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insertcoolusernamehereee · 7 months

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Spider-verse, but Nightwing

OK I once saw a comment somewhere which went along the lines of...

"I wish Dc would give us a animation-like Spiderverse of Nightwing"

and at first i kind of ignored it- cuz idk, i don't really care about Nightwing- I mean, i love him! He's great, but not one of my favorite batfamily members.

BUT THEN I REALIZED THE OTHER CHARACTERS WOULD BE THERE TOO

so, here's what i think a Spiderverse movie would be like,

(If the plot was similar)

Nightwing- Obv he's Miles Morales, the main character!

Gwen- OK, the love interest. So we have three main competitors for fan favorite ships! Dick/Wally, Dick/Barbara, and Dick/Kori! Now one of them is already cancelled by default, because Dc is a coward, so we only have Barbara and Kori left! and well, Barbara fits Gwen's personality much more than Kori, and that paired with the fact that DC favors DickBabs in general, WE HAVE A WINNER!

SpiderVerse- okay, this is where it starts to lean a bit away from the movies and a bit from the comics; Spiderverse is now the Court of Owls! My headcannon is that for some reason all vigilantes (minus Batman and one other person, u will find out) join the court of owls thinking it has the right idea, and then BOOM its not actually that good (it kills people it can't control). BUT its not that wrong either. When it figures out what its doing wrong, it starts helping the vigilantes against the real evil, which is...

Spot- The league of assassins :)) YES I KNOW, IT ISN'T REALLY A MAIN VILLAIN of Nightwing's, but STILL, it's too good of a opportunity to give up seeing Ra's and Talia in the movie.

Miles Parents- Bruce and Selina, obviously. I think Jefferson's personality as a parent is PERFECT for Bruce-emotionally-constipated-dad! Selina is Bruce's wife, obv, BUT there is one change here...Y'know that scene where Rio gives Miles that 'your un-grounded" talk? I think it would be Wally giving Nightwing a super cool heartwarming speech (it won't be the same though) and then turned out Selina was listening to it all and at the end is just like "sigh, ok, you're ungrounded, come back soon, i'll deal with Bruce."

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE BATFAMILY MEMBER'S

Tim Drake- DRUM ROLL PLEASE, Hobie Brown! Hobie's smart, and while his personality might be a bit too much....It's still perfect for the role Tim would be playing. Hobie doesn’t trust the Court, and at the end he’s the one who had everything prepared for when they realise that the Court Of Owls is wrong!

Stephanie Brown- AND SHE'S GOING TO BE OUR FAV CINNAMON ROLL, Pavitr Prabhakar. And as much as it pains me as a Pakistani to remove his Indian heritage, it must be done. He's goofy, he ships the two main characters, and is just adorable, he's perfect for Stephanie, and will definitely give her justice.

Cassandra Cain- Sadly, Cass is going to have a less prominent role in the second movie, but hopefully she shows up more in the third; Margo Kess! the scene where she lets Miles go is perfect, because she can detect body language and would understand that Nightwing is right, and Miguel is planning on hurting him.

Damian Wayne- FINALLY MY FAV CHARACTER, but this one is more of a original character instead of a already made character in the movie; Damian is going to be the person Dick has to save. Because i love their dynamic. So, Damian is probably being manipulated by LoA, and idk maybe Ra's is trying to use him as a body vessel without Damian knowing, and the court of owls needs him dead because "HES A WILD CARD" but Dick just NEEDS to save him "BECAUSE THAT'S MY BROTHER, DAMN YOU, IM NOT LETTING ANOTHER ONE DIE" and cue everyone fighting LoA and then a wholesome Dick and Dami scene; Feel free to elaborate on it.

Jason Todd- I had to think a lot for this, but i have a PERFECT answer; Uncle Aaron. ITS SAD AND WILL BREAK HEARTS BUT ITS PERFECT, HELP- The relationship with Jefferson? check. Dies? check. What more do we need?

a happy and alive Jason

Hey! Maybe he comes back when hey go to save Damian! Actually, yes, that is 100% the plot. They find Jason revived at the league and save him :3

Duke Thomas- I CANT FIND A CHARACTER FOR DUKE BUT HE HAS TO BE HERE DAMN IT- please either come up with a original character for Duke or find a already made character PLEASE.

RANDOM OTHER CHARACTERS

Peter B. Parker- Must i explain why? No, no i do not. its perfect.

Mayday- Jon Kent :))) Because why not///

MJ- (Peters wife and Maydays mother) Obv Lois Lane.

Miguel- Random court of owls leader (any idea's?).

SpiderWoman- Can't think of anyone...let me know what you guys think in the comments!

Peni Parker- Kori!! She's perfect

Pig Spiderman- Beast Boy lmao

Black and White Spiderman- Meme version of Raven.

Roy Harper- Just another original character who i need in the movie.

King-Pin- Mr. Freeze! his goals match up pretty well with Kingpins anyway.

The rest of the villains Miles faces will be random Rogues from Batman's gallery.

The rest of the Spiderman's in Spiderverse will be random Justice-League members (OMG I LOVE THIS)

And, well, the first movie takes place when it's only Dick and Jason adopted (Before Jason's death, and then a bit after, when Dick is dealing with the grief)

Feel free to add more stuff in reblogs/Comments! Really want to see what you guys come up with :3

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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 3 years

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Top 10 Greatest Things Ever

I used to do lists like this all the time, so in the spirit of going back to my roots, I’ve decided to do a countdown list like all those internet greats do! You know, like WatchMojo or Spoony or ProJared! Today, I have decided to list the 10 greatest, most flawless things of all time, and why you should worship the ground they walk on! Let’s go!

10. Artemis Fowl

It was a very bold choice for Disney to ignore literally everything about the books and what made them good and instead do the exact opposite, but in the end it paid off with this utterly unforgettable cinematic experience! I sure enjoyed how half the plot was ADR’d in and how charming Josh Gad was as the hilarious dwarf Mulch! An instant classic for the whole family!

9. “Pickle Rick”

You know what? They were right. This is the funniest shit I’ve ever seen.

8. Reylo

How could I have never seen it before? This is such an amazing ship with the greatest chemistry I have ever seen. The moment I first saw these two trying to brutally murder each other, I a totally sane and normal human thought “oh yeah they should totally fuck.” We need to crucify JJ Abrams for killing Ben before he could smash that Rey coochie and instead leave her single (because there are definitely no characters she had better chemistry with).

7. Irate Gamer

Some people say you’re nothing but an unfunny, talentless hack, a complete ripoff of the AVGN, a horrendously toxic individual who betrayed those around you and destroyed the goodwill of your fans... but you know what? That’s ok. I forgive you Irate Gamer. You are very cool actually.

6. Lucy

God, is there anything better than an action movie where you never have to worry about the main character ever because she can pull new powers out of her ass to save herself at any given moment? Everyone’s favorite racially vague actress Scarlett Johansson really manages to prove that she is capable of playing an emotionless serial killing god with ease.

5. Frogger: The Great Quest

Sure, the camera barely works, the controls are unresponsive, the models are crappy, the story is nonsensical, and it has less than zero replay value... but Frogger in a magical 3D platformer still manages to be better than everything else, from Grand Theft Auto V to Pokemon Black/White to Doom Eternal. Konami really proved they could never do wrong with this one!

4. Obelisk of Undoing

You might think this isn’t the greatest Magic card ever, but think about it: if you sacrifice one Black Lotus, you’re halfway to being able to return one whole thing you control to its owner’s hand! That’s insane! What the hell were they thinking with this level of power back in the day?!?!? This shit is broken!

3. One More Day

Forget that shitty Spider-Verse or Tobey Maguire or Tom Holland or whatever: this is the real SpiderMan. This is a man who will go to the ends of the Earth and sell his marriage away to Satan all to save his geriatric aunt who is dying of a bullet wound in a universe where scientists regularly rip the fabric of reality apart. Truly he is living up to Uncle Ben’s words. There will never be a Spidey story quite as unforgettable and powerful as this one.

2. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Centuries

Truly Alan Moore was ahead of his time with his cunning parody of Harry Potter. Really, this alone grants it the #2 spot (though perhaps it would have been better at #1? Har har). No, but there is one thing more perfect than Harry Potter dick lightning...

1. Shrek the Third

How can one even quantify the sheer genius of this film? It took away all the stuff that didn’t work about the previous films like the amazing soundtracks, likable characters, witty references, emotional moments, strong antagonists, and good use of tone, and replaced it with Justin Timberlake. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

#list #artemis fowl #Shrek #pickle rick #spider-man #alan moore #star wars

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bearholdingashark · 3 years

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Hurt Comfort Exchange 2021 Creator Letter

Hi! Thank you for creating something for me! I’m excited to see what you create! :D

General info

I adore tropes, the more ridiculous the better, and really what I love about ridiculous tropes is how it gives the creator an opportunity to explore the characters and their dynamics and motivations. Fun plots are great, but the characters and what the plot reveals about them is what I really love.

I also really love AUs (especially modern/historical AUs) or crossover fusions, and love how much changes and how much doesn’t. But straight up canon stuff is really good too. Really, character focused stuff is what I love most. I do also think canon divergence AUs can be really great, so feel free to play around with canon as well.

While I’m a big fan of romantic ships, I also love relationships in general, romantic or not. Just characters being there for each other is great. I love fluff, but more serious/angsty/dramatic stuff is just as good too. :D And unless specifically stated otherwise, I have no problem with characters other than I requested in the story, but I want the requested characters to be a main focus.

In relation to hurt/comfort, one thing that I really love is desperation: desperate kisses, desperate plans, desperate goodbyes, etc.

A lot of the freeform tags that I selected, (and I selected a lot) tend towards more dramatic plots/circumstances, but feel free to go where you feel comfortable on the fluff/angst/dark/light spectrum.

My DNWs (also listed on my sign up) are:

smut

Romance is great, but nothing more than kissing/fade to black for the physical stuff.

explicit gore

violence and injury are fine, but nothing super graphic, generally I would say canon typical violence/gore or less is a good way to go

Sexual assault/rape

I really don’t want this to be the hurt that any of the characters go through

permanent character death of requested characters

angst without a happy (or at least hopeful) ending

Obviously, there’s likely to be at least some angst, seeing as it’s a hurt/comfort exchange, but I just don’t want the story to end without any sort of hope.

I hope this helps! I’m including my general prompts below, but feel free to go where the inspiration takes you. My prompts tend to be more fic focused, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want art, I’m just not as good talking about what I like there. Go with whatever style you feel fits best/you’re most comfortable with and I’ll be happy. :) Happy creating!

Request 1

Fandom: Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Orczy

Relationships: Marguerite Blakeney/Percy Blakeney (Hurt Percy)

Prompts:

Marguerite helping with the League somehow--whether on a regular basis, or stepping in because Percy’s hurt. (I especially love the latter)

Percy getting hurt trying to protect Marguerite and/or the League, and Marguerite comforting him/patching him up after they’re all out of danger

As you can tell by my freeform selections, I’m all about the DRAMA, but I think this is a fandom where really going hog wild with the dramatic stuff could be so great. (Percy literally kissed the ground Marguerite walked on in the book because he was pining so hard, I’m not sure anything can top that in terms of being Over The TopTM :D)

Bonus points if Percy is being his little shit self even while hurt

In a totally different direction, if we match on ‘Character who regularly takes risks gets hurt while doing something that is usually safe’ or that interests you, I think that could be a really funny direction to take the story/art, especially if Percy tries to convince Marguerite that he received his injury in a totally dashing manner, and not something really simple and dumb, and Marguerite is not buying it

Request 2

Fandom: Smallville

Relationships: Clark Kent/Lois Lane (Hurt Clark)

Prompts:

While I don’t watch the other current DC shows, I have seen the Smallville scenes in the Supergirl/Flash/Multiverse crossover episodes, so if you would like to explore Clark giving up his powers, I think that would be interesting, but I am also very happy with things either set before that, or completely ignoring that.

If not exploring Clark without powers, (whether using the above canon or going completely AU), what I love about this request is that when Clark is physically hurt it usually means something is VERY WRONG.

Lois having to comfort a hurt Clark and help him figure out what’s going on and how to fix it.

Lois protecting a hurt Clark and defending him when he can’t defend himself against a powerful enemy.

