#He's literally a side character in the joker book

[oifaaa]

I want Harley and Jason to crowbar Joker

Jason already gotta crowbar joker tho really I think Harley should be allowed to just straight up merk Joker and DC writers should actually read under the red hood and realise that joker isn't that big of a deal to Jason's story

[distort-opia]

you know i often see people throwing around the claim "joker r*ped/sa'd barbara in tkj" (mainly to shame people for liking the joker or batjokes) even though alan moore has dedunked it at some point. like the only piece of media i can think of with joker as a rapist is the azzarello graphic novel which is shit and doesn't need to be accepted as canon. i know it's kinda of a touchy subject but i'd be interested to hear your thoughts

Well. You've pretty much said it, to be honest.

Even a cursory Google search will reveal that Azzarello's Joker (2008) is a one-off, non-canon story. The just as much stand-alone sequel, Batman: Damned has a grieving Harley Quinn almost force herself on Bruce, and yet I haven't heard people say Harley is a rapist. Hell, didn't Batman and Harley Quinn (2017) have Harley and Nightwing sleep together... with pretty dubious consent on Dick's side? And yet fans are able to acknowledge that these are not canon storylines and that the writer matters a lot-- in the case of the latter, it's co-written by Bruce Timm, who is infamous for his shitty portrayal of female characters (also see the animation Batman: The Killing Joke, in which Barbara very assertively has sex with Batman, because that's of course the only way a woman can exercise power). Actually, Barbara's character has suffered so much... there's even Batman Beyond 2.0 #28, in which Bruce apparently got Barbara pregnant, Dick's girlfriend at the time.

But we all dismiss these storytelling choices because we know they're idiotic. They go against the core of the characters, simple as that. Why is Joker not allowed the same? While what he canonically did to Barbara in TKJ was horrible, rape did not happen, and that's a fact. Any other implications of sexual assault can only be connected to Frank Miller's writing in the TDKR series (not canon), or that horrible (and again, not canon) book adaptation of TKJ by Christa Faust and Gary Phillips. Unfortunately, there are always some writers who think that it's just darker and grittier and cooler, more shocking to have Joker attempt rape or resort to sexual means of intimidation; though it's funny how it happens that these are also generally controversial writers for their sexist depictions of women.

But we do know why Joker is not afforded the same kind of treatment as other characters who got butchered by out-of-character stories, canon or otherwise. He's become the punching bag of the DC fandom; it's so easy to proclaim loud and proud these days how much you hate the Joker and want him dead. If you're an anti and looking to feel morally righteous and signal to your echo chamber how good and pure you are, it's a low hanging fruit to latch onto Joker and criticize him for all he's done. The problem, of course, is when these people start attacking actual, real-life fans over their fictional preferences, shipping or otherwise.

But to give a more general conclusion, and my actual opinion on the matter: Joker is a master manipulator. His main schtick is literally getting Batman to kill him by orchestrating all manner of situations; he manipulates his doctors, his henchmen, he manipulates Gotham itself through the media on countless occasions. The very reason why he did what he did to Barbara in TKJ was to manipulate her father into having a mental breakdown. Joker picks people to break and then breaks them psychologically, that is his MO. What he wants is to expose the people around him, he wants to show that deep down, everyone is rotten.

It probably becomes obvious why rape is inconsistent with this mindset. Joker isn't the kind of monster to make things happen by brute force, he's the kind of monster to manipulate people into the worst versions of themselves and then laugh at them as they hate themselves for it. He'll murder and torture and imply any manner of atrocity to make that happen, but the source of his glee is seeing people fall into the same dark pit, devoid of humanity, he's chosen to live in. (And don't even get me started on the fact that Joker was canonically shown to have been a victim of sexual assault himself as a child, in Batman: Streets of Gotham. As an adult, he's depicted as gruesomely taking revenge on the man who did it. Something tells me there's more than one reason why Joker would not resort to rape, and it goes beyond MOs or agendas.)

[shephar]

Fuck it, I did Persona 5 Boy, might as well do the blue one.

P3 x Genshin.

(I stole the top right quote from spoilers I heard from a book lol)

If I was going to do him being Inazuman I would've called him Makoto, but I chose Minato for the same reason I chose Akira: I like it better.

Under the cut, of course :|

T/CW: Canon-typical death of minors

Line: Joining a team.

"I'll make sure you make it to your destination safely."

Just to get this out of the way: I was going to have him be from Snezhnaya because I think the Cryo nation suits him for some reason, however I realized both he and Arlecchino had relations with the moon so...

He's Arlecchino's older brother, they're twins, not because of the Genshin weird twin theories, but because of the Persona dead twin theory, of how in Portable the Fe/MC is the twin that survives the car crash.

About: Hobbies.

"I quite like playing the piano... Huh? You want me to play for you sometime? I'll think on it."

Minato has a Hydro Vision, which if theories are correct represents having a strong desire to protect that which is important to them. If you beat Persona 3 in any form, or watch the movies, you would understand why he has this type of Vision.

About: Vision.

"It's useful when traversing the desert, and Hydro is an element that has the greatest capacity to heal. If only it could heal internal turmoil."

Minato's weapon of choice is unique in that the player can give him any weapon. In universe and out of universe, this is because he has experience welding many types of weaponry, however his Specialty Weapon (or whatever it's called) is a sword.

This is mainly a reference to in the original P3 he could use any weapon type except for Guns, which is because they were hand guns- literally. In later renditions, he could only use a sword, though.

Side note: his Sword, Lucifer's Blade, heals damage equal to 30% of dealt damage per hit.

About: Flexibility.

"Why can I use any weapon type? I trained to do so a long time ago, flexibility is key in combat, like how you can use multiple elements."

His basic skill is a shield that casts an AoE water attack on surrounding areas. Additionally, he, much like Joker, can use randomly chosen items to induce reactions. This is a blatant reference to the items in the Persona series that the characters can use to do elemental attacks without SP.

However, unlike Akira, he cannot use matches since they're ruined by water, and he doesn't need to use bottled water to induce water. Minato uses a folding fan to induce swirl.

About: Elements.

"I think adding elements to my attacks despite not having an Anemo Vision is quite important, especially if I run into someone with a Hydro immunity and I'm using a Catalyst."

His burst is an all party heal, much like Jean's, except that it negates elemental reactions on the party for 10 seconds. If he's at C5, it adds another 5 seconds and a defense buff.

He's very defense and healing oriented, which makes sense considering P3's final act.

About: Protection.

"I don't need to be protected, but I'd rather not see anyone I know die. Again."

Minato is a five star, naturally. His splash art is him holding a catalyst and spear, a crescent moon of hydro behind him as he looks to be reading his catalyst.

His banner, if this is in the same universe, always takes place 2 before Joker's. If not, it coincides usually with Fatui characters, despite not being a member of the Fatui.

About: The Fatui.

"I don't care."

He first shows up during the Liyue Archon Quest, as a researcher from the Akademiya. He seems to have known that Zhongli was Rex Lapis from the first meeting they had, although the how is unknown.

He then appears during the Inazuma Archon Quest, but only in the background. If the player talks to him and asks how he got to Inazuma he'll say: "I walked."

He reappears later in Sumeru, studying in the Akademiya, then in Fontaine, in the prison for an unknown reason (he got lost).

About: The House of the Hearth.

"It was quite cold when I was younger, but I hope Arlecchino made it a warmer place. Recently, I got an invitation from her to return. Something about a reward for one of the well performing children."

He lacks a Story Quest centered around himself.

About: Arlecchino.

"My sister is... An interesting woman. But I don't think you need me to tell you that."

His Friendship Rank affects his burst, much like how Akira's does. It raises the HP healed when casting his burst, adding an additional 1.5% per each rank.

About: Happy Birthday.

"Oh, it's your birthday? If there's anything you'd like, anything at all, you need only ask, I may get it for you. If I knew it was your birthday, I would have already gotten you something. Apologies."

Extras.

About: You.

"My thoughts on you? You're strong. And... Nice. To be truthful, I lack a sense of justice most people believe I have. I just want those I care for to live, however you'll help anyone who asks. You're none too shabby."

If you put this and the Joker AU together.

About: Akira.

"I think I fought him often, a long time ago. He was a strong opponent, but I won most of our battles, but I was there to train him... There was another guy, I wonder what happened to him?"

