#there are also so many interesting love interests that Matt has in the comics that it would be great to see on-screen

[0maune]

I know that here on tumblr we don't usually comment much but some suggestions would be very useful and appreciated.

I've drawn Tom many times and none of them in the same way as the other one. Tom is my favorite character of all time and I love him so much. And I'm already getting stressed out because I can't draw him in a way that I like and feel comfortable with. But I'm not going to stop trying.

I love seeing Eddsworld fanarts from all of you because everyone has their own way of drawing the eddsword characters, and I'm not talking about drawing styles, I'm talking about the fact that each artist has their own character design, which I find fascinating. I've seen thousands and thousands of fanarts and I've loved absolutely all the designs, they all have their own thing and I also want to have designs that have some spark.

I always start with Tom because he's my favorite but I don't continue with the others, I always stay with Tom. And I'm sure that if I had them, I could have much more interesting Eddsworld fanarts than the ones I do.

I would also draw more Matt, Edd and Tord. And I would even try to make mini comics because I really love them. I can't wait to find my perfect designs and start posting Eddsworld stuff like crazy.

[thedevotionaltour]

karen is MY special white woman. my problematic fave. because i understand why she sucks. i think in order to be allowed to be a karen fan you have to actually understand why she sucks. if you don't understand why she sucks then you're a bad karen fan i think.

[ohmtoff]

you made me think ab nerd nick too damn much its concerning. imagine jerking him off while he yaps ab his geeky stuff, stuttering and his words slurring when you squeeze around his tip

ANON…. youre actually my soulmate how did we think of the same thing (nsfw)

nerdy nick who’s far sighted so he regularly wears his glasses that make his eyes look bigger and just adorable. his wardrobe consists of graphic tees and hoodies that fit him awkwardly and his hair is most of the time disheveled.

nerdy nick whose budget goes to cosplay and comic con because those things are expensiveee and his brothers try their hardest to support him by helping him make the costumes (imagine nick unironically doing the anime hands thing around chris and matt and they try not to cringe LMFAOOOOO).

nerdy nick who yaps soooo much about his interests, from lord of the rings lore to his fav doctor from doctor who. i can just IMAGINE him making video essays complaining ab the new live action avatar series and how it doesnt hold up to the original series.

nerdy nick who’s the same sassy and witty guy as we know but he also puts that energy to defend his fav characters on the internet. best believe he has a stan account. many of his tattoos are dedicated to his comfort characters as well.

nerdy nick whose interests look innocent to others but behind closed doors he regularly reads and writes the most sheet gripping, back arching, toe curling smut about his fav fictional men. erwin from aot, thorin from the hobbit, ALL of jujutsu kaisen. he furiously stroked his dick to the thought of getting fucked dumb by nanami.

nerdy nick who acted normal and talks about regular stuff when he first met you but when he gets comfortable with you he immediately starts yapping. you think he’s just the most adorable thing when his eyes light up when talking about all his interests. you don’t even know what he’s talking about but your attention is hooked. nick, however, was used to people pretending to care about what he’s talking about so he stops himself.

“i’m sorry. ugh, i always talk too much, that was weird and boring”

“no, no, it’s fine. so… uruk-hais are bred between orcs and humans?”

nick wanted to suck your dick right then and there.

having sex with anime playing in the background was not rare between you two. one time, you both were watching an episode when you got distracted by how his tongue was peeking out with concentration. you noticed how fat his tongue was and how red his lips were. those same lips were wrapped around your cock not long after that. nick was gagging and moaning around it, his eyes bubbling up with tears streaming down his flushed cheeks as he jerked you off from the base. saliva would drip from his mouth, running down his chin as he struggled to take everything down. he was still wearing those same glasses, sliding down his nose from the sweat. he looks up at you with those big puppy eyes, tears running down his face. the sight makes you groan and shove your dick further into his throat. you thought he looked absolutely beautiful with cum streaks on his glasses.

nerdy nick who sometimes rambles too much and in these times you love teasing him. “come on, baby, tell me more,” you whispered to the back of his ear as he writhed and thrashed on your chest, pants gone and his swollen cock red and dripping as you squeezed the base. “time- time lords have two hearts, so,” he lets out a pathetic whine, “so the doctor never dies, he—mmnghh—they instead regenerate into a new body-AH-“ you squeeze and dug your thumb into his leaking tip. his chest heaves and he pants like a dog. “fu—uck, please, please, please. i wann- i wanna cum, oh please.” you think he deserves it so you quicken your strokes and let him cum. his mouth releasing unintelligible noises while those beautiful blue eyes go cross eyed.

nerdy nick who becomes your person and who you will go to endless comic cons with, watch a new series with, and who eventually will turn you into an even bigger nerd than he is😩🤞🏼

a/n: i wrote this without pause wtf

[presidenthades]

Day 2 of HOTD adventures at New York Comic Con

As I mentioned in my Day 1 post, I did end up attending the HOTD panel today! It was live-streamed, so I won’t bother with a full recap because a lot of people have probably watched the recording. I’ll just list a few things I thought were highlights.

First of all, I just want to brag about my very excellent seat. I had a great view of the stage.

My personal highlights:

Before the panel began, an event host went around the room to get some sound bites from the audience. The most notable was a pair of women who cosplayed Rhaenys and Meleys. That’s right, someone cosplayed MELEYS. I wish I’d gotten photos, but believe me when I say the cosplays were amazing.

When Matt talked about how he’s attended many fan events, it made me think about how during his brief interactions for photos and autographs, he still made every fan feel seen and appreciated. I read online that Matt, who was scheduled to do Saturday autographs only until 7pm, stayed after 10pm to make sure everyone in line got their autographs. He probably is aware that his lines are generally really long, and he did his best to make the experience worth it even though he had limited time.

It was a CROWDED room, I think 4000 people? If Fabien seemed a little startled/awestruck at first, that’s why. He also seemed surprised (at the panel and during other fan interactions later) that people were genuinely happy to see him. I suspect this is due to some people letting their feelings about Criston seep into their real-life interactions with Fabien.

Cock jokes. 😂😂😂

The host asked Tom and Fabien if they became more comfortable going from Season 1 to Season 2. Not sure if the livestream caught it, but Tom let out an awkward giggle after that question. 👀

When the host asked Fabien how he would rate his job as Hand and then the question was tossed to the audience, the reception was indeed lackluster. Lots of people held up hands with just one or two fingers raised. Fabien seemed really sheepish about it, though Tom defended Criston’s character. It reminded me of a conversation I overheard while queuing before the panel. There was a group of friends in the queue, and one of them said she’d never seen HOTD and knew nothing about it. Her friends told her that if the panel asked any questions about Cole, “don’t cheer because we hate him.”

Matt and Fabien discussing Daemon and Criston’s homoerotic trysts/tension. 🔥

Tom’s spiel about how he can’t turn his back on Aegon as a character or else everyone else will turn their backs was interesting. Also about how digging into the reasons Aegon behaves the way he does is “an explanation not an excuse.” I think that’s a nuance which unfortunately some people disregard, and that leads to toxic interactions in the fandom.

Matt’s description of Viserys’s death instilling in Daemon “an odd level of psychosis and grief” was VERY interesting.

I can’t believe Matt forgot Milly’s name. 😂 And when Fabien recounted that he told her to join them at NYCC, Milly said “no fucking way.” 😂😂😂

I happened to get a photo when Tom announced he spilled water on his trousers and, in his own words, it looked like he pissed himself.

The way the actors talked AROUND their feelings about the script/writers was intriguing. 👀 I wonder if Matt will actually make requests of the writers…

When the host asked what other character the actors would like to play, Fabien had trouble thinking of an answer, so the host said, “You love your character so much!” Fabien IMMEDIATELY said, “Don’t put that out into the aether.” It seems like he doesn’t allow himself to publicly declare that he likes anything about his own character, because he knows how much vitriol that would generate. 🥺

Tom has never watched Lord of the Rings??? CANCEL HIM. (JK please don’t.)

When the host asked the actors what was the worst note a director had ever given them, Fabien said it would have to wait a few years after HOTD. So I am pretty sure his “worst note” was something during HOTD. 👀

Matt thinks chipmunks and mice are the same thing. 😭

When the panel ended, Matt and Tom left pretty quickly because their handlers were ushering them to their next event. Fabien lingered onstage to take a picture of the giant audience. People SWARMED to the stage, and Fabien was nice enough to sign one or two things that people were shoving up at him before he also had to leave.

