#after the clone saga
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Spider-Man VS. Doctor Octopus by artist Steve Skroce and Bud LaRosa. From the cover of 1997's Amazing Spider-Man Vol.#1 #428.
#Spider-Man#Doctor Octopus#Steve Skroce#Spidey#Otto Octavius#Bud LaRosa#art#1997#marvel comics#cool comic art#marvel#late 90s#after the clone saga#back from the dead#before chapter one#1990s#90s comics#a farewell to arms#friendly neighborhood spider man#Peter Parker#still married back then#comics#Doc Ock#cool cover#tentacles#resurrection#wow#mad scientist#new york#buildings
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One of my fav things about star wars is that's its so fucking huge that u physically cannot know all of it so u just kinda like pick a section amd become obsessed. Like me with the Chiss. Like i have seen only one other fandom come even close to this amd that's Marvel. I have no idea y. And we all still bond over the skywalker saga (not the ones that shan't be spoken). And its like we all know a bit of each other sections. Like clone fans know a bit about ahsoka. Ahsoka fans know a bit about the Rebels fans. Rebels fans know about Thrawn. Thrawn fans know some deep shit about Padmes handmaiden and wild space yokels. And it pretty much goes on forever and i find that very cool.
#and its also like u cant just say u like canon or u like legends#bc they r both HUGE#like what legends era r u talking about hug#the old republic#the Luke skywalker era#that after Luke skywalker ere#with that cad skywalker dude#or do u like rogue squadron getting personally fucked up b Ysanne Isard#or the Chiss parts#with Mara#U just cant specify legends or canon#star wars#marvel#skywalker saga#clones#ahsoka tano#star wars ahsoka#sw rebels#star wars rebels#grand admiral thrawn#padme amidala#eli vanto#wild space
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Alright up next on the clone commander shawl project is dearly beloved Commander Ponds!
One of my main goals with this project was to mostly use up stash yarn, which I succeeded with in both Cody and Fox! (However very quickly I ran out of white, so most shawls from here on out will be stash+white bought specifically for it lol). But with Ponds... I could not for the life of me find a brown that matched him, and then when I did it was only in Sport weight, so he's the exception to the rule: his yarn was bought entirely specially for this project!
Commander Cody * Commander Fox * Commander Ponds
Also I sent a quick shot of this shawl right after I got it off my needles to @hastalavistabyebye before I even got it blocked or its beauty pics and they immediately got back to me with a fanart of cosy Ponds wearing it so please go tell them they're amazing for that too.
Pattern: Doo Wop
#clone commander shawl project#star wars#commander ponds#vs does a knit#vs does a photo post#the saga of star wars#i'm posting ponds so soon after Fox because I just legitimately forgot to post Fox for like 2 months#Ponds actually took me a super long time to finish lol#bly is up next#neyo meanwhile is giving me the most trouble picking out a pattern for him#which like that seems right somehow
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me earlier in this liveblog: where are the people of color in this spacefuture?
Bujold: "Pleasantly ugly, pushing middle-aged, she had the bright mongolian eyes, broad nose and lips, and coffee-and-cream skin of her mixed race heritage".
me: never mind I take it back
#kat reads the vorkosigan saga#was this necessary#Bujold: i'm introducing a named character of color for the first time since the sadistic cloning guy who's theoretically South Asian#the first words about her will be that she is ugly#since after all I can't describe her beautiful pale creamy unblemished milk white skin#sigh#cw: racism
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GUYS. GUYS. QUICK REMINDER THAT I WRITE FOR ANAKIN, PADMÉ, LUKE, LEIA AND REY!! PLS SEND REQUESTS I BEG IM SO HYPERFIXATED MY BLOG IS @angellieque
#cece speaks#⚖️🖤⚔️#star wars episode iii: revenge of the sith#star wars anakin#star wars#star wars darth vader#star wars imagine#rey palpatine#anakin skywalker#luke skywalker#leia organa skywalker#padmé amidala#in a galaxy far far away#jamien is hyperfixating#star wars x you#star wars x reader#star wars x y/n#star wars headcanons#anakin skywalker x you#anakin skywalker x reader#i also write poly!anidala headcanons#star wars the last jedi#star wars the force awakens#star wars saga#star wars attack of the clones#star wars the empire strikes back#star wars a new hope#star wars return of the jedi#i will eventually watch Ahsoka so i will be writing for shin hati and sabine wren after
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the sheer and utter torment of finding a marvel supervillain funny and interesting and reading some comics with them in it and wanting to know more about them and then finding out about the past 9-ish years of their continued existence picture unrelated
#and sl*tt’s writing MORE? we need to put felicia and mj et. al. under witness protection#if i close my eyes and pretend he stayed dead after the clone saga.
