#Steampunk Justice League!!!

[dc-multiverse-week]

Earth-19: In a world where King Edward rules a 20th century empire, this Earth is home to several Steampunk themed heroes such as Bat Man, Accelerated Man, The Wonder Woman, and The Shrinking Man

[dailydccomics]

steampunk Justice League Dark by Tommy Lee Edwards

[imhotepii]

Steampunk Justice League

[dhampiravidi]

"DC Debuts a Surprise Justice League Hero's Dark Steampunk Redesign"

giggling. IDK if he looks more like a pirate or Wesley from The Princess Bride--

[cinematicendevaourz]

Rebel Moon (Duology) #CVReview

Zack Snyder can make a really shitty movie without the constraints of a studio like Warner Bros. behind him forcing an editor into the room to clean up behind him.

Such is the issue with Cameron, Scott, even Tarantino - but the big issue with Rebel Moon here is that whereas Scott and Tarantino use dialogue to bloat that runtime and Cameron uses elongated camera shots to make an epic, Snyder warps time with various slow-motion scenes (first half speed, then a quarter in some instances) which in the near six hours that encapsulates the theatrical release of Rebel Moon's duology gets easier and easier to notice and makes any movie buff want to call Snyder out for cheating to make an epic.

The first part of the film starts off with assembling the band, then the last part is an extended Battle of Endor.

I wouldn't have had much of a problem with this being yet another shameless Star Wars rip-off but the lack of blood and cutscenes away from the gorier parts for a TBD director's cut (as his DC films sans "Man Of Steel") release is the definition of a shameless money grab, sacrificing the art for essentially twelve hours of content.

If those would have came out instead of this intentionally watered-down shit, I believe the film would have had more than a limited run in theaters and picked up by a distributor other than lame ass Netflix.

How does an Anthony Hopkins voiced A.I. that looks like some reject off "District 9" get more screen time than Cleopatra Coleman when her Elsa Bloodaxe is the main fugitive in the story?

And then the obligatory Euro-cinema miscegenial relationship between the protagonist Sofia Boutella's Kora and some non-rememorable coward-turned-soilder Michiel Huisman.

That was casting's best idea for a White Knight? I mean, I know Euro-cinema has a thing for emasculated caucazoid males under negroid females but Jeebuz !

The rest of the cast gets a pass though. Glad to see Snyder is still treating Ray Fisher well with his role as Darrian Bloodaxe and Ed Skrien started off as the next best thing to Michael Shannon, then ended up stealing scenes and becoming the most interesting character on-screen other than Anthony Hopkins as that bot.

I didn't like the part two intro. I hate when Snyder puts these instances of Welsh folk music in his films and these weird ass pagan celebrations like when Aquaman was bringing fish back to his village in "Justice League".

That is an annoying film trope (Hey, did anyone else notice a woman is almost raped in nearly every Snyder flick?) for Snyder to have and in no way did any square dancing or shucking wheat look anywhere as cool as the training scenes in either "300" films, but took up just as much time.

"Rebel Moon" is an ambitious project. While writing this review I see that the red band trailer just dropped for the director's cut, Elsa is featured in a prequel comic that dropped at the top of the year, there's videogames and all this other stuff to expand this Snyder brainchild, but I don't think I am alone when I say I wish Snyder would have went as hard for "Sucker Punch" as he did for this.

Steampunk and sci-fi meneagrie's work very well in books, but if audiences (other than myself) didn't like "Borderlands", I'll let the box office tell it.

What I'll say though is to start off "Rebel Moon" where "Return of The Jedi" ended was a bad move. To bloat a runtime with half of the film being shot in various speeds of slow-motion is a cheat to make an epic. To have Anthony Hopkins in a film as just a voice and to give Cleopatra Coleman around five minutes on-screen in a nearly six hour duology is a travesty.

Lastly, I dont know how Snyder did it, but he made laser-fire look more annoying than a Lego flick. Snyder should stick to Amazons and Spartans, not Star Wars. Sometimes it's ok for a director to go outside of their wheelhouse, "Rebel Moon" should teach Snyder to stick to the script.

-

C.V.R. The Bard

10th/Sept.2k24

[themovieblogonline]

