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goryhorroor · 3 months

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Upcoming horror movies (some without release years) - not in order

Longlogs - FBI Agent Lee Harker is assigned to an unsolved serial killer case that takes an unexpected turn, revealing evidence of the occult. Harker discovers a personal connection to the killer and must stop him before he strikes again.

Nosferatu - A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.

Bermuda - Unknown details but it will be set in the mysterious patch of the Caribbean where planes and ships have gone missing over the years.

Twisters (ok thriller but imma count it because i can) - A sequel to the 1996 film about stormchasing scientists studying tornados.

Immaculate - Cecilia is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside, where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbors dark and horrifying secrets.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire - The film centers on the Spengler family as they return to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Mickey's Mouse Trap - follows a group of friends who become targets of a serial killer dressed as Mickey Mouse

Imaginary - When Jessica moves back into her childhood home with her family, her youngest stepdaughter Alice develops an eerie attachment to a stuffed bear named Chauncey she finds in the basement. Alice's games with Chauncey become increasingly sinister, and Jessica intervenes only to realize Chauncey is much more than the stuffed toy bear she believed him to be.

Skeletons in the Closet - Haunted by a malevolent spirit since childhood, a desperate mother allows herself to become possessed in order to save the life of her terminally ill daughter.

Lisa Frankenstein - love story about a misunderstood teenager and her high school crush, who happens to be a handsome corpse. After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness… and a few missing body parts along the way.

Winnie The Pooh: Blood & Honey 2 - oh yay? I guess a sequel

Adrift - It is described as a supernatural ghost story set aboard a ship. It is an adaptation of a short story by Koji Suzuki

Dustbunny - It follows a young girl who asks her neighbor to help her kill a monster under her bed after she thinks it has eaten her family.

Faces of Death - follows a woman who discovers violent videos that recreate death scenes from movies online.

Heretic - two religious women who become the focus of a strange man's games.

History of Evil - In the near future, war and corruption have plagued America and turned it into a theocratic police state. Against the oppression, ordinary citizens have formed a group called The Resistance. One such member, Alegre Dyer, breaks out of political prison and reunites with her husband Ron and daughter Daria. On the run from the militia, the family takes shelter in a remote safe house. But their journey is far from over, as the house’s dark past begins to eat away at Ron, and his earnest desire to keep his family safe is overtaken by something much more sinister.

MaXXXine - Six years after the ‘Texas Pornhouse Massacre’, Maxine is now LA-based and on a driven quest to become a star in the acting world. But things take a sinister turn when bodies once again begin to fall around her.

Dracula - A futuristic sci-fi western version of Dracula.

Apartment 7A - Prequel to the 1968 film Rosemary’s Baby.

Baghead - follows a young woman who inherits a run-down pub and discovers a dark secret within its basement. Enter Baghead - a shape-shifting creature that will let you speak to lost loved ones, but not without consequence.

Out of Darkness - In the Old Stone Age, a disparate gang of early humans band together in search of a new land. But when they suspect a malevolent, mystical, being is hunting them down, the clan are forced to confront a danger they never envisaged.

Stopmotion - stop-motion animator by the name of Ella whose latest project might just be driving her to the brink of madness.

Late Night with the Devil - 1970s talk show host Jack Delroy on his last legs, wrung out by personal tragedy and in need of a ratings win. His plan to feature as a guest a young girl who is allegedly possessed seems like a Halloween night layup… until the cameras roll and all hell literally breaks loose.

You'll Never Find Me - An isolated man living at the back of a desolate caravan park is visited by a desperate young woman seeking shelter from a violent storm. As the savage storm worsens, these solitary souls begin to feel threatened – but who should really be afraid?

The First Omen - When a young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, she encounters a darkness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate. (this might be a prequel to the omen)

Abigail - After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

Return to Silent Hill - James, a man broken after being separated from his one true love. When a mysterious letter calls him back to Silent Hill in search of her, he finds a once-recognizable town transformed by an unknown evil. As James descends deeper into the darkness, he encounters terrifying figures both familiar and new and begins to question his own sanity as he struggles to make sense of reality and hold on long enough to save his lost love.

