I actually welcome ABC's "Fresh Off The Boat" family sit-com series set in the 90s because as an Asian-American, I do identify with some of what is explored. And, its like The Goldbergs and The Wonder Years. Now, I grew up a 70s-80s kid in SoCal so I was all about good old-fashioned American values and culture: Black Sheep Squadron, The Brady Bunch, Leave It To Beaver, Dennis the Menace, The Little Rascals, Mickey Mouse Club, Get Smart, Abbott & Costello, Laurel & Hardy, Sanford & Son, What's Happening, Three's Company, Eight Is Enough, and so on. Classic "Hall Monitor" shows like Adam-12, Dragnet, CHiPs, Magnum P.I. and Hawaii Five-0 helped steer me in the right direction and stand my ground. Shows like Little House On The Prairie, Highway To Heaven, Bonanza, and Big Valley helped with faith and humility. We were also a Navy family so we were very proud to be patriotic flag-waving Americans, with Asian ethnicity. Nothing wrong with "jingoism".
Compare that to the rising militant race-baiting "Fight The Power"-type groups, violent gangsta-rap and hip-hop culture influence and apologetic "white-guilt" culture very prevalent today. Blaming so called "American Imperialism", blaming the "brainwashing" of minorites and "stealing" land and territories. Shaming American Exceptionalism seems to be the order of the day, even in school. Most especially in colleges and universities where radical anti-American idealists like Karl Marx, Che Guevarra, Mao Tse Tung, Josef Stalin, and Hoh Chi Minh are looked up upon as "great inspirational leaders" in high regard and that American society needs more of in our infrastructure. And, let's be honest...most tv programs and even cartoons today aren't as wholesome, positive, and family-friendly as most Nova-fans my age grew up on Back In The Day. Even the idea of a "traditional family" is not what it used to be. There are more dysfunctional families than ever before. Oh, and then there's been the big Wussification of America the past 6 years. People are now afraid to speak their minds, speak truth to power because they might "deeply offend" others when its all about being politically correct these days. Remember when the school principal's office used to have a "disciplinary paddle" displayed in their office? Yeah, why do you think bullying is worse today than it was during our time.
Look at the anarchic violent protests, race-agitators, race-riots, disrespect and destruction of property, places of businesses, and disrespect to authority in years past since the Radical 60s. All using so-called "racial-inequality" as an excuse to justify their civil disobedience. Ferguson, MO and Baltimore, MD are just recent examples of this nonsense. You'd think that electing a half-black demigod-worshipped President would have seen the end of such racial tension and racial divide that is actually due to pent up anger in militant groups like the Black Panthers, La Raza, and fanatical front groups like ACORN, ACLU, NAACP, CAIR, in the guise of looking out for the "poor minority".
Asian-Americans do not resort to this kind of unnecessary violence, disrespect to property and authority, etc. No, you don't really see or hear about well-to-do Asian-Americans doing that barbaric stuff. Instead, they've been more mature, shown more class, and tell their families and communities to not embarrass themselves. It was the "Do Not Embarrass Your Ancestors, Your Family Name, Your Heritage, and above all Be Worthy of The Sacrifices Made So We Could Live In America" mindset. Study hard, work hard, do better with your life, carry on smartly, and stay out of trouble. Sadly, I was never one of those real smart math-whiz/straight A-squared away kind of Asian-American student...instead, I was more of a creative intellectual, heh.
Yeah, changes have been brewing more than 6 decades ago.
My heroes growing up were President Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Charleston Heston, Gen MacArthur, Gen Patton, Bob Hope, Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, & Margaret Thatcher.
As a kid, I still eat the ethnic food that was prepared for us as well as Western food. I have never been ashamed of eating ethnic food or my ethnic culture and was still proud to call myself an "American". Yeah, I've been looked upon as a "sellout", "white-washed" and even a "Twinkie". Yet, I still scarf down Filipino, authentic Chinese, and Ethiopian food like a champ, lol!
There are people of influence in Hollywood, entertainment, sports, pop culture, Big Media, and even businesses, that think that by continually showing great empathy towards certain groups, certain people of color, and even our enemies, that eventually that will rub off in certain dark neighborhoods, dangerous ghettos, they will be somehow immune to the violence and we can all sing Kumbaya and share a Coke and a smile and live in some fantasy Utopia happily ever after. That is not the real world we live in. That by hanging out and constantly gushing and fawning over the President and First Lady that they are showing the world that they are somehow achieving "world peace" just because they are a certain color. Like the late Dr MLK, I grew up judging a person by their character, not the color of their skin.
What all this is leading to, and my point to all this, is that simply giving in to What Is and not thinking about What Can Be. Settling for scraps and crumbs(Sam Alexander, Bakian Nova, any other Nova Concepts) when you can be feasting steak and lobster(Richard Rider, Nova Prime, The Nova Corps). Giving in to Marvel's idea of what a Nova character should be in their eyes, not what a Nova character is supposed to be in our eyes. We have to demand Marvel to get rid of these False Novas, these Nova Concepts. They are not really working because they were never, ever necessary to begin with. Nova Vol.4 was doing just fine. It had a lot of rave reviews and was well-received by fans, new readers, and industry critics.
But because we are NOT willing to do what is TRULY necessary we will gladly sit in the corner and be content with the crumbs. This will not help bring Richard Rider back.
Judgement on Sam Alexander's character is that he is and always has been the "dumb idiot" the writers and creators have intended to make him out to be. The best that the brightest at Marvel can come up with is this totally unoriginal, unimaginative, uninspiring character who was intended to replace Richard Rider because Rider is too much of a Boy Scout, too old-fashioned and boring. C'mon, Marvel is supposed to be better than that.
