#ora serrata

[comicwaren]

From X-Men Red Vol. 2 #018, “The Mended Land”

Art by Yildiray Çinar and Federico Blee

Written by Al Ewing

[tournament-of-x]

The Hole

Contestants Index

[heckcareoxytwit]

As Storm managed to destroy Genesis' Annihilation Staff, the discord spell on the Arakki mutants is broken. However, the Arakko Civil War left its bittersweet note when even though the war is over, it left some casualties. Fisher King had sacrificed himself by allowing his body to merge with Xilo before the latter merges with Ora Serrata. The relatives of the Fisher King - Weaponless Zsen, Khora of the Burning Heart and Syzya of the Smoke were left mourning for him. Elsewhere, Jon Ironfire was glad that his mentor, White Sword was not only alive, but also free from the brainwashing. Somewhere at the coast, the two walking Island monsters hug each other after a fight.

X-Men Red v2 #18, 2023

[donnatroyprincessofthemyscira]

[proper-superhero-shit]

Lactuca to Genesis:

X-Men Red 13

[sofiamantegafan110]

NEW X-MEN SEASON 3, EPISODE 4

EPISODE 4: ARAKKO OR BUST

A FLASH OF BLUE LIGHT ENVELOPS THE SCREEN AS OUR NINE SWORDBEARERS – BLINK, HELLION, X-23, PIXIE, ANOLE, MERCURY, M, VOLTA DOOM, AND CYPHER – APPEAR IN A GATEWAY SIMILAR TO THE ONE ON THE LAWN OF XAVIER’S. THEY LOOK AROUND AND GAPE AT THEIR SURROUNDINGS. FINALLY, CESSILY BREAKS THE SILENCE.

CESSILY: THIS IS SO COOL!

CLARICE SHUSHES HER AND TELLS EVERYONE TO BLEND IN. MAYBE THEY CAN TRY TO FIND WHO’S IN CHARGE IF THEY ACT DISCREET. VOLTA SIGHS, BEFORE SIMPLY THRUSTING HER SPEAR INTO THE AIR. A BOLT OF ELECTRICITY ARCS INTO THE SKY, AND ALL HEADS TURN TO THEM. VOLTA LOOKS OVER TO CLARICE AND TELLS HER SHE’S WELCOME.

MEGAN: NOW WHAT?

CLARICE TELLS THEM TO FOLLOW HER LEAD BEFORE RAISING HER HANDS.

CLARICE: CAN YOU POINT US TO THE GUY IN CHARGE?

JULIAN: THIS TRIP IS STARTING OUT PERFECTLY.

CUE INTRO AND CREDITS

LATER, THE TEAM IS ESCORTED BY GUARDS INTO A CITADEL. THERE, THEY ARE BROUGHT INTO THE CENTER OF A RING SURROUNDED BY TWELVE SEATED FIGURES. IN ONE SEAT IS A WOMAN WITH RED SKIN IN GOLD ARMOR NEXT TO A WOMAN WITH BLUE AND PURPLE SKIN WITH A SNAKELIKE CREATURE COILED AROUND HER BODY. NEXT TO HER IS A STRANGE MAN WITH PALE WHITE SKIN AND A PAIR OF TENTACLES ON HIS HEAD, WHO STUDIES THEM CURIOUSLY.

GUARD: PRESENTING THE GREAT RING OF ARAKKO! FIRST COMES THE TABLE OF DAWN! IN THE SEAT OF VICTORY, ISCA THE UNBEATEN! IN THE SEAT OF STALEMATE, IDYLL THE FUTURE SEER! AND IN THE SEAT OF LOSS, TARN THE UNCARING!

IN ANOTHER SEAT IS A FEMALE FIGURE COVERED BY A VEIL OF COSMIC PATTERNS WHO SITS NEXT TO A WOMAN WITH A BLACK PONYTAIL DRESSED IN LIGHT BLUE AND WHITE ARMOR. BESIDE HER IS A MALE-LOOKING CREATURE WITH LAVENDER SKIN WHO RESEMBLES AN AXOLOTL.

GUARD: NEXT IS THE TABLE OF DAY! IN THE SEAT OF ABOVE-US, LACTUCA THE KNOWER! IN THE SEAT OF ALL-AROUND-US, GENESIS! AND IN THE SEAT OF BELOW-US, SOBUNAR OF THE DEPTHS!

