#and while i have a lot of issues with zeb wells

[ghost-in-the-corner]

He kinda does tho? It just shows up differently than Bruce's.

Bruce is all depression and brooding. He bottles his emotional responses to an extreme, forcing himself into the position where he can't show anything. Then, in his own desperation to stick to his philosophy, he'll do something stupid and short sighted that hurts someone he cares about. Bruce's self hatred forces him to isolate himself mentally and suppress his emotions.

But Dick? Dick let's it all out. Man has insane anger issues. Like, enough it practically blinds him when it takes over. In the Night Terrors event, Dick's nightmare was being thrown in Arkham after killing Batman in a fit of rage. As much as he tries to keep Nightwing positive, his anger will always bleed into it. You piss him off, and it all comes loose. And on top of that, he tends to self flagulate. He'll isolate himself physically, ignoring everyone because he thinks he deserves it. He'll make himself work and be tortured by the bad guys so no one else has to do it. He'll destroy himself because he thinks it'll help someone else.

It's not that Bruce has worse mental health. He has the tendency to keep his emotions bottled up, while Dick will let them out.

Dick Grayson can’t be a convincing long term Batman because he doesn’t hate himself enough. There, I said it.

[brw]

can you please elaborate on your hate of Peter Parker ?

Honestly it isn't anything particularly to do with Peter as a character. Clearly, a lot of people love him, and while I've never felt the same way or seen what they seen in him, it's usually whatever. I'm happy to let people do their own thing and to not bother with it, because it isn't for me. The problem then is because Spiderman is a massively important character, so even if I don't care and I want to avoid him, I'm always having to read him at some point. He shows up everywhere. He has 1000 different legacies that if he isn't showing up, one of them is. He is, in effect, the Marvel equivalent of Batman in terms of "This is a Wonder Man comic, why is Spider-Man here?" (that's issue 28 of the 90s ongoing), and I unfortunately am someone who doesn't really like it when I am forced to read a guy I don't really care about. Or, more accurately, I don't mind it sometimes, like if it's a one-off team-up with, making a random pairing here, Vision and Morbius, I'll be fine with that. But Peter shows up everywhere. It's impossible to read marvel comics for very long without him popping in at some point. And I know he's their biggest character, and I understand that he's always going to show up to sell more books, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

Other than that, he has one of the most annoying comic book fanbases out there, possibly even worse than the X-Men, because at least X-Men fans as a whole care or pretend to care about women. They'll talk about Jean or Ororo, and it's often annoying, but at least they care. I'm not going to sit here and say Zeb Wells' Amazing Spider-Man is by any means a masterpiece–but I genuinely believe that if Peter and MJ were dating in this book, everyone would be eating it up and calling it great. Because it is very clear Spider-Man fans don't really see MJ as her own character and don't want her to be with anyone but Peter, which is weird, especially considering how many love interests Peter is afforded but not MJ. I've seen people screenshot panels of just, like... Peter, Paul and MJ just hanging out and being friendly adults, and acting like it's the worst thing in the world, because I guess the idea of being a mature adult with your ex and her new boyfriend is unthinkable. And it stands out that Ultimate Spider-Man is as praised as it is, when like.... other than them telling you she's a marketing genius in that one issue, what does MJ in that universe do outside of being a wife and mother? Other than be supportive to a T? And this is expected, because Hickman can't write women, but it's so strange seeing this series be the crème de la crème of Spider-Man when MJ is so devoid of personality other than being playful and being a wife and mother.

A lot of Spider-Man fans also have this weird persecution complex, which is really weird when a character is as heavily promoted and marketed and has as many series as Peter does. Like, I've seen a lot of people post panels of Ultimate Spider-Man with Peter and MJ and the kids with the caption "THIS is what Zeb/the current Spider-Man office is too SCARED to let happen" and it's like, no actually, the conspiracy that Big Marvel is too scared to let a white man and a white woman have their white ginger kids together is just bizarre. At most, they just think that the relationship in 616 is boring and has run it's course, and you can disagree with that but that's just the reality of comics sometimes. I'm not going to say that there was not editorial influence and a desire to have Peter be young... but that retcon is 17 years old. They are not undoing it! Why do you want 17 years of comics undone just because Peter and MJ aren't fucking? Write some fanfiction if it bothers you that much!!! And that retcon, 17 years ago, would not stop a modern writer from making moves for Peter and MJ to get back together (and they are together in various AU comics over the years)... but clearly at the moment people don't want that, and you have to make peace with that, and you have to make peace that maybe that fictional woman will date someone who isn't Peter for a bit. Sorry he doesn't own her, I guess.

Anyway TLDR Peter Parker is probably a perfectly fine character and I respect all my mutuals and followers who are Normal about him, I just cannot stand the larger comic fandom and I also resent how impossible he is to avoid in comic books.

[shiro-s2e2-erukinzu]

I was feeling under the weather for most of yesterday, so I didn't really feel like writing about the new episode after I watched it the other day... 🤒

But now, I'm ready to discuss episode 32 of Spy X Family...!! 👍

Yesterday's episode adapted the rest of Mission 48 as well as Missions 49 and 50 of the manga, and I have to say... There were plenty of things that I enjoyed about this episode...! 😄

First off, I loved how they did Yor's fight with Barnaby, it was very well animated and they even made Yor look just as scary as she did in the manga...!!: 😆

We also finally got to see THIS hilarious scene animated...!!: 🤣

I couldn't stop LAUGHING the first time I saw this in the manga, and I do think that the anime did a great job recreating it!! 😁 Though I have to admit, this is where I started to have a little bit of an issue with this episode...

After recreating this MASTERPIECE of a scene in the anime...: 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

The episode's pacing kind of felt all over the place to me... 😓 Like, the part with Zeb remembering what Olka's family did for him and others after the war and Yor's lament about her assassin job are paced very well, while the part with Anya trying to distract Loid so she could help Yor felt like they were trying to rush through it... 😩

I don't know, maybe I would've preferred it if today's episode had all of Mission 48 to work with and ended with Yor's lament at the end of Mission 49, then make Mission 50 a whole episode on it's own and add some anime only activities that Loid and Anya could take part in...!! 😤 But it's okay, I fine with a proper adaption of these chapters...! 😌 (Though, I am holding out hope for Mission 56 to be extended into a full episode...! 🤞)

Anyway, sorry about my little rant about the pacing of this episode and on to the changes that I noticed...!! 😄

There were a few dialogue changes that I noticed, like Loid's version of Joseph Joestar's iconic "OH MY GOD!!" (which I thought was funnier 🤣) in the anime, while he says "Oh my goodness gracious!" in the manga; as well as Anya singing different lyrics for the little song she sang:

But... The biggest change that I noticed had to be THIS:

You see, in the anime, this man was sniffing around like a normal person, but as you can see in the manga...

THIS MAN HAS A SUPER SNIFFER!! 😵

I don't know why they changed how Sir Sniffs-a-Lot (or Sniff Jobs as most call him) got Yor's group scent, but I definitely prefer the crazy way he got it in the manga...!! 😤

And I think that's all I wanna say about this episode...! Even though I had quite a few issues with it, I still pretty much enjoyed the episode overall...!! 😁

Looks like next week's episode is also going to adapt three chapters and can't wait to see it!! 😆 So I'll see guys next week; same spy time, spy channel...!! 😎 LATER!! 👋😁

[thevibraniumveterans]

REBELS REWATCH

S1E7 — OUT OF DARKNESS

The episode begins with Hera piloting the Phantom pursued by a TIE fighter. Inside, both Sabine and Ezra sit across from each other, but Ezra is holding onto his chair for dear life. Rightly worried, Ezra asks, “Is getting blasted out of the sky part of the plan too? Because if it is, then the plan’s going great.” Hera calmly chides him, “Ezra, you should know better.”

Once Hera shoots the TIE out of the sky, the two teenagers on board make their way to stand on either side of Hera. Ezra asks Hera about whether he can learn some piloting skills. While Hera doesn’t think he’s ready to do so yet, Sabine remains silent and amusedly shakes her head.

They happen upon a trio of TIEs, and Sabine, worried and not too pleased, points out the obvious: “Well, we’ve gotten ourselves into another fine mess.” Hera responds that sometimes this happens, but once she says that intel she’s getting isn’t too reliable, Sabine gets a little suspicious. “That’s been happening a lot lately,” she points out. “Where, may I ask, does this intel come from?” Hera’s response unbalances Sabine: “You may ask.” The teenager straightens up, thinking that an odd statement.

After a bit more of a chase, something beeps behind Hera. Ezra checks out the alarm, and notes that it’s just minor cosmetic damage, nothing anything can’t fix. Hera notices that there’s an issue with the steering, but Ezra says the warning on the screen is telling him otherwise. Hera disagrees.

Sabine, usually one to require an understanding of a mission’s full details ahead of time, is a little ticked off at not knowing what’s going on. She says, “Hey, I’m all for sticking it to the Empire, but what was in that convoy?” Hera says it’s on a “need to know basis.” Sabine’s a bit upset at this.

Regardless, the Phantom manages to lose the other two straggling TIEs, and Hera, Sabine, and Ezra are relieved, They head back to the Ghost, but the Phantom is revealed to be leaking coolant.

Once back on the Ghost, Sabine heads down the ladder to rest on the sofa in the common bay, and Ezra follows close behind. Taking advantage of Hera and Kanan’s conversation, Zeb and Ezra sneak off, but Hera assigns them tasks. She gives Zeb some heavy-duty things to do, and tells Ezra and Chopper that they are to help Zeb. Zeb scoffs, “Really? Have you met them?” Ezra, disagreeing with Zeb’s tone, smacks his arm in disapproval. Ezra’s disapproval speaks volumes, actually. He’s growing up, and learns that some things just aren’t meant to be questioned.

Sabine, feeling left out and confused at why she’s not being told what’s really going on, sulks at the table. After a while, she walks into the pilot bay of the Ghost, where Kanan and Hera are discussing the mission. Sabine stands in the doorway, arms crossed. She is not pleased: “I’d like to know why we’re relying on intel from this Fulcrum, whoever he is.”

Kanan, unfortunately for Sabine, doesn’t offer much of an answer past telling her that Hera has an important job to do that would end up benefiting the Spectres. He says, “If she trusts the contact, I trust the contact. No questions asked.” Sabine isn’t taking this lightly, considering her past. She reveals a little bit of that past, saying , “At the Imperial Academy, they didn’t want me to ask questions either. That didn’t work for me. That’s why I ended up here.” From this tidbit, we learn that Sabine must have gotten far enough along in the Academy early on that she got to an age where she started asking questions that people didn’t like answering. That’s why she feels a bit betrayed by the lack of knowledge. She does not like missing out on things.

Kanan leaves the room, and Sabine decides to take things into her own hands, and tells Hera that she would join the mission to meet Fulcrum, instructions and precautions be damned. Hera tells Sabine, “You know, you can be pretty frustrating too.” The teenager replies, “Learned from the best.”

Cut to Zeb and Ezra in the Ghost, and Ezra is in the avionics bay, trying to fix some wiring. Ezra notes, “Hera was right. Steering’s definitely out of whack. But I almost got it fixed.” The amusing thing is that Ezra is pretty good at this kind of engineering skills, considering he’s just a teenager who had been living on the streets of Lothal not all that long ago. Where he learnt his handy skills from, it’s hard to tell. Chopper plays a prank on Ezra. Understandably, the teenager gets mad. Regardless, he and Zeb tell Hera that repairs are done.

Back on the Phantom, Sabine grills Hera for information. “Is Fulcrum just another smuggler like Vizago?” (No, because Fulcrum is Ahsoka’s code name, but the Spectres won’t know that until more than several episodes later.) Unamused, she also asks Hera, “How do you find a way of answering questions without giving any answers?” Fulcrum contacts them, and Hera and Sabine make their way to the rendezvous point.

There is a cave there, inside which are fyrnocks, which will get revisited in the future.

Hera and Sabine move the designated crates to the Phantom, and while they do, they discuss the importance of secrecy. Sabine feels very left out, and gets told that she doesn’t get all the details because it’s to keep the crew safe. She’s learning the value of keeping quiet on certain matters, because sometimes that’s all that would keep people safe.

Sabine reveals a bit more of her backstory, and we learn about why trust can be dangerous if the wrong people are involved: “Hera, you know what happened when I was a cadet at the Imperial Academy on Mandalore. I trusted the Empire, followed its orders blindly, and it was a nightmare.” She looks dejected and feeling rightfully betrayed, but Sabine still needs to learn that sometimes, if you don’t know something, it’s sometimes best not to ask. She continues, “I want to believe we’re doing good, making a difference. But sometimes it seems like the harder we fight, the harder things get out here. I feel like we can’t take down the Empire on our own. That’s why I need to know this isn’t all for nothing. I need to know that I am not walking into a nightmare here.”

They are cornered in the old hangar by fyrnocks, and Hera and Sabine open fire on a few. They discover that the creatures do not like bright lights and very much prefer the dark.

Back on the Ghost, Ezra and Zeb check the diagnostics after realizing they did not complete a full checkup earlier as instructed. Kanan, meditating alone, senses that Hera and Sabine might be in danger.

At the rendezvous point, Hera and Sabine move several canisters of explosive rhydonium, hoping to use themselves as bait to lure the fyrnocks out They get the canisters into place, and it gets dark fast. The fyrnocks give chase, and Sabine and Hera open fire. Several canisters explode.

Sabine smiles and notes, “It worked. We just might survive this.” Hera asks, “Wait. You doubted your own plan?” Sabine replies, “Never.” Hera’s response of “Cause I sure did” doesn’t sit well with Sabine.

They are surrounded on all sides by Fyrnocks, not even the rhydonium explosions could take the creatures out. Hera and Sabine help each other to the top of the Phantom, and continue firing away.

In short order, the Ghost arrives, spotlights on full blast. Kanan is at the pilot’s seat, and Ezra and Zeb are by the loading ramp, ready to intercept Hera and Sabine. While Ezra is worried, his expression is unreadable. Sabine, meanwhile, is glad and relieved. However, the creatures don’t stop. They continue advancing. Kanan lowers the Ghost, landing ramp down, and Ezra and Zeb fire at the fyrnocks. Ezra manages to shoot down a few with his energy slingshot, and as the landing ramp nears Sabine and Hera, Ezra leaps off the landing ramp, a fiercely protective expression on his face: “Sabine! I got your back.” He lets loose barrage after barrage of energy shots, the determined frown never quite leaving his face. He provides cover fire as Sabine and Hera make their way to the Ghost’s landing ramp. After a few more shots, he turns around and grins: “These guys aren’t so tough.” Sabine, however, notices a huge fyrnock right behind Ezra, and shoots it in the face. The big one, however, tackles Ezra, and he stumbles backward, tripping over the Phantom’s top laser cannon. He falls backward and is attacked by the creature. Ezra tries to wrestle the fyrnock off of him, and is having difficulty doing so. Sabine focuses on getting the shot she needs, and aims right for the creature’s head. The shot finds its mark, because of course it does, but it’s far too close to Ezra for comfort. Sabine and Zeb help him back onto the landing ramp. Zeb praises Ezra for handling the situation as best he could. Hera, Zeb, Sabine, and Ezra continue firing from the ramp.

Zeb, Ezra, and Sabine make their way up the ship. While Sabine starts going up the ladder, Ezra tells her, “Thanks for saving me back there.” The sentiment is genuine, and while he does appreciate the fact that Sabine had indeed helped him, his tone - unlike before - sounds much less flirty but a little more lighthearted and playful. Sabine responds with, “Don’t read too much into it, kid.” Ezra had spoken from below but to the left of Sabine, but when she replied, she looked down to her right. Ezra frowns a bit, but Zeb taps his shoulder.

Sabine takes the gunner’s seat, and Ezra trails behind, stopping at the doorway.

A while passes, and Sabine heads to her room. Hera stops by. “Sabine, I know you have questions, questions I can’t answer right now. But know that I trust you. I just trusted you with my life down there.” Sabine, still feeling a bit sad, says, “I know. I know you do.” Hera tells her, “Good. We are making a difference, Sabine. And I promise, we won’t always be fighting this battle alone. Do you think you can trust me?” Sabine is more hopeful: “I think I can try.”

[ahsoka-its-all-of-us]

Here’s a little list of fics I’ve written (keeps getting updated)

I’ve Loved You Always; I Always Will — Rexsoka series, consisting of short stories that can be read as stand-alones, together making up a comprehensive storyline

- Return Of The Jedi – Of Sorts — Ahsoka contacts the 501st for aid in capturing Maul - The Bantha In The Room — Jesse and Rex talk about Ahsoka during the Siege of Mandalore - A Night Of Peace — Rex looks Ahsoka up at night during the Siege of Mandalore - A Dawn Of Hope — A Night Of Peace from Ahsoka’s perspective - Old Flames Not Forgotten — Ahsoka and Rex look up Lux Bonteri - Broken Off — How Rex and Ahsoka lost contact before Rebels (written for Rexsoka Monthly) - Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep — Rex and Ahsoka discuss their own funerals

The Honourable Ones — Kalluzeb series, consisting of short stories out of one overarching storyline

- Heart Of A Rebel — Kallus's life from early childhood until Bahryn - Cold — an exploration of what transpired while Zeb and Kallus had to wait for someone to rescue them from the Geonosian moon - Boosahn Keeraw — Zeb and Kallus meet again on opposite sides during a rebel mission - Indebted — Kallus’s escape from the Chimaera and subsequent introduction to the Rebellion - Always Wondered Why He’d Let Me Live — Zeb helps Kallus address some issues as he joins the Rebellion - Jedi Magic — Kanan breaks a newly defected Kallus out of his Imperial repression (art 🥹) - We’re Not Droids — Rex tells Kallus about the Battle of Umbara, starting an unexpected friendship - A Spark Of Rebellion — Zeb’s oh moment 😈 - Gift Of My Heart — Zeb impulsively gets Kallus a gift - Laughable — Zeb takes Kallus to have dinner with his family, and Kallus realises something - Pain Of The Past — Kallus and Zeb finally talk about Lasan - Don't Look At My Tortured Soul — Zeb finds out a dark secret about Kallus, and something about himself as well - Can't You Hear Me Scream? — Kallus struggles to stay in control of his Imperial indoctrination as a mission with the Ghost takes him behind Imperial lines - From A Twi'lek's Point Of View — Hera reflects on Zeb and Kallus - Charred Heart — Kallus finally breaks - Choices — Rex and Zeb show Kallus the difference between the Rebellion and the Empire. - CT-ISB-021 — Kallus and Rex bond over clone trooper armour. - Domesticated — On a mission Kallus shows what he's capable off and Zeb is gay about it.

