A Moment of Clarity Black Panther #11

Never underestimate the depth someone would go to make a point. Black Panther #11 is the best book in John Ridley's run. If I can be honest, this run has been less than stellar. It is a brooding tale of a man who is struggling with his identity. Let everyone and their mama tell it, T'Challa knows who he is even if you don't; so much so that they even had a run written by Reginald Hudlin asking the question who is the Black Panther? The trouble with identity is that in time and space, identity can be lost or reformed. I once sat across from a pastor who listened to me lament about just wanting to be happy. He told me simply that the perception of happiness is based often on conditions and circumstances. What he was getting at was the reality that you are "happy" when things are ideal for you. The trouble is in life, that is a rare occurence. People talk a good game but most people struggle with life. You can try and simplify things in your life but in the heart, nothing is simple. T'Challa's identity is connected to his warrior mentality. He is a fighter, physically and mentally. If he is able to win, it is based upon his skills and the "heart"shaped herb that gives him his powers. My brother always brags on Wakanda being a warrior nation. Well what happens to the warrior when the warrior begins to question the thirst for war? What happens when his brother from the west sees past the facade into the indictment of guilt Wakanda has? What happens when the Wakanda's people herself begins to question not only the monarchy but what it means to be Wakandan? Filter these thoughts with this reality. What do you give the man who has everything? Take away something. He will begin to question anything. Ultimately, in the end, he will want nothing. Issue 11 of this run brings to a head the source of T'Challa's pain. His life has always been about obligations. He isn't king of Wakanda anymore but he still is obligated to Wakanda. He isn't active as emperor of the Intergalatic Empire of Wakanda but he is still obligated. He isn't with Storm anymore but his heart is still obligated to her. He is chairman of the Avengers but he is reluctant in his obligations there as well. Here is a man in grief, in need (thank goodness for Shuri, he would be even worse if it wasn't for her) and faces threats on all fronts. His journey in this run has been one of despair. He is man with a broken heart. I do not care how strong you think T'challa is. A broken heart is a broken heart. Broken hearted people break relationships. Broken hearted people can be as dangerous as a wounded animal. Lashing out and driving away those who care about them. T'Challa finds himself in the space of question. There is nothing wrong questioning anything. The wrong comes when you shun the truth. Here is how issue 11 ends. T'Challa finds out that his best friend who he thought was dead is alive. All this time, all these tears, all this angst. Now what you gonna do T'Challa?

In observing this issue. I see something I had not figured out. Writers often try to make statements about life, people or the state of the world. It is up to us to kind of figure it out. We all may not see the same thing and its okay and that is allowed. The noise that Ridley interjects into his writing on Black Panther has drowned out any semblance of statement. However, I have come to realize that Ridley took 11 painful issues to make a point. The point isn't about T'Challa though. The point is about us fans. It is about our fantasies about the most popular Black superhero in modern times. It's about our illusions of the character that is T'Challa. No matter how much you love T'Challa, you really cannot relate to him. He is a dream of Black manhood, African manhood. We who live in the west, who have more in common with Jefferson Pierce aka Black Lightning or Sam Wilson aka Black Falcon, lol shun the truth of who we are versus what we want things to be like. T'Challa is dope, no doubt. Ridley's deconstruction of him pierces us only because we know the truth and too many of us wont recognize it. Ridley's writing has been attacked for its "western" viewpoint of Wakanda. Truthfully speaking, Wakanda is a western idea at best and a glorified What If story at worst. How do you think folks from Atlanta fix they mouth to say that Atlanta is Wakanda. We joking or are we playing? Not to worry Black Panther comic book readers, the story is arching upwards. The truth is not just out there. Its staring T'Challa in the face. In the beginning of the issue, the so called opposing forces coordinate an attack on three data centers. They take no hostages, their mission was simple. Deliver a word. That word was "Live Freely, But Live in peace. Or Else." This message is cryptic for the oppressed but it is crystal clear for the oppressors. Ridley's account of the president reacting to this message is spot on. Dude gets an A plus for identifying U.S. imperialism. This subliminal message sent by Jhai was really on behalf of Wakanda. Wakanda has emerged from the shadows and is on the public stage but now this will turn it up an notch. I just wonder whether T'Challa will give Jhai a pound or will try to smack the Black off him. When you train people to be killers do not be surprised that they kill. When you train people to spy. Do not be surprise when they spy and create their aspirations for building a better world at your behest. Yeah, you might want to stick around for this run. Cats like myself have said that Ridley is going somewhere. Grab a late pass. The train has left the station. -Richard J Wright

