#post modern age

[thecomicsnexus]

TMNT: 40TH ANNIVERSARY COMICS CELEBRATION

July 2024

By Kevin Eastman, Edgar Alan Poe, Jim Lawson, Tristan Jones, Gary Carlson, Chris Allan, Erik Burnham, Lloyd Goldfine, Ciro Nieli, Andy Suriano, Tom Waltz, Ronda Pattison , Tom Napolitano, Steve Lavigne, Paul Harmon, Frank Fosco, Adam Guzowski, Sarah Myer, Luis Antonio Delgado, Shawn Lee, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, Michael Dialynas, Pablo Tunica, Freddie E. Williams II, David Petersen, Ken Mitchroney, Aaron Hazouri, Dan Duncan, Sophie Campbell, Jodi Nishijima, Stan Sakai, and Emi Fujii.

Come and enjoy stories that will remind you of the 40 years of turtle history.

SCORE: 10 *

* Assuming you are familiar with these iterations.

This is a strange read, and curiously, there are three or four highlights for me, and they are not exactly the ones you would imagine.

Spoilers after the break...

The first story by Kevin Eastman is in the Mirage section of the book but... well... I'll leave at that... I wouldn't call it the Mirage we knew.

There is a story by Lawson and Lavigne with the Rat King that... it's fun. But, you know... I wouldn't even try to fit it in canon... the amount of continuity physics you need to bend to place this story is not worth the time. Just enjoy as a new story by these two iconic Mirage artists.

This other story by Tristan H. Jones and Paul Harmon requires more analysis. I'll revisit it on my gang wars video and try to give it more context... but unfortunately... it's just too vague. All I can say for sure is that it happens in the future of that incomplete saga, but the narrator just takes too many artistic choices to be taken at face value.

Also... I believe this is the first official (frontal) appearance of Agent Bishop (unless I got the character wrong, but Jones already tried to introduce him in this saga). I think he is still holding on to it, and I really hope he gets to tell his story. I wouldn't mind a mini-series... just saying!

The Volume 3 story was... not for me. The dialogue alone felt tired.

The Archie adventure was short, eventful, and funny... and it looks amazing too!

In just four pages a new character was introduced and... a new love story was implied! And it's not just a gratuitous cameo... this is a funny sequence.

The Saturday Morning Adventures (the de facto 87 story) looks amazing as usual, but I didn't find the story that interesting. However, it started a theme that would run across most of the stories in this special after this one: Master Splinter.

The 2003 story is a... loose canon?

Hun is Slash, and Shredder is back... so make of that what you want. All I'm going to say is that this felt a lot like watching the beginning of a 2003 episode, with the narration setting the tone.

The 2012 story was one of the least interesting in the previews, but I have to say... it was probably one of the best. It brought back a villain and it technically serves as an excuse to continue the series?

But to me the best thing about the story is the art. I am surprised Ciro Nieli didn't do more comic book work for the Turtles all these years. In fact, if they somehow decided to continue the 2012 universe in 2D in this style... I'm all in. Well, who am I kidding... I would be in anyway... but this looks amazing.

Andy Suriano did probably the most interesting story in the book. Now, I am not sure if his style doesn't translate well to static panels or what the problem is with the comic format... but it doesn't matter... this small story brought in a lot of things that ended on the editing floor after the show's second season was reduced to a few more episodes. There was a rumor about a female turtle, and not only it is here in all its glory, but there is also a brother?

And come on... it's so Lou Jitsu to die with a cliffhanger.

There are two IDW stories. One is another Splinter story, but the other one is perhaps one of the best in this book.

The Ronda Pattison story takes place just before the Armageddon game, and it shows the five turtles in full sibling dynamic (even Jennika). It was refreshing to see these turtles having fun for a change.

There are no stories by the new team, but... well... that's just starting.

