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jranimator · 4 months ago

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Boosting Your Music Career with JioSaavn: A Strategic Playbook

In the digital age, the barriers to success for independent musicians have been radically lowered. No longer confined to the old-school structure of securing record deals or radio airtime, modern artists can now distribute and promote their music on global streaming platforms with just a few clicks. Among these platforms, JioSaavn stands out as one of the leading music services in India, boasting millions of active listeners. Whether you’re a singer-songwriter, a producer, or a rapper, you can harness JioSaavn’s reach to advance your career. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to release your track on JioSaavn as an independent artist, offering strategies for maximizing your visibility and creating a loyal listener base.

Understanding JioSaavn’s Influence

JioSaavn has solidified itself as a key player in the South Asian and global music markets. With a large user base not just in India but across the diaspora around the world, artists who get their music on JioSaavn benefit from exposure to millions of potential fans. The platform caters to many genres—Bollywood, regional, pop, rock, hip-hop, devotional, and more—so there’s an audience for nearly every style. For independent musicians, this broad reach can be game-changing. Having your songs live on JioSaavn not only increases your music’s discoverability, but also boosts your credibility. In an era where streaming counts can open doors for further collaborations or gigs, JioSaavn helps accelerate that journey. By understanding its unique algorithms and playlist culture, you can strategically make the most of this platform.

Choosing a Distribution Service

While some streaming services allow direct uploads, JioSaavn typically requires artists to partner with a distributor or aggregator. These distribution platforms are responsible for delivering your music files, metadata, and album artwork to JioSaavn and other streaming services. Popular distributors like Tunecore, DistroKid, CD Baby, and others generally have relationships with JioSaavn, ensuring that your music reaches the platform reliably. Before deciding on a distributor, evaluate aspects like fees, royalty splits, and additional promotional tools. Some distributors charge a flat fee per release, while others take a percentage of your streaming revenue. Look for a distributor that will also provide analytics on how your music is performing on JioSaavn. This data can help you adjust your marketing approach, tailor your social media campaigns, and plan future releases effectively.

Preparing Your Track and Metadata

Metadata is the unsung hero of music distribution—this includes the artist name, track title, genre, language, and relevant tags. When you release your track on JioSaavn as an independent artist, your metadata helps the platform place your song in the right playlists and recommendations. Incorrect or incomplete metadata can hamper your song’s discoverability. Make sure your audio files are in an acceptable format (typically WAV or FLAC). Ensure that your artwork meets the required specifications, usually a 3000x3000 pixel JPG or PNG image. Once your content is properly set up, your distributor will send it to JioSaavn. For best results, pay attention to details: accurate track lengths, properly spelled titles, and well-chosen genres all contribute to the professional presentation of your release.

Timing Your Release

Timing can greatly influence your music’s performance. If you’re a relatively new artist, consider avoiding crowded release periods such as major festivals or when famous artists drop new music. You want your release to arrive when listeners and curators are open to discovering new sounds. Platforms like JioSaavn often rely on algorithms that look at early streaming numbers to decide whether to promote your music further. A well-planned promotional push—both before and during the release week—can lead to improved performance in these algorithms. Use social media teasers, short clips, or behind-the-scenes content to generate anticipation. Encourage friends, family, and fans to pre-save or stream your song as soon as it’s out. That initial spike can help your music climb the platform’s charts, increasing its visibility to new audiences.

Leveraging JioSaavn’s Features and Playlists

JioSaavn offers a variety of playlists, including editorially curated, algorithmic, and user-generated lists. Getting featured on a popular playlist can introduce your music to thousands of new listeners. Submitting your track to JioSaavn’s editorial team through your distributor or directly (if available) increases your chances of being playlisted. Additionally, JioSaavn offers Pro and Artist Insights tools that can give you more control over your artist profile. Use these tools to update your profile image, biography, and any featured tracks. The platform’s analytics can show you which regions your track is gaining traction in, helping you tailor your future marketing efforts. If you notice your music resonating in a particular language or cultural context, you can craft your branding and outreach to capitalize on this discovery.

Promoting Across Social Media

Once your song is live on JioSaavn, promotion becomes paramount. Social media platforms—Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok—offer free avenues to share links, snippets, and behind-the-scenes stories. By consistently posting interactive and compelling content, you can drive traffic to JioSaavn. Consider collaborating with influencers or bloggers who have an established following. Doing a live Q&A session, an acoustic version on Instagram Live, or a short video tutorial that demonstrates how you created your track can spark curiosity. Launch a hashtag challenge on TikTok or Reels tied to your track. The goal is to funnel social media followers into becoming JioSaavn streamers, boosting your plays and possibly landing you on more algorithmic playlists. You can even embed JioSaavn links on your personal website or blog for direct streaming.

Interacting with Your Growing Fanbase

Once people start discovering your music on JioSaavn, be ready to engage. Encourage comments, questions, and feedback on your social media posts and direct messages. A personalized shoutout or a quick reply can turn casual listeners into committed fans. Host virtual listening parties on platforms like Zoom or Clubhouse to connect with fans in real time. Share stories about your songwriting process or interesting anecdotes behind the track’s production. This deeper level of engagement can shape a more loyal community that not only streams your music, but also shares it with friends. Regular engagement also ensures that your audience looks forward to your next release on JioSaavn and beyond.

Conclusion

Releasing your music on JioSaavn opens doors to a vast audience, offering both established and emerging independent artists the chance to shine. By choosing the right distributor, optimizing your metadata, timing your release thoughtfully, and promoting across multiple channels, you can unlock new opportunities for growth. Embrace the power of digital music distribution, and let your creativity flourish in front of millions of potential fans. Remember, success on any streaming platform requires both consistency and authenticity. Release your track on JioSaavn as an independent artist, and take the next big step in your musical journey.

For further reading, explore these related articles:

Release Your Track on JioSaavn Without a Label

How to Release Your Track on JioSaavn with No Upfront Fees

Release Your Track on JioSaavn Quickly: The Ultimate Guide for Artists

How to Release Your Track on JioSaavn with 100% Royalties

For additional resources on music marketing and distribution, visit DMT Records Private Limited.

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gunmetal-ring · 2 years ago

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for the choose violence ask game, because you haven't been choosing violence lately! (and you can do this for any ship if you want) 6, 13, 14 please :)

Oh hi! Also i do feel like ive chosen violence lately but scrolling thru my tumblr it seems like maybe its only been on discord not here so nvm then lmao. Thanks for your close eye im very flattered ❤️

6- which ship fans are the most annoying:

Okay im taking this literally - youre asking "annoying" not "what is the most evil behavior you have seen in the name of shipping" so im answering it as such. And itll probably be... well ig not rly a ship but more just the ppl who go to any and all lengths to insist that caryl is platonic bff status 4ever. Like theres ppl who just believe it and shrug, and there are ppl who make it their lifes fucking mission to pop up in rbs and rts and whatever to be like ACTUALLY THEY CALLED EACH OTHER THEIR BEST FRIEND SO THERE and its like a) im rly sorry that youve never had a partner that you consider your best friend and b) i feel very secure in my "dreamt they were married with a kid" and "i love you as parting words" knowledge that caryl is, in fact, romantic. But its annoying. Like little flies to swat away. Like who is this hurting. Actually in general anyone who goes out of their way to comment "i dont like this ship" on a post or whatever is annoying. Everyone is annoying. Except ppl who ship caryl and hellcheer.

13- worst blorboification

Mr guitar hero himself. Yes hes a gremlin idiot doofus w a heart of gold, but he is also an asshole who likes intimidating ppl and mocking ppl and generally being a menace. Thats WHY his scene w chrissy was so special. We saw him go straight from unprovoked yelling at a roomful of ppl and manhandling nervous children -> quite literally falling all over himself to make a sad scared pretty girl laugh. He contains multitudes. Hes not a one note puppy dog. Appreciate his assholery. Blorbify THAT.

14- that one thing you see in fics all the time

Oo... this is 100% choosing violence... OOOOO.......... OOO!!!!!! also im assuming this is meant to be "see it all the time and its a bad thing" so thats fhe reason for my ooos

There are so many. So many. SO. MANY. So many hellcheer fics w certain kinks that are extremely triggering and off putting to me and its not even always in a pwp context and its not always tagged either and it feels like its rapidly increasing in presence and frequency and i feel like you could probably piece together what it is from my hints + my previous posts vaguely mentioning it but believe me i have Thoughts and that is 100% choosing violence and anyway. Its in fics. A lot. And its upsetting as a general thing to me but the normalization of it is directly correlated w the lack of tagging it and yeah its just like. Gah

Anyway im gonna end on a happy nonviolencechoosing note and say my favorite fanon is that both eddie and chrissy are bi lmao bc im bi and also it seems like so many hellcheer shippers are bi also which is magnifique. I think part of it is the whole subversive aspect - cheerleader girl is supposed to be with jock boy but instead shes w antithesis of jock? Metalhead boy is supposed to hate conformity and instead is w the most stereotypical manifestation of conformity? Just rings very true to me as a bi woman re secret longing and innermost desire and scary-but-freeing acknowledgment of living outside your prescribed box etc etc. Anyway thanks/sorry lmao

#op #ask #anon #am i going to regret this? time will tell.

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asuryanovna · 2 years ago

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Hello! I am not quite sure how I got here (blog-hopping, obviously), but I hope my little comments are not unwelcome. Even though I do not identify with asexuality because of… how sexual it's become in online spaces, thus failing to provide me with a sense of normalcy and making me feel like an outsider among outsiders, I do enjoy finding stories where it is possible to craft a narrative around a character that doesn't want sex in their life, and is not motivated by it in any way (because such characters themselves offer me a sense of normalcy, if that makes sense). And so, I've been racking my brain a bit, trying to recall any other titles with good non-sexual romances, and while aren't that many, some that come to mind are the following.

The Fog Knows Your Name was a surprise to me because the protagonists are teens (17) and I was hesitant to pick it up, but it turned out to be an excellent ghost mystery with memorable characters. It is apparently a bit difficult with stat/ability checks, though if you have a consistent character they shouldn't be all that difficult (I managed to solve various mysteries and get a good-ish ending on my first try). I cannot vouch for all of the characters that can be in a relationship with charname, but Addy and Anuja were delightful. Admittedly though, there isn't a lot of romantic content, maybe three to four scenes throughout the entire book, but what I enjoyed was the fact that it is possible to pick whether the char wants to kiss, cuddle or simply be there/spend time with their partner, and all of them being equal in length without prioritising one scene over the other. Also, there is a bit of dialogue with one of the charname's best friends about their preferences, and it is possible to state that they're not interested in sex at all.