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In regards to the 'How the Fenton parents take Phantom' id imagine when Phantom was announced to be joining the JL they were paranoid , but had to admit that if hes seemingly vetted by:
Superman who is the practical epitome of Heroism
Mr. 'i have a contingency for that' Batman
and Wonder Woman who literally has a Lasso of Truth....
Between overall public perception since Phantom isnt just in Amity , the GIW either being disbanded or having to go even more into hiding / cut ties with Fentons due to all eyes on Phantom so they cant really control the narrative , and just so many stories from all kinds of people and demographics (instead of 'pretty much the teenage student body of Casper High + plus some notable adults' , others being mostly indifferent instead of hateful) around the world
At somepoint even they had to admit 'Either weve stumbled upon the biggest conspiracy ever known.... or Phantom really is just Some Guy (TM) trying his best'
Id imagine its around this time Danny reveals himself.... they need a bit to process their work
DP x DC prompt #78
There's a reason why the black lantern ring turns all who encounter it into mindless, crazed zombies. It's because the black lantern ring wasn't designed for living people, it was designed for ghosts. Enter Danny Fenton, the newest member of the Black Lantern Corps.
#dpxdc#dcxdp#dp x dc#dc x dp#Ellie+Klarion supremacy#Ellie has become WW’s newest partner in vigilante work#The public does not know why until the prank war details become public knowledge#Red Robin vs Pharaoh: The Tech Savvy Teenagers#Vlad has become desensitized to random usages of his bank account#especially after hearing Nekky and Danny early debate in front of him#Team Phantom are loving the Looney Toons splat#Sam is sending Danny all of the memes#Ellie saw Billy turn into Captain Marvel in the past and has now made him a double agent for Team Gremlin#She does not reveal this to the others of Team Gremlin#Flash is becoming desensitized to feeling beetles in his boots#he doesn’t know what to think of that#Kon/Conner and Ellie do secretly bond over being clones#Both Superboys are happy with this situation#Public is loving watching the seemingly untouchable heroes do something so chaotic and human#using original tags#Text#saga#Prompt#Hdgnj#january 2024#Gen notes#Gen adds
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Ruthlessness (Sergeant Hunter x fem!Reader)
"After everything you've done...how will you sleep at night?"
"Next to my wife."
Notes: Feral Hunter, above-average bloodshed and violence. Reader is implied to be a Jedi but it's never explicitly stated, inspired by that line from Epic: The Vengeance Saga.
Hunter tore through the base. He could smell your fear and terror, and he knew you were nearby. He didn't even need Tech's directions.
This is what he was made for.
He hadn't slept since he'd heard you'd been captured, and he wouldn't rest until you were safe in his arms.
He quickly dispatched the two TK Troopers at the door with blaster and knife. Before the first body could hit the floor, he snatched the key card from their belt. He could hear your heartbeat just beyond the door, sluggish and slow, along with one other heartbeat and the deadly hum of an interrogation droid.
The moment the door opened, Hunter found his target, launching his vibroblade at the droid.
The blaster shot took him by surprise. Hunter managed to dodge so that it grazed him just below the ribs, but it burned. Every nerve in his body screamed out in pain,but he had to keep moving forward Hunter dropped to his knee, holding his wound, and looked up at the blaster pointed at his face.
"Doctor Hemlock warned me you'd come after her," the Imperial officer said, his voice low and lethal. He sounded just like Hemlock and Rampart, a controlled calm with a storm seething beneath the surface.
Hunter had no use for control. Not when he saw you hanging limp in the officer's arm like the damsel in distress in some cheap holo novel.
"Let her go, and I might let you live." Hunter growled, pushing himself to his feet.