Ebony and Ebony: Wishful Thinking

Back in the early 80s, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney recorded a song called Ebony and Ivory. It was considered to be an anti-racist message song. Critics however, thought the song to be a little too sappy. It is interesting that both songwriters were then and are now legends. Stevie Wonder was apart of the creation and foundation of Motown records and Paul McCartney was a member of the Beatles. At the time they recorded the song; It was a welcomed hit for both. Some may even say that they both needed each other. But why? Both were stars in their own right. McCartney did a couple of songs with Micheal Jackson as well but his legend was already cemented. Stevie Wonder had a catalog that stacks up against any artist today. Yet, it looked like they needed one another? Maybe they wasn't firing up the charts like they use to but needing one another, well that is another thing. In comics, team up books are cool. You get to learn about not one but two or more superheroes. Yet what is it about the Superhero team up or pairing that does not allow two Black Superheroes to come together? Truthfully, I think the concept is just Chinese arithmetic to comic book companies. We can put two Black heroes in a team but we cannot put two Black heroes on a book together? My question of course is why not?

The funny thing is pop culture loves duos. Starsky and Hutch, Crockett and Tubbs, Murtaugh and Riggs, Mulder and Scully, Benson and Stabler, etc. However, the list of duos I identified have one common theme, none of them are two Black characters. Ask someone to name a Black duo in television or movies and you will hear crickets. The vast majority of people would struggle to even think of a such a casting. They may manage to pull Amos and Andy out their backside, but that is about it. Sadly, that is all people know or remember. However, I would be remiss to at least help some of us out and invoke the names of Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed who were created by Chester Himes and depicted in the movies Cotton Comes to Harlem and Come Back Charleston Blue.

Why don't we have Black Superhero duos in comics? It's not like it is something hard to think about. Or is it? Black Superheroes have been around a long time and only couple of Black heroes have been apart of a duo. Falcon who teams with Captain America and Power Man who teams with Iron Fist. Now to be fair both pairings are for the most part good. They work well together and they compliment each other. However, what is stopping Marvel or DC for that matter or any other comic book company from pairing a couple of Black Superheroes together.

I do understand that for whatever reason it is good to see people who are different working together. We all enjoy the Lethal Weapon movies and the family bond that Riggs and Murtaugh seem to have. We enjoy Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson beating the breaks off of villians. However, I cannot help but wonder what two Black Superheroes could do in a book? Surely it would not be boring. Icon and Rocket from Milestone Media shows us this. They are different but they have the same goal and they are not contentious. One little note that some may not even had notice is the fact this is a young Black Woman and an older Black Man working together. They bump heads but not to the degree they need therapy and referees. They realize without verbalizing it that they need one another and no one is struggling with whether they are worthy or not. They have it together and its beautiful.

Could you imagine if Black Panther teamed up with Blade for a series? What if Black Lightning got a chance to team up with John Stewart or Steel? What if Ironheart and Shuri had a 12 issue run? While we have seen glimpses of these groupings in books; ask yourself what kind of story could you tell? There are gazillions of ideas but I cannot help but to think if Marvel or DC in particular would venture to do such a daring thing, it would automatically be thought as woke and some may not even give it a chance. Either way, it will not me stop from thinking that it just would be a cool thing to see a couple of Black superheroes get together and kick some butt. -Richard J. Wright

A Soldier's Story

"...who do the fighting for these rich white folks and their wars?" - Paris from the song 'Sheep to the Slaughter'

The Black American soldier is a special soldier. While he or she isn't better than any other soldier, the truth of the matter still sides on the reality that the Black American soldier is a special soldier. Why is the Black American soldier special? The Black American soldier is faced with the reality that there's two Americas, one white and one Black. The Black soldiers know they serve in a military where the history of Black soldiers is one of noblity as well one of bias and racism. The soldiers of yesteryear held on to the promises of a better life. They believed that their service in the military would yield to them opportunities for their family as well as their people. Unfortunately, history has shown us that was not the truth. The promises made often left many bitter and disillusioned. Some were able to create lives for themselves in the military and later on in civilian life but for many others, not so. Historically, our people fought in every war in America. The first soldier to die in the revolutionary war was Cripus Attucks. Black people fought on both sides of the civil war. We have seen war in all of its bloody forms.