Rarely does a sequel live up to its predecessor, yet Arcane: League of Legends Season Two not only meets but exceeds expectations. This adult animated steampunk action-adventure series, created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, continues its riveting saga with a flawless blend of character-driven storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and thematic depth. Produced by Fortiche under Riot Games and distributed by Netflix, the show cements its place as a titan in the realm of animated television. Season Two dives deeper into the League of Legends universe, focusing on the evolving, fractured bond between sisters Vi and Jinx while weaving intricate narratives of politics, betrayal, and survival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysqiEC6bLUI Narrative Prowess: The show wastes no time diving into the aftermath of Season One's explosive finale. The narrative opens with the chaos caused by Jinx's rocket attack on Piltover’s council, setting a tense stage for the season. Episode one, “Heavy Is the Crown,” establishes a somber tone as we witness the fallout of the attack. Jayce, Mel, and Viktor grapple with survival, guilt, and responsibility, while Vi and Caitlyn navigate their strained partnership in the shadow of personal loss. The show maintains its careful balance between high-stakes action and poignant emotional beats, ensuring every character arc feels earned and impactful. Season Two is a masterclass in world-building and character complexity. Zaun’s descent into anarchic civil war and Piltover’s burgeoning political corruption are depicted with brutal honesty. The show delves into the moral ambiguity of its characters, from Viktor’s transformation into a self-styled savior to Caitlyn’s increasing militarization under Ambessa’s influence. Each subplot ties seamlessly into the overarching narrative, creating a tapestry that is as intricate as it is compelling. Character Evolution: The emotional core of the season lies in the relationships, particularly between Vi and Jinx. Their dynamic, once defined by familial loyalty and childhood memories, has evolved into a devastating push-and-pull of love and betrayal. Jinx’s mental instability and guilt, portrayed with haunting precision, are amplified by her interactions with Isha, a young orphan who becomes a surrogate sibling. Vi’s journey, marked by grief, alcoholism, and a reluctant return to her roots, adds depth to her hardened exterior. Caitlyn emerges as a commanding presence this season, her promotion to Commander pushing her into moral grey areas as she wrestles with loyalty, love, and justice. Her relationship with Vi—equal parts tender and tumultuous—grounds the series amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Viktor’s transformation is one of the most compelling arcs, as his newfound power and growing cult of personality highlight the dangers of unchecked ambition. Ambessa Medarda, a commanding and manipulative force, adds a fresh layer of intrigue. Her machinations drive much of the season’s conflict, and her relationship with her daughter Mel reveals the complexities of power and legacy. Visual and Technical Brilliance: Season Two takes the already stellar animation of its predecessor and elevates it further. Fortiche’s meticulous artistry shines in every frame, from the gritty streets of Zaun to the opulent heights of Piltover. The use of lighting and color continues to astound, with Zaun’s greenish haze and Piltover’s golden glow serving as visual metaphors for their respective societies. Action sequences are choreographed with balletic precision, each fight bursting with kinetic energy and emotional weight. The visual storytelling is complemented by an impeccable score. The soundtrack seamlessly blends orchestral grandeur with industrial beats, underscoring the show’s steampunk aesthetic. Character themes, such as Jinx’s erratic melodies or Viktor’s somber undertones, add emotional resonance to pivotal moments. Themes and Depth: Arcane doesn’t shy away from exploring complex themes. This season delves into the cyclical nature of violence, as Jinx’s descent mirrors Vander’s tragic legacy. The juxtaposition of Piltover’s technological hubris against Zaun’s desperate struggle for independence highlights socioeconomic inequalities. Themes of identity and transformation permeate the narrative, whether through Viktor’s fusion of humanity and machine or Jinx’s struggle to reconcile her fractured psyche. The series also tackles the ethics of power and progress. Jayce’s conflicted role as a Hextech innovator showcases the double-edged nature of technological advancement, while Caitlyn’s transformation into a militarized leader raises questions about the cost of justice. Standout Episodes: Several episodes deserve special recognition. “Watch It All Burn” perfectly captures Zaun’s anarchic state post-Silco, with Jinx’s deteriorating mental state juxtaposed against Viktor’s rise. “Blisters and Bedrock” offers a heart-wrenching exploration of Vander’s tragic return as a human-wolf hybrid, culminating in Isha’s emotional sacrifice. The finale, “The Dirt Under Your Nails,” delivers on every promise the season makes. It's truly an episode that you need to see to believe. And trust me, you'll need plenty of tissues. Overall: Season Two of Arcane is a triumph in every sense. It expands upon its predecessor’s foundation with a richer narrative, deeper character development, and unparalleled visual artistry. The series continues to push the boundaries of animated storytelling. It proves that animation can be as mature, complex, and emotionally resonant as any live-action counterpart. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of League of Legends or a newcomer to its universe, Arcane is a must-watch masterpiece. Season Two doesn’t just tell a story; it immerses you in a world brimming with beauty, pain, and unrelenting humanity. Read the full article

[astinggracieosborne]

The League of Extraordinary Gentleman.

This is a multi genre, cross over comic book co-created by Alan Moore and artist Kevin O'Neill which began in 1999.

The concept behind it was initially a "Justice League of Victorian England".

The main characters were Mina Murray, the wife of Jonathan Harker who was a vampire, her husband worked with Van Helsing the vampire killer. Allan Quatermain, a big game hunter and adventurer. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde who I have written about in my other blog of the same name, Captain Nemo a scientific visionary, he roams the seas in his submarine Nautilus, Hawley Griffin who is the Invisible Man a scientist who's research in optics and experiments into changing the human body's refractive index makes him invisible and eventually comes along Dorian Gray another I have already written about.

A feature film was loosely adapted in 2003 and starred Sean Connery in his last live action role.

I liked this film because each character has it's own story within this story. A Victorian super hero film they try to foil Moriarty's plan to start a war. I love the steampunk vibes in the film, Captain Nemo's automobile and Nautilus, the start of the Industrial Revolution.

[salty-dracon]

genshin impact 4.0, or as i like to call it, fantasy tears of themis ft. lifeweaver overwatch/kale vandelay hfr/mael stronghart tgaac/idk but people are drawing him with that specific kind of face and i love it

liveblog begins now

Get Out Of India And Get Your Ass To France!

People can find my previous liveblog and livetweets for what I think of the Sumeru section. I thought it was great, I loved the heist scene, but *grumbles in desi* you know how one of the most popular (and thirsted after) characters in the west right now is a DARK SKINNED INDIAN SPIDERMAN-

Paimon lore...she got tired, fell in a whirlpool, and got sucked out to sea...

sus.

... Niagara Falls...... somehow geographically across from a desert.... which also ends in a big cliff...

welcome to fontaine. literally just french for "fountain". Looks like any steampunk city but with more blue and stars. God I miss Arcane: A League of Legends story.

Neuvilette. That's the Mael Stronghart looking guy's name.

Lyney and Lynette. They're uh. little guys

we're just normal men.

CAITLYN KIRAMANN ARCANE?!

... Is this Fischl's VA? Has the same smug aura. Also, why are her eyes two different colors? Is she tainted by the Abyss or a Schneznayan puppet or something?

I'm not writing all that down Furina but I don't fuck with celebrities. I only fuck with gods.

She's so grand I hate it.