The blaster followed his every move, and the officer chuckled as if he hadn't just been threatened.
"That's not an option here. She's a traitor, as are you."
Hunter took a step forward, only to stumble against a table littered with surgical tools. The officer kept the blaster trained on him, smart man.
But not smart enough.
"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" The officer chuckled, "You clones just don't know when to quit."
"Hun'red percent success rate," Hunter bragged through gritted teeth, forcing his legs to support him.
"And vain too," the officer scoffed.
Hunter turned his body just enough that the officer couldn't see him grab the scalpel, still trying to make his way to you. Your heartbeat was growing slower with each passing second. He had to get you out of here.
"And what do you call your Emperor, then? An empire that'll last a thousand years? The Republic's been around longer than that."
"The Republic is gone!" The officer snapped, "That is the difference between the Galactic Empire and your precious Republic!" He jabbed the barrel of his blaster against Hunter's chestplate, sealing his doom.
Hunter moved too fast for anyone but Crosshair to have really noticed. The scalpel met its target in the vein of the officer's wrist, and he dropped the blaster with a scream. Hunter grabbed the wound and twisted it, forcing the officer to drop your body. Hunter only took his eyes off the officer to make sure you were safe, but he recovered quickly. He reached for the blaster with his non-dominant hand, and Hunter kicked it out of reach. The officer went for Hunter's wound, digging his hand into the wound. The air was ripped from Hunter's lungs as he tried to focus his vision. He couldn't let you die here, not as a trophy for some fanatic Imperial sycophant.
He still gripped the scalpel in his hand, and as the officer grinned sadistically Hunter drew it across his face. Blood splattered everywhere, and the officer reeled back with his face in his hands. Hunter didn't let him recover. He stomped his booted foot on the officer's shin, shattering his bones. The officer writhed on the floor as he tried to crawl away, dark blood from his face and wrist staining his gray uniform and slicking the tile floor.
Hunter held his side and adjusted his hold on the scalpel for a firmer grip, standing above the insignificant worm of a sentient that had dared to lay a hand on his Cyare.
"You clones-" the officer spat, coughing on his own blood.
"Scraping by, betraying the glory of the Empire just to live hand to mouth..."
"How how do you live with yourself?
"How do you sleep at night?"
Hunter grabbed onto the officers hair, yanking his head back so that the last thing he ever saw was the clone who would kill him.
"Next to my wife."
He drove the scalpel into the monster's chest, over, and over, and over again, until he heard the silence of its heart.
Hunter heaved a deep breath, tasting the coppery tang of blood at the back of his throat. It took a moment, but Hunter knew it wasn't his own.
A shuddering breath echoed through the room, and Hunter turned to you, crouching in between you and the officer so that you wouldn't have to see him as you woke up.
"Cyare? Cyare, can you hear me?" He called your name, cradling your head in his lap.
You mumbled something unintelligible, eyelids twitching.
"Hun'er?"
"Easy, easy Cyare, you're safe. It's over," He said. He gently pressed his fingers to the spot below your jaw where he could feel your heartbeat. It was delicate, like the flutter of a bird's wing, but it was there all the same. He needed to get you to the ship.
Hunter lifted you into his arms and though you raised your arms to hang onto his neck, they weighed as much as a starcruiser.
"I've got you," He whispered, "You're gonna be alright."
Your knee hit the blaster wound in his side, and he winced.
"You're hurt," You gasped, still drugged but now worried about him.
He shook his head and straightened his shoulders, "Don't worry about me. You're safe now. That's all that matters."
@photogirl894 @meadow-of-daisies-and-lavender @emperor-palpaminty @clonethirstingisreal (I just thought y'all would enjoy ✌️)
#merry christmas ya filthy animals#i've been trying to write this since halloween#not as much hunter/reader action but that's not the point of this one#lizart writes#sergeant hunter x reader#tbb hunter x reader#hunter x reader#tbb hunter x you#sergeant hunter x you#blood tw#violence tw#also s/o to asherthewarlock this gif is gorgeous ty for blessing us#🙏🙏🙏🙏
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1997's Spider-Man #85 cover by John Romita Jr. & Scott Hanna.