The Passenger. It's a horror, but more than that it is about personal growth or stagnation, accepting your place and moving on from your past, or being stuck in the past and lamenting your place in the universe, broadly speaking. That is my interpretation anyway, though others might hold different opinions. The characters are wonderfully crafted and feel to me like actual people, each behaving in ways unique to only them, and holding different worldviews and set of beliefs. When it comes to romance, I think that Jonny and Fiama are the safest bets when it comes to a non-sexual approach; it is briefly discussed in the story and follows up by a soft and endearing moment between them and the protagonist, and a fantastic epilogue.

Heroes of Myth. I think this was the first book I read with the ability to create a charname that is not interested in pursuing sex in their relationships. The other characters are all accepting of that fact and there are different options to choose from (similar to The Fog situation above) and decide how they spend time with the protagonist, without making it seem like one of the options is prioritised above others, as they are all written roughly equally. Admittedly, I am not really a fan of the writting style because it seems a bit too heavy (wordy?) for me, but it might work for others. The author also released another book this year, I believe, though I did not read it yet. It is called Stars Arisen, and as far as I'm concerned it has the same approach to romance. Also, HoM has a character/romance option that is demisexual, I think (the exact terms are never used in this setting), and Stars has an asexual male character.

Also, Asteroid Run: No Questions Asked, though I feel like only Oscar is truly enthusiastic about a character that does not wish to have sex in the relationship. Again, though, because this is not primarily a romance game, there is not all that much in the romantic department, but what is there is very sweet and endearing.

You can read the first couple of chapters for free to see if any of these suit your preferences. Also, I'd like to add that, while I agree that interactive fiction is definitely more welcoming to those who wish to read stories that can be crafted from their decisions without sex being a priority in the narrative when it comes to romance, it isn't without its faults. Because it is written mostly by people who do not actually have similar experiences, a lot of the times, no matter how well-written it is otherwise, there will be moments in the story where something will be described from the character's point of view that cannot be interpreted in any other way than sexual interest.

Also, with regards to Fallen Hero, I understand that it's a "your mileage may vary" kind of thing, but I wouldn't really call it great thus far when it comes to its treatment of asexual protagonists. Now, I haven't personally tried the Ortega romance, though I did look through the game's code and I think that the sexual path seems to be prioritised because there is thiiiiiis much content there, and only this much when it comes to the non-sexual scene. When it comes to the other possible romance options (Herald and Steel), there isn't even the smallest substitute scene if the character doesn't agree to sex, and leaves their apartments. If I recall correctly, the dialogue there also doesn't give a definite "no sex" answer, but instead it's something wishy-washy like "I'm not ready for this" and "maybe later". There are also two more options (Argent and Mortum), but one has to have a very specific protagonist and make very specific decisions to be on their romance paths, let's just say, in order to avoid spoilers. I do hope that a proper dialogue will be added in later books, but right now it seems to me that the author doesn't really know what to write for a protagonist that is not at all interested in having sex. Also, I'll just add here that the books in this series deal with rather heavy, and depressing issues both from the protagonist's point of view, as well as the other characters, so it's not really something to read casually, I'd say. But the character customisation, branching paths and character interactions are all entirely worth it (note: I may be biased because it was my first IF, though). Anyway, this is far too lengthy already (apologies), but I hope that one day people like us will have an abundance of stories for our joy and entertainment. Have a wonderful day!

I just wanted to say that I really relate to what you’re saying about Baldurs Gate 3. I was also really disappointed that almost all of the romances have to start with sex and build from there. It’s so disheartening to have all relationships in games be about sex, or have sex be the end point. I’m not sure if you have tried Interactive Fiction or text based games but there are some really inclusive and amazing games. Ones that come to mind are Wayfarer (Fantasy DND mechanics and complex story with Ace/Demi ROs, Ace author!), Shepherds or Haven (Fantasy/Found Family, two ROs start with FWB but for all the others it’s about an emotional foundation, very long demo and most romances haven’t kissed yet despite being in love!), Fields of Asphodel (Hades-Percephone retelling, found family, two ace Ros and again very emotions based romance), and the Fallen Hero series has an option to choose if your character is Demi or Ace, with flavor text change and beautiful and validating substitution scenes (especially romancing Ortega in the second book). All of these games have tumblr pages and demos available. Fallen Hero also has two books released! It’s a different format but I would highly recommend these games, they are so lovely, validating, and the character customization is so extensive. I found this genre to be generally more open and inclusive of Ace options, it makes it feel normal comfortable and lovely. Just know you’re not alone, that others feel this way, and there is content that is inclusive of (and tailored towards) Ace people if you know where to look. 💛💛💛

thank you ;_; and i appreciate the recs!

#how do i tag this?#my contributions lol #it won't let me add a read more sorry

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overlooked-gems · 2 years ago

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A Look At Stuff You Probably Never Heard Of: Digimon World -next 0rder-

As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m a huge fan of Digimon. I saw the original 01 and watched all the way to Frontiers, skipped Data Squad, and saw Fusions (until the dub was cancelled). To me, I enjoyed Digimon about as much as Pokemon. So today, we’ll be taking a look at... Digimon World -next 0rder-!

Digimon World -next 0rder- is an E10+ rated and was developed by B.B. Studio and published by Bandai Namco. It was initially released only in Japan on March 17th, 2016 for the PlayStation Vita. It later got re-released for the PlayStation 4 a year later on January 27th in Europe, January 31st in North America, and February 26th in Japan,. And it saw a Nintendo Switch and PC release everywhere on February 22nd of 2023.

The story follows the player character, Takuto (male)/Shiki (female), being a third-year high school student. One day, they find themselves being transported into the Digital World, where they meet their Digimon Partners, WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon. Together, they fight a Machinedramon, eventually being forced to DNA Digivolve to Omegamon (otherwise known as Omnimon) to beat it. They end up using all their power and die as a result while the Machinedramon turns into a Tokomon.

The Hero and the Digimon are then teleported to a place known as Floatia, where they meet Jijimon, who explains that Digimon Partners can be reborn. There, the player can choose what their Digimon can be reborn into. Jijimon explains that for some reason, Digimon are being transformed into rampaging and destructive Machinedramon and is trying to figure out why and how to stop it, asking the Hero’s help, as they were able to defeat a Machinedramon. At the same time, he asks them to help search for the residents of Floatia who have fled as a result of the attacks.

After some time, they meet up with two other humans named Kouta Hirose and Himari Oofuchi, as well as their partner Digimon, Yukimura the Guilmon and Rikka the Salamon, respectively.

The gameplay follows an open world RPG style. The player is free to explore and find materials with battles being initiated on contact with an enemy Digimon. In battle, the player doesn’t take direct control of their partners. Instead, the Digimon do their own things, attacking and dodging on their own, though the player can command them to perform a specific action, though this costs “Order Power”. The player can raise their Order Power by pressing the Support button at any time, though more is gained the closer the button is pressed when an attack (either by a partner towards an enemy or an attack by an enemy towards a partner) makes contact. By pressing the Left or Right bumpers, the player can bring up the options for the Digimon; use specific attacks or Defend. At the end of a battle, the Digimon don’t get EXP. Instead, they get an increase to their stats. Similarly, the player can also increase their stats at the Floatia Training Hall.

However, time flows outside of battle, as eventually, night will fall and the days will pass. Depending on how much time has passed and what a Digimon’s stats are, they can Digimon to a higher form. Digivolution itself has several branches, as one Digimon can possibly Digivolve into multiple other Digimon. For example, an Agumon can Digivolve into Greymon, Tyrannomon, Meramon, or BlueGreymon.

However, the game is also part pet simulation; at times, a Partner Digimon has a need that has to be met. Either having to use the bathroom, having to be fed, or healing them when they get sick or injured. Failure to properly care for the Digimon leads to Training Failures and can eventually lead to death. A Digimon can also just die once they reach the end of their Life or if they fail to reach any requirement to Digivolve. Regardless, the Digimon will die sooner or later and when they do, they’ll simply be reborn so the player can choose what they’ll be reborn as.

Once again, it’s time for the Final Recommendation: Never Let Go Of It||Get It||Hold Onto It||Try It||Consider It||Stay Away From It

The game is a fairly entertaining game. You can explore the Digital World, fight Digimon, and recruit Digimon to return to Floatia. As you do, more of Floatia becomes available to you and at certain points, the story can progress. Yes, bringing Digimon to Floatia allows you to progress the story.

And as fun as the combat and exploration is, when a Digimon dies, their stats basically reset when they’re reborn, so you’ll have to spend time training to get them back up to speed. It’s also worth noting that the Training Hall takes an hour of in-game time when its used.

However, while I previously mentioned that Digimon can’t get EXP, the player does, gained in a number of ways; including battles, but there are other ways. As the player gains Tamer EXP, they can level up, where they gain Tamer Points, allowing them to unlock new abilities, like Digimon keeping more of their stats when reborn or Digimon regaining HP and MP when walking.

Speaking of exploration, the player can also collect materials such as wood, liquids, metals, and wood. These materials are used by the Builder in Floatia to build or upgrade various buildings and facilities, making them more effectient.

I also want to mention that the game also has voice acting. Not just voice acting, but English voice acting, a rarity for the Digimon games. I bring this up because Richard Epcar, Mari Devon, and ben Diskin are brought back and reprise their roles from the anime. Richard as MetalEtemon (Digimon Adventure 01), Mari as Taomon (Digimon Tamers), and Ben as Shoutmon (Digimon Fusion). However, a common complaint is how the characters pronounce “Machinedramon”. Anyone who has seen the anime know it’s pronounced as “muh-SHEEN-druh-mon”, but the characters in the game pronounce is as “muh-sheen-DRAY-mon”. Though I heard the reason for the pronunciation change is become Japanese staff involved with the development of the insisted on having the English voice actors pronounce it that way.

Oh! And before I forget, it’s also possible to DNA Digivolve, but it has a few requirements. Mainly the bond between you and your Digimon have to be at 100, as in your Digimon must have a 100 bond with you, as well as each other. They also have to be at least Champion and it costs 150 OP to perform. Needless to say, a DNA Digivolution is incredibly powerful. However, it can only be performed once a day. But once you get Paildramon, you can get a fused Digimon as a partner, provided the two partners are compatiable. For example, if you have a LadyDevimon and Angewomon, you can get a Mastemon, which replaces fills the slot of one of your two partners while the other De-Digivolves to their Rookie state.

