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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 1 year ago

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Psycho Analysis: Snowflame

(WARNING! This analysis contains C-C-C-COCAINE!)

Imagine this absurd concept: A supervillain cartel boss whose powers are fueled by him getting high off his own supply. Imagine too that this man wears a ridiculous outfit, and exists to be an anti-drug PSA that fails epically because he makes doing drugs look awesome. Now also imagine that everything about him is played completely straight without a single bit of acknowledgment of how absurd and campy the whole thing is.

That, my friends, is Snowflame.

The New Guardians is a comic series that would have been long forgotten as a crusty relic of the late 80s if not for giving the world the absolute coolest villain ever conceived. Snowflame has amassed a cult following the likes of which would make Jim Jones envious, due to the sheer absurdity of his existence and the pure unadulterated action movie villain charm of his dialogue. He’s perhaps one of the most minor villains out there with only a handful of appearances to his name, but he’s loved more than villains who’ve appeared twenty times as much as him.

I’m here to show you why.

Motivation/Goals: Snowflame is a cartel leader, and so he really wants to peddle drugs. Guess which drug is his forte. Go on, guess. And that’s really all there is to him! I need to reiterate that his threat as a cartel leader is played completely and utterly straight even as he spouts off the hammiest dialogue you’ve ever seen and literally gets a power up by snorting coke. This is the very core of his appeal, in that he is something genuinely terrifying and threatening but presented in a way only a comic book can pull off.

Of course, his true motivation is far, far simpler.

Look at this man. That is the face of a man who exists solely to snort illicit substances up his nose. He lives to be high. That is the extent of his desires, and all else is second to that simple goal. As long as he can ignite and continue to be the instrument of cocaine's will, he is satisfied.

Final Fate: Every single time Snowflame shows up, he dies. In his initial appearance, he apparently blows up, but three decades later, he makes his coke-fueled return to do battle with Catwoman, and despite inhaling enough cocaine to kill an elephant, a feat that should theoretically make him nigh invincible, he fucking dies.

...Or does he? Snowflame returns yet again in Peacemaker Tries Hard! Here he does battle with, you guessed it,

...who puts a poison dart frog in his cocaine and kills him.

Maybe. My theory is that Snowflame is the Kenny of the DC universe, and whenever some bastard kills him his coke-fueled powers just respawn him the next day.

Best Scene: While his fight against Catwoman is unfortunately lackluster as ordained by the writers (Selina is not lasting two seconds against Snowflame and his coke-fueled powers under realistic circumstances), it gave us one of the most gorgeous and badass panels ever made:

Really brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

Best Quote: Yeah, there’s no fucking contest here, it’s this:

Final Thoughts & Score: I think I speak for all of us when I say Snowflame is one of the greatest fucking characters ever conceived.

Everything about him is a towering testament to what makes the medium of comic books great. The best villains tend to be the wildest and most out-there concepts, like a giant alien starfish that mind controls people, or a gay gorilla in love with a brain in a jar, or a giant racist communist egg. And don’t even get me started on the villains the Doom Patrol fights! Snowflame is the epitome of that; he is what would happen if Tony Montana was a DC supervillain by way of Captain Planet. He is absurd, over-the-top, and so goddamn cool.

It’s very obvious they were trying to do an anti-drug PSA here given the time the comic was released, but it absolutely falls flat on its face when the strawman constructed to be defeated so that the lesson might be dispersed is an absolute lunatic who dresses in colorful spandex and spouts off the most epic lines to ever come out of a villain’s mouth. Everything about him is absurd, but unlike something like Egg Fu he’s absurd in a tasteful and cool way rather than a shockingly racist way. Snowflame is just a dude who snorts cocaine to gain superpowers, it’s as simple as that and yet it’s also completely bonkers.

It’s genuinely unsurprising that this guy managed to get such a massive cult following that he spawned a fanmade webcomic and then got to pop up in the comics again over three decades after his supposed death. And it’s said cult following that has allowed him to pop up time and time again, even getting an appearance in the fourth season of Harley Quinn. I’m sure you can guess that I’m part of that massive cult fanbase, and I can only dream of writing a villain as incredible and grandiose as this drug-addled madman. Infinity/10 isn’t a real score, so he’ll have to settle for a 10/10 instead.

...Oh yeah, remember in the Egg Fu review when I said I wasn’t going to review Hemo-Goblin?

Psycho Analysis: Hemo-Goblin

This is gonna be really short, because there is so little to this guy. He is a one-shot, but boy what a fucking shot he is. Hemo-Goblin is a racist vampire created by South African white supremacists to give members of the New Guardians AIDS. You read that right. This is a racist AIDS vampire.

Now, unlike Egg Fu, who was a horrible racist caricature created from topical anti-communist sentiments of the time, Hemo-Goblin was seemingly created with better intentions. But you know what they say about intentions; the road to Hell is paved with good ones. I get wanting to do a commentary on the AIDS crisis, and I don’t think it’s out of the question for a superhero book to handle such a thing, but maybe having an AIDS-powered vampire give HIV to a Jamaican woman and a gay man isn’t the most tasteful and nuanced way to do this.

Oh, and by the end of his only appearance, he dies of AIDS in jail.

I’m not gonna lie, guys: I kinda love this stupid fucking creature. His weird design, the absurdity of his concept, and the awful execution of his premise makes him memorable for all the wrong reasons, but he’s memorable nonetheless. I think if Snowflame didn’t exist and wasn’t the coolest villain ever, more people would talk about the insanity that is Hemo-Goblin, though having a single appearance before dying and never appearing again doesn’t help his case much. Still, he’s just cazy enough to earn himself a 3.5/10, so he’s got that going for him.

#Psycho Analysis #DC #Snowflame #Hemo-Goblin #The New Guardians

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mosthomoeroticenemies · 2 years ago

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The Contestants

Cherik (Professor X/Magneto) - X-Men

Fuffy (Faith Lehane/Buffy Summers) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Megop (Optimus Prime/Megatron) - Transformers

Curtwen (Curt Mega/Owen Carvour) - Spies are Forever

Thoschei (The Doctor/The Master) - Doctor Who

Perryshmirtz (Perry the Platypus/Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz) - Phineas and Ferb

Catradora (Adora/Catra) - She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Soukoku (Osamu Dazai/Chuuya Nakahara) - Bungo Stray Dogs

c!TnTDuo (c!Quackity/c!Wilbur Soot) - Dream SMP

Spy/Supervillain - Genghis Khan by Miike Snow

Batman/Joker - Lego Batman

Wrightworth (Phoenix Wright/Miles Edgeworth) - Ace Attorney

Batjokes (Batman/Joker) - Batman

Lawlight (L/Light Yagami) - Death Note

Bowiugi (Bowser/Luigi) - Mario

Stanarrator (Narrator/Stanley) - The Stanley Parable

Kidlaw (Eustass Kid/Trafalgar Law) - One Piece

Shuake (Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu) - Persona 5

Cuttletavio (Craig Cuttlefish/DJ Octavio) - Splatoon

Gethan (Rupert Giles/Ethan Rayne) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Zosan (Roronoa Zoro/Sanji) - One Piece

ChellDOS (Chell/GLaDOS) - Portal

Jesus Christ/Judas Iscariot - The New Testament

Gwensuzie (Gwen Cooper/Suzie Costello) - Torchwood

Krisnix (Phoenix Wright/Kristoph Gavin) - Ace Attorney

Griffguts (Guts/Griffith) - Berserk

Hannigram (Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter) - Hannibal

Ghiralink (Ghirahim/Link) - Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Valvert (Javert/Jean Valjean) - Les Miserables

Abestache (Detective Abe Lincoln/Wilford Warfstache) - Markiplier Cinematic Universe

Sasunaru (Naruto/Sasuke) - Naruto

Jedediah/Octavius - Night at the Museum

Nami/Kalifa - One Piece

Gabv1el (V1/Gabriel) - Ultrakill

Kazumaji (Kazuma Kiryu/Goro Majima) - Yakuza

Zukka (Zuko/Sokka) - Avatar: The Last Airbender

Ineffable Husbands (Aziraphale/Crowley) - Good Omens

Billford (Bill Cipher/Stanford Pines) - Gravity Falls

Evelyn Deavor/Elastigirl - Incredibles 2

Jennifer Check/Needy Lesnicki - Jennifer’s Body

Kigo (Kim Possible/Shego) - Kim Possible

Sportarobbie (Sportacus/Robbie Rotten) - Lazy Town

Swan Queen (Emma Swan/Regina Mills) - Once Upon a Time

Hardenshipping (Magma Leader Maxie/Aqua Leader Archie) -Pokemon OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire

Westley/Inigo Montoya - Princess Bride

Sonadow (Sonic/Shadow) - Sonic the Hedgehog

Plabs (Plankton/Mr. Krabs) - SpongeBob SquarePants

Kylux (General Armitage Hux/Kylo Ren) - Star Wars

Johnchurch (Merle Highchurch/John Hunger) - The Adventure Zone: Balance

Basigan (Professor Ratigan/Basil of Baker Street) - The Great Mouse Detective

LonelyEyes (Elias Buchard/Peter Lukas) - The Magnus Archives

Johnjack (Jack Harkness/John Hart) - Torchwood

Blicy (Bloom/Icy) - Winx Club

Riddlebat (Batman/The Riddler) - Batman comics

Shin Soukoku (Atsushi Nakajima/Ryuunosuke Akutagawa) - Bungo Stray Dogs

Snowbaz (Baz Pitch/Simon Snow) - Carry On

Komahina (Nagito Komaeda/Hajime Hinata) - Danganronpa

Wonder Woman/Cheetah - DC

Spamvil (Jevil/Spamton) - Deltarune

Rk1000 (Connor/Markus) - Detroit: Become Human

John McClane/Hans Gruber - Die Hard

Fenders (Fenris/Anders) - Dragon Age 2

Vegekaka (Goku/Vegeta) - Dragon Ball Z

Rapple (Apple White/Raven Queen) - Ever After High

Billdip (Bill Cipher/Dipper Pines) - Gravity Falls

Radiostatic (Vox/Alastor) - Hazbin Hotel

Sirdust (Angel Dust/Sir Pretious) - Hazbin Hotel

Fengqing (Feng Xin/Mu Qing) - Heaven Official’s Blessing

Blitzer (Blitzø/Striker) - Helluva Boss

Martha May Whovier/Betty Lou Who - How the Grinch Stole Christmas

ZaDr (Zim/Dib) - Invader Zim

Sarumi (Fushimi Saruhiko/Yata Misaki) - K Project

Metadede (King Dedede/Meta Knight) - Kirby

Gandalf/Sauron - Lord of the Rings

Island Husbands (Ben Linus/John Locke) - Lost

Metromind (Megamind/Metro Man) - Megamind

Sherliam (Sherlock Holmes/William James Moriarty) - Moriarty the Patriot

Bujeet (Buford/Bajeet) - Phineas and Ferb

Grovyle/Dusknoir - Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time, Darkness, and Sky

