#frankenstein: new world

[omercifulheaves]

Frankenstein: New World #4 Art by Ben Stenbeck

[middenway]

Comics I need more of in 2023

The Lonesome Hunters

Tyler Crook’s both writing and drawing this series and it shows. I love the pacing, I love the emphasis on character. And apparently the next arc should kick off in either April or May, so I won’t have to wait too long for this.

Manor Black

The wait between the first and second arc was a long one thanks to the pandemic, but I’m hoping this series will be allowed to pick up some momentum with a new arc in 2023. Ideally, I’d like to see a new arc each year—Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt have plans for many more stories, and I would love to read them.

Tales from Harrow County

I don’t know how I’ll get through 2023 if we don’t get another arc of Tales from Harrow County. The second arc, Fair Folk, was left on a huge cliffhanger, and the third arc, Lost Ones, went sideways and told us a wildly different story that makes everything so much more epic and, of course, ended on another cliffhanger. The fourth arc will theoretically be dealing with the fallout from both these stories and I am in agony waiting for it.

The Night Eaters

From Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda (somehow doing this new series while also doing a new arc of Monstress every year). This book was one of my highlights from 2022. Ipo is fantastic and I cannot get enough of her. There were times her dialogue had me laughing out loud.

Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra

At the moment the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics are being written by Faith Erin Hicks, which is about as close to a perfect choice as I can imagine—she understands the age group, she’s a huge fan of the series, and she really loves to dig deep into character and express it through action. (There’re reasons why I always pick up a book if Hicks’s name is on it.) Most importantly, Hicks has said before how she’s reluctant to do an Azula story, because it’s a delicate balance—and frankly, I wouldn’t want anyone writing Azula unless they felt that way. Peter Wartman’s an excellent fit too, managing to tackle not just the character and action, but the world itself—the world is such a huge part of these comics! This is gonna be great.

Meanwhile, it seems The Legend of Korra comics have stalled for now. We got a short story anthology this year (Patterns in Time, which I have not read thanks to Nickelodeon locking Australia out of digitally distribution). My hope is that this book helped Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino find a team that can carry this series somewhat regularly.

The Bone Orchard Mythos

We’ve already got Tenement and Starseed scheduled for 2023, but I’m hoping to see the beginning of some short stories or one-shots too. Shadow Eater can’t be collected until it has enough companions, after all. Plus, my favourite part of The Bone Orchard Mythos is seeing the creators play with different formats and that makes short stories very appealing to me.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein and Lilja on a roadtrip in the New World. Sounds like a pretty great book to me.

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 5/10

Thanks for making Free Comic Book Day 2023 one of our best ever!

Count Dante #1 (of 6) -  J C Barbour, Wes Watson & Cary Nord

Sydney Brown relives his years fighting alongside Count Dante, the cape-wearing, car-selling, controversial karate master from the 1970s. But while the reporter interviewing him is excited to hear the salacious details of a crazy life, it is clear the time was bittersweet for Brown.

Daughters Of Snow & Cinders GN -  Nuria Tamarit

Princess Mononoke meets Jack London in this gritty, ecofeminist adventure. Fleeing the fires of her war-torn homeland, a young woman travels to the New World in search of gold to rebuild her life. In this strange, lawless land, Joana encounters friends (the kind Native women Tala and Opa), foes (the cruel gold hunter Matwei and his men), and an unexpected traveling companion who may just be her good luck charm - and amidst the icy reaches of the wilderness, a fearsome fantastical beast lurks in the shadows.

The English debut of Spanish cartoonist and illustrator Núria Tamarit, Daughters of Snow and Cinders conjures the awesome natural beauty of the frozen north in vibrant color. A rugged adventure story with two strong young women at its heart, this graphic novel offers a poignant message about the urgent need for humanity to overcome our greed and base impulses to be good stewards of the world in which we live and depend on.

The Dog Knight GN -  Jeremy Whitley & Bre Indigo

A nonbinary middle schooler saves a dog from bullies and is offered the chance to become the Dog Knight, protector of a magical pact between humans and dogs, in the first book of this humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel series.

Frankie knows who they are. They're a drummer, they're nonbinary, and they're.. . the Dog Knight? One day Frankie is a relatively normal middle schooler, with relatively normal challenges, like finding the perfect outfit to wear during their upcoming drum solo. Then, they save a friendly golden retriever from bullies and wake up in a giant magical doghouse, with a funny looking helmet, talking to a group of dog superheroes called the Pawtheon. If Frankie can prove that they possess the six dog virtues of loyalty, kindness, honesty, justice, stubbornness, and smell, they will be named the Dog Knight and be given the power to fight the forces of chaos. Maybe there is more to Frankie than they thought?

