Wayne County Sheriff Chris Otey has released additional details on a follow-up investigation to the recently aired story about an attempt to locate Joshua Musgrave of Fairfield on a Wayne County warrant. Says Otey on Monday, September 30th^Th Officers received a call of a person wearing a camouflage jacket entering near a residence in rural Fairfield. When officers arrived at the scene, they observed an ATV leaving the property with a person matching the description inside. The officers got behind the four-wheeler and the driver turned around and identified the driver as Joshua Musgrave. The deputy activated his lights and siren, but the SUV fled and a pursuit was initiated. The ATV was initially able to evade capture by driving through a wooded area. Off-duty officers were called to the scene and a cordon was set up. Officers located the four-wheeler, but Musgrave escaped on foot. The four-wheeler was recovered and was found to have been stolen out of Wayne County.

Deputies then went to the residence of Musgrave and Jana Carter in rural Geff. While speaking with Carter, officers noticed a second four-wheeled vehicle in the backyard that had also been stolen in a separate theft out of Wayne County. A search warrant was issued and items from numerous thefts and burglaries as well as firearm ammunition and methamphetamine were recovered during the search.

Jana Carter was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of stolen property and neglect of a minor.

Officers followed numerous leads to locate Musgrave and went to a residence in Fairfield around 1:30 a.m. early Monday morning for a tip on Musgrave’s whereabouts. While officers spoke with the homeowner, Musgrave attempted to escape out the back door, was taken into custody without incident and is now lodged in the Wayne County Jail. Joshua Musgrave was charged with:

Possession of methamphetamine

theft

Burglary of a motor vehicle

Neglect of a minor

“Driving with a suspended license.”

Fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer

Obstruction of justice

Careless handling of an ATV or off-highway motorcycle

Unlawful possession of firearms and firearm ammunition

Sheriff Otey says additional charges are possible.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who have been stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for several months, now have a confirmed return plan. Their mission was originally supposed to last just eight days, but technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft left them stranded in space. Fortunately, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that successfully docked with the ISS on September 29, 2024 is scheduled to bring the astronauts back to Earth in early 2025.

Williams and Wilmore’s mission began on June 5, 2024, when they launched aboard the Boeing Starliner to conduct a short stay on the ISS as part of NASA’s spacecraft test efforts. However, various technical problems occurred during the mission, including helium leaks and control thruster failures. While the Boeing Starliner successfully docked with the ISS, NASA ultimately decided to return the spacecraft to Earth without a crew for safety reasons. The Boeing Starliner landed safely in New Mexico on September 6, leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded aboard the ISS.

Despite the unexpected extension of their mission, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore remain in high spirits. Both experienced astronauts with extensive experience in space exploration have adapted well to their extended stay. Williams, a former record holder for most spacewalks by a woman, and Wilmore, an experienced ISS commander, continue their research and maintenance duties aboard the space station. They have also participated in live press conferences, expressing their optimism and sense of duty toward their longer mission.

NASA stressed that there was no immediate danger to the astronauts and there was no rush to get them home. The agency has cited safety as a top priority, especially after the lessons learned from the space shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson reiterated that commitment to safety, saying that space travel inherently carries risks, particularly during test flights such as the Starliner mission.

Williams and Wilmore will remain part of the crew of ISS Expedition 71/72 until their return in early 2025. They will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and two other crew members of NASA’s Crew-9 mission. SpaceX, which has a long track record of successful missions to the ISS, will once again play a critical role in ensuring the safe return of NASA astronauts.

Although the journey home was delayed, the successful docking of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft marks an important step towards the return of the stranded astronauts to Earth. As Williams and Wilmore continue their work on the ISS, they are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of space explorers, even in the face of unexpected challenges.