And one final thing, there is one character I want to mention. I won’t say his name, but if you’re a fan of the Digimon World series, you may recognize him. He’s grown and matured quite a bit, but still cares about Digimon. Understandable, being a former hero himself.

And with that, I’ll see you all next month!

#Digimon #A Look At Stuff You Probably Never Heard Of #digimon world: next order

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afaimsarrowverse · 4 years ago

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Arrowverse-Spin-Offs, we would like to see:

„Arrow“ and „Black Lightning“ are done, „Supergirl“ is in its last season and „The Flash“ and „Legends of Tomorrow“ will probably be over rather sooner than later. So it’s time to look at some potential Spin-Off-Ideas and the reasons why we won’t see any of those happening. But hey, I have been wrong before. The last time I did such a list, I wrote that Warner would never allow a „Superman“-Show to happen, because of them wanting him exclusive for the movies, even though at this point the Powers that Be were already working on getting „Superman & Lois“ on the way (because they have been working on that since around „Elseworlds), so maybe in two years one of those shows on this list will actually air at The CW:

Atoms: Since Ray has left „Legends“ I have been missing him, and since Crisis was the last we ever saw of Ryan Choi, yes, I still want „Atoms“, starring both Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi and their respectice wives, sciencing their way out of every problem and superheroing a little bit at the side. Yes, Fairy Godmother Nora would be a challenge to put into that concept, but if someone really wanted to find a way to integrate that storyline in the show, they could and if not, they could just do away with her powers off-screen. To bad Brandon Routh and Berlanti Productions did not part under the best terms and that the reason they got rid of him in the first place was that they couldn’t afford him any longer, so this one is not likely to ever happen. Also, I am not sure too many people are actually interested in a whole show about the Atom. Even if there a two of them.

Canaries: With „Green Arrow and the Canaries“ not picked up, they could return to this fan-favored concept: A solo show for Laurel and Dinah. Ditch the Future Crap or wrap it up in the Pilot, let them live in the present again and be a crime fighting double act. Or just set in the future, if you must, and let Dinah keep her club and just say good bye to the Queen-Kids. But since both actresses waited for a year to star in a show, that was not happening and said no to jobs because of that and the plotthreats of the „Green Arrow and the Canaries“ Backdoor-Pilot are still up in the air, it is very unlikely that we will get to see this one.

ThunderGrace: They should have aimed for that show instead of „Painkiller“, they might have had better chances to get picked up with it. Anyways, giving Anissa and her new wife Grace their own show, set in a different city of course, would go great with certain protions of the „Black Lightning“-Audience and might even attract new viewers. Having Jennifer and TC guest star regulary would also be great. Sadly this won’t happen of course, „Black Lightning“ already was very much Anissa’s story, giving her her own show would be like continuing „Black Lightning“ just without Jefferson, so it would basically be the same and therefore The CW would not go for it. Also, as long as „Batwoman“ is around, they would not do a second show with a lesbian Superhero Lead, who fights streetlevel, and since Season 2 also not one about a lesbian Superhero Lead, who is black on the top of that. So sadly, not happening.

Guardian and the Sentinel: „Supergirl“ is not getting a Spin-Off, but if we could choose, only Jessica Queller would go for the „Midvale“-One. Having Alex Danvers and Kelly Olsen als crime fighting partners in every sense on our screens would be great. Yes, the title might need some working on, but the concept would be great. They would probably operate outside of National City, there might even be a way to get the military angle in somehow. However as with „TunderGrace“, thanks to „Batwoman“ this one will never get made, because neither Alex nor Kelly have superpowers. Too bad.

Daughters of the Demon: I am very aware that I am the only one, who wants this Spin-Off. But I still want it. A show build around Thea Queen and the Al Ghul-Sisters (and Roy Harper of course) and their dealings with the League of Assassins in all forms and shapes. Katrina Law is of course not available right now, but the main reason we will never see a show around Thea, Nyssa, and Talia is that no one except me is really interested in it.

Dreamer (and Brainiac-5): This one has probably the best chance of ever happening from everything on this list, but given that it wasn‘t done anywhere outside this year’s Pride-Special, means that there probably are no actual plans for it. Anyways, a show about Dreamer with Brainy at her side, probably set in a new city rather than National City, would be great. Nia is still very new to the superhero-game, just finding her feet, and her romance with Brainy can go to many more places. But after the backlash in regards to „Batwoman“, The CW is probably hesitant to dare making a show about a transhero starring an actual transwoman. Nia might rather get moved to „Legends“ or „Superman & Lois“ or get to guest star on „The Flash“ next season than get her own show.

Next Gen: Mia Queen did not get her own show, when she was teamed up with the Canaries. However if you were to team her up with the Tonado-Twins and a Super-Spawn (not the Kent Twins though), she and Dig’s kids might just get another chance for their own show with William as their tech support. However the death of „Green Arrow and the Canaries“ makes that very unlikely, addionally we don’t know what will happen to Nora and Bart on „The Flash“ yet or where they will go with Kara or Clark for that matter in the future. And show set in the future would also cement that future, which would limit all the other shows somehow in storytelling terms, which might have been one of the reasons „Green Arrow and the Canaries“ was not picked up, so don’t hold you breath for that one.

Hall of Justice: Crisis established the League, but in a few months, only Sara, Barry and Clark will be left. But Nate is probably not the only one who applied for a seat. This one would of course have to take place between seasons or star everyone expect the heroes, who currently still have a show. I did name it „Hall of Justice“ on purpose, because there are many reasons, why this would never happen with the other name, but to be blunt, it would probably never happen under any name. However, this would be a good way to actually end the Arrowverse. To do a mini-series, where the League assembles after the last or most of the old shows are done. This could be one last Crossover with the potential of Follow Up- Features, if someone would ever want to make more of it.

An Anthology-Show:

Originally „Legends of Tomorrow“ was supposed to be an Anthology-Show, and while the decision to make an acutal show instead was the right one back then, the Arrowverse has grown since then, and the idea to do an Anthology-Show to keep it alive is actually a No-Brainer. Instead of whole Seasons, it would be better to go for Two-Parters, Three-Parters, Four Parters and even One Offs though, in order to get more stuff done in the span of a season. The main reason this will not happen is money of course - without standing sets this one would be hard to pull off, but I think it is necessary at this point. And they could even do only two arcs per season or only a hand full of episodes. This is where they could wrap up the open stortythreads from the failed Backdoor-Pilots – „Green Arrow and the Canaries“ and „Painkiller“ –and also where they could test out new Spin-Off Ideas, they could do my entire list here, plus more, like Slade and his sons, a story about the Hawk s, one about Kate Kane, or even Brandon Routh’s version of Superman etc. They could even go back and do in-between episodes about forgotten and dropped storylines, to which they never got around, like Roy’s death and resurrection or Rip’s founding of the Time Bureau. Additionally this is where they could do the Annual Crossover, they would not need to sacrifice episodes of the other shows, but instead air the Crossover as the Mid-Season Replacement in its own show, followed by some other storylines. But like I said, money is not on the side of this one.

Bonus: Show that will air on HBOmax instead and therefore can’t happen for the Arrowverse:

John Diggle, Space Cop:

This would be the Arrowverse Version of „Green Lantern“ and with a „Green Lantern“ Show heading to HBOmax it will of course never happen.

Hellblazer:

Not too long ago this was my top-bet for a new Arrowverse-Spin-Off, given that Matt Ryan’s „Constantine“ left a lot of unresolved storylines behind, but now that a new version of „Constantine“ with a younger John Constantine as the Main Protagonist in it, is heading to HBOmax, Matt Ryan’s version of the character may even be scrapped from the Arrowverse for good in the soon future. Let’s hope there is room for both versions of the character, but a Spin-Off for the Arrowverse is very much not happening any more.

Booster Gold (and Blue Beetle):

Wait, you might say, since when is Booster Gold getting his own series on HBOmax? Well, he was at least planned to get one. Alongside „Green Lantern“ another show was announced back then, remember?„Strange Adventures“ was supposed to feature Booster Gold. And while it has become kind of quite around this project, it was not officially scrapped. Given that it is very unlikely that we will ever get to see an Arrowverse-Version of Booster Gold instead, much less in his own show, and with „Blue Beetle“ getting his own show on HBOmax as well, Ted Kord will probably also never pop up in the Arrowverse, and Michael and Ted will never team up alonside the Legends. Too bad.

#Arrowverse #Potential Spin-Offs #Stuff we wanna see #Arrow #The Flash #Supergirl #Legends of Tomorrow #Black Lightning #Batwoman #Superman & Lois

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comixconnection · 4 years ago

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Choose Your Three Free Comics!

At long, long last...Free Comic Book Day is here! Unlike the usual “first Saturday in May” celebration that has defined the even in normal years, due to issues with the ongoing pandemic the folks in charge have decided to move this year’s celebration back to August 14th. Want a sneak-peak at the books...?

The following titles will be available at Comix Connection on Aug 14th (while supplies last!). Everybody gets to pick three! Unlike previous years, we will NOT be accepting FOOD DONATIONS in exchange for additional comics. Instead we will be collecting monetary donations to give to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. For every DOLLAR donates, you may select an additional free comic book!

We know the line for the FCBD comics can get long (if you want to come in and shop first, you can skip the line and head straight inside!) so in an effort to both entertain you while you’re in that long line and to help it go a little faster by giving you a preview of the various titles so you can decide ahead of time what looks good, the Comix Connection Counter Monkeys have read and reviewed all of the available FCBD books! Take a peek!