The Final Girls TP -  Cara Ellison & Sally Cantirino

When the world's most powerful working hero asks her retired peers for help, they secretly agree to deal out punishment on another hero in the public eye. But when the weapon of publicity is wielded, it threatens to kick up all of the personal traumas of the heroes, past and present . . . Collects the original digital series for the first time in print!

What does justice look like when violence isn't enough?

Frankenstein: New World HC -  Mike Mignola & Peter Bergting

Safely tucked away inside the hollow earth where humanity survived after Ragna Rok, precocious young Lilja receives visions of a new darkness taking root on the surface. Defying her elders, Lilja awakens the timeless oracle--once known as Frankenstein--to investigate the warnings and, perhaps, even explore the new world above.

Ghostlore #1 (of 12) -  Cullen Bunn, Leomacs, Brian Hurtt & Leomacs

We've all heard of ghost stories... but what stories do the ghosts themselves tell us? An estranged daughter and her pastor father wander a haunted land; they only have the restless spirits, each with its own story to tell, as company along the way. After a deadly accident of which they were the only survivors, Lucas and Harmony Agate can see the dead-an overwhelming amount of the deceased, all with their own warnings, cries for help, and malevolence alike. But Lucas and Harmony aren't the only ones with this ability; there are other nearly-deads, some of which have malicious motivations...

The Incal: The Dying Star HC -  Dan Watters & Jon Davis-Hunt

Things are not going well for Commander Kaimann. Luz, the love of his life, is dead, his home of Tortuga destroyed, his crew ghostly apparitions, and his crocodilian mutation taking over more and more of his body, Commander Kaimann is fighting for his life on multiple fronts. Just when it seems like despair may overtake him, a chance encounter with a strange violin connects him to Aurora, a woman living in a future where she is staring down almost certain destruction. With his passions renewed, Kaimann hatches a bold plan to find a cure for his mutation and a future with his newfound love. However, Kaimann's past is catching up with him, and Aurora's future faces imminent doom from an approaching hostile fleet. Two timelines tick towards tragedy, and only an act of pure love can save them!

Kong: The Great War #1 -  Alex Cox, Tommaso Bianchi & Bryan Hitch

The World at War! While men of all nations fight on foreign shores, an Imperial German U-Boat is lost at sea!  The crew now faces terror beyond imagination! Monsters from creation's dawn! Gruesome, blood-stained death from above and below! Impossible beasts, reigning by fear and violence in the South Pacific! And looming over all, the gargantuan ape-god that knows no master!  These brave men have faced death before, but now they must contend with...Kong!

Lost Falls Vol 1 TP -  Curt Pires, Antonio Fuso & Pierluigi Minotti 

When Detective Daniel Pynchon Wakes up in Lost Falls, on the shore with no recollection of how he got there, he struggles to piece together the events that lead him there. As he investigates the phenomenon surrounding his memory loss and the town itself, he discovers horrors both human and otherwise. Collects the original digital series for the first time in print!

Murder Inc: Jagger Rose #1 (of 6) -  Brian Michael Bendis & Michael Avon Oeming

From the creators of the Eisner Award-winning, bestselling POWERS comes this brand-new world of historical crime fiction like you've never seen before. Discover a world in which the five families of organized crime never lost their stranglehold on the United States. Now, half the country is a smorgasbord of sex and sin ruled by loyalty and "family values" and the rest of the world looks on in awe, rage, or jealousy. Join us as newly "made" Valentine Gallo and Jagger Rose rise through the ranks of the notorious Bonavese family. No spoilers, but Jagger has already proven herself one of the greatest assassins of all time.  And, uh, the Pope would like a word. Yeah, that Pope. Huh.

Pet Peeves GN -  Nicole Goux

In this horror graphic novel, the new dog that aspiring musician Bobbie has adopted is cute, but also stealing her life. Bobbie's life is going nowhere fast. She's working at a bar, wanting to play music but never having the time or energy. The only bright spot is her dog-always cheerful, always cuddly, and always there for her. As the relentless day-in, day-out of work piles up, music and roommates and social plans begin to seem less and less important as Bobbie struggles to make rent and have any time to be creative. The only thing she has time for outside her job is her dog... and her dog is going to do everything he can to keep it that way. This debut solo graphic novel from breakout author Nicole Goux explores the struggles of a young artist, haunted not only by debt and society, but by more sinister (though adorable) canine forces.

Soloist In A Cage GN Vol 1 -  Shiro Moriya

Chloe and her baby brother Locke were born in a prison the size of a city: a walled-off collection of ramshackle buildings full of dangerous criminals who live bleak and isolated lives. Their parents are gone, leaving Chloe to care for her brother. When a trio of soldiers manage to break out of the prison, Chloe goes with them but loses Locke during the escape. After years of training, Chloe returns to the prison city with one goal: to find her now 11-year-old brother and get him out of that hellhole, no matter what it takes.