THE NEXT CREATURE LOOKS LIKE AN EYEBALL WITH A HEADLESS TODDLER’S BODY ON TOP OF IT. NEXT TO IT IS A CREATURE WHO RESEMBLES A CATERPILLAR AND BESIDE IT IS A MAN WITH PURPLE SKIN AND POINTED EARS WHO HAS A WARM LOOK ON HIS FACE.

GUARD: NEXT COMES THE TABLE OF DUSK! IN THE SEAT OF LAW, ORA SERRATA THE WITNESS! IN THE SEAT OF HISTORY, XILO THE FIRST DEFENDER! AND IN THE SEAT OF DREAMS, LODUS LOGOS!

NEXT IS A MALE CREATURE SHAPED LIKE AN ARMADILLO WITH ROCKS AND GRASS COMING FROM HIS BACK. NEXT TO HIM IS AN OLD, HUMAN-LOOKING MAN WITH A WHITE BEARD, AND NEXT TO HIM IS A CREATURE WITH A WOLFLIKE APPEARANCE, TWO WOLF FACES, AND A CENTAUR BODY. SITTING IN THE WAY BACK IS A FEMALE CREATURE WITH A PLANT-LIKE APPEARANCE, COVERED IN RED AND GREEN VINES.

GUARD: FINALLY, THE TABLE OF NIGHT! IN THE SEAT OF NOWHERE, KOBAK NEVER-HELD! IN THE SEAT OF NOTHING, THE FISHER KING! AND IN THE SEAT OF NOBODY, LYCAON TWO WOLVES! ALSO JOINING US IS THE VOICE OF ARAKKO ITSELF, REDROOT THE FOREST!

CESSILY: CLARICE, WE FOUND HER! WE FOUND GENESIS!

GENESIS NODS BEFORE ASKING WHO THEY ARE AND HOW THEY GOT HERE. CLARICE TELLS HER THAT THEY ARE MUTANTS FROM EARTH AND THEY COME WITH A GRAVE WARNING. BEFORE SHE CAN EVEN SPEAK, TARN SPEAKS UP, ASKING GENESIS IF THEY CAN EVEN TRUST THESE INTRUDERS. AFTER ALL, THEY HAVE NOT HEARD WORD OF THE MUTANTS OF EARTH FOR CENTURIES.

CESSILY: I GUESS ‘UNCARING’ ISN’T JUST HIS NAME…

CLARICE: YOU CAN TRUST US.

ISCA: AND WHY IS THAT, GIRL?

CLARICE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND CESSILY MOUTHS ‘YOU GOT THIS’, FLASHING HER A THUMBS-UP.

CLARICE: BECAUSE MY NAME IS CLARICE FERGUSON. AND I AM A DESCENDANT OF EN SABAH NUR; THE GREAT WARRIOR APOCALYPSE.

THE COUNCIL GASPS WHILE GENESIS STARES AT CLARICE AS IF WHAT SHE’S SAYING IS TRUE. LODUS LOGOS LOOKS ON IN INTRIGUE, ORA SERRATA BOBS IN THE AIR NONCHALANTLY, AND ISCA LOOKS A MITE PISSED.

ISCA: THE CHILDREN LIE, SISTER! SENTENCE THEM TO-

GENESIS: WAIT, SISTER. I WISH TO HEAR THEIR STORY. SPEAK, CLARICE FERGUSON.

AND SO CLARICE TELLS HER ABOUT HOW ANNIHILATION CAME TO EARTH, HOW SHE POSSESSED APOCALYPSE, AND HOW SHE SEEKS THE CODEX PIECES TO BRING HER ARMY TO EARTH.

SOBUNAR: AND HOW DID YOU LEARN OF US?

CESSILY: BECAUSE OF HER! IDYLL! SHE SENT A SCROLL TO EARTH TELLING US ABOUT YOU GUYS AND HOW YOU NEED OUR HELP! I PROMISE, IF ANNIHILATION IS DEFEATED ONCE AND FOR ALL, HER ARMY WILL HAVE NO CHANCE!

