Great TV Show You Never Heard Of: M.A.N.T.I.S.

 

Today is the 30th anniversary of M.A.N.T.I.S. a superhero drama that debuted on Fox network August 26th, 1994, and chances are you've probably never heard of it. M.A.N.T.I.S. starred Carl Lumby (Isaiah Bradley in Falcon and Winter Soldier) as Dr. Miles Hawkins. A billionaire advocate for the community, who is paralyzed in a incident involving the police. After losing a lawsuit against the police department, and uncovering a conspiracy against the Black community. Mile's set's out to fight the injustices and use his wealth to help him. He use's an exoskeleton suit he developed that allows him to walk while wearing it and set's out on his mission to fight crime. Finding along the way the mastermind of crime in the city is a former associate Solomon Box, the recurring villain of the series.

During it's first season M.A.N.T.I.S. spoke about several issues that affected the Black community. Using action and science-fiction to educate and entertain, which at that time was still a rarity especially on network television. Miles had several tools at his disposal to aid in his crime fighting efforts and his wealth and brains rivaled that of comic icons like Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne. The show was retooled in the second season to be a bit more wacky and that led to his ultimate cancellation.

Despite only lasting two seasons the show was ahead of it's time. Dr. Miles Hawkins was Black and disabled, a rare portrayal on network television at that time. Mentioned earlier in the blog many of his missions were done to aid the Black community from the abuse of authority in the police department and corporations...sound a bit familiar? 

Even though Black Lighting was a comic book first, if you were to watch M.A.N.T.I.S. you would notice so many similarities between both TV series. The show was truly ahead of it's time and it's not only a shame that it did not last longer, but that it's legacy has been forgotten to the passage of time. 

Read More

Bring Back Steel, Without Shaq

The DC Universe streaming service is set to debut later this month. Streaming services are all the rage nowadays and every media company out there is throwing their hand in the bucket for some extra cash. A good thing about streaming services is that it has opened the door for so many creators and content that wouldn't see the light of day in traditional media.

 The DC Universe has already announced some original programming Titans, Swamp Thing, and Doom Patrol are a few properties that will air on the DC Universe platform. While I’m personally looking forward to Swamp Thing, I think DC should use this opportunity to bring Steel to the small screen.

  As a live action TV show with about 10 episodes, it could right the wrong that was the movie starring Shaq in 1997. Since TV shows and movies based on comic books, are developed with much more care nowadays it could rival any of the Marvel Netflix shows or CW DC shows. Here are three things a possible series would need to be successful.

Getting John Right

First order of business is portraying John Henry Irons as he is in the comics. A engineer/scientist who works for a high tech firm Amertek Industries and uses his brain just as much as his size to get the job done. Some things go south on the job and John leaves to become steel.

Representation is very important in any genre, highlighting a black superhero who is very intelligent and builds his armor and gadgets rivaling Iron Man on his own. Could be a spark in a lot of Black kids to take more of an interest in the STEM field. Streamline his armor and make it less clunky add some gadgets that have real life purposes and someone could really believe they would see Steel walking down the street.

Setting

Location is next, in the 1997 film Steel is set in Los Angeles. In the comics he traditionally lives in Metropolis, even moving to Washington D.C. at one point in the comics. The series would benefit from not being in Metropolis, as too many viewers would always be waiting for clues that superman is around. Having Steel set in a fictional inner city would probably be the best bet to allow the character to build his own world.

Opponent

A compelling villain, most superheroes stories are best when they have a villain that is a perfect foe to them. The stakes have to be real and high, and something is personally affecting the hero.  Steel doesn't have a primary villain that is synonymous with him.

He’s traditionally fought street gangs, which he did in the film. If a series was created and the creators went that route, it would draw comparisons to CW’s Black Lighting.

Using a fellow employee at amertek who has gone rogue would be the best option. Maybe throwing a wrinkle in the story that the employee knows John Irons is Steel. That could make for a nice cat and mouse game.

We need more black superheroes.  Black Panther proved there's a market for it. Luke Cage and Black Lighting have produced quality, interesting TV shows. If DC wants to make a serious splash in the streaming world, a Steel TV show would definitely help out. Hell DC hire me I’ll do it!

Read More

Black Panther is Here

  Black Panther is HERE!! The culture can celebrate as it hits on all cylinders. This isn’t a review of the movie, but why I think it’s so important for the culture.           
   First this movie is special because it was crafted with love and appreciation. A majority black cast, and major players behind the scenes being black. Having the deeppppp pockets of Disney and Marvel offered the filmmakers a opportunity to create a world unlike any other and they don't disappoint.
   Honoring traditional African customs and culture. Celebrations of African culture, and spirituality of the culture. All the while implementing the possibilities of a future way of life improved by technology, but not “enslaved" by the technology. It’s a perfect blend of the past and present in this fictional country. Even though Wakanda is a fictional Country , hopefully it inspires people to take a trip to culture rich Africa.
   Representation is another important factor in this film. Besides a black superhero who is first and foremost a royal and second who kicks ass, there’s the Dora Milajae fierce female warriors who display you can be a female and take care of yourself. T’Challa sister Shuri who encompasses the STEM (Science Technology engineering mathematics) trait and mentality, she is a role model to show young girls they can become inventors and much more in those fields. We have Killmonger one of the MCU’s better villians, his ideals whether right or wrong will resonate with a lot of people.
   The underlying message of Black Panther is very important. The importance of family, humanity being humane to one another. Past transgressions affecting future progress. Issues that are very much contemporary and will be for the foreseeable future.
    We’ve had Black superhero movies before. Blade, Spawn, Meteor Man, Steel. While for the most part they are good movies, those movies are what they are. Much like the new CW show Black Lighting,  Black Panther is released at a time when there is a cultural awakening so to speak, a new found appreciation of us as black people, where we came from, where we been, and where we’re going. Black Panther taps into all that energy to make something that will be talked about for years to come. Wear your dashikis, your Kentes, embody black excellence and shout Wakanda with pride.

    

Read More