#Black Kiss omnibus

[theakandrewscollection]

Black Kiss Omnibus (comic books, 2025)

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Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss was a (incredibly kinky) game changer when it was originally published in 1988. A new omnibus coming out in 2025 will collect all the existing Black Kiss comics and include a new, final, 28 page Halloween story.

Normally I would wait untill a book like this hits the shelves, but it is solicited in November's comic book shops pre-orders, so here's a heads up for anyone who might want a copy.

Fyi, if you've never read it, most reviews give away the big reveal(s) so I recomend going in cold if you can.

from the publishers solicitation-

""Poisonous and bitter, an absurdly funny sucker punch demanding to be spat out." —Matt Fraction (Sex Criminals)

The infamous, hardboiled-erotica series is collected for the first time in a deluxe hardcover omnibus featuring new material.

It’s been a long, long time…one last time.

Collecting for the first time every stop along the way on Howard Chaykin’s transgressively groundbreaking trail, the BLACK KISS OMNIBUS collects the legendary 1988 series, its 2012 sequel BLACK KISS 2, plus the BLACK KISS XXXMAS SPECIAL and, created just for this volume, the all-new 28-page BLACK KISS HALLOWEEN, which will mark Chaykin’s final excursion into this world’s hardboiled erotic noir.

Throw in a look back at the project’s long history of sensationalism and censorship, plus a large assortment of extras from across nearly four decades, and this 400-page collection will be the definitive shelf-filler that once again makes readers ask that vital question…does it have to be so dirty?

Collects Black Kiss #1-12, Black Kiss 2 #1-6, and the Black Kiss XXXMas in July Special"

Published by Image Comics, distributed by Simon and Schuster

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[dinsbeskar]

Haunted (Sauron/F!Reader)

...by the kiss you should never have given me

Lots of mini-chapters add up to an omnibus of angst, as we follow Sauron through the centuries and discover exactly what happened before his coronation.

Sequel to To Have and To Hold // Prequel to In the Dark of the Night // AO3 Link

Soundtrack: Kiss Me Harder by Jordan Fiction, Judas by Lady Gaga, Angels by Within Temptation, Heaven's A Lie by Lacuna Coil, NFWMB by Hozier

Warnings: 18+! Angst, smut, fluff, hurt/comfort, canon typical violence, manipulation, toxic relationship (more overt towards the end), obsessive!Sauron, soft!Sauron (yes the two can coincide), knifeplay (just a tiny bit), blood magic, Sauron is a bit of a dick towards the end, sorry, accidental prey/predator kink, knifeplay (again, tiny bit), grinding, slightly dubious consent (you do want it, but I'll tag anyway), oral sex (female receiving), P in V sex, more blood.

A/N: little bit of jumping around in this one, sorry, we start just after the wedding, then we jump to the fall of Gondolin, a little magic ritual in the middle, then the fallout from the sinking of Beleriand (why do you keep getting caught up in this??), then we close out the First Age with a little argument before someone's coronation! Little slices of their romance in quick succession! I went a little experimental in the form of this one, with a bunch of flashbacks informing the main plot at the end. I hope it works 🤞

Special thanks to @olchr-1 for the idea for our revenge on Morgoth!!

Translation note: Amartherui translates in Sindarin to "lonely fate" [Fate (amarth) Alone (erui)]

Word Count: 6k!

Fingers entwined with his, head on his chest, you were enthralled by him, by every pretty word and sweet gesture. Every time he came to visit, you would spend days on end in your secluded glade, to make up for his inexplicably long periods of absence. Sometimes he would come to you with dizzying tales of his latest triumphs, preening under your undivided attention. But lately he had taken to returning under black clouds, tetchy where he was usually playful, and rough where gentleness once reigned.

You had pulled him close to your breast and sank down into the petaled carpet of the forest floor, stroking his hair and listening as he raged on about the war in the north. You had kin fighting the armies of Morgoth, and knew his sorrows all too well, but something behind his eyes told you it was more than he was letting on.

You weave strands of his hair into elaborate braids in your lap, before undoing them and creating something greater in their stead. He eventually quiets under your idle fiddling, eyes drifting shut with a contented smile gracing his face, like a cat napping in the afternoon sun. You love him like this; no cares, no worries of war. You can soothe him like no one else, a great source of pride whenever he mentions it.

You gaze down at his unearthly smooth features and trace each contour with your eyes; your fingers slow in their busy work, moving gently across his scalp, lazily twisting his hair around your finger, making a ring to match the one he'd gifted you, ornate and bejeweled, glittering with an impossible inner light, to replace the woven band of purple iris that he'd improvised on the night of your wedding.

"You're staring, love." He smiles, snapping open his eyes and fixing you with an affectionate expression that makes your heart melt.

"Is a wife not allowed to stare at her husband? Are there no privileges to marriage at all?" Your voice is soft but your tone is mischievous, and he smirks.

"I can think of a few, ah, privileges, dearest, in fact we have exercised a few already today." He raises his eyebrows, before pulling you down to meet his lips. "But if you need reminding, you need only ask."

-

You had agreed to meet in the same secluded glade at the next new moon, but he never showed. The hours you wasted awaiting his return were at first exciting, full of electric anticipation that only love's first bloom can give. As the moon slowly passed overhead, and twinkling stars gave way to blazing sun, you shed many a tear at your folly. Perhaps he had been some mirage, an illusion to tempt you? Or perhaps the depth of his feeling did not match yours, a fleeting thought you had to bury deep in case it irrevocably shattered your heart.

You frequent the glade every so often, convincing yourself that it was a perfectly fine place to pass your time, and that you were not reminded of his warm hands or even warmer smile, every time you visit. Deceiving yourself that it meant much less to you than it did, that if he returned now after so much time with no word or warning, you would not jump into his open arms without a second thought.

Your heartache is apparent to your friends and kin, who assume you're suffering the grief they all feel, having lost so many of their kind to Morgoth's rampage in the north. How little they knew; how little you knew.

It is only when one good friend mentions the siege at Angband, that you are struck with the terrible notion that the man you cursed for abandoning you, might not have done it willingly after all. That perhaps, Valar forbid, he had perished in the siege. He had mentioned fighting in the war after all, but you had not connected that with his absence. After all, he had promised to return to you, on the morning after you had met, having shared a blissful slumber in each other's arms. He held your hands to his lips and swore he would see you again, and now it makes sense. Now you have a real reason to grieve, you realise, and the anger roiling within you turns cold, an icy pit in your stomach as tears fall freely and your heart wrenches and cracks. You were to only have one night with him, and you might never even discover his true fate.

You reason with yourself that surely you would feel if the other half of you had flown this mortal plain. But the alternative was much crueler, and to believe him dead was somehow a less hopeless fate.

Centuries later when you look back, you curse yourself for not seeing who he was, and what he'd done, but how could you? He'd taken you as his own and that was such a strong spell to break, Eru himself would have had to step in.

-

To see your city fall at the hands of your husband’s master, you had no words, only wet hot tears as you watch your people die.

"Love, we have to go, come now," he holds you firmly by the arms, shaking you a little to clear your mind of the dust and debris and blood on the streets of Gondolin.

"I can't, I can't leave them, I have to find-"

"No, we're evacuating, you're not staying a minute longer. I should not have let you linger here when He appeared on the horizon, we should have-"

You tug your arm from his vice-like grip. "Should have what? Should have left my people to wrack and ruin? We have to..." Your mind is so murky, filled with thoughts of leaving, running as far as you can with him, despite your overwhelming urge to stay and help where you can.

"We have to leave. You know there is nothing we can do for them, He will leave none alive, and I won't have you-" he can't say it, he can't even entertain the notion of you coming to harm; his fingers tighten their grip, almost painful in their desperation.

He should have foreseen this, he should have gotten you to safety when he first had an inkling that his master finally knew where the Hidden City was.

"We have to go back, I need to go back, I can't leave-"

After a thousand years, his magic had kept your tiny wedding band of iris in full bloom, untouched by the passage of time, kept safe in an ornate gilded chest, made by his own fair hands. And it was sitting in your apartments on the other side of the city, where your kin doubtless waited for you to leave with them. The sentiment in your heart held you steadfast against his shaking and pleading.

"Love, we can't stay here-" he is interrupted by explosions overhead, as the enemy host draw closer.

"You don't understand-"

"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter, you're the only thing that matters. We have to go!" He never raises his voice to you, so you're a little dumbstruck when he growls at you.

"But we have to save them!" You stop in your tracks, feet rooted to the ground, indignant at the idea of abandoning your friends and neighbours to their doom.

"Amarië," his voice is suddenly so soft, it disquiets you, brings you back to the present. "Love, they're gone. There is no saving to be done."

Sauron is a stranger to remorse, to sorrow, but at the effect of his words, a pang of guilt sweeps through him when he tells you that in all the world, he is all you have now. He tries to ignore the warm thrill he feels in the pit of his stomach, that this great cataclysm has brought about the fate he always wanted for the two of you: just you and he, no one else to rob him of your attention.

You wanted to feel deeply all the grief and pain that one would expect at being told their life was over.

Instead you just felt numb, haunted by the consequences of his actions.

-

"I curse him." Your husband's eyes grow wide at your words, grasping your hands as if to quiet you, but you press on.

"I curse Melkor, Morgoth Bauglir, to roam this earth alone. To never know peace, to never know that which he so jealously craves."

You feel you're taking Morgoth's curse rather well, all things considered. Sauron had to beg you not to storm Angband yourself after he had told you of his master's new name for you, cursing you to a forsaken existence, sundering you from your husband in all but spirit.

You had fought your way back to him countless times, and he to you; you had both vowed to continue to do so, but the rage and grief had not lessened with time, stoked to a towering inferno of wrath that threatened to break you any time you were reminded of it.

And after the fall of Gondolin, your rage at the Enemy was insatiable.

So you had your revenge.

"Enemy. Tyrant. Now I name you again."

In the dead of night, flickering candlelight casting ominous shadows over your face, Sauron cannot help but admire you, crave you, as you corrupt his master's fate.

You slice open your hand, squeezing your palm over the parchment before you, watching as crimson splashes through the stark black lettering.

Amartherui.

"Help me." You look him in the eye, your simple plea making his chest ache; he has never said no to you, his sweet wife, but this is the first time he has been tempted.

"Amarië..." his soft sigh almost convinces you to abandon your plan, but the fury bubbling in your veins is too great.

"Beloved, will you help me or not? Your power would bring this curse to fruition, but if you will have no part in it, you should leave." You stand taller, drawing yourself up to match his gaze, impossible as that may seem.

"I have never asked you for anything. Please do this for me."

The crushing weight of the love in his hole of a heart moves his hand before he can stop himself. With gnawing doubt in his stomach, he wordlessly takes the knife from you, mixing his pitch black blood with your own on the page.