REDROOT: ARAKKO IS DWINDLING. BUT I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD TRUST THESE OUTSIDERS. TARN IS RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN A MILLENNIA SINCE WE LAST SAW EARTH.

CLARICE: PLEASE, WE CAN HELP YOU!

DOUG: WE CAN REUNITE ARAKKO AND KRAKOA! THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT, RIGHT? TO BE WHOLE AGAIN?

ISCA STANDS UP, COMMANDING DOUG NOT TO PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT ARAKKO WANTS. MEGAN COUNTERS BACK, SAYING THAT IF ANNIHILATION CONQUERS EARTH, IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY GO AFTER THE ARAKKII NEXT. TARN SMIRKS, SAYING THAT WHEN THE ARMIES OF AMENTH COME, THEY WILL BE READY, AND THEY HAVE NO NEED TO THEM.

JULIAN: SO YOU’RE JUST GONNA ABANDON US?

TARN: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, BOY, WE DO NOT KNOW YOU. WHY WOULD WE EVER HELP YOU?

JULIAN LOOKS OVER TO CLARICE, WHO QUIVERS IN PLACE.

JULIAN: TELL ‘EM, CLARICE.

CLARICE LIFTS HER HEAD, STRUGGLING TO HOLD BACK TEARS AS SHE SPEAKS.

CLARICE: BECAUSE ANNIHILATION HAS MY GIRLFRIEND. SHE’S THE LOVE OF MY LIFE AND MY REASON FOR BEING. I NEED TO SAVE HER, AND I NEED YOUR HELP. AND THE MORE WE SPEND HERE, THE MORE SHE’S SLIPPING AWAY. PLEASE, GENESIS. AS YOUR BLOOD, I ASK YOU TO HELP US. SO WE CAN BOTH SEE OUR LOVED ONES AGAIN.

A SILENCE FILLS THE ROOM AS GENESIS LOOKS AT CLARICE, PUZZLED. SUDDENLY, TARN STARTS SLOW CLAPPING.

TARN: A WONDERFUL STORY, GIRL. BUT NOW, WE MUST VOTE. I VOTE NAY.

ISCA: NAY. THE EARTHLINGS CAN FIGHT THEIR OWN BATTLES.

IDYLL SILENTLY MOTIONS THAT SHE VOTES AYE.

LACTUCA: THEIR STORY APPEALS TO ME. I VOTE AYE.

SOBUNAR: AS DO I.

ORA SERRATA: NAY.

XILO: NAY.

LODUS LOGOS: AYE.

KOBAK: THE STORY OF LOST LOVE MUST BE RECTIFIED. AYE.

LYCAON: NAY.

FISHER KING: AYE.

REDROOT: I VOTE NAY. ARAKKO HAS THRIVED FOR CENTURIES, AND IT DOES NOT NEED YOU INVADERS.

ISCA TURNS TO GENESIS.

ISCA: WELL, SISTER?

CLARICE LOOKS TO GENESIS WITH PLEADING EYES AND SHE LOOKS AROUND, UNCERTAIN.

GENESIS: I ABSTAIN.

MEGAN TURNS TO THE OTHERS, ASKING WHAT THIS MEANS. LAURA ANSWERS HER, SAYING THAT IT’S A STALEMATE. NOTHING CAN BE DECIDED. CLARICE LOOKS AROUND, DISAPPOINTED AS CESSILY WONDERS IF THEY LOST.

VOICE: MIGHT I HAVE A SAY?

SUDDENLY, VIC AND MEGAN’S SWORDS START TO GLOW AS A BEAM OF LIGHT FILLS THE ROOM. THEN, WHEN THE LIGHT RECEDES, A GORGEOUS BLONDE WOMAN IN A LONG WHITE DRESS STANDS WITH AN AIR OF AUTHORITY. THE ARAKKII COUNCIL LOOKS AT HER IN SURPRISE.

MEGAN: WHO IS THIS… GORGEOUS SPECIMEN?

MONET: I’VE READ ABOUT HER IN THE X-MEN ARCHIVES, BUT I DIDN’T THINK SHE WAS REAL. THIS IS OPAL LUNA SATURNYNE, THE UNIVERSAL MAJESTRIX OF OTHERWORLD.