I ended up having time to go to Fabien’s autograph session later that day. On the way, I saw that Matt’s line was ridiculously long again. Tom’s line was also huge, I think because he left early the day before, so people were all trying to get his autograph today.

When I arrived, Fabien was going on a break, so several of us early birds waited for him to come back. Fabien and Tom’s booths were next to each other, and we were able to see what Tom was doing. Tom seemed tired again but was still nice and friendly to all the fans. I’m 99% sure his girlfriend was sitting nearby. He definitely perked up when he paused to chat with her.

When Fabien came back from his break, fans in the lines for both actors started cheering for him. Tom also started cheering and clapping and going “whooooo!” It’s good to see that the HOTD cast really do like and have fun with each other. ❤️

Once it was my turn to get an autograph and selfie, I told Fabien that I enjoyed his performance at Rook’s Rest, and I named a few specific Cole moments (pre-battle speech, stumbling around afterwards looking traumatized). He seemed to really appreciate hearing that; I feel like he might get a lot of “I hate Criston but…” kind of comments.

My HOTD adventures today were more Fabien-centered, and I enjoyed it! From my brief interaction, I would say Fabien is friendly, sweet, and genuinely interested in fan interactions—although maybe a little nervous/scared about what people will say to his face.

TBH I’m tempted to write a Criston POV for my fic series. I got Fabien to autograph a print that his team provided, but it would’ve been nice to be able to have him autograph something more personal. I love it anyway!

Now I’m going to show off my GOT/HOTD merch!

Postcards:

Stained glass window cling print that looks gorgeous when it’s backlit:

Not GOT/HOTD-related, but I found out last minute that Naomi Novik, AKA Astolat, AKA one of the founders of AO3, was attending NYCC on Sunday to sign books. So I hightailed to that event. She signed my copy of her new book (including my AO3 username) and my Fanbinding pouch. 🥰 I told her how much I adore her writing and appreciate her contribution to fandom. She was lovely!!

That little squiggle she draws in the middle is a dragon doodle! For those who don’t know, Naomi’s first published book series was Temeraire, which is about the Napoleonic Wars but with dragons.

Later that day, I was shopping at a booth selling gorgeous headbands. Then I turned around, and there was Naomi again, shopping at the same booth!! She was off-duty doing her own thing, so I tried very hard to pretend I didn’t know who she was, even though I was fangirling inside. She really is a nerdy fan like the rest of us, enjoying her con experience. ❤️❤️❤️

Here’s one of the headbands I got:

All in all, a very successful and fun con! But now I desperately need to catch up on sleep and get back to my normal routine, so maybe I can resume writing. 🥲😴

[charliethomascoxuniverse]

☝️☝️☝️ THIS. Couldn’t agree more. 

I’m not really surprised about Karen being left out of Born Again, tbh. We already know the show isn’t going to be S4 of the Netflix show and thus carry on with its established continuity. It’ll be drawing on the comics instead (and only drawing on some elements from Netflix’s Daredevil), and narratively Karen’s kind of superfluous because, well, she’s dead. But yeah, the effect that Karen’s death had on Matt was profound, and that, at least, really should be shown on-screen.

Foggy Nelson though? He’s absolutely integral to Matt’s character. His presence should be non-negotiable!! He’s far more essential than any other character they’re planning to add to the show - we could do without pretty much ALL of them before we could do without Foggy. He’s the heart of Nelson and Murdock. He’s the heart of Matt Murdock, his essential lifeline to his own humanity for god’s sake! It’s just madness to even consider excluding him! 

So the news about Elden Henson and Deborah Ann Woll not being asked to return for Daredevil: Born Again is complete and utter bullshit. Not only is it unfair to them as actors who have bonded with these characters, it's unfair to the audience and fans of Daredevil.

I can maybe, maybe understand why they're leaving out Karen. Maybe. She's been dead in the comics for 24 years, hasn't even gotten a resurrection like most other Marvel characters have. In universe 616, she's gone. But the event that killed her had massive repercussions for Matt's character. He changed after it happened. If they wanted to kill off Karen in the MCU, the very least they could do is make it happen on screen. Even if it happens in the first episode, that's something the audience needs to see and it needs to be done with care.

But Foggy? Yeah, no. Absolutely not. He's as much a part of Daredevil as Elektra is. Far more than the Punisher. He is to Matt Murdock what MJ Watson is to Peter Parker. He's been with Matt through thick and thin, and has never abandoned his side. When Matt got Dr. Strange to wipe the world's memory of him (a la ASM One More Day) who was the one person that remembered Matt's identity? Who was the only person who Matt didn't attack on sight when he was controlled by Mephisto? Who was willing to change their diet just to take the edge off of Matt's super senses? Foggy fucking Nelson.

These two characters are the most important people in regards to Matt Murdock. You can't have Daredevil without them near him, alive or not. Doing Born Again without them should be a crime.

[desertdollranch]

Opening and reviewing my first My Imagination doll

I have a new 18 inch friend to introduce and review! And this one has had an interesting journey to me.

I stumbled across My Imagination dolls a few years ago on Dollation, a delightful but now defunct site that cataloged different brands of play dolls as well as collectible dolls (check it out via the Wayback machine). By that time, this particular brand, designed by notable doll artist Robert Tonner, was no longer producing dolls. I looked at a few listed on eBay, but I didn't feel ready to buy one. They were a bit out of my price range, and they didn't really strike me as very unique. Their brand name refers to the line of clothing that was supposed to be produced for them, in partnership with DC Comics, the Wizard of Oz, Gone With the Wind, Alice in Wonderland, and I think maybe Disney. But there were very few of those promised items that were produced, and the brand itself only lasted from about 2015 to 2017 or so.

I have more or less neutral feelings about the partnering brands, so that didn't really sell them for me. So I moved on and put them out of my mind.

Cut to a few weeks ago, when my mom attended a doll show local to her. She's a collector as well, although these days she's almost exclusively into Barbie and similar size dolls. At the show she bought a beautiful 16 inch Tyler Wentworth doll, and when she sent me pictures I was pretty certain that the doll was designed by Robert Tonner. There's just something distinct in the face molds he creates. He also designed the dolls for the Magic Attic Club brand, and I have three of those, whom I adore. They're quite a bit older than My Imagination dolls, though.

(Heather, Keisha, and Rose.)

My mom and I were talking about other doll artists whose dolls are easily identifiable, like Helen Kish and Dianna Effner. I mentioned to her that Tonner had also designed a brand called My Imagination, and I went searching for examples to show her. That's when I stumbled across a listing for a doll that was not only a realistic price, but the particular doll I liked the best.

Since I first heard of them, my doll collection has changed a lot. It's no longer quite so dominated by American Girl dolls--not that I don't love them, I certainly do, but I've also opened my home to many other different brands of 18 inch dolls like Maplelea, Our Generation, Starpath, Healthy Roots, Götz, and Faithful Friends. I love having a diverse collection of unique dolls. It's fun to see how different they all look from each other, and yet they're all pretty much the same size and can be friends with each other.

So when I did see the listing for the My Imagination doll, I felt my heart change towards her and couldn't get her off my mind. I sat on the listing for a while, contemplating, imagining who she might turn out to be, until the seller sent me an offer for an even lower price. That did it. I went for it. And she arrived today.

Click through the cut to see the unboxing ceremony!

None of the dolls in this brand were given names. They are referred to as Brunette/Redhead/Blonde, in either Starter dolls (standard articulation at hips/elbows/head) and Deluxe dolls (bendable knees). The specific doll I got was the Starter Brunette.

She was brand new in the box, and it looks like she was probably never removed from her packaging. She was gently tied in with white satin ribbons rather than those awful plastic straps.

Time to free her from her box and take off her hairnet.

She's in perfect condition. She has a full vinyl body and is very heavy. The vinyl itself is dense and smooth with a matte finish, so much so that she almost looks like she's made of porcelain. Her skin has no shine to it at all. It's a bisque color with rosy undertones.

