#Mister Mammoth

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Around the Tubes

While you wait for the weekday to end and the weekend to begin, here's some comic news and reviews from around the web. #comics #comicbooks

The weekend is almost here! What geeky things are you all doing? Heading to a convention? Sound off! While you wait for the weekday to end and the weekend to begin, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web. ICv2 – IDW Publishing Loses $200,000 in Quarter – Ooph. An improvement but still not good. Reviews The Beat – Astro City Metrobook Vol. 1CBR – Black Panther #1CBR – DC Pride:…

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 3/29

Spring has sprung, our spirits (and the pollen count) are high, and our 25% Figurine Sale is still going strong til 4/1! 

A History Of Modern Manga HC - Insight Editions

The history of manga is inextricably linked to the social, economic, political, and cultural evolution of Japan. Essential to the daily lives of its inhabitants and to its economy, manga is one of the drivers of the international development of one of the world's largest economies. How did the manga market reach one billion copies annually in less than half a century? Who are the major players in this incredible expansion? Discover, over the pages and years, the major events and artists who have marked the history of modern manga in this new, updated and expanded edition.

The Ambassadors #1 (of 6) -  Mark Millar & Frank Quitely

Imagine you could gift superpowers to six people. In a world of eight billion, who do you choose? Join six of the greatest artists in the industry for an enormous story about ordinary people from around the world explaining why it should be them.

Big Guy & Rusty The Boy Robot TP -  Frank Miller & Geof Darrow 

Front and center, America! Here comes action! Here comes adventure! Here comes The Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot-a roller-coaster ride through the minds of Geof Darrow and Frank Miller, the tag team that set you reeling with their hard-hitting series, Hard Boiled! Everything you remember about being thirty-eight-years-old and watching monster movies is right here, but with all the magnified detail that you always wanted to see.

Don’t Spit In The Wind #1 (of 4) -  Stefano Cardoselli

One man's trash is another man's living. Since earth became inhospitable, humanity escaped ages ago to live in a space station floating above the atmosphere. Now Travis and his crew of garbage men are tasked with cleaning up mountains of toxic waste, working for a company called Atomic Bros INC., to create a "Clear World." But when one of Travis' crew members goes missing near an old nuclear facility Travis' job becomes a bit more complicated.

E-ratic 2 TP - Kaare Andrews & Brian Reber

Recharge complete! The teenage hero with superpowers that only work for ten minutes a day is back to save the world again as he navigates even more pressing perils: young love, bullies, a broken family and the gauntlet that is high school. This time, young Oliver Leif is teamed with a barbarian princess who claims to be from another dimension. Spinning from the pages of The Resistance, E-Ratic combines electric action, teen drama, and pure comics fun.

Everything Sucks: Real Gamer Hours One-Shot -  Michael Sweater

Do video games cause violence? No, but they do cause Noah to smell absolutely horrible from playing an MMO for three days straight. Can Calla break the spell, or will she get trapped by the sweaty paws of King Crushskull too? Includes a foil cardstock cover and a sticker sheet!

Fart School HC -  Mel Stringer

Mel is excited about moving to Brisbane and starting art school! She imagines collaborating with other creatives, honing her craft, and becoming an accomplished artist. But it turns out that art school isn't quite the same in real life. Can Mel finish college with her love of art still intact?

Festival Of Shadows: A Japanese Ghost Story GN -  Atelier Sento

Every summer, in an isolated Japanese village, a celebration known as the Festival of Shadows takes place. The villagers are entrusted to assist the troubled souls or "shadows" of those who died tragically, and to help them come to terms with their deaths and find eternal peace. Naoko, a young girl born in the village, is given a year to save the soul of a mysterious young man. She develops strong feelings for her shadow-a handsome young man, an artist-but he seems haunted by a terrible secret. She has a year to find out what happened to him, to help him come to terms with his past, and if she fails, his soul will be lost forever. As the year goes by, Naoko finds herself teetering between the worlds of the living and the dead. What is the terrible secret that seems to be haunting her shadow? And could she be risking her own life to help someone who has already lost his?  

Superstate TP -  Graham Coxon, Hellen Mullane & Alex Paknadel 

The Superstate is everywhere, and its authority is absolute. Yoga Town is a city divided. While they wait to leave the earth, the 1% can bend reality to their will, they live in a consequence free world where anything goes. Meanwhile, the masses are pacified by a drugged out, government mandated digital dreamscape while they wait to perish on this dying planet. But there is still hope, for angels roam the earth. With their help, maybe some rebellious spirits can start to make a change. Experience 15 surreal and disturbing tales of rebellious fembots, celebrity turkey shoots, violent astral projection and an all-new take on the TV dinner.

Granite State Punk #1 - Travis Gibb & Patrick Buermeyer

Zeke has just gotten released from prison and is now living in the last place he ever wanted to be... his dead parents' house. For years, he tried to drown every ounce of the memories of this place and his messed-up childhood. Zeke is now forced to confront it and the revelation that his past is filled with the occult, punk rock, dark magic, and its connection to New Hampshire's most historic landmark, The Old Man of the Mountain.

I Hear A Sunspot: Four Seasons GN -  Yuki Fumino

Kohei Sugihara, college student with hearing loss, and Taichi Sagawa, his ever-optimistic former classmate, met in a chance encounter that ignited an undeniable spark that would eventually blossom into love. Now it's spring and as Kohei nears graduation, his search for a job begins. Meanwhile, Taichi finds himself in charge of someone new at work. Life is busier than ever, but all in all, things seem to be looking up for the pair. That is, until the sudden appearance of Ena, one of Kohei's old flames.

Indigo Children #1 -  Curt Pires, Rockwell White & Alex Diotto RADIANT BLACK meets THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH in this action-packed sci-fi/mystery epic as journalist Donovan Price hunts down the extraordinarily gifted INDIGO CHILDREN after their mysterious disappearance fifteen years prior.

A Journal Of My Father GN -  Jiro Taniguchi

Yoichi Yamashita, spurred by a call informing him of his father's death, thinks of childhood. He returns to his hometown after a lengthy absence during which time he has not seen his father. As the relatives gather for the funeral and the stories start to flow, Yoichi's childhood starts to resurface. The Spring afternoons playing on the floor of his father's barber shop, the fire that ravaged the city and his family home, his parents' divorce and a new "mother." Through confidences and memories shared with those who knew him best, Yoichi rediscovers the man he had long considered an absent and rather cold father.