SATURNYNE SMILES BEFORE ASKING IF VICTOR AND MEGAN COULD REALLY GET AWAY WITH STEALING SWORDS THAT RIGHTFULLY BELONG TO OTHERWORLD. MONET’S JAW CLENCHES AS VIC TELLS HER NOT TO BOTHER. HE BATS FOR THE OTHER TEAM.

SATURNYNE: WELL, I SAW THIS… SPECTACLE FROM OTHERWORLD. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING SITUATION.

GENESIS: YOUR WHYNESS, WE…

SATURNYNE: I WASN’T DONE.

SATURNYNE STANDS CONFIDENTLY, A HAND ON HER HIP. THEN, WITH A FLOURISH OF HER HAND, SEVERAL TAROT CARDS MATERIALIZE OUT OF THIN AIR, SPINNING AROUND HER BODY.

SATURNYNE: WELL, THE SITUATION IS VERY COMPLEX. THE MUTANTS OF EARTH NEED THE MUTANTS OF ARAKKO TO HELP THEM WITH A DEATH GODDESS FROM THE SAME PLANET THAT THE ARAKKII MUTANTS RESIDE. BUT THE ARAKKII MUTANTS ARE UNCERTAIN IF THEY WANT TO HELP. SO, I HAVE AN IDEA.

MEGAN: WHAT IS IT, YOU… YOU AMAZING AND VERY TALL SUPERMODEL OF A WOMAN?

SATURNYNE SMILES.

SATURNYNE: I PROPOSE A CONTEST. ARAKKO VERSUS KRAKOA. IF KRAKOA WINS, THE ARAKKII MUTANTS WILL HELP THEM. IF ARAKKO WINS, KRAKOA FIGHTS ANNIHILATION BY THEMSELVES. WINNER TAKE ALL.

THERE’S A PAUSE AS THE MUTANTS WHISPER TO THEMSELVES. FINALLY, CLARICE AND GENESIS STAND UP.

CLARICE: WE ACCEPT THE DEAL.

GENESIS: AS DO WE.

SATURNYNE: SPLENDID! THEN WE SHALL WAIT WHILE ARAKKO CHOOSES ITS CHAMPIONS.

ISCA: WHILE WE DECIDE, WE WILL HAVE AN ESCORT TAKE YOU TO SOME QUARTERS WHILE YOU WAIT.

SUDDENLY, IN A PUFF OF PURPLE SMOKE, A YOUNG WOMAN WITH PURPLE SKIN AND LONG WHITE HAIR, FOUR POINTED EARS AND A NIGHTCRAWLER-LIKE TAIL APPEARS OUT OF THIN AIR. SHE INTRODUCES HERSELF AS SYZYA OF THE SMOKE, AND OFFERS TO ESCORT THEM TO THEIR ROOM.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, SYZYA WALKS THEM OVER TO A DORMITORY-STYLE ROOM, AND CLARICE ASKS HER IF EVERYONE IN ARAKKO IS SO UPTIGHT. SYZYA TELLS HER THAT IT’S NOTHING PERSONAL. THE MUTANTS OF ARAKKO HAVE FOUGHT COUNTLESS BATTLES WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE MUTANTS OF EARTH, SO IT’S HARDLY BELIEVABLE.

CESSILY: SO I FIGURE THE ARMADILLO GUY IS ON OUR SIDE, AND SO’S THE FISH GUY, THE GIRL WITH THE VEIL, AND THE PURPLE GUY.

SYZYA: IT SEEMS YOUR STORY OF YOUR LOVED ONE APPEALED TO THEM. KOBAK NEVER-HELD HAS HARDLY BEEN AN ALLY SINCE THE DEATH OF HIS LOVER. AND I KNOW HE LOVED HIM GREATLY.

VIC: GOOD TO SEE THAT HOMOPHOBIA EXISTS EVEN IN AMENTH.

SYZYA LOOKS AT HIM AND SAYS THAT SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE MEANS.

MONET: WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHERE DO YOU STAND?

SYZYA: I… AM NOT SURE. I WISH FOR ARAKKO TO THRIVE, BUT, FORGIVE ME FOR SAYING THIS, I AM UNCERTAIN ABOUT TRUSTING OUTSIDERS. BUT I SUPPOSE I WOULD SUPPORT THE DECISION OF MY BROTHER-IN-MARRIAGE, THE FISHER KING, AND ALLY WITH YOU.