[demigods-posts]

imagine percy swimming to the bottom of the ocean. not to save a group of sea creatures. not to show off his skillset. and not to prance around as the sea god's favorite son. but to join the ocean in all that it is. laying in the soft sand and watching the fish swim by. the lobsters making space for him as he rests his head against a patch of seaweed. him laughing at the irony. imagine percy making small talk with all the different sea creatures and assigning them names. him actually running into a whale he named phillip who's on his way to propose to his boyfriend. and percy wishing him good luck and offering his blessing on their union. imagine percy making small talk with the starfish about his favorite dinosaur. and explaining to the collective group what a dinosaur is and why they don't need to worry about them reaching the bottom of the ocean. just. percy immersiving himself in all that's aquatic because it's where he can be his most self.

[citrusai]

taash said "they were doing it" and people ran with the interpretation of an npc that doesn't know solas or the history of the elvhenan even when bellara interjected and said, no, that's not right. that's not how it was for the elvhenan. they formed bonds before they had physical bodies. and people ran to doompost or create weird anti-solavellan shit even though mythal & solas refer to each other as old friends and when she releases him there is no tenderness or love in it. it is the act of unchaining a dog from his post, the stepping down of a general. but to each their own ig.

[mekammin]

i know "the field where i died" says otherwise but the ideal reincarnation au is just regular mulder and scully shifted backwards in time. scholar son of a locally influential gentleman throwing rocks at the convent window going "Sister Daena... ready thy credulity... yea, for i hath witnessed once more the flight of the celestials" and she would slam a big ass leather bound bestiary down in front of him and say "t'was naught but an owl, ghastly in visage but in troth as natural and right as any God's creatures" and the episode would end with mulder contemplating the Spheres while an we see an owl perching in the convent garden until a creepy grey hand curls around the branch and the owl takes off. fade out. x-files theme on the lute

[ladyinthebluebox]

i see one more complaint about "modern words" and i will start beating people with hammers for real. i'm so fucking tired of it at this point it's been two months already. yes they said non-binary couple times. yes we got transgender in writing. yes the characters are UNDENIABLY QUEER AND WE SHOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT IT ACTUALLY!!!

[anghraine]

I was talking to my students and then some family members about how the death of Elizabeth I and succession of James was necessarily an occasion of upheaval, even when it wasn't necessarily violent or flirting with treason or whatever. For one, the death of a monarch that will lead to a new dynasty (even a related one!) is not quite the same as a familiar figure inheriting the country's rule from their parent or grandparent. It's usually a bigger change, with dynamics of loyalties and affiliations shifting around—that's part of the reason Elizabeth delayed acknowledging James as her heir.

Typically, you'd see courtiers etc deserting a dying monarch in order to signal their loyalty to the new monarch, even if the old one wasn't actually dead yet. Elizabeth's reluctance to share royal power was fundamental to her reign and her public image, so it's not at all surprising that she would be loath to encourage that kind of desertion in any particular direction.

Of course, another thing that complicates the Elizabeth -> James succession is that she had reigned for a long time (44 years iirc). By the time she was dying, a good number of English people had few personal memories of life under any other monarch, and those who did would remember the abrupt and unstable reigns of her predecessors, Edward and Mary. So James's accession came with uncertainty about what exactly it would entail, and a lot of late Elizabethan/early Jacobean drama in English is very concerned with questions of what obligations the governed owe to their monarchs (obedience? loyalty? are those always the same thing?), but also what obligations monarchs themselves have to their people.

This seemed especially pertinent to Lear, in which multiple characters defy capricious orders from a monarch or other authority out of loyalty: Kent challenges Lear and is banished, so skulks around in disguise to continue serving him, Edgar also skulks around in disguise after Gloucester renounces him and ends up offering what comfort he can to his father, and Cordelia returns to Britain with the French army in her ultimately futile attempt to help Lear. Meanwhile, Lear loses everything, is driven to take shelter in a peasant hovel, and starts to contemplate how his own failures as a king resulted in, well, peasant hovels.

