Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven – review

Here’s a review of Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven (a DC YA graphic novel) by our 9-year-old daughter (aka Luna Lamb).

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Beast Boy loves Raven carries on from the first two comics in an incredible way. With connections from the first two books (Teen Titans: Raven & Teen Titans: Beast Boy) and full colour, this interesting comic is a spectacular way to continue making the Teen Titans an amazing and hilarious team in the DC universe.

One of the ways it is interesting is how it portrays the characters. Beast Boy is displayed as a teen who idolises everyone and is incredibly self conscious. Raven is made to look like a dark and moody teen but is really a fun and grateful girl who recognises a bully when she sees one. Her foster sister, cousin and best friend Max is protective, kind and ”Not a hope for the best type of girl”. 

Another way it is interesting is how powers are discovered. Raven’s emerge through simply going to school. If an untrained empath went into a building full of teenagers, what would happen? In Raven’s case it caused a splitting headache that was called to a halt after a strange, bird shaped shadow appeared over her head. 

Beast Boy discovered his powers after he ends the supplements that stopped him from gaining weight, height and a lower voice, among other things. There is also how the teens dress that is interesting. Beast Boy loves his green trainers and carries his grey backpack around to put his pet monkey in when travelling.   

Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo, who created this comic series, used their favourite Teen Titans and redesigned, remade and put a strange new twist to these characters. Neither had done a graphic novel before they created the first book Teen Titans: Raven but they managed to make an excellent first comic. Raven is Kami Garcia’s favourite Teen Titan, and the following year Teen Titans: Beast Boy came out, who is Gabriel Picolo’s favourite.  

In this comic Beast Boy is funny, thoughtful and kind while Raven is cautious, caring and trying to fit in. With Max trying to follow Raven everywhere, Gar (Beast Boy)  trying to find vegetarian food and Raven having nightmares (again), new and strange characters are appearing with tech and skill like no other. We meet Damian Wayne, who grew up in the shadow of his father, a wealthy businessman living in Gotham city (who could that be, hmmm?), was raised by his mother in mountains far away, and Adeline, a character who until now has been only behind the phone of Slade Wilson. This comic reveals the secrets of the mysterious Slade and his even more mysterious boss, and sees Raven and Gar trying to hide their dangerous secrets from each other.

Pick pocketing, medical issues, thugs, demons, tests, insanely smart and lovable pets, ghosts and inhumane research labs are all included in this extraordinary comic.

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Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven is out now

Flash Facts review

Here’s a review of Flash Facts (a STEM DC comic collection for 8-12-year-olds) by our 9-year-old daughter (aka Luna Lamb).

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Flash Facts is a funny, scientific, and amazing comic for kids. It explains things like how forensics work, what type of star our sun is, what the names of the four kinds of nucleotides are, and more! Flash, Poison Ivy, Green Lantern, Swamp Thing, and many more DC characters battle baddies, and explain DNA, contortionists, the sea, and more exciting facts! 

Go on ten scientific and technological journeys to learn some incredible facts!

Fast Tracks 

Fast Tracks is a short chapter about forensics. I like how the Flash is telling the readers things consciously. There is a little surprise at the end as well.

If You Can’t Take the Heat

If You Can’t Take the Heat is about Batman and Plastic Man defeating Firefly. I liked the art but I don’t see how you can learn things from it. 

The Facts of Life 

The Facts of Life is about DNA and how it makes up both plants and animals. It tells you what parts of DNA are called and the different types of DNA you can have. It is my personal favourite.

More Than Meets the Eye

More Than Meets the Eye is a Teen Titans Go! story about virtual reality and how a VR headset works as well as how your brain works with your eyes.

Lights-Out 

Lights-Out is a DC Super Hero Girls story about energy and the different types of electricity you can get. I really like how Lights-Out explains how renewable energy works. Perfect for those who want to know how to save our planet.  

(Sub)Atomic

(Sub)Atomic is about atoms and how they work. It also tells you what the building blocks of the universe are.

