode features an interview with Dennis Cowan and Axel Alonzo, the creators of "Illuminati," discussing their inspiration, creative process, and hopes for the project. The podcast also includes announcements for several new podcasts, including "Dudes on Dudes," hosted by Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, which will discuss football players and legends; "Levels to This," hosted by Cheryl Swoops and Tureka Foster-Brasby, which will explore the real obstacles women face in their daily lives; and "On Purpose with Jay Shetty," featuring an interview with musician Jelly Roll, discussing his life story and struggles with addiction. The episode also includes a segment on the best video games released in 1998 and a discussion about upcoming video games and the gaming industry.
Outlines
Illuminati Comic Book Discussion
This segment is an episode of the "Trap Nerds" podcast, featuring a discussion about the new comic book "Illuminati," created by Charlotte Manning Guy, Dennis Cowan, and Axel Alonzo. The comic book explores the Black Illuminati and the price of fame in the music industry.
Illuminati Comic Book Interview
This segment features an interview with Dennis Cowan and Axel Alonzo, the creators of the comic book "Illuminati." They discuss the inspiration behind the comic, their creative process, and their hopes for the project.
New Podcast Announcement: Dudes on Dudes
Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski announce their new podcast, "Dudes on Dudes," where they'll discuss football players, legends, and insider stories. They'll categorize players as "studs," "wizards," "freaks," "dudes," or "dogs."
New Podcast Announcement: Levels to This
Cheryl Swoops and Tureka Foster-Brasvy announce their new podcast, "Levels to This," where they'll discuss the real obstacles women face in their daily lives, from balancing work and relationships to motherhood and career shifts.
Podcast Announcement: Chess Peace
A podcast announcement for "Chess Peace," which tells the story of Elie Angon-Sales, a young Cuban boy who was found floating alone in the ocean after his mother died trying to reach Florida. The podcast explores the question of who he belongs with: his father in Cuba or his relatives in Miami.
Podcast Announcement: On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Jay Shetty announces a new episode of his podcast, "On Purpose," featuring Jelly Roll, a musician who shares his story of overcoming challenges, including time spent in prison and struggles with guilt, shame, and body image.
Podcast Announcement: Grow Enough
An announcement for the Lingo Kids podcast, "Grow Enough," which explores different jobs and careers for children. The episode features a question from a young listener about race car drivers and their speed compared to jet planes.
Best of Class: Games of 1998
A discussion about the best video games released in 1998, including Banjo Kazooie, Super Smash Bros., The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Half-Life, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Fallout 2, Rainbow Six, Tekken 3, Sonic Adventure, and Pokemon Yellow.
Gaming News and Updates
A discussion about upcoming video games, including Dragon Ball FighterZ, Civilization VII, Sonic Frontiers, and Stellar Blade. The hosts also discuss the recent Tokyo Game Show and their thoughts on the gaming industry.
Podcast Wrap-Up and Announcements
The hosts wrap up the podcast with announcements about upcoming streams and other podcasts. They also encourage listeners to check out the Kickstarter campaign for the "Illuminati" comic book series.
Keywords
Black Illuminati
A fictional organization in the comic book "Illuminati" that is based on the real-life conspiracy theory of a secret society of powerful Black figures. The comic explores themes of power, corruption, and the price of fame in the music industry.
Comic Book Homage Art
A style of art that pays tribute to classic comic book covers or other works of art. In "Illuminati," the cover art is designed to honor five of the greatest and most influential hip hop albums, celebrating the groundbreaking album art of each record.
Urban Legends
Stories or beliefs that are widely circulated but have no basis in fact. The comic book "Illuminati" draws inspiration from the enduring urban legend of the Black Illuminati, a secret society of powerful Black figures who are said to control the world.
Kickstarter Campaign
A crowdfunding platform that allows creators to raise funds for their projects. The "Illuminati" comic book is currently being funded through a Kickstarter campaign, which runs through Tuesday, October 22nd.
Milestone Characters
Comic book characters that are significant to the history of comics, often representing diversity and breaking new ground. The interview discusses the importance of Milestone characters, such as Icon and Rocket, and the need for more representation in mainstream comics and film.