You smile, a weight lifting from your shoulders instantly, and you pull him down to kiss him hard, leaving a red streak on his neck.

"I name you, Morgoth, as my people have long titled you, Amartherui." His new name falls off your tongue like a dream, and you cannot help but smile, your wicked deed complete, as you set the parchment alight, the flames glowing a sickly grey-green as the candles flicker and the room darkens, long shadows growing where the light had tentatively reigned.

"Forever and a day, a lonely fate will be yours. You shall not know the word of a friend, the loyalty of a follower, or the touch of a lover. I curse you to wander the Seen and Unseen world alone, craving the connection you sought to sunder here."

In the back of your mind, there is some semblance of guilt. There is nothing good in the act you just performed, nothing virtuous or pure in your revenge; it's cold and calculated, vicious and spiteful.

Transcending the bounds of time and space, you can feel your curse has taken effect, something shifting in the air between you and your husband.

Sauron has never loved you more, and he shows you many times that night the depth of his feelings.

-

You watch as more refugees stagger into your haven with naught more than the clothes on their backs, waiting to help and heal and offer your comfort where you can. The war has left such a dreadful path of destruction in its wake; thousands of your kin are displaced as the host of the Valar battle their way to Angband, and your people had chosen where the river Sirion meets the sea as their secret haven.

It has been decades since the armies of Valinor first arrived on the shores of Middle Earth, and the end was drawing near, according to your husband, who was waiting with you in the safety of the havens and watching closely.

"I'll see you when I'm finished here," you whisper as you reach up to plant a kiss on your husband's lips. "It'll probably be late, don't wait up for me."

He gives you an affectionate smile; how could he not wait for you? Even if he did partake in sleep, he would not be able to rest without you at his side.

"I'll be up, return to me soon." He is reluctant to let you go, but your skills are in such dire need while the city is inundated with the sick and injured.

Before the War, it was uncommon for Elves to suffer such fates, being hardy in soul and body, but Morgoth's darkness had infiltrated much of the land and infected so many of your kin. Soldiers, innocent bystanders, there were hardly any who were unaffected, and fighting the darkness was a constant effort on your part, and the team of healers you had trained in the magics of your people.

"My lady, they are calling for you." The herald's voice shakes you from Sauron's gaze, and he huffs impatiently.

"I must go." You reluctantly begin to pull away, but he draws you back, pulling you close and wrapping you up in an embrace you could cling to for an age.

"I love you," he murmurs in your ear. "When this is all over, we shall establish the greatest kingdom this land has ever seen."

"If there is a land left." You try to remain hopeful but the news of the siege at Angband is never good, never hopeful, and you fear your home will never be free of Morgoth's influence.

"I am your home," your husband, your Mairon, reminds you, tracing your cheek softly, and you cannot help but return his radiant smile.

"I know, love, as I am yours." You press a soft kiss to his knuckles, taking the strength he offers, before departing to disperse your light where you can.

The darkness infects everything it touches, and it takes all of your energy and more to renew your broken and weary kin, who have travelled so far and fought so hard to reach the havens. Healing words and ancient spells woven into soft songs, settling over the city in a melodic shield, rejuvenating the minds and bodies of your people. You work late into the night, spreading the light where you can, easing the pitch black horror in the hearts of those who had seen the worst of Morgoth's endeavours.

The night is all-encompassing when you finally crawl into bed, nestling into Mairon's firm warmth, trying not to disturb him but feeling sweet relief when his hands trace your sides in greeting.

"I was going to come look for you," his deep voice rumbles in your chest as he presses himself against you.

"No need," you try to smile, but your voice cracks as his tenderness breaks your defences, and all the heartache of the day pours out of you like blood from a wound.

His heart wrenches. He has no business feeling such emotions as remorse, but once again you have him feeling in ways that he dislikes intensely.

"I'm sorry, my love." And he is. He is actually sorry for causing you pain, the rest of Middle Earth be damned.

You sigh and take his hand, holding it over your heart.

"I know, love." You ponder your next question, whether it is a good idea to ask, but you ask anyway.

"You cannot assist in the efforts against Him? I'm sure the Valar would be grateful for your help, might even look favourably upon you-"

He interrupts you with a sigh and a kiss to your neck.

"The Valar will never look upon me favourably, beloved. I could present them Melkor in chains and they would only bind me to him."

Of course, he has thought about begging clemency, thought about fleeing with you to the edges of the world, even thought of taking you back to his master. But in the end, it was more prudent to keep you safe, and to watch and wait for the triumphant side to reveal themselves. Better to beg forgiveness from the victor than choose the wrong side.

-

"Tell me I'm wrong." You dare him to speak against you, your voice shaking in anger as your fists clench.

"My love, I-"

"No, I don't want falsehoods, I don't want games or lies or deceit, just tell me. Did you go to Eönwë as you promised?"

"I did. And I found their response wanting." In truth he had tried to make amends, tried to do penance for the ages he'd spent in Morgoth's service, but when it came to approaching Manwë for his pardon, his fear overtook him and he fled back to Angband, but he couldn't tell you that, couldn't tell you he'd been weak, pitiful, his courage failing him at the final steps to absolution.

And he definitely couldn't tell you that in order for his pardon to be granted, he would have to give you up, to avoid blackening your soul any further.

He'd rather suffer your eternal wrath than be sundered from you for even a moment.

"So you traded forgiveness for more lies." You clench your jaw, your head beginning to pound, the subtle throb becoming a stabbing pain in your temple.

"I did it for you."

"How? How is this for me?" You mock him, incensed now that he would deflect his deceit onto you.

He stands to comfort you but you rip your hands from his grasp before he can claim you.

"I do not know what to say. I thought I knew you, I thought you would do the right thing." You shake your head and laugh, your scorn stinging him as if it were a poisoned blade.

"Love, please-"

"No! No more lies. I've had it with trickery and deception, I want out." You whirl around to face him. "Shadow of Morgoth, they call you. You gather his armies to you once more, you refired his crown! So is that what you want? Do you want to be his second coming?"

In all honesty, no. His master's plans were beneath him; Morgoth wanted to break the world, Sauron wanted to reshape it, to balance and perfect it, by any means necessary.

"Please, listen to me, I need you by my side, now more than ever." He clutches your hands, heart pounding, looking deeply into your eyes, willing you to fall for his pretty words once more.

"You didn't answer me." Tears begin to prick your eyes, but you refuse to let them fall in front of him, stepping back to take a deep breath, to steady your nerves to face the man you thought you loved.

"I don't need to. Love, you will join me." His desperation becomes honeyed, dripping with the devotion you so crave from him.

"Don't. Don't do that." You whisper, as he stalks toward you slowly, his deception burning a hole in your heart that you're sure will never be filled.

"Don't you want to be with me? For all eternity, that is what we always said." He circles you, hands on your shoulders, in your hair, overwhelming you with his lover's touch, just a mite too rough.

"Not if this is your plan. I didn't marry Morgoth, I married Mairon." Sauron, your mind reminds you, and for a second you feel a wave of nausea overwhelm you.

His face twists and he pulls away.

"That is not my name." He growls, an ugly grimace taking over his lovely features.

"I've told you before, don't look inside my head!" You retort, his presence in your mind suddenly overwhelmingly obvious.

You throw him out of your mind, slamming the door shut, refusing him access to that which would be so freely given if he deserved it.

The tic in his jaw is back with a vengeance and his eyes are ablaze with a fury the like of which you have never seen.

"Who do you think you are?" He hisses, venom in every word; you don't recognise him, cold terror in your heart at the sudden switch, as if someone had doused the candle burning for you in his heart with oil, engulfing him with wildfire.

"I chose you, of all your people, as my wife; I could have had anyone, but I chose you. Aulë’s greatest smith, Melkor's most trusted lieutenant, lord of all the dark things that creep and crawl in this world. And who are you? My beloved wife." His tone is like poison in your veins, burning and spitting fire in your heart.

Who are you? He's right; who the hell do you think you are?

"I know exactly who I am. I'm the woman who leaves you."

You shall not be forsaken this time, not that doing the forsaking feels any sweeter. It wrenches every fibre of your being, your heart pounding in your chest, but you make it to the door of his chambers, hand on the doorknob, before he breaks from his stunned daze, crosses the room and clasps his hand over yours on the cool metal.

"And where will you go? Your people are scattered and displaced, and who would take you in if they knew?" His sweetly honeyed words still bite at your heart, settling in the pit of your stomach.

"I cannot stay here, not now that I know exactly what you are." You look up at him, holding his gaze, somehow fighting the urge to scratch and claw and bite your way free like a feral animal, suddenly overwhelmed with the sense that you should run as hard and fast as you can.

His eyes betray nothing, his lips curving into a condescending smirk, as he runs a finger down your cheek, gathering the tears you'd fought not to shed. He examines them as if he'd never seen their like, as if they were precious stones from the depths of the earth, mined just for him; he licks his fingers clean, turning his attention back to you, trembling under him as he cages you against the door.

"Please... please let me go." The look in his eye says begging will be useless, but you try anyway.

"You are my Queen. You're free to do as you please." He replies, voice smooth, with a pretty smirk and that predatory glint in his eye that would usually thrill you so, that still sends hot arousal pooling between your thighs, mixed with icy cold terror.

"It would please me to leave," you try to appeal to him, softening your voice, lowering your gaze.

"I'm sure it would..." he utters breathlessly as he takes you in, leaning over you, watching the artery in your throat jump in time to his own racing heartbeat.

"Mairon... please..." His lips are on yours before you can finish your plea, his hands tangled in your hair.

He pushes his thigh between your legs, letting you grind yourself against him instinctively, and he groans, deep and low in his chest.

"Even now, your body betrays you, my love."

You sigh against him, fingers raking his hair roughly, letting him caress your neck, your waist, pulling you impossibly closer as he tries to expose you to his gaze. His clever fingers usually make light work of the laces of your corset, but his impatience defeats him, and he pulls a dagger from the lining of his robes, slicing cleanly through the fabric.

"That was my favourite," you admonish him, still angry with him; even as he takes you apart with his fingers and his tongue, you can't forget his plans, and you certainly can't ignore his gift to you, sitting by the window in all their glory.

Twin crowns, wrought in black iron, twisted and wicked, emanating a dark power that made you nauseous; ready for the heads of Middle Earth's new King and Queen. When you'd seen them, your blood ran cold, as you realised that once again, you'd been victim to Sauron’s deception.

"You will have a thousand more, dearest wife, whatever your heart desires," he promises breathlessly as he shucks off your dress, sliding it down your body, worshipping you with the lightest touch, soft kisses peppering your skin as he disrobes you. He falls to his knees, his head in line with your mound. He looks up at you, locking his gaze with yours, and delves into your folds with his tongue, seeking your pleasure.