Home Sweet Space

Home Sweet Space is a chapter about the universe. Supergirl leads a girl called Maya through the galaxy to see what to do for her science project. No baddies here I’m afraid!

Sea for Yourself 

Sea for Yourself is a comic about what lurks in the ocean. I really like the art in it.

Weather or Not

Weather or Not  is about the melting ice in Antarctica. It raises good points about the environment just like Lights-out. If you want to help polar bears look in this chapter and pay close attention. 

Human Extremes

First of all, Arcane is a greedy super villain who wants to capture Swamp Thing and Swamp Kid for a serum that may be inside them. He has some agents who have no emotion in their faces and always wear black suits and glasses. Swamp Kid was found by a swamp as a green, carrot-fingered baby. Swamp Thing can connect to Swamp Kid’s  thoughts. For a more detailed version please look at Swamp Kid Spiral. Second, Human Extremes has a few pretty random facts in it.         

I really enjoyed Flash Facts. I find it funny how some chapter titles are a play on words like “Weather or Not” and “Sea for Yourself”. I find it interesting that there is a bit at the back which tells you how to do and make things. I like how it is funny and tells you things at the same time.

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Curated by award-winning actress and author Mayim Bialik (Big Bang Theory, Blossom), and geared toward readers ages 8-12, DC Comic’s ‘Flash Facts’ explores STEM and how these principles affect our everyday lives.

How to make Authentic Sokovian Paprikash

A key moment in the relationship of the Scarlet Witch and Vision was when he attempted to make Wanda Paprikash, an authentic dish from her made up homeland Sokovia.

Turns out Paprikash is an actual Hungarian dish (Paprikás), served with little flour & egg dumplings (Nokedli).

Scouring the internet for how to make it, I complied this tasty looking recipe. I ran it past a Hungarian colleague who said it looked great – but suggested the addition of the cucumber salad (Uborkasaláta), and noted her grandmother used pork fat (lard) instead of oil & butter.

FYI: Vision’s key mistake appears to be using just “a pinch of Paprika” – this dish requires a lot of Paprika – about 40g, so 100 times ‘a pinch’. The clue is in the name – Paprikás is the Hungarian word for Paprika.

To make this dish I strongly recommend using authentic Hungarian Paprika, as well as a Spaetzle maker for the dumplings (Nokedli).

Serves 4. Allow 30 mins prep, 60 mins cooking time.

How it should look: Chicken Paprikash, with dumplings and cucumber salad

Chicken Paprikash (Paprikás) recipe

  • 1 tbsp oil (or lard)
  • 2 tbsp butter (or lard)
  • 8 chicken thighs, skin on and bone in
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, v.finely chopped
  • 2 green peppers, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 4 tbsp sweet smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 400g tin chopped tomatoes
  • 400ml/14fl oz hot chicken stock
  • 150ml/5fl oz sour cream

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C Fan)

Heat the butter & oil (or lard) in a heavy pan placed over stove.

Season the chicken with salt & pepper, brown in pan then set aside.

Add the onions, garlic and peppers to the pan and gently fry for 10 minutes – until onions are translucent.

REMOVE PAN FROM HEAT: 

Stir in the paprika & flour. Once combined, stir in the tomatoes and stock.

TURN ON HEAT, then return the chicken thighs to the pan. Simmer gently in oven for 30–40 minutes.

Reserve the sour cream until ready to serve.

Now make the optional cucumber salad (Uborkasaláta), and then the essential dumplings (Nokedli).

Dumplings (Nokedli)

  • 140g flour 
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream (or yogurt)
  • 2 tablespoons milk (you may need more or less)
  • Butter or olive oil (for serving)

Mix flour and salt together in a bowl.

Add the eggs and sour cream and whisk the mixture to combine.

Stir in 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until your dough is soft, but not runny. 

(If you are using the board and knife method, the dough should be a little firmer).

When you’re ready to make the Nokedli, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Method 1: Put your Spaetzle maker over the pan of water, and run the dough in small batches into the boiling water using the dough scraper.

