#ray palmer background

[heroesriseandfall]

Look how much he wants to live in Victorian Gotham. That boy absolutely read English classics seriously, Shakespeare and Jane Austen and all. He has been in Victorian Gotham for two seconds and already thinks he was born to be a Victorian lad.

The Search for Ray Palmer: Gotham by Gaslight #1 (January 2008)

“I would fit here, I think, in a way I don’t everywhere else.” Maybe instead of becoming Red Hood he should’ve just gone to some renaissance festivals and reenactments.

I think beyond just being a literature nerd, he is probably also a history nerd. See also: Robin Jay getting deeper and deeper into the extra credit to bring up his history grade back in the 80s.

[avatarskywalker78]

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV)

Rating: General Audiences

Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Relationships: Nora Darhk ~ Nate Heywood, Nora Darhk/Ray Palmer, Nate Heywood/Ray Palmer

Characters: Nora Darhk, Nate Heywood, Ray Palmer

Additional Tags: Fluff, Established Relationship, Queerplatonic Relationships, Weddings, Post-Season/Series 04, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, In that all three are together and S5 never happened

Series: Part 2 of Mulitamory March 2023

Summary: Nate has been acting off for a little while, so when he goes missing the morning he's going to marry her and Ray it's not exactly a surprise for Nora - but they manage to talk things out.

[dctvgen]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: DC's Legends of Tomorrow (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Gary Green & Ava Sharpe, Sara Lance/Ava Sharpe, Nate Heywood & Ray Palmer, John Constantine/Gary Green Characters: Gary Green, Ava Sharpe, Sara Lance, Mona Wu, Nate Heywood, Ray Palmer, John Constantine Additional Tags: Hanukkah, Friendship Summary:

Just some silly Hanukkah fun for the last night of Hanukkah!

[leseigneurdufeu]

as much as i love the trope of a time traveler picking the name of a famous actor/character as their new name when they are asked for their name in the past/future, i would love if it was used for drama, and by that I mean, Marty McFly turns back at the bar and says his name is Clint Eastwood, and someone at a table starts choking on their beer because they recognize the name, Ray Palmer pins the star on his lapel and says his name is John Wayne, and the girl hanging in the background wheezes, Rufus tells former soldiers his name is Denzel Washington and someone facepalms behind him... because they are not the only time travelers around.

The "problem" is that when this trope is used, not being the only time traveler around is hardly the biggest problem they have in the episode/movie (not getting killed, not getting killed, not getting Lincoln killed/not killed) but I so wish the blatant pseudonyms were a dead giveaway of who's a time traveller more often.

[dailyjasontodd]

to the fav jason comic of all time question just list all of them!

anything written by:

winick, idc i know there's some issues in his stories but they're pretty solid overall, utrh, lost days, green arrow, and the story he wrote for the robin anniversary

barr, of detective comics robin jason fame. Particularly loved his two face arc (detective comics #480-481 iirc)

Then:

Batman #408-413 (1987) --> original post-crisis jason todd run before someone who hated robin took over, my baby and dear

Batman Annual #12 (1988) --> PEAK robin jason

New Talent Showcase (2017) --> a short story starring Jason and Duke. He's not the main character but he's written so well that i'll always add it to my fav jason comics list

Red hood: Outlaw #51-52 (2021) --> listen delivering a good arc in TWO issues and after lobdell wrote everything else? an entire talent on its own. i love this mini arc, how jason is written, how it fleshed out his background, the new dynamics it added. just. exquisite.

Event Leviathan #2-3 (2019) --> i loved him here idgaf, that fight? i just moaned out loud, everyone was calling it bullshit but it was so in character, we will never get his fighting abilities respected again but it was worth it

Batman: Gotham Nights #11 (2020) --> i had been begging for a steve orlando jason comic for YEARS when this dropped and it didn't let me down. loved the characterization and how it fleshed out jasons background

Batman/Superman Annual #1 (2014) --> if you weren't there for the mess of n52 storylines this comic might be confusing but i love it sooo much, it showcases his competency and i enjoyed his dynamic with the different characters

Countdown Presents: The Search for Ray Palmer (2008) --> i just. love. this. mini series. i like his personality there and the different scenarios are fun, particularly loved the gotham by gaslight one!

Injustice 2 #3 (2017) --> yes injustice is garbage etc but this issue was JAYSTORY, you had to be there when this was released weekly and we were all waiting for the confirmation of him being batman. when he bet bruce like it was nothing? MMMMH YEAH

Convergence: Batman and Robin (2015) --> what if someone took morrisons canon and made it enjoyable for jason stans?

Batman and Robin #20 (2013) --> this might be a controversial pick but i liked jason here, like ack he really was ready to help bruce..

Tiny Titans (2010-2012) --> tiny titans.

Theres some recent comics i've enjoyed but i'll let them age and see if i still like them in a year to add them to the hall of fame

brought to you by admin 🐅

[marveloustimestwo]

Hi Robin! This is not a request but a question: Above all the yanderes that you write about, who you think are the best and the worst?

With “best and worst” I mean who would be nicer/not so harsh

Hiya! This is a very fun question!

For the best/who would be less crazy and nicer, the ones that immediately come to mind are Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia), Kurt Wagner and Colossus (X-Men), Vander and Ekko (Arcane), Ray Palmer (Legends of Tomorrow), Aang (AtLA), and Penelope Garcia (Criminal Minds). Whether they're platonic or romantic yanderes, these guys are generally going to be pretty lenient with their darlings. They're soft, they're loving, and honestly pretty normal aside from some more obsessive and protective tendencies. They're not the type to cross your boundaries, go against your will, or kidnap you unless something very, very serious happens, and even still, they'll allow you a lot of things that many others might not. They'll explain exactly why they're doing what they're doing, and explain that with time, once the the original threat is gone, you may go back to the way things were. They put a lot of trust in you and try very hard to get that trust in return.

As for those who are the worst of the bunch, the following would be a lot harsher or generally very not fun to deal with: Nebula (Marvel), Miguel O'Hara (Across the Spiderverse), Silco and Sevika (Arcane), and Daemon Targaryen (HotD). Each one of them has certain qualities that make them highly difficult to deal with, ranging from anger issues to paranoia, to high-key protectiveness. These guys are much more likely to kidnap their darling for a lot less of a reason, or for something that they perceive to be a danger that might not be in the first place. They are a lot more likely to cross your boundaries and are a lot more likely to snap if you don't return their feelings, or at the very least accept them. While they can be soft, it takes a lot of work to get there. Either their personalities or their backgrounds/traumas make it so they're incredibly paranoid and angry, and in turn, very harsh on a darling who doesn't give in right away.

