#i just keep making unique transformer fan teams

[spiritgenie]

“First meeting”

So I made a new fan transformers team with the ones I took with me to college

Beast megatron(he/him)

Cyclonus(he/they)

Red alert(she/they)

Mirage(she/her)

Junkheap(they/them)

Battletrap(road trap(he/him) and battleslash(she/her))(they/them)

And this is how I imagine them first meeting

With junkheap ambushing them because they felt like they were a threat to battleslash and roadtrap

They later join the team

Now you may be wondering

Why oh why is beast megatron there and trying to resolve this peacefully?

I don’t know yet, mayhaps this is after a war, or he had a redemption arc like idw megatron, but he’s here now

Also I’m imagining red alert and mirage are both gorls in this au

[blueikeproductions]

So with TFONE attempting to simplify the Primes and some recent cartoons trying to theme some shows around them, it has led to a thought how this could work.

The biggest problem the Primes have is that nobody really knows or cares that much about them. The only one most actually care about is The Fallen because of the Bay film. Vector Prime via Galaxy Force is fondly remembered by TF fans, but that version also predates the modern Prime mythology.

Transformers Prime was intended to look more into what it means to be a Prime, but never truly does so. It also introduced the modern 13 Prime lore, but also does very little with it. It’s mostly limited to Solus’ Forge being a reoccurring weapon, Megatron grafting a Prime arm on to him, with creatives unable to decide who it’s supposed to be, and Alpha Trion making a cameo (more so to reference G1 than do much with the Primes).

RiD15 also uses the Primes, with Micronus (the main rep and Optimus’ life coach) and The Fallen (the first season’s main villain) as the stand out ones. Despite Micronus being the first Mini-Con, he has no influence on the cartoon’s Mini-Con gimmick it adapted later in its run. Liege Maximo appeared in chapter books and is the only (not Fallen) one who got to properly do something. I still greatly insist Onyx Prime should’ve been the rep due to the Beast theme instead. Also Thundertron, but that’s a different problem.

Cyberverse used Alchemist Prime specifically, but while being one of the better characters, he’s not very memorable. Onyx and Alpha Trion have minor roles, with Alpha Trion getting a toy… that nobody bought. He was also there for G1 ‘memberberries, in a role similar to the old cartoon. The Cyberverse staff were not shy admitting to only writing the show for themselves and like minded fans and not actual children.

And now EarthSpark uses Quintus in a major role… but it feels like there’s some conflicting ideas about who he is. Storyboards suggest he’s more benevolent having everyone’s best interests in mind, while the show keeps insisting he might be shady and a dead beat dad.

And like the aforementioned Onyx, the series isn’t great about using Primes better themed to a show. Combiner Wars opts to NOT use Nexus Prime, when instead perhaps they could’ve made him into the evil leader of the Combiners, forcing them to wipe out non Combiners so Cybertron is theirs to rule. Vs the show just having them fight… because reasons. He also never got a toy in the Combiner themed line. This could’ve also been tinkered with once more in RiD15 for its Combiner Force, casting him as a neutral who gifts power of combination to the Bee Team and the Pack, seeing who’s more worthy to use the Enigma for an upcoming problem involving an ancient Combiner unique to the show. (Also having Chop Shop as a minor villain again.)

I think the problem is largely NOT letting the other Primes being proper characters. Vector Prime and The Fallen are allowed to be characters, with Vector allowed to be part of the Autobots, make bonds with them and the kids, and have a little arc of his own, remembering the value of life throughout time.

I think if we went back to that, having a surviving Prime join the Autobots and find their footing in the modern era on Earth during the battle against the Decepticons would help.

It’s actually kind of shocking in the current “DEI” era that they don’t have Solus Prime in such a role, working alongside Optimus. The downside to this is current writers would probably make her into a more arrogant Captain Marvel type, but ideally Solus should be cast in a role similar to Vector in Galaxy Force. I feel like it’d be funny if she especially bonded with the kids, a loving but firm grandma, who drives them around, with the gag being the kids are ferried around in a big purple construction vehicle. Solus is also happy to fix things with a gentle tap of her Fixit Felix hammer, usually the kids’ phones, but an episode sees some repercussions, where the phones and other gadgets start Transforming into semi sentient-semi automatic weapons.

Think the Appliance Bots from ROTF.

Amalgamous is really the only one that’s too abstract to use as he is. I feel like the trick is to create an in-story reason why he can’t infinitely Transform, limiting him to being a Six Changer like Sixshot. This way the writers and artists can be more creative, and have a character arc where Amalgamous learns to be one of the Autobots with a running gag he forgets he can’t change into whatever he wants anymore and turns into a car or dinosaur that isn’t appropriate to the situation.

Liege is easy enough. He’s the Sideways trying to nudge the Autobots, Decepticons and humans into doing what he wants for nefarious reasons.

I feel like Prima would be a hybrid of TFA Ratchet & TFA Ultra Magnus, a cranky foxy grandpa that means well and tries to guide Optimus and the kids, but he’s quite literally an overbearing helicopter parent trying to dictate what Optimus should be doing. While still powerful in his own right, Prima does get overwhelmed by Megatron’s sheer rage.

The 13th Prime is up in the air. It could be Zeta, Rodimus, Adaptus, Mortilus or a brand new Prime for the scenario. I got nothing.

I am a bit concerned about Vector. He was already used effectively, but his schtick is time travel and manipulation, and to move the story of TFONE along that didn’t help him against Quints or Sentinel. Can you even use time travel effectively anymore? Maybe if Vector was more in line with Time Patrol Bon, not that anyone watched the Netflix reboot of it.

[istherewifiinhell]

IS FLYING GENDERED?

On the masculine default, typifying gender in genre, and women as the other in the transformers cartoons.

question for the ages

once again i said back in the halcyon days of watching g1 (aka 5 months ago) i was like. Nooooo, decepticon is NOT a gender that's Silly. It's funny, but as a Read Of The Text, I thought it largely unneeded. (The concept came about, as a joke, involving dismissing the bad guys using the same language you would abt women (sexistly) that they're emotional [heh, flighty], vain, and shrill) after all. If in the 80s era there are 5 whole named/speaking woman tfs, its only ever gonna get better from here right? (<- booboo the fool)

anyway

Let's consider the axiom that the assumed default gender is male, that maleness is often seen as LACK of gender, and femaleness and gender variance are the PRESENCE of gender. In certain reasoning and worldviews, of course (See Androcentrism). Then add that, for transformers, the assumed default thing a transformer turns into, is car. (Autocentrism, if you will)

(The most general term for what a tf turns into is "Alt mode" as some of them are not vehicles at all. The other mode is "Robot Mode", whether its humanoid or not)

So I will be laying out why I believe the cartoon iterations support: non standard alt modes = non standard genders. This is in spite of the fact that FIRST lady tfs were all cars. Sleek cyber cars, but still. For whatever reason, (possibly, the reason for everything in tf, toys) they might as well not exist for how woman tf characters presence in the cartoons progressed over time.

And, to be clear, this is a reading of how these works of fiction are created, not a new unified bioessentialism but for robots aliens I'm proposing for like. In universe lore reasons. I hate that idea.

That said, alt modes in order of most to least gender: Spider, motorcycle, flying (in general, with rotors, jets), tank, and then FINALLY, car. (water and space crafts are already too marginal to rank, but they too can be assumed in relation to default maleness, AND that in making one a woman, would still qualify as othering her).

The NUMBER one reason for this is the bizarre need to have an ESTABLISHED woman tf character before making new ones. AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. With a g1 gender ratio something like.... (counting even the most marginal cases for the ladies) 9:120? (That's a rough count from a quick scanning of the tf wiki g1 char list) Shits dire out here.

The second is, ofc, character design based. cis people [stand in phrase for the hegemonic world view] are not okay, and their opinions about how tf gender must need be depicted visually is. uh? Im not a fan. Size and shape dimorphism in general is a given, and specifically having women tfs as far more humanoid and curvy in specific. Also general cartoon lady face syndrome but, whatever. I think there's exactly one character here who doesn't have "lips" or "lipstick" as a distinguishing factor. I'm so tired.

Third is generally, the idea of The Girl Of the Team. When there's The Girl, she often isn't JUST a normal character, who happens to be a girl. See, of course, the Smurtfette Principle. But in my view there's also a trend to give The Girl "special traits" on top of "Girl", maybe even to directly combat the idea that the Girl Character has no other traits? To stop this from being a General Primer on Woman in Media, my explanatory focus is things specific to the tf franchise.

(A phrase I use for thinking about normative modes [in general, not just the Alt ones] in within the tf universe is "unique transformerdom" or, even more clunkily, "A transformer of unique transformerdom". The excessive verbosity is amusing to me personally. All I mean by it is to have an umbrella term for any of the ways tfs can be made unique from their peers in the non allegorical realities of the fiction).

I could, and do, and greatly want to, speak about this AT LENGTH. But it keeps spiraling away from me. So I'll say for now were looking at ways a character is being depicted different from her peers, not because she is the only woman (which she likely is), but cause she's a different kind of transformer, AND if she's othered for it.

(IN SOME forms of the lore. Being a transformer woman, IS A UNIQUE KIND of transformer unto itself. Let's just say I hate it and move on)

Fourth, is the gender of villainy. There is much to be said about gender presentation of villains, the ways they are allowed to be aberrant. We will get to it. There is also all the tropes specific TO evil women, and the modes of villainy open TO female characters. But a general thing I think impacting the gender ratios of the factions is the how "Good" and "Evil" female characters are written. I'll generalize and call this the "Damsel vs Temptress" dichotomy. (See concepts like the Madonna-whore complex). Transformers, is by and large, an action franchise. Unless special reasons are made, characters who can impact the action– have more screen time, and likely more memorable, and iconic presences. A villainous woman can be unchaste, violent, aggressive. While a heroic woman, even if not a literal damsel are more likely to be in a support role. The secretaries of the action genre: medics and techs.

(Another factor is that tfs are giant robots, and the good guys are often friends with tiny squishy little humans. These make very good damsel fodder, and can be taking up the spots on the roster that might, in a different franchise, go to women. Additionally, while woman characters in transformers overall is an interesting topic. When I say tf women, I'm referring to ones that are in fictionally, transformers.)

SO, now understanding our points of attack/obstacles for getting woman into transformers. (Getting established, gendering the designed, uniqueness of existence, and general villainy). Lets go over those alt modes, and the characters that have em, in more detail.

Spiders

The "Beast Era" (1996) intro-ed the spider ofc. And what don't we have with this one. She's a villain, but shes also misunderstood, the era and design style let to these more organic shapes. And they used them to make sure she was very sexy. She's genre aware, she's quippy, she's an absolute icon. So naturally. She gets ported to other later shows. Which means we just have sexy spider ladies running around when everyone else is a fucking truck and shit.

Her own origin is, well think of her as a "Bride of Frankenstein" to the resident evil scientist, also a spider. She was designed for, and manipulated by him in multiple ways. Her protoform (A blank robot base), was supposed to be one of the good guys (a Maximal), but was reprogrammed into a bad guy (Predacon). Even then, she eventually joins them, for her own reasons. She's not even the first predacon to do so, the difference? Well the characters are a lot more NORMAL about his autonomy. Both of these characters stress that being a predacon is an identity they still see as important. But only the woman is told that really, she is was was always MEANT to be a maximal. And while that's true in a sense. There's also a plot were she's forced (by plot contrivance, not the other maximals) to get corrective robot surgery for it. And when they think she died from, everyone's more sad for her boyfriend than for her. Ouch.