Method 2: Put the dough on a wet wooden board and then use the back of a knife to cut small dumplings into a pot of boiling water. I usually use the back of a large spatula for this as the dough won’t stick to it as much as it will stick to a piece of wood. 

Give the dumplings about 30 seconds in the water after they float to the surface, to ensure they are fully cooked.

When cooked, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a bowl, and cover to keep them warm, tossed with a little butter or olive oil to keep them from sticking together.

Hungarian Cucumber Salad (Uborkasaláta)

  • 2 large English cucumbers
  • 250 ml (1 cup) of water
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons of sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of 10% white vinegar
  • Sweet paprika powder (to sprinkle)
  • Ground black pepper (to sprinkle)
  • Salt

Peel the cucumbers and (preferably using a mandolin slicer) cut both cucumbers as thinly as possible into a bowl. 

Add the salt and mix the cucumbers slices to lightly and evenly coat them. Let sit for 30 minutes to draw out the water from the cucumbers.

The cucumbers will release about ½+ cup of liquid. Then, take large handfuls of cucumbers and, with your hands clenched, squeeze out as much liquid as you can and place the balls of squeezed cucumbers in a bowl. Discard the liquid.

In a cup, combine the sugar, the vinegar, and the water and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add this mixture to the squeezed cucumbers and mix thoroughly. Add the chopped garlic, sprinkle with paprika powder and ground black pepper.

Serving the Chicken Paprikash

When ready to serve, stir the soured cream into the chicken mixture, and dish up over the dumplings with the cucumber salad on the side.

Chicken Paprikás, with Nokedli and Uborkasaláta

Leftovers are great the next day with pasta, either short pasta or flat noodles. Or you could make some more Nokedli 😉


For more movie inspired food, why not try my Big Night Timpano?

Alternative Gift Guide for Girls (or Boys): Comics

Every year I like to put together a guide of ‘alternative’ (ie. non-stereotypical) gift ideas for girls. They work for boys too.

This past year, toys have not really factored. New toys at least – as we have hit peak LEGO, Star Wars, dolls, and superhero toys.

But – superheroes are still ever popular with our daughter, and she has acquired a LOT of comics this year. What I’ve really noticed is how much effort the mainstream industry is making to create/repackage comics for girls.

I appreciate this is a potentially contentious observation to make – but I see female characters & creators getting greater visibility, and stories more focussed on character and emotions than power fantasies and hi-tech violence.

Does that mean these titles are targeted at girls? I would say absolutely yes – but that does not mean male fans are excluded. Speaking as one, I enjoyed these titles immensely.

Anyway, here’s our comic book gift guide for girls (and boys).

DC ZOOM comics

Launched this year, DC Zoom is a DC Comics imprint, with titles aimed at readers aged 8-12.

They feature many familiar DC characters, but often in retold origins and backstories. They also have some great titles featuring female protagonists.

1. Black Canary: Ignite

Written by none other than Princess Diaries author Meg Cabot, this is a nice fusion of teen drama and superhero adventure.

In this story, Dinah Lance is an ambitious 13-year-old who not only wants to fight crime – she must first win the battle of the bands, and deal with the consequences of the actions of a mysterious stranger.

2. DC Super Hero Girls

DC have revamped their recent girl-targeted line with a new look and all new stories.

I’m a fan of the update, as is our daughter, and this title & brand remain a great way to introduce girls to superhero comics, as well as hooking existing young fans.

3. Dear Justice League

This is a fun comic, which sees the iconic heroes of the Justice League answer questions from their biggest fans – kids!

Written by novelist Michael Northrop with delightful art by Gustavo Duarte, you’ll find out the answers to burning questions like What was Wonder Woman’s eleventh birthday like? Or Does Aquaman smell like fish? 

DC INK

This is another DC Comics imprint, this time aimed at the YA (Young Adult) market aged 13+ (but I was more than happy for our 7-year-old daughter to read these).

4. Teen Titans: Raven

Raven – in her Teen Titans Go! guise – is a strong favourite of our daughter’s. She also loved this sombre, teen angst ridden retelling of the characters origin.

