#Rocket Power Icons

[house-oficons]

Reggie Rocket Icons

Reggie Rocket Icons

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[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1970 Oldsmobile 442

The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 is a classic American muscle car that epitomizes the power and style of the golden age of performance vehicles. The 442 moniker stands for four-barrel carburetor, four-speed manual transmission, and dual exhausts, a formula that promises an exhilarating driving experience.

Under the hood, the 1970 442 is equipped with a 455 cubic inch V8 engine, capable of producing an impressive 365 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. This engine, known as the Rocket 455, is legendary for its raw power and smooth delivery, making the 442 a force to be reckoned with on the streets and the drag strip.

The exterior of the 442 is a blend of aggressive styling and refined elegance. It features a long, sleek body with bold lines, a prominent grille, and dual hood scoops that hint at the car's performance capabilities. The rear of the car is just as striking, with its distinct taillights and a subtle spoiler that adds to the overall sporty appearance.

Inside, the 442 offers a driver-focused cockpit with high-quality materials and a design that emphasizes both comfort and performance. The seats are supportive, the gauges are easy to read, and the overall layout is intuitive, making it a pleasure to drive.

The 1970 Oldsmobile 442 is not just a car; it's a symbol of an era when American muscle cars ruled the roads. With its powerful engine, stylish design, and iconic status, it remains a highly sought-after classic that continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike.

[cutiekaijumuseum]

A little trivia for those that just got introduced to Ultraman thanks to Ultraman Rising

You know that part where baby kaiju Emi is shown a kids cartoon with an earworm of a song?

That cartoon is real!! It's called Kaiju Step Wandabada and it stars cute kid versions of different monsters from different Ultraman series (mostly the original from 1966 wich Rising is also based on). The opening shown in the movie is in stop-motion while the cartoon itself is in 2D.

The Ultraman heroes don't appear in person, but bizarrely enough they seem to exist as fictional superheroes in-universe, with the kaiju kids having toys and dolls of them. It's no surprise Emi liked it so much! She would be right at home in this show!

The episodes are 5 minutes long, there are two seasons of 26 episodes each for a total of 52. The official Tsurubaya channel has the first episodes of both seasons uploaded...

...but the rest were sadly only up for a limited time cuz gotta sell the dvds. What is officially available online right now is a series of educational shorts.

Some years ago Marvel Comics got the rights to make Ultraman comics and made a mini-series called "The Rise of Ultraman" (no relation), and these Kaiju Step designs got to appear as part of in-universe instructional videos about dealing with monsters and aliens:

So let's have a quick rundow on the little monsters and where each comes from:

Pigmon or Pig-chan is the main protagonist and new kid in town (forest). This coral-looking guy is one of the most iconic and recurring ultra monsters and the go-to kid-friendly one, as he stood out among the original set of kaiju for being friendly and heroic (as well as human-sized). He has the bad habit of dying in many of his apperences but fortunately that's not the case here.

Kanegon or Kane-chan is the second member of the protagonist trio, and the most energic and simple-minded. A coin purse monster that eats money, and usually a human kid under a curse. He actually pre-dates Ultraman, appearing in the black-and-white anthology series Ultra Q wich had monsters but not superheroes. Fortunately this one doesn't need to eat money and was born a kaiju.

Alien Dada or Dada-chan is the reliable but temperamental inventor of the trio, he dreams of building a rocket ship. One of the most iconic villains from the original 1966 Ultraman (and that's saying a lot), it's a weird alien with weird powers looking for human subjects for his weird experiments, like testing his shrinking ray. He really earns the name of a weird art movement.

Gomora or Gomo-chan is probably the most iconic ultra kaiju of all. Remember how in Ultraman Rising there is this whole sequence where the dad omniously talks about fighting him? There is a good reason for that. Gomora had the only two-parter in the original 1966 series, and was able to actually defeat Ultraman in their first figh. He's essentially Godzilla if he lived underground rather than underwater (He's even been a good guy and had a robot counterpart). Here, however, Gomora is a chill guy who's passionate about agriculture. (btw, you can also spot Gomora in Rising on a screen around an hour and eight minutes into the movie).

Red King or just Red is another iconic ultra dino, that looks like corn. In the show he's brute but well-meaning, and has a friendly sport rivalry with Kemur-chan. But in the Ultraman series he's a sadistic and murderous bully who beats up weaker monsters but gets his butt kicked rather easily by Ultraman (although more recent incarnations have have been more positive, both in his fighting ability and sometimes even becoming a loving father). (and yes, you are right, he's not red).

Jamira or Jami-chan is a passionate archeologist and fossil collector in the show, whereas in the original Ultraman he was a human astronaut that got infected by a virus. He hasn't appeared much beyond his debut... but doesn't need to, as his episode was very memorable in how sad and tragic it was. I can't imagine the target audience's whiplash seeing this cute creature one moment collecting fossils and the next having a horrible sad death. I guess one could say the same for most of the characters, but this one takes the cake.

Miclas or Mic-chan is the youngest character, a baby, and loves bugs. He was one of the "capsule monsters" from the second ultra series, Ultra Seven. Sometimes the titular ultra wouldn't be able to fight himself so he would summon up to three very loyal monsters from little capsules to do the fighting instead (or at least buy some time, they weren't very strong). One was a triceratops, another was a robot bird, but the most iconic had to be Miclas because really, what even is he? Some kind of bull toad hybrid? (By the way, fun fact, the capsule monsters were one of the inspirations for Pokemon).

King Joe (yes, that's his name) or Joe-chan is a robot controlled by alien invaders and is to Ultra Seven what Gomora is to the original Ultraman: he's the subject of a two-parter and was able to beat the hero to a pulp at first, made harder to fight by his ability to divide into three flying parts. Fortunately this Joe is very shy and very friendly.

Eleking or Ele-chan from Ultra Seven is another of the "mascot" ultra kaiju. If two ultra kaiju have to appear in anything, chances are they will be Gomora and Eleking. In fact, in Ultraman Rising you can see Eleking in a monitor right next to Gomora (around an hour and eight minutes in). It's a dinosaur-like eel monster with (of course) electric powers, and the enforcer of an all-female bug-like alien species set to conquer the earth, that are nonetheless very affectionate towards their pet-weapon dino-eel. The fact that Eleking's masters are always women may explain why the Kaiju Step one is a very femenine and elegant girl despite having King in the name, though no less dangerously electric.

Alien Guts or Guts-chan here is a very little alien bird child who can multiply into three separate individuals to cause all the destruction in their sincere attempts to help out. The original duo from Ultra Seven meanwhile are ruthless alien invaders that are infamous for freaking crucifying the aforementioned hero, leading to decades of japanese media having christian imagery for the sake of looking cool, most notably Neon Genesis Evangelion, because these birds did it first and it looked so cool.

Alien Kemur or Kemu-chan is a very agile alien that comes from the distant future of 2020 to consume humans and extend his lifespan. Here he's a friendly but competitive ninja from the present, and has a rivalry with Red King being the speed to his strenght. Like Kanegon, he pre-dates Ultraman, being from Ultra Q.

Motokureron or Kureron-chan originates from the whimsical, fairy-tale like Ultraman Taro. A kid found him as a baby and fed him until he grew to giant size, but when the kid couldn't feed him anymore he turned destructive; fortunately he was easy to pacify with food, including the kind that made him shrink. He retains his glutonny and clumsiness in Kaiju Step, often doing the bad thing (tm) so the others can teach the kids in the audience why you shouldn't do the bad thing (tm).

Nova or No-chan originates from the surprisingly dark Ultraman Leo. This creepy and bizarre ghost-like alien created a red mist that made people go crazy, and manipulated a kid with illusions of his deceased family, and under his cloth there are lots of tentacles and a scythe. So of course, in Kaiju Step she's a happy and energic little girl that loves to sing.

Mugera or Muge-chan is by far the most obscure kaiju of the cast. She's from the 2001 series Ultraman Cosmos, the one where the titular hero protects monsters instead of fighting them. Mugera is an ET-like cryptid that lives in an amusement park that only kids can see, with the ability to fix toys and heal wounds with her magic. After the amusement park closes down she phones home and the protagonists have to protect her from the goverment wich is a little too eager to shoot down the UFO that came to pick her up. In Kaiju Step she likes reading and plants.

And that was your daily dose of kaiju sugar, that may be overdose because you probably already met Emi. Cheers!

[artist-issues]

...I know that nobody cares about the Sonic franchise in my follower count

but like

Come on. Shadow and Maria. Why is that whole story so good? What makes it stick, and stick so firmly in our brains forever, and no matter how you tell it it's that way?

Why's it so good when at first glance it's so weird?

Little girl with undefined disease lives in a space station and befriends an artificial creation shaped inexplicably like an anime anthropomorphic hedgehog, who is for some reason meant to be the cure to her disease and somehow having things like explosive energy powers and rocket skates are applicable to that goal—but then she dies saving him so he turns supervillain.

That

is so weird

why do I not feel like it's weird? Why do I feel like it's classic and iconic and necessary to tell that story over and over? Is it just the childhood nostalgia? Or is the story that good? Make it make sense

[sunshinemoonrx]

Hey There Sure Was A Lot Of International Espionage In The Funny Car Robot Show

AKA Boonboomger overall thoughts!

...it was kind of a weird one?

Like, odd helmet designs aside, when it was first coming out the main reaction was "oh hey, a relatively normal sentai after a few years of out-there experiments". And then it...kind of was that, and kind of wasn't? Compared to an anniversary season where 4 rangers are suit characters, Toshiki Inoue's 50 episode dick smasher, and 2.5D soundstage romance of the three kingdoms for baby, it is much more like a normal sentai.

But then the second half of this show ostensibly about a bunch of racing car drivers fighting a bunch of evil racing car drivers is increasingly about even the ostensibly benevolent powerful in society's willingness to collaborate with evil to squeeze more out of the people, and our heroes fighting the police, the government and major corporations, all while, let's not forget, still fighting the main threat this is all revolving around, which is gay alien Michael Jackson and his gang of evil racing car drivers (although to be fair, none of this would be out of place in a Fast & Furious movie at this point).

This is...more cohesive than it should be--at least, as a tokusatsu fan, I'm more than the usual level of primed to expect serious pathos from a silly car robot named Boondorio Boomderas--but I definitely was more excited about the show early on when it was in full silly baby chaos show mode than later on, as much as I think it's extremely sick when your sixth ranger is dropkicking SWAT guys. But that might be less to do with the tone change itself and more character-related?