Lois and Clark on a Daily Planet assignment when something goes wrong and Clark gets hurt

Clark getting hurt protecting Lois. (Bonus points if combined with the above prompt where Lois protects him after he’s hurt)

Exploring Lois’ line “Being a hero's wife means never accepting defeat”, either in context of the gladiator episode, or in a later situation

Request 3

Fandom: Smallville

Relationships: Clark Kent/Lois Lane (Hurt Lois)

Prompts:

This request could be a little lighter than the one with hurt Clark, simply because Lois is much more easily hurt/sick as not a superpowered being, but I am also just as happy with the angst and the drama

Lois being protective (whether of Clark or their friends or random civilians) even after being injured

Clark feeling guilty (whether it’s at all justified or not) about Lois being hurt and Lois having to get after him a little for it/reassure him

Exploring Lois’ line “Being a hero's wife means never accepting defeat”, either in context of the gladiator episode, or in a later situation

Request 4

Fandom: Captain America (Movies)

Relationships: Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers (Hurt Steve)

Prompts:

I am totally okay with basically any form of canon/au here: modern Steggy, modern Steggy because of time travel, Endgame compliant, Skinny!Steve in any way, CA: TFA missing scene/mission, Steve is found during the 40’s/Never goes into the ice, etc. This can also be either established or pre/beginning of their relationship too.

Steve doing something really reckless to save people, and Peggy berating him a little, but also there’s comforting and tenderness there

I love mission related stories (although don’t feel you need to go too hard on the plot heavy stuff if that’s not your thing), but no power AUs are great too

Steve hurt and having to pretend he’s not while they’re undercover (either established relationship or pre-relationship pining)

I would also love Peggy doing some protecting of her own and being bad ass as well

In parallel to the scene at the end of First Avenger, Peggy having to watch/listen to Steve getting hurt, while she coordinates the mission/his rescue, and then seeing the damage in person after he’s home

Bonus points if they comfort each other

Request 5

Fandom: Knives Out

Relationships: Benoit Blanc/Marta Cabrera (Hurt Marta)

Prompts:

While I love established relationship scenarios for them (and in general), I think this could lead to some great love confessions and getting together scenarios.

This could be set in the movie ‘verse or in an AU if you feel inspired to go that direction

As far as other characters go, I love Harlan (Harlan Lives AUs are my favorite), as well as Lt. Elliott and Tropper Wagner. The Thrombeys are really fun, but I don’t want them to be the focus, especially Ransom. (I really don’t want any hint of romance between Marta and Ransom.)

Marta gets hurt on a case, and Benoit has to take care of her after, all while dealing with the emotions of seeing her get hurt (whether his feelings are known or not at that point)

Bonus points if they’re undercover as a couple on the case

Marta getting hurt protecting Benoit and/or other people

While many of the freeform tags I selected reference physical pain, emotional hurt would be great too, especially with everything Marta is dealing with post movie. (And during the movie. #ProtectMartaCabrera)

One of my favorite things about Benoit and his interactions with Marta in the movie is just how tender he is, almost from the word go. Regardless of the actual plot/scenario, I would love that tenderness to be on full display.

Request 6

Fandom: WandaVision

Relationships: Darcy Lewis & Jimmy Woo & Monica Rambeau (All Hurt)

Prompts:

I have seen through the finale, so don’t worry about needing to avoid spoilers or anything like that.

This could be set during the show, with canon AU to add in things we didn’t see, or set after the show with them teaming up again. I would also love a full on AU if that’s where you’d like to go.

Slight canon AU of the last episode where the three of them meet up again after everything and comfort each other/catch each other up/celebrate/process/etc

I’m a little bitter we don’t see them all together after everything. Yeah, Darcy’s line was funny, but I wanted more scenes with the three of them.

Most of the freeform tags I’ve selected are about physical hurt, but emotional hurt is great too, and some combination of the two among the three of them would be cool too.

I would especially love Monica’s powers being a factor in this, and all of them trying to protect each other in various ways. They’re all so competent and strong in different ways and I love seeing that come together in their teamwork.

Just them being a supportive team and relying on each other after a difficult mission/experience.

Request 7

Fandom: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Relationships: Jefferson Davis & Rio Morales & Miles Morales (Hurt Miles)

Prompts:

While I do love AUs, this request one is where I’m less interested in a complete AU. I would prefer him to still be Spider-Man, even if you change other things about the canon.

Jefferson and Rio know that Miles is Spider-Man, but they found out/figured it out and Miles didn’t tell them, so they’re letting him think they’re still in the dark, but they’re doing what they can to help and keep him safe

Jefferson and Rio don’t know that Miles is Spider-Man and how they find out is when he’s injured

Bonus points if he gets injured protecting one or both of them

Miles is starting to feel the overwhelming weight of being a teenage superhero and without telling them specifics, goes home to get comfort from his parents

This could involve both physical and emotional hurt, or just one of those

Just lots of soft, tender family comfort in and around the angst

#Hurt Comfort Exchange 2021 #creator letter #I've never done an exchange with freeform tags like this before #I'm excited #and probably chose way too many

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akirakan · 5 years

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Sony’s Universe would work much better if they focused on legacy heroes

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past weeks, we all know that Spider-Man is not going to show-up in the MCU anymore. Sure, they could arrange a new deal, but for the moment, forget about seeing him again alongside The Avengers.

Sony is very likely to integrate him into their own cinematic, Sony’s Universe of Marvel Characters (SUMC), and do at least a soft-reboot, with the same cast but ignoring the events of the MCU. They already kick-started their little universe with Venom, with it’s sequel coming and Morbius starring Jared Leto, as well as the announced Black Cat, Silver Sable, Silk, Dusk, Nightwatch, and (*sigh*) Jackpot. Although, from all those announced, god knows how many will actually enter production (Silver and Black, Sinister Six, anyone?), specially now that they have Spidey all for themselves, he’s very likely to take priority. They’re very likely to continue with more spin-offs entirely focused on Spider-Man villains.

Okay, so honest question: outside of maybe Black Cat, Silk and maybe Silver Sable, does anyone really care about the others? Do you even know who Jackpot and Nightwatch are? Did Sony ever looked at Leto’s track and didn’t noticed that his only financially successful film is Suicide Squad? Does anyone really think that a universe build with villains turned into heroes as the leads is feasible?

If the answer to most of those questions is no, then you can see that the SUMC is heading to disaster. Sure, Venom was success, but let’s face it, building your cinematic universe on a “so bad it’s good” base is really shaky.

Sony is not entirely lost, however. They still have plenty of heroes. If there’s something that has characterized the Spider-Man mythos the past decade or so (I would go even further, to the 90′s and the clone saga) is the expansion of the Spider-Family. The aspect of legacy has been heavily played-up since the introduction of Ben Reilly, and the introduction of more diverse heroes with rich backstories, and (in most cases) independent from Peter Parker, opens a huge door for Sony to exploit. It’s much better having a universe where Spider-Man pressence is felt instead of awkwardly having Spider-Man villains headlining the universe with no Spider-Man on sight.

So let’s call this, The Spider-Man Legacy Universe, Phase 1.

Miles Morales - Spider-Man

I won’t even bother to explain him. I know you all saw ItSV. And if you haven’t, go watch it.

He would be the main face of this potential universe. He is THE Spider-Man. He would be slightly older in here, already being Spider-Man fo a few years by now, to show that he has more experience than all the upcoming heroes. Gwen would be introduced as the new girl at school, but she has her own agenda,

Mayday Parker - Spider-Girl

The daughter of the true Spider-Man! She’s Peter’s and MJ’s daughter, whose powers kicked-in when she entered high school. Her origin could be done fairly quickly: she’s Spider-Man’s daughter. There you go. Introduce villain.

Though, this would work to give more of a backstory to this world. Peter’s fate, for instance. He didn’t die in his last battle with Green Goblin. He was, however, incapacitated. He still lives a happy life with her wife and her two daughters. Yes, I said two.

At least in this version, I would introduce both of them. Annie being younger like in the earlier Renew Your Vows series, she would be the younger sister of Mayday. And no, she doesn’t have powers... yet.

Anya Corazón - Araña

Objectively speaking, the best superhero of all time (okay, I might be a little bit biased on that. JUST a little bit ;)). Anya Corazón is a mexican-puerto rican brooklynite who one night was caught between two warring factions: the Spider Society and the Sisterhood of Wasps. After almost dying during the attack, the mage of the Spider Society, Miguel, uses a ritual to save her, kick-starting her powers. After that, she becomes the hero Araña and fights alongside the Spider Society, at the same time that she tries to discover the dark side of the organization and other secrets, like what or who is inside the bunker...

This one would introduce mystical aspects into the universe. Kinda like being the Dr. Strange equivalent, introducing concepts such as the Web of Life, The Other, and, therefore, the Spider-Verse. This concepts would be key moving forward with the next heroes...

Kaine - Scarlet Spider

Kaine “Parker”, after living a miserable life as a failed experiment and seeing his brother die, he ultimately dies... before inexplicably coming back to life. He retires to Dallas where he tries his best to live a normal life. However, being a Parker means that you will always be dragged to something. And so, after encountering a young immigrant girl almost at the point of dying, he suits up once again and reclaims his place as the Scarlet Spider.

More exploration into the concepts introduced in Araña and a look into the Clone Saga, which will also spawn stuff.

Flash Thompson - Agent Venom

Flash as Venom is best Venom. There, I said it. Former bully of Parker, later one of his best friends, and #1 Spider-Man fan. Has been operating for years as a government agent after being disabled since his time in the army. Ex-husband of Felicia Hardy aka Black Cat, and father of Felicity Thompson Hardy, now a coach at a Philadelphia high school.

We take a little break from the more Spider-centric narrative into the symbiote world. As well, the more worldwide adventures of Flash would let us see the rest of the world in a post-Spider-Man era.

Jessica Drew - Spider-Woman

A former CIA Agent, she now works as a private investigator alongside her partner Lindsay McCabe. Everything seems normal until one day she’s contacted by Parker Industries (!) for a special mission related to her past. She’s gonna have to suit up again in order to discover more about herself and get her bread.

Similar to Agent Venom, more worldbuilding and we see the existence of more organizations and factions within. I would also like to throw in Ultimate Jessica Drew as a potential partner, but would need more development to see if it isn’t too convoluted.

After all the establishment, we get a team-up movie where all this heroes meet for the first time, and I’m gonna leave this here. There’s already hints about heroes around, without going overboard like certain other failed cinematic universes had (Dark Universe, TASM). The most important thing is to not rush things and take their respective development. Focusing on the legacy heroes shows how important Spider-Man truly is in the world, and that’s what they should aim for.

#Spider Man #Miles Morales #Sony #Anya Corazon #Mayday Parker #Jessica Drew #Flash Thompson #Venom #Kaine Parker

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forkanna · 4 years

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Commissions OPEN!

For a long time, I’ve been considering Commissions; IE, you pay me to write a thing, and I write it. But I’ve had a ton of other projects I was juggling so it wasn’t feasible before now. Some of those are taken care of, and also I have no money, so let’s give it a whirl!

This is on a trial basis: if you ask and I tell you I'm no longer accepting commissions, then that's it! Please don't be mean. I took a look around Tumblr and borrowed ideas and snippets from a few other posts to give me a better notion of how to do this. Seriously, this is my first shot so I'm doing my best! If you are interested, please read through the full rules and details in this post.

Commission Rate: $5 to get started and first 1000 words + $0.02 per word

Minimum Word Count: 1500 (IE, $15 is the minimum for a finished product)

Maximum Word Count: Depends on number of commissions/my availability (but generally, anything over 10,000 is a stretch)

[Further details:]

Main Universes (I can jump in easily!):

Frozen

RWBY

Sabrina the Teenage Witch (90s TV series)

Riverdale/Archie Comics (yes, including Sabrina lol)

Overwatch

Harry Potter

Sailor Moon

Solty Rei

Wizard of Oz/Wicked

Bucky O’Hare

Scott Pilgrim

Jessica Jones

Miraculous Ladybug

Veronica Mars

Stranger Things

(This list may be updated)

Other 'Verses (I'll have to brush up to do them justice):

Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Firefly/Dollhouse

Charmed, Ugly Betty, Everwood

Hayate the Combat Butler, Zoids:Chaotic Century/Guardian Force, Zoids:Genesis, Tenchi Muyo!, One Piece, Naruto, YuYu Hakusho, Hunter X Hunter, FLCL, Cowboy Bebop, Dragonball, Bamboo Blade, Chobits, and a decent amount of other anime I don’t feel like listing

Other Disney verses, such as Tangled, Moana, Little Mermaid, what have you

Batman, Superman, Spider-man, X-Men

Tales of Symphonia/Vesperia/Abyss

Star Trek (anything but Enterprise)

Star Wars (original or new trilogy)

Hunger Games

Divergent

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

Steven Universe

Miller-Boyettverse (this means Full House, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, etc.)

Sonic (But please don't ask me to write Sonic... like I will if you really want me to but ugh, it’ll just give me ‘Nam flashbacks)

Extras (note that these fees apply even if you didn’t notice them lol) :

More than 2 characters: $2.00 per character (if they have more than a single line of dialogue lol)

Use of Original Characters (OCs): $3.00 per OC

OCs must be from the same universe.

EXCEPTION: See Cross-overs below.

I will not write anyone else's OC. It must be wholly owned by you.