Infested - invasion of venomous spiders, forcing residents of a suburban building to find a way out.

Tarot - Tarot follows a group of friends who recklessly violate the sacred rule of Tarot readings – never use someone else’s deck. In the wake of broken rules, consequences follow, this time in the form of unleashing an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards.

The Strangers Chapter 1 - a couple, have to survive the night while being terrorized by masked strangers in a remote Airbnb in Oregon

The Watchers - the film follows a young woman who becomes trapped with three strangers in a shelter deep within a forest in Ireland where the group must fight off mysterious creatures every night in order to survive.

Never Let Go - a family who has been tormented by an evil spirit for years as their lives become more dangerous when one of the kids questions if the evil is real.

The One - Follows character Taylor as she becomes a contestant on a reality TV dating show to find love. Taylor's experience takes a turn as she gets down to the final three and becomes terrified of not finding love (with a horror twist)

Thread: An Insidious Tale - new actors who play a husband and wife who use a spell to travel back in time to prevent their daughter's death, which has worse consequences than imagined

Weapons - The movie is about the disappearance of high school students in a small town, similar to the movie Magonlia's from 1999

A Quiet Place: Day One - New characters in New York

Alien: Romulus - takes place between the first & second movies

Beetlejuice 2 - not much is known about the plot details, but Beetlejuice will have a wife & Lydia's daughter will be in it

Speak No Evil: this is the English remake (all it really says; but it's just the 2022 movie but English?)

Smile 2 - it's a sequel but no details have been revealed

Terrifer 3 - not too many details revealed but it will take place on Christmas Eve

Wolfman - not too many details revealed but it's a new take on the werewolf tale

I Saw The TV Glow - Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.

Don't Move - A seasoned killer injects a grieving woman with a paralytic agent and she must run, fight and hide before her body completely shuts down.

Arcadian - Nicolas Cage comes back to save the day - and his children - from ferocious creatures at their remote farmhouse.

All My Friends Are Dead - College friends? Remote Airbnb? A secret murderer? What could go wrong in this classic toxic friend group killing spree? Looking forward to attending the biggest music fest of the year, this group of friends get together for what should be a killer weekend.

Monolith - It is about a disgraced journalist who investigates a conspiracy theory while trying to salvage her career.

some movies coming out maybe not this year but have been floating around: The Toxic Avenger (I think remake), Witchboard (remake), Year 2 (about werewolves), Shelby Oaks (A woman's desperate search for her long-lost sister falls into obsession upon realizing that the imaginary demon from their childhood may have been real), Salem's Lot (remake), Little Bites ('70s-set monster movie that highlights the lengths a parent will go to protect a child), The Crow (Reboot), Jordan Peele's untitled movie, I've also seen there's going to be another Saw (but it hasn't been confirmed), and another Scream (but that production is already a trainwreck so who knows)

#horror #horror movies #horror cinema #dracula #the crow #terrifier 3 #saw #scream #alien #beetlejuice 2 #smile 2

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tobiasdrake · 1 year

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And then Steve's ending sucks and is bad.

Steve's ending infuriated a lot of Stucky shippers for obvious reasons. But. Like. Here's the thing: From a filmmaking standpoint, the Stuckies are right. Sending Steve back in time just doesn't work for multiple reasons, both in and out of universe.

This is going to be a longie.

#1 - Time Travel Doesn't Work That Way

The first problem is the in-universe one. This ending is so busted that the directors and writers actually have separate interpretations of what happened, and they're both wrong.

According to the directors, Steve created a parallel timeline where he's lived with his Peggy. He used the time machine to return to this timeline and go to that bench, but only once he was super old for, uh, some reason?

Problem is, according to this movie, you can't do that. You can't make a new timeline without removing an Infinity Gem from it, and also making new timelines is bad, remember? Further, the film gives no indication that Steve time traveled here. He doesn't appear on the Quantum platform. He's not wearing his time suit. He's just chilling on a bench, staring at the horizon.

The reason the film gives no indication for how Steve arrived here is because of the writers' interpretation: Steve arrived in the past of this, the main timeline. Steve himself was Peggy's mystery husband back in Winter Soldier. Old Steve has always been here, waiting for this moment.