CHOOSE YOUR FREE COMICS:

One hundred years before the Skywalker Saga began, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy! In this prelude to the ongoing Star Wars: High Republic Adventures comic series, follow padawans Ram Jomaram, Lula Talisola, and Zeen Mrala as they try to save Lonisa City from the dreaded Nihil. Also read the beginning of Star Wars: High Republic Adventures #1! [All Ages]

“Two brand-new adventures from the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender! In Clearing the Air, Tenzin attempts to teach his rambunctious children a lesson Aang taught him about how to resolve conflicts. In Match Makers, Iroh runs into some trouble with a few friends...that just might lead him to something fun he’s been trying to hide from!” [All Ages]

Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott? gives a sample of the upcoming graphic novel by the same name, a tale telling the true story of the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Rosa Parks! This excerpt features the immediate aftermath of Rosa’s arrest, and her decision to start a legal battle that would change the course of American freedom! [All Ages]

“There's nothing better than a beautiful sunny day reading comics, so join us for a look at this summer's fantastic all-ages reads, courtesy of Oni Press! From the gentle, magical worlds of The Tea Dragon Tapestry (by K. O'Neill) and The Sprite and the Gardner (by Rii Abrego and Joe Whitt), the adventurous magical mystery of Mooncakes (by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu), and the action-packed Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters (Chris and Laura Samnee), there's something for everyone. Sneak a peek at these four fantastic fantasy graphic novels!” [All Ages]

Sonic is 30 years old! Celebrate the anniversary of the world’s fastest hedgehog with this peek into the ongoing Sonic comic series. Things get meta when Amy Rose starts drawing a comic about Sonic, Tails, and their friends...but what will Sonic think when he finds out he’s been turned into a comic book? Prepare for the big 30th Anniversary Sonic Celebration here! [All Ages]

It's the crisis of infinite Archies! Celebrate 80 years of the Riverdale Gang with this tale featuring a dimension-hopping Archie Andrews in his quest to save the multiverse. Then, witness Archie go toe-to-toe with... himself?! May the best Archie win! Plus, get a preview of the newest Archie One-Shot in shops! This title includes several versions of Archie (from classic to TV to horror) and showcases his evolution as a character over eight decades, all while being a tie-in to the company's 80th Anniversary plans. [All Ages]

“Despite the pandemic and the swirl of world events, back issue comics are booming! It's not all record prices (though there are many) or bargain basement deals, but rather it's many different categories! The team that brings you The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide shines the spotlight on this exciting part of the universe of comic books. Includes tips on how to collect, care for your comics, and preserve them, among other things.” [All Ages]

“Get a sneak peek at book four in the bestselling InvestiGators series! With agent Brash trapped in a mysterious coma, the technicians at S.U.I.T. have designed the ultimate replacement: RoboBrash! This high-tech replica has been programmed with all of the original Brash's crime-fighting skills and know-how--but it seems he's got a few bugs in his system! Will Mango and his new partner be enough to stop the giant ants that are on a rampage in the city? Orchestrated by the spaced-out villain, Maestronaut, and Houdino, the dinosaur escape artist, it seems criminals are certainly upping the ANT-e!” [All Ages]

“My name is Grace, not ‘Kyle's little sister’!” Having a good-looking, friendly, outgoing older brother sucks--especially when you're the total opposite: someone who likes staying home and playing video games. Your parents like him better (even if they deny it!) and everyone calls you "Kyle's little sister" while looking disappointed that you're not more like him. Grace was really hoping she'd get to go to a different middle school, but no such luck. At least she has her friends...until he finds a way to ruin that, too! What will Grace have to do to get out of his shadow?! [All Ages]

Jewish mythology has it that when God created the universe, He left one corner of it unfinished. Opinion is divided on why, but everyone agrees that the Unfinished Corner is a dangerous place full of monsters. Twelve-year-old Miriam is too busy preparing for her Bat Mitzvah to care about the Unfished Corner. She spends her days wrestling with whether she even wants to be Jewish--until a peculiar angel appears, whisking her, her two best friends, and her worst frenemy off to this monstrous land with one mission: finish the Unfinished Corner. [All Ages]

“The City of Gloomhaven isn't "safe" at the best of times, but lately, more folks than usual seem to be disappearing. In a city paralyzed by an unknown menace, only one adventuring crew will do: The Jaws of the Lion! Based on the hit games, Gloomhaven and Jaws of the Lion from Cephalofair Games, comes a fantasy adventure with humor and heart.” [All Ages]

The Last Kids on Earth and their friends each tell their own best story of the Monster Apocalypse, including Jack's high-stakes baseball game, Globlet's attempt to take over the world, Quint's bad-day-away invention, Dirk's bragain with a witch, and June and Skaelka's creepy carnival--plus a surprise story from some bad guys on the run... [All Ages]

Being the new kid is tough, even for a superhero/ward and heir to a billionaire, Damian Wayne (aka Robin)! Join Damian as he struggles to learn patience and understanding from the students at Gotham Metro Academy, including star student and all-around Great Guy, Howard! Plus, an adventure of Amethyst, princess of the mystical realm of Gemworld by bestselling authors Shannon Hale and Dean Hale! [All Ages]

To celebrate the new animated TV series premiering on Nickelodeon Fall 2021, Papercutz is releasing a new series of graphic novels entitled The Smurfs Tales. Preview it here with a number of silly short Smurfs Tales, with a back-up appearance by one of Peyo’s other beloved creations: Johan and Peewit, the young page and the court jester. [All Ages]

In Edge of Balance, a new High Republic story set in the wake of the Hyperspace Disaster, meet new Jedi and their enemies 100 years before the events of the Skywalker Saga! Young Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi is assigned to help displaced civilians relocate to Banchii in the Outer Rim. She and her padawans will face more threats there than just anxious settlers, from the insidious Drengir to the Nihil! And in Guardian of the Whills, encounter Baze and Chirrut before they join the Rebellion against the Empire in Rogue One! Presiding over the Kyber Temple on Jedha, the Guardians of the Whills had hoped to maintain the balance despite the growing presence of the Empire in their Holy City. Yet when a rebel named Saw Gerrera appears, Baze and Chirrut must decide if they're willing to compromise for peace, or if Saw's plan is too dangerous to risk. Read the first chapter of these two new Star Wars Manga Graphic Novels here! [Teen]

It wouldn’t be the Teen Titans without heightened teenage emotions and romance! Fan favorites Beast Boy and Raven are travelling away from the dwellings they know to find homes they can feel comfortable in. Along the way, their paths cross, sparks fly, and even a destiny or two might be found. [Teen]

“Street Fighter heads back to school, as the world's young fighters flex both their academic and martial arts prowess! Fan favorites Sakura, Ibuki, Karin, Makoto, and Elena come face-to-face with a new challenger - the leather-clad, motorcycle-riding Akira! It's a square-off of (rival) schools in this action-packed one-shot!” [Teen]

[NOT FINAL ART] “This Fall, jump on board here as VALIANT UPRISING overthrows the status quo with new titles, new creators, and new takes on Valiant's most iconic characters! The VALIANT UPRISING FCBD SPECIAL features: A brand new X-O MANOWAR story from Harvey Award-winning writer Dennis Hopeless and breakout star Emilio Laiso. It's the perfect jumping-on point as Valiant's flagship hero prepares to "Upgrade the World"! Then, get a special advance preview of THE HARBINGER #1, an all-new series from co-writers Jackson Lanzing and Colin Kelly join superstar artist Robbi Rodriguez that promises to take Valiant's psiot rebel in a vivid new direction! Plus, find out how the world's greatest spy responds to being unmasked, hunted, and trapped in a first look at NINJAK #1, the pulse-pounding thrill ride from Ringo Award-winning writer Jeff Parker and legendary artist Javier Pulido. Finally, get a sneak peek from writer Cullen Bunn and artist Jon Davis-Hunt of what's to come when SHADOWMAN returns!” [Teen]

Three epic new Marvel moments begin here! Read the beginning of the upcoming Spider-Man Beyond story that will be starting in Amazing Spider-Man #75! Big changes are coming to everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man...but are they for good, or ill? Also discover the new Venom series, which will take spider symbiosis to whole new levels in the wake of King In Black. And last, sneak a peek at the Luke Cage: City On Fire mini-series, which will pit Luke against not just the Kingpin, but Daredevil too! [Teen]

Gotham is under attack, and it’s by the people claiming to keep it safe! Billionaire Simon Saint has slowly been taking over the institutions of Gotham with his insidious private security Magistrate program. Meanwhile, Batman finds his mind infected by Scarecrow’s fear gas, forcing him to question every decision he makes. It is all leading to the DC-spanning event FEAR STATE that will rock Gotham to its core. Plus, read a preview of Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridely’s I Am Batman series in which the sons of Lucius Fox struggle with the legacy of both their father and Bruce Wayne as they take up the cowl to defend Gotham. [Teen]

Who is Avenger Prime? And what has spurred the chronal collapse that has them sending their army of Deathloks out to save all of space and time? Discover the start of the end here! Then, journey into the unknown with the Incredible Hulk! Bruce Banner never wanted to smash, he wanted to discover. Now, it’s finally time for the Hulk to expand his horizons with Operation: Smashtronaut! [Teen]

In this story from Critical Role, explore a small but important corner from the adventures of the Mighty Nein. Then, in The Witcher, it's an original tale featuring the iconic witcher himself, Geralt! Created in close collaboration with CD Projekt Red! [Teen]

A fascinating graphic adaptation of historian Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny, a collections of essays and reflections on lessons from history and how they can help America steer away from the course of authoritarianism. Recommended for anyone looking to learn more about how tyrants all through history have manipulated people and systems to take away the freedoms of others. [Teen]

“Side A: "BLACK: Interlude" What else was going on the night Kareem Jenkins was shot by police and discovered only Black people have superpowers? Find out in this FCBD one-shot! Side B: "CALEXIT: Hollywood Babylon" Once California refused to be ruled by the US government, its resistance fighters became overnight celebrities. Zora used her infamy for recruiting, but Emmie-X has other ideas.” [Mature]

In 2019, James Tynion IV (Batman) and Werther Dell'Edera (Briggs Land) introduced the world to Erica Slaughter, the iconic monster hunter who came to Archer's Peak, Wisconsin to save the town's children from the monsters only she can see. But Erica is not the only member of the House of Slaughter... With nearly half a million copies sold, Something is Killing the Children has become a true comic phenomenon and this Free Comic Book Day you are invited to enter the House of Slaughter...if you dare. [Teen]

Crewed by teenage geniuses frozen in cryosleep, the JEMISON is on a mission to terraform other worlds and provide hope for the human race. But when the ship is mysteriously stopped over a planet that isn't on any of their maps, the crew finds themselves suddenly awoken ten years early. One half remains behind to try and assess the damage and the other is dispatched to the planet below to figure out the answer to a perilous question: What stopped the ship, and is it friend or foe? [Teen]

As the earth dies, salvation is offered to five thousand children who will be spirited away from our planet’s apocalypse -- but what of the other children, still hoping to find one of the bracelets that give them their ticket off planet? In this wistful one-shot from the sci-fi hit We Live, go into the Broken Lands with a group of friends...but there are four of them, and only one bracelet to be found. How will they decide who gets to leave? Then, preview the Rainbow Bridge graphic novel where Andy has to help his beloved dog Rocket save eternity! [Teen]