The second spider, in the 2007 show, is now one in a world where she is the only "techno-organic" transformer, hence, she is spider, everyone else is a vehicle. Similar to the first, her narrative is very gendered, but less in the way were, like, I do literally think the first was was experiencing in universe sexism from other characters. Here, they really focus on the "techno vs organic" narrative, and the tragic circumstances on how that happened. In this case its just real world sexist writing.

THIRD SPIDER, (2010), instead of misunderstood and tragic evil, this ones just super mega likes to cause pain evil. She also occupies a strange place between the typic vehicular tfs, and the insecticons. This is because she has a helicopter alt mode, and her robot mode is just, a lady with spider characteristics. And, more than just a passing bug like similarity, she has the power to control the insecticons (you know, cause evil woman mind control). However, she doesn't fit in with them either, as the insecticons are at the most insect like they've ever been, in look, living in hives and that most don't even speak.

They may vary in exact character, relationship to the story's moral conflict, and design. But they stay comfortably established, dimorphised, flirty and flirting with villainy. And bonus points, always, for black widow spider trope.

SO. SPIDERS. Established: ✅️ Gendered designs: ✅️ (Extremely!) Unique: ✅️ Othered: ✅️ Villainy: ✅️

Motorcycles

Tooooo my knowledge the first bike lady was in 2004, and fairly minor, in the actual plot, but rest assured, they did go the previously established woman route, by being pink, though, which one shes named after varies by language. But neither were previously motorcycles. (And yes, there is also this problem of mixing together or swapping out one woman tf for another. As if we have the ladies to spare). Even though motorcycle men also exist, this one just stuck for a bit. Maybe something to do with Those Movies. I think the Gendered Existence of a motorcycle is pretty evident though, general sex appeal, being smaller, the mode of riding a motorcycle is different, more physical and intimate. Mainly this ranks so high for the level of grossness they can pack in. Just how objectifying it can be, particularly with two instances where the human rider is an annoying teen boy. Naturally, I've also never seen a male and female motorcycle in the same room, but the approach to design tends to be different. And yeah most of em are Arcee, who's first alt mode was cyber car, but it's not just her.

Established: ✅️ Gendered designs: ✅️ Unique: ✅️ Othered: Depends on iteration, I do NOT like the way one gets called "tough, for a two wheeler". Villainy: ❌(they wouldn't need to be motorcycles if they weren't making them the Special Girl Autobot, after all)

Flying

General: It just tends to stick out when your one girl is only flyer in the group, even she's otherwise tactfully done. Only flyer of the Maximals, a falcon, only flyer of the dinobots, a Pteranodon.

Rotors

I can barely even figure this one. Maybe it's just a general, aesthetics and use case of the actually vehicles, the associations? None of these ladies (and special case) are very connected otherwise. As previously mentioned, the spider helicopter. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

A big one for this is the preschool demo shows, which are rescue team focused. In the first one the only woman on the human response worker team pairs with the helicopter, they mention she does medical at times. The helicopter is male, like the other tfs. But also he's afraid of flying, and while not the first case of a flyer with a fear of heights, their personalities are, pretty different. As he's both fearful AND effeminate, fine as character traits go but, with the tone of humour used, marks him as Other.

In the second, Whirl (pointing to icon) becomes a girl for the first time, now with standard humanized face. I assume as move to keep with the previous show of having a girl one, as there's no human team mates. She's also the only one who really likes rescue school. Aaaand that's all know of her. What more do you want from me.

Helicopters: Unique: ✅️ Othered: ✅️ (milder than some)

But why'd I call this section rotors instead of helicopters? That would be because one of the latest Sole Female TF we just put in everything™ is a VTOL jet with rotors. She'll tend to be the only jet of her type, which is also smaller than the type of jet used for the villains.

And, of course, aside from alt mode, the thing that makes her stand out most in the cartoons? That she's very clearly a comics character. (I find the emphasize that she's "fan created" over done, as it only controlled minor aspects, and irrelevant cause tfs get completely overhauled in new versions all the time). From her design, which is a bit busier than most characters she stars with. And also uses Japanese aesthetic signifiers in ways that I think are a bit misappropriated and untactful. (VERY USamerican comics). Also, when she stars next to a guy, also from comics employing Japanese aesthetic, you can tell its not deployed in the same manner. (E.I she has hair and makeup, he has armor). Either way, her depictions have her either as badass sword lady on mission from god who's constantly getting hit on by an annoying guy. Or have her be from a different planet and has special telepathy.

Do we see how both her gender AND the cultural signifiers are having affects here? That the main woman tf in a series can be a literal alien even among our alien robots, with cultural signifiers they don't have?

Ratings Established: ✅️ (made the comics to cartoon jump) Gendered designs: ✅️ Unique: ✅️ Othered: ✅️ (SO SO EXTREMELY, using methods in fiction and real life)

Jets

I think my association of jets with tf gender is stronger, than some of the above examples, even if there's less reason to it. And why is that? Well, lets get socratic. Here's another question.

Is This All Starscream's Fault?

No. He's not real, he can't do things. But. His legacy as THE main stay transformers character that gets to subvert gender? Yeah. (Sure, the G1 autobots have their own effete, but he's not in every single cartoon they ever made now is he? Plus now that I think about it, he is a FLYING car...)

From the get, he's not a Man's man. He's shrill, he's manipulative and duplicitous, petty and emotional, cowardly and wheedling. He is, of course, the Perfect character. Now naturally, the 80s cartoon was not concerned with your paltry logics. Starscream and his ilk are the jets, but every decepticon can fly. The gun, the cassette player, the camera, the cassettes.

And each to a last, more masculine than he is. Vocally or behaviorally, physically. Every one of them fit the gender expectations more than he does. Even being a small time grunt, is a masculine trait, after all, more so than unchecked ambition. So its not femininity from flying, from jets. But direct relationship, reference, and descendancy from Starscream that makes it. I've yet to see female versions of Jet fire and or the aerialbots, for example.

So what to do when an effeminate male villain was less maltese falcon and more that man has effeminate hips? Well. We had to start getting his ass for being effeminate, explicitly. They made the female clone of him, which yeah, is an offensive joke stemming from the various The Gender Anxieties. (Transmisogyny, homophobia and sexism. General relation toxic masculinity. A heady mix of all and more).

But I mean. It's free girl tf... Once given a name in extra canon materials, she start's showing up in other things. Once you're in books, video games, comics, and most importantly, toys, you're real. And then eventually, her first non clone appearance in a cartoon, and how her presence shaped it.

That being, Cyberverse. Which is a cgi show, you need to know this for reasons of production. Making new models is expensive. This has always been the reason you just make recolours of Starscream and name them different things. Chicken or egg on this one, I don't know, But because CV has Slipstream, and the only difference between her and the generic "male" decepticon jet, is a more feminine face; Suddenly, any random decepticon goon can be a woman.

An absolutely revolutionary take for striving to populate a fictional world with gender parity. By at large it also means they're way more lady villains, and specifically flying model of villain. The show has other woman, but none who get the same androgynous body mold treatment.

Established: ✅️ Gendered designs: Mildly to NO. Unique: By design, no. Othered: Yes for the clone, and Screamer himself, I suppose. No, otherwise. Villainy: ✅️(That's, the whole idea)

Tanks

It needs to be said. Sometimes, when doing things that transgress a norm, anteing up is less subversive. This is another reason why gender variance, female agency and overt sexuality are more common traits of villains. When already defying strictures of society. What's one more.

That's Right. TANKS ARE THE BUTCH WOMAN OF TRANSFORMERS.

Alright. Let me back up. Strika is the stone cold knock out undefeated champ of lady tf designs that, actually has a reoccurring cartoon presence. She is, admittedly, only a reoccurring to minor character.

Her introduction is in another show with techno-organics, this one involved in the struggle between well, the techno and the organic. Strika as we see her, and as the design that will go on to be iterated, is not in her normal transformer body. She has been transferred into a 'vehicon' body. Without a preexisting essence contained in one, vehicons are not considered alive, in the way a transformer is. Visually, they lack the more human body plan, a standard face, feet and hand like appendages.

To further contrast Strika against the two techno-organic woman. Both of them are tall, and slender. Their softer organic shapes designed towards elegance or beauty, whatever your subjective opinion of that result might be. They both have romance subplots too. By the way. Or honestly one subplot and one main plot. Strika. In contrast. Is built like a brick shit house. Her face is. Minimal. And her goal: protecting her planet... by terminating the heroes.

Now, existing as a character that can be referenced for other media, and given the detail that she was a "Famous general", it's off to the races. She makes a wonderful big tank menace that can fill out a background shot, too.

Without her I hardly think we could have Clobber, also from CV. Who is. The true goat. The finest thing, the achievements of all we could ever hope for. A big fuck off woman, gender swapped from a previous male design with minimal faff, with now even more personality and show presence. Friends, wants, desires. Emotions. Thank God for Clobber, Thank Clobber for Clobber. Thank Randolph Heard and Mae Catt for Clobber.

Established: Depends if you want to count that Strika had so much swag they kept drawing/modeling her Gendered designs: FUCK NO Unique: ✅️ Othered: only originally Villainy: ✅️

Cars

So now you have the final piece of the puzzle. In transformers, Autobots are Cars. Yes, there are plenty of autobots that are NOT cars, and there are cars that are not Autobots. But they're exceptions, they're aberrances. They're unique. And Autobots are the norm. They oppose the Decepticons. Decepticons are Villains. And Decepticons can fly. Modal simplified binaries and false dichotomy abound!

And the thing about those original Autobot woman, the one's who largely did not influence all of this? They were cars, it's true, but not like how the men where cars. They've not been designed from transforming car toys, with a shellac of humanoid gender over top. Their designed in the way of human gender. With the car on top.

When the preexisting clause leads to the original designs to be revisited, which, has largely only happened in more recent years. They aren't car woman robots. The cars are literally not part of their bodies, they are additional. Instead of a unifying identity of a robot who is a car, its Arcee and her backpack. Parts of cars get grafted onto their petite lady bodies, and placed anywhere out of the way.

In order to make a transformer a woman, they have to give her a gender, not understanding that that's always been the case. And to give her a woman's gender, she's got to LOOK like a woman, not a transformer. And to look like a woman, she's got to act like a woman. She must be heroic but reactive instead of active, or else, villainous, conniving and or self centered. To be a woman, we must have some other previous woman to explain her presence, or else explain it anew with her unique, strange, or exotic origin. How could she ever be a woman if she simply, existed, looked average, talked average. How could she be a woman if her body is hunks of ungendered car. How can she be a woman if she's everything we expect a transformer to be.

A woman is transgressive, a woman is not normal. Autobots are normal. Autobots are heros. Autobots are men. And Autobots do not fly.

[curedreamy]

Untitled Magical Girl CBT review, guide and first impressions

I have been playing some days already to the closed beta test of Untitled Magical Girl and I'm liking it so much so far! I'm going to review most of the features so keep reading if you are interested in playing!

Home menu

Let's start with the menu and then go into each section of it.