CESSILY: WAIT… THE OLD DUDE IS YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW?!

MEGAN: CESSILY, HUSH.

SYZYA: THE TRUTH IS, I HAVE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE ON EARTH. ARAKKO WILL ALWAYS BE A HOME TO ME, BUT… IT HAS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE. SO, CLARICE, IS IT TRUE WHAT YOU SAID?

CLARICE SIGHS AND SAYS THAT IT’S TRUE. APOCALYPSE IS HER ANCESTOR. SHE’S ONLY JUST LEARNED ABOUT IT, BUT NOW THAT SHE’S REALLY MET HIM, HE SEEMS LIKE A NICE GUY. SHE FIGURES MAYBE AFTER SO LONG, HE’S FINALLY DECIDED TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

SYZYA: AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONE? TELL ME ABOUT HER.

CLARICE REFUSES, BUT CESSILY TELLS HER THAT SHE CAN SEE HOW HARD IT IS BEING WITHOUT SOFIA. SHE FIGURES THAT MAYBE TALKING ABOUT HER WILL HELP CLARICE FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND. CLARICE TAKES A DEEP BREATH AND LOOKS AROUND.

CLARICE: WELL… WHERE DO I START? SHE’S… WELL, SHE’S GORGEOUS. LIKE THAT SATURNYNE CHICK ONLY MUCH HOTTER. SHE’S BEAUTIFUL AND GRACEFUL AND EVERY TIME SHE DANCES, IT’S LIKE SHE’S IN ANOTHER WORLD. SHE TOLD ME HER FAVORITE SONG IS ‘INVISIBLE’ BY HUNTER HAYES, AND IT REMINDED HER THAT WE ALL HAVE A VOICE, AND SHE DECIDED TO USE HER VOICE AS BEST SHE COULD. SHE’S SO KIND AND SHE BELIEVES EVERYONE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE. SHE HELPS PEOPLE COME OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND SHE DOES IT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. SOMETIMES, I DON’T THINK I DESERVE HER. I DON’T THINK I DESERVE ANY OF YOU.

MONET: BULLSHIT.

MEGAN: POPPYCOCK!

CESSILY: THEY’RE RIGHT, CLARICE. YOU’RE A GOOD PERSON, AND YOU DESERVE ALL OF US. LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN MUTANT TOWN. YOU COMMANDED US LIKE A WELL-OILED MACHINE. PEOPLE LOVE US. I MEAN, LOOK AT THESE POSTS FROM V_CORREA IN BUENOS AIRES, OR KAWAIITRISTA666 FROM CHICAGO. MUTANTS ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO REACH OUT TO US. AND EVEN HUMANS LIKE US.

MEGAN: YEAH, CAN’T FORGET ABOUT HORSEGIRLBECCA16. SHE SAID I’M ‘A VERY PRETTY GOBLIN’ FOR SOME STRANGE REASON. I LIKE IT.

CLARICE LAUGHS AND THANKS THEM BEFORE THE DOOR OPENS. IDYLL WALKS IN AND SYZYA LOOKS AT HER BEFORE SAYING THAT THE COUNCIL IS READY FOR THEM. CESSILY ASKS WHY SHE DIDN’T JUST SAY SO, AND SYZYA SAYS THAT IDYLL CANNOT SPEAK EVER SINCE HER TONGUE WAS CUT OUT BY TARN THE UNCARING. MEGAN THEN COMMENTS THAT SHE REALLY DOES NOT LIKE THAT GUY.

AS THEY WALK, MONET TELLS VOLTA THAT SHE’S A PART OF THE GROUP TOO. SHE CAN JUMP IN WHENEVER SHE LIKES. VOLTA HUFFS, TELLING HER THAT SHE’S NOT HERE TO MAKE FRIENDS. SHE’S HERE TO PROTECT THIS NEW ALLIANCE BETWEEN XAVIER’S AND LATVERIA. MEGAN ROLLS HER EYES, BEFORE WALKING AWAY.