That's actually worse than the directors' explanation. The movie has been very clear on the point that you can't directly change the past. Even after they prune the timelines, Loki didn't actually escape in 2012. That never happened. The events of the Time Heist never happened, from a historical perspective.

The internal logic of Steve's jaunt doesn't work out, no matter which way you slice it.

#2 - The Future is Scary and You Should Run Away

The second problem is what it does to Steve as a Man Out of Time. The white-hot core of this character direction is that he is an old man living in a world he doesn't recognize, and having to adapt to changing times. That's something we all have to deal with eventually.

So what is Endgame's final statement on Steve's efforts to fit into society? It's that he can't. Trying to live in this world he doesn't know is a futile gesture. In the end, Steve gives up, sinks his head in the sand, and rejects modernity. He embraces the shallow image of a woman he once loved was attracted to and lives out the rest of his days in a reactionary fantasy world.

I guess there is no value in changing and growing to adapt to the new world around you. What a shitty ending.

#3 - To the End of the Line

And finally... yeah. I'm sorry to tell you this, but the Stucky shippers were right. Not necessarily about Steve and Bucky's relationship being canonically romantic. But about Steve and Bucky's relationship being the driving emotional throughline of the entire Captain America trilogy.

In the end, this ending is the epitome of the problem with the way writers write platonic relationships versus romantic ones. Throughout the trilogy, Bucky is the most valuable and important person in Steve's life.

Steve defied orders and officially joined World War II, venturing deep into enemy territory alone, for Bucky. He was ready to die for this man. He laid down his shield and accepted the Winter Soldier's violence out of love for the man behind his eyes, and that sheer unrelenting loyalty brought him back from the monster he was programmed to be. Steve went to war with the Avengers out of love for Bucky.

And whether you take that love to be romantic or platonic, it doesn't change the fact that this is what drives the films. Not Peggy. Never Peggy. The films occasionally pay some attention to Peggy and Sharon, but they aren't actually interested in using these characters as characters.

(In fact, they're so disinterested in Sharon that she drops off the face of the universe in Infinity War and Endgame. Not even a namedrop. The moment the filmmakers decided to send Steve back to Peggy, Sharon ceased to have any value as a character and was consequently erased. They do not care about these women and their stories. The Carters are just the obligatory love interests.)

Instead, Peggy is merely the symbol of what could have been. She represents the life Steve lost, but is barely treated as a person in her own right. She's just a picture in his wallet that he can pine after. She doesn't move the story along, and his feelings for her rarely amount to more than Steve being sad for a little bit and then continuing along with what he was doing.

And this is how it always is. The best friend is the diehard series-defining relationship that moves mountains and saves the universe. And the girlfriend is just there, getting little focus or development. Steve and Bucky prove their importance to each other again and again, but no attention is paid to why Peggy is important. "She's a woman. He's a man. What more do you need?"

I'm not, personally, a Stucky shipper. But "I'm with you to the end of the line," still meant so much to me. This was the emotional core of the Captain America trilogy, right up there with "I can do this all day." Steve suddenly quitting on the future, quitting on Bucky, and running off to bury his face in Peggy's bosom felt like a betrayal of everything the films have ever told us about these characters. Peggy just wins. Because we need to marry him off somehow if we're going to tie up his journey!

It is neither a joke nor an exaggeration to say that the trajectory of Captain America throughout the MCU was ruined at the very last possible second by the straight agenda.

#marvel #marvel cinematic universe #avengers endgame #steve rogers #captain america

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multifandom--mess · 27 days

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Hannigram Fic Recs! pt.2

Here it is, the big fat fic recs post I've been putting off for like two months but at least that means I had time to read a shit ton of fics. I made sure to do a mix of short and long fics this time around since the first part were all long ones. Enjoy!

part 1

》 The Lamb and His Monster by petrodactyl352 (Explicit)(104k)

Will has always been drawn to the macabre. The proverbial flame upon which he has burnt his fragile moth’s wings time and time again, it’s why he had fallen in love with Florence and why he alone seems to see the beauty in the grisly but exquisite work of Il Mostro. But when he meets a young man in the Uffizi Gallery whose sketchbook is filled with nothing but page upon page of intricate renditions of the Primavera drawn in reverent strokes of pencil, he realizes he may not be alone in his fascination with the Monster. As they lift veils and scale forts and slowly begin to understand each other, Will gets a taste of exactly how bright the cinders of intrigue can burn—and how quickly they can kindle into an inferno of obsession.