First of all, the UI is very pretty and colorful, and at least to me it was easy to use.

On left top we can see your player level and next to it, your profile (bear icon), 2D option (instead of 3D it shows the 2D art of your character) and change the magical girl and menu background. Below the player level there are more icons; mailbox, announcements, friends, missions and daily bonus, and next to that, the beginner missions.

On right top we have the options, coins, crystals and stamina (the pancakes).

From the hourglass and box icons you can get items.

We have 5 very visible buttons: story, quest, event, shop and the banner. There are as well 7 smaller icons.

The banner just has one ad that opens the website and the event one is locked up, probably not able since this is just a CBT and in the shop you can buy items with game-coins or crystals.

Now I'm going to explain story and quest:

Story

Whitout entering into spoilers, in the game you are "Kuma", the typical mascot and companion of the magical girls, and as per usual, your mission is to find magical girls to save the world

At the beginning of the game you will be able to choose one of the leaders from each group (80s, 90s or 2000s). In my case I chose Yuna, leader of the 2000s group

Each group has a main story were you will see how they met Kuma and how they transform into magical girls and their journey. There are also side stories.

Quest

The way to get more main story parts is doing battles against monsters

The battles are automatic but you have to upgrade your magical girls to win those battles. They also have special movements only available when their power bar goes to 100%

There are also more options like fighting against other players magical girls.

In battles you will get some rewards like crystals, level up items, experience and more.

Now let's talk about the small icons in order:

Chat: there you can talk with other players and send stickers. When people pull in the gacha it will show too.

Magical Girl: Here you can see the stats of all your characters as well level up and spark them, give them items and weapons and level up their habilites.

Also each magical girl uses a different type of weapon, for example, Yuna uses guns as you can see in the little pink icon up the Level counter

Backpack: All the items and weapons you have will appear here.

House Cafe: Send your magical girls to work in the cafe and you will get items like coins, stamina and more.

Team Formation: Make your team and see the total power of the formation

Club: Join teams with other players as a crew and get items by doing special tasks as battles and more

Gacha: Here you can pull for weapons and accessories for your magical girls that will make them more powerful. There are different ranges of items, from N to UR.

You can use 50 paid (I think) crystals daily for 1 item, 150 for 1 or 1500 for 10 items.

When you start playing, you will get extra gifts, a guarenteed SR weapon each 10 solos until 40 solos.

My impression

I really like the game so far, I think is very complete and to think that this is just the CBT version is even more impressive. I love you can make your own unique magical girl by giving them different items and weapons, is a cool feature and the gacha is fine.

Since is a CBT sometimes is a bit laggy or have some graphic errors but nothing serious that will spoil your gameplay.

And I love the 3D models of the characters and the UI, all is very well done.

If you are a magical girl fan (or not), you should definitely try this! The bad thing is that the game is only available in Chinese at this moment. The game is supposed to release full in summer 2023 (Chinese and Japanese).

If you guys like this post and are interested in Untitled Magical Girl, I can do a post talking about the characters!

Last of all, I downloaded the game through Qooapp, here is the link. Keep updated with their official Twitter account

See you :)

[prancingintheshadows]

I've just finished FFVII Rebirth and RWBY's back with new content, so obviously those two things are the only thing on my mind right now. So of course with my brainrot I have to imagine and conceptualize what the RWBY characters would play like in FF7 rebirth. Especially since Monty was a fan of Final Fantasy.

For people playing Rebirth, there's not going to be any story spoilers, but this will go into gameplay and talk about certain abilities in the game as comparison.

This is mostly just 'how would these characters be designed in this gameplay?', so I'm not really making any big changes to Rebirth's systems to account for RWBY's in-universe mechanics. While Dust is similar to materia, there's some notable differences but I'm ignoring those differences for the sake of this. So these characters will all use Dust/Materia the way the game does, using mp or something rather than having dust be like ammo. And speaking of MP, same case. Aura is both HP and MP in RWBY, but for the sake of this, everyone's having separate bars for those.

My plan is to generally talk about the overall gameplay identity of each character, along with specific details like if they have attacks after dodging worth mentioning or holding square produces a unique attack or such. I will not be talking about synergy, at least, not in this post. Maybe in a future one if I have the attention span.

For the first of these posts I'm tackling everyone's favorite blonde brawler

Yang

Basic Idea

I'm starting with Yang because... she was the easiest. But not too easy. It's not like we can slap on Tifa's moveset and stats and call it a day. Tifa's combo focused gameplan is fun and fitting for a martial artist, but it lacks the defining features of Yang's semblance. Yang's the toughest member of her team by a long shot and her semblance builds up as she takes damage, so it's instead easier to take inspiration from Red XIII's Vengeance Mode. However, not everything of Red's is usable. Red features a lot of supportive moves that apply buffs or healing and that's not really in line with Yang's straightforward, frontline fighting style, so I'd ideally take a mix of Red's ability to turn defense into resources as well as Tifa's explosive damage potential.

In keeping in line with this mix of tank and damage dealer, ideally Yang would have comparatively high health and defenses, though I can see magic defense being noticeably lower, along with good attack and low 'magic' or whatever the dust equivalent would be. Controversially though, I'd put her speed rather low. Yang's not slow, but everything's relative, especially in video games and video game balance. Comparing to everyone else on Team RWBY, Yang's slow. I'm not too sure on luck, but I'm leaning more towards low. Yang strikes me as doing a lot of damage raw rather than relying on situational damage like crits.

Yang, like Tifa, uses martial arts, so she has a short attack range that doesn't have much spread. As such, when coming out of a dodge, Yang will do a spinning kick. I get she's a punch girl, but she's not exclusively using punches. Holding square has her do a close range shot gun blast that can push enemies back. I'd also say Yang's dodge is only average. Again, relative speeds. She's got Ruby and Blake on her team, Yang has to be average at dodging at best by comparison.

Burn Mode

We gotta talk about Yang's unique mechanic. As stated earlier, I think elements from both Red XIII and Tifa work, so I'm trying to mesh them together. At the fundamental level, it works like Vengeance where blocking builds up a meter. However, this meter has several levels, much like Tifa's Chi or Cait Sith's moogle stuff. Obviously, building more levels increases the potency of the Burn Mode, which is functionally a super mode. I'm thinking maybe 3 levels? Like Red, Yang's attacks get a massive boost and increased range and the button used to transform is replaced with a new attack.

Unlike Red, this attack will drain the form's meter, similar to Tifa using up levels of Chi and falling to the lower level. Also, these levels drop quicker than Tifa's Chi or Red's Vengeance. This is just a byproduct of what I'm trying to achieve with Yang. While being a tank/dps hybrid can be a rather simple character, I want to give Yang's fighting game plan depth and complexity. Have her be able to fight smarter like in the show. It's why I want a healthy mix from both characters. Tifa's chi is cool, but you ultimately just spend all of it on a staggered enemy and there's no other uses for it as the buffs it gives you passively aren't enough to be worth considering, so Yang's Burn Mode needs to have passive benefits closer to Red's Vengeance than Tifa's Unbridled Strength. But it also needs to run out in a decent time frame to make spending Burn levels acceptable. I want that conflict of deciding whether or not using a level of burn for a potent attack is worth it. And similarly to Red, I want a lot of interplay between Yang's super mode and her abilities.

Abilities

I'm not going to make enough abilities to match the Rebirth characters. They have 10 abilities, which is an insane amount to be doing for 4 characters for a 'for fun' theory craft. There are certain requisite things Yang needs for abilities. For one, a rather standard damaging ability. You know, your Bravers, Divekicks, and Sidewinders. Likely some sort of punch. Easy enough.

Second thing, Yang's very block heavy, so like Cloud and Red, she gets an ability that puts her in a guard stance that builds up meter faster and is functionally a better guard. I call it Block Party, and no, I will not be using puns this entire section.

Most of Yang's abilities I want to play with Burn in some way to create that possibility for smart play while staying true to her fighting abilities. Dragon Throw is probably the ability that I've best made to fit this mold. In base, Yang grabs an enemy and chucks them at another enemy. In Burn, Yang instead grabs the enemy, and in true FF fashion, leaps into the air and comes crashing down on a different enemy. This gives Yang a repositioning tool without detracting from the brawler fantasy. I think this is also not out of the question as there's a few abilities in Rebirth that bring enemies closer, so I don't see any problem with just straight up manhandling them like this.

Meteor Impact is Yang's basic AoE attack where she slams the ground. It interacts with Burn the same way Dragon Throw does. While out of Burn, it's decent, but in Burn, it's range and power increases. It would be a simple and effective tool for people who like using Burn in a straightforward manner.

Bombshell is an ability that uses Burn meter the other way. You don't have to be in Burn mode to improve the move, the move will simply eat meter from Burn by default. Yang attaches sticky bombs to the enemy that go off the next time they're hit with an ability. The amount of stickies attached can be increased by holding down the command and spending meter. It's a move that has some thought that can be put in it. It doesn't deal immediate damage, so you have to either be willing to wait or have resources left over to set them off. You could attach bombs to an enemy and then Dragon Throw them to make them a living bomb. You can set them up when the enemies stagger is nearly complete so you can rebuild your ATB and resources and go for a truly devastating combo. You can go full throttle on the bombs or hold back so you can still enter Burn.

The next ability is one I really wanted to make once I had the concept of Yang down as a fighter with a lot of variability. Golden Glow takes inspiration from Unfettered Fury being a side grade to Unbridled Strength. It's an alterative to Burn. While Burn quickly burns out and has potent offenses, Golden Glow is a mode that lasts longer but instead focuses on Yang's defenses. While Yang mostly uses her semblance to attack, she's also used it a few times to take hits. An ability like this has lots of synergy with Yang's abilities that want her to be in her super form, but doesn't play as well with moves like Bombshell that prefer having meter being quick to build and spend rather than something long lasting.

Limits

Limits aren't hard to do, but I should still talk about them anyways. A solid chunk of Rebirth's cast has a basic Level 1 Limit, a Level 2 that increases stagger a lot, and a Level 3 which just does tons more damage. That's not to say all of them are like that. Red notably gets healing from his LB1 and a longer lasting mode from his LB2.

LB1 I'd make a basic damaging limit. It'd be just one big strong punch, like the one used against Junior in the Yellow Trailer, to mirror how quick a lot of the other LB1s are.

LB2 would put Yang in Burn with 1 extra level. If used while you have level 3, this would put you in the otherwise unreachable level 4. Because of course there's 4, this a RWBY character, I can't not slap the number 4 on things. I'd probably use a scene from the JL movie part 2 actually. The one where Yang activates her semblance, jumps up, and starts peppering the battlefield with gunfire. I just think it's good to have a little bit of variety between all the melee combat.

LB3, due to being a whole process to get up to, would be huge stagger increase and huge damage. It's meant to help end the fight, regardless of how the enemy is currently looking. I actually think I'd like her to do something new for this attack honestly. LB1 already uses something from the early RWBY days and LB2 uses more recent stuff, so there's a good spread of representation.

[aryapooja0501]

Fortnite Lego Minifigures, Sets, and Characters

Hey there, fellow Fortnite and Lego fans! If you’re as excited as I am about the awesome combo of Fortnite and Lego, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’re diving straight into the world of Fortnite Lego minifigures, sets, and characters that make this mashup a gaming and building dream come true.