[jackiequick]

The Flash OC ⚡️

Leanna O’Conner 🌺

Full Name: Leanna Kira O’Conner

Nicknames: Lea, Lana, Anna, Annie, O’Conner, Doc, Darling, Flower

Age depending on the season: 32–38 (but she always looks young for her age)

Height: 5'3

Job: Assistant, Scientist, Detective and overall help of Team Flash

Shows she appears in: The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, DC Legends Of Tomorrow and etc

Relationships: Ex-boyfriend Eowells and Harrison Wells Earth 2. Currently single.

Friendships: Iris West, Caitlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, Kara Danvers, Barry Allen, Felicity Smoak, Ray Palmer and the list goes on

Power Set: She doesn't have powers but ends up effected by the explosion and timeline change years later. Ends up with really good sense of hearing, enhanced listening which comes in handy.

~~~~~

Leanna was hired by Dr. Harrison Wells to be his little helper knowing she also has a background in science and tech, with a strong heart. That moment he knew she was someone who keep an eye on.

She quickly became friends with Caitlin, Ronnie, Cisco and Hartley having other scientists and engineers of S.T.A.R. Labs join in on the fun of their friendship. Over her months, more like a year, of working with them whole team she developed a huge love and respect for them. Lea grew close to Dr. Wells having a small crush on the older man, little did she know he felt the same way. Soon enough the night of Explosion came and everything changed.

Later on Leanna was sent to recruit Barry Allen since doctor Wells wanted to keep the coma patient at Star Labs instead, she agreed knowing that they can probably help him out when the time came. 9 months later Barry woke up and training with his speed began! One night, Harrison spoke into the microphone saying, “Run Barry Run!” for the first time as his hand causally slipped onto Lea’s in a comforting grip and she smiled back, leaning into his touch.

Later on the two started rather quickly dating over that. Dinner dates, kisses shared, hand holding, smiles, late night talks and etc. Love was in the air, friendships grew, Team Arrow came to visit Central City aka Oliver, Felicity and Ray, Team Flash was at its highest point but The Reverse Flash was out there…

Later Leanna gets a feeling that Harrison is hiding something from her and she confront him about him, Harrison tells her it’s nothing. Until a few days later while she’s walking down the hallways one morning at the Lab she leans against the wall noticing how difficulty tougher the wall felt and stumbles into room in between the wall where Thawne kept his suit and Gideon. EoWells became the new name.

Leanna is in shock finding the information as Gideon greets her saying “Hello Ms O’Conner. But you are only that last name during this lifetime. How may I be of assistance ma’am?” Leanna ask her the questions she has. But before she can ask about article and Eowells real family history, her boyfriend sneaks in behind. Eowells was standing, as he sat in Lea his famous chair and questioning her action by entering the Time Vault.

Eowells grumbles and pinching his nose, “Lea my dear, I love you. I really do but I can’t believe you’ll ask Gideon AND NOT ME!”

Leanna glares, “Oh please, Harrison or should I call you Eobard? I asked you earlier and you refused to answer me! If you really wanted my help or something, you could’ve been honest…do you care about me or am I just a game in your plan to build Team Flash..?”

“I-I do care! I can’t have them knowing yet, I promise you I will tell them about who I am and we can be together forever.”

“A week.”

“I’ll execute the best to way to tell them.”

“Or I tell the team.”

“You wouldn’t dare, I can tell your bluffing my dear.”

That night lead to screams, heartache and anger for the pair. Eobard told her bits and pieces of his story, but not everything keeping it a lie and Leanna fell for it. He hated seeing her that way, noticing the light and laughter flickering out of his girlfriend that night, pulling Lea into his arms, he kissed her and begged for forgiveness. She didn’t even know what to think, but let it slide hoping he kept his promise.

As weeks went on, Eobard didn’t say a word to Team Flash BUT Leanna did! She revealed his identity to Barry, Cisco, Caitlin, Joe and even Iris as they all worked against him. Eddie died sadly. Of course they defeated Reverse Flash, Barry went back in time to see his mother and they created a wormhole in Central City. Ronnie and Barry stopped it as Leanna held Caitlin in her arms knowing how heartbreaking it must’ve been for her friend.

~~~~

(Season 2–3)

Months later, everyone was working once again at Star Labs after a break from the chaotic year. Leanna worked with Joe and Caitlin most of those months as a biologist and detective. She became friends with Penny and her sister Patty, eventually finding a video tape for Barry and handing it to him. On there the video tape Eobard Thawne aka FAKE Harrison Wells confession to the murder of Nora Allen and his faults towards his relationship with Leanna O’Conner, saying that her and Barry have inherited a chunk, if not most of S.T.A.R Labs.

Everything was turning up nicely until two visitors from EARTH-2. Jay aka ZOOM and Harrison ‘Harry’ Wells. The moment Lea lay her eyes on Harry in Star Labs, she felt like she saw a ghost, like she was gonna throw up. The girl didn’t know what to think the long hours she spend standing near Wells and trying to get to know him. Cisco hated him, saying he was a grump and a total dick while Lea kept watch while working on a few test items noticing a look in Harrison Wells eyes. Anger, confusion, sadness and annoyance. The same way she felt.

She told Cisco, “Sooner or later, every man shows himself.” And Harry did. He was a little nicer in a way with Team Flash, being mostly closer to Cisco and Leanna. The three could be bickering over everything! However Harry seemed to care about her, finding her presents kind and lighten up his mood every once in a while. He barley heard her laugh or smile too often but when he did, he smiled.

One night, Leanna was closing the windows in Star Labs and checking up on the rooms before leaving it all to Harry. She stumbled into one of the labs searching for jacket that held a small brown notebook she lost earlier during the week. “Ah ha! I knew I left it in here…” She said with a small nod, noticing a small black notebook that was open with nice handwriting inside. She smiled.

Harry walked into the lab with a half nod and taking a seat near the sets of tables, grabbing his black markers and a white notepad scribbling down an idea. He felt her eyes on him and chuckled slightly, “Yes, O’Conner?”

“Is this yours?” She asked with a small half smile, taking a seat in one the stools pointing to the notebook.

He turned around questioning her query and eyes widen at the small black notebook, snatching it of the table and closing it. He glanced between the notebook and her before he asked, “What did you..see? In this case of the notebook, O’Conner.”

“Just your handwriting, and a narrative in the way you wrote a note, like a storyteller. And a name.” She replied honestly, pushing her hair out of her face. Harry questioned her knowledge cue her to speak more and she continued, “The name, Jesse, popped up on that small note.”

“…my daughter, Jesse. I told you and your team that Zoom took her, while some of his Metas came here to Earth 1. I miss her…”

“I can tell you do. I have a few nieces and nephews, I know how it feels to miss children you love…”

“Why are you so nice to me?”

“Because, Harry, you aren’t like the others. I can see the pain and anger in yours eyes after losing your light and laughter, being your daughter…I know that because I felt it. When your told the truth and something you love is taken from you..it hurts.”

“You were hurt before, weren’t you Lana?”

“Yeah. I was hurt before by Thawne, friends while I was child..even told that a woman couldn’t do much better than a man in my line of work.”

“They’re idiots.”

“What?”

“I’ve haven’t known you long but I can tell enough. Your very smart, kind, understanding and a badass with a gun. Hell, you shot down three Metas this month and cuffed them in front of the group like it was nothing. You show a lot of love and compassion towards everyone.”

“I was taught well. But don’t sell yourself short, Harry. Your a genius and gentle, a bit grumpy but it adds to your charm. You’re very understanding about a lot of things and see a lot compassion in people, notice things that they don’t.”

It was like sparks flew between that in that moment, of course they pair was attractive to each other after some time working together but this month felt stronger than ever. Harry saw a light flickering return in her eyes while Lea saw a balance of hope returning in his. Lea’s heart fluttered softly for him and Harry’s heart beats strongly for her. Two kept their emotions in control, not knowing what to say or do about this feeling..

Until Christmas time came near and Cisco hung mistletoe in Star Labs cortex, in hopes to have Caitlin and Jay along with the other couples to celebrate and kiss. But Cisco Ramon didn’t expect to walk into the Cortex, to find Harry Wells hands cupped onto Lea O’Conner’s face with such joy as her arms wrapped around his waist lean in for another sweet kiss. The two were in their own little world all smiles and no sorrow..

Cisco cleared his throat with his hands on his hips and yelled, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t The Grump and The Lady!”

The two snapped their heads towards Cisco in utter shock and slightly annoyance wanting to kick him out of the room. “Ramon!” Harry yelled with his hands still gently cupping his lady’s face, “Don’t you knock?!”

“Seriously, Cisco?!” Lea yelled at the same time as Harry did grumbling under her breath.

Cisco just laughed while also in shock wanting to know everything about this situation. He swore to not tell a soul but it didn’t last long as he told Barry, Iris and Caitlin, even Joe and Jay found out. They didn’t know how their relationship started exactly but it did and it felt just right. To add onto the dynamic, it was honestly a adorable height difference, if you ask Caitlin.

The two were inseparable, with Harry always standing behind her as his hands, placed comfortably on Lea’s shoulders as if it was the most normal thing in the world. She would smile taking one of his hands, placing a gentle kiss onto her knuckles that always tinkered with items in the lab. They weren’t big on PDA however the couple always seen giving small kisses on each other’s cheeks and forehead.

Of course, they bickered and fought like an old married couple at least twice a week, even over the smallest things.

~~~~~

Plenty of things happened, Harry got shot by Patty, a few metas, Jay revealed to actually be Zoom, and of course the famous trip to Earth 2 to save Jesse…Let’s just say Lea met Jesse under the worst circumstances as Zoom kidnapped her as well for high leverage over Team Flash.

Jesse screamed, ranted and cried the whole time, in the beginning Lea felt sorry for her and comforted the girl. Until her temper started to rise and snapped at the poor girl, telling Jesse that everything will be fine and that she’s braver than this! Eventually Jesse stopped and started talk to her to figure out how to escape. Thankfully Barry, Cisco, Harry, Killer Frost and others saved them! They all returned to Earth 1 with a survivor of Zoom to reveal himself as the REAL Jay Garrick. 

Everyone bonded, a few metas came in here and there. Harry, Lea, and Caitlin had to saved Jesse from going into shock. Lea and Jesse formed a bond afterwards. Plenty of other things happened as Barry’s dad died while trying to help them.

Eventually they defeated Zoom and everything was fine, until Barry created Flashpoint and you know what happened there! Team Flash was dealing with bigger issues due that change in the timeline order cause of the different Meta Humans, Caitlin becoming Killer Frost, Harry and HR, relationships blooming, the yearly crossover events and etc.

Forget to mention, Harry was a little jealous when HR would be flirty or anything similar to that with Lea. HR adored all the couples, especially Barry and Iris! But deep down he knew she was Harry’s lady.

~~~~~

As crazy it was, it was home. One afternoon, Harry walked into the lab to find Lea tinkering a equation for a biological connect between a few Meta humans and a new answer to Jesse’s speeding powers, getting a huge headache. He smiled, resting his hand on her waist kissing her shoulder tenderly. It was a rare occasion where he was the one easing her thoughts. Usually it was the other way around, with her being the one to do so, but it felt good.

Lea leaned into Harry’s touch and eased looking up at him with a small smile. They only been together for two years but it felt like they were the married couple of Team Flash with how comfortable they are around each other. She laced her lips giving him a cheeky kiss as he went in for another kiss.

“You forgot to add the 3 and subtract the 15, that’s why your having trouble.” Harry commented, taking the pen to fix the equation and being a genius, he solved it immediately.

“Of course I did. I’m better with a gun and genetic codes then rude math stuff..” Lea replied with a small huff, pointing to the paperwork.

“That’s why I’m the billionaire genius.”

“And I’m the junior biologist.”

“A gorgeous biologist, may I add.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“I would!”

Before she can replied or add anything else, Harry lifted the girl into her arms wrapping the love of his life into her arms grinning. Lea wrapped around his neck when suddenly she hissed her face laying on Harry’s chest, feeling a headache and a sharp ringing in her ears. His gripping stayed strongly against hers, rubbing her back until it passed and when it did, Harry asked, “Uh honey what was that? Are you okay?”

Lea whimpered for a moment and nodded, “I’m fine. I heard a ringing like a bell..or the elevator.”

“From here? Darling, your sure it’s not a headache…you’ve been having a lot of those recently.”

“No..it’s not.”

As if on cue, Cisco came in with a confused face holding a corn dog and texting Barry on his phone. He looked up and noticed the couple sensing something was wrong, Harry was skeptical, it happened out of the blue as he watch Lea’s reactions and his face lighted up. 

Cisco tossed Harry his machine and they the used old Meta Human detector waving it in front of her until it’s started slowly beating a gentle as Harry and Cisco face lit up. After a few hours it was confirmed, Leanna caught onto elements of being Meta Human!

—-

Hours and days passed as Leanna O’Conner became aware of her powers that bounced within her. She had to ability to have enhanced hearing. Cisco and Harry were VERY proud they found out of her abilities firsthand while Caitlin kept her abilities a secret. That was until Cisco and Lea found out with Barry about her power set. They love Caitlin and embraced her new abilities, even if Killer Frost revealed to be a bit of a insecurity for her. But Lea was always by her side for all of it!

To say Lea struggled with her powers was a understatement, there were moments where she heard everything from a 4 mile radius and moments where she couldn’t hear anything at all. The first days she couldn’t sleep or think straight, having to wear noise canceling headphones that Cisco and Harry built for her or Iris hug her from behind to hush her worries.

Weeks past and everything changed for Team Flash, they’re team grew up but also downgraded. Since Killer Frost kept showing up making issues harder, Savitar kept wanting to kill Iris, Wally West got powers and started dating Jesse, and etc.

OH! The Invasion, The Musical Crossover Event and happened as well. In result, was a world wrestling issue for the teams as Supergirl, Arrow, Legends and others join in. Barry and Iris even got engaged twice, which everyone celebrated.

More Metas came to town, causing Lea to take action and step up even more with Team Flash, since she was always behind the scenes of all the action. Time travel happened and then it was the night of Iris’s death…

It was a crazy nightmare for Barry and the rest of Team Flash, fighting against time to save Iris from Savitar and Killer Frost. Stressful, heartbreaking and frustrating to say the least. In the end they won, H.R. swapped positions with Iris, as she went to kill Savitor with a gun she took from Lea.

There was a small funeral held for H.R. Wells during a somewhat cold rainy day, everyone dressed in black underneath umbrellas burying their short lived friend. Caitlin returned as Killer Frost for the funeral telling Lea and Cisco she needs some time to figure herself out but will return later on. A few days later, Lea and Cisco were packing up for a small trip to Earth 2 with Harry when a portal opened a few blocks away result all of Team Flash to take action.

The portal was The Speed Force wanting Barry to spend some time with them for a while, for his issues of messing with the timeline. It was heartbreaking to see Barry Allen go, Lea held Iris in her arms comforting the girl as she had to watch her fiancé leave for a while. Julian, Cisco, Harry and Joe stayed behind watching the mere sad action take place as a group…

Thanks to reading and I hope you liked it. If you have any questions onto Season 4-5 put them in the comment section below 👇🏼

Tags: @gaminggirlsstuff @morgan108 @msrochelleromanofffelton @t-nd-rfoot @yetanotherwells @blueboirick @sherloquestea @sherlkore @gcthvile @ohgodnotagainn @topgun-imagines @gcthvile @superspookyjanelle @blackheart-beauty @hanlueluver and etc

[tbcanary]

2023 reading list: Blackest Night (2009)

There is life after death.

Bonus: Tiny lanterns!

(ID below the cut.)

ID: Six animated panels and one still image from Green Lantern: Blackest Night.

1: A supernova of green lantern light in the middle of a black expanse. The explosion expands into a rainbow of light, with a penumbra of multiple colors around it.

2: Bruce Wayne in his Batman costume and Hal Jordan in his Green Lantern uniform stand in front of large glass windows, showing a view of Earth and the Sun from space. Speech bubbles pop up: Hal: You saw them die in front of you? / Bruce: Yes. / Hal: I didn't know. When I was a kid-- / Bruce: You watched a plane crash take your father's life. / Hal: No wonder we're both screwed up. / Bruce: Speak for yourself.

3: A display of every dead superhero, including Batman and the Martian Manhunter. Speech bubbles pop up that say, "How, Hal? Why?" A thought panel from Hal pops up and says: I don't even know where to start.

4: A Black Lantern slowly lights up and casts its sigil over the sky. Two thought panels appear: Welcome, all of you. Welcome back to the darkness.

5: The same sigil of the Black Lantern inside the expanded eye socket of a skull. Five different Lantern Corps lanterns -- green, yellow, red, purple, blue and indigo -- are suspended in front of it, held in place by the hands of different officers. Each lantern lights up its respective color in turn.

6: Six panels of the different deputized superheroes and villains receiving their temporary rings in front of a rainbow background. Barry Allen receives a blue ring of hope, Lex Luthor receives an orange ring of greed, Jonathan Crane receives a yellow ring of fear, Ray Palmer receives an indigo ring of compassion, Queen Mera receives a red ring of anger, and Diana of Themyscira receives a purple ring of love. Each one flickers from their regular costumes (or, in Diana's case, the outfit of a Black Lantern) to the costumes of their new corps.

7: A tiny transparent collection of the Green Lanterns: John Stewart, Hal Jordan, and Guy Gardner all wave to a crowd, and Kyle Rayner throws his hands up in celebration.

/End ID.

[ionalottabookmarks]

Talon and Duela

Okay, so. Usually when you hear “Talon” in DC stuff, you think undead assassin, Court of Owls, etc. However, the Court of Owls became a thing in 2011. This Talon predates it by about six years, and is apparently just a guy - fully alive.

He gets 2-3 real appearances - one in the story that establishes Duela’s updated origin, one other where he has an actual line of dialogue, and another where he shows up in the background of a few panels.

He also shows up in a photo in another issue, and in another he’s part of a vision/hallucination Dick Grayson has of alternate versions of himself - the only indication we have that Talon is his home universe’s version of Dick, and overall we’re not counting it, since it’s all in Dick’s head and Talon’s not even present.

Duela’s backstory, which we see in the Search for Ray Palmer comics, tells us that Talon is Earth-3′s Robin-equivalent - the sidekick for Owlman, Earth-3′s evil version of Batman. He and Duela have a little star-crossed romance, run away, and apparently wind up on the main earth together. Not that we ever see the two of them interact; they just show up in the background of big scenes occasionally.

Behold, all of his real appearances outside the Duela origin story:

Really, Talon is barely even a character. But I did all this research on him so I could co-opt the Search for Ray Palmer backstory for a homeless Court of Owls style Talon from my Flightless Birds series, and I figured I might as well share my findings.

[scattered-winter]

looking to fuck myself up this weekend inquiring top 5 jason comics :)

while there are in fact very many jason comics in this world, asking for 5 good ones is a very tall order. nevertheless I did my best because I love he :]

5: batman: a death in the family

as depressing at it is, it's a great look into the catalyst event that really created jason as he is today <3 it has some.....less than stellar moments (joker becoming an islamic diplomat for some fucking reason, for one. what the fuck, dc) but overall if you're looking for being fucked up <3 that's a good way to go <3 and also a very good starting point for jason comics in general if you're getting into them for the first time!!!*

4: wayne family adventures (on webtoon)

funky and fun :] if you're looking for basic info/characterization on jason (or ANY batman character, tbh) it's a pretty good place to start for people who don't know who they like yet/where else to go. I will say that the character portrayals are VERY surface-level and since the webtoon is more of a comedy/slice of life genre, a lot of the....darker, messier aspects of the characters are left out, and some of the fanon characterizations have some influence on the writing from what I've seen. however it's very good for some fun shenanigans that don't require much brainpower <3

3: countdown: search for ray palmer

jaykyle bible <3 I also really love jason's characterization in this one as well, which is fairly hard to come by because his writing is so inconsistent. if you want clarification on the huge crisis event that this comic is part of, I am the Wrong person to ask <3 I largely ignore the big crises because they're so fucking confusing and I have a brain the size of a peanut

2: red hood: lost days

second to utrh only because of The Unspoken Thing that happens at the end of one of the issues (I.....cannot remember which one for the LIFE of me) that every jason fan has collectively wiped from their memory <3 it never happened <3333 but other than unspoken horrors, it's a good jason read!!! it shows some background on how he grew and changed after his resurrection into the red hood

1: batman: under the red hood

here it is <3 the red hood bible <3 every time someone has an incorrect idea of how jason acts/thinks I am waving this comic under their nose and assigning it like homework. imo this one is essential reading to understand red hood jason and if I had my way it would be required to read before writing ANYTHING about him (both canon dc writers and fanfic writers smfh)

*it's a good place to get into jason if you want to read about him as red hood, since that's the kickoff that begins his red hood journey, but if you want to read more about him as robin it's one of the last things you read. unfortunately I haven't read very many robin!jason comics since (while i LOVE the boy!!!!) he isn't as interesting to me as red hood!jason, but there are people you can ask for recs!!! @/autisticredhood would be a great person to ask for robin jason comics I think <3

ask me my top 5/10 anything!!

[themovieblogonline]

Babylon: The Over The Top Movie by Damien Chazelle

“Babylon” is Damien Chazelle’s salute to the movies, following on the heels of Sam Mendes’  similar homage to the film in “Empire of Light.” I’ve never met Sam Mendes, although I admire his work. But I met Damian Chazelle, when he came to Chicago for the premiere of “La La Land” at the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival on October 13, 2016. Damien Chazelle is a genuine, personable, interesting young man. Once again he has partnered with longtime collaborator Justin Hurwitz (who also did the music for “La La Land” and “Whiplash”). The "Babylon" score was very reminiscent of the music from “La La Land.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5muQK7CuFtY Babylon attempts to depict what Hollywood might have been like back when the silent movie era was giving way to talkies. It is both an homage to those chaotic times, beginning in 1926, and a criticism of the excesses of Hollywood. In fact, the opening 20 minutes, depicts an elephant being transported to an orgy hosted by someone seemingly based on Fatty Arbuckle. The golden shower scene, gross as it is, goes a long way toward illustrating those Hollywood excesses. It’s way over the top. You could say that about the entire film. One of the things that amazes me about this $80 million-dollar stroll down memory lane, is the cast. In addition to Brad Pitt as the male lead and Margot Robbie as the female lead, it seems like there are bit parts for a myriad of actors, both known and unknown. Who were these masked men (and women)? Flea has a part. Eric Roberts---who I interviewed on my WeeklyWilson podcast during the pandemic—plays Margot Robbie’s father. Lukas Haas who played the small boy in “Witness” when he was 9 in the seventies, plays George, Brad Pitt’s best friend.  Tobey Maguire, listed as an executive producer, has a truly hero-destroying role as a gangster. Spike Jonze plays Otto. Michael Dukakis has an uncredited part as a soldier. Anna Chazelle has an uncredited part as Bobbie Hart. Kaia Gerber, the look-alike daughter of Cindy Crawford, has a bit part at some point.  Jovan Adepo plays jazz trumpeter Sidney Palmer. Jean Smart (“Hacks”) plays a composite character based on columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, Elinor O’Toole. Max Minghella (“The Handmaid’s Tale's Nick Blaine) plays Irving Thalberg. Comedian/actor Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) plays Don Wallach, and Ethan Suplee  (“Remember the Titans” 2000) plays Wilson and spends most of his time onscreen spitting grossly. Manny Liotta plays a P.A. (Production Assistant). This is a very partial list of the surprisingly elaborate cast list. (Hard to stage an orgy without a crowd, I guess.) But the main character whose work in the lead is impressive as Manny Torres is relatively unknown Mexican actor Diego Calva, who comes to the screen in a major part as a complete unknown to U.S. audiences. Calva played a drug lord on Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico” but, if you missed that, you missed him. He came to his star-making part in much the same way as the fictional Manny Torres: by doing whatever anyone in the movie business needed to be done. Diego Calva reminded me of the “fixer” characters played by Harvey Keitel in “Pulp Fiction” or by Leiv Schreiber in “Ray Donovan.” He has been nominated for a Golden Globe (if that award still means anything.) On an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night television show, Calva shared some behind-the-scenes insights into Babylon and into his own background. Diego learned to speak English specifically for “Babylon.” Calva learned English from playing “Pokemon” video games in Mexico. He confirmed that the chicken in the orgy scene was a great actor.  He also confirmed that they used a chicken puppet for some takes. Diego admitted he was most excited to meet Tobey Maguire since he had been a “Spiderman” fan from a young age. Among other comments the young actor made was this one about the opening orgy scene:  “It was so crazy. I’ve never been surrounded by so many naked people before.” Of his co-star and love interest in the film, Margot Robbie, Diego said:  “She’s always going to do the unexpected. She’s a fearless actress, just full-on energy.  When you’re so tired, she can play it 100 times more." Diego studied at the Centro de Capacitacion Cinematografica in Mexico. He is a talent to watch. The thing that resonated with me---especially since it was quite similar to Sam Mendes’ musings on the movies---were the lines that pin down Chazelle’s feelings about the film. It’s not unique among creative types, whether filmmakers, writers, songwriters, or painters that the work we leave behind gives us a little bit of immortality. Ideally, whatever we have been responsible for as creative artists has been good and it remains long after we are gone. Chazelle scripted one scene, in particular, between Jean Smart and Brad Pitt where she tells the fading screen star “Your time has run out. There is no why. Babylon is bigger than you. No one asks to be left behind.” Telling him how he will live forever on celluloid, the columnist says, “You’ve been given a gift. Be grateful.” Pitt’s character, in an earlier scene, states, “What I do means something to millions of people. For real people, on the ground, it means something.” He then tells Olivia Wilde’s character (Ina) to spare him the pretentious notes on his reading of a script, expressing disgust for those who try to characterize Babylon as “a low art” and, instead, enshrine Ibsen and Strindberg and the theater. The general critical consensus has been bad for the film among both critics and audiences. I understand that, as so many of the scenes are well over-the-top and, I’m sure, offensive to some. The opening scene with the elephant and the elephant dung is but one example. There is a later one involving Margot Robbie at a party rejecting the instructions to be “elegant". She tries but fails, to “act” respectable since her original nickname was “the wild child.” Now, she is to eschew her Jersey roots and act much more well-behaved. She rejects that advice. She literally smears food all over her face, insults everyone at the party, and, ultimately, projectile vomits both outside the house and inside on a newly-purchased expensive rug. It’s a bit much. Between the descent into the depths of Los Angeles that Tobey Maguire insists Manny and his companion must take, the elephant scene, the vomiting, and the golden shower scene at the orgy, the film was just too far over the top. Babylon cost $80 million.  When you see the voluminous cast list, it isn’t surprising. Not only does it have two of the biggest current stars in Hollywood (Pitt and Robbie) but it seems to have everyone else who might have been hanging around. My favorite was the inclusion of Eric Roberts, who is undoubtedly going to hold the record for most American movie appearances ever. Eric has a scene with a snake, which is pretty funny. However, a lot of the scenes were not funny and, instead, screamed gross. You get the feeling that the creative license to try new things led to throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the movie. Another factor that swelled the film’s length from a normal hour and a half to over three hours was the emphasis on the music.  Chazelle has highlighted the music of collaborator Justin Hurwitz. Although the trumpet player character Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo) admitted that he did not really play the trumpet, the film focuses on the band and its performances too long. The movie would have benefited from some judicious editing and shorter musical interludes. The performances, especially those of Pitt, Robbie, and Diego Calva, are good. The plot, supposedly based on the 1959 Kenneth Anger book "Hollywood Babylon," was outrageous, but many of the stories in that novel have been debunked. The cinematography by Linus Sandgren is great and the set decoration by Anthony Carlino deserves mention. Opening on Christmas Day against "Avatar" might have been a questionable move. Chazelle even pays tribute to many iconic films in a final montage of clips from various movies, including "Avatar," and those flickering images even caused a warning to be posted outside our theater. Babylon is too long. Some of the musical pieces could have been shortened.  Removing some of the scenes that depict how difficult it was for silent movie actors to learn the new way of making talkies (by doing a takeover and over and over) could have been omitted. Grossing out the audience over and over succeeded, to the film's detriment.  The sets and costumes and cinematography are great. "Babylon" was a great creative effort. It just didn't work. Read the full article

[hythlodaeus-mynewoldfriend]

If you ship your OC with a particular canon character, then what was it about that character that drew you to them? Is it that you have a certain "type" when it comes to shipping? Or did you surprise yourself with who you felt drawn towards? If your OC is in a relationship with another OC then did you change any aspects of either of their backstories or personalities to make this work?

This is a very good one!

I will start by saying that I did not intend for Sib or Demos to get the development they got as I didn't think I'd get invested in it. However that all changed when I met a certain white haired tank, and it was all over honestly.

I honestly can't say what about Thancred that drew me to him so quickly, it almost felt like it was out of my hands if I'm being honest, Sib just picked him and I denied her because we were only two weeks into this game we hadn't even defeated our first primal! Honestly though it was his looks as I do have a bit of a type, see Dante from devil may cry, but what had me staying was the development of his character. I just am a sucker for people that learn to open up and not let the world rest solely on their shoulders. He matured and I vibed with that.

Demos and Yugiri was a bit of a surprise but it also took me well over a year to find a ship for him, and it came about when I was rewatching cutscenes for something else and the conversation you have with her after saving the people and she finds that the people of Doma are fine with not making any trouble to survive there was the way she talked about her home that just clicked with me and made me realize she was the one for Demos. He does have other relationships throughout the story and they two vibed with him in a way that just worked. In Hilda's case it was being a bit of the opposite of him, she loosened him up and reminded him to live once and a while. Lyna was much in the same vein as Yugiri in that he gravitates towards people that tend to not talk about things because there's a part of them that doesn't want to be a burden to a degree, but Demos is someone that listens and pays attention and knows a bit more on when to intervene and when not to. All were a bit of a surprise, as he took forever to figure out ship wise!

Anthea was someone that was made to be a character that I could ship with Hythlodaeus. Listen that man was just made to appeal to me! He's just so upbeat and positive and tries to look for the best in a bad situation, but there's this shadow of doubt that creeps in the background and it just felt like how I feel a lot of times. He fits a type I have also with loving those more look on the bright side kind of characters, see Ray Palmer from cw's arrowverse shows. When I finished EW I just wanted more for him too as a character because he deserved it and he just I wanted to pick his brain a bit more tbh. I also just wanted him to feel the way others felt when he was supportive of them, to Anthea Hyth is the same as Hades and Azem are to Hyth if that makes sense.

Now Conner and Elidibus I cannot resist a good tragedy and there is just something about memories and losing them and not knowing who you are any more that just, hmm idk was maybe helping me to cope with my job at the time (I worked primarily in a memory care assisted living facility). But I just loved this idea also of someone that has a good heart and still did terrible things, and let the weight of duty take over in trying to do what they think is best. Like there was never any winning for him in the end, especially once he forgot just who and what he was fighting for. He also just fits into this type that I have that I just can't not love, see Joshua Rosfield from XVI. And not to mention then seeing him in Panda! Ugh the way he was just so open and fun and loving the world and knowing what he becomes and then that ending of the raids! Just took my heart and ran with it! Shipping him with Conner worked as in Conner's original universe he didn't forget but he put safety and duty above all else kind of cutting him off from the world to an extent, but there was still that fun personality there and in his original universe he was more like how Elidibus is for him in ffxiv. And the ship was more of a second thought and the excuse I needed to put Conner in a universe where there was a heavy jazz music association with a whole society, but I didn't just pick the ship willy nilly, no there was thought to it and they do very much work.