Shassie (Shawn Spencer/Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter) - Psych

Rayaari (Raya/Namaari) - Raya and the Last Dragon

Tycutio (Mercutio/Tybalt) - Romeo and Juliet

Sherliam (Sherlock Holmes/James Moriarty) - Sherlock

Obikin (Anakin Skywalker/Obi-Wan Kenobi) - Star Wars

Obimaul (Obi-Wan Kenobi/Darth Maul) - Star Wars

Oncelax (The Onceler/The Lorax) - The Lorax

Owen Harper/Mark Lynch - Torchwood

Lord Hater/Wander - Wander Over Yonder

Gelphie (Elphaba/Galinda) - Wicked

Cruellanita (Cruella de Vil/Anita) - 101 Dalmations

Angelo Lagusa/Nero Vanetti - 91 Days

Discotrain (The Conductor/DJ Grooves) - A Hat in Time

Klapollo (Klavier Gavin/Apollo Justice) - Ace Attorney

Wrightdot (Godot/Phoenix Wright) - Ace Attorney

Kaneda/Tetsuo - Akira

Sydney Bristow/Lauren Reed - Alias

Ellen Ripley/The Xenomorph - Alien

Zadison (Zoe Benson/Madison Montgomery) - American Horror Story: Coven

Sterling Archer/Barry Dylan - Archer

Y’all (The Poll Takers)/Me (The Poll Maker) - askeletonwar

Just Walk Out!/Papyrus - askeletonwar

Londo Mollari/G’kar - Babylon 5

Rampage/Depth Charge - Beast Wars: Transformers

Pinariz (Riz/Pina) - Beastars

Kunieda Aoi/Hildegarde - Beezlebub

Sebagrell (Grell/Sebastian) - Black Butler

Gus Fring/Walter White - Breaking Bad

Spangel (Spike/Angel) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Spuffy (Spike/Buffy) - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Winteriron (Tony Stark/The Winter Soldier) - Captain America: Civil War

Stucky (Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes) - Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Carulia (Carmen Sandiego/Julia Argent) - Carmen Sandiego

Macavity/Munkustrap - Cats (1998)

Caius Marcius Coriolanus/Tullus Aufidius - Coriolanus

Dean Pelton/Dean Spreck - Community

Shadowghast (Caleb Widogast/Essek Thelyss) - Critical Role

Blumentrio (Caleb Widogast/Eadwulf Grieve/Astrid Becke) -Critical Role

Theopin (Lapin Cadbury/Sir Theobald Gumbar) - D20: A Crown of Candy

Hero/Villain - dannyphantom.exe

Clex (Superman/Lex Luthor) - DC

Babsquinn (Batgirl/Harley Quinn) - DC

Seavil (Jevil/Seam) - Deltarune

Rengoku Kyoujurou/Akaza - Demon Slayer

Mal/Uma - Descendants

Reed800 (Connor/Gavin Reed) - Detroit: Become Human

Ryokira (Akira/Ryo) - Devilman

Maxwil (Maxwell/Wilson) - Don't Starve

Nikki/Mackenzie - Dork Diaries

Gell/Frisky - Dot X

Dr. Horrible/Captain Hammer - Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Count Dracula/Jonathan Harker - Dracula

Joan Watson/Jamie Moriarty - Elementary

Zerxus Ilerez/Asmodeus - Exandria Unlimited: Calamity

Gratsu (Natsu Dragneel/Gray Fullbuster) - Fairy Tail

Gary/John - Faith

Peter Griffin/The Chicken - Family Guy

John Crichton/Scorpius - Farscape

Emiya Archer/Cu Chulainn - Fate Stay Night

Angeal Hewley/Genesis Rhapsodos/Sephiroth - Final Fantasy VII

Cidnero (Nero tol Scaeva/Cid Garlond) - Final Fantasy XIV

Willry (Henry Emily/William Afton) - Five Nights at Freddy’s

Victor Frankenstein/The Monster - Frankenstein

Cure Peach/Eas - Fresh Pretty Cure!

Haikaveh (Alhaitham/Kaveh) - Genshin Impact

Sugio (Sugimoto/Ogata) - Golden Kamuy

Nygmobblepot (Edward Nygma/Oswald Cobblepot) - Gotham

Mabifica (Mabel Pines/Pacifica Northwest) - Gravity Falls

Kagehina (Hinata/Kageyama) - Haikyuu!

#mosthomoeroticenemies #contestants

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eggcrackerbracket · 2 years ago

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Hi!

I have some announcements to make,

Firstly, I'm currently visiting family right now so the bracket may be up later than I expected, sorry about that (I'll still try and answer any of your asks as best as I can).

Secondly, I can't tag for shit, (I am very new to tumblr) so I don't know what character specific tags to use so let me know if there are any specific tags to use.

Thirdly, I'm proud to reveal the pairs competing in this bracket, in no specific order (sorry there are no pictures):

Dave Strider (Homestuck) & Stiles (Teen Wolf)

Alex Fierro (Magnus Chase) & Elizabeth (Visual Prison)

Link (Legend of Zelda) & Sabi Mehboob (Sort Of)

Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High Host Club) & Bill (Promethea)

Howl (Howl's Moving Castle) & Shiver (Splatoon)

Kris (Deltarune) & Franken Stein (Soul Eater)

Mettaton (Undertale) & Harrowhark (The Locked Tomb)

Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson) & Arya Stark (A Song of Fire and Ice)

Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4) & Yuri Rurikawa (Act Addict Actors!)

Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2) & Sokka (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender) & Pidge Gunderson (Voltron)

Hiccup (How to Train your Dragon) & Princess Mononoke (Princess Mononoke)

Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom) & Angel Demon (Chainsaw Man)

Hunter (The Owl House) & Seadall (Fire Emblem)

Gomez Addams (The Addams Family) & Conel.EXE (Megaman Battle Network)

Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) & Garmadon (Ninjajo)

Jim Jimenez (Our Flag Means Death) & Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

Stevonnie (Steven Universe) & Aubrey (OMORI)

Gonzo (The Muppets) & Sapphire (Princess Knight)

Allen Walker (D. Gray Man) & Raven (Teen Titans)

Jim Hawkins (Treasure Planet) & Spock (Star Trek)

Madeline (Celeste) & Oliver Swift (Dialtown)

L Lawliet (Death Note) & Larry Needlemeyer (Amazing World of Gumball)

Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) & Helia (Winx Club)

Zagreus (Hades) & Yami Yugi (Yugioh)

Lake (Infinity Train) & Kitty Pryde (Marvel comics)

Sherlock Holmes (Various Sources) & Makoto Yuki (Persona 3)

Ed (Cowboy Bebop) & Boyd (Ducktales)

Mulan (Mulan) & Bow (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Fionna the Human (Adventure Time) & Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)

Inosuke Hashibara (Demon Slayer) & Emily (Thomas and Friends)

ENA (ENA) & Joey/Rojo (Ben 10)

Marshall Lee (Adventure Time) & Alonzo (Cats)

Aziraphale (Good Omens) & Marcy Wu (Amphibia)

Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls) & Bee (Bee and Puppycat)

Stanford pines (Gravity Falls) & Yakko Warner (Animaniacs)

Bridget (Guilty Gear) & Ema Skye (Ace Attorney)

Testament (Guilty Gear) & Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)

Nagisa (Assassination Classroom) & Allison (The Breakfast Club)

Dirk Strider (Homestuck) & Klaus (Umbrella Academy)

Ghost (Call of Duty) & Sebastian (Stardew Valley)

Grell Sutcliff (Black Butler) & Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Ping (Mulan) & Kaoru Sakurayashiki (Sk8 the Infinity)

Eijiro Kirishima (My Hero Academia) & Kou Seiya (Sailor Moon)

Hawks (My Hero Academia) & Axel (Kingdom Hearts)

Blackbeard (Our Flag Means Death) & Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Princess Ozma (Oz) & Princess Peach (Mario Series)

Team Rocket (Pokemon)

Mizuki Akiyama (Project Sekiai) & Wade Wilson (Marvel comics)

Utena Tenjou (Revolutionary Girl Utena) & Rodrick Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Crona Gorgon (Soul Eater) & Shuichi Saihara (Danganronpa)

Luz (The Owl House) & Spamton (Deltarune)

Morpheus, Dream of the Endless (The Sandman) & Barney Guttman (Dead end Paranormal Park)

Mad Mew Mew (Undertale) & Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

Cecil Palmer (Welcome to Night Vale) & Trunks (DBZ)

Sheik (Legend of Zelda) & JFK (Clone High)

Kara Zor-El (DC comics) & Legoshi (Beastars)

Wheatley (Portal 2) & Fluttershy (MLP)

Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) & The green M&M (M&M’s)

Yellow (Pokemon Adventures) & Anne Boonchuy (Amphibia)

Yukiko Amagi (Persona 4) & Steven Universe (Steven Universe)

Peppino (Pizza Tower) & Jason Todd (DC comics)

Mahiru Koizumi (Danganronpa) & Megamind (Megamind)

Itsuka Kendo (My Hero Academia) & Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney)

-Mod Sky

#eggcrackerbracket #egg cracking #enby #transfem #transmasc #trans #transgender #nonbinary #character poll #character bracket #character tournament #gender #bigender #agender #genderfluid #GNC

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marveldcnerdys · 2 months ago

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Sentry vs. Superman: An Exploration of Power, Morality, and Inner Conflict

Introduction: Symbols of Heroism and Power

Superman and Sentry��stand as towering symbols in their respective comic book universes — one a timeless beacon of hope and the other a cautionary tale of overwhelming power and psychological struggle. Superman’s bright optimism contrasts sharply with Sentry’s tortured existence. This polarity represents not just two characters but two fundamental approaches to what it means to be a hero.

While Superman’s journey revolves around living up to the values instilled by his adoptive Earth parents, Sentry’s life is a turbulent struggle with his inner demons and the consequences of his unchecked might. In both cases, readers witness different takes on the responsibilities that come with god-like power.

Chapter 1: Origins of Power — From Humble Beginnings to Living Gods

The Man of Steel’s Journey Superman, as the last son of Krypton, is instilled with a strong moral foundation by his adoptive parents, the Kents, in Smallville. His upbringing shapes him to believe in justice, compassion, and self-restraint. Stories like Superman: For All Seasons explore the burden Clark Kent feels while trying to live up to his potential without letting power corrupt his compassion.

In Superman: Birthright, Superman’s origin is revisited with a focus on his discovery of his alien heritage. His Kryptonian powers, derived from Earth’s yellow sun, could easily set him apart from humanity. However, Clark chooses to embrace his humanity, viewing his strength as a means of service rather than dominance.

“I’m here to help. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” — Superman, Superman: Birthright

This sentiment is the core of Superman’s identity. His immense power could allow him to rule, yet he instead serves, embodying humility despite his god-like abilities.

