Clarity on the We Need Diverse Books campaign
There appears to be some confusion among uninformed opponents1 of the We Need Diverse Books campaign. It’s the same confusion expressed each and every time anyone (usually an author, agent, or editor) points out a fact about diversity in the publishing industry (woefully low) and expresses a desire for more variety.
See this Confused People Example:
www.knowyourmeme.com
As part of the Common Sense portion of our program, I must make the following announcement:
We Need Diverse Books is NOT about dictating what writers write
The commentators in the above example think (incorrectly) that the campaign is about forcing writers to create and feature more diverse characters. Let’s be clear, these particular commentators are concerned with making white/cis/straight/able-bodied writers write about The Other.
So many things wrong here. Where to start?
“These people should write their own books”
Who are they talking about? The 20,000+ participants of the campaign who reached 43 MILLION people with over 150 MILLION impressions worldwide? They should all write books because their opinions don’t matter unless they do? Maybe it’s the children who only want to see heroes who look like them. They should shut their pieholes until they’re in a position to publish? Heaven forbid someone has an opinion–a want–related to a field they aren’t affiliated with professionally. Sports fan, cut out your tongues now! Voters, stop wasting time at the polls and just run for President. Because that’s logical.
The campaign was STARTED BY PROFESSIONAL WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS. The supporters represent an under served segment of the book buying public. There are many people–in both of those groups–who have and can write their own books. That’s not the point! This is about systemic neglect that has allowed statistical stagnation for years, and for reasons that don’t make total sense when we look at the make up of our country–or the world. The campaign is a rally reminding publishing’s gatekeepers that WE do, indeed, matter.
Of course everyone who supports the campaign isn’t going to write their own books. But, such expressions by detractors are telling. They reveal, at best, common internet contrarians who must be the voice of dissension. At worst, prejudicial dimwits who can’t FATHOM writers of different races/sexual orientation/levels of physical abilities/etc. actually existing, thus triggering protests for beloved mainstream writers not to succumb to Political Correctness.
I wish these guys many sleepless nights fretting over the issue. Moving on…
We Need Diverse Books is NOT about dictating what readers read
This is a good one:
www.twitter.com
Okay, first…Dude, look up “Racist.” You know what, I’ll do it for you:
Racist (n): A person who believes a particular race is superior to another. (Courtesy of the New American Oxford Dictionary)
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s examine this statement: “No one should be forced to read.”
Yes. You’re absolutely right. Strange you should bring it up when ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN involves forcing anyone to read anything. Let’s dissect this, though. This person obviously interpreted the hashtag to mean “You, and others like you, should read and support more books about people who aren’t like you.” Now, as a general rule, that’s probably not a bad idea. If this person read more outside the comfort zone, s/he might have a better idea of what racism means, OR understand hashtags aren’t beamed directly into the brain, thus forcing involuntary expansions of horizons. Just sayin’.
Again, we’ve got someone skating the thin line between ignorance and outright prejudice. Their reasoning: a campaign for more diverse books is about forcing readers to indulge in material that doesn’t interest them. There CAN’T be a population out there that actually desires more diverse authors and characters. That’s just crazy talk.
Also, his fixation on Americans isn’t lost on me. This map of the campaign’s worldwide reach must’ve been faked, then. Like the Moon Landing, Global Warming, and Integration. Keep sippin’ the homemade shine, buddy.
Finally…
We Need Diverse Books is NOT about accepting your thinly veiled hostility disguised as well-meaning advice
Actually, I can’t put this one on the campaign. This is just me. See below:
www.twitter.com
This bit of commentary came directly to me. As you can tell, the sender clearly didn’t click my name for they would’ve seen one of the diverse books (FAKE ID) I did write. Look at me all “being the change.”
Yet another situation where a person just…can’t…grasp that there are indeed authors with the ability to write the kinds of books we’re lobbying for. It’s not “We Need (YOU To Write) Diverse Books.”
I calmly addressed the sender’s criticism, and never got another message from the person. That “be the change” statement wasn’t about the sender becoming informed (something s/he could’ve done on their own), though. It was a challenge, one I wasn’t supposed to be able to meet. It’s “there aren’t diverse books because none of you [insert expletive/slur here] can write them.” Which is BS.