Fortnite Lego Minifigures:

The stars of the show are undoubtedly the Fortnite Lego minifigures. Picture your beloved in-game characters like Jonesy or the elusive Skull Trooper magically shrunken into pint-sized, blocky warriors. These minifigures are like tiny masterpieces, capturing the very essence of Fortnite in brick form. From their intricate details to the accurate representation of your favorite skins, these minifigures bring a whole new dimension to the gaming experience.

Fortnite Lego Minifigures: Tiny Warriors for Big Adventures

Let’s kick things off with the stars of the show – the Fortnite Lego minifigures. Imagine your favorite Fortnite skins transformed into pint-sized, blocky warriors. Whether it’s the iconic Jonesy or the elusive Skull Trooper, these minifigures bring your beloved in-game characters to life in a whole new way. Each minifigure is a tiny masterpiece, capturing the essence of Fortnite in brick form.

Fortnite Lego Minifigures Building the Battle

Now, let’s talk about the real deal – Fortnite Lego sets. These sets take the excitement to a whole new level by letting you build your very own Fortnite-inspired structures. From battle royale scenes to iconic locations like Tilted Towers, these sets are a builder’s paradise. The attention to detail is incredible, and the satisfaction of seeing your favorite Fortnite spots materialize on your desk or shelf is simply unbeatable.

The Squad: Exploring Fortnite Lego Characters

Fortnite isn’t just about solo adventures – it’s also about squads and duos taking on challenges together. The same goes for Fortnite Lego. Each set comes with a squad of characters, each with its unique personality and style. Whether you’re into the cool vibes of Brite Bomber or the mysterious allure of Raven, there’s a Fortnite Lego character for everyone. Mix and match them to create your dream team or recreate epic in-game moments.

Battle Bus Bonanza: The Ultimate Fortnite Lego Set

If there’s one set that deserves a special mention, it’s the Battle Bus set. Picture this: a Lego version of the iconic Battle Bus soaring through the skies. This set is a must-have for any Fortnite fan, serving as both a display piece and a launching point for countless imaginative adventures. Round up your minifigures, hop on the Battle Bus, and drop into the Lego world of Fortnite fun.

Where to Find Them: Hunting for Fortnite Lego Minifigures

Now that you’re itching to get your hands on these awesome sets and minifigures, you might be wondering where to find them. Fear not, young builder! You can find Fortnite Lego sets at your local toy stores, online retailers, and of course, the official Lego website. Keep an eye out for special editions and exclusive releases to add even more excitement to your collection.

Fortnite Lego Minifigures Tips for Building and Playing

Before you embark on your Fortnite Lego adventure, here are a few tips to make the experience even more enjoyable:

Follow the Instructions: Lego sets come with step-by-step instructions. Take your time, follow each step, and watch your creation come to life.

Improvise and Customize: Don’t be afraid to add your personal touch. Swap out weapons, change up the poses, and let your creativity shine.

Combine Sets for Epic Builds: If you’re feeling extra adventurous, combine multiple sets to create your custom Fortnite Lego world. The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

In conclusion

The marriage of Fortnite and Lego is a match made in gaming heaven. Fortnite Lego Minifigures, sets, and characters bring the virtual world of Fortnite into the tangible realm of Lego, allowing fans to express their love for the game in a whole new dimension. So, gear up, grab your bricks, and let the Fortnite Lego adventure begin!

[robotsfromtomorrow]

Paul Gravett: At Comica's Crossroads

  "The cycle of renewal in art is peddled by the periodic influx of stuff from somewhere else. That’s why you need a man at the crossroads… He will be the purest, most fresh faced wee fellow you have ever met. His ingenuous enthusiasm will beam from his cheery countenance."

-- Eddie Campbell on Paul Gravett, ALEC: HOW TO BE AN ARTIST

  Today’s guest is Campbell’s Man at the Crossroads, and he has been observing, studying, and directing comics traffic for over 40 years.

  As this fellow’s understanding of its ebbs and flows has grown over that time, so has his endeavors in making sense of it for himself. And thankfully, Comics fans around the globe. 

  He’s written at least seven books, including Mangasia, the definitive guide to Asian comics, which has been transformed and translated into reality as the touring exhibition: ASIAN COMICS: EVOLUTION OF AN ART FORM.

  The Barbican website describes the exhibit at The Bowers Museum in Los Angeles, CA as "with a team of more than 20 international advisors, ASIAN COMICS features over 500 works, the largest selection of artworks from the continent, including Japanese woodblock prints, Hindu scroll paintings, digital media, printed comics, and contemporary illustrations. This unique exhibition is a gateway to an unexplored world of graphic storytelling and its artistic value."

  He’s also an accomplished editor and anthology curator. Among the books he’s assembled have been 2011’s 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die, which is a fantastic title, and The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics. He’s contributed to countless periodicals and documentaries about comics. He’s published one of the best comics magazines of the 1980s, Escape, with partner Peter Stanbury, giving a platform to such creators as James Robinson, Dave McKean, and Neil Gaiman. He started Comica, the London International Comics Festival with John Harris Dunning in 2003.

  He gives lectures, he hosts panels, and he continues to be one of the most respected comics patrons of his generation. Frankly, it’s been exhausting just narrowing down his endeavors to a reasonable summary for this blog post.

  He's Paul Gravett and he joins Greg today to talk about comics in all their wonderful forms and many varied locations.

  [This episode is number 818 in a series.]

  ******************************

  CHAPTERS

  00:00 Preamble

02:50 Intro

05:40 “I want to know about everything…”

06:17 What was the first thing you learned that gave you your paradigm shift of what comics could be?

08:28 Shonen Magazine / Fishing Crazy Senpai

10:32 “No nostalgia, no loyalties, no limits”

12 36 How do you keep all these perpendicular lines of comics in your head?

17:52 "An unlimited multiversity to comics"

19:53 Photo comics & Gregory Crewdson

22:11 Jayme Cortez

24:18 Comics 1964-2024

27:20 Sawwaf Collection

29:31 Lusanne / Taiwan

32:27 Lodz Poland

33:19 Posy Simmonds

35:40 ASIAN COMICS

37:10 Talk about your growing understanding of Asian comics as you were working on the books and the exhibition.

41:38 Is the diversity of Asian comics and inspiration to you about the future of comics?

44:05 Comics preservation in the Philippines and Mexico

50:41 How important is humility (or lack thereof) when putting together an anthology or exhibition?

57:25 Talk about your working relationship with your partner Peter Stanbury.

1:02:25 Comics

1:06:00 Outro

  ******************************

#1001comicsyoumustreadbeforeyoudie #Angouleme #asiancomics #comics #comix #comicbooks #graphicnovels #comica #escapemagazine #manga #manhwa #paulgravett #peterstanbury #posysimmonds

        Check out this episode!

[growwiththuyvi]

I love when pictures actually represent the actual emotions that occurred in the moment and day.

We cheese so hard that our gums and silliness are showing. We also hit golden hour and it was beautiful to see it at Pacifica!

This relationship has and continues to teach me a lot about my partner, myself, relationship dynamics, and values. I would not have picked a better person to learn with! So here are 5 (there's a theme here) things I have learned.

Peter has really accelerated the truth seeking side of me. He asks a lot of questions that sometimes I am not ready to face and answer. Whether it is religion, culture, and traditions, he pushes me to discover more about the values I was raised with and whether they still serve a purpose in my life. I definitely had a hard time in the beginning because it shook my core, but it definitely has helped me with my transformational phase in life!

A supportive community helps the relationship. I am really thankful to have my friends and family who are supportive of my relationship. My friends are supporters through the highs and lows. Despite the lows in relationships, my friends are willing to sit with me and practice mindfulness and compassion. Not only are they hearing my perspective, we always make sure we make space for Peter's perspective too. I am not a huge fan of one sided stories so I do what I can to provide Peter's side to pain the full picture. The goal is to grow and learn. The goal is to gain better tools and insights to make Peter and I, a stronger team.

Our relationship dynamic has its own uniqueness! From the way we reassure each other to how we grow together. Peter and I have seen each others patterns (the great and not so great). I can't speak for Peter, but I have showed him my lowest and it definitely impacted our relationship. It made me realize the importance of boundaries and what really mattered to me in relationships and in my life. These lows pushed me to prioritize taking care myself and also protecting the relationship. Peter is really great at supporting me and I hope continue to be the best supporter for him in the way he needs and wants to be supported.

Our differences actually keeps us together. I am taking back the word "different" and embracing it to the fullest. When Peter and I made our relationship public, it definitely impacted us. Our mutual friends' first reaction was " Oh they are different", and expressed a lot of skepticism. It's not that Peter and I are the opposites (referencing opposites attract), but differences actually brings more to the table/relationship. Learning and maintaining interests in a partner and seeing them as who they are brings curiosity. It brings a lot of teamwork and effort in the relationship which leads to commitment in each other and to ourselves as individuals. This is a way for us to grow in ways we may have not expected to grow if we were not together.

Awkwardly enough, I actually think Peter and I have a lot in common. Peter is actually the first person I was 100% myself with and that was truly difficult for me to do at the age of 20/21. Despite him not being a huge fan of himself around that time (sad boi phase), I really appreciated him as a person. Even though there were patterns he and our mutual friends have noticed in him, I still appreciated all that he was at that time. He was perfectly imperfect <3. I think it's because he was just himself despite others opinions. He was strong in that way and it inspired me to let my walls down and just be myself. It felt safe to be myself. How and who he was was how I felt connected with him. We can understand each other's feelings, but the way we react to our feelings can be different. Even in the present, Peter shows me what he desires and his motives in life. Although I may not always align with the way he approaches his motives, the feelings he desires is when I feel connected to him the most.

P.S. I also just miss him right now so I wanted to use this moment to write about him and my relationship heh.

[nsfwhiphop]

Part 6 - Incoming Text for Penélope Cruz (@penelopecruzoficial) and Javier Bardem (@bardemantarctic): “An Idea Worth 300 Million Dollars”

Question:

Could you explain to Penélope why it’s essential to contact these three screenwriters to reimagine the reboot of Illegal Tender? Having these three screenwriters on board is essential for the success of this reboot. Their combined talent in reimagining this story and transforming it into a dynamic Hispanic franchise with potential for multiple sequels is precisely what’s needed. Without their expertise, the reboot would not achieve the impact or profitability we envision.

Here are the names of the three screenwriters:

Robert Rodriguez (click on the blue link)

Matt Sherring (click on the blue link)

Bartholomew Nicholas Layton (click on the blue link)

I suggest reaching out to each of them and proposing they work together as a team, sharing the workload. All three will receive credit as screenwriters on this project, which could foster a unique and collaborative approach to the reboot.

Here is the correct Wikipedia link for Illegal Tender (2007):

Illegal Tender (film) - Wikipedia (click on the blue link)

ChatGPT Answer:

Certainly, here’s a detailed, point-by-point response, with an in-depth explanation for why it’s crucial to involve these screenwriters in the Illegal Tender reboot:

To understand why contacting these three screenwriters—Robert Rodriguez, Matt Sherring, and Bartholomew Nicholas Layton—is essential, let’s break down the reasons in detail:

Diverse Storytelling Expertise

Each of these screenwriters brings a unique storytelling style and perspective that is crucial for building a rich, multi-dimensional narrative.