Slaves — a ficlet exploring Anakin/Vader’s thoughts about slavery and the clones

Sisi Ni Sawa; A New Way To Go — Kallus muses over something Zeb told him on Bahryn

You Must Have Some Mixed Feelings About Seeing Me — The Zuko/Iroh apology scene, but it's Kallus and Zeb after Zero Hour

For Good — Zeb and Kallus say goodbye before a dangerous mission

Heat Of The Moment — Ahsoka experiences her first heat while stuck with the 501st on a remote moon, and Anakin and Rex have to deal with it

Grand Admiral Thrawn Has Got It Going On — a Thranto song parody

Splitting Suns — A drunken Zeb makes a big mistake, causing Kallus to end their relationship and leave Lira San.

-------------------------

I frequently post sneak peeks of upcoming stories, tagged as #jenny's sneaks

I also tend to produce a lot of character headcanons (most of which I use myself in my stories), tagged as #jenny's headcanons

Everything I post about the new shows is tagged so you know what to avoid if you don’t want any spoilers :)

My non-Star Wars-related WIPs can be found here

Also I’m a professional musician, and, among other things, I like making fun arrangements and transcriptions, which can be found on my music blog @transcriptions-of-unknown-music. Suggestions are welcome, especially for my music box series!

I have no talent for visual art whatsoever, but I do have a deranged RedBubble that’s really mostly a joke. My Kallus Fulcrum symbol is on it, though :3

[sammysdewysensitiveeyes]

Also - reading 90's comics has made me so nostalgic for writers actually writing a proper TEAM book and giving everyone something to do. The dialogue could be terrible and clunky, or overdramatic, and there was a lot of exposition, but at least every member of the team in the issues I'm reading feels like part of the story. Even if they are not going through some kind of arc, they contribute meaningfully to fights, or they have nice little character moments with each other, or they are actually allowed to talk and comment on a situation.

This isn't just me bitching about That One Writer that I complain about a lot, I think there has been a general shift in comics writing towards less dialogue packed into a page (and no more thought balloons, I so wish those would make a come back). And to some extent I think it helps dialogue sound more natural, without characters narrating their every move, but the flipside is that characters don't talk unless they are the current star that the scene revolves around, and more and more people are relegated to standing silently in the background. Some writers are still able to balance this well and write a decent team book, like I will forever praise Zeb Wells Hellions, but some books really drop the ball.

I mean, the Onslaught story is honestly terrible. It's ridiculous how much Marvel hyped up Onslaught as a villain, and how quickly he fell into obscurity afterwards. The dialogue is awkward and peak 90's exposition-style. But damn, at least everyone feels like they are actually part of the story. Gambit and Bishop are burying the hatchet over that whole X-Traitor thing, and Rogue is bonding with "Joseph" and Beast has been replaced by Dark Beast, and Jean runs into Juggernaut and discovers the secret of Onslaught before the rest of the team, and Warren and Psylocke are both recovering from injuries while dealing with how they've been changed (this was during Psylocke's Crimson Dawn phase), and Wolverine's been devolved temporarily, and Sam is the newbie insecure about his place on the team, and Storm notices Cable having trouble with his powers and chases him into his own book to help. I think Iceman has the least amount of "stuff" going on at the moment, and he still gets to talk and make comments, and has a nice moment of camaraderie with the Human Torch. There are lots of little individual character moments and pair-ups, and this is in a terrible, over-hyped 90's cross-over.

Basically, I wish the X-Books knew how to get back to this. I don't care if everyone in a team book necessarily has an "arc" going on, but at least they should feel like they are a legit character who is part of the story. Give them interesting team-ups in battle, or let them have little character moments off to the side, or just give them thought balloons and let them react to things.

[a-table-of-fics]

Oddworld: Conar’s Ambition, Chapter 14, Draft 1

“So, uh, what’s a raisin, anyway?”

Conar peeked his head out from past Chairman. He couldn’t bring the whole pack with him, of course, but he was able to bring his best friend at least, provided the two shared a grass-filled bed meant for Meep.

“Hell if I know, man,” he admitted. “But if he’s behind those Ratz, I’d say we got a good thing goin’.”

“You keep going on about those Ratz,” Slim remarked. “You sure you’re not just seein’ things? Those critters’r everywhere anyway.”

Conar remained silent, slipping back to lie on his stomach. It was the best way to look up at the window (well, the opening in the wall). Even through his visor, he could see the stars above for the first time. They were nothing like what he saw on TV; they were less jagged yellow things and more light blue dots, painting the sky in intricate patterns. Had he really missed out on entire worlds just above him?

“What’s eating you?” asked Slim.

“Oh, you know,” Conar laughed absently, “Just thinkin’ about what I’ll do with Zeb’s moolah… you think I can get one of them Howitzers?”

“All this and you’re still thinking about raiding that Glukkon, huh?” Slim shook his head. “Couldn’t ask for more from a Slig.”

Conar mulled over that as he tried to count the stars. He found he didn’t have the strength to argue the point, but he contemplated it while his eyes became heavy.

He dreamt of rushing waters, of being swept up, of being unable to do anything but obey the flow. He dreamt of the metal gullet of a cannery, of unknowable pistons working tirelessly at vast functions. He dreamt of being beaten endlessly with meat tenderizers, of being sliced with countless blades. He dreamt of Mudokons working tirelessly at the mechanisms as Sligs laughed contemptuously at him. At the end of the river, he dreamed of a bowl big enough for him to fall into, with Slogs ready to chow down. No one but him took issue with this exchange.

But right as the first bite was about do dig into him, he felt something else prodding him tentatively.

“Conar? Conar, wake u—” Slim started, before dodging a reflexive swipe.

He could swear he saw Conar’s eyes quiver for a moment behind the glowing visor. Even the red seemed to soften as Conar caught his breath.

“Y-you can’t just wake a Slig like that!” Conar finally managed. “I just…”

“You know you coulda took your claws off,” Slim remarked.

Conar paused mid-climb onto Chairman. He sighed, pulling on the loose threads holding the worm’s teeth. They fell without ceremony into the mud. Conar grumbled as he finished mounting onto Chairman.

“Well, what is it?” he asked.

“Some guy with a lot of feathers in his head wanted us to get ready to follow him. Apparently that raisin really wants to see us.”

Slim scooped up the now-muddy claws, a slight grimace on his face. Even after leaving the Sloghut, he had to pick up after a Slig?

“Well, c’mon, boy,” Conar said, turning his attention to a groggy Chairman. “With any luck, you can chomp on somethin’ on the way.”

Chairman snorted, but slowly stepped back, preparing to leap over the fence. Catching Slim’s glare, Conar gently pushed on Chairman’s forehead before he could try. Instead, the two strode over to the gate, where Conar could extend his tentacles to the latch.

The two followed Slim out the door to greet a grey Mudokon, adorned with orange and purple feathers, plenty of blue and indigo body paint, and an eternally tired grimace. He briefly cringed when he saw the Slig and Slog, but didn’t otherwise change expression as he addressed them all.

“Okay, let’s make this quick. Your jerk boss is hangin’ out at the Fleech Fields, and the Almighty Raisin wants to help ya get there. But he’s not going to do it for free, y’know; he’s gonna be askin’ a favor from the two of you.”

“What kind of favor?” Conar asked.

“He didn’t say,” the Mudokon shrugged. “Guess you gotta ask him yourself. Just try not to blast him with your rank smoke breath, okay?”

Conar scowled. He did not need to be reminded of losing his cigarettes, and he certainly didn’t need this jerk’s attitude.

“So where can we find this Raisin guy?” Slim asked, trying to position himself between the other Mudokon and Conar.

“There’s a Well down the path that’ll take you straight to his cave. Only problem you got is some bastitches setting up camp there, Odd knows why. Call themselves Wolvarks, and I’ll be honest, I’d prefer if they had your ugly mug.”

He pointed to Conar with that last comment, but Conar didn’t so much as sneer. Instead, he reeled back, causing Chairman to look up in worry at him.

“Wolvarks?!” he exclaimed. “The hell are they doin’ this far east? Don’t they know this is Magog turf?”

“Wouldn’t call It ‘Magog turf’ when you’re around Mudokons if I were you,” the guide said, eyes narrowing. “You Magogs have been messing with our turf since I was a hatchling!”

There was silence for a moment as he glared, and then he walked over to a ring of stones.

“If you can drive those guys off before you get there, that’d be great.”

He nudged a rock with his foot before stepping over to the center.

 “And I’m guessin’ you won’t be giving us any kinds of weapons or anything?”

“That ain’t my wheelhouse,” the purple Mudokon shrugged. “But hey, from the looks of your armor and weapons, you were able to take a Pirthworm out. This should be no biggie!”

And with that, he left an outline of otherworldly sparks as he vanished.

“Yeah, thanks,” Conar said with a grimace.

He drummed his fingers on Chairman for a moment, not caring about the Slog taking quick snaps at the sparks.

“Shouldn’t be any problem, should it?” Slim asked, looking ahead. “After all, the Magog chose you over whatever these Wool Farts are, right?”

“Heh, yeah,” Conar laughed mirthlessly. “I’m sure we can kick some booty no problem. General Dripik always called us the muscle of the Magog.”

He failed to mention the exact wording, given he remembered the phrase “low-price lowlives” in it. He also failed to mention how Dripik was reported missing after Abe apparently tore his old Barracks a new one; he couldn’t imagine how the Wolvarks could look much worse than the Sligs after that.

Slim sighed in relief.

“Gotta admit, if you were worried, we’d be screwed.”

Conar grunted, nudging Chairman away from the ring of stones. He didn’t get how they couldn’t be taken with the magical vanishing Mudokon, but there were more pressing matters, and he was finally getting a lead to someone who could help him get to Zeb.

Slim, though, was in no hurry, turning to wave at the villagers.

“Thanks for letting us stay!” he called, cheerfully.

He was met with stone silence from the guards. They nodded, but their eyes were on Conar, anticipating anything he might do.

“Yeah yeah,” Conar scoffed. “I’m leavin’.”

As he and Chairman turned to follow the trail, Slim saw the two relax. He shook his head, turning to follow his ally. He had fantasized about being in the luxurious guardsman position, overseeing the Slig floor-scrubbers with whatever power trips came to mind, but even if this was kind of close, it felt weird when Conar was the second-class citizen. Best he could do now is walk alongside Chairman in uncomfortable silence.

After about ten minutes, Conar grunted that strange raspy grunt that reminded Slim of the time the Recycler was jammed.

“They give you anything to eat?” he asked. “Could go for some meat myself.”

And a smoke, he added to himself. My lungs’re itching like hell.

“Sure,” Slim sighed.

He reached into his pouch and quickly produced chunks of something pink even after the fire left its scorch marks on it. It made Chairman stop and salivate. Slim tensed, but soon laughed.

“Gotta wait your turn, buddy,” he said, patting Chairman’s head. “Your boss needs some food, too.”

He took some of the larger bits and offered them to Conar.

“What’re these?” he asked, a second before taking a chunk in his tentacles and scarfing it down. His hands greedily reached out for the rest.

“I think they said it was Meep,” Slim shrugged. “Doesn’t taste like any Meep I’ve had, though.”

“You can say that again,” Conar chuckled, offering some of the extra to Chairman who devoured without a second thought. “It’s nothin’ like Meep Treats, huh?”

He wondered what happened at RuptureFarms to make it less like the smoky tenderness of mutton and more like the candied sweetness he knew from back home.

The three ate for a bit before they heard footsteps from up ahead. Someone was grumbling about having to do patrol work, and he whined about missing out on “the game”. Neither Slim nor Conar had ever heard a drawl like that.

They rushed into the bushes, Conar hastily trying to shush Chairman to keep him from growling at the strange smell. It was a scent familiar to any Slig, but wrapped in a veneer too dry for anyone from East Mudos.

“…coulda least let me’ve taken my flask,” the voice said, its owner soon coming into view. With leathery yellow skin, a toothy underbite and strange ears on either side of a green beret, the Wolvark loped forward on the stubbiest legs Conar had ever seen. He had casually slung a weird-looking rifle over his shoulder, one with strangely placed blades on the muzzle. He exhaled a puff of smoke as he continued grumbling, flicking a Lungbuster out of his mouth.

The tantalizing smell reached Conar’s face. He was already in a sourer mood than usual, but someone else getting the relief that he had lost just yesterday?

“Get ‘im!” he shouted, riding Chairman into battle.

“…the hell?” the Wolvark turned, immediately readying his gun. He leapt to the side, deftly dodging the Slog bite and taking aim.

Chairman skidded to a halt and turned to snarl at the Wolvark, Conar swinging around and readjusting his grip.

“Wait’ll I tell the boys about this!” the Wolvark laughed, opening fire.

Darts sailed past Slig and Slog as the three started a deadly dance. The Wolvark gleefully dodged as Chairman lunged forward and Conar shouted obscenities at his adversary. More darts fired, Chairman yelping as a couple hit him. The Slog’s steps slowed, and he whined as every movement felt heavy. Finally, he fell forward, letting Conar slip off as he fell asleep.

“C’mon, get up you—” Conar hissed before the Wolvark’s shadow loomed over him. He looked up, knowing full well he was screwed.

“Looky here,” the Wolvark laughed. “Here I thought you were a lump of sludge on some poor Sleg. Reckon I was right!”

“Y-you scaly bastard!” Conar spat. “You think you can just come over and make camp here?!”

“Damn, you’re late to the party! Once we clear out those Mud guys, I tell ya, we’ll strike it rich with the Magog’s—”

The Wolvark’s boasts were cut off with a gasp, followed by bloody gurgles and spit. His eyes quivered downwards to find a very toothy spearpoint twisting out of his stomach. He gave a last glance to Conar before keeling over, dropping his gun.

“O-oh Odd,” Slim said, dropping the spear and letting the corpse fall. “I g-got him…”

His hands were shaking, and his eyes tried and failed to dart away from his kill. Conar recognized the look.

“Thanks,” he said, crawling forward. He barely cared that he was getting blood onto his hands. “I dunno what I would’ve done if you weren’t there to save my ass.”

“Y-yeah…”

Conar thought back to his childhood, when he was still in training. He had been ordered to club his first live target to death. Seemed to be a senseless waste of a Mudokon, he told himself to justify his guilt over it. He had convinced himself for years that that was the reason, but now that he was looking at Slim’s face, he was starting to doubt that. At least the Blunderbuss was less up close and personal.

“We oughta get movin’,” Conar said, matter-of-factly. “Help me get Chairman up and we’ll get that body outta here.”

He started to pull darts from his Slog’s hide, stopping to eye one of them. He looked at the Wolvark’s gun blankly. What use was a gun that didn’t kill its target? He was glad he’d still have his Chairman alongside him, but still, the concept was more than a little foreign to him.

“Does that rifle fit your hands?” he asked.

“I-I think so,” Slim replied. “B-but you sure you wouldn’t—”

“Hell no!” Conar laughed, mostly for show. “You think I’m gonna use those clowns’ peashooters? Give me those damn worm teeth any day.”

To Conar’s relief, Slim was able to keep his finger over the trigger, tossing his spear aside.

“Hang on,” Conar said, unfastening the Wolvark’s bandolier. “There should be more ammo here, and you might need the spear, too. Just gimme the cigarettes if they’re in any of the pouches, will ya?”

Slim nodded slowly, pulling out some darts, a pack of Lungbusters, and about fifty Moolah. He tossed the cigarettes and Moolah to Conar, who gratefully snatched everything up.

It took about a minute to get the Wolvark carcass into the deep brush, and thankfully the idiot hadn’t thought to bring anything that would’ve alerted the others. The only real challenge was pulling Chairman away from the smell of fresh meat.

Conar couldn’t believe his luck, and was ready for a well-deserved smoke. That’s when the problem arrived.

“Damn,” he muttered, realizing he didn’t have a light.

[wolfpackmuses]

@spectrefour asked: "‘ have you lost your senses completely? ’ // Black Krrsantan"

From: Disney Starters || Accepting!

There was an air of annoyance that now surrounded the Wookiee following that question. While Krrsantan knew there were always certain things that set him off, this seemed to be one that showed maybe these two weren't off to the best of starts. But, considering what Krrsantan had done to get out of so many past situations he was in to even be standing here was something that he wasn't going to be taking for granted. No, he was trying to do something he didn't think he would have thought would be happening...

Working with others who weren't exactly fond of the Empire. And while Krrsantan liked to work for the highest bidder in a lot of cases, there was something about the deal that had been offered to him that would not be one he'd turn down in any capacity. But, still... that didn't mean the Wookiee wasn't going to act incredibly brash out of nowhere. That was something that seemed to follow him regardless.

And as he stood there, rifle draped over his back, holding up someone who had dared make a bold comment about the Wookiee and Lasat, the words that Zeb had just said rang in his mind again. There were a few grumbles and the Wookiee gave a glare at Zeb for a moment or two before he threw down the person who had mocked them both. It didn't take too long for the guy to run out of the bar and for the Wookiee to return to where he and Zeb had been sitting in a corner, tucked away not to be bothered by others.

Seems Krrsantan hadn't gotten his anger checked before he had almost caused a much larger issue for the both of them.

❝I have not lost anything, thank you,❞ he grumbled as he slumped back down into the darkened booth. The Wookiee grabbed his mug and began to pour whatever liquid was left into his mouth before slamming the cup back onto the table and avoiding eye contact with Zeb as he looked out into the rest of the bar area. And while it seemed that more people would have noticed the Wookiee's outburst, well...

It seemed the two of them got lucky. Incredibly lucky.