AS THEY ENTER THE ROOM, THEY ARE FACED WITH SEVERAL ARAKKII WARRIORS. GENESIS, REDROOT, AND ISCA ARE AMONG THEM, AS WELL AS A GRAY-SKINNED MAN IN A HOOD WHO HAS NO SHIRT ON, A BUFF BLUE-SKINNED MAN IN WHITE ARMOR, A NUDE YOUNG MAN WITH WHITE SKIN, A WOMAN IN ARMOR THAT HIDES HER FACE, A BIG CREATURE WITH A CROCODILE’S HEAD AND A LUMBERING FIGURE, A WOMAN IN BLACK WHOSE HEAD IS ALIGHT WITH FIRE, AND A MALE FIGURE DRESSED IN A BLACK EGYPTIAN JACKAL’S MASK.

TARN: WE HAVE CHOSEN OUR CHAMPIONS. WIELDING THE VERMILLION SWORD IS WAR, CHILD OF APOCALYPSE AND COMMANDER OF FIRE. BEARING THE SWORD COLONY IS HER SON, THE SUMMONER, WHOSE SKIN CANNOT BE CUT. THE MURAMASA BLADE IS IN POSSESSION OF SOLEM, A ROGUEISH MUTANT WHOSE SKIN IS MADE FROM THE FINEST ADAMANTIUM. HOLDING THE SWORD PURITY IS THE WHITE SWORD OF THE IVORY SPIRE, MASTER HEALER AND EXTERNAL AND LORD OF THE ONE HUNDRED CHAMPIONS. WIELDING THE SWORD ALLUVIUM IS REDROOT THE FOREST, THE VOICE OF ARAKKO. HOLDING THE BLACK BONE OF AMDUAT, I PRESENT DEATH, CHILD OF APOCALYPSE WHOSE EYES CAN KILL WITH A LOOK. WIELDING THE SWORD MERCY IS ISCA THE UNBEATEN, WHO CANNOT LOSE. HOLDING THE SWORD SEDUCER IS BEI THE BLOOD MOON, A WARRIOR WHO WIELDS THE DOOM NOTE. NEXT, WE HAVE POGG UR-POGG, A BEAST OF AMENTH AND A STRONG MERCENARY. FINALLY, WIELDING THE TWILIGHT BLADE IS OUR LADY GENESIS, EMPRESS OF ARAKKO.

THE INTENSE-LOOKING ARAKKII STAND IN FRONT OF THE NEW X-MEN, AND CESSILY IMMEDIATELY COMMENTS THAT THEY’RE FUCKED. CLARICE THEN UNSHEATHES APOCALYPSE’S SWORD AND WALKS TO THE CENTER TO FACE SATURNYNE.

CLARICE: WHAT’S FIRST?

SATURNYNE SMIRKS AND SAYS THAT SHE WILL CONSULT THE CARDS FOR THAT. WITH THAT, HER TAROT CARDS COME INTO FOCUS AGAIN, AND EVENTUALLY, TWO OF THEM LAND IN HER HANDS. SHE SHOWS THEM TO THE GOBSMACKED NEW X-MEN AND THE INTRIGUED ARAKKII, HER SMILE NEVER LEAVING HER FACE.

SATURNYNE: OUR FIRST CHALLENGE: PIXIE VERSUS ISCA THE UNBEATEN… TO THE DEATH. LET THE GAMES BEGIN.

[hibscomicswithoutcontext]

Legion of X (2022) #1 by Si Spurrier and Jan Bazaldua

[nthflower]

There are so few weird looking women mutants. I was trying to think about it now (not the background only had a name and died type of characters) and it's genuinely pathetically so little. They are almost all painfully humanoid at most with different skin colour and some markings.

This also made me learn that onyxx is a boy I always thought she was a girl I am so heartbroken.

[raccontidialiantis]

Incomprensibile

Non riusciva a capire come avesse fatto ad arrivare a quel punto: quell'uomo per lei costituiva ormai una vera e propria droga! L'aveva fatta capitolare dopo una corte serrata, fatta di pazienza, complimenti, messaggi continui e discreti. E poi aveva un suo fascino personale e inspiegabile a parole. Era attratta da lui. Rappresentava forse per lei il gusto del proibito, dopo tantissimo tempo.