Something Epic #1 -  Szymon Kudranski & Tony S. Daniel

IMAGINATION IS REAL. Outside our perception, creative thought takes physical form, with only a handful of individuals known as Epics able to interact with this wondrous hidden world. But for fourteen-year-old Danny Dillon, accepting these responsibilities himself won't be easy-or safe. Lose yourself in a world of endless fantasy and creativity, where superheroes, monsters, magical creatures, and cartoon characters live and breathe alongside us.

ThunderBoom GN -  Jack Briglio & Claudia Davila

Logan's going on the train to see the Santa Claus parade. Logan loves parades and trains. But Logan isn't like most 11-year-olds - he can't speak, and he mostly lives in his head. This adventure means facing his greatest fears: masks, dogs and the unknown. When he's separated from his parents at the parade, Logan goes where he's the bravest version of himself - his imagination. Transforming into superhero ThunderBoom, Logan is ready to stomp through any challenge! A fresh take on dealing with life's difficulties. Kids will be rooting for their new favorite superhero: ThunderBoom!

Twilight Out Of Focus GN Vol 1 -  Nisioisin & Oh Great

Second-years Mao Tsuchiya and Hisashi Otomo make three promises: 1) That Mao will never tell anyone that Hisashi is gay and has a boyfriend, 2) That Hisashi will never think of Mao "in that way," and 3) That they'll always knock before entering, in case someone is having some "private time." The two's ground rules should ensure a peaceful life together in their dorm, but life is never as simple as it should be, and some things are not so easily promised...

We Are The Smurfs: Bright New Days! GN -  Falzar Culliford, Peyo & Thierry Culliford

Welcome back to Smurf Village in the third installment of this early reader comic series! With the help of Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Hefty Smurf, and Brainy Smurf, young readers will learn how to process big feelings such as impatience, rejection, and grief, while learning how to take better care of themselves, their communities, and the Earth around them. With three all-new, full-color stories, and back matter dedicated to helping children explore and better understand their emotions, this book is the perfect option for newly independent and reluctant readers alike.

Wolf Girl & Black Prince GN Vol 1 -  Ayuko Hatta

High school girl Erika may be on Kyoya’s leash, but she’s determined to break free and unleash his heart! Fed up with being hopelessly single, high schooler Erika makes up a boyfriend to fit in. When her lies start to unravel, her schoolmate Kyoya offers to be her pretend boyfriend—for a price. With no other choice, Erika finds herself at the mercy of a blackhearted prince! But is Kyoya truly as blackhearted as he seems?

Whatcha scooping up this week, Fantom Fam? 

[graphicpolicy]

Mike Mignola reunites with Christopher Golden, Thomas Sniegoski, and Peter Bergting for Frankenstein: New World - The Sea of Forever

Mike Mignola reunites with Christopher Golden, Thomas Sniegoski, and Peter Bergting for Frankenstein: New World - The Sea of Forever #comics #comicbooks

Mike Mignola and his longtime collaborators, writers Christopher Golden and Thomas Sniegoski and artist Peter Bergting are teaming up to continue their fan-favorite story of Frankenstein: New World in a new four-issue limited series. Written by Mignola, Golden, and Sniegoski with art from Bergting, colors by Michelle Madsen, and letters from Clem Robins, Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of…

[a-door-to-somewhere]

Sometimes I wonder how much fanfic of classical/iconic literature exists because of school projects. Just floating out there. In a drive somewhere. Not to mention that nothing is more unhinged than bored middle/highschoolers being forced to liven up books they might not care about. For every deranged ao3 crossover fic there is an infinitely more deranged crackfic written for the great gatsby or antigone or to kill a mockingbird or whatever by a bored highschooler and his friends for 10th grade English. I wanna read it

[lizzi3]

tryna find more friends on tumblr is very scary like I don’t want anyone to judge me 😭 wdym we’re not automatically best friend for liking the same stuff it’s actually so terrifying to reach out to ppl I’m tagging my interests below so I can find my people

[enchantrum]

Secrets of the Obscure is alright and all but am I the only one kinda miffed that they ripped off a lot of it from Dragon Age: Inquisition and didn't really add or change enough to be it's own unique thing?

even the rift hunting mechanic is Exactly The Same, because you Open the rift, then fight something then close it. the animation is almost 1-1 and even the eye in the rift looks like the Inquisition eye. if it wasn't for the fact that Even The Mechanic is the same I might not have noticed it so much, but the more I play the more blatant it feels

and then their wizard lore also just feels like how demons come out of the Fade in Dragon Age to possess mages. it's almost exact

disclaimer that I'm still enjoying it because it's fun and I like that we get to see Zojja again and have a better map for practicing skyscales for those who don't have one yet, but uh...this whole plot was stolen!