Anyway, now I'm thinking about what a wild figure Elros must have been as, specifically, a monarch to the Númenóreans. He lived for five hundred years. Even his own children (also half-Elves! sort of!) and other descendants who benefited from his lifespan didn't live as long, and most Númenóreans during his earlier reign wouldn't have come near to it. Undoubtedly there were Elves who had known Elros in the First Age who were baffled at him choosing mortality and DEATH, and meanwhile on Númenor, there are all these people living out their extended lifespans under the reign of a half-Elf king who was ruling their people at their birth and would still be ruling after they died of old age. We know Elros retained his half-Elvish characteristics as well, so they've got this visibly Elvish, barely-aging, eternal king who looks like Lúthien as part of the fabric of life for centuries.

Yes, he's literally the first king—but for a lot of earlier Númenóreans, he's also the only king they will ever know. It takes him an incredibly long time to weary of the world as other mortals do. By the time Elros finally gets weary of Arda, and willingly lays down his life and passes to the unknown fate of mortals, Tar-Amandil is stepping into some very big shoes.

[allysdelta]

something something guardian angel something Eastern Gate

[superman-the-secret-third-thing]

I love Superman helping out random aliens!

Here's maybe my favorite, being this creature from Superman Red & Blue #3, "Little Star" (2021) by James Stokoe.

But there's also the Sun-Eater from All-Star Superman (2006) by Grant Morrison - it was a baby he nursed back to health by forging mini stars for it to eat.

And here's an example from the Silver Age, Superman #198 "The Fate of the Super-Superman!" (1967) by Cary Bates. I like that he didn't have the heart to just destroy the tree and just replanted it elsewhere.

[k6tzie]

COD CHARACTERS BIRTHDAYS / ZODIACS

⋆ ˚｡ ghost: march 5th - pisces. i would say pisces or libra but i feel as though he fits pisces well - he's adaptable to new situations where pisces are known for being flexible. pisces are idealistic and strongly guided by moral compass, he seems to be driven by duty and principles even if his actions are seen as morally ambiguous. pisces are intuitive and his high alertness towards split-second decisions add to why i think he'd be a pisces 🐟 ⋆ ˚｡ price: may 11 - taurus. taurus are loyal, stubborn and organised. the bull represents stability, strength and discipline which is what a leader like price possesses. they are very loyal people and price demonstrates this throughout the game with how dedicated he is to his team 🐂 ⋆ ˚｡ gaz: february 13 - aquarius. aquarius' tend to be more on the 'quirky' side which gaz definitely gives off a little lol. they are independent and free-thinking, gaz tends to show autonomy and the ability to think and decide for himself even with the military hierarchy. they also have a desire to make positive changes to the world which i find gaz to be one of the more creative and kinder ones in the game 🌊 ⋆ ˚｡ soap: july 17 - cancer. cancers are moody, irritable and very empathetic. he shows a lot of emotion throughout the game - especially irritation. cancers are often deeply loyal and devoted to their loved ones and causes. soap's loyalty to his team and his commitment to them could be seen as a reflection of being a cancer 🦀 ⋆ ˚｡ alejandro: march 29 - aries (canon?) now, i'm not sure if this is canon or not but i see this as something many people are saying like it's a fact 🤷‍♀️ aries are courageous and bold. he is portrayed as a highly skilled and fearless colonel who isn't afraid to take on dangerous missions like saving rudy from that fire. as colonel, it's important to have leadership skills and good decision making, aries are often assertive and initiative which fits ale well. 🐏 ⋆ ˚｡ rudy: march 14 - pisces. pisces' are known for being calm, quiet and sensitive. rudy is portrayed as a character who is attuned to the emotional states of his teammates and is willing to offer support and comfort when needed, making him a strong empath. most of his interactions throughout the game is gentle and soft spoken. he's also seen as creative, which fits the pisces archetype. 🐟 ⋆ ˚｡ farah: january 25 - aquarius. aquarians are often associated with a strong sense of social justice, humanitarian ideals, and a desire to help others, which practically sums up farah lol. her selfless dedications and rebellious spirit make her a perfect fit for being an aquarius. 💨 ⋆ ˚｡ makarov: april 18 - aries. aries are often characterized by their aggressive ambition, leadership qualities, and a relentless drive to achieve their goals, all of which makarov naturally possesses. 🐏 ⋆ ˚｡ konig: december 23 - capricorn. i see he might be a capricorn due to his disciplined approach, strong sense of responsibility, and strategic mindset. his focus on meticulous planning and achieving long-term goals aligns well with capricorn's traits. 🐐 ⋆ ˚｡ keegan: august 10 - leo. i think he could be considered a leo due to his confident and charismatic leadership style, as well as his strong sense of loyalty and courage. they're known for their boldness, natural authority, and commitment to their team, traits that align well with keegan's.🦁 ⋆ ˚｡ logan: april 2 - aries. even if he doesn't speak, i see him as aries for his courageous and proactive nature. aries' are known for their bravery and willingness to take initiative, traits that logan shows through his bold actions and readiness to face challenges. 🐏

