Black Nerd Problems
Essays
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
A sharp, hilarious essay collection from the creators of Black Nerd Problems, this pop culture manifesto celebrates fandom and representation through a bold Black perspective that “will fill you with joy and give you hope for the future of geek culture” (Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author).
When William Evans and Omar Holmon launched Black Nerd Problems, they set out to create a space for thoughtful, funny conversations about comics, gaming, television, and science fiction from the point of view of people of color. What began as a small corner of the internet quickly grew into a vibrant community hungry for fresh takes on everything from Mario Kart and Game of Thrones to X-Men and superhero blockbusters.
In this energetic collection of cultural criticism and personal essays, Evans and Holmon tackle representation in media, the politics of fandom, grief and masculinity, internet culture, and the evolving landscape of geek identity. Whether breaking down blockbuster franchises or examining real-world events through a nerd lens, they blend humor, insight, and unapologetic honesty.
Smart, irreverent, and deeply thoughtful, this book offers a powerful and entertaining look at modern geek culture—and who gets to belong in it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Evans and Holmon, cofounders of the website Black Nerd Problems, bring their pop culture criticism to this wide-ranging, compulsively readable debut collection. Touching on such topics as the hidden depths of boxing-inspired anime Hajime no Ippo, the irony of Hamilton's steep ticket prices, and Game of Thrones's one Black character, Evans and Holman are often hilarious (The Lion King's "Simba... is straight up landfill. Trash. Rubbage") and always original. In addition to straightforward essays, some entries come in the form of high-octane, joyful dialogue between the authors, as in "Two Dope Boys and an—Oh My God, the Flash Got Fucked Up!" for example, in which the authors discuss the Flash: "I ain't ever seen a hero get their body Earth'd like that since Superman's funeral." The most gripping essays use cultural events as an entry point to discuss larger topics: Evans's "The Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems" poignantly uses a local comics convention to open a conversation about the ongoing violence against and oppression of Black people, and "Go On: An Evergreen Comedic Series That Helped Me Navigate Loss" sees Holmon processing the grief of his mother's death with the help of a short-lived NBC sitcom. This hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful—and fun—cultural criticism can be.
