#that was how she handled her mission within the dominion

[nerevar-quote-and-star]

I hesitated to send this because it feels wrong to criticize fanfiction to the writer directly, but it looked like on your blog you said you appreciate feedback. Leara comes across as far too tolerant of abuse given her background. She's an altmer Blade in her 60's, but she says nothing to Delphine's passive aggression and only occasionally sasses Bishop, not even addressing the incident where he puts his hands on her throat.

You're fine! I appreciate feedback, and you raise some good points! Criticism like this helps in thinking through the why's and how's of the characters and plot. Now if you'd bounced into my ask box to landblast me or the story, I'd just yeet the ask into the void. Unless you were landblasting Bishop. Then I'd agree with you.

Leara's tolerance for abuse is something I'm trying to address in Part II. She has an unhealthy threshold born from what she considers a "means to an end" kind of attitude. Her "willingness" to tolerate it stems from her tenure in the Dominion.

I think we all know that the Aldmeri Dominion conditions its agents. In Esbern's dossier, it's noted that Elenwen's predecessor was recalled to Alinor for "punishment and reeducation". As an agent within the Dominion, Leara would have been exposed to and likely gone through the grooming and supremacy doctrine emphasized by the Thalmor. This would have occured in an early stage of her life, between the ages of 29-38. By the time she escapes, it's a miracle she's retained her own mind and her loyalty to the Blades. I cannot stress enough how dangerous this espionage mission was, and how it failed in it's primary objective (to uncover and relay the Dominion's plans).

(N.B: if you've seen #oc: aurora orianus on my blog, then you know I have another Dragonborn. The universe where she exists is based on a continuity where Leara does give into the Dominion, becoming an indoctrinated Thalmor agent. "Vilya" is in charge of the Thalmor Headquarters (which I think is a sort of judicial consulate) in Solitude.)

Why doesn't she react verbally to Delphine? Leara escaped the Dominion before the signing of the White Gold Concordat and "disbandment" (massacre) of the Blades. Instead of returning to Cloud Ruler Temple, she ran away. The way Leara sees it, Delphine kept up the fight while she abandoned her order to hide in High Rock. She feels ashamed, like she's inadequate. This will come to a head when Delphine demands for the slaying of Paarthurnax. Leara will stand up and challenge her leadership then.

I'm looking for the trigger point, the part where Leara snaps from the Dominion's abuse conditioning, and retaliates against Bishop. The waking of the dragon, if you will. When she accepts being Dragonborn, she rejects being used. We haven't reached that point yet.

[ladylilithprime]

Day 11: Myth

HIS NAME WAS Hades, one of the six scions of Chronos, and elder brother to Zeus. As Zeus claimed dominion over the skies, and their brother Poseidon claimed dominion over the waters, Hades held dominion over the Earth, above and below, and allowed his siblings and human belief to shuffle him into the position of custodian of the dead. It gave him greater reach, contacts within other pantheons of gods who held sway over death and the dead, and it was his steady calm and patient counsel that soothed Zeus's flighty moods, his stern countenance and solid logic that calmed Poseidon's tempestuous fits of temper, just as their own natures could ease the building pressure of Hades's own temper, slow to build and erupt but all the more devastating when it did. His calm and rock-solid steadiness was what had Zeus bringing him along with Demeter and Hera when a squadron of young godlings from another pantheon calling themselves "angels" descended into Mycenae and took over the bodies of several humans there.

Her name was Persephone, and yet it wasn't. Persephone was the name of the girl, a willowy slip of a thing that had Demeter nearly up in arms from motherly protection. The angel within her was called Castiel, or Commander, and she was the leader of the angel squadron. Persephone's flowing blue chiton and floral crown belied Castiel's warrior's stance and steady command of her troops, and Hades was ashamed to admit that he suffered distraction from the dichotomy of seeing the angel's incadescent glow and prismatic wings overlaying the bright and innocent soul of the girl who hosted her. Twice, Zeus had cause to nudge him back to attention as they talked and argued about whom had jurisdiction in Mycenae when the perpetrators were human souls twisted into something called demons by one of their brethren who had "Fallen from Grace" while the demon's victims were pledged to the gods of Olympus.

The attack of a hydra, held in the sway of several demons to control one beast and too strong for their small gathering to defeat as they were, put a halt to the talks as the matter became more urgent. Many of the angels took flight, some even being led to shelter by Hades's siblings, but Castiel attacked the beast head on with only a silver blade and was struck by one of the hydra's heads and cut off from escape. In desperation, Hades grabbed the felled angel and commanded the earth to swallow them both, carrying them down into the safety of the underworld.

"You're either very brave or very stupid, kore," Hades muttered to the angel under his breath as he drew out the hydra's venom and bathed the wound carefully with clean water.

"An argument could be made for both," Castiel huffed dryly, hissing in pain. "I know how to handle demons. I... do not know how to handle a beast such as that."

"A hydra," Hades supplied, sighing heavily. "One of my cousin Echidna's offspring's welps, though the blackened souls riding within it was new."

"You could see the demons?" Castiel asked sharply, startled.

"Souls," Hades reminded her, and shrugged before gesturing around them to the palace of the Underworld and the shades and spirits flitting and floating about in various tasks. "Being the custodian of souls who have passed beyond the bounds of life is my duty and honor, and so I am rather... attuned to them. The soul of the girl you are inhabiting, for instance."

"It is necessary," Castiel said, though her eyes lowered. "Angels are not physical beings. We were not created to be. In order to act upon the physical plane, to walk among humans in the course of our missions, we must take a willing human vessel to house our Grace. Only the willing," she stressed. "We cannot enter within a vessel without that vessel's permission."

"Person, kore," Hades chided gently. "Your 'vessel', as you call her, is a person. And she is in distress from your injury and being brought within my realm while still alive. Here."

"What is this?" Castiel stared down at the fruit Hades had placed in her hand, head tilted to one side like a curious bird. "A plant of some kind?"

"A pomegranate," Hades explained, taking it back long enough to crack it open for her to get at the red seeds within. "To exist here within the Realm of the Dead while still living, she - you - will need to consume food from this Realm to sustain a connection to this place, artificial as it may be. It will do no harm to either of you, and will lessen her distress."

"How much should I consume?" Castiel asked, staring down at the pomegranate with a small frown. It was adorable, and Hades struggled to remind himself that the face Castiel wore did not actually belong to her, merely borrowed.

"Try eating one seed at a time until you feel the balance of energies shift enough to keep the girl comfortable here, kore," he suggested, a bit helplessly.

"As you say," Castiel said, sounding dubious, but plucked one of the seeds from the creamy yellow flesh of the rind and hesitantly popped it into her mouth, swallowing it whole. She blinked, clearly feeling the shift he had mentioned, and plucked another. "What is that you keep calling me? Koh-rey?"

"Kore," Hades said, ducking his head a little as if he could hide the flushing of his face behind his hair. "It is a word from a local dialect meaning 'maiden'. Given your present, er, compound state, it felt like the easiest form of address when I don't know what I'm meant to call you or the name of your vessel."

"Persephone," Castiel murmured, popping three more seeds into her mouth. "As you said, she is a person. Her name is Persephone. And I am Castiel."

"Hades," he introduced, offering a hand and feeling a sharp spark of fire flicker through him at the touch of Persephone's hand filled with Castiel's Grace as it settled into his. "Pleased to meet you, Castiel."

"I am pleased to meet you as well, Hades," the angel murmured as she ate another seed and finally seemed to settle into ease, Grace and soul existing together with more harmony than before. "And I am grateful for your assistance. I hope this can be the foundation of an amicable relation between our two peoples."

Hades could only nod even as he hoped that wasn't the only thing for which this new rapport could be the foundation.

[mylordshesacactus]

The Feathered Serpent Part III

Or: In Which The Gang Gets Negged By A Primordial Arch-Snake From Before The Dawn Of Time.

The first to step forward, swallowing her fear and stumbling into the unknown, is, of course, our paladin Andromeda. She asks her question, opens her mouth to follow it up, and--

Time stops.

The entire five-part set of negotiations goes by in the span of half a second, the entire party bound in a telepathic circle--witnessing, but unable to interfere, as each must decide for themselves.

And damn, though: The Feathered Serpent is not cruel by nature--too ancient for it, she's above such things--but they're not here to hold back, either. She challenges each of the party in turn, laying out her offer, sometimes encouraging them to look at it with new eyes and sometimes just goading them to see what they do with it.

The sacrifice she asks of them is not small. It's the traditional price; a warlock pact. A lifetime in her service, acting as her eyes, gathering information and rare magics and ancient artifacts, in exchange for the full and complete answer to a question important enough to be worth it. The knowledge they seek is too dangerous to handle carelessly. It's not cruelty--there is no retribution for stepping away, deciding that the price she asks is too high. But once the bargain is made it cannot be unmade. She's making sure they enter this agreement of their own free will.

In order, the Feathered Serpent's offers to the party.

Andromeda (Paladin)

Question: Does the Faerie Queen have a weakness we can use to kill her?

Hail indeed, I see; Pelor sends his most beloved. But is that love enough, daughter of the sun? Perhaps the third time will be the charm after all—you who have power and purpose but nothing to do with them. Or when the rift heals and the curtain falls on a world saved, will you be left exactly in the place you started? Shall I grant wisdom where it will not be used? I do not let go what I have won so lightly, even for the fire of the sun itself. Give me a reason.

Andromeda agonizes for a timeless moment; she has no objection to helping the Feathered Serpent as long as the missions aren't hurting innocents, but while they remind her that their many eyes are precious resources and driving them to rebellion and thus death is senseless as it means they lose those agents, they will not make this easier by giving her any assurance that she will be able to just refuse requests without consequence or allowed to prioritize Pelor's will over the Serpent's--that isn't how this works.

While Andromeda wrestles with her loyalties, in the same moment-outside-time:

Farrah (Fighter)

Question: Is there anything we can give the faerie queen as a bribe in exchange for the spellbound dominion?

No. Try again.

Farrah (Fighter), Take II

Question: Is there anything within our means that could get the Winter Court to invade the Summer Court?

Child of two worlds, you interest me beyond your mother’s blood. A warrior who seeks to create; child of a legend who chooses anonymity; the half-devil plainspoken to a fault. What might you become, free to choose? What answers might you seek? What might you do with power?

Next: Our wizard.

Audie (Wizard)

Question: How to separate the planes and close the portals.

You hesitate. Why? What great plan, what purpose do you fear to lose, child? Are you not halfway mine already? Farm girl, archivist, second best always, the one left behind…you think me cruel to say it. Child, you will know venom when I mean for it to sting. You are a seeker without direction—and I who have ten thousand thousand eyes still cannot see all. Know all. I would make you ten thousand and first, grant you my mark and my teeth—and ask no service of you but the knowledge we both desire.

Nimbus (Ranger)

Question: How do we lure the Queen out of the Faewild? (This had been previously established as one of the possible ways of weakening the Summer Court and likely an essential part of any ability to distract or weaken the fae army and give any plan a better chance of succeeding.)

Do you tire of the silence, rootless one? If it was peace you sought, young hunter, you would not have left your home. And when this great purpose is resolved, what then? Shall you return to the house that strangles your breath in your chest? Turn soldier inside stone walls? Dragon-caves are the least of the secrets in your world. What purpose is served by a deepwoods path not followed? I would have you go where I cannot.

Max (Bard)

Question: Is there a way within our capacities to cause a civil war in the summer court and, if so, is it more likely to let us succeed in our mission than convincing the winter court to invade?

(He is cut off halfway through the word "and". The deal is one answer, not two, it doesn't become one question just because it's joined by a conjunction.)

Ah…the man who would not be spymaster. A born liar’s tongue is wasted on you…but it is yours to waste. Still. It is a poor bard with no regard for the power of a story. The words we use shape everything—in this world and in your own. What stories will live and die without ever being sung? What golden truths will be twisted and buried beneath mortal sewage, with none to speak on their behalf? Can you live with that, little fiddler? When a word from you now could give you the power to change it?

Also, you're not slick, I saw that second question coming. Bards.

[divine-cricetinae]

Kh oc week

day 4 - Aus

“A Imaginary friend?”

@khoc-week

This Au doesn’t differ from much at the beginning, Aronia still joined the lightbringers and lacks a heart as a nobody…At least, until a mission to The Enchanted Dominion

It was a simple request given to them; clean up some heartless littering the place and get some good munny afterwards, something that was boring to the little nobody. She was dragging her feet the entire way bemoaning how she wanted to go home, it was so often that the rest just had her sit near a landmark while they completed it themselves, which suffice to say was even more boring than following them for hours on end. She was left kicking her feet in the dirt seething for something to do, which was granted in the form of a faint voice calling out from the forest and, against all that she had been taught Aronia followed excitedly, like a moth to a flame. The source however broke that in favor for shock

a broken heart, something she only heard about from her mentor along with old books in the lounge that she barely read, one that she learned long after belonged to a boy who suffered a tragic fate years ago at the hands of a brutal heartless attack. He was terrified, hiding immediately as she curiously approached the mechanical reck he resided in, she felt like she was staring at a cornered animal rather than a heart of a kid, one that is very susceptible to the cruel whims of darkness if left alone here any longer..And..Master Saffron always wanted her to help those who needed it.

Nothing seemed to lure him out…questions, proclamations of non threateningness, even offering food (which was admittedly a dumb one since it didn’t have mouths) Except a seemingly childish suggestion, to play a game. Slowly it worked more and more as they played, him also unknowingly revealing the shattered condition his heart was in, and finally, his name:

Ib

she could hear the faint call of the others looking for her and, not wanting to leave someone her age that could finally be her first friend she brashly made the decision to home Ib’s heart within her as a safe place. It was..Mostly selfish although she doesn’t want to admit it, not really understanding what he went through.

of course at first this cohabitation wasn’t easy. The severe damage to his heart left him a emotional mess, unpredictable, and prone to freakouts that..Since she was the only one aware of him, left a child trying to ease another child’s breakdowns that the cause of were way beyond her comprehension. Suffice to say it left her a little worse for wear and the older members concerned when she asked them how to calm someone from a panic attack..Eventually though, after time spent together and trust being built, this became (while still happening) something she knew how to handle.

they’d become quite close, even considering each-other best friends, but now she has her own quest other than being a keyblade wielder. Finding a way to bring him back fully.

[jurassicparkpodcast]

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous Season 3 SPOILER Review!

The Third Season of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous has arrived – meaning we’re bringing you some more content around the show, including our spoiler thoughts on how the third season did when compared to the first two. If you haven’t seen Camp Cretaceous Season 3 yet then click off this article now, as we are going to be discussing some of the key set pieces in this series which make it by far the best one to be released to date. Let’s get into it!

We’ll start by summarising the third season – and, in particular, it’s story. The story of the Campers attempting to get off of the island whilst uncovering that a terrifying new hybrid has broken loose is interesting, with plenty done to explore more of Isla Nublar and, indeed, the terrifying work which Doctor Henry Wu was doing in the shadows of the former Jurassic World. Although the kids ultimately escape the island, this isn’t without a few interesting sequences sprinkled in throughout – including direct tie-ins to Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, and also hints at the future of Mantah Corp and their research into InGen’s work. The third story feels incredibly well balanced – with lots of fantastic set pieces balanced with meaningful storytelling and interesting characters alongside brand-new dinosaurs. The third season brings us a much more grounded story which aims to fill some of the canonical gaps left by Season Two – creating a story which feels satisfying and fulfilling.

The third season maintains the same cast of characters – with each of them getting plenty of interesting development. Darius, for example, spends some time earlier in the season filling the holes in his notebook – giving us a fun look at a Dilophosaurus drawing indicating he encountered this animal on the island at some point. Kenji struggles with the kids liking him and feels the need to use his wealth to impress them, whilst Sammy worries about what Mantah Corp may have done to her family back home. Each character feels three dimensional in the third season – with some great development showing how they have adapted to their environment. Of note here in particular is the character of Yasmina, who selflessly heads across the island in search on an anti-serum when Sammy is poisoned by the quills on the Scorpios Rex. This animal itself is handled incredibly well – with the kids feeling genuinely in danger at some points throughout the story.

The other dinosaurs in the story are good too – including surprising appearances from both the Ouranosaurus and the Monolophosaurus. These animals do go against the pre-established canon of the island a little bit, with neither of them ever mentioned as being present on Nublar, but it is possible that the prior existing list was only ever intended to reflect the public-facing dinosaurs. These animals get some interesting sequences throughout the story – although there are a lot of the Monolophosaurus at one point in the story. Beyond the small canonical issues here, the only other real issue I had with Season 3 was the fact that the Scorpios was developed before the Indominus Rex. This does retroactively go against a lot of the pre-established timeline in things like the viral marketing – but it is possible that the Scorpios was hidden from existence altogether given it was seen as a failure by Simon Masrani. It is interesting to note that the Scorpios was able to reproduce asexually – suggesting a second E750 which is present in the show was able to grow to maturity incredibly quickly. Perhaps this can be explained by the enhanced growth Bumpy also inherits, however. These small issues aside, Season 3 took big strides to fix my issues with Season 2 of the show – creating a much more well-rounded experience which fits better within the universe of the films.

There were a few moments throughout Season 3 which stood out to me as building on the critiques on Season 2 – the first of which was the Ouranosaurus Attack at the dock as the kids attempt to patch up the damage which Tiff’s boat has sustained. I loved how the ambience in this sequence felt reflective of sequences in both The Lost World novel and in Trespasser – with some fantastic, tense sequences utilising natural fog and darkness to really elevate the stakes and create something which felt darker and scarier in tone than anything beforehand. We don’t often see herbivores as direct threats for the human characters in Jurassic, so the attention to ambience and atmosphere throughout this sequence really helped to make the Ouranosaurus feel more intimidating when they eventually attacked. I also loved how this sequence is later explained as the animals behaviours changing due to the ecosystem being tilted off-balance by the Scorpios Rex – a fun note which perhaps suggests that the Spinosaurus may have had a similar impact on Isla Sorna. This was a really fun sequence and one which I thought was worth highlighting here as I really enjoyed it.

