Bingham Young University (BYU) is a private university located in Provo, Utah. The university is known for its strong emphasis on religious education and has a vibrant campus culture. One of the iconic elements of BYU's campus culture is its mascot, Cosmo the Cougar, and the mascot's renowned dance moves. Cosmo the Cougar is BYU's official mascot and has been entertaining fans at sporting events and other university functions for many years. Cosmo is portrayed as a friendly and energetic character who ignites enthusiasm among students and supporters. However, what truly sets Cosmo apart from other mascots is his incredible dance skills.
Si Spurrier kicks off Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade reminding everyone that yeah, Black Knight’s a loser. But not just in the way where the audience doesn’t like him — he’s such a loser the Avengers audibly vent their frustration about having to deal with him when he’s working with them. They make it painfully clear that they only see him as someone to destroy magical enemies, and even then only when their first pick is busy. Reading this first issue of Black Knight was cathartic at first, seeing this character I found boring get dragged by the likes of Thor and Black Panther. But by the end, it was just sad. Dane Whitman was a sad man, venting to an app on his phone that refused to give him any real advice, who just wanted to be appreciated by the people he looked up to. And of course, that’s his downfall.
The first two on that list aren t relevant here; they re just characters that were very frustrating to read at the time and have no business being called heroes. Unfortunately, most readers with even a cursory understanding of the Arthurian legends knows Mordred s parentage is ahem unconventional, and he s partly the man he is now because Arthur couldn t accept him.
However, what truly sets Cosmo apart from other mascots is his incredible dance skills. Cosmo is known for his acrobatic and entertaining dance routines that often leave audiences in awe. Whether it's breakdancing, hip-hop, or other popular dance styles, Cosmo can do it all.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling
Even if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you’ll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
November 3, 2021
I’m a huge Avengers fan — especially the ’70s and ’80s Avengers, before John Byrne took over. I have a fondness for almost every Avengers team of that era, and I hold a lot of love and feelings towards nearly every member of those Avengers teams. This is important context because the reason I said “nearly” is because of a handful of members: Dr. Druid, Starfox, and Black Knight. The first two on that list aren’t relevant here; they’re just characters that were very frustrating to read at the time and have no business being called heroes. Black Knight, on the other hand, is a more unique case.
See, for a while, Black Knight was a good idea. Dane Whitman is a guy with a magical sword that begs him to murder people, but Dane wants to be a hero and not murder anyone. If his blade sheds any blood, Dane is basically possessed by it, making his own means of being a hero his downfall. But this really cool concept never really translated to strong writing or interesting characterization. At one point, they got rid of the Ebony Blade altogether, giving him a lightsaber that made him super uncool. Let me repeat that: Black Knight managed to make a lightsaber boring. So you can understand why I’ve generally not been a fan.
Si Spurrier kicks off Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade reminding everyone that yeah, Black Knight’s a loser. But not just in the way where the audience doesn’t like him — he’s such a loser the Avengers audibly vent their frustration about having to deal with him when he’s working with them. They make it painfully clear that they only see him as someone to destroy magical enemies, and even then only when their first pick is busy. Reading this first issue of Black Knight was cathartic at first, seeing this character I found boring get dragged by the likes of Thor and Black Panther. But by the end, it was just sad. Dane Whitman was a sad man, venting to an app on his phone that refused to give him any real advice, who just wanted to be appreciated by the people he looked up to. And of course, that’s his downfall.
The plot of the book is pretty solid, even if the middle portions are a bit dull. There’s a subversion of Arthurian myth that feels very reminiscent of Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s Once and Future, there’s a POV character through whom we see this world of the Black Knight and his history through a new lens, and there’s an Elsa Bloodstone team-up that’s pretty fun if nothing special. Sergio D á vila’s artwork is good if a bit muddled in some of the flashback segments. But all of this is secondary to the highlight of the book: Dane Whitman’s acceptance of his history and legacy and the path he’s given to move forward.
The final issue of the series is reminiscent of the first, with the majority of the plot interwoven with Dane’s confessions to this anonymous app on his phone, but the final issue’s confessions mean something. They’re not the desperate pleas of a pathetic man desperate to have someone love him, they’re the final words of a man who’s made something he’s proud of. It’s beautiful and despite the story getting a bit muddled in the middle (as I mentioned earlier), it’s an incredibly earned moment. It makes the whole story worth it, even before the last five or so pages promise a direction for the future that’s incredibly intriguing.
Black Knight’s not a character who’ll move a lot of sales, and this run obviously exists so that Marvel has something to point to when the Eternals movie releases since he’s going to be played by Kit Harington there. And while this character is likely going to be completely different from whatever the MCU’s version is, Spurrier and D á vila have certainly managed to make him compelling in his own right, and they’ve convinced even a person who thinks Black Knight is a loser that a follow-up volume is a day one purchase.
‘Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade’ manages to make the title character compelling Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony BladeEven if you come in thinking Black Knight is a loser, you'll come out convinced to buy the next volume.
His high energy and coordination make him the life of the party at BYU events. The mascot's dance moves have become so well-known that Cosmo has even gained a substantial following beyond the university's campus. Videos of his performances regularly go viral, receiving millions of views and garnering attention from people worldwide. Such popularity has helped elevate BYU's reputation and has become an integral part of the university's identity. Cosmo's dance routines are not just limited to sporting events. He performs at various university functions, including homecoming events, pep rallies, and other important occasions. His presence helps create a lively atmosphere and spreads the school spirit among students, alumni, and supporters. In addition to entertaining the crowd, Cosmo also serves as a symbol of unity and pride for BYU students. His memorable dance moves have become a source of inspiration for many, encouraging students to showcase their talents and pursue their passions. In conclusion, Cosmo the Cougar and his exceptional dance skills have become a significant aspect of BYU's campus culture. His performances add excitement and energy to university events, bringing people together and fostering a sense of unity and pride. Cosmo has become not just a mascot but a symbol of BYU's vibrant and dynamic community..
Reviews for "The Music and Rhythm of Brigham Young University's Mascot Dance"
1. John - 1/5 stars - "I really did not enjoy 'Birgham ypuny mascot dancd'. The storyline was confusing and lacked coherence. The characters seemed one-dimensional and their actions made little sense. The writing style was also very choppy and inconsistent, making it difficult to follow. Overall, I could not connect with the story or the characters and found it to be a disappointing read."
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "I was quite disappointed with 'Birgham ypuny mascot dancd'. The plot was convoluted and had several unresolved threads. The pacing was also slow, and I struggled to stay engaged throughout the book. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, with characters speaking in unnatural ways. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat, leaving me frustrated and unsatisfied."
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - "I found 'Birgham ypuny mascot dancd' to be underwhelming. The narrative structure was confusing, jumping between different time periods without clear transitions. This made it difficult to grasp the overall story and disrupted the flow of the reading experience. The characters were poorly developed and their motivations felt shallow. The book also suffered from excessive exposition, with unnecessary details that weighed the story down. Overall, I struggled to enjoy this book and wouldn't recommend it to others."
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - "Sadly, 'Birgham ypuny mascot dancd' did not live up to my expectations. The writing style was disjointed and lacked coherence, making it hard to engage with the story. The characters were uninteresting and their actions often seemed arbitrary. The plot was also confusing and failed to provide a satisfying resolution. I was left feeling confused and frustrated by this book and would not recommend it to others."
5. David - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Birgham ypuny mascot dancd', but it fell short of my expectations. The plot was convoluted and difficult to follow, with too many subplots that distracted from the main story. The characters were also poorly developed and lacked depth, making it hard to connect with them on any level. While there were a few interesting moments, overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed."