Laura Romani, a Chicago resident with a background in education and library science, was considering a career change.

“I was home a few years ago, reflecting on all the experience I’ve gained and how I wanted to contribute to the Latin American community while allowing myself to be myself and use my love for books and my passion for multilingualism,” says Romani.

The answer, she decided: Open a bookstore.

With the help of a grant and stimulus checks she and her husband received during the pandemic, Romani launched Los Amigos Books, initially online last year and now with a small store in Berwyn. It focuses on children’s stories in English and Spanish.

Stores like Romani’s have contributed to a year of growth and greater diversity for the American Booksellers Association, the trade group for independent booksellers. The association now has 2,010 members in 2,547 sites, more than 300 since spring 2021.

It’s the highest ABA total in years, even though the association tightened its rules in 2020 to only include stores that “primarily sell books” rather than any store that carries books.

Allison Hill, ABA chief executive, says part of the increase is due to bookstore owners delaying membership renewals to early 2021, given uncertainty about the impact of the pandemic. But well over 100 of the new members are stores that opened in the past year, Hill says, dozens owned by people from a wider range of racial and ethnic groups.

They include the Romani Store in Berwyn, Libelula Books & Co. in San Diego, Yu and Me Books in New York’s Chinatown, Modern Tribe Bookshop in Killeen, Texas, and Socialight Society in Lansing, Michigan.

The ABA has long been predominantly white. In June 2020 – after the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis – Board Chairman Jamie Fiocco said the association had not done enough to “remove barriers to membership and to services for black, indigenous and people of color”.

Now, Hill highlights the group’s new stores and diversity initiatives and says, “The increase in BIPOC stores is a big change for us.”

Like Romani, many of the new bookstore owners came from different careers or still had them by their side.

Sonyah Spencer works as a consultant to help fund The Urban Reader in Charlotte, North Carolina, focusing on books by African-American writers she opened in part because of the Black Lives Matters movement and her concern facing an increase in book bans.

In Locust Grove, Georgia, Erica Atkins was a college teacher and trainer who, while recovering from surgery, had a vision to open a store. So began Birdsong Books.

“I have dedicated my life to sharing knowledge,” says Atkins. “Whenever I have a conversation with someone, I give book recommendations.”

In Ossining, New York, Amy Hall says her work in fashion inspired her to open Hudson Valley Books for Humanity. She had browsed her shelves and thought about how the durability of clothing might apply to what she was reading. She decided to create a store that would primarily carry second-hand books and reflect Ossining’s economic and ethnic diversity.

“I wanted to build a bookstore that would accommodate people from all of these different segments of our community,” says Hall.

Despite fears that the COVID-19 pandemic could devastate book sales, publishers have posted strong profits over the past two years.

Hill and others had feared hundreds of member stores would close in 2020. Ultimately, about 80 closed and only 41 closed in 2021.

The independent bookstore has long faced obstacles – from the rise of Barnes & Noble and other “supermarkets” in the 1990s that contributed to the bankruptcy of thousands of independents, to the rise of Amazon .com and recent issues such as supply chain delays and high inflation.

Spencer says higher costs, especially for rent and shipping, have made Urban Bookstore struggle to break even.

At Birdsong Books, Atkins says she has seen a sharp rise in Bible prices, with the cost of a King James edition rising by several dollars.

At Changing Hands Bookstores in Arizona, buyer Miranda Myers noticed several price increases, including for Emily St. John Mandel’s “Sea of ​​Tranquility,” one of this spring’s top literary releases, and the upcoming Lore Olympus book by Rachel Smythe.

Myers “definitely notices that these price increases are happening more and more lately.”

Still, Changing Hands owner Gayle Shanks says sales “are up, up. We had the best first quarter we’ve ever had in the store’s history. And this second quarter is also on the rise. People seem to be reading more than ever.

After a flood of money hit the NFL Draft betting market, there was a new favorite to become No. 1 overall on Monday morning. Georgia defensive end Travon Walker was present and Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson was absent.

The surprise move to first place showed why so many bookmakers despise the exercise of posting quick draft numbers. For the guys behind the counter who are used to winning most of the time, the draft can seem like a dead-end proposition.

“It’s my least favorite event to book,” said Westgate SuperBook Vice President Jay Kornegay. “It’s just not a favorable event for the bookmakers. I don’t see how we’re going to win on this.

Kornegay was behind the curve, that’s how he wanted it. The Westgate did not release any prop plans until Monday afternoon after Walker and Hutchinson swapped places. Hutchinson was the favorite by most books – down to -250 – for about a month, but the SuperBook opened Walker -185 to be the first player picked on Thursday.

While books such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and William Hill aggressively kicked off the market by releasing several early props, Circa Sports played the waiting game and also opened a limited menu on Monday.

“I didn’t want to book the draft,” Circa owner Derek Stevens said between puffs of a cigarette. “How can you get excited from a book-making perspective when the best you can do is a little loss? So the worst you can do is get destroyed.

Stevens said he put the matter to a vote with his staff and the result was 3-2 in favor of his booking. With the first round scene scheduled for Thursday in Las Vegas, this event is simply too big for bookmakers to miss.

The event will also be a big disappointment for many visitors planning to get in on the action. Nevada playing rules state that all NFL Draft props that mention a player’s specific name must be removed 24 hours before the start of the first round, so most props will be removed from the board on the day. of the draft. Stevens is fine with that, he said, because there will be people in town armed with inside information.

DraftKings book director John Avello disagrees there’s a fear factor with inside information and called it a ‘big mistake’ for Nevada to impose the ban 24 hour bets.

“From what I read, there are 500,000 people coming to town, and you would think few of them would be here Wednesday afternoon in time to bet on it,” Avello said. “I’m interested to see what this event is going to look like in Vegas. Is the Strip going to be crowded?

“Why can’t you bet 10 minutes before the draft? I don’t know what Nevada sees. I don’t see any red flags.

Avello said DraftKings reserves the draft in 12 states – Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wyoming – and offers in-play betting in the first round of all these states except Arizona and West Virginia.

“It will be a handful of successful bets,” Avello said. “Is this going to be a win? The draft hasn’t been profitable for us (the last two years), but hopefully it will be this year.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board first approved betting on the NFL Draft in 2017, and Kornegay is among bookmakers claiming it’s a headache because they’ve lost each of the five years.