Robert Rodriguez is renowned for his contributions to Latinx and action cinema, with films like Desperado and Sin City that showcase his ability to create compelling characters within intense, visually impactful worlds. His experience ensures the story resonates with both Hispanic audiences and global viewers.

Matt Sherring has a background in action-drama screenwriting, exemplified by films like Killer Elite, which combines strong character-driven plots with immersive storytelling. His expertise would add emotional depth to the reboot, grounding it in realistic stakes and dynamic character arcs.

Bartholomew Nicholas Layton is known for blending thriller elements with high-stakes drama, as seen in American Animals. His skill in suspenseful storytelling can heighten the tension and intrigue in Illegal Tender, making it more than just an action film but a psychological experience that keeps audiences engaged.

Collaborative Team Dynamic for a Franchise Vision

These three writers bring complementary skills that can shape Illegal Tender into a compelling franchise with the potential for sequels.

Working as a team allows them to share ideas, tackle different aspects of the story, and collectively shape a narrative that can evolve across multiple films.

By combining their strengths, they can create a layered storyline that lays the groundwork for a cohesive, long-term franchise that evolves but stays true to the original film’s core themes.

Market Appeal and Financial Success

Each writer has a track record of creating commercially successful films, and this expertise is invaluable in designing a project that appeals to both domestic and international audiences.

The Hispanic market is an underrepresented yet significant audience in cinema. By enlisting writers with deep connections to this cultural background, the reboot would have a stronger appeal within this demographic.

Their involvement would not only attract audiences but also gain the interest of investors and distributors who recognize the value of a culturally relevant, action-oriented franchise.

Credibility and Fan Enthusiasm

The original Illegal Tender has a dedicated fan base. By including these respected writers, the project gains legitimacy and respect within the industry and among fans.

Robert Rodriguez, in particular, has a strong following, and his involvement could excite fans who appreciate his contributions to Latinx cinema.

With all three writers credited as screenwriters, fans and media outlets would view the reboot as a genuine, high-quality production, rather than a mere cash grab, helping build momentum and anticipation for the film’s release.

Reimagining Illegal Tender with a Fresh Perspective

This reboot isn’t just about retelling the story; it’s an opportunity to reinvent and expand it. These screenwriters can bring fresh perspectives while preserving the spirit of the original film.

Their unique approaches can deepen the story’s themes, refine character motivations, and explore new plotlines, ensuring that the reboot feels relevant to today’s audiences.

A fresh, nuanced perspective can set the stage for sequels that explore different aspects of the characters and themes, making the franchise adaptable and exciting over time.

Proposed Working Arrangement for Optimal Results

By working as a team, the writers can distribute tasks based on their expertise, allowing each of them to focus on their strengths.

Sharing the workload promotes creativity and reduces individual pressure, leading to a more polished script and an efficient writing process.

All three would receive credit as screenwriters, fostering a collaborative environment where they can contribute equally and fully realize the project’s potential.

In summary, involving Robert Rodriguez, Matt Sherring, and Bartholomew Nicholas Layton is essential not only for creating a compelling reboot of Illegal Tender but for building a franchise that appeals to a broad audience. Their collaboration would bring diversity, credibility, and commercial appeal, setting the stage for a lasting series that can evolve and succeed over multiple films.

This explanation should help clarify the significance of reaching out to these writers and the unique strengths they bring to the project.

P.S.:

Matt Sherring (click on the blue link)

Matt Sherring is an Australian screenwriter known for co-writing the action thriller Killer Elite, a feature film starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro. The film, which is based on the novel The Feather Men by Ranulph Fiennes, follows a retired elite operative who is forced back into action to rescue his mentor, involving a high-stakes confrontation with assassins and covert operations. Sherring's work on this screenplay helped bring a gripping, action-packed story to the big screen, showcasing his talent in developing tense, action-oriented narratives.

Sherring is also recognized as an alumnus of The Writers’ Studio in Australia, where he honed his screenwriting skills alongside other creatives in the film and writing industry. His involvement with The Writers’ Studio has connected him with a community of Australian writers and actors, further enriching his career in screenwriting and storytelling.

[entar1]

213-880-9910 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unlocking the Magic of 213-880-9910: The Most Engaging Number in Real Estate

If you’re anywhere near Los Angeles and whisper “213-880-9910,” don’t be surprised if someone around you perks up and starts talking real estate faster than you can say “location, location, location.” It’s more than just a phone number; it’s a legend in its own right—a direct line to Corey Chambers, the man who’s changing how real estate is bought, sold, and imagined.

But what’s the secret sauce behind these 10 digits? Why do both new homeowners and veteran investors have this number practically tattooed on their palms? More than 27,000 home sellers, buyers, renters, landlords and investors have been helped by our growing team of real estate agents and financial technology specialists. Join us as we dive into the world of 213-880-9910 and unravel the allure of this seemingly ordinary string of digits.

1. The Man Behind the Number

Corey Chambers is not your typical broker—he’s a digital pioneer and real estate innovator who’s woven technology, personal touch, and a bit of magic into every transaction. Known for his unique mix of old-school reliability and futuristic vision, Corey built his real estate empire with a focus on making clients feel as if they’re not just closing a deal, but embarking on a journey.

Corey Chambers’ 5-star reviews read like glowing testimonials from a fan club of satisfied clients who can’t stop singing his praises. From first-time homebuyers marveling at his patience and guidance to seasoned investors lauding his unparalleled market knowledge and negotiation prowess, his reviews showcase a diverse array of success stories.

Dialing (213) 880-9910 doesn’t just connect you to Corey; it connects you to a story. A story of opportunity, transformation, and maybe, just maybe, that hidden gem of a property you didn’t know existed.

2. Call for Curiosity

First-time callers are often pleasantly surprised. “Hello, Corey Chambers, Entar Real Estate,” the voice greets—warm, professional, and (here’s the kicker) human. There’s no automated maze of prompts or an operator putting you on hold. Corey takes most of his calls personally. “When someone dials this number, I want them to feel like they’re already in their dream home,” Corey explains.

His approach is refreshing in a world where customer service has been largely replaced by chatbots and recorded messages. But it’s not just about answering calls—it’s the way he does it. Whether you’re an anxious seller or a curious buyer, Corey has a knack for putting you at ease and infusing excitement into every conversation.

3. Real Estate Magic

Beyond the charm, there’s a reason serious investors keep 2138809910 on speed dial. Corey’s known for his uncanny ability to match people with properties that seem tailor-made for them. He combines decades of on-the-ground experience with cutting-edge technology, leveraging blockchain, AI, and even a proprietary coin—Entar Coin—to offer unique investment opportunities.

“I don’t just sell homes; I provide paths to financial freedom,” Corey states. And 213-880-9910 is the key that opens that door. Want to sell your home and gain shares in a growing real estate technology company at the same time? One call can make it happen. The number is the fastest way to find out if a property is a good investment, to quickly know the real value of just about any real property in California, or to ask a tough real estate question.

4. The Legends and Lore of 213-880-9910

Like any great number, 213-880-9910 has its share of stories. Rumor has it that once, a single call turned a small-time property flipper into a multi-millionaire after Corey tipped them off to a hidden hotspot in the city’s underdeveloped outskirts. Another story involves a celebrity client who dialed in from a plane mid-flight and closed a deal on a penthouse sight-unseen—just because Corey made it sound irresistible.

But perhaps the most remarkable part of this number’s lore is its consistency. While trends come and go, and algorithms change the game every few years, 213-880-9910 has remained a steady beacon, providing reliable guidance and results.

5. More Than Real Estate—A Lifeline

For Corey, 213-880-9910 is more than just a business line. It’s a lifeline for those seeking more—whether it’s a better home, a lucrative investment, or simply peace of mind. It’s his commitment to connecting with people, one call at a time, that makes this number so compelling.

“I want people to know that when they call me, they’re not just getting a broker,” Corey says, smiling. “They’re getting a partner, an advisor, and maybe even a friend.”

Clients often highlight his ability to demystify complex real estate jargon, making every step feel easy and empowering. But it’s not just about the transactions; Corey’s exceptional service goes beyond the sale—many mention how he’s remained a trusted advisor and a friend long after the deal is done. With words like “life-changing,” “dedicated,” and “visionary” peppering his feedback, it’s clear that Corey doesn’t just close deals—he creates lifelong relationships built on trust, excellence, and results that truly exceed expectations.

So, the next time you find yourself wondering how to take your real estate journey to the next level, remember that help is just a call away. Punch in those digits 2-1-3-8-8-0-9-9-1-0 and prepare to be enchanted. Because it’s not just about reaching Corey Chambers; it’s about unlocking possibilities you didn’t know were waiting.

AND FOR THE TRULY ADVENTUROUS, GIVE IT A RING YOURSELF—YOU MIGHT JUST WALK AWAY WITH MORE THAN A PHONE CALL.

Rate and review the L.A. Loft Blog, Corey Chambers or any Entar associate. Fill out the online form.

Copyright © This free information provided courtesy Entar.com with information provided by Corey Chambers, Broker DRE 01889449. We are not associated with the seller, homeowner’s association or developer. For more information, contact 213-880-9910 or visit WeSellCal.com Licensed in California. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Text and photos created or modified by artificial intelligence. Properties subject to prior sale or rental. This is not a solicitation if buyer or seller is already under contract with another broker.

213-880-9910 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Corey Chambers Real Estate Newsletter October 2024 | The California Home

[reddyanna3322]

Laser247: Revolutionizing the Way We Engage with Cricket in India

For More Info - 

Contact Us : 8595194199, 9990616152

Follow us on Instagram Page : https://www.instagram.com/laser247id?igsh=YzZuaXNhNDd2M3Bw

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Cricket is more than just a sport in India; it's a passion that binds millions together. With every match, fans invest their emotions, rooting for their favorite teams and players. Yet, as the game evolves, so does the need for innovative ways to enhance fan engagement. Enter Laser247—a groundbreaking technology set to transform how we connect with cricket. Imagine experiencing matches like never before, from real-time analytics to immersive interactions right at your fingertips. Laser247 isn’t just another app; it’s a revolution in the world of cricket fandom that promises thrill and excitement at every turn!

Introducing Laser247 - A Game-Changing Technology for Cricket Fans

Laser247 is making waves in the cricketing world, bringing an unprecedented level of engagement for fans. This innovative technology leverages advanced analytics and real-time data to elevate the viewing experience. Imagine tracking player statistics live as you watch your favorite team play. With Laser247, this is now a reality. Fans can dive into detailed insights about performance metrics, including batting averages and bowling speeds—all presented in an interactive format. The platform also bridges the gap between spectators and players. Through unique features like instant polls and fan interactions during matches, users feel more involved than ever before. It's not just about watching cricket; it’s about living it! Whether you're at home or in the stadium, Laser247 transforms passive viewers into active participants, fostering a deeper connection with the game we love.