Written by best-selling author Kami Garcia, with almost monochrome art by Gabriel Picolo, this is a story of surprising depth and nuance.

5. Mera: Tidebreaker

After her empowering turn in the Aquaman movie, Mera gets her own DC Ink title by award-winning author Danielle Paige and illustrator Stephen Byrne.

Here, an engaging tale of teen romance and palace intrigue unfolds, with simple colouring emphasising the aquatic setting and raven hair of the lead character.

Marvel Comics

Marvel have been trying to appeal to a similar market younger and more female market.

They have done this in the main by republishing recent (and not so recent) relevant comic series in the new smaller format favoured by DC Ink.

These offer great value for money, as they consist of 8-12 issue reprints compared to the usual 6 – but for the same price (or even less).

6. The Unstoppable Wasp

This was my happiest discovery of the year. From Writer Jeremy Whitley and artist Elsa Charretier, it centres on the hitherto unknown to me Nadia Pym, long lost daughter of original Ant Man Hank Pym.

What made this series such a delight was the unbridled optimism of the character (which is despite her backstory involving years of enforced captivity).

Collects issues #1-8 of The Unstoppable Wasp (2017) 

7. Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

Another fun new discovery was the adventures of African-American pre-teen tech genius Lunella Lafayette – known as Moon Girl to her classmates – and one of Jack Kirby’s late-seventies Marvel creations Devil Dinosaur.

This first collection, Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur: The Beginning, is a great value TPB, as it features issues #1-12 of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2015).

The follow up collection Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur: Full Moon (issues #13-24) is due to be published in January 2020.

8. Ms. Marvel

Teenage Pakastani-American Kamala Khan burst onto the scene in 2014, and mainstream comics have perhaps never been the same.

Marvel’s first ever Muslim character to headline their own comic, she was an instant hit with fans.

If you haven’t read these yet, Marvel have released 2 great value collections this year:

Ms Marvel: Kamala Khan which collects issues #1–11 plus material from All-New Marvel NOW! Point One

And Ms. Marvel: Metamorphosis, which has issues #12–19, plus S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014) #2 and Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #7-8.

9. Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)

Kate Bishop – confusingly also called Hawkeye – debuted in the Young Avengers way back in 2005.

She was also a key player in Matt Fraction and David Aja’s 2012 series Hawkeye (ostensibly about Clint Barton, but who knows…)

This collects her own series, written by Kelly Thompson supported with lovely art by Leonardo Romero. Set in LA, the Venice Beach based Kate decides to embark on a career as a private eye.

This collects issues #1-12 of Hawkeye (no, not the one mentioned above – another Hawkeye series!)

The title was sadly cancelled after issue #18. You can get the concluding collection of 6 issues in the graphic novel Hawkeye: Family Reunion.

10. Spider-Gwen

Leaping out of comics into more mainstream awareness in the utterly magnificent animated movie Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (which you should definitely see if you haven’t already) was Spider-Gwen.

An alternate-Earth version (that old chestnut) of Peter Parker’s famously dead ex-girlfriend, here she is reimagined as an arachnid powered Spider-Woman, with a nifty outfit, troubled past, and playing drums for high-school rock-band the Mary Janes.

Another great value collection, this has her introduction from Edge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen #1-5 (2015), and the subsequent Spider-Gwen (2015) #1-6.

Other Comic Book suggestions

11. Crystal Fighters

This is one our daughter just picked off the shelf at the comic shop.

From wife & husband team of Jen Bartel (Artist) and Tyler Bartel (Writer), Crystal Fighters is a slick and modern high-school drama encompassing fantasy, sci-fi, virtual reality, and teen angst.

It is slight book in terms of content, as the 144 pages belie the fact that there are often just a few panels per page. But this is an imaginative and engaging story – which had our daughter hooked.

12. Go, Girls, Go! 

Ok, not really a comic – but I wanted to get this is somewhere.

This fun picture book has essentially one aim – to redress the false notion that vehicles, from tractors to space ships, are something only little boys are interested in.