[thecomicsnexus]

TMNT X NARUTO #1

November 2024 By Caleb Goellner , Hendry Prasetya, Raúl Angulo, and Ed Dukeshire.

Kakashi leads a team to escort April O'Neil back to her home at the Big Apple Village, but in their way they cross paths with the Foot clan, and... another clan.

SCORE: 8

So, I watched a few seasons of Naruto and so far, I am able to follow along... so I am not sure how hard this story would be for those not familiar with his world. I suppose this is targeted to fans of Naruto anyway, but just in case, there is enough exposition (I think) to explain what each character wants and hides.

But to be fair, none of it is super-clear in this first episode.

What does happen though, is the mandatory fight between the good guys that takes place at the beginning of every cross-company team-up. It takes pretty much the entire issue, but seeing these characters in action also serves as a good introduction of who they are.

Now, just like Turtles of Grayskull, this is part one of four... so this must be a fairly simple story (as I imagine each issue could be 70% fighting). Nevertheless, April's backstory already revealed a lot about the story and it is safe to say that more mutants are coming in the following issues.

Visually, the issue looks pretty amazing. Detailed backgrounds (when needed), stunning colors, and a good blend of the two styles.

Overall, there is enough potential for this crossover to have sequels, and judging by the amount of free publicity this book got online, I am under the impression that it will sell well.

[totmatsu]

chinamatsu old image dump (If the style changes drastically within these, its because theyre from a long span of time)

^Not the finished version of this comic. I lost the finished version. Which seems to have happened more often than not with comics specifically.

Also, I often used their Chinese names, but I guess for this comic I had decided not to...?

[waspgrave]

Solas and Mythal’s relationship is that perfect blend of fucked up and tragic I have been wanting from them for a decade. The mother and her child, the two lovers, a queen and a general, the dog and its master, the servant and the lord. Love it. I knew I sensed fuckery with the way solas talked about her despite ‘burning her off his face’. Then to see him shrinking up in front of her, how he groaned ‘mythal’ in dread and even began to hold the dagger out towards her to take bc he knows he’ll do anything for her if she asks. man needs therapy for his absolutely disastrous and problematic situationship thank you for letting me watch your traumas unfold like that king

[natsuki-bakery]

⁎˚ ఎ CG! Soap HC's ໒ ˚⁎

Hiii! Could I please ask for John Mactavish from Call of Duty Modern Warfare II caregiver headcanons? (⁠灬⁠º⁠‿⁠º⁠灬⁠)⁠♡

•Soap's protective instincts kick in naturally. He’s always vigilant about ensuring his little one feels safe and secure, both physically and emotionally