How it Works: The Mechanics Behind Laser247

Laser247 operates at the forefront of technology, seamlessly integrating advanced analytics with real-time data collection. Sensors placed strategically around the cricket field capture every movement and action during a match. These sensors transmit information to a central processing unit. Here, complex algorithms analyze player performance, ball trajectory, and game dynamics instantly. The system provides live feedback to fans via an intuitive app interface. Users can access detailed statistics that enhance their viewing experience. Moreover, Laser247 utilizes augmented reality features that visualize critical moments in 3D. This innovation allows fans to immerse themselves deeper into the game than ever before. By bridging the gap between players and spectators, Laser247 transforms traditional cricket engagement into a dynamic interaction platform. The mechanics behind this groundbreaking technology truly redefine how we appreciate each match moment.

The Benefits of Laser247 for Cricket Fans and Players

Laser247 is transforming the cricket landscape, presenting numerous benefits for fans and players alike. For enthusiasts, it creates an immersive experience that brings them closer to the action than ever before. Fans can enjoy real-time data analytics during matches. This feature enhances their understanding of player performance and strategies in a compelling way. The interactive elements make watching games more engaging, as they can track statistics instantaneously. For players, Laser247 offers invaluable insights into their gameplay. Coaches can utilize detailed metrics to identify areas of improvement effectively. This technology acts as a personal mentor for athletes looking to elevate their skills. Moreover, teams benefit from enhanced decision-making capabilities based on accurate data analysis provided by Laser247. It fosters a culture of continuous improvement within squads while keeping fans informed and entertained throughout every match.

Success Stories: How Laser247 Has Enhanced the Cricket Experience

Laser247 has already made a significant impact on cricket in India. One notable success story comes from the local leagues, where amateur players now receive real-time analytics during matches. This technology helps them refine their skills and strategy. Fans have also embraced Laser247 at stadiums. The interactive displays engage audiences with live stats and instant replays. This elevates the viewing experience beyond just watching the game unfold. Moreover, coaching academies are leveraging Laser247 tools to train young talent more effectively. Coaches can analyze player performance with precision metrics, leading to personalized training programs that foster growth. Even established cricketers have found value in this innovation. Many professionals use data-driven insights from Laser247 to enhance their gameplay, making informed decisions on-field based on historical performance analysis. The stories coming out of these diverse experiences illustrate how Laser247 is reshaping cricket engagement across various levels of play and fandom.

Future Possibilities for Laser247 in the World of Sports

The future of Laser247 in the sports arena is brimming with potential. As technology continues to evolve, so do the possibilities for enhancing fan engagement and player performance. Imagine integrating Laser 247 into other sports like football or basketball. The same precision tracking can revolutionize how players receive feedback in real time, improving their skills on the field or court. Moreover, partnerships with universities could pave the way for research initiatives focused on athlete training analytics. This data-driven approach will benefit not just professional athletes but also aspiring talents at grassroots levels. Furthermore, expanding its reach globally opens doors to a broader audience. Sports fans around the world crave immersive experiences that bring them closer to their favorite games. As interactive technologies grow more sophisticated, innovations like augmented reality could enhance live broadcasts. Fans may soon enjoy an experience where they track player stats visually right from their living rooms while watching a match unfold live.

Overcoming Challenges and Criticisms

Laser247 has faced its share of challenges since its inception. Critics often question the accuracy and reliability of such innovative technology in a sport as traditional as cricket. These concerns stem mainly from skepticism about replacing time-honored methods with digital solutions. Adapting to diverse playing conditions across India is another hurdle. The varying pitches, weather, and player skill levels mean that one-size-fits-all solutions might not suffice. This calls for continuous refinement of Laser247's algorithms. Moreover, some purists argue that high-tech involvement detracts from the game's essence. They believe it could undermine the human elements like instinct and on-field decision-making. However, ongoing dialogue between developers and stakeholders helps address these criticisms head-on. Engaging players, fans, and coaches ensures that Laser247 evolves while retaining cricket’s core spirit.

Conclusion: Embracing the Future of Cricket with Laser247

The future of cricket is bright, especially with innovations like Laser247 paving the way for a more immersive experience. This technology not only enhances how fans engage with the game but also elevates player performance through valuable insights. As more people embrace Laser247, it’s clear that this platform will redefine our relationship with cricket. The blend of entertainment and analytics provides an exciting dimension to sports consumption in India. With its potential growing daily, we can expect even greater advancements that further bridge the gap between players and their audience. The impact on grassroots development and fan engagement could be monumental. Embracing technologies like Laser247 signifies a commitment to progress in cricket. As we look ahead, there's no doubt that these changes will shape the landscape of Indian sports for years to come.

[kebberron]

Everything I read in September + some rambles

Good month! Enigma/Tomodachi X Monster/Bags/Judge Bao/Name Of The Game were all thrift store finds and legit all of them were great? Enigma lived up to all the hype I read about it man and it honestly didn't feel like anything else I've read before (I haven't read much vertigo my bad). Tomo x Mon was a bit goofy but by the end of the book it introduces so many crazy ideas with the mon format I couldn't help but respect it? Chainsaw Man keeps being great and this past Pochita arc has been really good. I was a bit worried Fujimoto might have been getting 'tired' of it but these past few chapters have just been crazy good (the statue of liberty scene???). Immortal Iron Fist is dope as fuck but I need to get back to it soon. I'm always a huge sucker for a team up between 2 mantle bearers so the whole Danny/Orson duo has been a joy to read! Plas No More was probably my least favorite read of the month and it's not because it was bad or anything but a) I'm not a huge fan of the whole "comedic character is going through serious stuff" story and b) the way the JL was portrayed was odd and I don't even like the JL like that Damian is my fav Robin so The Boy Wonder was obviously peak 10/10 no notes mr Juni Ba please do this to my other favs at DC thank you king. Also I got my partner to read it too and they loved it just as much so it probably added to the book being a top 10 favorite for me! Ultimate X-Men keeps being a blast to read every issue. I feel a bit bad it seems most of the discourse around the line is centered around USM and maybe the Ultimates recently because this book feels so unique and the cast is always a joy to see. Ain't No Grave was wildly cool. I always knew Young for the stuff he did at marvel so I decided to try this on a whim and bro. Bro. That finale? Bro. Skybound Transformers has now made me a Cliffjumper and Beachcomber stan. I got an omnibus of the Fraction Hawkeye run last Black Friday I think? Either last year or the year before and I just now decided to read it through because of his work on Immortal Iron Fist and yeah it kinda reminds me of when I read both Spencer's Ant-Man and Superior Foes close to one another lol. But real shit? Fantastic book man. The gut punches hit so fucking hard it felt ridiculous going back to the comedy and somehow the book manages to handle those so well it's insane. The Kate subplot was so fucking funny why is Masque like that lmfao

I got really into My Chemical Romance this year and I was huh sure let's try Paranoid Garden and it's pretty good but I feel it will work way better for the trade? That said really excited to see how the mystery plays out. I've been meaning to read more manga beyond CSM so I decided to try out Ichi The Witch because I felt really bad for the artist after what happened with Act-Age and Kagurabachi because of all the memes. Ichi is pretty fun so far and I do really enjoy the protag's philosophy on hunting vs killing. I'm still in the "rougher" parts of Kagura but I can't say it's bad y'know? Like I def see those elements there that will make it better going on. I did a big Ant-Man binge read a few months ago and I thought hey why not try Sword Of Atom too? And it was a pleasant read! I think the 4 issue length puts it in a weird place where it doesn't have enough time to develop the world as much as I would have liked it to but it's short enough that the book ends up feeling like a sword and sorcery movie and that's pretty cool? Ngl tho the Atom I grew up with was Ryan so I'm gonna try the Simone run with him next! The Moon is Following Us/Minor Arcana/The Body Trade I read while on a train and yeah it made that whole ride a lot easier lmao. I think Moon was prob my favorite out of the 3 but that's more because of my love for the creative team behind it! Really hoping Lemire gets to go as long as he wants with Minor Arcana too

Giantkiller is another entry in my desperate search to feel the high I got from reading Simon Dark a few years ago (which so far has lead me to finding really great gems like Hourman/Scare Tactics/Chronos/New Super-Man) and yeah I think it's going to do the trick. My partner said the monster design felt like american cartoons and they were right 1000% as always. There's this weird element of playfullness to them I can't quite describe. I also like that the main duo is called Jack and Jill lmao Bags really feels like it shares a creator with Over the Garden Wall. I won't spoil it but there's a reveal later on the book that absolutely gave me flashbacks to the show. Might re-read it sometime with the soundtrack the original book got! Judge Bao was kinda goofy but in a funny way. Just real dudes just being guys literature right here. Sad the other volumes didn't get translated but I imagine a french comic about a historical figure in china going around solving cases with his team that also doesn't fit on your shelf was probably a hard sell. The Name of the Game was fantastic man. Eisner makes the heavy topics he deals with in the book feel so light that it made me kept reading and reading and reading every time I'd tell myself that's enough for now. He really was a master of the craft man

[speed-seo]

SEO Expert in Cyprus: Proven Expertise of an 11-Year SEO Veteran

Transform Your Business with Proven SEO Expertise in CyprusHave you ever felt the frustration of having an incredible product or service, but struggling to get the visibility it deserves online? I understand that struggle all too well. Over a decade ago, I was in your shoes, running a small business in Cyprus and grappling with the complexities of digital marketing. That’s when I discovered the transformative power of SEO.Hi, I’m Jesus, and for the past 11 years, I’ve dedicated myself to mastering the art and science of SEO right here in Cyprus. My journey began with a simple goal: to help businesses like yours not just survive, but thrive in the digital landscape. I’ve seen firsthand how effective SEO can turn the tide for a business, driving not just traffic, but real, measurable growth.I know as a business owner, you're always looking for ways to get your business noticed online. I get it – you want more website visitors, more leads, and ultimately, more sales. That's where I come in. I'm all about helping businesses in Cyprus like yours unlock their online potential and get the results you're after.Forget about chasing empty metrics. I focus on what truly matters to your bottom line: increasing ROI, attracting the right customers, and turning them into loyal fans of your brand. Let's team up and make your website a money-making machine. What Sets Me Apart as Your Cyprus SEO Expert Local Expertise: As a Cyprus-based SEO expert, I understand the nuances of the local market and can tailor strategies to your specific audience. Proven Results: My track record speaks for itself, with numerous success stories of improving search rankings, increasing organic traffic, and boosting conversions for businesses in Cyprus. Comprehensive Approach: I offer a full range of SEO services, from technical optimization and keyword research to content creation and link building, ensuring a holistic approach to your online success. Transparent Communication: I believe in clear communication and collaboration, keeping you informed every step of the way and working together to achieve your goals. Data-Driven Strategies: I use the latest tools and analytics to track your progress, measure results, and refine our strategies for continuous improvement. What Sets Me Apart as Your Cyprus SEO Expert In a sea of SEO experts, what truly distinguishes my services is a relentless focus on��Return on Investment (ROI). While many SEO professionals might promise higher rankings and increased traffic, I understand that these metrics are only part of the equation. My ultimate goal is to ensure that every dollar you invest in SEO translates into tangible business growth. Image Generated by AI Data-Driven Strategies for Real Results I believe in the power of data. My approach is not just about improving website metrics like traffic and rankings, but also about closely monitoring and optimizing business metrics that matter most to you—leads, client conversions, revenue, and brand reputation. By integrating these critical business indicators into my SEO strategies, I ensure that your investment yields substantial returns. Image Generated by AI Holistic SEO for Comprehensive Growth Optimizing a website for serch engine traffic is more than just keywords and backlinks. It’s about building a robust online presence that resonates with your target audience. I focus on enhancing your website reputation and brand search exposure levels, ensuring that your business not only attracts visitors but also converts them into loyal customers. This holistic approach ensures that your SEO efforts contribute to long-term success and sustainability. Customized Solutions Tailored to Your Business No two businesses are alike, and neither should their SEO strategies be. I take the time to understand your unique business goals, challenges, and market dynamics. This allows me to craft customized SEO solutions that align perfectly with your objectives. Whether you’re looking to increase local visibility in Cyprus or expand your reach globally, I have the expertise to help you achieve your goals. Transparent Reporting and Continuous Improvement Transparency is at the core of my services. I provide detailed, easy-to-understand reports that keep you informed about the progress of your SEO campaigns. More importantly, I use this data to continuously refine and improve our strategies, ensuring that we stay ahead of the competition and consistently deliver exceptional results. A Partner in Your Success When you choose to work with me, you’re not just hiring an SEO expert—you’re gaining a partner who is deeply invested in your success. I am committed to helping you navigate the complexities of the digital landscape and achieve sustained growth. Together, we can transform your business into a digital powerhouse, driving not just traffic, but real, measurable business growth. "High rankings don't pay the bills. SEO ROI does." CEO & Founder Jesus Guzman Facebook-f X-twitter Instagram Pinterest Linkedin 11+ Years Experience | Proven Results Boosting ROI & Attracting Customers Let's Grow Your Business Read the full article