Like, I see what they were going for with Taiya. He's kind of aloof and catty but with a heart of gold, he's got this unconventional hands-off leadership style where he gives his team a lot of independence and freedom...but they needed to go way harder on either the aloof bitchiness or the supportiveness because it all ends up a bit weak and muddled. He never gets close to the full potential of a tsun hero who needs to open up a bit more because he's also, like, an angelic friend to all children; and if he's just nice with a little sarcastic/soft-spoken tinge...look, the whole "supporting his team by being hands-off and subtly doing things for them in the background while letting them run free" idea is inherently harder to do in a show of this level of writing complexity (low!) than just, you know, showing he cares by having him obviously do things for them, and support them, and be there for them, and not just sorta stroll in at the end like ah! it all worked out just like I thought! sorry I was busy cranking it

So, I enjoyed the early episodes where he was still just kind of a funny weird cat, and equally Mira was so much fun early on. She was doing all kinds of genki red ranger bits, making weird noises, bashing things with the wrong end of the sword, loved all that. And she didn't stop being like that later on, but that stuff felt kinda crowded out by the plot and (relatively) more serious tone, so she just becomes more generically peppy. I think another thing that made it hard for them to pull off the serious stuff is. okay. this might sound like nitpicking, but the "having your own hands on your own steering wheel" metaphor catchphrase thing. I get it, I get what it means, it's a theme, it's cool. but it's kind of long enough that it's not just a word you flexibly throw into a sentence, it becomes the whole sentence, so now when you're trying to recall iconic lines and moments, half of them are just "the time they dramatically said 'I've got my hands on my wheel now'", and it becomes hard to distinguish between them. Scale it back a bit!

With all that SAID I still happily tuned in every week. Even if it was a bit less dynamically rocket-powered, I still like when we're fighting the government. I love Robot Team Rocket (I love Yarucar being a little toy they wiggle around to emote for dialogue so much), I love the world's most pathetically whipped househusband blue ranger, I love all the yaoi between cars, I love the robotfucker secret agent, I love the funny ending dance.

So yeah! It's pretty good! I liked it! But either I think they could have thought out a couple elements better to make it really support the epic serious plot stuff, or those could have not been such an issue if they just went full-on for being funny silly antics car show of all time.

oh yeah hey what was up with the literal plastic disco ball taiya dug out of the ground that was the manifestation of the earth's energy or whatever

[shivayagojo]

JAPAN GP, hometown stint

masterlist

f1

And we're back. It's race weekend in Japan. Round 3 kicks off in Suzuka. Lando is leading, but it's Ava who's brought the consistency. Who will take it today?

see comments below

carloslover_27: Suzuka is always a vibe. Hopefully we'll see the hometown heroes do well.

> motorsportqueen: Let's manifest it! Ava for the W 🙌🙌

terriblysourdolla: No one's talking about Max tho? He's lowkey lurking in the background 👀

> f1guru99: He hasn't been in the background for a long time. But he always rocks in Suzuka.

> avafansworld: Ava's the one to watch today. Forget Lando and Max, she's taking the crown 👑

sportsbabe: Ava's been on fire in first two GPs. Can't wait to see how she handles the race today 👏🔥

> florence4ever: Mark my words, Ava's got that W locked down. Watch and learn. 💅

> delulu: Home town win!💥

avaflorence

Growing up in Belgium, my family always made it a point to visit the other half of my heritage at least once a year. And now with F1, I get paid to do it. Love you Japan. This weekend is for you.

see comments below

yukitsunoda0511: GO JAPAN 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

> avaflorence: If you're not on that podium with me tomorrow, I'm going to kill you 🔪

> yukitsunoda0511: 😨

> toasted_melon: average conversation with your brother be like

max2themax: Love how connected you are to your roots. Representing both sides like a queen 👑🌸

> racingfreakz: Ava always knows how to make us feel special. Japan's got nothing but love for you! 🇯🇵💕

racefam_24: Spa and Suzuka?! You're winning in life 💯👑

> avafansworld: Two of the most beautiful tracks in the world.🌍💖

racevibes_only: You're the definition of goals, Ava 💖

porschef1

It's a special race for our girl which means a special livery too. Presenting the 2025 Suzuka Porsche livery.

see comments below

f1fanatic_92: That livery is INSANE 😍😍 Can't wait to see it on track!!

florence4ever: Porsche is always bringing the heat 🔥🔥 Ava's gonna look even better in that! 🙌👑

vcarb: We see you Porsche 👀

> porschef1: You don't get to talk to us

> drssupremacy: lmao they're defending Daniel. I love it!

missingkimi: Porsche is serving and I'm here for it 🙌🙌 Let's get that dub, Ava!! 🏆

> delulu: This is gonna be legendary. Ava + Seb + Porsche + Suzuka = magic 🔮✨

SUZUKA QUALIFYING — always a THRILL! Predictable? Perhaps — but never lacking excitement! The Red Bulls, as expected, rocketed to the top five in sector one. And who could ignore Aston Martin? Fernando Alonso surged forward, squeezing into Q2 — and then squeezing again into Q3! But the McLarens, despite a few struggles, retained the formidable pace they brought to Suzuka last year.

          AND THEN — a shocker! Yuki Tsunoda, for the Racing Bulls, unleashed a magical performance. P3! A staggering two-tenths clear of Max Verstappen! WOW! As if that wasn't enough, Sebastian Vettel — YES, in that Porsche — grabbed P2! A redemption arc after his misfortunes in China. Now perched on the front row for the Japanese Grand Prix.

          YET ALL EYES were on Eva Florence — the hometown hero. She dominated practice—Friday sessions one, two, and three. Can she extend her reign to qualifying?

"Here we are, ladies and gentlemen, riding on board with Ava Florence. She's been past all the sessions. Let's see what she makes it off it in this lap."

"Indeed, Crofty, as she comes down the main straight... and we begin her lap. Burst down the main straight. Power into the first curve — mid-corner deceleration. Navigate the tight right curve with finesse. Now into Turn 3 — a high-speed left kink — preparing for Suzuka's iconic S's."

"Turn4, Turn 5, Turn 6 — the S curves! Left, right, left — a dance for the brave, and Ava doesn't flinch once. Just look at the grip she gets in these corners."

"Absolutely crucial for this track. Into the Dunlop curve, that fast left bend—gathering speed. Then to the uphill portion, then a slow-speed right hand kink—careful with the gravel on exit! Through the Degner One and on to Degner Two—the track tightens, but she releases—gorgeous exit through Turn 9."

"She's done beautiful so far. Under the bridge now—flashing! Turn 10, flat out! Turn 11, hard on the brakes—a hairpin, delicate but executed with mastery.

"Swooping through Turn 12, a full-throttle right-hand bend—approaching the Spoon Curve, Turns 13 and 14. Brakes, drift: this double-left, a challenge! She skirts peril, just right."

"And TURN 13 — the ICONIC 130R — with the pedal to the metal! All sectors LIGHT UP PURPLE — SHE'S FLYING! Into the Casio Chicane — a deceleration dance: third gear, left, right, left, right!Relentless, furious — and now, across the LINE! AVA FLORENCE HAS JUST TAKEN HER FIRST POLE POSITION F1 HISTORY! — WHAT A LAP! What a moment for the rookie — the hometown hero writes her own legend at Suzuka!"

HENRY And that's pole for Sunday. What a lap.

FLORENCE HAH! YES! Unbelievable! Thank you so much!

f1

Porsche front-row lockout and two hometown heroes in the top 3. It's anyone's game in Suzuka on Sunday.

see comments below

marshedmellow: LET'S GO!!! Porsche locking it down 🔥 Suzuka's gonna be WILD 🔥🔥

> avafansworld: Ava's gonna show them how it's done from the front row 👑💪

f1fanatic_92: Porsche at the front and Ava showing up strong—this is gonna be EPIC. 🏎️💨

delulu: Manifesting a Ava-Yuki podium!

heturnedintome: Can we just have this as our podium?

JAPAN GRAND PRIX STARTING GRID

Ava Florence

Sebastian Vettel

Yuki Tsunoda

Max Verstappen

Lando Norris

Fernando Alonso

Oscar Piastri

Liam Lawson

Lewis Hamilton

George Russel

Charles Leclerc

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Lance Stroll

Pierre Gasly

Nico Hulkenberg

Ollie Bearman

Isack Hadjar

Gabriel Bortoleto

Esteban Ocon

Carlos Sainz

Alexander Albon

Jack Doohan

IT'S SUNDAY. The adrenaline is high - the FORMULA 1 JAPAN GRAND PRIX is about to ignite. 22 drivers, engines roaring, lined up on the grid. The third round of the Championship calls! Ava Florence is comfortable in P2 in the championship, but she's even more comfortable knowing she's on pole and her main championship rival is down in P5.

PORSCHE ecstatic - a FRONT ROW LOCKOUT! They're hungry to convert this golden opportunity. Meanwhile, Red Bull aims to reclaim glory, propelled by the unexpected charge from Liam Lawson breaking into the top 10. A big ask from him, especially since Yuki Tsunoda, the man he took the Red Bull, shines brightly in P3!

"Ava, Ava."

"Martin! About damn time I get interviewed by you."

"It's a been some time. But it's here. How's it feel? On the verge of glory in your home country, second in the Championship, but so close to the crest? A win today could flip the standings for you."

"Oh, Martin, it's amazing! Belgium is the country in my heart, but I can't forget about Japan. I love every time I come here. I love the fans, I love the country. My first pole here...it's a dream. The Championship tables? Honestly, I didn't think too much about it until the engineers at Porsche told me. But Lando in P5? It's great. I've got my own script today."

"But Eva, the elation of a hometown victory, how will it feel to cross P1? Your second win, a jubilant homecoming?"

"Every win is amazing, Martin. But this one is a bit more so. To take this one, with my family watching, it'd be indescribable. Emotional? Yes. Tearful? No, maybe not today - but if there's a place for tears, it's Spa."

"Well, we'll certainly look forward to seeing this race. Good luck to you."

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the electrifying Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka! The SUN is SHINING, the sky's clear, and we've 53 laps of hard, gritty racing ahead of us. Let's dive into this iconic track... One DRS ZONE sets the stage on this 5.8-kilometer circuit. 307 kilometers in total length. And the lap record, set by Lewis Hamilton in 2019, 1:30.983. Alright, Martin, let's get this race started. It's five lights in Suzuka... AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO!!! AVA FLORENCE ROCKETS off the line—a perfect start. Vettel and Tsunoda give chase. Verstappen behind. Lando loses out on his position to Fernando Alonso. Alonso is breathing down Verstappen's neck."