The Karman Line TP -  Dennis Hopeless & Piotr Kowalski

It's all sex, lies and betrayal on a reality show streaming from the International Space Station until the crew receives a message reading "ABORT MISSION AND GET HOME NOW." Things unravel quickly as they find their shuttle damaged and a crew member dead. They'll have to fight to survive and escape... with cameras recording everything.

Kaya Book 1 TP -  Wes Craig

After the destruction of their village, a young girl with a magic arm and a fighting spirit is tasked with delivering her little brother to a faraway safe haven. There, he's destined to discover the secret to overthrowing the all-powerful empire that destroyed their home. Starting out on their journey, they'll face lizard-riders, monstrous beasts, and secrets that could tear brother and sister apart.

Lady Baltimore: Dreams Of Ikelos One-Shot -  Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden, Bridgit Connell & Abigail Larson

Lady Sofia Baltimore, accompanied by an array of formidable companions, continues her war against the Nazis in an occult alternate Outerverse. High in the frozen Italian alps, a mercenary sorcerer has revealed a dangerous magical artifact. German forces will use it to obliterate Allied forces who stand against them . . . unless Sofia and Imogen can take possession of it first.    

Heartstrings: Melissa Ethridge & Her Guitars GN - Steve Hochman, Frank Mariffinno, Manuela Pertega & Kate Samuels

Melissa Etheridge's Heartstrings takes you on a journey through her growth and life as a musician, as it reveals the untold stories behind some of her favorite guitars, each one of them exciting, significant, and dear to her heart and music.

Mister Mammoth HC -  Matt Kindt & Denis Pendanx

Mr. Mammoth is the world's greatest detective and the kind of person you don't forget. Being a seven-foot-tall pacifist who's covered head to toe with an impressive collection of horrific scars makes quite the impression. But he might be losing his edge. He can't seem to solve his latest case and he's distracted with a strange obsession with a soap opera actress who doesn't even know he exists. His new case holds clues that might finally unlock the secret of his traumatic childhood. The question is: is he solving a crime-or planning one? Mr. Mammoth is the first-ever original graphic novel from Matt Kindt's all-new imprint, Flux House, which features crime, science fiction, and humor stories, all told in startling and untraditional ways. For Mr. Mammoth, Kindt is joined by internationally acclaimed artist Jean Denis Pendanx, who's making his U.S. debut!

Monster Tag Team #1 -  Konstantine Paradias, Gerardo Gambone & Neil Vokes

It's a brand-new series in the vein of classic team-ups and two-in-one comics - this is MONSTER TAG TEAM!  Two monsters - one rampaging story - all horror!  In this debut issue called "Wolfe And Bat" - mortal enemies and clashing world powers collide in an over-the-top monster battle royale!  In a Cold War that's gone occult, the international terror organization WARLOCK schemes to destroy human civilization. Faced with this new breed of unstoppable sorcerous criminal, West and Soviet agencies put their two best creatures on the case: Jesse Walker, a CIA-trained werewolf and Vlad Dracul, KGB's top vampire, team up to destroy WARLOCK's chief Magister before he can unleash Fimbulwinter on humanity. This issue comes with four covers - Main by Copper Age legend Neil Vokes, Corpse Crew homage cover by Buz Hasson & Ken Haeser, Painted cover by Mark Sparacio, and a special 100 copy Century limited edition!

Songs Of The Dead: Afterlife TP -  Michael Christopher Heron, Andrea Fort, MJ Erickson & Nick Robles

Bethany is a necromancer and a hero. Along with her companions, Elissar and Jonas, she has finally found the rumored Covenant. Her perilous journey has brought her to the last bastion of the necromancers, but resurging prejudices have them in shambles. Can Bethany unite them in the face of escalating tensions? Or will the coming war shatter all of her dreams for a peaceful future?

Vince Staples Presents Limbo Beach GN -  Bryan Edward Hill, Chris Robinson & Buster Moody

“Every kid has the same story. Wash up on shore. Enter the amusement park. Get superpowers. Why are you so different?" Join fan-favorite rapper Vince Staples, Bryan Edward Hill (Batman & the Outsiders; Titans), Chris Robinson (Children of the Atom), and Buster Moody (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) on an adventure into the mysterious Limbo Beach, an island theme park ruled by adolescents with unique abilities! Follow the newest member of the Wunderlosts, a band of misfit teenage raiders, on a journey to discover the truth about the park - and himself - in a tale that is equal parts Lord of the Flies and The Warriors.

Welcome Back, Aureole GN -  Takatsu

Bright and sociable Kazu and the sober and serious Moto have been best friends since childhood. Even if they drifted apart in junior high, they still understood one another better than anyone else. But in their second year, Kazu began to think of Moto as more than just a friend. And as much as he wanted to think it was just a misunderstanding, it became clear to him that his feelings were all too real...

WesterNoir GN -  Dave West, Gary Crutchley & Matt Soffe 

Josiah Black thought that he'd done it all - cowhand, gun slinger, drifter and sheriff - but then he kills Jim Wilson and takes on the role of monster hunter. Monsters that only he can see. They Live meets Deadwood in this tale from the old wild west.

Whatcha snagging this week, Fantom Fam?

[smillingcartoonist]

Mister Mammoth

[smashpages]

Smash Pages Q&A | Matt Kindt on ‘Hairball,’ Flux House, ‘BRZRKR’ and more

The award-winning creator discusses several of his recent projects, the success of his collaboration with Keanu Reeves, working with Jean-Denis Pendanx and more.

