#and all of my old high school aquaintances follow me on there and god it was a mistake but

[larphis]

You’re laughing. A Catboy is holding a dead fish while kissing the love of his life in the moonlight - who, by the way, just had to give up on his new fancy coat because apparently it was cursed - and both of them are actively deciding to take it slower because they are investing in a healthy long term relationship, and you’re laughing.

[sebeth]

Legion of Super-Heroes #3

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

Legion of Super-Heroes #2 by Keith Giffen, Tom & Mary Bierbaum, and Al Gordon.

The issue opens with articles from the “Glitter” column in the Daily Planet from February – March 2991. The articles are written by Baretta West.  

The first article, titled “What Is Tinya Hiding??!” details the rumors of an earlier, secret wedding between Phantom Girl and Ultra Boy.  The couple had recently announced a wedding date of June 2991.

The second article is the official wedding announcement: “The bride is the daughter of Winema Tinya Wazzo, a prominent Bgtzlr attorney and leading authority on privacy law and step-daughter of attorney Khard Wlessey.  The groom is the son of Crav Nah and the late Mytra Nah, agri-engineers on Rimbor…Their secondary and advanced schooling was conducted primarily at the Legion Academy in its days as an exclusively academic institution…Both have regularly supported numerous charity drives.  Wazzo currently serves as honorary chair of the Friend In Need Foundation, which operates shelters for runaways, the Superboy Scholastic Foundation, and the Intergalactic Heart Fund.  Nah is spokesman for Straight Buddies of Rimbor.”

The third article contains more information on the upcoming wedding.  It’s set for June 9th at the Prism Cliff Chapel on Deltwan. It’s going to be an intimate wedding – family, close friends, and Legionnaires only.  It will be a traditional earth-style wedding with Tasmia Mallor serving as matron of honor and Reep Daggle as the best man.  Marla Latham will give Tinay away and the Ranzz boys will serve as ringbearers.

A few notes on the articles:

1)      The secret wedding.  The Legionnaire are known across the universe so they would be subject to gossip, rumors, and have to deal with the paparazzi.

2)      The Legion Academy.  I don’t think it was ever stated that it served as an education facility before the introduction of later characters like Dawnstar and Laurel Kent.  It makes sense though – the Legionnaires were young and would still need to receive a college education – especially in the earlier years with the age limit ending their Legionnaire activities in their early 20’s.

3)      Tinya seems to have been named after her mother.

4)      Jo and Tinya sponsor charities that reflect their past experiences.  Tinya, a previous runaway, chairs a foundation that assists runaways.  Jo, a former member of a Rimbor gang, works with an organization that aims to keep the youth of Rimbor off the streets.

5)      Tasmia is the obvious choice for Matron of Honor.  Mon-El or Superboy would have been the clears picks for Jo but both men are deceased at this point.  

Whittram’s Alley, Rimbor, present day:  The science police are pursuing a Sklarian woman named Kono.  The police are annoyed that Kono has snatched their badges.  A gleeful Kono thinks to herself: “Not if they’ll just send in two more badges, Jo’s record is done for.”  I’m assuming Jo set the badge-snatching record in his youth and not in his more mature years.  Kono escapes her pursuers by phasing into the Loose Caboose club.

The chairman of Silverale LTD, Rimbor’s most profitable corporation, complains to Kakiqik (a Khund) about Kono and Jo Nah.  Kakiqik perks up at the mention of Kono: “We would pay extremely well for the opportunity to eradicate her…Her pacific transgression need not concern you.  Kono has shamed the empire…She will pay the price.”

The officers pursue Kono into the club.  An officer is reprimanded for his wandering eye.  The officer claims “Well, what if that’s what our quarry looks like with her clothes off?”

The second officer states “Nah…she wouldn’t pull that trick again.”

Kakiqik sends Khunds to the club to apprehend Kono.  He assures his men “Unlimited force, no questions asked.  Silverale LTD guarantees it.”

The screen in Kakiqik’s office reveals more information about Kono: Brita An’Nan of Sklar. Ability to shift mass between herself and other objects/beings.

Shots break out in the club and several officers are caught in the line of fire.  Kono phases in the sewers and flees the area.  Kono is pursued by Algronsk and Kaston, a huge pair of bruisers.

