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I’ve taken a deeper dive into DC comics recently, and I have something I gotta say.

Guy Gardner just needs a chance to escape his past.

While his bowlcut and joke-character era are important, they were filled with throwaway c-rank hero antics and writers who, lets face it, didn’t like him. But he’s not as bad as people think when they hear the name Guy Gardner. He’s more than just that lantern Batman knocked out with one punch (which was deserved, but still).

The more I read about him or things he’s included in, especially more recent media, I’m awestruck that he doesn’t get at least a little more love.

So here are the reasons I think Guy Gardner is better than you think he is.

Upbringing

“I never took a punch that hurt as bad as any he gave me.”

Guy didn’t have it easy growing up. His father was an abusive alcoholic who berated and beat him daily for nothing, just because he was there, because he was “thick headed.” But despite everything he went through and the horrible upbringing he had to endure, Guy didn’t fall into the same cycle as his father did. Yeah, he has a bad attitude, he’s pretty cocky and he hides behind that bravado, but he never turned to villainy.

He became a social worker in older media, working to help people who are in his situation to escape it, like I’m sure he wished someone would have helped him. In more recent media it has been retconned that he’s a cop, which I like less, but he’s still a good one. He goes out of his way to help people and make their lives better, as best he can. No one walks away from that sort of history unscathed, so his aggressive persona is no surprise. But he’s a Green Lantern, and a hero despite it all.

Willpower & Strength

Just to begin with the fight pictured above, Guy took on that Yellow Lantern without his ring and nearly died, but he won. He has some of the strongest willpower there is, and the sheer bravado to back it up. His fellow Lanterns, mostly, know that while he’s problematic that he will get the job he’s given done. And if they don’t right away, they’ll soon learn it.

Guy very easily could have been who the ring went to over Hal, if it weren’t for Booster Gold’s time stream shenanigans causing him to be further than Hal was from the ring (which was how it was supposed to be, Booster was making sure things stayed how they were meant to). That’s all it came down to. Distance. He was also a candidate for John’s ring, but if I recall he was helping someone and lost out again.

And his creativity with his constructs and how quickly he can work with it is astounding.

(More on this topic also in Intelligence below)

Devotion & Reliabiltiy

“C’mon kid… can’t d-do this without you.”

Believe it or not, he’s a reliable partner both work-wise and in romance. He’s trusted to mentor new Lanterns, and is a high ranking Lantern himself for a reason. He’s rough around the edges, a little too forward, blunt and a tiny bit horny (…okay very horny) but all of that goes out the window when someone is in danger.

He cares for others despite how his persona may make it seem. He listens more than people think, and he understands others more than he lets on. A good example of this is actually in a silly comic about superhero dating. While he was showboating and being a bit of an arse, he retained every single thing she told him. (And for context, she was using him for an article about how BAD it would be to date a superhero— specifically him. Rude much?)

“Nothing’s gonna stop me from being at your side if you need someone or something.”

And to his partners he does show great care and love for them, even if he’d rather be seen as the tough guy.

So, yeah, despite it all there’s someone with a very large heart behind his attitude. He’s bold, he’s loud and far too confident, but you also know he’s someone you can turn to.

Intelligence

“I figured out the receptors in my brain I need to stimulate.”

This is one of the bigger points for me, because as much as he fucks around this man is incredibly intelligent. He’s been shown to deep dive into research, study and learn whenever he needs to. So much so his entire room was at one point a terrible mess.

But even more so this man was able to save himself from dying after being cut in half. I debated putting his in Willpower, but it’s more a testament to his quick thinking and knack for learning.

He was able to use his ring to recreate his lower body, which included all organs which functioned to keep him alive. Eventually he even perfected it enough so that it would take less effort to maintain. Then to stop himself from ever having to sleep (and his lower body subsequently disappearing and killing him) he figured out how to stimulate his brain with his power ring to release the chemicals he needed without actually having to sleep. He would have needed to figure this out within a day or two at most while dealing with the severe trauma he would have experienced.

So few people would have had the wherewithal to even save themselves to begin with, let alone trick your brain in such a way so quickly. And accurately.

And there’s so much more to his character than the shit end of the stick he was originally given. That’s not to say he isn’t an arrogant little bastard, but when people hear “Guy Gardner” they laugh, without realizing how much his character has evolved.

He’s able to be his bratty self, sing songs about his ass, showboat and still be a good person while maintaining that humour.

So yeah, I think more people need to give Guy Gardner a chance.

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I'll be taking ideas on what to write.

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Tom King ruins everything he touches

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I need to think of more stuff for the Ares AU

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Ares: Need a hand?

Telemachus: What’s going on here?

Ares: Is your plan to stand around? Or are you gonna tear them down?

Telemachus: I don’t know how

Ares: Then stop thinking. Feel the fire. Swing.

Telemachus: Woah, why am I burning up? Why do I feel so strong?

Ares: That’s the bloodlust kicking in.

Telemachus: This is insane!

Ares: No. This is war. Now go.

Ares: I've no respect for cowards, Those who prey upon the weak. I've bathed in war for centuries, And I know how the ruthless think. So paint this floor in crimson, Show them what you are One young wolf with sharpened fangs Against a herd of starving dogs!

