The “black guy dies first” line has become shorthand for a long-standing, maddening expectation in American horror: Black characters show up, they warn us of danger (or crack a joke), and then, too often, get dispatched before the final credits roll. That shorthand isn’t just a punchline; it’s a pattern with roots in Hollywood’s representational habits, and it carries cultural meaning about expendability, narrative function, and who is allowed to survive fear on screen. Robin R. Means Coleman...

Ryan Coogler’s career is often described as meteoric, but his rise as a filmmaker is also a testament to vision, discipline, and collaboration. From his earliest short films to helming one of the highest-grossing superhero movies of all time, Coogler has built a reputation as both a sensitive storyteller and a bold director unafraid to tackle cultural and political themes head-on. At the heart of his journey is his recurring partnership with actor Michael B. Jordan, a collaboration that has...

The Ghoul’s Gazette  has been a true passion project, months in the making and filled with creativity, care, and intention. From the very beginning, I wanted to craft a mini issue that celebrated a full cast of POC talent, addressing the deep-rooted underrepresentation that has shaped so much of visual culture. This project became a space to honor culturally specific stories, identities, and aesthetics that are often overlooked, while reimagining the eerie, the haunting, and the beautiful...