So over the course 40 pages, author Frances Gilbert, with illustrator Allison Black, depict a succession of girls driving various vehicles.

With minimal words, this is ideally for an early reader, and is perfect for any young child – boy or girl.

13. DC: Women of Action

Even less of a “comic”, this is a fantastic celebration of female DC characters.

The author is Shea Fontana, who was also the writer of the earlier DC Super Hero Girls comics as well as various other DC titles.

This would make a lovely gift for anyone who already loves female superheroes – or even someone who you think might be interested.

There is also a Marvel book which does the same for their female characters called Powers of a Girl. We’ve not read this one, so cannot recommend it other than saying it looks pretty cool too (and is on our daughter’s gift list).

DISCLOSURE: This post uses Amazon affiliate links, which means I receive a VERY small fee if you make a purchase via Amazon links, at no extra cost to you 🙂

I’m excited for Frozen 2 – but not a new wave of sexist merchandise

Frozen (2013) was released just shy of 2 years into me being the parent of a daughter. I was at the height of my determination that the princess-industrial complex was not going to dominate her childhood. Continue reading I’m excited for Frozen 2 – but not a new wave of sexist merchandise

Alternative Gift Guide for Girls

It’s that time of year when people are buying girls gifts – but not wanting to waste their money, many buyers tend to stick to more traditional present ideas.

So, here’s a few ideas for anyone looking to get something less stereotypical for a girl, based on things our daughter has enjoyed (or soon will…!) this year.

And yes, this list can be used for present ideas for boys too 🙂

Continue reading Alternative Gift Guide for Girls

Review: DC Super Hero Girls – Search for Atlantis comic

Search for Atlantis is the seventh collection of DC Super Hero Girls comics, written once again by Shea Fontana, with art by Yancy Labat. Continue reading Review: DC Super Hero Girls – Search for Atlantis comic

LEGO City Mining sets – Representation Matters

Smyths Toys sent us these 4 LEGO City Mining sets to review. They’re exclusive to the store, and came in very handy keeping us occupied on the recent snow day! Continue reading LEGO City Mining sets – Representation Matters

LEGO: We need to talk about your Trinity of ‘strong female characters’

To counter the passive princesses often targeted at girls, it’s been a regular parenting pastime of mine to seek out stories with female characters who subvert this stereotype.

Fitting neatly into this are the LEGO movies, which have given us a succession of kick-ass women. Unfortunately – while these characters are proactive and engaging – none of the movies are about them. Continue reading LEGO: We need to talk about your Trinity of ‘strong female characters’

EDF Energy using Star Wars to encourage girls into STEM

Like many a Star War parent, I’ve been keen to get my child into all things involving the galaxy far, far away from an early age. But beyond simple nostalgia and wanting to share a part of my childhood that brought me joy – there is a another motivation. Continue reading EDF Energy using Star Wars to encourage girls into STEM

Star Wars – Forces of Destiny

With Star Wars Forces of Destiny, there has been a great disturbance in the force. Have you felt it? The old order has been subverted.

Star Wars is for girls too. Continue reading Star Wars – Forces of Destiny

LEGO DC Super Hero Girls – Lena Luthor Kryptomite Factory (41238)

These LEGO sets continue to be the most satisfying toys in the whole DC Super Hero Girls line.

One of the larger sets from the second wave of LEGO DC Super Hero Girls releases, this is headlined by the villain Lena Luthor. Continue reading LEGO DC Super Hero Girls – Lena Luthor Kryptomite Factory (41238)

Dear daughter – a letter from daddy

*This is a sponsored post*

In what may appear a rather morbid exercise, I’ve been asked by Compare the Market to pen a letter to my daughter for her to read in the event of my death.

I guess I didn’t look at it in a negative way. I found the exercise a great way to look back on our time together and distill my parenting experiences and approach within a piece of writing.