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Athena: He is reckless! Sentimental at best! He’s no warrior of the mind! He gives his name! Turns impulse to fame! Treats the lives of his men as if it was a game!

Ares: You claim you’re so much wiser! That you can put your emotions aside, show that you’re a warrior of the mind! Then let’s reiterate your sins to me! What of Medusa? What of Arachne? How can you look down upon him for you refuse to practice what you preach! Now release him! That I beseech

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What is the story of your Rogue Trader?

For me, my Rogue Trader was a Noble born on a Hive World.

He loved utilizing his influence to get whatever he wanted. He was absolutely ruthless and in his feat of greatness, he used his influence to sully the name of a rival noble house and get them exiled, this of course went right into his darkest hour where he was kidnapped and tortured by them.

He became much more cowardly ever since, willing to do whatever it takes to survive and never truly thinking that he had any capability to fight, instead opting to surround himself with powerful people.

He is known to talk a great game and certainly has a Silver Tongue (Which is exactly what he named his voidship), and puts on a greater presence than he truly has. In fact, he also speaks with a fake voice, one that is more boisterous and confident than his regular voice.

Everything he can do to show that he has wealth and power.

He was utterly delighted to find the previous Rogue Trader dead, because that meant that he was going to be an even higher status, that he would have even greater power. He took great delight in becoming a Rogue Trader.

He was on Cloud 9 for the most part, meeting up with the Orphans just to brag about himself, though he did negotiate with the lower decks instead of cleaning house.

Notably, because he was afraid.

Afraid that if he sent people down there to get rid of them or teach them a lesson, that he might lose and end up killed like predecessors.

In any case, it was all still a great big game to him until Rykad Minoris, where a star was stolen and a planet was set upon to ruin. He chose to save the save the Nobles, they were the important ones after all . . . but that decision weighed down upon him, and suddenly everything felt so real, suddenly it was no longer a great big game, but people depended upon him and lives were at stake.

He never cared about anyone else before.

But watching a whole planet of people fall . . . that was too much, and something began to change in him. He kept up a good cocky and arrogant front for a while, but his insecurities and choices bit at him, he began to second guess himself, which caused him to exhaust all dialogue options, desperate to know everything he can in order to make the /right/ decision.

It's part of the reason that he was willing to work with Yrliet and give her respect. Because she had knowledge that he and his retinue did not, add onto that the egotistic reason of having a xenos on a team, a sign of power that he was allowed to have what the Imperium could not.

But it was though Yrliet that he finally began to work through his issues as she helped him find his mind palace.

And he truly came into himself on commorragh, when he was stripped of everything. Where his status as Rogue Trader and Noble no longer mattered, and all he had was his quick wits and a pistol he barely knew how to use to survive.

And that's where he was reborn, that's where he found himself thriving.

Something unlocked inside of him, and he found himself grinning in the warped and twisted city. Even as his head ached and pulsed with something wrong, he was still maneuvering himself through the xenos and their home territory. It was where he was weakest, but he had never felt stronger.

He came out of commorragh with more conviction and confidence than he ever truly had in his life, no longer did he second guess himself. He knew what he was now, he knew what he had to do, and he knew he was going to do it.

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Ares: Bend your knees, bounce on the balls of your feet, always keep moving when in a fight. You’re smaller! You’re weaker! You’re pathetic! So, you better make up for your failures with moxie! Once you get hits in, never stop letting up!

Telemachus: I uhh, okay sir! But you said you knew my dad. What is he like?

Ares: . . . A far better warrior than I deserved.

Telemachus: Huh?

Ares: I said a far better man than you are! Now give me twenty laps! Your weak body needs work if we you are to kill those suitors!

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Ares: You’re weak, pup. Your father was stronger than you and twice as smart as he was at your age. You bring disgrace to my champion, but we’ll fix that.

Telemachus: You know my father?

Ares: . . . You missed the part that I said I was going to make you strong.

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Ares: Do you know why I made you my champion?

Odysseus: Because I impressed you?

Ares: Ha! Impress me? A god? No, I chose you because my sister was looking to take you under her wing.

Odysseus: *Raises a brow* I see . . . Do you regret your patronage?

Ares: . . . You have surprised me on the rare occasions keep it up, Little Warrior.

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Ares Mentor AU - Circe Saga

Odysseus and his crew of course land at Circe's island, in distress Odysseus will still send Eurylochus out and events play out normally. What really changes is at the end.