Her long curly brown wig is lovely but imperfect. It's rather dry on the ends.

Her glass eyes are gorgeous. They do not open and close. She has inset eyelashes.

But I think the side part isn't working for me, so how about we try a center part?

I think this gives her a younger look! Later I'll try to get her wig off and move it over so that she has a center part, but for now brushing it to the side works fine.

Looking at her undressed, I think she looks skinnier than American Girl dolls, but definitely not as slim as my Magic Attic Club dolls. Her head turns, and her arms and legs move outward as well as forward and backward.

Here she is side by side with one of my American Girl dolls, Eugenia. I think I'm right about their size comparison.

They had a fashion show to find out for sure just how similar they are! Eugenia can wear New Girl's dress just fine. It velcroes in the back and isn't too tight. New Girl is wearing an American Girl brand dress, and it fits almost perfectly--it's just a tiny bit big, and definitely not in a noticeable way.

Here's Eugenia wearing the cute sandals that came with New Girl. They're a pretty close fit.

And here she is next to (her cousin? half-sister?) Rose. To my eye, they very much look related.

Here she is in Maplelea brand clothes. I also did some brushing and reshaping of her curls.

I haven't decided yet what her name will be. I do know that she's a modern girl who loves to read, daydream, and play dress-up.

[lost-in-liquid-nights]

Roleplay Ad

Update: Due to not wanting to overwhelm myself. While also providing my current rp partners with quality and relatively consistent rp, my request for rp partners is currently closed! Still feel free to reach out if you like and I'll keep you in mind for if things open up.

Ah, hello Tumblr roleplayers, it has been a while! I am one of many who was left adrift after Omegle shut down and am on the search for rp partners.

I am looking for rp partners in a variety of fandoms, genres, ships, etc. I’ll have all of them listed in a hopefully organized manner below and will do my best to keep this list accurate. If you’re interested, feel free to shoot me a DM or interact with this post and I’ll reach out to you. But please do read through this post fully before doing so, thanks!

A Little About Myself:

-Age: 20+

-Pronouns: She/They

-Experience: I’ve been roleplaying off and on in a variety of fandoms and styles for around 10+ years

What I’m Looking For In A Roleplay Partner:

-Age: Roleplayers who are at least 20+ as well

-Style: I’m open to a variety of styles, I roleplay everything from one sentence “text message” style to multi-paragraph advanced lit. Though my preferences tend to lean towards lit/advanced lit.

-Location: I’d prefer someone who’s comfortable transitioning to Discord, once we agree on what we want to rp

-Expectations: One of the things I loved about Omegle were the casual vibes when it came to when an rp needed to end. So, while I hope for some long term rps, I’m looking for people who will be okay with rps ending when interest dissipates. Without the need for big explanations as to why. This goes both ways! I won’t expect such explanations from you either if we start any sort of storyline and you end up wanting to drop out. The way I see it, this is meant to be a fun pass time and ideally shouldn’t feel like a stressful obligation for either of us.

My Current Fandoms & Ships:

Films:

Fandom: Avengers (Films)

Ships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Clint Barton/Tony Stark, Bruce Banner/Tony Stark

Fandom: Captain America (Films)

Ships: Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers/Sam Wilson, Sam Wilson/Bucky Barnes

Fandom: Guardians of the Galaxy (Films)

Ships: Peter Quill/Rocket Racoon

Fandom: Venom (Films)

Ships: Eddie Brock/Venom

Fandom: X-Men (Films)

Ships: Charles Xavier/Erik Lehnsherr

Fandom: Star Wars (Films)

Ships: Luke Skywalker/Han Solo, Poe Dameron/Finn

Fandom: Pacific Rim

Ships: Hermann Gottlieb/Newton Geiszler

Fandom: Star Trek (Original Series, Original Films, and Modern Films)

Ships: James T. Kirk/Spock, James T. Kirk/Leonard McCoy

Fandom: It (Films, 2017) & It (Mini Series, 1990)

Ships: Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier, Mike Hanlon/Bill Denbrough

Fandom: Spiderman (Films & Comics)

Ships: Johnny Storm/Peter Parker, Harry Osborn/Peter Parker

Fandom: Nimona (Film & Comic)

Ships: Ambrosius Goldenloin/Ballister Blackheart

Series:

Fandom: Loki (Series)

Ships: Morbius/Loki

Fandom: Moon Knight (Mini-Series)

Ships: Marc/Steven, Marc/Jake, Steven/Jake

Fandom: Daredevil (Series)

Ships: Foggy Nelson/Matt Murdock

Fandom: Infinity Train (Series)

Ships: Min-Gi Park/Ryan Akagi

Fandom: Merlin (Series)

Ships: Merlin Emrys/Arthur Pendragon 

Fandom: Stranger Things (Series)

Ships: Eddie Munson/Steve Harrington, Mike Wheeler/Will Byers

Fandom: Supernatural (Series)

Ships: Dean Winchester/Castiel, Dean Winchester/Benny Lafitte, Sam Winchester/Gabriel

Fandom: Hannibal

Ships: Hannibal Lector/Will Graham

Fandom: The Witcher (Series & Games)

Ships: Jaskier/Geralt, Eskel/Lambert, Eskel/Aiden

Games:

Fandom: Phoenix: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Games)

Ships: Phoenix Wright/Miles Edgworth

Frandom: Disco Elysium (Game) 

Ships: Kim Kitsuragi/Harry Du Bois,  Jean Vicquemare/Harry Du Bois

Fandom: Modern Warfare (Games)

Ships: Simon Riley/Johnny “Soap” McTavish

Fandom: Detroit: Become Human (Game)

Ships: Connor/Hank Anderson, RK900/Gavin Reed

Fandom: Dragon Age

Ships: Anders/Hawke, Fenris/Hawke

Podcasts:

Fandom: The Magnus Archives (Podcast)

Ships: Jonathan Sims/Martin Blackwood, Jonathan Sims/Timothy Stoker, Martin Blackwood/Timothy Stoker, Gerard Keay/Michael Shelley

Fandom: Malevolent (Podcast)

Ships: John/Arthur Lester

[dg-outlaw]

'The Penguin - Episode 1: After Hours' Review/Thoughts

** Mild Spoilers Ahead **

So I'll start off by saying, I'm not a big fan of mobster/drug lord movies and shows. Same goes for the rich people/corporate shows like Succession or Billions. Basically, if the general premise is; these people are rich and/or powerful, come watch them betray, kill, and/or be assholes to other people and one another to achieve and maintain that wealth or power, and there's likely to be no justice had... then yeah, not for me. If anything, watching Netflix's The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) was more about catharsis than entertainment for me. IYKYK.

Obviously, I know there's more nuance than that when it comes to many of these shows and movies as there's also outstanding performances and interesting storylines, but something about them reminding me of the injustices and/or corporate greed of the real world just puts me off most of the time. If I'm going to watch media like that then I usually have to be in a certain mood for it or I'm hooked by the characters.

Early previews of The Penguin gave me the same mobster vibe as many crime shows. There will be no heroes, no Batman, and likely no real justice, but being in the Batman and Matt Reeves Bat-verse, I wanted to give it a shot.

Is The Penguin different from other mobster crime shows? Yes and no. No, in that it still has all the mobster show flavor and if it weren't in the Batman world, I'd maybe give it a pass, but because it is Batman and Gotham, then yes, there's enough interesting flavor here to keep me wanting to see what happens next.

If you're not aware, this series takes place soon after the events of Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022). Carmine Falcone is dead, Gotham is still recovering from the flood caused by The Riddler, though it seems the parts of Gotham mostly affected and still in disarray are the lower-income areas, and Batman is... probably napping? IDK, but it'll be interesting to see how Batman gets interwoven into this series or is generally not present.

Colin Farrell returns as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin... or as he's referenced in the series, Oz Cobb, and he's looking to make a name for himself.

Without getting into the details (as there are likely a million legit summary reviews of Episode 1 online now), Oz quickly sets things in motion that starts a series of dominoes falling that may or may not result in his downfall before he even begins his climb to the top of the crime world, and I guess this is where the show finds its intrigue. In my mind, it's very Breaking Bad in the sense that you keep watching just to see what happens next. Will our protagonist get caught and meet a horrible fate or will they actually get away with it and achieve their goals... and at what cost? And why am I rooting for the bad guy? But instead of just fumbling down into the depths of the crime world like Walter White, Oz wants this, he wants to be on top, but the question is, has he bitten off more than he can chew or will he finally take hold of the brass ring?