and yes I know there are certain fantasy tropes that re-occur in fantasy over and over, but this doesn't feel like that. it feels like the writers legit just snapped the base ideas from DAI and then barely added or changed anything to make it uniquely Guild Wars

imo it's definitely the weakest of all the packs

which is a shame because I LOVEDDDDD the intro. the whole sequence of having to defend yourself and run for your life was so ridiculously tense, I really felt like I was playing a horror game

but now I'm on Ep. 7 and all the potential feels wasted because I feel like I'm playing the underwritten fanfiction of another game that I already played 10 years ago and didn't like that much the first time

[bethanythebogwitch]

The TTRPG about self-discovery and zombies

Promethean: the Created is a game in the Chronicles of Darkness game line about learning about what it means to be human and persevering in the face of incredible adversity. Chronicles of Darkness is a line of tabletop role-playing games that share a setting (but can be played independently of each other), each of which focuses on playing as some kind of supernatural creature that lives in secret amongst humanity. Promethean is basically CoD’s take on the story of Frankenstien. You play as monstrous mockeries of humanity, doomed to be feared and hated by all you encounter, learning who you are and what it means to be human so you can escape your torturous existence. While Promethean is the kind of game where you can have plots about fighting radioactive zombies and mad scientists at the behest of a three-faced angel with seven flaming wings, it is ultimately about character growth and development over a long journey of self-improvement and -discovery. 

Central to Promethean is the practice of alchemy and alchemy is the magic of change. All alchemy is powered by the cosmic force of change that is the divine fire Pyros. Pyros is further divided into Azoth (change as a creative force) and Flux (change as a destructive force). There are many alchemists worldwide that study the power of Pyros, but all agree that the Magnum Opus of the craft is the creation of life from death. Those who attempt this feat will ultimately create a Promethean. Prometheans, more commonly known to themselves as the Created, are corpses brought to life and infused with raw Azoth in place of a soul. However, this is not true life and the Created are abominations against life itself. The Azoth that fuels them leaks out constantly and inflicts wild changes on the world around them. If a Promethean stays in one place too long, the people and even landscapes around them are twisted by their presence in effects called Disquiet and Wasteland. Disquiet alters people’s minds, causing them to ultimately come to fear and hate the Promethean who caused the effect. Wasteland alters the local landscape, environment, and weather into unnatural conditions. Thus the Created have to constantly be on the move, doomed to never stay in one place too long lest they ruin the land and trigger hate mobs out for their blood. It is a miserable existence, but there is a way out. Every Promethean is born with instinctual knowledge of the process called the Pilgrimage, a process where, by learning what it is to be human, a Promethean can transmute their Azoth replica of a soul into a true soul and become human. This journey is long and hard and no matter how bad things get, that bit of hope is always there. 

Prometheans are created from human corpses, but they are their own unique individuals, retaining no memories from their body’s former life. They are born with no real understanding of anything and must quickly learn or die. Fortunately (or not) for them, they are incredibly durable, able to take immense amounts of damage, heal themselves with exposure to electricity, and they even get one free resurrection. Their powers are called Transmutations, which let them spend some of their pool of Azoth to alter themselves or the world around them. One transmutation all Created share is the ability to project an illusion around themselves to appear like a normal human. This helps delay the onset of Disquiet and allows one to actually interact with people without the problems that come with looking like a walking corpse. There are many ways to make a Promethean and the Created are divided into Lineages based on which method was used to create them. Lineages are named after the first Promethean made using each method. Lineages affect how Prometheans think and what Transmutations they have access to. Each Lineage comes with its own Disfigurement, the physical tells of their origin, and Torment, mental compulsions the Promethean suffers. In addition, the different Lineages cause their own variants of Disquiet and Wasteland. Curiously, staying in proximity to Prometheans of different Lineages reduces the effects of Disquiet and Wasteland. This encourages Pormetheans to seek each other out and travel together in groups called Throngs. Even if this effect didn’t happen, the Created would still seek each other out. Loneliness is a burden all Created must carry and as they are immune to the effects of Disquiet, other Prometheans may be the only beings a Created can actually spend a lot of time with. There are five common Lineages and three rare ones.

Frankenstein is the youngest of the common Lineages and yes, the Victor Frankenstein was responsible for creating this Lineage. A guy called Mr. Verney claims to be the original Frankenstein’s Monster and he’s still around. He also inspired Mary Shelly to write the book. The ritual to create a Frankenstein requires parts from at least two bodies, which are attacked together through stitches, prostheses, or whatever other inanimate materials the creator has available. Then, Azoth is supplied to the body by electricity. This has traditionally been done through lightning strikes, but power plants work just as well. All Frankensteins experience constant pain through their existences and have naturally violent tempers. Unlike the other Lineages, Frankensteins began as a failed attempt to create a human and this sense of failure and rejection haunts them. Theri Disfigurements reveal the patchwork nature of their bodies. Their Torment compels them to lash out in rage and destroy the things they love. Their Disquiet causes them to become the scapegoats for anything that goes wrong. Their wastelands are dry and hot, with increased chance of fire and lightning. 

