Thursday, 29 August 2019

Becoming Disabled




It's been a long while since I wrote a personal piece on this site, years even. For the most part things have been going well for me, and I've not really felt the need to share, but truthfully, I've been through a lot lately and felt the need to share.

I've been sick for several months now. It didn't start as anything serious, and at first I thought that it was just my bad leg giving me trouble. But the pain kept getting worse, and began to spread. It went from one bad knee to pain throughout my whole lower body. Then it spread further. I began to get pain in my hands, and started to find it difficult to do even simple tasks.

Work began to get more and more difficult, and I regularly had to sit in my car and cry before I was able to drive home because of how much pain I was in. It got harder and harder to get over my days working, and all my time off was spent in pain and tired, trying to get myself psyched up to going back to work again.

My doctors were worried about my symptoms and decided to test me for Arthritis, but the tests came back negative. Whilst waiting for these results things got worse for me, and I started to develop intense pain on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. Standing would cause me pain, and holding things would feel like the skin was being stripped off my palms.

When this developed into just being touched by people feeling like my skin was burning, or that i was being cut my doctors started to worry that I was suffering from Fibromyalgia.

This is where I am right now. Multiple doctors are saying that this is the likely cause for what I'm going through, especially as all my symptoms lining up. I'm waiting on seeing a Rheumatologist in a few months time to see if I will be diagnosed. Until then I'm stuck in agony, taking pills that barely take the edge off the pain whilst I'm waiting to be told told what's wrong with me.

Sadly, things have deteriorated to the point where I can't work anymore. I was unable to perform my job, and even when trying it would leave me close to tears. I can't walk more than five minutes without it taking everything out of me, and some days just getting out of bed takes everything I have.

One of the worst things about this whole thing hasn't been the physical pain, though, it's been the emotional pain. I feel like my body has turned against me, and that's what hurts the most. I want to carry on being me, to be able to live my life the way I did before. I want to be able to have the job that I loved. I want to be able to go places with people. I just want to be the way I was.

That's been the hardest part. I'm disabled. I can't do everything that I could before. I need help doing simple things, and even then I struggle. And coming to accept that has been the hardest thing. Disabled wasn't a descriptor that I ever thought would apply to me, and in some ways I felt shame when it did. I know that that sounds horrible, and I don't mean that disabled people are bad in any way, or that they should feel shame, but it was the first thing that I felt at the time. I felt like it was somehow my fault, and that I was letting people down.

I felt that I was letting down the charity I worked for, and that stopping work for my health was a bad thing. I felt that I was making it so my partners and I couldn't go places or do things because I was unable to be physical. I felt like I was worth nothing because I was stuck at home. But that's not true. That's how a society that's obsessed with work and capitalism wants me to feel. Society wants me to feel bad because I don't have a job anymore, to be ashamed for receiving disability benefits to survive. But I won't feel bad about that. I didn't choose to be sick. I didn't do this to myself. And I won't feel guilty for trying to survive.

I'm disabled now. That's my life. Maybe I'll get better one day, maybe I wont. But either way, I won't be made to feel bad for what I'm going through. I'm disabled, and I'm proud that I'm surviving.


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Wednesday, 28 August 2019

Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends Coming To Disney Junior




Whilst Marvel may have lost the rights to use Spider-Man in their movies, Disney can still use the character in a variety of other media, and the company is making the most of this by bringing Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends to Disney Junior in 2021.

The Marvel Animation and Family Entertainment series will follow Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and Gwen Stacey as Spider-Man, Spider-Man, and Ghost Spider respectively, as they battle villains and get in adventures. The series will also see them teaming up with other heroes, including Ms. Marvel, Hulk, and Black Panther.


'Preschool kids already love Spidey, so they'll be delighted to have Peter Parker thwipping across their screens in this new series,' said the senior vice president of Marvel Animation and Family Entertainment, Cort Lane. 'Everyone at Marvel is thrilled to launch our first preschool series on Disney Junior, the gold standard platform for the audience. We believe parents and kids will be excited about these stories filled with themes of friendship, cooperation, solving problems, and using your abilities to help others.'

Despite the series being obviously geared towards young children a number of 'fans' have taken to social media to complain about the show, claiming that it's aimed at too young an audience, or that it has somehow 'ruined' the original Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends from the 1980's. Thankfully, many more people have praised Marvel for making a show aimed at young children, and for the beautiful animation style.

Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends is set to premier on Disney Junior in 2021.


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Tuesday, 27 August 2019

Marvel What If...? To Feature Peggy Carter As Captain Britain




Details for the upcoming Marvel animated series Marvel What If...? have been revealed at D23. The series will have 23 episodes, one for each of the movies released so far, and will show an alternate story-line for each.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige revealed a number of characters would be involved, including Iron Steve Rogers, a Zombie Captain America, and Peggy Carter as Captain Britain. Feige was joined on stage by Peggy Carter Actress Hayley Atwell, who will be reprising the role for the animated series.

Marvel What If...? will premier on Disney+ in 2021.


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The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall by Karen McCombie - Book Review




'Ellis is losing track of time... Following her mother's marriage to a famous rock star, Ellis moves to a crumbling old mansion in the wilds of Scotland. Far away from her friends and familiarity, she finds waves of anxiety rolling in and threatening to capsize her. But when she finds herself whisked back to the world of 1912 where she meets lonely servant girl Flora, Ellis finally feels like she's home. But living in the past might not be as perfect as it seems... and is there more to hope for in the present than she first thought? A stunning new novel from much-loved author Karen McCombie, The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall will take you from the heart of the highlands to the top deck of the Titanic.'