Ultimately, I think it's the Gotham world and characters that has me wanting to see more and to see how it all plays out. This is not to say that the performances aren't great or the characters aren't intriguing, and Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone is definitely scary, even if she's not comically accurate as a some giant mountain of a woman, but again, part of this is knowing the characters from comics and other media depictions. I don't need the full Penguin backstory or to know all about the Falcones and Maronis, the comics and other media have done that setup already, but it does help with investment IMO.

Also, I love the grime of this Gotham and also how it's contrasted with the wealth and cleanliness of other parts of Gotham, especially outside of downtown. The creators understood the assignment for this show and it definitely plays a part when it comes to motivations. This Gotham isn't one note and I'm glad that it doesn't look like some clean set that takes you out of the world and reminds you that you're watching a TV show, like so many streaming shows and movies do nowadays. Yes, there's violence and language and Farrell, once again, disappears into the role of Penguin, but there's also some humor in this show. The humor fits and doesn't feel forced, but it also allows the audience to breathe for a moment and enjoy the experience.

So, I think if you're a Batman fan, you know these characters a little bit, and you want to go into a show that is likely to not have Batman or any other heroes, I say, jump in and enjoy. But if you're not as familiar or are a casual fan, and you're not really into crime/mobster shows, then this might not be for you.

Also, new canon (I think?) that The Penguin is a fan of Dolly Parton or at least has a mix CD of 'Go out there and get it' songs, is so fun. I still HC that Parton's "9 to 5" is a Duke Thomas song he plays every morning before getting ready for patrol, but having that little extra character note for The Penguin was a nice touch and gave a new character, Victor, a little more insight into his new boss.

[russetfoxfur]

so i dont usually do liveblogs because i never show up to streams and also im not very good at reacting to stuff. However. i will make an exception because HGCZ IS OUT!! and i have seen so much hype about it that id be a fool to not at least read it. livereact will be under the cut for spoilers and. stuff.

- ok we arent even on the actual ZINE and the opening dedication?? "Of the arts, storytelling is one of the oldest: humanity weaves an endless tapestry of heart, hope, and home that continues to shape us all to this day. To tell a story is to bridge the gap between yesterday and tomorrow; to tell a story is to inextricably connect us all." THAT OPENING PARAGRAPH DUDE

- interesting premise. im intrigued. though i am a little concerned about the "classist violence" and "body modification" warnings. I suspect this is not all Fun and Games

- "I gotta say, "Hot"Guy, this is pretty disappointing. You can be AverageGuy. MediocreGuy." "Oh! "Guy"!" the best part is this is so in-character for them to do

- the ENTIRE EXPLANATION bit omg. joel trying to interject and comic-style getting talked over, lizzie robbing cats instead of cash... and her backstory...

- i. that sudden style shift is not in fact comical and i am now eyeing the unreality warning at the beginning of the zine with sudden alarm. should i be alarmed by this? maybe this is fine. lets say its fine

- JELLIE! hcing her supername is HotCat. she DEFINITELY needs a matching HotGuy costume. and i am somewhat more reassured!

- wait hold on. went back to that first hotguy comic to see the warnings (hidden in the title, missed them) and. WAIT WAS THAT REWRITING FUCKIN MIND CONTROL

- UNREALITY MINDCONTROL SCOPOPHOBIA AND INJURY??? WAIT HOLD ON IM REREADING THIS

- wait. WAIT THAT PANEL. THAT ONE WHERE JOEL SEES HOTGUY REWROTE THE ANIMAL CONTROL VAN TO BE A MONEY VAN. WAIT A FUCKING SECOND WE ARENT EVEN TEN PAGES INTO THE ZINE AND HOLY SHIT

- joels the only one who can SEE HES DOING THIS SO HOTGUY WRITES HIM OUT. JESUS FUCKIN CHRIST. HOTGUY??? UFHODQPHFWJPFAP AND THEN HE "GOES BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD" AND FUCKIN REWRITES REALITY TO MAKE HIMSELF SEEM COOLER. BUT REWRITTEN HOTGUY HAS THE SAME PLASTIC EXPRESSION. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST THIS IS ONLY ONE COMIC I THINK YOURE LYING ABOUT HIS SUPERPOWER MUTATION WHATEVER

- ALRIGHT SWIFTLY ON. WE WILL EYE HOTGUY WITH CONCERN BUT MOVE ON NONETHELESS

- :0 cuteguy appears! doody did rlly good work on this one!

- CUTEGUY IS AWESOME!!! those WINGS... agh i love comic bubbles they just have so much personality and those icy words... and cuteguy pointing HOTGUYS OWN ARROW back at him..... you could not have made a better introduction holy shit

- and then he just flies off. awesome. we should all aspire to be the same level of cool as cuteguy.

- ren would be able to just say hotguy like that. also sidenote i am hearing all these lines in my head as im reading so writers youve all done fantastically!

- UNIONIZE! UNIONIZE! UNIONIZE!

- is pearl... a journalist? or is this the wrong gal? if she is a journalist then good for her!

- oh :( everyone hates unionizing the vigelantes. sad but realistic :(

- MUMBLR?? DID MUMBO K JUMBO BECOME THE OWNER OF TUMBLR IN THIS AU? DID HE KILL MATT PHOTOSPACE WHOEVER THE CEO OF TUMBLR IS? DID THEY FISTFIGHT TO THE DEATH? THAT HAPPENED RIGHT. THATS THE ONLY THING ILL ACCEPT AS CANON. IN THIS AU MUMBLR IS TRANS-FRIENDLY! 🎉

- sweetferaline (bahm bahm bahhh)

- ok this is incredibly funny. teeth dog ftw

- CHATTER AND M JESUS CHRIST THIS IS NOW THE BEST SEGMENT IN THE ENTIRE ZINE. AMAZING COMEBACK THIS IS SO REALISTIC

- and the reply sections are always a cesspool! glad they got that right

- PIXLRIFFS RUNNING A BLOG ON TUMBLR TO EXPLAIN HERMITOPIA. THIS IS SO IN CHARACTER

- THE MAPLE PRINCE. THE MAPLE PRINCE

- THIS ENTIRE MUMBLR DASH WAS PURE COMEDY GOLD. FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS & HATS OFF TO THE WRITER

- ARIANA GRIANDE!!!! WOOOOO <3 <3 WE LOVE YOU GRIANDE!!!!!

- and now permit office grian! we are going through so many different iterations of grian... imagine we get poultry man next

- is that GEM??? IS GEM A VILLAIN? also i dont really know who the hippies are... idk its just hard for me to recognize this artstyle ig

- WAIT. HAS GEM BEEN SPYING ON GRIAN'S DETECTIVITY? or am i just reading this all wrong? i might be reading this all wrong

- alright i might have to reread that one-- WAIT MORE MIND CONTROL. AND BODY MODIFICATION??? THE MISSING CUB... guys if this is sculk!cub im gonna maul someone

- AAAA BEHIND YOU HOTGUY (i called it)

- also love how i instantly went "oh a tibbycaps comic!"