You gasp, throwing your head back, as he spreads your legs to access your entrance, splitting you open with two fingers, still drawing every moan and whimper from your throat as he circles your clit, licking long strokes, tiny laps at your skin, letting you ride his face in your lustful haze. You grip his hair more roughly than you normally would, your wrath seeping into your lust, until you can't detect the distinction between the two.

He takes one of your legs and places it on his shoulder, letting you rest against him, both of you totally at the other's mercy. Such trust, such devotion, would you throw that away? Would you truly abandon him?

He worships at your altar, an acolyte to your pleasure, drawing unearthly sounds from deep within you, willing you to just stay and be his.

Your mind is racing as tendrils of his power cling to your lips, fighting for entrance to quiet your thoughts, and replace them with his sweet music. Wouldn't it just be easier? To let the darkness in?

You might as well, you muse in the back of your head, thoughts displaced by pleasure as the darkness feasts upon you.

He's solely focused on you; there is nowhere he would rather be in all of Arda. The unblemished shores of Valinor, the white trees that used to light the world, he can finally understand why his master was so hellbent on their destruction. For there is no beauty that should merit a comparison to you, and he would raze these lands to the ground to prove it.

You're drawing close, he realises, and briefly wonders whether to allow you your release on his lips.

You feel him pull away and moan, a tiny pitiful sound that makes him chuckle; of course you need him, of course you can't be without him, even in anger. Victory is nigh, and he pulls himself out of his robes to claim you once again.

He pushes you back, your name on the tip of his tongue, as he takes you in, breathes your air.

"You're mine," he growls, nuzzling your neck to better scent you. "Say it, say you'll always be mine."

"I will," you murmur softly, tears pricking your eyes as you hold him close.

"If you were to leave me," he moans against your heated skin, stroking his cock against your thigh, "there would be no rest for any bird, beast, or being in this land, no sleep, no sustenance, these lands would burn until you were returned to me."

He claims you in one thrust, filling you so completely, so sweetly, that you see stars, your breath stolen from your lungs as if it were the first time you'd ever laid eyes on him.

Your heart wrenches, pulling towards his, despite your entire being screaming at you.

You kiss him harder, your mind quietened as he bites your lip, droplets of blood wetting his tongue, quickening his insatiable need to be inside you in every way that is possible; mind, body, soul, all inextricably entwined.

The tears in your eyes threaten to fall, but you blink them back as he rocks into you, the chorus of your lovemaking drowning out all other notions. He plays you so well, a master in the art of drawing sweet melody from your lips; the harmony you both create together is unmatched to his ears, a Maia who helped sing the world into being.

A chorus of "mine" and "please" fill the air, and you're unsure whose voice is the louder, who is more desperate in their claiming of the other.

You feel him stiffen against you, his melody reaching a crescendo before yours, as he fills you with his pleasure, low groans in your ear bringing you to your peak as well. He wrings every last moan out of you, drawing out the coda of your song until there are no more notes to be played, no more pleasure to be taken.

Sweat-slicked and exhausted, you hold each other close, entwined so perfectly. You let him carry you to his bed, laying you down reverently, climbing in beside you and nestling you close, arms wrapping you tightly, refusing to let you move from his grasp.

You'd usually find such comfort in his embrace, but tonight there is an itch under your skin that his touch only amplifies, making you fight not to squirm beside him.

You cannot sleep for fear of letting him inside your head again, so when a knock at the door comes, you welcome it.

He sighs, long and loud in your ear, as evidence of his displeasure.

"I'll be back, love, there are matters I must attend to."

"Of course," you smile, fighting to make it meet your eyes.

He regards you carefully, brow furrowed.

"Do not fear, my love," he says softly as he leans down to kiss you once more. "I won't be long."

As he departs, he gives you one final look of longing, which you hasten to return with all the eagerness you can muster.

The door clicks shut, your expression falls, and you immediately disentangle yourself from the sheets,

Finding obscene amounts of your clothing and jewellery, and books beyond measure in his room was no surprise. He must have been preparing for this for years, if not longer.

Now that Morgoth was gone, the next phase of his plan could move forward, and that involved you, his Queen, taking up her rightful residence.

You dress as quickly as you're able, taking only what you can carry, and go to leave. But you notice a small ornate chest you thought you'd lost when Gondolin fell, sitting on the dresser by his bed as if it had always belonged there.

You feel as if you've been stabbed, a gut-wrenching heartache overwhelming you as you can do nothing but stand and stare.

He went back for it. He kept it all this time.

Your feet move of their own accord, and before you can blink, you've opened the chest, staring at the impossible artefact of your love for each other.

Unfurled purple petals, revealing a stark white centre, the woven band appearing as fresh as it did on the day he married you.

You hold it up, comparing it to the ring you currently wear. He really had somehow captured its likeness in a jewel, deep purple revealing a bright light in its centre, framed by ornate silver details.

You cannot bring yourself to slip it on, after all that has happened, his lies and broken promises, but you are loath to leave it.

Movement outside his chambers sends a shiver of panic through you, and you quickly move to hide behind the door. The subsequent banging has you quaking but you stand your ground, waiting for whomever it is to leave.

The door abruptly swings open, and you hear two gravelly voices discussing... you?

"Mistress?" The first call is softer, but their annoyance quickly becomes apparent as the other chimes in.

"Where is she then? They said to fetch her, but I'm not traipsing all over to find some she-Elf-"

"He won't even notice, Adar says he's too caught up in all his planning and his speeches, who cares about one missing Elf?"

"He wants them at least, over there. He'll have your head if we forget-"

"Why my head? You're the one he told-"

"Shut it and take 'em, careful now, there's magic in it still..."

Their voices fade as they shuffle back the way they came. As the door slams shut again, you realise that your husband already has an army of orcs at his disposal, and you reconsider what you're about to do, but only briefly.

Escaping the fortress is more of a task than you thought, requiring all the skills of subterfuge and swordplay that your husband has ever taught you; which is no small feat, considering the centuries you've had to learn.

Quietly slipping through the fortress mostly unnoticed, leaving the odd corpse in your wake as your husband's servants cross your path, unfortunately for them.

Thankfully the halls are mostly deserted, and you hear a clamour coming from deeper within, but you try to pay it no mind, focusing on your exit and nothing more.

It is only when you finally see daylight, pushing open the great black doors to the fortress, that you can breathe a sigh of relief. If you can just get a headstart, perhaps you'll be able to outrun him.

-

It is in the middle of his speech, appealing to his army for their continued support, that Sauron notices you are absent.

He'd sent for you when his moment of victory seemed nigh at hand, and had assumed you were readying yourself for your ascent, but now that he had persuaded Adar and his children to his cause, the sight of your face was all he wanted to see.

As he knelt before Adar, awaiting his rightful crown, he searched for you in his mind's eye. He did not expect to find you outside the black gates, breathing a sigh of relief in the watery sunlight.

A surge of rage overtook him as he clenched his jaw, settling on his knees. The mere thought of your abandonment had always made his heart twist and shatter, and at that moment, he had no heart. Just a void where it used to be.

Distracted by your torment, he barely noticed the first blow, as Adar struck him again and again with the crown that was meant to define your future together.

As he lay in a pool of thick black blood, his last thought was of you; how could you betray him? And thank the Valar you did.

-

A great blast of freezing cold air knocks you off your feet, and for a second you thought you heard his voice on the wind. It's all you can do to just lie there, covered in frost and shaking, trying to assess if you're at least physically intact, your emotional state another matter entirely.

Clutching your head as blood trickles down your face, you shakily get to your feet. It is as if someone has emptied the heavens of all its snow where before there was nothing but arid plains. The air is suddenly glacial, the ground frozen and cracking underfoot.

It is as you contemplate your frozen breath in the air, that you realise you can't feel him. A vacuum in your mind, a void in your heart that you haven't experienced in more than a thousand years, and you can barely recognise that it is his absence that has left such a hole.

You thought you might feel free when you were rid of him, but all you feel is empty, yearning for a presence that has haunted you for millennia.

[cantsayidont]

March 2021. For a long time, I was very reluctant to investigate the DOCTOR APHRA series, put off by the overly cutesy covers and the grim mediocrity of most post-1986 SW comics, but I eventually got some of the trades from the library and was pleasantly surprised.

The titular Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra is an archaeologist (she does actually have a doctorate, even though she did end up blackmailing her thesis advisor to get it), treasure hunter, thief finder of rare antiquities, con artist, and all-around ne'er-do-well who thinks principles are for suckers. Naturally, she gets herself into a lot of trouble (including owing large amounts of money to many very dangerous people, like her sometimes-ally, the Wookiee mercenary Black Krrsantan), and many of her adventures revolve around her trying to get out from under the aftermath of her previous capers.

Aphra is also a lesbian, and kind of a fuckboy, leaving an ever-growing trail of embittered ex-girlfriends who aren't sure if they want to kiss her or shoot her. Much of her initial ongoing series deals with her on-again, off-again relationship with Magna Tolvan (the white cyborg lady pictured behind her above), an Imperial officer who eventually joins the Rebellion after Aphra ruins her career. Given the usual trajectory of online fandom, which is very eager to impute gayness to the most drearily hetero of media, I hadn't expected Aphra being gay to be more than a vague implication in the actual comics, but she does actually canonically sleep with women. Who'dathunkit?

Aphra's early appearances in Kieron Gillen's wretched DARTH VADER comic and the lackluster Jason Aaron STAR WARS book present her as pretty overtly villainous. When she got her own book, Gillen apparently decided that wasn't viable, so in her own series, Aphra acquires a bit of a conscience — never enough to keep her out of trouble, of course, but enough to distinguish her from her meaner allies, like Triple Zero (a protocol droid with the personality of a gleefully polite serial killer) and BT-1 (an astromech who's basically R2-D2 if somebody let him have way too many grenades). The latter part of her first ongoing, written by Si Spurrier after Gillen's departure, eventually threatens to soften her a little too much, but the current ongoing, written by Alyssa Wong, seems to have found a better balance in that regard. On the other hand, I find the current book a bit too episodic — it's more accessible, but a lot of what makes Aphra delightful is her increasingly frantic scramble to escape the accumulating consequences of her many, many terrible decisions.

The massive (1,200+ page) Omnibus pictured above compiles all of Aphra's early appearances and the complete run of her initial ongoing title in chronological order. While her early adventures are important insofar as they introduce Aphra and some of her major supporting characters, they aren't as much fun as her first ongoing series, so you could just as well start there. There's also an audio dramatization of Aphra's early adventures, adapted by Sarah Kuhn and featuring Emily Woo Zeller as Aphra. The dramatization is okay and Zeller is great, although Marc Thompson's Vader is completely unconvincing and a bit of a drag on the proceedings.