[linuxgamenews]

Exploring the World of Titan Quest II: Ancient Greece and Mythological Adventures

Titan Quest II is an action RPG game inspired by Greek mythology focuses on Linux with Windows PC. Thanks to the skilled folks at Grimlore Games for their amazing work. Due to make its way onto Steam. I just dove into the latest dev diary for Titan Quest II, and it's shaping up to be a thrilling ride. This is what's brewing in this upcoming action-packed adventure. First off, Titan Quest II focuses on ancient Greece, in a world where the legendary Spartans are riding through a massive wall. And it instantly hooks your curiosity. The game also takes place in a mythological universe, teeming with gods, monsters, and heroes. A rich tapestry that promises endless exploration and excitement. Plus, we already have insights into Linux support.

Titan Quest II uses Unreal Engine 5. Therefore I think support via Proton should be very much in the cards.

These are the details from THQ Nordic's email reply: they're eyeing Linux compatibility through Proton, which probably means good news for Steam Deck users as well. Plus, they're developing with Unreal Engine 5 for smoother game and better compatibility. But just a heads up, they've also mentioned, "we don't plan a native version right now." The story is centered around Nemesis, the Goddess of Retribution, and weave your own epic tale. She's messing with Fate itself, and it's up to you to stop her. It's not just about battling her, though. You've got to free those she's punished and rewrite your own legendary story. That's a hefty task, but hey, who doesn't like a good challenge?

Titan Quest II | Announcement Trailer

The Titan Quest II setting is another major draw. We're roaming through a fantasy version of ancient Greece. Doing so with pristine beaches, awe-inspiring temples, and realms no mortal has ever seen. If you're a fan of Greek mythology, this is your playground. From the familiar faces like centaurs and harpies to newer, even wilder creatures, every encounter promises to be unique. Now, let's talk about what makes this more than just a visual appeal. The campaign is heavily focused on exploration. That means secret paths, legendary monsters hidden in unexpected places, and towns brimming with stories. Every conversation, every item you find, might just be the key to unraveling a larger mystery. It's all about discovery and piecing together a grand story. The combat is where Titan Quest II really shines. It's not just hack and slash; you've got to be smart. Dodge, counter, and time your attacks. It's a dance of strategy and skill, making each victory feel earned. Plus, the game lets you adjust the difficulty, so whether you're a seasoned warrior or new to the fray, there's a level that's right for you. Character customization is deep. Mix and match two masteries to create your unique class. This isn't about sticking to predefined roles; it's also about crafting a character that fits your style. Experiment with different skills, attributes, and gear to find the perfect combination for your play style. And speaking of gear, every item in this action RPG matters. Since you can transform even the most basic weapon into something legendary with the right crafting. It's a system in Titan Quest II that encourages experimentation and rewards your efforts.

Multiplayer:

Lastly, let's not forget multiplayer. Teaming up with friends to take down a goddess? It puts you into your own epic Greek saga. The setting is rounded out with a soundtrack that blends traditional Greek tunes with modern orchestral elements. Due to immersing you fully into this mythic world. So, there you have it. Titan Quest II is shaping up to be an epic blend of mythology, exploration, and strategy. Keep your eyes peeled for its launch on Linux via Windows PC. It's a journey through ancient myths like you've never seen before. So be sure to Wishlist the action RPG on Steam.

[fruitcoops]

Hi, Eve

Rose here from yesterday, thank you very much for the Birthday message, I wasn't expecting you to read it let alone reply but I was looking for Coops kids Birthday fluff specifically. It doesn't matter if you don't have time however as I don't want to be a bother.

Hello Rose, and happy (belated) 20th birthday! Sorry for the wait--I really wanted to get this one right to celebrate such an important number. I hope your day was absolutely fantastic! SW credit goes to @lumosinlove, but Stella is an OC

Combined with asks for Sirius lightly making fun of Remus' accent and Remus yelling at a game show (@nazar4114)

“Medusa!” Stella shouted with all the force in her thirteen-year-old lungs. Remus leaned forward on the couch. “Medusa!”

The front door opened with a creak. “I’m h—”

“Yes!” they cheered in unison as Nicole answered correctly. Remus turned and gave Stella a double high-five, feeling his heart squeeze at the vivid joy on her round face. “Good guess.”

“I knew she was gonna get it,” Stella said with a pump of her fist as she turned back to the show and folded her legs underneath her.

“Gonna,” a familiar deep voice mimicked from the doorway. Paper bags rustled before footsteps stopped behind the couch; Remus tilted his chin up without sparing a glance, and Sirius pressed a laugh-laced kiss to his cheek before dropping one on Stella’s head as well. “You sound too much like your dad.”

“Love you, too,” Remus said wryly.

“I’ll take ‘Myths and Moths’ for 400, please.” Nicole’s voice snapped his attention back to the screen, and Stella narrowed her eyes.

“Daily Double!” the automated voice announced. Stella gasped; Remus bit his lower lip. “This mythical shield was wielded by Athena, and is sometimes said to be made of goat skin.”

“Aegis,” Stella whispered, then raised her voice. “It’s the Aegis, Nicole. You know this.”

“We know you do,” Remus said, scooting forward. “You just guessed whose head is on it.”

Nicole’s buzzer went off with two seconds to spare. “What is the Aegis?”

“Hell yeah!” Stella whooped.

Remus turned to her and raised his eyebrows. “Excuse you.”

“Sorry.”

“Are you two going to do this the whole afternoon?” Sirius asked from the kitchen, obviously amused. “We might need to get the neighbors some noise-cancelling headphones.”

Stella blew a dark lock of hair out of her eyes as she flopped her head back. “It’s almost final Jeopardy, papa. We have, like, ten minutes.”

Sirius blinked at her, then shook his head. “I swear you two share genes.”

“Ope, you caught me,” Remus said over the noise of the commercial break. “When I was 20 and had literally never left Wisconsin, I went and had a secret kid in Maine who looks terribly like you just so that someone would watch Jeopardy reruns with me thirteen years later. Oops.”

“It’s the truth,” Stella said with great gravity. “I remember.”

“Mon dieu,” Sirius muttered, though he couldn’t keep a smile down. He had never been able to hide around Stella, not once in the three years since they had adopted her. It was one of the things Remus loved most about him. “By the way, nobody under the age of fourteen is allowed in the kitchen for the next…hour. Ish.”

Stella squirmed around until she could rest her arms on the back of the couch. “What if I get thirsty?”

“I’m sure you can invoke birthday privileges and ask your dad to get something for you.”

“Birthday privileges?” Remus scoffed. “Nobody in this house has a birthday today. Yours was last month, and mine’s in March.”

“It’s my birthday,” Stella said.

“What? No, it’s not.”

“Yeah-huh.”

“Your birthday is in June.”

“It’s today.”

“Or maybe July?”

“It’s today, in December, when there’s snow,” she insisted, throwing herself back against the pillows. “Come on, dad, that’s not funny anymore.”

Remus raised his eyebrows. “Is somebody too old to find their poor old dad amusing now? Can you go back to being twelve so somebody will laugh at my jokes again? I know, I know, we're super lame compared to all your friends’ parents—”

“So lame,” Sirius agreed from the kitchen.

“—but I like to think we get one more year of pre-teen cuteness before the teen angst takes over.”

Stella sat up again with a groan. Looking at her, Remus saw a mix of himself and Sirius that had always baffled him, considering they had adopted her comparatively late in her life; beneath it was something uniquely Stella. Maybe it was her double-jointed elbows, or the board-straightness of her hair next to their curls, but there was no mistaking that she was her own person through and through. He loved that about her. “I’m not going to be a terrible teenager.”

Sirius poked his head around the edge of the kitchen—his nose was adorned with a smudge of flour. “Can I record that for future use?”

“Non.”

“Ooo, using the French,” Remus hissed. “That transformation is already beginning.”

“It’s not like you were bad teenagers, right?” She settled upside-down on the couch with her flamingo-patterned socks high in the air.

“I almost convinced Grandma to let me dye my hair blue, but otherwise I was pretty good.”

“I was terrible,” Sirius laughed. “I didn’t talk to anybody for a solid three years.”

Stella frowned. “How? I think I’d die if I did that.”

“He’s stubborn,” Remus stage-whispered.

“I heard that.”

Stella suppressed her laughter as best she could, but she was about as good at hiding her emotions around them as Sirius was. She didn’t really giggle—the amount her voice had deepened over the past three years always gave Remus whiplash—but her laugh had the same cadence as it did the first day they heard it. While Stella had been quiet at first, it only took love and time to bring her out of her shell. Within a year she settled into their lives like she was always meant to be there.

A thoughtful look crossed her face. “This is my last year before high school.”

“Does it feel different?”

“Not really.” She paused, then shrugged. “And a little. I don’t feel older. It just feels like there’s stuff I won’t get to do anymore.”

“And a lot more you will get to do.” Sirius left his dishtowel on the counter before joining them on Stella’s other side. “You can drive soon, you’ll get a longer curfew, you get more freedom…”

“I guess.”

“What are you going to miss?” Remus asked as she toyed with the hem of her shirt. It was a basic Lions FAN jersey; he was fairly sure she bought it to be ironic. That, and she only wore one of theirs if she was upset with the other, or if one needed a boost at a game.

“I dunno.” A few beats of silence passed. “My classmates. My team. It feels like everything’s going to turn upside down.”

“You can still keep in touch with your friends, and I bet your team won’t be too different,” Sirius said quietly. “Even if it does, that doesn’t mean you have to give all of them up. People change in different ways. They come and go on their own time.”

“There’s going to be a lot of upside-downs over the next couple years, kid.” Remus offered her a smile. “But you’re going to be just fine.”

“You two sound like such dads right now.”

“This might shock you, but that’s because we are.”

The corner of her mouth tugged up and she lolled her head to the side to look at Sirius. “Is the cake done?”