Galatea is a lineage that dates back to ancient Greece with the story of Pygmalion. Creating a Galateid requires an unmarred and beautiful corpse to be bathed in wine vinegar, pearls, and herbs. The final ingredient to bring one to life is a kiss that imbues the body with Azoth. Galateids are created as objects of desire, usually by lonely and artistic progenitors. They have to struggle with conflicting instincts, their desire for freedom contrasting with an innate urge to be loved and kept. Galateids tend to be vain and the most socially adept of the Lineages. Their Disfigurements make them appear as artificial mockeries of beauty, with skin like marble and glassy eyes. Their Torment makes them obsessed with obtaining people they love and see as beautiful. Their Disquiet makes people simultaneously obsess with and repulsed by them. Their Wastelands are marked with storms and extreme winds. 

The Osiris Lineage claims descent from the Egyptian god Osiris, who was killed and cut apart by his rival Set, then brought back when his wife reassembled the pieces. Osirans are often compared to mummies but as actual mummies exist in this setting (the game is Mummy: the Curse), their creation ritual may be an attempt at recreating the origin of true mummies. To create an Osiran a corpse must be immersed in river water, then cut into thirteen pieces with a bronze knife. The smallest piece is discarded and the rest are spat upon and sewn back together with flaxen threat. Finally, the creator places a handful of Azoth-laden rose petals in the body’s mouth and the new Promethean will chew and swallow its first meal. Osirans consider themselves to be the closest thing the Created have to royalty, being allegedly descended from a god. They are indisputably the oldest Lineage. Osirans tend to be inquisitive and struggle with deadened emotions. Their Disfigurement makes them appear withered and mummified, with the missing piece being very obvious. Their Torment drives them to be callous and manipulative. Their Disquiet makes people obsessed with learning how they work, to the point of capture and vivisection. Their Wastelands turn the land into desert. 

Tammuz is the Lineage born from the ancient Semitic tradition of making golems. The ritual for making a Tammuz is the easiest of all the Lineages. A body is selected and the progenitor writes an instinctually-known work on a slip of paper that is placed under the tongue. The body must then be marked as a slave. This can be through tattoos, brands, manacles, or a number of other methods. The body is then buried in bare earth and abandoned. When the new Promethean is ready, it will dig itself out. The Tammuz were created as servants and they chafe at bondage. The Tammuz desire freedom above all else. They do enjoy helping people out, but if a Tammus feels taken advantage of, they will become furious. Tammus are naturally pessimistic and melancholic. Their Disfigurement makes them appear earthen, with skin of cracked clay and stones for eyes. Their Torment drives them to be submissive and subservient. Their Disquiet causes people to become depressed and static. Their Wastelands are wet and sad, with rainstorms and animals becoming too depressed to survive. 

The Ulgan Lineage claims descent from a Siberian shaman of the same name who could rip himself apart and then put himself back together. The creation rite requires a body (alive or dead) to be sunk into the state of Twilight (the in-between state between the regular world and spirit world first introduced in the game Werewolf: the Forsaken), where spirits are summoned to rip the body apart. The progenitor then recovers the pieces, reassembles them, and vomits ectoplasm over the body to bring it to life. Ulgans are spiritually aware, able to sense spirits and uncontrollably drawing spirits to them. Ulgans tend to try to learn from the spirits, becoming shamans and mystics who seek out the mysteries of the occult. They are typically the least social of the Prometheans, but companionship is good for them as it keeps them from becoming totally shut off to the world. Ulgan Disfigurements appear as deep, bloodless gashes in the body that spill forth darkness. Their Torment drives them to isolate themselves and grow detached from the world. Their disquiet makes people paranoid and suspicious. Their Wastemend weakens the barrier between the world of matter and the world of spirits, eventually allowing spirits to pour through into reality (and if your Game Master is playing a game that acknowledges the other gamelines and this happens in werewolf territory, you better have that free resurrection lying around because your ass is turbofucked). 

Unfleshed is one of the rare Lineages, though it is not really a Lineage in and of itself but a common name for any promethean not made from a corpse but from inanimate objects. There is no common creation rite amongst the Unfleshed. The only requirement is an artificial object in the general shape of a human and it needs to have been made with a function in mind. Unfleshed can be created from statues, mannequins, toys, robots, and even artificial intelligences. The Unfleshed are created as tools and have an even harder time than the other Lineages learning what it is to be human. They tend to be very logical and emotionless and need to learn how to accept being emotional and imperfect. They despise being treated as mere tools. Also, the Colossus of Rhodes was a giant, immobile Unfleshed that was part of a magical network focused around the seven wonders of the world that kept godlike fairies out of the world. I’m not making this up, it’s in the lore. Their Disfigurement reveals the artificial nature of their bodies. Their Torment causes them to become emotionless and inhuman. Their Disquiet makes people treat them as tools and objects. Their Wasteland causes the world to run like clockwork, with no room for disorder. 

