One Man #JusticeLeague: In Conversation with MARSHALL Director Reginald Hudlin

By Thembisa S. Mshaka, Contributor

McGREGOR, PRIEST, HUDLIN, LASHLEY Back For New BLACK PANTHER Stories

By Chris Arrant, Editor

Credit: Daniel Acuna (Marvel Comics)

Four of Black Panther’s most iconic creators are reuniting with the character for a new Black Panther Annual #1 coming out this February. Don McGregor, Christopher Priest, Reggie Hudlin, and Ken Lashley are working on stories for the anthology – along with Daniel Acuna and several more artists to be named later.

“I had wanted to do this opening sequence for years, but hadn’t determined how to pull it off,” McGregor told Newsarama of his new story. “But I figured out a way to do it, and do something that focuses emotionally on T’Challa and the people around him – some of them being characters readers liked back when I was writing Black Panther regularly. This turned into what I’m calling ‘Panther’s Heart,’ with Wakanda’s heart-shaped herb being one of the meanings for the title of the story. But for the story itself, I go into more detail about the heart-shaped herbs and how they’re used.”

Here is the solicitation for that issue – and look for Marvel’s full February 2018 solicits later this month at Newsarama.

BLACK PANTHER ANNUAL #1
DON McGREGOR, CHRISTOPHER PRIEST & REGGIE HUDLIN (W)
DANIEL ACUNA, KEN LASHLEY & MORE (A)
Cover by DANIEL ACUNA
Variant Cover by BRIAN STELFREEZE
LEGENDARY PANTHER WRITERS RETURN!
Three legendary BLACK PANTHER writers return to Wakanda! Don McGregor’s famous storyline “The Panther’s Rage” has become one of the most well-respected runs in comic book history. Now, the author who redefined Wakanda for a generation is back to expand the mythos! Bearing the heart-shaped herb that defines the Panther legacy, King T’Challa leaves his beloved country for a heart-wrenching mission in the streets of New York. Then: For half a decade, comics legend Christopher Priest made his mark on the Panther. The acclaimed writer returns with an all-new story – and with it, of course, U.S. State Department employee Everett K. Ross! And finally, no Panther history would be complete without Reggie Hudlin, author of more than 50 Black Panther stories, including the famed “Who Is The Black Panther?” Don’t miss the sequel to his “Black to the Future” story, featuring original artist Ken Lashley!

THE 50 GREATEST COMIC BOOKS IN RECORDED HISTORY

By John Fiorella

BLACK PANTHER #1, YR 2005

As a kid, I thought Black Panther was lame. I couldn’t get past the costume, which made him look like a wannabe Batman. But that all changed in 2005 when the cosmic powers of Reginald Hudlin and John Romita teamed up to reinvent the character with a remarkable blend of smarts and style.

The crowning achievement of this issue happens toward the end, when a room full of government brass argue over how to infiltrate the Black Panther’s territory. Ordinarily, this scene would feel cliché. But not here. Nope. Instead, we learn about Captain America’s attempt to enter this sacred land, which ends all too awesomely for words.

Watch Ava DuVernay, Reginald Hudlin celebrate Charles Burnett at Academy’s Governors Awards

by Tambay Obenson

This is more significant than it might initially seem on the surface, given that Charles Burnett, director of Killer of Sheep – universally considered a landmark of American independent cinema – has never been formally and publicly recognized by the Academy (he’s never been nominated, nor won any Oscars, whether official or honorary); something that some would consider a travesty given his influential and celebrated body of work (which also includes significant works like To Sleep With Anger and My Brother’s Wedding), as well as what he has meant to independent cinema since his years as a member of the L.A. Rebellion film movement of the late-1960s to the late-1980s, notable for having created a Black Cinema of the period that challenged classical Hollywood depictions of working and middle-class black life.

His magnum opus, Killer of Sheep, which examines black life in Watts in the mid-1970s through the eyes of a sensitive dreamer who is growing detached and numb from the psychic toll of working at a slaughterhouse, was shot on location during a series of weekends on a budget of less than $10,000, most of which was grant money. Finished in 1977 and shown sporadically, its reputation grew until it won a prize at the 1981 Berlin International Film Festival.

Since then, the Library of Congress has declared it a national treasure as one of the first fifty on the National Film Registry; and the National Society of Film Critics selected it as one of the “100 Essential Films” of all time. However, due to the expense of the music rights, the film was never shown theatrically or made available on video for years. It was only been seen on poor quality 16mm prints at few and far between museum and festival showings.

Thirty years after its debut, the film was restored and transferred from a 16mm to a 35mm print by the UCLA Film and Television Archive and Milestone Films, thanks in part to a donation from filmmaker Steven Soderbergh. It then received a limited release, with a DVD release in late 2007.

And this year (2017), Milestone celebrated the 40th anniversary of the film – still timeless, relevant and beautifully stark – giving it a theatrical run that kicked off at the IFC Center in New York City.

The Academy finally officially recognized Burnett and his contributions to cinema when the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted September 5 to present an Honorary Award to the veteran filmmaker, in a ceremony that took place on Saturday, November 11, 2017, at the Academy’s 9th Annual Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, CA.

Mr. Burnett was joined by cinematographer Owen Roizman, actor Donald Sutherland and director Agnès Varda in receiving trophies.

“This year’s Governors Awards reflect the breadth of international, independent and mainstream filmmaking, and are tributes to four great artists whose work embodies the diversity of our shared humanity,” said Academy President John Bailey.

The Honorary Award, an Oscar statuette, is given “to honor extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sciences, or for outstanding service to the Academy.”

I think I speak for many when I say, it’s about time, and congratulations to Charles Burnett! Although, preferably, the Governors Awards celebration would’ve been a televised event that aired nationally, introducing the honorees to audiences who aren’t already familiar with their work, as is the case with Mr. Burnett especially, who remains largely unknown outside of cineaste circles.

To honor the filmmaker during the ceremony, Reginald Hudlin and Ava DuVernay both spoke during the evening, as part of the award presentation to Honorary Award recipient Burnett. Of course the man of the hour was also on-hand to receive his Oscar statue with an acceptance speech. Thankfully, the Academy has released videos of all 3 moments which are embedded below, in chronological order as they occurred during the event:

— Reginald Hudlin.

— Ava DuVernay.

— And finally the recipient himself, Charles Burnett.