#spider man#shocker#1997#late 90s#john romita jr.#scott hanna#howard mackie#90's#90s#Hermann Schultz#spidey#shockwave#dynamic#hurt#in trouble#after the clone saga#before chapter one#oy#it ain't easy being spidey#webhead#danger#peter parker#the Parker luck#marvel comics
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regardless of the universe, you know peter parker will Have That Shit On
RAHHHHH MY AMALGAM AGE OMNIBUS CAME !!!!!!! ‼️‼️‼️‼️❗️‼️❗️‼️❗️‼️❗️❗️‼️❗️❗️ I AM GOING TO BE SO ANNOYING ABOUT THIS NICHE COMIC BOOK CROSSOVER EVENT
#spider-man#marvel comics#amalgam comics#amalgam universe#this happened like. right after the clone saga so that’s why he’s calling himself ben reilly currently#buts its pete. dont worry.
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Today I learned that this infamously stupid take (re: the 2003 Tartakovsky Clone Wars scene in which Anakin gifts his padawan braid to Padme after being knighted) is apparently not as uncommon as one would hope...
Ah yes, a prime example of "Obi-Wan-stan-itis", aka the condition of demanding that Anakin, Padme, the Anidala relationship, and the entirety of Star Wars canon center Obi-Wan Kenobi at all times. This is quite a serious conditon that leads affected fans to throw delusional, misogynistic tantrums when they learn that George Lucas' Star Wars does not, in fact, center Obi-Wan, and that it's actually about *gasp* Anakin and the Skywalker family!
On a more serious note, insane takes like these illustrate what, in my opinion, is one of the biggest divides in contemporary Star Wars fandom: aka, whether people view Star Wars as Lucas intended, as being a generational saga about Anakin/Vader and the Skywalker family, OR whether they view it as some kind of free-for-all where they can pretend their personal fave is the main character and that everything must revolve around them, instead. This phenomenon is found most frequently amongst the more unhinged section of the Obi-Wan fandom, but it is also common amongst rabidly pro-Jedi types who operate under the mistaken impression that 'the Jedi' as a concept exist separately from the Skywalker saga. When in reality, features like 'Padawan braids' were created FOR scenarios just like this one.... for Anakin to ignore or not even give two shits about the custom and do his own thing, to show his love for Padme above all. Lucas enjoyed showing how much Anakin and Padme care about each other via these kinds of small but significant romantic details. After all, it's 'love can ignite the stars', not 'strictly adhering to Jedi traditions can ignite the stars', folks. ;p
#let me repeat this again: All of Lucas' world-building in the saga was in service of the Skywalker family's storyline#also Anidala is THE CANON STAR WARS RELATIONSHIP THAT THE STORY REVOLVES AROUND. Die mad about it.
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The Ghost and the Amazon:
Danny ends up in the world of gods and monsters and is having more fun than he should. But to his defense, he only knows these beings from books and the ghost zone. And, having been fascinated by this world for around ten years, he adored it! He was struck in his prime of 21 years, so he had in truth no idea how many years he really was here, but you could say after 5 he no longer cared much about it. (His father His height, as he had his growth spurt, was pretty muscular too, but not super massive. (Think of Thor, Steve Rogers, or Goku, yeah, Goku Piccolo Saga.)
After an attack by Circe, Wonder Woman too ended up in this new realm, seeing monsters wreaking havoc on the mortal realm. Being a hero, she will help them, and so she joined this Son of Hades?? in fighting against them. They had become fast friends over the years through adventure and fighting. Diana noticed he, just like her, didn't age. + It had been a shame that after a new portal opened, they could leave but were needed, but Diana would visit him and he would visit her. + Amity Park had changed not much; as he had fallen through the portal, the whole town thought he was Isekai'd and now could return. And man, the whole town was surprised as they saw Danny, that massive and full-of-muscle Fenton man. Not sure what to do. But the Fentons were happy to see him back. Danny, too, was happy to see his mom, dad, Tucker, Sam, Jazz, and Ellie. Ellie told him how she protected the town while he was gone, and Tucker and Sam told him what he missed in school and similar. Jazz was now his tiny, big sister, as he was taller than her by 1 head. Mom and Dad learned about him being a phantom and were pretty accepting of it; they were just sad he was gone for so long. He been missed 3 years, but the doctors said he was around the start of his 20s in body age but much older. And seem to be prime of his body; the isekai'd changed him. maybe Magic. As Ellie learned by talking with Danny, whom he met in the realm! She wanted to really meet her her Wonder Woman!, but Danny thought first to wait more than a month. She told him about the Space Station. Well, time to visit Diana! She never told him in all the years about the Space Station! + For Diana True to his words, Danny came to visit her maybe to wait one month was much, but here he was in the Watch Tower. It turned out his adorable cutie pie baby clone (his words not her, but she is adorable), Ellie, was a fan. So while she talked to the tiny girl, Danny looked out the window at the stars. She could spend later time with her Danny. Time to tell Ellie about their adventures in the last the last few years in the Realms with Danny.