When 13-year-old Ellis' mother remarries a famous musician her whole life is turned upside down. The whirlwind relationship and sudden marriage throw her completely, and she finds herself suffering from panic attacks and strange dizzy spells. Things get even worse for Ellis when her mother packs up their old life in London, and transports Ellis up into an old mansion in the Scottish highlands.

The dilapidated Wilderwood Hall is supposed to be a new start for Ellis and her mother, who's planned to renovate the old mansion and turn the stable block into a state of the art recording studio. But Ellis can't find happiness in the walls of Wilderwood as she worries about her future in this new family. Then Ellis begins to hear strange whispering in the walls, and soon finds herself slipping back in time to 1912, where she befriends a young maid named Flora.

It took me a while to get into The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall. The book begins with Ellis at her mothers wedding, an event that she clearly doesn't approve of or like. From here Ellis stays in a perpetual state of disapproval and moodiness. I understand that things have changed fast for Ellis, that she has had her entire life thrown upside down, but she doesn't seem to be able to find happiness in anything.

Ellis is intensely jealous of her mothers new relationship, and holds a grudge against her for almost the entire book. Her mother is juggling dozens of builders and contractors to restore Wilderwood Hall, all on her own because her new husband is touring, and Ellis gets angry every time she has to make a phone call. She wants her mothers undivided attention and can't stand it when she doesn't have it. She doesn't want her mother to speak to anyone but her, and any time that she speaks to her husband, RJ, she assumes they're plotting against her.

This sense of jealousy and self centred views gets worse when RJ's daughter Eloise turns up out of the blue. Eloise is clearly a very hurt young woman, a girl that's been betrayed and manipulated by her mother and put into a situation she hates, but Ellis hates her presence and gets moody when she and her mother need time alone to sort things out. Ultimately, Ellis comes across as a very unlikable character, one who has to be the centre of everyone's attention and life, and throws a mood if she's not.

During all of this Ellis begins to find herself slipping backwards in time to Wilderwood Hall when it was first built. She discovers that no one can see or hear her, except for a young maid named Flora. At first Flora thinks that Ellis is some kind of spirit or ghost, but the two of them soon form a friendship, with Ellis finding the trips back in time to be a nice distraction from her regular life.

As things begin to work out in the modern world, with Ellis coming to realise that her new family actually care about her and aren't trying to ruin her life, she makes some startling discoveries in the past. Flora isn't the kind and put upon girl that she makes out to be, but is the evil person that the rest of the household believe. She hurts others, steals, and even murders animals.

This revelation helps Ellis to find her place in the real world, as she realises that sometimes horrible people hide behind a nice face, and those that really care about you might not obviously show it. Ultimately, these journeys back in time help to show Ellis how good her new life is, and how much she's cared for.

There's more to the story, including the ultimate fate of Flora than I'm going to go into here, and the connection between Flora and Ellis, small little details that hint at perhaps more than just coincidences, but perhaps a hand of fate.

The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall is an interesting time travel book, one that focuses on how it affects someone personally, rather than some big question of how you can affect the past and change the present. It focuses on people, and has a very real, relate-able story at it's core. Aimed at teens, I'm sure that those within the core demographic will thoroughly enjoy it.




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Monday, 26 August 2019

Joker Trailer Release Date Announced




The official Instagram page for the upcoming DC movie Joker has shared six short teasers for the film, and tease the release of the first official trailer.

Each of the teasers have a mixture of footage that was released in the first teaser trailer, as well as new footage. However, eagle eyed fans spotted the brief flashes that have appeared in each. When paused these flashes reveal a piece of a hand written message, that when put together reveal the date for the trailer release.


It appears that the trailer is set for a Wednesday 28th of August release.

The film is set to star Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, as well as Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Douglas Hodge, and Robert De Niro. Joker will be released in theatres on October 4th 2019.


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Turning Darkness Into Light by Marie Brennan – Book Review



Originally published on Set The Tape

Turning Darkness Into Light returns readers to the popular world of the Memoirs of Lady Trent series in this new, standalone spin-off sequel. Centring on Audrey Camherst, the granddaughter of the famous Lady Trent, Turning Darkness Into Light is principally a mystery story, centred around a series of ancient artefacts that Audrey is hired to help translate.

In all honesty, I found it a little difficult to get on with the book to begin with, despite how interesting this initial set-up was. This was mainly due to the fact that it was filled with places and things that I had never heard of before. Places such as Akhia and Falchester were talked about without any explanation of where they were or what they were like, Draconians and the Watchers Heart were mentioned in passing with no context, and important political and social events that were vital to the story were not gone into in any great detail.

Now, I know what you’re going to say, this is a sequel to a five book series, so of course it will be talking about things that fans would already know about about. And that’s a perfectly reasonable thing, and once I got over that and picked up the basics as the story unfolded I found myself much more drawn in than I was initially expecting.

Audrey is something of a fascinating lead, a young woman who doesn’t fit into societal norms thanks to her independent streak and some slightly racist views towards her dark complexion. She is like most of her family, someone who is interested in the world and fascinated with history. She wants to contribute something to the world the way her grandmother did and is determined to leave her mark. However, despite these strengths she is at times very impulsive, idealistic, and even naive. Over the course of the book, which is several months, we get to see Audrey lose some of these attributes and grow as a person, though even she admits that she makes several silly mistakes even towards the end of her adventure.

