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Showing posts from August, 2021

Where Are The Good Guys: Zari and Behrad Tarazi

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When it comes to positive Muslim rep, where are the good guys? Part 2 I wanted to make a post to recognise two MENA characters in superhero media: The Tarazi siblings on DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW Network): They are MENA characters played by MENA actors, they're 'good guys' aka protagonists, and are now series regulars. Pictured above on the right. Zari Tarazi: Zari Tarazi – (also formerly the character Zari Tomaz) from season three onwards, is played by Iranian-American actor Tala Ashe Zari's skills: hacker, socialite/media influencer, assisting the main superhero team. Super powers: none. Weapons: magical amulet (ability to manipulate the wind). Her brother, Behrad Tarazi: Behrad Tarazi – from season four and five, but as a main from season six, is played by Iranian-American actor Shayan Sobhian Behrad's skills: vigilante, assisting the main superhero team. Super powers: none Weapons: same magical amulet that his sister, Zari, now has.

What's His Name, Marvel?

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  What's his name, Marvel? (NB: For the record, any of my criticism on this post is directed to Marvel Studios and Disney, not to the actors Haaz Sleiman and Brian Tyree Henry, pictured above, whom I wish nothing but the best for.) Now, I have some marketing moans about Eternals from Marvel studios. Today's date is August 28, 2021. There's been a bit of a buzz about the MCU's "first openly gay character" recently (how dare y'all disrespect Gay Joe Russo like that), and that the character, Phastos (played by Brian Tyree Henry), will be shown in the movie to be married to another man (played by Haaz Sleiman). The MCU's first gay couple, as Marvel studios themselves keep touting. Anyway, I wondered to myself: what's the husband's name? So I set to Google. I Googled the cast list for Eternals, and this a screenshot from today of the lower end of the results: Those are the results. Let's just zoom in on the character I'm

How James Gunn subverts generic male gaze in The Suicide Squad

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Minor spoilers ahead for The Suicide Squad (but if you weren’t interested in watching the movie especially after the sexist 2016 version, perhaps this review will sway you!) The Suicide Squad movie has just released in both theaters and on HBO Max streaming. It is an indirect sequel to 2016′s Suicide Squad directed by David Ayer. No, you need not have seen the 2016 movie in order to watch this one. Yes, this new sequel is way better than the previous movie. I saw a few non spoiler reviews online from fans saying this movie felt like it had a female gaze. Now, after having seen both of Gunn’s Guardians movies for Marvel and the way the women were treated, combined with David Ayer’s 2016 Suicide Squad movie and how Harley was treated, I admittedly dismissed this notion that James Gunn could make a movie that wouldn’t have me rolling my eyes at least a dozen times. Well, I was fortunate enough to see the movie in the theater and all I can say is, huh. What a pleasant surprise!