About: Tartaglia.

"Huh? Who's that?"

About: Furina.

"She's quite beautiful, truly. However, I can only feel sorry for what she's gone through. I think she should take a nap."

Leaving the team.

"Ahh, I'm going to go take a nap, then."

Thanks for reading this travesty, later 🐊

[dailycass-cain]

I was a masochist, because I wanted to see how the story ended (and wanted a the very least to own the Red Hood mini because I do love the creative team with that). So I asked a friend if I could borrow his copies of the issues I don't have. So here are my hopefully FINAL thoughts on Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War.

This was quite possibly the worst Batman x-over in quite some time. From the varying motivations of the main characters to the side characters. Nothing stood out from the beginning to the end.

If any one character comes off as "okay" throughout this event is Jason. Like, he gets the only motivation (again thin as it is), but at the very least he's the one who gets progression in this story.

From helping Selina to seeing how flawed Selina's plan is, to being kidnapped by Bruce then mentally tortured, and still fighting even after it.

Jason is the ONLY main member of the three (or four if you include Vandal) who exits the story still looking clean.

Bruce or Selina? Oh boy... both have some WONKY stuff in this and vary from issue to issue or page to page.

The thing is, this story could've just been easier by taking Selina out entirely and focusing on Bruce vs. the Bat Family.

Like, the entire Bat Family is paper thin in this story and quite possibly some of the worst use of them in a while.

I'm still flabbergasted at how awful Cass was treated in the story with zero character at all. I mean Batman vs. Robin #5 did as well, but even with that story there was a "meaning" to the madness with Cass in that.

She sat out most the main series until THAT issue. She's there along with the rest of the Bat Family to stall the possessed Bruce (which seems to be a recurring theme this entire year) until the mystical characters of the DCU arrive to exorcise him.

For that issue?

It works. I accept the jobbing because it's a mystical demon which is outside her norm (well not anymore).

I still have my issues with Batman vs. Robin, but it was waaay better at telling a story.

Here?

Everyone's appearance in this event is downright laughable and makes zero sense. I'm supposed to accept Cass is okay with Selina's plan throughout this? Even her among other characters gets ZERO voice on why they're on board with this.

A quick fix again would've been when she saw the signs of Bruce's mental instability with the Zur influence growing larger.

Heck, the now INFAMOUS Batman #137. The issue is awful storywise and all it serves is the wrestling equivalent to this with Bruce vs. Cass:

All so Bruce can get a "W" over Cass. Joy. 🙄

When themactically it could've shown Zur's influence that a move Bruce wouldn't be ready for and Zur is.

BUT NOPE. We get that with him against Dick in #138 instead.

I'm not even going into details with the final issue of the event in Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War- Scorched Earth #1.

It just makes everything worse. Bruce passes it all on Dick and um yeah… none of the female characters of the family get ANY say. 🙃🙃🙃

I said last month I'm dropping Batman ongoing from my pull, and I'm sticking with that choice with Tec replacing it fully. I just don't enjoy the comic any longer. When you don't enjoy a comic you cut it off and don't continue to read it for any enjoyment purposes.

Literally, Cass's entire point in Batman run so far has been to job. There has been ZERO characterization for the character. Why I dibbed Cass in this "Card Cain". If you're gonna treat the character that way, well.

I'm out.

Detective Comics is giving me a better story of Bruce falling out mentally, and better-crafted antagonists who feel like a threat to him and others.

I'm more hype for Cass in that because it feels like the book treats each character better. EVERYONE gets to shine.

Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War burned me the heck out of the two leads. Again, I'm far more interested in what happens with Jason next and glad his "mini-series" basically turned into a setup for the finale to the current Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing ongoing.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to put my friend's copies downstairs. Probably tell him next Thurs to bury them in his bins never to be read, or just sell this as a bundle for some poor soul to buy.

I hope this is the final time I ever talk about Batman/Catwoman: Gotham War.

Save for Card Cain. I can't hate Card Cain.

[millylotus]

Jason Todd & His Romance Novel Dreams

Inspired by this post/thread [started by my wonderful mutual @help-i-need-a-cool-username]

I love Jason being a literature nerd, but what's a more fun facet of this is his Jane Austen Fanboyness which easily leads into Romance lover Jason.

Alot of this idea sprouts from Dead On Main [Jason x Danny Fenton/Phantom], but I also am a multi shipper so this could be put to literally anyone with Jason [b₳tce$tor$ dni, don't even].

The down side of my love for this up and coming trop it that I am not a classical literature girly, nor do I read regency novels [all I got are clips of bridgeton & queen charlotte]. But I had a mad manwha faze during middle school, and lemme tell you Jason would thrive in those world tbh.

This response by @samaraistop from the linked post along with Hidden Route by Kuroishuuha on ao3 [which is basically an otome game isekai fic where Danny is the Villainess & Jason is the shitty fiance, go check it out] inspired me to make this post.

IDEAS

Classic Isekai Into Book/Otome Post Mortem Or Sleep

Truck-kun makes a surprise visit in the US & fucking no clips Jason [no I'm not thinking about the batfam's reaction to this let me have my fun]

Or maybe the first time he dies Jason is reborn into another world, specifically a royal high school or something

Baby boy decides to take his new chance at life as the main character or villainess of his favorite manwha

Maybe the end of the story is when he wakes up in his coffin and he isn't even sure if it was ever real

Second Chance Rebirth

The Waynes are some highranking nobles, maybe even royalty in this fantasy world

And Jason is killed somehow, his og death of being lured away by his bio-mother to be killed for money is already a pretty acceptable death in many manwha

Then of course he's reborn, maybe the day before or the day he meets Bruce or the day he's adopted

Anyway he gets a second chance at living

I don't usually like Cannon x OC but tbh this idea would work well with OCs

General Tropes I Think Jason Would Like

Harem trope: doesn't matter if it's all girls or all boys [though Bi!Jason is my headcanon so a mixed group would work] I just want Jason to be trying not to break any hearts but also being easily overwhelmed by so much love

Arranged Marriage: Enemies-lovers or maybe childhood friends-lovers, just give this boy someone he might not want or someone he is already head over heals for

Villainess's Revenge Rebirth: LET JASON KILL & BE PETTY, he gets Joker out of the way so quick, then he becomes a mob boss and gains a group of close advisors who are also his love interests b/c that happens alot and I like it

just, AAAAH 😆

[corpsebasil]

Triple Threat Headcannons Before Part 4

if you haven’t read triple threat check my Masterlist!

Ansel:

- most attractive of the siblings. like, this man could model if he didn’t have such a twisted mind

- most like Stu; crazier than his younger siblings

- would gladly kill you if it meant he kept his siblings safe

- was the first one out of foster home and managed to get custody of his younger siblings and he would’ve killed lots of people that tried to get in the way

- preferred weapon is a gun. yes, a gun, though he can use anything he puts his hands on

- has a habit of being extremely loud at random moments. like you’ll be sitting on the couch and he just SCREECHES like a cat at the top of his lungs

- pays for almost everything even though no one asks where he’s getting the money

- I feel like he’d have hazel eyes. idk.

- tall. tall.

- calls himself ‘the Joker’ as his nickname because he identifies with the character. his fave Joker is Heath Ledger.

- love love loooves pizza.

Matteo:

- calmest of the three.

- there’s speculation that he may or may not be Billy’s son, thanks to the slight differences in his appearance than his siblings, but no one addresses that or knows.

- has medical experience. need stitches? check. need to go to the hospital? don’t bother, Matteo’s got you.

- has the most level head and highest intelligence in the family. reads a lot, mostly non-fiction.

- not shy but is quiet and reserved. extremely loyal and only truly interacts with his brother and sister.

- definitely brown eyed. like big baby cow eyes, but don’t let that make you think you’re safe.

- makes most of the decisions. he’s the general of a small army of three and pulls Ansel and Lola in line sometimes.

Lola:

- devious woman.

- on the shorter side and absolutely gorgeous. dark hair and eyes like Matteo but her features are closer to Stu than Matteo’s are.

- I feel like she’s a major girl’s girl. wanna get a pumpkin spice latte and then watch a horror movie? hell to the fuckin’ yeah.

- super friendly and flirty but she’d still cut you.

- never had feelings for Ethan although she flirts with him from time to time just for entertainment.