[Spoiler alert] Had the conversation with this party continued, this is likely how it would’ve gone: sender makes some statement implying diverse books would be everywhere if they sold better. Publishers have to worry about the bottom line. There’s SOME truth to this. Publishing IS a business after all. That argument ignores a couple of big things…distribution and discoverability.
Example: This past Saturday was the #DiversifyYourShelves portion of the campaign. I went to a bookstore with 3 books by diverse authors on my list. The store had none of them on the shelves despite the books being recent releases.
I did see MULTIPLE copies and stand up displays for a bunch of other books that AREN’T diverse. If I was a shopper looking for a quick, impulse buy…well, my options weren’t just limited, they were manipulated in a “pick me up, look how well stocked I am” kind of way. THIS IS THE PROBLEM we’re trying to work on.
There’s so much talk of “the market” –what it will support, what it wants–that we’ve come to think of it as this Tazmanian Devil that spins unpredictably from vampires to dystopias to teens on a road trip. Unexpected things do happen, I’m sure. Hits out of nowhere. Besides those rare blockbusters, what makes it into the brick and mortars probably has more to do with store buyer’s preference and past trends. Don’t you see, if the trend has been to ignore huge segments of the populace for decades, how can there be a reasonable expectation for a breakthrough diverse hit to drive the market our way when the damned books aren’t anywhere to be found?
Can a bookstore shelve every book that’s published? No. Do books on the shelves have a better chance of selling than books that must be requested, and shipped within 3-5 business days? What do you think?
If decades of neglect tells us anything, it’s that people in favor of diverse authors and characters can’t sit back and wait for publishing’s gatekeepers to see solutions on their own. They haven’t. And they won’t.
#WeNeedDiverseBooks was a partial antidote. An outcry for variety that can’t be ignored. At least not this week.
More activism is required. More campaigns and initiatives, silly Twitter combatant. So be careful who you challenge next time, as I’ll be less inclined to wield my 140 characters in such a polite manner.
We Need Diverse Books is NOT about giving up
Here’s the hard reality…every week isn’t going to be #WeNeedDiverseBooks popping on 40 Million screens. Myself and the other organizers know this, and we’re taking great care to not let this become one of those “Remember that time when we…” kind of deals. I’m not at liberty to discuss what’s next for our merry band of marauders, but we’re not going on hiatus just yet. Protectors of the status quo, put on your Ignorance Armor and prepare yourselves.
We are the change.
And we’re coming.
- emphasis on the “uniformed”– I’m sure there are some very informed opponents out there, and it’s their right to be opposed. Some folks just aren’t going to support this effort. ↩
Diversify Your Shelves (Part 3 of We Need Diverse Books)
Today we’re revealing part three of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, a project that’s near and dear to my heart!
Part three is called “Diversify Your Shelves,” and it’s all about taking a personal approach to promoting diversity in literature.
What, exactly,
does that mean? Is this maybe something we’ll do for a week and then go back to
buying books by old white guys?
Well, no. “Diversify Your Shelves” is a continual
celebration of fabulous diverse literature, by fabulous diverse authors.
Checking out what books we have on our shelves, and seeing how we might
diversify them, is just a jumping off point.
There’s also going to be a “Diversify Your Shelves” chat on
Saturday, May 3rd at 2PM EST to discuss our favorite diverse books
and authors! Use the #WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag to join in!
But wait! Why is
this so important?
Well, there are lots of people blogging about this more eloquently than I, like here, here, here, and here, but some of my biggest reasons are:
Because, at every conference I or my writer friends attend,
there are kids asking why they can’t find books with characters who look like
them, either on the cover or in the pages.
Because the same thing happens at book signings, except
there the kids are saying they’ve always wanted to get into writing, but don’t
think they’ll be successful because they’re people of color.
Because queer kids are still killing themselves over being
different (or being told that they’re
different) and the greater representation they have in books, the less alone
they’ll feel.
Because awesome genres like YA wouldn’t exist if we hadn’t
moved away from the old, white dude model of literature and started reading
stories written by ladies. Diversify Your Shelves is a continuation of that
principle—hearing all stories from all voices.
Because it’s 2014, but we still keep seeing all-white panels
at book festivals, or even all-white male panels (in genres vastly dominated by
women!) and that’s kind of insane to me. Diversity shouldn’t be the exception.
It should be the norm.