[kihaku-gato]

Eye-catchers at the Thrifts

Stuff I did not buy but that still caught my eye. Manga/anime is a rarity in these parts so we're first starting with those.

Some good famous retros amongst the stuff but also some titles I'm not familiar with

The Demon Prince of Momochi House vol 1 & 2

MeruPuri Vol 2

Kiss of the Rose Princess Vol 1

Millenium Snow Vol 1 & 2

Inyuasha Vol 2

Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? vol 4 & 3 (Light Novel)

Kamen Tantei Vol 2

Ranma 1/2 Vol 11 and 15-17

Mega Manga- The complete Reference to Drawing Manga

Gate 7 Vol 2

Chaos Head the anime in blue ray

Was curious about Chaos Head but I don't have a blue ray player of any sort. Ranma 1/2 part of me wished I had gone for it but I know I always struggled to follow the anime so idk how much better I would fair with the manga (possibly worse since I can't enjoy Ranma's lovely red hair in black and white lol).

Only manga I've actively bought from thrift so far has been Samurai Champloo vol 1. Considering some of the retros that come through I can continue to hope I can stumble upon some retros / out of prints that I've been actively seeking (ex some of the last volumes of Chibi Vampire and I think the first Omnibus volume of Venus Versus Virus, and ANY of the +Anima volumes), you never know.

[paperbacksandpetticoats]

Reading List - 2022

The High Mountain Court - A. K. Mulford

Toilet-Bound Hanako-sun, Vol. 0-2 - Aidalro

Lost in the Never Woods - Aiden Thomas

Still Sick, Vol. 2-3 - Akashi

Bloody Mary, Vol. 3-4 - Akaza Samamiya

Fangs, Vol. 1 - Billy Balibally

Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare

The Mortal Instruments Graphic Novel, Vol. 4-5 - Cassandra Clare

Nothing But Blackened Teeth - Cassandra Khaw

The Haunting of Gillespie House - Darcy Coates

Lovesick Ellie, Vol. 1-4 - Fujimomo

Wotakoi, Vol. 6 - Fujita

Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 14 - Gege Akutami

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

Fairy Tail, Vol. 54-63 - Hiro Mashima

Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest, Vol. 9-11 - Hiro Mashima

Edens Zero, Vol. 15-16 - Hiro Mashima

The Cruel Prince - Holly Black

The War of Two Queen - Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Children on the Hill - Jennifer McMahon

House of Dragons - Jessica Cluess

The Shadow in the Glass - JJA Harwood

The Memory Thief - Jodi Lynn Anderson

Goblin: A Novel in Six Novellas - Josh Malerman

The Iron Raven - Julie Kagawa

Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 1-3 - Julietta Suzuki

Kiss Him, Not Me!, Vol. 4-6 - Junko

Rosen Blood, Vol. 1-2 - Kachiru Ishizue

The Girl in the Steel Corset - Kady Cross

Kimi no Todoke, Vol. 1-4 - Karuho Shiina

The Dragon's Bride - Katee Robert

Court of the Vampire Queen - Katee Robert

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 16-17 - Kazue Kato

Blood Like Magic - Liselle Sambury

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Omnibus) - Magica Quartet

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

The Family Plot - Megan Collins

Skip and Loafer, Vol. 1-6 - Misaki Takamatsu

Cheeky Brat, Vol. 1-2 - Mitsubachi Miyuki

Heaven Official's Blessing 1 - MXTX

Heaven Official's Blessing 2 - MXTX

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation 1 - MXTX

Scum Villain's Self-Saving System 2 - MXTX

Sailor Moon, Vol. 1-12 - Naoko Takeuchi

Vampire and His Pleasant Companions, Vol. 4 - Narise Konihara

Fruits Basket, Vol. 5-8 - Natsuki Takaya

Coraline - Neil Gaiman

Empress of Salt and Fortune - Nghi Vo

The Woman in the Mirror - Rebecca James

Tokyo MewMew Omnibus, Vol. 1-3 - Reiko Yoshia

My Little Monster, Vol. 4 - Robico

Mao, Vol. 1-4 - Rumiko Takahashi

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J Maas

A Court of Mist and Fury - Sarah J Maas

A Court of Wings and Ruin - Sarah J Maas

Sasaki and Miyano, Vol. 5 - Shou Harusono

Hirano and Kagiura, Vol. 1 - Shou Harusono

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner - Stephanie Meyer

Twilight - Stephanie Meyer

A Sign of Affection - Suu Morishita

Shortcake Cake, Vol. 3-12 - Suu Morishita

Entralled - Tiffany Roberts

Bound - Tiffany Roberts

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor - Xiran Jay Zhao

Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao

Alice 19th, Vol. 1-2 - Yu Watase

Pita-Ten - ?

[swannkings]

A list of all the books I remember reading from 6th grade thru college. This is for me, but you’re welcome to look.

6th Grade

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

No Promises in the Wind by Irene Hunt

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

HP & the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

T*witches 1-7 by H. B. Gilmore & Randi Reisfeld

The Divide by Elizabeth Kay

Montmorency by Eleanor Updale

The Spiderwick Chronicles 1-2 by Holly Black & Tony DiTerlizzi

The Vampire’s Promise by Caroline B. Cooney

Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 1 by Yoshihiro Togashi

7th Grade

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Grey King by Susan Cooper

Montmorency on the Rocks by Eleanor Updale

Artemis Fowl 1-4 by Eoin Colfer

Vampire Kisses & Kissing Coffins by Ellen Shreiber

Cirque du Freak 2-9 by Darren Shan

A Series of Unfortunate Events 1-3 by Lemony Snicket

Tithe by Holly Black

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

Confessions of Georgia Nicholson 1-4 by Louise Rennison

Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 2-3 by Yoshihiro Togashi

8th Grade

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

The Odyssey by Homer

Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velda

Time Travelers Quartet 1, 2, 4 by Caroline B. Cooney

Van Helsing: The Novel by Kevin Ryan

Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 4-6 by Yoshihiro Togashi

9th Grade

Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Antony & Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Ironside by Hollyblack

Freeze Tag by Caroline B. Cooney

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Morganville Vampires 1 by Rachel Caine

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 7 by Yoshihiro Togashi

Shadowland by Meg Cabot

10th Grade

Night by Eliezer Wiesel

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Anthem by Ayn Rand

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Morganville Vampires 2-3 by Rachel Caine

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Paper Towns by John Green

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis

11th Grade

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

Jane Eyre by Charlottes Brontë

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Morganville Vampires 4-6 by Rachel Caine

In the Woods by Tana French

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

Yu Yu Hakusho Vol. 8 by Yoshihiro Togashi

12th Grade

Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

Othello by William Shakespeare

King Lear by William Shakespeare

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Beowulf by ??

Morganville Vampires 7-8 by Rachel Caine

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

The Fallen Omnibus 1 by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

College: British Literature 1

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

Paradise Lost by John Milton

(Austen? Brontë? Shelley? Something I’d read before.)

College: Women’s Literature

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

Passing by Nella Larsen

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston

Arrogant Beggar by Anzia Yezierska

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston

Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

College: African-American Literature

The New Negro: An Interpretation ed. Alain Locke

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston

Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin

Native Son by Richard Wright

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois

College: Rhetoric

Human Rights Rhetoric: Traditions of Testifying and Witnessing ed. Arabella Lyon & Lester C. Olson (i think)

Mythologies by Roland Barthes

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

Personal Enjoyment During College:

The Hunger Games 1-3 by Suzanne Collins

The FitzOsbornes 1-3 by Michelle Cooper

Morganville Vampires 8-15 by Rachel Caine

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Once a Witch & Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

The Tomorrow Series 1-4 by John Marsten

PJ: The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

The Raven Cycle 1-4 by Maggie Stiefvater

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & N. G.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

[mouser26]

Books In A Year 2024

*Fairy Dust Never Rusts*

*Midnight Rain*

*Snow Fairy*

*HALO graphic novel*

*Lullaby of the Dawn Vol.1*

*Lullaby of the Dawn Vol.2*

Black and Gold

*Spiritual Police vol 1*

*Black or White vol 1*

*Platinum Blood*

*Pink Heart Jam vol 1*

*We Started a Threesome vol 1*

*Black or White vol 2*

*Voices of Mars Carol and Tuesday Fanzine*

*Midnight Melodies Castlevania Fanzine*

*Black or White vol 3*

*Beauty and the Werewolf*

*Just Stab Me Now*

The Other World's Books Depend On The Bean Counter vol 3

*The Other World's Books Depend On The Bean Counter vol 4*

*Little Man Of Disneyland*

*A Knot In The Grain: And Other Stories*

*The Wayne Family Adventures vol 1*

*The Wayne Family Adventures vol 2*

*In the Clear Moonlit Dusk volume 1*

*Ennead volume 1*

*Ennead volume 2*

*Ennead volume 3*

*Ennead volume 4*

*Ennead volume 5

*Ennead volume 6*

*Wayne Family Adventures Vol 3*

*Ennead II vol 1*

*Ennead II vol 2*

*Ennead II vol 3*

*Ennead II vol 4*

*Ennead II vol 5*

*Ennead II vol 6*

*Scarlet Secret*

*Beauty's Kingdom*

*Engaged vol 1*

*Until I Meet My Husband the manga*

*Lullaby of the Dawn Vol 3*

*Scattering His Virgin Bloom vol 1*

*Skyscapers of Oz*

*Princess Leia vol. 1*

*Engaged vol 2*

Spiritual Police vol. 1

*My Love Will Last Until The End Of Time*

*Spiritual Police vol. 2*

*Lullaby of the Dawn volume 4*

*Happy Crappy Life vol. 1*

*A Kiss That Stains The Innocence*

*Barda*

*Wayne Family Adventures vol 4*

*Empyre Omnibus*

*Mister Miracle the great escape*

*Wayne family adventures vol 5*

*Briar vol. 1 No More Sleep*

*A Boy Named Rose*

*Young Justice Gemworld*

*I'm in love with the Villainess vol 1*

*I'll Never Fall in Love with an Egoist*

*I'm in love with the Villainess vol 2*

*I'm in love with the Villainess vol 3*

*The Adventure Zone vol 5 eleventh hour*

*I'm in love with the Villainess vol 4*

*I'm in love with the Villianess vol 5*

*New*- 65

Reread- 3

Total- 68

[antro-dei-fumetti]

Black Kiss – Omnibus

FINALMENTE DISPONIBILE IN UN’EDIZIONE INTEGRALE E DEFINITIVA, BLACK KISS, IL CAPOLAVORO ASSOLUTO DI HOWARD CHAYKIN Nella Los Angeles degli anni ‘80, il musicista Chass Pollack è rimasto invischiato in una brutta storia molto più grande di lui. Ora, braccato dalla mafia e dalla polizia, deve trovare il modo di scagionarsi dall’accusa di aver ucciso la moglie e il figlio.