All OCs requested as primary characters must have a biography or a link to a biography page (if such exists) submitted to provide for characterisation. I’m not a mind-reader.

Cross-overs: $5.00 per universe (and they must still be one I'm familiar with)

Alternate Universe (AU): $5.00

Please describe your AU in the request; use as much detail as possible so I have a clearer picture of what you want.

If it’s just a general “Modern AU” with no other stipulations (meaning I can just write whatever comes to mind), this can be waived.

Pairings that aren’t F/F: $5.00 (sorry, I just need the extra motivation for non-femslash ^^;)

I WILL

Write from fandoms other than those above, as long as you provide information about the characters and the setting. This will cost you $10 extra, because unfamiliar elements will take a lot more time/effort for me to research and get into beyond simply writing the story itself (and I may refuse outright if I’m just not comfortable, fair warning)

Write smut! You can't be surprised.

Write any gender/gender pairing. I prefer and am best at F/F, but M/F, M/M, and anything outside the binary are all well and good for me (but I charge extra; see above).

Trans characters count as their gender for purposes of fees. (IE, if it’s F/trans F, it is F/F; if it’s F/trans Male, it is F/M and will be $5 extra but I’m still totally happy to do it)

Write all kinds of kinks; if you can think of it, I've either already written it or would be willing to try. But there are exceptions: see below.

Post the work on my blog and various fanfiction websites; you are paying for me to write what you want to read, not for you to be the sole "owner". Also, you can stipulate whether or not you are credited with having commissioned it, either with your name or just with a preferred nick/username/Tumblr URL.

I WILL NOT

Write anything that I ultimately don’t feel comfortable with. I reserve the right to refuse commissions for any reason with or without disclosing said reason. Do not push this or I may sever all contact.

Write non-con. Full stop. Dubcon, we can talk about it but I'm still not thrilled with the idea. Yes, I just said I'm dubious about dubiousness. (Superfluous note: this obviously extends to prepubescent characters because they cannot give consent, so just don’t.)

Write certain hard kinks. Scat and dismemberment are off the table; there are others but I’ll let you know if you hit one.

Write real people. This is a growing trend in the fanfiction community, and while I'm mildly iffy with it under the best of circumstances, it is off my commission table entirely. I’m not trying to shame anyone else but it’s just not my jam.

Do anything MLP. After what happened to Yamino, and then WebdogGate happening to me, I just... have an aversion. (There are other fandoms I won’t do but I will gently let you know if you ask about them)

Let you post the fic yourself. You will receive the file of the fic through email/messaging/file-sharing website, or simply by seeing the post on Tumblr/AO3 if you prefer, but you will not post it yourself and claim credit for the work. Just because you paid for it doesn't mean you are now the author; I’m not ghost-writing.

Write anything other than fiction. I’m not an Essay4Cash service.

NOTE: Asking for any of the things explicitly banned on my “I WILL NOT” list will probably get your commission request ignored.

MORE DETAILS

* I will respond to commission requests on my own time, checking when I can. If you are not responded to within 1 week you may request again. * Once I have accepted and begun work on a commission, I will generally try to contact again within 1 week, either to state the reason it isn’t finished or to hand over the finished product. You may contact me after that time to ask what’s going on. * PayPal is the only form of payment accepted at this time. All amounts are in USD. This information will be exchanged during discussions about the work in question. You can pay me via My Ko-Fi if that’s preferable (still uses PayPal), but I must know that is how you sent payment via PMs/email before you send payment so I can look for it. * The $5 initial fee (for starting work and the first words) is non-refundable, as are the fees for any extras you may have opted for, and that will be expected before any work begins. BUT DO NOT JUST SEND ME MONEY WITHOUT DISCUSSION OF THE WORK IN QUESTION FIRST. If I don’t like the commission idea and you already paid me, that’s on you, and I don’t want you wasting your money. * A brief excerpt from the completed commission will be sent for review prior to payment as proof of good faith. * The full commission will be delivered upon receipt of payment via PayPal. Unless I literally did not do something you requested (or did something you requested I not do), you are receiving the final product: don’t quibble over details or come to me with buyer’s remorse. Done deal, all sales final. * Your money is paying for my time and my work. If I really can’t finish your commission, I will do my best to get back to you and either discuss how to proceed or possibly a change in the work. (But legally speaking, you donated your money to me and it’s gone; don’t try something crazy like suing me to get it back because I have warned you. No refunds. But in most cases that will only be that initial $5 fee anyway). * Word counts may vary. I prefer to write a story to a natural stopping point, so I could go above or below the word count goal by a handful. I will not charge extra for overages unless it is substantially more, and even then I will likely ask you first if you have more payment to offer. * Your commission will be delivered in DOCX or PDF format in addition to being posted. Hell, if you really wanna send me another $5+printing/postage fees, I’ll print it out at Office Depot and mail it to you, signed. (Separate transaction/arrangement though.)

CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS ON TUMBLR, OR HERE (drawn terribly in paint to avoid spambots):

Thanks in advance!

#fanfiction commissions #commission work #fanfic commissions #fic commissions #writing commisions #jess the writer #jess the very broke writer

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botslayer · 4 years

Text

Spider Rant, Spider rant.

Don’t ya lie, you sang it. And you also pro... bably sang this hope you like... my improv lyrics. LOOK OUT... I’m doing a Spider-rant! So... Miles Morales. He’s held the title of “Spider-Man” in one form or another for almost a decade. He got the lead role in a movie, was a key character in the Spider-verse arch of my favorite Spider-Man show, his damn costume appears in certain games that he’s not even in... And he can’t get his own game yet? If you don’t know what I’m on about: Sony finally did a massive gameplay reveal for Playstation Five. One of the games shown was thought by many to be a sequel to the first Insomniac Spider-Man, but with Miles being the main character instead of Peter. This is not the case. What it actually is, is an High Definition (Or rather... HIGHER Definition) remaster of Insomniac’s first outing with Spidey, Mile’s own campaign is additional content exclusively for this remaster, as I understand it... Do I Need to explain the LAYERS of fail on display there? I will anyway. 1. The Original game came out in 2018. It is less than two fucking years old at the time of this announcement and chances are anyone who isn’t broke as a joke with no punchline has already played it. This is ignoring the fairly large (and pricey) DLC for the first game. So to play as Miles, who people REALLY like, we need to buy the same game, upscaled a bit, all over again. 2. We also need a whole new FUCKING CONSOLE just to do it, which have ranged anywhere from $300 to $500 The last two generations. So we’re looking, bare minimum, at about $360/$560, assuming the Spider-Man remaster specifically isn’t a pack-in. This is motivated by nothing more than blind bloody corporate greed. And I know someone is probably gonna say “Be happy you can play as Miles.” I would if I didn’t have to pay multiple hundreds of dollars for the privilege. It’s bullshit. You cannot CAN NOT. Change my mind. Edit: So apparently the info I got about the game was incorrect. I apologize. Still, new information coming to light doesn’t change my mind about this being a massive load of garbage. What’s actually going on is that Miles is getting his own game, if it’s a PS5 exclusive, though, I’m still gonna be pissed off. Miles is a fan favorite and not everyone has 500-ish dollars to drop on a brand new console. Or the games to populate their libraries, especially now.

#Spider-Man #Insomniac #miles morales #Peter Parker #Rant

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traincat · 5 years

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can you make a post about peter parker being jewish. i’ve already seen people trying to argue that it’s just a headcanon with no basis, and they’re even trying to say that into the spider-verse wasn’t trying to portray peter as a jewish man. you’re just so good at making organized and well-informed posts, and i know that you know peter is and always has been meant to be a jewish man even if certain writers over the years didn’t think it should be canon.

I can absolutely do that, and thank you for thinking I am in any way organized instead of just from a family that knows how to argue. (A little Jewish joke courtesy of Spider-Ham’s John Mulaney to start us off right.)

So I’ve talked before about how Peter Parker is clearly Jewish even if we have yet to directly address that within the page of an actual Marvel comic – Star of David shaped confetti raining down, a neon sign blinking PETER PARKER IS JEWISH, and taped footage of his bris, since sometimes it seems like that’s what it would take to convince people, and even then you know there’d be people saying it didn’t count. I can re-address everything I’ve gone into in that post and others: Stan Lee’s own Jewish background, the fact that Peter Parker’s childhood home in set in Forest Hills, Queens, a famously Jewish neighborhood, the concept of wit as a weapon, the character’s own values and moral code. The fast talk, the Yiddish, him namedropping Jewish holidays from Hanukkah to Shavuot (or as he, like the nice Jewish boy from Queens he is, says, “Shavuos.”). We can get into Spider-Man as the embodiment of New York City, and the inherent subtext of that. I can pull up Andrew Garfield’s interview, where he states that he’s Jewish on his father’s side and recognized the Jewishness in Peter Parker and used that in his performance. I can and have and will again at some point pull specific panels and point out things, both little and big. I can pull up Brian Michael Bendis saying that every Peter Parker is Jewish.

However, let’s shove all of that aside for the moment and focus specifically on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and how any assertion that the film didn’t specifically and purposefully portray a Jewish Peter Parker is either ignorant of Jewish custom, pedantic nitpicking that tramples representation, or spiteful anti-semitic trolling. I’m going to explain why in two points.

First, the actual movie. Spoilers from this point on, obviously, although I’m talking about a half second’s worth of footage. At about the half hour mark, as Peter B. Parker’s life story is rolling by and as he says he got married, we see his foot crush a glass wrapped in a white napkin. It’s a split-second blink and you’ll miss it scene, and it rocked my entire world. The groom breaking the glass is an important Jewish wedding custom that takes place at the end of the ceremony. This scene isn’t in there by accident (in a film as intricate and dense as Into the Spider-Verse, I’d argue that very little could be) – no one slipped this in last moment. This was a planned and very well constructed statement about this specific Peter’s identity. That it made it into the final product at all blows my mind and I am so incredibly thankful to everyone who made sure it did. I think it’s beautiful and amazing that in the movie that marked Miles Morales’ debut in cinema, Spider-Verse also took the time to make a statement about Peter Parker’s Jewish identity – neither of the main Spider-Men in the movie are white Christian men. (And Spider-Man Noir likes fighting nazis. A lot.) In a year like 2018, with a rise in antisemitic attacks, that’s incredible. It made me cry.

“Couldn’t Mary Jane be Jewish and that’s why Peter stepped on the glass?” some people might try to argue, perhaps in good faith but most likely just to be pedantic and nitpicky. And like, sure. Yeah, that could be a possibility. (It could also be a possibility that they’re both Jewish. You can have more than one.) Either way, this specific Peter Parker had a Jewish wedding, and while Mary Jane’s presence plays an important role in the film, she herself (and specifically this Peter’s her) has very limited screentime. Those intros were meant to tell us things about the characters they were introducing: Peter was the subject. He was the narrator. This was an important image of the wedding to him. Again, this scene wasn’t accidental: Spider-Verse was telling us that this specific Peter, at the very least, is Jewish. It’s a clear, direct tribute to Peter Parker, to the Jewish roots of superheroes, to Stan Lee and all the other Jewish creators who created the foundation for superhero comics as we know them, and to what a down to Earth hero born out of New York culture, who comes from Queens, might really be.

Reason the second: there is actual taped interview footage of Phil Lord saying the words “he’s a Jewish kid from Queens.” Rodney Rothman, the scene’s director, also addressed basically everything I just said up there in this interview, joking about his own insistence that Peter Parker is Jewish. And yes, of course, you could nitpick, you could come up with all the excuses why it could not count, why it could mean something else, but at the end of the day it’s clear that the intention of these creators was to get a Jewish Peter Parker onto the big screen. The intention was for you to see him step on the glass and for it to click with you, oh hey, Spider-Man’s Jewish! And for people who are bothered by that, who feel the need to nitpick, so say “well, actually,” to insist that Peter Parker isn’t Jewish because blah blah blah – why? Why not embrace this added piece of diversity to a movie that was in part a love letter to New York, and to the parts of it and the marginalized cultures Peter and Miles both represent within the film? The notion of a Jewish Peter Parker should do nothing but delight and inspire.

I don’t know the current state of what the contracts in place over portrayals of Peter Parker look like. I’m sure some of us remember Sony’s infamous contract that stated Peter Parker could never be portrayed as anything other than white, Christian, and heterosexual and have no idea if its existence could have impacted Spider-Verse in any way or if it was even possible at the current moment to be more direct about the character’s Jewishness than Spider-Verse’s stepping on a glass scene. I do know that the joy and excitement I’ve seen over Spider-Verse’s stepping on the glass scene has been overwhelming and it has made me and I’m sure many other Jewish fans of Peter Parker, who have long seen this aspect of our own identity reflected back in him, very happy. I do know that making noise about this and lifting it up and saying this is good, we want to see more of this will let people know that the concept of a Jewish Peter Parker is marketable, and that people would embrace this character with that part of his history brought into the light and made explicitly canon. It took decades for another famously Jewish Marvel superhero, Ben Grimm, to be allowed to have that aspect of his identity openly addressed on the page despite the heavy Jewish coding woven into the character’s history, and I believe Spider-Verse’s breaking the glass scene and the reactions I’ve seen towards it are a big step in doing the same for Peter Parker. Pun fully intended.