Next up I wanted to talk about a sequence which hits the nostalgia factor and tones it up to eleven – with the pair of Scorpios Rexes hunting the campers through the original Visitor’s Centre. A lot of the sequences in the centre feel very similar to those in 1993’s Jurassic Park – with sequences in the kitchen, in particular, recreating shot-for-shot some of the moments from the kitchen sequence in the first film. I really liked these call-backs as whilst they were quite overt, they felt as though they fitted with the show, and worked incredibly well. I also love how the series initially shows Blue nesting in the Visitor Centre before she heads to the Ford Explorer, as this underpins how much of this animal’s present-day existence is nested in Henry Wu’s past work at Jurassic Park. The Visitor’s Centre is also ultimately destroyed by the Scorpios Rexes during this sequence – with both animals buried by the rubble. Whilst some fans may be upset to see this location destroyed, I loved how it underpins a very core concept moving forwards – highlighting how Henry Wu’s arrogance and continued ignorance in the implications of his science has ultimately destroyed the legacy of the work that both he and John Hammond attempted to do.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that the third season features two bonus episodes – with the final two episodes tying directly into the Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom opening sequence. After Season One of the show, I tweeted one of the writers asking him if there was a chance we’d see reference to this in the future, so seeing this recreated shot-for-shot in the show with the kids watching on as the Indominus sample was extracted was awesome. It was also really cool seeing how Wu’s additional mission was to retrieve his laptop – noting that without it, the work he needed to do on the Indoraptor would take years and not months. This perhaps explains why the animal we see during the Lockwood Manor auction sequence is only a prototype – as Wu ultimately leaves the island without this information. It is interesting seeing some of Wu’s dialogue with Brooklynn throughout these episodes – with the character perhaps showing some small semblance of remorse. Ultimately, however, he leaves the kids on Nublar – reinforcing his status as a character with a questionable moral compass moving into Jurassic World Dominion. I have to admit – the way this tie-in played out was handled masterfully, and I was really happy to see things unfold in the way they did. I genuinely screamed out loud at my screen with happiness at one moment – emphasising how much work went in to nailing this crossover. It’s clear that the team working on Camp Cretaceous went to great lengths to smash the third season – and the result is some fantastic crossover which pays off and builds the lore of Wu’s work in meaningful ways without any of the massive contradictions I was worried these sequences may introduce.

The Series ends with the Campers finally escaping the island – heading off in a repaired boat, although we do see at the very closing moments that something else is on-board and hidden in the lower decks. This poses an interesting question in its own right, as it has been pre-established that Scorpios can self-reproduce – so is it possible a third hybrid existed on the island? If so then this could pose a grave risk to people on the mainland when the campers return there. We also know that Mantah Corp may potentially still be at play – with a quad-copter drone observing the Scorpios Rex on the island. Is it possible this shady corporation may now recover the carcasses of the dead hybrids for their own experiments? And what happened to the pilot of the Helicopter which the kids crashed in? She didn’t appear to have been eaten – but we never see her again after the crash sequence. These are just a handful of the questions we were left with at the end of Season 3 – implying there is more story to be told, even if the third season felt like it reached a nice natural ending for the series as a whole.

Overall, the third season of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous is fantastic. Do not sleep on this season. It adds a lot to the lore of Doctor Henry Wu and his research, and it builds out a lot of interesting lore for the experiments which were happening on Isla Nublar. It also sets up some interesting plot threads for the future without them feeling overly intrusive and detrimental to the wider story telling in the Jurassic universe. Season 2 of this show left me feeling a little deflated, but Season 3 left me feeling reinvigorated. This wraps up the story of E750 and the wider universe in meaningful ways, and is a fantastic and more mature Jurassic adventure which adult fans will enjoy. I can’t wait to see the reception to this season – and how it informs Jurassic content in the future.

Written by: Tom Jurassic

[sachas]

ALAIN DUCASSE at THE DORCHESTER / THE TENTH OF FEBRUARY / @buffysinclair​

Usually, Sacha’s position as recruiter revolves around the chase and eventual catch, seeking out the willing prey of London and welcoming them with open arms into Death; every now and then things complicate further, those funny little flips life takes turns Sacha’s plans upside down, too. Originally, Teddy was the one they wanted, the one they scouted out in quiet corners of the city, the one who the offer to join Death is extended to. If Sacha knew at the time that they’d come as a packaged deal, going nowhere in life without their twin at their side, maybe he’d have looked another way, chosen someone else to pull into their ranks. The twin proves herself useful enough, anyway, until news that Teddy is killed spreads. Mission to track Famine’s Seraphim goes wrong, and the first thing through Sacha’s mind is how hard it’s going to fucking be to keep Buffy in the game, keep her head on straight and keep her from fucking running without Teddy as her anchor. The chase begins again.

The order is given by Sacha easily, though anyone can see how dire the consequences will be once it is executed. To ensure there’s nowhere left for Buffy to run to, to be certain that the only family she has left on the earth is the one she’s found within Death, her parents have to be taken care of. A crew is set on the task, a group loyal to Uriel that specializes in discretion, keeping the ordeal quiet from anyone else within the gang; word of the next horrible tragedy comes just as the first month dies, turns slowly into February. There’s been an accident, an attack on the Sinclair family, and Buffy’s parents are left in critical condition, carted off to none other than Silver Crest Hospital to be cared for. How convenient, the web of lies spins itself — Sacha plans to alter the narrative, shift the blame onto Pestilence, a violent gang with clear power over her parents now that they’re deep inside Pest territory. In time, Sacha will make certain that the heavy weight of the loss Buffy feels will fester into a deep-seeded need for vengeance.

As her Dominion, Sacha handles the situation with utmost care ( or as much as he can while knowing it’s he who unashamedly orchestrates the accident ). She’s allotted time off, no expectation for responsibility to Death while she mourns both twin and parents alone. This dinner is just a means to check in, to see how she’s coping, an elegant escape from the void, a sophisticated distraction. To fit the dress code of The Dorchester, a new gown is purchased for her ( with the help of Gigi, who’s taken Buffy under her wing in the aftermath ), and if you squinted, the Dominion and Power might even blend into the crowd. Sacha takes easy sip of their glass of Don Perignon before continuing his rambling. “It’s not too bad, just a bit sour,” they shrug, swirling liquid in glass. The awkward silences are dragged out, Sacha speaking the first thing that pops into his head in an attempt to get a conversation out of them. “Supposed to pair well with anything high in fat content so...” Sacha eyes the menu, lengthy and more than half in French, eyebrows raised. “We could take this to go and have a KFC instead?” It’s a joke — he waits for laughter, but the response is halfhearted. Back to seriousness. “It’s okay if you don’t have much of an appetite. The portions here are ridiculously small.”

[mobius-prime]

286. Sonic the Hedgehog #205

Oh, team-up my ass. First of all, it's not like such a thing would be unprecedented. It's a very common fictional trope for the heroes to have to team up with the villain for an episode or so just to shake up the dynamic, and what's more, it's happened before more than once in this very comic. But second of all, as we'll see, no such team-up even takes place at all in this issue! I don't know what the cover designer was smoking, but that's one hell of a misrepresentation of today's story.

On the Run (Part One): All the Eggs in One Basket

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Matt Herms

So we took a bit of a break to follow Knuckles' situation in SU, but this issue actually begins exactly where StH#204 left off, with Eggman unlocking his cell door in the middle of his insane ramblings. Snively hears the lock click, and not realizing what it is, is unprepared for what awaits him when he heads back to check.

Ah, excellent! Snively races down the hallway in a panic calling for backup only to run straight into Jun Kun, who initially thinks Snively has decided to betray them all by letting his uncle loose until he sees just how freaked out Snively is by the whole situation. Eggman, within the span of the few seconds this conversation takes place, somehow gets his hands on a giant robotic tortoise and takes it for a spin in the ruins of New Megaopolis while the troops run for cover, screaming about how his word is law and he's about to destroy Sonic for good, clearly still entirely out of his mind. Meanwhile, the object of his ire is currently in the hospital in New Mobotropolis visiting Bunnie, blissfully unaware of the chaos that's unfolding some distance away.

Man, Khan has really become quite the gentleman since his early days of kidnapping chicks straight out of lockdown, hasn't he? Dr. Quack is annoyed that everyone isn't really taking his concerns seriously, but Bunnie and Antoine are both grateful for the visit and reassure Khan that they forgive him for not warning them of the danger beforehand. Nicole interrupts the conversation to warn everyone that there's something large headed in the direction of the city, so Sonic takes off to have a look, with Khan begrudgingly being forced to stay behind and rest by Dr. Quack. Sonic initially thinks it must be the Iron Dominion back again for another round, but is caught off guard when he sees Eggman bearing down on him. He has to take a moment to figure out if he's actually back back, or if he's on an insane rampage still not in his right mind.