Audrey, as a philologist, is hired to translate ancient tablets belonging to the Draconian people, a race of humanoid dragons. The Draconians, only recently discovered to exist by Audrey’s grandmother, are preparing to meet with human politicians in order to petition their independence as their own nation, and the owner of the tablets wants to cash in on this by having them translated in time. Whilst it initially seems like Lord Glenleigh, the man who found the tablets, is simply trying to make a little money on the side by releasing the translation, Audrey begins to learn that the contents of the tablets may have a huge impact on the future of both races.

The slow unfolding of the tablets is initially interesting as it sheds a lot of light on both this world that I was unfamiliar with, but also the Draconian people. However, as more and more of the tablets were translated, and their impact upon the world became more apparent I found myself getting further invested. Then, when hints emerged that there may be more going on than initially thought, and a possible conspiracy, I was hooked. I couldn’t put the book down because I was desperate to find out what happened next, and only stopped reading because I realised I’d been reading into the early hours in the morning. This happened more than once!

It was often the world around this story that captured my imagination, as I wanted to learn more about the political state of these wonderful new lands, and to discover their histories and cultures. The same went for the characters; Audrey might be a great lead, but she’s surrounded by loads of interesting side characters too. One that really hooked me was Cora, who over the course of the book drew my attention thanks to what appeared to be autistic traits. I was so fascinated with her that I even approached Marie Brennan on social media just to find out is Cora was autistic because I loved her character that much.


Marie Brennan managed to completely enthral me into this story and its characters in a way that was totally unexpected. I would never have thought that I would care so much about a fantasy world that I knew so little about, or would find translating ancient texts to be an incredibly tense and exciting story. This, for me, speaks volumes as to how well written the book is.

Thanks to Turning Darkness Into Light I’m going to be going back and reading not just the previous five entries in the series, but looking to check out other books that Marie Brennan has worked on. Turning Darkness Into Light is a book that took me totally by surprise, filled with wonderful, complex characters, and a plot that has so many twists and turns in it that you’ll never anticipate what is coming next, but will leave you hungry to read more. An absolutely wonderful read.




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Sunday, 25 August 2019

Lesbian Space Crimes!




American astronaut Anne McClain has been accused of committing the first ever recorded crime in space. NASA is investigating McClain after it was claimed that she accessed the bank account of her estranged wife, Summer Worden, whilst on board the International Space Station.

McClain and her wife have reportedly been involved in a bitter divorce battle for the last year, as well as fighting for custody over their son. According to a report in the New York Times Summer Worden filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the NASA Office of Inspector General accusing McClain of identity theft and improper access of her bank accounts whilst on the ISS.

McClain responded to the accusations through her lawyer, stating that she was merely accessing the account to check on her family's resources, and claimed that this was something that she had done on previous occassions. She said that she did so to make sure Worden had enough money to support their son.

Rusty Hardin, McClain's lawyer said, 'She strenuously denies that she did anything improper.'

A statement from NASA said that 'NASA has no statement on this and does not comment on personal or personnel matters. Anne McClain is an active Astronaut.'

The five space agencies involved in the space station,fromthe United States, Russia, Japan, Europe and Canada, have long-established procedures to handle any jurisdictional issues that arise when astronauts of various nations are orbiting Earth together. But the director of the Global Space Law Center at Cleveland State University, Mark Sundahl, said he was not aware of any previous allegation of a crime committed in space. NASA officials said they were also unaware of any crimes committed on the space station.


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Friday, 23 August 2019

Louisiana Governor Candidate Attacks Trans Community In New Advert




Ralph Abraham, the Republican party hopeful campaigning for the position of Louisiana Governor, has issued a new television advertisement that attacks abortion rights, and the transgender community.

The doctor and former veterinarian has been involved in politics since 2015, and has a history of anti-LGBTQ+ opinions and comments. 

In his latest advertisement he made a list of 'truths'. In this list he claimed that government is too big, taxes are too high, and weighed in favour of second amendment rights. He also claimed that 'life begins at conception', and he said with a chuckle 'as a doctor, I can assure you, there are only two genders'.



Ralph Abraham has been a long term supporter of Donald Trump and has supported many of his administrations goals, including repealing the Affordable Care Act, and enforcing a travel ban that would stop people of Muslim faith entering the US. He has said that 'President Trump is doing a great job'.

He has also opposed the legalisation of same sex marriage, and co-introduced legislation to try and prevent the government form altering the definitions of 'sex' and 'gender' as a protected class, and to stop 'gender identity' from being included. In 2016, following the Orlando Pulse massacre, he issued a statement that did not mention the LGBTQ+ community, and instead focused on supporting America's troops, and blames ISIS.

Ralph Abraham is one of two major Republican contenders challenging the Democratic party member John Bel Edwards for Governor in October this year.


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The Pavilion On The Links by Robert Louis Stevenson - Book Review




The Pavilion On The Links is a short 80 page book by Robert Louis Stevenson. It tells the story of two men who were once good friends, but drifted apart over the course of years, who end up coming back together to protect a man on the run from Italian revolutionaries.

Frank Cassilis has been living his life as something of a vagrant, travelling around the UK and sleeping in the countryside. When he returns to Graden Easter, where he once stayed with an old friend, Northmour, he discovers strange happenings. The pavilion where the two of them used to stay has been locked down for the season, but he keeps seeing strange lights within late into the night. He discovered that Northmour is secretly preparing the pavilion.

One night Northnour sneaks in a older man and his daughter, attacking Frank when he approaches. Frank soon discovers that Northmour is helping a banker named Bernard Huddlestone and his daughter Clara to escape the country. Huddlestone was a banker, who lost thousands of pounds, including the money that belonged to a group of Italian revolutionaries, who are now hunting them down for revenge. Putting aside their differences, and their competition for Clara's love, Frank and Northmour team-up to defend the Huddlestone's from the revolutionaries.