- her favorite book is ‘Bunny’.

- can’t cook but she sure can rack up the charges on Ansel’s card through Uber Eats.

- makes the best margarita you’ll ever try.

- extremely smart when it comes to engineering. she literally hand-crafts her own bombs.

[idyllcy]

I can just imagine now with different gods as the godly parents lmao

A child of Apollo, god of healing, art, music and archery, Roy Harper throws down his bow. First artemis (the character not the god haha) and now. Literally child of the god of archery, why do they need him any more lmao

A child of Hermes, protector of travelers and god of thieves, Catwoman may or may not be borrowing them for a bit. (That fact it's canon that some children of Apollo characters in the book steal stuff) also it's canon that children of Hermes are fast (probably not speedster fast lol)

A child of Dionysus, the god of wine, alright seems chill, wait but he's also the god of insanity. Alright cool, do not let this demigod child anywhere in Gotham, especially around joker, he doesn't need to be any more crazy.

A child of nemesis, goddess of balance and revenge. Bruce is side-eyeing them making sure the whole revenge aspect of them doesn't come out, while they're totally planning something with Jason.

nono no so real anon you need to write this anon idc if you use my inbox to cook it please give me more

[twinhood-2dot0]

A Shallow Dive into: The Batfam

Welcome to another episode of Alia-rants-about-stuff-she’s-passionate-about. Today, we’re exploring the Batfamily. You already know that this cast of characters is near and dear to my heart, but why exactly? That’s what you’re going to be seeing today. I wrote a post about the entire history of DC but it got too long and boring so I switched topics :P

Meet The Cast

Batman - The most iconic and second ever comic book superhero ever. Bruce Wayne was your typical rich kid, until one day while returning home from watching The Mask Of Zorro (most adaptations skip this detail but I’m pretty sure it’s canon in the comics), Thomas Wayne decided to take a shortcut FROM CRIME ALLEY, WHY DIDN’T THAT MAKE YOU RECONSIDER??? And a guy gunned down both his parents while trying to mug them but got jumpy. He vowed to war on crime and went around the world to learn literally everything he could that could help him. He returns, tries to stop a crime, gets almost killed, returns home and is sitting in a chair when a bat accidentally flew into his manor, and he took it as a sign to dress as a bat. In some versions (there are a lot of versions to this simple story somehow) Bruce had a fear of bats which also compelled him to turn his fear into criminals’ fear.

His superpowers? 

And he’s extremely smart, trained in every martial art, mastery of every weapon, even an expert marksman even though he refuses to use guns, because parents (like everything about him). In Detective Comics #1000 we see him melt down the gun that Joe Chill used to kill his parents and use it to make the symbol on his suit. He has degrees in forensic fields and engineering and computer science and probably other sciences too. He’s at peak human capabilities. I could list everything he can do but I’ll shorten it to he’s the best at everything a human is capable of doing. If you do wanna know everything, I don’t know why you would but you can check it out here.

Robin - Robin is a mantle donned by several characters. His name came from Robin Hood. I don’t know why else a Bat would have a bird sidekick. 5 characters have taken up the mantle in main continuity, namely, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and the latest, Damian Wayne.

Dick Grayson - Son of the Flying Graysons, trapeze artists famous for their circus appearances where they would perform without a net. Their lives came to a tragic end when Anthony Zucco tampered with the trapezes resulting in them falling to their deaths. Bruce Wayne happened to be in the audience, and took Dick in, because he didn’t want him to turn into what he did and help him find justice.

        He’s a founding member of the Teen Titans, starting the trend. He’s the comedic contrast to Batman, as made apparent by his costume choice. He eventually grows out of Batman’s shadow and becomes a hero in his own right, Nightwing. 

Jason Todd - Considered by many as the most interesting Robin, he did not start out so popular. After Dick left Batman’s side, Batman picked up a juvenile delinquent who attempted to steal the Batmobile’s tires as his next Robin. Fans did not like him, presumably because they felt he was usurping Dick. So, DC decided to kill him off. They published the highly influential story of “A Death In The Family” at the end of which there was a phone number fans could call and vote whether to kill him or not. Yeah, the fans really did not like him, as he was voted to die.

He later came back in “Batman: Hush”, but it was Clayface (a Batman villain with a clay body and ability to change into people), in a ploy to psychologically break Batman by Hush. Nevertheless, it was revealed that Jason’s grave was empty, in a lead up to “Under The Red Hood”, in which it was revealed that Jason was resurrected and claimed the identity of Red Hood, his killer Joker’s identity before an accident turned him into Joker. He became a murderous vigilante which did not sit right with Batman. After Batman’s death in Final Crisis, he creates an armoured Batsuit and becomes a, again, murderous Batman. Murderous is a recurring theme until recently. Dick defeats him and is forced to take up the mantle. A while after Dick became Batman, he resurfaces and goes on a very public murderous rampage leaving notes saying “Let the punishment fit the crime”. He is defeated yet again and arrested this time.

He becomes an ally of Batman following the New 52 reboot and stops killing in an effort to gain Batman’s respect. Sorry this got so long, you can see why he’s so loved now though.

Tim Drake - Tim Drake was just a normal high school kid, but he was an exceptional detective and deduced the identity of Batman and Robin, and following Jason’s death, he approached Batman to become Robin as he felt Batman was a little unhinged without Jason. Tim may not be as strong or a great fighter like Nightwing and Red Hood. He is ummm… I don’t know much about him, except that he was replaced by Damian when Dick became Batman and has other identities of Red Robin and Talon and has gone back to Robin in Rebirth??? Yeah, it’s weird.

Stephanie Brown - A Robin not many talk about. She was the girlfriend of Tim and the daughter of Cluemaster, a super-villain. When Tim’s identity was uncovered by his dad he’s forced to hang up the cape, and Steph offered to fill in for him. She became Batgirl later on along with Cassandra Cain who I’ll talk about later. She was Spoiler before she became Robin. I don’t know much again, but she is kinda rebellious.

Damian Wayne - He’s the sometimes consensual, sometimes not son of Bruce and Talia al Ghul, daughter of Ra’s al Ghul. He was trained from birth to be an assassin then just given to Bruce I think. Then Bruce died and he became Dick’s Robin. I love their sibling dynamic though, I love seeing Dick act like an older brother.

Batgirl - The first Batgirl was Barbara Gordon, my personal favourite batfam member, the daughter of Commissioner Jim Gordon, one of the few not incorruptible cop in the GCPD. On a Halloween she dressed up in a Batman costume and fought off Killer Moth, attracting the attention of Batman. While at first not appreciative he slowly warmed up to her. She works as a librarian and is a computer genius. When crippled waist down by the Joker, she assumed the role of Oracle, an information broker to help in the batfam’s crusades.

Cassandra Cain - Cassandra is the second Batgirl. I have yet to read the very influential “No Man’s Land” event, but her first appearance was in that event. She is the daughter of David Cain, a skillful assassin. He raised her only to kill. She wasn’t even taught spoken language so that the language processing part of the brain could read body language so she could react to every action before it happens. This made her second best if not best martial artist on the planet. However a mind reading metahuman rewired her brain so she could speak, and she lost her abilities and she had to ask Lady Shiva to help her regain her abilities. 

Batwoman - Katherine Kane is the maternal cousin of Bruce Wayne raised by a Colonel. She is probably the most influential LGBTQ+ comic book superhero, being lesbian. She was in the army until she was booted for being lesbian. She was attacked by a mugger in Gotham and fends him off but Batman still arrives and inspires her. 

Azrael - Jean Paul Valley was brainwashed by “The Sacred Order of Saint Dumas” as their vengeance enacter. He crosses paths with Batman who helped him break out of his conditioning. He then helps Batman in his crime fighting endeavour. He is famous for taking up the mantle of Batman when he had his back broken by Bane in the “Knightfall” storyline. He becomes a brutal version of Batman and had to be defeated after Bruce recovered.

Alfred - Arguably the most important member of the Batfamily, he’s the Wayne family butler who practically raised Batman and his wards. He’s the man in Batpeople’s ears feeding them information and quips

Alex, I'll see you on Thursday.