The Sentry’s Creation and Dark Legacy In stark contrast, Robert Reynolds stumbles upon his powers by accident. He consumes a super-soldier serum that grants him “the power of a million exploding suns.” In *The Sentry* (2000), this moment is a catalyst for Sentry’s psychological descent, as his sudden transformation thrusts him into a world he’s unprepared for. Unlike Superman, who had years to grow into his abilities under the guidance of supportive parents, Sentry is alone in his struggle, forced to contend with the overwhelming force within him.

The Void, Sentry’s darker alter-ego, personifies his fears, anxieties, and the violent potential of unchecked power. The Void’s presence haunts Reynolds, lurking in his subconscious and manifesting as a destructive force whenever he falters.

“I thought I could be a hero. Instead, I’m a prisoner of my own power.” — Sentry, Sentry: Reborn

This inner duality makes Sentry’s story one of tragic isolation, exploring the price of superhuman ability when burdened with self-doubt and trauma.

Chapter 2: Powers and Abilities — The Depth of Their Strengths

Superhuman Strength: Limits vs. Limitlessness Superman’s physical feats have reached legendary levels in DC canon. From lifting the Book of Infinite Pages in *All-Star Superman* to bench-pressing the Earth for five days straight in *Action Comics #13*, Superman’s strength seems boundless. Yet his strength is as symbolic as it is literal — a testament to his enduring willpower. Superman doesn’t seek to flaunt his power; instead, he uses it to bear the world’s heaviest burdens, both physical and emotional.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” a philosophy often attributed to Spider-Man, also applies to Superman, who seeks not just to wield his power but to wield it responsibly.

Sentry’s strength is portrayed as equally, if not more, vast. In *Siege #4*, Sentry’s raw power allows him to tear through Asgard and even kill Ares. This display showcases the difference in their strength: while Superman’s is often controlled and intentional, Sentry’s is chaotic and devastating, amplified by his emotional instability. Sentry’s strength is dangerous because it is tied directly to his mental state; when he falters, his power becomes unpredictable, and when he unleashes, he loses all restraint.

Durability and Vulnerability Superman’s invulnerability is legendary. He has withstood supernovas, taken blows from gods, and survived battles with otherworldly beings. However, his Kryptonian biology leaves him vulnerable to Kryptonite and magic, a crucial reminder that even Superman has limits. His vulnerability to magic introduces unique strategic challenges in cross-universe matchups like this, as Marvel’s powers often involve mystical elements that could potentially harm him.

Sentry’s regenerative powers are unmatched, bordering on resurrection. In World War Hulk, Sentry regenerates after near-atomic destruction, making him nearly immortal. However, Sentry’s greatest vulnerability is psychological; he constantly fears the Void, which threatens to undo everything he tries to build as a hero. This instability makes his durability both a blessing and a curse, forcing him to endure not only physical pain but the emotional torment of his past misdeeds.

Chapter 3: The Inner Struggle — A Battle of Beliefs and Inner Demons

Superman’s Ethical Compass: The Reluctant God Superman’s self-imposed restraint makes him a “god who chooses to be human.” His moral beliefs often create a divide between him and other superheroes, who may view his unwillingness to kill or act with unbridled force as naïveté. However, Superman’s ideology is his greatest strength. In *Kingdom Come*, his beliefs are put to the ultimate test as he faces a world where heroes have become authoritarian. Superman’s response is to lead by example, reaffirming that true strength lies in restraint and compassion.

In All-Star Superman, one of his most poignant acts of heroism isn’t a battle but a simple interaction with a young girl contemplating suicide. Superman’s compassion and patience illustrate his understanding that sometimes the greatest heroic act is simply to be there for someone in need.

“Your doctor really did get held up in traffic. It’s never as bad as it seems.” — Superman, All-Star Superman

This scene epitomizes Superman’s belief in hope, showing that even in the face of immeasurable power, he remains grounded in human empathy.

Sentry’s Torment: A Prisoner of Power While Superman’s struggles are often with external threats, Sentry’s battles are internal. The Void, his shadowy alter-ego, represents everything dark and violent in his psyche. In Dark Avengers, we see the Void emerge in full force, and Sentry loses all sense of control, becoming a destructive force that threatens friend and foe alike. This split personality is symbolic of Sentry’s fractured mind, which constantly questions his own worthiness as a hero.

In Sentry: Fallen Sun, we witness the aftermath of a life spent in conflict with oneself. Sentry reflects on his life and realizes that, despite his intentions, he’s caused immense harm. This introspective struggle portrays Sentry as a tragic hero who is unable to free himself from the shackles of his own power and insecurity.

“I don’t want to be the Void… but I don’t know how to be just a man.” — Sentry, Sentry: Fallen Sun

This tragic duality makes Sentry a figure of both pity and terror, embodying the idea that absolute power can be as much a curse as a blessing.

Chapter 4: Philosophical Differences and Ethical Dilemmas — Hope vs. Chaos

Hope as a Core Principle Superman’s guiding principle is hope, a belief that drives him to constantly seek solutions that preserve life. His famous quote from *Action Comics* captures this sentiment well: “There is always a way to win without killing.” Superman’s hope inspires those around him, as he becomes a beacon for other heroes and humans alike. In *All-Star Superman*, his belief in redemption is highlighted in his interactions with Lex Luthor, where he tries to show Luthor that power doesn’t have to corrupt.

Sentry, however, embodies chaos and fear. His hope often falters under the weight of his insecurities, allowing the Void to take over. In *Siege*, Sentry’s descent into madness leads him to become the very thing he once feared — a destructive, mindless force. This trajectory shows that hope alone cannot sustain a hero if self-belief and stability are lacking.

I’m a hero one day, a monster the next. Maybe I’m both.” — Sentry, Dark Avengers

Chapter 5: The Hypothetical Battle — A Clash of Philosophy and Power

Physical Feats and Power Clash The initial confrontation would be an awe-inspiring display of superhuman abilities. Superman’s heat vision, super strength, and speed would challenge Sentry’s physical resilience and energy manipulation. Sentry’s advantage, however, lies in his molecular manipulation, which could theoretically allow him to dismantle Superman at a subatomic level. If the battle were to escalate, Superman’s vulnerability to magic and Sentry’s ability to manipulate matter could make Sentry’s attacks extremely effective.

Psychological Warfare and Philosophical Conflict However, the battle would likely pivot on their psychological differences. Superman’s calm, strategic mindset could allow him to exploit Sentry’s instability. Superman, understanding the value of inner peace, might recognize the Void’s influence over Sentry and attempt to talk him down, appealing to the hero buried within Reynolds.

If the Void emerges, Superman’s moral resilience might prove to be his saving grace. His compassion could potentially reach Reynolds in a way that pure power could not, destabilizing Sentry enough for a non-lethal resolution.

Conclusion: A Reflection on Strength and Humanity

Superman and Sentry are powerful yet vulnerable in ways that reflect the complexity of their character journeys. Superman’s strength lies in his unwavering ideals and the restraint that comes from viewing his powers as a gift meant to uplift humanity. Sentry’s power, conversely, is tainted by doubt and the internal chaos of his dual existence. Their hypothetical clash would be more than just a physical battle; it would be a symbolic conflict of stability versus instability, hope versus fear, and humanity versus despair.

While a definitive victor might never be crowned, it’s evident that both Superman and Sentry represent unique interpretations of what it means to be a hero, each grappling with the burden of power in profoundly different ways.

#dc comics #dc universe #marvel characters #marvel comics #marvel #dc #superman legacy #superman #kal el #clark kent #superman comics #sentry #marvel 616 #dark avengers

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thevindicativevordan · 4 months ago

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Comics this week?

Absolute Power #4 - Boring, half-assed ending to a boring, half-assed event. Waid probably played as best a game as possible with the hand he was dealt - keeping in mind that Snyder, King, and Taylor were all asked to write this event and none of them could crack it - but my judgement isn't softened by the circumstances. Waller sucked as a villain, the Amazos and Failsafe were boring, and this entire event felt like a dash to wipe the slate clean. Waid shamelessly recycles the same crap he’s been doing since Underworld Unleashed where people’s powers get swapped/buffed/changed. The Titans era as the premiere team ends in total failure, with Green Arrow all but breaking the fourth wall to tell the reader that the Titans suck ass, and will never be capable of replacing the League. Titans haters were utterly vindicated. That Waid of all people is the one who seals off the Multiverse and depowers Barry is a testament to how badly DC has handled both the Multiverse and legacies in recent years. Thank God Waller is off the board for the foreseeable future.

All-In Special - If AP was the wet fart ending to a flop era, this at least was promising. Yes "Darkseid energy" remains an idiotic concept, but at least reading this left me excited! Snyder and Williamson do their best attempt to channel Hickman's energy. They don't come close, but at least DC is finally trying to take notes from Hickman’s success rather than chase CoIE again. Williamson and Sampere tee'd up the JLU status quo for Waid in a satisfactory matter, I'm actually excited to see that play out after AP. I have so many questions regarding the Absolute Universe: is that the Absolute Legion? What happened to Skeets? What will happen to Booster? Absolute Superman appears to arrive on Earth as an adult, is that true? Wish we didn't have to wait another whole month for Absolute Superman because that book seems like it will be the one to directly tie into the Darkseid Meta plot.

I Know What You Did Last Crisis #1 - Picked this up for the Didio Nightwing issue and oh my God did it deliver. Meta story where Didio apologizes for absolutely nothing and says DC would be living in a golden age if they had let him kill Nightwing like he wanted. Laughed until my sides shook when Didio had Kon kill every Nightwing in the Multiverse. Nobody played the heel role like Didio did, gives the Nightwing fandom a collective middle finger one last time. Oh and it gave me some cute Kon/Cass moments which was nice. Rest of the anthology was mid, but Wielgosz turned in another banger Superman story with his Lex during Final Crisis short. Dude needs to get put on a Superman book pronto, everything he writes with the character is gold. They should give him Action instead of who they probably will.

My Adventures With Superman #5 - Another great issue. Pa Kent knowing the types of helicopters because of the history channel made me laugh. Thought he might have been a soldier like main continuity Pa but should've known better, that's not how this show rolls. Bloodsport is almost heroic. Man is nuts but he's willing to sacrifice himself to take out Superman and Amazo which is at least far more than someone like Lex or Deathstroke would do. Poor Amazo, I feel like he has to be a goner after the last issue but I almost wish he would stick around, I like his little brother dynamic with Superman. Sad it took me this long to realize Amazo is basically the Iron Giant. All the times I talked up Metallo as an anti-Iron Giant and here Campbell went and gave Supes a straightforward expy!

#weekly reviews

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ayamari-no-goshi · 2 years ago

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Chasing Shadows (11)

AO3 -> first, last, next

Fandoms: Danny Phantom (DP) / DC universe

Summary: THIS IS A CROSSOVER. As Bruce Wayne begins to slowly recover from the loss of his son, two separate mysteries open up old wounds. Who is the unknown leaving clues hinting at a return to Gotham, and who is the phantom pretending to be his lost son? Is it just a coincidence they’re active in Gotham at the same time? Or are they connected?