(Also as someone with a complicated relationship with the concept of the Jewish nose – I want to thank the Into the Spider-Verse artists for the schnoz. It looks good on him.)

#peter parker #spiderman #into the spiderverse #into the spiderverse spoilers #traincat talks comics #also regarding a different peter parker within the film #i gotta say that recording a christmas album #with a song titled It's Beginning to Look Like a Non-Denominational Holiday is like #a top ten jewish move #long post/#jewish peter parker

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hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger · 5 years

Text

Spider-Man: Life Story #4 Thoughts

*graons*

Positives out of the way.

Bagley’s art+Bagley’s rendition of Morlun+the armoured looks of some of Tony’s squad.

Okay now onto the negatives.

I think I might’ve figured out what the REAL premise of Life Story is.

‘What if Spider-Man didn’t have the illusion of change and therefore everything was terrible so readers will now just accept the illusion of change forever’.

Seriously that makes the most sense at this point.

The illusion of change isn’t there and so everyone ages and everything falls to shit.

Spider-Man gets divorced, his child dies, his brother dies, etc.

But if that wasn’t the point then Zdarsky continues to make Life Story a total clown show.

He is consistent in only the following regards.

a) Events from Spider-Man history happen randomly differently from how they happened in canon even though that wasn’t how the series was advertised to us

b) Superheroes have a more realistic impact upon the real world except not really, it’s basically as realistic as Zdarsky wants it to be because fuck world building and consistency I guess

c) Real life history is toxically inconsistent within the context of a world of heroes where things are different

d) The story is inconsistent even in and of itself

e) Peter Parker is an irresponsible, dumb asshole

f) Various elements of the story have no intersection with one another. Remember how Flash died in Vietnam and this had...nothing to do with Miles Warren cloning Gwen????

Lets kick off with two things that can be looked at as bad points of the story but arguably forgivable...arguably.

So firstly...Morlun is in this story and then dies!

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm...Wasn’t there not one but TWO massive Spider-Man event crossovers (one as recent as LAST YEAR) which firmly establish that there is in fact just one version of Morlun in the entire Multiverse? This story is royally contradicting that. Now in fairness...that was always bullshit because we have had What Ifs and other alternate universe stories before Spider-Verse clearly depicting more than one Morlun in the multiverse.

Secondly...Civil War....fucking Civil War.

I loathe and despise the original Civil War storyline from 2006. You guys have no idea how much I honestly wish that story never existed.

A big part of that is how it wrecks the verisimilitude of the Marvel universe before and after it. Civil War was unsustainable as a status quo shift long term for the Marvel Universe and it made no sense given it’s established history. It took the realism of superheroes too far and consequently forced writers and readers to wilfully ignore it after it was done so things could go back to normal. If you do a Civil War style story it needs to either be set in an AU or end your universe and that’s it. A change of pace simply cannot work without wrecking everything.

So seeing it again is gross buuuuuuuuut, given Life Story’s mission statement of taking things more realistically and being an AU itself it actually fits better in this story than in 616 Spider-Man. The same can be said of Spider-Man’s identity being unmasked although this too wrecks the idea that this is Spider-Man aging in real time. If it was about that then the ramifications of the unmasking wouldn’t stick around any more than they did in 616, because that had nothing to do with a sliding timeline or whatever.

However the idea of Civil War fitting better in Life Story because it’s more realistic is utterly destroyed when you consider that in this universe where superheroes have a more realistic impact upon the world, where the military has Tony Stark level weaponry, where intangible nuclear missiles are a thing...9/11 still happened...

...I’m going to repeat that.

In a world where there has been near Star Trek level technology since the 1960s...a handful of terrorists with conventional weapons (not even the most high tech weapons and technology available in the real world in 2001!) are able to fool airport security, hijack some planes and destroy the Twin Towers...in New York city...where ALL THE SUPERHEROES LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look...in the Marvel or DC universes 9/11 happened. You can choose to interpret the 9/11 Spider-Man issue as canon or not canon, but it is a fact Spider-Man lives in a world where the 9/11 disaster happened. He didn’t stop it, the Avengers didn’t stop it, the Fantastic Four didn’t stop it.

Even though they definitely could have. Collectively all the superheroes of New York have weapons, technology and resources which would’ve enabled them to have intelligence on the hijackings, possibly before they even happened, probably during the hijackings and definitely as the planes were incoming. And they sure as hell had the ability to avert the disaster.

Are you telling me Al Quaeda could trick or stall or fend off the Avengers! Get the fuck out of here no they couldn’t.

The reason that 9/11 still canonically happened in the Marvel universe is simple. The Marvel universe’s realism doesn’t stretch so far as contorting the real world into something unrecognizable to the world of today. The Marvel universe has always been our world but superheroes are there. Their realistic social, political, economic and philosophical impact though isn’t. It’s why Christianity is still the dominant religion in Marvel’s America even though Thor is a thing. 9/11 being such a globally changing event means that the Marvel universe needed to retain it occurring in order to continue to reflect a relatable world to the readers.

More poignantly, just how during WWII superheroes didn’t simply end the conflict by flying into Germany and killing Hitler, to have had superheroes realistically avert 9/11 as they could have would’ve been deeply insulting and disrespectful to the real life witnesses and victims of the tragedy and their loved ones.

Zdarsky didn’t have that constraint though. He could’ve imposed it on his story had he wanted but just as with so much of the real world history his grossly mishandles (a reminder everything after issue #3 is bullshit because the world should’ve been consumed in nuclear Armageddon) he cherry picks what will and won’t be affected by superheroes existing and whether their effects will be realistically and logical or if they’ll be...whatever he randomly wants.

Case in point superheroes existing means nuclear missiles are intangible now, but superheroes existing doesn’t mean airport security is any different from what it was in 2001!

*head desk*

The ONLY way 9/11 happens in this Marvel universe is if like HYDRA did it instead of Al Quaeda or if the latter had backing from super villains.

But just like with all the altered real world history Zdarsky doesn’t explain anything. He’s lazy as a world builder. Thus we’re left to presume 9/11 happened as it did in the real world even though Tony Stark has already created technology that ended the Cold War by America beating Russia’s ass.

I mean for fuck’s sake, GALACTUS has invaded Earth and New York specifically, you telling me Tony or Reed or Hank Pym or someone hasn’t created at least some sort of alarm system to alert them to incoming threats. WTF was Doctor Strange doing!

Let’s stick to Tony for the moment. So in this issue...he’s the villain. He’s been on the wrong side ever since issue #1 really. This is another case of something bad that is arguably defendable.

See back in Civil War if you were reading Spider-Man you experienced a Tale of Two Tony’s (not my turn of phrase by the way I stole that).

You didn’t need to read Spider-Man to follow the main Civil War book but if you were reading Spider-Man you did need to read the main CW book to follow the story as pivotal events happened in the latter that were then followed up upon in the former. The most famous example would be Spider-Man unmasking which was only built up to in ASM but actually depicted in Civil War #2. However another more relevant example would be how when Spidey decided to switch sides Tony attacked him in ASM and was clearly painted as outright villainous, but then the action continued into the main Civil War book where Tony was written more conflicted and sympathetic, before the action cut back to ASM where he was very much a villain. The characterization wasn’t consistent at all, and the Spider books were not alone in this. Sue Richards’ break up with Reed happened very differently in the pages of Fantastic Four than they did in Civil War.

This is relevant to Life Story because the Tony in this book is very much the Tony of ASM era Civil War, the villain on the side of the law and the fact that Zdarsky planted the seeds for this back in issue #1 is I will admit commendable. Too bad it took until issue #4 for him and Peter to interact but whatever. I also confess that seeing the polar opposite of the Iron Dad relationship gives me life at the moment.

However given how Zdarsky’s convoluted M.O. with this book seems to be to reflect a wider real time aging Marvel Universe and not just Spider-Man’s story this characterization is fundamentally broken. Because Iron Man...was totally out of character in Civil War. Even in the main series where he was written more sympathetic he was out of character and in ASM it was truly ridiculous. So Zdarsky is again being inconsistent and terrible at characterization. He’s even being awful in how the story tries to remix elements from the 2000s era Spider-Man regarding Tony (and other stuff we’ll get to).

If you are going to factor in Peter’s unmasking and Iron Man into this story shouldn’t the once friendly relationship they had or his Avengers membership play a factor? I mean Spidey being an Avenger was such a huge deal in the 2000s that when Marvel made variant covers for his 50th anniversary showcasing something from every decade of Spidey his being an Avenger was used to represent the 2000s.

Getting back to the Civil War elements though, something mind boggling is that Iron Fist is on the pro-registration side when he was very much NOT in the real Civil War event. Making this matter worse is his best friend Luke Cage being on the anti-registration side. Even without giving anyone any lines Zdarsky srews up characterization. Compounding this is Iron Man’s claims that young heroes fell in line with the registration act...what?

Let’s ignore how bowing to the government isn’t typically what teens like to do...you telling me that the opinions of most teenage heroes was to sign up with the government? Bullshit, even in the original story their views were more mixed. There is also the implication that somehow...9/11 was the thing that prompted the SHRA...hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow??????????????????????????????

Finally Tony tells Peter he could be arrested for not registering with the government that he was a hero because...his spider sense is like insider trading.

I need to explain how stupid this is.

To begin with the SHRA wasn’t enforced when Peter was running Parker Industries so he was literally not breaking the law. If a law is passed that wearing a watch is illegal you can’t go to prison because prior to that law’s passage you wore a watch.

Secondly...no....no the Spider Sense is really not like insider trading at all. Let’s presume it could warn him about dangerous business deals...that’s not insider trading at all, that’s literally Peter having better business instincts than everyone else. That’s not cheating or illegal it’s just having a natural advantage over other people.

Thirdly...Captain America is leading a resistance group....again.

This is the dumbest damn idea in the original Civil War story and for some reason even though Zdarsky wants this series to be ‘more realistic’ he replicates that stupidity.

Captain America’s plan in the original Civil War boiled down to going on the run, recruiting other superheroes, attacking the registered heroes and then....somehow this would repeal a law designed to keep heroes in check.

Let’s say that this is a more realistic world and the Registration act is totally reasonable. Putting aside how framing it as a bad thing does not then make any damn sense, Captain America’s method for fixing the problem is utterly nonsensical, especially for a guy who could be president by merely running for office. He’s Captain America for God’s sake he’d win and could repeal the law from within!

The final problem with this plotline in the issue is how it really has NOTHING to do with the other plotline, and how t weirdly hijacks the issue and becomes the main plotline when initially the book presented something else as the main thrust of the story; not the first time Zdarsky has basically superglued two plotlines together even though they have little-nothing to do with one another

That thing of course was Morlun. This opens up a whole other can of stupid we need to talk about.

So first of all Morlun shows up in 2006 not 2001, further fucking up the idea this is Spider-Man aging in real time. Morlun DID appear in a 2006 story of course, the Other, but that was his return not his debut. Why is Morlun debuting 5 years later than he should be? Because Zdarsky wants to include the most famous villain who debuted in the 2000s but actually wants to make the story about Civil War which did happen in 2006 that’s why.

Speaking of Morlun, I might be wrong here but...a fucking tree? That’s how he dies? I’m not even complaining he doesn’t come back in a clone body, I’m talking strictly about how a tree stabs him like he’s Mystique in Dark Phoenix. Maybe I’m wrong but I’m preeeetty sure he could survive that unless Life Story’s Morlun is pathetically weaker than his mainstream counterpart.*

More egregiously is Peter’s handling of Morlun. He explains Ezekiel showed up to warn him about Morlun’s coming.

In the original story these two events happened close together, Morlun appeared shortly after Ezekiel’s warning. Let’s say we let Zdarsky slide on the timeframe and even the fact that Morlun actually was looking for Ezekiel not Peter...why did Peter do nothing about this warning.

In the original story Ezekiel offers Peter a bunker to hide out in. Presumably he did the same in Life Story. But instead of taking advantage of this or warning Ben Reilly or his potentially spider empowered children Peter...ignores him?

WHY?!

Peter didn’t disbelieve Ezekiel, he just rejected his offer of sanctuary because he had responsibilities to live up to. In this story Peter has even bigger responsibilities and a family potentially at risk and he just...did nothing?

And low and behold his elderly wife and daughter have to flee for their lives whilst he dicks around in New York and his brother and son straight up DIE.

That’s 3/3 relatives named Ben who are dead because he was a selfish dickhead!

And before we dive into Peter’s character I just want to take a moment and lament how piss poorly Mary Jane has been treated this whole story.

