#debut or die gold 1

[moondaeznuts]

Debut or Die episode 53 is out now!

Oh this is probably the last time we get to see Ha Iljoon/Gold 1 in a while.....

[jasmineaoi]

It's okay sweetieeee😭😭💓💓

I love youuuu

You can be successful! I know you can! Maybe not here but somewhere else!!

Im sure, moondae and the others will never forget you too!

I def wont, you and Ha iljoon will be on my mind🥺

[pweetiesandcuties]

Debut or Die Chibi Collection pt.10

Debut or die chapters 10-15

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (February 11-17, 2024)

Warner Bros. unfurled the second trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, which seems to be going over much better than the first. There are multiple glimpses of the ice Titan Shimo throughout, and an even briefer look at Mothra reflected in Jia's eye. (My favorite shot, of course, is Kong decking Skar King as he's holding out Suko like a wriggling shield.) The rough shots from trailer #1 still look rough, but at least the new footage is more impressive.

The new issue of Empire (how fitting) has a short article on GxK—the big revelation there is that Godzilla Evolved is pink simply because that's director Adam Wingard's favorite color. Collaborations are also popping up. Circle K is offering a movie-branded sandwich, chocolate bar, and Froster drinks/cups. Godzilla and a seriously wizened Kong are also entering the mobile game Lords Mobile.

I don't know much about Oscar politicking, but Takashi Yamazaki's strategy of bringing a model Godzilla with him everywhere he goes seems like a winner. Both appear in the "class photo" taken of all the nominees at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon. At the same event, Yamazaki and Godzilla met with Steven Spielberg, who told Yamazaki he had seen Godzilla Minus One three times. Posting their photo together on Twitter, Yamazaki said he had "met God."

Toho's English Godzilla YouTube channel also uploaded a six-minute video on Minus One's VFX, with a focus on the various ways the production was able to shave off costs. Officially translated behind-the-scenes featurettes for Toho Godzilla films are a rarity, a sign of how badly they want that little gold statue. It's worth watching just for Yamazaki scooting his chair around the office.

Shout! Factory's onslaught of old Toei tokusatsu films on its streaming service turned out to be a prelude to offering them all on disc. The Classic Tokusatsu Collection Blu-ray set includes Planet Prince (1959; called Prince of Space), Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961), Watari the Ninja Boy (1966), The Golden Bat (1966; called Golden Ninja), Magic Serpent (1966; called Dragon Showdown) , Ninja Scope (1969), and Terror Beneath the Sea (1966). None have ever been released on English-friendly Blu-ray before; some haven't even made it to DVD. The set is $70 and limited to 2,500 copies.

Major caveats seem to accompany every English-language release of vintage tokusatsu these days, and unfortunately this set's no exception. Despite the existence of English dubs for at least some of these films (two of them riffed on Mystery Science Theater 3000), only Terror Beneath the Sea is dubbed; the rest are Japanese-only. And the dubbed Prince of Space well-known to MiSTies was actually an amalgamation of Toei's two Planet Prince films, only the first of which is present here. (Even the first film seems like it's going to be in upscaled standard-def, going off the streaming version.) No special features in the production description either, although one person who got the set early reports that at least one trailer is included (for Invasion of the Neptune Men).

IDW has announced still another Godzilla miniseries, Godzilla: Skate or Die. First-issue description:

It's Australian skater punks versus Varan and the King of the Monsters in this thrilling debut issue by writer/artist Louie Joyce (A Fistful of Pain)! Four years ago, four best friends and die-hard skaters found the perfect location for a DIY skatepark. After months of hard work, they created the world’s sickest spot that they could enjoy for the rest of their lives… That is, until the ferocious Varan appeared in the middle of central Australia and started making a beeline for their beloved park. Why is Varan on a rampage? Why did Godzilla just appear off the coast? What does their beloved skate spot have to do with this? And most importantly…what are these punks willing to do to save it?

Sounds like there's a lot of author appeal here, as Joyce is Australian and calls the tale "inspired by all the amazing DIY spots I've had the privilege of skating[.]" And a meaty role for Varan is a pleasant surprise.

Perhaps inspired by the success of Troll on Netflix, we've got another Scandinavia giant monster movie on the way. Kraken will be directed by Pal Oie (Dark Woods) from a script by Vilde Eide. No cast yet, but here are the plot details divulged by The Hollywood Reporter:

[T]he thriller will follow Johanne, a marine biologist who encounters several strange occurrences while researching a fjord, including the brutal deaths of two local teenagers. “At the bottom of Norway’s deepest fjord rests a mythical monster as large as a mountain, with a myriad of arms ready to crush and devour anything they can grab,” the film’s synopsis reads.

Krakens are certainly having a moment in giant monster stories right now, between Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken and the three that somehow wound up connected to the Monsterverse. (To wit: Na Kika was originally called Kraken, the unnamed antagonist of Skull Island bore the same name internally, and the guardian of Atlantis in the Justice League crossover comic is a Kraken as well.) This seems like a more back-to-basics approach.

[emilyhufflepufftlk]

Em's 500 Followers Challenge

Thank you again for the 500 followers, it means a lot. This is a fun challenge to celebrate and to hopefully get everyone's creative juices flowing. This is a Taylor Swift inspired challenge because I love her music and I find her lyrics make great prompts.

Rules:

It's open to anyone whether you follow me or not.

You are welcome to create whatever you like - fics, headcanons, gif sets, edits, fanart, moodboards etc.

What you create should be for/inspired by The Last Kingdom/Seven Kings Must Die but can feature any character/ship/topic you like.

For fics, you can write anything you like (angst, smut, fluff, whatever you fancy) but please tag appropriately and use readmore if it's long.

Pick a prompt from below - you can either use the song title itself as a prompt, a lyric from that song or the whole song; likewise for the albums you can use the title itself as a prompt or create something off the general vibe/colour/theme of the album (which I've included in brackets).

Please let me know which prompt you would like to use. You can have as many as you like but only two people can have the same prompt (I will cross prompts off once two people have picked them).

Soft Deadline: 1st July

Album prompts:

Debut (green, coming of age, innocence)

Fearless (yellow/gold, fairytales, teen love, first heartbreak)

Speak Now (purple, regrets, toxic relationships, growing up) @persephones-journey @mirandahamilton

Red (red, autumn, heartbreak, 'happy, free, confused and lonely')

1989 (blue, neon, new love, finding yourself, starting afresh) @geekandbooknerd

Reputation (black, revenge, secret relationships) @itbmojojoejo

Lover (pink, established relationship, love, happiness, romance) @axe-does-writing @lonnson

Folklore (grey/silver, summer, stories, forests, nature) @errruvande

Evermore (orange/brown, winter, stories, cosy cottage)

Midnights (navy blue, self reflection, late nights, past regrets) @persephones-journey @arcielee

Song Prompts:

Picture to Burn

A Place In This World @ errruvande

Cold As You

I'm Only Me When I'm With You

A Perfectly Good Heart

Fifteen

You Belong With Me

You're Not Sorry

The Other Side Of The Door

Mine @persephones-journey

Sparks Fly

Never Grow Up @ errruvande

Enchanted

Better Than Revenge

Haunted

Last Kiss

Treacherous

I Knew You Were Trouble @persephones-journey

All Too Well

The Last Time

Everything Has Changed

Begin Again @geekandbooknerd

The Moment I Knew @magravenwrites

Better Man

All You Had To Do Was Stay @ persephones-journey

I Wish You Would

Wildest Dreams @morosemagick @ persephones-journey

How You Get The Girl

This Love

I Did Something Bad

Don't Blame Me @ itbmojojoejo

Delicate

Getaway Car

Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Call It What You Want

Cruel Summer @finanmoghra

Death By A Thousand Cuts @princess--of--the--dragonstone

Soon You'll Get Better @ princess—of—the—dragonstone

Afterglow

It's Nice To Have A Friend @ persephones-journey

Daylight @ errruvande

the 1

exile @volvaaslaug

this is me trying @ princess--of--the—dragonstone

illicit affairs @ persephones-journey

invisible string

peace

champagne problems

'tis the damn season @finanmoghra

tolerate it

no body, no crime

long story short

right where you left me @ persephones-journey

Anti-Hero

You're On Your Own, Kid @ mirandahamilton

Vigilante Shit @princess--of--the--dragonstone

Sweet Nothing @timetravelingpenguin1066

The Great War

Bigger Than The Whole Sky @solinarimoon

Would've, Could've, Shoud've @arcielee

Tagging mutuals who might be interested (no pressure): @lauwrite1225 @93xdiagonxalley @trenko-heart @medievalfangirl @muddleofnervouswords @anotherwinchesterfangirl @blah-blah-blah-bla @aelswiths @eretriahs @finantheagile @halfmylife @mommytauriel @agreyraincloudd @dailytlk @chaoticdumbassary @pupzbitez @onesaltyhunter @moonlight-rider25 @charming-merlin @aadmelioraa @nanahachikyuu @lazypeachsoul @cheerylogan @mrsalwayswrite @for-bebbanburg @wildwren @naps4bats @cibs

[that-one-weird-fangirl2020]

Sebastian Sallow Prompt List inspired by Taylor Swift Songs and Lyrics (reblogs encouraged)

1. Style (1989)

"... You got that James Dean daydream look in your eyes, and I got that red lip classic thing that you like..."

2. Betty (folklore)

"But if I just showed up at your party, would you have me? Would you want me? Would you tell me to go fuck myself? Or lead me to the garden? In the garden, would you trust me if I told you it was just a summer thing? I'm only 17, I don't know anything, but I know I miss you..."

3. Getaway Car (reputation)

"We were jet-set, Bonnie and Clyde. Until I switched to the other side, to the other side. It's no surprise I turned you in, 'cause us traitors never win... I'm in a getaway car, I left you in a motel bar. Put the money in a bag and I stole the keys, that was the last time you ever saw me"

4. Sweet Nothing (Midnights)

"...They said the end is coming. Everyone's up to something. I find myself running home to your sweet nothings. Outside, they're push and shoving. You're in the kitchen humming. All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothing..."

5. Fearless (Fearless)

"Well you stood there with me in the doorway- My hands shake- I'm not usually this way. But you pull me in, and I'm a little more brave. It's the first kiss, it's flawless, really something, it's fearless..."

6. Gold Rush (evermore)

"But I don't like a gold rush, gold rush. I don't like anticipating my face in a red flush. I don't like that anyone would die to feel your touch. Everybody wants you. Everybody wonders what it would be like to love you. Walk past, quick brush, I don't like slow motion double vision in rose blush. I don't like that falling feels like flying 'til the bone crush. Everybody wants you, but I don't like a gold rush."

7. All Too Well (RED)

"...I walked through the door with you, the air was cold. But something about it felt like home somehow. And I, left my scarf there at your sister's house. And you've still got it in your drawer even now..."

8. Sparks Fly (Speak Now)

"I run my fingers through your hair and watch the lights go wild. Just keep on keeping your eyes on me, it's just wrong enough to make it feel right. And lead me up the staircase, won't you whisper soft and slow, 'I'm captivated by you, baby, like a fireworks show...'"

9. Dress (reputation)

"Say my name and everything just stops.. I don't want you like a best friend. Only bought this dress so you could take it off, take it off. Carve your name into my bedpost, 'cause I don't want you like a best friend. Only bought this dress so you could take it off, take it off..."

10. Enchanted (Speak Now)

"This night is sparkling, don't you let it go. I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew, I was enchanted to meet you."

11. You Belong With Me (Fearless)

"...If you could see that I'm the one who understands you. Been here all along, so, why can't you see? You belong with me..."

12. Teardrops on My Guitar (Taylor Swift [Debut])

"He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar. The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star. He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do..."

13. Daylight (Lover)

"And I can still see it all (In my mind). All of you, all of me (Intertwined). I once believed love would be (Black and white). But it's golden (Golden). And I can still see it all (In my head). Back and forth from New York (Sneaking in your bed). I once believed love would be (Burning red). But it's golden. Like daylight..."

[aphfanficwriters]

Monthly Members' Fics — Jan 2024

In the year of a dragon by mossy_man (China/Russia, Russia/Spain) “I neglected your needs,” Yao sighs and scuttles closer and there is a slice of persimmon at Ivan’s lips. The gel slides over his lower lip and he catches it with his tongue. “Forgive me, Vanya. Blinded by my own bitterness, I was a poor host and a poor giver.”

Euphoria by Delgumo (Canada/Russia) Matthew enjoys a drunken quickie with a somewhat strange gentleman.

Before The Reyse (Part One) by proosh (Lithuania/Prussia) Day 1 - Soulmate tattoo/childhood promise. Tolys could smell the ocean from where he waited... It was just before the raiding season would begin in full and his brother was late.

Before The Reyse (Part Two) by proosh (Lithuania/Prussia) Day 7 - Not for you/mistaken identity It was their usual meeting spot before each of the raiding seasons, midsummer and midwinter. He could smell the ocean from here, bitter and churning from the autumn storms… Tolys was late.

The Hunt (Part One) by proosh (Lithuania/Prussia, implied Prussia/Russia) Day 2 - Omegaverse/hunting party All Russia had been summoned to the call to chase the French from their lands, and the winter in all its fury had come with them… Next to his brothers stood the interloper.

The Hunt (Part Two) by proosh (Lithuania/Prussia) Day 4 - Gifts/trophies They fell upon the stragglers at the frozen gully… Tolys didn’t get a chance to have a good look at them before the killing started.

Better than Gold by Jestemburakiem (Lithuania/Prussia, past Lithuania/Russia) Written for day four of Lietpru week The Story of Lithuania during the most pivotal moments of the modern history of his country: The 1992 Summer Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament. Prussia takes notice of this.

Макдоналдс by Delgumo (America/Russia) Russia and America host the grand opening of the first McDonald's in Russia.

So pour the champagne by mossy_man (Prussia/Russia) Some would love a house with white fence, a dozen or so of kids and a dog. Not Gilbert. Gilbert is perfectly fine as he is.