"It's a battle royale behind. That was the perfect start by Florence. Just stick it and drive. No need to play defensive. You've got your teammate behind you acting as rear gunner. Just make it through the first corner."

"Eva Florence is FLYING, the gap stretched to three tenths. Sebastian Vettel is protecting her hard, holding off Yuki Tsunoda. Oh, there's Russell—taking on Hamilton! The former teammates. Side by side into Turn 11—Hamilton HOLDS! Russell backs out neededly, and now he's got Charles Leclerc in his mirror. Leclerc—after a poor qualifying—he's CLIMBING! We've seen his comebacks in Australia, in China—what can he do here?"

"Hard braking at the spoon curve. Russsell goes wide, Leclerc hits the apex. Russel just too much on the curbs and Leclerc gets the better exit. He's up to P10."

"Here we as the drivers begin the third sector. Ava Florence still far and away the leader, but the gap between Tsunoda and Vettel has lessened. Tsunoda showed great pace in qualifying and now he's staring down the back of the four time world champion. There go through 130R. There's Russell trying Leclerc. Both drivers flat-out. And the Mercedes has that speed on the fast corners. Russel back into P10."

LAP 3:

"It's the battle that people saw a portion of in 2023. Let's see if we get more this season. Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen. Fernando makes the lunge into the first corner, tight on the inside line. They're side by side. Can Fernando squeeze ahead? Yes he can! Fernando is put to P4, but here's Verstappen, trying to regain the position on the outside. He does. Max remains P4."

"So already we're seeing some back and forth action here. No driver in this circuit wants to give up their position as here comes Sainz on Hadjar."

"Isack Hadjar has not been able to recreate the same magic as his teammate. That car is not the best for this track, but you would think he would get more out of it considering we're Tsunoda is at. And Jack Doohan, for the second race running, is towards the back of the grid."

"There have been rumors going around that Doohan's contract is potentially only for five races. No confirmation whatsoever, but if it is true, this is certainly not the results Alpine wants."

LAP 13:

HENRY Okay, Ava. This is where we're going to potentially see some drivers coming in. Let's try to extend this stint as much as possible.

"There is Ava Florence told to extend these tires as much as you can. She is on the C3 compounds here, so she could be running a one-stop strategy."

"That certainly seems like it. Especially since she doesn't seem to be losing any time. Perhaps Porsche is looking to get her out as long as possible on these soft tyres and then just run it through until everyone pits the second time."

"Yup. That seems to be the plan for that Porsche, but not for Sebastian Vettel. He comes into the pitstop. So now, Yuki Tsunoda is up to second place. And the Japanese fans go wild as they have two home town features leading the race. Ava Florence and Yuki Tsunoda."

"Now that Tsunoda has that free air, I wonder if he'll be able to catch up to that Porsche or if she's too far away for this stint. Vettel comes out of the pits. Not a bad stop. He's in P6."

LAP 15:

"And it's a battle in the pitsotps between Verstappen and Hamilton. Hamilton gets out a bit earlier, but it's anybody's game who's gonna make the jump into Turn 1. Is Verstappen feeling ambitious? No, he remains cautious."

LAP 19:

"There's Leclerc in the pits. He'll change for a fresh set of hard tires. Comes out P8."

"Yes, that's interesting, but Ava Florence has still not pitted. Yuki Tsunoda has. He came out in P6 earlier. But Florence looks she's committed to the one stop. And he'll be a mighty one stop if she can make it work."

LAP 25:

"Ava Florence finally comes in for her pit stop. She's made these soft tires run for a long while and now she'll put on a new pair of hard compounds. Oh, but what's this?"

"The right here wheel had trouble being put on! The gun just got stuck there. And that's a bad pitstop for Florence. They were expecting to come ahead of Verstappen, but instead they're going to behind Hamilton."

FLORENCE How are we behind Hamilton?

HENRY Keep calm, Ava. We're still the only one on the one-stop.

"It's going to be a game of patience for Ava Florence as she's gonna wait for all these drivers in front of her to make their second pitstop. In the lead, Yuki Tsunoda a second ahead of Verstappen. What a race he's having!"

LAP 29:

"And there comes Lewis Hamilton jumping at Lawson on the Casio chicane. He'll get the inside line and it's Hamilton ahead on the main straight! That Red Bull was faster than Ferrari on this track, but Hamilton has the experience to pull away from Lawson."

LAP 32:

"Verstappen is the first of the top ten into the pits for this second stint. He'll give up that position to Fernando Alonso, who now, will be attacking his former rival, Sebastian Vettel."

"A great many battles these two have shared. Let's see if Fernando can close that gap and we can see some overtaking."

"Ava Florence. It's going smoothly for her. She passes Lawson on the straight. The DRS gave her a nice boost to get into P5."

HENRY You're doing great. Hamilton ahead has not pitted.

FLORENCE Should I try to overtake?

HENRY Negative.

FLORENCE But I'm loosing time.

HENRY Tsunoda is within pit window. No need to rush.

"It seems you were right, Martin. Porsche is playing a very patient game here."

LAP 35:

"And here comes Hamilton into the pits. So, now, Ava moves up another position. She'll be right behind Piastri, who's going for a longer second stint. And then she'll have to wait for Vettel and Tsunoda to make their pits too."

HENRY Okay, Ava. You can push.

"Very interesting to see what she'll make of it."

LAP 37:

"Oscar Piastri into to the pits. So it's another easy move up for Ava Florence. Now she's chasing Sebastian Vettel. He's been dragging these tires longer, hasn't he?"

"He has. So we're expecting if he does stop, he'll probably go on the soft compounds at the end of the race. For now, let's see how much Ava catches up."

LAP 39:

"Ava Florence has caught up to a second behind her teammate. She will be in that DRS zone as we come down the straight. She's picking up speed, but Vettel has a comfortable gap not be overtaken yet. Through the S's it's Vettel and Florence, the two Porsche inches apart. When will Florence make the move? It's now — she's gonna emerge on the outside of Turn 7. They're side by side, but Vettel forces her back. She switches over, dives down the inside of Turn 8 and MAKES IT STICK! Ava Florence with a beautiful move passes her teammate."

"That was a good read by Florence. She knew the outside wasn't going to work in Degner 1, just wasn't fast enough. So she moved over to the inside to get the apex before Vettel. Superb driving."

"Certainly she's been on fire all weekend and now she's going to have good, comfortable gaze at Yuki Tsunoda who has to pit."

LAP 42:

"Yuki Tsunoda can just about see Florence in his rea-view mirrors and what must he be thinking? He's leading his home Grand Prix, but his Japanese counterpart is looking to snatch that home victory for herself. Down the main straight, Florence has DRS. She's closing in that gap."

"Tsunoda has to be careful here. I'm sure his engineers have warned him about Sector 2, just how flying she is on this middle portion of the track."

"Down the inside of Turn 8 she goes once again, but from too far back on the grid. Doesn't get it. Tsunoda skids on the entry to Turn 8. Florence closes in further. She knows she can get on the hairpin, just has to get there.

HENRY Okay, Ava. No need to overtake Tsunoda. He has yet to pit.

FLORENCE Yeah, but satisfaction.

"As they head past 10, Tsunoda is early on the breaks and that's just enough time for Florence to SQUEEZE THROUGH! Round the hairpin, smooth exit. And Ava Florence is leading the Grand Prix."

"She said she wanted that satisfaction of passing Tsunoda and boy how satisfying must that move be? That corner is very easy to get wrong but she just slides on in there."

LAP 53:

"And it is a masterclass for the Japanese hero. From start to finish, there was nothing that stood a threat in the face of this woman and now she'll see the checkered flag fall for her home race. AVA FLORENCE WINS THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX!"

HENRY And that is win Ava!

FLORENCE HAHA!!! WOHOO!! YES! What does Seb say? RING-DINGA-DING-DING!!

f1

SATISFACTION INDEED! Ava Florence wins the Japanese Grand Prix!

tagged: avaflorence

see comments below

burnttoast: WTF WAS GRAND PRIX?? 2025 is insane!!

> orangedelusions: A young driver fighting for the championship, new team, old f1 legends. Welcome back 2012!

adoptmycat: Yuki on the podium baby less go!

> vettel4life: SEB ON THE PODIUM 💪

> capybara: this podium is making me cry 🥹

el_plan: Ava Florence went to the Fernando Alonso school of celebrations.

cassettes: I've seen enough. Give her the companionship!

porschef1

It's a double podium for this team in Japan. What a race!

tagged: avaflorence, sebastianvettel

see comments below

madmax: Words cannot describe how beautiful it was to see Vettel on the podium again 🥹

> balencia: Vettel on the podium out retirement feels like when Schumi got it in 2012.

> chrome: SO DO I LOOK LIKE HIIIM?

florence4ever: What a race from both Porsche! One stop on both of them!

motorsport: Whoever allowed Porsche strategist cook, tell them to keep cooking 🧑‍🍳

JAPAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS

1. AVA FLORENCE (+25)

2. YUKI TSUNODA (+18)

3. SEBASTIAN VETTEL (+15)

4. MAX VERSTAPPEN (+12)

5. FERNANDO ALONSO (+10)

6. LANDO NORRIS (+8)

7. OSCAR PIASTRI (+6)

8. LEWIS HAMILTON (+4)

9. LIAM LAWSON (+2)

10. GEORGE RUSSELL (+1)

11. CHARLES LECLERC

12. ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI

13. PIERRE GASLY

14. LANCE STROLL

15. NICO HULKENBERG

16. OLLIE BEARMAN

17. CARLOS SAINZ

18. GABRIEL BORTOLETO

19. ISACK HADJAR

20. ALEXANDER ALBON

21. ESTEBAN OCON

22. JACK DOOHAN

JAPAN GRAND PRIX POST-RACE INTERVIEW

Interviewer: Ava, what a spectacular win this for you. You drove amazingly well. How are the feelings win this race?

Ava: Now, look who's flirting? But, yes, it's a great feeling. I think we did great from start to finish. The team did a great job with the strategy. So, super proud of this moment —

Vettel taps her shoulder from behind. When she turns around, he wraps in a hug and pats her back.

Seb: Unbelievable race.