- ok i LOVE this panel where they figure out Arson. the way both conclusions are reached in tandem! and also YAY WOOO ARSON THIS BITCH UP 🔥

- OH MY GOD THIS IS HILARIOUS I LOVE HOW THE abrupt cut to disaster WAS DONE IN COMIC FORM

- THAT MERCH DESIGN IN THE NOTES APP ABSOLUTELY FUCKING SENT ME DUDE

- "i use sculk to season my pizza" ah. I see. typical cubfan behavior. carry on

- "None of us are perfect, despite what you say might feel when you look at me" this Bdubs email is SO IN-CHARACTER

- " i replied to some of these but then i kinda got bored and started sending links to cool space facts instead" honestly this is what i would do too. and i would be happy to get cool space facts in return for my hotguy email. i dont see what the issue is here

- oh is cuteguy taking issues with the supernovae. skill issue tbh

- this whole cuteguy-cub email chain is HILARIOUS. scratch that this whole email segment is hilarious jesus christ. grian is being SO BITCHY and im HERE FOR IT

- PEARLIPOP IS A REPORTER! YES! and zedaphs in this au! he isnt even going under wormman??? shocking (< says a zedaph fangirl who is completely fixated on one passing mention of him)

- oh my god this is the best storytelling format ever. the panicked exchanges between cuteguy n cub, pearl reporting as she is wont to do... genuinely i love this so much i am giggling so much im actually gonna stop liveblogging because i just want to read this. ill be with yall in a moment

- actually never mind "if he waits too long to answer it starts to play the whole Lilo and Stitch movie audio" cub i love you so much. hgcz i love you so much i almost forgive you for that very jarring first comic

- it looks like we have seven or so more years before hotguy becomes a reality... new reasons to live. also the chatter discourse is insane from what ive seen doc does just act Like That on twit/chatter

- "sumagram" well i guess we know who owns that now

- :000 HOTCAT APPEARS!!!!! WE LOVE YOU HOTCAT <3333333 EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR OUR BELOVED HOTCAT!!!

- THE AWKWARD EXIT. i love it

- I SEE THAT BIG SALMON DONT THINK I DONT

- SHIRTLESS SCAR.... im aroace but like. i can still admire a shirtless man cant i. artist did a good job

- NO YOU DID NOT PUT A LILACS AND POPPIES REFERENCE IN THIS COMIC I AM GNAWING THE ARTIST OF THIS COMIC WITH MY TEETH YOU ARE MAKING ME INSANE DEAR GOD THEY TEAMED UP BUT HOW IS THIS GOING TO END AAAAAA HOTGUY DONT DIE IN THE CACTUS RING PLEASE BUDDY

- CREEPER AW MAN

- horsegirl hotguy... wild stallion cuteguy... someone needs to write this au. i should write this au. actually hold on *scribbles furiously in my "crackfic ideas" notes* carry on

- update: now listening to scheming weasel for atmosphere.

- “Who’s the more foolish: the fool, or the fools who follow him?” stellar line. only a certified HotGuy can produce lines like these

- "after a tick or two" if hermitopians measure time in ticks like minecrafters do then thats such a cool worldbuilding detail

- FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO BURN DOC AND HIS LACKEYS ALIVE. THANK GODS THEY DIDNT

- testing of new weapons montage! i know hotguy is the star of the show here but god i love cub so much more. can cub be the "protagonist" here instead actually

- i. i have suspicions that cub is not sculk-free. or is this a flutterbat situation where it is all dealt with but its not but actually it is but it also kinda isnt? yknow. im gonna write this off as a flutterbat thing but i will still be keeping a very close eye on cub

- *snort* deep enough to hold twelve pieces of bamboo (i am such a sucker for in-jokes)

- grian is warming up to scar... also hotguy bandaids

- AND I GET THAT REFERENCE TOO!! very clever! grian shut up its two in the morning! "Scar doesn’t seem to know how to react, his mouth falling open and then promptly shutting again." same grian why would you bring up the nose hair incident and to an unsuspecting hotguy no less smh learn sone manners

- you know what if grian can learn first aid from the nose hair incident in alaska then scar can get injured in a volleyball incident (i have never watched scar which yes is a skill issue but also if this is also a reference i would not get it). beloved desertduo who cannot lie to save their fuckin lives

- THAT ENDING COMIC IS HILARIOUS. SUCH A SCAR THING TO DO

- alright im gonna take a break from liveblogging rn! i will be back in (my) morning with scheming weasel and a renewed spirit. goodnight yall! <3

[violet-coyote]

My thoughts on Edward because idk I’ve got that type of autism ._.

Watching him the first time was actually so amazing. He reminds me of a slasher because how scary and foreboding he is in a lot of those scenes. And don’t even get me STARTED on the lighting! That scene in Arkham where only one eye is illuminated, the way the clear glasses reflect light- it’s all completely amazing. I also really love the home brew look and aspects. It makes him feel so much more real which in turn makes him scarier! And lemme be real for a sec… I kinda… maaaaaayybe agreed with him a little bit. Only a little cause he killed a bunch of civilians (obviously). He really does bring up a relevant, very real issue with a crazy amount of important officials. Also- he basically wins! The Batman didn’t figure things out in time and the plan completely went off. The shooting was a little iffy, but even then his plan WORKED. My dad jokes about this Batman being a terrible detective which I think I may agree with, though that just gives him more space to grow as a character. Maybe Edward didn’t get recognized in the end, but he did essentially win that movie which is such a fresh take for Batman and I love Matt Reeves.

Paul Dano is also just a really amazing actor and I am SO glad he was cast and is now getting bigger roles cause he totally deserves it. And I don’t know how to describe it, but I can’t imagine Edward with anyone else’s face, y’know? It’s like round and unassuming and like soft. But then he’s the main, crazy antagonist. That reveal of him being this weird little guy was actually hilarious and a bit chilling at the same time. Paul also just really deeply understands the characters he plays which is shown in his writing for the comics.

Now, the COMICS! I know people hate on it and I know it’s partially deserved, but Steven Subick was a really good pick for the artist. The muted tones, messy panels- It’s grimy and messy and perfect for the ~vibes~ I imagine Edward has. It’s also really good at reflecting the sort of rot and disease in his mind. Absolutely amazing- though I think Dave Mckean would’ve been even better.

The story and mind that Paul Dano shows is so interesting. It shows his complex motivations and how he got to the point where he’d literally flood an entire city. The issue about his childhood is chilling and sympathetic. I love a sympathetic villain. It also really sets up a lot of themes for his character like drowning the rat and his love of chemistry and puzzles. The 5th issue was a fantastic stylistic choice with so many interesting details and elements. It also has some really funny (if not dark) moments. In that 6th issue, he is SO BADASS WTF? He gets a guy chomped in half by a fucking saltwater crocodile (which it’s so big that must be the species)! Then he fucks with his own boss so hard he hangs himself like OMG?? And he saves that lady! That might be one of the most pivotal moments just because it shows that he does have good in him. And yeah some of those final panels are goofy as hell, but cope ig. I really loved the comic and looked forward to it each month once I discovered it.

Also, although it’s never outright stated, it’s very VERY clearly implied that he’s autistic. He starts talking later, is very smart otherwise, has trouble with social skills, and literally gets called “Rain man” by his coworker. I feel like making the Riddler allistic would be completely stupid. At his base, hes a guy who likes riddles and puzzles (usually to an obsessive degree), and feels the need to prove his intelligence to those around him. That screams neurodivergency! Like bro I get it fr.

I also like the short novel, even though it is simple and made for a younger audience. It’s interesting to see a teenage Edward Nashton (Edweird 😭) delivering food on his ratty old bike. It also mentions that he’s pretty bad in school which I would definitely not have guessed considering his whole thing is being super fuckin smart. And I absolutely LOVE how he burns down the orphanage. It’s a huge character moment and tbh just makes me very happy cause it shows us one of his first crimes which is fun.

For Batman ll, I’m really interested to see where that takes his character. Paul Dano already said he would reprise the role for it so he will be in there- even if only for a short while. They clearly set something up between him and the Joker. Now I’m very curious how that will turn out. On one hand, I can see him being manipulated by the Joker for his own selfish gain and ending up as another rat in the gutter. But that writing also wouldn’t really makes sense for the character. The Riddler’s point in the rogues gallery is to reflect his intelligence. He’s often shown as being even smarter! The only thing that gets him is the obsession with leaving little puzzles and games that inevitably lead to his arrest. Obviously though, Reeves has his own spin on basically everything so this might not be the case with this iteration. Basically, I don’t know where Matt Reeves is gonna take this character. I HOPE and PRAY that with Paul Dano beside him they will do him justice, but only time will tell. I’ll probably be off the grid by the time the movie comes out but I’ll make sure to pop by a theatre just for that lol.

TL;DR- I love my blorbo

-small rant regarding the fandom-

I hate hate HATE how people make him a twink! NO! Have you seen Paul Dano? That man has the DEFINITION of a dad bod. Obviously they can be different, but they literally almost share a BIRTHDAY. That man is NOT A TWINK. He’s not skinny. He is a weird, stinky accountant that sits in his house most of the time. And if you like the character, why would you want to change that? If you change that part of him, he’s a COMPLETELY different character. You can’t make him a twink without destroying his characterization in the process.

