Things take a turn, however, when the experiment results in strange clones of themselves.
In an exclusive guest essay for EW, Daniels reflects on the importance of diversity in culture and history.
Episode 5 of the 2014Cosmosreboot featured the story of a penniless Bavarian boy named Joseph von Fraunhofer.
Credit: Lion Forge
Born in 1787 and orphaned at the age of 11, Joseph was forced into hard labor.
When he was 14, the workshop collapsed, burying him alive.
A rescue effort led by Prince Maximilian Joseph saved his life.
Lion Forge
The prince took an immediate interest in the precocious boy.
He provided him with books, and forced his master to allow him to study.
This historical anecdote left me shaken.
Lion Forge
To this day, the thought of it makes me feel angry and deeply heartbroken.
Some werent rich enough, some werent male enough, some werent white enough.
All of them deserved better.
Lion Forge
History is thick with stories of genius stifled because it wasnt contained in the appropriate body.
Today, its not much better at least not where it matters most.
Its true our entertainment is (albeit slowly) diversifying.
Lion Forge
Imagine the scientific progress unmade, the diseases uncured, the industries unlaunched, the literature unwritten.
Close your eyes and see it.
Thats the image that brings me to tears every time I conjure it.
But its in our popular culture that the seeds for meaningful diversity are sowed.
No other group of people benefits from that kind of cultural reinforcement.
Winning last year the award named for him was the greatest honor of my life.
This affirmation, in turn, emboldened me to double down in my commitment to championing diversity.
Lion Forge wasnt the biggest publisher vying for my book, but it was really the only choice.
And its one I think Dwayne McDuffie wouldve approved of.
It almost feels destined that this years award will be bestowed on the same dayBlack Pantheropens in theaters.