(Young hannigram in Florence ahhh this is seriously one of the best fics i've ever read it had to be at the top of the list)

》 Spectral Hearts by mattHughdancy (Explicit) (16k)

Will has a meltdown at a crime scene. Guess who’s called in to help.

(Another top fave of mine they are so fucking cute in this fic 🤧 features autistic Will, and Hannibal just loves him so much oh my goddd my heart exploded reading this)

》 lay like a flood spills away by bleakmidwinter (Explicit)(35k)

Will Graham meets Hannibal, a frequent cruiser, at an open-minded nudist lake. Despite his reservations, Will is drawn to him, but is eventually forced to question his mysterious nature when the lakeside regulars start to go missing.

(I loved this one bc what better setting than a nudist lake. This is just gay as hell honestly lmao bc the lake is all dudes and Will is "straight" at the beginning until he meets Hannibal and it's all downhill from there. Definitely give this one a read it had some hilarious moments too)

》 Doing Things That Friends Don't Do by HigherMagic (Explicit) (39k)

A year after the fall, Will and Hannibal have settled into a fairly blissful, domestic harmony. But Will's imagination has never let him simply enjoy what he has - why should it start now?

(Basically Will trying everything in his power NOT to have sex with Hannibal but of course we all know he can't keep it together. They are so horny for each other in this i died laughing so many times. Also this author is such an amazing writer expect multiple recs from them in this post)

》 Railroad Romance by OneWhoSitsWithTurtles (12k)(Explicit)

Hannibal is still Hannibal, and Will is still Will. Except Will is not part of the FBI and they meet on a two day train trip from New Orleans to Baltimore.

(A strangers to lovers meet-cute on a train. Lots of fluffy moments and of course train sex ensues)

》 Three Stars by beforethedawn (94k)(Explicit)

Three months after the fall, Jack finally tracks them down in Canada and Will and Hannibal have to make a run for it, slumming it through America in three star hotels and eating sub par food.

(Hannigram roadtrip!! This fic was so fun I loved it. They take on the identities of some familiar Mads and Hugh characters ;)

》 Unexpected Delight by HigherMagic (Explicit) (61k)

Will has a kink that he’s deeply ashamed of. Unbeknownst to him, Hannibal has the same or a similar/compatible kink. They get together, and Will is going out of his way as he usually does to seem like his sexual tastes are as “normal” as possible. As a result, Hannibal gets the idea that Will is super vanilla and maybe a little prudish, and not wanting to scare him off, is also keeping his kinky side on the DL. This goes on for while, with them each trying super hard to hide how kinky they are and act as “vanilla” as possible, to hilarious results, all while privately thinking the other one would be super freaked out if they knew since they’re obviously so sweet and normal.

(This whole thing is literally ALL smut 😭😭 but Han and Will love each other to death and the sex is so good y'all omg I had to stop reading multiple times to catch my breath)

》 The Substitute by Devereauxs_Disease (Explicit) (10k)

When Hannibal tells Will he's sick, Will is skeptical. Before he knows it, he's laying in a hospital bed and being told he's going nowhere for two weeks. Will is distraught until Hannibal swoops in and offers to take over Will's courses at the FBI Academy. Will doesn't mind Hannibal showing up every night with a home-cooked meal, but he might just resent Hannibal becoming the most popular teacher at the Academy in just two weeks...

(A seaon 1 au if Hannibal wasn't an asshole had told Will about the encephalitis. This is hilarious tho because the students don't like Will no more when he comes back and they keep asking about Hannibal 😭😭 poor Will lmaoo)

》 When This Old Tired Body Wants to Sing by KareliaSweet (Explicit) (7k)

“Fuck me quicker, darling,” he purrs with liquid insincerity, “God forbid you see my face.” Will never touches him unless it is in the dark. In the daylight he is a ghost.