Ava: It was good, no?

Seb: You were crying on the podium.

Ava: No, no—

Seb: You couldn't see it, but I looked over at her on the podium. I saw a tear drop her cheek. She was crying.

Ava: Okay, a little. But it wasn't as much as you in Abu Dabhi. I controlled myself there.

Interviewer: Yuki that a brilliant race here today. Your highest finish at the Japanese Grand Prix. What are you feeling?

Yuki: It's amazing. Super amazing. In front of all the fans, to win like this, it's incredible. And I am super happy with how everything turned out. The team did a great job. And it was a fantastic race.

Interviewer: Sebastian, your third Grand Prix back from retirement and you're sitting on the podium. Is this a sign you're getting back into form?

Seb; Maybe. Obviously, I'm not going to be as good or fast as I was before, but I still love racing and I will continue to love racing. So, just an incredible day for me, the team, and for Ava for winning that race.

avaflorence

Japan gave me three things in life: a mother, ramen, and a dream win. Love you with all my heart. ❤️

see comments below

ovenisonfire: Oh she's an icon ✨

florence4ever: GO MAMA GO!! STUNT ON THESE POSERS!

burnt_orange: No, Ava. Save some of the poses for El Padre to do when he wins!

> avaflorence: Don't worry Nando. I'll carry on your legacy once you retire

> fernando_alonso_official: I am not retiring anytime soon (but you have my full permission 👍)

> burnt_orange: Oh she got the thumbs-up of approval. El Madre is full swing!

porschef1: Show them, queen!

> avaflorence: Luv ya, please come hang out with me for dinner 😘

> delulu: Not Ava flirting with the Porsche admin 🤣

WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP

(lemme know if wanna be included)

taglist: @freyathehuntress

[svtskneecaps]

i'm still stuck on the purgatories so here's a list of purgatory 2 moments simply off the top of my head that deserve to be remembered:

aimsey ducking all of axolotl team alone in a cave with literally half a heart

goose gang fucking descending on the raccoon base and absolutely wrecking shop

ethan crankgameplays clutching up for team panda during the capture the flag game by being the only one hanging out in the center and periodically checking the chests, earning them a shitton of flags and clutching multiple rounds

crow team's egg taking 0 damage

pac doxxing goose gang's egg in the last second

shelby shubble as the last member of her team online writing a letter to aimsey and sharing the world's most devastating ten minutes before her team was eliminated with one of the eye creatures (coco? i forgot lol)

badboyhalo absolutely fucking DEMOLISHING the battleship event on like 2 hours of sleep and a dream

wuant(?) stealing a tv from the battleship event and then playing portuguese ice age on it for the crows lmfao

tubbo djing for his team while waiting for the time for a goose gambit

theguill CRASHING THROUGH THE FUCKING CEILING of the raccoon team's hidey hole like the fucking kool aid man in a last effort to save his team and 4v1 or 5v1 ing team raccoon; he lost but that was such an epic fucking moment

theguill and etoiles pvping and each hyping the other's skills the entire time

seapeekay escaping cellbit and baghera and then stealing their boats and rocketing past to tease them about it; that shit was iconic

kenny going mad with power collecting sand on literally day 1

the english speaking squirrels taking actual physical notes on portuguese phrases (i think)

lgbtiba

i may add more this is an off the top of my head list but like got DAMN i like these events :D i like them a lot

[weird-homosexual-in-your-area]

Pilot B7C2AD, codenamed "Lovebird", was an interesting case. A neural pilot before the conditioning was perfected, before they were a dime-a-dozen, it was one of only 12 neural-sync-capable pilots in its age. Of course the higher-ups would take an interest in it. Of course they'd watch its every mission with almost fanatical attention, cheering at its every kill, gasping at its every wound, infinitely more emotive than Lovebird itself. Of course they'd give its suit priority for repairs, much to the dismay of the technicians.

Of course they'd notice when it grew resentful of its handler.

Of course they'd be watching as it went against her orders, blankly allowing the enemy to fire on its mech.

Of course they'd have to retrieve it from the wreckage of its mech, sensory input and nervous output wires training behind it like blood from a body.

After the incident, the higher-ups had to respond. They couldn't just kill it like they would with analogue pilots- it was far too valuable, both as training data and as propaganda. So instead they anaesthetised it, plugged it into cerebral analysis and peered into its life before the program, when it was still a person, not an asset.

They found, in fairly recent memory, a woman. A tall brunette, working as a re-educator for the state. With the woman came a voice, came love, came a past of happiness and mutual obsession. With the woman also came an untimely fate at the hands of an enemy pilot landing on her sector. With the woman came not only a burning need for revenge, hotter than any flame a rocket could produce, but longing, bereavement and mourning. Clearly, the analysts said, Lovebird joined the program to get revenge, to get a sense of closure for its late love.

The higher-ups soon instructed the comms team to develop a filter for handler comms, to change the grating voice of an unsympathetic, uncaring monster to a synthetic voice based on a real person- maybe a celebrity, or a fictional icon.

Or a lost loved one, their voice reconstructed through every memory of their voice a pilot has.

After this new filter was implemented, general pilot performance went up 21.3% on average, though Lovebird's performance spiked far higher. Debriefs recorded it as "more passionate", "devoted to the battle", and as "willing to do whatever was requested of it when on a sortie". It became the number 1 asset that the state had. Civilians fled the area when they saw it dropping from the atmosphere, a grim reaper by any other name, to avoid being caught in the crossfire like so many others had been. At base, technicians reported it was often unwilling to leave its cockpit, weeping madly with those unsettling dead eyes signature of neural-linked pilots, screeching until its throat was raw, begging to be put back in, sent back into the field, please, it could handle it, it just wanted to go back out and listen to Ena again, before its screeches devolved to desperate sobs, its sobs to pained whimpers, and its whimpers to resigned silence.

But none of that mattered, as long as results stayed on the up. It had signed up for this, after all.

As time went on, and technology advanced, the conditioning process became more and more consistent, and as such Lovebird began to lose its value as an asset. The higher-ups deemed, after much debate, that "on occasion of its failure on the battlefield, retrieving pilot B7C2AD would be more costly than it would be to train even ten new pilots, and as such, it is to be left to die."

*****

After coming up on two years since its first appearance, the monster nicknamed "Lovebird" for reasons unknown to anyone but the spies in enemy territory finally fell. Surprisingly, no extraction team came for it- it was left for the news teams to interrogate, to find out how it was so strong.

As the camera crew levered off the cockpit door, they were expecting a hardened, determined soldier inside. They were expecting the pilot to be frantically trying to restore power. What they didn't expect was a short, seemingly malnourished woman, eyes red with tears, wailing at the top of her weak lungs for the loss of someone called "Ena". What sense did this make? How was this Lovebird? Surely there'd been a mix-up. This must have been some new girl to the program if she was still attached to people from her previous life.

The camera crew shut off the film with a sincere apology for the mistake to the viewers at home who tuned in to see the removal of the leading soldier of the Stormcell forces from their cockpit. As the cameras stopped rolling, a single gunshot rang out across the wasteland, before fading away, leaving only the disgruntled chatter of the camera team. What a waste of their time.

[rosemary1315]

Justice Ducks [Redraw]

[Update March 23, 2025]

I haven't draw Darkwing Duck fanart in years, especially one of fav. hero team, Justice Ducks. I decide to draw and redesign them again.

This is my old Justice Ducks art I draw when years ago. - > [Here]

--

Darkwing Duck [Drake Mallard]

I changed my his old redesign outfit a little bit, but it still looks the same. Because, his original outfit design in the show is always iconic to me.

Darkwing Duck in my Justice Ducks AU story: He still has a little bit some of the personality as the original show like big-ego in sometime. But, he become bit serious. Also he knows how to work more as a team and has more leadership as Leader of Justice Ducks. He and Gizmoduck become a good friend, although he still sees Gizmoduck as a rival sometimes.

Morgana Macawber

Well, I changed my her old redesign outfit looks more modern, while keeping some her witch original outfit detail looking the same as in the show.

Morgana in my Justice Ducks AU story: She still has the same personality as in the show. But her magic powers are improved, less mistakes and powerful. But, her magic powers still can make mistakes in sometimes as in the show. She can her some magic powers in battle as in the show.

Gizmoduck [Fenton Crackshell]

Okay, I changed his old design to be different from my his redesign and the original design in the show. I changed from his unicycle armor suit to armor suit with roller-skate. I designed him to look like Megaman X. I know, it looks to for Ducktale and Darkwing Duck fans, and I don't have a problem with his unicycle armor suit in the show. But, unicycle armor suit looks bit weird to me. Plus, I want made him cool.

Gizmoduck in my Justice Ducks AU story: He still has some same personality as in the show. In my AU story, he respect in Darkwing Duck and his sense of Justice. His Gizmosuit abilities still similar as the original show like flying. But it was big upgraded become more advance. His new Gizmosuit technology weapon worked similar Megaman X and Cyborg (Teen Titans 2003 ver). Especially, his arm part can transform powerful cannon blaster called "G-Blaster" (in any arms) and can produce to some other weapon tools from his arms. For legs part, it's can change to be roller-skate that can travel high speed as old unicycle armor suit in the original show, or rocket shoes that can flying and hover.

Stegmutt

I changed the old design outfit a little bit, I designed him and his outfit looks like an cheerful and active young adult, although he became to big stegosaurus (Yes, This is how to I see Stegmutt).

Stegmutt in my Justice Ducks AU story: He and his backstory still has the same as in the show, but more cheerful and playful (as Beast Boy in Teen Titans 2003 ver). In his backstory in my AU story, main reason he work as Janitor at the Natural History Museum in St Canard, he love dinosaur much when he was kid and duck. Before he become dinosaur, Being able to work and see dinosaurs in museum the same time was little happiness for him, although he was working as a janitor at the time.

Neptunia

I changed her outfit design, but not too much. I tried to design her looks like Aquaman (her inspiration character) and Mera (Well...honestly, my her outfit design looks more like Mera than Aquaman in my opinion).

Neptunia in my Justice Ducks AU story: Her backstory my AU story, after she met Darkwing Duck in "Something Fishy", it made realize she became mutant fish, it was her fate chosen her become Protector of the sea. She got Trident and trumpet between her journey in the ocean. Her Trident abilities are similar as Aquaman like water manipulation, lightning blast and etc. in my AU.