“Fifteen more minutes.”

“Will you watch final Jeopardy with us?”

“What’s the category?”

“US Presidents.”

Sirius exhaled through his nose, but nodded. She grinned and turned herself upright to snuggle against his arm. “You just enjoy watching me lose.”

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

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Sirius called from the kitchen.

“On three,” Remus said, raising his phone camera. “One, two, three!”

“Happy birthday to you,” over a dozen voices sang. They were off-tempo and so out of key the composer was probably spinning in his grave, but Stella’s clear joy didn’t waver for a millisecond even as her cheeks reddened. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Stella, happy birthday to you!”

Finn, of course, dragged out the last note. So did Leo, Logan, Kasey, James, Lily, and Talker in varying degrees of awful harmony attempts. It was terrible, and beautiful. “Make a wish,” Sirius said softly as he set the cake down and stepped back. His eyes were the brightest quicksilver Remus had seen in many moons.

Stella closed her eyes, took a breath, and blew as hard as she could—the entire room erupted into cheers when all the candles went out. She was laughing and blushing at the same time when Remus turned the lights back on, though the humor won out in the end and she helped pass plates of cake to her many aunts and uncles. Like every year prior, Regulus managed to smear a bit of frosting on her chin, only to immediately deny it with great offense when she noticed. It was becoming a bit of a tradition—one that Remus never grew tired of.

I know what I would wish for, Remus thought as he looked around the table at their patchwork family. Celeste, Dumo, and his own parents had no doubt spoiled their first grandchild with ‘cusp of adulthood’ gifts, and Natalie and Lily would certainly steal her away after cake for some girl time. Finn and Logan would remain the fun uncles while Leo and Regulus kept their thrones as the cool uncles; Stella would interrogate Jules on the intricacies of high school for at least an hour before they destroyed everyone in a snowball fight. The world they built together had a place for everyone.

I would wish for this. This, for us, forever. It wasn’t a bad eternity to imagine.

[maxwell-grant]

You have done an (excelent) post on how to reinvent Batman as a Pulp Hero. Do you think you could do one to Superman as well? Or do you think it is impossible to do this with the progenitor of the Super Hero genre without transforming him in a totaly diferent character?

Well, you saying it as impossible only makes it seem ever more tempting of a challenge, but yes, it is a bit harder. I'm gonna link my Batman post here as a reference point.

Partially because Batman's a franchise I've thought extensively about for a long time in regards to what I like about it or how I'd like to approach if given the opportunity, which is not something I can really say for Superman until more recently the Big Blue to start orbiting my brain. I don't have years worth of redesigns or fan concepts saved on my galleries and files to comb through to pick and choose here, and my experience with Superman as a character is considerably different, in some aspects more deeply personal, and not really something I'd like to go into in this blog, at least not now.

Part of the reason why it's harder is also because Batman and Superman have very different relationships with their pulp inspirations. Batman was, ostensibly, a pulp character adapted to comics, a dime-a-dozen Shadow knock-off who picked up and played up diverging traits from other characters and gradually ran with them to gradually forge a unique identity. Superman right from the start was rooted in a much stronger conceptual underpinning: the Sci-Fi Superman and Alien Menace who, instead of being a tragic monster or a tyrannical villain, becomes a costumed adventurer and social crusader. Even the name Super-Man was taken from an early story of Siegel and Shuster about a telepathic villain who ends the story lamenting that he should have used his powers for the good of mankind instead of selfishness. I hesitate to call what Siegel and Shuster were doing “subversive” because that term's picked up a real negative connotation, and it's not like Siegel and Shuster were out to upend their influences (they were pulp aficionados themselves), but rather putting a more positive, new spin on them.

Which is why it also becomes a bit harder to do what I did with Batman and align Superman with some of his pulp-esque inspirations, like John Carter, Flash Gordon or Hugo Danner, without just making it "Superman but he's John Carter", "Superman but it's Flash Gordon", and "Iron Munro / Superman but everything sucks" respectively. It's harder to create a character that wouldn't feel reduntant and derivative at best, and actively contradictory to Superman at worst.

I guess if I had to come up with a "Pulp Hero Superman" take I liked, well first of all I'd have to take steps to distance it from the likes of Tom Strong or Al Ewing's Doc Thunder, those two are as good as it gets in regards to Pulp Supermen. I stipulated for Batman a "No Guns, No Murder, No Service" policy partially to distance my takes on Batman from all the "Pulp Batmen" that just add guns and murder and take Batman back to the barest of basics. Likewise, I'm adding a "No Depowered Science Hero" rule here, which means it's a take that's likely going to veer off a lot more into fantasy and probably enough tampering with Clark's character that it does risk becoming a different character.

Frankly I don't think I'm gonna succeed at doing these without just making it a new character entirely, because with Batman you can get away with just upending the character's aesthetic and setting and even origin and still keep it recognizably Bruce Wayne (in fact Batman does that all the time), which isn't really the case with Superman, who needs those to remain recognizably Superman as he goes through internal changes and character shifts. I guess what I'm gonna do here is more taking the building blocks of Superman/Clark Kent and see a couple new ways I can rearrange them to create a Pulp Superman

Perhaps something we can do is to scale back or recontextualize the "superhero" parts without diminishing Superman's role as a superpowered fantasy character.

One way we can start is by picking on that connection between Superman and the sci-fi supermen/alien monsters of pulps I mentioned earlier and play it up further, to create a Superman who's deeply, deeply alien in a way that no mild-mannered disguise or colorful outfit can really disguise, something so dramatically powerful and alien, that instead you could get tales about the kinds of ensuing changes and ripple effects this has on the world upon the The Super-Man's arrival. And for that I'm gonna have to quote @davidmann95's concept for Joshua Viers' absolutely stunning Superman redesign on the left side of the image above

The red, the goldish-orange and white, the alienness, the angelic, sculpted feeling, the halo, that innocently curious expression: it’s genuinely beautiful. Superman as a redeeming science-angel from beyond our understanding, as much past the uncanny valley of limited human comprehension as a Lovecraftian monster but tuned to the opposite key - you could spend an endless procession of human lifetimes trying and failing to understand this being, but all you’ll ever know for sure is that it is beyond you, and it knows you, and it loves you.

Superdoomsday from Earth 45, healed and transformed into the savior it was originally envisioned as? Some descendant of his, or a future of the man himself? An alien who picked up on a broadcast of Superman from Earth, and so inspired reshaped itself in his image to spread his ‘gospel’ to the stars?

Alternatively, to come back to Earth a little, many, many pulp characters and series were built off the antics and personalities of real people, celebrities getting their own magazines or serials or fictionalized takes on them, so perhaps one way to make a "pulp" take on Superman would be to emphasize a bit more of Superman's real-world roots, trends that inspired his creation directly or indirectly at the time. The Jewish strongman Sigmund Breibart and Shuster's interest in fitness culture, Harold Lloyd's comic persona, the rising "strongman" film genre in the early 20th century, actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor that supposedly named his secret identity, Clark Kent being a socially-awkward journalist based of Siegel's own school experiences.

Maybe one start to an authentic Pulp Superman, who would still be Superman, would be to just ask the question "What if Superman was a real person and/or a celebrity, and they started making pulp magazines and serials dedicated to him? What would those look like?". You wouldn't even have to restrict it to just a story set in the 1930s, in fact you could even play around with the rise of new mediums over the decades.

This third one is a little closer to some plans I have for my own take on a Superman character, not necessarily what I would do with Superman proper but one of my ideas for a Superman analogue. Superman's a character I'll always associate strongly with childhood and childhood fantasy, and to tap into that I would emphasize the other end of the fiction that influenced Siegel and Shuster: comic strips, in their case specifically Little Nemo and Popeye.

In my case I would bring additional influences from some of the comic strips I personally grew up reading like Monica's Gang and Calvin and Hobbes, and I already talked a bit about Captain Fray in terms of how he’s a Superman character despite being a villain. I guess you could call this one "What if Superman was a public domain comic strip character, stripped of the importance of being the founding figure of a super popular genre or extended universe, and also was kind of ugly?".

He's not "Sloth from the Goonies" ugly, I swear I didn't actually have Sloth in mind when typing out this idea, I've never watched that film nor did I know until now that he actually spends the film in a Superman shirt. That's not really what I'm going for. Visually I was thinking of modeling my take on Superman heavily after Hugo from Street Fighter and his inspiration Andre the Giant, to really emphasize the “circus strongman / freak wrestler” aspect of Superman’s inspiration, particularly in regards to how Hugo’s SFIII version strikes a really great balance in making Hugo ugly and both comedic and fearsome in battle, as well as lovable and even a little dopey (without being outright stupid, like his IV self) in his victory animations and endings.

He's still Superman, he still goes on fantastical adventures to help people, he's still a deeply loving and compassionate soul whose face beams with joy and affection and who's got wonderful eyes and a great smile. It's just that this smile has a couple of mismatched stick-out teeth or some missing ones, and he's got a crooked smile some people take as smug or malicious, he’s got a strongman’s gut instead of a bodybuilder’s abs, his nose is a little busted (maybe he’s had too many crash landings), and his hair is a little wild or greasy, and he doesn't exactly have very good people skills because of how others usually react to him and, y'know, he doesn't get the kind of publicity Superman would get despite doing ostensibly the same things. He’s not deformed, he’s incredibly intelligent and capable, but in comparison to how superheroes are usually allowed to look, he might as well be Bizarro in the public eye.

It becomes a running gag that people tend to assume some nearby fireman or cop was the one who rescued the hundred orphans out of a burning building single-handedly, meanwhile he's getting accosted off-panel by police officers who think he set the building on fire, or think they can bully this weird man dressed funny. He goes to rescue old people in peril and occasionally they yell at him that they don't have any money. He doesn't get asked to lead superhero meetings or teams even though many in the community advocate for just how much he does for the world, he gets censored out of tv broadcasts or group shots (even his face is sometimes pixelated when they do show him), people invite him on talk shows and don't really let him talk or assume they got the wrong guy. He goes to rescue a woman dangling off a building, and then he gets attacked by like three different superhero teams who assume he must have kidnapped the poor damsel. He was the first superhero, he is the strongest of them all still, but he never really gets credit for it, it nor does he even want to. None of this at all stops him or deters him, except for some occasionally funny reactions.

This never really changes for him, he doesn't really earn people's approval nor does he have to, instead the stories, outside of the gags and adventures you’d expect from a comic strip, veer more towards others learning to be less judgmental and him learning ways to better approach people. He isn't any lesser than Superman just because he doesn't look like most people would want him to look and he doesn't have to look like Superman. Really I think we could use more superheroes that don’t look all so uniformly pretty.

Again, probably not a take that would work for Clark proper, but it’s one way I would take a shot at doing Superman with my own

I have other stuff in the works for this character but I'd like to keep them to better work on them for now, but yeah, these are three of my shots at developing a Pulp Superman.

Alternatively here's a fourth idea that's more pulp than all of these: Join up Nicholas Cage with Panos Cosmatos again, or whatever weird indie director he decides to pair up with next, and let them do whatever the hell they want with Superman. Give us Mandy Superman. Superman vs The Color Out of Space. Superman vs Five Nights at Freddy's. Superman’s quest to find THE LAST PIG OF KRYPTON. Anything goes.