I was honestly surprised when reading Pavilion On The Links with how the plot actually went. To be honest, this was in part due to the fact that I'd never read a Robert Louis Stevenson book before, and had no idea what to expect. Of course, I knew of his other works, with titles such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde being so well known as to come to mind instantly when thinking of the author. But when it came to reading this book I never expected such a short book that begun with a man rambling across the British countryside to end with an armed siege against Italian revolutionaries.

We don't get a lot of time with the characters in this book, but each of them is very clearly established, and it's easy to figure out what kind of people they are in just a scene or two. The conflict between Northmour and Frank is set up long before the two come face to face, so when they actually interact the reader feels like it's a natural thing for the two of them.

The sudden love between Frank and Clara feels like it comes out of nowhere, though, and feels a little rushed. The two of them only know each other a few days, and seem to mainly talk about the situation with the Italian's, so for them to so strongly declare their love for each other, and state that they want to be married is a bit of a shock. I appreciate that they're in a very stressful situation, and may be drawn together because of it, and it's a different time, but it doesn't quite sit right with me.

My biggest dissapointment with the story, however, is the conclusion. The book spends so long setting up the coming confrontation, and there are some great tense moments where the two men are ready to defend the pavilion, armed with guns. Sadly, the siege doesn't last a whole long, and ends rather abruptly when Huddlestone gives his life to save his daughter. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this conclusion I was hoping for a big more action as I was really enjoying it.

The Pavilion On The Links was described by Sir Arthur Conan  Doyle as 'the high watermark of Stevenson's genius', and I have to agree that this short story was very well crafted, and was enjoyable throughout, and makes me eager to read more of Stevenson's work.


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Thursday, 22 August 2019

US Christian Group Spreads Anti LGBTQ+ Leaflets Around UK City




Birmingham, located in the West Midlands in the UK, has been the centre of a fierce fight over LGBT+ education for a number of months, with parent groups protesting outside of primary schools following the government decision to include LGBTQ+ education in school curriculums.

Now a fundamentalist Christian group from the United States, 'Tradition, Family, and Property', has begun to spread anti LGBTQ+ literature around the city. Residents were surprised to discover the leaflets titled 'Gender Theory: Diversity or 21st Century Totalitarianism?' in their letterboxes on Tuesday morning.

The leaflets called itself a 'tool against gender theory' and warns that LGBTQ+ activist are 'imposing anti-Christian and anti-god views on your children'. The leaflet also made transphobic comments saying that gender theory is 'delirious, ideology claiming everyone can fancy themselves to be a man, woman, neither, or both at the same time according to mere whims'.

The leaflets also included a picture of a child sitting on Santa's knee. The reason? Who knows.


A local resident, Janique James, spoke to local newspaper, the Birmingham Mail, to say 'This leaflet is disgusting. It's wrong a transphobic 'Catholic' hate group is posting this rubbish through my letterbox. Surely they have better things to do?

'God knows where it's come from but I'm not surprised I've received it. people have been protesting outside schools against sex education and LGBT+ education in the local area. One thing is for sure, the leaflet is going straight into the cat litter. I've got not time for homophobia and transphobia.'

Another resident said 'Disgusting, but why brings Father Christmas into this?!'

Some residents have also reported that the leaflets have been handed out in person in the local shopping centre.

The leaflet also offers readers the chance to receive a larger 64 page booklet for £5, which claims to answer questions such as 'What is Gender Theory?', 'What is anti-Science Theory?', and 'What is Queer Theory?'.

Tradition, Family and Property was founded in the 1960's in Brazil, and has spent fifty years promoting extreme Catholic views, including campaigning against LGBTQ+ rights, as well as reproductive rights. The group also operates in the United States under the name The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. They have campaigned in Brazil, the US, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, and now the UK.


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Shazam! – What Could Come Next?



Originally published on Set The Tape

Shazam! hits home release this week, bringing the decades old superhero to new audiences. Thanks to the popularity and success of the film a sequel is more than likely, but with such a big catalogue of villains to choose from what could come next for the red and gold clad hero?



 Mr. Mind & The Monster Society of Evil

 Seen briefly during the events of Shazam!, Mr. Mind is one of Shazam’s oldest villains. A two inch tall alien worm with a level of intelligence that rivals the smartest humans on the planet, and possessing telepathic powers, he has proven to be a deadly enemy despite his physical appearance. Mr. Mind created the Monster Society of Evil, one of the first super villain teams in comics history, to help him with his schemes.

Thanks to Mr. Mind having already appeared in the first Shazam! film the odds of him reappearing as a main villain are high, and his making a deal with Doctor Sivana means that the Society may be included too. However, some of the stranger members, such as Dummy and Ramulus may not make an appearance.



Eclipso

 Shazam! brought gods and theological ideas from the DC Comics to the big screen, following the introduction of Greek gods in Wonder Woman. Thanks to this, it may be possible that further Shazam! films could explore of these themes and feature the villain Eclipso. The former Wrath of God (yes, THE god) and angel of vengeance, Eclipso is one of the more powerful entities in the DC Universe.

An entity that is capable of possessing a host and imbuing them with powers powerful enough to put the entire planet in danger, Eclipso is a villain who would put Shazam to the test. Thanks to having a substantial catalogue of hosts to choose from, and a broad array of powers that could be showcased, Eclipso would be an excellent choice of villain.