Warnings: rated T for violence, mentions of death, and questionable mental health

Parings: none

Notes: originally uploaded to AO3. Cross-posted to tumblr

“That’s like the fifth time you’ve reviewed those flowers. If you haven’t found anything yet, I doubt you will.”

Bruce glanced up from his workstation to where Babs was looking at him from her current set up in the Cave. It still wasn’t to the same level as it was in the Clocktower, but it was still somehow more advanced than his. It was a testament to her skills.

The now mostly dried flowers and a still of the lotus design Jason used for his second clue were laid out in order in front of him. The newest additions were a calypso orchid, placed on Catherine Todd’s grave and a spring of wormwood placed on Shelia Haywood’s a few days prior. The orchid was an easy enough reference – it was named after the nymph Calypso who nursed Odysseus back to help after he washed up on her shore. She kept him there for seven years while the rest of the word believed the hero had died. It was an unsettling parallel to Jason’s time with Talia. Bruce suspected it was also chosen due to it being used to represent love for the deceased in funerary bouquets and rebirth in some cultures.

The wormwood was a more puzzling choice at first. In the language of flowers, it represented bitter sadness. There was some evidence it was used as an herbal remedy in the past which might be why it was chosen, but more recently, it was more associated with madness and murder. Was it Jason’s way of hinting at the Lazarus Pits again? Or was it his way of further suggesting his biological mother was directly involved in his death.

“It feels as if I’m missing something,” Bruce admitted as he picked up the orchid again. “Were these just ways for him to hint at his resurrection and return?”

“That’s a possibility,” Barbara admitted as she abandoned her equipment and wheeled over to him. “Jay always did have his own flair for the dramatic.”

“True.” Before his death, Jason talked about possibly joining his school’s theater club. He would have excelled in it. The happy memories of his son were quickly replaced by images of his broken body, a frequent occurrence. Whatever life Jason would have lived had been destroyed by the Joker.

That reminded him. He needed to check on the restoration of Jason’s mask footage. With the new information that came to light, he owed it to his son to see for himself what happened that day.

“I still haven’t been able to find any recent signs of him in Gotham,” Barbara continued, disregarding his sudden change in mood. She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t tell her even if she questioned it, “but I think I might have found Danny. I’ll send the files to you to review, but it looks like Jason enrolled him in Gotham Heights under a false identity. His school file has his guardian listed as a ‘Jay Flannagan’.”

She sighed before continuing. “I miss the days when we weren’t trying to track someone with the same skills as us. There’s only a P.O. box associated with that name. Wherever Danny’s staying must be under a different identity. Or, it’s completely under the table. There are rumors some places in Crime Alley that will skip the necessary checks and paperwork if a person is willing to pay rent in cash.”

“Both are possible,” Bruce acknowledged. “If he was by himself, he’d probably chose the latter. However, he’s caring for Phantom, it seems more likely he’d choose the former.”

“I agree. I’ve been trying to hack into the nearby security feeds for Danny’s school, but he’s proving hard to catch. Jason taught him well. But I have noticed occasional glitches in certain feeds. Poorer cameras seem to have strange reactions to his powers, so it might be a sign he’s passing near them. I’ll let you know when I have more data, but we might have a larger problem.”

“What do you mean?”

“We got a warning from both Jason and Danny about the G.I.W., and it looks like they’re starting to pop up in Gotham. There have been a lot of sightings of government types in white suits around the remains of the Clocktower and where some of the better documented sights of Phantom occurred. Right now, it just appears they’re getting some type of reading and taking samples, but we’ll have to keep an eye on them. There are multiple reports that they’ll get civilians involved if they believe a ghost or other similar entity is nearby. They might push Danny into hiding.”

That was problematic. Right now, Phantom was their best chance at being able to find Jason and stop whatever he was planning. He had set up a meeting with Dick in a few days, but if this group was as dangerous as suggested, then there was a good chance they’d scare him off. Bruce couldn’t risk that happening. However, there was also a chance their presence would also force Jason back into the city earlier than he had planned as there was a high probability Phantom had the ability to contact him.

“We’ll have to keep an eye on them,” he agreed. “However, locating Phantom is the first priority.”

…

Tim didn’t want to be at the Manor at the moment. He couldn’t handle seeing Bruce’s grief reopened all over again, so he was dressed as Robin and pretending to be on patrol. Instead, he was sitting on one of the taller buildings of Gotham next to the gargoyle Jason loved to visit when he was still Robin.

Being who he was, Bruce made the decision to restore what he could of the audio and video of Jason’s death. He needed to verify for himself what his son went through even after getting the truth directly from his mouth. Since they couldn’t convince him not to watch it, he, Dick, Cass, Steph, and Babs all sat through it with him in an attempt to give him some sort of support.

He should have listened to Dick. He shouldn’t have watched. Saying it was horrible didn’t do it any justice.

“Jason, you need to disarm the bomb!”

“…I can’t…”

Those two phrases kept haunting him. Every time the words replayed in his mind, Tim was struck by the resignation in Jason’s voice. He knew. He knew he had no chance of escaping and accepted he would die. And the woman who led him to his death had the nerve to try to order him around instead of trying to help him. It wasn’t fair. None of it was fair. Jason had tried so hard to be a good hero. And his last act was to attempt to shield the woman who betrayed him.

Jason, his hero, his Robin, had been killed because he trusted his mother. He trusted the woman he hoped would love him. It just wasn’t fair.

“I was told I’d find you out here.”

The voice startled him so badly that he nearly fell from his vantage point. Turning, he found Jason, in his Red Hood gear. The slight tilt to his head suggested he was curious as to what Tim was doing. For a brief moment, Tim thought there would be a repeat of what happened in the graveyard, but Jason’s posture wasn’t threatening. He must have known what he was thinking as he took a seat as he reached for his helmet. There was the hiss of some sort of mechanism unlocking before he pulled it off and shook his head. Tim briefly wondered how hot it was under it.

“Why do you wear a domino mask under it?” he questioned as he took a hesitant seat on the other side of the gargoyle. If Jason was willing to talk, he was okay with that.

“Habit.” Jason’s answer was short, but there was no obvious hint of anger. “And dramatic flair.” If that was the case, maybe that’s why he had the white streak. In the dark, it almost looked like it was glowing.

“Oh…” What else was he supposed to say to that? So, he changed the subject. “Not that I don’t enjoy you being here,” Tim wanted to make sure he didn’t accidentally anger Jason. They weren’t sure of the extent of the Pits effects on him and how much of his actions were his own. “But why were you looking for me?”

“I can tell you’re afraid of me. You don’t have to hide it.” When Tim didn’t elect to respond to that, Jason continued, “Dove sent me after you.”

“Dove? You mean Phantom?”

Jason ignored the question. “So, you know how he can see ghosts?”

“Yeah…? Oh!... So, he knows?” Tim hadn’t expected that. With everything else going on, there were times he almost forgot. Almost, but not quite.

Jack Drake hadn’t been the best dad, but he really tried to step up in the last year. While it didn’t do much to erase the childhood of loneliness brought on by all the trips he and his wife took, he still tried to change. It meant a lot to him, but he’d been killed, just like his mom and stepmom.

“Guess your dad directly came to him or something like that. He apparently had some choice words about me hurting you. Not that I’m surprised about that.” He shrugged before raising an eyebrow at him. “A fake uncle? Really? I get wanting space, but seriously, that’s taking it to a different level.”

Tim could feel himself flush. “I don’t want to be adopted by Bruce,” he admitted. “I was never supposed to be a permanent part of your family, just a placeholder until he didn’t need me anymore. Right now, he’s my guardian, and with my dad’s passing…”

“…I’d be a hypocrite if I told you to stay at the Manor,” Jason eventually told him. Each word sounded as if he was carefully choosing them. “But don’t force yourself into exile either. As annoying as Dick can be, he’d love to have to bunk with him for a while.”

“That’s okay. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You won’t be. Hell, you might be able to help him remember to actually eat something decent for a change. But, if that’s not good enough, stay with that team of yours. Even if you don’t want to talk about it, they’ll still be there so you don’t self destruct.”

Tim flinched at those words. The phantom words of a soft “… I can’t...” filled his ears again, and unwanted tears dripped down his face.

“Ah shit.” He could feel Jason move closer. There was no feeling of animosity, but a questioning hesitance as he moved his hand as he he was considering reaching out for a comforting touch. Pulling it back, he muttered, “Didn’t mean to upset you.”

Shaking his head, Tim tried to ignore how Jason’s features were slightly blurred. It was probably just his tears, but he almost looked like he wasn’t entirely there. Somewhat unnerved, he reached out to see if the older teen was solid. When his hand touched his arm, he couldn’t help but sigh in relief. Jason had stiffened at his touch but let it happen without pulling away.

“It’s not… B restored what he could of the footage of what happened…. What happened to you.”

“And he let you watch that?” The outrage in his voice wasn’t what Tim expected.

“Most of the video is too distorted, so it’s mostly just audio.” When that didn’t lighten Jason’s mood, he tried a different tactic. “Dick tried to convince me and the others not to, but I felt like I had to be there… not just for B, but for you too. After the first attempt to restore it didn’t work, he couldn’t bring himself to try again. So, without knowing about… about the betrayal, he put together the most likely series of events. After that, you became a warning to other heroes of what could happen if they got too sure of themselves. It never sat right with me.” He sighed and hugged his knees. “To me, you were just as much as a hero as Nightwing and Batman. I felt like I owed you that.”

Jason didn’t say anything for a few moments. “You… don’t owe me anything. Months ago, I would have thought otherwise, but not now.”

A wary sort of hope surged through Tim. Jason didn’t completely hate him, which was good, but there was still some sort of barrier. “But you’re not happy I’m Robin.”

“No. It’s…” The older teen shifted as he ran his hands over his face. The weird haze over his features hadn’t gone away. He hadn’t noticed it during dinner the other day. Was it something that came and went? “It’s more I’m angry he let another child in those colors. There shouldn’t have been anymore Robins. There shouldn’t have been any more child soldiers. As much as he claims he cares, we’re never the priority in the field. He’ll always, always choose the mission over anything else.”

“What about you and Phantom?” He figured it was better to deflect instead of arguing.

Jason’s mood seemed to darken as a muscle moved in his jaw. “I don’t want him out there,” he hissed before his tone became more resigned. “Unfortunately, his anchor, what keeps him tethered to both life and undeath, is his drive to help others.”

“Oh!” That was a very revealing statement. His eyes widened slightly. “So that’s at least part of the reason he’s helping you plant your clues and keep tabs on us. It’s a safer alternative.”

“Got it in one.”

“Do… do you have something similar? Constantine told B you’re a Liminal too.”