“The comic adventures of Max, Chloe, and Rachel from the award-winning video game Life Is Strange continue in this exclusive lead-in to an epic new story arc! This FCBD special features the first comic book appearance of an all-new character who will feature heavily in the Life is Strange universe in 2021! This FCBD issue contains exclusive original material!” [Teen]

“To reclaim the Dungeon that fell to the scheming William Delacour, the plan is simple: Marvin the dragon, Isis, and Herbert the duck must find some magic “fugus purit” and use it to dislodge the current occupants of the fortress. But is this really the Guardian's plan? Our heroes will have to fight against everyone to save the Dungeon. Meanwhile, will Marvin succeed in his engagement blast-of-firebreath 'Tong Deum'? Preview the new series here!” [Teen]

See the next chapter of the super-powered scifi epic The Resistance, and then meeet the “Moths”: a subset of the super-powered Reborn. The pandemic that granted the Reborn their gifts during The Great Death gave power to people like Emily Kai and the rest of the Moths, too...but the moment they use their gifts, their clock starts ticking and they have six months to live. Also, get a sneak-peek at the just-released Not All Robots futuristic techno-depressive-thriller! [Teen]

The second semester of School for Extraterrestrial Girls is in session! Peer into the lives of Tara Smith (fire lizard!), Misako Sato (extra-dimensional fairy!), Summer Cortez (pink tentacle void beast!), and Ekaterina and Zvenislava (anthropomorphic Russian kittens!). They’re all normal teenage girls...except that they’re all aliens stuck on Earth, and since Tara partially destroyed their old school they’ve been sent to bunk at the School for Extraterrestrial Boys while it’s repaired...that’ll go fine, right? Read the first issue here! [Teen]

This official spinoff manga of Rent-A-Girlfriend, the rom-com turned hit anime, features fan-favorite Sumi, the shy girl longing to come out of her shell. Written and illustrated by original creator Reiji Miyajima! Catch up on the manga before the Rent-A-Girlfriend anime returns for a second season, coming soon! [Teen]

Zom 100 is a violent and funny take on the zombie apocalypse! Its main character, Akira, is so depressed in his soul-crushing job that he uses the undead hordes as motivation to finally complete his bucket list! Also included is a sample of the hit fantasy manga Demon Slayer. [Teen]

“Known as the the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, E-rank hunter Jinwoo Sung's contribution to raids amounts to trying not to get killed. Unfortunately, between his mother's hospital bills, his sister's tuition, and his own lack of job prospects, he has no choice but to continue to put his life on the line. So when an opportunity arises for a bigger payout, he takes it...only to come face-to-face with a being whose power outranks anything he's ever seen! With the party leader missing an arm and the only healer a quivering mess, can Jinwoo somehow find them a way out?” [Teen]

In the small Pennsylvania town of White Ash, there isn’t much going on aside from mining...and keeping the fact that there are elves and dwarves living in the town secret, of course! In this pre-launch of Season Two of the ongoing series, a romantic rendezvous for the grieving dwarf Alex and mischievous elf Lillian doesn’t go as planned...with potentially disastrous consequences! Also read a preview of The Game, a new series where your every action affects impacts the score of your life! Plus a sneak-peak at some vampiric troubles in colonial America in Stake! [Teen]

World of Zorro gives readers a peak at the upcoming titles for the legendary masked swashbuckler, both new stories (that range from the familiar to supernatural horror) as well as newly-translated classic tales! [Teen]

For FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, enjoy this special expanded edition of the hit IMAGE series, STRAY DOGS! Stray Dogs is a comic thriller that features art inspired by classic Don Bluth-style animation, telling the story of a group of dogs brought together by a mysterious loner. Rather than behave like four-legged humans, the brilliance of Stray Dogs is that it gets inside the heads of its canine characters, showing the human world from their perspective. Unique, entertaining, and creepy. [Teen]

The undead Vampirella has been around since 1969, and as the celebrations of her 50th anniversary draw to a close, Dynamite presents a reprint of the first issue of their series that kicked-off her modern adventures! [Teen+]

Take an inside look at everyone’s favorite bipedal shark god, King Shark (aka Nanaue)! Suicide Squad’s many-toothed muscle is currently inside Belle Reve prison, but he won’t remain there for long. PLUS: a sneak peak at the just-released Suicide Squad miniseries Get Joker! [Mature]

“After 20 years of antics coming out of Sunnyvale trailer park, the underground TV phenomenon Trailer Park Boys is finally coming to comics! Full of short stories and activity pages, several of comics' finest join to create a series of comic book specials in 2021 and beyond honoring Ricky, Bubbles and Julian and everything fans have come to love about the series.” [Mature]

Fungirl is a humor comic that is as unpredictable and hilarious as it is observant and smart. Cartoonist Elizabeth Pich’s creation does as much smashing the patriarchy as she does dreaming of delicious donuts and being spit on by llamas. [Mature]

“Tensions between the clans are high, so when Cecily Bain, an enforcer for the Twin Cities' vampiric elite, takes a mysterious new vampire under her wing she finds herself in over her head and dragged into a massive undead conspiracy! Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city, a rebellious found-family of clan-less vampire cast-outs investigates a vicious killing.” [Mature]

“Preview the forthcoming full color, original Space Pirate Captain Harlock series from ABLAZE, personally overseen by the legendary Leiji Matsumoto! In this brand-new Captain Harlock adventure, planet Earth is threatened by an upcoming invasion by the Sylvidres and despite being banished as a pirate, Captain Harlock won't give up trying to save the world. Will Captain Harlock and his crew manage to solve this mystery and save the Earth from yet another menace? Also includes teasers for 3 highly anticipated upcoming manga/manhwa releases from ABLAZE, including The Breaker Vol 1 omnibus (critically acclaimed martial arts manhwa), Versus Fighting Story Vol 1 (Capcom e-sports shonen manga) and Crueler Than Dead Vol 1 (zombie horror seinen manga).” [Mature]

“An evil so profound it threatens all mankind... the mightiest heroes on the planet uniting to defend us all... a secret crisis of such utter finality that a countdown to civil or infinite war seems unavoidable... but have you ever wondered what really happens during Crossovers? The Seven, Payback, Teenage Kix, Fantastico and every other supe on Earth team up for an annual event like no other... and where the supes go, can a certain "five complications and a dog" be far behind? Vought-American prepare to make their move, in a story that will change the world of the Boys forever: Herogasm #1. The first-ever Boys spin-off mini-series features the pairing of Ennis with Hitman artist John McCrea and covers by Boys artist and co-creator Darick Robertson!” [Mature]

“The most eagerly-anticipated series of 2021 gets the FCBD treatment with this ALL-NEW "bonus" issue of the series! Featuring 33 pages of comics produced exclusively for FCBD, from the creator of Hip Hop Family Tree and X-Men: Grand Design, designed as a perfect entry point for new readers and a must-have for those already on board. Aided by the anonymous dark web and nearly untraceable crypto-currency, there has emerged a subculture of criminals who live-stream and patronize webcam murders for entertainment. Who are the murderers? Who are the victims? Who is the audience? How do we stop it? An outlaw, splatterpunk masterpiece, as seen on Piskor's YouTube channel sensation, Cartoonist Kayfabe!” [Mature]

“An award-winning comic and soon to be Netflix anime series! When dusk arrives in the city of Manila, that's when you become the most likely prey of the underworld. Kidnappers and thieves will be the least of your worries. Beware the criminals that can't be bound with handcuffs nor harmed with bullets. Beware the ones that crave your blood, those who hold your heart ransom, and the ones that come to steal your soul. When crime takes a turn for the weird, the police call Alexandra Trese. Featuring a preview from TRESE Vol 2: Unreported Murders, a section on the forthcoming Netflix TRESE anime series launching this summer (including an interview with Director Jay Oliva), bonus pages with w/ background about the monsters of Philippine myth as told by TRESE creators Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, and a teaser on TRESE Vol 3: Mass Murders, coming this Sept from ABLAZE!” [Mature]

“2000 AD Presents All-Star Judge Dredd is a thrill-powered showcase of the past and shocking present of the iconic lawman of the future! Witness the birth of the world of Judge Dredd in an incendiary preview of upcoming prequel graphic novel Dreadnoughts by Michael Carroll with art by Watchmen's John Higgins. Fan-favourite Judge Hershey travels to the ends of the earth to dispense her own brand of justice in long-anticipated blockbuster spin-off, Hershey: Disease by Rob Williams (Suicide Squad) and Simon Fraser (Doctor Who). Along-side these teases for Fall 2021 epics enjoy a bone-rattling all new stand-alone Dredd caper from elite writer Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk, Marvel's Empyre) and Caspar Wijngaard (Star Wars, Home Sick Pilots)!” [Teen]

“Four titanic tales of pure fun and entertainment for everyone to enjoy! First up. It's no dog and pony show here! Bringing back the iconic puppets from the San Francisco Bay Area "Charlie and Humphrey"!! The modern-day Gumby and Pokey! A true love for al ages featuring a tale by Justin Sane and John Hageman! Next up is "Red Dawn" Written and created by Brandon McKinney, with inks by Bill Anderson and vibrant colors from Ross Hughes!! The government has created the first "controlled" superhero doing the bidding of a shadow operation until things go bad leaving our hero to blame and now on the run. The following story is only exclusive to this FCBD edition. Written by Greg Boucher and illustrated by Victor Moya they bring you "Rock and Roll Biographies: FIGHt" See how a troubled Rob Halford leaves the world biggest heavy metal band to form his own supergroup and take metal back!! Our last preview is written by Mel Smith, illustrated by Frank Cirocco/Alex Sheikman and hand colored by Gerhard! "Becoming Frankenstein" takes down the journey of a troubled Victor Frankenstein as he grieves the loss of his mother while harvesting the body parts of victims to create life again for his monster! Learn the tales of the victims and who they were before they became what becomes Frankenstein's ultimate creation! : This will be the only edition to feature this Rock and Roll Biographies story featuring FIGHT “ [Mature]

Enjoyed your Free Comic Book Day books? Want to read more? Let your friendly neighborhood Comix Connection Counter Monkey know which ones caught your eye, and we’ll be happy to direct you to the next part of the story!

