Issue 2 has a lot of black men in it. It wasn’t planned, really, it just happened; maybe because the writers are black men (that’s most likely the reason). But I think that it’s fitting; America needs to see more black men, maybe the visibility will reinforce our humanity. You’ve probably heard about the tragedy in Charleston, SC, where a young white lunatic targeted members of an historic African Methodist Episcopal church and killed 9 people; 9 good people who cared about their families and their community. It breaks my heart and I wish, like everyone else I’m sure, that some places were as sacred as we proclaim them to be. That evil should not have been allowed on the church’s premises, but who am I to make such pronouncements? God works in mysterious ways, as they say. Not that it justifies the death, but at least the state of SC is reconsidering the position of the Confederate flag which has no place on any government building in the USA. Let’s ignore the fact that it’s a glaring symbol of racism just for a moment and focus on the fact that every Confederate was a traitor to the US that has existed since the conclusion of the Civil War, and frankly, if I was a descendant of a Confederate soldier I would be ashamed because I am proud to be an American and the Confederates had one major goal: to end the US as we know it. So why are we celebrating that? I understand why we have to learn it, I understand why artifacts can be found in museums, but to brandish it with pride on a government building like it isn’t a giant embarrassment is the definition of ignorance.
But, that is not why we’re here today. Today, it’s about the Serials, so put all that tragedy to the side for long enough to enjoy the continuation of your favorites.
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This week:
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It’s the Series 1 debut of Maria, and when we last saw her, she was enjoying lunch with Wendy, everyone’s favorite IBF Receptionist. There was also a man in black skulking around with “a gun bulge at his waist.”
Made in America (Series 1): “’Why did you come all the way here, though?’ Wendy has lost her appetite over the course of the lunch with Maria. Her stomach is churning and it’s not because of something she ate, it’s because she knows that there is something wrong with all of this. ‘What can Dr. Eakran do for you?’”
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No matter how hard you try, everyone meets new people eventually. Kevin has been giving avoidance his all, but to no avail. He’s about to meet a new friend(?) and he’s about to make a familiar mistake.
The Magician (Amazing Elroy, The Magician Bk. 1): “Kevin lives in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and not the good part; not Chinatown, not Gastown. The single room he rents is walking distance from a homeless shelter and he feels compelled to volunteer there on the weekends when he isn’t fixing toilets or air conditioners. During the week after finishing his work in the late afternoon, Kevin runs. It feels good to him, he can clear his mind, leave his past behind him, and feel with his whole body the experience of moving forward, of advancement. ”
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Old Man Young has a nemesis, a twenty-something drug dealer with ties to drug and human trafficking. Maybe his work has been done for him though, maybe that drug dealer’s lifestyle finally caught up to him. And, there’s a surprise cameo from an old friend that was introduced all the way back in Issue 2 of Volume I in It Exists.
Old Man Young and the Bronx Avenger: “‘According to IDs found on the body, this is Yuri James, but a search of the fingerprints didn’t match.’ Ivan and Young stand in the room with the bodybag containing the corpse of a recently deceased male.”
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The story continues. This week, Max and his girlfriend host dinner and we find out more about the publication known as This and Other Things.
V.I.V is Real: “So many months ago, my family and I were guests at a dinner party hosted by my friend Wes and his wife Valeria. Recently, I invited them both to my place in South Charlotte for dinner. My girlfriend and I decided to get food from a Colombian restaurant that we both enjoyed to honor Valeria, who Wes had told me over the phone was feeling homesick for her native country.”
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It’s the debut of a new PRL Heroes series. Over the course of the one-shots, you’ll be introduced to two very unique men who come together and make electricity.
Diode (One-Shots): “Other than spiders, there weren’t many things that scared or intimidated Clay, not even the drug dealer that lived a couple of houses over who threatened to shoot him if he continued to ruin his business. Clay didn’t so much mind that the man was a drug dealer, it was the fact that the man seemed to go out of his way to get teenaged boys addicted to crack. He had loud, drug fueled parties that were well attended by high schoolers and Clay called the police with a noise complaint that got the drug dealer arrested. ”
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The Legacy Series event of the summer continues, starring Bradford (eventually Leeland because he obnoxiously changes his name many times to reflect his perceived stature), the kid you wish you could beat without consequences.
The Black Side of Paradise: “Bradford was almost impossible to move in the mornings when it was time for school. He and his mother would do battle every morning; Bradford thought that it was stupid to have to wake up when his mother told him to because he loved school and would get up regardless.”
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Enjoy Issue 2! And remember to check out the PRL Serials website for the PDF Issues and other interesting things to read and enjoy. See you next week!
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PRL Serials 