#dp#dc#dcau#danny phantom#dc comics#dc x dp#danny fenton#dp x dc#dp + dc#Danny x Diana?#Amazon and Ghost#Ellie#dani fenton#maddie fenton#jazz fenton#amity park#isekai#circe#Isekai'd Danny and Diana#Older Danny#Muscular Danny#Wonder Woman#diana of themyscira#Monster and Gods#reverse Isekai Diana and Danny#Dani is adorable#Dani is a wonder woman fan#good parents jack and maddie#good parents fenton#Danny is around 30+?? maybe more
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Final thoughts on The Vorkosigan Saga, since I've reached the end of the road - for now, as the author appears to still be at large.
One of the pleasures of a longrunning series is having so much space for character development and callbacks. The Vorkosigan Saga does this very well. We see the characters and their world change a lot, and plot points have a habit of coming back around. A few of my favorites were Miles' recurring interest in drains and how, several books after he fails to catch a falling woman's hand in "The Borders of Infinity", he does catch Ekaterin, gets pulled after her, and realizes what would've happened to him. It's the kind of emotional payoff you can't get without buildup.
The series was in some ways a study of conflicting impulses. I got the sense that Bujold knew she probably shouldn't be as enamored with her militaristic space empire as she was but couldn't help it. Similarly, there was tension between the feminist themes and her clear conviction that the happy ending for - in fairness, all genders - is to pair up and have an alarming number of children. Honestly surprised she only has two in real life. However I was overall impressed by the handling of disability. I can't think of another genre series that deals with the topic so extensively while not being either a cure narrative or a 'bravely overcoming disabilities' story but instead is cleareyed about the interactions between class, gender, and ability with a character who just has to get on with it but also thinks the whole thing sucks. That was fascinating, even when sometimes Miles was not particularly likeable.
My favorite book was probably Mirror Dance despite how dark it was because I love identity drama and clone angst. The clone rights community (me) has forgiven Mark for being a capitalist.
I don't know if Bujold is planning more books in the series. It ended on a relatively positive note, but there was a moment in Gentleman Jole where both Cordelia and Ekaterin silently acknowledge they are likely to outlive Miles, possibly by decades. The cast seems to have middle managed their way into a quasi-benevolent imperial peacetime, so maybe it's best to leave them there before everyone's clocks tick down.
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HDG story Recs: Read Only Mind exclusives
HDG used to live on a website that wasn't AO3! these are some stories that are often forgotten because they haven't fully made the jump after ROM banned HDG (because it was too big and taking over the site) because I'm not from this era, I got help from a pal who is to fill this list out!
The Saga of Dandelion Fluff, Real Affini by Anglemoon: two absolute moron rebels attempt to evade capture by assembling a fake suit and pretending to be an affini. it is hilarious, fluffy, and heartfelt.
Petals and Vines by evningrespite: the seediest sub in the entire universe is slowly domesticated in this fluffy romance story that still has a fair bit of bite in its consensual sadomasochism elements.
Satirical Spouting by Violet: a goofy oneshot that pokes fun at common tropes in the setting. I literally laughed so hard it hurt when I first read this story.
In The Shadow of The Independence by TsukiNeko: a somewhat controversial story that I have a difficult time recommending without qualifying first. this story is painfully sharp, has long segments devoted not to its own narrative but instead extremely clumsy metacommentary on the setting itself, and a cringe final chapter note devoted to a discord that no longer exists. It is still one of the most influential HDG stories to many writers, and there is an incredible story about sadism, communication, dominance, and surrender buried under the nonsense.