-Alia

[cer-rata]

Hard agree with all of this, but I do think that it's fair to say that the flanderization, overuse and dehumanization of some of these villains makes the reasoning kind of hard to swallow. Most of Batman's villains started out as significantly less heinous than their current depictions. Even if the point wasn't about understanding them, they existed within a realm where the amount of harm they did was conceivable and understandable as a thing a human could reasonably get up to. Their motivations were things that people might not agree or sympathize with, but we could comprehend it. There was murder yeah, but a lot of it was more off the wall schemes that required him to be a proper detective, bank robbery, kidnapping public officials, regular low level crime, the mob. Gotham didn't always have 15 separate sadistic serial killers. The big bad villains were the exceptions to the rule, criminals that were on a different level and had to be tackled in ways that weren't necessary for the average thug. And even then it wasn't usually just violent terrorism and torture. Even Bane wasn't just some wild inhuman sadist, and he's basically Batman's Doomsday. The steady creep of the horror and violence that his rogues represented over the years has lanced a lot of the nuance present in the idea that they're you know, human beings. Batman's ideology make sense when dealing with a human being and all of the intrinsic complexity there, but some of these villains aren't being written as true characters. It's one thing for a character to represent a concept like chaos or madness or whatever, but there's this weird desire to represent the Joker as more than just some dangerous crazy guy, but a force of nature. He becomes such a symbol of incomprehensible abstract evil that he doesn't resister as a human being anymore. Batman's morals apply to people, and if the narrative is working hard to dehumanize his villains, and not critically as commentary, but with the suggestion that it's RIGHT to assign a lesser person hood to them, then Batman's morals seem ridiculous in the context of his own story.

A side point that I'd like to make is about the oversaturation of some of these antagonists. The desire to push these increasingly heinous characters over and over eventually starts to damage the suspension of disbelief. The idea that the world they live in is so wildly incompetent that canonically the Killing Joke and A Death in the family take place in the same year is insane. The absolute narrative frequency with which the joker causes truly horrific scenes and is back on the street doing it again is so stupid. Part of the reason everyone talks about putting an end to the Joker is because his plot armor makes literally every other option of dealing with him completely inconsequential. It takes the quiet implication that Batman's quest is a Sisyphean task and makes it parody. If Batman doing things by the book has basically no effect on the harm the Joker causes, it makes everything seem pointless. For some reason no institution can hold him for long...because he's so...crazy? Heroes that would willingly kill him just never get involved, other villains that should also want to deal with him just don't or get outfoxed, hell the state just continues to put him in the SAME asylum he keeps breaking out of. You mean to tell me that corrupt ass Gotham PD doesn't have anyone willing to just execute him in custody?

Professor Pyg is in my mind a much more viscerally disturbing character that clearly is beyond help, but he doesn't invalidate the basic premise of Bruce's mission because Batman stops him, and he stays stopped for long enough that it doesn't feel like he's haunting the narrative and calling the logic of the setting into question. I think sometimes saying that Batman should kill is a misplaced complaint about these stories retreading the same conflicts with the same characters over and over while also raising the stakes to keep people shocked and engaged. Not to mention writers who don't even just miss the point, but clearly wish he was Rorschach instead, and by extension also don't get the point of Rorschach in the context of his own story.

Let me stop here, I'm getting a headache.

I hate Bruce's "I don't kill because once I start, I wouldn't be able to stop"

Like I simply do not buy it. Murder is not a potato chip Bruce. I think he is full of shit and a messy bitch who lives for the drama. I am certain Bruce has some kind of valid reason for not killing, but I don't believe that this is it.

[distort-opia]

What is your ideal ghostbat dynamic?

Oh it's definitely the thrice-divorced snarky middle-aged men performing intricate rituals thing they currently got going on.

Batman 2022 Annual

Bruce Wayne, being a character with almost a century of history, has beein paired with so many individuals. There's a lot of relationships he's formed over time, but a particularly interesting type is the people-who-knew-him-before-Batman category. Harvey Dent, Thomas Eliot, Zatanna Zatara, Talia al Ghul... and now Minhkhoa Khan. Obviously, quite a lot of these characters ended up as unequivocal villains Batman has had to fight (Two-Face, Hush) while Zatanna remained a childhood-friend-and-almost-lover. Talia and Khoa are more complicated; they're definitely not heroes, not exactly on the same side as Bruce. But they aren't downright villains either. The waters are more muddled. In Talia's case there's the conflict between her loyalty and love for her father, duty and legacy; this opposition to Bruce's own goals was there from the start. But (to finally get to my point with this tangent) there was no such thing with Khoa, and that's basically my main draw to the ship. Bruce has other people that know him as just Bruce and not Batman, or as the in-between (all unique and complex relationships in their own right), but I can only think of Khoa as someone who was present for Batman being forged. While Talia was there when Bruce was training, she didn't share the same goal of combating crime, but Khoa did. For someone so desperately lonely as Bruce is, having someone to share that road with meant so much. Not only that, Khoa contributed to the formation of Batman by engaging him in the wild competitive streak they share, by pushing Bruce to rise to his level.

Hence... the unique kind of familiarity they have even decades later, despite the numerous betrayals along the way. That's an ideal component to me-- Bruce feeling like he can easily be himself. It's a rarity to him, since he plays so many different roles to many different people. And after Alfred's death, someone so important who knew him utterly and supported him from the start, he clearly missed it. It didn't really matter that Khoa killed dozens of people when he showed up in Gotham and literally declared he'll traumatize Bruce by killing a kid in front of him (which he probably would have done, if Harley hadn't managed to be as persuasive as she was). After Selina leaving him, Dick getting shot, his own father and Bane taking his city away, Alfred dying, losing his fortune and Joker War happening... myeah, I really feel like Khoa showed up at the perfect moment.

Which leads me to another component of their dynamic that I favor, and that's both of them being manipulative assholes and equals capable of kicking each other's asses. Why did Khoa show up with all of his resources after Joker War specifically? Why did Bruce ask him to stay so readily, forgoing the things Khoa had done? Hah. Khoa's undoubtedly been obsessed with Bruce, if keeping tabs on him and seeking out Jonathan Crane to learn fear and hell, even getting a sidekick to mirror Batman having a Robin is any indication. He gets to be close to Bruce and potentially ingratiate himself to him while fully knowing Bruce is using him, and Bruce knows it too-- but he's still allowing himself to depend on Khoa's resources and on him becoming part of Batman Incorporated and the more extended Bat-team. Khoa's always been manipulative; wonder if Bruce ever found out that in The Knight #4, Khoa was the one to tell those assassins Bruce's location, thus orchestrating a situation in which Bruce would finally accept to take him with him. But then, while they were training with Avery, Bruce was manipulative back, and you can literally see Khoa falling in love over it in The Knight #5, after Bruce distracts him with flirting and then steals the book.

At the end of the day, Khoa is a psychopath; perhaps not the sadistic kind, but he still operates as one, and Bruce can not only handle it, but he can handle it well. He's proven himself to be an equal, someone who challenges Khoa to improve and become better. Thing is, psychopaths overlap with narcissists a lot due to a basic reason. For neurotypical individuals, empathy acts as a way to see conspecifics as others, but like-minded others. You see other people think and emote like you, and you register them as human beings just like you. 'I feel what you feel, therefore we are the same.' But psychopaths work differently, in the sense that they often have excellent cognitive empathy, but a dulled affective one. They can tell how people think, but emotionally these things don't resonate with them-- the consequence being that they don't easily register others as equals, like-minded others. It's easy to then see yourself as the most valuable individual ever, as the center of the world, because you haven't truly ever shared that world. Which is why, when a psychopath meets someone they can relate to... they don't just relate, they become obsessed. Much like Khoa has. If all your life you felt you're separate from everyone else, having this kind of connection is life-changing, and you'll do whatever you need to preserve it. Including manipulative and murderous acts. But that's fine, because Bruce is attracted to this kind of thing. He himself has thought at some point about a woman (Jezebel Jet) that he should've known she was villainous and would betray him, because he had been attracted to her. I could get into Bruce's dating history and what it says about his preferences, but 'nuff said.

...Anyway, this got away from me, Anon :)) You probably didn't expect a whole-ass essay, but I hope you enjoyed reading through my personal take on them. I really like Khoa's character, since it's not often you get a morally-grey and complex psychopath like him, in comics. But to summarize my answer, my ideal Ghostbat dynamic is definitely one based on them being equals who know each other on a fundamental level, capable of handling both the good parts and the bad parts of the other; the one that solidified after decades of a push-and-pull between their core principles and ideals.