(Will being an asshole and only fucking Hannibal in the dark ugh 🙄 but things work out eventually so don't worry!)

》 Maybe Tomorrow by Shotgun_sinner (Explicit) (26k)

After recovering from their tumble off a cliff, Will agrees to get Hannibal to Portugal, where the good doctor can start a new life for himself. In exchange, Will can take the boat and return to his life, or start over himself. A storm hits on the open water, leaving them stranded somewhere in the Azores. With no one else on the small island, they're forced to work together for survival, and work through their violent past in order to get along.

(A survival au! I LOVED this and author is another fave of mine. I go crazy for a good stranded on a deserted island trope and this did not disappoint. Also there is an insanely funny part where I absolutely DIED. You'll know when you read it 💀💀)

》 I've Always Been A Daughter by air_of_the_Waterfall (44k)(Explicit)

It's been a month since Will and Abigail ran away with Hannibal. Living in a safe Canadian town, Will and Hannibal are free to explore their newfound intimacy and Abigail has a chance at the future she craves. However, upon meeting Hannibal’s sister Mischa and her daughter, loyalties are tested and insecurities run rampant. The Lecters have an undeniably dark past, and as Abigail and Will fall deeper into its truths, Hannibal’s manipulation and misguided love come to light more clearly than ever before.

(This fic is truly a hidden gem I am so glad I found it. Murder family post-mizumono and also MISCHA LIVES. The plot is so well written and I love Mischa's characterization. Definitely give this one a read, yall it is SO GOOD it deserves so much love)

》 Home is Not a Place by Shotgun_Sinner (11k)(Explicit)

Post-Fall, Hannibal recovers from his injuries. Will takes care of him, and their relationship evolves much more easily than Hannibal thought it would. The only issue is that Will is a constant presence, and he hasn't had alone time in three years. It ends up not being an issue at all.

(This one is so sweet. Basically Hannibal wants to jerk off but he can't because Will is just always there and he hardly gets a moment alone and he'll feel bad for telling him to go away 😭😭 but they finally get together in the end

》 Held in the Highest Regard by HigherMagic (12k)(Explicit)

What happens when a group of serial killers pick the absolute worst targets? Will is already having a pretty rough night, since Hannibal proposed to him and Will said 'No' for reasons he still hasn't quite figured out yet. It's not their fault - they couldn't have known - but sometimes people have to learn lessons the hard way, and Will could definitely use some stress relief.

(If you are familiar with the movie 'The Strangers' then you'll really like this one. I reread it like three times it was so good. Shit had me tweaking omg this is like the perfect au for them)

》 Green-Eyed Monster by CestPasDuBaudelaire (53k)(Explicit)

Will and Hannibal have settled in Cuba and, for the past year, they have been living their happily ever after in a small hidden community for retired wanted criminals. However, at the hazard of a gathering, Will is faced with an unbelievable fact, other members of the community may also fancy his monster of a husband. Then comes Will's spiraling, as he learns to come to terms with a disastrous, chaotic and slowly overwhelming possessiveness. And of course, feelings are never easy to deal with, when Hannibal is involved. A smut character study in three acts exploring Will's possessiveness.

(Top!Will my beloved. Don't let the title fool you, this was so fun to read and I love the community for wanted criminals idea. And possessive Will is always a treat ;)

》 Haunted by Anonymous (165k)(Explicit)

Still recovering from their fight with Dolarhyde, Will and Hannibal escape to New Orleans with Chiyoh's help. But Will is still struggling to accept Hannibal and his own darkness, something that Hannibal has every intention of helping him overcome...