Zeka is one of the rare Lineages and the youngest Lineage of all. They first appeared in 1945 and while there is no common ritual for creating one, the birth of a Zeka requires large amounts of radiation. It is also possible for radiation to corrupt the creation rite of another Lineage, resulting in a Zeka instead. The Zeky did not appear until the development of atomic weapons and their very existence seems to be a reminder of the horrors of nuclear radiation. They are born in constant agony and secrete radiation wherever they go, poisoning the land they walk upon and the people they meet. The Zeky live an existence of even more pain than other Prometheans, so it is not much of a surprise that not one of them has ever completed the Pilgrimage. Their Disfigurement makes them look like victims of radiation, covered with tumors and keloid scars. Their Torment makes them lash out at the world in rage and pain. Their Disquiet makes people paranoid and insular, the worst of Cold War-era paranoia. Their Wasteland poisons the world with radiation.

Extempore is one of the rare Lineages, though it’s not actually a Lineage but the collective term for Prometheans born not from the actions of an intelligent progenitor, but through random chance. Pyros exists throughout the world and whenever enough of it comes together near a corpse, a Promethean can be born. This is usually a result of natural disasters or other cataclysmic events, as such events are wellsprings of Pyros. Each Extempore is effectively a lineage of one, though there have been cases where events are so widespread that multiple corpses can be animated in the same way, creating mini-Lineages. Two examples of this are the Faceless, born from the bodies of World War I victims of poison gas who were struck by lightning, and Hollows, who were victims of dehydration during the events of the Dust Bowl. In both cases, once the events that caused their creation ended, no new members of the mini-Lineage could be born, dooming them to extinction. Extempore Disfigurements, Torment, Disquiet, and Wastelands are unique to each individual. 

The ultimate goal of any Promethean following the Pilgrimage is to become human, an event called the New Dawn. Upon achieving the New Dawn, the power of Pyros will rewrite history, making it so the Promethean in question was always human, even if others can still remember their pre-New Dawn self. Their new life will be shaped by their experiences as a Promethean, even though they will remember none of it. Reaching the New Dawn requires Vitriol, a substance produced by the Created that is effectively a physical representation of their development along their Pilgrimage.Vitriol can also be stolen in an act called the Lacuna that is considered a monstrous crime. Because it is very useful in alchemy, some alchemists will attempt to hunt the Created to steal their Vitriol. Losing Vitriol sets a Promethean back on their Pilgrimage. Vitriol is generated when a Promethean completes milestones, specific steps along the journey to humanity. Some milestones are universal to all Prometheans while others are more personal. One important milestone is called multiplicato and it requires the Created to leave a legacy. The most common way of doing this is creating a new Promethean of the same lineage. There are other ways, but this is the most common. This is an issue for Extempore as their creation is often unreplicatable. The idea of dooming another in order to the miserable life of a Promethean rarely sits well, but many will end up doing it as the other options are either unknown to them or out of reach. Most milestones are gained through Refinements. These are roles a Promethean acts out to better understand humanity and themselves. There are 11 refinements, 5 common, 5 complex, and 1 forbidden. Changing between Refinements is important as staying static will eventually burn out the Azoth within and reduce the Promethean to a mindless automaton called a Petrificatus. The Refinement system means that Promethean is a game where humans roleplay monsters roleplaying as humans. 

The 5 common refinements are:

Aururum, Refinement of mortality. Followers of this Refinement attempt to learn about humanity by living amongst humans and acting like them. They will pick up human behavior, try to communicate with people, get jobs or attend schools, and develop a sense of empathy. These roles must ultimately be short to avoid Disquiet and the Pormethean must remember that they are learning to be human, not just imitating human behavior. 

Cuprum, Refinement of self. This Refinement focuses on the Promethean understanding who and what they are. They tend to be loners engaging in meditation and other forms of self-knowledge. This allows them to understand the mutability of their forms and hopefully the process by which they can transform their Azoth into a soul. Many adopt this Refinement after Disquiet forces them away from other people. 

Ferrum, Refinement of corpus. This Refinement teaches that since the body is the seat of the soul, understanding and perfecting the body is a vital part of obtaining a true soul. Thus, they train in martial arts, strength training, and other forms of exercise. Those following this Refinement tend to adopt the lifestyle of an honorable warrior who fights not just to fight, but to prove their strength and protect others.

Plumbum, the Refinement of source. This Refinement teaches that to escape the Promethean condition requires understanding it. They study the abilities and origins of the Created and especially the effects of Wasteland and Disquiet. They also tend to have the most knowledge about Promethean history, lore, and the nature of Transmutations and Legacies. 