At least the Bakian Nova Family thing is a step up. But, I am so over the whole redundant political correctness diversity sensitivity re-education camp mentality junk already. Just stop.
I'd rather celebrate with steak and lobster than just settle for crumbs. A fine-dining restaurant quality grade A beef burger rather than a cheap fast-food dollar menu wanna-be burger or lousy Vegan imitation.
--Previous Message--
:
: Amen wil!
:
:
: What a great opportunity SW would have been
: to pump up the corps...or even at least give
: us a version of RR who was out there for the
: sake of giving fans a story. MC2 anyone?
: What happened to the weird centurion
: Reminder showed in UA?
:
: Great post..
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: The Secret Wars/Battleworld "Infinity
: Gauntlet" limited series feels more
: like a re-envisioning of Annihilation, just
: add some Infinity Stones and Thanos in the
: mix. As I've mentioned before, I've been a
: long-time fan of Dustin Weaver's art but am
: not entirely on-board.
: Its got less to do with race and more about
: "Nova concepts" not being
: necessary in my opinion. Why the Marvel
: Mandate to not have Richard Rider involved?
: Why is there no multiversal Nova Corps being
: used?
: I mentioned on another thread that "If
: You Are Not Part Of The Solution, Then You
: Are Part Of The Problem." That meant
: that supporting Sam Alexander and other Nova
: Corps Concepts for the sake of supporting
: any kind of Nova Corps idea just prevents
: Rich from coming back sooner and means we
: will have more Nova Concepts Only characters
: for the next 5 years. I am not drinking the
: "Nova Concepts for Keeping Any Kind Of
: Nova Alive" Kool-Aid. Whether
: boycotting a character or book really works
: or not, its been 5 long years and Richard
: Rider has still not returned. Its not that
: difficult for Marvel to bring Rich back. The
: editors and execs simply just do not want
: Rich back...yet. Why?
:
:
: Why was Sam Alexander and the concept of the
: Black Super Novas even thought up about in
: the first place?
: I may have given Sam a shot with a few
: issues but I've never fully got punch-drunk
: on the Kool-Aid.
:
: From the very first issue, Sam was clearly
: aimed at younger audiences and was not an
: entirely original character. Those first
: clues should have been big red light
: warnings to long-time Richard Rider fans. I
: have to admit, even I didn't think Sam would
: be around this long. I seriously thought
: Rich would've been back as Nova Prime again
: within 3 years time. Original Sin does not
: count.
:
: I don't fully accept this whole "Well
: At Least Marvel Is Open To The Idea Of Nova
: Concepts" nonsense. I wholeheartedly
: believe its actually hurting, not helping,
: the chances of Rich returning soon. Simply
: put, it sends the message to Marvel that we
: seem happy to accept any Nova, and Rich can
: wait in limbo a few years more.
:
: "If You Don't Believe In Something, You
: Will Fall For Anything."
: I was a fan of Kyle Rayner, Bucky Cap, and
: Azrael but even I knew that they were not
: permanent replacements. And, at least they
: were great characters, even if Kyle wasn't
: exactly original, and worthy.
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: Current Nova was definately aimed at a
: Disney/young audience aimed to gain new
: readers to Marvel; but as said by many fans
: they could have easily created an original
: "junior character" rather than
: using an existing well established character
: like Rich; that in part of course evnetually
: ignited all the friction between factions,
: just as the introduction of Kyle Rayner did
: when he suplanted Hal Jordan.
:
: Of course Hal eventually returend to the
: spotlight, after a stint of being a villain,
: and both chracters have been key to DC more
: "superior" cosmic side while
: Marvel's has sadly fallen with the exception
: of Guardians 3000. As seen with those
: signing the Ipetiton at NPP, its clear fans
: can support the idea of having 2 or more
: Nova titles - just as Green Lantern Coprs
: have had over the years; Marvel however
: can't seem to grasp the logic; at the moment
: churning out one title for every Guardian of
: the Galaxy member which is serious overkill!
:
: I think Dustin Weaver's take on the Nova
: mythos will be a bit better; its got the
: post apocalyptic style and settign I like so
: i'm looking forward to seeing as its only
: one of 3 titles - plus the main series of
: Secret Wars I've added to my present
: diminishing Marvel pull list.
:
: For now, Rich himself remains in the realms
: of limbo in the MU, what happens after SW
: could unfortunately seal his fate for good
: but hey there's always some clever bloke
: that can figure means to bring him back if
: Marvel decided to give him another go.
: Meanwhile fans will keep him active in fan
: fics and art - so look out for a new run of
: Nova619 soon!
:
: --Previous Message--
: I have not been enjoying Nova/Sam, at all. I
: think I liked more of the stuff with Carrie,
: than the actual action/Nova stuff. It is
: just a bit too childish for me. I am hoping
: things "grow up" because, at this
: point, I will not be purchasing the Sam
: title after Secret Wars ends, if the Sam
: title returns. I have not liked the art or
: the story, but I have kept reading. But I am
: at the end of my rope. It is not fun for me,
: especially after the great stuff we old
: schoolers had with volume four. That was
: great writing, growth, character
: development, and more up my alley.
:
: I have no disdain for anyone who still reads
: Sam. I would be a hypocrite if I did,
: because I have bought each one. I am,
: however, a bit sad that Nova has abandoned a
: great character and made the title (and many
: other Marvel titles) way too simple and
: childish.
:
: I will read the post-apocalyptic Nova title.
: The art looks great, and the story may be
: more up my alley. But after that, I hope
: things change for the better.
:
: The funny thing is, Marvel seems very
: committed to the Nova idea. They are trying
: hard to keep it going. But they are not
: putting out a great product, yet.
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
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