[frogs-in3-hills]

so i finally finished berserk omnibus 2 (beginning of golden age through casca’s backstory)… here are my thoughts so far because i have a lot of them. i think this section is very anachronistic in a lot of interesting ways and that's a lot of what i'm chatting abt here

so.. ok golden age! it's good! i find the tone and setting shift from the black swordsman arc to this to be quite remarkable, it truly does feel like a different era in time. miura's art has a distinct quality to it here, structured and precise in the way he develops scenes rather than the obscenely gorgeous demons and monsters that populate the post-eclipse world. tiny men on horses dot regularly-textured castle grounds, creating an almost-eerie consistency of rhythm given the way the black swordsman arc plays with scale. in the golden age, big structures can be broken into their component parts--every man in an army and every brick in the wall is defined. yet in the black swordsman, the demons are insurmountable. there’s no way to cut it into pieces to make it easier to digest. they are just there, in their entirety.. which is notably pretty similar to how griffith is portrayed in this arc, as having this extra dimension to him that extends the boundaries of time, a human being with something godlike appended to him (an interesting exploration/critique of the chosen one narrative). i hope that makes sense because i think this stylistic contrast is so so good, miura has the range!

i'm surprised to say i was a little bored in some parts, wishing i could just get to the "good stuff" after the golden age. this might just be because i watched the anime fairly recently and so it feels like a bit of a rehash. i've heard the anime didn’t have time to get to everything in the manga though so hopefully it'll draw me in a bit more when we get to those parts.

so one thing i started to wonder as i read was... why does griffith want so badly to be a king? actually, it's kind of vague what he wants and what he plans to do with this power.. this is something we see his current perception of his inner child wanting as well, and while the main purpose of that is to blur the lines of past/present (the delineation does not matter when your fate is predestined, and there is no such thing as a golden past free of sin or the implications for the future that awaits you), i also think it's interesting that here miura actively refuses to give a reason for his desires. griffith says it himself about risking his life to save guts--does he need a reason? imo this attitude can apply to his grand dream as well. which i think puts him in fun contrast with guts, where griffith knows exactly what he wants to achieve but doesn't grasp the why, while guts doesn't know what he wants but he does understand why it's important for him to find his purpose. his reason is directly tied to the personhood he wants to reclaim. yet griffith simply wants, and so he takes.

i liked this spread so much i had to take a picture: griffith sucking up to nobles and playing the social game while guts rests after training outside. it does a lovely job of illustrating how the two are already heading in different directions even if neither is willing to admit it yet. i love the motif of their subservience to swords--griffith kisses the king’s sword and guts reiterates his own sword as a symbol of his self worth. you could even make the argument that it’s foreshadowing griffith’s obsession with guts and how that stems from guts’ refusal to be fully subservient to griffith.

(i like how the assassin scene exemplifies this dynamic btw. guts doesn’t just say “whatever you want bbygirl”, he says “don’t ask me if i’m willing, it doesn’t matter. you’re ordering me, so i’ll do it.” specifically recalling the nature of their relationship as one of ownership. which is not to say guts doesn’t want to do this out of love and respect for griffith, he does, he’s just very deliberately deflecting those feelings by (correctly) stating that they’re not relevant. and i think this manufactured pushback—& refusal to set himself as anything less than griffith’s emotional equal despite the tangible power imbalance—is part of what griffith loves about guts. which then leads to him later projecting abt how he can’t respect anyone who doesn’t have a dream. i really do think he believes this to an extent, as proven by his misogyny towards casca and fear of guts abandoning him/making him forget his dream, BUT as previously stated in another post i think there’s a strong level of projection to griffith’s statement, he’s trying to convince himself that he’s totally not obsessed with guts, who is obviously below him and thus surely cannot make him forget his dream. tangent complete.)

i also wanted to talk about casca's flashback and some of the really interesting implications of how it's presented. i was kind of under the impression that the trio were around the same age, with griffith maybe a little older.. but here griffith doesn't look very young. it's almost jarring seeing 12yo casca next to him. this is ofc doing more work with griffith's separation from time itself, but more from casca's perspective. at this point casca doesn't really see him as human, he's her angel and savior. he looks older because that's her idolized memory of him. but what really stands out to me is how this literalizes the power imbalance between them. it ends up painting the scene as really foreboding, almost feeling like a grooming metaphor wrapped up in the symbolism of being soldiered/given the sword (which is not to say i think griffith is literally grooming casca because they are very close in age, honestly that would just be ridiculous. but the comparison does hold water wrt the narrative progression of saving her as a child -> using her as a weapon -> raping her. i am not really sure how else to describe the effect this “visual age gap” is having here). casca has never been treated as a human being before, just an item to be sold. griffith gives her a taste of autonomy, he unintentionally spends the rest of their relationship dangling that gift in her face. after the scene in question, the sword ceases to be a real way for casca to exercise her own will, it's just a tool that fundamentally ties her personhood to him.

which is why his treatment of her is so hypocritical—he claims to not respect anyone who dedicates themself to another person’s dream, implicitly meaning he doesn’t respect casca. but even here i think he’s thinking about guts, not her. she’s just collateral in this statement. he doesn’t see her as someone who could “rise to his level” because he manufactured her devotion to him, taking advantage of her when she had nothing.

(and since i’m vaguely aware there’s discourse about this: i don’t think griffith is an ontologically evil person lol. i think it’s easy to overcompensate w the amount of maliciousness they read into his character during the golden age because.. i mean the sacrifice is the moment that defines his character so it’s hard to look at him analytically without considering it. i’m talking a lot about his manipulation of casca here, but i also think it’d be silly to say that griffith doesn’t genuinely love her as a friend and fellow soldier. he looks out for her specifically. and in the flashback at the lake after he sells himself, while he’s obviously lying about being okay, i get the sense that he sees and appreciates casca’s comfort. the scene really strengthen their bond especially as it shows casca as the only person griffith will be even a little vulnerable with. there is very real tangible fondness there i think)

something i think may be specific to this edition is the inclusion of old panels between chapters. and of course, the panel that the editors of this omnibus chose to bookend this final page:

is this:

so. you know.

[cuephrase]

2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 29, 30 for comics

coming from this ask game

2. The most recent comic you got

The Boy Wonder #4

picked it up this wednesday at my LCS, (along with batman #151 and absolute power #2), i have seriously enjoyed this black label mini sm so far and this issue made me so soft and melty inside fr

5. The oldest comic you have

New Teen Titans Annual #1

this came out august 19, 1982, so it's...like ten days away from being 42 years old? neat!!

6. The comic you were most excited to find

Nightwing (2011) #15

so this a screenshot bc i actually got this as a gift for my brother-in-law!!

mini story time: when i decided i wanted to start reading bat comics, i went to him and asked where to start for nightwing and he loaned me his collection of n52 nightwing with great excitement lmao. (he started reading nightwing midway through this run releasing- it's what got him into nightwing- no judging allowed!!) this was the first series he started collecting/one of the two he kept when he sold most of his collection to pay for his honeymoon.

he didn't have the whole run though, (which omg we talked about pricing and it is wild how much the value of a comic book fluctuates), so i decided to get the handful of issues he was missing for him as a birthday gift. this was really easy except for this issue bc it has two covers. this one, and a joker version. i passionately hate the joker cover but it was the only one i could find- in person or online, so i almost gave up. being patient paid off, though, and i was able to get him the cover i wanted!! very exciting. plus!! he was so stoked when he saw the cover bc, as it turns out, he also hated the joker cover, which is why he didn't own the issue

7. The comic you searched for the longest

Red Robin #25

i started collecting red robin on oct 15, and i got this issue (the last one i needed), on feb 20, so it took a little over four months. i usually have pretty great luck at finding what i'm looking for the day i go looking for it lol, so this was super satisfying to bring home for a variety of reasons

9. The longest comic/collected edition you have

New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. #1, Robin 80th Anniversary: 100-Page Super Spectacular

i'm pretty sure the ntt omni is bigger than any of the saga omnis i have, but i will confess i did not check page count. fun fact tho, i got this signed by marv wolfman. got to chat with him for a bit about tim, nightwing, and getting into the industry which was super neat.

and then the robin 80th is the longest single i own. i think? again, did not check page count but i can't think of anything longer. i don't think b:ul or wf3 are longer?

29. The comic you're currently reading...

...(or want to re-read soon)

Superboy (1994) #1, Robin (1993) #1, Young Justice (1998) #1

i just started reading superboy today!! i've been looking forward to reading him for awhile and finally made it to him, woo!! enjoying it so far too :)

and then i'm just kinda constantly in a state of wanting to re-read robin and yj98 lmao. idk if it'll happen 'soon', idk why but i get super squirrelly about re-reading when i have other stuff on my tbr 😅. i don't have that many titles left on my tbr so. i'll either finish my tbr or break somewhere and re-read. i honestly don't know lmao

30. Dealer's choice: a random comic!

Nightwing (2016) #87

i got this bad boy for free because i made the vendor laugh 😎 (disclaimer, ship who you want, i'm not judging or looking for a fight, okay? okay cool.)

i was at the Collectibles Warehouse (generic made-up name) with my dad for the first time, super fun, and he was helping me look/asking questions as we went. the vendor saw me looking through his nightwing stuff and started telling me about an issue of batgirl (babs) he had just sold, the first time they kissed i think? first something for dickbabs.

dad: "oh first kiss, that's pretty cool, do you want to see that one?"

me: "no, i'm okay"

dad: "i thought you liked him with the redhead??"

me, laughing: "i do, but the redhead i like is starfire"

dad: "he's been with multiple redheads?!"

me, dying laughing: "yes"

dad (stage whisper): "so you don't ship him with her...are they a bad couple?"

me: "...i just prefer him with starfire"

vendor, apparently eavesdropping, burst out laughing: "i had no idea young people still shipped those two! dc's been pushing dickbabs so hard, i thought all the kids liked them. man i love when he's with starfire. you want that comic?" (i was holding the comic, about to show my dad bc, yk, pretty cover) "for you, that one's free"

me: "are you sure?!" (this was a more expensive one- not like Expensive, just above retail)

vendor: "oh yeah, you just made my whole day"

never think i'll experience that again, very entertaining series of events.

bonus: dad's reaction to the cover

dad: "oh my. his pants are very...shiny. look at his thighs! he has very nice thighs, wow"

me: "dude, ikr!!"

tysm for the ask, anon!! i hope you enjoyed the answers :)

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

The rain smelled stale across the cold stone pavement outside, the sounds of bells ringing around echos the glittering halls of Noble Bell College.