[bitterkarella]

Midnight Pals: Invaginies

Joe Koch: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the invaginies Stephen King: whoa joe that sounds kind of adult, is this appropriate for dean? Koch: oh it's fine, it's not like it's super adult Koch: or rather anything dean could parse as adult

King: this one might be a little rough dean, maybe you should sit this one out King: here, you can take these crayons and sit over there King: maybe draw us a nice picture of that spooky pumpkin you were talking about Koontz: i'm not a baby, steve! King: or maybe a friendly dog Koontz: oh yeah i could draw a dog

Dean Koontz: stop treating me like a child! Koontz: i'm just as grown up as the rest of you! Koontz: i'm an adult, goshdarnit!! King: dean!! indoor voice

King: sorry joe i really don't know where he gets it Koch: it's fine King: he's been hanging out with that grady Hendrix again, he's a bad influence Koontz: stop treating me like a baby! King: do you want your juice box, dean? would that make you feel better? Koontz: yes please

Joe Koch: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the invaginies Koch: open the nipple portal into the realm of the senses Koch: we are two caged animals, shitting in unison, our colons beacons of pain Koch: now we're polygons of marbled ham Koch: now you're a gestalt of bees nesting inside a dick Koch: tickling the inside of the dick with all your little bee feet

Koch: now imagine that you're a motorcycle Koontz: i can imagine that! Koontz: see? I can understand grown-up stories! Koch: now a gleaming black cube, compressed from the glittering bone dust of late capitalism Koontz: Koontz: oh i'm having more trouble imagining that

Koch: doctor, doctor! mister em dee Koch: can you tell me what's ailing me Koch: the varigated spines of pure pleasure Koch: the disease of the self is the topography of the other Koch: the anus is the door to entropy Koch: shoes for industry! shoes for the dead! Koontz: i Koontz: King: it's okay dean just take a deep breath

Koch: i did it! i did it! Koch: i listened to the whole story and i understood it all! just like a grown up! King: good job dean we're all very proud of you Barker: oh you understood it all, huh? how about you explain it to me then Koontz: Koontz: uhhhh King: you don't have to explain anything dean, we believe you King: clive leave him alone

Koch: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call this the tale of the bride of the rat bride Koch: this guy makes his girlfriend wear the rat mask from 1984 Koch: but the twist is Koch: there's rats in it Barker: is it like a sex thing? Koch: no it's bad

Koch: submitted for the approval of the midnight society, i call is the tale of the convulsive Koch: what if a caveman killed a woolly mammoth Koch: but turned out it was actually an eldritch monster baby fetus god sewn up inside a shambling mammoth carcass Lovecraft: oh i hate when that happens

[ofliterarynature]

JANUARY 2024 WRAP UP

[loved liked ok DNF (reread) bookclub*]

Mammoths at the Gates • An Impossible Imposter • Greywaren • The Hexologists • Mister Impossible • Reclaiming Two Spirits • (Check, Please: #Hockey)* • Thornhedge • Call Down the Hawk • All the Hidden Paths • All the Beauty in the World • (The Raven King) • (A Strange and Stubborn Endurance) • (Blue Lily, Lily Blue) • The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie • The Missing Page • Bird By Bird • Lucky Red • Portrait of a Thief

I suppose I may as well start with the giant pile of Maggie Stiefvater and get that out of the way, lol. According to Goodreads, this was at least my 3rd time through the entire Raven Cycle. Despite that, I had only the vaguest idea of what happened in the last two books, and now having reread them (again), yeah, that tracks! I can hang with book 3 but I have no idea what was really going on in The Raven King, and as a series finale I didn't love it. It felt a lot like the dreamer plotlines drowned out the original Glendower and ley line story that we started with. But, Maggie being Maggie, I love the way she writes so much that I at least still enjoyed the reading experience. And it made an incredibly clear lead-in to the Dreamer Trilogy (which I had not read), it made total sense, I was hopeful! Again, Maggie being Maggie, I had a good time reading them, I liked learning more about the Lynch brothers, I'm always down for some art forgery, but I just didn't really like it and (while I'm glad for Maggie that she was able to write it) I could have lived without it. It completely did not have the vibe or charm of TRC and, criminally, did not include the Gangsey. How!!!!

The Missing Page - liked it! It felt a lot more solid as a mystery than the first book, which I greatly appreciated, though the villagers in the first book were maybe a bit more fun. I'm not feeling particularly inspired to go look up more Cat Sebastian after this, but if she writes another one of these I'd read it.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - I've had this one on my mystery tbr for a while, and for some reason I'd thought it was set in a much earlier time period than the 1950's? lol. Our protagonist is the youngest of 3 sisters growing up in genteel poverty with an absent father, and she has the run of the village, the house, and an incredibly well stocked chemistry lab left by an ancestor. She is both incredibly clever and terribly naive, and absolutely terrifying because of it. Flavia is fascinating as a detective, because she's not written as the protagonist of a middle grade mystery novel - she's a child. This was an interesting read, but I'm not sure it's what I'm looking for in a mystery novel and I don't think I'll continue the series.

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance - reread this in advance of the sequel - it was a bit easier to see some flaws this time around, but had a good time! This *was* my first time listening to it on audio though, and I'm not sure I'd recommend it. It had a different person reading for each of the main characters and their voices just didn't pair well for me - not to mention one of them also read Lev AC Rosen's Lavender House and boy does he do some distinctive character voices.

All the Hidden Paths - didn't go quite so well. I think primarily my mental space was not pairing well with the tensions of reading this for the first time, I do think on a reread I might like it better. Somehow the spy/saboteur was my favorite character? He was soo bad at his job, I found it very funny. But overall, I think it was just a little too close to a rehash of the plot from the first book, leaving me to think Meadows might not be the best at writing mysteries. Luckily it does at least score high on my romance scale.

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me - first nonfic of the year! I've been eagerly anticipating my library getting an audio copy ever since I first heard about this last year, it sounded cool, I'm fascinated by art museums and behind-the-scenes! Unfortunately I was not into it, and almost 2 months on I can't remember enough to even try to tell you why. It did pair interestingly with another recent read, The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler, but I'm still learning how far into memoir territory I can go. Someone stop me from trying the other Met nonfic book I found recently lol.

Thornhedge - wonderful! No notes! I love fairy tales and this was a delight to read.

Check, Please! #Hockey - loved getting to revisit this for book club! I've been meaning to for a few years, because y'all. I've read so much fanfic, and I have no idea what is in the comic, what Ngozi posted as extras, and what is fanon. The comic had less than I was expecting! Still fun, my fellow book-clubber liked it, but my real love was the tweets! I'll definitely try to read Vol 2 this year so I can then browse the larger collection of them compiled in the Chirpbook.