Tears of Themis 🤝 Genshin Impact Fontaine

I'm too poor and ugly for this shit

FIGHTING GODS?! BITCH I'VE GOT A RESUME

..... what the fuck is happening in this place. first god wants to beat me up, then god wants to battle me in court ace attorney - er, tears of themis style, while the rabble are saying that god-slayer traveler's DUEL would be boring while a COURT battle would be more exciting..... and now there are weird laws

that's not called being absolved of sin that's called climate change

why would you build boats that function like subway trains on giant aqueducts when you could just... make bridges with... okay I guess depending on how you do it, having aqueducts instead of roads could be pretty fast in a world without cars

How many little siblings does this guy HAVE

How many dragons is that now? There was Dvalin, Durin, Ahzdaha, the one Raiden killed, and now the Hydro one. Was there a Dendro one?

You'd think that a HYDRO city would have some kind of STEAM POWER

I love cute engineer girls! Damn, she's just an NPC.

... wh. YOU'RE A GOD OF WATER IN A STEAMPUNK CITY JUST USE HYDRO POWER TURBINES

nothing like getting the Italian mafia to beat up the French mafia

sorry to this guy who has now voiced characters in two games where his fantastic voice work is badly complimented by piss poor lip sync (swank from rain code)

Oh shit are we going to ace attorney childe? that would be really funny. he'd be such an ace attorney witness too

traveler: childe, why are you in fontaine?

childe: depression arc

So these little humanoid dog creatures are "Melusine".

Friends with benefits (the benefits are knowing all their siblings and also theater tickets)

There he is. Mr. Justice man.

Neuvilette: I think she wants you to look at her.

Paimon: Yeah, sure...

Furina: Hehehe~

Traveler: *holds up middle finger at Furina*

Oh he's literally Mael Stronghart

Lyney's VA is pulling out all the stops for this stage magician cutscene

A "bang" right in the middle of a magic show?? For sure we're going to be Ace Attorneying this chapter.

OH YEAH. OH YEAH THATS A CLEAR CASE OF SOMEONE USING STAGE MAGIC TO MURDER LIKE IN DRV3 OR AA6

Paimon puts on Groucho Goggles while quoting Sherlock Holmes. Fun...

Waiting for Rosa Tears of Themis to get isekaid to this universe with a random boy. Because I like Rosa and she's cute. And never alone.

So Lyney's rope was replaced with a flammable one. That explains the murder method, But how did Lyney switch places with Carrow, and where did Halsey disappear to?

Navia, a mob boss. Or a detective. Not sure which.

There's honestly no way they didn't take at least a LITTLE inspiration from Arcane because that's the only steampunk setting I can think of where little furry guys are common. Pookas are in Odin Sphere, but that story isn't exactly steampunk... Well, it is. And supposedly Neuvilette is the only male one.

That's how the trick itself was performed. The audience member basically got put on a giant rotating, moving elevator. So in the middle of it, someone must have hijacked the trick. They forced Halsey out and Cowell in, then escaped with Halsey.

... Lyney didn't hear the thud? How? Why?!

THEY'RE FATUI?!

It literally is the most Ace Attorney sort of thing to ask the judge for a brief recess and then talk with your client who immediately admits to being a Russian spy whose excuse for not being present during a murder scene was that he was doing spy things

yeah I was thinking, it had to be someone from the crew. how else do you tamper with the random number generator and the rope? but the real question is how did he become a victim of his own scene after the fact?

what

this is entirely out of left field. they should have gotten one of the tears of themis writers on this one.

girl your drink was spiked

yeah that was what I was thinking too. the disappeared people are being dissolved and ending up in the fountain somehow

oceanid!

aether: bye pretty oceanid! I'll find your lover for you- OH GOD THERE'S ROBOTS

... Did they honestly watch Arcane and get nothing from it? Looks like they tried to recreate Zaun and missed the fact that Zaun isn't run by women in big hats

girl...

I'm just bored throughout this entire investigation segment and then I learn that the Italian Mafia got arrested for water crimes

We're unwatering the water crimes

I was also wondering if vacher was the one who murdered the oceanid. yeah it was. and looks like we hunted down the mastermind of one piece of the murder plot

sometimes I fear that the gimmick for AA7's prosecutor will be a robot and this is why. at least we get to see the guy go ham again

Oh yeah that guy's girlfriend is in the place where all water flows to, Doyha District the fountain.

... Imagine you're a baliff, and you're at court, and the defendant wants to see his wife who has dissolved into a fountain, and the chief justice helps him, and so the chief justice takes him to the fountain, and then five minutes later the chief justice comes back and says he stuck his face in the fountain and drowned

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Steampunk AU

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/uDyfiqN

by shieldm027

In this AU, Raven of Azarath finds her way in a world where her home of once pure, mystical forests meets the steampunk industrialization of New Gotham.

Words: 3517, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Teen Titans (Comics), Robin (Comics), Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020), Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016), Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

Characters: Raven (Teen Titans), Damian Wayne, Dick Grayson, Angela "Arella" Roth, Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Talia al Ghul, Trigon (DCU), Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon, Cassandra Cain, Jericho - Character

Relationships: Raven/Damian Wayne

Additional Tags: To Be Edited

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/uDyfiqN

[masters-and-magnets]

I legitimately keep forgetting that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a DC property half the time because I'm so used to seeing them milk the same small batch of characters, and just casually gloss over their forgotten children.

[viaov]

Sean Gordon Murphy, Steam Punk Wonder Woman

[sdeeys]

Inktober day 5(and day4)

Steam Punk AU Kirk(and Hernan)

[usagirotten]

After The Dark Crisis Event This Is The New DC Multiverse

Another Crisis has come and gone, and the DCU is altered because of it. The events of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths remade DC's infinite multiverse concept, sending out ripples across realities and causing disturbances all along the Divine Continuum. Fortunately, Crisis vet Barry Allen is here to make sure all is well, and he’s bringing two DC vets along to help. This week DC Comics will publish Dark Crisis: Big Bang, a new one-shot derived from the Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths event in the hand with a script by Mark Waid and drawings by Dan Jurgens with Norm Rapmund, will try to paint the panorama of the new DC Multiverse. As you will remember in Dark Crisis, the Multiverse was recovered after the Omniverse was the reigning concept after the end of Dark Nights: Death Metal. In this sense, with a frame that deals with the search for the Anti-Monitor by Barry Allen / The Flash, Dark Crisis: Big Bang will show us how the new DC Comics Multiverse was after the fight with Pariah. Dark Crisis is the third act of a larger story that Williamson's been building since DC relaunched its entire superhero line in the wake of the conclusion of 2020’s Dark Nights: Death Metal. In the closing pages of that series (by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo) the fictional DC Universe was restored to a condition it hadn’t enjoyed since the mid-'198'0s, as the multiverse was once again recreated, with all continuity published by the company restored in some form or another to canon.  