Featured Image Source: Xbox Game Studios

Topics: Halo, PC, Steam, Mods

The connection between martial arts and PMC Wagner

With a worldwide, consolidated fan base, mixed martial arts (MMA) has grown in popularity in Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union since the early 2000s, driven by the success of local promotions such as: B. international stars Fedor Emelianenkoand the rise of dominant fighters from regions like Dagestan and the Caucasus, like Khabib Nurmagomedov. Government support and increasing media coverage have further cemented MMA’s status as one of the most popular sports in the region. Due to their cultural significance (historical, cultural and socio-economic), martial arts have become an extremely thriving element for the local population extremisms in Russian society. However, as MMA becomes more popular, it poses serious security problems as extremist organizations use it for recruiting and propaganda purposes. The martial arts environment has become a breeding ground for various types of violent extremism across the ideological spectrum Jihadism for the extreme right. Among the most proactive organizations is the PMC (Private Military Company) Wagner, which has established a recruiting system based on a network of gyms and sports centers specializing in martial arts. PMC Wagner recruits fighters with the promise of financial rewards, career opportunities and shared ideological views such as nationalism or patriotism. For fighters from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, joining Wagner offers a lucrative alternative to an uncertain career in professional sports.

This insight examines the recruiting supply chain developed by PMC Wagner that leverages the martial arts environment and analyzes the key elements that influence its operations. Our research shows how PMC Wagner used martial arts to build a recruiting, advertising and promotion system. Through an in-depth analysis of the pro-Wagner online ecosystem, particularly on Telegram, we were able to partially reconstruct the recruitment supply chain and observe the connection between Wagner and the martial arts community. This connection is evident in the information disseminated within the ecosystem that reaches recruiting centers, mainly gyms and sports facilities. From this first data collection (Figure 1), part of the Wagner recruitment network appears to reflect the deep-rooted cultural importance of martial arts in Russian society.

It is important to note that building a recruitment network is a typical bottom-up system. The fitness studios shared by the Wagner broadcasters are not centers built by the PMC, but rather specialized and already active sports centers and fitness studios that are known in the area and, above all, have existing advertising systems. In practice, Wagner uses the networks that each center has already implemented. These centers joined Wagner for ideological reasons, e.g Ultranationalism And Right-wing extremismand formed an important part of the recruitment network.

Social network analysis

On March 10, 2023, the official Telegram channel of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the now deceased founder of Wagnerpublished a PDF with a list of 58 recruiting centers by city and address, with telephone reference. From this document, the names of the gyms that were involved in recruiting the group could be found. In addition, the gyms’ social media were examined to conduct a more in-depth, evidence-based investigation. The first piece of evidence that emerges from the study is the centrality of MMA competitions and the role of each individual fighter.

This begs the question: What are the key events in which recruited forces can best be deployed? The answer lies in tournaments – gatherings where offline and online propaganda converge. These events provide an opportunity to recruit additional manpower and expand the pool to include fighters not directly affiliated with PMC Wagner.

On the one hand, we see Wagner practically delegating some of the recruitment to the Wagner Centers, setting them up as megaphones of pro-Wagner and pro-violence propaganda; On the other hand, we notice that the social media of these centers becomes more active during national and international tournaments. During these events, the social media profiles of the fighters and Wagner centers maximize their communication and promotional activities. Wagner-affiliated gyms and fighters mutually promote athletic and paramilitary events (Figure 3). Participation of fighters in tournaments helps identify those who are ideologically aligned or in need of financial stability.

The second edition of The Insight Evidence shows how Pro Wagner events are promoted primarily through MMA competitions. Wagner uses MMA competitions as propaganda forums. Wagner-affiliated fighters participate in these events, which are shared widely on social media, expanding the group’s audience and impact. PMC Wagner has built an online and offline recruiting network permeated by pro-violence societies and extremist ecosystems such as the far right, ultra-nationalists, etc Jihadists. It is interesting to note that despite these conflicting ideologies, Wagner’s recruiters exploit the economic needs of already violent and radicalized subjects by luring them with the promise of an “adventurous life.” This narrative can be seen in Prigozhin’s film productionwhose aim is to mythologize the figure of the mercenary Wagner. Extremist ideology becomes merely an attractive and functional tool for recruiting new mercenaries.