#free comic book day #fcbd #fcbd 2021 #free comic book day 2021 #comixevent #comixmech #comixyork

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smoking-serpent · 4 years ago

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Layers: Tlaloc Tezcacoatl

LAYER ONE: THE OUTSIDE

Name: “Tlaloc Tezcacoatl! The first name comes from an obsolete deity (thanks for that, mom) and the last names means “smoking serpent”. It’s a family thing.”

Eye color: “Purple. Violet, I guess, if you want to be specific.”

Hair Style/Color: “Silver. I keep it short and swept back. Can’t have it getting in the way in a fight! I had it black once upon a time, but did end up going back to the natural silver.”

Height: “I am 6′10″. Turns out I’m tall even for an Elezen!”

Clothing Style: “If I can avoid sleeves, I will. When your fists are your weapons you need all the dexterity and freedom of movement you can get! I’m not a huge fan or armor, but the Dragoon mail looks very good, so I don’t mind wearing it when I’m jumping around.”

Best Physical Feature: “I assume I’m not supposed to say- Right. Yeah. I’ve been given compliments on my eyes before, so I’ll go with that as my final answer.”

LAYER TWO: THE OUTSIDE

Your Fears: “Bold of you to assume I have fears. Actually though, if I’m being honest, I’m afraid of all this Warrior of Light stuff might turn me into someone I don’t want to be. I love being the hero, don’t get me wrong, but it does... it comes with a price.”

Your Guilty Pleasure: “I’m a whore for fried food. I try to keep in the best shape I can, but twelve forfend I come across some on a day that isn’t a cheat day, because I’ll throw it all away for a plate of funnel cake.”

Your Biggest Pet Peeve: “When people immediately assume I’m not smart. I know I’m not that smart, I couldn’t outwit a Goobbue on a good day, but just because I Punch Good doesn’t mean I’m a completely witless brute.”

Your Ambition for the Future: “I just want to enjoy life. I love adventuring and I hope to do it as long as I can, Warrior of Light or not.”

LAYER THREE: THOUGHTS

Your First Thoughts Waking Up: “Would anyone notice if I stayed in bed today?”

What You Think About the Most: “Would anyone actually notice if I skipped leg day?”

What You Think About Before Bed: “’Ow’, usually.”

You Think Your Best Quality Is: “Loyalty. I’ve been told it’s almost to a fault.”

LAYER FOUR: WHAT’S BETTER?

Single or Group Dates: “I don’t really...date? I have one person I sort of casually date, but we’re not... official? I don’t know. But, that aside, they’re both fun. You get to see different sides of people in both scenarios!”

To be Loved or Respected: “I need to be respected. I want to be loved.”

Beauty or Brains: “If these are my only two options, I have to go with brains. I definitely appreciate beauty, no doubt about that, but like I said, I couldn’t outsmart a goobbue.”

Dogs or cats: “I like both, but a dog will go on morning runs with me!”

LAYER FIVE: DO YOU?

Lie: “Not if I can help it. I’m a terrible liar, so I kind of just don’t. If I can charm my way around things I’ll do that instead.”

Believe in yourself: “Some Alisaie, Y’shtola, Krile, might say I believe in myself just a little too much.”

Believe in Love: “Sure. Why not? I’m not a huge advocate, but I definitely can’t say it’s not out there.”

Want Someone: “I mean yeah, but I’m so busy it’s difficult to make time. But you know, I’m not really a... long-term relationship kind of guy anyway.”

LAYER SIX: EVER?

Been on stage: “Isn’t everything I do on stage at this point? People watch the Warrior of Light constantly.”

Done Drugs: “Once. Never again.”

Changed Who You Were to Fit In: “Nope. I am a very big advocate for people just being who they want to be.”

LAYER SEVEN: FAVORITES

Color: “Blues go nicely with my skin tone, so blue.”

Animal: “Oh, man, I would die for sheep. They’re just so cute.”

Food: “I would also die for a plate of fried popotoes.”

Game: “My favorite game is called “let’s see how many times we can get Godbert Manderville to body slam Hildibrand Manderville in one minute”.”

LAYER EIGHT: AGE

Day Your Next Birthday Will Be: “15th Sun of the Third Astral Moon.”

How Old Will You Be: “29!”

Age You Lost Your Virginity: “16.”

Does Age Matter: “Yeah, to a degree. Obviously don’t be a creep, or I’ll knock your teeth out. It’s up to you to decide who you’re comfortable with and to respect their decisions about you as well.”

LAYER NINE: IN A BOY OR GIRL

Best thing to do with a Partner: *wiggles eyebrows and smirks suggestively*. “Sorry, sorry. Honestly, with a significant other my favorite thing to do is just...relax. I don’t get to do that often, so it’s nice to do it with someone I care about.”

Best Eye Color: “I can’t choose. So many pretty colors, so many pretty people.”

Best Personality: “People who are strong yet kind. Tough but understanding. Who know when to put on a brave face and when to take off the mask. People who understand what that’s like and who you can really be yourself around. People who have been through the hells and back, yet still choose to be good.”

LAYER TEN: FINISH THE SENTENCE

I love: “The thrill of the fight. The rush of adrenaline in battle.”

I feel: “Like everyone places me on this pedestal...and as much as I love the view, I’m terrified of falling.”

I miss: “Not feeling guilty about the things I can’t change.”

I hide: “My fear. If the enemy sees you’re afraid, they’ve already won half the battle.”

I wish: “I could always be as strong as everyone needs me to be.”

___

And there we go! I stole this from @bard-of-light so go check them out!

Any thoughts or questions? I’d love to interact more, so feel free to send a message my way!

#Tlaloc Tezcacoatl

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toastling · 5 years ago

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Amily Garen

Amily Garen is a professional hero from Chelsea, Manhattan, representing the hero agency Street Justice. Though she’s only been in the game for 2 years now, she’s already made a name for herself as one of the industry’s rising stars. She’s an active member of NYC’s supernatural community and one of the faces of the city’s LGBT community. She’s also a vocal advocate for superhuman and drakan rights, and in her brief time as a hero, has taken part in numerous protests, marches, rallies, and demonstrations throughout the city, using her celebrity status to bring attention to causes that are important to her.

Though she’s becoming increasingly well-known individually, Amily is better known in tandem with her partner, Snow Angel. The two of them together form a rather popular duo known to fans as ‘Thundersnow’. They’re not just partners on the job, though - they’re also romantically involved, and are one of the most popular couples in the hero industry. While they make no effort to hide their relationship, the two girls are very serious about keeping their private life private, and are very careful about what they choose to reveal to the public.

Amily is on good terms with many rival heroes and agencies, and is known to team up with them on occasion - with or without Snow Angel - if they ever need a little extra muscle, as among heroes in her age group, her combat ability is unmatched. When it comes to fighting villains, Amily’s closest comparisons are all veterans decades more experienced than herself. Her training is extensive, and she’s been known to tutor others on request. She apparently taught Snow Angel everything she knows and spars with her regularly.

In spite of her skill however, Amily is yet to tap into her full power. The things she is theoretically capable of would make her a real superhero, but she still has a ways to go before she gets there. Nevertheless, she makes clever use of her inhuman strength, speed, endurance, and electrical abilities, and is known to be very adaptable and off-the-cuff in battle.

Amily’s high potential stems from the fact that she is what’s known as a halfling. Born to a superhuman mother and a dragon father, though he was never really a part of her life, Amily has always been steeped in both human and drakan culture. She’s part of a growing trend of professional heroes who’ve foregone the idea of separate hero and civilian identities, and just uses her given name instead, with her pride in her drakan heritage as a large part of the reason why. She is as far away from shy as you can possibly get and is as bold and passionate a girl as you’ll ever meet, and she wears her heart, heritage, and identities on her sleeve in hopes of inspiring others like her.

Amily was lucky enough to have piqued the interest of the King of Dragons, Sirus Albion, from a very young age. Having seen something in her, King Sirus assigned his former head of the Royal Guard - Li’alie Ninoke - to help raise and tutor Amily in her draconic ancestry and abilities. This is likely where Amily’s vast combat experience stems from, and why even without her father in her life, she is incredibly well-versed in the history and culture of the dragons.

All things considered though, halflings don’t exactly have the best rap among either race. They’re still largely considered to be outcasts, and are no strangers to bigotry or fear mongering from humans and dragons both. But Amily has never once wavered in her pride for who she is. She has worked hard and earned the respect of the humans as a hero, and of the dragons as a scholar. She’s even earned herself a title among the dragons - the ‘Blitz Dragon’ - which is almost unheard of for halflings. Because of her extensive knowledge of human and dragon cultures, and her celebrity status as a professional hero, Amily is considered by many to be one of the faces of the halfling community.

As for why she does what she does, Amily has always been stubborn and has never liked bullies. She challenged anybody who bullied her to fights she usually won, and went out of her way to get in-between other kids and their bullies any time she saw something going down. All her life, she’s wanted nothing more than to help and protect other people, and to empower those who feel like they’re powerless. She fights to put a smile on other people’s faces. That isn’t to say violence is all she knows - she often tries to resolve matters peacefully via communication before they ever escalate to that point - but she’s more than capable if it comes down to it.

She’s friends with just about every hero in her age range and is known for being very upbeat and personable. She’s described by her friends as an absolute joy to be around, and one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. She is warm and understanding, boisterous and open-minded, and at her core she just really, really loves other people. But that isn’t to say she’s inexhaustible. Like most heroes, Amily always tries to put her best foot forward publicly, but the Amily her friends and fans know and the Amily her girlfriend and her family knows are likely two very different people.

Like most heroes today, Amily is on the front lines fighting and investigating Providence. Following a warning from a veteran hero that something big was due to go down in New York, Amily has been working overtime, doing everything in her power to avert another tragedy before it happens, including teaming up with law enforcement to raid suspected Providence hideouts. She’s made a few notable busts over the last couple of months, but so far, the organization’s grander plans for the city elude her. But for as long as they are a threat, she will be there, fighting tirelessly to put an end to their schemes.

Amily is what she’s always wanted to be - a hero - and is on track to be one of the best in the entire country. But for her, it isn’t about the fame or fortune that the hero’s life entails. For Amily, it’s just about doing the right thing. If she has the power to help, then she also has the responsibility, and if there’s one thing Amily considers herself to be, it is responsible.

#My OCs #Amily Garen #Heroes #Meet Amily #I don't want to give too much about her away before the book but this about covers the basics of what's known about her #I hope you guys like my lesbian daughter

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ladala99 · 5 years ago

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More Thorough Thoughts on Mystery Dungeon Rescue DX Demo

Intro

When I was a kid, the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series was peak hype. You could actually play as a Pokemon, going on adventures in randomly-changing environments so nothing is ever exactly the same. The story blew me away, surprising me with how emotional video games could be. And that was just the first game, as the second improved upon so many things.