Reclaiming Two Spirits: I saw this one on tumblr and fortunately was able to get access to the audiobook! It's a topic I was very interested in learning more about, and I did! But - this is a research project, more than anything, it could be very repetitive (which, fair. colonizers suck), and it felt distanced from its subject. I feel it's a book that definitely has its place, but it's not objectively a 'good read,' and I'd rather have had something from someone who is indigenous and two-spirit themselves.

The Hexologists - it has its quirks, but this was unapologetically a delight to read and I had a fun time! I'm a sucker for a world with a magic vs industrial revolution, not to mention a married pair of established investigators, and I always appreciate an author who's willing to get a bit silly. If there's ever more books I'd love to read them!

An Impossible Imposter - she is what she is, I had a good time! This one felt like it might have taken some inspo from The Moonstone 👀

Mammoths at the Gate - had a good time with this, as I always do with the Singing Hills books. Stories about stories are like catnip, I should reread them all sometime!

Bird by Bird by Ann Lamott (DNF) - I have only the vaguest memories of reading parts of this for a creative writing class in college, and now that I'm getting more into nonfiction thought why not? Unfortunately the audiobook version I got was read by the author, who absolutely does not have an audiobook voice/cadence. I considered trying again with the version read by someone else, but decided I wasn't actually interested enough to continue.

Lucky Red By Claudia Cravens (DNF) - the host of one of the podcasts I listen to was gushing about this one and I was like, sapphic western? Sign me up! I read about 25% of it, and it all seemed fine, it just wasn't feeling particularly interesting to me. Absolutely give it a shot if you'd like!

Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li (DNF) - I knew going in this had been getting mixed reviews. I really like the idea of it - I enjoy a heist, am always interested in fine arts/art history drama, and vigilante art repatriation hell yeah! But this felt very much like it was trying to emulate a heist *movie*, and it just wasn’t working for me as a book. If this ever gets adapted I’d love to see it.

[mariamakeslemons]

Spooktober 2024: Day 18 Insanity

Warning: Use of the actors names while talking about fictional characters (hopefully it's clear why, but don't do this in real life), reader is gender neutral

You avoid room 141 to 145, unnerved by the patients that reside in those particular rooms. All four men insist that they are fictional characters from some popular game, but they all look at you like prey. As just an intern nurse, you’re treated the worst of the staff, often given the really bad jobs and forced to do things you don’t want to do, including being forced to interact with 141 to 145.

Walking up, you hold the tray holding their pills steady as the first door opens.

“Hello, Love,” Barry greets you, smiling under his imperial beard.

“Good afternoon, Mister Sloane,” you reply. His smile drops and his fist clenches as he stares at you.

“I’ve told you, my name is John Price,” he intones, a warning. You simply swallow and hand him the pills. He blows a sigh out of his nose, but takes the cup, knocking all the pills back at once, making you panic, despite seeing him and the others pull this a few times. You take back the cup with a strained smile, especially when he rubs at the back of your hand, before hurrying out the door.

Next is Samuel Roukin, a mammoth of a man who just stares at you. The only reason you know he believes himself to be some character is that he answers to Ghost and follows Mister Sloane’s orders like a subordinate to their superior.

“Good afternoon, Mister Roukin,” you greet, stepping into the room. He looks up at you, completely silent as he rises and walks up to you. You swallow nervously as he purposefully towers over you, shakily handing him the cup of pills. Maintaining eye contact, he downs them all like Mister Sloane did, before silently handing the cup back. You nod and scurry out, shaken as you usually are by his silent behavior. Like he’s observing you for weakness.

Taking a moment, you regather yourself before entering Neil Ellice’s room. The man’s head snaps up as you enter the room, and a grin crosses his face.

“Bonnie nurse, back t’ heal mae soul,” he greets, his eyes focuses on you like a predator. You offer a still strained smile.

“Good afternoon, Mister Ellice,” you greet, handing over the pills. Mister Ellice pouts, but he takes the pills nonetheless. Once those are swallowed down, he leans in.

“C’mon, sweet thing,” he whispers, completely focused on you, “Ah’m Soap, nae Neil Ellice. Don’ even ken where tha’ name came from.” You tremble, taking a few shaky steps back before scrambling away, rushing out the door and closing it quickly. You turn and lean against the door, fighting back your shaking. You work through a few breathing exercises you’ve looked up, blinking back tears of fear. And you have one more to do.

Last for his pills is Elliot Knight, who’s the prettiest of the men but also gives you the chills. There’s something about how he looks at you, that screams manipulation. Swallowing again, you reluctantly enter.

“Good afternoon, Mister Kight,” you greet, freezing when he looks up and smiles at you.

“C’mon, Lovely,” he coos, “Call me Gaz.” You offer another strained smile and just hand over his pills. Mister Knight huffs, giving a playful grin before downing the pills. He hands the cup back and walks calmly back to his bed, allowing you to leave without any fuss. Taking another breath to calm down, you finally gather your things and leave the hall, shaking the whole way.

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

“Poor thing,” Price huffs with a shake of his head, the others gathered at the table in the hospital rec room, “Doesn’t even remember t’ call me by my name.”

“They think Barry Sloane is y���r name,” Ghost points out, throwing down two cards and accepting two more from Gaz.

“Yeh think we can get t’ Kate soon, Captain?” Soap asks, pouting at his cards and exchanging one. Price huffs as Gaz continues to handle the deck for their game of 5 draw, all of them keeping a subtle eye on the guards around the room and the patients wandering around. Honestly, Price doesn’t understand how he and his boys ended up in a mental hospital, especially after just going to bed and waking up in a strange place. Sooner or later, something will make sense and his team will be released. Perhaps with the sweet thing that brings them their pills.

[sassenach082]

sneak peak, as promised, but it's pretty short nonnie sorry! Spoilers for ch 18 under the cut feat. Ron "I just want to go to sleep" Kerner and Tom "let me process my whole life for a sec" Kazansky

“I think I fucked up,” Tom said to the bottom of Slider’s bunk long after lights out. He knew Ron wasn’t asleep because he wasn’t snoring and he kept shifting around making the bed springs creak obnoxiously loud.