•Soap is known for his tough exterior, but with you, he's a gentle encourager. He always finds ways to motivate and praise you, boosting your confidence

•He has a treasure trove of stories from his missions, but he knows how to adapt them into kid-friendly adventures. His storytelling skills captivate you, transporting you into exciting, imaginative worlds

•Despite his military background, John has a playful side. He’s great at engaging in fun activities like building forts, playing with toy soldiers, or having nerf gun battles, making every moment exciting and memorable

•Understanding the importance of stability, Soap ensures there’s a consistent routine. From bedtime schedules to regular meal times, he helps create a predictable environment that his little one can rely on

•During difficult moments, Mactavish is a master at providing comfort. His calm demeanor and reassuring words help soothe any fears or anxieties you might have <3

•Dada Soap is always there to listen!He takes your thoughts and feelings seriously, offering advice and support whenever needed, making sure you feel heard and understood

•Creative Crafts : Whether it’s painting, drawing, or building models, he encourages creativity and expresses his pride in every masterpiece you create !

•He ensures to dedicate special one-on-one time. Whether it’s watching a favorite movie, reading a bedtime story, or just talking about their day, he cherishes all these moments

•Mactavish understands the importance of a balanced life. He incorporates a mix of physical activities, quiet time, educational games, and relaxation, ensuring your overall well-being

DNI: basic criteria, DSMP, vivziepop/h4zbin h0tel/h3lluva b0ss fans, Owl h0use fans, St4r butterfly fans, Ghibli fans, ddlg/abdl, nsfw/k!nk, anti-agere, anti Christians blogs

[marshbevvie]

🐀 🎀 𝐵𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓁𝓎 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽 (@𝑀𝒶𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒷𝑒𝓋𝓋𝒾𝑒) 🎀 🐀

Hello! Welcome to my pinned post. When I first hit the scene here I made a shoddy intro post, but this is my ACTUAL info post lol.

𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙚: 𝘽𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙝 (𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝘽𝙚𝙫 𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙫𝙫𝙞𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙚𝙫𝙮 𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙫𝙫𝙮)

𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨: 𝙎𝙝𝙚/𝙝𝙚𝙧

𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙗 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧

♥ Ben Hanscom

𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲

ɪ’ᴍ ꜰɪɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱʜᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʟᴏꜱᴇʀʟʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛᴜᴍʙʟʀ— ᴍʏ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ, ᴅᴏʀᴋʏ ᴍᴇᴍᴇꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴇᴀʀꜱ

[𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢, 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚛𝚍. 𝙸’𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚋𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝙰𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎— 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎.]

Sexists and homophobes DNI— I put the bi in bitch and I’m the only girl holding up this Losers joint. So yeah.

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Unaffiliated with anyone official, I’m just here to have some fun. ♥

I love you internet losersss (aka the silly people who view my posts) and will interact with anyone. But please, Pennywise? Don’t slide into my Tumblr account. I’m still not afraid of you.

but enough about thaaaat

Thank you for checking out this post and I’ll see you around.

𝓍𝑜𝓍𝑜

𝒷𝑒𝓋

[dallasgallant]

Time period post : Buses and public transport

This one extends a bit off of my post on car culture, as I’ll cover motorlodges but also public transportation! As usual this is sort of an introduction or crash course to the topic, I do encourage you to go looking if you want to learn more!

Public transport-

In the 60’s flying was still fairly expensive and formal, it was a really nice trip or more for business men or other upper middle or outright rich people. There was a matter of price but popularity and access also played a part, most people would likely prefer to drive or take a bus or maybe even a train!

Trains were still a huge part of transportation up until following WW2, after all there were huge efforts like the transcontinental railway in the 1860s to connect the country. They were still fairly popular long form travel up through the 40s and 50s (old movies can be evidenced to that) but as car culture began to rise and interstate highway were built - people shifted their focus to individual passenger vehicles and the freedom of control. The rail system was much more in tact than the remains today but was on the decline.