Stannum, the Refinement of torment. This Refinement is all about believing that avoiding pain and Torment is impossible. The practitioners turn their rage and pain outwards, lashing out at the world around them. Most Created will end up on this Refinement eventually, as the torment of their condition drives them to the end of their rope. 

The complex Refinements are rarer and require a greeted understanding than the common ones. They are:

Aes, the Refinement of aid. This practice teaches that in order to proceed on your Pilgrimage, you must help others on theirs. Prometheans on this Refinement protect other Created and give them advice and help on their mission. It is all about learning to put others before yourself. On the other hand, you also must learn that some people don’t want help and how to avoid being taken advantage of.

Argentum, the Refinement of mystery. These Prometheans seek to learn about humanity by studying other supernatural creatures. Many of these beings (eg. vampires, ghosts, changelings, mummies, werewolves, mages) either were once human or are still part human. Those following Argentum believe that by studying the transformation from human to monster, they can learn to reverse the practice. Other supernatural beings (eg. spirits, demons, angels, etc) were never human and Prometheans hope that by studying them , they can learn what humanity is not. 

Cobalus, the Refinement of impurity. Similarly to Plumbum, this Refinement is about learning what the nature of a Promethean is. They engage in experimentation with Disquiet, Wastelands, Torment, and Transmutations. They also do not shun Disquiet and Wastelands, but encourage them so they can openly deal with the consequences and in doing so, find out how to master the Promethean condition. 

Mercurius, the Refinement of Pyros. This Refinement is all about studying the divine fire of Pyros and learning its abilities and limitations. They practice alchemy and delve into deep lore on Pyros and Azoth. They also learn how to amplify their Transmutations and control the fire within. After all, how best to learn how to turn their Azoth into a soul than to learn how to control it?

Phosphorum, the Refinement of ephemerality. These Prometheans can’t wait for the New Dawn, they want to be human now. Thus they indulge in vice and thrill, all while pushing the limits of life. Many take on this Refinement after a failed attempt to reach the New Dawn out of despair and a desire to forget their pain. However, by living life to the fullest, they can learn more about humanity and even the nature of death.

The forbidden Refinement is Centimani, the Refinement of Flux. This is the path of Prometheans who have given up on the Pilgrimage. In their mind, if the world treats them as monsters, they might as well be monsters. Those driven to despair by the pain, loneliness, and failure can fall to become twisted monsters with no hope of ever escaping their torment. Because Centimani is the path of rejecting the Pilgrimage, those on the path cannot generate Vitriol and must perform the Lacuna to steal it from other Prometheans to avoid becoming a Petrificatus. It is very rare but possible for a Centimanus to leave the Refinement and return to the Pilgrimage. The majority of Zeka are Centimani. 

There are many enemies of the Created: humans (or worse, other supernatural beings) caught in Disquiet, monster hunters, Alchemists out to steal their supply of Azoth and Vitriol, other Created eager to perform the Lacuna, and so on. The ones they fear the most, however, are the Pandorans. These monsters are the result of the creation of a Promethean gone wrong. Instead of being filled with Azoth, the body is filled with Flux. This causes the body to tear apart, each piece becoming a Pandoran. These monsters require Azoth to live and excel at hunting and devouring Prometheans for their supply. When deprived of Azoth, the Pandoran will become dormant and assume the shape of an inanimate object. Anything from a rock to an ornate sculpture could be a dormant Pandoran just waiting for the presence of a Promethean to awaken it and turn it into a vicious predator. While they possess a predator’s cunning, Pandorans are not sapient beings. However, if one manages to devour enough Vitriol from its prey, it can transform into a Sublimatus. These beings have all the power of Pandorans with a human-like mind and endless hunger. They frequently lead packs of Pandorans and human cultists in search of their own goals and precious Azoth. As terrifying as they are, Sublimati are victims of tragedy as well. They are just as inhuman and tormented as Prometheans, but there is no New Dawn for them. The only end to a Sublimatus’s misery is death.

The strangest beings Prometheans encounter are the Qashmallim. These angel-like beings are born directly of Pyros and can represent either Azoth or Flux. Each Qashmal is born with a mission and a limited supply of Pyros. They will attempt to fulfill this mission above everything else and only last until the mission is completed, they are destroyed, or their supply of Pyros runs out. Most Prometheans consider them to be either help or hindrances on the Pilgrimage, but Qashmallim can enact great change in the world. 

[scrivnomancer]

Goodnight out there, whatever you are.

[meddow]

The Gorn are monsters and “sometimes a monster is just a monster” says Pike whose opinion is in many ways formed by the advice of La’an.

La’an Noonien Singh who grew up in the inescapable shadow of her ancestor and worries she is tainted by his blood. Who as a child was called ‘monster’ and will always live under the weight of other's suspicion. Who internalised that hate and has for so long existed in fear of herself and what she could become.  

