Black Nerd Problems

Starred review from May 10, 2021
Evans and Holmon, cofounders of the website Black Nerd Problems, bring their pop culture criticism to this wide-ranging, compulsively readable debut collection. Touching on such topics as the hidden depths of boxing-inspired anime Hajime no Ippo, the irony of Hamilton’s steep ticket prices, and Game of Thrones’s one Black character, Evans and Holman are often hilarious (The Lion King’s “Simba... is straight up landfill. Trash. Rubbage”) and always original. In addition to straightforward essays, some entries come in the form of high-octane, joyful dialogue between the authors, as in “Two Dope Boys and an—Oh My God, the Flash Got Fucked Up!” for example, in which the authors discuss the Flash: “I ain’t ever seen a hero get their body Earth’d like that since Superman’s funeral.” The most gripping essays use cultural events as an entry point to discuss larger topics: Evans’s “The Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems” poignantly uses a local comics convention to open a conversation about the ongoing violence against and oppression of Black people, and “Go On: An Evergreen Comedic Series That Helped Me Navigate Loss” sees Holmon processing the grief of his mother’s death with the help of a short-lived NBC sitcom. This hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful—and fun—cultural criticism can be. Agent: Katherine Latshaw, Folio Literary.

August 1, 2021

Identifying as a nerd doesn't necessarily make life easy. And being a Black nerd is its own nuanced experience that Evans and Holmon know well. They've been writing about Black Nerd Problems since 2013 on their website of the same name, which has spawned this eponymous collection of 46 essays. The short pieces (most are six to nine pages each) cover myriad aspects of pop culture: comic books, television dramas like The Wire and Breaking Bad, Disney movies, Hamilton, gaming, and more. The writing is alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate, sometimes all within the same essay. The authors' knowledge of all things nerdy is encyclopedic yet the depth at which they connect their subject matter to real-life issues is what makes the book stand out. Police reform, universal basic income, the white gaze, and social justice are all mentioned alongside heroes and villains. All the essays center Black nerd identity, but readers' nerd knowledge doesn't have to be exhaustive for this book to resonate. The writing is conversational and invites spirited agreement or antagonism from its audience. Although the essays contain strong language, don't let it deter this purchase for older high schoolers. For students of color who love to debate the merits of DC versus Marvel, or even just nerd out to Disney's The Lion King, this book will be their mirror. And with so many essays, there's something for all nerds, regardless of the depth of their fandom. VERDICT Hilarious and thought-provoking essays that read like talking to a friend. Recommended for purchase.-Lindsay Jensen, Nashville P.L.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 15, 2021
The first book from the creators of the popular Black Nerd Problems website. In their literary debut, Evans and Holmon examine a broad swath of the popular-culture landscape, from anime and video games to comic books and movies, mixing social commentary and insight with the sheer love of the true fan. In the introduction, the authors introduce nerd culture and the joy of connecting over shared passions, with Holmon offering a solid encapsulation of both the content and the voice: "That feeling of excitement and passion for a show, book, or character that fucks with you and then wanting to share that amongst friends or even strangers, hoping they feel the same thing you do....Isn't that worth fighting for, for Black nerds and nerds of color to come together and share that joy?" The essays include breakdowns of particular shows and characters--ranging from an in-depth analysis of Simba ("It's Time We Stop Pretending That Simba Wasn't Garbage in The Lion King") to the Black superhero in Into the Spider-Verse--along with musings on the representation of people of color in comics, the shifting definitions of nerds and nerd culture, and the reflection of social issues in popular-culture texts. The book's format, switching between the two authors and including essays that work as dialogues, offers the sense of hearing conversations between best friends. The authors provide lighthearted material, such as an excellent essay that describes how Mario Kart shows you exactly the kind of person you really are, as well as serious inquiry--e.g., the "Sobering Reality of Actual Black Nerd Problems," which focuses on the effect of "violence against black men and boys," or passages about finding respectful characters of color in children's programming like Craig of the Creek or the Legend of Korra. Throughout, the authors reach far and wide across fan culture and use a pleasing blend of humor and pathos to connect readers to the material. An exercise in pop-culture criticism that is simultaneously funny, thoughtful, and provocative.

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