Here’s a taster from my letter: Continue reading Dear daughter – a letter from daddy

A little LEGO Batman fan being served her first Lobster Thermidor

As anyone who has seen The LEGO Batman movie will know, Lobster Thermidor is a big factor in plastic brick Bruce Wayne/Batman’s life.

Continue reading A little LEGO Batman fan being served her first Lobster Thermidor

Unleashing your inner Spider-Man (or Spider-Girl)

Spider-Man has been my favourite superhero since I was a kid, so it’s not surprising that Spidey has also featured heavily in my daughter’s childhood. Continue reading Unleashing your inner Spider-Man (or Spider-Girl)

Wonder Woman DK Books review

No other female superhero is as iconic as Wonder Woman, and she is a character I have encouraged my daughter to engage with since she was a toddler. However, there’s often been a dearth of products suitable for children – and previously I had to scour the globe (and eBay) to find them.

Thankfully with the merchandising push associated with the Wonder Woman movie, we have a new wave of Wonder Woman stuff to access – and these books from DK have been great for our daughter as an outlet to engage with the character following seeing the movie. Continue reading Wonder Woman DK Books review

Since she was a baby, our daughter has made me a better man

Disclosure: I have partnered with Life of Dad  and Pampers for this promotion.

When my wife became pregnant, we were overjoyed. We had decided the time was right to have a child, and it happened relatively quickly which was wonderful. We knew of many people who had struggled.

As my wife’s pregnancy developed, we both agreed it felt like we were going to have a boy. We were absolutely convinced about this. This must be the parental instinct we thought, that we were so in tune with our unborn child, we knew they were a boy.

So we were both really surprised when we found out we were having a girl. We weren’t disappointed, but it just wasn’t what we were expecting. Continue reading Since she was a baby, our daughter has made me a better man

The holiday when I became a stay-at-home dad

I’ve been asked by travel agent Thomas Cook to share one of my favourite holiday #DadMoments photos.

I chose this snap from almost 5 years to the day in 2012, when our daughter was a 5 month old baby. It was taken in a cafe on Venice Beach, California. Continue reading The holiday when I became a stay-at-home dad

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: A collection of feminist bedtime stories

I have tended to avoid children’s books that proclaim themselves to be ‘for girls’ (or boys), as they usually conform to traditional stereotypes. But Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – a collection of feminist bedtime stories – is different. And is the children’s book of our dreams. Continue reading Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: A collection of feminist bedtime stories

My Sunday Photo – our daughter as Astronaut Tim Peake

In a happy occurrence that supported our continued efforts to teach our daughter about gender equality, she pretended to be British Astronaut Tim Peake this week.  Continue reading My Sunday Photo – our daughter as Astronaut Tim Peake

Gender specific colours: In praise of boys who like ‘girl colours’

Among my daughter’s classmates (age 4-5) there are children who have already decided, figured out, or been taught that there is such a thing as gender specific colours – specifically ‘girl colours’ Continue reading Gender specific colours: In praise of boys who like ‘girl colours’

The Women’s FA Cup and beyond: Empowering girls with football

Playing football has been a rite of passage for British boys for generations – whether at home, in school, at the park, or in the streets. But this has not been the case for girls – which is a shame, as we should be empowering girls with football. Continue reading The Women’s FA Cup and beyond: Empowering girls with football

Observations on hosting boy girl playdates

Recently I have been hosting boy girl playdates with my daughter and various boys in her class. They’ve been fascinating to witness. Continue reading Observations on hosting boy girl playdates

Girl with a Spider-Man camera

It was love at first sight when our daughter spotted this Spider-Man camera toy.

She has never really been one to use pester power too much, and if she was I’m sure my wife and I wouldn’t easily acquiesce to her demands.