“You never fuck up, dipshit," Slider grunted, sounding half-asleep and pissy as usual.

“I do too,” he countered, stacking his hands over his stomach.

The bedsprings screeched the way they did when Ron was rolling his mammoth frame over and a heartbeat later his head was hanging off the side, eyes squinting at him sleepily in the darkness of their room.

“That’s new from you, mister perfect.”

“Fuck off,” he grunted, rolling his eyes and reaching out to shove at his face. “I just mean I was thinking about it on the hop this morning-”

[hardcore-lonewolf]

PLAYER COLORS + GAMING USERNAMES FOR THE TEEN TITAN GANG & THE YOUNG JUSTICE TEAM (FEATURING MY FOUR OCS, ONSLAUGHT & INCURSION)

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Short A/N: I got pens and tons of colors. I'm a total gamer, a fanfiction writer, and a sketch book artist on drawing. I got this idea from my Wattpad one-shot of DC Comics and wanted to use it...so here goes nothing.

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Heroic Squad | Insurgency - Team Microsoft's X-Box.

Aqualad II/Aquaman II - Knight_Of_Atlantis (Ginger: Jackson Hyde).

Wonder Girl II/Wonder Woman II (OFC) - Half_Blood_Princess (Blue: Octavia Trevor).

Superboy I/Steel Scion - Boy_Of_Steel (Black: Conner Kent).

Martian Girl-Hunter I/Miss Martian - Girl_From_Mars (White: Megan Morse).

Cyborg I/Hardware II - Built_A_Robot (Azure: Victor Stone).

Starfire/Fire Goddess II - Heart_Of_Fire (Rose: Kory Anders).

Breach/Metamorpho II (OMC) - Under_Town_Amalgam (Brown: Nathan Davenport).

Rocket I/Icon II - Rock_Your_World (Azure: Raquel Ervin).

Kid Flash I/Flash III - Fastest_Kid_Alive (Amber: Wally West).

Arrowette I/Tigress II - The_Master_Assassin (Verdant: Artemis Crock).

Robin I/Nightwing - Flying_Boy_Wonder (Navy: Dick Grayson).

Mouse I/Black Cat (OFC) - Made_Of_Magic (Magenta: Eva Nelson).

Lumus/Green Lantern III (OMC) - Power_Of_Will (Forest: Freddie Steinfeld).

Madame Fortune/Spellcaster - Ace_Of_Spades (White: Zatanna Zatara).

Beast Boy/Changeling - One_Wild_Thing (Lime: Garfield Logan).

Raven/White Raven - Daughter_Of_Darkness (Indigo: Rachel Roth).

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Villainous Group | Regime - Team Sony's Play-Station.

Psimon/Doctor Syndrome II - Mind_In_Distress (Gray: Simon Jones).

Devastation/Armorstrike II - Your_Worst_Nightmare (Silver: Roxanne Lowell).

Gizmo I/Slyfox II - The_Mad_Genius (Teal: Mikron O'Jeneus).

Shimmer/Chroma II - Rot_In_Hell (Aqua: Selinda Flinders).

Mammoth/Terminator - Awaken_The_Monster (Olive: Baran Flinders).

Blackfire/Dark Comet II - Kiss_Of_Death (Purple: Komal Brooks).

Frostbite/Icicle II - Trapped_In_Ice (Slate: Cameron Mahkent).

Tuppence Terror/Fury II - Pain_Over_Beauty (Coral: Bethany Ford).

Tommy Terror/Warpath II - Brawn_Over_Brains (Maroon: Albert Ford).

Jinx/Wiccan II - Karma_Will_Rise (Pink: Nicole Diaz).

Lord Pyre/Holocaust II - Burn_To_Ashes (Orange: Leonard Smalls).

Deadly Orchid/Flora - Spider_Lily_Oracle (Mint: Barbara Gordon).

Union/Visionary II - My_Third_Eye (Green: Seymour Dinardo).

Bloody Quartz/Prime Diamond II - Crystal_Gem_Queen (Tan: Darnice Hedare).

Repro/Mister Numerous II - Make_A_Clone (Red: Billy Strayer).

Terra Mater I/Gaia - Stone_Cold_Rebel (Yellow: Tara Markov).

▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒

What do y'all think? Comment down on better gamer usernames for them. Bye guys.

[awesomecoyote337]

Batman/DC Fanfiction Villain Requests

I’m writing a Batman/DC fanfiction in the style of a TV series script and if you have suggestions or requests for villains that you want to see included, let me know in the comments.

Villains that I’m using

Jinx

Mammoth

Gizmo

Kite-Man

Killer Moth

Firefly (Garfield Lynns)

The Riddler

Quiz and Query

Clock King

The Mad Hatter

The Wonderland Gang (The March Hare, The Walrus, The Carpenter, The Lion, The Unicorn, Tweedledee, and Tweedledum)

Scarecrow

Humpty Dumpty

Mad Mod

Signalman

Joker*

Straightman (Carl Finley)

The Penguin*

Mister Wing

Black Mask*

Lord Death Man*

The Eraser

Mr. Freeze

Poison Ivy

Bane

Faceless (Joseph Zedno)

Man-Bat

Clayface

The Terrible Trio (Warren Lawford/Fox, Gunther Hardwicke/Shark, and Armand Lydecker/Vulture)

Hugo Strange

Villains that I plan to use  

Two-Face

Blight

Calendar Man

Catman

Zodiac Master

I prefer Batman villains and I’m especially a fan of obscure or D-list villains (think Crazy Quilt, Mad Monk, etc) but I can do some non-Batman villains (Gorilla Grodd, Cheetah, etc) if people really want.