Here we are again, remaking the first games. I’m really excited for people who never played Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue team to experience the story of the Ninetales curse for the first time. It’s a great story in a great game and it deserves to be seen by more people.

Graphics/Art Style

In addition, this game fixes something I never imagined would be fixed: the art style. When the Mystery Dungeon games transitioned to 3D, they lost the series’ original art style to be replaced with the generic cartoon art style every 3D cartoon game feels like it has. With these filters, it not only regains what the drawn graphics of the original imply, it recreates the concept art with its hatched shading and bold lines. Look at any screenshot of the game, and everything other than the Pokemon looks like a drawn picture, not a 3D environment. It is so pretty and it works so well.

Aside from the Pokemon, though. The filters make them fit in for the most part, but it is very clear that these 3D models (the same ones used in everything since Gen V - GameFreak, you taking notes?) are not made specifically for this game. It’s not bad that they stick out, since in a way, they should, but it does break the concept art look that everything else has.

It does keep Super’s walking animations, too, unfortunately. They animated four-legged Pokemon very generically and it doesn’t look great. The originals had unique animations for every Pokemon, mainly because every Pokemon had unique sprites. Now the uniqueness is largely gone. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but I miss Skitty’s pounces as it wanders around town.

Changes from the Originals

The personality quiz will sometimes suggest Pokemon from the opposite gender compared to the original. I haven’t tested it thoroughly, but when I took it, I chose girl and it gave me the Pokemon that used to be male-exclusive for that personality trait.

And now you can choose your starter regardless of the test results. I like the best-of-both-worlds approach here. You can also choose Partner Pokemon that used to be exclusively Heroes in the original, so that’s very neat.

Dungeon mechanics have been updated to be an evolution of Super’s mechanics. The demo ends too early in the game for me to form a full opinion on this. So far, I haven’t noticed it change the difficulty, as moves didn’t really have Base Power in the original as far as I noticed, so Tackle was just as good as Slam. Better even, as it has more PP. Now, you start with better moves, but it doesn’t seem to make it all that much easier. It was already easy.

I can’t say I’m the hugest fan of “press A and the game chooses the best move for you to use,” but if you use Super’s move button combo, you can choose a move yourself, anyways. And there is a “do nothing” button combo, so I’ll just have to get used to using that rather than pressing A when I want to do nothing.

Overall, though, moves are handled a lot better than they were in the originals, at least on the accessing them front. Some people are upset about the lack of a Basic Attack, but I made my farewells when Gates to Infinity came out and made them useless. It makes Max Elixirs less useless.

Story-wise nothing has changed so far other than Diglett being introduced slightly earlier, while also making you a shortcut to the Pelipper Post Office. Not sure if that means more story additions are on the way (I hope so!) or if it’s just a convenience thing with an in-universe explanation.

Really small thing that bothers me, though, is that wandering NPCs in town have zero weight to them. In the originals, NPCs had set ranges and you couldn’t move them. Now, you so much as brush up against them and they slide away from you. Even Gates and Super did it the original way. It feels wrong and cheap the new way; at least in most games that let you move NPCs, you need to exert some force. As it is here, I try to talk to them and push them away in the process.

Conclusion?

As far as I’ve seen so far, I’m pretty excited. But there’s still more to talk about that I will under the cut! It involves mild spoilers found out through the game’s Help Menus.

Pokemon Availability

Here’s something that’s neutral-to-negative: all signs point to these games consisting of only Gens I-III, evolutions/pre-evolutions(?) of Gen I-III Pokemon, Megas and Primals of Gen I-III Pokemon, and Lucario. More than the original? Yes. But in this day and age, it’s not very many. We criticized Sword and Shield for cutting the cast, and even before the DLC those games have more than this game does.

I understand it as an artistic choice. It’s the same reason Let’s Go, Pikachu and Eevee only have Kanto Pokemon. But when I get a new Pokemon game, especially Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, I want to use Pokemon I’ve never used before in that context. And I’ll be shocked if any of the newcomers are available before the post-game.

And not even Alolan Formes are in. The game’s TMs indicate that this game was developed to release during Gen VII, but they didn’t even do the obvious and make the Ninetales that lives on an icy mountain ice-type.

Shiny Pokemon Exist

That’s all we know, but that’s really cool. Apparently the Friend Bow helps recruit them.

Exp. All

Something that started in Gates to Infinity and continued into Super Mystery Dungeon is the fact that every recruited Pokemon gains experience along with you, regardless if they are on the adventure or not.

They changed the name of Friend Areas to Rescue Camps, and one of the Rare Quality descriptions seems to indicate that Pokemon in Rescue Camps gain experience with you.

Unlike with the main series, I don’t really mind it. I find the game more fun when I’m bulldozing my way through everything than I do when I’m struggling. But that’s just me.

I can see this being a disappointment for some. It’d be nice to be able to turn this on or off, especially since it would be funny considering the main series took away that option. But I’m just speculating now.

IQ Replaced

Instead we have Rare Qualities, which it seems some Pokemon come with, but others can be obtained through gummis. Gummis now only come in two varieties rather than the type-based ones, and thus are likely a lot rarer. Likely. I’ve got a job sitting in my Accepted Jobs list that rewards one so maybe they’re not all that rare.

Absolute Mover has an equivalent, so that’s all I really care about here. If I can have a Caterpie that crashes through walls, I’m happy.

Six Additional Story Beats?

The original Red/Blue Rescue Team had 12 total story portraits on the loading screen. DX has 18. This could mean one of two things:

One, it could have more actual events in the story. This I’m hoping for, but...

Two, more of the game’s story could have portraits. The original only showed the Legendaries you encountered, but there’s important events that happen that don’t involve Legendaries. Plus not all of the post-game events had portraits.

So, I want to be excited, but at the same time, I can’t get my hopes up.

Conclusion

I’m still excited, but it’s not exactly what I wanted from another Mystery Dungeon game. The gameplay’s still fun, of course, and I’m excited to see the rest of the game in this beautiful artstyle, but I have to temper my expectations. This isn’t Gen VII Mystery Dungeon where I can play as a Litten, nor Gen VIII Mystery Dungeon where I can have a Sobble partner.

This is Gen III+. It’s the original but prettier and with new mechanics. I’ll definitely love it, but it won’t be what I was hoping for.

#pokemon #pokemon mystery dungeon #video game review

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wherehaveallthekiwisgone · 6 years ago

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The new Carmen Sandiego show is so good though?

Like, I’ve been a fan of this franchise for over 25 years. I played a lot of the games, watched and loved both game shows and the cartoon, I had a board game and, like a choose your own adventure style book, among other things. So I’m pretty familiar with this franchise.

What I love is how it manages to reimagine Carmen into a very likable and relatable anti-hero, while still managing to keep her a lovable rogue. I wasn’t super thrilled when I first learned that Carmen in the new series was the hero, not the antagonist. Despite the fact that franchise bears her name, Carmen was never the protagonist. In the cartoon, it was Ivy and Zach, the game show had the contestants, and in the computer games, the protagonist was you, the player. Carmen was always the antagonist, the one that had to be stopped. She was a likable and memorable antagonist, to be sure, but she was still a thief who stole rare and often random treasures just because. Some incarnations have her as more sympathetic than others, with the darkest incarnation probably being the game Carmen Sandiego: Word Detective. The 90′s cartoon made her more of an anti-villain, giving her a pretty sad backstory, a firm code of ethics, and making her beef with the two young heroes more personal by making her a former agent of ACME. These elements would become further cemented into the mythos of Carmen when later computer games in the franchise would work them into their canon.

What this show does is turn that backstory on it’s head, and giving Carmen the protagonist spot for the first time. As in the 90′s cartoon, She’s still an orphan, (probably) from Argentina, and is very against killing to get what she wants. Instead of being the former golden girl of ACME, she’s raised by VILE operatives, and has aspirations of being a thief all her life, as opposed to just becoming one out of boredom. When she finds out that VILE is more evil than she had been lead to believe, she escapes her childhood home and sets out to thwart them before they can hurt anyone. Where it gets interesting is the way the rest of the world sees her. The show doesn’t really gloss over the fact that she is still breaking and entering and making off with valuable goods, which does still make her a technical criminal. The first episode gives us two agents of Interpol in pursuit of Carmen on her latest heist. One of these agents, Chase Devineaux, sort of plays the Inspector Javert to Carmen, relentlessly pursuing her for her crimes, while not knowing her more noble motivations. His partner, Julia Argent, is more analytical in her approach, and theorizes that Carmen’s intentions are mostly good.

This show also excels at being a love letter the entire franchise. There are so many shoutouts in this show. Some are more obvious, like lifting and reimagining entire characters from various sources, some are much more subtle, and wouldn’t be recognized if you weren't familiar with that element of the franchise. It keeps the educational element of the franchise, giving a rundown of each location they visit in a familiar, albeit clunky way. The way ACME is incorporated is very interesting, and didn’t end up playing out the way I thought it would, which I appreciated.

I would recommend the show, especially if you’re a fan of the franchise (any part of it). It’s a lot of fun, and a great homage to what’s come before. If you’re turned off by Carmen’s new heroics, I’d still recommend giving it a watch with an open mind. You might be surprised how certain elements come together, and give an interesting new perspective on the Lady in Red.

#carmen sandiego #Ramblings #Just watch it guys #it's good #And needs a season two #If you're as annoyingly obsessed with the franchise as I am make a drinking game out of it

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scriptsandlattes · 6 years ago

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Sherlock Holmes and Fanfiction: A Study in the Development of Humanity

August 17, 2019

Along with having a Zygoma that would make a cheese knife jealous, Benedict Cumberbatch marvelously portrays the fictitious, and often socially blind, detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and is brought up as one of the many iterations of Sherlock Holmes. Whether you prefer the serious only-time-for-fun-when-I-drank-to-much, Cumberbatch and Freeman as Sherlock and Watson respectively, or favor Robert Downey Jr. and his Watson, Jude Law’s more comical approach, you have seen at least one version of the duo represented on-screen that is different from their literary counterparts; Which is anything but surprising, as it is a series of shorts that were written in the 1880s. Some laugh at the idea that fan-made fiction is an artifact of pop culture, but every story is inspired by another story. Even the original stories are often based loosely, stiffly, or satirically around witnessed events. Fanfiction is a study in humanity, and it's social and historical developments. It also brings out creative thinking, individually and collectively.