Sabbac

 A dark opposite to Shazam, Sabbac is actually a human named Timothy Karnes who was granted extraordinary powers and a physical transformation after shouting a magical phrase. Whereas Billy receives his powers from gods, Timothy gets his powers from the demons Satan, Aym, Belial, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Crateis; the initials of which spell the name Sabbac. Once shouting the phrase Karnes is transformed into a horned, red skinned demon with a blazing inverted pentagram on his chest.

Whilst an inverse of Shazam would make for an interesting villain for a future film there is a much more obvious choice for such a role in Black Adam (more on him later). The fact that the first film also featured demons could mean that DC will steer clear of repeating this for a sequel.



Lady Blaze and Lord Satanus

 The two demonic children of the Wizard Shazam, Lady Blaze and Lord Satanus have fraught both each other and the forces of good numerous times in their quests to become rulers of Hell. Able to transform into humans and walk earth in order to try and trick people into selling their souls, the two of them have plagued the Shazam Family, Superman, and the Justice League on numerous occassions.

Whilst having more than one villain would be a way of making a Shazam! sequel more interesting, especially ones that are connected to the Wizard Shazam and could explore the history behind Billy’s powers, these two are less likely to appear than some of the others in this list.



Captain Nazi

 Okay, this one will obviously not be used in a Shazam! film, but he’s worth mentioning for a number of reasons. First of all, Captain Nazi is one of the oldest Shazam villains, making his first appearance way back in 1941. Made during a time when comic publishers were regularly pitting their heroes against the axis powers in order to inspire allied troops and civilians, Captain Nazi was made to be a chief  foe for Shazam, then Captain Marvel, during the war years.

Whilst at first you’d think that there’s no way that DC, or any company, would want to put a super powered fascist on the big screen as a main antagonist, the fact that white supremacy and fascist groups are a very real and serious issue in the real world means that it’s not totally off the table. What better way to remind people that Nazis shouldn’t be tolerated than having a super hero beat the crap out of one?



Black Adam

 The most likely on this list to actually appear in a future Shazam! movie, Black Adam is the most iconic Shazam villain, and one that a lot of people were expecting to be the antagonist for the first film.

Born thousands of year ago in the Middle-East, Teth-Adam was the son of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II, and impressed the Wizard Shazam with his bravery and good deeds. The Wizard granted Teth-Adam magical powers, transforming him into the hero Mighty Adam when he shouted the word Shazam. He was a hero to the people of Egypt for many years, but was eventually corrupted by Shazam’s daugther Blaze and became a villain before being sealed away until his tomb was opened in modern times.

Over the years Black Adam has been a hero, a villain, and even walked the line between the two. He’s been a member of the Justice Society of America, and has laid waste to nations in rage. He’s one of the more complex characters in the DC Universe, and a perfect adversary for Shazam.

He was mentioned in passing in the first film, but not shown, despite Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson already being cast in the role. It has been reported that he will be receiving his own spin-off film, before going up against Shazam in a future movie.


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Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Magnum Apologises For Comparing Ice Cream To Imprisonment Of Gays




Magnum Ice Cream has apologised for a recent advertisement that received backlash for being insulting towards the LGBTQ+ community.

The advertisement, which appeared on the music service Spotify, focused on 'guilty pleasures'. A voice-over in the ad said 'A hug from my boyfriend. That's my guilty pleasure. Because in my country, just a simple hug with the man I love could send me to prison for more than 10 years'.

The comparison of the 'guilty pleasure' of eating an ice cream and the imprisonment of LGBTQ+ people around the globe was quickly criticised and condemned on social media platforms, where the public were able to air their displeasure with the company.

Magnum initially responded by saying that they were unsure why people were displeased with the advert, saying that they 'wanted to remind people that what is considered a guilty pleasure isn't always what you would expect'.

The company has now issued an apology for the advert that says, 'Magnum has a history of championing LGBTQ+ rights and Pride Month is a moment when lots of us celebrate progress. We're sorry for any offence caused by the advert, which aimed to bring awareness to the injustices people face around the world.'

Whilst it may be admirable that the company wanted to raise awareness of this issue, perhaps a better apology would be warranted. Perhaps the company should apologise for causing offence, rather that placing the blame on those who 'found' it offensive. It wasn't that people found it offensive, it was that it was offensive to begin with. For a company that claims to have championed LGBTQ+ rights they don't know how to talk to that community.

There are currently 72 countries around the world where same-sex relations are illegal and can end in imprisonment. There are 11 countries in which LGBTQ+ people can be put to death.


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Pet Semetary – 5 Films With Killer Animals



Originally published on Set The Tape

Pet Semetary, the latest Stephen King film adaptation, comes to home release next week, bringing the story of cursed burial grounds and killer zombies into people’s houses. One of the more iconic parts of the film, and one that was used heavily in marketing, is Church, the killer cat. If you’re like myself you’ll love a good bit of Natural Horror in your movies. We’ve made a list of 5 other films that are worth checking out if you want more of this, and something a little unusual too.



Arachnophobia (1990)

 A black horror comedy starring Jeff Daniels and John Goodman, Arachnophobia tells the story of a new deadly species of tarantula that’s discovered deep in the Amazon rainforest. The scientists discover that the spider appears to be a drone, making it part of a larger colony; something that is unusual for spiders. When one of the team is bitten and killed by one of the spiders his body is sent home to the States, along with one of the spiders that crawled into his coffin.

