by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
We all have that feeling. You know the one: You finish watching a movie and something about it hits you in just the right spot.
Whether it was the theme, the story, or even the characters, there was a quality about it that almost makes you want to turn around and go back a second, third, or even fourth time!
Bar the reality of living in the movie theater for the rest of your days, you turn to the rest of pop culture and start to look for other avenues where you can find that same feeling.
Well I’m here to make this plight easier for all. Each month, I take a piece of pop culture that was prevalent in the social consciousness — whether it is a movie, TV show, or something else — and then recommend other forms of media for those who want to stay in that world a little bit longer.
Welcome to your One Stop Pop, internet!
Ah, the beginning of summer. A wondrous time for any movie lover, as we’re invited into a world of brand new big cinema, and hopefully about to see the ones that will set a tone for the rest of the year in a way that is exciting and surprising.
This year has been no different, with Marvel starting off a varied and very interesting slate of summer movies with its new team-up film Thunderbolts*.It seems strange to throw together a bunch of haphazard B-characters from films that many people thought to be lesser. From a forgotten Ant-Man villain, to the adopted family of a “fridged” Avenger, there were many, many, many questions as to what on earth this movie would be, and whether it would be worth any of the trouble.
Well, it certainly came out with a bang, taking over social media waves in a way that Marvel has been incapable of doing for a while yet. So of course it makes sense to analyze these unlikely heroes, and see what else fans of this title might enjoy while they wait for the next MCU property to drop.
Book: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Speaking of properties that started something off with a bang, let’s talk about the incredibly popular trope of a group of unlikely teammates thrown together by chance to do the impossible, and the book that started a whirlwind in the publishing industry because of it.
Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows released in 2015, and created a maelstrom of followup stories that all had the same idea. What if you got a whole bunch of people from the wrong side of the tracks, and made them work together to achieve something that no one has ever been able to (sound familiar?)?
We find this particular team in the gritty, underbelly of Ketterdam, a fantastical world of cheats, liars, and scoundrels. However, today mastermind Kaz Brekker has been given a commission to succeed in a high-stakes heist that could change the course of his life, and that of anyone who is with him. Assembling a crew of six outcasts, they have to use their deadly skills, past experiences, and lack of trust in order to get through this — or end up dead.
Although part of a wider fantasy universe, this is a novel you can absolutely read as a standalone, and should. Combining hard-cutting wit, exciting action, and weirdly lovable characters all within just under 500 pages is a perfect pairing with the Marvel movie touting a lot of the same elements.
TV Show: Peacemaker
Now, it wouldn’t be fair to be touting the MCU’s new version of events without looking to the other end of the aisle, where another unlikely group of “heroes” make their name known.
Peacemaker took one of the most befuddling characters from the resequel, The Suicide Squad, and gave him an entire arc of atonement and empathy-building — and wouldn’t you believe it? It worked.
Picking up where the aforementioned movie leaves off, we see Peacemaker as he recovers from his bruised ego — and broken bones — with a dangerous new purpose. Along the way, he develops morals, forges friendships, and also has one of the most unstoppable opening titles in modern television history.
This is a role where John Cena really shines, as he balances between the almost childlike personality of his character, with brutal violence, and unwavering James Gunn-esque wit. It’s no surprise that this is one of the few titles to be ported over to the new Gunn DCU, with this cast of characters likely to make more of a splash across some of the upcoming teamup movies.
Album/Podcast: Ginuwine…The Bachelor by Ginuwine
Thunderbolts* wasn’t the first to use “Pony” by Ginuwine in its soundtrack, and it almost certainly won’t be the last. An infamous song used for so many scenes of a risqué nature, I think it’s about time the rest of his album got touted for the influence it has had in media.
A legend in the R&B space, Ginuwine managed to create music that is ageless, adaptable, and incredibly catchy in this debut album, through his use of sensual tones, and intelligent songwriting.
While we all know the aforementioned song (I promise that you do — you just might not recognize the title), there are plenty of other tracks on here that are worth picking up 28 years after release.
Considered to be an album that revitalized the genre to the next level of excitement and branding, Ginuwine combined funk, quiet storm, soul, and even a bit of electro to create some really interesting sounds in this EP.
Produced by another well-known name, Timbaland, this is largely considered to be one of the most influential pieces of music for ‘90s R&B, which has been sampled, licensed, and listened to over and over again across the decades.
Receiving a double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America, it’s no surprise that most of these are ear worms that even the children of today might recognize.
Video Game: TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children
All this talk of lovable rogues, high speed action, sensuality, and cracking stories has likely gotten any reader interested in exploring this for themselves.
There are many games where a rag-tag group gets together in order to complete an impossible task — whether that be giant modern RPG’s like Baldur’s Gate 3,or more classic team up games like Fallout, the world isn’t lacking of this sort.
However, there’s a certain character element present in Thunderbolts* that speaks to a desire for a stronger narrative force behind their intentions and their outcomes. TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children may just be the answer to these calls.
This game is an elaborate turn-based strategy RPG set in a nation of no rules, no morals, and no hopes, which also happens to be named Valhalla (classic, right?). Civilians known as Troubleshooters are given agency to fight crime, by any means necessary, which is where the player comes in. Taking the reins of a young Troubleshooter named Albus, your job is to form a team of uniquely skilled allies, and battle your way through possibly hundreds of missions.
Each character you unlock and take onboard further unlocks different elements of the game. There is also quite a cinematic energy to the visuals, combat, and music that has a sense of exciting energy to it, altering based on the decision made by the player, no matter where the game was originally intended to go.
It’s a crazy one that might take you down some paths that you don’t expect, which is perfect for this month’s recommendations.
This has certainly been a tumultuous month, as life as been for our beloved antiheroes in Thunderbolts*.Through trend-setting narratives, to damaged superheroes, to classic music, to strategic adventure, there is hopefully something that any reader can take a shining to, based on this month’s focus.
Next month is sure to be a doozy, as we analyze what June had to offer. However, until then, thank you for visiting SiftPop’s One Stop Pop — we hope to see you again soon!
You can read more from Alice-Ginevra Micheli, and follow her on Instagram and Letterboxd