[accio-victuuri]

CPN : the argument of XZ being “single” + my reflections

Let me start this post with one Candy that stood out to me today before we get to a more serious is it really lol topic. You may find a few other ones floating around but this one got me:

The BGM of GG’s Douyin video is from the Soundtrack of Suicide Squad. The same movie features the character of Joker, which they both love. Tho for things like this, I feel like the team just uses what’s popular on Douyin. What got me with the BGM is how it seemed like something you would use for a hiphop theme. They are literally showing how gorgeous XZ is, a pop song will be more appropriate.

Now that I gave a little sweetness, Let’s go to the main topic of this post.

If you haven’t seen this talk going around then that’s fine, in the grand scheme of things— it should not matter. With all the content going on from both sides and Bobo going back to being active on screen, this is not an important topic. However, it made me reflect on this issue and how fans operate. Also how as BXGs we should take this things and I AM SURE some really toxic people will use this as leverage to bully turtles. the whole talk of his relationship status has been gaining some traction lately because of a recent incident that @rainbowsky already detailed here.

Today, this account which is called Opinion Book mainly for 🍤 posted.

What is this accout you ask? It’s basically one that posts fan etiquette especially in times of discord. It has good intentions and I have found it to be a pretty level headed account that aims to pacify fans when things are chaotic. They allegedly also are able to directly communicate with XZS. They published what was “communicated” to them and a lot of it are no brainers tbh. Do not believe in melons and just wait for announcements of XZ’s new work. Do not follow him and his family during his private itinerary. Don’t start fan wars and be instigated by antis. However the cause of the buzz is this particular statement:

In addition, We have recently seen many rumors about the romance of the artist circulating on the Internet. False rumors have even risen to attack the artist himself. Although it has been a question and had been refuted many times, but we have made clarification again, all rumors are false. The artist is single. please don't be maliciously led by unknown people.

and well you guessed what happened. this has been taken as truth and an absolute confirmation that XZ is single and that all CPF should cease to exist. There is a lot to unpack here so I want to start with how credible is this account. What the hell are the “refuted many times” they are talking about?

1. I mentioned that I found this account as a good one. Is it necessary? I don’t think so. However I feel like it had to be made so as not to have a repeat of the 2020 fiasco and just in general to guide fans because XZ has a lot. Other celebrities may have way more followers than him like 80-100M on weibo but the difference is, his are very active. I still maintain my stance that the only official source of news is XZ STUDIO and Xiao Zhan himself, especially if it’s something personal. for dramas/endorsements/etc then the projects involved are definitely the true source. If a statement is not sealed, stamped and posted by XZS then it’s not be taken as coming for Xiao Zhan’s mouth.

2. The only “fan account” followed by XZS is the one with Patrick’s profile pic on it. It’s job is to clarify.

I’ve said it in the past that I don’t really have much love for Clarification accounts especially for personal matters. I understand some fans may want to clarify but I think it should be for career reasons, like if someone claims that GG is taking unnecessary leave on set because he is lazy or something.

3. The next question here is did XZS ever say that GG is single? Did the Patrick Account every say that he is single? The short answer is No.

Patrick Account refuted the following ( most recent and relevant ) :

• That GG is secretly married and has a child all because of a photo of him holding a baby was leaked. FYI, it was his friend’s kid.

• Li Qin dating rumors, the most recent one is because she was seen in the same restaurant as him. having dinner.

• The rumor that Antis love to spread : That he is dating his Manager 😂

All of these rumors were specifically marked as false. They did not say single. Just false and do not believe it.

As for XZ Studio, they do not mention the name of the other party. It’s what these studio accounts do. However people know who they are referring to because of what rumor is going on HS and is being talked about on that day. There are times they will just mention the User ID, and you just gotta look at what person is posting to get the gist that XZS is refuting it too. For example a specific account was mentioned and it had a lot of posts about XZ dating MZY. If they think it’s getting too much talk— they release some statement. But never that XZ is single. The message is always more on do not participate in talks like that and concentrate more on his works and your personal life.

The credibility of that account and it’s confirmation all boils down ( I think ) to the person reading it. As with all things in this day and age, you will believe what benefits you. Confirmation bias is very strong. The people who are screaming this from their accounts are the very same people who already had this idea in mind to begin with. For me the most interesting thing that even got me into making this post is what can we learn from this? I will try and make my thoughts/reflections as coherent as possible lol but here you go:

1. As a CPF and someone who believes in SZD, I always leave a percentage that I could be wrong. No matter how the evidence says otherwise. Am I mad and screaming right now? Obviously not. This incident comes at the right time because I’ve been talking recently about the fact that not all things should be made into a candy. That in order to be in this fandom, supporting them both, we should be fans of them as individuals and their work. If you are here solely for the candy, then sure, I will still welcome you but you probably won’t be here for much longer. This is why I get personally triggered when I see so/os say that all CPF do is candy and obsess about their relationship. Which is well, if you look at my blog as an example — it’s clearly not. We have to multitask like hell to keep up.

2. There is a bad side to being a CPF and that is when fans start getting too loud. CPNs and whatever are for BXG circles only. This is why I stopped participating in the whole “i wonder what solos would think” practice because I realized that I don’t need their validation. Candies are not for them. The reason why this talk has gained attention in the first place was because a certain CPF group started asking a third party about it. If that person knows who XZ is dating. Is it really that important? Should we really invite other people into this? Same goes with their friends, don’t ask them. Don’t DM them. It should remain in CPF circle of your own as a form of respect too. Especially if the type of CPF is more on a real couple and not a fictional pairing in a drama they starred in. The latter is encouraged and considered normal to be talked about.

3. Whether he is single or not, CPF should be allowed to exist. It’s always been a part of the fandom ecosystem. There are other pairings of XZ/WYB that i’m not fond of but it’s their life— they can do what makes them happy. I find it particularly harmful when certain fans invalidate CPFs just because of the possibility of the relationship we support not being real. I could ask them the same thing. Xiao Zhan will not marry you, so why the hell are you still acting like you’re his wife or that you own him? LOL. But I don’t cause i’m not an entitled asshole.

I’m pretty sure that on a professional level, if I’m an agency, it would be fine with me. As long as they are fan of my artist — we’re good. If you watch the shows, buy all the things. engage and just support the artist then it’s fine. All these animosity between solos and cpfs are made by fans. In the outside world, if you tell someone about this— I bet they won’t understand what the problem is.

4. The idea of a celebrity being single for an “idol” like XZ has layers to it. It’s not unique to XZ. Being single will appease a lot of the fans who still cling to the boyfriend fantasy. There is also the possibility of his contract having a clause that says he cannot publicize any relationship and must maintain the image of being an idol which is a story for another day. Also if a relationship is publicized, I am pretty sure it will eclipse all the professional work. It will also invite more shady individuals to get insider info and follow him around.

It’s ironic cause the same people were “happy” when XZ had dating rumors last year because and i quote— “he now has normal rumors about him.” LOL. Okay.

5. Going off the point above, I absolutely hate labeling XZ as an idol. It is not good for him and his brand to be on Hot Search because of personal matters and his relationship status. He is not some starlet who is only good for tabloid-esque news. He is an Actor. I don’t know if fans realize the hunger that XZ has to succeed in this profession. His name should be out there because of his career or if it’s related to personal content ( i.e photos ) that XZS shares. I personally get frustrated when things like this get traction — just in case people failed to get the hint— XZS posts when stuff like this is being talked about. It seems like their way of diverting the fan’s / people’s attention. Like “Hey, look, have something so you won’t be idle and start doing unnecessary shit.”

I am a BXG. I support XZ/WYB. I believe in SZD. I love their love. I am fond of candies and everything the community has to offer. My mindset at this point is really more of what are they gonna do next career wise. It’s what excites me and engages me the most at this point in my journey. I won’t order anyone to be in the same place because we go on our own pace and maybe one day you will get there. 💕

[pinepickled]

Batman, Trauma, Growth, and Under the Red Hood

Why is Batman's origin so good, why do so many people mess him up so much, it's because they don't get it!!