Issue #1: She is little more than a background character

Issue #2: She is totally out of character, and just drunkenly yells unreasonably at Peter then gets unreasonably yelled at by him

Issue #3: She gets shit on by Peter, inadvertently Aunt May and is left being pregnant and giving birth to twins with a senile old health hazard for company, then gets yelled at for suggesting getting her health, then is tasked with going out alone in a dark and stormy night to potentially kill her super powered husband

Issue #4: She shows up at the end and just welcomes him back as her husband and the father of her kids no questions asked apparently

Issue #5: We continue to never get a word about how she feels about their general lives, of Peter and her reconciliation, of their children. She just waits and worries in front of the TV or runs away from Morlun. How the Hell does her daughter get more agency in this one issue than she has pretty much this whole series?

Anyway back to Peter....yeah this is not Peter Parker.

You know how Peter Parker is all about with great power there comes great responsibility....well Life Story Peter Parker totally isn’t.

He abandons his company, employees and superhero duties to an untrained, underprepared, equally old clone of himself who has to quickly learn how to pretend to be him, how to run a company and fight more experienced super villains whilst fending off a corporate takeover by the secretary of defence for the United States of America. And then he gets murdered by an indestructible (except to wood) mystic vampire that Peter neglected to mention to him.

Ben Reilly DIED directly because Peter was an idiot.

And selfish, don’t forget that. He moved his family out into the woods in a secluded area so that he wouldn’t interact with too many people and thus not feel the need to intervene. Let’s ignore how he was able to resist this urge in Spider-Girl for a moment. You are telling me Peter Parker abandoned his great responsibility by finding basically doing the equivalent of sticking his fingers in his ears, closing his eyes and yelling “lalalalalala If I can’t see or hear anyone in trouble I can’t be responsible for not helping them lalalala”

FUCK OFF ZDARSKY!

This is toxically against the entire premise of the character at this point and getting older wouldn’t change that. Apparently all it took to snap him out of this funk was Ben Reilly dying and a pep talk from his friggin teenage daughter!

All in all this is another beautifully drawn shit show of an issue in a string of beautifully drawn shit show issues.

*Oh and let’s not forget that Morlun just...knows where the fuck Peter lives. That isn’t one of his powers. He needs to make contact with his target in order to track them down anywhere they go. He can’t just generally sniff them out. It doesn’t even make sense if he was tracking his kids.

Not to mention this story claims you can hurt Morlun when he’s feeding. But that’s not his weakness. Radiation is something he’s vulnerable to. If you can just kill him or the Inheritors by attacking when they are feeding then Spider-Verse and Spider-Geddon wouldn’t have been as dangerous it’s not that difficult to kill them.

#Spider-Man #chip zdarsky #mark bagley #Peter Parker #Ben Reilly #Iron Man #Tony Stark #Morlun #Ezekiel Sims #Civil War #Civil War 2006 #Marvel Civil War #avengers #Captain America

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lumikinetic · 5 years

Text

*flops down on sofa*

*exhales*

Tumblr gives me a lot of wild shit every now and again. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's hilarious, sometimes it's disheartening. And then yesterday came along and gave me the one-two punch of:

Captain Marvel being dolled up by the Russos instead of a jacket, S.H.I.E.L.D baseball cap and a Nine Inch Nails shirt, which is how she should be (not gonna talk about this, just want it out there that I'm pissed about it)

One Day At A Time being cancelled

ODAAT I'm gonna kind of touch on because it's not really what I want to talk about, but it did help me finalize the words for what I do, and that's capitalism in entertainment.

The most annoying goddamn trend in filmmaking (and of course in TV and Netflix/Prime originals) is companies caring more about their bottom line and less about making good content, and yeah I know this dead horse isn't just beaten, it's thrown into an active supervolcano but it really pisses me off and it's why I hate the new Star Wars stuff (well OK hate is a bit strong but they're uh Not Good) but I'll get to that. What corpos can't seem to get into their bloated skulls is that one cannot exist without the other. You need to put out good, quality content with value so that fans like it so they give you money so they increase your profits so you can make more content and so on. But somewhere down the line some fuckhead went "what if we just pushed out what we have?" and just kinda expected us to not take notice.

Now before the comments section gets all hot and bothered because I know some people on this site don't have the gift of reading comprehension, I know profits are important, I'm saying when companies shun good filmmaking for more money, they get lazy and all they can think about is profit and not how they make that profit, they don't care at all about using that money to make more good, valuable content.

One Day At A Time

I've never watched One Day At A Time but the fact Netflix just outright cancelled it knowing damn well what it meant to the people the characters are representing is just disgusting. And they have the fucking audacity to blame it on the viewership? I've seen hundreds of artworks, gifs and a video clip here and there of this show. I've seen precisely one (1) meme of 13 Reasons Why and that is literally it. I'm not following the tags for either. Plus, #saveODAAT has, last I checked, 350k tweets on trending or thereabouts?

So obviously the viewership isn't the problem, it's the racism and homophobia of cancelling a Spanish (? - again, never seen it), LGBT+ focused show that a lot of people quite happily and positively connect with when a crap show about suicide and Friends gets to stay on. It's just ugh. Cancelling a show like this then paying something like $100mil to keep Friends. I was going to expand on the shitty capitalism here but tbh that's it, Netflix are making bad decisions and like I say, I'm only going to touch on it because it's not the main part.

Star Wars

Go watch the original trilogy and it's clear George Lucas was trying to create and do. He was trying to make art. The key difference between that and modern SW to me is BB8. Look at C3PO and R2D2 and already you can see they belong. C3PO is a translator droid and I'm not sure what exactly R2's job description is but it's obvious he does some kind of pilot assistance for X-Wing fighters. I never understood people who said R2 never did anything, because they obviously haven't seen Star Wars. You get that this is an R2 unit, right? Like, there's more than one out there and they have a job they were specifically built to do, it's just this one particular R2 unit who had to carry the message? Anyway, I'm derailing. R2 and C3PO have functions and they're clearly not new, they've been used for a long time. Then you look at BB8 and instantly it's like "this is a toy. This so called character was designed to sell toys". And then he was. He's a toy, he's on bags, notebooks, pens, clothes, everywhere. Disney is less concerned about making a Star Wars movie and more about making money off of the Star Wars name.

Into The Spider-Verse VS YA Movies

YA movies tend to suck because they were adapted from books and we all know how that pans out but the reason I'm using YA books specifically is because my mind jumped to The Hunger Games. I couldn't tell you a single fucking thing that happens in those movies. They're so dull and dead and forgettable and the characters are borderline unlikeable but you know which one I do like? Catching Fire, for one reason and one reason only: Jena Malone as Joanna Mason. Save for Haymitch, she's the only character I liked because those two are the only characters with any kind of charisma or life to them. They made an at most halfway decent attempt overall at recreating some otherwise really great books and they made a big show out of it, hiring some pretty well known names. And I'm not disparaging their performances, it was just what I call, ever since Suicide Squad came out, the Harley Quinn effect, in which good actors get given a good character and perform them really well and, through no fault of their own, fuck it up because the character was written poorly and no matter how well they act, if the script doesn't change, the performance will always be shit. The same for Divergent. And Percy Jackson. And Fault In Our Stars.

Then outside all of that you have Perks Of Being A Wallflower which is just a great, heartwarming movie because the characters feel like people and the brightness isn't turned way the fuck down in post and you actually want to be invested, and they're not afraid to have a colour palette beyond a splash of pink here and blue there and red there. Plus, Ant-Man as an English teacher. THEN you go watch Spider-Verse and oh hey. I can actually see the movie now. And I mean see it. They do not slack off when it comes to visuals. Even by animation's standards, everyone is so expressive and alive and... animated. Sorry, I couldn't get a better word but they are! When you look at Miles in comparison to Katniss in terms of writing and performance, the difference is just startling. The only times I can think of where Katniss shows any kind of emotion in the first movie is when she slams the knife in the table and Rue's funeral and I had to think about that. Without thinking for Miles, already I've got "who's Morales?", the scene where Uncle Aaron teaches him the shoulder touch, the scene where Miles spray paints in the subway, that scene in the alley, the moment in Olivia's office when he just freezes after she says she can't wait to watch Peter in immense pain Like That and made all the wlws melt in their seats. You get the idea. So what's the point for this section? Well, as simply as I can put it, Hunger Games was made with money, for money. Spiderverse was made with love, for love. Spiderverse cared about people who read comic books and paid more than enough tribute to the art forms people think of as lesser for no goddamn reason other than elitism and proved for the thousandth time that it is something that can be used in filmmaking. They were trying to make art. Hunger Games and most other YA novel movie adaptations saw a preestablished fan base they could exploit for money. They were trying to make money.

Rambo

This was a weird one, yeah. Don't worry I was confused too when it popped into my head. I saw the original Rambo a while back and what I liked about it (and Apocalypse Now) is it wasn't a war film where the USA charge in and hooray everything's all right, this movie grabs your shirt and says "hey. Vietnam did something to these guys and they're not OK. Probably they'll never be OK". Then I watched the Rambo reboot that came out in like 2011 or something and I remember thinking "OK so now he's just this dude? Who lives in Thailand... And what, that's it?" There was no scene to show his psychological state today. Nothing to acknowledge his PTSD. They just thought "hey! Let's make Rambo but this time, just give him guns and and yelling and spray some blood!" The reason I kind of ended this train of thought quickly is because I realised that, let's be real, the main body of Rambo's audience just want to see Sly Stallone kill some fools. But yeah, the fact that they just ignored John's mental state in place of mega violence is such a glaringly obvious move to just appeal to violent teenage boys.

The Auteur

My favourite director is Wes Anderson and my favourite movie is The Grand Budapest Hotel (though Panos Cosmatos seems to be eyeing these titles with Beyond The Black Rainbow and Mandy, I haven't watched them yet). Quentin Tarantino, Spike Lee, Wes Anderson, auteurs always stand out even though their movies are all the same, and I think the reason they're so successful is because that specific style is so much better than most other mainstream cinema. I'm not saying that those other movies are bad, I love them and will watch them again and again but I'm saying Wes Anderson could make a short movie and it would be better than most Marvel movies put together (don't talk to me about Captain Marvel, I haven't seen it yet. Gonna see it this Sunday). No matter what you think of these directors, you can instantly tell the difference between these movies that they care about and the passion and hard work they put in and Disney pumping out their 400th reboot.

It Keeps Working

You guys wanna know the thought that keeps me up at night? Someday they're going to make a Fortnite movie. You guys wanna know why it keeps me up at night? Because it's going to be popular. Yeah, obviously not at the box office, because it'll be a videogame movie and those are worse than book movies, but it will be popular for no apparent reason. And what pisses me off is that Fortnite's popularity is only because of the battle royale mode, which has now essentially become synonymous with dying franchises and it just adds another layer to the lack of creative effort and the movie will just be Hunger Games with guns. Exactly the same as what I said at the start of this rant, there's a really noticeable shift from making content to jumping on whatever bandwagon is passing by because you know it'll make you money. Yeah, you have to spend money to make money but that doesn't mean you get complacent in what you spend your money on or if you spend money at all because when you cut corners, consumers can see that shit.

Anyway I'm done complaining thanks for having the willpower to pay attention to my dumb opinions.

#discourse #odaat #one day at a time #capitalism #star wars #into the spiderverse #rambo #long post #hunger games #hunger games: catching fire #ya fiction #young adult fiction #netflix #eat the rich #corpo #captain marvel #marvel #disney

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darrowsrising · 5 years

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Hey there! It’s the girl who writes really long posts about Virginia. Feel free to spilt this up if it’s too much to post at once.

I saw this: You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about this thing: people think Virginia always manipulates people, even the ones she loves, because she said once that it came easy to her (and then there was a lot more stuff) And I couldn’t help but wonder if this was because of what I said?

Not gonna get too far into this because I think we’ve had a good discussion about Virginia already, but I thought maybe I didn’t write my thoughts clearly the first time around so I wanted to try again.

Virginia says she’s always been able to manipulate people, so I assumed if she knows that about herself it’s because she’s done it relatively often. But the book doesn’t really make a thing about it so can I say definitely that she manipulates people? No. As to whether you can manipulate someone unconsciously — IDK maybe you can’t. I was envisioning a scenario where you’re nice to someone to get them to go along with you and it’s only after a while that you realize you don’t even like them and it was just a reflex to charm them. Maybe that’s not a thing.

But I think I got caught up in all this does she or does she not manipulate people stuff and ignored my main point, which was that, for me personally, I found it hard to connect with Virginia’s character because I didn’t have a sense of what she wanted (like, what were her reformist views before she found out about Darrow?) and I felt like I never saw her actually struggling with anything personal or anything that felt like a character arc. One option could have been to dive deeper into this idea that she can manipulate people, but Pierce didn’t go that way and that’s fine. I was only brining it up as something I would have wanted to see. I’m not trying to label her or reduce her whole character to someone who’s just manipulative.