[chorusfm]

Albums in Stores – Apr 5th, 2024

If you hit read more you can see all the releases we have in our calendar for the week. Hit the comments to access our forums and talk about what came out today, what albums you picked up, and to make mention of anything we may have missed. Acid Mammoth – Supersonic Megafauna CollisionAlpha Wolf – Half Living ThingsAmblare – AmblareAmskray – Die HappyAnnex Void – Will I DreamAristarchos – II: Mayrtyr Of Fire And StarAustere – Beneath The ThresholdBayside – There Are Worse Things Than Being AlivediscussBelore – Eastern TalesBetween You & Me – SH!T YEAHBilwish – HamelnBlacktop Mojo – PollenBnny – One Million Love SongsBob Vylan – Humble As The SunBurn Down Eden – DismalChief State – The Acoustic EPCistvaen – At Light’s DemiseCleansing – Throne Of MiseryConan Gray – FOUND HEAVENContinuals – ContinualsDana Gavanski – Late SlapDead Pony – Ignore ThisDeep Tunnel Project – Deep Tunnel ProjectDiabolic Oath – Oracular HexationsDog Unit – At HomeDrahla – angeltapeDreamcar – The DreamDustin Kensrue – Desert DreamingdiscussERRA – CureFeeder – Black / RedFilth – Southern HospitalityFive Finger Death Punch – Afterlife (Deluxe Edition)Friends Of Hell – God Damned You To HellFuneral Leech – The Illusion Of TimeGrace Cummings – RamonaGustaf – Package Pt. 2Heartbent – HeartbentHero In Error – Hero In ErrorHerxheim – ContrapassoHorndal – Head Hammer ManHour Of Penance – DevotionHumble Abode – Cemetery SymmetryIldganger – For Hver Tanke Mister Sjælen Atter FarveIn Sylva – SheIn Vain – SolemnIngested – The Tide Of Death And Fractured DreamsInner FR – VermillionIron Monkey – Spleen & GoadIschemic – Condemned To The Breaking WheelJane Weaver – Love In Constant SpectacleKanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – Vultures Vol. 3Katie Pruitt – MantrasKhruangbin – A la SalaKorpiklaani – RankarumpuKosuke Hashida – Justifiable HomicideLesath – Under The MoonLevel The Compound – One Of UsLo Moon – I Wish You Way More Than LuckLocrian – End TerrainLost In Grey – Odyssey Into The GreyLurcher – BreatheMarcus King – Mood SwingsMichelle Moeller – Late MorningModest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News (20th Anniversary Edition)Mount Kimbie – The Sunset ViolentMy Hands To War – Ursal KingdomNitritono – CecitàNovo Amor – Collapse ListdiscussOakhead – X.O.Odetta Hartman – SwansongsOld 97’s – American PrimitiveOrecus – DreadnoughtPalace – UltrasoundParty Pest – UninvitedPatient Sixty-Seven – What If It Never Gets BetterPernice Brothers – Who Will You BelievePhosphorescent – RevelatorPlanet On A Chain – Culture Of DeathProtosequence – BestiarySheryl Crow – EvolutionSinkane – We BelongSkylene – Within My VicinitySkywalker – All News Is Bad NewsStars Hollow – In The Flower BedStill Corners – Dream TalkStraight On View – Gotta Step UpStrung Out – Dead RebellionTemple Of The Fuzz Witch – ApotheosisThe Black Keys – Ohio PlayersThe Dredge – TorchesThe Libertines – All Quiet On The Eastern EsplanadeThe Lifted Veil – Genocidal Bliss Of HeavenThe Overbloom – Just; HumaneThe Pill – Hollywood SmileThe Reds, Pinks And Purples – Unwishing WellTonnerre – La Nuit SauvageVampire Weekend – Only God Was Above UsdiscussVenomous Echoes – Split Formations And Infinite ManiaVnder A Crvmbling Moon – II: Aging & FormlessWatertank – Liminal StatusWitch Vomit – Funeral SanctumY Dail – TeigrYoung Medicine – Cold Bloodedsleepmakeswaves – It’s Here, But I Have No Names For ItÜLV – Revenant --- Thanks to helloiamzach for providing additional contributions to this week’s list. You can check out and support his weekly music podcast It’s Not A Phase or follow him on his socials. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/albums-in-stores-today/albums-in-stores-apr-5th-2024/

[smillingcartoonist]

Mister Mammoth

[smashpages]

Out this week: Mister Mammoth (Dark Horse, $29.99):

Matt Kindt’s Flux House imprint at Dark Horse imports this graphic novel that Kindt did with artist Jean Denis Pendanx, who is making his U.S. debut. It’s about a seven-foot-tall pacifist who’s covered head to toe with an impressive collection of horrific scars and also happens to be the world’s greatest detective (don’t tell Batman). But his latest case may be his most difficult, and could unlock the secrets of his traumatic childhood.

See what else is arriving this week at a comic shop near you.

[airadam]

Episode 178 : @StreetLevel

"...just to show how many come to the funeral."

- Tee

There's some very serious Hip-Hop in this month's selection - from the rugged to the smooth, and from some old and even unreleased material to brand new releases! Of course we pay tribute to Biggie, Phife, and Nate Dogg, with some music that may have passed you by previously.

RIP Bo$$...I make a point of not repeating tracks on the podcast, but her classic single "Deeper" is in the mix on episode 37 if you fancy going back nearly twelve years into the archives. Her run may have been short, but the talent was there.

Oh yes - the Hieroglyphics gig in Manchester this June still has some tickets available!

Mastodon : @airadam@mastodon.me.uk

Twitch : @airadam13

Event/stream schedule : events.airadam.com

Playlist/Notes

The Notorious B.I.G and 2Pac : Where Brooklyn At? (Freestyle)

Starting off raw, but also very much a selection that makes you sad when you consider what was lost - first a friendship, then two lives. Biggie and 2Pac took the stage together in 1993 at Madison Square Garden for this memorable freestyle performance (with some of the lyrics later turning up on other tracks), and DJ Mister Cee had the presence of mind to record it to cassette. The sound quality might be rough, but it's history. RIP to Biggie and 2Pac.

[Oh No] Grand Agent : After

This track is a shockingly short fifty-two seconds long, so I had to loop it up here to give a long enough instrumental bed for the voiceover - and it's a shame because it's easily one of the best beat on the "Under The Circumstances" project that Oh No produced for Grand Agent back in 2005. This was another bit of wax that I rediscovered during The Great Digitisation, and I'm glad I did - for everyone who missed it the first time round, there's a very affordable digital release!