And because, at the end of the day, when I look at my
shelves, I think:
I can be better.
I can do more.
And I’d love for you to join me.
So, without further ado . . .
Our Shelves!
Here’s how it works: this weekend, May 3rd and 4th, we’re all going to head out to our local bookstores* to pick up books by fabulous diverse authors. (Need recommendations? Check out the May 3rd #WeNeedDiverseBooks chat!) Then, once you’ve returned home, snap a photo of your new diverse book(s)** and post it as a comment below! And if you want to get really creative, you can take Before and After photos of your bookshelves: Before, when they weren’t too diversified, and After, when you’ve added in books by fabulous PoC authors, queer authors, and authors with disabilities! Woot!
This Monday, May 5th, one lucky winner is going to win FIVE BOOKS OF THEIR CHOOSING out of the choices below!!! And every Monday throughout the spring, a new winner will be chosen to receive two fabulous diverse books! Woot!
But wait, it doesn’t stop there. Remember when I said “Diversify Your Shelves” was a continual celebration? That means any time you buy a book from a diverse author, or featuring a diverse
character, snap a picture of that book and post it to Twitter with the
#WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag! We’ll retweet you, and help spread the word about
what diverse books people are buying! And by participating in the “Diversify
Your Shelves” movement, you’ll be showing publishers the kinds of books you
want them to buy, showing conference organizers which authors you want to see on
panels, and helping tweens and teens find representation in books! Which,
really, is the awesomest prize of all!
REMEMBER: THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE PACK WILL BE CHOSEN MAY 5TH!
#WeNeedDiverseBooks: A Call to Action
Hey Gang,
For my piece, I’ll keep this short because there’s a lot of information below. But, I want to give the internet a collective high five for the enthusiasm around the #WeNeedDiverseBooks Campaign (reblogged on Tumblr over 3,500 times as I type this, and I don’t even know the numbers for other social media…but it bet they’re in the general vicinity of GREAT). Anyhow, official event details are below, and if you’re down for the cause, click this link for the FB Invite.
If you want more diverse choices in your literature, here’s your chance to let the world know. Read on and let’s shout together:
#WeNeedDiverseBooks
Recently, there’s been a groundswell of discontent over the lack of diversity in children’s literature. The issue is being picked up by news outlets llike the NYT, CNN, EW, and many more. But while we individually care about diversity, there is still a disconnect. BEA’s Bookcon recently announced an all-white-male panel of “luminaries of children’s literature,” and when we pointed out the lack of diversity, nothing changed.
Now is the time to raise our voices into a roar that can’t be ignored. Here’s how:
On May 1st at 1pm (EST), there will be a public call for action that will spread over 3 days. We’re starting with a visual social media campaign using the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks. We want people to tweet, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, blog, and post anywhere they can to help make the hashtag go viral.
For the visual part of the campaign:
• Take a photo holding a sign that says “We need diverse books because __________________________
• The photo can be of you or a friend or anyone who wants to support diversity in kids’ lit. It can be a photo of the sign without you if you would prefer not to be in a picture. Be as creative as you want! Pose the sign with your favorite stuffed animal or at your favorite library. Get a bunch of friends to hold a bunch of signs.
• However you want to do it, we want to share it! There will be a Tumblr at http://
• Starting at 1:00PM (EST) the Tumblr will start posting and it will be your job to reblog, tweet, Facebook, or share wherever you think will help get the word out.
• The intent is that from 1pm EST to 3pm EST, there will be a nonstop hashtag party to spread the word. We hope that we’ll get enough people to participate to make the hashtag trend and grab the notice of more media outlets.
• The Tumblr will continue to be active throughout the length of the campaign, and for however long we need to keep this discussion going, so we welcome everyone to keep emailing or sending in submissions even after May 1st.
On May 2nd, the second part of our campaign will roll out with a Twitter chat scheduled for 2pm (EST) using the same hashtag. Please use #WeNeedDiverseBooks at 2pm on May 2nd and share your thoughts on the issues with diversity in literature and why diversity matters to you.
On May 3rd, 2pm (EST), the third portion of our campaign will begin. There will be a Diversify Your Shelves initiative to encourage people to put their money where their mouth is and buy diverse books and take photos of them. Diversify Your Shelves is all about actively seeking out diverse literature in bookstores and libraries, and there will be some fantastic giveaways for people who participate in the campaign! More details to come!