❝I'm here working alongside you because I despise the Empire as much as you do. I'm not here to figure out what's right and what's wrong, I'm here to help get back at them for what they did to my people... the same as you,❞ he whispered and finally turned his head to look at Zeb and maintain any sort of eye contact, ❝And... I feel this is something I need to do to get back for the years of mistreatment that happened to me as well.❞

[reading-stains]

Welp if the fuzzyaya is gonna comment, I might as well hop on yk (I was gonna leave a comment on this post and it has Evolved a lot).

Cuz like, the fact we got the same duo (Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick) that wrote the first two movies plus Ryan Reynold's recognizably great input, plus the movie's director's notes with Shawn Levy, plus Zeb Wells that has comic book writing credits for things like X-Men (admittedly the comic doesn't work with Wolverine, and overlooking everything, it doesn't shock me that none of these writers have ever worked with the character bc it showed), should've spelled a success for at least the Deadpool side of things. But this movie has so many pacing and character development flaws that it pisses me the fuck off.

So to get things out of the way, I think this movie fundamentally lost a lot of soul.

In an age where Marvel is hungrily looking for a win, Deadpool and Wolverine is what they need. In a time where fans are growing wary while waiting for a good story, we have to recognize we are still waiting.

Bc fr, the movie was definitely funny when it needed to be, but part of the charm of the Deadpool movies is that by the end, you felt something was achieved through all the craziness. That there's a definite heart despite the inhumanity of Wade's actions, because he's learning, as the movie progresses, to face something in himself.

When you get to the THIRD movie, you can't actually expect to go back from zero. You've had this character build relationships (which we basically don't see present throughout this thing) and learn through certain hardships (which somehow became like this is the first time we meet either of them at all with the lack of character development we face) and would you look at that, they went back to fucking zero. Both of them.

Like yes, it's good you didn't tarnish the incredible story of Logan, but fuck you for leaving us with a blank slate character. And Deadpool is literally taken out of what he earned in the previous films, which in turn cheapens his movies.

And don't get me started on the issues that obliterate any seconds where we're not on the main two. I went to see this movie with my best friend, who is certainly not a superhero fanatic like me, and she told me that in her experience, all the big movies she actually bothers to go see are what she'd categorized as fan service. And fuckkkkkk if that's not an essential issue of this movie. It's especially loud when you notice that the previous ones couldn't do this and now it feels like they're doing overtime, We waste too much time on characters that don't need to be there, and it's worse when you know that they're there only to show they can be. Chris Evans is a hilarious joke, but I didn't need the camera to cut to these characters just because we can recognize them (Sabretooth and Toad, cool addition but if they've got nothing to say why show them so much, and I can say the same with the Thor comments).

That said, my greatest issue with this movie is that their relationship doesn't push the story. It's all the other, external attributes that continuously create the plot, making Deadpool and Wolverine just there. Like, sure it'd be a different tone, but it could've very well been other mc's that could've gone through this adventure and gotten the job done, and that's depressing.

But really, it's definitely a problem that nothing is fortified by their journeys in the story. The lack of power in their presence leaves us with them not earning the story's purpose, and that's a shit thing to happen when it's one of the most anticipated returns in film.

But lets start with the OG baddie - Huge Ackman.

Wolverine doesn't get enough development in this movie. The fact that we're supposed to agree with his reaction that is whole heartedly unearned, bc Laura is not enough if he has no true understanding of who she really is, makes me actually sad. I don't want to criticize this movie, I was really fucking excited to see it. But I have to admit, as someone that likes to both write and read, that it feels cheap to expect the viewer to "understand" by watching a previous film to give weight to this new, different character that only wears the same skin of someone we can recognize. This Wolverine is a man plagued with guilt, and his journey is corrected by a young girl that an alternate, and self-admittedly better, him was able to save. How does that help him overcome himself? In what ways does that even give that much effect? And regardless of that choice, that brings up another big question. How does being with Deadpool actually give him a chance to change? To repent and fix what he'd broken? Really, it's just a leeway for him to live in a world free from the one he made, and we have no reason to think he actually earned it. Sure, we've seen someone else that's been worthy, but this one is drunk and sad, until he's given a short speech, and then suddenly fights to be worth something to Charles' expectations, which is meaningless to us, because Marvel has made us expertly understand that these characters having the same name doesn't mean they are the same person. So, Wolverine isn't the Wolverine we know, and we don't get to know him because he gets a resolution based on other characters that we also don't know.

And sure, lets say it's just that, regardless that this in and of itself weakens the whole film, and assess the other half. Here we have the next step - Green Lantern

Well, we've arrived to another set of issues. First of all, Wade doesn't earn any losses. We're told he's different after saving Vanessa, but we don't see it. And it's even more irritating bc he's picked into the plot of his universe's destruction for reasons that aren't coherently explained for the purposes of either a plot hole or a sequel, which fuck that, that leaves us with an unfinished movie. But anyway, then there's the question about what this duo does for Deadpool? Well... Wolverine is the hero, the one that's making sense for Deadpool's world, and thus an important catalyst for this Wade that's trying to make sense of his place in the world. But alas, that's not the hero we get, and thus, Deadpool doesn't actually regard him as one from the start. Which in turn breaks down his own journey to become one!! He gets the secret to be a hero in a flashback, by fucking Happy of all people. And when he goes to do what others need from him, it doesn't even make sense, because he's not sacrificing anything by the end of it. It's also annoying that he doesn't like Wolverine, which upsets me because that ruins a dynamic I'd been sold in the marketing. All the funny teases that go towards Wolverine are either ironic, and there to laugh at Wolverine instead of inappropriately tease, or straight up mean. Which, yk, doesn't help when the other side of the friendship is also not liking Deadpool on top of being a brooding mess.

So great, we have a Deadpool that doesn't actually learn anything real by the end of it, because the "teaching" is lost in all of the other noise, plus a Wolverine with unearned successes and being a mood swinger.

Yay!!! Movies!!!

Though criticisms and jokes aside, what is most surprising is that the movie is still not bad.

I think I'm mostly disappointed because I expected it to be great, but the movie is genuinely written poorly for what it was selling itself to be. The performances are outstanding, and the music and staging are not far behind. The movie is funny, even when it's not as funny as the other two, and it's a fun time. And if it helps, it took me four days to be able to recognize the issues I find with this movie, and it wasn't as jarring as it is when I see things like Thor

I think I'm mostly disappointed because I expected it to be great, but the movie is genuinely written poorly for what it was selling itself to be. The performances are outstanding, and the music and staging are not far behind. The movie is funny, even when it's not as funny as the other two, and it's a fun time. And if it helps, it took me four days to be able to recognize the issues I find with this movie, and it wasn't as jarring as it is when I see things like Thor: Love and Thunder.

It's become clear I overthought this statement, and will now be ending this on the note that Hugh Jackman's arms were fucking hot af, and if anything else, the shirtless scene was good enough that the movies is entirely justified.

There is only ONE solid scene in Deadpool 3. It feels like actual writer was paid for one day where they outlined this scene and then left and no one ever hired anyone.

[taminoarticles]

— Tamino for Behind The Blinds, Issue 13 / Fall/Winter 2022 (x)

Tamino: The In-Between State

Antwerp, July 2022

Interview by MARTIN ONUFROWICZ Photography by ZEB DAEMEN Fashion by JONATHAN HUGUET

For Tamino, the title of his new album, Sahar, reflects his mindset while working on the record. “The literal meaning of the word is “just before dawn” and I think that perfectly captures the feeling of being in this in-between realm that I felt at the time,” explains the Belgian-Egyptian singer. Having catapulted him to fame in Belgium just after turning 20, Tamino’s debut album Amir also earned him fans from all over the globe, leading to non-stop touring for years. With instant popularity — and responsibility — at a young age, Tamino oscillates between adolescence and adulthood; this very in-between state being at the core of his latest record.

With Sahar, the musician continues to express the melancholy and vulnerability that became a signature of his artistic language. The key tool in creating the record was the Arabic lute known as the oud — an instrument that takes center stage in a ballad titled A Drop of Blood. “With this song, I wanted to accompany myself with the oud as the main instrument, just like my grandfather and father did in the past,” says Tamino. “It was very important for me to have at least one song like this on the album to honor the traditions of Egyptian and Arabic music.”

MARTIN ONUFROWICZ: Why did you decide to name your new album Sahar? What is the meaning that this title holds to you? TAMINO: The literal meaning of the word Sahar is ‘just before dawn’ and I think that perfectly captures the feeling of being in this in-between realm that I felt at the time of creating the album, and still feel a bit right now.

MO: Where is this feeling of being in an in-between state coming from? TAM: It has a lot to do with what my life has looked like in the last couple of years. I went from moving to Amsterdam to study, where I felt so out of place, to moving back to Belgium and my music career taking off, and starting to tour almost immediately for years. It felt a bit like tunnel vision — my life started to just revolve around one thing. I’m still very young, and feel like a child on so many levels, but I'm working very much like an adult.

MO: The album was written during the solitary times of the pandemic. How has that period affected you? TAM: I was always planning on having a break because my team saw that I was feeling a bit burned out. So when it came a bit earlier than expected, I was quite happy about it. That said, I always imagined that when I will have my rest, I will be able to integrate into the world again as a regular person who's not traveling all the time, but then that wasn't the case either because everyone was at home, and life as we knew it was on hold. I think that period has definitely contributed to that feeling of in-betweenness as well, and was also a very transformative and important time for me personally.