Honestly I feel like I’ve laid out a lot of logical/rational reasons why Virginia’s character didn’t totally work for me and given specific examples from the books and it’s a little frustrating because, maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like no matter what I say it’s just going to be interpreted as, you’re just a hater. I don’t hate Virginia I just didn’t completely love the way her character was handled and I have reasons that go beyond oh I just don’t like her.

I saw somebody post that you can recognize a character is well written but still not like them (that’s how I feel about Roque lol) but I think the inverse is true, too. You can point to things in the text you did not like about how a character was written and still respect that character and the fact that other people like them.

Astrea: Ok, contrary to popular opinion, I don't throw subtle shade. If I have something to say I'll say it without 'wanking around the bush' (Sevro would be so proud of this joke, tho). I explained my side of things about Virginia's manipulation skills on the last submission you send and that was that. Trust me or not, there are plenty of people who hate on Virginia and exacerbate some of her traits to make her fit into their hate mold (if that makes sense). I understood where you come from with your argument and I said what I thought about the subject and that was it. I'm not going to make a call out, because I'm not going to start shiteshows in the fandom, but Virginia being a 'manipulative bitch' is all over the internet and I found most in comment sections.

It's fairly easy to make a mountain of out molehills when it comes to 'arguments why I hate x character' and that's what I wanted to critique in that post. That exagerating traits to justify your hate for a character is not cool.

But it had nothing to do with what you said, I understood why you dislike Virginia and I decided it's your interpretation of her character and so, your buissness. You don't try to justify hatred or sometthing equally annoying.

Lastly, Virginia struggling is always implied. Just to name some stuff: she lost at Deimos, she admits she struggled alone (without Darrow), after Deimos she went into hiding in the Asteroid Belt and gave birth to Pax, she soon left him with Niobe and by the way motherhood changed her she was probably constntly worried about Adrius finding him or other 1 million things a mother worries about. I mean, I understand that the way it was handled was not so satisfactory (because we only find out about Pax at the end of MS), but that's because it's Darrow's pov. That's why I want her pov, because it's more to her than what even Darrow gets to see. And her story should be more than just implied stuff.

Anyway, other stuff!

I think one thing you said you wanted to talk more about was Dancer and the Vox Populi. Honestly? I kind of get where they’re coming from. It seems like life for most low colors hasn’t been great since the Republic was formed, and it does seem like all resources are going toward the war effort instead of things like education for low colors or affordable housing or something. To me the most interesting part of Lyria’s story was to see just how bad the Reds had it. And it does seem like Darrow and Company’s only real plan is, first we win the war and then we start actually taking care of people. I get why people would be mad about that.

All that said I fully expect it to turn out that the Vox Populi don’t really have the interest of the people at heart. I’m not sure about Dancer. I don’t trust him, but I also can’t see him teaming up with what’s left of the Ash lord’s forces or the rim? Maybe he genuinely believes that they could have made peace with the Ash lord? I mean, I get why they’d want to try. It does seem like they’re stretched really thin and it’s making their military weak. Also Darrow really should be following the laws if he wants anyone to take the Republic seriously (I’m not saying I’m mad at him for making bad choices, I like it when characters make bad choices, I’m only pointing out that it’s a bad idea to break the law so flagrantly).

On the other hand, I get where Darrow is coming from. His enemies aren’t going to stop until one side gets a definitive win.

This issue between Darrow and Dancer is really intriguing because I can see both sides of the argument. I expected the Vox Populi to play a bigger roll in Iron Gold but they kind of faded away after the first few chapters. Maybe with the Virginia POV coming in Dark Age we’ll see more of them. I think they’ll ultimately turn out to be bad guys, but who knows?

Astrea: I dislike the Vox Populi. I do understand the struggles the Reds face now. I understand that the Rrpublic isn't the promiseland they all expected it to be and I understand the anger. But the Vox's side of the argument, although it has very good basis, the rest is hay. Non offence, but peace with the people who want to enslave you back or torture and maim masses so that every last drop of demokracy has dried out? Let them continue to make slaves out of 'your brothers and sisters' as Dancer calls them? What, the Reds on Venus and Mercury don't matter? No offence, but the peace was a scam and Dancer a fool for ever believing in it. Also, since when does Dancer have a say on who is a Red or not anynore? Because he fucking started the trend and the rest of the Reds kept it going.

I understand that resources are concentrated on war, but this is not something you can help. This war ends when someone loses for good. If you try an defensive war that will make the resources even scarcer as it requires more and faster. If you try to make peace...lol! Have you seen these guys having any ounce of honour - enough to respect ceasefires or actually come to negotiate without murdering anyone?

Idk, maybe I'm biased on the issue, but while the core values of Vox Populi are good, the way they proceed about them is bleah!

Darrow mocking the laws, though, is something I agree that must be resolved. He made himself a rogue, though so that the people allied with him won't start some civil war in his name. But he must deal with the consequences of that. And it will suck. But honestly, sitting nice and obedient wouldn't have solved anything. Although the Ass Lord's death wasn't actually the key to winning, I think it'll help in the long run and besides, it's also good news that they found out about Atalantia's plans so they could stop them. If he just sat on his arse, Darrow would have just watched powerless from the comfort of house arrest as the Republic will lose the war.

It's not like Darrow doesn't understand the struggles the Reds go through atm. He blames himself for that. He lets his own people spit on him and feels guilty that he didn't end the war faster. Also, last time I checked, the Senate made those awful immigration rules. Dancer paints Darrow as an enemy instead of pushing for actual reforms that could help Reds.

I think the Vox Populi's brain is actually a villain. But I'll wait Dark Age to see for myself.

I saw those q&a things you posted from reddit — I forgot about those! I had not thought that Darrow viewed his relationship with Virginia in a negative light in the beginning of GS. It seemed like he really missed her wanted to be back with her — very interesting to know that wasn’t 100% the case.

Err...it always seemed to me that that was a given. I mean, Darrow does miss Mustang, but also reiterates that she distracts him every now and again and he pushes her away a lot until chapter 43. At the gala he pushes away his feelings for her and tells her things even he doesn't believe. After they talk a few times to solve some miscommunication or issues that they have, he still pushes her away and she accepts it before the Iron Rain. Even during chapter 43 they still are pushing each other away, until they can't do it no more.

Their relationship waas far from perfect even in Morning Star...though, that's the beauty of it.

On other topics, I gotta say I feel like it would be fine for the “tone” of the story if rape wasn’t included. Also, the rape that’s actually called rape (so setting aside pinks) is all of women. I get that there are plot reasons why Titus only attacks women, but what about his allies? What about Tactus? The book also doesn’t really follow any of the survivors of rape in any meaningful way. I know Nila (sp?) shows up here and there but she doesn’t have a huge part. So it does feel like the rape was included to show that a) Titius is horrible and b) to set Tactus off on his character arc. And I didn’t need rape for either of those things. I think it’s important to talk about rape because there is still a huge stigma against victims, so I’m not saying I never want to see rape depicted in media. At the same time, I’m fine with seeing less of it. And I think there are other ways to explore power dynamics and abuse of power.

That's a great take on it. Nyla was indeed present here and there as a commander of her own team in Reaper's Army. And she sometimes sang to her friends near the fire. She was supposed to go to Vienna to study music, but she got an invitation to the Institute and although seen as 'a better offer', we all know she couldn't refuse it for other reasons. Also, Nyla helped Virginia conquer Jackal's Keep by leading her team. Fortunately, Tactus was stopped in time, but I would have liked to see more of Nyla too. What we got was cool, but Darrow wasn't interested in her development after Tactus was properly dealt with.

We should include Pinks, because the abuse they suffer is horrendous and shouldn't just be brushed off. Evey mentions it in Golden Son.

Honestly though, I am not in the position to say what should go about this. I disliked Titus's arc from start to finish and the use of rape was one of the reasons why.

It could have been better handled? Of course! But it is what it is and I'll take it like it is. It wasn't ASOIAF/crime/thriller bad, but it could have been handled better. And I'll expect better from now on and that includes the tv series they plan on doing.

One last thing: I just saw Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and I’ve never wanted Red Rising to be an animated show more lol. The animation in Spider Verse is sooooo beautiful and while I don’t think that exact style would fit Red Rising, it shows you can have animation without being anime (not that I’d mind that but it seems like a lot of people don’t like that style). I just think animation would solve a lot of potential issues: you wouldn’t have to worry about finding a bunch of 7 footers to cast for all the golds, or casting two different Darrows (one Red one Gold), or doing the visual tricks/CGI to make characters the right size. Plus you could do so much more with fight scenes and space battles. I mean, I watch Game of Thrones and that show has a huge budget, and there are things that still don’t look great. Also, it would really set RR apart from the Hunger Games/Divergents/Maze Runners of the world. I know we won’t get it because ultimately a lot of people straight up won’t watch a “cartoon” but I can dream.

Astrea: Idk, people do watch Young Justice. And it's not a simple cartoon, it has pretty mature stuff. It's very hard to convince the dudes in entertaintment that a project should be animated, because there is a stigma around what audiences think of animations.

Although I don't doubt Pierce Brown thought of that possibility. Animating Red Rising would be indeed awesome. But I don't want it PG-13. I want Sevro to swear and I want to see blood and gore.

I do love the anime style though...mostly because it's not just one style, it depends on the studio and the manga artist (not all the time, but it happens).

Thank you for your submission!💖

#red rising trilogy #iron gold trilogy #submission

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doomonfilm · 5 years

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Ranking : Top Films of 2018

Here we are... that moment that every critic simultaneously loves and dreads : the Year-End Top 10 List. At worst, we are forced to scrape the creative dredges and cobble together something that resembles a best of list that will bring glory and honor to the year. At best (like this year), we are forced to leave personal favorites in the dust and judge the larger quantity of offerings on a much tougher scale in order to truly represent the top quality work of the year.

As I’ve said in many pieces this year, 2018 was a joy in terms of being a film-lover. This list was not an easy undertaking, and it more so resembles a snapshot of how I’ve felt over a judging period than it does a concrete group of selections in a fixed order. Take this list as more of a jumping off point for discovery than you do the gospel of DOOMonFILM.

Note : I am not sure when I will get a chance to see Vice or The Favourite, which I am sure will skew my results once I do see them... I will address those films in their respective reviews, however. Forgive me in advance.

Honorable Mentions

Damsel Even if the Zellner Brothers weren’t representing Austin beautifully with this gem of a film, it’d still be on my radar simply for the fact that it is a unique twist on a genre that most figured had seen every presentation imaginable. Add to that a strong female lead character, and you’ve got a winner on your hands.

The Endless A science-fiction modern day classic, and apparently part of a possibly bigger line of stories (with some of the best integration of aspects from another film I’ve ever seen). This film is chilling in its approach to the concept of cults, as well as its use of the concept of ‘the danger that lurks just off-screen’.

Isle of Dogs Had this year not been full of stellar animated films, this one probably would have made the main list. More groundbreaking animated films, combined with personal feelings about the films of Wes Anderson, however, regulated this one to Honorable Mention status.

Mid90s I was all set for Eighth Grade to be my bit of nostalgia, or my reflection on what it’s like to be a kid again, and for what it’s worth, it was a great film. The thing is, Mid90s directly spoke to me in a way that Eighth Grade unfortunately could not, simply because Mid90s was like looking in a time-traveling mirror.

Thoroughbreds I really wanted this to be on my top 10, but ultimately, it was too ‘quiet’ of a film to make it in a year full of big noise. Thoroughbreds will certainly be a future favorite for public screenings and friend viewings, but a couple of films this year hit the same notes on a higher frequency.

Black Panther The cultural impact of this film is one that cannot be ignored. It took February, a month that is generally a box office bust, and it put up unparalleled numbers that not only lasted throughout the year, but were topped from within rather than by another Hollywood studio. The respect given to the characters and their African heritage did not go unnoticed, either, as several think-pieces and a number of curriculum were spawned from those researching elements of the production design. The narrative is strong, and it righted the Marvel villain boat prior to the big MCU bombshell that was lying in wait.

The Favourite I really wanted this to make the top 10 of the year... I thought long and hard about what film I should remove or replace. What I came to realize, however, is that despite The Favourite being a world-class comedy and production, it simply falls short in the realm of the spectacular : it does not contain visual innovations, it is not a reflection of the times, and it didn’t completely break my brain. That being said, on any given day, I’d happily name this one of the top 10 films of 2018... it’s essentially like having 11 cakes on the table and having to pick the 10 best.

Avengers : Infinity War This movie was the true film event of the year. Marvel has been building up to this singular event for nearly two decades, and in my opinion, the payoff more than succeeded. Thanos tiptoed the line between anti-hero and villain with purpose perfectly, and the rapport between characters worked both in terms of advancing narratives and being mined for humor. I am definitely looking forward to Avengers : Endgame this April, and I know the masses are right there with me.