What makes writing stories using Sir Arthur Doyle’s characters on a platform such as Wattpad (or Tumblr) less accepted than a BBC or Hollywood production? It does not matter where the source material comes from; the original idea will be spun into someone's inspiration. The amount of research and work that goes into a good fanfiction should be commended as well, as writers can spend hours researching methods or mental incapacities. Then again, "good" is a subjective term, and you can often tell when something isn’t thoroughly researched. Even with films, tv shows, and big, commercially marketed books, there is an argument over whether the story is good or bad. While some consider fan-written fiction lower than kitsch, being a mimic is a skill. Yes, some of the characters are already established, but the writer still created an original character- or characters- and plot ideas, which means the story already has a new element added and they now must create interactions with the pre-established characters without disrespecting the constitution of the original characters or their creator. Whether the original creator would accept the fans version of the story matters little, as both versions are the author’s head canon. As with any form of art, kitsch or not, it will enviably cause controversy.

Cumberbatch's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is the updated inspiration presented by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat. To be more relatable to a broader audience, Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty are younger, and electronically inclined but still clever enough to keep the “old-timers” interested. As times change, more ideas are allowed. The mental health of it all has developed as well; the more scientists learn about mental wellness and the human psyche, the more we can be algorithmic with how characters will or won’t react to different disorders. Sally Donovan calls Sherlock a freak, John Watson rolls with it, and Detective Lestrade sees Sherlock’s potential.

While there is little exploration as to why Downey Jr’s Sherlock Holmes is the way he is, looking at it from a psychological point of view, we can identify the adolescent issues that caused Cumberbatch’s Sherlock to have grown into the man he is. Nothing sums up young Sherlock’s development more than “the mind is inherently designed to understand life as a narrative.” (Borges, 1962) Even Sigmund Freud agrees that the psyche reshapes the conflicts revisited in narratives as a way to cope (Danesi, 2019). In Gatiss’ version, the Holmes brothers have a younger sister. She was closer to Sherlock’s age and began to feel ignored and jealous of Sherlock’s relationship with his best friend Victor, so she shoved Victor down a well and refused to tell them where he was. It is not until after she burned down the family home and is sent away that Sherlock rewrites his memories, forgetting his younger sister and making his childhood friend his childhood dog, (that never existed), Redbeard. At one-point, Mycroft tells Sherlock he is the man he is because of the memory of his sister.

The same events also lay the foundation for understanding Mycroft as well. The human psyche is a precious thing. Where Sherlock forgot his trauma, and his brain seems to have rewritten the way he reacts completely, Mycroft lives with the guilt of knowing what he did. He knew the Eurus was locked away and did not die in the house fire she set, as he told his family. Perhaps his internalization of emotions is how he lives with the guilt, like a self-inflicted punishment. The more you pay attention to Gatiss as Mycroft, the more you can tell he truly cares about his little brother, but he is afraid to look weak, so he instead acts like he does not and allows the hostility.

Inspirations grow with the times. More ideas are accepted, and technology is upgraded. While Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes occasionally falls back into archaic tendencies, he uses modern technology such as keeping a blog and texting. Downey Jr. offers us the closer to the original version with telegram communications. Setting aside the Abominable Bride episode which is meant to take place in 1895- it is likely that if the two versions were to switch places, they would not be able to do their job as efficiently, if at all. They wouldn’t have the technology they know how to use; one would have the advanced tech while the other would think waiting for, or writing, a telegram is tedious.

When studying Pop Culture, we must recognize that linguistics and logistics have changed to sate modern speech and society. “The game is afoot” becomes “the game is on.” Texting and calling someone on their mobile phone became the new telegram and messenger correspondence. Phrases like “brother mine” and “blud” are granted between the Holmes brothers to show affection, even if it is sarcastic. There is a scene between Detective Inspector Lestrade and John Watson where Lestrade tells John that Sherlock is a great man and that maybe one day he will be a good one. (Moffat et al. 2010) Which implies that Sherlock is good at what he does, but not the kindest person. It is this scene that tells the viewers that if Sherlock were less talented but compassionate, he would be a good person.

The good man speech is alluded to in the third episode in the fourth series when Sherlock shows genuine concern for his brother and even addresses Lestrade by his correct first name, indicating character growth. That humanizing character growth is what gives Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock an appeal that Robert Downey Jr.’s version does not have. It also suggests that Cumberbatch’s Sherlock pays attention but chooses to goad their disdain deliberately, thereby making moments like that more precious.

What was it Carl Jung said about mischief? “In every person, there exists a predilection for puerile mischief.” (Dansei, 2019) So In a way, this incarnation of Sherlock Holmes is The Hero and The Trickster. He also has more than one form of the shadow he is dealing with- the shadow within himself, and the shadow that takes the form of cases and enemies. When considering Sherlock, a “trickster,” we must look past the usual villainy that is partnered with the mythology. His trickery comes from his lack or denial of social skills. In the second episode of the first series, The Blind Banker, Sherlock allows himself to be contradicted to move his case along. He also tends to use physically harmless manipulation when a case is involved. In that same episode, there is a scene with Molly Hooper that illustrates this action. Though non-cannon to Sir Conan Doyle’s original work, she is a specialist registrar, (intern), in the morgue at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital that Sherlock flirts with Molly to gain access to bodies in the morgue without having to go through official channels. He recognizes her affection for him and manipulates that. However, he has never intentionally been cruel to his tolerable affiliates. That is where he differs from the usual trickster mythologies.

When Mark Gatiss and Stephen Moffat created their version of Sherlock Holmes, it was not your twelve-year-old-girl-who-doesn’t-understand-the-dimensions-of-the-characters, fantasy. They cared about the characters and enjoyed the adventures of the detective so much growing up they wanted to create their own version., and that admiration demanded the creation of a beautifully magical world that transcends the archaic and challenges the archetypes. There are even liberties taken with John’s wife, Mary. As she does not have a detailed back story in the original work, she is probably the most natural character to build around. She could have been a ‘villain’ or ‘the wise old Oak’ that helps John in ways Sherlock can’t. Which takes us back to the role’s women play throughout history and anthropology.

Pop Culture can be considered an experiment and expression of postmodern democracy, and as with any other viewpoint, it is not shared universally (Dansei, 2019). This democracy and societal growth are evident in the way BBC’s Sherlock portrays Mary Watson as a strong, independent, and charismatic woman who enjoys the eccentricities of Sherlock Holmes. She even understood why he faked his death. Since the beginning, she has been in his corner and pushed the relationship between John and Sherlock to stay the same. It was not until later in the series that we find out why she is so accommodating. Where Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes shows us Mary Watson as ‘John’s soon-to-be-wife, who happens to be a governess,’ Sherlock shoves the progression in our faces.

Historically, women have been submissive; to be seen and not heard. 2009’s Sherlock Holmes movies played by Robert Downey Jr, there is the implication that women are second-class citizens and not often taken seriously, which allows the deception between Ms. Adler and Mr. Holmes. While she was using him for information, he was using her for creature comforts. It was not proper to openly discuss sexuality or lack thereof. The audience doesn’t even know how or when Sherlock Holmes met Irene Adler in this ideation. However, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat challenge their audiences with a polar opposite character in their version of Irene Adler. She is an open and marketed Dominatrix, which accepts that women can take charge of their own life. In the wake of movements like #HeforShe and #Mettoo, Laura Pulver gives us the power to challenge inequality and harassment.

As previously mentioned, Molly Hooper is a character of merit in the BBC world of Sherlock Holmes. However, there is no place for her in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s works. The idea of women being in a power position like that was outside of comprehension in the 1880s. There is some subjugation with Molly accepting the way Sherlock treats her, but she is smart and influential and respected. Her education in the medical field illustrates how society has grown. Women can study more than the necessities for being “Susie Homemaker.” Molly is Sherlock’s access point to bodies and labs in the hospital. Her allowing him access to the hospital helps him solve the crimes without breaking more laws himself by breaking into the morgue. He will never admit it, but she helps keep him human and occasionally inspires ideas with her medical perspective. It also helps that she is not “a complete idiot.”

While the drug use seems to be a staple in the Sherlock Holmes lore, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock doesn’t drink eye drops to get high when he can’t find substance. He also isn’t trapping flies under a glass container and plucking the violin to observe their reactions. This version of Sherlock Holmes also portrays scientific advancement outside of women now contributing. It is mentioned in the show the Sherlock is a graduate chemist, and he is often seen appropriately using a microscope and slides when testing drops of blood and chemical compositions. There will always be new scientific methods and discoveries. The microscope and sterile slides are scientific improvements that were needed to help science move forward. The best science starts with a sterile environment. Sherlock even enjoys experiments with microwaves and refrigeration, implying that he is monitoring the viability of a subject in various temperatures, and the bacterial reactions as well. Though there were refrigeration units, the microwave experiments would not exist unless he was to first invent a unit to conduct and control microwaves.

Some of the experiments are used to solve current cases, while others are entertainment because he is bored. He is meticulous with his work and can even identify 140 different types of tobacco ash. Another thing that has grown with over the years is the knowledge of chemical reactions. The scientific advancements shown to audiences with any Sherlock Holmes variation seem to live with the memories of Sir Conan Doyle’s own growing up in the era of scientific change. Some, such as BBC’s version, highlight the advancements, some stay stagnant, but the impact is still there, whether it is a history in science lesson or scientific progress that inspires new ideas. Each version of Sherlock Holmes has a certain cleverness to it. New ideas in science, intelligent women, even annoyingly clever criminals. Every release is another piece of the puzzle, a collaborative art form that feeds on societal growth, innovation, and invention while somehow keeping our history present.

In general, Sherlock on the BBC gives more humanity and dimensions to the characters. Character building is a skill that many take for granted. World-building is two steps beyond that. But to take old-fashioned characters and throw them forward in history is taking that challenge and upping the ante. Both versions illustrate how much humankind has changed over the years, but also how we stayed the same. We’ve always been creative beings, and while Robert Downey Jr. was not afraid to don a dress and bonnet (which offered him anonymity as a woman), Cumberbatch takes a different approach to the “hide in plain sight” idea. Creative difference, but just as effective. Whether our creativity comes from something manmade or our own ingenuity, we never grow out of it, just develop it.

#cumbercollective #cumberbatch #downeyjr #sherlockholmes #fanfiction #fanculture #humangrowth #humanity #popcultureandhumanity

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