Era infatti sposata da trent'anni all'uomo che aveva sempre amato profondamente; l'aveva conosciuto da ragazza. Il primo e unico uomo con cui fosse mai stata. Matrimonio di puro amore, benedetto da tre figli. Cento ostacoli affrontati insieme, difficoltà, malattie. Poi la casa, le cattiverie, i parenti: tutto sempre insieme. Ed erano sempre riusciti a restare molto uniti, innamorati e fedeli.

Ma quell'uomo ora comandava sulla sua mente e sui suoi sensi. Le diceva: “spogliati e mettiti così o cosà.” Oppure: “adesso fammi questo o quello” e lei, docile come la più indifesa e avida delle puttane, eseguiva; rapida e senza esitazioni. Era pienamente cosciente del fatto che correva il rischio di mandare tutto all'aria da un momento all'altro solo per un suo temporaneo capriccio dei sensi.

Ma lei lo sentiva che quello era ben più di un capriccio: il tempo passato con quell'uomo era la sua vita vera, ormai. La cosa incredibile era che più rischiava, più mentiva spudoratamente, più si sentiva in colpa e più quella cosa sporca, torbida le piaceva da morire! Quindi, in mezzo alla settimana iniziava ad avere le smanie e non vedeva l'ora che arrivasse il sabato mattina: con la scusa della spesa, lo andava a trovare.

E quindi per un'ora o due rimaneva in suo completo controllo. Lo voleva dentro di sé, in qualsiasi modo lui preferisse. Purché la usasse per soddisfarsi. Amava sentirsi come una bambola stupida. L'amore ti mangia il cervello e al suo posto piazza una ricevente, il cui telecomando sta nelle mani di qualcuno che mai avresti pensato possibile. Ma ti piace, ti faresti passare sopra con un TIR, piuttosto di rinunciare a quel piacere. Si: è proprio così!

RDA

[racefortheironthrone]

Hey there, hope life is treating you kindly.

What style of government would you say that the Arakki practice (pre and post Genesis War?) How would you rate Storm's political performance as regent?

Lastly, what - if anything - do you think the Quiet Council could have learnt from the Great Ring?

Thanks!

I would describe it as an aristocratic assembly (more specifically an omega-archy), kept in check by the Night Seats acting as "tribunes of the plebs." However, it slid more into a tyrannical form (in the Greek sense of the word) under Genesis, especially after the Night Seats were purged by Ora Serrata.

I would say Storm's leadership - which really has to be considered broadly, in both her terms as Regent and Seat of All-Around-Us, and then later as the Seat of Loss under Lodos Logos as Seat of All-Around-Us - was broadly successful although not without setbacks (notably Uranos' attempted genocide and Isca's betrayal, and arguably the Genesis War happening in the first place). She managed to pull together a coalition of Arraki behind her program of political and cultural reform and then led it to victory in a civil war.

In terms of what the Quiet Council could have learned from the Great Ring, it's going to sound odd but I think it's their methods of selecting new members and handling turnover in office. Trial by combat isn't a democratic election by any means, but its grounding in Arraki customs and mores gives it legitimacy that the Quiet Council's ad-hoc aldermanic procedures, which turned into a mess of corruption and infiltration.

[comicwaren]

From X-Men Red Vol. 2 #015, “Nothing and Nobody”

Art by Yildiray Çinar and Federico Blee

Written by Al Ewing

[tournament-of-x]

The Tournament of X

Contestants Index

[heckcareoxytwit]

Prelude to Arakko Civil War

Storm and the Arakki mutants are having their council meeting when Genesis, the wife of Apocalypse, turns up. The mutants at the Arakki table had different reactions to Genesis' presence - Jon Ironfire the horned mutant reacted with hostility to Genesis. Storm and Lodus Logos are apprehensive. Lycaon the wolf-centaur was impressed with her that he wags his tail like a dog according to the text. Lactuca doesn't care. Kobak the porcupine mutant is ready to fight her. Sobunar the newt mutant could feel his inner ocean churning uncomfortably inside his body. Xilo the caterpillar mutant was trying to predict Genesis' actions. And lastly, Ora Serrata the giant eyeball mutant was judging Genesis.