We hope that you will take part in this in any way you can. We need to spread the word far and wide so that it will trend on Twitter. So that media outlets will pick it up as a news item. So that the organizers of BEA and every big conference and festival out there gets the message that diversity is important to everyone. We hope you will help us by being a part of this movement.
Diversity in YA: Don’t BS the Change
This week cnn.com writer Ashely Strickland published an article titled “Where’s the African-American Harry Potter or the Mexican Katniss,” revisiting the topic of diversity–or the lack thereof–in young adult books. Referring specifically to the almost total absence of protagonists/main characters of color in YA books despite notable writers bringing attention to the issue while creating compelling characters of color. 1
With demands for increased diversity in YA (and ALL forms of media) becoming more prominent in recent years, sites like Cindy Pon’s and Malinda Lo’s Diversity in YA, or Racebending.com promote works that present diverse perspectives and/or expose missed opportunities to diversify in natural ways. Check them out when you can. Additionally, my good friends Ellen Oh and Meg Medina address Diversity in YA beautifully and often on their own sites.
Here, I want to discuss a harsher side to the topic. The non-existent progress and outright opposition to diversifying YA (or anything). To even discuss the topic attracts accusations of “race-baiting” or “playing the race card.” 2 21st Century rhetoric for striking down uppity minorities or supporters who DARE challenge continued exclusion. Because that’s what we’re talking about when you look at nearly twenty years of data showing minority main characters outnumbered by their white counterparts 9 to 1 (and it’s possible that I’m rounding up in favor of minorities; in 2012 the CCBC conducted a survey of 3,600 books and showed minority main characters accounted for 7-8% of all main characters in that year). This, in spite of expressed commitments to diversity from publishing’s gatekeepers.
In other words, nothing new.
Sites, articles, panels (like the one I’ll be participating in at this summer’s SCBWI conference in Los Angeles) receive all sorts of overt support. Adamant readers, writers, and representatives can seem as numerous as detractors if you’re inside the publishing industry like I am. Yet statistics remain unchanged.
There’s a popular saying,”Be the change.” I propose an alternative motto for the Diversify YA movement. “Don’t BS the change.”
Mission statements are great. So is continued discussion. But it’s time to move beyond examining this from a thousand different angles and start asking folks in power for answers and solutions.
1) Only 8% of main characters are non-white year after year. Is that acceptable to you? If you say yes, well, at least you’re being honest. No need to go further. I suspect most will say no, and some percentage of those people might mean it.
2) If you answered “no” to question 1, and you mean it, what do YOU plan to do about it? This one I direct mostly towards the gatekeepers who select books for publication (though readers can certainly help by seeking diverse titles to read and discuss with others). We’ve quantified the numbers, to change them, there must be an active plan. Devise one. If that requires too much effort see the next question.
3)Editors, what percentage of last year’s acquisitions were books with diverse main characters? Whatever that number is, I bet it’s low. Dismally. You probably don’t want the public to know about it. So, let’s institute a plan to increase that number by 2% each year. 3 (Cue pained cries of affirmative action and how America has fallen apart. Whatever.)
4) Did you scoff at that 2% annual increase? Reconsider your answer to question 1.
5) Are you concerned that books featuring non-white main characters will sell poorly? If you said yes, it’s okay that you’re concerned. But, keep in mind that you have books on your list featuring white main characters that sell poorly. Which means your concern shows bias. All books run the risk of not finding an audience and there has never been a time when you considered excluding white characters due to poor sales.
6) Have you not seen much pro-level material from writers of color/featuring characters of color? You say yes, and think this let’s you off the hook. Ha! Change where/how you look. Consider hosting contests, or asking current writers on your list for referrals, or requesting sympathetic writers on your list brainstorm ideas for introducing diverse leads to the market (including white writers…though not with the intent of continued exclusion of writers of color).
7) Are you marketing diverse writers/characters in the same manner you market books you EXPECT to do well in the marketplace? The keyword is “expect.” To make any of the above proposed steps with an expectation of failure, and marketing efforts that reflect negative notions creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Effective marketing doesn’t mean framing campaigns in a manner that presents the writer/character as an OTHER. A cool, diverse space opera should be marketed to “fans of STAR WARS!” not Black/Latino/Asian or some other subset of STAR WARS fans. Diverse books should be presented as if they have universal appeal BECAUSE THEY DO!