In comics, the history of Black soldiers is depicted and told. You can find comics and graphic novels that show the presence of Black Americans fighting for freedom. Our people made an investment in blood in securing its roots in the history of America. While our citizenship came courtesy of the slave ship and cotton and tobacco fields, it was cemented in our willingness to pay the ultimate sacrifice in battlefields all over the world.

The Harlem Hellfighters graphic novel grants us a view of history long forgotten. They were decorated soldiers who faced the enemy outside and within.

The reality facing many Black soldiers is the truth that you face criticism regardless of your heroics. You have those people among you who will not accept you regardless of your skin color. You have those people in your own people who think you are foolish because you choose to align yourself with those who despise you. You even have those who serve with you who have become bitter because of their experiences. These viewpoints are certainly valid but at the end of the day you have to decide where you are going to stand. One may choose to try and be the change you want to see or just grab the "goodies" for yourself. Those "goodies" include access to good healthcare, free travel, education finance, etc, etc. One has to be able to look themselves in the mirror. The limited Disney series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" looked at the life of Isaiah Bradley. He was the first super-soldier and he was scarred by the whole experience. He went as far as to say that "... no self respecting Black man would ever want to be". Captain America, that is who is the symbol of the American soldier.

No matter what side of the aisle you may stand on, one must admire the resolve of the Black American soldier. It can be argued that Black soldiers are the most patriotic in that they defend and fight for a country that does not see them as equals. They serve in the face of criticism and the hypocritical; trusting to believe in the hope that is America.

There are dozens of comic books detailing stories of Black soldiers fighting and dealing with racism. It is the original American sin. These soldiers are constant reminders that America has to keep her promise. Though she renigs, dances around, bait and switches one must remember who and what a soldier is. A soldier serves, a soldier is loyal, a soldier is solid. Black American soldiers served to prove their loyalty and their worthiness to full citizenship. These stories contained in these comic books and others have shown that the Black American soldier is a special soldier.

On September 14th 1984, a movie was released to the viewing public about a military lawyer sent to a military base to investigate the murder of an Black officer. He is greeted with all sorts of resistance and has to confront some painful truths about white and Black military servicemen. It is heartbreaking movie dedicated to the history of Black G.I.s serving in World War II. It serves a symbol of the hope and hell a Black soldier historically has had to face. So pick up a few old military comics and learn some deep lessons. It is worth it because it is apart of our history. - Richard J Wright

The Currency of Black Pain

Black pain is a money maker. It makes activists rich. It makes comic book companies salivate. Burned bodies like Spawn atest to this fact. While I am a fan of the comic book, I am not lost on the fact that Spawn is the victim of a hate crime. Yes, he was killed by a close friend. Who clearly hated himself and sold his soul to the highest bidder.

Yet, that is not what this blog post is about. Instead, it is about why Black people's pain continues to be a source of income for any and everyone. I have watched videos and read comments on the first teaser trailer for the Black Panther Wakanda Forever, and I cannot help but be saddened by the whole thing. It seems to me Marvel is content with loading theaters up with young and old comic book and casual fans for a tear fest. I have tears of my own but it wont be for a MCU movie. I have tears for Chadwick's family and I have tears for Black boys who are casualties of war. They heard that their hero, Black Panther died.

Here is the truth, many of us can't separate the actor from the role. After all, the child in all of us can't. No matter how you slice it, the king of Wakanda is dead. Black boys do not have a A-list superhero character to see and identify with. As a Black man who spent much of his childhood reading and looking at comic books and not seeing myself a great deal in the books Marvel and DC comics published; I can tell you that Black Panther, when it came to the big screen provided a lift in the hearts of comic book fans like myself. Yet, I am under no illusion that we live in a whole world dedicated to white survivalism which is commonly referred to as white supremacy. Black Panther touched not only Black fans but white kids too. They wanted to be Black Panther at halloween. That was massive. People didn't have to look like us to see our humanity and even desire to identify with it! It was a beautiful thing. However, when Chadwick Boseman passed. All the excitement of the future sat in limbo. My brother and I would argue about "recast T'Challa". I, the optimist hoped that they would. Even though they, Marvel on record said they would not recast in the 616 universe of the MCU. My brother lamented and said they were not and were going to do something more horrific than that. They were going to kill him in the story. I did not want to hear it. I'm not biggest Black Panther fan, but I am a fan and I have hundreds of Black Panther books and others with him in other comics to attest to that fact. So when the new trailer dropped and we saw what appeared to be Wakanda in mourning and Tems singing "No Woman, No Cry" it pulled hard at the heartstrings. It made me sad and then mad. I couldn't help but see the capitalization of another Black man's death.