Jo and Ginny are finishing up a romantic encounter as a commercial for Silverale plays on the screen. The ad briefly features Dartalon of the Wanderers.

Jo notes “The heat’s been on a little, that’s all.  May have to bunk elsewhere for a while, just to keep ahead of ‘em.”  Jo, in the process of shaving, is interrupted by Kono.

“What the Nykx are you doing?!”

“I’m shaving.  What’s it look like?”

“It looks like you’ve contracted rabies.  What’s that white junk?”

“I’m using an antique shaving set.  Gift from a friend.”

“So you figure you gotta use it?  Must be some friend.”

Ginny has left the apartment but is ambushed and murdered by Algronsk and Kaston.

We switch to Lydda and Loomis en route to Kathoon.  Loomis is uncomfortable with the cost of the meal: “It’s tough to enjoy a meal that costs enough to feed a family on Braal…for a month.”

Lydda advises Loomis to relax:  “Making yourself miserable isn’t going to help anyone on Braal, y’know.  That husband of mine’s been trying it for years. Hasn’t worked yet.”

Loomis wonders if it’s just him “or did everyone involved in this Legion thing turn out a little nutso.”

“People do crazy things for lots of reasons, Loomis.  Principle, honor, friendship…love.”

Algronsk and Kaston destroy Jo’s apartment building.  The duo celebrate but decide to check for survivors: “Our masters are such sticklers for survivors.”

An unhappy Jo emerges from the flames.  

“Jo Nah.  Then you did survive.”

“That’s why they call it invulnerability, pal.”

“But – but how did you know to use it?” “I don’t drop it needlessly.  Or didn’t you check into that before you went butchering god knows how many innocents?”

Kono phased into the sewer tunnels beneath the apartment building and are soon joined by the brawling trio.  Jo and Kono quickly destroy their Khundish attackers.

We head to earth where Shvaughn Erin returns to her apartment.  Dirk Morgna has sent her flowers accompanied by a note: “Shvaughn, I live for the day when you’re mine, my beauty.”

“Dream on, buddy.  I ought to give him a romp.  He could use the lesson…think’s he’s gonna get everything on a silver platter.”

Circe, a Science Police chief, orders her probe-droid to research Shvaughn: “We need something on her.” Shvaughn’s record is spotless so the droid is ordered to look into her aquaintances:  Feliz Alana, Leeman Allen, Hass An, Cat Anestopoulo, Suzi Apczynski, Brek Bannin, D. Spengler Benita, Ral Benem, Arad Bensam.

Ral Benem is the Chorlophyll Kid and Brek Bannin is Polar Boy.

Circe dresses up to look like Shvaughn and has a bedroom romp with Dirk.  Is Circe’s interest in Shvaughn due to jealousy?

Jo searches the wreckage of the apartment building and finds the remnant of his antique shaving set. It’s inscribed “Long Live the Legion, Rokk.” The set was given to Jo by Cosmic Boy which makes sense as Rokk is a huge history buff.

The issue ends with Roxxas leaving his prison cell.  Roxxas has had a clear break with reality as he argues with himself – with five different voices/personalities – for the entire page.

Roxxas and his pirates are the ones responsible for the annihilation of Element Lad’s race.

The issue ends with an article from the May 8, 2991 edition of the Daily Planet: “Search for Wazzo ends; Worlds Mourn for LSH vet”.

The article states “Wazzo was lost on April 12 while traveling alone from her other-dimensional home world, Bgtzl, to Earth.  Scientific observers believe the ‘fabric’ of the interdimensional gulf between Bgtzl and Earth was suddenly, inexplicably ripped apart during Wazzo’s journey, killing the Legionnaire.”  It’s noted “Among Legionnaires, Wazzo has served the longest consecutive term. Wazzo’s presumed death would mark the seventh passing of an active Legionnaire, but the first to occur outside of the line of duty.  Active Legionnaires who’ve been killed in action include Garth Ranzz of Winath (since revived), Andrew Nolan of Earth, Lyle Norgg of Earth, Condo Arlik of Phlon, Pol Krinn of Braal, and Lar Gand of Daxam.  Heroes killed after having resigned from the Legion include Kal-El of Krypton (the legendary other-dimensional hero Superboy) and Val Armorr of Earth”.