Enough for now. I’m not done, but I’m tired of typing (and you’re likely tired of reading). I might work this into a flowchart for easy viewing. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, if this touched you, remember, don’t BS the change. Question lack of progress. Don’t accept garbage answers.
More soon.
- 1 A distinction lost on many of the commentators over at cnn.com who misinterpreted the article title as a condemnation of established white authors for writing popular (white) characters. A telling assumption…that the speaker wants someone (white) to do the work that he/she can’t do. Though, if they took the time to read the article and note the quoted party, they’d understand the question came from Matt de la Pena, a popular writer who writes main characters of color. His question posed not as accusation, but with hope filled expectation that the Mexican/African-American/Asian/American Indian hero on par with Harry or Katniss or Tris has to appear any day now. ↩
- 2 Tired phrases that mean nothing more than “shut up and maintain the status quo.” ↩
- 3 The number is arbitrary. I’m just providing a starting point. Feeling ambitious, go 5% or 10%. ↩
FAKE ID in stores NOW
It’s been a long time coming, folks. My novel, FAKE ID, is now available all over. Click HERE to purchase a copy from your preferred bookseller.
Many of you have asked how you can show your support, and I want to thank you for that. Below, you’ll find a few things you can do to help the book (and me) succeed:
1) Buy a copy of FAKE ID (http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Fake-Id-Lamar-Giles/?isbn=9780062121844): This is the best way you can help. Good sales numbers prove to my publisher that I am a good investment, so they will continue to invest. Awesome sales numbers open up the possibility for bestseller lists, which increases visibility, which…well, it goes back to the return on investment thing. Sales keep writers employed.
2) Encourage a friend to buy a copy of FAKE ID: See point 1…
3) Post a review of FAKE ID: FAKE ID has a page on Amazon, B&N.com, Goodreads, or wherever books are sold or reviewed. More reviews increase visibility on those sites. More visibility leads to more sales.
4) Come out to a FAKE ID event: For those in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area, I’ll be doing several events over the next few weeks. Come out and say hi. The first event will be Saturday, Jan. 25th from Noon to 3 at the Greenbrier Barnes & Noble (1212 Greenbrier Pkwy, Chesapeake, VA 23320). The second event will be on Saturday, Feb. 1st from 2PM – 4PM at the Hopewell branch of the Appomattox Regional Library (209 E. Cawson Street, Hopewell, VA 23320). Books will be on sale at the events, so if you’d like to wait and purchase your book on those days, me and the booksellers would greatly appreciate it.
5) Promote Literacy: When I was growing up, I often heard the term “RIF”—Reading is Fundamental. It was true then, it’s still true now. Let’s make sure no one forgets.
Thanks everyone. I’m going for the win in 2014 and I hope you join the team. I will see you on the other side of this crazy and exciting season! Take care.
Enter to Win 2 Signed Epic Reads Books (FAKE ID/DON’T TURN AROUND)
Hey gang, Happy New Year! I’m kicking off 2014 the right way by giving you stuff! Starting tomorrow, two signed books are up for grabs. A FAKE ID Advanced Review Copy by yours truly, and a DON’T TURN AROUND trade paperback by the always awesome Michelle Gagnon. It’s easy to enter, the widget is below. You’ve got from midnight tonight until Sunday, 11:59 PM EST to get yourself in the running. Tweet about it and LIKE my Facebook Page to improve your chances. What are you waiting for? Go!
Climbing Out of the Hole (my new book)
From The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Bros.
I know I’ve been MIA for roughly a thousand years, but for good reason. I sold another book (cue airhorns, confetti, balloon drop). Thing is, I sold this book on proposal, meaning my publisher (HarperCollins, again) only saw a summary, and some sample chapters before ponying up some cash. Also meaning I had to produce an entire manuscript based on that summary and sample chapters. In six months. While working a brutally demanding day job. And preparing for the 1/21/2014 release of FAKE ID.
These are what we call “good” problems, I suppose. But, boy, did I have to hustle.