Instead of immediately replying, Jason took out a cigarette. Surprisingly, he didn’t light it but still placed it to his lips. “Didn’t know there was a proper name for ‘fucked up zombie’.” He fell silent again before quietly stating, “I hope there isn’t.”

Tim pretended he didn’t hear it. Instead, he decided to focus on the older teen’s self-depreciating tone. Was it related to his coming back to life? Had he not wanted to? Phantom was worried he wasn’t planning on living through whatever he was planning which gave some credence to that idea. It… it was troubling.

Before Tim could finish sorting out his thoughts, Jason stood and stretched. “Make sure you let yourself grieve. Trying to push it in a box only works for so long before it affects everything else. Being around others helps.”

It almost sounded like he was speaking from experience. Tim couldn’t dwell on it more as he realized Jason was moving towards the ledge. “Wait, are you leaving?”

He could tell Jason rolled his eyes, even with the domino mask, as he tucked his helmet under his arm. “No, I’m going to stay and chat until sunrise. Of course I’m leaving. Have things to do, buildings to destroy, and I’m on a tight schedule.”

“But!” He couldn’t let him slip away again. “Everyone wants you to come home. You haven’t even seen Ba… I mean Oracle and Agent A yet. And… and we’re working on finding ways to reduce the turnover in Blackgate and Arkham that isn’t just focused on dealing with the breakouts. I mean, we’re doing that too, but…”

“When I come back from my trip, I’ll see what’s changed,” the old teen gave him a searching look that was replaced with a dangerous smirk. “Impress me enough, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll tone down what I’m planning.”

That… that wasn’t a confirmation that he’s stop killing or even come home, but it was something. For now, Tim would count it as a win.

“Before I leave,” Jason continued, “brooding isn’t a good look for you.”

“Excuse me? Isn’t this the place you used to go all the time?”

“Yeah, but I made it look cool.” It took a moment to realize that Jason was joking with him. It was almost a surreal feeling. “But secondly, keep those G.I.W. goons away from Dove while I’m away. They will kill him if they get their hands on him, and it won’t be painless. If, and only if, you have to move him for his safety, take him to the Tower for safety. I’m serious when I say I don’t want him anywhere near the Cave.”

Tim wasn’t going to admit he was a little jealous of how much Jason seemed to care for Danny. “But I’m surprised you’re willing to risk leaving him alone. Unless… that’s what you’re doing! You’re going after the G.I.W.!”

Jason’s response was nothing more than a predatory grin. That wasn’t good.

“I… we can help. Please! Phantom told us they can hurt you too!” He had to do something. If Danny was to be believed, the organization was a lot more dangerous than they originally believed. Bruce, Alfred, and Dick couldn’t lose him again. He had to stop him from going.

He gave an amused huff. “Worried about little ol’ me? Don’t be. I know what I’m doing.” Before Tim could even get another word in, he leapt off the roof.

When he didn’t hear the tell-tale sound of the grapple, he rushed over to make sure he was okay. But there was no sign of Jason, even with thermal vision. He had just vanished into the night. Great, now he had to be the one to explain his formerly dead son was about to go do something most would consider suicidal.

…

With how empty and broken Bruce currently felt after finally learning what happened to his son, he was surprised at how fear was currently clawing its way through his entire being. Tim’s report about how Jason was planning to go after a powerful government organization terrified him. Not only was there the concern over what exactly Jason might do during his crusade, he now had to worry what would happen if the G.I.W. somehow got their hands on his son. He lost Jason once, and he couldn’t lose him again.

The current trouble was determining where and how he would strike. There were a few G.I.W. bases scattered around the country. Logically, it would make the most sense for Jason to go after the main base, but depending on what he knew of their organization, he could choose to strike at a different location which held more importance. More information was needed, so he had recruited Babs to help him hack into their systems.

On the surface, it appeared to be an organization mostly designed to study ghosts and other similar entities, but he knew there was more to it. However, whenever Babs attempted to get information better protected, the G.I.W. databases went into lock down. It baffled everyone as there hadn’t been any evidence of such security when she started. To make matters worse, whatever security the G.I.W. had seemed to be able to locate the general geographic area where the attempted hack originated as more of their agents were detected on the streets of Gotham within a few hours.

It was a nightmare. Not only did it put Phantom at greater risk, but there was also a chance this would push Jason to act ahead of schedule and recklessly escalate. So far, he’d proved his actions were rather meticulously planned. It had only been when Phantom or Stephanie were in danger that he moved unexpectedly. And with how protective he was regarding the boy, there was no telling exactly what he would or wouldn’t do. Until he or any of the others could get in touch with Phantom or Jason, they would have to increase patrols in the city. He was also going to have to call in the big guns.

…

Dick sighed as he toured the G.I.W. compound closest to Gotham with Superman. The workers seemed nice enough, but it was clear from their tense stances and hesitant looks towards the field agents in the white suits that their impromptu visit wasn’t welcome. Without knowing exactly what Jason would do to expose the organization, especially with them increasing their presence in Gotham, Bruce decided to request members of the League make impromptu visits to the G.I.W. bases at approximately the same time under the guise of a potential threat. He hoped it would get them better access to the restricted information as well as deter a more violent response from Jason.

Currently, they were waiting in a meeting room for their guide to get permission to take them to some of the lower levels with completely not suspicious guards outside the door. Somehow, there wasn’t any piece of technology in the room that Dick could use to plant a bug to either listen in or attempt to hack into the system more securely without taking the time to hack the security camera.

Unlike him, Clark was bound by technology. “There’s lead in the floor. There isn’t as much in the walls on this floor, but it’s still enough to make it hard to clearly see anything,” he mouthed as they waited. That wasn’t a normal architectural design. Clearly someone didn’t want anyone with x-ray vision seeing the lower floors. “But something’s not right.”

“What do you hear?” Dick whispered as he turned away from the camera. While Dick could read lips, Clark couldn’t, but that didn’t mean much when the man had super-hearing.

“Screams. Laughter. Pleading. Fear. It’s strange. That fear is on an infra-sound frequency. Hmm?” Before Dick could ask what was wrong, Clark had suddenly turned and stared at a wall. After a moment, his concerned expression turned into one of bafflement. “Nightwing… your br…”

“You mean Red Hood?” Dick quickly interrupted, somewhat worried what that meant. Was Jason in the building?

“Yes, Red Hood… well, he just shushed me.”

“He’s here?” After a moment of processing what he was just told, he added, “Wait, what do you mean he just shushed you?”

Clark gestured vaguely towards the wall. “He’s currently in the outer wall. I’m… not sure if he’s checking for something or planting something. But he somehow noticed I saw him, and he just put a finger to his lips before moving. He’s currently heading south.”

“Great. O, I’m going to need whatever schematics you can get me,” Dick muttered into his comm before looking directly at the camera. “Look, we have a situation,” he shouted. “We need to get into one of the walls.” When there wasn’t an immediate answer, he looked over at Clark and smiled. “You heard me warn them.”

“I did.” It wasn’t too often Dick got to see the man of steel’s mischievous side on a mission, but he really must want to get further inside. “I’ll try to give you as much support as I can.”

“N, wait! Someone’s hacking the comm!” Babs alerted as static filled it.

“What? Do you know who it is?”

“No! It’s…”

“Don’t bother coming after me, Dickie-bird. You have a more important role to play.” His brother’s voice came over the comm.

“And just what would that be?” Clark demanded.

There was a sense of surprise on the other end. When Jason was still Robin, it was rare for anyone in the Justice League to have access to their private comm lines. “It’s been a while, Big Blue,” he eventually greeted. “I only need you to be a witness to what these monsters are doing.”

“What are you planning?” Panicked, he looked over at Clark. “Where is he?”

“I can’t see him anymore. It sounds like he’s moved to the lower levels. How’d he get there so quickly?”

Jason chuckled. “Picked up some new tricks. Supes, let me ask you a question. If you were aware of an organization that would want to dissect aliens to figure out what makes them tick, kill them, or even use them as mindless weapons, what would you do?”

“Everything I could to stop them, legally.”

“See, I’d like to do it that way, but if you forgot, I’m dead.” Jason’s words were playful. “I don’t have a way to stop them legally. Besides, according to them, I’m not even sentient.”

“Hood, what are you planning to do?” Dick demanded as he rushed out of the room, much to the dismay of the agents who were guarding the door. He could feel the sensation of Superman leaving at high speeds behind him.

“It’s already in motion.”

“HOOD!!!” The floor shook as multiple booms, the breaking of glass, groaning metal, and the whooshing of air overwhelmed him. The dusty smell of concrete filled the area. As he recovered his bearings, he immediately checked for signs of damage as both Babs and Clark asked if he was okay. “Yeah… just disoriented. No evidence of injuries on me or the guards who were trying to stop me. No immediate signs of structural damage where I am.”

“The entire south wall collapsed. It doesn’t appear any of the employees were near it.” Clark stated over the comm. “Maybe it was planned that way. You might want to put on your re-breather. There’s lead dust everywhere. …But I can still hear crying coming from underneath the building. I’m going to investigate.”

“Understood. I’m going to help with the evacuation.” Ignoring the guards, who were trying to keep him from going further into the area, Dick pressed forward after radioing for assistance and returned to the central office he’d been allowed to tour earlier. There was a huge hole in the south wall, just like Superman said, but it appeared most of collapsed down instead of either outward or inward. Jason knew what he was doing when he destroyed it as there wasn’t too much debris in the main part of the room.

As he assisted the people in the room, all of which appeared to have thankfully minor injuries, he got an update from Clark. The Man of Steel seemed unsettled as he requested his assistance on one of the lower floors. Since he couldn’t access it from the stairs, he moved to the now open wall and carefully made his way down. He stopped when he caught sight of Clark floating in place. Anger radiated off the man.

“Supes, what’s…?” Dick’s words died on his lips as he got a better view of the room. His stomach churned as he caught sight of what could only be described as the husks of once living people were strewn around the room. The acidic smell of something similar to ozone lingered along with the smell of dust and smoke. Old and new blood along with other unknown yet faintly glowing substances were splashed around the room. Faint whimpering could be heard from further in.

Whatever Jason and Danny had said about this place didn’t do the horror justice. Maybe they didn’t know the extent, or maybe they did. No matter what the truth was, Jason knew this needed to be exposed, and now that Dick had seen it for his own eyes, he was going to make sure it was shut down. Permanently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Notes:

I chose Flanagan as a fake last name for Jason for its meaning.

Flanagan - From Irish Ó Flannagáin meaning "descendant of Flannagán". Flannagán is a given name meaning "blood red"

Plant notes :)

Stop 11 Ogygia - the island of Calypso. Calypso was a nymph who was kept away from the world as a punishment. She helped nurse Odysseus back to health. Calypso orchids are rare orchids named as such because of how they're hidden until they bloom. Orchids have a super creepy creation myth in ancient Greece – the demigod Orchis attempted to attack a priestess during a Dionysian celebration… and was torn apart by wild beasts. And in ancient Rome, they were a symbol of rebirth. And in modern funerary bouquets, they represent ever lasting love for the deceased.