“I don’t know how many years we’ve booked it, but we haven’t won yet,” Kornegay said. “We never questioned booking this year’s event, especially because it’s here. To be competitive, you have to offer it. But most of the games we get are based on good information from educated players, and we’re short term.

The latest information leaked on Sunday indicates the Jacksonville Jaguars are targeting Walker instead of Hutchinson with the No. 1 pick, contrary to predictions made by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and several other draft experts. This draft is more mysterious than most, so it might be a better outcome for bookmakers, but let’s hope the winning trend continues for punters.

“It’s a huge event here in Las Vegas, so you manage your liability and keep an eye on it,” Red Rock book director Chuck Esposito said. “It’s going to be the biggest show in the NFL draft, so you have to book it. We see guys moving up and down on the chart and we adjust the odds almost daily. It’s a lot of guesswork.

Best bets

Aside from a few drawn-out games that I’d be surprised to win — LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. will be the No. 2 pick (30-1) and No. 3 pick (100-1); the Saints to sign Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (+900) – here are my best prop bets:

— Wide receivers drafted in the first round: Over 5.5 (-165)

— Quarterbacks drafted in the first round: Under 3.5 (-175)

– Aidan Hutchinson will be the No. 2 pick (+220)

– Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett draft position: Over 10.5 (-185)

— Malik Willis (-160) drafted ahead of Kenny Pickett

– Position of Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner in the draft: under 7.5 (-200)

– Derek Stingley Jr. draft position: Under 11.5 (-150)

– USC Drake London wide receiver draft position: Over 10.5 (-110)

– Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams draft position: Under 13.5 (-120)

– Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis Draft position: Over 18.5 (-130)

– Draft position of Iowa offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum: Under 28.5 (-110)

– Georgia linebacker Quay Walker draft position: Under 39.5 (+105)

– Draft position of North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson: Under 38.5 (+115)

– Christian Watson (-110) drafted ahead of Georgia receiver George Pickens

— Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (-104) was drafted ahead of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder

GREENEVILLE — With its recent surge in sprint events, Greeneville could be rebranded as “East Speed ​​City.”

And senior Greene Devils star Jaden Stevenson is most definitely the mayor.

“It’s going to take work to get to the top,” Stevenson said. “I’m looking forward to doing my drills well and getting off to a good start, especially in the 200. I feel like I can go lower than what I have.”

If Stevenson is the mayor, then fellow seniors Mason Gudger and Dustin “Brock” Moore Jr. are two of the city’s aldermen.

Gudger is normally the first leg of the 4×100 meter relay. Moore is arguably the best short distance hurdler in the state.

“4×1 is my favorite race because I like the team aspect,” Gudger said.

“Having four fast guys like us in the same class is special and we’re all very close.”

Gudger — a football signee from Georgetown — has run 10.75 seconds in the 100 this season and 22.63 in the 200.

Sadly, Moore tore his meniscus in a stint swap last weekend and is likely out for the rest of the season, but he ran 13.94 for the 110 hurdles in Knoxville and tied the former Dobyns-Bennett star Ken “Scat” Springs. Northeast Tennessee record in the event.

Gudger and Stevenson will be featured prominently in the 42nd Six Rivers Relays presented by Watauga Orthopedics, taking place Friday, May 6 at Science Hill’s Kermit Tipton Stadium.

Spectators better pay close attention as both can complete their best trials in the blink of an eye.

BURNT TRACKS

Stevenson has been lighting up tracks across East Tennessee all spring, including at the 54th Volunteer Track Classic held earlier this month at the historic Tom Black Track in Knoxville.

He ran the 100m in a blistering 10.53 seconds, the fastest automatic and legal time recorded for a Northeast Tennessee sprinter in 22 years.

“I’m focused on getting down to around 10.3 by the end of the season,” Stevenson said. “I just have to work hard and good things will come.”

Days before the Big 8 Conference meet, Stevenson announced his commitment to track racing at Arkansas-Little Rock. The Trojans are a busy sprint schedule in the Sun Belt conference, but they will be moving to the Ohio Valley in the near future.

“It was the right school for me with coach (JP) Behnke following me,” Stevenson said. “Even though I haven’t visited the school yet, I feel like it will be the right place. I feel like I can make an impact up there and show them what that boy from Tennessee is all about.

BEST LINK

Stevenson is lightning fast in the 100m, but his best event might be the 200m, as evidenced by his Friday night performance at the Crowe-Coughenour track in Dobyns-Bennett.

Racing under the lights towards the end of the Big 8 encounter, Stevenson shone brightest with a sizzling 21.18. His time broke the converted encounter record of 21.84 which had been held by DB’s Darwin Bond since 1968.

Stevenson’s time was so quick that he beat – by half a second – the raw time of 21.6 for a 220-yard dash. And doing it at Kingsport was probably the sweetest thing of all.

“With all due respect to these greats, I always wanted to be the best,” Stevenson said. “When I leave Greeneville, I want to leave being the greatest.”

Bond is certainly no slouch when it comes to awards. Best known for his quarter-mile dominance, the “Model City Mercury” won a stunning 46 consecutive races at 440 yards throughout his high school career and finished undefeated over the distance.

He wasn’t too bad over short distances either.

In his senior year, Bond was the nation’s top-ranked sprinter in all three distances: 100 yards (9.5), 220 (21.0) and 440 (46.9).

Stevenson’s 200 time from Friday trails only Bond’s converted time in the Northeast Tennessee all-time standings by just six hundredths of a second (21.12).

“I’m not really sure (Jaden) understands what he’s doing yet,” Greeneville coach Larry Blalock said. “He knows he’s fine and he knows where he wants to go. He is the fastest kid to ever attend Greeneville High School and now holds the school records in the 100m and 200m and is part of the 4x100m relay record.

“That speaks a lot to him.”

GAIN EXPERIENCE

Stevenson gained plenty of experience piloting one of the state’s all-time leading sprinters twice in the playoffs last year when he faced Bearden’s Christian Langlois in the Sectional Meet and D ‘State.

Langlois won the high-class double in the 100m in 10.43 – a state meet record – and the 200m (21.09).