[sparklesparklez]

Tyrants Of Love

(On Going)

Trump x Elon

When the worlds of business, politics, and hair plugs collide, an unlikely love triangle emerges. President Donald Trump, tech mogul Elon Musk, find themselves entangled in a whirlwind of passion, power, and petty tweets. As Trump navigates his feelings for Elon's rocket fueled ambition as they plan on overthrowing of the world, he struggles to keep his ego intact... And his spray tan streak-free.

Set against the backdrop of Trump's chaotic presidency, with golf trips, and a White House diet of Diet Coke and Big Macs, this fanfic explores what happens when the art of the deal becomes the art of desire. Can love build the best wall, or will this triangle crash and burn like a failed SpaceX test launch?

—————————————————————

Chapter 1 : Art Of The Triangle

Donald J. Trump stood before the mirror, the golden frame glittering like his own self-image, larger than life and just as tacky. He adjusted his tie which was colored crimson and slightly too long, a bold statement of power and insecurity. His dewy tangerine complexion seemed to glow under the chandelier's light. A sunset orange hue that would have been romantic if it didn't look so uneven and splotchy.

He ran a hand over his hair, a masterpiece that defied gravity and logic. It was his iconic crown. An impenetrable fortress of thinning white strands that had been hastily dyed gold. Gold was his favorite.

Trump squinted at his reflection and pursed his lips into what he believed was a seductive pout but resembled more of a fish out of water.

"Tremendous," he muttered, his voice low and throaty. He repeats another affirmation to himself. "No one does it like me."

The room was prepared perfectly for tonight's meeting. A dance of power, passion, and poorly hidden desperation. The bed, draped in shimmering gold satin, screamed both luxury and bad taste. He had insisted it look "presidential," which to him meant something halfway between a Vegas casino and a dictator's palace.

Tonight was not just any night. Tonight, Trump would welcome the two people who had been occupying his mind lately in ways he didn't entirely understand.

Elon Musk, the mysterious billionaire with rockets, multiple baby mamas, and questionable automobiles. A love story was forming. One as big, bold, and ridiculous as Trump's ego.

He sprayed himself with cheap cologne. He wasn't used to such cheap grocery store brands but this presidential campaign was costly. He sprayed enough to be smelled from the next room and took one last look in the mirror. "This," he said, straightening his tie again, "is gonna be the best meeting in history."

With that, he headed toward the meeting, ready to charm, seduce, and possibly confuse his rivals-turned-lovers.

Chapter 2 : Power, Passion, Explosions:

The summit was set to be legendary. It was a secret meeting of the world’s most powerful men, gathering to discuss nothing less than overthrowing the world order. No big deal.

Their official purpose was clear: to discuss how they would reshape global power, re-align economies, and enforce a new world order under their combined control. The three of them being richer, smarter, and more influential than anyone else would lead the world into a new era. A “better” one as Trump liked to say, though no one was entirely clear what that meant.

The two men sat at a massive polished table, each surrounded by security and advisers. Trump, of course, was in the center of said table because where else would he be? He had insisted this meeting take place in a luxurious, over-the-top suite that only he could “afford.” Draped in so much tacky gold it almost made the White House look like a thrift store.

“Well,” Trump began, leaning forward in his chair, his grin almost too wide, like he was about to give some kind of performance. “We’ve both built empires—huge empires, right? But now? We need a bigger challenge. It’s time to take over the country. Turn America into a dictatorship. Totally under control. The people will love it. They don’t know what they need yet, but we do. We’re the smartest, the strongest. They’ll beg for it.” He paused, eyes gleaming as if he was trying to impress someone. “It’ll be hUge.”

Elon raised an eyebrow, his lips curving just slightly into that familiar, teasing smirk. “A dictatorship, huh? You really think they’re going to just hand you the keys?” He leaned forward, his voice low, almost like he was enjoying the thought a little too much. “I mean, I’m all for the control thing, but you might need more than just a tweet to pull this off. Since you’ve pulled the USA from NATO maybe we need a few… rocket launches for credibility?”

Trump chuckled, clearly unbothered. “I’m telling you, Elon. People want power. They want someone in charge who knows what they’re doing. And we—we—are the only ones who can give it to them. I’ll take control of the media, the government, the economy. Think marital law but better. You know what I’m talking about.” He leaned forward, eyes glinting like he was sharing a private joke with Elon. “It’ll be like a billion-dollar reality show. And guess who’s the star?”

Elon let out a slow, deliberate breath, looking at Trump like he was sizing him up. “Oh, I know. You’re the star, alright. The shiny one, always in the spotlight. But you think the country’s gonna just watch the show and say ‘yes, please, more dictatorship’?” He shook his head, still smiling. “You’ve got to admit, this is starting to sound like something out of one of those movies. I mean, I’m all for the ambition, but ruling an entire country? Come on.”

Trump sat back, crossing his arms and smirking in a way that could only be described as proud. “You’re thinking too small. This isn’t about ambition. This is about domination. Control. The media? Under control. The people? Under control. Everything? Under my control.” He leaned closer, eyes practically glowing. “I’ve built an empire before. I know how to make them love it.”

Elon raised an eyebrow again, his eyes never leaving Trump’s. “Love it, huh? You really think people are gonna just fall in line because you tweeted something with all caps? You’ve got some serious confidence, I’ll give you that. But I’m not sure even you can sell that kind of ‘love’ to a whole country. Trump’s lips curled into an even deeper smile. “Oh, I’ll sell it, alright. I’ve made them beg before. They don’t know what they want—but I do.” His voice dropped an octave, leaning in just a little bit closer, as if the conversation had shifted to something more… personal. “And you, Elon… you’ll help. Won’t you?”

For a brief moment, Elon didn’t speak. He let the tension hang between them, his eyes scanning Trump’s face as if he was trying to decipher something—something deeper than politics. “Help?” Elon finally said, his voice just a little breathier than normal. “I thought you were the one who wanted to be in charge.

Trump shrugged, his smirk never wavering. “I’ll be in charge. But you’re not so bad at… making things happen, are you?” He let his words trail off, his tone shifting, flirting with the line between business and something else entirely. Something more dangerous. “I mean, you’ve got rockets. I’ve got… well, everything else.”

Just then, a loud noise interrupted their moment—the sound of something high-pitched, followed by an explosion that rattled the room.

Trump blinked, then turned his attention to the window. “Is that… one of your cars, Elon?”

Elon’s face went from amused to mildly horrified, then he raised his hands in mock surrender. “Yeah, I might’ve overestimated the safety of my electric vehicles,” he said with a wicked grin. “But hey, at least they’re… explosive in more ways than one.” He winked, the irony of it all not lost on him.

Trump chuckled, leaning in again, this time with a little more confidence. “See? Told you. No one does it better than me. I own the car market. You’re still catching up.” His tone was playful, but there was an undeniable hint of challenge in it.

Elon raised an eyebrow, his lips still curling into a teasing smile. “Yeah, well, someone had to take it to the next level. You’re good at things that… blow up, I’ll give you that.” He leaned forward slightly, his gaze lingering on Trump a little longer than necessary. “But I’m thinking bigger.”

Trump’s eyes locked onto Elon’s, and for a second, the conversation shifted, the political talk melting away. There was something else there now. The air was charged, something unspoken crackling between them. “Bigger, huh?” Trump said softly, his voice almost velvety. “What did you have in mind?”

Elon’s smirk only deepened, his gaze unwavering. “Maybe something more… explosive than a rocket.” He paused just long enough for the tension to thicken. “Something that… really gets the people fired up.”

Trump’s chest puffed out, clearly enjoying the challenge. He could feel the heat rise in the room—not from the bombed car, but from something much more dangerous. “You really think you’re the only one who can make things happen?”

Elon leaned back, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “I know I’m not. But let’s just say I don’t mind sharing the spotlight… if you know what I mean.”

Trump chuckled, his grin widening. “I think I do.” He stood up, leaning over the table with a glance that was half-business, half something else. “Let’s make this happen. Together.”

Elon’s smirk grew, and he stood too, his eyes never leaving Trump’s. “Together, huh? Well, I guess we’ll see if the world’s ready for two egos like ours.”

Chapter 3 : Late Night Thoughts

The meeting ended, but the tension still hung in the air like smoke in a room. Plans had been made, deals struck, but there was something more between them, something unspoken, something that neither of them could ignore. It wasn’t in the words exchanged, but in the way their eyes lingered a little longer than usual.

Trump stood up first, adjusting his tie with his usual flair. “That was a great meeting. Tremendous meeting. We’re gonna do great things together, just wait,” he said, but his usual confidence felt thinner now. It was like something was distracting him, pulling his focus away from the task at hand.

Elon, ever the cool and collected one, slid his hands into his jeans pockets and gave Trump a smirk. “Sleep well, Donald. We’ve got a world to take over tomorrow.” His voice was light, teasing, but there was something hidden underneath it, something almost charged. Trump could feel it, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what exactly was different.

They exchanged no more words, both of them heading to their separate suites, but the opulence around them felt almost pointless tonight. It was as though the grand luxury of their surroundings couldn’t cover up the strange tension that had formed. They both knew it. It was there, lingering. And sleep didn’t come easily:

Trump

Trump lay in bed, staring at the gold-plated ceiling, his mind racing. For years, he’d prided himself on never caring what anyone thought. He was the one people looked to for answers, the one who made the decisions. Everyone else? They were just there to admire him. It had always been that way. Always.

But tonight… Something was different.

He had been too focused on himself for too long. Everything had always revolved around him—his empire, his power, his world. But when it came to Elon? He found himself wondering what Elon thought. How he felt. That look in Elon’s eyes tonight—it wasn’t just admiration. It was something more. Something that made his pulse quicken. And it wasn’t from drinking his Third Diet Coke of the day.

Trump shifted in bed, trying to ignore the thought, but it wouldn’t leave. He had never cared what others thought. He’d never needed to. But this? This was new. And a little unsettling.

He grumbled, turning onto his side. Get it together, he thought. Who cares what Elon thinks? But deep down, he knew he did. The teasing smirks, the way Elon leaned in just a little too close, the way his eyes lingered—Trump had been around powerful men all his life, but this was different. He wasn’t just thinking about power. He was thinking about Elon.

Elon

Elon lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, his usual smirk still on his face. He wasn’t the type to get distracted. His mind was always on his next big idea, the next step forward. The future.

But tonight? Tonight, something was different.