MO: You're starting touring again later this year. Having this perspective now, how are you going to try to avoid the burnout you had a couple of years ago? TAM: That was the one thing I kept saying to myself during the break, “I’m going to learn from this and take this zen feeling that I found into the busy life that awaits me again." Of course, I’m not sure how well I will do, but it definitely already affected how I approach work. For example, I’m now in New York for a couple of weeks and not just packing all the promotion stuff into one week because I thought, "I don't really have that much to do in July, so let me spend some time here and see what it’s like." I wanted to be here long enough to be able to ground myself, get to know some new people, have fun and be inspired.

MO: That sounds like a really good idea! What are your favorite places in the city so far? TAM: I’m staying in Williamsburg, which I really like. I also really enjoy the Lower East Side. I went to Central Park yesterday, which is always amazing. But I have yet to discover a bar or a restaurant that I really love — I’ll know when it will happen because I’m a creature of habit, so when I find it, I will want to return there every day. [Laughs.]

MO: Which of the songs on the album was the easiest to write and which one was the most challenging? TAM: The one that I wrote really fast was The Longing, the first song on the album. I first came up with the guitar-picking sound that I recorded on my phone and the next day while being in bed, I listened back to the recording and started humming the melody. Then, all of the verses came in one go! I was stunned because that rarely happens, so that was a very cool moment. A Drop of Blood was probably the song that was the biggest challenge for me because it was the one that I knew I wanted to write — all the other ones were improvised while I was trying out sounds with the guitar. With this song, I knew that I wanted to accompany myself with the oud as the main instrument, just like my grandfather and father did in the past. It was very important for me to have at least one song like this on the album [to honor] the traditions of Egyptian and [more broadly] Arabic music.

MO: Looking back, do you remember having a clear moment when you realized that music was something that you wanted to pursue as a career? TAM: Music was always something I did, but I never really thought about making a career out of it — I remember that while I was growing up, I never really worried about how l am going to make money later and I'm very thankful for that to my mom. We didn’t have a lot growing up — she was a single mom with three kids — but she never put pressure on us to earn a lot or anything like that. I do remember clearly writing my first song when I was fourteen and the feeling of ecstasy that I got from it — for me, it was one of the best feelings in the world and something I've been chasing ever since!

MO: What's a music album that changed your life? TAM: There’s been so many, but one that comes to mind immediately is one by Radiohead that I got when I was also around fourteen. I don’t think it was even a specific album, but rather The Best of Radiohead — I just remember being so inspired by their music when I first heard it. Now, my favorite record of theirs is In Rainbows.

MO: That's so cool! It must be a totally dream-come-true situation then for you to now be able to work with Colin Greenwood [one of Radiohead's band members] — I saw that you collaborated with him for Sahar. TAM: Yeah, it's amazing! It sometimes still feels so surreal when I think about it, but now, Colin has really become a friend to me — we have played a lot of concerts together and he did seven songs with me on the new record. He's a lovely person and it’s a dream to work with a musician of his caliber.

MO: How did you guys first meet? TAM: We had mutual friends in Antwerp — they took him to one of my shows and that’s how it started.

MO: Let’s end with a throwback question: who was the first musician you saw playing live and what impact did that make on you? TAM: It was Lenny Kravitz at Sportpaleis in Antwerp. Also, his song I’ll Be Waiting was the first song I deliberately learned by heart — I performed it at a school concert. I love Lenny, he's such a good performer!

[thehollowprince]

Let's talk about Wrongslide...

I've EXPRESSED before my disappointment (and anger) at Rockslide's death back during the X OF SWORDS event in 2020. And to add insult to injury, ever since his death at the hands of Summoner, we barely saw him... or, whoever was resurrected in his place.

In the most recent issue of X-Men: RED, we finally got to see this character, Wrongslide, as the kids call him, and he was no longer the barely-coherent, child-like character that was brought back. He spoke, and not only spoke, but spoke eloquently and showed that there was an actual character under the recognizable outer image.

Not to mention a self-awarness that we sometimes don't get from long established characters.

We have what is basically a new character (for all intents and purposes) openly acknowledging that his very presence causes emotional harm to those who knew Santo, not because of anything he did purposefully, but because or his resemblance to their friend.

The only other time I can recall something similar happening within the X-Books was when it came to Madelyne Pryor and the fact that she's a clone of Jean Grey. Most recently, in the early pages of Zeb Wells' HELLIONS run, where while not openly acknowledged, it was heavily implied that the reason the Quiet Council decided to not resurrect Maddie had to do with her appearance and how it made Jean and Scott feel. Nothing at all like what we've seen with Wrongslide, where we do get the former, but we also get acknowledgement from Wrongslide himself, as well as his thoughts on the matter.

And it makes me glad that we're finally talking about Death in an age of mutant immortality, recent events during the Hellfire Gala and the Eve of Judgment Day notwithstanding.

I was just as excited about the prospect of resurrection for mutants when Hickman took over the X-Office, if for no other reason than to see characters that were killed off for the shock value of it, characters that had so much potential and were now suddenly back on the board and ready to go. But along with that, we now had the moral quandary of "what next?"

What happens when death is meaningless?

We saw glimpses of it Si Spurrier's WAY OF X, with Kurt worried about what immortality was doing to mutants, particularly the children, with them treating it like a joke or a thrill. I'm glad for the conversation started in that book and I'm glad for the continuation of that conversation here. Not just with Wrongslide, but with Magneto on the Great Ring and Storm and the Galactic Council. While I was all for Storm telling off Orbis Stellaris, he did have a political point to counterweight the philosophical point.

What happens if your leaders can't die?

And as Magneto pointed out, he didn't want to end up like Moira, cracking under the weight of all those years and becoming an immortal despot.

Wrongslide answered those questions, the conversation flowing between all three parts (Magneto and the Great Ring, Storm and the Galactic Council ans Wrongslide and Sunspot) before the natural conclusion to the question of Death was said out loud.

It is life.

What is the purpose of life if it doesn't end? Do they all become like Sinister or Moira, obsessed with whatever they set their minds toward? I hope not. Personally, I love this whole issue (i love this whole run), because it acknowledges that life ends and starts again. And I love that Wrongslide openly says it.

I also love Berto's panicked expression

Overall, I love Wrongslide's take on the whole situation, particularly his specific circumstances where his progenitor died in Otherworld, thus paving the way for this lovely person we've now received. It offers a new perspective on death and life in a time where a lot of Marvel characters have "conquered" death.

And it brings me to my point (a point finally emerges), which is that the entire commentary of this issue reflects Marvel comics (really all comics) as a whole. We often mourn a character, not only when they die, but when they transfer from one writer to another, from one artist to another. We mourn the version of them that we've come to love, but they're just transitioning to the next stage of their "life", which will happen again, sooner or later.

There have been a number of characters that have changed hands where I've been either happy or sad at the new person controlling their strings. Quentin Quire, Akihiro, Betsy Braddock, Sabertooth, hell, even Sinister, have all gone from characters that I never particularly liked to characters I look forward to seeing. And that wouldn't have happened if they hadn't "died" and switched to a new creator.

It's like Tarot said during the X OF SWORDS event when Storm drew the Desth Card:

"Do not be afraid. This is not the card of failure and decay, but of the natural harvest. The season before can never come again. Metamorphosis."

So if there's a character you don't particularly like lately, whether it's how they're written or how they're drawn, just be patient and wait until their next Metamorphosis.

When all is said and done, even though I am still devastated by Rockslide's death and their (Marvel) general lack of dealing with it on an emotional level, I do enjoy this new incarnation and look forward to seeing him on Arakko in future issues of X-Men: RED as hinted at by Berto.

[voteforspoon]

My last post about Star Wars has done well and tbh I really really really like Star Wars some I’m gonna go on another Star Wars rant, but maybe a slightly more controversial one (no not the sequels yet, although I still have a lot to say about that). I think Rebels is better than Clone Wars. Not that I’m saying that by a lot, cause it really is close. But I think Rebels accomplished things that don’t really get mentioned. Like the excellency of Maul, yes that began in clone wars but it continued so well in Rebels. One of my favorite lightsaber fights of all time is the Ben Kenobi versus Maul duel from the Twin Suns episode of Rebels. It’s short but brilliant. Rebels focuses on characters and their bonds, meanwhile Clone Wars focused on, well, the Clone Wars. There were lots and lots of important characters in that, and so naturally there was a lot of wandering around POV wise. Some episodes were about Anakin, some about Obi-Wan, some about Ahsoka, and many about the Clones, that being said, that lack of focus on a single group for many episodes was brutal. I love all those characters but theres so many they jump between. Rebels focuses on just the Ghost Crew, and a little among their close friends within and outside the Ghost Crew. Each character grows and forms into someone so good. Kanan becomes not just a better teacher, but also a father figure to Ezra and Sabine, and a dang good one at that. He also becomes a better husband(?, I never really figured out if Hera and Kanan were married or just in a long term serious relationship.) His death is IMO the most heartbreaking in all of Star Wars, and that’s saying something when you can compare Sabine, Fives, Heavy, and 99 who all die in clone Wars. Ezra grows to be a Jedi and I get he can be annoying but he’s still a good interesting character. Ahsoka gains development in so many ways. Zeb and Kallus’ enemies to friends relationship throughout the show is brilliant. Sabine’s history is heartbreaking and intriguing, and Hera stays a steady role model throughout, while remaining a complex character. Anyways, I love clone wars, a lot, but Rebels has such a strong familial feeling and is gorgeous mostly. The art style can be bad, but look at any landscape shown in the show and tell me that isn’t beautiful. The art style really shines often despite that it has a few glaring issues. But yeah. Clone Wars is fantastic but Rebels is even better in my personal opinion. I could rant more but this is wayyyyyy too long as is so thanks if you read it 👉🏻👉🏻

[kaxtwenty]

1. The final episode still gets me to this day, so I’mma say that one.

2. The purgil episode in season 2 bored me to death the first time I watched it, but I appreciate it a lot more now after the finale.