“I hated watching it because it was (Langlois) instead of me,” Stevenson said. “Since then, Chris has stayed close and in touch. That’s always a good thing.

“With a guy like Chris he just pushes you to be your best and I admire him. It’s a respectful thing between him and me and there’s no bad blood at all.

TO BE THE BEST

Heading into the Six Rivers Relays, Stevenson is the top seed in the 100m, 200m and long jump. He is second in the 400.

He is ranked below meet records in his two main short distance events and has a chance to make history in the region’s first meet.

Jordan Ware of Memphis Central is currently the state leader in the 100 (10.50) and 200 (20.94).

“We’re stepping into new waters with two sprinters like us,” Blalock said. “I’ve been noticed more for some runners and hurdles along the way, but it’s nice to have two guys who can run like Mason and Jaden.

“The hardest part is finding the best ways to use them.”

But the Greene Devils have their sights set on much more than great regular-season performances.

The drop in ranking has helped Blalock’s team immensely. Greeneville was ranked the top preseason team in Class AA and is still expected to win even with the loss of the state’s top hurdler.

The Greene Devils believe they have a shot at living up to Greeneville’s other nickname: “Titletown.”

“I feel really good about our chances,” Gudger said. “I feel like we should blast everyone and everyone in the team feels that. As long as everyone is together and working towards that goal, I think we should win.

STATE UNIVERSITY – You probably couldn’t tell from Penn State’s Blue-White game, but the 2022 pecking order at quarterback is starting to become clear.

Veteran Sean Clifford is James Franklin’s starter.

If healthy, Clifford will enter his fourth season as the Nittany Lions starting quarterback when the Nittany Lions visit Purdue on Sept. 1.

The blue side, Penn State’s defensive players, squeaked through a white side with all of the offensive players. The final score was 17-13 on Saturday afternoon at Beaver Stadium, and the scoring system used by the Penn State coaches was a bit confusing.

Never mind. The result made no sense. It was about quarterbacks. And the Lions’ front four combined to complete 17 of 38 passes for 184 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. There were no stars.

Still, Franklin said Clifford’s 2022 spring was his best yet.

Franklin said the Lions are saving everything, especially when it comes to quarterback position and the coach noted that Clifford was Penn State’s best quarterback on all key data points – percentage of completion, interception rate, explosive plays and the rest.

The real intrigue begins once you pass Clifford.

Sophomore quarterback Christian Veilleux was also praised by Franklin and he has a slight experience advantage over true freshmen Drew Allar and Beau Pribula.

Veilleux completed 5 of 14 passes for 75 yards and he teamed up with reserve wide Mason Stahl on the day’s long gain, a 36-yard completion.

“Veilleux was able to build on the success he had in the game against Rutgers,” Franklin said, referring to Veilleux’s 235-yard, three-touchdown effort in a relief win over Rutgers last season. of a sick Clifford.

But you can bet the majority of the announced crowd of 62,000, as well as Penn State fans watching on the Big Ten Network, were focused on the performances of Allar and Pribula, the battling January enrollees. for the No. 3 position right now. .

Both youngsters took their pieces, which was to be expected.

Allar, the Ohio five-star, threw for 61 yards (6 of 14) but was also intercepted twice by reserve defensemen Bobby Walchak and Dominic DeLuca. Allar was also credited with two carries for seven yards in a scrimmage where defenders weren’t supposed to hit quarterbacks.

Central York star Pribula was credited with just three attempted passes and two completions. But those numbers may have been wrong because the Lions have two quarterbacks who wear No. 9 – Pribula and Veilleux. Pribula also added six rushing yards on three attempts.

A Saturday afternoon doesn’t define a young quarterback’s spring.

Franklin provided more context regarding the spring workload for his four QBs when he revealed the total number of pass attempts for each over the 15 practices.

Clifford led with 201, followed by Veilleux (183), Allar (134) and Pribula (132).

“Don’t read too much about the two-rep difference (between Allar and Pribula), which I know someone will make a big fuss about,” Franklin warned.

What do we know about Franklin’s quarterbacking history at Penn State? That he prioritizes experience and that Clifford is the uncontrollable leader. Franklin also knows that Veilleux produced the only time he was called in a significant game (Rutgers).

It’s up to Allar and Pribula to get comfortable as soon as possible and then start turning heads in August.

They have already made a good impression on some teammates.

“Obviously coming in during the winter, right after high school, is nerve-wracking,” Penn State tight end Tyler Warren said when asked about freshman QBs.

“It’s going to be a bit slow for everyone. But just seeing them from the first spring training until today when it comes to everything – communicating, making cover changes, adjusting the O line – I think it’s a big difference. I think they will both be very good players in the future.

“I think Drew is going to make some crazy throws,” Lions catcher Malick Meiga said.

“He’s going to roll out, throw it on the pitch and get there.”

“Beau is a physical quarterback,” added Meiga.

“When he directs the ball, he will make you feel it. He is very sporty.

Franklin also praised Clifford for the impact he had on Allar and Pribula during spring drills. He was a positive influence.

“Really good spring, really improved in the running game,” said Clifford.

“But Beau in particular, he did a really good job of making sure he was receptive to what – he’s always in my ear, so that was good.

“It’s just different,” Clifford continued.

“When you play in front of people, are you going to have that advantage or are you going to disappear from the spotlight? I think both (Allar and Pribula) are bred for that. They’re ready for that. train, to continue to help them grow and to do my part in their development.

Spring drills are over for Penn State and its young quarterbacks. But the offseason continues. And the real question for Allar and Pribula is: can they build on their spring experience and fare better when August rolls around?

Today we find out who the first teenage superhero in comic book history was.

In “When We First Met,” we highlight the various characters, phrases, objects, or events that eventually became notable parts of comic lore, like when someone first said “Avengers Assemble!” or the first appearance of Batman’s giant dime or the first appearance of Alfred Pennyworth or the first time Spider-Man’s face was shown half-Spidey/half-Peter. Stuff like that.

My buddy Fraser Sherman wrote to me about a question he had when talking about Captain America’s age in a recent blog post. His question sent me on a brief tangent about how Cap’s age and general experience as a superhero never made sense in the Silver Age Avengers comics.