So, yeah, I descended into the WriterCave for many moons. Had to climb out. When I did, I emerged with…
The New Book
It’s called ENDANGERED (for now, titles change and I’m almost positive this one will, too). The short description goes like this: Lauren “Panda” Daniels wants to photograph wildlife for National Geographic someday. In the meantime she settles for snapping shots of her cruel classmates in compromising positions and posting them anonymously on the web. When Panda receives a photo of herself—caught red-handed in her voyeuristic revenge act—she expects the mystery photographer to bust her. Instead, she receives a series of dangerous photos from the shutterbug she dubs “The Admirer,” and along with the photos, a dare: top the death-defying snapshots. Panda meets every challenge, until the little game turns deadly. Now Panda must save the classmates she once exposed—their lives, and hers, are at stake.
That’s my latest baby, delivered to my editor at 12:22 PM yesterday. There’s still plenty of work to do here, but it’s a heck of a relief anytime you can call Draft 1 (or, if this was an Apple product, iDraft 1.04) done.
What’s Next?
Now, I must switch gears, as FAKE ID’s release is right around the corner. I’m busy talking to folks about the book (librarians, booksellers, journalists), attempting to make arrangements for a book release party, and generally getting comfortable with the idea of being the front man for a roadshow starting early next year. Is it scary? Hell yeah! In the best way possible? You know it.
In coming posts, I’ll let you know how the lead up is going. My very next post will be about some of the lessons I’ve learned as a pre-debut author. I think you’ll find it interesting and eye-opening if you have any illusions that a writer’s work is glamorous in any way. Getting a book deal is just one of many hurdles, folks. Come back and I’ll tell you about it.
I’d Appreciate Your Help
Book sales matter, particularly the sales in the first few weeks of a book’s release. It would mean a lot if you would either pre-order FAKE ID from your preferred bookseller, or make plans to order it on the release day, 1/21/2014. I’d like to keep doing this for a long time, but ultimately, it’s you who makes that decision.
Every little bit helps, and I appreciate you supporting my work. Thanks.
‘Til next time…
Cover Reveal: Wanna See My FAKE ID?
Hey Gang,
Hafsah at IceyBooks just gave the world its first look at the cover for my upcoming Young Adult debut, FAKE ID, which is out in January. Get thee over to IceyBooks for a glimpse of what’s coming, and enter to win an Advanced Reader Copy of the book (Yes, that means you get to read it before most of the world…NICE!)
In case you missed the other two links in this post, here’s another: http://www.iceybooks.com/2013/06/fake-id-by-lamar-giles-cover-reveal-and.html
Take a look and help spread the word!
Some Thoughts on Cloud Atlas
Finally finished watching Cloud Atlas. I kind of loved it, mostly because I’m still thinking about it.
It almost demands a 2nd or 3rd viewing. Something I can’t say about any other film I’ve seen this year. I highly recommend the experience, though I can’t promise you’re going to enjoy it (it seems most people didn’t…on a 100 Million dollar budget, it made 27 Million in the U.S. according to IMDB). DO NOT try to watch it and multi-task; look away at the wrong point, and you’ll feel like someone changed the channel, Downton Abbey to Blade Runner, Pirates of the Caribbean to The Americans. Six (really seven) stories told across different times, with a core group of actors playing different versions of the same soul –sometimes in white and yellow face–is a tough pill. The makeup that facilitates these changes is hit or miss (the biggest misses being the racial shifts in the Neo Seoul and Cambridge segments), at times it’s enough to distract. But the beauty of home viewing is the ability to rewind and grab that crucial piece of dialogue you missed when you were thinking, “Halle Berry is one weird looking white lady.”
VERDICT
If you’ve got 3 hours you want to toss at a challenging film, then let this be the film. If your ideal cinematic experience involves shorter, lighter fare then avoid all six (or is it seven?) of these interconnected tales.
Fav Creepy Quote
“The weak are meat, and the strong will eat.”
Friday Night Fights: Hulk vs. Kratos
http://twicetheaveragerevenge.tumblr.com
This week’s fight promises to be brutal. Hulk aka “The Strongest There Is” Vs Kratos aka “The Ghost of Sparta” aka “The God Slayer”. Last week’s battle, Batman vs. James Bond, went lopsided on us, with Bats proving the having favorite and victor. But, no more knockouts, folks. This is our first deathmatch (and since both brawlers seem impossible to kill, this could take awhile).
So who takes this one, and why? Let’s get ready to rumble…