Also, I’m a riddlebat hater

-rant over-

[fieldsofview]

Talk Shop Tuesday: I can see that you're a big Spider-Man fan (and same!! I write for Spidey too!), so which version of Spider-Man do you enjoy writing the most? Which universe do you enjoy writing the most? Is there a particular character you find especially challenging to write, and why?

How do you navigate writing different versions of Spider-Man that interact, like with Spiderverse or No Way Home - how do you make sure each version of the character is distinct?

AHHHH hello hello thank you for the TST ask!!

Personally I like being able to pick a part pieces from the different canons and smush them together into something both familiar and novel. Writing SMH has been such an exercise in sticking to MCU canon while also pulling in all sorts of people and references from other adaptations in a way that feels consistent. My main side WIP is technically MCU based (because it's primarily Parkner) while also referencing Matt Murdock and Kate Bishop and others from the comics that haven't had much/any interaction with MCU Peter. I just like smashing around these characters I love and picking apart what makes them *them*

Personally I both love and struggle with writing MJ. I think because the different adaptations have really written her differently, and I want to find the thread that makes her tick across the extended canon, I feel like I struggle with it but it's a challenge. I feel like so many fica shove her to the sidelines because she's not "the perfect love interest" but I love her stubbornness and her wit and her strong sense of self. And I also love when she's her own person and has her own story outside of Peter because she's fascinating and doesn't need to revolve around him to be a great character with a story of her own.

I haven't written anything where multiple Peter's interact, but SMH references No Way Home so much because that's the linchpin for SMH as a story, and Peter regularly compares himself to what he knows of the other Peter's and what makes him different. He also has a complex relationship with my version of Miles in SMH, coming into his own as a hero as well, and the similarities and differences are so fun to play with and highlight as their relationship grows. Again, I think it's fascinating to piece apart what makes a character THEM across different stories. It's what makes fic writing so fun in the first place tbh.

[twilight-deviant]

As a Fiskmatt fan, I like to see Fisk and Matt falling in love, but it seems difficult and illogical to make Matt to love a villain. Have you ever had the same problem?

Oh my god, auuuuugh! Yes! lol.

At times, the FiskMatt relationship does feel impossible given Matt's sanctimony. Some heroes are more morally gray, but Daredevil leans pretty clean. He has horrible anger issues and he'll bend the rules fairly often, but his one constant is "No killing." Which is obviously something Fisk does a lot. A lot, a lot.

So it can be difficult to reckon with the idea he would ever be in a relationship with Fisk— and that it could last if they ever were.

But not... impossible...

[Concessions for Love?]

One ace-in-the-hole I'm always happy to have is Matt's canon relationship with Elektra. She's a morally complex murderer, and Matt loves her anyway. Though he does often grapple with this choice.

[Daredevil #610]

But he returns to her every time. Again and again and again and again and again.

[Defenders 1x08]

[Keep Reading]

Even if certain concessions have to be made.........

[Wastelanders: Hawkeye #1]

People can prefer Matt with other women from the series/comics (more than fair), but everybody knows his soulmate. ¯\_(╹◡╹)_/¯ Matthew Michael Murdock will (figuratively) stare a healthy relationship in the face, then about turn and get back together with Elektra. Again.

[Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (1993) #3]

"I don't know what we are together, and if we have any chance in the future… I don't… But I… I do know that I'm free with you. Like with no one else."

I take this quote from Matt to Elektra in the DD S2 finale and very simply, very easily lay it over FiskMatt. Truly no effort at all.

[Daredevil 2x13]

I absolutely use Matt's decisions in his relationship with Elektra to justify a lot of my FiskMatt shipping. Because he doesn't agree with all of who she is. He even hates significant parts of it. But he loves her, and he'll always love her.

So when I think about FiskMatt, I already have this bedrock foundation of, "Yes, Matt feels very strongly about his convictions and morals. He will also set them aside and be a hypocrite when he cares about someone." At the very least, I believe he'd choose denial over confrontation. In that, if he were in a relationship with Fisk, they could constantly fight about what the man does, or they could choose to not discuss that part of their lives.

I've gone that route in fics many times. And yes, it is absolutely an unsustainable powder keg. But for me, that is part of the appeal of FiskMatt: a volatile combination brought together out of mutual affection that wants the relationship to last as long as possible while knowing that isn't forever. I get so excited at the visual image of them digging their heels into the earth while being pulled to the inevitable, wanting to be together and fighting all the reasons they can't be.

Granted, I have a strong love affair with bittersweet.

⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗

[Fisk Quits]

But then sometimes, I'll write FiskMatt where Matt cannot accept Fisk's criminal lifestyle. He gives an ultimatum that Fisk can have Matt or his empire, but not both. The idea that Fisk would give it all up for love sounds like a lot, but I can think of two instances where he has. (More if you want to get technical.)

[The Amazing Spider-Man #197]

[What if...? #73]

Fisk is a cutthroat villain, but never forget that his center is so gooey soft for those he loves. Apparently, even a relationship with Matt can get him to walk away from crime (granted, the above situation is more of a familial affection).

I think if you cultivated a reality where Fisk really comes to care for Matt, he could be coerced into giving up crime for him. Which would remove a great burden from Matt's ability to love him in return.

Although... with such a direction, you still have a reckoning with Matt accepting what Fisk has done in the past, even if he won't offend again. Wouldn't that be interesting if Fisk gave up crime for him, only for Matt to realize it still isn't enough? He thought he could start with a blank slate, but he can't let go of the past. Or... you lean into, "Well, Matt is Catholic, and a big selling point is that someone's sins can be forgiven, no matter how heinous." Could go either way.

I do like to think Matt could forgive Fisk's past evil though. *gestures at beloved comic page*

[Daredevil #300]

But it is interesting to imagine Fisk giving up crime, Matt realizing it doesn't fix the past, still breaks up with him, and Fisk gets angry. Now he has no empire or love. 🍿👀

⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗

[Compromise]

I also like the allure of a middle-ground. Fisk still commits crime. Matt acknowledge he commits crime. But there are conditions.

And this comes from canon (series and comic) acknowledging that if you remove Fisk from the underworld, the ensuing power vacuum is so much worse and more violent than if you just left him. So you write Matt putting on his big boy pants and admitting Fisk has to be the Kingpin. The notion that there could ever be a crime-free, utopian city is a pipe dream. There's going to be evil. Let the best case scenario control it. Fisk is better and smarter than anyone else in his position. He takes over and keeps down gang wars, etc.

But if Matt were to admit that Fisk in power is the lesser evil, his conscience can't let the actions of it be a blank check. There are conditions. No one innocent gets hurt in the crossfire, so on. People who willingly entered the life knowing the risks? Fair game. That way, Fisk can still control crime with more than empty threats. Granted, I consider even this to be its own powder keg. Matt thinks he can accept evil men dying. The question is how well he actually does whenever that's tested. Maybe if Fisk works hard to keep it from him.

I suppose that goes back to them stubbornly wanting to be together and ignoring why they shouldn't be. In a situation like this though, Matt might appreciate that he controls the man who controls crime. I like in Jessica Jones S1 when Killgrave suggests Jessica stay with him and tell him everything he should do to be good. Delicious. Though I imagine it would weigh heavily on Matt's mind.

⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗⫗

I guess what I'm saying is there are multiple ways Matt could handle Fisk's villainy, and how you approach it depends on personal preference or situational requirement. The answer in one scenario won't work in another. IE: if I write a fic where Fisk has all the power, Matt can't bargain with or leave him. He has to concede.

I think I've written several different options using the above or a combination. It just depends what I want from them at any given time.

But genuinely, Matt loving Elektra despite her darker nature remains one of my greatest justifications for FiskMatt. It really shines a spotlight on the fact that Matt's choices are different than we would otherwise predict. My guy can ignore so much if he wants to.

[mua-mattzip]

Hollywood superhero Charlie Cox makes dreams come true for six-year-old Rex

>ORIGINAL LINK(x)<

Date: 15 November 2022 Author: Guide Dogs' Communications Team

Six-year-old Rex Davies, who lives with a vision impairment, was given an incredible surprise on Thursday 10 November, as he was presented with the Inspirational Young Person of the Year award by his favourite superhero Charlie Cox at Guide Dogs' Annual People Awards.