Having established that the competition and the fighters are the key elements of the propaganda and that the centers act as the supporting infrastructure of the system, a one-stage analysis of the social networks was carried out (starting with the Two mode with fighters and tournaments), we focused exclusively on the fighters to identify the most active participants in martial arts tournaments, both online and offline, and to determine which Wagner-affiliated center they were associated with.

Figure 4 illustrates the main cluster of the Wagner-related fighter network. The size of the nodes (representing fighters) indicates their size PageRank Level. This measure determines the relevance of each node based on the number of incoming relationships and the importance of the connected source nodes. In general, it is assumed that the meaning of a node is influenced by the pages linked to it. In other words, PageRank shows the popularity of certain nodes within the network and their ability to interact with other important (popular) nodes.

Social network analysis shows that more than 60% of fighters come from the same Wagner Center (Figure 4: W Center 1). One fighter competed in multiple tournaments and acted as a liaison to several other gyms.

Although it might appear that W-Centre 1 and the fighter with a high PageRank are community leaders, this would be a misunderstanding. Given the structure of the Wagner recruiting system and its methods, the supply chain is leaderless and horizontal, relying on physical presence at tournaments rather than centralized leadership.

Diploma

The increasing popularity of MMA in Russia, driven by a combination of historical, cultural and socioeconomic factors, has raised significant safety concerns. This study shows how PMC Wagner exploited the martial arts landscape for recruitment and propaganda, building a sophisticated network that combined ideological indoctrination with financial incentives. The network allows Wagner to attract individuals with advanced combat skills, mobilize them efficiently, and expand his influence within and within Russia international. The analysis highlights the central role of MMA tournaments in PMC Wagner’s recruiting efforts. These events serve as crucial hubs where offline and online propaganda converge, allowing Wagner to attract recruits and expand his influence. Fighters who compete in these tournaments gain visibility and act as bridges to other gyms, facilitating the spread of Wagner’s message and recruiting efforts. While it is notable how Wagner’s leadership has capitalized on the popularity of the martial arts arena and select allied centers, understanding the full impact of this recruiting strategy requires on-the-ground insight. This deeper knowledge would provide a clearer picture of how these alliances contribute to Wagner’s recruiting success and overall operational reach.

Technology companies can play an important role in disrupting PMC Wagner’s recruiting supply chain by monitoring, regulating and taking proactive measures on their platforms where much of the group’s recruiting and propaganda efforts take place. Platforms must invest in AI and machine learning systems capable of detecting extremist content and recruitment patterns. These systems can analyze not only text, but also images, videos and metadata to detect signs of extremist activity, such as: B. coded language, symbols or recruitment narratives embedded in content. These automated systems should be supplemented by human moderators who review flagged content. For example, many pro-Wagner narratives are driven by prominent MMA personalities, influencers, or fighters who serve as the group’s brand ambassadors. Removing these influencers from platforms like Instagram, Telegram and VK will help dismantle their digital recruitment network. Additionally, real-time monitoring is important for dynamic threats such as extremist recruitment. This could include tracking trending topics and discussions that could indicate recruitment efforts or coordinated campaigns. Platforms can also set up alert systems to inform moderation teams of potential hot spots or spikes in extremist activity, enabling a faster and more targeted response to emerging threats.

Have you heard the news yet? Georgia football faces the top-ranked team in the country this weekend as they travel to Texas to take on the Longhorns.

Texas presents many challenges for Georgia to overcome this Saturday. I think everyone knows how talented the Longhorns offense is, but one thing that isn’t talked about enough is their elite defense. In fact, Texas has the No. 1 defense in the country.

While this stat probably scares you, when you look at their opponents and see how talented they are (or how talented they are), you’ll quickly realize that the Longhorns may have the best defense so far this season.

Offensives Texas has played so far (total offense)

UTSA: 67
Mississippi State: 78
Colorado State: 86
Michigan: 119
Oklahoma: 125
ULM: 127

– Kelvin (@kelvbred) October 14, 2024

The post above shows very clearly how Texas managed to have the best defense. All six opponents they have played against do not have a good offense. Three of them don’t even make the top 100, and the best offense they’ve ever faced is only No. 67.