Barry Allen details all the Earths he has found so far and they include everything from worlds based on old comics to Earth 33, which would be our world. Below you can see the list that includes some of the comics that show those Lands: - Earth 0 - Described by Barry Allen as his Earth and home of the Justice League, it is apparently the main universe of the current DC Comics continuity - Earth 1 - This would be the Earth from titles like Superman: Earth One and is described as a world with young variants of the Justice League that are just beginning to operate as heroes. - Earth 2 - The world of the Justice Society. The reference material cited is The New 52 - Earth 3 - This is the Earth of the Crime Syndicate. - Earth 4 - Described by the Flash as a world with variants of the Question, Blue Beetle, and Captain Atom. The reference comic is Multiverse: Paxamericana. - Earth 5 - Here are the Shazam Family variants as in Multiversity: Thunderworld Adventures. - Earth 6 - This is the world with the Justice League variants of Earth 0 that correspond to the version of the DC Universe that Stan Lee (Spider-Man, Fantastic Four) devised in Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe . - Earth 7 - This was Thunderer's Earth, but it was destroyed. Reference comic Multiversity #1. - Earth 8 - The world known as Angor is identified as the home of The Retaliators (characters based on the Avengers from Marvel Comics) - Earth 9- The world of The Tangent Heroes, the characters from DC's Tangent Comics (1997) label. - Earth 10 - The home of The Freedom Fighters - Earth 11 – The world where variants that are of opposite genders to the heroes and villains of Earth 0 inhabit. - Earth 12 - This is the futuristic Earth from Batman Beyond. - Earth 13 - Barry Allen describes this world as an Earth based more on magic than science. It is the home of Superdemon. - Earth 14 - The home of the defunct Justice League assassins seen in Superman #15 (2017). - Earth 15 - Here is The Cosmic Grail - Earth 16 - The home of the famous sideckicks known as The Just (seen in Multiversity The Just) - Earth 17- A world destroyed by nuclear war in 1986. It is the home of The Atomic Knights. - Earth 18 - The fall of The Justice Riders, a frozen world in the Old West. - Earth 19 - The world of Gotham by Gaslight, described by Barry Allen as the world of "steampunk" heroes. - Earth 20 - Home of The Society of Super-Heroes and their pulp magazine-style adventures. - Earth 21 - The world of JLA: The New Frontier, where the Justice League was created during the space race. - Earth 22- This is the Earth from Kingdom Come. - Earth 23- The Earth of Calvin Ellis, President Superman. - Earth 24 - The world of DC Comics: Bombshells with heroines fighting in World War II. - Earth 25- This is where Tom Strong and his friends live - Earth 26 - The World of The Zoo Crew - Earth 27- A world where the Justice League exists but its members are dinosaurs (seen in Jurassic League ) - Earth 28- A world where heroes fight using mechanized suits (seen in DC Mech ) - Earth 29- The Bizarroverse - Earth 30 - Superman's World: Red Son - Earth 31 - This is the home of Leatherwing and the pirate heroes from Detective Comics Annual #7 (1994) - Earth 32 - Defined by Flash as a world with "random combinations of the heroes of Earth 0". The comic cited as a reference is Batman: In Darkest Knight, the 1994 comic where Bruce Wayne becomes Green Lantern. - Earth 33 - Apparently this is our world, where you are reading this note and attentive to what will happen with Dark Crisis because Earth 33 is "the world where superheroes are fictional characters." Flash #179 (1968) is cited as a reference. - Earth 34 - The world of The Light Brigade. - Earth 35 - The world of The Super Americans. - Earth 36-This is where Optiman and his friends live. - Earth 37 - "A dark world of rapid technological advances" as in Batman: Thrillkiller (1997). - Earth 38 - This is the Earth from Superman & Batman: Generations, featuring multi-generational and older versions of the Earth 0 heroes. - Earth 39 - The world of Agents of Wonder. - Earth 40 - The Earth of the evil versions of The Society of Super-Heroes (from Earth 20). - Earth 41 - Here live Spore, Dino-Cop and Nightcracker. - Earth 42 - "Chibi" versions of the Earth 0 characters. - Earth 43 - Vampire versions of the Justice League as in Batman & Dracula: Red Rain (1991). - Earth 44 - Robotic versions of the Justice League. - Earth 45 - The world of the artificers of Superdoomsday. - Earth 46 - Described as home to "a young Batman with a unique and unrecognizable rogues' gallery). It is the world where Batman: The Gargoyle of Gotham takes place. - Earth 47 - The home of The Love Syndicate of Dreamworld and The Inferior Five - Earth 48 - The world of The Forerunners - Earth 49 - The Land of Injustice (2013) - Earth 50 - A world ruled by the tyrannical Lords of Justice. - Earth 51 - The world of Kamandi, where an "accelerated timeline" caused a Great Disaster. - Earth 52 - The home of the heroes known as The Primate Legion. - Earth 54 - Here lives Tommy Tomorrow, a world of humanity arrived on Mars in 1960. - Earth 55 - The world of DCeased with the virus that turned the heroes and villains of that Earth into zombies (Earth 0 similes). - Earth 59 - The Flash defines it as "the first known parallel Earth", the home of Wonder Woman Tara Terruna seen in Wonder Woman #59 (1953) - Earth-63 —Overrun with vampire counterparts of Earth-0 heroes (DC vs Vampires) - Earth-66 —Batman and Robin face exceptionally benign villains (Batman '66) - Earth-93 —The Dakotaverse (Icon #1 et al.) - Earth-96 —Teenage students Batgal, Bumblebee, Supergirl, Zatanna, and others (DC Super Hero Girls et al.) - Earth-98 —Home of Green Lantern Tai Pham (Green Lantern: Legacy) - Earth-100 —Home to Teen Titans Raven Roth, Garfield Logan, Damian Wayne, and others (Teen Titans: Raven et al.) - Earth-118 —Medieval versions of Earth-0 heroes (Dark Knights of Steel) - Earth-124 —Home to Wonder Woman. Wonder Girl, and Wonder Tot (Wonder Woman v1 #124) - Earth-148 —Earth-0 counterpart heroes are villains and vice versa (World's Finest Comics v1 # 148 et al.) - Earth-162 —Superman and later, Batman divided into two separate beings (Superman v1 #162) - Earth-183 —Superman raised by apes (Superboy #183 et al.) - Earth-216 —Home of Superman. Jr. and Batman, Jr. (World's Finest Comics #215, et al.) - Earth-387 —No divergences in history other than every inhabitant is a werewolf (Adventure Comics #387) - Earth-789 —Superman and Supergirl are Earth's only powered heroes; Batman's parents killed by the joker. (Superman '78, Batman '89) - Earth-898 —A Justice League without a Superman (JLA: The Nail) - Earth-1956 —A teenage Superman (Superboy) and his dog, Krypto, are Earth's first super-heroes; later, home of the Super Friends - Earth-1996 —Mysterious "amalgamated" (?) heroes; requires further investigation? - Earth-2020 —Three generations of Supermen (Superman v1 #354 et al.) Read the full article