I also included wormwood to hint at the Lazarus Pit as it is what healed Jason. As a flower, it represents absence and bitter sorrow which matches how Odysseus felt during his seven years on Ogygia.

This plant was used for millennium as an herbal remedy. Some of you might know it’s a main ingredient in absinthe aka the Green Fairy, which if you’ve never had it, tastes like black licorice. The thujone, a chemical in the plant, needs to be removed to be sold in several countries. While not well studied, it’s believed thujone has toxic properties and has been known to cause seizures, kidney failure, vomiting, and other effects. There are concerns the chemical has psychoactive properties and can cause hallucinations – this is a bit unclear as the few studies around that aren’t great. But in 1905, there were murders that occurred, and the man who committed was said to have “absinthe madness,” as he had been drunk at the time (though absinthe was just one of several alcohols he consumed). This high-profile case helped push the belief the drink caused madness and resulted in it being banned.

I have a small bottle of it from Slovakia sitting in my kitchen. It actually has a sprig of wormwood in it.

#Chasing Shadows #dpxdc #dp x dc #dp x dc crossover #fanfic #odyssey au #danny phantom crossover

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plungermusic · 5 months ago

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Heads, Rockers, Country fans, I come to praise Caesar…

… and to bury him, sadly. The Caesar in question is Mike Ross: the unchallenged and universally acknowledged* Grand Galactic Emperor Of Slide Guitar, and (without any of that ‘one of’ or ‘among’ equivocation nonsense) quite frankly the BEST writer and performer ‘on the scene’ currently. But like the saying goes about a prophet in his own land, it seems this particular scene has been led astray by false messiah after false messiah, and only worships golden cows and graven idols now, leaving Mike preaching in the wilderness somewhat.

So the declaration earlier his year of his intention to call a halt on his eight-year incarnation as The Mike Ross Band (to pursue other avenues and energies in pastures new) was not an enormous surprise, but still a major downer… That disappointment was brightened, if only slightly, by the announcement of a final release as MRB’s ‘last will and testament’.

The old cliché that nobody likes long goodbyes was doubtless coined by the leaver, not the leavee (who’d happily string things out as long as humanly possible…) Well that goes double for Plunger as regards the demise of MRB: thankfully that final record, the cryptically titled Electric Smoke, satisfies Plunger’s wish for a ‘long goodbye’: a double album lasting over an hour and a half… plenty of time for us to wallow in our misery! Except there’s no room for misery, as the twenty songs it contains are a vibrant, joyous, angry, defiant, bruising, uplifting, intriguing, grin-inducing valediction.

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the musical taste of the British public.**

The versatility and imagination that’s been the hallmark (and, Plunger suspects, the millstone round the neck career-wise) of Mike’s output is present in spades here, with nods to influences behind many of his previous releases as well as more out-of-left-field surprises, ranging from surf-spiced Californiana in Better Days to Broken Toy’s trippy 90s-Scousechedelica-meets-Page&Plant in 9/8 time, and from Thunderbird’s Western Swing to a Harrison-like ‘quality of Mersey’ in Too Many Parts.

There’s Raffertyish folk/country in Come Away’s duet (with Lindsey Bonnick of Brave Rival) featuring some exquisite slide playing; as echt an Edmunds/Lowe 50s-revival bop as you’ll hear in Harder Again; while the eloquent, emotive Landship drifts into proggier waters, with airily jangling guitar, and esoteric lyrics delivered with unusually precise pronunciation.

Southern flavours abound, whether in the gospel-tinged southern soul of Keep Going, the Skynyrdy barroom boogie of Magic Bullet or the Delaney & Bonnie belt of Tonight Tonight; harder, heavier fare in the Youngian fuzz-drenched grunge lope of Wasting Time and a balls-to-the-wall AC/DC rocker The Devil; and not forgetting some blues (but through an MTB filter) in Bus Blues - a half speed Roadhouse Blues-on-‘ludes dreamscape with a bludgeoning solo and laddish chorus, Sweet Wine’s 6/8 reverie, and the dub-slanted Doorsesque blues slink of Your Game.

If that sounds like it’s getting weird, just wait for the hallucinatory Unpaid Bill a trem-and-verb-washed 60s Psychic-Soul-P.I.-walks-the mean-streets theme à la John Barry; Song Thirteen’s unsettling tricksy-timed Damned-meets-The Associates-with-a-splash-of-B52s Art Rock; the Glam Metal In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida/Purple Haze-hybrid funeral march of One Man; and not least the XTC-pretending-to-be-Madness fairground haunted house spookiness of Mr Carter with its chorus in (fittingly) 13s!

Now, for some narrow-gauge, one-track “All I want is some blues” minds this kind of rock’n’roll chameleon shape-shifting might feel like their ears being violated with a jewelled musical kaleidoscope but for jamband fans like Plunger this is right up our, erm, street (maybe a US-style jamband should be the next career move?) and we can’t help but grin at the audacity of the transformations and at the consummate deftness with which he pulls them off - guitar styles, instrumentation, arrangements and even vocal pitch and timbres all bang-on-the-money genre-appropriate.

Without a lyric sheet we won’t claim to have caught every nuance, but it does sound like Mike may have a choice word or two for various ‘powers that be’ in all walks of life (no names, no pack drill from Plunger): skewering the high-ups, decrying the vapidity of modern life, and elegising the disappointments and crushed dreams of all us. And the cryptic title? Not a scooby I’m afraid, but it does crop up in the closing bars of the shoutalong Irish-boozer waltz-time folk of My Friend, the boisterous if bellicose full stop to a cracking double album.

“Dave can do anything, oh he’s great, he really is…” ***

As always the performances are Premiership level, and (apart from Darren Lee’s stalwart drumming and the aforementioned Lindsey) they’re all Mike: bass; electric piano and organ; the CSN-level harmonies… And of course the guitar - particularly (but not restricted to) slide - is exquisite: the work on Magic Bullet is a fucking masterclass in ‘How To Play Southern Slide Properly’ that should be required homework for guitarists across the country, but it’s all sublime, the harmonising leads and noodles, the twangsome rock’n’rollery, the pulverising riffing, THE TONE… all of it!

Probably best to call a halt before it all gets too “POW! Up pops my fairy godmother” [Too late, Ed.], but suffice to say the very existence of Electric Smoke as a “So long and thanks for all the fish” is both an impressive capstone to an unsurpassed body of work over the last eight years and a pretty sad indictment of a scene that’s about to lose its best and most creative songwriter/artist… (Just as a for instance, the track Tonight Tonight, was originally written, recorded and released as a single in three hours as a “You can do better than that, guys” riposte to the Black Crowes own single - can your favourite band do that? No, they can’t. Shut up.)

Si monumentum requiris, praestinate****

Electric Smoke is only available as a double 180gm vinyl album in splatter-green (with gatefold sleeve featuring cover art by Chris 'Sick' Moore) in a limited edition of 100 pieces. Available to pre-order now (shipping December 2024) from Mike’s website here: https://mikerossmusic.bigcartel.com/product/electric-smoke-vinyl

An exclusive official pre-launch listening party will be held on Zoom on 24th September, tickets available via the Facebook event page here:

- he must be, we said so https://tmblr.co/Zc96bkcAsKVeSi00

** - as PT Barnum and HL Mencken never said…

*** - “Learn to swim, young man!”

**** - “If you seek a monument, buy it!”

#mike ross #mike ross music #spindriftmike #mike ross band #electric smoke #double album #farewell album #farewell #goodbye #so long and thanks for all the fish #rock #southern rock #alt rock #blues

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anthonybialy · 10 months ago

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Consistency’s Downside with Playoff Outcast Buffalo Sabres

Remember the eclipse? That celestial ballet from way back last week featured an exhilarating example of getting in the way. Obstacles aren’t as satisfying for a team that never overcomes them. Unlike the Moon blocking the Sun, darkness around the Buffalo Sabres remains. A few stunning minutes of visible corona was more than the roster offered during yet another dang bleak campaign.

If the Sabres hated their fans, nothing would change. The fact they’re presumably trying hard to finish in the top half makes cheering in Hell even more agonizing. The ice keeps melting. If Sabres fans on an alternate DC Comics Earth are coping with active contempt from a diabolical owner, the resulting sense on this version of our planet is identical. Fan Appreciation Night gets funnier every year. I don’t appreciate them.

Extending their own unprecedented mark surely must be an accomplishment. We should feel elated when our beloved club doing something no other has ever done. They don’t keep bad records, right?

A high quantity of an item may or may not be desirable. I wish there were some way to make life less ambivalent. Paula’s sometimes sells a baker’s dozen of the universe’s best donuts for the price of a regular one. See: that’s a welcome 13. By contrast, missing the playoffs that many times in a row may not quite be lucky.

A league set up so half the teams move on features one consistent outcast. This seems like a good time to point out the Sabres seized the right to keep playing during their third ever season.

This failed enterprise violates the first rule of business, namely the need for spending money in order to make it. Trying to run a team on the cheap leads to false economy. Dedicated potential buyers are ready to drop a fortune on the right to sit and watch for a few hours. All ownership has to do is invest enough to make a competitive product. Only hiring staffers who accept coupons is ultimately not a good value. Customers stop buying the product in case Sabres executives still don’t grasp why shortsighted saving fails to pay off.

For a multibillionaire, Terry Pegula is one lousy entrepreneur. Making taxpayers fund his football venue is as close as he gets to shrewd maneuvering, and forcing New Yorkers to invest makes him a shameless welfare deadbeat. Keep working to afford a personal seat license that costs more than a Mini Cooper for the right to pay for the seat itself.

Stealing joy is not a crime, which is why Pegula has avoided probation. He’d make taxpayers post bail. It should be exciting to head to a game yet hasn’t been since around the introduction of the iPad. Forced thrills define a relationship that used to create happiness in the MySpace era. Vague memories of enjoyment are the sole reason to administer a dose of voyeuristic masochism. The fact there are any season ticket holders left is a testament to unabashed loyalty paired with unsubstantiated hope.

Is the Sabres Store still open? I want to get a Donny Meatballs shirt before they sell out. I was a Granato hipster who thought he’d fail from the start. Realistic fans could wish for promising results while suspecting they were never pending. The difference between wanting something to happen and knowing it won’t sums up the team.

There’s no rule against letting an intern change lines. The Sabres have come close to proving such. The innovative franchise’s solution to ending playoff banishment was hiring a first-time NHL head coach whose specialty is developing players who aren’t old enough to buy lottery tickets. If that sounds ridiculous, wait until you hear about the NHL general manager whose last gig was running a hockey school.

Granato is gone from a job he never should’ve held. A firing will have to count as progress. There’s still a looming sense of dread despite taking an important step. In Return of the Jedi, the Rebel Alliance celebrates blowing up the Death Star even though the entire Empire fleet remains. The Sabres are similar, only still surrounded by ineptness.