We see it and have seen it in real life, Tamir Rice, Travon Martin, Philando Castile, Mike Brown all who were murdered yes, but all whose deaths benefited people and organizations monetarily while families continue to suffer. The family of Chadwick Boseman said they were in favor of recasting. That should have been the move but instead Marvel decided to treat this misfortune to make a fortune. When Samira Rice spazzed on organizers over her son, people chalked it up to her just being hurt over her son passing. Yet, when cracks began to form and celebrities and organizations were slowly but surely being exposed. It was the Black community that experienced another level of Black pain. You see our pain runs deep in this world. It is a currency that has made nations fortunes literally. Black folks who are for reparations tend to focus solely on the US and the Carribean, however an eye cannot wink at the culprits in Africa. They moreso than any need to reconcile and recompense those children of the ancestors who were captured and sold into bondage in the transatlantic slave trade. The Dahomey tribe from which the mythos of the Dora Milaje are inspired from helped commit such acts.

While people are and will fawn over the "The Woman King" which will be in theaters in September, it behooves those to know the "truth". Zora Neale Hurston talked to the last "Black Cargo" to be shipped to America by way of the slave ship and the actions of the Dahomey. So while I love Viola Davis, I cannot blink at the truth. Inspiration has it place but in the face of truth, it dies. So for me, I have no interest in going to a movie and watch Black people cry in their 20 dollar buckets of popcorn and using napkins to blow their noses in a crowded theater. Yes, please wear a mask. It is what it is. Perhaps I am heartbroken over the image of a Black superhero being exploited for gain. Perhaps I am overthinking this thing. Perhaps I'm just tired of watching capitalists make money hand of fist on the currency of Black pain. -Richard J Wright

Luke Cage: 50 years in the making.

Fifty years ago, Marvel debuted a character named Luke Cage. This particular character's first appearance was in his own title. Luke Cage, Hero for Hire. In the Black comic book community, Luke Cage is either celebrated or honestly, misunderstood. Which is why the promotion of his 50th anniversary has been lack luster needless to say. However, I am a collector and Luke Cage has considerable space in my long boxes. Instead of pontificating over his existence in Marvel comics, I just rather give you some reading material to pour over in your spare time. Just so you know, there are hundreds of Luke Cage stories to pull from. I'm just going to hit you with few and take my seat. 1. Luke Cage Noir by Adam Glass and Mike Benson

If Luke Cage Hero for Hire #1 is beer, then Luke Cage Noir is 25 year old cognac. Truthfully, the cognac would be outlawed because in this story; prohibition is the law of the land. This story takes place in the 1930s. No, this isn't for you MCU nerds. This story pulls you into the world of Luke Cage after a stint in Rikers Island. Its a nod to his origin story but has a few twists that make it a compelling read. You should add this to your collection because it feels original in that you could read this before you read Luke Cage Hero for Hire #1 and feel cheapened. After all, its 1930s Harlem, need I say more? 2. Power Man and Iron Fist #75 by Mary Jo Duffy

This comic book features the amazing tag team, Power Man and Iron Fist. Quiet as it is kept and as ridiculous as their uniforms were in the 70s, this duo was amazing. I like this book for its a fantastical elements. The team journey to K'un-Lun and it is a homecoming of sorts for the Iron Fist. Luke Cage supports his comrade but he is bugging on the scenery. He even experiences a little bit a racism. Black man cant even travel to distant lands and dimensions without a little hate. Nevertheless this story is quite the adventure for Iron Fist and as far as Cage is concerned. He doesn't trust no one and wont even change out his threads. This comic is a fun book and should be treated as such. You wont get something deep from the book but what you will get as you always get when comes to Danny Rand and Carl Lucas is a friendship bond that is always solid, no matter where they find themselves. 3. Luke Cage #170 by David F. Walker