La’an who threw the term ‘monster’ at Una, the woman she calls family. Una whose people are viewed by society and the law as unnatural creatures. Who was taught as a child to hide what she was for fear that ‘monster’ would be written on her family’s door and be followed by mob violence. Who after revealing herself to the community she selflessly served was told to appreciate their offer of exile.  

The society that judges La’an and Una to be monsters does so because of the memory one man in particular – Khan Noonien Singh – a man responsible for a war that caused the death of millions. Surely a true ‘monster’ if there ever was one. But we have now seen Khan was not always a monster. Once he was just a frightened child. So one is not born a monster, one becomes a monster.

Joseph was not born to be the Butcher of J’Gal. No, the good doctor who experimented on himself to become a better weapon but who also didn’t want to go home different, committed atrocious acts to save his home and now believes he is beyond forgiveness. One has to wonder whether the would consider himself a monster.

The Enterprise explores strange new worlds – and on those worlds there may be monsters. But there are also plenty of ‘monsters’ on the Enterprise itself.

[shinehalley]

I just realized that most of my shipps are "be gay do crimes" or "be gay prevent crimes" and I'm freaking out over this revelation

[sundewhasaudhd]

Today’s doodle dump

Random sniggle doodles (Pokey sniggle on the top left, Blinky sniggle on the top middle, Tinky sniggle on the top right, Nibbly sniggle on the bottom left, and Wiggly sniggle on the bottom right)

Abstinence Camp!Aspen doodles (they’re not having fun)

Rose and Lex doodle that I will never finish

Random Aspen doodles

We started working on our monologue unit in my theatre class, so instead of marking it like I was supposed to, I drew the character from the monologue (or as I call it my monologue OC [it’s name is Dot btw])

“WHATEVER WE WANT?!”

That face when you’re at your part time job as the announcer of this amusement park one of the gods you worship runs, and shit talking your coworkers to yourself, but then you realize you were still on the speakers and said god is gonna be real pissed at you, so you just stand there like:

Fuck it, Pots you Seed

Doodle of my OC Kai (ft. his gay ass boyfriend)

Doodle of my OC Venus

Victor Frankenstein doodle because Frankenstein: A New Musical is SO FUCKING GOOD YOU GUYS!!!!!

IF YOU LIKE MY ART, PLEASE REBLOG :3

@wigglyobsessedweirdo Hey Cait, it’s your guy

[jurassicparkdaily]

Jurassic Park Daily Announcement and Organization 🦖🦕🦖🦕

Considering the rise of substacks (especially Dracula Daily) and the constant discovery of how some classical stories are so different in adaptions compared to it's original source there was one book (series) that came to my mind that is so entirely from it's adaptions. Jurassic Park. If you want the beautiful insanity (and genuine good sci-fi thriller!) that the original is then prepare yourself for Jurassic Park Daily! From rich bicycle twinks, MILFs, GILFs, bikers, baby-faced chaotic villains, homicidal maniacs to dinosaurs with unchecked vendetta and anger issues... we have everything! And especially dinosaurs! Gene manipulated ones even!

With Dracula we redeemed a bunch of characters from their adaptions perhaps with Jurassic Park we'll redeem the next!

🦖🦖🦖🦕🦕🦕🦖🦖🦖🦕🦕🦕🦖🦖🦖

How will Jurassic Park Daily work?

Well, quite different from the typical substacks. Unfortunately the book is copyrighted/not in public domain so we cannot mail them to you. However what we can do is provide you with sources to the books and we'll update you where we currently are in the book on this blog.

Which means:

We will probably read one sub chapter every day or two (still open to debate, poll is on the blog) to keep a steady pace to make it easy to follow how far we are into the book.

We will update everytime which one we are reading that day plus what the title of the next sub chapter is so that you do not miss it by accident.

We will read both books. Means we will also always post in which book we currently are. Note: The two books only loosely tie together meaning you can decide whether you want to read both books or only one of the two.

The starting date is not official yet but we hope to start in late june/early july depending on the chosen reading pace

The reading process will be a lot more independent and will be an attempt at a digital book club where everyone individually finds their best source. If this (a bit) unconvetional way is fine with you and you're interested in dinosaur chaos then join us on our journey through the Jurassic Park 🦕🦖

🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕🦖🦕

What can you do to help the project?

We have a few links and sources but if you have good ones feel free to share them with us!

Nothing else. Just be open for a bit of unconvetionalness and letting yourself get bitten by your local dinosaur 🦖

[thequeervampiric]

Victor Frankenstein immediately after bringing life to the creature: 😬😬😬😬 I forgot about the rammies bro

[smashpages]

NYCC | Mike Mignola + team reunite for more ‘Frankenstein: New World’

Christopher Golden, Thomas Sniegoski, Peter Bergting, Michelle Madsen and Clem Robins return for ‘Frankenstein: New World – The Sea of Forever.’