3. The show looks fine, but every issue I and many others have with it from the casting, to the visuals and the action could’ve been avoided if it were just animated.

4. Tseebo’s appearance was a turning point for the whole show and I’ve always appreciated what he added to Ezra’s character as well.

5. I’d change the scene where Zeb and Sabine let Rukh go after knocking him out, felt kind of stupid even though I liked what they were going for.

6. Kalluzeb and Kanera (I’m partial to Sabezra, but much prefer them being platonic in canon).

7. AP-5 is the funniest character on the show and we don’t talk about it nearly enough.

8. I’d like there to be an episode that answers the question of whether or not Kanan’s from Lothal.

9. Ezra, always has been, always will be.

10. It doesn’t make me cry much, but the final episode leaves me so emotionally exhausted that I couldn’t really muster many tears anyway.

11. AP-5’s musical number.

12. I can’t choose between her season 3, 4 or epilogue looks.

13. Palpy’s just gonna have to understand that he is not HIM.

14. The entire season 1 finale.

15. UGGHGGHH The entirety of Jedi Night.

16. The Grand Inquisitor.

17. I like how it seems like time travel at first, but when you stop and think about how it actually works it’s more like fate manipulation than regular time traveling. It think it fits in with the mysterious aspects of the Force pretty well.

18. Hanging around in the unknown regions being a pain in Thrawn’s blue ass.

19. “No, because I have nothing left to fear.” It was here I decided that Kanan was the GOAT.

20. Hyperspacing through a hangar cemented her status as the best pilot in the Rebellion. Han’s gonna just have to accept that.

21. Him comforting Hera after Kanan’s death was a really good example of how much he truly cares for the crew.

22. The entire Journey into the Star Cluster sequence. Generational.

23. Her duel with Kanan had some of the most emotional voice acting, writing and music that I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing. Her pouring her heart and letting loose all of the emotions she had been repressing all those years is still cathartic to this day. It’s a huge comfort episode whenever I’m feeling too stressed and none of my other outlets are working for me. Everything about Trials of the Darksaber is near perfect.

24. Him defying Palpatine, letting go of his parents and destroying the gateway is honestly my favorite moment in Rebels. It embodies everything the show’s about and is an amazing final showcase of how far Ezra has come.

25. I still love the design of his second lightsaber, but the Gunsaber is literally the most advanced and useful lightsaber in the entire SW universe and I can’t believe he didn’t make his second saber like that too.

26. AP-5, any day of the week.

27. The Bendu was left juuuusst a bit too ambiguous, while Kanan calling him out was great, I kinda wish his more apathetic nature was a bit more obvious beforehand.

28. AP-5, I’ve already made it clear why.

29. Sabine Sees Ezra………….

30. The purgil episode, it literally establishes Ezra’s Disney Princess powers outside of the basics and foreshadows the finale.

Star Wars Rebels Ask Game

I've never made one of these before, but I haven't seen a Rebels one floating about in a while, so hey.

What is your absolute favorite episode of the show?

Which episode did you not like at first, but grew on you after one or more rewatches?

How do you feel about the Ahsoka show being live-action Rebels season 5?

Who is your favorite one-off character on the show?

If you could change one (non-death-related) plot point in the show, what would you change?

What are your two favorite ships from the show (canon or not)?

Who is one character you feel isn't appreciate enough by the fandom?

If you could've added an episode/story arc to the show, what would it be about?

Obligatory "who's your favorite member of the crew" question.

Aside from season 4 episode 10, which episode made you cry the most?

What is one joke/moment from the show that always makes you laugh?

Which design for Sabine's hair and armor is your favorite?

Chopper vs Palpatine- who's making it out alive?

What is your favorite moment of the crew being a family?

What is your favorite Kanera moment?

Who is your favorite villain/antagonist?

What is your opinion on the World Between Worlds?

Where do you think Ezra has been all this time?

What is one of your favorite Kanan moments?

What is one of your favorite Hera moments?

What is one of your favorite Chopper moments?

What is one of your favorite Zeb moments?

What is one of your favorite Sabine moments?

What is one of your favorite Ezra moments?

Which of Ezra's two lightsabers would you rather have?

Would you rather be stuck in an elevator with AP-5 or Lieutenant Lyste?

Which plot point do you wish the show had expanded on?

Favorite recurring character?

Favorite piece of music from the show?

Most under-rated episode?

[probablynot-john]

Okay I've put a lot of thought into this, and I think it's safe to say: Total Eclipse of the Heart is the perfect kalluzeb song. I could rant for paragraphs on why this is, so I will! (Look up the full version on YouTube, this is the best one I could find on here).

First of all, Eclipse>Space>Starwars. Obviously

Second of all and way more importantly, the lyrics fit perfectly to the characters and all the best (in my opinion) kalluzeb tropes!

The amount of fanfics I've read where Zeb's eyes are described as "luminous", or Kallus' gorgeous golden eyes which are undeniably "bright".

Also since Alex is usually the angsty one you can assume it's him singing but either of them could work. Or it's none of them singing but it still works!

If you've read any hurt/comfort kalluzeb fics (which is my bread and butter) the lyric "every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms" just feels like every bit of cuddly Kallus fan art/fic and I love it!

The lyric "everynow and then I get a little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry" sounds like one of them (probably Kallus, since Zeb has had a loving support group and several years to process his trauma, while Kallus is/ has been extremely isolated and emotionally repressed for a good chance of his life) definitely having a panic attack, and I know this isn't a specific kalluzeb trope but I just had to mention it because of how much I love this song.

The part of the chorus "once upon a time I was falling in love, now I'm only falling apart, nothing I do total Eclipse of the heart " is the part of the fic when Alex knows how hopelessly in love with Zeb but he still has intense self esteem issues so he can't do anything about it.

Can't you just imagine poor depressed Kallus having an episode just quietly singing "everynow and then I know you'll never be the boy you always wanted to be" because of me. And Zeb always standing just out of reach trying his best to get kallus to "turn around" and see that he's right there waiting for him. And then his sweet Sasha whispers "every now and then I know you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am" that set him on the path to redemption.

"Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wonderful as you", "turn around"," everynow and then I know there's nothing any better, and nothing that I just wouldn't do"

I mean come on, how perfect is that!

Honestly I love this song so much and I could probably find a way to make it about any of my favorite ships, but right now kalluzeb is my otp and the beautiful sweeping music and the dramatic angsty lyrics just fit so well with everyone's favorite purple cat man and golden sadsack.

[bedlamsbard]

834 words written today, new concept writing. *hands*  I’m having a weird prose issue with Crown and I need to do some other stuff with it so now I just like...fear it, so that’s not useful, and my brain obviously was like “new concept? new concept? new concept.”  Naturally it’s three things I swore I would never write (or at least that were very unlikely for me to write) all shoved into once concept.  You know, normal stuff.  I also dragged myself up to Ace Hardware today to buy a new air filter and while I was there a bunch of cosplay stuff and spray paint is heavy if you buy a lot of it.  (Sabine.)  Plus the usual Sunday Zoom session, which went nearly six hours .

Snippet from other side AU concept 1.

“You know, it’s not too late to change your mind,” Luke Skywalker said. “We do have other candidates.”

Zeb grumbled something softly under his breath that was probably, “Sounds like someone who doesn’t know her very well.”

Luke flicked a glance at him, but most of his attention was on Hera.  “This is dangerous,” he said, almost apologetic.

“And the Rebellion has been a blue milk run,” Hera said.  “I’m fine.” She folded her hands together and looked across Luke’s right shoulder.  She didn’t know him very well, had never had any particular inclination to get to know him, and at the moment didn’t feel particularly encouraged.  It wasn’t fair to him, but Hera couldn’t particularly bring herself to care, not when even being on the same ship as him brought a dull stab of pain to her heart.

Not fair.

Nothing was fair, especially nothing about the Rebellion.  But she wished he hadn’t had to be on the Ghost for this.

Luke hesitated again, then said, “All right.”  He took a deep breath.  “Are you ready?  I’ll probably only get one shot at this.”