But Fraser’s central question was, “Was Steve Rogers a teenager when he became Captain America?”

As I noted in the previous article, it’s almost impossible to know for sure how old Joe Simon and Jack Kirby wanted Steve Rogers to be in Captain America Comics #1 when he first transforms into the Super Solider known as Captain America…

That said, while the comic doesn’t say exactly how old Steve Rogers is, he sure does look like a teenager, doesn’t he? 18 would be when you could join the military, so I think 19 would be a very reasonable age for him when he got his powers. Fraser pointed out to me that Steve Englehart later specifically established that Steve was 19 years old. So Captain America would technically be a teenage superhero, right?

And that’s really what Fraser wanted to know. If we were to assume that Captain America was, in fact, a teenage superhero, would he be the FIRST teenage superhero who wasn’t a sidekick like Robin the Boy Wonder? Great question, Fraser, so let’s take a look!

RELATED: When Did Batman First Use His Costume To Scare Superstitious Criminals?

WAS NAMOR THE FIRST TEENAGE SUPERHERO?

As Fraser, of course, knows, nearly all of the early superheroes were of the same vague late-20s age as most comic book heroes. Everyone was basically in their late twenties, old enough to be a clear adult but young enough not to be old. Basically, the early years of a professional baseball player were the early years of a superhero. That 27-29 time frame seemed to be the case for Superman, Batman, and more.

The first superhero who could realistically be considered a teenager was also not introduced as a superhero. In 1939 Marvel Comics #1, Bill Everett introduced us to Namor the Submarine as an underwater being who just slaughtered a group of human sailors. When Namor asks her mother why their people hate all humans, she says she fell in love with a human in 1920…

She then mentions that it took them 20 years to prepare to face the human race, suggesting that the year is 1940 and not 1939. So how old is Namor? Is he 19 or is it later in 1940 and therefore he is 20?

I think it’s tricky somehow, made even trickier by the fact that obviously, as seen for the first time, Namor was definitely not a superhero. Dude just killed a bunch of innocent divers as part of his war on humanity. Eventually, however, Namor becomes a hero, but it wasn’t really obvious at first (anti-hero at BEST), so maybe he’s not applying for THAT reason?

Later in 1939, Toni Blum and her father, Alex Blum, gave us the superhero known as Samson, who was essentially the biblical Samson…

Samson soon got his own comic and the origin was written by young Blum with artist Louis Cazeneuve and we see that Samson’s adventures begin as soon as he graduates from college…

Presumably, that makes him 21/22, but hey, maybe he graduated earlier!

Jay Garrick made his debut about a month later (the last two months of 1939 and the first few months of 1940 saw a deluge of new superheroes) in Flash comics #1 by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert and Jay Garrick gains his powers through an insane chain of events (essentially by inhaling steam after taking a smoke break amid all of his chemicals!)…

Jay has been working on the project for at least three years, making him a college junior at best, and therefore almost certainly 20 or 21 years old. So he went out.

I have no idea what you’re doing with Billy Batson/Captain Marvel, who debuted together in Whizz Comics #2 (by Bill Parker and CC Beck). Is Billy even a teenager?

And while Billy is clearly the main character in the Captain Marvel stories, he’s not technically Captain Marvel, is he?

So I think Billy doesn’t count as a teenage superhero even though he was, in fact, a teenager (and I’m not sure on that as well).

Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily are vague about Rex Tyler’s age when he became Hourman in adventure comics #48, just that he’s a “young chemist”, but I guess the implication is that he’s over 20…

RELATED: When Did Batman First Use His Costume To Scare Superstitious Criminals?

WHICH MARVEL SUPERHERO WAS THE CLEAR ANSWER AS TO THE FIRST TEEN SUPERHERO?

So the real answer is a whole ANOTHER Simon and Kirby creation, Marvel Boy, which debuted in Daring Mystery Comics #6 in the spring of 1940. Marvel Boy was a child born with the soul of Hercules and on his 14th birthday…

He learns the truth and learns that he really is Marvel Boy and that he is on Earth to fight crime and the Nazis…

He even has a special costume for the occasion…

So yes, at 14, it’s clear that Marvel Boy was the first non-sidekick teenage superhero. So even though Cap counts as a teenager, he’s been beaten at the gun by almost a full year!

Thanks for the question, Fraser! If anyone else wants to learn about an interesting comic first, message me at [email protected]!

KEEP READING: When Did Penguin First Become a Mafia Boss?

Across the multiverse, Wolverine has turned a C-List team into a major force

About the Author

For avid comic book fans, 2022 is turning out to be the year of the Ghost Rider. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of Spirit of Vengeance, Marvel is celebrating the moment with two all-new series: Ghost Rider #1 (released February) starring Johnny Blaze as the titular hero and created by Benjamin Percy and Cory Smith, and a five-issue series by Peter David and Alan Robinson that will take readers back to the early 90s with the New Fantastic Four (May release), the brief team-up between Wolverine, Spider-man, Hulk and Ghost Rider.

Related: The 15 Best MCU Movies, According To Screen Rant

As for his next solo outing, it’s still a mystery which of Ghost Rider’s many adversaries will appear, but with his gallery of superpowered, supernatural rogues – a who’s who of demons, lords of hell, satanists and murderers – readers can rest assured that just revenge will come, one way or another.

ten Nightmare

Lord of fear and ruler of a dreamlike dimension, endowed with an immortality powered by the psychic energy of dreamy beings, Nightmare is a villain straight out of a Jeunet-Caro film. No matter what first incarnation of Ghost Rider he faced – Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch had the displeasure of getting to know him – Nightmare has been a nightmare over the years. Primarily an antagonist of Dr. Strange, Nightmare would have made an appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness before that film’s original director, Scott Derrickson, left the project.

9 Zarathos

A demonic being who tortures and devours souls, Zarathos is both the source of Ghost Rider’s power and the reason for the hero’s eternal guilt – a constant reminder that achieving “good” through hellish means comes at a cost. Less an adversarial relationship than a partnership aimed at getting rid of a powerful common adversary, Mephisto, the Zarathos-Ghost Rider pairing is a quintessential example of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Near the end of Johnny Blaze’s run as the Ghost Rider, Zarathos is finally able to separate himself from Blaze, but has been significantly weakened without bonding to a mortal body. Using the last of his strength, he is able to free Johnny Blaze’s soul – from enemies until the end.