The Daredevil actor, who has also appeared as the character in the Spiderman and She-Hulk franchises, had initially been asked to record a congratulatory video message for young Rex. However, when Charlie heard about Rex’s inspirational fundraising for Guide Dogs, he kindly offered to not only record a video message, but to present the award and host the event. Charlie recorded a message anyway, congratulating Rex on his nomination and saying he hoped he’d meet him one day. Little did Rex realise he was going to meet his hero the very next day!

In his role as Daredevil, Charlie Cox pays the role of blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who fights crime by night in the popular series now on Disney Plus. The series challenged perceptions of sight loss and Cox deservedly received a Helen Keller Achievement Award for his portrayal of the Marvel comic-book character.

Rex, from Darlington, has an eye condition called optic atrophy, as well as nystagmus, and attended the ceremony in Reading with his mum and dad, Lorna and John and Lorna’s guide dog Yarren. Both Lorna and Rex have the same vision impairment and seeing how much having a guide dog has helped his mum, Rex was inspired to fundraise for the charity.

In doing so, and at just five-years-old, Rex challenged himself to do a 3km muddy obstacle course and raised more than £1000 to help others living with a vision impairment throughout the UK.

“Rex had taken a big interest in Charlie Cox, as he absolutely loves Daredevil. When Rex begins to start using a white cane, he wants one that looks the same as the one Charlie’s character Matt Murdock uses. It is so nice for Rex to have a cool superhero like that to look up to and to meet him was such a surprise. By coming along, Charlie has definitely created a memory that will last a lifetime for Rex.”

- Lorna, Rex's mum

Rex received multiple nominations for his fundraising efforts, having inspired so many people by not just raising funds, but also awareness of Guide Dogs UK and the services provided for people with sight loss across the country. His story also inspired Charlie Cox, who was thrilled to be able to present him with the award.

I was honoured to present Rex with his Inspirational Young Person of the Year award at Guide Dogs’ award ceremony on Thursday. I heard Rex’s story, all that he has achieved at such a young age, and it was a real privilege to be invited to play a part in making the day special for him and his family. The passion, enthusiasm and commitment Rex has shown to helping others makes him as much of a superhero as Daredevil. Congratulations to Rex and all who have supported him in raising funds and awareness for such a worthwhile cause.

- Charlie Cox

[roipecheur]

So what do you like about MattElektra?

I'm love them. First off:

Battle couple

Power couple

Fight their way to fucking (hot)

They work really well together and play to each other's strengths. In Netflix DD, Elektra had been gone for ten years, yet they fell back into step immediately.

She just rolls up like "hey threaten this guy and infiltrate this gala with me" and then they pull it off like clockwork

Comparing this to the last and current run:

Threatening some dude

Eheheheheh

Matt telling Elektra he doesn't trust her -- she just bought Hell's Kitchen to keep it safe, so I honestly don't think he's being fair towards her, but Matt's being kind of a dick to everyone at this point. In Netflix DD, she'd just shown up again after 10 years and the last thing she'd done was kill a guy in front of Matt and then dip, so not trusting her was kinda fair in that universe. This seemed like it was going for a similar beat but without the same history to make it make sense.

And Elektra proving he can trust her by becoming Daredevil and taking care of Hell's Kitchen while Matt is self-flagellating in prison (not to mention buying the whole neighborhood to keep it safe)

Eheheheheh part 2

And of course in the current run, they're leading the Fist together, which means they have to get ✨married✨

They're obviously drawn to and still have feelings for each other, even when Matt wants to pretend otherwise

I also like Elektra for Matt because out of his (many) canon love interests because when Matt gets back on his "I should live in a cave and have no friends" bullshit, she's one of the few motherfuckers in this city who can handle him. Matt's track record with love interests is pretty bad--if they don't storm out telling him to fuck himself, they tend to die, go insane, or in the case of Kirsten, get unceremoniously dumped after she unwillingly had the knowledge that Matt = Daredevil wiped from her mind. (And Matt could have just told her, but . . . decided not to. Yikes.) Elektra did get murdered by Bullseye (or by the Hand in Netflix DD), but she came back, and she was also subject to the psychic prism that made everyone forget that Matt = Daredevil, but dying made her remember. So, in a way, she's already made it past two big curses of dating Matt Murdock.

Imo, Matt needs someone who can fight and keep up with him as Daredevil. His only other love interests who can do that are (unless I'm missing something in his 60 years of comics, which is possible) Maya (Echo) and Natasha (Black Widow). But--I don't think either one of them could keep up with his emotional baggage like Elektra. In the 1998 run, Natasha knows that she can't talk sense into Matt and make him be Daredevil again, so she calls Elektra to do it . . . and it works.

This whole exchange is just incredible. Pretty much all Elektra does is stand there and Matt can't shut up lmao

She gets him on a level that I don't think anyone else does. Some of it's because they knew each other when they were so young, and Matt showed her parts of himself without reservation that he later learned to hide. Elektra was also the first person besides Stick that he told about his abilities--she might have known that going in (the case in Netflix DD, kinda retconned in 616 to match now), but she was still the first person Matt chose to reveal that to. Their college days in Elektra's initial introduction back in the '80s happened in a flashback, so they didn't get back together in present canon until the 2019 run, but Matt has gone to Elektra when he needed someone to ground him.

This is from the 2011 run when Matt's secret identity has basically been outed to the public and he's skating on a thin veneer of plausible deniability that's now cracking beneath him. He calls Elektra to help him figure it out, and what she said there gives him the idea for what he does next.

I also like this part at the end of the 2016 run. This is all in Matt's head because he's in a coma after getting hit by a truck, so while it's not actually happening, it does show how he feels about his relationship with Elektra. On his deathbed, he's lamenting her decision to be an assassin and kill people and imagining both being with her again and saying goodbye to her before he dies.

And then, at the very end of the 2016 run, when Matt realizes none of this is happening and that's he's dying, we get this:

At this point, Karen's been dead for awhile in 616, and I think Matt romanticized and idealized her to an extent after her death. Here, she's a perfect representation of grace and forgiveness. Elektra, meanwhile, even as a dream in Matt's head, makes him confront the messy realities of both her and himself. Karen might often be what Matt wants, but he knows he can depend on Elektra for what he needs.

(This is not to discount the important of Matt and Karen's romantic relationship in 616, which I admittedly have not read much of but I know is a much bigger deal than it was in the Netflix DD show. These are just the two of Matt's many, many past girlfriends that he thinks about / hallucinates while he's dying, so the difference between them is interesting.)

As for Elektra, Matt's the first person in her life that sees her as something other than a weapon. She was supposed to recruit him for the Chaste in Netflix DD or the Hand in 616 (going off the Woman Without Fear) series, but she fell in love with him instead. After she finds out she's the Black Sky in Netflix DD, Matt tells her that she's the only one who gets to decide who and what she is.

In the Defenders series, she seeks Matt (or in this case Matt's bed) out for comfort when she doesn't even remember who she is.

And of course they 'die' together at the end of that show (except Matt survives and I think Elektra must survive too, but we never see her again and I hope D+ fixes that :__;)

In 616, she works for the Kingpin as an assassin and is supposed to kill Foggy, but she spares him, likely because she knows he's Matt's friend.

[havendance]

It's time again for another Library Trade Roundup! In which I talk about all the books I checked of the library on my last time around.

Wolverine: Black, White, and Blood -- I'm a sucker for a good black&white or black,white&color anthology and this one was printed in oversize form so it was like 1 1/3 or 1.5 times larger than a standard comic book. This was just a very enjoyable read. It had some great artists working on it and the oversized art was a treat to see. The black, white, and blood concept meant that the use of red was really effective throughout (with a special shout out to Declan Shalvey's story in the first issue and the single red lettered 'blood'). I am also not immune to the appeal of watching Wolverine commit bloody slaughter. I'll have to see if I can find some of the other white black and blood anthologies at my library.