That said, on the rare occasions that she DOES beg me to buy her something I tend to go along with it, as this happens so rarely. TBH, it helps a lot if it’s something I think is cool. Continue reading Girl with a Spider-Man camera

It’s official – Star Wars is for girls too…

For the first time since becoming the father of a daughter, it seems that the keepers of the galaxy far, far away have admitted what we knew all along – that Star Wars is for girls tooContinue reading It’s official – Star Wars is for girls too…

Jesus Christ? He’s just another superhero…

As a secularist and an atheist, my biggest issue with our daughter attending school – where she is really thriving – has been how religious teaching, specifically Christianity, has become part of her education. This is despite it being a non-faith state school. Continue reading Jesus Christ? He’s just another superhero…

The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes (London) review

Anything involving LEGO and DC superheroes is always going to catch my eye, so we found ourselves at The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes exhibition in London. Continue reading The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes (London) review

Taking my daughter to her first comic shop (#MySundayPhoto)

An important part in any geek parent’s life – taking their kid to a comic shop for the first time. Continue reading Taking my daughter to her first comic shop (#MySundayPhoto)

Geek clothes for girls (and boys) from Character.com

Finding geek clothes for girls is something that’s always been an ongoing quest of mine.  As our daughter wears a lot character/graphic clothing, I was keen to check out the Character.com clothing website. They’re an online shop that sell – you guessed it – character clothes, for both kids and adults. Continue reading Geek clothes for girls (and boys) from Character.com

Mattel’s ‘Dads Who Play Barbie’ campaign

Mattel approached me to be part of their ‘Dads Who Play Barbie’ campaign, and I was happy to do so. As the stay-at-home dad of a little girl, I am well versed in playing dolls with my daughter (though only a couple of them are actual Barbies). Continue reading Mattel’s ‘Dads Who Play Barbie’ campaign

LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Batgirl’s Batjet (41230)

As far as I’m concerned, this Batgirl’s Batjet LEGO set justifies the entire existence of the DC Super Hero Girls brand. Continue reading LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Batgirl’s Batjet (41230)

LEGO Female Superheroes have finally broken the plastic ceiling

With the arrival of DC Super Hero Girls LEGO, alongside increasing numbers of LEGO Female Superheroes minifigures in the regular Marvel and DC Superheroes line, 2017 is the year that female LEGO superheroes finally shatter the plastic brick ceiling. Continue reading LEGO Female Superheroes have finally broken the plastic ceiling

Celebrating Disney Princesses of Colour

I want to celebrate some Disney Princesses… of colour. Continue reading Celebrating Disney Princesses of Colour

Be like Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back

To me, this is the defining image of Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia. Continue reading Be like Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back

Review: Kiki’s Delivery Service at the Southwark Playhouse

An utterly delightful Christmas treat for us this year was seeing this stage adaptation of Kiki’s Delivery Service at the Southwark Playhouse in London. Continue reading Review: Kiki’s Delivery Service at the Southwark Playhouse

We should all be the Wonder Woman of the party

Like a doomsday device counting down to zero, I have awaited my daughter’s embrace of Princess Culture with dread. Continue reading We should all be the Wonder Woman of the party

Does the world need pink and blue globes?

Spotted these in a high street shop this week. One globe is as you would expect – blue oceans, green and brown landmasses. The other is pink.

It may not say ‘boy’ and ‘girl’, but there can’t be any doubt that this is the intention. Continue reading Does the world need pink and blue globes?

Reinventing Princesses: The League of Extraordinary Ladies

Me: “What did you do at school today?”

4yo: “Played princesses.”

Now, this answer should horrify me. I hate princesses, and their pastel domination of our girls’ childhoods. As a brand, they represent everything I don’t want for my daughter.

But I was curious, as I had a suspicion it might not be what I feared. Continue reading Reinventing Princesses: The League of Extraordinary Ladies

She passed the Fake Geek Girl test. But she shouldn’t have to.

My 4-year-old daughter likes pink. She likes Frozen. She likes My Little Pony. But she also likes green. She also likes superheroes. She also likes Star Wars. Continue reading She passed the Fake Geek Girl test. But she shouldn’t have to.

The British Royal Family and the problem with Princesses

We were watching an event on TV recently, and I noticed William and Kate, aka the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, our future King and Queen, in the audience. Continue reading The British Royal Family and the problem with Princesses

Superheroes are for Girls (and Boys)

When my daughter was about 2-years-old, on a trip to the local soft play centre a rather confused looking older boy asked me “Is she a boy or a girl?” about my daughter.