10. BlacKkKlansman

Not that I ever doubted Spike Lee had it, but after a few abstract offerings and documentaries, one wonders if their style can translate into an ever-expanding world of film language. Luckily for Lee, it seems the world has grown into his cinematic vision, with an older true story serving as the perfect backbone for many of Lee’s trademark tricks to be implemented for maximum effect. The ending will put you in tears if you have anything closely resembling a soul.

9. Blindspotting

This film really deserved a bigger run than it got, as it hit race relations of today on the nose without coming off as preachy or heavy-handed. Daveed Diggs proved that his charisma translated on both stage and screen, and his integration of hip-hop into both realms will hopefully have positive long-lasting effects. The chemistry between all members of this cast is kinetic, the story is told with perfect pacing, and the movie rides visual highs that match the narrative ones. I would love to see this movie receive some high-degree nominations.

8. Annihilation

I came into 2018 with high expectations for this film, as I’d spent the previous 16 months or so completing the Southern Reach trilogy in its book form. Then I started hearing things about the production and the release that gave me a bad feeling : a Netflix distribution deal that seemed to all but kill a true theatrical run, trepidation from the studio in regards to the director’s vision, and other whispers that attempt to sink a film. Then I saw this movie, and was taken away to a completely different world. We may not be getting a faithful, trilogy-length adaptation of the series anymore based on what happens in Annihilation, but if these are the moments I’m left with, I’d consider myself happy in the long run.

7. First Reformed

It took me longer than I intended to get around to this one, but knowing that Paul Schrader wrote and directed it made it a must-see. The film was drawing comparisons to Taxi Driver (not a surprise, based on the aforementioned Schrader involvement), and surprisingly, it more than lived up to that hype. The tension is equal, but updated to reflect the times in a way that could impact any of us.

6. Suspiria

This movie will make it extremely hard for me to blanket-debate against remakes simply because it does all of the right things in regards to updating a classic. The film does not rely on existence as a new millenium version of an old film... rather, it boldly takes concepts only touched upon in the original and fully embraces them, presenting a true psychological horror gem in a year full of them. The film also looks amazing on top of everything, which was a high bar to meet considering the original movie is basically driven by its visual style. A 2018 must-see, film buff or not.

5. Spiderman : Into the Spider-Verse

Easily the most fun I’ve had in a theater all year. I was blown away by the animation, and can’t wait to see further installments of the Spider-verse specifically to see how that enhances over the years. There was such a high volume of homage and Easter Egg placement in this film that it warrants repeat viewings, and it was one of a handful of films that I wanted to instantly own as I was walking out of the theater.

4. Mandy

Like Spider-Man : Into the Spider-verse, I wanted to own this movie the second I walked out of the theater as well. The trailers intrigued me, a recommendation of Beyond the Black Rainbow fully sold me, and the final product did not disappoint. This film certainly is not for everyone, and funny enough, the two biggest aspects that would place it on that ‘not for everyone’ list sit in opposition of one another : the film is a bit indulgent on the style at the sake of what would be considered normal pacing, and it has some extremely violent moments. That being said, Mandy is easily one of, if not THE, most beautiful films of the year.

3. Roma

This seems like the closest thing to a Fellini film that us modern day film lovers will ever get. The story itself is intriguing, as it juxtaposes class issues, political issues and the barrier of trying to raise a family in a crazy world all in an intriguing tapestry. The cinematography is calculated, observational, and the choice to film the movie in black and white adds an instant timeless quality to it. Director Alfonso Cuaron even manages to get in a little cinematic and visual humor, albeit mostly subtly, but it definitely pays off if you’re in tune to what he’s doing. Easily one of the best pictures of the year, worldwide, and a party that I was certainly late to.

2. You Were Never Really Here

If Mandy is a bit too over the top for your tastes, then You Were Never Really Here may be the jarring experience you need in 2018. This film is almost as visually stunning, but the narrative is far more calculating, deceptive and intriguing, both on the surface and as you dig deeper. The hectic camera setups, editing and score put you in such a disjointed state of mind that Joaquin Phoenix becomes the only thing you can hang on to, and your involvement in his journey is completely immersive. In a year of performances that focus on the anti-hero, this film found a way to scrape to the top of the pile.

1. Hereditary

Something strange is happening here... who would have thought that a horror film would be my favorite film of the year? Hereditary is no run of the mill horror film, however... it treats its audience as intelligent, and there is so much texture in the film that it’s impossible to see it all without multiple viewings. The close of the first third of the film is horribly unsettling, but it propels the narrative forward so abruptly and intensely that you’re locked in from there out. A genius film, and an instant classic.

(Editor’s notes)

- Original post date : 12/27/18 - Revision date : 1/8/19 (Roma added to position 3, Black Panther moved to Honorable Mentions) - Revision date : 1/10/19 (The Favourite added to Honorable Mentions) - Revision date : 1/22/19 (Suspiria added to position 6,Avengers : Infinity War moved to Honorable Mentions)

#ChiefDoomsday #DOOMonFILM #TopFilms2018 #Damsel #TheEndless #IsleOfDogs #Mid90s #Thoroughbreds #BlackPanther #BlacKkKlansman #Blindspotting #AvengersInfinityWar #Annihilation #FirstReformed #Spider-ManIntoTheSpider-Verse #Mandy #YouWereNeverReallyHere #Hereditary

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honeylikewords · 5 years

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Hey, K, I know it’s been days but you still feel like infodumping about Spiderverse? :o

pettyprocrastination said to jonedwardbernthal:Hello yes I loved into the spiderverse with my heart and soul please info dump I require sustenance

YES I DO WANT TO INFODUMP ABOUT SPIDERVERSE THANK YOU FOR ASKING

okay okay so i’m gonna put this all under a cut for those who haven’t seen the movie and wish to remain spoiler free, and i’ll also put a couple images so that mobile users (who sometimes automatically see the post, apparently?) to warn them to scroll past!

(pls enjoy my crappy ms paint warning banner ghskhgdk)

SO FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY that genuinely, this movie changed my life. I have never been as excited or happy about a movie as I was with this one, and can find few (if any) flaws with it. I would have to be hyper-nitpicky if I wanted to point out anything wrong with it, but overall, I gotta say, this movie inspired me, made me cry, made me laugh out loud, made me shake and jitter with excitement.

I should point out that, yes, the visuals can be kinda jarring, especially for sensitive people like me who react to flashing stimulus and abrupt movement very poorly, but I honestly LOVED the visual aspect of the film. The character design is incredible, the animation is so unique and stunning, and every single person has this wonderful individuality in the way they look and move that it just blows me away. This movie is already a frontrunner for an Oscar in the animation category, apparently, and it’s easy to see why.

The writing is also impeccable, with a quick pace and genuine humanity to it, and it feels so bright and alive! The way people talk is so full of character and personality, and Miles’ codeswitching is adorable and fun to listen to, and everyone has such a special and unique personality that comes through how they speak. The voice acting is INCREDIBLE and the array of the cast is SO awesome and I LOVE everyone who was in it!

I literally am so excited about everything that I’m having a hard time keeping this post linear and sensical, but I just! Love it so much!

Some people criticize the film by saying that it’s not really the “first black Spiderman movie” because Miles “shares the spotlight”, but, honestly? That didn’t come across to me at all. This movie felt entirely centered on Miles. Yes, Peter B. Parker played a big role, but, like, every movie has supporting characters and co-mains. I understand the frustration, but that’d kinda be like saying that Captain America: The First Avenger isn’t Steve’s story because Peggy gets screentime and so does Bucky. But I also do get where people are coming from and I find the frustration very valid.

But I LOVE all the spider-people, and they didn’t actually overwhelm the movie. Peni, SpiderNoir, and SpiderHam all took backseats. They were fun additions, but didn’t ever detract from the experience of this being Miles’ story. Even Gwen didn’t derail the film, or even Peter B.! They all stayed in their lanes and moved Miles’ story along, more like the wheels propelling him than roadblocks obfuscating his progression.

I loved every one of the characters, and I got so attached to all of them; Miles’ family really stands out to me, because they are such strong and loving characters, and it is so, so sadly rare to see loving black families portrayed like this. Jefferson, Miles’ dad, is allowed to be flawed without ever crossing the line into “bad dad” territory. He’s allowed to be wrong but still love his son and be doing the absolute best for him. Even Miles’ “bad” uncle, Aaron, made me cry and love him. When Aaron died, I was horrified (mostly because, I mean, god, we really did not need to see another black man getting shot by a white guy...), but they also never demonized Aaron, or downplayed the tragedy of his loss. He was heroic, even in his mistakes, and I think that was really noble on the part of the storytellers.

The movie just feels so lived in and loved and human, and you can tell that it’s just a work of art and love and passion. It’s a game-changer. I legitimately consider it the best Marvel movie ever made, on par with Black Panther in terms of artistic value and importance. It’s the fun of Thor: Ragnarok and the art and significance of Black Panther rolled into one, unique, amazing bundle that has forever set the bar for how I want movies, especially movies intended for families and children to be.

“Anyone can wear the mask” means something. It may sound like a cheesy cop-out, but it means that we don’t have to look up to Perfect Pillars Of White Heroism as our standards. It means black children from Brooklyn are heroes. Jewish people are heroes. Women are heroes. Asian people are heroes. Even Miles’ parents are heroes, and it shows the wide gamut of good people and what we owe to each other. While neither Rio nor Jefferson Morales-Davis are “superheroes”, they are legitimate heroes, doing their part to make the world a better place.

Also, check THIS:

Just saying!

Anyway, moving on; the jokes in the movie are awesome, and my family has been throwing them back and forth ever since we saw the movie. SpiderHam’s t-pose ascension into the black hole and “keep this, it’ll fit in your pocket” had us in tears. SpiderNoir and the Rubik’s cube? Incredible. Peter B. crying in the shower? Artistry.

AND NOW FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT THE AFTER CREDITS SCENE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HOLDING IT IN FOR S O L O N G

When I read that Oscar had a cameo in the movie, I needed to know. It was the only spoiler I allowed myself to know about, and when I heard he was going to be Spider-Man 2099/Miguel O’Hara, I flipped. I read nothing else about the scene, and wanted to go in blind, but I researched Miguel and, well, you know, I fell in love!

His scene was SO good and SO funny and I LOVE Miguel SO much, you have no idea. I am SO excited for him to be in the next movie (fingers crossed!) and can’t wait to see more of him. I do hope they give him more screen time, because he’s a great character, and because it’d be amazing to have a Latino Spider-Man AND a Afrolatino Spider-Man! And because, you know, more Oscar is always ideal.

I love, love, love Miguel, and Oscar was so funny (he has amazing comedic timing and such great range, omg), and I am desperate to see more of him. I haven’t stopped bombarding my poor friend Cydney with love and affection for Miggy in, like, two weeks. I’m sure she’s sick of it by now. Also, I kinda wanna write stuff about Miggy, lowkey, as self-indulgence, but for now I’ll just keep that foolishness to myself lol.

Miguel O’Hara Is My Boyfriend Now ghdkhgkldhg

Anyway, the movie is chock-full of amazing things, both from an artistic/cultural standpoint and from a Marvel-fan standpoint: so many easter eggs and little surprises, so much amazing writing, so much amazing character design, just!! So! Good! Please go see it immediately, because I’m itching to see it again and don’t know how I can resist going in for a second watch.

Also, Peter B. Parker is Jewish and it’s canon and if you want to step up and fight me about it, feel free to, but I will kick your ass. I will. Know this. Jewish Spider-Man FOREVER, FOOLS. No one is allowed to thirst after him if they also ignore his being Jewish or disrespect it, so if you wanna love him, you gotta love his Judaism too, or I’ll fist-fight you behind the Denny’s at 3 am and knock you the hell out.

also john mulaney’s cussing outtakes for spiderham are the funniest thing on earth and i’m crying

OH and I have the art book for the movie and everything is so *kisses fingers like an Italian cook* B E A U T I F U L! And the soundtrack? BOY I TELL YA I was listening to it for WEEKS in advance even when there were only three songs released and some of those tracks are, like, incredibly powerful, whooh.

Anyway GO SEE SPIDERVERSE. I LOVE IT. ALL OTHER SPIDER-MAN MOVIES ARE DOOKIE BY COMPARISON.