The Eastsidaz ft. Butch Cassidy, Nate Dogg, and Kokane : Cool

We start the first mix over on the West Coast, Long Beach to be precise, with The Eastsidaz, a group made up of Snoop, Big Tray Deee, and Goldie Loc, and essentially a reprise of a previous group The Eastsiders that had Snoop, Crooked I, and Li'l C-Style as members. While the original group only released one song officially, the later lineup is much better-known, and their second LP "Duces 'n Trayz: The Old Fashioned Way" is a well-regarded album for those who appreciate the style. The late great Nate Dogg blesses them with some vocals on the hook here, alongside the multi-talented but oft-overlooked Butch Cassidy who is actually the lead singer here, and another connoisseur's choice in Pomona's Kokane. The producer isn't one that you might immediately expect, but in fact Hi-Tek working with MCs who are spitting material far from the Reflection Eternal sphere! 

Tyler Daley : Never Look Down

The first of a run of three Manchester tracks, this is a brand new single from half of Children of Zeus, taken from his aptly-named "Son of Zeus" EP. Thematically this could have been part of Zeus' "Balance" album, with Tyler both rhyming and singing about the challenges and pressures of balancing family life and a music career, over the kind of modern soul production that is a crew trademark. Definitely get yourself a copy of this new release.

Berry Blacc, Dubbul O, & Jointhedots : The Rain

Possibly the most appropriately-named record that could come from Manchester, Jointhedots are back with their second release of the year, with longtime collaborators Dubbul O and Berry Blacc on the mic. The jazzy, chilled vibe of the instrumental is a trademark of the crew, and both MCs settle into it perfectly - not trying to dominate it, not running wild, just fitting in as two more instruments, lyrical ones of course. Grab this single and keep an eye out for future releases...🤞🏿

KinKai & Mecca:83 : Safe Don't Say

Short, but one where they leave us wanting more! A third straight local selection, this was on the mammoth "Manchester With Love" compilation that raised money after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. With over 200 tracks, it was easy for any individual track to slip under the radar, and somehow this gem did for me! Mecca:83 supplies a piano-led track with a little acoustic guitar in the back, and KinKai displays a preview of the quality he delivered on his debut LP three years later.

[DJ Quik] Suga Free : On My Way (Inst)

Playing instrumentals allows me to feature some songs which might be lyrically a bit...much - and plenty of Suga Free's material fits into that category! The vocal version is on his debut LP "Street Gospel", which is entirely produced by the man behind the boards here, Compton's own DJ Quik.

Math Hoffa : Comeback

Absolute fire - this was being trailed at the start of Math's "My Expert Opinion" podcast videos on Youtube before the full video surfaced. Still, as I said in the comments, I wasn't counting it as a release until the audio was out to stream or buy, and now it is! Wordplay and punchlines are the name of the game here, as the renowned battle rapper and podcast host starts off talking about his iced-out watch and takes it from there. GQ Beatz does a stellar job on production, taking a well-known Janet Jackson sample as the basis and filling out beautifully around it. I'm a huge fan of this single.

Paul Wall & Termanology ft. CL Smooth : It's Magic

The sound of this track is so chunky I wondered for a sec if Statik Selektah had sampled the Alex Isley cover version of Patrice Rushen's "Remind Me", but it's the original, expertly augmented. Taken from last year's "Start, Finish, Repeat" album, this may have been an autumn release but it's got summer anthem (for the heads) written all over it. CL Smooth is the perfect guest star, Paul Wall is spitting heavy too, and Termanology brings it home with his rapid-fire flow. Expect to hear this on my Twitch streams and mixes this year!

Large Professor : The LP (For My People)

Classic boom-bap - which was, with a different sentiment, the feeling of Geffen Records, who didn't know what to do with "The LP" when it was completed in 1996 as they felt it was too retro. Well, it's still getting play nowadays while many of the records they expected the Queens legend to ape have long since been forgotten. Bass is thick, drums are too, and it's just that straight-up 90s Hip-Hop. 

Phife ft. Dwele : God Send

While I could have played something from Tribe, I decided that the Phife tune this month would be something from his final solo LP, "Forever", which was released posthumously. Despite everything he was going through at the time, some of which he speaks of on the track, Phife is philosophical and even a touch optimistic, which says a lot about his spirit. Dwele provides some great added vocals, and the whole thing is undergirded by production from G Koop & Bobby Ozuna. RIP Mutty Ranks.

Ge-Ology : Q-Boro Bonus Break 1 (Inst)

Bonus is right - a cheeky extra beat on the 12" of Apani B-Fly Emcee's "Estragen" courtesy of Ge-Ology - a producer maybe not known to everyone, but peep this interview!

Defcee and BoatHouse ft. greenSLLIME : Close The Curtain

This has been getting an awful lot of headphone time for me this month, and I can already see it making my Spotify Wrapped come the end of the year. You need to pick up the Import Edition version of the "For All Debts Public And Private" album to get this - worth supporting as there a good number of extra tracks on top of what was already a very solid album. BoatHouse's dark beat is perfect for a weights workout, and both MCs go back and forth in classic duo fasion with skill, but the absolute highlight for me here is Defcee taking Jadakiss' famous boasts from "We Gonna Make It" and adding clever asides for an everyman, self-deprecating take! It's a really nice bit of borrowing that I like to think would make the man from The LOX smile if he hears it 🙂

Curren$y & Statik Selektah ft. Termanology : Gran Turismo

Statik and Termanology together again (as 1982), but this time supporting the New Orleans legend Curren$y on the title track from a very enjoyable, if short release from 2019. Laidback and kind of gentle, despite the solidity of the bassline and the crisp drums, it's less of a racing soundtrack and more of a sunset crusing accompaniment.

X-Ecutioners ft. Anikke and Taboo : The Turntablist Anthem

You might have missed this one, which was a smooth track from the 1997 "X-Pressions" LP. The album wasn't what I was expecting from this legendary turntablist crew, being much more expansive - with scratch tracks and routines rubbing shoulders with spoken word, straight instrumentals, and tracks like this one! With the hook inspired by "Hey DJ" by The World's Famous Supreme Team, this has an unusual structure - on top of the beat you have mostly scratching courtesy of Rob Swift, the hook coming in periodically, and then a single rhymed verse to close out. The album might not have been a big seller, but is definitely worth your time for a listen.