The well respect students stand in the cold colorful place of the large church, hands grasped together listening to the beautiful deep voice, "Confiteor deo, Omnipotenti, Beatae Mariae, Semper virgini..."

Giles watched among the students, eyes shining with the colorful backdrop of prized student and head of the student council singing the words so perfectly as sage and incense fills his nose. Rollo Flamme. The name itself was gospel to him. . .

"Beato Michaeli archangelo, Sanctis apostolis... Omnibus sanctis..." As Rollo kneels over the candles, his face glows behind the stand glass lights, hands bringing to a close to pray, Giles stare with a heavy beating heart in his rib cage. Many pray for many things... Money, fame, a name to go by in life and death, but Giles only ask for one thing only...love. A love he can never have and he knows but wishes to show it the best he could no mater what.

He yearns to protect Rollo.

He aches to have Rollo.

He desires to be beside Rollo at all times...

Giles' blue eyes blink as he sees Rollo look weak, his knees shaking under the pressure of his body. Before a warning was rung, the man fell to the left and to the floor.

The school nurse exits Rollo's room, just in time with the other student council members and worried students has done the same, muttering words of being careful from stress.

Everyone left but Giles who got a basin of water ready for him to drink freely.

"I am fine Pierre. You are making a big deal over nothing." Rollo said, his eyes rolling like a toy. Giles shakes his head, "No I believe I am not."

As he turns his head his gulps small, he was alone in a room with Rollo Flamme in a cold rainy late afternoon, taking care of him like a well respected husband...

"Flamme-Senpai...You still look feverish.." Mumbles Giles as his blue eyes watch his upperclassman lay in bed. Rollo's pale skin glow orange and red from the burning fireplace beside the bed, bringing the cold glass to his lips and swiftly drank his gulp of water.

Giles' eyes never once leaving a inch of his beloved Rollo. His hair was a silvery glow of a snug halo, His skin a nice tug of flesh made of the Heaven's finest angel wings, His eyes a beautiful blue hue like a painting, His body a tall lingering thin meets toned, Dressed now in a full black loose collar satin night shirt that reaches to his mid bare thighs.

The boy had to shake his head in silent secretly. He must occupy such thoughts of crawling to that bed and plea for what's tucked away.

"Pierre."

Giles jumped from his skin upon hearing his name. "Y-Yes?" He replies, eager to please this man whom he'd known for so long. He must protect his beloved Rollo-Senpai- "Get Amyir in here."

He feels the cracks grow deeper upon hearing his requests. Just mere hours ago Rollo said he found the demon annoying, yet he pleas and prays for him in this time of night when he's here now willing to do anything even if it will never lead to nothing more than a night of burning desire coped with a small fever.

Yet, with a bite of his lip to hide the burning of his tears, Giles nodded, "Of course Flamme-Senpai..."

With a gentle place of the water basin and a slow gentle turn of the heel, the boy walked off to the door.

For a small moment he pictured himself stopping and running back to him, kissing away his worries as if they were band aids, to become one with his lips as his hair becomes healthy roots that grow in his sheets... But he knew he should listen...

As the door slowly shut when he stepped out, Giles held back any sounds he could make...

@gay-salt-amber Shall continue nexr~!

[siryouarebeingmocked]

SYABM whines about fanfic, Episode #2423456

Dear fanfic writer;

If you're going to write a novel-length, well-written historical fanfic sequel, could you, y'know, not shoehorn a badly written generic romance yuri subplot in?

And if you do, could you be relatively subtle about it, instead of admitting you like yuri and making the protag generically oblivious?

And if you can't do that, could you at least give the second girl some actual non-romance character development during the ten years in-universe since the fic started?

Especially since the other girl is the protagonist's immediate subordinate and they've been working closely together all this time and also the wiki says she's the secondary protagonist of the original anime?

Also, the narrator is a modern Japanese man in the body of a woman from the early-mid 20th century. Shouldn't he be a tad concerned about the risk of being outed, especially since he's running the country and already has a bad rep? He's certainly displayed awareness of socialpolitical standards of the era time and time again.

Much more than he's displayed any actual romantic awareness of his love interest, in fact.

At least the fic that inspired this actually acknowledged the whole “lesbians are controversial for this era” fact from the first chapter, even if it was also unsubtly written and ended that chapter in a fade-to-black sloppy makeout.

Come to think, this story is explicitly inspired by the Flashman series. I seem to remember that book having better-written "romance", and that's a series where the title character is a womanizing rapist. I also remember the first Ciaphas Cain omnibus, inspired by Flashman, which has a running low-key romance subplot. The "low-key" applies to both the subplot and the romance itself.

I've also written a fic where the main character was a man stuck in a woman's body by an omnipotent being, and had a romance with a woman. Except a) it wasn't just for the sake of having femslash, and b) I made sure to actually develop both of them as characters. Heck, the whole point of having the romance was to justify certain parts of the main character's main character development down the line.

I didn't even do it on purpose. The story just shook out that way. I based one of the characters on a specific actress. The actress happened to play a character who actually had a very similar relationship in canon, down to the other woman's ethnicity, and my reaction to two pretty women making out was 'meh'.

And in case anyone was wondering, yes, I've dropped fics for bad straight pairings before. But I avoid pairing fics in general, or fics with pairings, period. As long as the relationship isn't too obtrusive, I'll just skip past it.

And, of course, I’m a Metal Gear fan. So if I was totally allergic to homoeroticism...

PS: I think I found out what's mostly bugging me. There's no romantic tension. 

Take Iron Man 1. We know Pepper is protective of Tony from her first scene, where she snipes at Christine Everhart in a deniable way. We also know she's intelligent enough for the double entendre, and capable, because she'd have to be to deal with Tony. Tony isn't even in the room, and we get a good sense of her relationship with him. Which leads to tension over their obvious feelings for each other later.

Compare this to this story love interest. There was precisely one scene in dozens of chapters where she's not with the protagonist. And it's talking about her feelings for the protagonist with a friend. The friend tells her to woman up and go for it, which explains why she kisses the protagonist later.

Heck, the Zhu Li/Varrick subplot from Korra was written better than this one, because that had an actual arc, not a straight line with an obvious ending.

This would all bug me less if the rest of the fic was bad, or even mediocre. But it’s not. It’s pretty good. It’s like finding sand in your oatmeal. A little you can deal with, but it’s still an irritation.

[thebooknearme]

Heathen: The Complete Series Omnibus Edition

About The Book:

Title: HEATHEN: The Complete Series Omnibus Edition

Author: Natasha Alterici & Ashley A. Woods (Illustrations)

Pub. Date: May 17, 2022

Publisher: Vault Comics

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/Heathen-The-Complete-Series 

WOMAN. WARRIOR. VIKING. HEATHEN. OUTCAST.  THE GODS MUST PAY… Born into a time of warfare, suffering, and subjugation of women, and exiled from her village for kissing another woman, the lesbian Viking warrior, Aydis, sets out to destroy the god-king Odin and end his oppressive reign. She is a friend to many as she is joined by mermaids, immortals, Valkyries, and the talking horse, Saga. But she is also a fearsome enemy to the demons and fantastic monsters that populate the land.  Heathen – The Complete Series Omnibus Edition trade paperback collects the entire twelve-issue series. Soon to be movie directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Red Riding Hood, & Lords of Dogtown) Perfect for fans of Monstress, Helheim, and Northlanders.

Reviews:

“These declarations of self from women and queer characters fit so elegantly into the mythology Alterici uses to weave her tale, it reminds us that these narratives belonged there all along.”- The Mary Sue

“I want epics with female leads, and fortunately HEATHEN fulfills that desire in a big way, while also adding its own unique touch with themes that are as contemporary as they are timeless.”- Women Write About Comics

“One look at the cover and I knew this book was right up my alley. If you are into Norse mythology and aching for a lesbian angle, then this book is for you. If you want a love story that is more than a romance, a heroine that is truly honourable and fierce, then I urge you to pick this … up.”- The Lesbian Review

“Natasha Alterici's Heathen, has single-handedly redeemed the disaster that pop culture has been making of Norse mythology. It’s a smart, funny, feminist, queer and sex-positive take on the Viking world; one with a wide cast of diverse and endearing characters. Heathen is a must-read for comics (and mythology) lovers of all sorts and those in quest of superb queer and feminist comics in particular. RATING: 10/10”- Pop Matter

About Natasha Alterici:

Natasha Alterici is a writer and artist living in Tulsa, OK who has been working as a freelance artist for over ten years. Works include Heathen (Vault Comics), Dinosaur Project, Gotham Academy: Yearbook, Grayson Annual, The Lez Film Review, Mixed Signals, Lovers and Other Strangers, Transcience, and a number of others. When not drawing, she enjoys watching cooking shows with her wife and their two cats, Cheshire and Louise.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

About Ashley A. Woods:

Ashley A. Woods is a comic book artist, writer, & creator from Chicago known for her work on the "Niobe", "Ladycastle" and "Tomb Raider" series. She got her start through self-publishing her action-fantasy comic series “Millennia War” which led to her career in comics and TV. After earning her degree in Film and Animation from IADT, she traveled to Kyoto, Japan where she presented her work in a gallery showcase called, “Out Of Sequence”. Recognized for her female illustrations and designs, her most prominent work is "Niobe: She is Life" with Stranger Comics. Her latest work can be seen on HBO's "Lovecraft Country", DC’s “Wonder Woman Black & Gold 2” and "Jupiter Invincible" with Pulitzer Prize winning author Yusef Komunyakaa which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival June 2021.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

What was your inspiration for writing your graphic novel?

Heathen began with a simple Ren Faire costume design, I wanted to go as a barbarian, and the outfit I came up with wasn't far off from what Aydis wears in the book. After that I found myself drawing it again and again, and realized it was developing into a character. So the next steps were obvious; give her a horse and then write her a story. 

List your favorite graphic novels or comics from when you were a child and talk about how you see them as an adult.

I never got the chance to read any comics as a kid. I was too busy obsessing over a different Eyewitness book every month and then later Mary Higgins Clark mysteries and Lurlene McDaniel romance books. I got into comics in college after my English Comp teacher assigned Maus, and from there I sought out the classics like V for Vendetta, Persepolis, and some Sandman. I've always been a seasonal kind of reader, sometimes I'm devouring everything I can, other times I almost forget books exist. Just how I'm wired I suppose. 

List your favorite graphic novels this year and why you like them.

I've honestly only read one so far this year, but it was a great one! Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell. It's so refreshing to read about queer characters who are neither role models nor tragedies (both are perfectly valid, just oversaturated). They're just normal kids with normal relationship problems that they have to learn to navigate. I really enjoy down-to-earth stories like that. 

Talk about your favorite kind of character to write about

I love messy flawed characters, the kind who want to be better but aren't quite sure how to go about it. I also love writing flirty characters, they're hands down the most fun to write. And if a flirt happens to be messy and flawed themself, well that's the perfect combination. 