Human Domestication Guide by Glitchyrobo: while this one is being ported over to Ao3, the original 12 chapter arc is still incomplete, and the 1984 style ending to that arc that is still currently ROM exclusive is one of the most chillinglingly happy moments in the entire setting.
thanks to my anonymous friend for the following:
Hospitable Takeover by wyril: The first ever HDG fanwork! a bit of a lighter take than the OG story, while still maintining the underlying feel of creeping manipulation.
A little Self Sabotage by Doeposting: Captain Samuel Dirkost is commander of a wing of Resistance fighters unwilling to surrender to Affini Compact. The Affini have plans of their own, unveiling a secret prototype device used to curtail the Terran Rebel threat.
What Sunlight Tastes Like by Fallenlog: an M/M ace semi-romance story about a scared and lonely rebel finding happiness in a new home. It's very cute.
In the Garden of Eden: far in the future, a lone terran ship has been running dark the whole time, flying towards an affini core world. everyone on the ship are clones, and everything is recycled to keep everything going. one clone starts questioning things. a story that notably features an affini the size of a planet, and is generally a really nice story about overcoming trauma.
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Saw some people saying how Anakin has fallen to the "dark" side in this scene but to me it's not as simple because war changes you.
When you first lost someone, it broke you and you doubt yourself if you are doing the right thing, just like Ahsoka is feeling here.
But as you continue to lose more people you realise that it's inevitable and you "shield" yourself from getting hurt emotionally.
Because you don't have time to wallow in self-pity reflecting on your actions when there are people who are still depending on you.
People under your command looking up to you to lead them, people you're supposed to protect waiting for your arrival to rescue.
Every second you hesitate, more lives are lost. And he's trying the best he can to save as many lives as quickly as possible.
As much as he want to protect every single one of his men from dying, he realised it's impossible with enemies on every side.
The more time you spend mourning the lives that have been lost, the less time you have to save the lives of others that are in danger.
That's what Anakin is trying to tell Ahsoka in this scene but he could not find the right words because his mind is all messed up by the war.
You can see how tired he looks by the never ending war and how affected he is by it but pretends it didn't bother him in order to lead.
He even uses humour as a defense mechanism so those around him does not fell to despair and depression by the senseless war.
He's frustrated that Ahsoka does not get what he is trying to teach her as he doesn't want to lose her like the clone troopers.
Nobody wants to fight but the enemy doesn't care about that and will continue killing whether or not you lay down your weapon.
So what else can you do in such situations when the politicians failed to reach a peaceful solution? If you stop fighting, then what happens to the people are being attacked and killed by the enemy?
That's one thing I love about this flashback scene as it shows you the horrors of war in a span of a few minutes that you do not see in the Clone Wars animated series.
After all the things he had seen on the battlefield, you understand how he lost faith in the Jedi and the Republic, finally pushing him off the edge in Revenge of the Sith.
Palpatine conveniently orchestrated the whole saga, even removing Ahsoka and Obi-Wan from his side, to isolate him from the others so he could make his move on Anakin.
That's what Palpatine has been planning all along, to push Anakin into the brink of despair just so he could push him off easily to the dark side and gave in to the dark side.
#star wars#ahsoka#ariana greenblatt#anakin skywalker#hayden christensen#clone wars#jedi#obi wan kenobi#revenge of the sith#palpatine
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(VENTURE BROS FINALE SPOILERS)
There's this thing I keep thinking back to in The Venture Bros, that is the way everyone talks about Jonas Venture. The early myth of Jonas Venture, the great man and hero beloved by everyone who has been succeeded by a less-than-great failure of a son, is eventually twisted around with the gradual reveal of Jonas as a horrible man who did horrible things to his son that made him the way he is, and with every subsequent appearence unveiling more and more about the depths of depravity Jonas was actively capable of. We get to see how much Jonas is responsible for many of the issues all the characters find themselves envolved in, how much can be traced back to him, and we see things he's done that even appalled the rest of the old Team Venture who seemed mostly fine with all the other things he was doing. Rusty even gets a couple of moments of catharsis where he's shown to be making progress in having moved past his dad.