Now in small town California the spider mates with a regular house spider, producing a legion of spiders that look no different from regular ones, but possess a bite that can kill. As the spiders begin to slowly kill people all over town it’s down to a local doctor, played by Daniels, and an exterminator, Goodman, to find a way to destroy the deadly colony before it spreads across the country.

Arachnophobia is a film that never takes itself completely seriously, something that actually helps it, as the premise is a bit silly. However, thanks to some great writing, a brilliant cast, and a crew that includes such names as Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and Stephen Spielberg, it is easily an overlooked classic.



Piranha (1978)

 When Jaws hit the big screen in 1975 it inspired a lot of studios to want to produce their own version of the film, in much the same way that Star Wars prompted a slew of science-fiction movies. One of the more famous films to come out of this was Piranha. The film almost received an injunction from Universal Studios to stop its release as it was due to coincide with the release of Jaws 2, but the plans were dropped after the film received a positive review from Spielberg.

Directed by Joe Dante (of Gremlins fame), Piranha tells the story of a community that becomes terrorised by a swarm of gentically altered killer Piranha that get released into the local river. Having been created as part of Operation Razorteeth to combat Viet Cong movement in the Vietnam War, the creatures are set loose into the river-ways during an investigation. It’s then down to a local, drunk boat captain to find a way to stop them before they reach a water park and local summer camp.

Piranha proved to be a successful film in its own right, spawning both sequels and remakes thanks to it’s popularity. Whilst the 2010 remake, Piranha 3D, may be much glossier and sillier, the original is still an all time great.



 Anaconda (1997)

 Anaconda sees a documentary film crew travel down the Amazon River in order to capture footage of the long-lost tribe of Shirishamas people. When they come across a stranded snake hunter the group finds themselves drawn into a hunt for the deadly green anaconda.

Whilst the film centres on the giant killer snake, and many people are killed by the creature, the main conflict of the film comes from the human characters, particularly the hunter Serone, played by John Voight. It’s Serone’s obsession with the anaconda, and his desire to make money, that puts the other people on the boat in danger, and he even kills in order to achieve his goals.

Thanks to some decent writing, effects that were good for the time, and an all star cast that included Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jonathan Hyde, Danny Trejo, and Owen Wilson, Anaconda became a hit, earning more than three times its budget and receiving three sequels, as well as a crossover with Lake Placid.



Night of the Lepus (1972)

 When creating a list of animals that would make for a good antagonist in a horror film you’d be likely to go for something that’s large, dangerous, and possibly scary looking. That makes perfect sense, as audiences need to fear the creatures that are killing characters on screen. However, Night of the Lepus seems to have forgotten this and done things their own way when it told the story of giant killer bunnies.

Based upon the novel The Year of the Angry Rabbit, the film tells the story of a small town that falls victim to an infestation of giant mutant rabbits. In all honesty Night of the Lepus isn’t a good film. However, it falls into that category of being so bad and so silly that it’s actually a hell of a fun experience to watch. The film uses a combination of real rabbits on miniature sets, as well as actors in rabbit costumes to create the scenes of rabbit carnage that look so ridiculous they become somewhat charming.

Despite the kooky nature of the film it was treated with great seriousness at the time, and included some big name actors, including Janet Leigh and DeForest Kelley. Watch Night of the Lepus if you want a little fun and aren’t after a real horror experience.



 Orca (1977)

 Have you ever watched Jaws and thought, ‘this is good, but I’d rather be able to identify with the shark more’? Then Orca is the film for you!

One of the films that tried to cash in on the success of Jaws, Orca tells the story of a fishing crew that falls victim to a vengeful killer whale. The fishing crew capture a pregnant female orca, who miscarries when they bring her on board the ship. Tossing the dead baby into the sea they are attacked by the orca’s mate, who manages to drag her back into the water. When the female subsequently dies the distraught orca begins to target the crew, killing them off one by one. Yes, Orca is a revenge story where the whale is the hero.

Despite this somewhat ridiculous premise, Orca takes itself completely seriously, which just adds to how good it is. The boat captain, played by Richard Harris, sympathises with the animal, having had his own pregnant wife killed by a drunk driver, and film culminates in a battle between the two of them on an iceberg. Orca is so bizarrely different to other films in the genre that it’s worth checking out just for the unusual nature of it, and is sure to leave an impression simply for how strange it is.


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Monday, 19 August 2019

Shazam! – 5 Great Shazam Books To Check Out



Originally published on Set The Tape

Shazam! comes to home release this week, bringing the latest entry in the ever expanding DCEU to new audiences. Possibly one of the bigger gambles that DC has made, Shazam! introduced a lot of new people to a character that has existed for decades, but has never really reached mainstream awareness. With that in mind, here are five books that are totally worth checking out for anyone wanting to learn more about the character.



Shazam! Origins

 Recently re-released in a new edition for the movie, Shazam! Origins collects together several issues of Justice League following the New 52 relaunch. These issues tell the new, revised, origin story for Billy Batson and the superhero Shazam. This version of the character is incredibly close to the one seen in the movie, and several plot points and characters that were new to this version of the character were featured in the film.

However, one way that this book differs from the origin story as seen in Shazam! is that the main villain for this story isn’t Doctor Sivana but Black Adam. Possibly the most iconic villain in Shazam’s rogues’ gallery, the conflict between Shazam and Black Adam is legendary, and this book makes great use of both characters.

Shazam! Origins was written by Geoff Johns, one of the most prolific writers in comics in the industry, a man responsible for reinventing and popularising series such as Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, and Green Lantern. Artwork was provided by Gary Frank, who has worked on titles like Action Comics, Superman: Secret Origins, and Wonder Woman.