Busses on the other hand? Huge, especially in small towns (some may even still have trolly systems!) they’d be kept neat and relatively on time — it was also a way to travel! Some who either couldn’t afford or didn’t want to drive a long distance themselves could take a longer bus ride/charter busses and travel the country! Greyhound absolutely ruled the roost in this regard and is still sort of synonymous!

Similar to trains there were bus terminals alongside regular street side stops, it’d be returned to on its regular run or a place to hop onto the next one going a city or so over. Some big and nice stations had little tv chairs that I am obsessed with:

Ash trays and shoe shine stands, news stands and vending machines (hot drinks, candy, cigarettes.) and brochure stands are some other notable features. Yes people used to actually man shoe shine stations… I feel in modern day they’re the stand equivalent to a mall that’s somehow still standing.

Most buses you’d pay a few cents or dollars (depending, likely cents) wherever you’re picked up. But if you’re going a considerable distance. Like Tulsa to Detroit you’d buy a ticket and then show that, you wouldn’t just hop on.

This isn’t to say there aren’t still busses in America, but our towns are larger, cars are the main focus and busses have become a bit dirty and less reliable. Isn’t to say they aren’t still a thing, similar to trains.

“Milk run” - this is an interesting bit of slang I’ve heard from my grandmother to refer to a bus going on its complete route stopping at every small town along the way.

She took a bus by herself from one town to another that were a few hours apart from eachother… about 15 in the 60s and got stranded at a bus station. (Needless her dad chewed out the attendant.)

That story highlights the detail of kids traveling on their own! It was safe* enough if they were aware and knew things well, this would be more contained to a town. Not small children either more 8+ and teens.

Motor lodges-

For a good portion of their existence, Hotels were dedicated to long term stays and located in cities, usually bachelors or businessmen etc. or sometimes renting a room at an older woman’s home.

Motor lodges became the place for the average vacationer. “Motels.” It was more common to see independently owned ones but chains did arise, like Howard Johnsons. An absolute staple of the 60s and roadside Americana… it cannot be understated just how huge these places were- sometimes their restaurants would stand alone! They were nice, fun and amenity filled place, honestly almost a toned down resort of sorts.

Most motels you’ll see beds, shower, perhaps a tv etc. they’d be clean and comfortable.

A nicer motel you’d be set! A color tv, refrigerated air (ac), a heated pool , a cafe next door.

Motor lodges rose alongside automobiles, existing all the way back in the 30s in a slightly different form. They began to kick off in gimmick and style in the real height of the Route 66 tourism era.

The view of Flying and hotels also began to change by the end of the decade, flying became cheaper and incentivized. Hotels began to spring up and offer more amenities and push out some motels, these happening simultaneously.

[transformers-synergize]

What year does synergized take place?

There is no set year, but it takes place sort of in the mid-2000s, at least technology-wise for humans. Aesthetically, it's somewhat a mix of multiple decades.

I set the technology at the mid-2000s for two main reasons. One a lot of my inspirations for this project are shows/comics from around that time, and two, the major reason I don't want to write smart phones or modern type social media. I don't find it fun to write (mostly modern social media integration), and what is considered modern changes so fast. No matter how up-to-date I try to keep it, the nature of a long-term project like this, it will fall behind anyway, so why not set it slightly in the past where I already know we're human technology is at and will go...

I kinda got a light alt-history thing going on where no real-world brands, cities, or countries are name-dropped. It feels pretty close to our world, but occasionally, a character will mention something like "at least Earth only had one world War" or how theirs a town that and all the people living in it mysteriously all turned into solid metal like 300 years ago, also it just a tourist attraction you can just visit now or religions/holidays being lil different from the real-world ones, the vibes are definitely east coast America, and it is sorta set there but it is definitely not a 1 to 1 with the real world (sorta how Steven universe handled things)