8 Scarecrow

Ebenezer Laughton was a contortionist, escape artist, and backyard variety murderer. After battling Ghost Rider and impaling himself on his own pitchfork, the Scarecrow was reincarnated by the wizard Stern. Now undead and blessed with superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to induce fear in humans and animals alike, Scarecrow has become a far more formidable opponent to Ghost Rider than when they first clashed.

Related: Every MCU Phase 1 Director, Ranked

He would die again at the hands of Ghost Rider only to be resurrected once more, this time by the demon Blackheart.

7 Dormammu

Dormammu’s powers and abilities read like a Task Rabbit profile for omnipotent, interdimensional beings bent on destroying the world. Another villain usually associated with Dr. Strange, Dormammu also had his run-ins with Ghost Rider, at one point prompting the Sorcerer Supreme to battle Ghost Rider in an attempt to kill the two. Ghost Rider isn’t usually about battling street-level heroes, and Dormammu’s position as a Chaos Lord and master of the Dark Dimension is a prime example of that.

6 Centurious the soulless man

A man who sold his soul to Mephisto to fight Zarathos – long before the demon was linked to Johnny Blaze—Centurious is a mirror image of Ghost Rider himself, both powerful earthly representatives of demonic forces waging war for their masters. In past encounters, Centurious has proven himself to be a formidable adversary, once using the Crystal of Souls to imprison Johnny Blaze’s soul. He would continue his fight against Danny Ketch, often through surrogates like Reverend Styge and Steel Wind. Given his immortality, Centurious won’t be giving up the fight anytime soon.

5 brainless

Madcap is like Deadpool, but with a faster healing factor. Virtually immortal and completely unhinged, he feels no physical or emotional pain, a perfect symbol of the societal worthlessness and indifference he represents. After Madcap caused mass violence in Grand Central Station, causing a massacre of people to begin, Ghost Rider intervened, subjecting him to Penance Stare (the ability to make his enemies feel the pain of their victims). For once, Madcap felt pain – and he liked it, making him one of Ghost Rider’s scariest villains.

4 Black Heart

Created by Mephisto from the accumulated evil energy of a murderous New York City, Blackheart possesses all the necessary powers from a daemon of his station: telekinesis, interdimensional teleportation, literal hell, etc. Although he is an enemy of Ghost Rider, Blackheart’s enmity for his own father, Mephisto, has at times placed him, if not on the same side, in a like-minded position. like the spirit of revenge. In the graphic novel hearts of darkness, Blackheart even tried to recruit Ghost Rider, along with the Punisher and Wolverine, into his war against his father, but when they refused he brainwashed an entire town and kidnapped a young girl out of spite.

3 Zadkiel

A renegade archangel become envious of God’s love for mankind. Not to be confused with the biblical Lucifer or the Marvel Lucifer, who is just another lord of hell, Zadkiel’s origin story contains all the epic pomp and religious undertones of Lost paradise. Once responsible for overseeing the Spirits of Vengeance, Zadkiel manipulated Danny Ketch into leading his army, the Black Host, in their war against God, Johnny Blaze, and the other Spirits of Vengeance. With Danny’s help, Zadkiel was victorious, and although his reign was short-lived, any being who can conquer and rule the sky is truly powerful.

2 Lilith, mother of all demons

Lilith, Mother of all demons, known in Judaic mythology as the first wife of Adam and the primordial demoness, possessing the ability to spawn demons at will. Many of his children, or Lilin, have fallen victim to various incarnations of Ghost Rider over the years, only to be resurrected by their mother. She once allied with Centurious in order to acquire the Medallion of Power, but she and her children would inevitably betray Centurious and prove allied with Zarathos.

Related: Thor’s 10 Best Friends In The MCU

Besides Ghost Rider, Lilith’s list of enemies includes Dr. Strange, the Midnight Sons, Nightstalkers, and Morbius. She would be at the top of this list if it was purely power-based.

1 Mephisto

Mephisto is Ghost Rider’s nemesis and greatest enemy. Based on Mephistopheles of Faustian legend, Mephisto has a substantial bag of hell lord stuff, but what makes Mephisto so special isn’t his desire to acquire souls, but his requirement to do so: Mephisto has need the victim’s permission. It is an extremely dangerous monster that can persuade a person to give up their soul, thereby exposing the monster within all living beings. He has handled several Spirits of Vengeance since his debut in The Silver Surfer #3 in 1968. Tangling with Ghost Rider – who at times literally has his Hellfire chain tangled around Mephisto’s neck – as recently as 2021 King in Black: Ghost Riderwhen it comes to archvillainy, Mephisto is Ghost Rider’s past, present, and future.

Next: 10 Weirdest Ghost Rider Comic Book Stories, Ranked

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About the Author

On the first day of school, little Akiva Weingarten was made to sit on the lap of the rabbi, who took a sheet of laminated paper and traced the Hebrew alphabets alef, mem and taf with honey.

Written together, these letters represent the word “emet”, or truth. “And then they let me lick the honey off the sheet,” Weingarten recalls in his autobiography, available in German under the title “Ultra-Orthodox: Mein Weg” (Ultra-Orthodox: My Way).

“Akiva! Take this as a sign that the words of Torah are as true and sweet as honey,” his rabbi said during the lesson.

But only a few of Akiva Weingarten’s memories are so sweet.

As the eldest of 11 siblings, Weingarten grew up in the Satmar Hasidic Jewish community in Lakewood, New Jersey.

For him, it was above all a world full of rules.

A world in which the right shoe had to be put on first before the left, because the right hand symbolized the mercy of God and was to be preferred. This was also the reason why toilet paper should not be used with the right hand, as it was the hand that held the leather prayer boxes, or Tefillin.

“You have to think about it like going back to the 18th century,” Weingarten told DW, discussing the world of Satmar Jews. “Everything is completely different there: the clothes, the language, the food, the songs, the way of thinking, the supervision, the equality. Everything is a few centuries behind,” he said.

‘No real Jews’

It is a community that has sealed itself off from modern times and anything deemed “unclean” by ultra-Orthodox rulers.