I’m sure you know where I’m going with this. So, want to guess where Georgia’s offense is so far this season?

The Bulldogs enter this game with the 28th ranked offense in the country. Statistically speaking, this is by no means an elite offense, but it is much better than any team Texas has ever faced.

So I think the Longhorns will have a hard time slowing down Georgia’s offense on Saturday. We all saw what Carson Beck and the offense can do in their win over Mississippi State last week when Beck put on a career performance, but can they do it on college football’s biggest stage? Not only do I believe they can, but I believe they will. I think Texas will have no answer at all to Georgia’s offense and will be surprised at how talented they are.

In my opinion, this game will come down to whether Georgia can slow down the Texas offense, which happens to be the No. 7 team in the country. If they can do that, I think the Bulldogs will have a big win on Saturday.

Since there are so many betting options for the NBA season, we asked PressBox’s Stan “The Fan” Charles, Glenn Clark and Spencer Schultz to share with us some of their favorite futures bets for this season.

All numbers are from FanDuel Sportsbook as of mid-October.

Stan “The Fan” Charles

Detroit Pistons under 25.5 wins (-115)

The Pistons won just 17 games in the 2022-23 season, which led to them giving former Suns coach Monty Williams a six-year, $78.5 million contract. But the team won just 14 games in the 2023-24 season and released Williams in June with $65 million remaining on his contract.

I’m not saying new coach JB Bickerstaff is better or worse than Williams, but a rise to 12 wins seems monumental with such a young squad.

The most valuable player selections

I’ll give you five players to cheer for. They all have odds that make it worth your while if you manage to get one of them to finish as the league’s MVP.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (+1900)
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+2100)
Yes Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (+3400)
Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves (+50000)
Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks (+50000)

Glenn Clark

Victor Wembanyama records a quadruple-double in every regular season game (+1200)

How can you not try this? Wemby is a unicorn. We’ve never seen a player like him. In a game against the Nuggets last year, he had 23 points, 15 rebounds, 9 blocks and 8 assists. Spurs’ squad is slightly better this year with new additions Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, but it’s still Wembanyama’s show and I’ve got to keep this ticket.

Phoenix Suns over 47.5 wins (-108)

Look, I’m a big Suns fan, so maybe this gives me some hope. But I really believe that bringing in two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer is a serious improvement. And while I’m concerned about the age and health of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, those were issues last year and they still managed to win 49 games.

Bronny James scores more than 20 points in every regular season game (+1000)

This is just another ticket I have to keep. LeBron James seems desperate to justify that Bronny was worth drafting. Since the Lakers probably won’t be very good, there should be a number of ways to force this issue.

Spencer Schultz

Oklahoma City Thunder over 56.5 wins (-115)

Oklahoma City has the talent, the experience, the depth and now the big men to dominate. This could be a 65-win team considering how absurdly strong this roster is in every way.

Houston Rockets over 43.5 wins (-108)

The Rockets are being overlooked as another rising team in the Western Conference. They’re deep like the Thunder, but not as green, and now they’re hungry to get to the playoffs. You can shoot, defend and attack in the open field.

Reed Sheppard wins Rookie of the Year (+650)

The sharpshooter comes from a Kentucky program that produces successful players early on.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins MVP (+500)

SGA finished second in MVP voting last year, taking home the vast majority of runners-up. If Oklahoma City continues to rise, SGA will be at the forefront of the MVP conversation. Voter fatigue could affect Nikola Jokić.

Photo credit: Courtesy of UK Athletics

Issue 289: October/November 2024

A slightly different kind of zombie film

In MadSWe begin on a seemingly normal and quiet summer evening in France. 18-year-old Romain recently graduated and makes a quick stop at his dealer’s to try out a new drug. What is that? Not even the dealer knows it, but it is a reddish powder that will change the world.