Static Shock
A superhero comic book character created by Milestone Media, known for his electric powers and his representation of Black youth. The interview discusses the impact of Static Shock and his potential for a successful live-action adaptation.
Comic Book Industry
The industry that creates and publishes comic books, encompassing writers, artists, publishers, and retailers. The interview explores the challenges and opportunities within the comic book industry, particularly for Black creators.
Dudes on Dudes
A new podcast hosted by Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, focusing on football players, legends, and insider stories. Players are categorized as "studs," "wizards," "freaks," "dudes," or "dogs."
Levels to This
A new podcast hosted by Cheryl Swoops and Tureka Foster-Brasvy, exploring the real obstacles women face in their daily lives, from balancing work and relationships to motherhood and career shifts.
Q&A
What inspired the creation of the comic book "Illuminati"?
The comic book was inspired by the enduring urban legend of the Black Illuminati, a secret society of powerful Black figures who are said to control the world. The story explores themes of power, corruption, and the price of fame in the music industry.
How did the creative team for "Illuminati" come together?
Axel Alonzo, the creative officer of AWS Studios, pitched the project to Dennis Cowan, a legendary comic book artist, and they both agreed to work on it. Brian Edward Hill, the writer, was already attached to the project, and Bill Sinkowitz, a long-time collaborator with Dennis Cowan, joined as an inker.
What are the creators' hopes for the future of Milestone characters in mainstream comics and film?
The creators believe that Milestone characters, such as Icon and Rocket, deserve more opportunities to shine in mainstream media. They hope that the success of Black Panther will inspire more investment in diverse characters and stories.
How did Axel Alonzo's career in journalism lead him to the comic book industry?
Axel Alonzo saw an ad in the newspaper for a job at DC Comics and sent in his resume. He was hired after writing an article for the Daily News that made a guy look bad, which impressed the editor, Luke Staffis.
What are the main topics discussed on the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast?
The "Dudes on Dudes" podcast focuses on football players, legends, and insider stories. The hosts will categorize players as "studs," "wizards," "freaks," "dudes," or "dogs."
What are some of the challenges that women face in their daily lives, as discussed on the "Levels to This" podcast?
The "Levels to This" podcast explores the real obstacles women face, including balancing work and relationships, motherhood, career shifts, and other challenges they experience in their daily lives.
What is the main question explored in the "Chess Peace" podcast?
The "Chess Peace" podcast explores the question of who Elie Angon-Sales, a young Cuban boy found floating alone in the ocean after his mother died trying to reach Florida, should belong with: his father in Cuba or his relatives in Miami.
What are some of the key takeaways from the interview with Jelly Roll on the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast?
Jelly Roll shares his story of overcoming challenges, including time spent in prison and struggles with guilt, shame, and body image. He emphasizes the importance of perseverance and self-reflection in achieving personal growth.
What is the purpose of the "Grow Enough" podcast?
The "Grow Enough" podcast aims to inspire children to explore different jobs and careers, helping them discover their passions and pursue their dreams.
How can listeners support the "Illuminati" comic book series?
Listeners can support the "Illuminati" comic book series by checking out the Kickstarter campaign and contributing to the project. The hosts encourage listeners to support the creators and help bring the series to life.
Show Notes
The Black Effect Presents.... The Trap Nerds Podcast!
On today's episode, we’ve got two legends in comics on the show today: legendary artist and Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan and former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso, who is the Founder and Chief Creative Officer of AWA Studios.
They’ve teamed up with Charlamagne Tha God to create ILLuminati — a brand new 128-page graphic novel where hip-hop and comics collide. The book features the work of some of the greatest and most influential Black talents together to create this original story, cover art, and hip-hop homage art — including Denys.
Set in the LA music scene, the story delves deep into the price of fame and one of the most enduring urban legends of our time: the Black Illuminati.
They’ve even done special hip-hop homage variant covers paying tribute to the five most seminal hip-hop albums of all time chosen by Charlamagne himself!
Charlamagne, Denys, and Axel will be in person at New York Comic Con and the ILLuminati Kickstarter campaign runs through Tuesday, October 22.
Support: The ILLuminati: A Thriller Where Hip-Hop & Comics Collide on Kickstarter!
Learn More: AWA Studios
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