The Satmar community has its own newspapers, schools, workshops and bakeries, clothing stores and bookstores, supermarkets, and its own security and rescue services.

Weingarten remembers inviting one of the few non-Jewish children in the neighborhood to play with him, but was told the child was no company for him. “He and his parents were Goyim, non-Jews,” was the only explanation given. And even Jews who weren’t ultra-Orthodox were “not real Jews,” he was told.

Akiva Weingarten vividly describes the daily life of the ultra-Orthodox community in the United States. For non-Jews or those not from his community, he explains where these rules come from.

“We are the Hasidics, those who fear God. The 613 commandments, which the Eternal gave to humans in the Torah, the five books of the Hebrew Bible, and the countless instructions, which Moshe received at Mount Sinai through the Mishnah , the Oral Torah of God gives direction to our lives. The purpose of our existence is to fulfill the Mitzvah, these commandments; to fulfill them in our lives in such a way that there is no difference between our action and the will of God.”

Originally, that didn’t mean slavish adherence to the rules, Weingarten says. Instead, it indicated a spiritual striving toward unity, not just for the individual, but for the perfection of the world.

Only when “the Jews, as God’s chosen people, completely follow the Mitzvah”, will the long-awaited “Maschiah, the messiah” come.

Slap to masturbate

As Weingarten got older, he accepted the rules less. As a teenager, he masturbated, even though he knew it was strictly forbidden. The rabbi slapped him in the face as punishment

But it instead led him to explore more taboos. Together with his classmates, he sexually satisfied an older ultra-Orthodox man in a hotel. Young people prostituted themselves for money and then used that money to buy the services of a prostitute.

Weingarten laughs while discussing these events with DW: “It was like a prison. You didn’t talk about it, but you had sexual needs and you did something together.”

Just Deborah Feldman’s 2012 book “Unorthodox,” Weingarten’s account offers insight into the ultra-Orthodox community and its strict sexual rules, but from a male perspective.

Feldman also grew up in the Jewish Satmar community of New Jersey and describes, among other things, what it meant to her to be forced into marriage at a young age without knowing anything about her own sexuality.

Weingarten’s arranged marriage was also a disaster. At the age of 20, he was married to an orphan in Israel. Together they lived in the predominantly ultra-Orthodox town of Bnei Brak, a suburb of Tel Aviv.

Two years later, they already had two children together, but Weingarten felt completely alienated from his wife. “In the last few months before my release, I sometimes felt like I was being mentally abused and being forced several times a day to meet my rapist – the one the community called ‘God’, the one they prayed to. and admired.”

Return to the land of the perpetrators of the Holocaust

Weingarten decided to leave Israel and go to Germany, of all people – the country of the perpetrators of the Holocaust.

“My grandfather hated everything German,” he wrote in his book. “He would never let a Bosch or Miele washing machine into the house. And because Hitler drove a Mercedes, it was always the ‘Führer’s car’ – an attitude my father still cultivates to this day.”

Weingarten’s grandparents were Hungarian Jews. Her grandmother survived Auschwitz and her husband survived another concentration camp, but both barely talked about their experiences.

“Back home, we only talked about Germany in the context of the Holocaust. If you were talking about Germany, you meant Nazi Germany. The Germans were always the bad guys, and they still are. today, for many ultra-Orthodox Israel and America, where many descendants of the survivors live, this theme is still very much present today,” Weingarten explains.

But Weingarten’s decision to go to Germany was very practical.

“I didn’t have any money and I wanted to study,” he explains. He discovered that it was possible to study in Germany without having a lot of money. And he thought that knowing Yiddish, his mother tongue, which has many similarities to German, would make it easier for him to adapt.

It was not a move he made to provoke his community, but rather to escape it. “You can’t go further than Germany, because of history,” says Weingarten.

This story still seems present to him: “Yesterday I saw a very old woman in the street and my first thought was: what was she doing 75 years ago?

Rabbis and Liberal Hasidic Jews

Weingarten, however, is reluctant to speak of anti-Semitism in Germany today. “The fear is still there,” he says. “But we shouldn’t ask Jews about anti-Semitism; rather we should ask Germans. The German police, the government and the people should engage in it,” he adds.

Today, Weingarten commutes between Dresden and Basel, where he is the rabbi of two liberal Jewish communities.

On Shabbat, he wears the shtreimel, the Jewish fur hat, and the kaftan – garments that are usually worn only by members of the Hasidic community.

In Berlin, Weingarten founded an association to support people coming out of ultra-Orthodox communities and help them integrate outside the strict religious environment. “We are no longer Orthodox, but we are not really secular. We have a strong Jewish identity, but at the same time many people leaving the community would not consider themselves religious, although they celebrate Shabbat and pray” , he said.

“For me, being a Jew is above all an identity. It’s a place where I feel at home. I can visit a synagogue in India or Finland and feel at home. It’s our tradition, it’s our history – everything that defines us as a group, as a people, as humans. There are many beautiful things about Judaism, which we have inherited and which should be continued. For all humans, not only for jews.

In November, Governor Greg Abbott followed up with instructions sent to the Texas Education Agency asking them to notify it of any “case of pornography provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.” .

The two messages were sent amid debates across Texas and many other states over how topics such as race and racism should be discussed in schools. On December 2, the Lone Star State also implemented a so-called Critical Race Theory law prohibiting teachers from discussing “a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.”

As different titles are pulled from school shelves in response to these requests, some have come under more scrutiny than others. Below are the books that have been targeted most often in recent challenges, surveys, and subsequent deletions in Texas schools.

“Out of the darkness“by Ashley Pérez

Loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, this 2015 novel uses the 1937 New London School explosion in east Texas – where a natural gas leak ignited and killed some 295 students and staff at the school – as the backdrop to an interracial love story between a black boy and a Mexican American girl.

The novel has been temporarily withdrawn from Leander ISD Book Club Optional Course and Class Libraries along with 10 other titles following a year-long review, which found the content inappropriate. In Keller ISD, the book is now only available in high school libraries – but not on open shelves with other books – and requires parental consent for students to view due to its “violence and difficult imagery. ”The title was also listed in Krause’s investigation.