1001 Ways To Die — Chapter 7: Dying Days 2 by NashTea (Fishandnear) (Germay/Japan) Another impromptu session between Kiku and Ludwig partaking in their favourite activity, this time, it's a little different for Kiku.

Joy in Punishment by Delgumo (Canada/Russia) [no summary]

Little lamb by mossy_man (Mongolia/Russia) “Mongolia is like the sun,” he says. His big hands map Mongolia's face. “Lie down, for I am going to fuck you.”

we begin again by hopeless_nostalgia (England/Japan) After Kiku finds a bunch of old photos, he and Arthur go through them, causing old feelings to resurface.

because it's you, I'm fine by hopeless_nostalgia (England/Japan) Arthur is training to be an idol in Japan, which (obviously) requires him to learn Japanese. But it's a struggle… he keeps failing at the same points, over and over again. He feels so hopeless that he decides to skip class, go for a walk, and decide if it was even worth it—because at this rate, it will take years before he comes even close to debuting...

a scene without you by hopeless_nostalgia (England/Japan) Two years ago, Arthur graduated and went back to London. Kiku lost all contact with him a month before he boarded the plane, when in an odd little café, they decided that a long-distance relationship wouldn't work for them and that breaking up would be for the best. Now that these two years have passed, Kiku knows that that was not true. He sits in that same café, at that same table, and wishes there was a way to turn back time…

my heaven by hopeless_nostalgia (England/Japan) “You know… If you want to, we can still have a wedding,” Kiku suggested. “That might not be a bad idea,” Arthur chuckled weakly. “Maybe we should.”

[setthishouseablaze]

Spotify Wrapped 2023: The Rose

The Rose steps deliberately into frame next to the burning house at her fingertips. Off-camera The Rose steps back from the house closer to the bundle of flowers blooming at the intersection of Sunset & Vine. (Question: can an American tell me if there's actually a Stop sign on this intersection?)

The Rose is a figure clad in a patch-worked version of all of The ME! suits over a pink shirt with a large pink rose hiding their face, there is a ring visible on their right pinky finger. Pink roses are said to represent; love, beauty, gratitude, grace and femininity. Pinky rings are a classic "hiding in plain sight" queer signal [1] as is tailored menswear worn by women. And Me! has the classic "one of these things is not like the others, Like a rainbow with all of the colors" lyric from Lover.

The Rose seems as if they're standing guard, first by moving in to stand by the burning house, and then by looming over the street/stop sign next to the three Dahlias. There are at least eleven references to Roses in Taylors songs, but no Dahlias. The word Dahlia means valley flowers, and in 'flower language' it represents: fresh starts, diversity, kindness in the face of adversity, and a commitment to goodness, the pink varieties in particular represent feminine beauty. [2]

The obvious song references are to ME! via the outfit, and to Gorgeous via the street names. Gorgeous is either a song about initiating a new romantic relationship while you have a beard, or, a song about cheating on your boyfriend. "I got a boyfriend, he's older than us. He's in the club doing, I don't know what … guess I'll just stumble on home to my cats alone unless, you wanna come along?" I've always interpreted it as the former and the flower symbolism (fresh starts, diversity, and feminine beauty) seem to back up that interpretation.

A goldfish (a symbol of the fishbowl of public life) hovers near The Rose, while a mirror ball bops over the dahlias, reflecting back at whomever looks in that direction.

So does The Rose represent the part of herself hiding in plain sight, protecting The House (her empire,) and whoever/whatever relationships are represented by the Dahlias by remaining masked and providing plausible deniability?

I made a list so I may as well share it...

Song references to flowers from Debut to Midnights:

Should’ve said No "Strange to think the songs we used to sing the smiles, the flowers, everything is gone"

Our Song "I almost didn't notice all the roses" (orange roses)

Christmas Must be Something More "Would you still wanna kiss without mistletoe" "please take down the mistletoe"

Back to December "you gave me roses and I left them there to die"

Superman "Right here wishing the flowers were from you"

The Lucky One "Chose the Rose Garden"

Blank Space "Rose garden filled with thorns"

Wildest Dreams "Red lips & rosey cheeks"

Clean "the flowers that we grew together died of thirst"

Don’t Blame Me "I once was poison ivy but now I’m your daisy"

Call It What You Want "All my flowers grew back as thorns"

Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince "running through rose thorns"

Cornelia Street "a place on Cornelia St" (note cornelias are flowers)

The Lakes "I want to watch wisteria grow" "a red rose grew out of ice frozen ground"

Gold Rush "rose blush"

Maroon "carnations that you thought were roses, that's us." "Your roommate's cheap-ass screw top rosé"

Lavender Haze "lavender haze creeping up on me"

You're on Your Own Kid "So long, Daisy May"

The Great War "My knuckles were bruised like violets" "All that bloodshed, crimson clover" "Place a poppy in my hair There's no morning glory"

Slut! "love thorns all over this rose"

Flowers in TS lyrics: roses, mistletoe, poison ivy, daisies, cornelias, wisteria, carnations, lavender, violets, crimson clover, poppy, morning glory.

Please let me know if you see any floral references I've missed?

[1] https://www.vogue.com/article/why-i-started-wearing-a-signet-pinky-ring

[2] https://warwickdahlias.com/shop/dahlias/anna-cornelia/

[blowflyfag]

WRESTLING ALL STARS: Heroes and Villains : JUNE 1996

ECW CONQUERS NEW YORK

By George Napolitano

[Sabu clobbers Cactus Jack in some EXTREME action.]

Like an off Broadway play that perfects its craft on the road before making it to the big city. ECW has been playing to full houses for nearly three years approximately every three weeks in Philadelphia, PA at the ECW Arena. Finally, after all this time “on the road,” ECW decided to try its luck in the Big Apple. And, from the response that they received in their New York debut, it’s obvious that ECW is ready to take an extreme bite out of the Big Apple!

[Sandman before he lost his Woman and his gold]

The Lost Battalion Hall in Queens, NY, was the sight of the first ECW card in the New York area. Prior To the card ECW action had been playing on MSG cable every Sunday night at 1:00 a.m. for nearly a year. ECW has its own unique brand of mayhem and violence, unlike anything that can be seen on WWF or WCW broadcasts. In NYC, it has acquired a huge late-night cult following. Although Tod Gordon and the rest of the ECW hierarchy knew that they had a following in the New York area, never in their wildest dreams did they think that their first card would produce a complete sell out with hundreds of die-hard fans turned away at the door. 

[Sabu sends Cactus through a table.]

At 7:00 p.m., with still an hour to go before the show, there were 1,242 fans inside the arena with an estimated 1,000 more on Queens Boulevard unable to get inside. TO try and pacify those who were unable to secure admission to the event, the ECW announced the date of their next card and then began to sell tickets to this one. Many fans who were unable to get into the arena for the first ECW card quickly purchased seats for the upcoming show to avoid being shut out again! And, because of this huge advance ticket sale and the response of those who were fortunate to gain admission to the first ECW card, the second ECW card in Queens is sure to be another sellout. 

[ECW crowds are the rowdiest wrestling crowds in the world.