Dawn of X vol. 2 -- After reading X-Men: Red, I've started dipping my toe into modern X comics at the beginning of the krakoa era. I'd read House of X/Powers of X and Dawn of X vol. 1 digitally but I picked this one up physically when I saw it. The Dawn of X volumes each collect one issue from each of the X-books so this one was 5 issue #2s which has been giving a different feel to the reading experience so far. I do like not having to worry about figuring out which X books go where. I think Marauders is my favorite series so far of the 2 issues I've read of each. Fallen Angels is yet to really click for me. And across all books, my continued reaction is 'watching X-Men evolution as a kid did not sufficiently prepare me for the presumably decades of X drama being referenced.'

Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja Omnibus -- All of my Omnibuses are these big honking things, so at 24 collected issues this has got to be the shortest one I've read. Anyway, I see why people like this run so much. The visual storytelling of these comics was very strong. Storywise, I'm not sure if I've got much else to say other than it was good, but it's probably not going to stick with me. I think it's much more likely that the visuals do. The Kate Bishop subplot confirmed for me that Kelly Thompson was a strong fit for her solo series and also that I'm less invested it. It might've been because the Kate Bishop issues were also the ones that tended to get guest artist fills, but I found myself putting down the book more often during them.

Paper Girls -- This was a wild ride. I'm not sure what I was expecting coming into this, but it wasn't what it turned out to be. I'm curious to see where it's going. I really liked Chiang's art in this and the cypher was very fun to sit down and puzzle out.

She-Hulk: Breaking the Fourth Wall -- This was just a fun read. For the most part, the comics this collected weren't trying to take themselves seriously and it made for a very enjoyable read. I also enjoyed all the fourth wall break gags. This is the first thing I've read of She-Hulk so I don't know if this is typical for her, but it made me interested to check out more.

The Autumnlands vol. 1: Tooth and Claw -- I picked this up because it had a pretty cover and it had colors by Jordie Bellaire, but I was a little surprised at how much I enjoyed it! Bellaire's colors were gorgeous as always--I love how she colored the magic, but the plot also has so many elements that I enjoy. We've got the nations of magical animal creatures, and they're trying to solve the problem of why magic is disappearing and they do it by trying to summon the ancient hero of legend--who turns out to be a soldier from a technologically advanced time. It's not the most unique premise, but it's one that I enjoy and it's very well executed. The art's pretty and the solider guy is doing chemistry stuff with bat guano to make/harness explosives to blow up a bridge. What more do you need? This is hitting all of the notes that sucked me into reading David Webber books in high school. This story definitely has the potential to be a spanning epic, but it looks like there are only fourteen issues. Alas, I'll have to see how the story gets wrapped up if I can find the next volume at the library.

[cassi-llusion]

Pure rambling, sorry if this doesn't make sense I wrote it at like 2 in the morning. But silly little Anakin character analysis (used lightly)

I've decided I am the only person allowed to talk about Anakin(/j). People either only make him a poor suffering soul who didn't know what he was doing, or a man who was truly born evil. Technically neither is wrong but they aren't mutually exclusive. You can't have one without the other. 

I think to fully understand this, we would have to focus on the relationship between the Jedi, the Republic, and Palpatine. The Jedi, over the course of the Clone Wars, became pawns in the Rebpulic’s game. They lost so much of their own freedom, trying to fight for others. They also had to deal with Palpatine constantly interfering with Jedi affairs and vetoing their wanted means of tackling the war. They became so involved with this, they were oblivious to just how serious Anakin and Palpatine’s friendship had become. 

With the Jedi aside, Palpatine began to capitalise on Anakin’s fears and wants. Anakin wanted nothing more than for his mother to be free, and for himself to be free. That could happen if he turned to the dark side. Anakin didn’t want to lose more people he loved, he wanted to be fast enough, he needed to be enough. He can bend the forces of life and death with the dark side. There Palpatine was, whispering in Anakin’s ear, fueling his furnace heart, and pushing more fear into the dragon that had scared Anakin for so long. 

If Anyone was to blame for Anakin’s failure, for his fall to the dark side, it would be Palpatine. So many people blame the Jedi, blame Obi-Wan, blame Ahsoka for leaving, but that’s missing the point. In Matt Stover's “Revenge of the Sith” novelization, Palpatine speaks “You are the chosen one.” Palpatine leans toward you, eyes clear. Steady. Utterly honest. “Chose by me.” This is insanely important because it shows how Palpatine had been manipulating Anakin, grooming him since he was a child. In the comic series “Obi-Wan & Anakin”, we the reader, see Palpatine oversee Anakin’s training as he takes an interest in him.  People talk a lot about how if "Ahsoka didn't leave Anakin wouldn't have fallen",  "if Padme was more open", "If Obi-Wan was more understanding", and "if the Jedi were good people". But the person who coaxed him over to the dark side was Palpatine. 

Then we have the topic of Padme, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan. Why didn’t they do anything? First off, I stand by the fact that Ahsoka not leaving the order wouldn’t have fixed anything. Anakin and Ahsoka’s conversation before she ended up leaving, was more so him talking to himself. Anakin had contemplated leaving the order since he was twelve. In the comic “Obi-Wan & Anakin”, they travel to a planet that has been destroyed by war. Within the first issue, Anakin expresses disdain over the fact that neither the Jedi nor the Republic stepped in to help and left the planet to participate in endless war. Anakin mentions leaving the order, and Obi-Wan vocalizes how he would support it. 

However, I think Anakin realized, leaving the order would mean returning to life as a slave on Tatooine. His overall goal was to return home and be able to free his mother, but we will touch on that later. Anyways, that being said, I think Ahsoka leaving only added to his abandonment issues, as he viewed her leaving the order as her leaving him.  This plays into so many of the interactions he had with other characters. 

With Padme, it’s a whole other topic. Was their relationship actually a healthy one? I think most people would be inclined to say yes, they are! They love each other and that’s true but also you have to look at them outside of their love. They didn’t necessarily understand each other. Padme in the later seasons of “The Clone Wars” was becoming more aligned with the separatist ideology. She began to see the flaws and corruption that ran deep into the Republic that Anakin couldn’t see. But they were so obsessed with each other that they chose to ignore these differences. I think one of the main examples of this was probably in “Attack of the Clones”.  Padme rather than being concerned over Anakin’s outburst with the Tuskens supported him and “understood” why he did it. She loved him too much to let this get to her. It was why she was fully ready to give up her position as a senator just to be happy with him. In the “Revenge of the Sith” novelization, Matthew Stover writes about their relationship in a different light. It reads much more uncomfortably than it does in the movies. He writes “Anakin couldn’t breath. She wasn’t here, hadn’t come to meet him, over some debate? The Senate. He hated the Senate.”(156-157). Padme is written the same way, on page 161, “For Padme Amidala, saying I am Anakin Skywalker’s wife is saying neither more nor less than I am alive.”. I think this is extremely important in showing the fact that they loved each other so much, that they were each other's downfall. This happens again on Mustafar when they meet their tragic end. Padme was saving him by not joining him, and Anakin was saving her by joining the dark side. 

We move on to Obi-Wan and Anakin now. They are two sides of the same coin, they were brothers and Anakin’s most notable betrayal. One of the most notable things about their relationship is two passages from the “Revenge of the Sith” novel. The first reads, “Anakin and Obi-Wan would never fight each other. They couldn’t. They’re a team. They’re the team. And both of them are sure they always will be.”(40). This one is important because it shows that, Obi-Wan and Anakin are important to each other. In their mind they are brothers, they are best friends. They couldn’t hurt each other, they are comfortable with that fact. Now the second passage comes from page 402 and reads, “This was not Sith against Jedi. This was not light against dark or good against evil; it had nothing to do with duty or philosophy, religion or morals. It was Anakin against Obi-Wan. Personally. Just the two of them, and the damage they had done to each other.”. Now, this quote is the total opposite of the first and happens a whole 362 pages later, and it's just as important. It shows Obi-Wan couldn't have said anything to change Anakin’s mind, no matter how hard you wish he could’ve. 

In conclusion, so many factors went into why Anakin fell to the dark side and there was genuinely nothing that could’ve been done to stop it. Not only was it the way he interacted with other people but also just his environment. While Anakin may have been a boy who longed to be free and defeat the “dragon” that plagued his nightmares, he was still a man who made his own decisions, selfish or not.