#RepresentationRetreat We Are Spider-Man !

I'm continuing my deep dive into pop culture with diverse characters and I'm now in the Spiderverse! Now to many Into The Spider Verse makes them think of the recent Oscar winning film. There is however so much more to the story! 
I highly suggest you read the amazing comic event Spider Verse written by Dan Slott. It's a deeper dive into the story of Spiders in the multiverse and it is a lot darker than the film but very entertaining.

The Spiderverse film does a tremendous job with representation. The creative team worked really hard to capture the feel of Miles culture and the city he lives in. It still brings me to tears sometimes seeing how beautifully Miles is portrayed and how so many fans took him into their hearts instantly.




I'm also obsessed with Spider-Man Funko pops right now! Here is Miles, Spider-Ham and Spider Punk from the comic book series:

Official TBR Review: Hope In The Dark by Rebecca Solnit

I really needed to read this book. It's been a rough time for many since the recent election and it's very easy to think things are just going to get worst. It exhausts you and makes you wonder sometimes why or how you can even fight the darkness. 
In this book Rebecca reminds us of other dark periods in history and how we moved through them as a country and individuals and how in some cases for the better. 
The biggest message this book gave me was the reminder that Hope works best as a verb. Hope and activism have the ability to work great change in the world and no action of resistance is too small or unimportant. I will return to this book again for inspiration.

#RepresentationRetreat Princeless & Raven The Pirate Princess

So lately I've needed a break. I've needed to remind myself that there are wonderful pockets of Representation in the world of fandom so I've been revisiting them.
I have been a fan of Princeless since its first issue and it's creator Jeremy Whitley. Full disclosure : Jeremy has sent me a lot of opportunities to  review his work with complimentary copies, but I have also purchased several of his comics.  Thanks to Comixology Unlimited I was able to catch up on the series up to volume 7. Princeless is the story of young princess Adrienne who is in a tower guarded by a fierce dragon waiting for a Prince to come rescue her. 
Adrienne gets tired of this pretty quickly and makes a deal with her dragon guard sparky to take their freedom into their own hands. After escaping Adrienne decides to rescue her sisters who are also in the same situation as her and an epic quest begins.
Jeremy also delves deeply into Adrienne's kingdom including her brother who is reluctant to step into warrior training and her father the King who is unbending in his resolve that his children fulfill their intended roles. Oh and there are elves and dwarfs! 
This book is FUN but also stimulates discussion and thought about stereotypes and  finding the strength to carve your own path.



Raven makes her debut in the Princeless series and then moves to her own series. What I love about Raven is her sense of humor and skill set. She is like Rey and Doctor Aphra rolled into one! Raven also pushes the boundaries in the representation of her sexuality. 
After her adventures with Adrienne Raven is intent on regaining her rightful place as heir to her father's pirate fleet. Raven was actually raised to be a leader by her father, until her brothers talked him into putting her into a castle for her own good. In the course of getting her revenge, Raven runs into a woman from her past and rediscovers her love for her.
Raven's crew is also one of the most diverse group of women I've seen in one comic. It's impressive how Jeremy gives every character a distinctive personality and character arc. I'm caught up with this series to volume 5 and will consume more of both series soon! Hope you check these fine books out!