Trump had been… well, Trump. Loud, confident, always the center of attention. Elon had seen it a million times before. He’d never let it throw him off. But tonight, when Trump had caught his gaze across the table, something changed. He couldn’t quite explain it. There was something about the way Trump had been looking at him. Not like the usual bravado, not like the typical showman act. No, this time, Trump had looked at him like he was… interested.

It caught Elon off guard. He wasn’t used to feeling distracted, especially not by someone like Trump. But the way Trump had leaned in just a little, the way his words had lingered in the air—suddenly, all of Elon’s usual focus seemed a little out of reach.

He rolled onto his side, closing his eyes. This is stupid, he thought. You’re not distracted. You’re just playing the game.

But the truth was, he wasn’t so sure anymore. He had never cared about what others thought—until now.

Trump had gotten under his skin.

And for the first time, he wasn’t sure who was in control.

Now, both Trump and Elon are caught in the tension of something neither of them expected: Trump’s rare vulnerability about caring what someone thinks, and Elon, for the first time, losing his usual cool.

Chapter 4 : The Call To Pyongyang

The golden morning light poured through the penthouse windows, casting a glow on the extravagant breakfast spread. Plates piled high with bacon, eggs, and an excessive amount of steak gleamed under the opulent lighting. Trump and Elon sat across from each other at the table, still adjusting to the morning.

Trump, clad in silk pajamas embroidered with tiny “T”s, scooped food onto his plate like someone who feared it might vanish. “They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Nobody does breakfast like me. I make the best breakfasts.”

Elon, dressed in pajama pants with tiny rockets, lazily scrolled through his phone while sipping coffee. “Sure, Donald. I’m sure the best people are making your eggs.”

Trump chuckled and smirked, but a flicker of something unexpected tugged at him. Normally, he’d brush off a remark like that. But today, there was something different. Elon’s casualness, his cool demeanor—something about it had Trump feeling… off-balance. His mind tried to push it aside as he dug into his meal. “Yeah, these eggs are top-tier,” he mumbled, avoiding Elon’s knowing gaze.

Elon set his phone down with a teasing grin. “So, did we all sleep well? Or was someone up… thinking?”

Trump almost choked on his steak. He quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin, his voice sounding more defensive than usual. “Excuse me?”

Elon leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the moment. “Just saying. Long night. Lots of… tension.” He let the words hang in the air, his eyes catching Trump’s for just a moment too long.

Trump paused, his fork mid-air, and his chest tightened. For once, he didn’t have a quick comeback. The usual sharpness of his ego was faltering. Why was this so… different? He quickly shoved the thought aside, trying to keep his cool. “Tension? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Elon’s grin only deepened. “Sure, Donald. Whatever you say.”

Before Trump could say anything else, the conversation shifted to business. Trump grabbed his phone, dialing Kim Jong Un’s number with the confidence only he could muster. The line rang twice before the voice of the North Korean leader came on.

“You have reached Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un’s direct line. State your business.”

Trump straightened, puffing out his chest. “Tell Kim it’s his very good friend Donald J. Trump.”

There was a brief silence before the line clicked and Kim’s voice came through smoothly. “Donald. I didn’t expect your call so soon. Are you missing my letters already?”

Elon stifled a laugh, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. Putin, who had been silently observing, gave a barely perceptible sigh as he took another sip of his coffee.

Trump flushed, a little embarrassed but eager to keep control of the conversation. “Kim! My favorite little rocket man. Listen, I’ve got a big opportunity for you. Me, Musk, and the strongest minds in the world—we’re putting something together, and we need one last thing… firepower.”

Kim’s voice hummed thoughtfully. “Tempting. But why should I trust you?”

Trump grinned, his ego flaring. “Please. Didn’t I walk into North Korea like I owned the place? Didn’t we have beautiful dinners? Nobody’s ever done what I did for you, Kim. You know that.”

Kim chuckled softly. “Very well. But I expect some form of payment. Monetary or otherwise.”

Elon raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Trump, still unaware of the tension building around him, grinned widely. “Done. We’ll fly out immediately. My jet is beautiful. You’ll love it. I have the best jets. Everyone says so.”

Kim simply chuckled again. “I look forward to it,” he said, before hanging up.

Trump, delighted with himself, clapped his hands together. Meanwhile, Melania Trump sat in front of her mirror, frowning. Something was off.

Donald had been acting… different lately. More distracted, more preoccupied. And not with golf. Worse still? He was smiling. Actually smiling.

Melania knew that look. The kind of look Donald gave when he was obsessed with something—or, more accurately, someone. She wasn’t sure if it was jealousy or something else, but it unsettled her.

Determined to figure out what was going on, she opened Donald’s suitcase, which had already been packed by staff. She dug through rows of red ties and papers, expecting to find the usual. But then something caught her eye… Dear God, two bottles of “bronzing” spray.

Just as she was about to zip herself into the suitcase for a quick escape from her thoughts, the door creaked open.

Barron stood in the doorway, his expression blank but tired. He’d seen too much in his young life. Too many strange moments. He locked eyes with Melania.

Without hesitation, she said, “Your father is cheating yet again. I’m sure of it. There cannot be another woman… Even though I used to be the other woman… - NEVERMIND that, zip me in.”

Barron blinked slowly, sighed heavily, and grabbed the zipper. Without a word, he zipped her into the suitcase.

Before leaving, Barron pulled out his phone and typed a message to his friend:

“Dad has made mom lose it again.”

He slipped the phone into his pocket and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Chapter 5 : My Sootcase!

The jet roared through the sky, cutting through clouds like it was made for a reality show. Inside, the three most “powerful men in the world”—Trump and Elon—lounge in leather seats that probably cost more than most people’s houses. The hum of the engines and the soft gleam of gold-plated cup holders set the tone for what was about to unfold.

Trump, barely squeezed into his bright blue suit, was sprawled across his seat with that signature smug grin. “You know, no one does private jets like me. This is the best jet. Only the best jet for my men,” he boasted, turning to Elon, who was scrolling through his phone without a care in the world.

Elon glanced up from his screen. “Yeah, Don, it’s almost like you’re the first person to own a jet.”

Trump chuckled at his own joke, though Elon didn’t seem to notice. “It’s all part of the plan, Elon. Gonna have everything. The best power, the best money—it’s gonna be huge.”

Elon raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, still staring at his phone. “I guess we’ll see,” he muttered, grinning to himself.

Trump went on, clearly not picking up on any sarcasm. “I’m gonna control everything, man. Power. Wealth. It’s going to be the best.”

Elon finally put down his phone and sighed. “You’ve already got the world’s attention, Don. You don’t need to remind me. But about that whole martial law thing… What’s the plan there?”

Trump brightened. “That’s why we’re going to North Korea. Kim’s got the firepower, the militia—he���s the guy who can make it happen. All we need is some leverage to push the plan forward.” Trump leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head, clearly pleased with himself.

Elon rolled his eyes. “Right. Leverage. You mean letters.”

Trump’s grin only grew. “I’ve got more than letters, my friend. I’ve got history on my side. And beautiful letters.”

Elon snorted. “Yeah, Don. Beautiful letters. Real powerful diplomacy.”

Trump glanced at him, unfazed. “Believe me, these letters are golden. No one does letters like I do.”

While the two continued their banter, Melania Trump was in a much less comfortable position. She was hiding in her husband’s oversized suitcase, feeling more like a stowaway than a First Lady. The tight, awkward space wasn’t ideal, but it gave her time to think. Something was off. Donald had been acting strangely lately—warmer, more distracted, and too focused on his world domination plans. Something didn’t sit right.

The plane descended toward North Korea. Melania could barely contain her frustration. She knew she’d have to face whatever absurdity awaited her soon.

As soon as the plane landed, the three men disembarked. Trump was the first, waving to imaginary cameras like he was the star of a reality TV show. Elon followed behind, barely glancing at anyone as he fiddled with his phone.

Kim Jong Un’s staff swiftly took their luggage, leading them toward the luxurious palace that Trump would no doubt call his suite. The cold Pyongyang air felt like an eternity to Melania, but she was finally free when the door to Trump’s room opened, and she was discreetly lifted out of the suitcase. The door clicked shut behind her.

She barely had time to stretch before she heard an exaggerated gasp.

“Madam Melania!”

She whipped around, almost knocking her ridiculous hamburger hat off in the process. There stood Kim Jong Un, rummaging through Donald’s luggage like a raccoon caught in the act.

Melania quickly adjusted her hat, a mix of disbelief and annoyance in her eyes. “What are you doing?”

Kim froze, a stack of crumpled papers labeled TOP SECRET in his hands. He looked up, trying to act casual. “Oh, this? Routine security check. I can’t be too careful, you know. So many spies these days.”

Melania raised an eyebrow. “Spies… in Donald’s luggage?”

Kim gave a nod towards the woman as she literally stood in the suitcase. “You’d be surprised.”

Melania sighed, too tired to press further. “Fine. Then tell me, what is Donald really up to? What’s this meeting about?”

Kim grinned. “Ah, so YOU don’t even know? That’s interesting.”

Melania folded her arms, a little frustrated. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, Kim. What’s going on?”

Kim finally shrugged. “Fine. I’ll tell you what I know. Your husband and his two loyal lapdogs—Putin and Musk—came to me seeking power.”

Melania blinked. “Power?”

Kim nodded dramatically. “World domination power. They want to reshape the government, enforce martial law, and turn the U.S. military into an unstoppable force. And my missiles and militia to back them up.” He sighed and shook his head. “Honestly, if I had a nickel for every unhinged billionaire with this same pitch, I’d have one nickel.”

Melania stared at him. “…So he wants to be a king?”

Kim smirked. “No, my dear Melania. He wants to be everything.”

She exhaled sharply, unimpressed. “Of course he does.”

Kim eyed her carefully. “But let me ask you something. Why are you here? Why sneak into my country like some fake Louis Vuitton handbag?”

Melania hesitated for a moment before lifting her chin. “I think he’s cheating.”

Kim raised an eyebrow. “Cheating? On you?”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice laced with suspicion.

Kim scratched his chin. “With who?”

Melania didn’t have an answer. But something was off about Donald. That strange warmth, that softness—it wasn’t like him. And it was creeping her out.

Kim leaned in closer, eyes narrowing. “Wait. Is Trump into… men?”

Melania recoiled, her pride flaring. “What?! No!”

