Coming October 20 "The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration of the Avengers and Beyond"

View fullsize

UPDATE: The release date for The Wakanda Files has been pushed back two weeks to October 20th, but not to fear - it’s on the way!

After a few years in the making, so glad another book I’ve authored is on the way soon!

In September of this year, get ready for The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration of the Avengers and Beyond: a technical journal, in-world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that is a collection of artifacts collected by Wakanda’s War Dogs intelligence group and curated/notated by Shuri herself. Much in the style of Epic Ink’s outstanding The Jedi Path, The Rebel Files and The Bounty Hunter Code, this book has tons in store for fans of any of the MCU characters.

Working with my friends at Marvel Studios and the publishers at Quarto, particularly my amazing editor, Delia Greve was such a pleasure. I’m so proud of this book, and can’t wait for everyone to read. Here’s more from the official press release:

THE WAKANDA FILES: A TECHNOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF THE AVENGERS AND BEYOND

By Troy Benjamin | Available September 29, 2020

An in-world book from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Wakanda Files— compiled by request of Shuri (Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War) as part of her quest to improve the future for all people—is a collection of papers,articles, blueprints, and notes amassed throughout history by Wakanda’s War Dogs. In a nod to Wakandan technology, the pages of the book have a printed layer of UV ink with content that is visible only under the accompanying Kimoyo bead–shaped UV light.

Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Wakanda has been on the forefront of what is technologically possible. Their ability to stay ahead of the rest of the world is second only to their ability to keep themselves hidden. As thearchitect behind many of Wakanda’s great advancements, Shuri is constantlyseeking ways to improve what has come before. To aid in her search, she researches the past for context, reference, and inspiration by compiling The Wakanda Files.

Organized into areas of study, including human enhancement, transportation, weapons, artificial intelligence, and more, The Wakanda Files trace the world’s technological achievements from the era of Howard Stark and early Hydra studies to modern discoveries in quantum tunneling and nanotechnology. Weaving together the stories, personalities, and technology that are the fabric of the MCU, The Wakanda Files offers insight into the enhancements, power, and technology behind Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Stark Industries, Hydra, and much more.

About the author

Troy Benjamin is a Los Angeles–based book and comic book author who has written exhaustive fan-centric publications including the Haynes Ghostbusters Ectomobile Owner’s Workshop Manual, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Declassified book series, How to Paint Characters the Marvel Studios Way, and has been a contributor to the official Guidebook to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hardcover w/plastic slipcase • 160 pages • $60.00 USD, $80.00 CAN • ISBN: 978-0-7603-6544-1

The Greatest of All-Time

View fullsize

The man who proclaimed himself the greatest, Muhammad Ali. (Archival)

Are we currently living in the greatest period of all-time? Here's guest writer Tony Garcia with more:

In this day and age we tend to overrate things. I think as a society there is a want or need for the feeling that this era that we're living in holds some kind of importance in the history of time. It doesn't have to be anything major either. I'm mostly referring to social things like music, movies, athletes, etc. If you scour Al Gore's internet long enough, you'll come across digital arguments debating 'The Greatest of All-Time', or GOAT as the kids are calling it these days.

Who can forget Kanye West's tirade aimed at Taylor Swift over a music video being one the greatest of all-time? Kanye has probably never seen a Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry music video. Beastie Boys- Sabotage, Foo Fighters- Everlong, Kylie Minogue- Come Into My World, White Stripes- Fell In Love With A Girl... Hey Kanye, go watch those four music videos and tell me how good Beyonce's video was again. 

Turn on ESPN, especially this time of year, and watch several prognosticators argue the LeBron James and Michael Jordan debate. That one is personal for me. I grew up in Chicago and watched the Bulls dominate the 90's. There isn't another Michael Jordan. We need to close the case on that debate. The closest thing we've seen to Jordan is Kobe, but even he has a long way to go and he's not going to get there because of his age and diminishing play. 

There are areas where we may actually be currently residing in the greatest of all-time. For example, I think television is just insane with talented people right now. Whether it's producing, writing, acting or contributing source material, I think we are currently in the golden age of television. TV has never been as good as it is now. Three of my personal favorite shows ever have been produced in the last handful of years. Those shows are Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and True Detective. I've said it already on Twitter and Facebook but Game of Thrones has to automatically be considered a top 5 show because of its seamless integration of boobs, midgets, zombies and beheadings. I've never seen anything like it.  

When I was first getting into the film industry (which was about 10 years ago), life in general was nothing close to where we're at as a society now. Technology is kicking ass right now and there's no end in sight. Hell, 15 years ago cell phones weren't even an every day item. 15 years seems like eons on the technological calendar. About 3 weeks ago my phone was broken for a 24 hour period and I felt completely lost without it. I didn't know what to do with myself, which is quite sad. 

I woke up with the idea the write this article because I wanted to throw another log on the flame of the GOAT fire. I wanted to be "that guy" that made another set-in-stone premature proclamation and contribute yet another silly argument that the current state of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the greatest we've seen…of all time. But unlike many people with a forum to write on, I'm going to pump the brakes and let it play out like it is meant to be. I've talked myself out of writing the article I was intending to write. It's just too soon. 

If I can say one thing about the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now, it is this… If you aren't watching it yet, turn it on. We may be witnessing history. SO FAR we are in the middle of the greatest of all time zone. Like your friend that told you to turn on Game of Thrones and "watch just one or two episodes", fully knowing that you were going to be hooked 15 minutes into episode 1, I'm being that guy right now with hockey. Like Nike, Just Do It.