It’s mentioned in the article that “A high-ranking officer in the U.P.-wide SP confirmed that Wazzo’s fiancé, Jo Nah, insisted that the investigation be taken out of the hands of the SPE and turned over to the SP proper.”

The article informs us that Tinya joined the Legion at 15 years old and was 32 years old when she died. Tinya was the fifth individual to join the Legion following the founders and Luornu Durgo.

Notes on the article:

1)      “Presumed dead” is the classic comic book style death.

2)      Garth = Lightning Lad, Andrew = Ferro Lad, Lyle = Invisible Kid, Condo = Chemical King, Pol = Magnetic Kid, Lar = Mon-El, Kal-El = Superboy, Val = Karate Kid

3)      Jo’s insistence over the investigation being taken out of SPE’s control is an indication of the growing corruption of Earthgov.

4)      Tinya served 17 consecutive years without taking a leave of absence!

I love all the details and easter eggs in this issue and the entire run.  It’s a nice test of your Legion knowledge.  That said, you don’t need to know the obscure tidbits to enjoy the issue.  Maybe. I’m not the best judge here – the Legion was the first comic ever given to me – way back in the 1980’s.  I’ve devoured everything Legion-related since encountering that first reprint digest.

We’re definitely still in set-up mode – Reep and Rokk haven’t even made it to Rimbor yet. Lydda, my favorite female Legionnaire, receives more panel time.  Yay!  

Kono’s an interesting character – a bit obnoxious, reckless, but she showed concern over the innocent bystanders caught in the cross-fire during the club shooting.  Kono’s powers are similar to Phantom Girl but she has more offensive capabilities.

Jo’s in an interesting spot. He returns to Rimbor after Tinya’s death and seems to be running a gang.  It appears to be a “Robin Hood” style gang.  I’m assuming Jo’s no longer the spokesman for Straight Buddies for Rimbor. I like the nod to Jo’s cleverness. Why would you turn off invulnerability? Jo may have left the Legion but that doesn’t mean the numerous bad guys he’s helped imprison or going to adopt a “live and let live” philosophy.

Dirk’s on a slippery slope. His playful womanizing from previous runs is taking a creepy turn.

The release of Roxxas is an interesting choice. Roxxas wasn’t used often before this run – his first appearance detailed his role in the massacre of Trom.  He had a later appearance where he believes he’s haunted by the ghosts of Trom.  Present day Roxxas has no pirate fleet and no super powers – the only thing he has going for him is buckets of crazy!

[raisingawarenesserasingstigmas]

A New Hope: My Best Friend, Bipolar Disorder

This post originally appeared here.

Hi. I am Laila. I am 29 years old. I have survived a military coup in my birth country, the raid of Afghanistan during the War on Terror and living as a Muslim woman in post 9/11 Australia. I have been published multiple times, produced Burlesque Shows in Perth in the mid 2000s, been in a documentary about Islamic Feminism, had my play about Queer Muslims produced at The Blue Room Theatre and am currently finishing a degree in Criminology and Counter Terrorism.

I also have Type 2 Bipolar Disorder. And my illness and I, we are learning to be friends. Because Carrie Fisher told us we should.

. . I know. I make no sense. But I will. Eventually. . .

I was first diagnosed with this Type 2 Bipolar Disorder in  my second year of Law School when a professor (who himself had Bipolar Disorder) helped me seek professional help. He recognised my erratic attendance and ability to survive a semester on next to no sleep as symptomatic of the manic highs and depressive lows of the same illness that plagued him as a teenager. In 2007, at the risk of being expelled from University for failure to attend all 4 of my examinations in Semester 1, I attended a session with a Clinical Psychiatrist at Joondalup Mental Health.

What followed was a diagnosis that shook my life to its foundations. It was almost as if, over the course of my diagnosis, my actions, behaviours, and thoughts were no longer my own.  Rather, they were symptomatic of a series of behaviour patterns associated with my illness. Suddenly everything, from my sleep patterns to my personality traits became  the product of a condition that is still widely misunderstood.

And the worst part of all was that it was for keeps.