During a nationwide education for students on Wednesday hosted by PEN America, a nonprofit that promotes literature and free speech, Pérez noted how the themes of his book are still relevant despite the story. taking place 84 years ago.

“What I wanted to do in ‘Out of Darkness’ was first of all to write the kind of historical novel that my old high school students in Texas would have finished and I wanted to center the experiences that were pushed to the fringes of the conversations of there. ‘history of our communities, “said Pérez.” I also wanted’ Out of Darkness’ to make connections between stories of racial violence and misogyny in our current realities. “

Pérez went on to say, “Unfortunately, what’s happening in 2021 is a huge effort to silence this conversation, to stop critically engaging with our history. So a book like ‘Out of Darkness’ that asks people to sit down with the roots of our current racialized violence are under attack for these reasons.

“lawn boy“by Jonathan Évison

This semi-autobiographical coming-of-age novel tells the story of Mike Muñoz, a Mexican-American young adult who has faced challenges since childhood and is now going through a phase of self-discovery. The book was recently pulled from North East ISD in San Antonio for “very descriptive details of sexual encounters,” according to the Houston Chronicle. (Chron and the Houston Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of each other.)

The novel was also one of five titles recently withdrawn from Katy ISD for containing “ubiquitous vulgar content” and was included in Krause’s roster. In September, a parent of Leander ISD told school board members at a meeting that the book was “full of obscenity and sexual content.” The said the Leander Police Department in September that he was investigating reports of obscenities in the book.

In September, Evison told the Washington post his book was intended to explore the themes of capitalism, wealth disparity, and racial assumptions. He also denied accusations that his work contained pedophilia, responding to concerns some parents had about an adult male in the book recalling a sexual relationship he had with another fourth-grader while he was himself. also in the fourth year.

He also defended his novel in a Facebook post on December 3: “Let those so-called book banners be willing to admit it, their children almost certainly have gay friends, impoverished friends, and non-white friends facing the same issues. , my protagonist Mike deals with. This book is modern realism. Much of America lives under similar circumstances to Mike’s, dealing with wealth inequalities, racial assumptions and gender identification issues. “

Evison went on to write that the underlying reason people want to ban his book is because “they don’t want representation for people beyond straight, white Christians. They don’t want to recognize it. inequality of wealth, non-binary racial or gender assumptions. identifiers. “

Alan Moore’s “V for Vendetta”

Perhaps one of the oldest books that has been targeted, the classic 1982 graphic novel by acclaimed author Alan Moore depicts a dystopian post-apocalyptic England ruled by a fascist regime and details a growing revolution against it. The protagonist of the book disguises himself as Guy Fawkes, a 17th century English conspirator who became a symbol of resistance.

The now 40-year-old comic was adapted into a blockbuster Warner Bros. movie. of the same name with Natalie Portman, released in 2005. The novel was recently withdrawn from the Leander ISD classroom libraries and the optional book club program. It was also among more than 400 titles taken from North East ISD for review to “make sure they did not contain any obscene or vulgar content” and was also included in the investigation of the Book of Krause.

“The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel” by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault

Originally published in 1985, this dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood is set in a fictitious and near-future fertility crisis, where the US government has been overthrown by a totalitarian theocracy. In order to rebuild the population, the new government has reintroduced the biblical practice of forced surrogacy. More ironically, the company began to crumble after the government banned certain books.

The young adult novel, which was adapted into an award-winning Hulu original series in 2017, has often been contested for a variety of reasons, but mostly for its disturbing sex scenes and anti-Christian appearance. This made the The American Library Association’s Ten Most Contested Books of 2019 as well as the ALA’s list of the top 100 banned books in the entire decade for the 1990s and 2000s.

Recently, the book was listed in the Krause Investigation and was one of 11 titles withdrawn from Leander ISD as well as North East ISD after being deemed inappropriate for students.

“Flame” by Mike Curato

Award-winning author and illustrator Mike Curato draws on his own experiences for his first graphic novel in 2020. The story, set in 1995, follows 14-year-old Aiden Navarro, a Filipino American who went to a boy scout camp. summer before her freshman year of high school who struggles with bodily issues and comes to terms with her sexuality and identity. The book was recently removed from the shelves of the Keller ISD and North East ISD school libraries. He also made Krause’s list, which primarily targets books with LGBTQ themes.

Earlier this month, Curato signed a joint statement by the National Coalition Against Censorship as well as over 600 authors, publishers and activist groups calling for an end to political attacks on books in public schools.

“In communities across the country, an organized political attack on school books threatens the education of American children,” the statement said. “These continued attempts to purge schools of books represent a partisan political battle waged in school board and state legislature meetings. The undersigned organizations and individuals are deeply concerned about this sudden increase in censorship and its impact on education , student rights and freedom of expression. ”

TOWAMENCIN – Parents again took aim at the North Penn School Board on Thursday night, denigrating the board for books they say do not belong to schools.

“Does hearing these words make you uncomfortable as an adult?” How do you think that makes a child feel? I actually have a stomach ache, thinking my child could go to one of the libraries in that neighborhood and pick it up, ”said Parent Carrie Rocks.

During a lengthy school board meeting at North Penn High School on Thursday night, Rocks and a handful of parents read for the board excerpts from books they claimed to have recently found in schools in the district – excerpts which have triggered a content warning on the district’s NPTV channel. video of the meeting.

As she spoke, Rocks introduced herself as a mother of four from Upper Gwynedd, then showed enlarged photos of pages from “Gender Queer,” a graphic novel addressing the gender identity she claimed. ” be in high school “. As she showed the pages describing sexual acts and read excerpts that included words probably never spoken before at a school board meeting, she questioned the board.

“Who made the decision to accept this?” I know for a fact that this list of books must have fallen on one of your desks, to approve. Is it your intention to groom our children? Who took it upon themselves to steal their innocence? ” she said.

“Just because you think we’ve only been paying attention for six months doesn’t mean we’re blind to what’s going on. It is a constant roadblock of your terrible policies and the mismanagement of our schools that have pushed us to a tipping point. You are Satan’s pawns for me right now. You’re all disgusting, ”Rocks said.