But the way people talk about Jonas Venture never changes. There is no reckoning for anyone other than maybe Rusty. Jonas Venture is the biggest and most successful and influential character even after his death, and his perception at large never remotely changes. He is the biggest monster, and so he has the best public image out of everyone. All the little monsters are just playing in his pool, and even all the other not-monsters will cover for him and praise him no matter what he did, no matter how many people he killed, no matter how many children's lives he ruined or how much destruction he left everywhere he went.
When we're introduced to Professor Victor von Helping, the kindest and most helpful person Dean's ever had in his life, he expresses open admiration for Jonas as an inspiration for getting into science, something he will explain to Dean was what saved him and allowed him to take control of his life from his horrible father, and this is directly after the Morpho saga that had shown us Jonas at his absolute worst. And the thing is, we're not meant to think less of Von Helping for it. He is not malicious, he doesn't worship science or Jonas for any nefarious or ignorant reason, he just knows what everyone does: that Jonas Venture was a great scientist who changed the world and has been succeeded by a not very impressive son.
Ben, who personally assisted Jonas in the cloning process and who knows what else and now lives in a graveyard of hundreds of people whose deaths he directly attributes to both Rusty and Jonas, is still about as benevolent as a super scientist can really be in the setting, and in the movie he helps cap off the show with a message to Hank Venture that he delivers based on what Jonas passed onto him. He attributes "Blood doesn't make a family; love does", a closing statement on the show, as heartfelt wisdom from Hank's granddad. It's not played for irony. We can debate whether it's meant to have some or the degree to which that statement can be read as malicious coming from Jonas or someone who was that closely affiliated with him, but none of that even really matters in that moment of Hank's closure and Ben being able to provide some with what he claims to be Jonas' teachings.
None of this takes away from all the horrible things Jonas did. None of this is meant to be any kind of redemption for him or his legacy. His legacy may be complicated, but Jonas Venture was not a complicated man. Complications and moral dillemmas are things he invented for the little people around him to deal with, whether they fought for the Guild or the OSI, or they are little Ventures scurrying in his shadow. Moral greyness was just a thing for chumps to be concerned about while Jonas ruled the world unimpeded from doing whatever he wanted to whoever he wanted.
Usually when shows have this big, massive force behind so many unfolding events and characters and traumas, there's a degree to which their comeuppance involves some kind of larger reckoning. They get exposed for who they are, their legacy crumbles, their great deeds are rendered lesser, they are given ignoble fates or some kind of retributive punishment, society can rest easier with the great evil exposed and defeated, and the audience can rest easier knowing that, if some great evil like this was made public and exposed, we'd do something about it. We'd so something about it on a scale that matters and stops it from happening again.
We need to believe that's what happens because we can't, and maybe we must never, accept that it doesn't work that way, that all around us are monuments and reminders that celebrate the monstrosities of our forefathers and their grip on our current lives, even when everything they've done and continue doing is public record, even when you tell someone about it and they still keep doing it, and everyone around you gives them a pass to do it so long as it (and by "it", they mean you) doesn't bother them.
And it's not like none of those things happened with Jonas, he did get a deserving comeuppance of sorts in the Morpho trilogy. But nobody really cared. Nobody that mattered cared. Only Rusty cares, and Rusty doesn't matter. Certainly not as much as his dad matters. Jonas gets the approval of the world and all the accolades and statues that follow, and he gets to crush his children forever under the weight of his legacy because of that. All they can do is try and survive past him, and even that is enough of a struggle.
But even with all of that, even with Ben's gentle and comforting parting words being another reminder that history exonerates Jonas for everything he's done while looking down on those he victimized, I find myself thinking of the fact that the last we ever see of Jonas' image is that accursed statue finally being toppled off it's pedestal, and the entire cast banding together to rescue The Monarch, his other son and victim, from it. They may not even like him (and for good reasons), but they don't let the invincible grip of his father take him to the grave. It takes them all to push back Jonas, but they push him back nonetheless, and Monarch lives another day.
It's not what the movie ends on, it's more of a funny moment than anything. It's just I was going to end this ramble pessimistically, until I remembered this frame. The true final word on him.
May we all survive the Jonas Ventures of our lives and push those fuckers back into the trash where they belong.
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