(And finally I leave you guys with this monster of a fic. So sad that the author chose to go anon but if they somehow see this I hope they know how much I love this story. Will is struggling and Hannibal is an asshole at certain points but when is he not? Lots of references to Will's past too and some stuff about his mom that's very interesting)

I hope you guys enjoy these stories as much as I did. If you read any and want to discuss my messages and ask box are always open! ♡♡♡

#hannibal #nbc hannibal #hannigram #will graham #hannibal lecter #murder husbands #hannibal fanfiction #hannigram fanfiction #hannigram fic #hannibal fic #ao3 #fic rec

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ladyloveandjustice · 3 months

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My Favorite New Manga and Graphic Novels I Read in 2023

It's time to take a look at the comics and manga I read this year! I read a whopping 78 manga and graphic novels in all. Here's a link to my Goodreads year in books (the manga is at the beginning, the novels start with Siren Queen) and my storygraph wrap up.

I also read 36 novels! If you want to see my favorites, check out my reviews here!

And finally, I've got the continuing manga series I've enjoyed this year here, so check that post out too!

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

This is a tale about a first-generation Vietnamese-American boy struggling with coming out to his mother. He connects with his mother through fairytales-- she uses them to express her journey as an immigrant, and he uses them to explore his queerness and identity as a Vietnamese kid growing up in America. It's an absolutely gorgeous book full of Trung Le Nguyen's signature stunning art. The fantastical, ethereal fairy tales are weaved beautifully into the lives of the characters. The book explores how fairy tales can form connection, can express culture, can tap deeply into something real and true, and can offer tragedy and catharsis. The protagonist uses fairy tales to write his own story, and the ending is lovely and moving.

Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles by Mark Russell and Mike Feehan

You may know Mark Russell from his darker, socially aware re-imagining of the Flintstones, which made quite a splash on Tumblr with this post. Well, I had pleasure of meeting him at a local convention, and I finally got his comic re-imagining of Snagglepuss, also of Hanna-Barbera. He re-imagines the titular pink puma as a closeted gay playwright in the 50's dealing with McCarthyism. It's as wild as it sounds,but also really digs into the politics of the time, the struggle of standing against oppression and how art fights through suppression and censorship. It's tragic, hopeful, poignant and full of historical references. I enjoyed it ! Definitely be cautious if you're deeply disturbed by homophobia and suicide.

The Summer Hikaru Died by Mokumokuren

A story about a teenage boy, Yoshiki, who realizes that his best friend and crush Hikaru has died and been replaced by a strange eldritch being who is imitating him. But, missing his loved one and desperate to cling to any piece of him, Yoshiki decides to keep on having a relationship with this mysterious entity. This book's horror is visceral and sublime, especially the bizarre, creepy, beautiful body horror involving the being who replaced Hikaru. It's an exploration of anxieties involving grief, relationships, and sexuality that hits just right, and the atmosphere layered with dread is top notch. I love me some messed up relationships and unknowable queer monsters, and this book delivers.

Chainsaw Man, Look Back and Goodbye Eri by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Chainsaw Man needs no introduction, but I did end up really enjoying the story of the doggy-devil boy hunting other devils. It got so tragic and intense at the end, with lots of great surreal horror imagery and darkly funny moments. I'm impressed it went so hard, though the random powers that kept piling up made what was happening hard to follow at times, especially in fights. I'm also enjoying the current weird arc starring a class-A disaster girl and the demon sharing her body.

Look Back

I really do enjoy how Fuijimoto writes messy pre-teen/teenage girls. They ring so true. The manga follows the fraught friendship between two girls as they create manga, exploring the struggle of art mixing with real relationships, and how someone keeps creating after tragedy. It's a little hard to follow at times (especially since I have to differentiate the leads based on hairstyle), but it's a good read.

Goodbye Eri

Probably my least favorite of the three, but it's a fun read- a weird ride that examines the thin line between fiction and reality in art and makes good use of Fujimoto's cinephile background and signature gaslight gatekeep girlboss characters.

Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki

The story follows a teenage girl, Chika, who has always struggled with not being attracted to anyone. When Chika enters college, she meets queer people all across the spectrum of asexuality, and starts exploring her own identity. As an ace, this is the best story about asexuality that I've read. It was a nuanced look at asexuality and queerness and all the variations. Chika's journey and how she found her community was moving and poignant. It's a honest, moving look at relationships and identity, and how complicated and hard to define both of those things can be. I loved the moments of Chika imagining herself as an alien to explore and cope, and how she bonded with people through magical girl shows and other geekery. My favorite new manga of the year, it really connected with me!