Kim held his hands up innocently. “I mean no offense! But you must admit, the way he talks about Putin’s strength, the way he lets Musk insult him—it’s like a weird mating ritual. And those letters he sends me…” Kim flushed slightly as he touched his chin. “I’ve seen men look at women with less longing than the way he talks about Putin on horseback.”

Melania opened her mouth to argue, but paused. She didn’t know what was going on with Donald. Maybe there was some truth to Kim’s observations.

Kim grinned wider. “So, are you curious now? Wanna find out what’s really going on with your husband?”

Melania narrowed her eyes. “And why would you help me?”

Kim scoffed. “Because, my dear Melania, I don’t like being played. Your husband thinks he can manipulate me, that I’ll just hand over power because he shook my hand once. He’s mistaken. And frankly, I find you far more interesting.”

Melania considered it for a moment. Kim was unpredictable, but he was powerful. “Alright. If you help me figure out what Donald is really up to, maybe we can strike a deal.”

Kim extended his hand with a sly smile. “It’s a deal then. You and I, partners in espionage.”

Melania took his hand, eyeing him warily.

“Now,” Kim said, his grin growing devious, “let’s find out what your husband and his lapdogs are really after.”

[celadons-penultimate]

Virgil Ovid Hawkins became the slick-talking hero Static after gaining electromagnetic powers from a chemical accident called the Big Bang (some claim it was a police response to a gang riot, but it was later revealed as directed violence against those protesting police brutality); best known for defending the streets of Dakota, Virgil has also used his smarts & surging superpowers to team w/ other heroes, like Icon & Rocket, Hardware, the Teen Titans, and more!

[itsradla]

⛸️✨ice magic by radla✨⛸️

ice skating AU created from marauders era characters, a bit of real skaters' lore, tiktok edits and my crazy mind 

black sisters (andromeda and bellatrix) - evgenia medvedeva and alexandra trusova

andromeda and bellatrix black are two sides of the same coin—two sisters shaped by the same upbringing, the same environment, and the same crushing expectations, yet who ultimately made opposing choices.

their story reflects the journeys of evgenia medvedeva and alexandra trusova, two iconic skaters who came from the same intense, high-pressure coaching system under eteri tutberidze.

both pairs had immense potential, had the world’s eyes on them, and both were deeply affected by the system they came from, but their paths diverged in ways that are both heartbreaking and fascinating.

andromeda and bellatrix grew up in a family obsessed with purity and loyalty, and from a young age, they were expected to live up to their family’s name. in the same way, evgenia and sasha were raised in a training environment where perfection wasn’t just expected—it was demanded. evgenia was the golden girl of russian figure skating, earning her the nickname “miss stability.” she dominated competitions and carried the hopes of her team, her country, and her fans. sasha, on the other hand, was the fiery new talent, pushing boundaries with her groundbreaking quad jumps, earning her the title of the “russian rocket.” she was daring, bold, and fearless, with the potential to change the sport forever.

but beneath the success, both skaters felt the weight of the system. evgenia has spoken about the immense emotional and physical strain she endured. the pressure to always be perfect left little room for joy or self-expression. though she won two silvers at the 2018 olympics, it was seen as a loss—she was expected to take the gold. the same happened to sasha in 2022, when she was expected to win, but came in second place, despite making history by becoming the first female skater to land five quadruple jumps in a free skate. their silver medals, while extraordinary achievements, were treated as failures by a system that demanded nothing less than perfection.

andromeda and bellatrix were also raised in an environment where failure wasn’t an option. andromeda, like evgenia, tried to live up to those expectations for as long as she could, but ultimately, she couldn’t sacrifice her happiness or her identity. she left her family behind, knowing she would be branded a traitor, because staying meant losing herself. evgenia made a similar choice when she left eteri’s camp in 2018 to train in canada with brian orser. the decision sparked backlash from fans and russian media, who accused her of betrayal. even eteri herself publicly criticized evgenia, making the transition even harder. but evgenia chose happiness and authenticity over the toxic system, even though it meant stepping out of the spotlight.

bellatrix, like sasha, stayed. bellatrix remained loyal to her family and their ideals, throwing herself into the world they built. sasha, too, stayed* under eteri’s tough, high-pressure environment for a long time, continuing to break records and chase perfection. while bellatrix found power and purpose in her loyalty to voldemort, sasha thrived in the competitive system, pushing her body to its limits to redefine what was possible in figure skating. both embraced the intensity of their environments, even if it came at a personal cost.

andromeda and evgenia walked away from the system, knowing they’d lose a part of themselves if they stayed. bellatrix and sasha stayed, willing to push themselves further and further to prove their worth. but the heartbreak lies in how similar they are. andromeda and bellatrix grew up together, shared the same world, and likely loved each other in their own way. evgenia and sasha were teammates, training side by side, but their paths made them almost rivals.

they are broken parallels of each other—the one who stayed and the one who left. both pairs show that love and loyalty can look very different depending on the choices you make, and that breaking away or staying can be equally painful.

*alexandra later left tutberidze’s team l but it does not exactly fit my AU, so i don’t care and i am skipping that fact

huge thanks for tiktok editor who let me use their work in my AU: trusoshcher

andromeda was everything bellatrix aspired to be—the perfect example of success, fierce and unshakable on the ice. bellatrix admired her with everything she had, often running to her when she was struggling. bellatrix watched as her sister achieved greatness, believing that if she followed the same path, she would find the same. andromeda’s victories felt like her own, proof that perfection was possible.

but as andromeda continued to win, she started to crack. the pressure, the constant demands, the expectation to be perfect—she couldn’t bear it. and when she couldn’t handle it any longer, she left.

bellatrix was furious. how could andromeda just walk away from it all? didn’t she realize how much she had to lose? and bellatrix stayed. she stayed because she believed in the system, in the sacrifice. she didn’t have andromeda’s grace or natural ease, but she would fight for every inch. she wouldn’t be weak like her sister had been. she wouldn’t break. she would fight harder, be stronger, prove herself in ways andromeda never could.

as bellatrix trained for the olympics, the weight of expectations grew crushing. and then she heard andromeda’s voice, not in the rink, but in interviews. her sister spoke of the system, the cost, the emptiness it left behind. bellatrix burned with anger. how could andromeda talk like that? she had been the one to show bellatrix how to succeed, and now she called it misery?

bellatrix went to the olympics as the favorite, just like andromeda had years before. and, like her sister, she came away with silver. the hollow ache in her chest mirrored what andromeda had felt, though bellatrix refused to admit it.

from afar, andromeda watched, heartbroken. she saw the same fire in bellatrix that had once consumed her, the same desperate hunger to prove she was enough. she wanted to reach out, but she knew bellatrix wouldn’t hear her.

and so, andromeda stayed silent, her heart breaking as she watched her sister fall deeper into the same web she had once escaped. and bellatrix, clutching her silver medal, felt only rage. she would keep fighting, keep proving herself—if only to spite the sister who dared to leave.

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1987 Buick GNX

1987 Buick GNX: A Rare Muscle car That Showed How Awesome GM Could Still Be

Let's talk about one of the most iconic cars from the 1980s – the Buick GNX. This car wasn't just a vehicle; it was a statement, a powerhouse, and a collector's dream even when it was new.

Here's What Made It Special

Ultimate Performance: In 1987, the GNX stood at the pinnacle of Buick’s turbocharged lineup. Its 3.8L V6 engine, enhanced with a Garrett T3 turbocharger and a larger intercooler, produced a formidable 276 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. Those were BIG numbers for the time.

Limited Edition: Buick produced only 547 GNX units, each transformed by ASC McLaren Performance Technologies.

It Wasn't Just a Hopped-Up Engine: The GNX included numerous performance upgrades like a reprogrammed engine management system, a performance suspension with a torque bar, and a unique GNX rear differential cover.

It Was Lightning Fast: This car could rocket from 0 to 60 MPH in under five seconds and complete a quarter-mile in just over 13 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars of its time, and capable of running with the Big Block Muscle cars of the late 60's.

It Looked Cool: The GNX had a menacing exterior with vented fenders, a lack of hood and fender emblems, and 16-inch aluminum mesh wheels with blacked-out faces and GNX center caps.

The Car Pictured Here is an Unrestored Gem: GNX number 155 of the 547 built remains unrestored with an incredibly low 12 miles on its odometer, showcasing its pristine condition. Still, too bad nobody has ever really got to enjoy driving it.

Luxurious Interior: This GNX featured a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, GNX-badged front carpet savers, and a special instrumentation package, making the interior as impressive as its performance.

Rare Documentation: It includes the ASC McLaren GNX window sticker, listing all the unique features that made it a Grand National Experimental.

It's a Sought-After Collector Car: With its unmatched performance, limited production, and unique features, the GNX has become a highly sought-after collectible in the classic car world.

The Buick GNX wasn't just another car; it was a high-performance marvel that left a lasting legacy in automotive history.

When it comes to the grand national the GNX is the holy grail

[heckcareoxytwit]

A preview of What If…? Galactus Transformed Rogue? #1

WHAT IF...GALACTUS TRANSFORMED ROGUE ?#1

When a young Rogue uses her mutant power to absorb the Silver Surfer’s Power Cosmic, the entire course of her storied history is forever changed! Now the rebellious mutant has been blessed with unimaginable power — but also the burden of serving as Galactus’ new herald. Rocket into space along with this iconic X-Man – it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

Written by: Ann Nocenti Art by: Stephen Byrne Cover by: Ron Lim, Israel Silva Page Count: 32 Pages Release Date: January 22, 2025

[marveldcnerdys]

Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel's Cosmic Revolution

When Marvel Studios released Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, few could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. Directed by James Gunn, this quirky, space-faring adventure introduced audiences to a ragtag team of misfits, a soundtrack steeped in nostalgic hits, and a bold new chapter for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Let’s dive into what makes Guardians of the Galaxy a standout franchise and why it has earned a special place in the hearts of fans worldwide.

A Bold Departure from the Familiar

Before Guardians of the Galaxy, the MCU primarily focused on Earth’s mightiest heroes—Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor. These characters, steeped in a blend of mythology and grounded realism, were already well-known in comic book circles. Guardians, however, took a risk by spotlighting lesser-known characters like Star-Lord (Peter Quill), Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. The film’s premise—a group of outlaws uniting to save the galaxy—was a gamble, especially considering the offbeat tone that director James Gunn brought to the table.

Gunn’s vision was clear: mix irreverent humor with heartfelt moments and wrap it all in a vibrant, cosmic setting. This formula not only resonated with audiences but also expanded the MCU’s storytelling possibilities. The universe felt larger, more colorful, and infinitely more adventurous.