Life with Bipolar Disorder can only be described as erratic. We seem to live by a different calendar, with the year punctuated by cycles of highs and lows instead of weeks and months. That play i wrote? That was x cycles ago. That time i drank a bottle of sailor jerry rum to myself? That was 6 cycles ago. How long is a cycle? Who the fuck knows anymore. When is the next low coming? Always too soon. Just when I think I have grasped my behaviours, i surprise myself again. And again.

And again.

There are the manic highs where I cannot sleep for days, where every idea is genius, where I start diets and fitness routines and writing projects. Then there are depressive lows where I cannot stay awake, when my shoulders are stiff and my body hurts. Where getting up, showering and leaving the house gives me anxiety. My mind becomes a place so dark, and bone-crushingly cramped I feel like a human black hole. If you have depression you know what i mean…

And yet, somehow, at the age of 29, I managed to carve out a life between the crests and the troughs. Somehow I woke up and realised I had made it past my teens and early twenties despite God knows how many attempts to wipe myself off the face of the Earth. Somehow, against odds, I am standing with my back to the threshold of 2017, waving at my 2007 self.

“You made it!” I yell at myself across the years of near misses. “You’re going to be 30 and you’re finally really happy”.

I wish 2007 me could hear me now.

You see…the way Bipolar Disorder was explained to me in 2007 was like it was a curse. You have this…THING…that’s going to make you fuck up your life so monumentally that you will never ever have the stability you need to recover. Your illness will become a self fulfilling prophecy. And the only thing you could do was make do.

And that’s what gets me.

Why the fuck have we set neurotypical achievements as the bar that people with mental illness have to attain? Why is it that we are sold this illness as an unmanageable curse.

What about all the things my illness has enabled me to do? There are some failures in the bipolar bucket but theres so many success stories too. And why am I only the product of my success stories?  In my mother’s words, “There are no failures. Only lessons.”

I spent most of my twenties in relationships and friendships  where I had to explain my “sadness” and “happiness” to people. I was made to feel like less than adult because of my inability to live my life by a calendar year. In this sea of explanations I forgot to understand the relationship between me and my Bipolar disorder.

It’s only after 2 beautiful years of being loved by someone unconditionally that I have managed to love myself and give myself the time and understanding I needed to make peace with my Bipolar Disorder.

This brings me to Carrie Fisher

Unlike most people, my first exposure to her wasn’t through her role as Princess Leia from Star Wars. It was through her appearance in The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive with Stephen Fry for the BBC.

 You can see a clip of her discussion with Mr Fry here

She was the first person who was able to put into words what I experienced on a regular basis. Carrie often said that her drug use was a form of self-medication, using pain medication such as Percodan to “dial down” the manic aspect of her bipolar disorder.

I appreciated Carrie’s candour in a world that tends to throw the term “bipolar” around as a synonym for unreliable (Katy Perry, Miley cyrus et al, I am staring dagger at your shitty songs) and without engaging in serious discussion about living with this condition.

I don’t want the conversations about Bipolar disorder to stop just because Carrie is no longer here to voice concerns. I don’t want to pretend that living with Bipolar Disorder is black and white (all puns and intended). I want to have nuanced discussions about this condition that affects one in fifty Australians.

I want me and my Bipolar Disorder to get along  and maybe even be friends one day. But in order to do that, we need to get better aquainted with each other without being shamed for it or for my Bipolar Disorder to be framed as a burden instead of a manageable illness.

I leave you with something Carrie Fisher wrote about living with Bipolar Disorder to a young man who had just been diagnosed with the illness. I wish I had this said to me ten years ago but I hope sharing it on my blog means someone else will get to see it:

“We have been given a challenging illness, and there is no other option than to meet those challenges. Think of it as an opportunity to be heroic – not “I survived living in Mosul during an attack” heroic, but an emotional survival. An opportunity to be a good example to others who might share our disorder. That’s why it’s important to find a community – however small – of other bipolar people to share experiences and find comfort in the similarities.“

                                              -Carrie Fisher.

Remember that you are not alone in your struggle and that talking to someone about it  is the first step to navigating your life with Bipolar Disorder. May the force be with you, dear reader. Love and suppport always. Xx

Laila Shalimar

If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues please get in touch with Lifeline by calling

13 11 14 or visitng

https://www.lifeline.org.au

Other resources:  Black Dog Institute: treatment fact sheet

 Articles, Research and Fact sheets on Bipolar Disorder: