Story by Matthew TsaiStaff Writer Illustration by Maddie YooStaff Illustrator 4.5/5 stars Avengers: Endgame shouldn’t even exist. Superhero blockbusters were few and far between and wildly inconsistent in quality just 11 years ago. Marvel was on the brink of bankruptcy and their most popular heroes had been sold away. In desperation, they turned to a snarky billionaire […]
The MCU adds another gem to its gauntlet with ‘Captain Marvel’
Story by Matthew TsaiStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 4/5 stars The Captain Marvel character not only has the power of flight, superhuman strength, and energy manipulation, but also the power to spark controversy across the globe. The cliffhanger of Infinity War, a cinematic gargantuan, left enormous pressure on Captain Marvel to be a pivotal […]
‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ Soars Over its Predecessors
Story by Kaden ChaiContributor Illustration by Elaine YangDesign Editor 5/5 stars This is Berk: the island where dragons populate the skies as the Vikings of Berk roam the terrain. The union between dragons and Vikings has proven to be beneficial ever since Hiccup and his dragon companion, Toothless, first glided through the skies. We have […]
The Crack Shack fails to hook customers on innovative cuisine
Story and Photos by Cat FloresStaff Writer Fusion restaurants have taken on the challenge of putting original spins on beloved classics — often combining two foods for an unexpected match. At The Crack Shack, chicken dishes are transformed into the lighthearted and sunny spirit of innovative cuisine. The Crack Shack delivers a homey, yet modern feeling to […]
Instagram Profile — Elene Wu (@vegamelon)
57.5 thousand followers Story by Caroline KimbelStaff Writer Photos by Tony ChenStaff Photographer Elene Wu’s Instagram page stands out among the rest. Rather than using her platform to showcase a highly-edited version of herself, she uses it to spread an important message. As a passionate vegan, Wu has a desire to highlight how simple and appetizing it can be […]
Staff Profile: Anthony Chan
Story by Kimberly HsuehStaff Writer Photo Courtesy of Anthony ChanContributor Anthony Chan never expected to wake up with more than a million views on a photo he and his girlfriend uploaded to Reddit. During their trip to Monument Valley, Arizona, the couple snapped a peaceful portrait of a stray dog basking in the winter morning sun (seen right). “I think […]
Staff Profile: Elsa Laron
Story by Dominic MarzialiAssociate Feature Editor Photos by Alicia AlderetePhoto Editor Spanish teacher Elsa Laron showed up at her first party in the US wearing a full length gown. Before immigrating to the US, Laron had never been to an American party, nor worn a mini skirt. Born in El Salvador and raised in Costa Rica, such an act would have been […]
South Pasadena’s homegrown ‘Little Silver Hearts’
Story by Adam Kwoh Associate News Editor Photo Courtesy of Edward Donnelly Contributor South Pasadena is commonly regarded as the typical American suburb with its quaint aesthetic and populace of kid-raising, dog-loving families. However, on Friday nights, the small town’s quiet culture is transformed by its underground community of rock. Little Silver Hearts prides itself on […]
Aaron McGruder’s superb storytelling in ‘The Boondocks’ crafts a meaningful and relevant portrayal of society
Story by Jayden EdenStaff Photographer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator Good storytelling itself is an arduous task. The ability to balance humor, seriousness, and character development and establish a connection between characters and the audience is special. Incorporating and referencing real events, though, whether it be about our culture, our society, or our government, is a polarizing, […]
Atlantis is brilliant and Jason Momoa delivers, but ‘Aquaman’ barely stays afloat
Story by Matthew TsaiStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 3/5 starsThe DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has struggled to find its footing, with the majority of its films rated poorly by critics and underperforming at the box office. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe churns out successful movies with ease, the DCEU has turned away from Batman and Superman […]
Full of more appropriate comedy, ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ takes a fairytale spin on its predecessor
Story by Kimberly HseuhStaff Writer Illustration by Elaine YangDesign Editor In late December, families take time off work and finally unite with their loved ones, celebrating the wonderful holiday season with Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, eggnog, and too much of Jingle Bells. In Once Upon a Deadpool, the wholesomeness of these activities works to provide the perfect satirical platform […]
SPHS and SPMS choirs unite and display vocal range in winter concert
Story by Luyang ZhangStaff Writer After a full semester of practice, the South Pasadena Middle and High school choirs showcased their vocal talent at a combined winter concert on December 12th in the South Pasadena Middle School auditorium. Throughout the program, the middle and high school groups performed songs of a wide range of genres, […]
SPHS dance students explore the power of harmony in annual Winter Concert
Story by Aanji Sin Staff Writer Photo by Tony Chen Staff Photographer The SPHS Dance Program held the opening night of their annual Winter Concert on Thursday, December 6, and Friday, December 7, in the SPHS auditorium. The event featured Dance II and III as well as members of Color Guard. Directed by dance teacher Courtney Cheyne, […]
Shannon Purser shines, but ‘Sierra Burgess’ is a letdown
Story by Dominic Marziali Staff Writer Illustration by Kate Rogers Design Editor 3/5 stars SPHS students found themselves gawking at a strolling Shannon Purser in the spring of 2016-2017 when the star was filming pieces of Sierra Burgess is a Loser on campus. Purser, most notably Barb of Stranger Things, appears as Sierra in the new […]
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: the perfect modern fairytale
Story by Aanji Sin Staff Writer Illustration by David Sohn Staff Illustrator 4.5/5 stars Over the past six months, Netflix queues, Hulu lineups, and illuminated marquees have been saturated by the rom-com genre; Crazy Rich Asians, Insatiable, and Sierra Burgess Is A Loser are just a few examples. However, all of these movies share the plight of […]
SPHS Club Profile: Sports for Society
Story by Matthew Tsai Staff Writer A typical family can spend up to $500 a week for a sports camp; with California’s poverty rate at 20%, few parents are able to fork over the money for their children to participate in the activities they love. Four juniors, Preston Sharkey, Evan Kowal, Tianhao Wei, and David Newhall, […]