Romain (Milton Riche) is on his way to a party when he sees an injured woman. Or rather, she jumps on his car and enters his convertible – which is obviously not difficult. He decides to help her, but she can’t tell him anything about herself and seems extremely disturbed.

She has a recorder and tries to play some of it for him. Hot tip; Pay attention to what is said in this recording!

Then the woman, wrapped in bandages, begins hitting her head against the dashboard, injuring herself so badly that she dies. Is this really happening, or is Romain just having a bad trip?!

Unfortunately for Romain, it actually happens and he will find more strange things happening. Including a newfound interest in looking into the light. Street lights, lamps, any kind of light. And it gets pretty snappy, but not in the classic zombie style.

MadS is entirely its own creature, but definitely a creature. As the night continues in real time in this one-take, we also meet two other main characters who we follow on-off. These two are portrayed by Laurie Pavy and Lucille Guillaume. And finally Lewkowski Yovel.

According to Zach Udell, vice president of London Jewelers, this year’s luxury watches are inspired by decades past, transforming classics into distinctly modern timepieces suitable for today’s connoisseur.

“Watchmaking is about making old things new again,” he says.

And Udell should know: He’s a fourth-generation member of the family business, which is welcoming enthusiasts to its 14th annual watch show this weekend. The event will showcase the latest and rarest watches from the world’s leading luxury brands – including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier and Bulgari.

Charles London, Udell’s great-grandfather, founded his company in 1926 on Long Island’s Gold Coast, servicing watches for the “wealthy group of Long Island,” including American dynasties such as the Morgans, the Pratts and the Whitneys.

“It was broadly the Great Gatsby era,” Udell says of the Art Deco period of architecture, watch and jewelry design. “I can’t get more New York than that.”

As for today, the retailer’s watch salon is undergoing a major renovation, including a dedicated area dedicated to the enhanced “Rolex experience.” While these exciting updates are underway, this year’s watch show will take place at London Jeweler’s elegant, temporary space at 1988 Northern Blvd., across from Prada in Americana Manhasset. There, guests will find the watchmakers’ latest and best creations under one roof – including limited-edition timepieces that are otherwise only reserved for industry insiders.

Representatives from each watchmaker will be on hand to help customers discover the watch “that speaks to them most,” says Udell. “Some younger generation collectors want to delve deep into a watch’s heritage, and we love being able to help our customers navigate that.”

Visitors are encouraged to try on the watches, “that’s exactly what the watch fair is all about: you go to a trusted jeweler and try out the watch.” The celebrations also include cigar rolling, autumn treats and small appetizers.

As for the watches themselves, Udell says the new offerings from Panerai, Tudor, Omega and Piaget also exemplify this year’s old-is-new trend.

With the new Baignoire collection, “Cartier has achieved an amazing blend of old-world luxury feel and a modern twist,” he notes. (The Baignoire, whose French name means “bathtub,” was first introduced in 1912.) “Combining this old-fashioned look and reinterpreting it in a modern way appeals to a wide range of people of all ages.”

The new platinum version of Rolex’s 1908 timepiece takes its name from the year the brand was founded. The rice grain engraved dial and vintage-style hands pay tribute to Rolex’s traditional design characteristics.

Other clocks must be viewed in person to experience their full effect.

“It’s not possible to fully appreciate what the dial looks like until you see the travel time function actually turning,” says Udell of the new Patek Philippe World Time, whose patented world-first movement synchronizes the date with local time and whose blue-gray carbon Dial matches bracelet. “It has a contemporary, modern case, but you get a feel of old and new, and the denim strap will appeal to every age group.” Patek Philippe’s new Ellipse has also “attracted a lot of interest and buzz; It’s another example of this resurgence of neo-vintage style.”

While not neo-vintage in style, Bulgari’s new Octo Finissimo CarbonGold Perpetual Calendar features the bold combination of a highly complicated movement (often found in more traditional timepieces) with a state-of-the-art carbon case, dial and bracelet.

Piaget, meanwhile, has reintroduced its iconic Polo collection with reduced case sizes. “It’s nice to see the sizes normalizing a bit,” says Udell. “It combines the old with the new.” This has certainly been a recipe for success for London Jewelers, which will celebrate its centenary in 2026.