Obvious ideas may be the best ones. Kevyn Adams wants a coach with experience, unlike him. I suppose he’s right in the same sense forwards should be able to score and goalies ought to stop pucks. I don’t know why the idea of a worker who’s proven he can do the job is only occurring to him now. The evaluations should continue, including of the evaluator. Ask Adams how much time he spends on TPS reports.

Cause and effect combine to be mean. Losses count for a trifling reason like not playing particularly inspirationally. Why should a team never get to compete for a trophy just because others accumulate more points? The elitist system seems arbitrary.

Similarly, you hurt the dear feelings of humans presently connected to the Sabres when you notice when the cool kids stopped inviting them to postseason parties. A franchise that at least featured bouts of semi-success under previous owners turned into an insurance write-off as soon as Pegula got to guide it. He has the worst luck.

So, this is the result of the plan to end the worst playoff outcast streak in league history. You’d think those responsible might feel a bit more desperation. But there’s apparently no reason to panic because they’ve played around a thousand embarrassing games. Kyle Okposo got a special night for that very reason.

Sports teach how intentions mean nothing without actions. Useful lessons aren’t always fun. Ask the owner if he wants to win and he would say yes. A lie detector that worked would back him up. But intentions don’t lead to a Sweet 16 appearance. Ralph Wilson would’ve also claimed he was committed to victories as he tried to pay players with change.

Every conversation about the Sabres revolves around the fact that no other NHL team has ever failed like this. Virtually all lamentations are justified. They truly have been as bad as claimed on social media for this long. Singular woe is the reward for fans who decline repeated dares to quit.

Rotten culture starts at the top. That means ownership, since Terry seems confused. Trading everyone should compete with firing everyone. But personnel transactions won’t necessarily fix a toxic work environment. Nothing changes, by which I mean the boss.

We won’t wake up until those in charge do. The dream of an organization steered by a rich fan with the desire to win has become an endless nightmare. You know a team’s pathetic when missing the playoffs yet again may be the best-case scenario instead of pretending everything’s swell following a first-round exit. One more freaking failed season may finally force a team that needs an intervention to acknowledge hitting rock bottom.

But simple improvements like hiring experienced hockey people then letting them work without interference remain elusive. The drought was unacceptable a decade ago, yet we’re sold the same paltry crops. The owner won’t fire himself.

#Buffalo Sabres #NHL #hockey #Terry Pegula #playoffs

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nickgerlich · 10 months ago

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KISS And Make Up

You never forget your first time.I was a freshman at Anderson University, and final exams were starting the next week. In spite of a snow and ice storm, a group of my pals and I threw caution to the wind and loaded into a tiny Chevy Vega. We slid about 50 miles to Indianapolis for a little music. The date was Sunday 11th December 1977.

It was my first concert ever, and headlining the stage that night was KISS, the band that singlehandedly put Max Factor’s kids through college. Their full-face make-up, stage antics, fire-breathing, and thundering music had made them massively popular. We skidded all the way to Indy, but got there early enough to claim our standing spaces down in the seatless mosh pit. I was about 10 feet from the stage.

As a side note, the opening act was an unknown band from Australia, AC/DC. But that’s not the point of this story, even though it was memorable in that I can say I saw them with their original lead singer. The smell of the wacky weed was strong, and one need not actually fire up one to feel the effects.

Scheduling fate would have it that my Old Testament final exam was the next morning. I paid to every deity I could summon, avowing I would never do this again (ahem—that promise did not last very long), and that I would stay up all night studying if only we were granted traveling mercies after the show.

But then I realized I may as well enjoy what was before me. The potential damage was done. I was blown away when guitarist Angus Young hopped on the shoulders of singer Bon Scott, who then made it all the way to the upper deck of Market Square Arena, Angus continuing to riff. They were showing off the latest in wireless technology, something that we could hardly even begin to imagine back then.

And then KISS took the stage, Peter Criss banging those drums, Ace Frehly shredding that guitar, Paul Stanley beseeching us to rock and roll all night and party every day, and Gene Simmons thumping that bass while spewing stage blood.

Yeah, that was quite the visual. It probably helps explain why I have tinnitus today. Well, along with the 100 or more concerts I have gone to since then.

I told you that you never forget your first time. This was more than 46 years ago. Both KISS and AC/DC went on to superb careers, but it is KISS, thanks to the mastermind of Mr. Simmons, who most fully leveraged their rock star status. KISS branded itself on to more than 5000 products through the years, and now comes news that they have sold not just the publishing rights to their music, but the brand and all IP as well.

The price? Only $300 million.To be honest, I think that KISS left a LOT of money on the table, because all other rock stars selling their catalog these days did only that. KISS brings much more to the conversation, including the avatar initiative they announced not long ago, as well as the potential for AI-generated content that will see the band live on to eternity if their new owner so desires.

But still…how many other artists do you think could see their brand leveraged in such ways? Maybe Jimmy Buffett, but I see his brand being used more for resorts and restaurants, not digital products. KISS has been larger than life throughout their storied career; whether fans will flock to consume their product in digital form is all speculation at this point, I suspect that their new owner is planning on a windfall.

More than anything is the clear message that it is not just what someone produces, but also the persona(s) who produced it. Imagine your personal brand being so noteworthy as to fetch millions so that someone could market everything you ever did, but also what you never did. That’s powerful, and in the digital era, anything is possible.

Meanwhile, it is safe to say that the KISS Army lives on, even if Mr. Simmons and company are now officially 100% retired. And I will forever savor the memories I made that night.

Oh, you’re probably wondering about that exam. We got home at 3am, thanks to the treacherous roads. I stayed up the rest of the night studying, confidently marched into that exam at 11am, and aced it. God never fails, and I am grateful to say that neither did I.

Dr “Shout It Out Loud” Gerlich

Audio Blog

#marketing #KISS #digital rights #branding

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sonofjeddah · 1 year ago

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Pepsi's Nostalgic Journey with DC Comics: Green Arrow and Comic Con Arabia

In the mid-1980s, the world witnessed a unique and unforgettable collaboration that combined the love for carbonated beverages with the fascination for iconic superheroes. Pepsi Saudi Arabia teamed up with DC Comics, unleashing a wave of excitement among fans and collectors in Jeddah and beyond. These limited edition cans, featuring beloved DC superheroes, have left an indelible mark on the hearts of enthusiasts like me and continue to hold a special place in pop culture history

A Collector's Dream: Pepsi's DC Comics Cans

Pepsi's collaboration with DC Comics brought to life an extraordinary series of beverage cans. The entire lineup included Pepsi Cola, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Teem, and Shani, each adorned with a DC superhero on its back. The idea behind this partnership was nothing short of genius, as it merged the joy of sipping a refreshing beverage with the thrill of holding a piece of superhero history

One can, in particular, became an instant favorite among collectors: Teem, a beverage that Pepsi had introduced to compete with 7-Up, featured the Green Arrow. The introduction of this emerald archer onto the soda can brought an unprecedented level of excitement to fans in Saudi Arabia. It was as if the Green Arrow himself had taken up residence in Jeddah, adding a touch of superhero magic to every Teem-drinking experience

Nostalgia on Display: Green Arrow and Stephen Amell

Fast forward to the present, and the emotional value of these Pepsi cans has only deepened. The news of Stephen Amell, the actor who portrayed Green Arrow in the widely acclaimed CW Arrow series, attending Comic Con Arabia in Jeddah, sent waves of excitement through the pop culture community. This announcement is a testament to the enduring love for superheroes in Saudi Arabia, where fans have cherished these collectible cans for decades.

I and fellow collectors can undoubtedly attest to the special place that Green Arrow holds in our hearts. The nostalgia tied to these cans goes beyond mere collectibles; they represent a piece of history, a tangible connection to the superhero universe that so many hold dear

Comic Con Arabia: Bridging the Past and Present

The upcoming Comic Con Arabia event promises to be a celebration of all things pop culture, where fans like me can relive our fondest memories and create new ones. The presence of Stephen Amell, the man behind the iconic Green Arrow, is a testament to the enduring power of these beloved characters and their influence on global culture

As collectors gather at Comic Con Arabia to celebrate the superheroes that have captured our imaginations, the vintage Pepsi DC Comics cans featuring Green Arrow will surely take center stage. They serve as a tangible reminder of the lasting impact that these characters have had on fans and collectors, not just in Jeddah but around the world

In conclusion, the collaboration between Pepsi Saudi Arabia and DC Comics in the mid-1980s remains a cherished chapter in pop culture history. The Green Arrow can, in particular, hold a special place in the hearts of collectors, and the announcement of Stephen Amell's presence at Comic Con Arabia in Jeddah only adds to the emotional value of these unique collectibles. As fans and collectors come together to celebrate their passion for superheroes, these cans will continue to serve as a bridge between the past and the present, reminding us all of the timeless magic of comic book legends

#80s #pepsi #dc fandom #dccomics #retro saudi arabia #vintage saudi arabia

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historyreturns · 1 year ago

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Unveiling the Legendary Tapestry: A Comprehensive Guide to DC Comics History

Introduction: Welcome to the epic saga of DC Comics history! For nearly a century, DC Comics has been a cornerstone of pop culture, captivating audiences with its iconic characters, gripping narratives, and imaginative world-building. In this comprehensive guide, we will embark on an exhilarating journey through the annals of DC Comics history, from its humble beginnings to its current status as a global phenomenon.

Chapter 1: The Birth of a Legend

The Founding of DC Comics

DC Comics, originally known as Detective Comics, Inc., traces its roots back to the early 1930s. Discover the fascinating backstory of how it all began.

Superman: The Man of Steel

Delve into the creation of Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, and explore the groundbreaking impact of his debut in Action Comics #1.

The Golden Age of Comics

Learn about the birth of Batman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash, ushering in the Golden Age of Comics and forever altering the landscape of the industry.

Chapter 2: The Silver Age Renaissance

The Silver Age's Fresh Take

Explore the Silver Age of Comics, marked by a resurgence of superhero popularity and the reimagining of classic characters.

Birth of the Justice League

Witness the formation of the Justice League, a superhero team that would become emblematic of DC Comics' storytelling prowess.

DC vs. Marvel: A Fabled Rivalry

Discover the friendly rivalry between DC and Marvel Comics, which fueled creativity and innovation on both sides.

Chapter 3: Crisis and Rebirth

Crisis on Infinite Earths

Uncover the seismic event known as "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and its profound impact on DC's comic book continuity.

Reboots and Retellings

Learn about the subsequent reboots and retellings that allowed DC Comics to refresh and reimagine its characters and stories.

Iconic Storylines

Discuss the significance of legendary story arcs like "The Dark Knight Returns" and "Watchmen" and their lasting influence on the industry.

Chapter 4: The Modern Era and Multiverse

Complexity in the Modern Era

Explore the modern era of DC Comics, marked by intricate storytelling, character development, and moral complexity.