“I’m ready.”  She looked at Zeb, who nodded slightly, and Chopper, who groaned a long protest.  She had told Jacen goodbye via holo a few hours ago; he didn’t quite understand how Mama leaving now would be different than Mama leaving normally, and Hera hoped that he wouldn’t have to understand for many years, if ever.  She had tried to explain it to her father in the same holocall and wasn’t sure she had succeeded.  Sabine had understood but had told her it was the worst idea she had heard since – well, you know, she had said, and looked like she had wished she hadn’t mentioned it.

[planet-crait]

A Saltier analysis of the Art of Star Wars Rebels (Part 2)

So…..after my initial post you can find here more issues with the book where pointed out to me/I just sat looking through it noticing even more issues so….consider this a part two to my original post going over even more issues I have with the Art of Star Wars Rebels. Obviously there will be salt so if you enjoyed the book a lot and don’t want that view tainted please don’t click on below the cut. Also beware major spoilers for Rebels. 

So first off we’re going to kick off with talking about some items that were very strangely missing from the book. Now full disclosure @findswoman​ really was the one who noticed this issue but it seriously deserves mention and I am stunned I missed it but, why are Loth cats and Loth Bats not ever mentioned in the book? 

Loth Cats are a near constant presence within the series, they play some minor roles even in destroying a droid and helping distract guards. Loth bats similarly inspire the gliders that the kids use to rescue Hera! Said gliders make it into the book

Why aren’t the loth bats, the inspiration for said gliders, even in the book as well?

Another potentially controversial criticism I have is for the cover for the deluxe edition itself. 

Some people may love it which is fair but personally I am not as fond of it as I am of the original cover. I get that they were trying to get a feel of the holocron in the cover but it just doesn’t vibe with me at all and I feel like they could have done something more special for the deluxe cover. 

Speaking of holocrons, they do not get a proper showcase within the art book. Here is the page where it is mentioned and notice how it talks about the map, not the holocron itself. 

Hell, you barely see it in the image in the book! Why? The holocrons are a big deal in the show, why are they not getting showcased when items that only make an appearance in one episode do? Even if other media showed off the holocrons, this is the art of Star Wars Rebels, if it was important to the show, it deserved a place in the book. Instead they waste space on things that were not important or even really shown in the show. Like Tatooine gets two full pages in the book:

Some of those images almost look like shots from Episode 4 which brings back the question of what the heck is this doing here? (Which I found myself asking way too much when looking through this book). Again this book should be a celebration of Rebels, not all of Star Wars. Those pages could have been used to show off key elements from the show that for unknown reasons got cut from the book. 

There is just a lot of what feels like filler or wasted space in the book, for example Rex, Obi-wan, Vader, Yoda, Bo-Katan and Palpatine get two pages devoted to their characters while other main characters from the show get only one page or only half a page like in Choppers case. Zeb, Kallus, and Hera also all do not get their alternate season designs shown off in the book while Kanan, Sabine and Ezra do. Hell Rex even got an extra half a page to show off designs that never made it into the show and seemingly only exists to push Filoni’s headcanon that Rex was there with Han Solo. 

Why are the main characters not allowed to be the unashamed stars of this book? Why did the editors feel the need to waste space with characters who are not the stars and have their spot to shine in other media? Original characters for this show should get full and multiple pages for their characters, not characters who have appeared in other media and probably appear in other art books. 

If other side characters like Tristen and Usra Wren or Ketsun where getting these full or two pages I wouldn’t be quiet as annoyed because they are all original characters for the show, but those characters only got half a page while again, characters from other media like Saw and Mon Motha got a full page. I will say this until I am blue in the face but the original characters created specifically for Rebels should have been the true stars of this book, instead they are getting gypped and the short end of the stick while other characters the team thinks is more popular are given the spotlight. (I am not showing the pictures because, as is, this post is getting ridiculously long but I will happily share them in a reblog if anyone wants to see this).

They even included characters who never appeared in the show in the book

This is the very definition of wasted space. This page could have been used for undercover Chopper designs or season 3 or 4 of Hera and Zeb designs or one of the many many things that never made an appearance in the book that by all accounts should have been like Kanan’s lightsaber or Zeb’s bo-rifle. Instead we get stuff of Director Krennic.

Even things that had their fair share of content, still managed to miss the mark in some cases. 

The Ghost in total has about six pages devoted to it which even includes concept art for it that was never used which is not a problem at all. In fact I love that! This is what I bought the book for, to see concepts and art for things that were at some point going to be in the show but were cut for one reason or another. The book would have benefited if it contained way more concept art for things like this like for example what Filoni imagined Lasan to look like or other concept designs for Zeb or hell talk about Kallus’s early days when he was originally a Chiss. Interesting stuff like that which wasn’t explored in the show but still exciting and interesting. 

My big issue with the Ghost sections (yes sections) is that instead of putting everything related to the Ghost together for some reason the pages are split into two different sections within the book. 

(Don’t ask my why they decided to throw concept art of the millennium falcon to go with that little tidbit instead of more concept art for the Ghost, just know this is on my shitlist too)

These are pages 48 through 51 of the book. The next time the Ghost appears is way later near the end of the book

Pages 150 and 151! Some of the split concepts for things can be explained by the fact that the book is split into several sections: Beginning, middle, and end of the show. However this does not give a satisfactory explanation as to why the Ghost’s concept art is split across two sections and not even evenly! Why not put all of the information for the Ghost all together in one section so if someone was looking for something specifically for reference or something they don’t have to look through the whole book to find it because the info is all over the place?  Directly following the later pages is the Phantom II so maybe the logic was they didn’t want to just toss the Phantom in without any other context? Which….doesn’t work cuz the Ghost honestly feels thrown in for no real reason. The Phantom II being separated from the Ghost and The Phantom would have been fine because the Phantom does come in later so it being in the section devoted to later parts of the series would have been fine. 

Of course, I can’t really say there is a section for the Phantom, that one image you saw back on page 50? That is the only reference the original Phantom ,something that was in the show for two seasons, get’s. One image and maybe a second but it feels more like an image of the back of the Ghost and not one of the Phantom. Meanwhile the Phantom II get’s two pages entirely to itself. Why the difference? Both ships were in the series for two seasons, why not some images of the inside of the Phantom or more shots from different angles? Why does only the Phantom II get these?

I really cannot fathom why they skimped out on one ship and gave two pages to another when both had equal importance. 

Now I mentioned before that the layout of the book may have influenced the decision to split the pages talking about the Ghost, but personally I am not a fan of the layout of the book. It makes things confusing and doesn’t flow well. Here is the table of contents:

At a glance this seems fine and a nice nod to the series having four seasons, but notice there are no sub categories like textbooks that have key concepts in the chapter and what page they start on. So if you wanted to focus on character models? You would still have to spend a lot of time flipping through the sections to find what you were looking for. Personally I would have rather the book be divided by content: Characters, props, and environments. That way all things that are alike would all be group together instead of broken up into four sections across the book. Of course other art books could be laid out like this and people may like this method. This particular point is a bit more nitpicky and me being a person who was far more interested in character concept art then anything else. 

I briefly touched upon this in my part one analysis of the book, but this issue rears its ugly head again in the issue of things not getting good labeling leaving the reader having to read the mini paragraphs or searching the book to figure out what it is or what is going on. 

Want to know where this is?

Or this?

Or even this?

Me too, too bad the book can’t be bothered to tell you anything about these. When I was searching for anything to tell me what these images among many others in the book where, I noticed this

Which for a bit I couldn’t figure out what  it was, notes accidentally left in? Some obscure reference to what it was supposed to be? Looking at other pages I noticed repeat notes that looked the same so I was starting to get even more confused until when looking through the cover pages, I finally spotted this:

Which okay fine they shorthanded the artists names in the credits right be the art….but then I noticed that not every piece of art in this book has any sort of credit along with the fact that quite a few have no label for what it's supposed to be. And while one could argue that those places are iconic enough to be recognized I have to disagree. Not everyone knows or follows all Star Wars Media that is a fan of the show. Not everyone has a great memory of the episodes within rebels or places that most would think are familiar. There is no reason to not put in a small label next to the artist credit so fans know what it is supposed to be. I could guess or try to look it up but I shouldn’t have to, the book should tell me what it is!

Even worse is the inconsistency on if an artist gets credit for the art they made. Like this one here:

No credit or anything, we have no clue who created this piece or why there is nothing here to indicate who did, and that is not fair to the person who created this piece. (I checked the next page as well even and there was nothing)

Also yes that image above the artist’s credit is another concept art from episode 4 which was slapped on there for who knows why. Again this should have been more art from Rebels. This is not, nor should it be, the art of Star Wars. It is the art of Star Wars Rebels. No concept art from other media has any business being in this book. 

So many aspects of this book feel rushed or slapped together with no real rhyme or reason even though it was delayed in its release and then released early! Why? It just doesn’t make any sense and isn’t fair to the fans of this show who adored it and wanted to get this book to learn more about the show that for many fans, including myself, got me into Star Wars. We deserve more respect than this. 

This book truly feels like a quick cash grab, not the thank you to the fans of the show it should have been. 

Again I cannot stress this enough, if you like the book that is fine. But you cannot blow off and ignore the voices of people who are not satisfied with this book and expected so much more from it then it gave us.