With more than 270 employees, London Jewelers “still has a mom-and-pop feel to it, as much as we can maintain it,” says Udell. As one of the last remaining family-owned luxury jewelers, the retailer prides itself on providing exceptional customer service. “If a customer has a problem,” he says, “our name is on the line.”

— Hyla Bauer

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Delicate delights: Randi Udell Alper, vice president of London Jewelers, says smaller models are big

Coveted comeback

“The Cartier Baignoire is definitely the hottest watch at the moment. This mini model revival style exudes French flair with its signature oval face. Women are becoming feminine and slim again, and this bangle can make a minimalist statement on its own or fit perfectly with a stack of other bracelets.”

Just desserts

“I love the new, more delicate version of this Rolex – its rich chocolate dial is highlighted with diamonds. It’s pretty versatile; The classic gold bracelet can be easily worn from game to party.”

Chic secret

“This magnificent model from Bulgari does double duty: it is both luxurious jewelry and a timepiece. Behind the gold bracelet, the octagonal antique coin-studded case opens to reveal a stunning pavé diamond watch. A big wow!”

Sporty chic

“Some women are looking for something they can wear from tennis to dinner, and the new Aquanaut fits the bill. It’s casual-cool with the blue-grey dial and patterned composite strap, but given an elegant touch by the rose gold case.”

—Anne Bratskeir

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Back to the future: Scott Udell, vice president of London Jewelers, sees a retro revival

Subtle splendor

“The Patek Golden Ellipse was introduced decades ago and has always been considered a symbol of true luxury. That still holds true, and this latest style, with its crisp black sunray dial and rose gold, features a reinvented matching chain bracelet. It is an exceptional piece that enthusiastic collectors covet.”

Haute history

“This was the final design by watchmaker Gérald Charles Genta, one of the world’s most famous watch designers, whose work includes prototypes for many other high-end brands. Due to its artistry and uniqueness, it is very popular among athletes and true connoisseurs.”

Hero worship

“The Rolex GMT-Master II, nicknamed “Bruce Wayne,” was originally released in 1982. With its new, subtle but attractive black and gray bezel, this watch is versatile and a true workhorse. Wear it when traveling, going swimming or going to a fancy dinner.”

Pink power

“This new version of Tudor’s Black Bay Chrono celebrates brand ambassadors Jay Chou (the pop star known for his hit song “Pink Ocean”) and David Beckham (co-owner of the pink jersey-wearing soccer team Inter Miami). If you can get your hands on one, it’s a great value for people looking for both quality and something daring.”

—Anne Bratskeir

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Everything at London Jewelers, 1988 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, LI

Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Batman #1absolute Batman debuts a massive twist on the Batman story, finally addressing a sexist trend that has been running throughout the character’s history. The first issue of Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s new series introduces a new version of Batman with major changes to his world. Perhaps the biggest change to Batman in this world is the revelation that although Thomas Wayne was killed when Bruce was a child, his mother Martha is still alive and raised Bruce after Thomas’ death.

Martha’s survival and continued presence in Bruce’s life represent not only a huge twist in one of the fundamental aspects of Batman’s lore, but also addresses a sexist trend that has unfortunately become commonplace in the character’s history.

The vast majority of stories with flashbacks to Bruce’s childhood focus on his relationship with his father or Alfred. As a result, Martha often falls by the wayside in these stories beyond her death. Your survival in Absolute Batman #1 by Snyder, Dragotta, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles and her role as a member of the book’s supporting cast ensure that Martha is finally given her due as a character.

Batman’s childhood flashbacks traditionally focus on his father

But Absolute Batman Keeps Martha in the present tense

In the main Batman canon, the men in Bruce’s early childhood are often given the greatest importance in his life. Bruce’s narrative often focuses on his late father, the best example of this being found in Batman: Year One by Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli, where he talks to a bust of his father before coming up with the idea for the Batman identity. Vice versa, Martha Wayne is only mentioned alongside Thomas in connection with her death and is rarely mentioned by Bruce on his own initiative. When Bruce talks about his mother, it’s the exception, not the norm.