[kin-playlists]

•°. *࿐

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : SILCO [ARCANE / LEAGUE OF LEGENDS]

genre(s) ;; steampunk, progressive metal, symphonic metal, etc.

themes ;; vengefulness, fatherly connection with Jinx, etc.

|◁ II ▷|

✧ 1. Hell to Your Doorstep - The Count of Monte Cristo Musical Soundtrack

✧ 2. Great Vacation - Dirt Poor Robins

✧ 3. A Death - An Unkindness

✧ 4. Stalker - IAMX

✧ 5. She and Her Darkness - Diary of Dreams

✧ 6. Hell and You - Amigo the Devil

✧ 7. Pet - A Perfect Circle

✧ 8. Weight of the World - Shayfer James

✧ 9. In Darkness We Trust - Deadly Circus Fire

✧ 10. Justice for Saint Mary - Diablo Swing Orchestra

[spotify]

━━━━━━»»•••««━━━━━━

~ GIL ! 🐚

all playlists are subject to change or improvement without notice. check carrd for request info.

[sheriff-caitlyn]

I started this blog in 2014, as the first Caitlyn on tumblr, and obviously I’ve been through a lot of retcons and changes myself, not only adapting to Riot’s own public retcons (from the minor, like her aesthetics, to the major, like the removal of the Institute of War as an integral part of their lore) but also to my own. That’s the thing about playing a character as complex as this, is that you learn more as you go. In your interactions with others and the creation of backstory, history, and other bits of worldbuilding to better understand the world you’re in, a character goes from a handful of images and some in-game voicelines to a fully-fledged person with a complex narrative. Sometimes things change, and that’s fine. But there are some changes which... aren’t. 

For all the fingerprints I’ve put on her, she is still not my character. But I care. Sunk-cost fallacy, maybe, but I care about this character I have been involved in and I care about the direction she has been taken. So, without further ado, I’d like to delve into:

The Recent Caitlyn Update In Piltover’s New Context or, We Gotta Fetishise Police Violence, I Mean, Look At Her, She’s So Hot

Back in August 2015, I went, ‘Oh No, they’re going to try to turn Piltover into Gotham City, aren’t they?’, and lo and behold, suddenly we have Poison Ivy now. But I will get back to that, later. In this particular thread, I noted that many of the characters in Piltover seemed destined for a revamp that would rob them of what originally drew us to them in the first place, and that Piltover seemed destined for a rework that would wash out much of their character. Piltover and Zaun were always meant to be polar opposites, but suddenly we were seeing glimpses of Piltover being ‘not as good as everyone thinks’, which hinted that Piltover and Zaun were destined not to be polar opposites in the future, but indistinguishable from each other. It worried me that the only thing telling these two fascinating cities apart would be the sunlight.

So, when we have so much potential for a clash between Zaun and Piltover, between ‘Science No Matter The Cost’ and ‘We Must Advance The World With Care’, why change Piltover to some murky middleground, turning peace and security into wartime capitalism? A world where the people are shitty, where weapons and profit come first, and the only ones making a stand are the ones who are so embittered they have nothing better to do?

Because it has to be ‘interesting’. We’re going to lose bits that we like, that we’re familiar with. And that’s why I’m concerned.

This was before Piltover and Zaun were squished together in an ugly - and utterly ham-fisted - method of showing How Complex The Future Is. There’s layers, guys! Literal layers to this one single city! That means it’s deep! But when I say ‘bits that we like, that we’re familiar with’, I’m not clinging to a fanon interpretation. I’m saying the things that drew us to the world and to the characters to begin with. I could adapt from Caitlyn turning from brown-haired and brown-eyed to black-haired and blue-eyed, because even through I had been doing art, at that point, the change gave me an opportunity to express and discover more about her character (her eye colour being influenced by her mother’s magic, for one). But some of the more stark changes - to family, to job, to personality, to the city of Piltover itself - these result in a character changing completely. I was worried that the cool detective who literally made the world a better place would be chopped and changed into something unrecognisable. I even expounded on my concerns in November 2016, where I could see some of the ways the writers at Rito might make adjustments in the direction of their lore updates.