The Trials of Shazam!

 Written back when Shazam was still known as Captain Marvel, The Trials of Shazam! is set shortly after the events of Infinite Crisis, where the entity known as The Spectre destroyed the Rock of Eternity and the wizard Shazam. Following these events Captain Marvel becomes the new wizard, using the name Marvel, leaving the title of Captain Marvel vacant.

Freddy Freeman, Billy’s friend and the former Captain Marvel Jr. takes it upon himself to take up the mantle of Captain Marvel, but first has to set out on a quest to prove himself worthy to the ancient gods that bestow their powers upon the hero. However, Freddy isn’t the only person vying for these powers, and he finds himself competing against the evil sorceress Sabina. Culminating in a huge battle involving several heroes and an army of demons, The Trials of Shazam! was such a big story that it ended up being spread over two volumes.

The series was written by Judd Winick, a popular DC writer who had previously worked on titles such as Green Lantern, Batman, and Green Arrow. Winnick’s work has been celebrated in the past for his inclusion and diversity. Artwork on the book was provided by Howard Porter, until a hand injury prevented him from finishing the book, which was then completed by Mauro Cascioli.



Shazam! Power of Hope

 Shazam! Power of Hope shifted its focus from the hero to his alter-ego Billy Batson, in a story that highlights that despite his appearance, the hero is still a young boy. When Billy receives a letter from a terminally ill child in hospital he decides to visit them as Captain Marvel. Billy wows the children with stories of his exploits, and even takes some of them flying in an attempt to make them happier.

The book took some very dark themes and tried to use them to show that even in some of the worst circumstances hope still exists, and made Billy face some difficult realities. One scene, in which he goes to the father of one of the children as the hero and threatens him not to hurt his son anymore is a particularly powerful moment.

The book is written by legendary superhero writer Paul Dini, a man who has worked on numerous titles over the years, but may be best known for his work on Batman: The Animated Series, where he created the character Harley Quinn. The artwork is provided by the phenomenal multi-award winning Alex Ross, who hand paints every panel of the books he works on.



Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder

 Superman/Shazam!: First Thunder tells the first meeting between the two heroes. Unlike a lot of first meetings between superheroes, where they end up fighting each other until they realise they’re on the same side, the first meeting between Superman and Captain Marvel proves to go remarkably well. The two characters find a mutual respect for each other, and quickly become good friends.  The story tells more of a ‘laid back’ adventure as the two of them help each other to tackle a plot that puts innocent people in the crossfire.

The story also marks the point where Superman discovers Billy’s true identity, something that ends up causing him to confront the wizard Shazam for bestowing these powers on an 11-year-old boy. By the end of the book Superman becomes something of a mentor to the young hero.

The book is written by Judd Winnick, who also worked on The Trials of Shazam!, with art provided by Joshua Middleton, who has also provided art on books such as X-Men Unlimited, NYX, and Street Fighter.



Shazam! The Greatest Stories Ever Told

Shazam! The Greatest Stories Ever Told collects together stories from across the DC universe to bring readers a series of stories that span the entire history of the character. The book gives a good insight into not just the various versions of the character, but how comics in general have changed over the years.

The book includes Whiz Comics #2 from 1940, which was the very first appearance of Captain Marvel; as well as stories that showcase members of the Shazam Family, and their many villains. Collecting stories across more than 50 years, the book is an incredibly interesting read for anyone who wants learn more about the characters origins.


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Friday, 16 August 2019

The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann - Book Review




'Farthing Wood is being bulldozed, and there’s a drought. Fox, Badger, Toad, Tawny Owl, Mole and the other animals must band together and set off to a far-away nature reserve. Their journey is full of adventure and fraught with disasters, and the animals must work together to survive. 

 'The Animals of Farthing Wood is one of the most popular animal stories in children’s literature and is still in print nearly 40 years after first publication.'

The Animals of Farthing Wood is something from my childhood that I remember very fondly. I still have very clear memories of watching the animated series and being hooked by the plight of the characters. Unlike other shows the story wasn't wrapped up at the end of each episode, but continued on into a huge narrative. The characters were always in danger, and some not only died, but had brutal and tragic deaths. There were feuds and rivalries between groups where they plotted to gain power and thought of ways to harm the others. Looking back at it, it was like having a child version of Game of Thrones, and I suspect the series is a big reason why I enjoy serialised and deep narratives in my entertainment. Surprisingly, however, I had never read the book.

Picking up a copy of the newly released version of the first book, which chronicles that animals journey to White Deer Park, I was surprised at how much I still enjoyed the story. Whilst aimed at children, and written in a simple and easy to access way, the story has a surprisingly degree of complexity. The characters don't always get along, they argue and bicker. Some of them even hunt and kill some of the other members of the group, so having to come together as a unit and putting their differences aside isn't an easy thing.

What immediately jumped out at me, however, was the lack of female characters. Owl, Kestrel, Adder, and Weasel, characters that were all female in the television series were male in the original book. This was the thing that threw me the most, especially as they didn't seem as good as their show counterparts. The strangest thing was that none of their personality had changed. They still acted the same way, but certain character traits just seemed to work better with female characters. For example, Owl feels more like a moody old man who wants to be in a position of power, whereas the television version feels more like a kindly old mother figure.

As the book progressed I found more and more things like this that had been changed from the original source material, meaning that the book was able to keep taking me by surprise. Certain characters still died, but their deaths were changed around and happened in different places and different orders. I found myself second guessing what might happen, despite knowing the story.

