Archive for the 'great moments in black history' Category

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The Path of Mark Henry: An Inspirational Story of Splitting Wigs

October 7th, 2011 Posted by Gavok

I’ve always said that professional wrestling is the most fascinating of all businesses to the point that a lot of the times, the goings on behind the curtain are more intriguing than what’s going on before the audience. Unfortunately, the business is also marred by being incredibly scummy and petty, giving us stories very much like that of the film the Wrestler. Because of that, it’s always nice to see a story that actually gives us a happy ending. Recently, one of the big stories to put a smile on my face is that of Mark Henry.

(Gifs by Jerusalem who is the coolest of cool dudes, except for the Matt Striker one by Klauser, but he’s okay too)

Since I’ve been watching WWE through his entire career, I thought I’d take a second to go over what’s been a pretty interesting and endearing story. Mark Henry competed in the Olympics in 1996 to pretty big fanfare, known for being a record-breaking power lifter. WWF signed him to a major contract of $10 million for ten years, figuring him to be such a big deal that he’d easily be worth the money. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out so well for them. Mark Henry ended up losing at the Olympics due to injuring his back while trying to pick up too much weight. Still, there was much potential in a guy they could label “The World’s Strongest Man”.

Henry made his WWF debut at Summerslam 1996, where he joined the commentary table with Vince McMahon, Jim Ross and Mr. Perfect to watch a match between Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Jerry “The King” Lawler. Henry got involved and it led to him making his wrestling debut against Lawler at the next In Your House PPV. Henry won and proceeded to singlehandedly fight off Marty Jannetty, Leif Cassidy and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. The guy was made to look like this unstoppable patriot who was easy to get behind. Then, in preparation for Survivor Series, Henry got injured. Well, shit.

Henry came back and joined the company’s resident militant black stable the Nation of Domination. His only positive note during this time is that the company booked him to destroy Vader on more than one occasion, causing Vader to experience internal bleeding. Killed momentum aside, there were other problems with Henry. The guy just wasn’t very good in the ring, his weight was starting to balloon a bit and he was getting lost in the shuffle. In 1996, when the company was in dire straights, WWF believed he could give them a push against WCW. But when he was gone, the company began to find itself and new stars rose upwards. Henry simply wasn’t needed.

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The Top Ten Real Life Black Lanterns I Want to See

June 30th, 2009 Posted by Gavok

In only a few weeks, DC will release Blackest Night, the big summer event and culmination of Geoff Johns’ fantastic run on Green Lantern. Willpower, fear, love, hate, compassion, greed and hope will be duking it out as Black Hand and that Cosmic Harvey Dent Smurf resurrect all sorts of heroes and villains to join their side. We’ve been given notice about some who would return and others who might. Earth 2 Superman, Martian Manhunter, Terra and the Flying Graysons will be there for sure. Perhaps we’ll see Elongated Man, Alexander Luthor, or General Glory rise from the grave.

But you know what? It’s a bit cheap. All these black rings are flying around and the only major resurrections go to those who are superheroes, supervillains or acquaintances thereof? That’s no fun! Okay, that’s a lie, since this is going to rock, but that’s not as fun as it could be!

By focusing on the fictional, think of all those we’re missing out on. What about the real corpses out there? We could not only have Heath Ledger back, but also Cesar Romero as the icing on the cake. David Carradine could return to get revenge on those murdering ninjas. Jack Kirby could engulf Jim Starlin in a bubble construct and toss him into the deep recesses of space out of revenge for Death of the New Gods. Elvis Presley could return to Graceland and… oops. Disregard that. I forgot that Elvis never actually died.

After much deliberation, I have put together the Top Ten Real Life Black Lanterns I Want to See.

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Great Moments in Black History #13: “Now I’m here to tell ya… there’s a better day”

June 8th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from milestone’s static shock: rebirth of the cool. words by dwayne mcduffie & robert l washington iii, art by john paul leon.

(i’m done. that’s 13 weeks of black comics– 6 guys, 6 chicks, and a resurrection batting clean-up. you can’t tell me you can’t find comics starring black people any more. we’re out there, superheroes or not.)

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Great Moments in Black History #12: Deebo Got It From His Mama

June 1st, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from vertigo’s sentences, words by percy “mf grimm” carey, art by ron wimberly

(word to cheryl lynn)

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Great Moments in Black History #11: “Leave a ring around your eye and tread marks on your back”

May 25th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from marvel’s daughters of the dragon: samurai bullets. words by jimmy palmiotti & justin grey, art by khari evans.

(what’s misty knight’s theme song? the champ. bet y’all didn’t know she had a fake arm, she lost it, wild and raw before rap, she was getting it on.)

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Great Moments in Black History #10: Knowledge of Self

May 18th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from dark horse’s martha washington goes to war. words by frank miller, art by dave gibbons

(in honor of this)

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Great Moments In Black History #09: “I Guess He’s Never Heard of Lauryn Hill”

May 11th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from marvel’s fantastic four: the new fantastic four. words by dwayne mcduffie, art by paul pelletier.


(i still don’t know that i genuinely care about storm, but this is a couple of good bits.)

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Great Moments in Black History #08: Brains & Brawn

May 4th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from marvel’s the origin of generation x/phalanx covenant. words by scott lobdell, art by joe madureira/dan green


(i dig monet. she hasn’t been in very many stories that i like, but i like her anyway.)

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Great Moments in Black History #07: “Momma loved me, Pop left me.”

April 27th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from brian azzarello & eduardo risso’s 100 bullets: hang up on the hang low, words by brian azzarello, pictures by eduardo risso


(the thing about “parents just don’t understand” is that they do understand. they are just smarter than you think they are, and generally smarter than you.)

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Great Moments in Black History #06: Ninwhatchamacallit

April 20th, 2009 Posted by david brothers

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from marvel’s essential power man & iron fist volume 1, words by mary jo duffy, pictures by kerry gammill and ricardo villamonte

(i loved every bit of this book. it’s full of great bits with both characters.)

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