Resisting the urge to point out he’d already answered his question I simply replied “She’s a girl.”

“Why is she wearing a Spider-Man t-shirt then?” he retorted. Continue reading Superheroes are for Girls (and Boys)

Female Empowerment: Raising a Confident Girl

I took our daughter to London’s Science Museum. It’s one of those places that we had always intended to take her to repeatedly. Knowing that many girls are dissuaded from an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing), the Science Museum was going to be a key way to encourage it.

Well, we finally got round to it – motivated by knowing our chances to do this mid-week term time were lessening every day. Soon she’ll be at school and we’ll be locked into the holiday/weekend museum crush. Continue reading Female Empowerment: Raising a Confident Girl

In My Little Pony, Feminism as well as Friendship is Magic

For as long as I’ve been blogging about being a parent raising a daughter in the shadow of princess culture, I’ve had online feedback suggesting I check out the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic cartoon (aka MLP:FiM).

At first, I ignored them. What were they thinking? These people clearly didn’t understand I wanted to show my daughter content with themes of female empowerment and self-confidence; to find stories and characters that didn’t patronise young girls; that had imaginative female led tales of action and adventure yet with stimulating and thought provoking scenarios. My Little Pony was surely part of the problem – not the solution. Continue reading In My Little Pony, Feminism as well as Friendship is Magic

How Disney’s Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) Tackles Race and Gender Inequality

Do you want to have an age appropriate talk with your child about prejudice, discrimination, and identity politics – but don’t know where to begin? Well, show them Zootropolis (aka Zootopia in the US) and talk about that. Continue reading How Disney’s Zootropolis (aka Zootopia) Tackles Race and Gender Inequality

Two Dads’ Hopes For Their Daughters’ Future

For International Women’s Day, Oxfam approached me with an intriguing proposition. Knowing that I often write about my hopes and aspirations for our daughter, and the potential barriers in her way because of her gender, they put me in touch with another dad of a little girl.

He is Alex Namusokwe (37), who is the father of Ethel (7). They live in rural Zambia, about 200 km from Zambia’s capital Lusaka. Continue reading Two Dads’ Hopes For Their Daughters’ Future

Some Dads DO Babysit. It’s All That’s Expected of Us

This time last year, there were a flurry of stories about my daughter and I published around the world. A US writer spotted an angle for a “sweet article about (my) daughter’s outfits”, and that got noticed by the likes of The Independent & Metro in UK, Buzzfeed and ABC News in US, and then various outlets across the globe. Radio and TV appearances followed. Perhaps you are reading this because you started following my blog after coming across one of those.

The premise was basically I was an at-home parent letting my (then) 3-year-old daughter choose what she wears every morning. And the outfits were kinda cool and not traditionally ‘girly’.

When I asked, the writers of those articles told me the same thing – what made this story ‘a story’ was the fact that I was a dad of a daughter.

While it was nice to bask in the mostly supportive comments (US conservatives aside – yikes), the fact people were reacting strongly to it highlighted an issue we have with parenting.

Is dad all there is?

Continue reading Some Dads DO Babysit. It’s All That’s Expected of Us

Female Star Wars Characters: The Importance of a lady X-Wing pilot

Here’s a game for you. Try and find a female pilot in the original Star Wars trilogy. Is there one in Star Wars? Nope. The Empire Strikes Back. Nope. Return of the Jedi? Yes! Well, kind of. Continue reading Female Star Wars Characters: The Importance of a lady X-Wing pilot

Lottie, a Doll to Inspire Our Little Girls

Lottie Dolls, little girl playing with dolls,My daughter has various dolls – Barbie, Cindy, some Phantom Menace Padme Amidalas, a Princess Leia, and a 90’s Storm (that I randomly found boxed at a local charity shop for £2). But I think she has found her favourite one yet – the Lottie doll. Continue reading Lottie, a Doll to Inspire Our Little Girls