Terrace Martin ft. Arin Ray & Smino : This Morning

I wasn't aware of Arin Ray or Smino (MC on the second verse) until I heard this, likely as a lot of R&B and the like passes me by, but together with Terrace Martin they're a fire combination! This was on the 2021 "Drones" album and it's a sonic treat - those rolling drums, deep sub-bass lurking, and plenty of keys courtesy of Mr Martin put the pressure on the vocalists to come correct, and thy do.

The Alchemist : Break The Bank

A steady, melancholy beat that almost sounds like time counting down. Who'd have thought that half of The Whooliganz would eventually master this kind of vibe? This instrumental is on the "Rapper's Best Friend 3" compilation, but you can hear it with lyrics thanks to Schoolboy Q, on the ten year-old (already?) LP "Oxymoron".

Ice Cube ft. Deadly Threat, J Dee, Kam, King Tee, and The Maad Circle : Color Blind

Wow. I was maybe fifteen when I first heard this towards the end of Ice Cube's "Death Certificate" album, and this collection of testimonies to the realities of Los Angeles' gang violence hits me even harder all these years later. The production draws you in without demanding the spotlight, which is rightly on the MCs. Every single verse has at least one starkly memorable line, even the closing two half-length verses by King Tee and J-Dee. I wanted to play this one in full, with nothing following it, so that you can take it all in in its entirety and hear every single bar clearly. A masterpiece, in my humble opinion.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

[havnblog]

Hvorfor har så mange apper rare marger?

Link to English version

Det finnes mange tjenester, apper og klienter for tekstbaserte sosiale medier. Men hvorfor tar så mange av dem feil, når det gjelder marger på tidslinja?

Se på Threads her, for eksempel:

Jeg skjønner at du har lyst til å starte innholds-teksten ganske tett opptil brukernavnet, og at profilbildet er høyere enn brukernavnet på noen tjenester. Men jeg synes likevel den venstremargen er hårreisende! Den kaster bort mye plass, og gjør hele greia vindskeiv.

Jeg har gått igjennom mange apper og sjekka hvor mange som gjør dette - og funnet mange. Og noen av disse er godt designa apper sånn ellers! Mange er Mastodon-klienter, siden den tjenesten har et fantastisk tredjeparts-økosystem. Også er alle til iOS, siden det er dét jeg har tilgang på. Men jeg interessert i å høre hvordan ståa er på Android også!

Åkei, her er noen flere syndere:

Bluesky

Mammoth (for Mastodon)

Ivory (for Mastodon)

Toot! (for Mastodon)

Micro.blog

Icro (for Micro.blog)

Fytti for et rot X er, sammenligna med de andre appene... Én ting er reklamen - men se på gjennomsiktigheten på bunnen uten blur, og hva enn som foregår rundt notch-en. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Så, hva mener jeg er «korrekt» løsning her?

Den offisielle Mastodon-appen bruker plassen mye mer effektivt, og føles mer balansert. Bilder får også masse plass.

Mona (for Mastodon) er en annen app med gode marger. Og jeg foretrekker at den har litt marger på bilder og lenker.

Icecubes har også fine marger.

You can be flexible

Her kan du se at de innimellom bruker margen for å indikere at en post er et svar eller en del av en tråd.

Men Mona viser at du fint kan ha den indikatoren, uten å reservere plassen hele tida!

Gluon (for Micro.blog) får det nesten til - men har lagt til en rar marg under brukernavnene.

Profilbilder og brukernavn

I tillegg til innleggets innhold, forholder alle appene seg til tre ting knytta til forfatteren:

Profilbildet

Valgt navn

Brukernavnet

Profilbildene har som regel samme høyde som to tekstlinjer. Og de fleste av appene med store venstremarger, viser enten bare ett av navnene (Threads, Mammoth, Micro.blog) eller viser så mye de får plass til på én linje (X, Bluesky, Toot!).

La oss se på Bluesky-skjermbildet igjen:

Denne viser tre ulike utfall av å ha ting på én linje: Noen ganger får alt plass, noen ganger får hele det valgte navnet plass, men brukernavnet kuttes, og noen ganger ser man ingenting av brukernavnet. Jeg skjønner at det å ha det på én linje gjør at man kan starte innholdet høyere oppe - men man mister jo mer plass enn man vinner på å ha så stor venstremarg. Hvorfor er det da verdt å ødelegge balansen slik? Hvorfor ikke bare ha valgt navn og brukernavn på hver sin linje, som de tre appene jeg nevnte?

Hvis du veldig gjerne vil ha navna på én linje, så har jeg laga en skisse på hvordan det kan løses - med litt småfrekk tekstbrytning: 1

Det kan da ikke bare være jeg som synes at alternativet til høyre er mye mer balansert? Og jeg har fylt inn tekst for å vise hvor mye mer du får plass til.

Hva er det jeg ikke skjønner? Hvorfor har så mange apper så mye større venstre- enn høyremarg? Er det bare fordi folk flest har større telefon enn meg, og da er ikke problemet så stort?

Man vil få en liten marg dersom et innlegg kun består av et bilde - men det gjør ikke så mye, synes jeg. ↩︎

[sttarttsar]

the ballad of your local fly

Mammoth mammal mmm good one My knees tremble you in the caress in the moment as Tender spring breeze come. I am a wild animal in a zoo on the escapade For a search in true peace and the moment I Set my eye on you Know this journey will end, after an eon of dark and light. Bonfire traditions will bring the truth unlike you A proud male of no bounds to truth; it is a concept Who knows of a truth, truly? A “truth of us in the flesh” and yet I don’t know tomorrow. My my mister miss whoever may you be God blessing a stork illegal to bring a fresh being to the world On one faithful morning Even before conception, the stars were aligned; You. Bright How bright Deafening Shining A celestial body An ecopoetic kettle-black soul The bird stripped of its wings And the viscous fluidity of your blue skin Stick again to me It deafens me Deathly How deathly you are. And of that, how good it must be to die truly An oblivion with you calls death Heaven-send.