As for OCxOC ships I have some with a friend and not much about the oc had to change really. Minor things like where they would hang out or if they were a WoL or not but overall backstories and personalities stayed the same. Now maybe it was easier because I've had OCxOC ships with this person before and it would be different with someone else, but I feel most of the time you shouldn't have to change your oc all that much when shipping with another oc. In my opinion if you have to change whole core aspects of the backstory and personality to fit then maybe they aren't meant to be, changes in development throughout their story is another thing and is expected to happen because they are now having a different element than the oc's original story.

Demos has one with my friend's bun boy and that one came from the two being artists in their own ways, her oc is a bard and Demos is more traditional artist. Their meeting was something of an accident in meeting in a tavern and her oc commissioning Demos to create a new gladiator poster for her WoL since he was a fighter in the pits and her oc was like his promo/hype man. Neither of their backstories had to change or their personality as they complemented each other in his being more out there and Demos being more subdued, but Demos listens and pays attention and can see past the masks, and her oc can get him to open up and knows when he needs someone there.

[avatarskywalker78]

Chapters: 1/1

Fandom: DC's Legends of Tomorrow

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Rex Tyler & Mick Rory, Rex Tyler & Gideon, Rex Tyler & Rip Hunter, Rex Tyler & Leonard Snart, Rex Tyler & Ronnie Raymond, Rex Tyler & Martin Stein, Rex Tyler & Sara Lance, Rex Tyler & Ray Palmer, Rex Tyler & Eobard Thawne

Characters: Rex Tyler, Mick Rory, Gideon (DC's Legends of Tomorrow), Rip Hunter, Leonard Snart, Ronnie Raymond, Martin Stein, Sara Lance, Ray Palmer, Eobard Thawne, Justice Society of America, Rogues (The Flash), Team Flash (The Flash TV 2014)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Parallel Universes, Earth-4, Canonical Character Death, Temporary Character Death, Time-Travel Fix-It, Grief/Mourning, Guilt, Survivor Guilt, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Rex Tyler Lives, Canon-Typical Violence, Post-Season/Series 01, Male Friendship, Male-Female Friendship, Rex Tyler gets the chance to warn the Legends about the Legion, And goes through a hell of an emotional rollercoaster in the process, Angst, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hopeful Ending

Series: Part 2 of legends of earth-4

Summary:

Rex Tyler wasn't sure what to make of the Legends when he first met them, but it didn't take long for them to become friends - which makes their murder at the hands of the Legion (mostly the Reverse-Flash) all the more devastating. Mick Rory sends him to 2016 to stop the chain of events leading up to this and Rex is determined to see this through no matter what.

But it's not easy to work with the people he's only just lost - especially when he knows that if (when) this plan succeeds, the best way to ensure this doesn't have any chance of happening again in the future...

Is if he never sees them again.

Tagging (because this is part of a series with an OC and very important background): @shrinkthisviolet @starstruckpurpledragon @negative-speedforce

[classhorrorblog]

Lake Mungo (2008)

Lake Mungo is a found footage/mockumentary horror movie directed by Joel Anderson. The film is about the Palmer family and the events that follow after the daughter, Alice, accidentally drowns in a local dam. Seemingly supernatural things start happening around the family soon after Alice’s death. This spurs the family to set up cameras and eventually call for a psychic (Ray) when Alice appears in the photos and videos. Ray is at a loss for an explanation, until Alice’s brother Matthew admits to faking the ghost sighting footage. Of course, that’s not quite the end of it all. With Ray’s help, the family goes on to discover the secrets Alice had been keeping, as well as the strange circumstances leading up to her death.  These strange circumstances include a terrifying video Alice had taken before her death.

The film uses a number of techniques to create horror. For one, it’s in the style of a found footage/mockumentary film. The use of home security recordings, video clips from old phones, interviews, improvisation, and blurry/dark camerawork helps to build a sense of realism that makes it all the more chilling.

The use of diegetic sounds such as creepy whispers and background noises, as well as the nondiegetic sound of eerie music builds tension and creates a scary atmosphere. Framing techniques also assisted in creating horror through the use of open/empty space to create vulnerability and uneasiness (empty rooms, long hallways, dark open spaces).

A review from the Hollywood Reporter (linked below) praises the film for both the cinematography and soundtrack that work together so cohesively: “Cinematographer John Brawley’s surreal atmospherics are matched by a restrained soundtrack that works on a primal level, issuing a shadow of horror that helps foster a belief in ghosts". It goes on to describe the film as one that has an impact greater than just its scare factor: “A convincing mock-documentary style lifts “Lake Mungo” beyond spooky supernatural mystery into the realms of emotional truth-telling".

-> Lake Mungo — Film Review (hollywoodreporter.com)

[taiblogcomics]

Time to Start the Countdown!

Hey there, crafting in a fugue state. Well, while it's not quite blogaversary time, I think it's closer today than it will be next week. So it's the blogaversary! We're on… lucky thirteen, isn't it? Oh boy, that's a sign if ever I saw one. And moreover, we've had it good for a while, no? And we've had it too good too long. Three miniseries (well, two miniseries and a cancelled series) in a row that I actually liked. And when did we last do something truly awful? Avengers Arena last summer? Well, if that's the case, I propose we cover a truly heinous series. And one that won't leave us wondering what to do for a while~

Here's the cover:

Oh yes, my dear readers. We're going to review fucking Countdown.

"But Tai!" you might say, "this series is from 2007! Hasn't it been done to death?" Well, first of all, age has not improved this story. It is still terrible 17 years later. Second, perhaps some other reviewers may have covered it. Maybe some more popular than me (but not more popular than the BeeGees). But I wanna do it in a different way! And by which I mean, I want to review it like I review everything I do: one issue at a time. This comic was released weekly, after all. So I wanna replicate the experience of what it must've been like to read it week by week! Now that's how you get in all the suckiness!

As for the cover itself… Well, it's a fucking image of a bunch of popular heroes (and Jason Todd) running at the camera on a white background. Whoop-de-doo. I will give the series credit for one thing right off the bat, though: the numbering. We're starting on issue 51 and counting down to 0. Because it's called Countdown. That's at least some thematic gimmickery that I can appreciate. It won't help the overall score in the end, but it's at least something~

So, where do we start with this pile? Well, you're familiar with Infinite Crisis, 52, Identity Crisis, and Batman: Under the Red Hood, right? That's basically where you need to be in DC history to have a basic understanding for this series. That's the mark of a great series, eh? In short: Ray Palmer has disappeared following the insanity of his wife, Jason Todd is back from the dead, the Multiverse and the Monitors who watch over them have returned, and Superboy-Prime will be our villain. You got all that?