Raven is dazed and confused after smashing a table with his head.]

I have been to numerous local events in my many years covering the wrestling scene, but not since the heydays of the eighties have I seen such a rabid group of fans in a local arena. 

Walking through the crowd, you could feel the electricity. The excitement was such that it made you feel that you were about came to ringside. After aggravating the crowd with his obnoxious behavior, Richards walked to the ringside and said, “Hey Jojo, there’s Missy Hyatt!” Richards played up to Missy, and before leaving the ringside area Missy gave him a long, deep kiss. When their lips parted, Missy told Stevie to take that to Raven.  After Richards finally returned to the dressing room, Joey Styles introduced Paul E. Dangerously. Dangerously received a long and loud ovation from the faithful and then welcomed every one in his own inimitable style. Dangerously had quite a few things to say to the people and peppered his comments with profanties directed mainly towards WCW and the WWF. In closing Dangerously said, “There’s going to be so much electricity in here that they will feel its effects all the way in Titan Towers in Stanford, Connecticut!” 

[Francine tends to an injured Pit Bull.

Paul E. Dangerously gets the Queens NY crowd worked up.

Raven is never too injured to give the Sandman a kick to the kisser!]

Finally, the time had come for the big card and in the first match Taz took on Koji Nakagawa. The “Master of the Suplex '' wasted no time in easily subduing his opponent, and when it was over, Taz, along with his manager Bill Alphonso, challenged everyone in the arena.

[Rock tables NuJack and the Gangstas are history!

Nujack pounds Rocco Rock bloody.]

Next came “The Shah” Hack Myers and his opponent was J.T. Smith Listening to the wat that the fans were cheering on the Shah, it was obvious that they had been following ECW action for a long time. After eight minutes of action, Meyers pinned Smith to win the match. 

[Francine attacks Paul E. Dangerously at ringside.

Pit Bull #1 brains Eliminator #1 with a board! The Sandman is on the receiving end of several Raven rights. There were 1,242 fans inside the arena with an estimated 1,000 more on Queens Boulevard unable to get inside.] 

This was followed by a match in which Too Cold Scorpio put both the tag team title and the TV title on the line. His opponent was Long Island native, Mikey Whipwreck. 

[Bubba Dudley doesn’t stutter when he’s kicking butt! ECW, ECW, ECW!]

This match was sensational. Scorpio and Whipwreck put on a display of wrestling prowess that has been seen in a local arena in years. The moves exhibited by both men were just incredible. Scorpio's numerous cartwheels off the top rope were simply breathtaking with each executed with precision. However , if Scorpio had merely tried to pin Whipwreck instead of continually showing off and lifting him off the mat at the count of two so that he could do yet another cartwheel, he would have easily won the match. But Scorpio’s showboating proved to be his undoing. Cactus Jack ran in and pulled Whipwreck out of the way as Scorpio was about to land on him once again. With Scorpio rolling on the mat writhing in pain from the missed cartwheel, Cactus jack placed Whipwreck on top of the Scorpio. The referee then counted and, as he pounded the canvas a third time, Mikey Whipwreck was declared the winner and new TV and Tag Team champion!

[Buh-Buh Dudley dies his dance,]

A tag team match followed, involving the Eliminators (with their manager Jason) versus the Pit Bulls (with their valet Francine). This was another fast and furious encounter. Both teams battled continually both inside and outside of the ring with even Jason and Francine getting into it numerous times. The end came when Saturn pinned Pit Bull 2 with help from his partner in crime. After scoring the pin fall, the Eliminators, along with Jason, suplexed Francine as her large, mostly male, rooting section gasped in horror!

[Taz and Bill Alphonzo: A match made in Hell!]

The fifth match was an elimination match with the winner getting the opportunity to wrestle for the ECW title against the Sandman. The participants were Raven and Tommy Dreamer. While Raven had Stevie Richards, the Blue Meanie and Beullah in his corner, Tommy Dreamer had to wage the war alone and this led to his downfall. This battle was one of the wildest matches ever waged in New York! The combatants fought all around the arena, but when it was over Raven emerged victorious. 

In the sixth match Buster Mastino easily defeated El Puertoricano despite several sensational moves by the young Puerto Richan.

[Taz and Bill Alphonzo: Can these two get any more irritating?]

The sensational Bubba Ray Dudeley was next and Buh, Buh, Buh, Bubba’s opponent was the Blue Meanie.

[Stevie Richards, Beulah McGillicuddy and The Blue Meanie seem to be having a marvelous time.]

Accompanying Bubba were the rest of the Dudley clan, while the Meanie had Stevie Richards at ringside in case he needed a helping hand. After the Meanie slapped Bubba to start the match. It went downhill for the Meanie. Bubba Ray tore the Meanie apart. Then after disposing of the Meanie, the Dudleys set their sights on Richards, and he was lucky to leave the arena alive as the Dudleys tore into him. 

[Woman gives Sandman a quaff of lager!]

The ECW title match was next with the Sandman taking on Raven. As soon as the Sandman made his way to the ring accompanied by the lovely Woman, everyone in the arena rose to their feet. After seeing the Sandman successfully defend his title on TV time after time against a variety of opponents, the sellout crowd couldn’t wait to see their hero in person and they showed him and his lady their appreciation by giving them a long and loud standing ovation. You could tell by the smiles on their faces and the cockiness in their strut that the Sandman and Woman loved the ovation. When Raven appeared in view, his reception was met with a long and loud chorus of boos. The battle between these two was intense. At times it looked like Raven would win the title, but some how, some way, the Sandman always managed to survive. At the 15-minute mark Tommy Dreamer ran to the ring and joined the battle. Dreamer was slugging Raven who got the worst of it. When Dreamer finally left the ringside area, Sandman pinned Raven to win the bout. 

[Cactus grabs a handful of Sabu’s hair. (Notice that lately Cactus has been wrestling with his teeth in.)

Too Cold Scorpio goes for an altitude record.]

This was followed by a tag team match involving Public Enemy and the Gangstas. The battle that ensued was intense. Chairs, tables, the bell and anything else they could grab was used during the match. To accurately describe the intensity exhibited by each time would be impossible as the match was brutal. In the end, Mustafa of the Gangstas pulled off the upset of the evening when he pinned Rocco Rock to win the match.

[Public Enemy says, “You should see the LOSERS!”

Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck are championship tag team partners, much to Mikey’s dismay.]

The final match of the night pitted the feared Sabu against the wild and crazy Cactus Jack, and the referee for this battle was 911. Like all of the matches that preceded it, this was yet another classic. Sabu did all of his trademarked moves, while Cactus Jack was as wild as could be. Although the match ended in a double count out, no one was disappointed as both men used every move in their repertoire. 

The first NECW New York card started at 8:00 p.m. and it continued non-stop without an intermission until 11:45. In this time, everyone was treated to a night of action, excitement and mayhem unlike any they had ever seen on the local scene. With the enthusiastic response of the first ECW card in the New York area, it is only a matter of time before ECW becomes a major force on the NY scene. Although right now the ECW stars may lack the fame of the WWF or WCW, with their moves, style, and never-say-die attitude, it's only a matter of time before the ECW competitors become as well known as their counterparts. When they do, ECW will become a major force on the wrestling scene. From their humble beginnings in Philadelphia, PA, in front of a small, hardcore enthusiastic audience the ECW has grown to the point where it is now ready to compete with the big boys. From the reception in the Big Apple, it’s obvious that ECW is ready to step into the limelight. 

[Missy Hyatt and Stevie Richards hit it off at ringside. Is she using  Stevie to get to Raven?

Raven locks Sandman with the caning stick.

Tommy Dreamer is a bloody mess as he reacts to a low blow.]

[binniesoob]

YALL

in 0x1lovesong japanese ver all TXT are wearing headphones and listening to a cassette!!!!!! they are listening to the Star Song and remembering their lost memories!!!! after the LoadStar store fixed it!!!! 🤯🤯🤯

Japanese 0x1LOVESONG mv sees TXT heartbroken for themselves 😭😭😭

☆ lyrics:

"In this world of zero, I know you are my 1 & only. In this endless darkness like oh my god, so holy" = you is the Star! aka the 5 of them together!

"From the tip of my fingers everything runs far away." = they lost Neverland/Magic Island forever and so their childhood comforting days and fantasies 💔

"My life before you was a mess, couldn't win one round of this chess" = they were used to play Magic Island to escape reality, a place where they thought they could always win, but actually always lose. The Star is their real way of winning in life, the five of them together believing in their true selves 😭

"From this bottomless pit, you're the on1y shining gold" = see Clarity pictures inspired by TXT reality when they were trainees: they only thing that kept them fighting was the possible outlook of debuting together.

"Angel who one day appeared to me, take me away to your hometown" = sings Soobin, his angel was the Star/Moa in the Eternally mv, and he wishes for them to take him away to where they belong that could be interpreted as the place where their lost memories, hopes and dreams lay.

"I was fine to die, I'm a loser in this game" = TXT were fine with losing and dying multiple times in Magic Island just to keep avoiding reality, but they are not anymore.

"The on1y rule in this world, save me, take my hand" = reminiscent of "One!Dream!", brings us back to Nap of a Star where we see TXT saving Yeonjun, Kai offers him is hand: the only way to awake the Star again was to save eachother and stick together.

"please use me like a drug" = this was foreshadowing for Sugar Rush Ride and how they were addicted to Magic Island.

"I'm not going to make it, I won't be able to get into heaven, I don't belong there, no place for me in heaven" apart from the queer undertones that i'm never not gonna point out = TXT thought Magic Island was heaven and wanted to belong there, but they don't.

"the hole in my soul begins the mend, frigid air starts to thaw, in this world of zero I found warmth that's you" = the hole in TXT soul was where their lost memories used to be, now that they found the Star again they are able to retrieve them.

* mv interlude where TXT see themselves falling down from Magic Island to reality while listening to the Star Song 😭 that breaks my heart every single time *

in conclusion, 0X1LOVESONG the myth the legend the best song ever.

[deadcactuswalking]

REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 23/03/2024 (V of BTS and... Mark Knopfler?)

It’s a short week, largely to prepare for what chaos should be coming the next, but right at the top, Benson Boone clenches his first ever #1 with “Beautiful Things”. I know pretty much no-one who cares about pop music on a deeper level likes this song, but hey, if I’m the only person happy about this other than Booner Boy himself, I’ll take it. Welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

Rundown

Given our few new songs, we also only have a handful of notable dropouts to start with, so we’ll bid adieu to the small but decent selection of “Could You be Loved” by Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Angel Numbers / Ten Toes” by Chris Brown, “My Love Mine All Mine” by Mitski and finally, “Disconnect” by Becky Hill and Chase & Status.

As for what’s back, we see returns for “Asking” by Sonny Fodera and MK featuring Clementine Douglas at #73 and, sigh, “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi at #68, and then a spattering of gains. Our most notable boosts are for “if u think i’m pretty” by Artemas at #59, “Wasted Youth” by goddard. and Cat Burns at #58, “We Ain’t Here for Long” by Nathan Dawe at #55, “Happier” by The Blessed Madonna featuring Clementine Douglas at #54, “Thank You (Not So Bad)” by a bestiary of enemies to good taste at #50, “Green & Gold” by Rudimental and Skepsis featuring Charlotte Plank and Riko Dan at #43, “Birds in the Sky” by NewEra at #34, “Never Lose Me” by Flo Milli surging high and fast up to #23 thanks to her releasing an album that includes a pretty great remix of the song featuring Cardi B and SZA, and then “Austin” by Dasha at #15, “Lovers in a Past Life” by Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man at #14 and finally, making his way into the top 10 for the first time, “Scared to Start” by Michael Marcagi at #10.

Our top five this week consists of “End of Beginning” by Djo at #5, “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims at #4, “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” by Beyoncé at #3, “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” by Ariana Grande at a new peak of #2 off of the debut, that could grab a week at the top soon, and of course, Benny Boone at #1. Now for our four new songs, which feel like names picked out of a hat and placed onto the chart.

New Entries

#60 - “Been Like This” - Meghan Trainor and T-Pain

Produced by Gian Stone and Grant Boutin

This is a joke, right? Or a soundtrack to a reality television competition, or daytime talk show? T-Pain has grown into his role as wholesome cuddly media figure surprisingly well and a collaboration with Meghan Trainor, whilst demonic, seems to be the best way to seal that position, with this being the lead single for her next album… Timeless. Well, that’s one thing to call your music. Mean jokes aside, hey, T-Pain is here so at least there’ll be some genuine, not as obnoxious charisma? Well, first of all, it’s electro swing, so my first instinct is to step away from my laptop, keel over and die, especially when Meghan starts to singing about how she keeps it juicy and then eventually that she’s “still that bitch”, as if she was ever that bitch to begin with. There’s something so cynical about Trainor’s vocals that I didn’t notice just the true extent of until T-Pain came in with an infectious call-and-response and weirdly-mixed but fun-extruding harmonies that almost would convince me on the entire song if he didn’t have to play to Meghan’s lack of personality, especially when placed against each other in the bridge. T-Pain can sell this as some goofy cartoon clown, but it probably wouldn’t charted without Ms. Trainor, who brings pretty much nothing to the song other than taking it a tad too seriously, despite the fact that there’s no reason, lyrically, for this to even be a duet. Also, Meghan, I’m not sure you can even sing the line about GRAMMYs in T-Pain’s verse on the account of you only have one.

#52 - “Never be Lonely” - Jax Jones and Zoe Wees

Produced by Jax Jones, Mark Ralph, Neave Applebaum and Tom Demac

I actually really like Jax Jones’ producer tag, it’s cute and rhythmic, has a little stutter to it. It’s nice. I have to say more than that, don’t I? I have to acknowledge Zoe Wees’ voice being misued and manipulated to just sounding characterless, I have to acknowledge how this heavily interpolates the drop from “Rhythm is a Dancer” by Snap!, one of the best Eurodance songs ever despite some… regrettable lines. It spent six weeks at #1 in 1992, blocking off Jimmy Nails, Freddie Mercury, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson and of course, “Ebenezer Goode” by the Shamen from the top spot, before reappearing in remixed form in 2003 and 2008, reaching the top 40 again both times. “Never be Lonely” doesn’t work as an update of the song because of completely different lyrical content that I actually hate, asking someone to tell her how it feels that she’ll always be there for them, it’s really patronising and weird. It doesn’t work as a reimagining or reinterpretation because it goes for the same tone, and doesn’t adopt or adapt any of the original lyrical conceits. The one thing it does have is a Cascada remix. Yes, that Cascada. I have no idea why, but it exists.

#18 - “Going Home” (Theme from Local Hero) - Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Produced by Guy Fletcher

Oh, so I guess this episode really will get as serious as cancer. This one might take a while to explain. So in 1983, Bill Forsyth wrote and directed Local Hero, a highly-acclaimed comedy drama that is actually former US Vice President Al Gore’s favourite film. Its soundtrack features a five-minute instrumental piece known as the “Theme of the Local Hero”. I’ve never seen the film so I don’t know how exactly it appears or makes sense within its narrative but I do know it has far transcended its origin. “Going Home” was the first single in Mark Knopfler’s solo career and has become a staple in both his and his band’s live performances, as well as becoming another theme, now for Knopfler’s home football team, Newcastle United. It’s probably the most lukewarm take of all time to say that “Going Home” is a beautiful piece, it honestly gives me goosebumps from its transcendent new-age introduction and excellently distant sax from Michael Brecker, that eventually transform into a very 80s-sounding but still profoundly triumphant jam that emulates the feeling of a journey in the UK pretty well. Maybe that’s what the film’s about, I don’t know. It peaked at #56 in 1983, whilst Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was #1 - good week for rock epics, I guess.

If you know Knopfler from anything, it’s likely his band Dire Straits, one of the few important British rock bands that hit #1 in the States and never back over here on the islands - their #1 is of course “Money for Nothing”. The legacy of Dire Straits is not something tangible for me or that I’ve ever really understood, their sound was varied and evolved through what was ultimately a very short career. They’re not a legendary act but are still big names and incredibly well-connected, especially Knopfler, who has played and produced extensively for many artists and soundtracks. In January, Knopfler sold over 100 of his guitar and amp equipment at auction and in March, he’s compiled a charity ensemble to cover “Going Home” in support of cancer awareness.

Its status as a charity single is the only possible explanation for why this nearly 10 minute instrumental piece even touched the charts let alone the top 20, but it is stuffed with big names, from rock icons like Brian May, RIngo Starr and Joan Jett and newer cats like Sam Fender and Orianthi to genuine oddballs like Keiji Haino and head-scratching inclusions like, uh, Brad Paisley, who I will only ever remember for “Accidental Racist”. There are over 60 musicians on this record and damn near all of them contributed through their guitar playing, other than Ringo on drums, The Who’s Roger Daltrey on my favourite, the harmonica (that you can barely hear at times - Daltrey’s harmonica should be put to better use), and a few others. You can tell that Fletcher and Knopfler did their best job to try and collate recordings that were clearly from different times, places, equipment set-ups and audio qualities, but this is still basically a meandering pile of guitar overdubs that lasts longer than some full EPs and doesn’t really let you register any single guitarist as them playing. The collectiveness of it may just be the point, to show a united front against cancer or what have you, and there’s definitely a lot to appreciate if you’re an in-depth fan of guitar playing or a guitarist yourself, of which I’m not. I will admit, this is genuinely impressively easy to sit through for how lengthy it is, largely because of the dexterity on display, the fact that the melody of the original “Going Home”, even when developed on in the many ways it is within this piece, is still so infectious, and also because it comes out of not just cynical philanthropy but a genuine passion for the guitar as an instrument. The cover art is a Sgt. Peppers parody of the musicians standing in front of a famous guitar shop in London, and the wide array of musicians from a lot of different genres, eras and even techniques shows how wide and universal this feels an appreciation of the guitar… but I’ll say what my dad always said about Dire Straits (because, really, dads are the only people with viable Dire Straits opinions): “it all becomes much of a muchness.” My favourite of theirs is “Walk of Life” by the way, it’s so goofy. Love it.

#14 - “FRI(END)S” - V

Produced by Connor McDonough and Riley McDonough

V is the latest of the BTS boys to release a solo English single, seemingly leading towards a solo career like Jung Kook, with credits stacked full of Anglophone pop songwriters and production from the McDonough brothers that results in a very serviceable pop song that I’m not sure would get much attention outside of the fact that it’s a BTS member, hence why sales jacked this one’s chart position up so high. It’s not a bad little song at all, in fact I like the distorted guitar lick and the amount of emotion V shows in his vocals despite all the effects, he has a real unique texture against the slodgier indie drums and the infectious bed of harmonies in the pre-chorus. The one way I could see this getting big organically would be that fun albeit gimmicky chorus that makes this an anti-climactic friend zone anthem, though the gimmick wears off after the second time and doesn’t really develop into anything new in the second chorus other than some pretty gross, reverb-drenched spectacle. I usually wouldn’t give this manufactured bedroom pop much more of the time of day but there’s not much in the way of obnoxious performance or toxic lyrics here, it’s just that it really could be any other vaguely bitter male singer’s song. The first most obvious comparison is Joji due to their vocal textures, but Charlie Puth or Lauv could have easily made this work too, though probably not as well as V does here, especially not Puth. God, that would be horrible. Thank God for BTS that this song was never offered to Puth (not that he’d accept a song he didn’t spend 20 hours writing and producing himself, of course). Ugh, enough Puth talk, let’s end the episode.

Conclusion

God, this was not a great week, huh? Even if I’m not fussed about the new version, the composition of “Going Home” makes Mark Knopfler and friends get a lock for Honourable Mention, and it really does end up as the song with the most - if not the only - human passion in this selection. Worst of the Week goes to Meghan Trainor, surprise, surprise, for “Been Like This” with T-Pain, and that’s all. Future, Shakira, O-Rod, Tyla, Hozier, Headie One, Artemas, Cardi B, Lil Nas X, Bryson Tiller, they could all hypothetically show up next week and it would be a big one, so prepare for that and who knows what else? It’s 2024, anything can chart. As for now, thank you for reading, rest in peace to Cola Boyy but we go on and I’ll see you next week!

[moondaeznuts]

Debut or Die Idol Inc 1st stage costume concept October 31st team "Into a New World" by Marshmallow (Soft and Sweet)

"The flowers on the costume are the four symbolic flowers of Soft and Sweet/Marshmallow."

It starts with dark and ominous lighting like the one on the left, and the strip is only black. The light becomes brighter in the highlight area, revealing the blood-stained shoulder strap as shown on the right. Additional element - the skin around the neck is illuminated and revealed to maximize the visual effect. (Feeling like a hand is holding your neck)

[astridsfavs]

First Favourite Character

So this is my blog, where I shall ramble about my fav characters. Isn't that fantastic? And I figured I should start with the most famous viddy game franchise of all.

Tetris Super Mario! Mario has a sheer ocean amount of characters, through the platformers, kart racers, party games, RPGs, there's a million bajillion nerds to choose from. So is it the Brothers themselves I love? Princesses? Koopas? Or is it...

WARIO!

The big bad German/Italian/Something Anti-Mario. Super Capatalist Fucker. sigma male. I've loved Wario since day 1. My first Mario game was Super Mario Land 2, the game Wario debuted in (and it came out in Europe the month after I was born, so like, I was a newborn baby with Wario in my life. (the game boy was my parents, not mine originally)). Like, I didn't even know who the fuck Bowser was, or Luigi. When I was a wee bitch, I knew Mario, Wario, and the three fucking pigs who ruined my life in Mario Zone.

We also, at some point, got the first Wario Land game, and I liked the heavier, stronger style of gameplay, and the treasure hunting aspect. The collecting of coins gave the same "yes" feeling as collecting the rings in the Snoic. And the world evolving as you go through the game made it so cool. The tide coming in after finishing world 1, so early levels now are flooded, MT Teapot's lit crashing down and changing some of it's levels layout. And most importantly, Wario with his evil crosseyed grin, a fucking bastard of a man.

And to be honest, for a long while, that was it for me and Wario for a long while, I loved these two games, but I never like, played as him in Mario Kart 64 when we got our Nintendo 64, I was always Yoshi. I had borrowed a copy of Wario Blast from a friend once. And when we played on the playground, like, if we played Mario, which we did shut your mouth, I played Wario and just, "Elbow Bashed" everything (I didnt realise til long later it was a Shoulder Bash actually shut up), and doodled fanart of Wario in "Smash Bros 2"(he was just another Mario clone, but with yellow fireballs instead of red)

Anyhow, years later, I got Wario Land 3 from Woolworths, and that unlocked some shit in my brain because from then on, he was my guy. The cartooney transformations, and the way Wario behaved was like, that was the shit, and then Wario Land 4?! I was in, I am in and in for life! I love this cartooney shit!

Thing is though, again. that was it, I'd now play as him in the Wii games, Strikers, Smash, Kart Wii and Party. But I never played WarioWare until THIS year actually on the GBA Console on Switch. But that doesn't matter. There is SOMETHING about Wario that draws me in, even if I can't afford his own games.

So what do I love? I love an Anti Hero, I love powerhouses, I love selfish agendas (and Wario's love for gold being the drive for all his adventures is selfish AF) and I love hidden hearts of gold, Wario with Shokora shows he isn't entirely selfish, willing to team with others, heck he's got a huge group of friends in Warioware, and even when with the Mario gang, he pals around with Waluigi.

I love that he is allowed to dress up compared to other Mario characters.

He has so many outfits, this isn't even all of them. I love playing as him in Mario 64 DS, I know he's "The Worst" in the game, but punting goombas to hard it takes like 5 seconds for them to land and die is just a silly little fun. I love he is able to punch the fuck out of Tox in Shifting Sand Land.

I love he's a suer arrogant, rude, brash, super like, macho manly man. An Alpha actually, like, man has women throwing themselves at him, and some men too probs. He's a bitch dickhead, but he draws people in, and bitch like, me too.

Also he has the best cast of characters in the Mario series. Mona? Shokora? Syrup? Jimmy T? fuckit the whole warioware crew? Bonko the CLown or whatever his name is? All iconic!

ALSO! SAKURAI. Mate, bud, I love you, listen, Smash is fantastic, Kirby is superb, Kid Icarus Uprising is yum. But my fucking god, Wario is the WORST repped character in Smash. Like Sonic might have a basic spindash only style moveset, which is a bit boring, but whatever. Wario? We got a shoulder bash and his bike, yup, that's it. And a weird amount of farting, calm it down man.

Also give me a Next Level Games made Wario game, it would be so cool. Listen I know Strikers Charged did the fating rubbish too, but Striekrs 3 showed me they got Wario's character down to a T.

So this is my first post, so I'm figuring out the format of my rambles, it might get more organised in the future, but maybe not, maybe people like the way I write. Who knows.

ANYWAY! RUNNERS UP!

PRINCESS DAISY- I will be her.

WALUIGI! Not a meme, he is such a funny, Wacky Races goofy character, Next Level Games puts so much life into his animations in the three Strikers Games, he's a fantastic loser self-pitying dweeb. WAAAA.

[boldlychristina]

My Eras Tour Set List

Original concept and template by @speaknowtv​

My goal with creating this set list was to

a) have balanced representation of all eras while still b) giving preference to the newer ones where applicable and c) choosing a well-rounded set list which can be enjoyed by locals and die-hard Swifties alike

So how did I select my songs? A fairly simple process- first going on Wikipedia to find all the singles from each album (counting TVs alongside the originals, as you’ll see w the Red section) and, if all of those were exhausted, finding out which ones had the most streams using billboard.com’s statistics. And from there I just tried to put them in an order that made sense to me. This mainly meant putting the heavy hitters as the first and last song in each set and putting ballads in the middle, though this tended to vary. I didn’t really have a refined system for this specific part, more so just going on vibes.

And if you would like to experience the Eras Tour set list as I have created it, I made a Spotify playlist with all 44 songs in order!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0OqFLSJWBOVBZZ1KEo9pby

Part 1: Fearless

1. Love Story (full song)

2. Fifteen (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

3. White Horse (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

4. You Belong With Me (full song)

Part 2: Speak Now

5. Mine (full song)

6. Back To December (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

7. The Story Of Us (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

8. Mean (full song)

Part 3: Red

9. Message In A Bottle (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

10. Begin Again (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

11. I Bet You Think About Me (full song)

12. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (full song)

Part 4: 1989

13. Blank Space (full song)

14. Style (full song)

15. Bad Blood (chorus, verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

16. Shake It Off (full song)

Part 5: Reputation

17. ...Ready For It? (full song)

18. End Game (chorus, verse 3, chorus)

19. New Year’s Day (full song)

20. Look What You Made Me Do (full song)

Part 6: Lover

21. Me! (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

22. Lover (full song)

23. The Man (full song)

24. You Need To Calm Down (full song)

Part 7: Folklore

25. The 1 (full song)

26. August (full song)

27. Exile (verse 2, chorus, bridge, chorus)

28. Cardigan (full song)

29. Betty (full song)

Part 8: Evermore

30. Gold Rush (full song)

31. Long Story Short (full song)

32. Coney Island (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

33. Champagne Problems (full song)

34. Willow (full song)

Part 9: Surprise/Debut

35. Our Song (full song)

36. Teardrops On My Guitar (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

37. Tim McGraw (full song)

38. Surprise Song #1

No Body, No Crime on guitar with special guest HAIM (full song)

39. Surprise Song #2

Getaway Car on piano (full song)

Part 10: Midnights

40. Lavender Haze (full song)

41. Maroon (verse 1, chorus, bridge, chorus)

42. Bejeweled (full song)

43. Anti-Hero (full song)

44. Karma (full song)

[mcheang]

Shadow and Bone S2 E1 recap

Spoiler alert

Ok, Alina’s having a nightmare first. Kind of expected that when I saw the Fold moving in. While Mal is likeable, I admit I am not impressed or moved by the Malina scenes, wishing they would hurry up, probably because I’m a Darklina fan. Still, i do not deny Mal is so much more supportive of Alina getting stronger than book Mal. I expected Alina and Mal to use her gold hairpins, practically leaving a money trail. But what surprises me is how surprised they are at how much a gold pin is worth! They are looking for clues to the sea whip’s location.