All this to say, I’ve been working on her for a while, and I was bracing for some bad news. This? This is kind of the worst.

Caitlyn has always been the Sheriff of Piltover, an authority figure, a representative of the law and order that Piltover is famous for. Piltover’s peace and financial prosperity has been directly linked to Caitlyn’s concerted effort to eradicate crime (not criminals, crime! Which, as I have mentioned particularly in this post from 2014, means she upended and reformed the justice system, from the legal process to the prisons to how people are treated as citizens). The city is safe, people have greater access to personal wealth and development, classism is erased, society is flourishing. Zaun, as Piltover’s polar opposite, is a corporate nightmare, with ‘do as thou wilt’, private bodyguards for the rich and powerful while the poor scramble to survive in a system that barely treats them as human. Vi, as a Zaunite, brings a lot of her ‘violence as a problem-solver’ methodology to Piltover’s law-enforcement, though she seems to have no intention of returning to Zaun and seems to have bonded with Caitlyn (‘teamwork!’) to Get Shit Done. And, apparently, there is still shit that needs to be done, though nowhere near as much as there had been in the Bad Old Days.

Vi was, at the time, the awkward-grit-teeth-grin-ha-ha-um-yeah representation of police violence. ‘Resist arrest’, she cries gleefully, as she beats people and breaks down buildings, and we are supposed to go ‘ha, isn’t that funny’ with varying degrees of sincerity. Of course Piltover is going to have problems: anywhere that has wealth and stability is going to be targeted by the envious and the needy. Peace needs to be protected. The problem lies in how that protection is enacted.

So now we have the recent Legends of Runeterra update to Caitlyn, an update which looked at the context of Piltover needing protection, as well as the modern context of Riot’s California location in the Years of Our Lord 2020-2021, and then decided ‘you know what we need? Police violence, everyone loves police violence’.

MAN I thought the stripper-cop skins were bad but here we go!

Her Yordle Snap-Traps (which I envisioned as from the Yordle Military, rather than a racially-profiling weapon as, y’know, they work on human-and-larger-sized people as well) have now been replaced by electroshock grenades, the intent gone from incapacitation and observation to outright paralysis and destruction. Her net-short is now apparently electro-conductive (admittedly, I have had one (1) single RP where that happened, but it came at both a cost to Caitlyn and to her weapon’s efficiency as a result, a last-resort against a dangerous opponent). Caitlyn’s cards in LoR take her from being a detective coordinating ideas and people and putting together a case to a SWAT team leader. This might be the biggest problem in working for a non-combat-oriented character in a MOBA, or in any fighting game: the game needs to find rationalisations for all of their characters being there, being combatants, being able to kill (even if, as Riot says, the lore is separate from the game). We have monsters and soldiers and ancient powers who of course they know how to spill blood and relish in doing so. But pacifists, like Karma or Bard? Explorers like Ezreal? And a sheriff, a peacekeeper, a law-keeper, someone mindful of responsibility and the importance of saving every life possible, like Caitlyn? They’re stripped of that depth and complexity in-game, but there was always the lore that backed them up. But they’ve done away with that completely. Caitlyn was never special operations. She was never military. But now she is, because she had to be changed to fit better into a fighting game. They had to make her violent, and as a result, they have undermined not only everything about the character that made her interesting to begin with - turning her now into a representative of police brutality, but with long hair, pouty lips, and a thigh gap - but they’re also re-writing the context of Piltover. It was bad enough to squish Piltover and Zaun together. But now, Caitlyn’s update is proof that Piltover has gone from a steampunk utopia to a violent, oppressive and cynical post-industrial world. The depiction of Caitlyn as a SWAT team leader (complete with special-forces beret, because hat! Caitlyn wears a hat! Nevermind the fact that she’s no longer wearing a distinctive tophat but instead a symbol of extreme state-sponsored force!) shows us that Piltover’s ‘army’ is not designed as a defence against outsiders, but as an offensive force against their own people. Caitlyn is supposed to be the representation of how peace and order is maintained in one of the largest factions in League of Legends, and if her method of maintaining order is straight-up police violence against their own citizens, then it’s not really peace and order. It’s authoritarianism at best, and facism at worst.

Piltover was different from every other nation in Runeterra because it didn’t have a military. It had defenders, and it had a powerful economy, and it had a democratic political system. But the Piltover update retconned Caitlyn’s hard work. The gangs were back - though now they’re big powerful families like Clan Ferros - and Caitlyn has been de-aged so that she’s still new to the force, that she hasn’t even had her chance to change anything. Her importance to Piltover is minimised... and why is Vi even there? (Oh boy I guess you’re going to have to watch Arcane to find out! Coming to a Netflix near you soon!) With a younger Caitlyn in a violent society, she has no choice but to be violent herself... even if that undermines everything previously established about Piltover and about Caitlyn. This update has made Piltover just as ugly and oppressive as Demacia, Noxus, and Zaun. It’s just another army equipped to do violence, but now that violence is turned inwards. This isn’t protection, it’s control. It’s fear. It’s oppression. Caitlyn is no longer a peacekeeper. She’s a monster. Chopped and changed, as I feared, into something completely unrecognisable from how she began in a world that no longer looks like what it had been... or should be.