Poor Eggman. The Iron Queen begins directing her troops to mobilize to deal with this new problem, but is distracted when Conquering Storm enters the throne room to inform her about Espio's failed mission to retrieve the Master Emerald. The Iron Queen, annoyed at the interruption, tells Conquering Storm to head back to the Dragon Kingdom to keep the other clans in line, and Conquering Storm seems all too willing to do so. Hmm, seems suspicious…

Oof. Snively, somehow I'm getting the sense that the Iron Queen might end up being too much for you to handle. She orders Dimitri to command the Dark Egg Legion while she's gone, and Dimitri, having better things to do, passes the job off to Lien-Da while he heads to his private lab. Lien-Da, in turn, is entirely offended at being ordered to play babysitter, and opts to retire to her bunk instead. Meanwhile outside New Mobotropolis, Tails finds Sonic running circles around Eggman, reluctant to actually attack him in his current state of mind. Tails helps him disable the machine he's in cleanly to prevent him from hurting anyone, but is baffled about why Sonic wouldn't give him everything he's got.

I mean, yeah, it would be pretty damn horrible to bring down the same kind of hammer on a mentally impaired person's head as one would someone who's fully in control of their mental faculties, especially when one is the cause of that person's insanity, even unintentionally. It almost seems like Sonic is the only one who really understands that as of now, perhaps because he's the one who witnessed the full breakdown firsthand. The two decide to take Eggman back to the city to keep him in protective custody there, figuring it's better they have him than the Iron Dominion, and Sonic leaps up to kindly offer him a truce and to take him back "home" only to be socked in the face by a triumphant Eggman, who promptly passes out from his giggling. Just as Sonic and Tails begin trying to carry him back who shows up but… the Iron Dominion, of course! Meaning the Iron King and Queen, Snively, and the Yagyu ninjas, all looking to take Eggman back with them. Why they so desperately want him in their base when he's effectively useless and frankly a liability at this point is a bit of a mystery, but Sonic tells Tails to take Eggman back on his own while he faces down the horde single-handedly. Good luck there, Sonic!

Birthright (Part One)

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Jamal Peppers Colors: Matt Herms

So despite the fairly short length of this story, I actually find it incredibly significant, because it gives some actual depth to Lien-Da's character and backstory than even Kenders didn't think to give her. Lien-Da is relaxing in her bunk, still angry over how she's been treated lately, and her thoughts drift again to how she believes she's overdue to attain the title of Grandmaster. We then get to see a memory of her past, back when the Dark Legion were all still stuck in the Twilight Zone. She and her brother Kragok (eyy, remember him?) had been scheming for years to take the title for themselves, intending to become joint Grandmasters of the Legion. From here we actually get into some backstory that was only ever covered once, way back in SSS#11, concerning their and Julie-Su's biological father Luger. If you'll recall, they never forgave him for remarrying and having a daughter with his new wife, and ended up secretly killing their stepmother - Julie-Su's biological mother - as revenge. It was vaguely hinted that they then found a way to make Luger "disappear," but never confirmed until now. Neither of them considered Luger as much of a father to them, instead viewing their grandfather Moritori Rex as their actual father figure. Lien-Da was happy to go along with Kragok's plan to off Luger, but didn't anticipate he may have larger ambitions than he'd revealed to her.

I mean, on the one hand, it seems a little silly to feel bad for someone whose plan to kill their own father backfired on them, but on the other hand, damn, what a scummy thing for Kragok to do. He visited her later in the hospital where she was severely injured and recovering while wrapped in bandages, and patronizingly informed her that while she was unconscious he managed to smooth the incident over as a fatal accident, and has stepped up as sole Grandmaster in Luger's absence, though he insists she remain Kommissar at his side. She felt horrified and betrayed, but could do nothing about it without revealing the extent of their plan. In the present, Lien-Da is shaken from her reverie by Dimitri calling for her to come to his lab, and gets out of bed with a new feeling of purpose, determined to finally take the title of Grandmaster that she feels she so deserves.

[thistangledbrain]

I’m writing when my schedule allows! Sorry I’m having to lump days together- but here’s 14 & 15. ☺️

Autism Acceptance Month

Day 14!

“Routine”

Good topic!!

We love routine & structure. Breaks from said routine should come with plenty advance warning, usually, because even if it’s an activity we love, if you spring it on us suddenly, we will likely be less than thrilled. (For example, one beautiful summer morning we approached my youngest and said “let’s go to King’s Dominion today!”...he was about 8. KD is one of his favorite places. But he had already started gaming and was *pissed* about the change of plans. I myself only have two scenarios where I take a sudden change in plans in stride: military/high stress situations, and if it’s my idea. Like if I go INTO a situation knowing things might change on a whim, like chaotic times or what to do on any given vacation day, I usually roll with it really well.) Some auties are better with this than others - remember, we’re all different - if you’ve been reading along since the beginning, you’ll remember I said we all sort of have a “mixing board”, and specific traits are at different levels in different people...and it also tends to ebb and flow as we age.

“Routine” also encompasses what we expect in our immediate environment, to me. I remember when I was a kid and my Momaw (grandmother who mostly raised me) changed her frames on her glasses from those black hornrims to more delicate frames, and the lenses were a different shape, too.

Oh. My. God. I hated it. I HATED it. To this day, I scowl when I think about it. It upset me so badly. She was my rock, my steady - and when her appearance changed, I had a very visceral reaction. I don’t remember if I was ever able to articulate what was wrong, but she must have figured it out, because from there on out when she changed her glasses, I was involved in picking new ones. (That made it SO much easier to accept.) On the same topic, my husband has kept his head shaved since well before I met him. He was still in the Marines when I met him (I had just gotten out 3 months prior), and the man I fell in love with had a shaved head and clean face. Since he’s gotten out, I get uncomfortable when he lets his hair get too long...I’ve gradually come to accept and even appreciate his goatee, but when the rest of his facial or head hair gets long between cuts, it makes me squirm. I am usually more distant when he’s all shaggy - it’s not that I think he looks bad, it’s just that it’s not my familiar guy. (Oh and it *is* a sensory issue. I hate the way facial hair feels when it touches my face - mustaches are particularly offensive.)

But back on “daily routine”....this intense love of the structure *again* comes in handy with the behaviorally challenged and traumatized dogs I work with. (Oh yeah - it came in handy raising two autie boys, too, obviously.) I’m hyperobservant of dogs’ behavior & realized early on that disruptions in routine caused upset or even chaos. Dogs who were not destructive became destructive. Dogs who were calm and measured became frantic. So even when *i* get more relaxed about routines, I am cognizant of the fact that it upsets *them*, and we make adjustments for that. Structure and routine are the bedrocks of working with a “broken” dog. Predictability is key until trust and confidence is gained.

Our love of routine and structure also comes in handy in the military. Of course there are times when a lot of unexpected shit happens, but like...you still have a *mission*, if that makes sense, so shit that happens while accomplishing that mission is whatever (again, same with dogs). Adapt and overcome.

But let’s talk just daily (civilian) life, right?

If I don’t set my alarm early enough to drink a good bit of coffee (slowly and undisturbed) and get used to the idea, for about an hour, that I’m awake and now must Person, it’s a bad day, ‘tater. I don’t care if I have to get up at 3 am to have that hour before work or travel, I NEED that hour. Sometimes I wonder how I made it through motherhood...(I guess once again, when it’s important enough, you just suck it up, buttercup). I also have my evening routines that are important, as did my kidlets, growing up.

Screwing with those routines usually means short tempers, hatred of everything around you, sometimes meltdowns, and just an all around bad time for everyone involved.

So if you have auties in your life, understand that they may *need* that nap during that *specific* time of day, meals should be in certain timeframes, and so on. We all have our little rituals, too, and when those are disrupted, we get disgruntled. We tend to resist changes...even introducing a new food dish or, say, not having spaghetti on Tuesdays when you usually have spaghetti on Tuesdays, your favorite mug not being available for use/lost/broken & now you have to use a different one, not getting to shower before work if that’s your usual, things like that can cause MASSIVE anxiety. I don’t know about other people’s Autie kids, but I know MINE handled routine disruption/change *so* much better when *involved* in the change. Like, sorry that it’s bedtime, but you have choices in what jammies you want to wear, what story you want read, and so on. I know I’m making a new thing for dinner tonight - how about you come help me make it? Stuff like that.

So...I’m ending this post rather abruptly awkwardly & I’m aware it’s a little redundant and scattered, but it was written over the course of 2 days because I’m busy with a dog and a stressed out teenager lately. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Sorry about that!

————————————-

Day 15!

“Everyone should know”...

I could probably keep adding to this post daily. Sigh.