We open on the hellish and goofily-spelled planet Apokalips, where sadist torturer Desaad is waxing poetic about the lack of value of a single life. Ah, setting the mood and tone for the readers right away. Even Darkseid tells Desaad he's a depressing nihilist. Darkseid is busy organising his pretty sweet collection of DC Comics character statues. He must've been a big fan of Kenner's Super Powers line back in the day. He does concede one point to Desaad: he's right in that all lives, no matter how meager, touch another. That's downright positive for Darkseid!

As he moves a figure of Duela Dent, we transition over to that character on Earth. Thankfully, this is not the Duela we know from the New 52, but her much better and more interesting and likeable counterpart in the Post-Crisis universe, where she was an on-again-off-again member of the Teen Titans. At this point, it's "off again". She's dancing at a club, and then decides to kidnap and ransom the pop star hosting the event. As she tries to escape on a parachute, she's shot down by Jason Todd, who catches the pop star in midair.

Duela and Jason exchange some banter, mostly where it's reiterated that Duela isn't literally the Joker's daughter, and she retorts that he's not Batman's son either. Jason prioritises getting the girl to safety, which is probably the most heroic thing he'll do this entire maxi-series. Duela makes an escape, but is shot down again--by someone we can't see right now. She's pursued, and as she runs over the rooftops, she crosses a hospital, which transitions us over to our next character. I'll be fair, this transition is pretty good. If they continue to be non-jarring, I will award another point at the end of this review~

So Mary Batson (AKA Mary Marvel, so we can just call her Mary either way) has just recovered from her coma. During Day of Vengeance, the wizard Shazam was killed, severing Mary's connection to her powers. She also went into a coma, as you may have heard. She's fine now, and even has no hospital bills to look forward to, as they've all been paid off by Freddy Freeman (AKA Captain Marvel Jr). But Freddy's not here, and all he's left her is a note that says "Don't look for me". So she opts to walk home in the rain.

Also out in the rain is James Jesse, AKA the Trickster, one of Flash's Rogues. The Rogues are having a party, and Trickster's gotten here early, to Heat Wave's annoyance. Heat Wave's annoyed in general, since Trickster went straight for a few years, willing to help the Flash out on occasion. He hates the idea of how blurred the line has become for the Rogues, and is planning something big to get them back on track. Trickster assures him he's got his head on straight now. Also listening in is the Pied Piper, another Rogue who sat on the blurry line like Trickster, wondering if he's horning in on his turf. No rat metaphor he can use her?

As the rain comes down, Duela Dent continues her rooftop run, unloading whatever tricks she's got up her sleeve at her pursuer. You know, silly string taser, that sort of thing. (Where does she get those wonderful toys?) But her pursuer just shrugs it off, and she screams as he begins to shoot at her. Jason hears the scream, heading back to see what's going on. He tells the hulking figure that he doesn't tolerate gun-wielding crazies in his town. Well, of course not, that's your gimmick, isn't it, Jason~?

Jason attacks the guy, and we get a good look at him at last. Jason has no idea who it is, but the reader does (or should, at least is the hope). It's… the Monitor! The big good of Crisis on Infinite Earths, back again! And he's hunting Duelas! He claims to be the multiverse's only hope and that anomalies must be purged. To that end, he shoots Duela dead with his laser gun. Jason is enraged and punches the Monitor, who aims his weapon at him next. The only thing that keeps him from shooting Jason Todd as well is the sudden arrival of… a second Monitor??

So yeah! This was a reveal at the end of a one-shot called DC: Brave New World, which showed some upcoming premises for a few heroes' solo series, and then finished with a shot of the Monitors promising to, well, monitor these events. The end of much-better weekly comic 52 (this comic's direct predecessor) saw the restoration of the DC Multiverse into the cosmology it would use from here on out (even into the New 52 and beyond). Not an infinite multiverse, just 52 parallel Earths (including the main one), and a Monitor stationed to watch each one.

That's where we are. This second Monitor (who is subtly different to the Duela-shooter) stops the first from shooting Jason as well, saying he's acting outside his jurisdiction. The first claims his job is to eradicate anomalies and dimension-jumpers. The second says he'll report him to the rest of their brethren, and the first is sure the others will support him. Both teleport out, but not before the second one does offer an apology to Jason for Duela's death. However, since he doesn't offer the same to the reader, I am not inclined to forgive him.

And so our comic closes out with another Monitor flying out into space. I can't tell for sure, but I'm assuming it's the second one, since he has the same blue bodysuit. (The first one wore red.) He's out at the Source Wall, which is a literal wall at the edge of DC's universe. It's a Jack Kirby thing, don't question it. He asks the Source Wall why there is tension among his fellow Monitors. Great flaming letters reply "GREAT DISASTER". He asks what can possibly stop this Great Disaster? And the flaming letters reply: "RAY PALMER". Which I'm sure means a lot to this multi-dimensional space being.

Well, there we are. Off to a smashing start, huh? Usually you have to wait 'til the middle or end of the sucky event for the unnecessary deaths, but this one shows you what you're in for right away by fridging Duela Dent in its opening issue. And while this series will eventually reveal her backstory (a long-confusing thing for her character), she'll still be dead by the end of it, so it's not like the reveal will benefit her. And once again, we're murdering a former Teen Titans member to do it! Hey, DC: stop treating the Titans as your C-list fodder! Didn't you already get enough of this during Infinite Crisis two years ago (at the time of this issue's publication)??

The rest of the issue is... not much better. The reveal of multiple Monitors is pretty shocking, but not to a character who has no idea what that implies. The brief scenes with Mary Marvel and Trickster are at least setting up something, but their scenes are so short that it can barely do more than hint. Get used to that being a recurring theme throughout this series! And worst of all? This isn't even half our focus characters. By the end of this, there will be no less than eight storylines jockeying for control of the narrative, and they won't overlap until late in the game.

I can't wait to show you how bad this is going to get~

[meikyuunolovers]

So yesterday, I started to get sick (probably a cold I got while waiting for my cat outside) and I had one of the weirdest dreams I ever had in years, like Richie Furay and Bruce Palmer were there, and the Kinks were there too, and Cheap Trick were in the background, and Ray and Mick were behaving like they were a couple or something ?? Like, at one point Mick got caught in some kind of giant yellow stim toy (the ones that have some soft angles and like you hold it with one hand and when you play with it it kind of moves like waves idk), and Ray had to untangle him... It was strange...