Talk about your least favorite kind of character to write about

This is a difficult one, because if I were to describe the kind of character I don't like I'd inevitably be describing the kind of people I don't like  and I try to find the likable part of anyone I'm writing. Otherwise it's hard to empathize with them, and empathy is the most important part. I guess I'd say I find it hard to write about people who find joy in being cruel. 

Describe your ideal writing space.

Comfy chair with a foot rest, view of the forest or a field, music playing, unlimited access to some kind of sweet treat like peach rings or twizzlers, and plants to fuss over while I run through scenes and dialog in my head. 

Describe your ideal home library.

I'd love to have floor to ceiling shelves, with one of those rolling ladders. Everything is organized by Library of Congress call number system (I worked as a university librarian for a while), and it's dust and mold free somehow. And there's a big pile of cushions and pillows to lay in to read. 

What are some of your favorite video games?

I'm really into Ark: Survival Evolved right now, I enjoy finding and taming all my favorite dinosaurs and building things. I also play Phasmophobia, Minecraft, Katamari, House Flipper, and I like colony sim games like Oxygen Not Included and Banished.

[collectorscorner]

CC New Arrivals @ Collectors Corner : Wednesday 9/8/21

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Complete list of items shipping to the stores, some items may be limited in availability. If you see anything you want to purchase on the list and are not a subscription member at Collectors Corner, just contact us and let us know if you want an item held at the stores.

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ABLAZE Crueler Than Dead Volume 1 GN, $12.99 Mirka Andolfo’s Un/Sacred Volume 2 HC, $24.99 Old Geezers Volume 2 HC, $24.99

AFTERSHOCK COMICS Search for Hu #1 (Cover A Rubine), $4.99 Search for Hu #1 (Cover B Dave Johnson), AR

AHOY COMICS Snelson Comedy Is Dying #2 (Cover A Fred Harper), $3.99 Snelson Comedy Is Dying #2 (Cover B Sergio Aragones), AR Wrong Earth Night And Day TP, $17.99

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS Betty And Veronica Friends Forever Halloween Spooktacular #1, $2.99 World Of Betty And Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #8, $7.99

AWA STUDIOS Not All Robots #2, $3.99

BEHEMOTH ENTERTAINMENT Cinnamon #2 (Of 3)(Cover A Victoria Douglas), $3.99 Cinnamon #2 (Of 3)(Cover B Victoria Douglas), $3.99 Freak Snow #4 (Of 4), $3.99 MFKZ #3 (Cover A Run), $3.99 MFKZ #3 (Cover B Run), $3.99 MFKZ #3 (Cover C Run), $3.99 Nine Stones #1 (Cover A Samuel Spano), $3.99 Nine Stones #1 (Cover B Samuel Spano), $3.99 Nine Stones #1 (Cover C Samuel Spano), $3.99 Nine Stones #1 (Cover D Samuel Spano), $3.99 Nine Stones #1 (Cover E Blank Variant Cover), $3.99 Nine Stones #1 (Cover F Samuel Spano), AR

BLACKBOX COMICS Devil’s Dominion #5, $3.99 Djinn Hunter #2 (Cover A Fabrizio Cosentino), $3.99 Djinn Hunter #2 (Cover B Fabrizio Cosentino), AR

BOOM! STUDIOS Eve #5 (Of 5)(Cover A Ario Anindito), $3.99 Eve #5 (Of 5)(Cover B Zoe Thorogood), $3.99 Eve #5 (Of 5)(Cover C Zoe Thorogood Virgin Variant), AR Eve #5 (Of 5)(Cover D Audrey Mok Virgin Variant), AR Last Witch Fear And Fire GN, $14.99 Mamo #3 (Of 5)(Cover A Sas Milledge), $4.99 Mamo #3 (Of 5)(Cover B Trung Le Nguyen Virgin Variant), AR Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover A InHyuk Lee), $3.99 Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover B Eleonora Carlini Legacy Variant), $3.99 Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover C InHyuk Lee Virgin Variant), AR Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover D Eleonora Carlini Legacy Virgin Variant), AR Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover E Goni Montes), AR Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover F Elizabeth Torque Reveal Variant), AR Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover G Elizabeth Torque Reveal Virgin Variant), AR Mighty Morphin #11 (Cover H Goni Montes Virgin Variant), AR

CALIBER ENTERTAINMENT Deadworld Archives Volume 8 TP, $12.99 H.P. Lovecraft Dagon TP, $10.99

COFFIN COMICS La Muerta Lives Volume 2 HC, $34.95 La Muerta Lives Volume 2 TP, $19.95

COMIC SHOP NEWS Comic Shop News #1777, AR

DARK HORSE COMICS Cuphead Volume 2 Cartoon Chronicles And Calamities TP, $10.99 EC Archives Shock SuspenStories Volume 1 TP, $19.99 Empowered Omnibus Volume 3 TP, $34.99 Last Flight Out #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Eduardo Ferigato, $3.99 Malika Warrior Queen Volume 1 TP, $24.99 Masters Of The Universe Revelation #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Dave Wilkins), $3.99 Masters Of The Universe Revelation #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Walt Simonson), $3.99 Mazebook #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Jeff Lemire), $5.99 Mazebook #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Andrea Sorrentino), $5.99 Stephen McCranie’s Space Boy Omnibus Volume 1 TP, $19.99 Stranger Things Library Edition Volume 1 HC, $39.99 Unbelievable Unteens From The World Of Black Hammer #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Tyler Crook), $3.99 Unbelievable Unteens From The World Of Black Hammer #2 (Of 4)(Cover B Emi Lenox), $3.99

DC COMICS Basketful Of Heads TP, $17.99 Batman #112 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez)(Fear State), $4.99 Batman #112 (Cover B Jorge Molina Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), $5.99 Batman #112 (Cover C Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), AR Batman #112 (Cover D Kael Ngu Card Stock Variant)(Fear State), AR Batman Catwoman #7 (Of 12)(Cover A Clay Mann), $4.99 Batman Catwoman #7 (Of 12)(Cover B Jim Lee & Scott Williams), $4.99 Batman Catwoman #7 (Of 12)(Cover C Travis Charest), $4.99 Batman Fear State Alpha #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Francesco Mattina Foil Team Card Stock Variant), AR Batman Fortnite Zero Point HC, $24.99 Batman In The Fifties TP, $29.99 Batman The Brave And The Bold The Bronze Age Omnibus Volume 3 HC, $99.99 Black Manta #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Valentine De Landro), $3.99 Black Manta #1 (Of 6)(Cover B Sanford Greene Card Stock Variant), $4.99 Black Manta #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Francis Manapul Card Stock Variant), AR Blue And Gold #2 (Of 8)(Cover A Ryan Sook), $3.99 Blue And Gold #2 (Of 8)(Cover B Jason Howard The Suicide Squad Movie Card Stock Variant), $4.99 Crush And Lobo #4 (Of 8)(Cover A Amy Reeder), $3.99 Crush And Lobo #4 (Of 8)(Cover B Paulina Ganucheau Card Stock Variant), $4.99 DC Horror Presents The Conjuring The Lover #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Bill Sienkiewicz), $3.99 DC Horror Presents The Conjuring The Lover #4 (Of 5)(Cover B Ryan Brown Movie Poster Card Stock Variant), $4.99 DC Super Hero Girls Ghosting TP, $9.99 Green Lantern #6 (Cover A Bernard Chang), $4.99 Green Lantern #6 (Cover B Bryan Hitch Card Stock Variant), $5.99 Green Lantern 2021 Annual #1 (Cover A Bernard Chang), $5.99 Green Lantern 2021 Annual #1 (Cover B David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $6.99 Infinite Frontier #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Mitch Gerads), $4.99 Infinite Frontier #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Bryan Hitch Card Stock Variant), $5.99 Infinite Frontier #6 (Of 6)(Cover C Puppeteer Lee Card Stock Variant), AR Joker Harley Criminal Sanity HC, $34.99 Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #2 (Of 7)(Cover A Chip Zdarsky), $4.99 Joker Presents A Puzzlebox #2 (Of 7)(Cover B Shawn Crystal Card Stock Variant), $5.99 Justice League Infinity #3 (Of 7)(Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99 Next Batman Second Son HC, $24.99 Nice House On The Lake #4 (Of 12)(Cover A Alvaro Martinez Bueno), $3.99 Nice House On The Lake #4 (Of 12)(Cover B Tiffany Turrill Card Stock Variant), $4.99 Sensational Wonder Woman #7 (Cover A Nicola Scott & Annette Kwok), $3.99 Sensational Wonder Woman #7 (Cover B Tula Lotay Card Stock Variant), $4.99 Suicide Squad #7 (Cover A Eduardo Pansica), $3.99 Suicide Squad #7 (Cover B Kevin Maguire Card Stock Variant), $4.99 Suicide Squad 2021 Annual #1 (Cover A Eduardo Pansica), $5.99 Suicide Squad 2021 Annual #1 (Cover B Gerald Parel Card Stock Variant), $6.99 Suicide Squad Get Joker #2 (Of 3)(Cover A Alex Maleev), $6.99 Suicide Squad Get Joker #2 (Of 3)(Cover B Jorge Fornes), $6.99 Superman Son Of Kal-El #1 (2nd Printing John Timms Cover A), $3.99 Superman Son Of Kal-El #1 (2nd Printing John Timms Cover B), AR Swamp Thing #7 (Of 10)(Cover A Mike Perkins), $3.99 Swamp Thing #7 (Of 10)(Cover B Francesco Mattina Card Stock Variant), $4.99 Whistle A New Gotham City Hero TP, $16.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover A Jason Shawn Alexander), $3.99 Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover B Arthur Suydam), $3.99 Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover C Junggeun Yoon), $3.99 Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover D Stuart Sayger), $3.99 Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover E Blank Authentix Variant), $3.99 Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover F Arthur Suydam Black & White Variant), AR Army Of Darkness 1979 #1 (Cover G Stuart Sayger Black & White Variant), AR Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover A Dave Acosta), $3.99 Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover B Juan Samu), $3.99 Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover C Anthony Marques & J. Bone), $3.99 Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover D Photo), $3.99 Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover E Photo Black & White Variant), AR Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover F Juan Samu Black & White Line Art Variant), AR Elvira Meets Vincent Price #2 (Cover G Dave Acosta Line Art Variant), AR KISS Phantom Obsession #2 (Cover A Jae Lee), $3.99 KISS Phantom Obsession #2 (Cover B Stuart Sayger), $3.99 KISS Phantom Obsession #2 (Cover C Tim Seeley), $3.99 KISS Phantom Obsession #2 (Cover D Celor), $3.99 KISS Phantom Obsession #2 (Cover E Photo), $3.99 KISS Phantom Obsession #2 (Cover F Jae Lee Black & White Variant), AR