It’s hard to tell what came first, the change to Piltover or the change to Caitlyn. Either way, the changes are inextricably linked. Caitlyn was integral to Piltover’s modern state, and Piltover is integral to Caitlyn as a character. Her (original) drive was to make the city and all its people better; Piltover was a utopia because of the effort of Caitlyn, and of people like her, people who wanted a better world. This new iteration of Piltover - full of fear and violence and hypocricy, layered over Zaun in such a way that makes ham-fisted commentary about the wealth/class divide - undermines the value of the individual. It removes agency. It removes hope, which had been integral to Piltover. Piltover is no longer the CIty of Progress... it’s the City of ‘you better be rich and pretty if you want to progress’. And Caitlyn is no longer a force for good or a representative of responsibility, because those things don’t exist in Piltover anymore. Legends of Runeterra has turned Caitlyn into a bitch, someone to hate. She has a marked lack of respect for people, as demonstrated in her new character traits of ‘casually-racist’ (her lines to Veigar), ‘condescending’ (her lines to Viktor), with some added pride in her violence (’here’s my calling card *shoots gun*’ and ‘I aim to win and my aim is excellent’). She is a representative of her city, and she is a terrible person now. Piltover is terrible. Piltover is ugly. 

But Caitlyn avoids that last part. And she’ll get away with it, because she’s a hot twenty-something.

In 2015, I drew Caitlyn-as-Swain, as an AU for what might have been. The overwhelming response at the time was ‘aaa she’s so hot I’d follow that leader of Noxus’, prompting a good friend Swain RPer to comment that Swain - who was, at the time, the withered man in green and gold who needed a cane - was just as smart as Caitlyn if not more so, a proven capable leader, but when it comes down to it, sex-appeal will always trump characterisation and storytelling, and that’s disheartening for someone who puts so much work into stories, to context, to something deeper than ‘Just another MOBA’. And here I am, in 2021, looking at how Caitlyn has been stripped of her fascinating and complex characterisation while maintaining her long legs, long hair, and corsetted figure. Now, I do appreciate the fact they’ve given her a better costume than miniskirt and boobtube. She deserves so much better. I even commissioned back in 2015 for a Better Look for Caitlyn; Tom aka FaerieFountain went on to make her new look canon. But she’s supposed to be a detective. She’s supposed to be careful and methodical and mindful of her status and power. Instead, she’s been made gleefully violent, leaving a lot of depth behind in order to become just Hot Cop With Gun. (As an aside, was anyone else uncomfortable with Caitlyn’s high-school skin? Especially when the writer actually tweeted ‘step on me’? Hello? Ma’am? That is a high school student, that is a CHILD you are talking about? But Caitlyn is hot so it’s fine! Sexualise a child! it’s fine, she’s hot, it’s fine!) Almost everyone who has contacted me about Caitlyn’s LoR cards has been excited to see her. Good! She’s a great character! Or, she was. But the enthusiasm about her is tied to how she’s so violent, how she uses her power to abuse those who don’t conform. But she looks great, smoking hot, you know? And when she’s smoking hot, her dangerous and abusive behaviour and attitude are completely excused. An update to a character needs to take into account characterisation as well as the visuals. Her update, sadly, has focused on the all-too-prevalent problem of the viciousness of state-sponsored violence, rather than the complexity of detective work, of puzzle solving and intellectualism, but because she looks hot and speaks in that British accent, no-one’s going to care. Hot ladies can get away with so much, because legs and pouty lips, but I guess she’s also a cop or whatever.

And, as a momentary aside, why is an eco-terrorist suddenly Caitlyn’s longtime foe? It makes zero sense for Piltover and for Caitlyn that someone who plant-based powers is her biggest rival and the city’s biggest threat. Zero sense, until you take into account that Piltover has been stripped of its character and made into something more aligned with modern authoritarianism than the hopeful vibes of steampunk. Environmentalism? Not on my watch! Deploy the police (the good guys!) to silence the protesters (who are obviously the bad guys becase they’re protesting)! Because Piltover and Zaun are one city now, and therefore indistinguishable, we have a fucking Poison Ivy character causing enough trouble in Piltover to warrant entire fucking SWAT teams opening fire within the city limits and around peoples’ homes! Not Zaun, which is the environmental nightmare, but Piltover! With its fresh air and open skies! Yes, that’s a great place for an eco-terrorist to blame and/or try to fix! The whole thing is honestly so backwards! Like they’ve decided to make a cool character in the form of Corina and just shove her into the story, rather than finding a place in the narrative that suits her. The idea that Corina is C makes no sense. Caitlyn vs C is supposed to be Sherlock versus Moriarty, Ganimard versus Lupin, ACME versus Carmen Sandiego, world’s greatest detective against the world’s greatest thief. It focused on the intellectual battle, the need for self-improvement, and - most importantly! - that this was a fight that didn’t result in gunfire or people being put in bodybags. But we can’t have that in our fighting game! We can’t have people thinking, because that’s not the kind of game we have, it’s left-click-shoot out here on the Rift or in the cards. So now we have a woman with plant powers bombing Piltover, and a policewoman kicking down doors and opening fire. And she’s right there, in Caitlyn’s new splash art, within reaching distance of the sheriff!

She’s right there! In hot pink with a flower in her fucking hair! And Caitlyn doesn’t even notice? Looks like one of my major gripes about Caitlyn being updated - Incompetence - is rearing its ugly head. She cannot even see someone not five feet from her. Oooh, look out, Piltover, no-one can figure out why this single eco-terrorist is causing problems for years, but Caitlyn will figure it out! With her gun! Because she’s a cop with a gun, and cops with guns never cause more problems than they solve, right?

Look... I know. I know she’s not my character. I know that everything I’ve done is fan-interpretation. But I’ve worked for so long and hard and done so much research, and things I’ve done have even been seen by - and used by! - the company itself (not just in the ‘oh what a coincidence’ sense, either, I know my link on Hextech as a form of magic made it to several of the writers, some of whom later contacted me). I might be too jaded by all the disappointment to take it personally anymore, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still happen. We know Riot Games could be and should be better. So many people in this community - and people who have since moved on - put so much love and effort into the characters and the world, building up from scraps and guesswork and extrapolation. It wasn’t our world, but we enjoyed playing in it. We enjoyed struggling in it, because it pushed us to be thoughtful, creative, to be engaged and interested. Critical Theory doesn’t have to be negative... but this recent update to Caitlyn’s character and to Piltover as a whole is... it’s a step backwards. They’ve gone for the ‘ooh isn’t this gritty and dark’ approach, and swept away so much of what made the original so interesting, creative, engaging to begin with. They’d rather have controversy than people genuinely enjoying the thing that they’re opening their wallet for. 