The men who raised Batman receive significantly more attention than the women.

The trend often finds its way into alternative universes. The best example of this can be found in the Flashpoint universe, where Bruce dies in place of his parents, resulting in Thomas becoming a more brutal Batman and Martha becoming that universe’s Joker. Consequently, this means that Thomas gets the majority of the focus while Martha is relegated to an antagonistic role, with this version of Thomas Wayne even making his way into the main DC universe without Martha being mentioned. Martha Wayne is an essential character in Batman’s storybut she is rarely given as much attention as Thomas.

Learn more about the origins of the Flashpoint universe in the definitive series of events
Flash point
by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert, now available both digitally and in collected editions from DC Comics.

Thomas isn’t the only character this trend extends to Many flashbacks to Batman’s childhood also place heavy emphasis on Alfred supporting Bruce by the death of his parents. However, the end result remains the same, as the men who raised Batman are given significantly more attention than the women. Even Leslie Thompkins, herself a key figure in Bruce’s childhood, has become less prominent over the years.

Martha Wayne’s Survival puts her in the spotlight

Batman’s mother plays a big role

Absolute Batman The revelation that Martha Wayne is not only alive and well, but is still an integral part of Bruce’s life, changes this sexist narrative. The idea of The fact that only one of his parents is still alive is a shocking change for the character in itself, but the fact that his mother is the one who survived puts a whole new spotlight on her. Absolute Batman Martha Wayne is a version of the character who struggled with the death of her husband while raising her son after this tragedy. These circumstances alone create a strong dramatic hook that begs to be explored.

But above all Martha Wayne’s survival gives her the chance to be explored and developed as a character in a way that her mainstream counterpart did not. Her survival makes her an integral part of Batman’s support system and also provides her with the opportunity to discover that her son is Batman. And given her job as a social worker in the mayor’s office, it’s practically a given that she’ll be included as a major player in the story.

The revelation that Martha Wayne survived Absolute Batman sets DC Comics on course to correct a sexist trend that runs through all Batman stories by giving the narrative Martha the same focus that her husband received. While there is still a lot of work to be done, this is a big first step in changing this trend for the better. While many of the changes were set within the Absolute universe will likely stay there, hopefully a greater focus on Martha Wayne as a character will carry over into the main DC universe Batman stories.

Absolute Batman #1 is available now from DC Comics.

It opens on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

While the faithfully recreated room extension will be the centerpiece of the exhibition, it will also tell the story of Anne’s family from their time in Germany, their move to the Netherlands and the decision to go into hiding, to their discovery by the Nazis, deportation and deportation trace. Anne’s death and her father’s postwar decision to publish her diary.

“What we want to achieve with this exhibition is for people, our visitors, to learn about Anne, not just as a victim, but through the layered lens of a life, as a teenage girl, as a writer, as a symbol of resilience and resilience Strength. We hope they reflect on the context that has shaped their lives.”

The exhibition comes at a time of increasing anti-Semitism and anger over the devastating war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has now spread to the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon following Hamas’ deadly attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023 .

“With fewer and fewer survivors in our communities, with devastating anti-Semitism and other forms of group hatred on the rise in the United States and around the world, we believe that … our responsibility as the Anne Frank House has never been greater Leopold said: “And this exhibition is partly a response to the responsibility of educating people to stand against anti-Semitism and group hatred.”

Anne’s diary will not take part in the transatlantic voyage.

“Unfortunately we cannot travel with the diary, writings, notebooks and loose papers that Anne wrote. “They are too fragile, too vulnerable to travel,” Leopold said.

The 125 exhibits traveling from Amsterdam for the New York exhibition include photos, albums, artifacts such as one of the yellow stars that Jews were forced to wear in the occupied Netherlands, as well as the Best Supporting Actress Oscar that Shelley Winters won for her Role in George Stevens’ 1959 film The Diary of Anne Frank.