I have more I could say but I’m so excited I’m bouncing around and going hog wild dgkgdhgkg i love spider verse

#spiderverse #messages #spoilers #into the spiderverse spoilers #miggy: LOOK AT YOUR FINGER LOOK AT IT YOU ARE POINTING AT ME #me wiping tears from my eyes: i cant believe i love you so freakin much #Anonymous

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the-rolling-libero · 5 years

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What are some observations you have about about the current arc of HXH that youve seen little, if any, discussion of anywhere else? For example Idk if this was obvious but I think the Guardian Spirit beasts are meant to keep the class structure of Kakin in place by making assasination of the Hui Guo Rou family by the "lower classes" nigh impossible

honestly? most of the current arcs remain generally un-discussed in the circles that I’m in (although that may just be who I’m following). A lot of hxh is only really understandable in context bc the author lays down so much forehadowing. So much cannot only be understood after the game is played out, and frankly, I’m not clever enough to figure it out beforehand– never have been, likely never will be, and that’s fun! It’s well written enough that I can go back and enjoy things with the context of knowing what will happen– like watching Greed island after watching the conclusion of the chimera arc, understanding how the absolute victory that Gon craves, his complex on how he must save everyone or he is worth nothing, will manifest further along in his journey, is fulfilling in a narrative sense only after you have seen in come to fruition. And that main thing that I’ve observed in the latest arc is that I believe that this arc is to Kurapika what the Chimera ant arc was to Gon.

Although it doesn’t focus on interpersonal relationship to the same extent that the Chimera ant arc did (thus far, as even the Chimera ants focused largely on narrative > personal stuff to start with), this is the chance that Kurapika needs to fully come into himself. In a lot of ways, the narrative of hunterxhunter is Trauma > first attempt to overcome > failure, in some capacity > second attempt, compromising the absolute approach that characterised their first attempt > a sense of peace, even if the initial goal was not accomplished. Kurapika has undergone those initial steps in how he dealt with the spiders, and now has to approach that new trauma in the light of his experiences and his new responsibilities– namely caring for a person younger and infinitely more defenceless than himself, that he cannot help but invest in. If we’re looking for things that are undiscussed, I think the relationship between Kurapika and the Prince Wobble himself– not just his mother, the queen– is worth looking at. Here we have a character who serially under-prioritizes himself in lieu of his goals, volunteering to undergo what is essentially an escort mission, and having to form real relationships along the way. Last time Kurapika had a team, and worked with other bodyguards, they were massacred (in the Yorkshin arc). His caution in forming new relationships is clear, even in the people he’s teaching nen to, but he cannot help but come to care and defend the Prince and his mother. This is a significant step in his character arc, as it’s the first time he has actually taken action for those who are living– even when he formed bonds with the Main Squad, it rarely defined his actions; it would be very easy for Kurapika to do the bare minimum in this arc, but he doesn’t. He never does. And the way that he treats himself begins to have consequences with the explanation of emperor time.

For me, I think this is the arc of ‘effect’ in the process of cause and effect for Kurapika. His lifestyle of solitude and self destruction are unsustainable, and this is really visible in his relationship with the young prince. He wants to care, and before his consumption with rage overcame his caring (see him ignoring Leorio’s/ other friends’ phone calls) but due to the coordination of goals and personal involvement, he now longer has that luxury, and due to the time passing in this arc, he’s forced to deal with the consequences of his choices– and both these things coinciding in no coincidence. Togashi is Big Good Writer. That Kurapika is forced to face all his problems all at once is a really big point of this arc! The heavily narrative style suits Kurapika (beyond the fact that Togashi has taken to narrative> illustration) as the strategist character and does good due to the his overwhelming intellect, but it also, despite itself, is an illustration of how Kurapika overthinks his situations, planning for every hypothetical and exhausting both himself and the reader. This may be a coincidence, but I don’t think it is– Kurapika’s planning for every possibility, when explained through the eyes of Gon in the exam arc, seemed reasonable, even wise– in the current arc it feels desperate, like he’s straining for possibilities just out of his grasp in an attempt to outhink not one but a dozen opponents simultaneously; too far for even him. I believe that a breakdown is not far off in Togashi’s writing– that not even Kurapika can keep it together through all of this without breaking a sweat. And I think that the narrative that Togashi has set up is distinct from how he set up the character breakdown of Gon– but essential moments for him as a writer are when characters challenge what the believe in, why they believe it, and how they live as a result of that. For Kurapika, in the manga that moment has never come; it was hinted at after the murder of Uvogin but never fully realized as a character shift. That’s the setup that the current arc is capitalizing on builiding.

In regards to the assassination thing, I think the point of this arc is less the politics of assassination and kingship, and more politics of personality, though the class structure does certainly play a significant role. It’s supposed to emphasize a fair play system, while at the same time encouraging dirty play around it– a contrast that I don’t think is accidental. I think Togashi, in creating this impossible system, is highlighting the hypocrisy of the princes. Some of the first characters he introduces talk about their great love for one another while simultaneously plotting one anothers’ demise, not to mention how endemic this in the queen-guard system. The political system here is created to maintain the status quo– if surreptitious dirty play is expected, those with more resources, i.e the first princes, are much more able to do so. Some may even have people who are committed to dying for them, as has been revealed as the case with the curse-guards, while the younger princes struggle to find a single person willing to defend them to even a regular extent.l

Yet while this exists, in the same way that nen rules or the rules of dodgeball or greed island existed, I don’t think that’s the point. I think politics is the outside of things, while the personal dynamics that Togashi lets you into is the real meat of the matter, and that’s why he’s progressively revealed more and more about the personalities of the princes and how they relate to their guards; if the arc cared to remain Kurapika centric, he could certainly do that! Not a lot of personal feelings were revealed in the exam arc, which included a vast number of characters, and many deaths could easily happen off screen. And yet, like Razor in Greed Island, what matters is less tha rules than how someone plays them, based on their personalities and past experiences. Frankly I’m not as well versed in the current arc as I should be, but I believe the personal dynamics of the princes, and how those interact to either exploit or ignore the rules is more the point of this arc; that power is an effect of outside forces but also how those forces are played within and against one another, how one might manipulate perception and reaction to achieve a goal, and what sacrifices to your humanity one might have to make. This works towards what I think is Togashi’s– and many writers’– goal; to ask what human means, and to ask what a person does that makes that hit or miss that mark.

I’m ranting, but that’s a Big Ole answer there.

#hxh #hunter x hunter #kurapika #askdhaksjd this got so long sorry

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review

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This Spider-Man: Miles Morales review contains spoilers.

At the dawn of a new console generation, Insomniac Games brings us the PlayStation-exclusive Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a continuation of the studio’s excellent Marvel’s Spider-Man. It’s a full-bodied game with a compelling, emotional story at its heart, and while much of the game will feel familiar to those who have played its predecessor, the storytelling and characters have a distinctive tone that sets the game apart.

The story picks up one year after the conclusion of the first game, with teenage hero Miles Morales sitting under Peter Parker’s proverbial learning tree, helping the OG webhead keep New York City safe and learning on the job. When Peter goes on holiday with Mary Jane to Europe, Miles is left as the city’s sole protector, and it’s not long before he’s put to the test. Urban warfare breaks out between shady tech corporation Roxxon and a mysterious mastermind named the Tinkerer. Throughout the game’s campaign, we follow Miles as pushes himself to the breaking point to keep the peace.

What I appreciated most about the story is that it’s deeply personal and more culturally in tune with New York City’s diverse communities. Outside of his superheroics, Miles is anchored by his city council-campaigning mom, Rio Morales, his social media-savvy best friend Ganke, and his “other best friend” Phin, with whom he built an “energy converter” at the tech academy they attended (they’re…giant nerds).

Some of the best games released this year have featured people of color in prominent roles, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is no exception, boasting a diverse and fleshed out cast. Miles and his mom move from Brooklyn to Harlem at the story’s outset, and it’s clear the developers took the time to ensure that the game reflected what these neighborhoods and communities are all about. The game’s title screen features a close-up of Miles’s 6-inch Timbs on an NYC subway, at one his mom buys them dulce de coco while out on the street, and on several occasions we see residents of Harlem calling Miles’s Spider-Man “OUR Spider-Man.” I’ve got absolutely nothing bad to say about Peter Parker or the mainline Spider-Man franchise, yet it’s such a joy to see blockbuster superhero stories being told that don’t revolve around white men.

It’s important to note that this review is based on the PlayStation version of the game. While the graphically enhanced PS5 version will undoubtedly look spectacular, I’ve got to say that this game already looks dazzling on current-gen hardware. The New York Cityscape from the first game is as picturesque as ever, except this time you get to see the city blanketed in snow, with Miles swinging up and down Manhattan in the wintertime as the city readies for the holidays.

The game looks smoother and more refined than its predecessor. Lighting, shadow effects, and texture quality seem to have been improved, but what really stands out is the animation. Insomniac did a great job with character animations in the first game (the game’s excellent motion blur effects aid this greatly), and the studio has managed to push things even further. Characters move and gesture more naturally than ever before. Miles’s movement reflects his personality and age in an interesting way, too–he’s less confident and experienced than Peter, so his swinging and fighting are a bit less elegant and slightly more awkward.

The animation is of course driven by the gameplay, which is fundamentally the same as what we saw in the original game but sees some interesting tweaks, particularly in regards to enemy encounters. While Peter Parker’s three skill trees were “Innovator,” “Defender,” and “Webslinger,” which focused on combat, evasion, and traversal, respectively, Miles’s three trees are “Combat Skills,” “Venom Skills,” and “Camouflage Skills.”

“Combat Skills” improve melee attacks and give you perks that shorten cooldown times, allow you to perform more effective disarm techniques, and more. “Venom Skills” harness Miles’ newly acquired “Venom Power,” which allows him to charge objects and fry enemies with crackling bolts of electricity that can break through armor, take down gigantic foes like the rampaging Rhino, and even launch Miles and his enemies high into the air (this affects traversal as well). “Camouflage Skills” revolve around Miles’s other new ability, to turn invisible for a period of time, with the various skills in the tree bolstering your ability to take enemies out stealthily.

Miles’s venom power and camouflage abilities help enemy encounters stand out from the first game while maintaining the same fluidity of combat that Insomniac perfected in the original. The combat system isn’t without its flaws, though. For example, things can get a little messy and too cluttered when a ton of enemies are all lunging and shooting at you at once, which can make it almost impossible to follow the action or discern what the Spider Sense indicators are telling you. A few of these hectic action sequences resulted in my death, which felt a little cheap, but turning invisible also saved my ass numerous times in tense situations. Overall, though, the combat is on par with what you’ve come to expect from this franchise. The stealth elements were also a blast to mess around with, especially in combination with the venom powers.

Release Date: Nov. 12, 2020 Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), PS5 Developer: Insomniac Games Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment Genre: Action-adventure

There are a multitude of missions and tasks to complete around the city, including enemy base takeovers, hidden enemy caches, and ability trials that earn you new skills. I loved the latter—Peter set up the trials for Miles, and his commentary during these sections via “hard-light” hologram is hilarious.

The game also offers a new way to accept missions in the form of a social media app Ganke creates where civilians in need can connect with Miles directly. There’s also a “Social Feed” tab that’s been added to the pause menu where you can read comments from people around the city and watch Rio Morales interact with her supporters as she campaigns for city council. It’s a supplemental feature that you can choose to ignore, though it does help flesh out the game world. I appreciated Insomniac’s commitment to making New York feel alive with activity and social interaction, and it definitely added to my experience in a good way.

But again, what truly makes Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales such a worthwhile experience is the story, and it unfolds nicely, with a central plot twist that isn’t simply meant to surprise you—it adds depth to the narrative and raises the emotional stakes about as high as they can get. This is a story about New York’s marginalized communities, embracing one’s true self, and the sacrifice it takes to exceed expectations.

I’ll try to avoid spoilers here, but I do have one major gripe with the storytelling. One of the main character arcs in the game feels disingenuous and unearned, especially toward the end of the game. The story sets this character up nicely in the beginning and conveys a clear sense of who they are, but the way they behave at the end of the game just feels too extreme and doesn’t make much sense. This wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it definitely left me scratching my head.

Insomniac created one of the best superhero games of all time in Marvel’s Spider-Man, and all of the things that made that game great are still present in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Swinging around New York is as exhilarating as ever, and the new weather effects Insomniac has implemented — a brutal thunderstorm late in the game is a standout — look fantastic and a bit more depth to the game world.

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One of the geekier appeals of the original game was the array of unlockable costumes, and the feature returns with even more awesome costumes for Miles to don. His version of the 2099 costume is one of my favorites, as is the Into the Spider-Verse suit, which is sure to please fans of the runaway 2018 hit movie.

There are a ton of surprises and tie-ins to the first game that are revealed as you play Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales which I can’t reveal here, but it’s safe to say that Insomniac isn’t anywhere near done telling this story. I had a great time with the game, and while some will probably complain that the campaign is a tad short, I respectfully disagree. It took me around 16 hours to complete the main story (I often got lost in side missions and aimless swinging on the way), and this honestly felt like the sweet spot length-wise. The story felt tight with little filler, the gameplay never grew stale, and I enjoyed myself from beginning to end.

The post Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Review appeared first on Den of Geek.

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