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mocsbylexan · 6 years

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Balta, Toa of Fire.

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When Dalu set out to start her training, her closest friend chose to accompany her out of Tidal City. Their companionship was not to last too long. Destiny had other things in mind. But Balta’s destiny did not strike him out of the blue one day, as it had his friend. In his case, destiny required an intervention.

Ever since the Voya Nui incident, Balta had been watched carefully from the shadows by... something. Something not quite good and not quite evil and VERY skilled at not being seen. He could feel it. It had stopped for a while during the Reign of Shadow, but after the Great Rejoining it returned, and it was even more persistent. He had asked Kazi and Velika about it a long time ago... they always seemed to know more about the inexplicable than anyone else. Kazi had said that he could feel it too, but he didn’t know what it was. Velika just smiled absently.

A few months after leaving Tidal City with Dalu, he finally found out what it was. A mysterious stranger showed up at his home and told him that he and a friend of his had been deemed worthy candidates to become servants of the Order of Mata Nui. They had been watching Kazi for decades now. Balta was a more recent consideration; they’d been keeping tabs on him ever since his encounter with Axonn during the Piraka’s occupation. Kazi had already accepted his offer; he was to serve as a set of eyes and ears in the White Quartz Mountains. But the Order had determined that Balta was special. He was Toa material.

After some deliberation both with himself and with the help of Dalu, Balta agreed. He was spirited away to the Shadowed Lands that very same day. Dalu was the only one who knew.

For a while Balta felt that he had made the right decision. The order recaptured dangerous prisoners from The Pit, tracked the activity of the Dark Hunters and the Xian weapons forgers, crushed Skakdi warbands on their way to raid Matagori border towns. It protected the Matagori in ways that they were not willing to protect themselves, as it always had. But benevolent as they tried to be, The Order had never been overly concerned with the well-being of the matoran. Their mission was never to care for the matoran, it was to enforce the true will of Mata Nui, and therefore, the functionality of the GSR, at all costs. What is the purpose of the order in a world where the GSR is dead and Mata Nui has left his people to live their own lives? What do they fight for? Whose will do they enforce?

A few agents hit upon the enforcement of religious traditionalism as a new mission. As Matoran and Agori continued to intermingle and build a life together, some in the order expressed discomfort at the influence the two cultures had upon each other, at the allowance of atheism or alternative religions in the matagori nation, at the new interpretation of “Mata Ignika” becoming widespread. Some said the Order should intervene. Balta was not in that number.

All this internal turmoil came to a head with the rise of the Cult of Ignika. Bastardizing Mata Nui’s nature into “Mata Ignika” had been bad enough, but these fanatics were claiming that the Great Spirit was evil! And the Temple of Mata Ignika didn’t declare them heretical! The New Atero Council didn’t forbid them from spreading their beliefs! Toa Helryx, until now a voice of relative centrism in the order, issued emergency orders. For several months, a secret holy war was fought between the Order and the Cult, right under the Matagori’s noses. Buildings were burned. Assassinations carried out. All of it made to look like accidents. Balta himself carried out several clandestine missions against the cult. The Order’s superior skill and resources was countered only by the cult’s nigh-on-impossible resilience. And perhaps, also... by the growing division within the Order’s own ranks over the current path of their mission.

The conflict culminated in the Cult’s forcible disbandment by the combined might of the Matagori Nation. But evidence of the Order’s involvement and the secret war reached the New Atero Council. Turaga Dume was livid. Some Matagori leaders blamed the Order for the cult’s attacks on matagori religious sites. Whether the Order was responsible or not, it was clear that their actions were indefensible. The Council declared the Order an extremist group and officially cut all ties between them and the Matagori nation or its religious institutions. This denouncement was the straw that broke the Ussal’s back. The Order descended into inoperable chaos.

In a lonely mountain fortress with a handful of other Order warriors, Toa Balta was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. He had joined the Order because he wanted to protect the Matagori, like any good Toa would. He had stayed as things began spiraling out of control because he had to. The Order exacted a frightening amount of control and surveillance over its agents. But that barely mattered anymore. People were defecting left and right. The entire garrison of his outpost was ready to abandon their posts and find a life outside the Order. All they needed was a little push. They got it when Axonn and Brutaka showed up on the doorstep travelling South. Travelling to New Atero for some well-deserved rest, and to throw their masks in with those who cared about the freedom of Bara Magna’s people.

So, like all of his comrades, Balta packed up and headed out. He travels south now, into matagori territory, to find his old friends. Perhaps away from the Order he can learn what it is to be a Toa, the right way.

***

EEEEEEEEEEEY THERE’S OUR BOY! (I’m really sorry this post is so late everyone. School has been... a time)

I had actually wanted to wait another week to introduce Toa Balta, but the MOC I was going to post this week has been giving me writing troubles (I don’t even have a name for him yet). So Balta it is.