This Luke Cage story is a modern tale. It was published back in 2018. The story centers around Luke Cage and his daughter. It is a simple tale of a father spending quality time with his daughter. The story is powerful in that it speaks to the misconception that all Black fathers are absent. It is a terrible stigma that Black men have had to deal with for a long time. According to research on fathers by the Pew Research Center, Black fathers at 70% are most involved in children's daily lives regardless of martial status. The story is rooted in a Luke sharing a made up story with his child. It is a powerful story where both father and daughter's imagination take them to a far away lands. Luke's daughter shapes the narrative of the made up story, while Luke "tells" the story according to her. It is simply one of the greatest Luke Cage stories ever because it highlights Luke's greatest power which isn't bullets bouncing off him and knocking fools out. No, his greatest power is his love. We rarely get to see that which is why this story is one of my all time favorites. 4. Luke Cage, Power Man #24 by Tony Isabella

This comic book is recognized as a key in comic book circles. This is the first appearance of Black Goliath. This book debuted in April of 1975. What is interesting is that this was one of the few times more than one Black superhero was featured in a book together. Cage is looking for his girl but runs into her while she is caring for her ex-husband who just so happens to be Black Goliath. The melinated was strong in this book. In fact, Black Panther, Falcon, and Power Man as well was named dropped in the issue by a fellow desiring to write about Black Superheroes. This book is significant for its key component and as well as its conciousness of Black Superheroes mattering in 1975.

Bark at the Moon

"Well, that did not take long". "Long, you say?" "What choo talmbout?" So glad you ask. So, Marvel recently debuted Moon Knight the limited series on Disney+. Guess what? It is very very very good. Folks are talking about it. Which is a good thing. Moon Knight is one of Marvel's most underrated characters that they have on their roster. He has a great back story and the comic books are pretty incredible as well. However, Moon Knight comes with issues. What issues? Well, its a character who considered to be an avatar for an Egyptian deity. So what's the problem with that? Well, the historical people from Northern Africa were Black people. Yes, Black people. (not, people of color) We aint using made up words, politically correct terminology to state a fact. All one has to do is research the history. If you want to learn about how stories like Moon Knight get the historical accuracy wrong you can go a check out "Stolen Legacy" by George G.M. James. This particular book deals with historical evidence that Greek philosophy stole its knowledge from Egyptian philosophy. Now, that is just one book. The point can made that Europeans who studied at Egypt or Kemit (for the hoteps out here) took the education that they were given and began over the scope of time to claim Egyptian or Kemetic science.

Now over the course of time white folks including Nazis from Germany began the this "claiming" by white washing the images of the Northern Africans or explaining away the accomplishments of this global dynasty. It has been this effort that has caused many Black people to have this weird or awkward relationship with all things Egypt. Biblically speaking Egypt is a symbol for the world system and its oppressive practices like slavery. Who knew? Historically, it was a place of higher learning and technology that Greeks and others were allowed to learn from. Facts. Which brings us to Moon Knight. Now Moon Knight is a Marvel comic book character. His first appearance was in the Werewolf by Night #32. Doug Moench and Don Perlin created the character. Now I cannot conclude that Doug and Don are Greeks stealing from Black writers and artists. However, it does not me from giving them the side eye. Honestly, they probably wasn't thinking anything like that. Funny as that is, that is what you call a perfect and masterful job of colonization. Take things that did not come from you, make it your own. Shoot down anything that has an inkling of guilt attach to it. Reintroduce said thing and voila. You have successfully stolen that thing, especially if that thing is history. Right now, phrases like "ban Critical Race Theory" are being invoked. Let's not make the children of the slavemasters feel "bad" for what their ancestors did. We gotta put a stop to white guilt!

Moon Knight is a fictional character that in theory could have been Black. So, some might say what is the big deal? If you are going to use Egyptian mythology regarding its pantheon, welp you might want to stay true to the historical narrative. The problem is that the narrative was rewritten. A few years ago a movie was made called Gods of Egypt which was met with a lot of Black folks being very irritated. It was like dude, its 2016 and yall still got the nerve to claim ownership over something that is clearly African. God bless our brother Chadwick Boseman who was the only Melinated god on screen as Thoth who is an associate to Khonshu. Khonshu is god of the moon who Moon Knight gets his powers from. Boseman made a point in being in Gods of Egypt because he wanted to show someone of African descent playing an African god.