Multiverse and Beyond

Delve into the concept of the Multiverse and its role in expanding the boundaries of DC's narrative possibilities.

Batman's Resurgence

Highlight Batman's resurgence in films and the success of the Arrowverse on television, bringing DC's heroes to new audiences.

Chapter 5: A Diverse and Inclusive Universe

Expanding Representation

Discuss how DC Comics has evolved to embrace diversity and inclusivity, introducing characters like Batwoman, Cyborg, and LGBTQ+ heroes.

Wonder Woman's Impact

Recognize the influence of Wonder Woman as a feminist icon and symbol of empowerment in the world of comics.

Chapter 6: The Future Awaits

The Road Ahead

Peek into the future of DC Comics, with a glimpse at upcoming movies, TV series, and comic book storylines.

The Everlasting Legacy

Explore the continued impact of DC Comics on pop culture and storytelling, solidifying its place as a powerhouse in the entertainment world.

Conclusion: The history of DC Comics is not just a chronicle of superheroes; it's a testament to the enduring power of storytelling, creativity, and imagination. As we look back on nearly a century of iconic characters and unforgettable adventures, we can't help but anticipate the thrilling tales that lie ahead. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of superheroes, the history of DC Comics is an ever-unfolding epic that continues to shape our cultural landscape.

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eggcrackerbracket · 2 years ago

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Okay Here We Go!!!

It is time for the bracket to be revealed! ... If I had a template that let me do what I need it to.

No matter, the show must go on! (There is a bracket but I can't get it to show both team members correctly.)

The match-ups are below the cut!

(Please keep in mind that the matches are randomized, and only the highlighted pairs will move on.)

Left side round 1 is ongoing now!!

Left side:

Nagisa (Assassination Classroom) & Allison (The Breakfast Club) VS Gomez Addams (The Addams Family) & Conel.EXE (Megaman Battle Network)

Ghost (Call of Duty) & Sebastian (Stardew Valley) VS Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) & The green M&M (M&M’s)

Inosuke Hashibara (Demon Slayer) & Emily (Thomas and Friends) VS Mulan (Mulan) & Bow (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Ping (Mulan) & Kaoru Sakurayashiki (Sk8 the Infinity) VS Zagreus (Hades) & Yami Yugi (Yugioh)

Bridget (Guilty Gear) & Ema Skye (Ace Attorney) VS Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) & Garmadon (Ninjago)

Cecil Palmer (Welcome to Night Vale) & Trunks (DBZ) VS Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4) & Yuri Rurikawa (Act Addict Actors!)

Sheik (Legend of Zelda) & JFK (Clone High) VS Yellow (Pokemon Adventures) & Anne Boonchuy (Amphibia)

Hunter (The Owl House) & Seadall (Fire Emblem) VS Howl (Howl's Moving Castle) & Shiver (Splatoon)

Gonzo (The Muppets) & Sapphire (Princess Knight) VS Blackbeard (Our Flag Means Death) & Tails (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson) & Arya Stark (A Song of Fire and Ice) VS Hiccup (How to Train your Dragon) & Princess Mononoke (Princess Mononoke)

Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom) & Angel Devil (Chainsaw Man) VS Testament (Guilty Gear) & Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)

Princess Ozma (Oz) & Princess Peach (Mario Series) VS Dirk Strider (Homestuck) & Klaus (Umbrella Academy)

Team Rocket (Pokemon) VS Peppino (Pizza Tower) & Jason Todd (DC comics)

Mahiru Koizumi (Danganronpa) & Megamind (Megamind) VS Eijiro Kirishima (My Hero Academia) & Kou Seiya (Sailor Moon)

Fionna the Human (Adventure Time) & Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars) VS Jim Jimenez (Our Flag Means Death) & Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

Allen Walker (D. Gray Man) & Raven (Teen Titans) VS Kris (Deltarune) & Franken Stein (Soul Eater)

Right side:

Yukiko Amagi (Persona 4) & Steven Universe (Steven Universe) VS Ranma Saotome (Ranma 1/2) & Sokka (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) & Helia (Winx Club) VS Luz (The Owl House) & Spamton (Deltarune)

Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender) & Pidge Gunderson (Voltron) VS Sherlock Holmes (Various Sources) & Makoto Yuki (Persona 3)

Link (Legend of Zelda) & Sabi Mehboob (Sort Of) VS Marshall Lee (Adventure Time) & Alonzo (Cats)

Ed (Cowboy Bebop) & Boyd (Ducktales) VS Morpheus, Dream of the Endless (The Sandman) & Barney Guttman (Dead end Paranormal Park)

Mettaton (Undertale) & Harrowhark (The Locked Tomb) VS ENA (ENA) & Joey/Rojo (Ben 10)

Wheatley (Portal 2) & Fluttershy (MLP) VS Stanford Pines (Gravity Falls) & Yakko Warner (Animaniacs)

L Lawliet (Death Note) & Larry Needlemeyer (Amazing World of Gumball) VS Crona Gorgon (Soul Eater) & Shuichi Saihara (Danganronpa)

Dave Strider (Homestuck) & Stiles (Teen Wolf) VS Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High Host Club) & Bill (Promethea)

Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls) & Bee (Bee and Puppycat) VS Lake (Infinity Train) & Kitty Pryde (Marvel comics)

Hawks (My Hero Academia) & Axel (Kingdom Hearts) VS Alex Fierro (Magnus Chase) & Elizabeth (Visual Prison)

Kara Zor-El (DC comics) & Legoshi (Beastars) VS Jim Hawkins (Treasure Planet) & Spock (Star Trek)

Mad Mew Mew (Undertale) & Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad) VS Stevonnie (Steven Universe) & Aubrey (OMORI)

Aziraphale (Good Omens) & Marcy Wu (Amphibia) VS Itsuka Kendo (My Hero Academia) & Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney)

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republic-world · 2 years ago

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Decoding Batman's Flawed Villains Who Rivalled The Caped Crusader's Popularity

The Batman villains have a trajectory of transformation. They've become more layered with time, commanding more screen presence and attention.

Batman is one of the most popular superheroes in the DC Universe. The character has been retained even in the new and revised DCU films, that are slated for release in the upcoming decade. This in itself is a testament to the popularity of the character. Over the course of the last 20 years, Batman, popularly known as The Dark Knight, has been part of 9 live-action films. Even Joker, the prime nemesis of the caped crusader, was portrayed with elan by Joaquin Phoenix in the 2019 eponymous film, directed by Todd Philips. Phillips is currently working on a sequel of Joker, a character battling mental illness. Meanwhile, there are two Batman films currently under development.The Batman 2 features Robert Pattinson in the title role, whileThe Brave and The Bold will focus on the dynamics of Bruce Wayne and his son, Damian Wayne.

Batman, however, is not the only one in the films who shows character development and commands screentime. Over the years, the villains in Batman films have developed through their cinematic portrayal. Batman: The Movie, the first Batman film, was released in July 1966 and featured Adam West as the titular character. Since then, villains in Batman movies have become more and more layered, alongside Bruce Wayne. Let's take a look.

Villains in initial Batman films: Overshadowed by the ‘good guy’

Director Tim Burton, who had worked with Michael Keaton previously on Beetlejuice, made Batman in 1989. The film had a dark, brooding atmosphere, influenced by Alan Moore’s graphic novel The Killing Joke and Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. This was also the inception of the Joker, portrayed by The Shining star Jack Nicholson.

The 1989 film offered a mix of action, intrigue, and most importantly, jokes, from the Joker. The intense undertone of Batman films was retained until Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever, featuring Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Several villains, such as The Riddler, Penguin, Shreck and Two-Face, were featured in subsequent films. However, their backstories were not given enough attention, making the characters seem shallow. The heroics of Batman overshadowed these villains - the characterisations did not evoke empathy for the ‘bad guy’, despite the fact that their troubled pasts were hinted at. Actors such as Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, Tommy Lee Jones, and Uma Thurman have played villains in the Joel Schumacher films. However, the portrayals were, at best, comic in nature.

Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy reinvents Batman villains

It was not until 2005 that director Christopher Nolan gave the Batman movies his own spin. Christian Bale played the role of Batman in Batman Begins (2005) and faced off Ra’s Al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson. Ra’s Al Ghul was previously a mentor to Bruce Wayne. He had taught Bruce everything that he needed to be a force of change in Gotham. However, he returned to kill Bruce after the latter betrayed him. Ra’s Al Ghul was liked as a villain, as he mirrored the trauma of Batman’s past. However, it wasn’t until The Dark Knight (2008) that the Joker, the most fearsome Batman antagonist, was introduced.

The late actor Heath Ledger played the role of the Joker. He introduced a yet-unparalleled disruption to the superhero genre. While Ledger’s Joker was already a stone-cold murderer, he also sought to debilitate the entirety of Gotham City, simply for the sake of spreading chaos. He questions Batman in the film, “What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” It is also a question that forms the essence of Batman and Joker’s rivalry. Batman fights to keep justice alive in a city that lacks hope, while Joker fuels the flame as he watches everything burn down.

The Dark Knight Rises featured Batman’s rival Bane, played by Tom Hardy. Bane enters Gotham and completely destroys Batman in order to establish his own rule in Gotham. If it wasn’t for Bruce Wayne’s indomitable spirit and urgency for justice, Bane would have ruled Gotham. Bane’s character development and his on-screen presence overpower even the presence of Batman - thus establishing the mortality of the superhero character.

Why Batman villains are serious

Batman is a character born out of trauma. Bruce Wayne lost his parents in front of his eyes in a mindless shooting incident. With the support of his butler Alfred, and the inherited wealth of his parents, Bruce Wayne allows himself on a journey of growth and learning. He eventually becomes a trained martial artist, assassin, engineer and most importantly, a detective, who solves crimes to bring justice.

Batman's villains are often a counterpart to the aspects of his persona. The Penguin, for instance, is corrupt and selfish and he exists solely in the criminal underbelly of Gotham.Two-Face is a villain who mirrors the same lack of faith in human goodness that Batman consistently fights to uphold. The Joker is one of Batman’s most fierce antagonists - while Batman follows a trajectory of self-affirmational discipline and perseverance, The Joker is deeply nihilistic and chaotic.

Moreover, Joker (2019) gave us a glimpse of the villain’s psychological makeup. The insight into his mind seems to justify the Joker's behaviour, albeit in his own perspective. Gotham, in and of itself, is portrayed as a sinister location where Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck grew up and lost all hope. It is a city so corrupt, that in his eyes, redemption is impossible. Joaquin Phoenix portrays the character’s pain, as he deals with rejection, apathy, ignorance and organisational mismanagement in the city.

This is the connective tissue in most Batman villains. They feature backstories that are as tragic (if not more), when compared to the vigilante superhero that they are fighting. This allows us to view Batman villaiuns in a more human light, which is in contrast to their seemingly ruthless nature. Even Robert Pattinson's The Batman featured Paul Dano as The Riddler. The character matched every bit of intensity that the neo-noir superhero film demanded.

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