The story hammers home how things that we humans take for granted, like a housing estate or a busy dual carriageway can be deadly to animals. It was this that really jumped out at me reading the book now. Whilst as a child I focused on the journey and the characters, now I found myself looking at the reasons for their journey, and the troubles they face along the way. The animals must flee their home because humans are destroying their habitat to build upon. They are almost killed in a wildfire because someone carelessly discards a light cigarette. The animals almost starve because the only food around them has been tainted with chemicals that will kill them.

The animals face multiple dangers in their journey, all of which are caused by the destructive nature of human beings. We take what we want, we change the environment around us, and we want things convenient. But we don't care what impact these choices have on the world around us, or the creatures that live there. We're destructive and careless, with no thought about the future of our own species, let along those of animals.

This is one of the things that I found to be really good about The Animals of Farthing Wood. It will appeal to different people for different reasons. Kids and adults alike will find something in the narrative that will grab them. Whether it's the dangers of the journey the animals go on, the characters that inhabit the book, or the underlying commentary on the destructive nature of man and the impact that it has on the world; there is more to the book than you'd initially think, and everyone is sure to find something to interest them.




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Thursday, 15 August 2019

Pet Sematary: 5 Best Stephen King Film Adaptations



Originally published on Set The Tape

Pet Sematary becomes the latest Stephen King adaptation to come to home release next week as the DVD and Blu-ray hits shelves across the country. Thanks to a career that has spanned decades, and stories beloved across the world, there have been literally dozens of films made from his works. To celebrate this new release here are five films based on his books that we consider to be some of the best.



IT (2017)

 Whilst the 1990 television mini-series Stephen King’s IT is considered by many to be one of the all time classics, with a brilliant performance from Tim Curry as the titular creature, the 2017 adaptation of the first half of the story is by far the superior of the two. Updated somewhat to bring it into line with our current era, setting the past in the 1980s rather than the 1950s, the new version of this story remains much truer to the King original in tone, if not in every tiny detail.

Director Andy Muschietti and screenwriters Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman have altered a few of the smaller details, such as Mike’s parents having died in a fire, or Georgie’s body being missing. This version is much more a horror, with the killer clown being so much more frightening and sinister. The film mixes slow burn tension and jump scares to great degrees, and spends the time with the characters so that you actually care for them.

With an absolutely stunning performance from Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Clown, beautiful cinematography, and the promise of more to come from the second part when it hits cinemas in September, this is one of the best recent Stephen King films by far.



The Mist (2007)

 Based upon the short story The Mist, part of King’s anthology book Skeleton Crew, the 2007 big screen version of this tense horror thriller wowed audiences not just because of its amazing cast and great acting, but because of an ending that would live long in the minds of those who had watched it.

Written and directed by Frank Darabont, who had previously also adapted The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile from King’s work, The Mist chose to tell a very personal kind of horror story, one where the people are just as frightening as the monsters that stalk through the mist. Described by Darabont as “Lord of the Flies that happens to have some cool monsters in it”, he focused on how people handle otherworldly horror differently, and how it can make them turn against each other. If you’ve not seen the film, please go and do so, but avoid talking to anyone about it before you do as you do not want this one spoilt for you, as it may have one of the best endings in film history.



The Shining (1980)

 Based upon one of King’s most iconic works Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is held up not only as one of the best examples of a Stephen King adaptation, but one of the most popular horror films ever made. Starring Jack Nicholson as a former alcoholic who travels into the snowy mountains with his family to look after a hotel during the winter shutdown, the film tells a story of a man battling with not just his own demons, but the evil spirits that haunt the hotel.

With some creepy performances from both Nicholson and his co-star Shelley Duvall, intentionally bizarre and disturbing set design and editing, and a soundtrack that sends shivers up your spine, The Shining is a film that has sparked discussion and debate amongst film fans for decades. Famously hated by King as an adaptation of his work when first released, he admits that it has become one of his favourites over the years.



The Green Mile (1999)

 You’d be hard pressed to find someone that has watched The Green Mile and hasn’t been touched in some way by it. Set during the great depression, the film tells the story of prison officer Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) as he encounters the mysterious John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), a man accused of the rape and murder of two young girls. Over the course of the film both Edgecomb and the audience learn that not only is John a gentle soul, but has the power to cure the sick and even raise the dead, something that he was trying to do for the murdered girls when he was found. The story of John Coffey, and his subsequent execution for a crime he didn’t commit, is both wonderfully touching and heartbreaking.

Nominated for numerous awards, including Oscars for both best film and best supporting actor for the late Michael Clarke Duncan, it is still one of the best received King film adaptations to date, and one that is sure to break even the most stoic heart.



The Running Man (1987)

 Possibly the most surprising entry in this list, especially as a lot of people forget that it’s based upon a King book, The Running Man might not be the kind of story that you’d expect to come from the ‘master of horror’. Based upon the short story originally written by King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, the film sees Arnold Schwarzeneggar star as Ben Richards, a former soldier and prisoner in a dark future.

Framed for a mass murder that he didn’t commit, Richards escapes from prison and goes on the run, only to be recaptured by the authorities and forced to participate in The Running Man, a televised game show where competitors are made to fight for their lives in a gladiator like setting.

Despite being an over the top action film The Running Man is surprisingly deep, containing themes about poverty, sociological collapse, and government corruption – all themes that reviewers and commentators have pointed out that the film predicted well in later viewings.

The film might not be for everyone, especially as it’s very different from a lot of King’s more popular themes and tones, but The Running Man is widely considered to be not just a classic Arnie movie, but a great example of an over the top 80’s action movie.


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