FANTACO ENTERPRISES Gorgo Attacks HC, $49.95 Gorgo Attacks TP, $29.95 Monster Art Of Basil Gogos HC (2nd Edition With Dust Jacket), $99.95

HEAVY METAL MAGAZINE Never Never #3 (Of 5), $3.99 Savage Circus #6 (Of 10), $2.99

HUMANOIDS Legend Of The Scarlet Blades TP, $24.99

IDW PUBLISHING Canto III Lionhearted #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Drew Zucker), $3.99 Canto III Lionhearted #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Igor Wolski), AR Sonic The Hedgehog Volume 2 El destino del Dr. Eggman TP, $15.99 Star Trek The Mirror War #0 (Cover A Carlos Nieto), $3.99 Star Trek The Mirror War #0 (Cover B Ejiwa Edge Ebenebe), $3.99 Star Trek The Mirror War #0 (Cover C Tom Ralston), AR Star Wars Adventures Volume 2 #9 (Cover A Francesco Francavilla), $3.99 Star Wars Adventures Volume 2 #9 (Cover B Devaun Dowdy), $3.99 Star Wars Adventures Volume 2 #9 (Cover C Francesco Francavilla Black & White Variant), AR

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KENZER AND COMPANY Knights Of The Dinner Table #286, $6.99

MAD CAVE STUDIOS Bountiful Garden #1, $3.99

MARVEL COMICS Amazing Spider-Man #73 (Cover A Mark Bagley), $3.99 Amazing Spider-Man #73 (Cover B Federico Vicentini), AR Amazing Spider-Man #73 (Cover C David Baldeon Handbook Variant), AR Avengers Tech-On #2 (Of 6)(Cover A Eiichi Shimizu), $3.99 Avengers Tech-On #2 (Of 6)(Cover B Peach Momoko), AR Captain America By Rick Remender Omnibus HC (John Romita Jr. Book Market Cover), $125.00 Captain America By Rick Remender Omnibus HC (Stuart Immonen Direct Market Cover), $125.00 Champions #9 (Cover A Toni Infante), $3.99 Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover A Geoff Shaw), $4.99 Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover B Daniel Acuna), AR Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover C Kevin Eastman Design Variant), AR Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover D Peach Momoko), AR Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover E Alex Toth Hidden Gem Variant), AR Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover F Mr. Garcin), AR Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover G Dan Panosian), AR Conan The Barbarian #25 (Cover I Blank Variant), AR Cosmic Ghost Rider Omnibus Volume 1 HC (Geoff Shaw Direct Market Cover), $100.00 Cosmic Ghost Rider Omnibus Volume 1 HC (J. Scott Campbell Book Market Cover), $100.00 Daredevil #34 (Cover A Marco Checchetto), $3.99 Daredevil #34 (Cover B Rob Liefeld Deadpool 30th Anniversary Variant), AR Daredevil #34 (Cover C David Lopez Miles Morales 10th Anniversary Variant), AR Deadpool Black White And Blood #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Declan Shalvey), $4.99 Deadpool Black White And Blood #2 (Of 4)(Cover B Leinil Francis Yu), AR Deadpool Black White And Blood #2 (Of 4)(Cover C Daniel Warren Johnson), AR Defenders #2 (Of 5)(Cover A Javier Rodriguez), $3.99 Defenders #2 (Of 5)(Cover B Joe Quinones), AR Defenders #2 (Of 5)(Cover C Javier Rodriguez Teaser Variant), AR Excalibur #23 (Cover A Mahmud A. Asrar), $3.99 Excalibur #23 (Cover B Dike Ruan), AR Extreme Carnage Toxin #1 (Cover A Skan), $3.99 Extreme Carnage Toxin #1 (Cover B Philip Tan), AR Extreme Carnage Toxin #1 (Cover C Jeff Johnson Connecting Variant), AR Extreme Carnage Toxin #1 (Cover D Skottie Young), AR Extreme Carnage Toxin #1 (Cover E Symbiote Variant), AR Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 3 HC (Alex Ross Book Market Cover)(New Printing, $125.00 Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 3 HC (Jack Kirby Direct Market Variant Cover)(New Printing), $125.00 Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 4 HC (Arthur Adams Book Market Cover), $100.00 Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 4 HC (Jack Kirby Direct Market Variant Cover), $100.00 Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Jesus Saiz), $3.99 Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Juann Cabal), AR Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover C German Garcia Map Variant), AR Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover D Peach Momoko), AR Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover E Elizabeth Torque), AR Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover F Brent Anderson Hidden Gem Variant), AR Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover G Rob Liefeld Deadpool 30th Anniversary Variant), AR Ka-Zar Lord Of The Savage Land #1 (Of 5)(Cover H R. 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SCOUT COMICS – SCOOT Little Guardians #1, $1.99 Sengi And Tembo TP, $14.99

TITAN COMICS Elric The Dreaming City #2 (Cover A Frank Brunner), $3.99 Elric The Dreaming City #2 (Cover B Jean Bastide), $3.99 Elric The Dreaming City #2 (Cover C Stevan Subic), $3.99 Elric The Dreaming City #2 (Cover D Julien Telo), $3.99 Marvel Studios’ WandaVision The Official Collector’s Special SC (FOC Edition), $14.99 Marvel Studios’ WandaVision The Official Collector’s Special SC (Newstand Edition), $14.99 Marvel Studios’ WandaVision The Official Collector’s Special SC (Previews Exclusive Edition), $14.99

VAULT COMICS Barbaric #1 (3rd Printing Nathan Gooden Cover), $3.99 Barbaric #2 (Deluxe Black & White Edition)(Cover A Nathan Gooden), $7.99 Barbaric #2 (Deluxe Black & White Edition)(Cover B Nathan Gooden Black Bag Variant), $7.99 Deadbox #1 (Cover A Ben Tiesma), $3.99 Deadbox #1 (Cover B Corin Howell), $3.99 Last Book You’ll Ever Read #1 (2nd Printing Leila Leiz Cover), $3.99 Last Book You’ll Ever Read #2 (Cover A Leila Leiz), $3.99 Last Book You’ll Ever Read #2 (Cover B Jen Hickman), $3.99 Last Book You’ll Ever Read #2 (Cover C Leila Leiz Black Bag Variant), $5.99 Last Book You’ll Ever Read #2 (Cover D Richard Pace Black Bag Variant), $5.99 Wasted Space #21 (Cover A Hayden Sherman), $3.99 Witchblood #6 (Cover A Lisa Sterle), $3.99 Witchblood #6 (Cover B Lisa Sterle), $3.99 Witchblood #6 (Cover C Yoshi Yoshitani), $3.99

VIZ MEDIA Boruto Naruto Next Generations Volume 12 GN, $9.99 Dr. Stone Volume 18 GN, $9.99 Dragon Ball Super Volume 14 GN, $9.99 My Hero Academia Volume 29 GN, $9.99

Z2 COMICS All Time Low Presents Young Renegades TP, $19.99 Cypress Hill Tes Equis TP (English Edition), $19.99

ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT Grimm Fairy Tales #51 (Cover A Igor Vitorino), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #51 (Cover B Sheldon Goh), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #51 (Cover C Ivan Tao), $3.99 Grimm Fairy Tales #51 (Cover D Geebo Vigonte), $3.99

TOYS T-SHIRTS & COLLECTIBLES Creature From The Black Lagoon Beach Towel, AR Gundam Infinity Gundam Artemis 4.5 Inch Action Figure, AR Gundam Infinity Gundam RX-78-2 4.5 Inch Action Figure, AR Gundam Infinity Gundam RX-78-2 4.5 Inch Action Figure Assortment, AR Gundam Infinity Wing Gundam 4.5 Inch Action Figure, AR Miraculous Ladybug Kwami Surprise Mini Figure 24 Piece Blind Mystery Box Display, AR

[kamikazekaitou2004]

hand-me-down manga collection update! (featuring some western books to fill in space)

some of these came from my aunt and MANY of them came from my mom's friend, while a handful i bought myself

here's what i have (and what i'm missing)

merupuri (missing volume 2)

fushigi yugi: genbu kaiden (missing volumes 1, 3, and 5-12)

fushigi yugi (only volume 4)

angel diary (missing volumes 1, 5, 7, 8, and 10-13)

k-on (only volume 1)

legal drug

lovely complex (only volume 12)

danganronpa 2: ultimate luck and hope and despair (only volume 1)

kagerou daze (only volume 1)

dnangel (missing volume 13)

dazzle (missing volumes 8-23)

fall in love like a comic (only volumes 1 and 2)

ng life (only volumes 1 and 2)

captive hearts (only volumes 1, 2, 3, and 5)

tokyo mew mew

tokyo mew mew a la mode (only volume 2)

the gentleman's alliance (missing volumes 4-11)

full moon wo sagashite

vampire knight (missing volumes 8-19)

ai ore (missing volumes 6-8)

wish

kamichama karin-chu (only volume 1)

fallen vampire

black cat (missing volumes 3, 5, and 12-20

la corda d'oro (missing volumes 5, 6, and 8-17

monthly girls' nozaki kun (only volumes 1 and 2)

cardcaptor sakura: clear card (only volume 1)

w juliet (missing volumes 3, 6, 7, and 9)

hands off

vampire kisses (this is western but definitely manga inspired) (missing volumes 4-9)

a devil and her love song (only volumes 1 and 2)

black bird (only volumes 1 and 2)

wanted

yume kira dream shoppe

spiral (only volume 1)

tsubasa reservoir chronicle (only omnibus 1)

i'm gonna try to get my hands on the stuff i'm missing via secondhand selling

[skylarkdragonstar]

Found out about Sayaka’s new drama appearance! She’ll be appearing as the lead in episode 6 of the omnibus drama Ginza Kuroneko Monogatari. She plays Sakagami Mieko, an “able woman” working at a trading company. 

Each episode will have a different main character and cast. In each story a black cat appears to a troubled person and leads them to a famous store in Ginza that suits them.

--------------------------

In addition, I found out that former AKB member Nagao Mariya will also appear in this drama as the lead in episode 4. She plays Maki, an independent manicurist who owns her own store.

Drama will air on July 16th.

----------------------

BTW, looking at the cast list for all episodes, I’m surprised there’s lots of other actors I recognize. For example, appearing in Sayaka’s episode playing her junior is Yuki Kousei (Patran Ichigo from Lupinranger vs Patranger). And appearing in episode 2 is Mizuishi Atomu (Kiramai Blue from Mashin Sentai Kiramager and Crow from Garo Makai no Hana). And also appearing as the lead in episode 9 is Yahagi Honoka (Mezool from Kamen Rider OOO and Kotoko from Itazura na Kiss: Love in Tokyo).