In this album review with DQ, we listen to Nas's "King's Disease" (2020). With the help of Hit-Boy, Nas orchestrates an album that reflects the knowledge of a mature rapper. How does Nas, a Hip Hop elder, share his perspective on life in America?  Do you think you're a king with a disease? Listen to this review to find the cure!

Album Reviews with DQ

Album Review with DQ: Nas's "King's Disease" (2020)

In this episode, DQ reviews Adult Swim's latest cartoon comedy, "YOLO: Crystal Fantasy" (2020, created by Michael Cusack. Welcome to Wollongong, Australia! This Australian-American comedy stars best frenemies Rachel, narcissistic party girl, and Sarah, simply amicably basic. Does Rachel find the perfect party? Does Sarah find true love? Listen to this podcast to find out if it's worth the trip.

TV Reviews with DQ

TV Reviews with DQ: "YOLO: Crystal Fantasy" (2020)

In this comic review with DQ, we review "MIddlewest" by Skottie Young. In this tale, we follow Abel as he runs away from his violent father. In this mixed-genre mixed-audience comic, Abel searches for answers to his tumultuous emotions, uncontrollable anger, and fractured family. Will Abel eventually discover the home, family, and answers he seeks? Tune in to this episode to discover what hides within this adventure tale!

Comic Reviews with DQ

Comic Review with DQ: "Middlewest" (2018--2020)

DQ reviews three horror-teen-slasher-cult films in this week's episode of Just DQ Reviews. First up is "We Summon the Darkness," a film about three teens that travel to a metal concert, only to end up in a cult ritual sacrifice. Does our trio of metal heroes, escape death's grip? You'll have to listen to find out. Next, our double-feature review is "The Babysitter" and "The Babysitter 2: Killer Queen." In these films, Cole, a shy, lonely and scared teen, must use his wits to outsmart a devil-worshipping cult that want to use his blood to summon the devil. Where is his babysitter in all this!? Well, you'll have to listen to this episode to find out!

Movie Reviews with DQ

"We Summon the Darkness" and "The Babysitter"

In this comic/movie review, we dig to see the roots of ancestral trauma and racial allegories in the steampunk gothic horror comic "Bitter Root," while narrowly escaping the ghosts of Georgia in the modern supernatural horror "The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia."

In the steampunk gothic comic Bitter Root, the Sangerye Family is the only force that can save New York and the world from a sadistic supernatural army.  While in "The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia" a young middle America family, experience the supernatural consequence of ignoring historical trauma and privilege.

Will the roots of these films create engaging themes? Listen to find out!

Reviews with DQ

Comic/Movie Reviews with DQ! "The Bitter Haunting in Georgia: Ghost Roots"

In Will Eisner’s semi-autobiographical comic, "The Dreamer," we learn the ins-and-outs of American comic pioneers, including Ken Corn, Jack Kirby, and Bob Kane. The land of dreamers is fraught with pitfalls, boobytraps, and slippery slopes. Take a stroll down 1930's New York with Will Eisner and see the world through a true world builder, a savant of storytelling, and a foreman of dreams.

Annotated notes on "The Dreamer" can be found at https://www.hoboes.com/Comics/dreamer/, where every allusion in the novel is outlined and indexed. Did they miss an allusion in this annotated collection? Leave a comment on the hoboes web page. 

The outro song is “5 Year Plan” by Chance the Rapper. I recommend Chance the Rapper for anyone looking for spiritual rap during hard times.

Comic Reviews with Just DQ!

Comic Reviews with Just DQ! "The Dreamer" by Will Eisner

In today's movie review with DQ, we take a step into the after-life with Pixar's "Soul." In "Soul," Joe Gardner, a jazz musician trapped as a music teacher, finally gets hi call of a lifetime. And suddenly, tragedy strikes. Will this be the spiritual journey of the season? To find out, listen to today's movie review with DQ.

Just DQ! Uncut

Movie Review with DQ: Soul (2020)

Today we review racial stereotypes in Tyler Perry's "Acrimony" (2018). In the film "Acrimony," the hard-working Melinda falls in love with Robert, a charming dreamer; after she sacrifices her dreams to support his dreams she learns that he has been cheating on her, and now she cannot let it go.

"Acrimony," Perry's modern romantic tragedy, plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy. Dramatic irony solidifies the tragedy in this film.  By the time Robert's hard work pays off, Melinda is embalmed in bitterness and anger. She is too far gone to even think rationally.

Hope, pain, and sacrifice fuel the emotional connections between the audience and the main characters. In the end, the audience must withstand the tragedy -- when dreams become nightmares -- and the characters' expectations are shaken loose from the plot.

Sources:

- Kelley, Blair L. M. (September 25, 2014).  "Here's Some History Behind That 'Angry Black Woman' Riff the NY Times Tossed Around" .  The Root.

- "The Sapphire Caricature". Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. Ferris University, n.d. Web. https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/antiblack/sapphire.htm

- Tukachinsky, R., Mastro, D. & Yarchi, M. (2015). Documenting portrayals of race/ethnicity on primetime television over a 20-year
span and their association with national-level racial/ethnic a itudes." Journal of Social Issues, 71, 17–38. doi: 10.1111/josi.12094

- Villarreal Yvonne, “Betty Broderick is coming back to TV. What to know about the real-life murder case”. Los Angeles Times. 2 June 2020. Web.

Movie Reviews with Just DQ!

Movie Reviews with DQ! "Acrimony" (2018)

In this episode, we review the politically satirical comic "Essentials Judge Dredd Vol. 1: America." “Essentials Judge Dredd Vol. 1: America” follows the relationship between the rebellious America Jara and the comedian Bennett Beeny. As America becomes more radically democratic, Beeny reflects on the values that divide the couple. At the same time, Judge Dredd analyzes the political system’s validity. How will these characters' journeys collide in this volume? Listen to find out!

Comic Reviews with DQ: Dredd Meets Nietzsche in Mega City One

Comic reader, music lover, and movie watcher that thinks he can podcast too: "This is just David, talking about David things!"

Just David!