Unlikely Heroes with Depth

At its core, Guardians of the Galaxy is a story about misfits finding their place and purpose. Each member of the team brings a unique backstory and emotional depth:

Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt): A human abducted from Earth as a child, Quill masks his pain with humor and bravado. His Walkman and "Awesome Mix" cassette tapes serve as his last connection to his mother and home planet.

Gamora (Zoe Saldana): An assassin seeking redemption, Gamora grapples with her ties to her adoptive father, Thanos, and her own moral compass.

Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista): Driven by the loss of his family, Drax’s literal interpretation of language provides both comedic relief and a poignant reminder of his pain.

Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper): A genetically modified raccoon with a sharp tongue and a knack for engineering, Rocket’s gruff exterior hides a vulnerable soul.

Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel): A sentient tree-like being with a limited vocabulary, Groot’s simple phrase "I am Groot" conveys a surprising range of emotions, thanks to Diesel’s nuanced delivery.

The dynamic between these characters is what truly elevates the film. Their interactions—a blend of conflict, camaraderie, and genuine affection—make their journey as compelling as the high-stakes battles they face.

A Soundtrack That Defines an Era

One of the most iconic aspects of Guardians of the Galaxy is its soundtrack. The "Awesome Mix Vol. 1," a collection of '70s and '80s pop hits, became a cultural touchstone. Songs like "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone, and "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell perfectly complemented the film’s tone.

The music wasn’t just a background feature; it was integral to the story. Peter Quill’s mixtape symbolized his connection to his late mother and Earth, grounding the cosmic adventures in emotional reality. This creative decision made the soundtrack a character in its own right, resonating with audiences and sparking renewed interest in classic hits.

Expanding the Cosmic Universe

Guardians of the Galaxy didn’t just introduce new characters; it expanded the MCU’s cosmic frontier. The film brought to life locations like Knowhere, a mining colony within the severed head of a Celestial, and Xandar, home of the Nova Corps. It also introduced powerful artifacts like the Orb, later revealed to be the Power Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones central to the MCU’s overarching narrative.

Villains like Ronan the Accuser and the looming threat of Thanos added layers to the story, setting the stage for future conflicts. The film’s willingness to explore the weird and wonderful aspects of the Marvel cosmos paved the way for other franchises, such as Thor: Ragnarok and Captain Marvel, to embrace similar themes.

Humor and Heart in Equal Measure

One of the film’s defining traits is its humor. James Gunn’s script is packed with witty dialogue, absurd situations, and hilarious character interactions. Moments like Rocket’s obsession with stealing prosthetics or Drax’s inability to understand metaphors provide levity, even in the face of danger.

However, beneath the humor lies genuine emotional depth. The film explores themes of loss, family, and redemption. Whether it’s Peter’s grief for his mother, Gamora’s struggle to break free from her past, or Rocket’s quest for acceptance, these heartfelt moments ground the story, making it relatable despite its otherworldly setting.

A Franchise That Keeps Giving

The success of the first Guardians of the Galaxy film spawned a thriving franchise. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 delved deeper into the characters’ backstories, particularly Peter’s relationship with his father, Ego (Kurt Russell). The sequel retained the humor and heart of the original while exploring more complex emotional territory.

The team also played a pivotal role in the larger MCU narrative, appearing in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. These films highlighted the Guardians’ importance in the fight against Thanos, further solidifying their place in Marvel’s legacy.

In 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 served as a bittersweet conclusion to the trilogy. The film explored Rocket’s origins, offered satisfying arcs for each character, and delivered an emotional farewell to this iteration of the team. It was a testament to James Gunn’s ability to balance spectacle with sincerity.

The Legacy of the Guardians

Guardians of the Galaxy is more than just a superhero franchise; it’s a cultural phenomenon. It proved that audiences were ready for stories that blended humor, heart, and high-concept sci-fi. The characters, once obscure figures in Marvel’s roster, are now household names, inspiring countless fans around the world.

The films also underscored the importance of taking creative risks. By embracing the unconventional, Marvel Studios opened new doors for storytelling within the MCU. The success of Guardians has influenced other studios to take chances on less conventional heroes and narratives.

Conclusion

From its unforgettable characters and killer soundtrack to its expansive world-building and emotional resonance, Guardians of the Galaxy has left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape. It’s a franchise that reminds us of the power of found family, the importance of embracing our flaws, and the joy of dancing like no one’s watching—even in the face of intergalactic peril. As we look to the stars, the Guardians will always be there, a beacon of hope, humor, and heart in the vast cosmos.

[superman86to99]

Super Titles Round-Up (July 1994)

This month: Superboy collides with the Parasite! Steel collides with Hardware! This blog collides with the Green Lantern one!

Superboy #6

LOTS happening in this issue ("Worlds Collide," "Fall of Metropolis," the Super-Parasite, Cadmus' fate revealed, a mysterious "Lady Dragon" villain cameo, Dubbilex loves tanning) but the most important part is: Superboy finally meets Krypto! You know, that little mutt Bibbo saved from drowning and then tried to name "Krypton" but the guy making the collar tag wanted to charge him extra for the final letter? Anyway, it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

About Cadmus: turns out everyone in it wasn't crushed to death in Action #700. Superman deflected the missile blast but allowed everyone, including Superboy, to think that the place was destroyed to prevent Luthor from trying to destroy it for real, I guess. Now the place is in pretty bad shape (especially for Guardian, who gave up like half of his blood to create the cure to the Clone Plague) but they're using this opportunity to go back to being a secret government agency, like they were before Superboy ran his big mouth.

Superboy is glad his friends at Cadmus are alive, but he doesn't really wanna hang out underground, so he goes back to Metropolis to help rescue survivors (especially those right in front of TV cameras). He happens to rescue Cat Grant's elderly neighbor just as Cat is reporting from outside her own destroyed building, and he even gives Cat a photo he found of her with some little kid we haven't seen in a while...

By the way, this is how Superboy's friends back in Hawaii find out he didn't die from the Clone Plague (his manager Rex Leech was already starting to look for other "super-types" to manage).

Meanwhile, the Parasite, who's been on the loose ever since he stole Superman's excess powers and became all big and buff, runs into Fred Bentson, the reality-hopping mailman from the "Worlds Collide" crossover, and tries to absorb his freaky reality-hopping energy. Superboy intervenes and, with Dubbilex's help, ends up tricking the Parasite into getting his own energy sucked by Metropolis' electric grid, leaving him looking like an empty Parasite cosplay suit.

As for Fred, he's understandably freaked out by the whole situation, runs away, and clumsily falls off a bridge (despite Bibbo's efforts to rescue him). Superboy grabs him as he's falling, and that's when Fred teleports them both to Milestone Comics' Dakotaverse, leading to their appearance in Icon #11. And that, in turns, leads to...

Steel #6

Last time we saw John Henry, he said he was gonna kill his old boss, the Colonel, for trying to murder John's family and causing his nephew Jemahl to shoot himself up with a superhuman drug that messed him up pretty badly. For a second, it does look like John is gonna kill the Colonel... but nah, he was just scaring him into confessing who he's been working for: some organization by the not very original name of "Black Ops" that operates in Metropolis.

So John goes to Metropolis to look up these "Black Ops" fellows, and as it happens, they're the ones operating the shady sleep clinic from the "Worlds Collide" storyline. The head of the group is a generous philanthropist called Manual Cabral who in his spare time dresses up in a slick robot armor and tries to exploit the reality-hopping powers of innocent mailmen. Reality-hopping is exactly what Fred and Superboy do once again, but this time they also bring Milestone's Hardware and Rocket along from the Dakotaverse.

Cabral (or "Hazard," as he likes to be called when he's wearing the armor) sends some goons to capture Fred, but his new super-friends won't allow it. Steel hears the resulting ruckus and flies in to help, but Hardware mistakes him for another goon and their obligatory fight scene ensues. Just when Rocket has gotten the boys to stop fighting, everyone but Steel is teleported back to the other universe.

Superman shows up to increase this issue's resale value even more, and Steel barely has any time to explain the situation to him before there's another bizarre plot twist: Fred somehow made a literal bridge between the two worlds! (But we already knew that from the Milestone issues.) CONTINUED!

Outsiders #9

The Eradicator finds out that his old pals the Outsiders are now in super-prison and he's like "That means they must be guilty! I'm gonna go there and kill them." But, when he gets there, he's like "Aw, I can't stay mad at you guys" and helps them break out.

He ends up rejoining the team to help them prove their innocence, because deep down, he's a big softie. By the way, that super-prison is the Slab, the same one Mongul broke out of in Green Lantern #52, which leads to...

Green Lantern #53

Superman drops by LA to help the All-New, All-Confused Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner, who can't understand why a yellow guy from outer space is trying to kill him. This issue includes the classic moment in which Superman and Kyle introduce themselves to each other and Superman says one of his most perfectly Superman quotes: "By the way, I'm Superman."

Read my full post for this issue at the greenlantern94to04 blog, which finally caught up chronologically to this one, and I'm planning to keep them that way (especially with a certain timeline-shaking crossover coming up...).

Wonder Woman #88

We talked about this issue in the post for Man of Steel #35, but how could I pass up the opportunity to show that Brian Bolland cover here? Aside from the robot-fighting stuff we already covered, the plot is about Diana feeling unhinged due to some magical shenanigans going on in her series and coming to Metropolis to ask Superman to do whatever it takes to "stop her" if she ever puts innocent lives at risk. Too bad she can't just give him a ring that'd take care of it.

"Unless it's an innocent who's been retconned into being evil. Then just let me snap his neck."

Superman's reaction is telling Wonder Woman she might be "overreacting" and then ditching her with Dr. Fate (actually a villain in disguise) because Diana "won't be much use until she gets her head together." Are we sure Superman isn't the one whose personality was magically altered to make him a dick?

Showcase '94 #8

Not technically Superman-related, but this issue has a very interesting story written by Dan Jurgens in which Waverider and his fellow Linear Man (Rip) Hunter notice some time disturbances in 1994 and go check them out. This turns out to be a trap by the villainous Monarch, formerly the heroic Hank "Hawk" Hall (what's with guys called Hal/Hall going evil?). Waverider touches Monarch to look into his future and find out what he's up to, and what he sees shocks him. Then a blast to the face shocks him in a more literal way.

Monarch kidnaps Waverider, and... CONTINUED! All across the DCU!