All of the Batman heroes from Bats to Spoiler to Damian have a purpose with their trauma, they grow because they learn that it is not violence and more trauma that makes them human but love and gentleness. Batman isn't a hero because he beats the shit out of homeless people like some fucknuts believe, he's a hero because he's the one person on the top left who still cares about Gotham over his bottom line! His progression as a character isn't that he goes toe to toe with the Joker who's supposedly his "other side of the same coin" its because he realizes that family and bonds and friends and kindness is the only thing that could possibly help. It's the entire fucking point!!!!

And that's why the Red Hood and UTRH is also fucking amazing because it not only ties into Batmans story, it gives a character with a lot of trauma AGENCY and we are able to sympathize with Jason because everyone can fucking imagine a time when they felt abandoned and alone and entitled to something but not receiving it. The point of UTRH isn't hur dur Batman is good because he doesn't kill the point of UTRH is that Batman had to choose between continuing the cycle that shit ass writers like Frank Miller and Tom the FBI Guy push him into where it's just violence and torture and yeah he doesn't kill them but he fucking cripples them anyway.

You think Dick Grayson using literal cattle prods on people does nothing? They just get up fine the next day? Batman beating someone's skull into the concrete but making sure he's still breathing is somehow moral?

Because that's what those stupid authors believe and UTRH challenged that!! It made Jason, poor little Jason who was 17 at the time of UTRH, who'd been killed after trying to save the woman who should have loved him, who's grave didn't say anything but fucking "good soldier", who was forgotten by his friends, who's mantle was passed down 6 months later, who grieved for the boy he once was, ask Batman to choose. Fucking choose.

Him or me?

The cycle of pointless violence which does nothing at all to help Gotham or compassion, love, loyalty, the promise all parents make their children?

Because don't parents say they'd go to the ends of the Earth for their child? The mama bear, the shotgun father?

And Batman chose, Judd Winick knew the choice he'd make all along, he predicted the route Batman comics would take in the upcoming years and Batman fucking killed Jason instead of the Joker.

Tumblr users don't get that choice and how traumatizing it is but he fucking chose to not only leave Barbara's paralyzing unavenged, he not only chose to abandon Dick in Bludhaven right after it was nuked, he not only chose to forsake the graveyards that the Joker has filled personally, he abandoned the kid he already fucking failed to save for his stupid and senseless moral code that barely holds water anymore, if it ever did in the first place.

And THAT is what Under the Red Hood is about.

(and before people go "But capital punishment is wrong!!1!1!" i know it is bro, but this is a comic book where literally every aspect is a means to get the message of the story across, and there is a literal killer clown. let's not throw away suspension of disbelief too much.)

[daydreaming-optimist]

10 songs for 10 ships?

First and foremost, apologies for having this in my ask box for months, I had to really think about it and then I forgot oops

These aren't necessarily my top 10 ships, just ones that I felt like matched a song or part of a song :)

I’m trying to avoid putting the love songs that they literally sing to each other in musicals and find an unrelated song but it’s a struggle so these might all end up being book characters instead

Addie and Henry (The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab) - Like Real People Do (Hozier)

“I will not ask you where you came from / I will not ask and neither will you / honey just put your sweet lips on my lips / we should just kiss like real people do”

Cath and Jest (Heartless by Marissa Meyer) - The Joker and the Queen (Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift)

“and who was I to say that this was meant to be? / the road that was broken brought us together”

“when I fold you see the best in me / the joker and the queen”

I mean come on, the book’s about the court joker and the (future) queen of hearts falling in love, how could I not choose this song? it’s IN THE TITLE

Celia and Marco (The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern) - So It Goes... (Taylor Swift)

“all eyes on you, my magician / all eyes on us / you make everyone disappear”

“cause we break down just a little / when you get me alone it’s so simple”

“all the pieces fall right into place / getting caught up in the moment / lipstick on your face”

“all eyes on me, your illusionist / all eyes on us / I make all your grey days clear”

tbh I’m not convinced she didn’t read the book before writing this song

Percy and Annabeth (PJO/HoO by Rick Riordan, but specifically House of Hades for this song) - Take on the World (You Me At Six)

“and just say the word, we'll take on the world / just say you're hurt, we'll face the worst / nobody knows you, the way that I know you / look in my eyes, I will never desert you"

“and it's the fight, and the fight of our lives / you and I, we were made to thrive / and I am your future, I am your past / never forget that we were built to last”

“we'll fight, we'll crawl into the night / our world, we'll go, with you by my side / the calm, the storm, we'll face it all”

Patroclus and Achilles (The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller) - Dancing with Your Ghost (Sasha Alex Sloan)

“yelling at the sky / screaming at the world / baby why’d you have to go away?”

“I stay up all night, tell myself I’m alright”

“never got the chance / to say your last goodbye / I gotta move on / but it hurts to try”

Alina and Mal (Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo) - You Are In Love (Taylor Swift)

“he keeps his word / and for once you let go / of your fears and your ghosts”

“you fight, then you talk” 

“one night he wakes / strange look on his face / pauses then says / “you’re my best friend” / and you knew what it was / he is in love”

“and you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars”

Jonathan and Mina (Dracula by Bram Stoker, during the part when he was in Budapest and literally dying but could only think of Mina and she comes to tend to him) - Work Song (Hozier)

“when my time comes around / lay me gently in the cold dark earth / no grave could hold my body down / I’ll crawl home to her”

“I was burning up a fever / I didn’t care much how long I lived / but I swear I thought I dreamed her / she never asked me once about the wrong I did”

Cress and Thorne (The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer) - Modern Rapunzel (The Covasettes)

“are you alright? / locked up all night / do you feel like running out into open space?”

“I say come on, get on / burst out of your bubble / we're a long time gone / my modern Rapunzel / cause I get the feeling one day you'll fight”

“so take your sweet heart and drop it at my feet / everything you want, I can be”

Orpheus and Eurydice (Hadestown by Anais Mitchell) - I Hear a Symphony (Cody Fry)

“I used to hear a simple song / that was until you came along / now in it’s place is something new / I hear it when I look at you”

“you are more beautiful by far / our flaws are who we really are”

“you took my broken melody / and now I hear a symphony”

Chaol and Yrene (Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas) - Thinking Out Loud (Ed Sheeran)

“when your legs don’t work like they used to before”

[stxleslyds]

Jason doesn't show up in DC's animated series (though the does "spiritually" show up as Tim Drake in Season 2 of Batman the Animated Series).

Jason has a strong presence in the video games, though. So what is your opinion on Jason's characterization for Arkham Knight? He is a DLC for the Injustice games as well. Judy be warned that I did watch some clips of Arkham Knight and the torture was too gruesome for me.

RED HOOD IN VIDEO GAMES.

Hey there friend, thank you for the ask!

INJUSTICE 2.

I had to do some research on Red Hood’s appearances in the Injustice games because I was never really in touch with that story. Here is what I knew about it, there are two games for PC, one of them is Injustice and the other is Injustice 2, the games also have the comic books that give context/background to the lore of the game.

I used to play Injustice: Gods Among Us on mobile phone, and I had Jason as a playable character there, I also found out way too late that “Nightwing” wasn’t really Dick Grayson, it was Damian because he took on the mantle after he and the rock killed Dick in the comic (forever mad at that ridiculous death and the kinda scary art that comic had).

I looked for information about Red Hood’s backstory in wikis and all that because I refuse to read an alternate universe book written by Tom Taylor, there are things that I am just not willing to do.

All in all, I think that this Jason was in surface level, the same as his canon comic counterpart up until the time of his resurrection. Given that the world was at war and the League of Assassins wasn’t working openly, he and the others had to live in the shadows, he seems to have been trained proficiently by both Batman and the LoA so he is a very hardcore opponent. There are some bits of his story with Damian and a place called Gorilla City that I do not understand because I haven’t read the comics but I am fine without it.

The thing is that this Jason is pretty cool, he sticks to his morals and fights for what he believes is right, he doesn’t look like the kinda guy that takes sides in this war which is probably the best idea. Both Batman and Superman seem to be on the wrong side of history with they ideals.

What I did see and I loved eternally was the ending to Red Hood’s story, I will link the video here! But I will also copy and paste all that he says there because I think it’s really important and where I was able to see more of his characterization.

"That. Felt. Good. Titanium composite hollow point bullets with a C4 kicker. Fastest, most explosive ammo in the world. I made them myself. With the invasion over, Bruce and Superman started fighting again. I wasn't down with either of them. On the one hand, the Regime's right. Scumbag murderers and rapists deserve to die. But on the other hand, I'm no fan of government authority. Especially the dictatorial variety.