Love how the secret location of the sea whip is revealed by sunlight

Crows lost their club and are accused of murder. Technically true since Inej did kill the Inferni twins. But I doubt the stadwatch care about that. Who did they murder then? OMG! Sturmhond was the one who hired them to kidnap Alina Starkov? Why? Did he already suspect the Darkling wanted to expand the Fold? Or did he hope to be the one to bring her back? Jesper’s secret Grisha talent is finally revealed. I suspected he used it on the train! And apparently Heleen is the one murdered. Very surprised as she did not die in the books so I have a mild suspicion she might be alive and this is all a ruse? I mean she could have just given the deed to the crow club to Pekka. Alina finds out everyone believes she helped the Darkling. And yeah, of course Mal is wanted as a deserter. But I do love how the Zemeni quickly came to their defense, believing Alina might be a saint. Tolya and Tamar’s debut is a bit too showy and slow for my tastes. The other new characters’ first appearance was much better. They agree to take Mal and Alina onboard, defending them from the First Army. Of course the captain of the ship is Sturmhond. Wylan earns his living as a street musician, but ends up losing his earnings to…I don’t know who. Nina saves Inej who brings her to Kaz. Now the Crows are just missing one more: the imprisoned Matthias. The first army believes the second army is guilty and has imprisoned them. In Kribirsk at least. But the Darkling returns here and saves them, including Genya. This so reminds me of season 1 episode 1 when he had such a little cameo there as well.

I already like Tolya and his poetry. Tamar’s “Ravka wants a fight“ is awesome! Sturmhond...i’m not as impresssed by him but I wondered if Jesper would have a crush on him.

Genya was so terrified when imprisoned but the way she states how the Darkling is alive after all to his face makes me wonder if she also does not want to be on his side.

I now blame Nikolai for Alexei’s death WTH!

[night-gay]

Into the Anthill pt 14 - As If It Never Happened

Did someone say trauma? No, and apparently they’re not going to either. We’re back from the Jocasta incident and no mention of Hank’s mental breakdown or Ultron’s plot to marry his own mother in a sexy robot body is made. It’s a jarring transition going from Hank swearing vengeance on his friends to him just hanging out with Spider-Man and fighting Godzilla, but that’s just how it goes for comic book characters I guess.

So, for the time being, good ol’ Hank Pym is back in action as Yellowjacket.

🐜🐜🐜

Marvel Team-up vol 1 #59-60

Hank stepped in to save Spider-Man from Equinox, but he appeared to be incinerated in the ensuing fight. Believing Hank dead, Wasp worked with Spidey to stop Equinox. It turns out Hank had enhanced her stings so that they could harness her body’s energy and deliver a much more powerful blast, so she won easily. Hank appeared at the end of the fight to explain how he’d survived.

Avengers vol 1 #164-166

The issue began with the Avengers’ studying Wonder Man to ascertain how he came back from the dead. Count Nefaria interrupted by sending his Lethal Legion to weaken the Avengers so that he could swoop in and beat them on his own when they were tired. Nefaria then siphoned away the Legion’s superpowers, threw a building on top of the Avengers, and walked away believing he’d killed them. What actually happened was that Scarlet Witch and Yellowjacket blasted enough of the rubble away to make them a foxhole while Wonder Man held the building up. Yellowjacket then revived Vision, who in turn took out Nefaria with Thor’s help. 

Iron Man vol 1 #108-109

Tony called Hank to help him save 6 of his closest friends, who Midas had recently turned to gold. Hank rigged up a system using Jack of Hearts as a battery that could save them, but the Growing Man was drawn there by the powerful energy current. Iron Man fought him off long enough that Hank could restore their lives.

Avengers vol 1 # 167, 170-177 

Nick Fury sent the Avengers to explore a space station that had appeared over Earth. They discovered upon arriving that this was the Guardians of the Galaxy’s ship, sent back from the 31st century to fight Korvac. Hank sat this mission out to attend Janet’s fashion show debut.

The Avengers had their national security clearance revoked by Henry Gyrich and SHIELD cut ties with them as a result, meanwhile the Avengers’ numbers were mysteriously dwindling. Once only Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, and Wasp remained, they followed a lead from the Guardians to the Collector’s base. Collector then explained that, as an Elder of the Universe, he had the gift of prophecy and he’d been hoping to save the Avengers from a mysterious threat he referred to as The Enemy.  This turned out to be Korvac, who vaporized him before he could provide any further details.

The Avengers gathered to address this, but with 16 of them in the room plus Jocasta they weren’t getting much done. Iron Man reached out to the Guardians again hoping that Starhawk could help them find their new enemy (Korvac), although he was hesitant because he had his own foe to find (also Korvac). Together the Avengers did locate him, but without government clearance to use Quinjets they had to take a bus to his house in the suburbs. No longer able to hide, Korvac revealed his plan to become a god and rule the universe. When the Guardians of the Galaxy arrived he killed Vance Astro as a show of force. The battle then began in earnest, Korvac killing everyone in one or two hits (Yellowjacket included). He’d nearly won when he reached out to his lover Corina’s mind, felt no love, and chose to die on the spot. When only Thor, Vision, and Moondragon remained alive, Corina goaded Thor into killing her next. Moondragon explained that Korvac’s intention was apparently always to free all living things from Eternity’s capricious whims. He restored to life everyone he’d killed just before his own death as an apology for his failure.

Avengers Annual #8

Hank wanted to surprise Janet with a gem he recovered from his last battle with Dr. Spectrum, but when she touched it she was instantly possessed by it In Janet’s body. Spectrum beat Iron Man and Wonder Man but was too weak to defeat Ms. Marvel or Vision. When the fight ended but Janet did not wake up, the Avengers called Doctor Strange to help her. He suggested returning the gem to the original Dr. Spectrum, who Beast was able to bring back for that purpose. He immediately attacked once he had it and was defeated by Thor and Iron Man.

Godzilla #17, 23-24

After failing to catch Godzilla, SHIELD sent for Hank hoping that he could shrink it to a more manageable size. This solution worked perfectly, but it was only temporary. Once Godzilla returned to its standard height it went on a rampage in NYC. Yellowjacket & Wasp flew into its ear to throw off its equilibrium while the rest of the Avengers and Fantastic Four fought to keep it from destroying the Empire State Building. Eventually it was calmed by the heartfelt plea of a child and returned to the ocean depths.

Minor/Cameo appearances from this period:

Captain Marvel vol 1 #56

Marvel Two-in-One vol 1 #39-40

Doctor Strange vol 2 # 29

Captain America vol 1 #221, 224

Ms. Marvel vol 1 #18

Iron Man vol 1 #114-115