Throughout the whole issue, Genesis spent her time standing there smugly and manipulating the Arakki mutants in the council to her side by gaslighting their insecurities with the help of her magic staff. Those who swayed to Genesis' side are Sobunar, Lycaon and Ora Serrata. Jon Ironfire verbally attacks Genesis but he gets silenced by the vines. Kobak and Storm strongly opposed Genesis for gaslighting them and silencing her opponents who try to accuse her. Unfortunately, Storm gets interrupted by Sobunar who splashed water at her face. Meanwhile, Lodus Logos could not stand watching at the sidelines that he turns to Lactuca, telling her that they must do something. Lactuca responds by teleporting Storm, Kobak, Xilo, Jon Ironfire and Lodus Logos from the council ring before the big brawl happens.

X-Men Red v2 #13, 2023

[joekirby]

Era il Marzo del 1982 quando Bill Mantlo ed Ed Hannigan crearono due personaggi nuovi e che presto sarebbero diventati iconici.

Tyron "Ty" Johnson e Tandy Bowen....meglio noti come Cloack & Dagger.

Due ragazzi, due ultimi, fuggiti di casa ognuno per il suo motivo e capitati insieme nella mani di Simon Marshall, uomo al soldo del Boss Silvio Manfredi (Alias Silvermane) del Maggia, che li costrinse ad assumere uan droga sintetica che mutò la loro struttura genetica.

Tyrone trasformato in Cloack, è capace di aprire varchi dimensionali attraverso la dimensione oscura. Ciò gli permette di teleportarsi per lunghi tragitti, oltre che ad essere intangibile secondo volontà.

Ma questo potere lo consuma, e l'unica cosa che allevia la sua fame è il consumo di luce vitale.

Tandy diviene Dagger ed è capace di lanciare lame di luce psionica, capaci di ferire o interrompere circuiti elettronici. Oltremodo la sua luce riesce a nutrire il bisogno di Cloack rendendoli così complementari.

La struttura della serie è estremamente urbano metropolitana, dove i due sono impegnati in una serrata lotta la crimine di strada. Dedita soprattutto all'annientamento dello spaccio di qualunque droga.

Spesso il loro cammino si è intrecciato con quello dell'Uomo Ragno o degli X Men.

Li ho trovati sempre estremamente affascinanti, ed ora Ve li propongo!

[the-antiapocalyptic-man]

Have you been reading X-men red? If so what are your thoughts on it and arakko at large?

I'm not current on it, but Ewing always turns in really solid work and Red is no exception. The cast is great, I love love love Ororo's look in it, Red and Immortal are definitely the books doing the most to carry on Hickman era while actually innovating on what Jon introduced, instead of just using it as background to retell the types of stories we've already seen. I do wish Rasputin IV had ended up in Red's cast instead of the main book, but that's a personal preference thing.

I actually love the concept of Arakko. I was big into the Krakoa stuff in general, but Arakko--a lost civilization of mutants descended from En Sabah Nur's first Horsemen--is one of those concepts I'm shocked hadn't been introduced sooner. Like, I suppose Clan Akkaba hits that note, but not to the degree or level of success that Arrako does.

They're also a natural counterpoint to the Children of the Vault, which is another of my favorite X-Men concepts that's been revitalized in a big way. Independent of all that "lost nation-state of pseudo-demonic mutants who border on alien" is just great as a core. Just the right about of fantasy genre to inject into the more typically sci-fi X-Men.

Also just all the MtG style names: Isca the Unbeaten, Tarn the Uncaring, Ora Serrata, Bei the Blood Moon, Redroot...yeah, Arrako's very much my thing.

[iviaggisulcomo]

I giorni di maggio (e un pezzetto di quelli di giugno) fatti a fette contengono la mano sinistra serrata davanti agli occhi, che rappresenta la paura di; la paura di smettere di frequentare il passato e cominciare a frequentare il futuro, anche se per quello non c'è più tempo. Affrontare il futuro imminente, il presente: oggi, domani, dopodomani, la settimana prossima. Poi chissà, mi dico.

Poi mi dico che non c'è più tanto motivo di avere paura, dopo che ne ho sentita in quantità, una paura così intensa da paralizzarmi, ostacolarmi, autosabotarmi. Essere diventato uno specialista in questo non mi è servito e non mi servirà. Ora resta solo il coraggio. Aprire la mano davanti agli occhi, divergere le dita, guardare cosa c'è davanti a me.

Avere il coraggio di.

Di essere onesto, come se tu fossi Il mare.