So, while the world's finest fight each other, I fight for the people. The weak. The innocent. Anyone who can't protect themselves. When they cry out for a saviour, I'll answer. As for the criminals that threaten them? They need to know that their actions have consequences. That the Red Hood is coming for them.”

This is excellent, I absolutely love this, this Jason knows his morals and doesn’t bow down to anyone and in the end, he is truly a hero to the people that need heroes the most.

Him saying that he believes that some criminals have to die but that he can’t really join Superman’s side because he cannot associate with it because he isn’t a fan of dictatorial ideas, I love this man.

I feel like this is a fair characterization for Jason, I believe that if something along the lines of what happens in Injustice happens in current continuity then Jason wouldn’t join any sides, he wouldn’t be neutral per se but he will fight for his own ideals. And his ideals in most universes are protecting people and I think that’s great. I love to see a world where Jason is seen as more intelligent and put together than the Batman.

Something that I find quite funny and interesting from this game is the dialogues that characters have with each other when they fight, I found this video compilation where you can see all the dialogues between Red Hood vs Robin (Damian Wayne), they are so fun and I love the animations too.

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT.

Oh, ArkhamVerse Jason, my beloved.

He is, to me, the epitome of this meme.

I have actually watched the whole game playthrough, several times, and Jason had a DLC as the Red Hood for that game (Nightwing has one too and I will talk about it later because I love this version of him). And, yes, the torture scene is very gruesome, it was incredibly sad and it made me feel bad. But I also think that they made it that way so it could support the kind of storytelling they were going for.

The reality is that this Jason suffered his whole life, and was constantly introduced to lifestyles that he never wanted to be part of. The world around this Jason wasn’t kind at all to him and there is a long list of people who did him wrong.

Although ArkhamVerse Jason didn’t die, like his comic counterpart did, he suffered the most. And his suffering really drove him to be the best version of an unhinged Jason Todd. But it’s clear, his brutality and murder intent isn’t laced with his Red Hood persona or at least not on the same level as it is with his Arkham Knight persona.

This Jason’s characterization works to perfection, but it only works that way because he was well developed within the game lore and the comics. This Jason was extremely well trained, he is probably the smartest version of Jason, his mind and his level of preparedness are unparalleled when it comes to other Jason Todd variants (a little MCU Loki talk right there).

I would go as far as to say that this Jason would be an excellent match to peak Dick Grayson from before New 52 in comics. Those two would clash so immensely, but man, it would be one hell of an intellectual and physical fight. Two Kings doing what they do best.

Anyway, for now take my word for how well characterized Jason is in the ArkhamVerse, I will make a post were I deep dive more on his character both in game and comics. There is so much to say about him, he is truly interesting and very complex.

Now, I will be a little cheeky and I will use this ask as an opportunity to talk about my man, ArkhamVerse Nightwing aka Pretty Boy.

I love him so much! In the game when you get to meet him (I will link the video here! it’s five minutes long, and worth the watch) you get to see both Nightwing’s and Dick’s personalities. Nightwing is fun and relaxed, he is a little bit cocky and doesn’t let Batman be a pain in his ass, he is truly a beast. Although he is never seen without the mask in a moment when he is alone with Bruce you can really see Dick’s personality shine through. He obviously has had issues with Bruce in the past but there is also this palpable respect coming from both of them to the other. Bruce wants to protect Dick but he acts like a jerk instead of telling him what is on his mind. Dick wants to help Bruce at all costs, he refuses to leave Gotham until they solve something that he was already working on before Bruce needed his help.

There is also this sort of goodbye scene between the two (I will link it here!) that is extremely sad because Dick doesn’t believe Bruce when he tells him that he is proud of him. Dick cuts him off just when Bruce was trying to open up and I think that scene speaks volumes about how rough their relationship was. Dick never finds out that Bruce was “dying” after being infected with the Joker’s blood/gas, so it’s very bittersweet.

There is also the Nightwing DLC, where we get to see Dick being the best of the best, he is so skilled and funny and smart. It is amazing how much this game made me love their Nightwing even though he doesn’t appear much, his dynamic with Penguin is just perfect, Dick literally makes Penguin’s life very difficult. All of the people working with Penguin kinda fear Dick a little bit, some of them are even impressed by his skills.

Oh and, when Nightwing gets captured at some point in the game, Penguin’s men are saying something along the lines of “I was sure Batman will come in” “how come?” “what’s tied up downstairs and getting the crap beat out of it?” “Oh yeah, Nightwing” and that is so true, if I were Batman, I will also risk my life for Nightwing.

I just love Nightwing, he makes me so happy! He is the best here!

Anyway, enough of me loving Nightwing uncontrollably, I will make a separate post where I only talk about ArkhamVerse Jason so, yeah, be ready for that one because I love that Jason too, he is hot.

[belliesandburps]

First of all, hope you enjoy No Way Home! Second of all, favorite movies for some of your favorite TW characters? (We'll just live in a world where, somehow, those movies exist in the Night Raven universe as well as ours. XD )

First? Freakin' ADORED "No Way Home." It is easily in my top MCU films of all time and my top 3 Spider-Man films, just behind Spider-Verse and Spider-Man 2 (and Marvel's Spider-Man if that counts).

As for the actual ask? I think it actually works because maybe the Prefect still has access to all these films on their phone the way I do.

Leona - Scarface. He can largely connect with a larger-than-life figure who wants more than what the world is willing to offer him. Aaaaand anytime the Prefect cheekily asks him if he recalls how that film ENDS for Scarface...weeeeeell, that's a fast track down his gullet out of spite for reminding him...

Ruggie - Samurai Cop. Ruggie is the sort who loooooves laughing at bad movies. And Samurai Cop is the kind of bad movie that, every time you watch, has a new layer of badness that just makes it even better. Like the main character randomly wearing a woman's wig for the entire last act of the film because they had to reshoot the entire ending and the actor was told they were done, so he got his hair cut for a REAL movie after the fact. Or the sentence, "Now I'm telling these son of a bitches..." Forget "shishishi," Ruggie will be busting his sides at how awful the script is. He has the same reaction watching this shambles of a film that he did watching Chekha sit on Leona's stomach. Every. Single. Time. I mean, literally watch this scene and tell me he’s wrong:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvni9KbZfoo

Jack - The Dark Knight. Jack's not a huge comic book guy or anything like that...no, of course not. And he CERTAINLY doesn't think it's honorable that a man with wealth and power would actually use that power fighting for justice, and willfully shoulder the weight of the world and condemnation for the sake of the city he loves. Definitely not. He also TOTALLY isn't scared of the Joker either. Nope. Not at all...........*coughs*

Idia - My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising. He's a freakin' otaku gaming nerd. Of course his favorite film is gonna be an anime movie. And of course he's gonna watch it in the sub version whilst disregarding the dub version like a complete weab. He loves MHA to bits, and loves the journey these kids all go on, and he's very fond of the action in Heroes Rising and how much bigger the budget clearly was, especially for that insane final fight. Though, he IS a little unnerved at how...bizarrely similar his voice sounds to Shigaraki's...or how Bakugou sounds a LOT like Floyd for some reason...oooooooor how Best Jeanist sounds almost exactly like Lilia. But then he listens to the dub version for a few minutes, and very, VERY quickly goes back to the sub version and tries his best to ignore the fact that he sounds exactly like that psychotic evil gamer with blue hair and pale skin... (:'

Malleus - Count Dracula. Malleus adores the concept of Dracula as a character, the sheer power and the burden of isolation. The power of Sir Christopher Lee's performance combined with a tight, novel-accurate screenplay captivates Malleus the way one is captivated by poetry. What's more, he ADORES the architecture of Dracula's castle and greatly appreciates the fact that it was shot in a real castle...now if only that weren’t obstructed by constant close ups...