Vicki Flannery of North Wales gave a similar warning before reading excerpts from ‘Not All Boys Are Blue’, a book she claimed ‘until this week resided in the Elementary Library of Oak Park. This book was taken down because of one of our parents.

Flannery then read excerpts from this book depicting sexual acts, before aiming at the painting.

“Do any of you, any of you, find this book that describes a sexual encounter and rape acceptable to any minor, regardless of gender or sexual orientation?” Because I don’t find it acceptable at all, ”she said.

“A child is a child, and if you find that acceptable, you belong to a national registry, not a school board,” Flannery said.

Parent Ken Ferry of Hatfield gave a similar warning before reading explicit excerpts from a book called “Lawn Boy” which he claims to have found at Penndale Middle School.

“Going to school board meetings to keep abreast of our children’s school education and hold academics to account was once what was called good parenting. Today it is called domestic terrorism, ”he said.

“No one is intimidating you. We are not national terrorists. We are taxpaying citizens and worried parents who hold you accountable because you work for us. We don’t work for you, ”Ferry said.

Jason Lanier of Lansdale questioned the board’s choices of books and classroom courses teaching what he called “Critical Race Theory” and said he had developed a list of books in schools that ‘he considered objectionable based on their lessons on racial and sexual matters.

“Why do you have these books in the schools?” Why are you implementing this kind of thing in schools? Why do you seek to divide the children into sections or groups and then combine them with each other, so that one group feels better and another feels less? How does this benefit someone? ” he said.

“There are a whole bunch of books in our libraries that really have nothing to do with there. A bunch of them talk about critical breed theory and how good it is. A bunch of them talk about very sexually explicit content, ”Lanier said.

For about an hour of public commentary at the start of the meeting, then another half hour at the end after other board business, about 60-70 parents and residents watched the meeting in person in high school, with the NPTV livestream. hovering around 100 additional viewers at times. As they spoke, several parents from the “Moms for Liberty” local wore matching t-shirts that read “We’re not co-parenting with the government” or “Let’s go Brandon”, while others shared their thoughts.

Alexis Drolet said she recently took district cultural competency training and learned valuable lessons, including that of a black speaker at a seminar she said was “mistaken for the hired aide, where she was in fact the keynote speaker.

“It moved me deeply and reminded me quite strongly that I walk around every day with a privilege that I haven’t earned. It didn’t make me feel bad about myself, but it opened my eyes to the experience of someone who isn’t like me, ”she said.

Hatfield’s David Schuetz thanked the board “for the way you’ve behaved, in the face of some pretty despicable abuse” from the community, regarding their handling of COVID-19 in schools over the past two years.

“What you have done for all of us, what you have done for me and my family, despite the abuse you have suffered, is simply heroic. You are all heroes in my book, ”he said.

Kunbi Rudnick said she has two daughters at North Penn schools and responded to the comments which included Bible verses in their remarks.

“For the rest of you who keep quoting the Bible as if you were the only Christians in the room: Matthew 25-40, ‘Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you will do to me.’ You should go read these five verses, between 40 and 45, and go back to your Lord, who is the same Lord that I serve, and explain to Him why it is appropriate for you to come here, quote His Bible, and “treat others.” human beings in the same way. Shame on you all, ”she said.

Residents were also targeted during public comments: Donna Ross of Montgomery Township thanked the board for their mask and COVID decisions, and “for ignoring false outrages, such as those of people in the public as “Moms for Freedom,” a group of paid agitators backed by billionaires and the Koch brothers.

These comments prompted cries of protest from that group and a direct response from Crystal Sackel of Lansdale: “Someone came here and said ‘Moms for Liberty’ was being paid, and God, I wish we could. let’s get paid, but unfortunately no, we’re just worried moms.

“Unfortunately, a lot of people have heard on TV, radio, grocery store, intercom, we are constantly brainwashed by propaganda, on one side. And the last time I checked, that’s not America’s goal, ”she said.

Council members did not respond directly to residents’ comments, beyond asking commentators to remain civilians and advising that their time had expired. After comments were completed, board member Christian Fusco asked Deputy Superintendent Todd Bauer to respond to the allegations about the book in Oak Park.

“I have looked at this, and I will say that I was as surprised as everyone in the room by what was read by Mrs Flannery. I understand the librarian has read this book, it is no longer on the shelves, it was never signed, and although I believe it was purchased with the best of intentions, the librarian ruled that this book was inappropriate, ”Bauer said.

Several audience members then started yelling at council that they were down, then walked out of the meeting as council chairwoman Tina Stoll called on district security staff to make sure that they leave.

In response to questions sent by The journalist after the meeting, district spokeswoman Christine Liberaski said Monday that “Not All Boys Are Blue” was in the Oak Park library for five months in the 2020-21 school year, but has never been verified by a student.

“Through an investigation into the case, it was found that the book was commissioned after being researched and recommended as useful reading material for students struggling with identity. After reviewing the book in August, he was taken out of circulation (not last week as wrongly reported) in elementary school due to his inappropriate development for this age group. It was never read by the student librarian, ”she said.

As for the other books mentioned by parents, “Gender Queer” “was commissioned for the North Penn High School Library but was never put into circulation and therefore was never withdrawn” and “Lawn Boy “Was at Penndale Middle School and is not in circulation,” she said, adding the following statement:

“Until a recent policy change, approval beyond the building level was not required for the purchase of library books. Books have always been chosen to complement the school curriculum and meet the needs of each school, using recommendations to librarians and research to guide selection. The policy change will improve consistency across all of our schools and provide additional support to the decision-making process.

“Last week it was brought to our attention that books were ordered for some libraries in our schools which contain material not suitable for children and have upset some of our families. In some cases, but not all, these books were available to students. NPSD apologizes for the range of emotions this situation has caused and wants to assure the community that we are taking the necessary steps to address everyone’s concerns.

“The controversy surrounding the subject matter and language used in books found in public libraries is not new and is not isolated from our community. Discussions are always difficult as people have different opinions on what is acceptable and appropriate, especially in this ever-changing society. Reading and access to books is extremely important to the North Penn School District and this community, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the 18 NPSD libraries.

The North Penn School Board will then meet at 7 p.m. on November 9 at the District Education Services Center, 401 E. Hancock St. For more information, visit www.NPenn.org.