I made this MOC less because I was inspired to build the MOC itself and more because I REALLY wanted to include Toa Balta as a character in ROO. As such I feel like he’s maybe one of the weaker MOCs I made this summer, but all things considered he’s not too bad. I kind of built upon the ideas present in Toa Dalu and tried to make them work with the image of Toa Balta in my head. Since Dalu used a Metru build, I decided to go with a Vahki build for Balta, partially because it gives him a hunchback like his old matoran self, but mostly because it gives him NICE BIG WIDE SWINGY SHOULDERS which was his most unique feature as a matoran.

Also he has kind of uninspired toa tools. That’s actually on purpose. I had a much cooler idea for his tools, but I was gonna do a thing where he actually acquires them as part of the story of ROO, and these basic ones were gonna be what he starts off with. I didn’t have time to build the toa tools and take pictures before I left for school, so that will just have to wait.

#Balta #Toa #Dalu #rise of onezu #moc #bionicle #lego

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hellyeahheroes · 8 years

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Looking Back at 2016- Best Supporting Series

While you can cast your votes for Hell Yeah Teen Superheroes Awards 2016, I’ll be taking look back at the year behind us and see what would be my picks for the listed categories, as well as musing in general about books in each. Today we’ll take a look at series about adult characters, who had used young heroes in supporting roles.

This year, in general, was full of books that were fitting in that group. While Marvel had only few such titles, DC got on the roll with Rebirth, where suddenly it seemed like every book about an adult went “Doesn’t he have a sidekick?”. Duke Thomas was used heavily in both Batman’s books, Jonathan Kent in Superman’s, Emiko Queen in Green Arrow, Wally West in Flash… you get my point. Quite frankly that was the best way for DC to go, considering one of the goals of DC Rebirth was to reestablish a sense of legacy and history that have been lost with the dawn of the New 52.Not to mention family being one of its central themes. As such it was really hard to narrow this down to those few titles that I felt deserve the most recognition. Again, these are my personal picks and if you feel that I’ve missed something, feel free to argue… or cast your own votes in the awards proper.

The first title I want to mention is one that seems to be getting the least attention. Published under DC’s Young Animal imprint, Cave Carson has a Cybernetic Eye had only just started, with three issues released in 2016. However, said issues were undeniably a blast. Gerard Way’s brand of weird combined with cartoony, retro style of Michael Avon Oeming, managed to create something that has a feel similar to Venture Bros (especially with Wild Dog, who would probably fit on Venture Bros pretty well), only less interested in taking apart the tropes of classic comics and cartoons in favor of just enjoying them. Cave Carson, one of the most obscure DC characters ever (they’ve literally picked him because he had the smallest entry on “Who is Who in DC Universe?”) not only must confront his past and stop people who want to tarnish his legacy for profit (or more nefarious goals) but also repair relationship with his teenage daughter, Chloe. It’s the stranded, but still able to be mended bond between those two that provides a sense of normalcy between everything weird the book is throwing at us and Wild Dog’s antics. I put it on my list to also represent those few books that started to late (Nova vol.7, which would also qualify as a solo/shared book, depending on how you look at it) or introduced teen character too late (Power Man & Iron Fist, whose last two issues of 2016 added Alex Wilder to the cast) to really have a winning chance in voting, but deserve acknowledgment.

The next title that needs to be recognized for what is it stands on the opposite end of the spectrum. Firmly grounded in real life and tackling real problems, Captain America: Sam Wilson is one of the most controversial titles of 2016. Which occurs in a way that I cannot help, but find really ironic. Sam Wilson tries to be Captain America for the people, who doesn’t shy away from talking about a different subject and sharing his views. And media made him into their favorite punching bag. Conservatives are lambasting him constantly, accusing of “dividing this country” for taking side…which usually means taking a side they don’t agree with. Helping with hacker Whisperer to expose S.H.I.E.L.D. illegal facility to detain supervillains without a trial? “He aids traitors against the government!” Taking down a bunch of racist hunting down immigrants on the borders to sell them as subjects to a guy who is in equal parts Doctor Moreau and Joseph Mengele? “He is attacking good citizens keeping our borders safe!” Going after corrupt supervillain corporation that was backing those racists? “He is destroying honest business and all work positions it created!” Trying to intervene in a conflict between Americops, who are basically police brutality incarnate and citizens of Harlem they’re beating up for minor offenses? “He is attacking our protectors and aiding criminals and thugs!” And at the same time, he cannot really win either. When he tried to resolve the problem with Americops peacefully it escalated into a brawl and teenage superhero Rage accusing him of selling out. Nobody talks about the moments he succeeds, but everyone brings up the slightest misstep, big or small or not even a bad move at all, unless you can spin it as such. And the irony comes in the fact that this is exactly the treatment the book has gotten from the audience. Fox News went apeshit over Sam beating racists on the borders. Lurk through Spacebattles or 4chan or any other site and you’ll see endless legions of manchildren whining about how corporate supervillain Viper is an obvious Trump parody or how Nick Spencer claims all cops are evil. At every step, this book is lambasted for lacking nuance subtlety or moral ambiguity as if any of those things were needed here. And yet people who should be talking about this book only pay attention to it when they can bash it as well. Yes, I’m talking here about last week’s issue with “SJWs parody” (by the way, one time the book took a jab at liberals in 2016? Turned out to be a robot and ploy by Hydra. So maybe give a guy a benefit of doubt?). I’m sorry, but when was this entire publicity when the book introduced new Falcon, who is a Latino-American illegal immigrant who likes leaving food and water on most dangerous routes from Mexico to America? When it was when he made an issue about Misty Knight hunting down a criminal who was using robots to make sex tapes of superheroines to ruin their reputation? When it was when Sam Wilson made a speech at Jim Rhodes’ funeral, about how much of an inspiration to black community he was? Oh right, everyone were too busy over the fact that Sam had a meeting with Black Panther, Storm, Luke Cage, Monica Rembeau, Misty Knight and Nick Fury Jr. before the funeral, either accusing the title of being racist to show so many black superheroes know each other or accusing it of being racist because, and I quote, “Tony should be there!”. It makes me sad this title gets so little love, despite how often and unapologetically it speaks against current problems and isn’t afraid of siding against the system or the “centrism” it’s now being accused of supporting. And because of prominent roles played by Falcon, Rage and during Standoff also Kobik, it qualifies here and deserves a recognition.