Everyone should know even nonverbal autistics have something to say - you should read their blogs & find out. Everyone should know it offends and hurts us when you treat us as lesser somehow - especially if we know we’re smarter than you, to be frankly honest. Everyone should know autism is a *developmental* “disorder”, NOT an intellectual one - the weirdest, hand flapping, rocking, screeching, seeming mess of an Autie might be one of the most brilliant writers you’ve ever read - I’m dead serious. Everyone should know we all have a voice but sometimes do need some help finding it (and “voice” doesn’t mean just speaking.) Everyone should know talking about autism like it’s an “epidemic” that needs to be “eradicated” invalidates our very existence, and I don’t think I need to expound on what that must feel like, yes? Everyone should know that most (maybe all, idk) of us *would not change* the fact that we are autistic - we aren’t “suffering” with it, YOU are, apparently. We’re occasionally *frustrated* with our brains, but a whole lot more comfortable with how we are than a lot of neurotypicals seem to be. Everyone should know that if someone seems “mildly autistic” (which is what is said about me by people who don’t KNOW me 🙄), know that YOU experience my autism mildly - I don’t. We KNOW you don’t approve...we either hide (mask), or we flip you the big middle finger and say “too damn bad” - and both are usually true with autistic women. (Lots of us start off trying to fit in, but really run out of patience with it. I’ve noticed most of the boys don’t seem to give a flying shit about “fitting in” from jump street LOL...) Everyone should know a LARGE percentage of us are NOT heterosexual. Everyone should know neurodivergence has always been within the human species - it’s just we have more names for shit now, and it’s a little more more socially acceptable to be different, so there are more people “living out loud”, as it should be. Everyone should know that lots of delayed autistic kids grow up to be brilliant scientists and engineers and contribute massively to society - look at Einstein. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Everyone should know we’re human beings, and should be treated as such. xx

[project-rebirth]

Toaru Majutsu no Index: Genesis Order - The Drive to Move Forward

Much has happened in the 10 days after Singularity Zero.  The incident  involving the DOMINION Plants, Amber Rose and Aleister Crowley’s sudden arrivals, along with Shokuhou Misaki, the first successful summoning of a Legendary Spirit,  and of course, what had recently transpired with Evelyn Lancaster, or... the being  who took on her visage.

So much happened and they had not even found the exact locations for first string of singularities. Kamijou Touma, Misaka Mikoto and some of the others had no idea what to expect when going into this, but they knew now that they were in for quite a  ride.

It became very clear long ago that they were no longer on the streets of Academy City, facing off against espers, Magicians, or scientists with ill intentions. Oh, how simple those days used to be in comparison to what they faced now.

They were on the stage of Gods, Demons, and other forces that were beyond their comprehension.

The lowest tier on the stage of the highest tier. For Mikoto she had only felt inferior because she felt like Kamijou was slowly being dragged away on that stage of top tiers, while she was gradually being left behind.

Here, she had gotten her wish, and was sitting right beside Kamijou on that same stage like she always wanted, yet her inferiority complex seemed to get stronger.

Why?

Perhaps.... she felt like it was because of her inexperience, that she might only be in Kamijou’s way. In her view, it seemed like everyone was able to make it to this stage and  had gotten a handle on it accept her. Even that silver haired nun was far beyond her now.

While sitting next to Kamijou, she let out a sigh.

“What are we doing...? What am I doing?”

Kamijou turned to look at Mikoto with a quizzical expression.

“Misaka?”

“The only reason I agreed to come here was because I had thought it would bring me closer to my goal.... but since then, it’s been one thing after another... aliens? Gods? I never believed in any of that stuff until that stuff with the demon king. Even before coming here, things were going off the rails, that black haired woman went around, messing with my head, made me merge with Shokuhou and the other Level 5s, and don’t get me started on....  what’s her name and those Outer God creeps. Then there’s Evie...”

She paused briefly, still trying to wrap her head around that one.At first, she thought that she was just a really powerful Esper, but now she was starting to realize that same girl occasionally teased her for fun and liked surprising her with her randomness, was a being that was utterly far beyond her comprehension. A realization that only seemed to strengthen her feelings of inferiority.

“Tell me something.... how do you deal with all of this? Doesn’t it scare you.... constantly being involved with things that could easily kill you if they wanted? Things that... could just end everything you know with the blink of an eye? Wouldn’t... wouldn’t you just want to find somewhere and live a quiet and peaceful life if you wanted...?”

Even now, she still held onto the sleeve of his jacket, with fingers slightly trembling. Was she scared? Most likely. But she was also scared for a different reason.

Her entire world was destroyed, Academy City  and everyone they knew was lost, and many worlds would also be lost. Kamijou was the only anchor she had that to that long lost home of theirs. If he wasn’t here, who knows what she would have spiraled into?

“I guess it does kind of scare me. I never had any dreams or plans of being someone who could stand on the same ground as Cosmic Gods or anything like that. Every time, I was in the same room with my teacher or even Amber, my body trembles. No matter how many people I’ve saved, or how many incidents I’ve resolved, I’m just an average  level 0 with bad luck. There’s no way someone like me should even be interacting with beings like that in the first place.

But even so, no matter how much it terrifies me sometimes, I can’t turn away. If I see someone in need of help, I will naturally go to them and save them, even if they don’t ask for it. That’s just how I’ve always gone about things. But this time... the stakes are even higher, lots more people are going to suffer more than we have, and no matter how it might seem like someone else’s problem, I can’t overlook it. So I will continue to stand on this stage as long as it’s necessary, in order to prevent others from suffering a horrible end, and return to our everyday lives in that city.”

That was his answer. Then again, he had always been like this. Mikoto had a feeling that would be his answer, since she had come to know him well during the time they’ve known each other.

Even if God himself was his enemy, he would face him head on if it meant saving  someone.

“Besides, all I can do is to keep moving forward. I’ll keep doing that, so we can get to where we need to be when it’s all said and done. That’s my goal... so if you have a goal that's really important to you, don’t give up on it just because you’re in unfamiliar ground.”

To keep moving forward... to keep aiming for that goal no matter how ever-distant it may seem. That appeared to be the driving force behind his actions. It was the hope of being reunited with everyone he knew and loved. The road may seem rough now, but there was that light at the very end of the tunnel.

And just hearing those words.... seemed to spark something within the electromaster. She had a goal that was really important to her, and it was something that she wasn’t going to abandon so easily.

So if he could continue onward through thick and thin, she should try too. After all... she didn’t just want to be beside Kamijou, but she also wanted to see her friends and family again.

“Mm. Then that’s what I’ll do too. I definitely won’t lose, not to those DOMINION people, not to those Outer Gods, and not to that nun and those other girls!”

“Er... Misaka?”

The spiky haired idiot tilted his head in mild confusion. Though he was happy that he was able to help renew her resolve, he felt like he was missing something.

“O-Oh, nothing!  Forget that last part!”

Just as he was left even more confused, they were interrupted by the sounds of alarms blaring all throughout the facility. It reminded them of the first day when the first rayshift mission was sabotaged. However, a voice spoke through the PA System, making a very startling announcement.

ATTENTION ALL C.S.C STAFF MEMBERS. THE LOCATION FOR SINGULARITY I HAS BEEN DETECTED. ALL RAYSHIFT AGENTS, PLEASE REPORT TO THE DEUS TERMINAL ROOM FOR AN EMERGENCY BRIEFING.

It was then that their minds were kicked into gear, Whatever else they had to do, had to wait for now. Their true work had finally begun.

The First Singularity was found, and they had a location.

“Misaka!”

“Got it!”

Knowing what they needed to do, the two Academy City Residents leapt to their feet and took off running down the hallway.

[hpoelzig]

Four Reviews—Kong: Skull Island, Sausage Party, Wonder Woman, Shin Godzilla

KONG: SKULL ISLAND

Legendary’s Monsterverse series gets its second installment, following Gareth Edwards’ somber and successful resurrection of GODZILLA (2014). Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts blends sensibilities from the original KING KONG (1933) with APOCALYPSE NOW and some sly nods to the Conrad novel HEART OF DARKNESS that inspired that indelible war film to skillfully craft an action-packed tour of Kong’s homeland. Here, in a hidden island surrounded by perpetual storms which serves as a graveyard of lost ships, serene, mute indigenous people revere the massive ape as a protector deity. And rightly so, as this adolescent fellow primate lost his parents to the ravening reptilian Skull Crawlers who emerge from the underground world—likely be a plot point for future films in this series.

MONARCH (the secretive government research agency) scientists and military men invade on helicopters and drop bombs to perform seismic surveys, but this rouses Kong to swat them from the sky and provokes the arrival of the devils from below. Not the typical “beauty and the beast” tale told in the best two prior Kong films—the Cooper original and the Jackson 2005 loving homage to it—this one brings mankind up against creatures whose god-like size and strength question the dominion of our species of this planet, which in the Monsterverse mythology has long been the territory of ancient Daijkaiju.

In an homage to Boorman’s HELL IN THE PACIFIC, the film begins in 1944 with an American and a Japanese pilot crashing on the island. They continue their aerial battle hand to hand, but are halted by the arrival of Kong, who is less a giant gorilla and more an evolutionary step between gorilla and human. John C. Reilly as Lieutenant Hank Marlow steals the film as the aged pilot who has survived almost three decades on that dangerous ground and thus plays a pivotal role in making certain some of the Monarch group can reach the rendezvous point to be rescued. The redoubtable Samuel L. Jackson as Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard puts on his Ahab boots to avenge his fellow soldiers who befell Kong’s wrath. You can guess how that plays out.

As you would want, there are many fascinating oversized beasts and the humans fare ill in some of their confrontations with them. There are dramatic encounters between Kong and the humans as well as his subterranean enemies and the film concludes with a sweet resolution for Hank, and, post credits, some revelations by the MONARCH survivors revealing the creature cast of the currently filming GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS directed by Michael Dougherty, due in 2019. Kong will clash with Godzilla in 2020 under the enthusiastic direction of Adam Wingard. I await both with much anticipation!

SAUSAGE PARTY

I was sent this animated film as a gift by a friend who said not a word as to why it had been selected for me. He has an earthy sense of humor and is a talented artist as well as keen observer of the human animal, so I was prepared for something that might embody those aspects to some degree. I was not disappointed! Seth Rogen and his cohorts have crafted a devastating critique of the human foolishness of believing that some form of supernatural entities have their well-being as a primary concern. The various anthropomorphic foodstuffs in the supermarket have faith that the humans who purchase them will be bringing them somewhere better, a “Great Beyond” transcending their current existence on the shelves. But of course in time they learn the truth that being eaten awaits them and that their “gods” are but shabby, shallow, self-absorbed consumers.

Humor is broadly derived from the various ethnic food products conjuring outrageous stereotypes, and no holds are barred in that department—harking back to how such products were once advertised, though without the foul language and sexual behavior included here, making for an R rating. Most amusing for me is the Woody Allen-esque bisexual bagel voiced with manic exuberance by Edward Norton. For secularists not infected by the virus of political correctness, SAUSAGE PARTY is a ribald, raunchy hilarious feast. SJW pantywaists afraid of being triggered might want to stay away, as they’ll not find a safe space here.

WONDER WOMAN

The origin tale of Diana Prince, daughter of Zeus, is told with the proper amount of spectacle, humor, and gravity by Patty Jenkins and the eponymous character portayed with elegance and strength by Gal Gadot. Set during World War I, the visuals of the normal humans’ struggle are depicted in sepia tones shot through with fire, while Diana’s sheltered Themyscira is a lush, colorful island retreat with sophisticated art and architecture. There seemed to me a bit of a callback to Lucy Lawless’ Xena, Warrior Princess in the garb and martial techniques employed by the women of this hidden land.

What struck me as wonderfully Satanic is the philosophical outcome of this journey. Diana leaves her island as an idealist, holding love as a primary value and she has a rather simplistic view of her mission. In the course of her conflict with her brother Ares, who proclaims he is not the god of war, but of truth, he reveals to her the venality and mindless hatred of humanity in the global conflict he has cultivated. Diana witnesses horrors that are not simply conjured by Ares, but which are part of human nature. Yet the love she shares with Captain Steve Trevor—a charming Chris Pine—and his ultimate heroic sacrifice show her a broader range of human capabilities. Before dispatching Ares, as her father intended, Diana declares her embrace of humanity now with a full grasp of its spectrum of faults and glories—a third side perspective that we Satanists have proclaimed since Anton LaVey founded our philosophy in 1966. This is certainly one of the better DC films and should entertain those who enjoy these comic-derived larger-than-life beings as an embodiment of our propensity for embracing inspirational heroic mythology.

SHIN GOJIRA (SHIN GODZILLA / GODZILLA RESURGENCE)

While Edwards’ GODZILLA was in production, Toho hedged their bets by developing a live action GOJIRA film under the guidance of Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, both fans and skilled contributors to Japanese fantastic cinema. Legendary had contracted to do three Godzilla films, but apparently because they delayed the sequel to the 2014 film, ostensibly waiting for Edwards to complete ROGUE ONE, Toho completed and released their live-action film in 2016, SHIN GOJIRA. Much like Kaneko’s wonderful one-off 2001 film, GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH: DAIKAJI SOKOUGEKI, this is an original take on Gojira that has no links to the other films Toho produced in its three prior series.

Anno wrote and directed and he’s known for the high weirdness of NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, so with Higuchi handling the SPFX (he did masterful work for Kaneko’s 90s GAMERA trilogy) this duo has wrought a political satire depicting governmental hesitancy to deal with the threat of a constantly evolving giant monster rising from the sea to lay waste to Japan. For the Japanese who have in recent memory dealt with tidal waves, earthquakes and the Fukushima disaster, they fully grasp this mockery of their own government. 

Rather than being some form of prehistoric monster roused by H bomb detonations, this monstrosity is a new life form evolving from a deep sea creature, possibly kin to a frill shark, that consumed nuclear waste dumped on the ocean bottom by the American government. Shin Godzilla—the name loosely implies deity much as the American term for Gojira includes the word God—is first witnessed as a gigantic tail lashing about in Tokyo bay (the first form). When it comes inland via waterways as a slithering, rubbery google-eyed intruder, leaking red fluid from its gill slits (Kamata-kun), the Prime Minister and his cabinet and advisors are continually paralyzed through fear of committing errors that will end their political careers, taking endless, fruitless meetings in numerous governmental chambers. It takes the intervention of Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Rando Yaguchi, a maverick who wants to get things done, to assemble a crew of outsiders and misfits who seek to understand and find a way to defeat this threat arising from mutated nature.

Kamata-kun seizes-up at one point, falling to the ground, but rouses to shift itsself into a red-hued, upright standing 50 meter beast (Shinagawa-kun) whose roar is the same as that of the original Gojira, and he’s accompanied by Ifukube’s score for that 1954 film. With glowing red patches surrounding his dorsal fins indicating some sort of overheating, Shinagawa-kun smashes through buildings and dives back into the bay. The hovering military ‘copters had yet to attack, hindered by the Prime Minister’s fear of harming civilians. Yaguchi’s team gathers and analyzes info, aided by a Japanese American beauty who shares secret data from the US authorities whom she represents. And then the full-sized bizarre golem Shin Gojira arises and begins a rampage.

As is traditional, the Japanese military, aided by American stealth bombers, prove ineffectual against this particularly hideous incarnation of Gojira. With a profusion of snuggle-teeth, seemingly sightless eyes, stunted forearms and an insanely long tail, Anno’s vision of a nightmare monster with bizarre powers is well-realized by Higuchi and his team. For the first time Toho went with CGI (aided by some motion capture) to render the majority of the effects and they are primarily very effective. This Gojira is magma-black with glowing red patches from within, much like the Burning Godzilla of 1995. But his wildly overpowered breath weapon, which goes from firestorm to purple laser beam, accompanied by similar bursts from his dorsal plates and mangled tail end are unique to this rendition. The film uses classic Ifukube score excerpts and evocative new music by Shiro Sagisu and even employs sound effects from Toho’s stock library, most dating to the original Showa series of Gojira films (1954-1975).

Under the threat of the US deploying nuclear weapons, Yaguchi rallies his team and they find a means to immobilize Gojira, aided by waves of US drones meant to distract it while attacks by explosive-laden train cars and finally tanker trucks filled with freezing chemicals ultimately cause Gojira to become a colossal statue as part of the Tokyo skyline. The last shot shows us that Gojira was willing forth a fifth form, as humanoid Godzillian beings had begun to emerge from the tip of its tail. This film was immensely successful both critically and financially in Japan, though a possible sequel cannot be released until after Legendary’s films emerge. However, Toho is currently producing an animated sci-fi trilogy set in the far future, GODZILLA: MONSTER PLANET, and the first of these will screen for US audiences on Netflix at the end of 2017, with the next two installments to be released in 2018. There’s a coming wealth of Godzilla to enjoy!

We are in a golden age of giant monsters which I’m celebrating in the third installment of the book and exhibition series I curate for HOWL gallery titled THE DEVILS REIGN: DAIKAIJU, to be released towards the end of this year.

—Magus Peter H. Gilmore

[narwhalwrath]

12 World I’d Like To See Debut In KHIII

The following is a list of 13 worlds that I would personally like to see debut in Kingdom Hearts III, based purely on my opinion, thus existing worlds that could reappear will also not be included.  As well this list does not include Pixar, Lucasfilms or Marvel properties. They are not in any order. Please be aware that plot or ending details may be spoiled in discussion for as to why a certain world has a place on this list.

Wreck It Ralph

Wreck It Ralph was a really good film, and in terms of fitting in with Kingdom Hearts I think that it has potential. The entire premise of Wreck It Ralph involves questioning what makes someone good or evil - and in the context of this universe evil roles must be filled - but it doesn’t define a character for what they truly are. I think it’s a nice contrast between Ralph and King Candy - two characters who originally had assigned roles as the heroes and the villains who were lead to defy those roles given the motivations of their wills. With a sequel to be released in 2018, and given that Kingdom Hearts III probably won’t be released until at least the end of 2018 - I think that it would be a great way to promote the film as well.

Zootopia

Another absolutely fantastic film - arguably the best film that Disney has released in recent years, Zootopia covers issues of racism in ways that no other Disney movie ever really had before. Zootopia is a lot like Wreck It Ralph in the way that it questions what makes a character good and evil - with general stereotypes that foxes and other carnivores are nefarious and cannot be trusted - only to find out that Nick Wilde has a good heart - whereas the seemingly good-hearted Bellweather proves to instead have malicious intent of her own - suggesting that we not judge those by their outward appearances. Given the popularity of Zootopia and the inclusion of Zootopia Medals and customizable accessories and outfits within Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ [Chi], I’m fairly confident that Zootopia will be making an appearance either in Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] or Kingdom Hearts III.

Lilo and Stitch

While we’ve already had Deep Space, I know a lot of people have been waiting for that island setting that we see in the bulk of Lilo and Stitch. People want to see Nani, Lilo and Cobra Bubbles. And with Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep introducing Experiment 221 (Sparky), we know that Kingdom Hearts is willing to include media from sources outside of a theatrical release - as Sparky comes from Stitch! The Movie, which acts as a direct to video release intended to act as a pilot for Lilo and Stitch The Series. Why not include a side mission like they did with Kingdom Hearts I where you have to locate the experiments that have been scattered throughout the Realm of Light. They could really milk this world for all its got with Experiment 621 (Chopsuey), Experiment 627 (Evile), Leroy and Dark End as bosses too. In total, there’s around 130 experiments outside of the aforementioned 4 potential bosses and Stitch with official designs. Not to mention that the story for Lilo and Stitch is about finding where you belong as well as defying what you were originally created to do. Given Stitch’s appearance in Kingdom Hearts II, Deep Space in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and related Medals in Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ [Chi] - I expect, if not guarantee that a full-fledged Lilo and Stitch world will be in Kingdom Hearts III.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Who Framed Roger Rabbit was phenomenally popular at the time of its release. The way I picture it - the world would be restricted to the Toon Town portion of Roger Rabbit - but that doesn’t mean much because there is a lot that can be done with that even still. Obviously it would have to be censored a bit - but that’s nothing new for Disney, they’ve done it with Roger Rabbit media before so it can be done again. I would love to see Sora team up with Roger Rabbit, Jessica Rabbit, Baby Herman and Benny the Cab in order to stop Judge Doom and the Toon Patrol. I feel as though other human characters aren’t really necessary, as Sora and co. would basically fill their roles. But like exploring the Acme Factory, the Ink and Paint Club, and just Toon Town in general within Kingdom Hearts excites me.

The Princess and the Frog

The Princess and the Frog just fits well with the Kingdom Hearts in general - it’s another telling of a Princess story and has a villain that is well suited for a team up with Maleficent. I would love to see Dr. Facilier in Kingdom Hearts and have to battle him and his Friends From The Other Side. I would also love to play in that New Orleans Mardi Gras setting. Not to mention that for Kingdom Hearts they could tie in the story - which involves “digging a little deeper” to see what it is your heart truly desires.

Frozen

Frozen is basically a guarantee for Kingdom Hearts III. Given the popularity of Frozen, it would be a huge mistake not to include it in Kingdom Hearts III - especially with a sequel on the horizon, I feel like it would satisfy some fans and bridge the gap between releases. The story of Frozen is something which I could see working well with Kingdom Hearts, with Sora and co. initially meeting up with Hans or even Anna and learning of how Elsa has blanketed the country in snow and that she needs to be stopped. Throw in a boss-level Heartless inspired by Marshmallow (I don’t believe Hans would be a good fight necessarily, more like a Lady Tremaine-esque situation, and Marshmallow himself wouldn’t be as likely as a Heartless), and something about the Light in Elsa’s heart saving Anna’s own frozen heart and you’ve got a masterpiece for Kingdom Hearts.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Very underrated by Disney’s standards, Atlantis: The Lost Empire is another world that would work perfectly with the Kingdom Hearts story - given that a large portion of the story involves the Heart of Atlantis. Not to mention Kida - an awesome Disney Princess who was neglected by the official Disney Princess line because of Atlantis: The Lost Empire’s underperformance at the box office. I could see us battling the Leviathan that protects Atlantis as a boss

Moana

I loved Moana, and I must say it’s story is by far the best for Kingdom Hearts. Te Fiti loses her heart and becomes the monstrous Te Kā ? That’s basically what happens when someone becomes a Heartless. In the film Moana manages to return Te Fiti’s heart and she goes back to normal, an just the aspect of the adventure is so great with having to face the Kakamora and Tamatoa. Envisioning this world, I see it similar to how Port Royal was handled in Kingdom Hearts II, where you have your main island settings and then you travel between them by ship - though I imagine if that were the case then Heartless or Nobodies would replace the Kakamora - and with Te Kā as the final boss I don’t know where that would leave Tamatoa - maybe a mid-level boss since we’re getting that in Olympus Coliseum anyway? Either way I love the idea and I want to see it come to fruition in Kingdom Hearts III.

The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book is the most likely candidate for Kingdom Hearts III, as it was already strongly considered for inclusion in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and exists in the coding, with one area having been fully developed (King Louie’s Throne Room). Given this, I think it’d be great for Sora to revisit a form similar to that of his Pridelands form. We’d join Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera on their quest to keep Mowgli safe from harm and return him to the man village, with Shere Khan acting as a boss that’s weak to fire magic. I think they could cut out Kaa altogether though, replacing him with a snake-like Heartless. I would probably also cut the story short before Mowgli is returned to the man village - perhaps instead showing his interactions with Shanti during the credits of Kingdom Hearts III.

Dumbo

Ever since Dumbo was included as a summon in Kingdom Hearts I, fans have wondered when his home world was going to make an appearance. Dumbo has appeared in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ [Chi] via Medals and customizable accessories and costumes for Player. Given how long it has been and the potential that the world holds, I think Dumbo’s world’s introduction into the Kingdom Hearts story is long overdue. Think of the circus-inspired Heartless that could come out of it: clowns, elephants, seals, and a Ring Master Heartless boss. Or even the Heartless Pink Elephants? Tie it all together with a story about accepting one’s self for who they are and you’ve got a classic tale that suits Kingdom Hearts well.

The Black Cauldron

The Black Cauldron is something which Disney often times tries to shove under the rug because it failed at the box office - largely in part of its dark themes that are sometimes dubbed too scary for children. However, I think in Kingdom Hearts a darker world is something that’s required. Often times we get Halloween Town or the Enchanted Dominion instead which bear the darker theme, but I think we need some new untapped Disney property. The Horned King would be an excellent addition to Maleficent’s Villains Council, and would make for a terrifying boss battle - perhaps with the help of his Gwythaints? Plus the overall feel of the world would be that of a quest - with Sora and co. helping Taran, Princess Eilonwy and Gurgi save Henwen and stop the power of the Black Cauldron. I feel as though we could do without the inclusion of Fflewddur Fflam, who generally got in the way in the film in my opinion, though I would want Ordu, Orwen and Orgoch to appear - perhaps include a minigame with them in order to convince them to trade the Black Cauldron for Taran’s sword? I’m not sure, but I’d still like to see the Black Cauldron in Kingdom Hearts III.

The Emperor’s New Groove

Not only was The Emperor’s New Groove rather hilarious, but it has an excellent villain in the form of Yzma. I really want to see Yzma as part of Maleficent’s Council and controlling the Heartless. It would add a sense of relief to the story I feel if there was a world with so much comedic potential. Travelling with Pacha and Kuzco (as a llama) would be entertaining, and a boss battle against Yzma, or even a giant Heartless which she creates with one of her potions, would be everything. Plus, the mountainous regions of South America offer a similar landscape to that of Mount Olympus, thus making for a large potential with the more open world concepts that Kingdom Hearts is throwing into Kingdom Hearts III.

And that’s that, let me know what you think. :)

[rate-out-of-10]

HIDDEN FIGURES REVIEW

Earlier this year, our hearts and minds were opened up to the widely untold story of three incredibly intelligent black women within NASA in the early 60s. There are many things that come to mind about America when we think of the 60s: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, Kennedy and his assassination, the moon landing. However, we’ve never really been exposed to the strong black women who accomplished something thought to be impossible. These women were Katherine (Goble) Johnson, the mathematician responsible for exacting formulas crucial to NASA’s early spaceflight missions, including the Apollo 11 moon landing, Dorothy Vaughn, the first black woman to be promoted supervisor over an entire division at NASA (computer programming at that), and Mary Jackson, NASA’s first black female engineer. The film Hidden Figures is based on the non-fiction book Hidden Figures: The Story of the African-American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. The story of these was never mentioned in any one of my history classes, nor did I come across any significant telling of it in my history textbooks. In modern day, it’s seldom known. That’s what makes this film so vital, especially in today’s era of race relations and the conversation of representation of minorities within the film industry.

Biographical films are always hard to capture, what with dramatizing the events vs. accurately depicting them, who to include in the story being told, how to portray those real life people, etc. But Hidden Figures has a bit more weight added to it. Not only is the story being told focused on minorities, it’s focused on women, black women who “competed” with whites in the sixties in a segregated work environment, black women who worked in a field where it was dominated by white men, and to top it all off it’s in the early days of the space race. Taraji Henson plays Katherine Johnson, the film’s “lead”, and I don’t see a better choice for the role. She looked the part, played Katherine with such wit, intelligence, and vulnerability, it was astounding to watch. Octavia Spencer, who played Dorothy Vaughn, is always a delight to watch. She exudes confidence and competence. She’s nominated for an Oscar for this role, and it’s well deserved from what I saw; I could see her getting another one. Finally, we have Janelle Monae playing Mary Jackson and she was so fun on screen. Playing Mary with a bunch of attitude and charisma, she always had something quick-witted to say. What brought this film together so well was not just the three ladies’ individual performances, but their chemistry onscreen together. They all worked the film so well, weaving themselves in and out of each other, creating real, tangible friendships from the moment we meet them. The cast features some very strong roles besides the three leading ladies as well. Kevin Costner plays Al Harrison, who’s a bit of a stickler but doesn’t shy away from doing things that have never been done before (and that includes getting a man to orbit the Earth as well as destroying racial and gender barriers within NASA). Costner plays the role with strength and poise in a way that you’re never unsure of what he wants or why he’s doing something, and it was something that I admire, in both Kevin as well as the character himself. Jim Parsons plays the slightly more traditionalist Paul Stafford who commands himself as a superiority in many facets, but mostly in the realm of white privilege. He speaks down to Katherine for no reason (other than she’s a black woman in his “territory”; it’s made abundantly clear), and he continues to undermine her work and halt her progress. A realistic 60s conservative. It was interesting to see Kirsten Dunst play a more “adult” role. She was composed and forthright, she held herself above the black women at NASA, yet you could still see her struggle of being a woman in a male dominion. I enjoyed her performance. The cast works together very well in creating genuine human interaction and demonstrating the qualities and mindsets of the people in the 60s.

I wondered going in how much race relations would play a part in the film, and I am extremely satisfied with how it was handled. Race wasn’t the driving force behind the movie, it’s very clear that the advancement of NASA (and with it the entire human race) was at the forefront, however the civil rights aspects played right along with it. The harmonious movements of the main story plot with the socially charged subplots was expertly crafted. We saw barriers being broken down both in the scientific/mathematical fields as well as in the areas of social justice and the dawn of desegregation. The film does not hide why it itself is important to see. Not only was telling the story of these three important women at the forefront, but so was everything they had to do to even have a chance at what they did. These ladies exemplified the struggle of black Americans in that time period, as well as in the modern day, that minorities in general need to work essentially twice as hard, be over qualified, and prove themselves consistently without any type of miscue whatsoever to even be considered a contender. These women are staples in American society and its progression. The film paces itself very well, in various compelling ways. The romantic subplot with Katherine and Jim Johnson (played by Mahershala Ali, Luke Cage and Moonlight) felt genuine and not too forced at all. It was refreshing to see, but then again the entire movie was refreshing to see. While the film tends to slow down for various reasons, it’s nonetheless interesting the entirety of the time.

At the film’s core, it’s a drama. While bio-pics may not be everyone’s favorite, it can feel a tad slow at times (namely the romantic areas), still this is one to watch and learn from. Its importance in the film industry, even historically, is earned by telling the true story of real women who changed the shape of America in one of its most monumental moments. Hidden Figures will be appreciated for many years to come, and I hope it opens the door to many films of similar untold natures to follow in its wake. My final rating for Hidden Figures is:

9.25/10. Monumental.

In a time period that everyone sees now as impeccably wrong, a negative mark in American history, the film finds its strength. Don’t fool yourselves, attitudes of our modern day, in many ways, still resemble those in the 60s. But if history is to repeat itself, then it’s only a matter of time before some strong, independent women come along and bring the change America needs to see to set it on the bath of advancement and progression. Hidden Figures will play a large role in that endeavor, especially within the conversations of diversity in the film industry. Hidden Figures is Oscar nominated for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture, and Octavia Spencer nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

[mobius-prime]

290. Sonic the Hedgehog #209

Iron Dominion (Part One)

Writer: Ian Flynn Pencils: Tracy Yardley! Colors: Matt Herms

Sally is distraught as Tails attempts to hack into New Mobotropolis' mainframe from Freedom HQ. She blames herself for not putting the pieces together about Nicole, the nanites, and the Iron Queen sooner - and while I don't blame her specifically, she does have a point, as I mentioned before. Like, seriously, how did no one realize the danger there earlier? Sonic, in a lovely gesture of respect, allows Khan to be the first to comfort her despite his pangs of envy about their budding relationship, and after Khan does his best to reassure her, Sonic chimes in about how they're obviously fine since he escaped the city, and that she needs to stop wallowing in self-pity. She's indignant for a split second before collecting herself and calmly thanking Sonic for setting her straight. Sonic and Khan then good-naturedly tease each other a little about their very different approaches to wooing Sally, which I appreciate a great deal - similarly to with Sally and Mina, I'm glad the comics never devolve into petty jealousy even between two characters who are interested in the same person. It's definitely a welcome breath of fresh air in the midst of so many other crappy fictional love triangles.

Sonic and Sally get ready to be digitized, with Sally asking Khan to watch over them while they're inside. He protests that he doesn't even know how to work a computer, which seems ridiculous given the highly advanced futuristic world he lives in - like damn dude, I know Mobians in this universe haven't always been so friendly with technology, but you literally hail from a land ruled over by a technomage! I'm pretty sure the Iron Queen wouldn't have set up shop there if there was no techno for her to mage! Either way, Sally of course just meant for him to keep Freedom HQ secure while Tails manages the technical aspects of the mission, and with that, they enter the digital world, which conveniently just looked like a green, techy version of New Mobotropolis. They get ready to break into the city by breaking down the front do- uh, code, but before they can do so Iron Nicole arrives to confront them.

Of course, things are never that easy. The Iron Queen herself chooses this moment to show up in cyberspace, except she's gigantic, towering over the heroes and the city. Sonic grabs Sally and tears off to escape her rapidly-approaching hand, and they wonder how to rescue Nicole and how the Iron Queen is even here in the first place given that there's no digitizer in the city. Of course, she's a technomage, so we see a nice little scene of her crouching over her staff and yelling insults at it, while a bemused Snively watches, unable to see anything she's looking at. Annoyed, he leaves the room, and Lien-Da mocks him for not getting as much attention as he wants from his new beau before reporting that the capture of all the city's residents is going smoothly.

Somehow, I don't think that's a good thing…

Back in cyberspace, Sonic tells Sally to handle Nicole while he distracts the Iron Queen, but unfortunately, since this is a digital world Iron Nicole can do basically whatever she wants, and copies his spin dash effortlessly, redirecting any shots he tries to fire off at her master. In Freedom HQ, Khan becomes more and more worried as he sees them losing the battle, and asks Tails where the access to the city's mainframe is, leaving the room immediately when Tails absentmindedly gives him the location. Tails realizes his mistake a second later, and runs out of the room to confront Khan as he tries to fly back to the city. Khan admits he plans to "put Nicole out of her misery," justifying his decision by pointing out how traumatized he is from being used by the Iron Queen in a similar manner to murder the Dragon Kingdom Freedom Fighters and how he doesn't want Nicole to suffer in the same way. Tails struggles with him physically, trying to stop him and yelling that they can trust Sonic and Sally to save her.

Aw c'mon Khan, more murder isn't the answer, even if it's supposed to be a mercy murder! In the digital world, Sally figures out that she can "cast" a firewall that Rotor built some time ago, and puts up a red wall of coding to try to block the Iron Queen's magic, though the Iron Queen realizes what she's trying to do pretty quickly and blasts the wall apart. Sally, undaunted, rushes to Nicole and yells for Sonic to once again take on the Iron Queen, and while Sonic distracts her by deftly planting his entire spiky body into her digital eyeball, Sally builds an entire firewall "room" around herself and Nicole. Instantly, Nicole's connection to the Iron Queen is broken, and within seconds she's building more defenses in her code to ensure she can't be controlled again. She's furious and humiliated that this happened at all, and when Sally tries to reassure her that they're in control once more, Nicole sadly explains why she doesn't agree - most of the populace is imprisoned and the Legion and Yagyu are stationed everywhere, and even if they were to somehow immediately take the city back, the Iron Queen still has three other clans as reinforcements abroad, and could come back even stronger and wise to their weaknesses.

A decent plan, actually. I mean, who better to act as a spy than an AI who can transform her body and skillfully act, independent of any accidental emotional displays that an organic might be susceptible to? Nicole immediately shatters the firewall and pretends to "purge" the code trapping her, and Sally puts on a great show of running terrified, yelling at Tails to get them out of the simulation. Sonic and Sally vanish, and "Iron Nicole" reassures the Iron Queen that the invaders have been forced from the system and the city remains under her control. Back in the real world, however, Sally happily explains to the others her success, and Khan and Tails both report in that absolutely nothing of note happened while they were gone, sharing a secret glance while Tails pulls an absolutely perfect "I-told-you-so" smug smile. The four of them quickly pack up some supplies and then pile into (or onto, in the case of Sonic and Sally - seriously, Tails, you need to build more seats) the Tornado to head straight for the Dragon Kingdom, to ensure that when they do retake the city, the Iron Queen will have no more reinforcements to call on.