Hard N.O.C. Life

As we do every year, we take some time to preview the upcoming debuts of our favorite superhero shows. And since Netflix recently announced The Flash will be joining Arrow to stream, everyone can catch up before both shows return next week. To discuss those shows and others, criminology professor 'Shawn Smith makes his triumphant return to the NOC, joining our resident Flash recapper and TV superfan Christelle Gonzales (@christellexoxo).

One week after retailers unleashed the power of #ForceFriday on Star Wars fans across the stars, Keith assesses the aftermath with fellow action figure and Star Wars enthusiast David Yeh (@coheteboy) of the Disney/Lucasfilm fansite Endor Express.

We also announce the winner of the Finn action figure from last week's Force Friday giveaway.

Prolific comic writer Jeremy Whitley (@jrome58) steps into the Hard NOC Life this week to talk about his latest books, including his short story in Marvel Comics' romance anthology Secret Wars: Secret Love and issue #2 of Princeless: The Pirate Princess from Action Lab Entertainment, both in stores next week.

Last week, one of the most-lauded science fiction films of the year was released digitally, on demand, and in cinemas in New York and the Bay Area. The film, Advantageous, a special jury award-winner at Sundance, tells the story of a single mother and the sacrifices she makes for her daughter in a pre-dystopian, near-future not unlike our own time.

Starring Jacqueline Kim (Star Trek Generations), Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover), the film's writer/director Jennifer Phang recently joined Keith for a special one-on-one edition of Hard NOC Life.

Last month, we brought you the trailer and poster for the upcoming fantasy film Yamasong: March of the Hollows. The film, which is a follow-up to a 2010 short, seeks to bring puppetry back to mainstream genre audiences with an all-star cast and backing from a couple of dynastic names in the world of cinematic puppetry.

On the latest edition of Hard NOC Life, Keith sits down with the two men who launched the world of Yamasong half a decade ago: writer-director Sam Koji Hale and composer Shoji Kameda to discuss working with an all-star cast of nerd-friendly actors such as Nathan Fillion, Whoopi Goldberg, George Takei, Malcolm McDowell, and more.

On the eve of June and the post-Convergence DC Universe next week, we are in breathless anticipation to see the new, more diverse DC Universe as promised by the publisher's "DC You" campaign. Part of that diversity is represented by the all-star writing talent attached to the flagship books of DC's most iconic character: Superman. Hard NOC Life was honored to welcome Action Comics writer Greg Pak (@gregpak) and new Superman writer Gene Luen Yang (@geneluenyang) on the show to talk all things Man of Steel.

Ever since Marvel dropped Daredevil on Netflix, the nerdosphere has been head over heels for the show. Now that Netflix has announced a second season of their hit superhero series, Hard NOC Life returns to talk about how Marvel is taking over the streaming television game with Black Nerd Problems' Jordan Calhoun (@jordanmcalhoun) -- whose Daredevil piece you've probably read -- and returning Hard NOC champ Raymond Chow.

Hard NOC Life emerges from its winter hibernation, and you can thank Michelle Rodriguez for that. After telling TMZ POCs need to "stop stealing white people's superheroes," the actress took to Facebook to say she meant POCs need to focus on creating their own stories. Naturally, Keith had to discuss this with William Evans of Black Nerd Problems and newest NOC contributor Valerie Complex.

The false choice between supporting independent comic creators of color and wanting representation in mainstream comics

Whether superheroes really do belong only to white people

Why casting actors of color in roles that are traditionally white is not diversity for diversity's sake, especially when traditionally non-white characters are cast with white people all the time

Our own special crossover featuring our Flash and Arrow recappers Constance (@ConStar24) and Christelle (@christellexoxo). Together for the first time! Join us to sort out all of your thoughts and feels about your two favorite shows.

Topics covered on the show include: Constance on season one of The Flash so far Christelle reviews how Arrow has evolved over two and a half seasons Keith draws parallels between Flash, Arrow, and Smallville How the Flarrow crossover might be a game changer for these kinds of shows What the DC Cinematic Universe means for fan reaction to the DC television universe How social media has changed how fans consume superhero shows and movies The panel also wades into the dangerous waters of shipping and makes suggestions for ways both shows can improve

Hard NOC Life returns with a look at the phenomenon that is Disney’s Big Hero 6. Joining Keith on the panel are Christelle Gonzales (@christellexoxo), the newest NOC to join the fam, and comics artist David Nakayama (@davidnakayama), who penciled the 2008 Big Hero 6 comic series for Marvel and co-created Wasabi No Ginger and Fredzilla with Chris Claremont.

Topics covered on the show include: Welcoming Christelle to her first episode of Hard NOC Life Why it's important that the heroes of Big Hero 6 are people of color David Nakayama's run on the Big Hero 6 comic in 2008 and co-creating Wasabi and Fred What it was like to see his name credited on the big screen Whether it was a good thing to racebend some of the originally Japanese characters from the comic David's initial reaction upon finding out Disney was going to adapt Big Hero 6 What Disney gets right in their adaptation and comics-based easter eggs Why Big Hero 6's Marvel connections weren't part of Disney's marketing efforts What other Marvel properties the panel would like to see get the Disney treatment and what Disney properties they'd like to see get Disney-fied.