Caitlyn was a detective who focused on responsibility, intellectualism, and care. What she is now is not the same Caitlyn they started with, and expresses a set of values that I do not support. This blog will continue to be focusing on the old lore, on what Piltover has been and what it should be: a hopeful utopia, a place for people to grow and be responsible and thoughtful and mindful of their place on the world stage. It’s not going to be perfect, but there’s hope, and there’s people here who want the world, and everyone in it, to be better than it is. I hope you join me, no matter who you are.

[themovieblogonline]

Rarely does a sequel live up to its predecessor, yet Arcane: League of Legends Season Two not only meets but exceeds expectations. This adult animated steampunk action-adventure series, created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, continues its riveting saga with a flawless blend of character-driven storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and thematic depth. Produced by Fortiche under Riot Games and distributed by Netflix, the show cements its place as a titan in the realm of animated television. Season Two dives deeper into the League of Legends universe, focusing on the evolving, fractured bond between sisters Vi and Jinx while weaving intricate narratives of politics, betrayal, and survival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysqiEC6bLUI Narrative Prowess: The show wastes no time diving into the aftermath of Season One's explosive finale. The narrative opens with the chaos caused by Jinx's rocket attack on Piltover’s council, setting a tense stage for the season. Episode one, “Heavy Is the Crown,” establishes a somber tone as we witness the fallout of the attack. Jayce, Mel, and Viktor grapple with survival, guilt, and responsibility, while Vi and Caitlyn navigate their strained partnership in the shadow of personal loss. The show maintains its careful balance between high-stakes action and poignant emotional beats, ensuring every character arc feels earned and impactful. Season Two is a masterclass in world-building and character complexity. Zaun’s descent into anarchic civil war and Piltover’s burgeoning political corruption are depicted with brutal honesty. The show delves into the moral ambiguity of its characters, from Viktor’s transformation into a self-styled savior to Caitlyn’s increasing militarization under Ambessa’s influence. Each subplot ties seamlessly into the overarching narrative, creating a tapestry that is as intricate as it is compelling. Character Evolution: The emotional core of the season lies in the relationships, particularly between Vi and Jinx. Their dynamic, once defined by familial loyalty and childhood memories, has evolved into a devastating push-and-pull of love and betrayal. Jinx’s mental instability and guilt, portrayed with haunting precision, are amplified by her interactions with Isha, a young orphan who becomes a surrogate sibling. Vi’s journey, marked by grief, alcoholism, and a reluctant return to her roots, adds depth to her hardened exterior. Caitlyn emerges as a commanding presence this season, her promotion to Commander pushing her into moral grey areas as she wrestles with loyalty, love, and justice. Her relationship with Vi—equal parts tender and tumultuous—grounds the series amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Viktor’s transformation is one of the most compelling arcs, as his newfound power and growing cult of personality highlight the dangers of unchecked ambition. Ambessa Medarda, a commanding and manipulative force, adds a fresh layer of intrigue. Her machinations drive much of the season’s conflict, and her relationship with her daughter Mel reveals the complexities of power and legacy. Visual and Technical Brilliance: Season Two takes the already stellar animation of its predecessor and elevates it further. Fortiche’s meticulous artistry shines in every frame, from the gritty streets of Zaun to the opulent heights of Piltover. The use of lighting and color continues to astound, with Zaun’s greenish haze and Piltover’s golden glow serving as visual metaphors for their respective societies. Action sequences are choreographed with balletic precision, each fight bursting with kinetic energy and emotional weight. The visual storytelling is complemented by an impeccable score. The soundtrack seamlessly blends orchestral grandeur with industrial beats, underscoring the show’s steampunk aesthetic. Character themes, such as Jinx’s erratic melodies or Viktor’s somber undertones, add emotional resonance to pivotal moments. Themes and Depth: Arcane doesn’t shy away from exploring complex themes. This season delves into the cyclical nature of violence, as Jinx’s descent mirrors Vander’s tragic legacy. The juxtaposition of Piltover’s technological hubris against Zaun’s desperate struggle for independence highlights socioeconomic inequalities. Themes of identity and transformation permeate the narrative, whether through Viktor’s fusion of humanity and machine or Jinx’s struggle to reconcile her fractured psyche. The series also tackles the ethics of power and progress. Jayce’s conflicted role as a Hextech innovator showcases the double-edged nature of technological advancement, while Caitlyn’s transformation into a militarized leader raises questions about the cost of justice. Standout Episodes: Several episodes deserve special recognition. “Watch It All Burn” perfectly captures Zaun’s anarchic state post-Silco, with Jinx’s deteriorating mental state juxtaposed against Viktor’s rise. “Blisters and Bedrock” offers a heart-wrenching exploration of Vander’s tragic return as a human-wolf hybrid, culminating in Isha’s emotional sacrifice. The finale, “The Dirt Under Your Nails,” delivers on every promise the season makes. It's truly an episode that you need to see to believe. And trust me, you'll need plenty of tissues. Overall: Season Two of Arcane is a triumph in every sense. It expands upon its predecessor’s foundation with a richer narrative, deeper character development, and unparalleled visual artistry. The series continues to push the boundaries of animated storytelling. It proves that animation can be as mature, complex, and emotionally resonant as any live-action counterpart. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of League of Legends or a newcomer to its universe, Arcane is a must-watch masterpiece. Season Two doesn’t just tell a story; it immerses you in a world brimming with beauty, pain, and unrelenting humanity. Read the full article