The next title on the list caused much less controversy. In fact, it’s being celebrated by pretty much everyone interested. Deathstroke. A triumphant return of legendary Christopher Priest to the comics mainstream after 9 years long absence, that fixes the unholy sea of shit that the New 52 was for Slade, Rose and Joey Wilson. Not everything it does is flattering to the characters – Jericho, for example, is trying to get back into the closet, something that has already been pointed out to be clearly caused by his daddy issues. But this is also why the book is allowed to get away with it. It’s an unapologetic portrayal of Slade as a destructive force who damages everyone he touches, whenever he wants or not and it explores both the impact he had on Rose and Joey as well as their complicated relationships. At the same time it is possibly only comics in the big two that is doing a serious, gritty (and I mean here real gritty, not the “GUN! MURDER! FIGHTS! SEX!” misunderstood gritty that comics tried to do since the 90s) mix of military drama and spy thriller as it examines Slade’s past and how it constantly comes back to haunt him and his family. The book is great at juggling many plotlines and tones, so one moment we can have a serious military story about Slade, followed by Rose kicking asses to lighter moments with Joey.

While Captain America: Sam Wilson was lambasted by the media and Deathstroke was allowed quiet existence with well-deserved critical acclaim, our next book is somewhere between them. Undeniably a critics’ darling, it had caused some backlash over the treatment of at least one character. The Vision. Dark, depressing tale of Vision and his newly-created family that mixes a heavy drama with psychological horror in science fiction dressing. The book focuses heavily on the family, as they struggle to salvage as much of the crumbling normality they’ve built. Because of it I had a hard time deciding whenever to qualify this book here or as an ensemble title (as even the title can be read in two ways). But in the end, even when he doesn’t do much at given issue, Vision is the one the emotional weight revolves around. It’s his obsession with normalcy and emotional neglect, that contribute to Virginia’s progressively worsening mental state, which also impacts Vin and Viv. It’s only with the addition of Victor Mancha, Vision’s more human brother, that we can realize how damaged Vision himself is. Of course, the controversial treatment of Victor by this book was something we’ve been discussing several times by now and I had to establish my position on the issue more than once. I still feel that the direction the book has taken Victor in id not ruin the character and had potential, which is why I find the decision to kill him to be one big disappointment in an otherwise excellent title. Despite that one blunder, however, Vision remains one of the best titles of the year. Among many good titles helped put Tom King’s name on the map, while also having an unusual, beautiful art by Gabriel Walta.

And finally the last book in this category and also the one I think I’ve enjoyed the most. Superman. Alongside its sister series, Action Comics, the book establishes return of pre-Flashpoint Superman as a prominent figure in DC Universe, while also exploring a completely new direction. Superman is now not only married to Lois, but they also have a son. Young Jon Kent is a fun character, who is learning about responsibilities that come with his powers and legacy of being the son of Superman. Of course he is lucky enough to have Clark and Lois, who are fantastic parents. Clark, or Superdad as fans came to call him, proves to be a loving father, who understands how hard it is to grow up with superpowers, so he tries to ease this for Jon as much as he can. Together they visit Dinosaur Island in heartwarming tribute to late Darwyn Cooke and punch evil Kryptonian robot in the face. Not to mention how Clark and Bruce put their sons in a boot camp to teach them some teamwork. Even when the book lacked Jon’s presence, as was the case in the last story of 2016, Supermonster, it still managed to emphasize on him and how important he and Lois are to Superman. It did so by contrasting Clark and Lois’ love with a relationship between Frankenstein and his Bride, whose marriage fell apart after the death of their son. The book establishes Superman as a family man and in doing so reveals a whole new field of stories to tell about the same Man of Steel, that many people have called boring for years.

So, these are my picks for the best titles with teen heroes in a supporting role of 2016. Do you think I’ve missed something or something didn’t deserve the praise? Tell me in comments and reblogs. And remember you can vote in for the awards, by sending my asks, fan mails and submissions.

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