Floyd - Jaws. Floyd loves how the big sharky gives all those swimmers a nice deep squeeze he'd love to give his lil shrimpy from time to time. Jade loves the film too for the actual filmmaking and the sheer quality of Spielberg's direction. Floyd just giggles at all the presumed shark attacks and asks lil shrimp if they want him to play the sharky next time they go swimming. ;)

Azul - Godfather. Six guesses why. 'XD

Jamil - The Shining. Jamil is actually a huge fan of arthouse films with quality craftsmanship to them. He loves high detail and immaculate filmmaking. And the fact that The Shining is a film he can watch again and again and constantly find new details that he hadn't noticed the first time or re-interpret them makes it such a huge viewing treat for him. He loves films that make him think and anything Kubrick directed, maniac though he was, would always lend his mind something to ponder. That, aaaaaand he can sympathize with a man being driven to madness by someone who just won't leave him alone. :P

Kalim - Care Bears: The Movie. Because Kalim would love something where everyone gets to be best buddies and live happily ever after.

Riddle - The Phantom Thread. He understands the feeling of no one appreciating true greatness and is deeply drawn to Daniel Day Lewis' final performance. Also, all of the designs he comes up with are absolutely stunning and he's very keen on having his next dorm uniform designed in the same vein as one of those magnificent dresses.

Che'Nya - The Cat Returns. It's a film about cats set in a cat universe that's whimsical, confusing, beautiful, hilarious and full of heart. I can't imagine why Che'Nya wouldn't adore that film and find a way to faze himself into it.

Deuce - The Matrix. Deuce loves tightly crafted action and suspense, which the first Matrix film delivers in Spaaades. He's also very fond of the philosophical side of the film as well, since, like Jamil, he likes to think...buuuut he mainly likes kickass kung fu fights.

Ace - Something's Gotta Give. Ace lowkey loves rom-coms and will take that secret to his grave. XD

[sedge-yells-at-comics]

Reprinted below, in case the link implodes.

Flash #27 Reveals Why Reverse Flash Is a Truly Unique Villain                

The finale of "Running Scared" provides a gut-wrenching Rebirth update to one of DC's most complicated villains: Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash.

By Meg Downey Published Jul 27, 2017               

If you’re a fan of the Flash, you’re probably pretty familiar with the concept of the Reverse Flash, a man named Eobard Thawne who, like Barry, has super speed and wears a flashy costume. Of course, the “Reverse” might sound like he’s the literal opposite of the Flash -- maybe someone who slows things down instead of speeding himself up? Or maybe someone who runs backwards?

There are a lot of obvious and incorrect guesses pretty readily available for casual or newer fans to throw darts at. The reality of the Reverse Flash is, however, pretty complicated. Mostly because his “reverse” status is actually ideological at its core. Flash media, be it print, animated or live action, has traditionally made this apparent by painting Eobard as someone who is essentially pure evil -- a sort of manic, time traveling serial killer who is motivated solely by his endless need to destroy Barry Allen from the ground up.

At that point, the problem then becomes finding a way to make Thawne’s homicidal drive, well… unique in the scope of the DC Universe, a place that just so happens to be populated by enough over-the-top villains to populate a decent sized Midwestern town. Why is Reverse Flash someone that’s specific to The Flash? What differentiates him from any of DC’s other iconic arch rivals, like Lex Luthor or The Joker?

Well, The Flash #27 has the answer, and it's probably not the one you expected.

Running Scared

The rebirth of the “classic” Eobard Thawne (as opposed to his New 52 revamp) began in the Flash/Batman crossover mini-event “The Button” back in April, a four-part storyline which connected the original Thawne to the events of last year’s DC Universe: Rebirth one-shot.

Since, then, Thawne’s taken up residence as a perpetual thorn in Barry’s side in the hero's own ongoing series, stepping directly into the spotlight for the three-part “Running Scared” arc which served to highlight Thawne’s Rebirth status quo. For the most part, it’s a story that fans will be pretty familiar with, borrowing heavily from elements of stories like The Flash: Rebirth and Flashpoint. Thawne’s from the future, he time traveled to kill Barry’s parents, he’s connected to a negative form of the Speed-Force, and so on -- But that’s where things start to get their Rebirth-specific legs.

It’s not that creators Josh Williamson, Howard Porter and Paul Pelletier are trying to reinvent the proverbial wheel with “Running Scared” -- just unlock a different side of it by shining a light on one of the most unique aspect of Eobard and Barry’s relationship.

Reverse Flash doesn’t hate Flash the way Lex Luthor hates Superman, or Bane hates Batman. It’s actually (appropriately) quite the opposite. It’s the reverse. Eobard Thawne loves Barry Allen, obsessively and vengefully, which is where his endless, destructive need to ruin Barry’s life comes into play.

“Running Scared” highlights the fact that a young Eobard grew up alone (though Williamson was quick to confirm that that particular story element came out of an earlier Geoff Johns Flash issue) with only his idealized and imaginary version of Barry -- a character from his history books -- to keep him company. Barry was, for all intents and purposes, Thawne’s only friend, confidant, and emotional anchor, despite the fact that the two of them wouldn’t actually meet for years and years.

It was plenty of time for a very troubled and very lonely Thawne to fall in love with a version of The Scarlet Speedster that existed only in his imagination...and, well, it’s pretty obvious how that particular emotional endeavor actually went down. Actually meeting Barry and subsequently being forced to deal with the fact that he was just a guy and not the cartoon character Thawne had built in his head for years, proved to be too hard a stress test for Thawne’s fragile psyche.

Fatal Attraction

Meeting and being disappointed by a personal hero is a rough experience for just about anyone, but rather than allowing himself to move on -- or even allowing himself to simply decide to hate Barry instead, Thawne’s obsession only doubled down.

As issue #27 hurtles to its conclusion, Thawne’s real motivations become abundantly apparent. As Barry, infected with Thawne’s own inverted Negative Speed Force thrashes Thawne within an inch of his life, he presses him with a question - Why, if Thawne has always been so inspired by him, has he gone out of his way to ruin Barry’s life at every turn? Why has he done all of these terrible things, from killing Barry’s parents to beating Wally within an inch of his life, to kidnapping he and Iris and hauling them to the future?

Thawne’s answer is as unexpected as it is heartrendingly honest: because these horrible things are the only way Thawne understands how to make Barry spend time with him.

It’s that simple.

Thawne’s love for, and obsession with Barry Allen has permeated his life so deeply and completely that he is even willing to count his time spent being pummeled half to death by Flash as a win. He’s completely unable or unwilling to differentiate between Barry’s affection and Barry’s hatred, and he’s ready to do whatever it might take to put himself at the center of either emotion in Barry’s mind.

“A few years ago, it would have really hurt my feelings to hear you say that,” Thawne taunts after Barry threatens him, “but now to think that I caused you that anger? That I could get under your skin like this? It warms my heart.”

It’s deeply troubling, of course, and horrifyingly uncomfortable to get a look into the head of a villain who is, essentially, the personification of a fan gone terribly, terribly awry -- a theme that only gets more difficult to swallow when you begin to think about the increasingly complicated relationship between fans and their idols in actual, genuine, non-super heroic world around us.

This subtle reworking of the Reverse Flash has made him one of comic’s most poignant ruminations of the idea of toxicity in fan communities, idolization of strangers, and self destructive obsession, and it did so in a way that boldly allowed Thawne to win at the end of the day.

The issue closes, and the arc completes, with Barry exactly in the position Thawne wanted him in: completely alone, just like Thawne was as he built Barry into a hero of mythological perfection in his head. Now, where Barry will end up, and whether he’ll be forgiven by Iris, Wally and the roster of people he’s been manipulating as he leads his vigilante double life, is still largely a mystery.

It’s clear that Thawne didn’t expect, or even really want, Barry to come running into his arms to start their life together the second he succeeded in isolating him -- he makes that abundantly clear as he warns that he’ll just return again and again and again, de-powered, killed or otherwise hindered. Iris may have added an exclamation point to the end of the story arc by “vaporizing” Thawne with a Black Hole gun, but it hardly matters.

Reverse Flash will be back, somehow, at some point, and it’s doubtful that his love and obsession for Barry will have wavered in the slightest. We know now that’s just now how his mind is capable of working. It’s unlikely that Thawne will ever feel anything for Barry beyond his own supremely twisted adoration, no matter how many times the Flash pummels him into the ground. It’s just not the way Thawne’s brain is able to process information anymore.

It’s complicated, messy, and uncomfortable, but it’s also one of the clearest articulations of exactly what makes Reverse Flash such an interesting villain in the scope of not just the Flash family of books, but the DCU as a whole.