Odysseus fights Circe as Ares wants, but instead of securing victory he still ends up begging Circe to grant them mercy. This of course pisses Ares off, that his student should never be someone that begs, that Odysseus had the upper hand in the fight and should have leveraged it for victory, not being taken by surprise by Circe's wiles and end up squandering his upperhand. Ares:

You were careless, too soft for the field That’s not a warrior’s creed You had strength, you could’ve forced her to yield (Hey!) But you chose mercy and plead You shamed me once with Troy Where you refused to fight on the field! You're just a disappointment, boy! So now I’m gone

This way, you’ll learn what strength means This way, you’ll fall in line This way, when wars are over, you’ll keep yours and I’ll keep mine This way, you won’t embarrass me This way, you won’t waste my time This way, I’ll close the door Consider this as my goodbye

Odysseus:

That’s just like you, why should I be surprised? Violent, bloodthirsty, cruel Unlike you, I can see through the lies Mercy’s the mark of the fool? What’s a victory that costs my men’s lives? That’s a weight I’ll always bear You demand I bury my soul to survive But I don’t care

This way, you’re out of my head now This way, you can keep your war This way, when all is done, I’ll be the man I was before This way, I’ll choose my own battles This way, I’ll walk my own shore This way, I close the door and show myself out

Ares:

You should’ve killed to secure the bag! Made examples of men who’d dare betray their flag! You should’ve made Circe bled! But you fell to your knees and cried instead! When it comes to your heart, you’re blind! Like the cyclops that tore your soldiers apart!

Odysseus:

At least I know what I’m fighting for While you fight to feed your rage You’ve built kingdoms out of corpses While your heart remains a cage! You're enslaved!

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Epic the Musical, but instead of Athena being Odysseus' Mentor it's Ares. Initially, there is a strain in the relationship at Troy over the decision to use the Wooden Horse, but Odysseus convinces Ares to be on board with it, saying that the Trojans are cowards who will not come out and fight, so they have to find a way to take the fight to them. He is fine with Odysseus letting the Cyclops live, only because he already proved that he could best the Cyclops and by refusing to kill said Cyclops, he humiliates it further. He also tells Odysseus that Poseidon is hunting him. Ares: Seems Uncle is pissed because you blinded his son. If you ask me the one eyed runt deserved it.

Odysseus: Y-your uncle, Poseidon? I shall make a sacrifice to him now.

Ares: Ooh, that’ll only tell him where you are. When he gets like this, there’s no calming him down.

Odysseus: Then what would you have me do? Fight him? That would be suicide! There has to be something we can do?

Ares: We? You’re the one who blinded the cyclops. You’re on your own, but . . . If you survive Uncle’s wrath, I’ll get you home little Warrior.

- Any guesses on where 'My Goodbye' takes place, because it does and I know where.

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Yamcha Techniques?

Doing a lot of planning for my next fanfic and noticed that Yamcha barely has any attacks to his name. He has the Wolf Fang Fist, Spirit Ball, and the Kamehameha. (as well as Neo/Ultimate Wolf Fang Fist and Super Spirit Ball). He has the Solar Flare in some games and in FighterZ he has the Gale Claws move. And that's about it. So if you were to give Yamcha some attacks and techniques what would you give him? Not including the Kaio-Ken because that's a gimme.

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Just going to post this here with no context at all. Honestly, what could it be. What am I hinting at with this innocent photo.

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Next Fanfic

Going to make my next fanfic be a Dragon Ball one and it'll be centered around Yamcha exploring the Universe. Already gotten to work on making a cast of original characters to join Yamcha on this journey. The question is if I tell you about them or wait for it to come out first xD

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It's Difficult Being A Yamcha Fan

I never actually watched that much anime growing up, my parents would rent VHS from the library. One of them was the Original Dragon Ball series or at least sections of it. That was one of the things I grew up watching and I latched onto Yamcha as a kid, I just thought he was the coolest and his fear of women at the time was the funniest thing to me. And the Tien vs Yamcha fight is still an all time favorite for me, I still get chills when watching it.

I watched Dragon Ball Z way later and Yamcha got sidelined hard, though a lot of characters got sidelined (sorry Launch), but even then he still tries. He beat the Saibaman and only died because he turned around and didn't think that the Saibaman had anything left in him.

It sucks that he died, but what sucks more is the larger effect that this had on the fanbase.

Turning him from an endearing character to just a joke.

Then the dub had the audacity to decry him as a cheater, despite that never being a thing in the actual series, but Toriyama would say it years later in an interview.

But that was never in Yamcha's character, but that got out there and the fanbase idea of him became worse.

And as time went on, Yamcha just became more and more and more of a joke, Super came out and they made it a goal to use Yamcha as a joke. To not even bring him along to fight the Frieza Force because it's too dangerous (But they brought Master Roshi!? The person at the time that they believed Yamcha far surpassed!?), they repeat Yamcha's death pose and then there's having Yamcha believing that he'll be chosen for the TOP but no one comes to get him.

It's sad to see what the Desert Bandit of Diablo has become, especially in the eyes of the people.

Funfact, in the original series Yamcha had two dreams.

The first was to become the Winner of Budokai.

The second was to get married and start a family.

And all these years later he hasn't accomplished either, only being used as a punching bag for both the audience and the show.

It's hard being a fan of Yamcha, remembering how he was in the original show, how no matter times he was beaten down, that he would always get up. That he had a kick ass fight with Tien, that he was the first human student of Roshi's to master the Kamehameha, that he was the one that had the best control of Ki, how he saved the group from Oozaru Goku, and even with a broken leg he was still prepared to fight Demon King Piccolo.

But people don't see that now.

They just see him as an adulterer, pathetic, something to laugh at, a joke through and through.