So what is a Blerd supposed to do knowing the truth? You tell it. Remind yourself the truth but remember its fiction as well. In a perfect world maybe all the fandom looks like you. It doesn't and it shouldn't. You can find contentment in Celtic origins of middle earth where aint no Black people in Lord of the Rings. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Shout out to scamazon. You can read manga and not hope and wish to shoe horn Black people in a Japanese experience. Just enjoy it for what it is. Do not apologize for speaking the truth but there is no need to die on a fictional hill. There are enough real ones to die on. You could be like me, a Black kid in school hallways in 1983 listening to Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon. Methinks I'm still hearing Ozzy in the background still barking at the Moon Knight.

Be Your Own Hero No Matter What

In life, you are going to deal with people who are not going to believe in you. You are going to deal with people for whatever reason will seem to just doubt what you do. Some people are naturally pessimistic. It is what it is. However, I charge you to not fall for that. Be your own hero if you have to. In whatever you do in life, you have to be your own cheerleader, advocate, fan, encourager, ect. You can win titles, snatch wigs, bulldog all competition and someone will still doubt your abilities. What matters most is that you do not doubt your abilities. In issue 16 of Delta Dogs. Quan, the leader of the Delta Dogs finds himself not fully believing in his cousins to fight their enemies. Some of his cousins are confused by his lack of being transparent and willing to share. Quan is only reading the board. However, he fails to encourage his cousins at the time regardless. He simply dismisses them as being "not ready". Now one might ask is Quan right or wrong? I think leaders understand certain things and he even admitted as much that its more to this hero business than just having powers. Just because you have powers does not mean you will win with those powers, Its a fair assessment but Quan isn't absolved in his responsibility to his younger cousins who are afraid and do not necessarily have total control of their powers.

Vonnell, the youngest is always being pushed aside and left behind because he hasn't mastered his powers. Yet, where is the encouragement from the fam? Sure, he might be too young but you have to encourage and push. Too many people are dismissive of one another. It is this same mindset that can cause a person to second guess themselves. Someone can sow a seed of doubt in your head and mess up the path of life you are on! At a tender and young 54 years of age, I can tell you that many people fail and will not be able to do much of nothing if they do not learn how to empower themselves. THe bible tells us that if we just have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can order mountains to be moved. Now in the literal sense of the word, it is not even practical to think that way. However, the spiritual application is spot on. Vonnell, the youngest of seven cousins learns this as he is in a position where he has to have faith in his powers. He had to shut out all the negative talk and the self doubt and create space where faith can manifest. In short, he had to believe in himself. He had to face his fears and find his own encouragement. When I first read the story of Delta Dogs in issue 1, we see Vonnell as a wide eyed kid who was precocious. He among all his cousins seem to have more fortitude and desire. No he did not have experience, no he did not manifest his powers at the same time and with the same control. However, before he even recieved powers, he already had powers. He believed in himself. He was naive but all of us are to a certain extent. Trials and tribulations tend to meld us into wisdom but that youthful spunk is almost magical. Earth Wind and Fire admonishes us to "stay young at heart". A young heart is a tender heart. Whereas an old heart can be callus or stony. The cares of this world have caused many people to be bitter. They grow to be bitter and feed everyone around them that same bitterness. Their lives are filled with words like "They dont" "They wont". For that reason, they cannot see themselves because it is always about someone else. They are so busy looking for a hero, someone to save them. However, the cat in the mirror does nothing for them because life has beaten them down. Life has showed them to be the enemy. For that reason, the villians continue to come back stronger and stronger. There is a saying attributed to man named Edmund Burke, an Irish statesman. He says "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.". That is nearly an understatement. You have to have hope, otherwise what you have is apathy. Apathy kills movements. It kills dreams. The hero who cannot dream is no hero at all. He is an antihero in my humble opinion. Imagine as a kid hearing the story about the little train that could only to find out that the little train did not even care if he did. Vonnell from Delta Dogs was always told he was too young and not good enough due to his lack of mastery of his powers. Yet, time and circumstance dictated that when it was necessary, he came through. He had to be his own hero. That's life my guy. Be your own hero no matter what! -Richard J Wright