The Girl that Can’t Get a Girlfriend by Mieri Hiranishi

Oh girl, I've been there. This is a fun autobiographical comic about a butch4butch lesbian's struggles finding a partner in a word that favors butch/femme, and it's just an honest look at the messiness of loneliness and relationships. I also appreciate that crushing on Haruka in Sailor Moon and becoming a HaruMichi stan was the beginning the author's queer awakening because uh...same! She has taste, and is truly relatable.

Qualia the Purple: The Complete Manga Collection by Hisamitsu Ueo and Shirou Tsunashima

See my review of the light novel here for my general thoughts on the story, since it's adapted pretty faithfully. I do think the manga is overall the best experience though, because the illustrations break up the detailed explanations of quantum mechanics a bit, and it includes a bit of extra content that fleshes things out, especially withthe ending.

The Single Life: 60 year old lesbian who is single and living alone by Akiko Morishima

Just like it says on the tin, this focuses on a 60-year-old single lesbian. And definitely the shortest thing on here, since only one 30 page chapter is out. It's a grounded story about a woman looking back on her journey to finding her identity, touching on sexism in the workplace and other challenges. It paints a portrait of a proudly gay elder who's still perfectly content being single and feels fulfilled by the life she had rather than regretting past relationships. I definitely want to see more.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa

Arakawa's latest, the story is about a boy who lives in a small village with his little sister is imprisoned and has to carry out a mysterious duty...but then the village is attacked, supernatural daemons awaken, and everything he knows might be wrong. I'm enjoying this fun romp so far! It delivers an really nice plot twist right out the gate (and an excellent subversion of the usual shonen "must-protect-my-saintly-sister" narratives). It boasts Arakawa's usual fun cast and interesting world (and cool ladies). There's some slight tone and pacing issues in the first part- there's so much time spent explaining mechanics the lead doesn't really get to react to his life turning upside down. But it starts smoothing out by the second volume. I'm excited to see what's next!

Superman: Space Age by Mark Russell and Michael Allred

This is a retelling of Superman set throughout the late fifties to early eighties that has Superman interact with the political and social upheaval of the time and question his own role in things. It explored the Superman mythos through a lot of cool new angles, and has a good Lois (why yes she would break Watergate) which is how I always measure a Superman adaptation. My one complaint is, while I liked some of the things it did with Batman, the ending with the Joker was pretty weak. The ending of the overall comic will also be bizarre for anyone not uses to how weird comics can get, but I think I dug it.

#DRCL by Shin'ichi Sakamoto

A manga retelling of Dracula that focuses on Mina as the protagonist and imagines the characters at an English prep school. It adds a lot of diversity to the characters and has exquisite, evocative art. I'm curious where it will go and what it intends to do with all it's changes (especially Lucy), because right now it's mostly vibes and creepiness and the direction isn't clear.

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salvadorbonaparte · 4 months

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Broaden Your Horizons 2024

A Non-Fiction Rec List by Salvadorbonaparte

Books

Adventures in Yiddishland: Postvernacular Language and Culture - Jeffrey Shandler

A Good Man in Evil Times: The Heroic Story of Aristides de Sousa Mendes -- The Man Who Saved the Lives of Countless Refugess in World War II - Jose-Alain Fralon, Peter Graham (trans.)

Brief Answers to the Big Questions - Stephen Hawking

Erebus: The Story of a Ship - Michael Palin

Every Word Is A Bird We Teach To Sing: Encounters with the Mysteries and Meanings of Language - Daniel Tammet

Federico Garcia Lorca: A Life - Ian Gibson

Getting to Yes: Negotiating an agreement without giving in - Roger Fisher, William Ury

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban - Malala Yousafzai

Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin Expedition - Paul Watson

Identity and Violence: The Illusion of Destiny - Amartya Sen

If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating - Alan Alda

Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism

Iwígara: American Indian Ethnobotanical Traditions and Science

Lingo: A Language Spotter's Guide to Europe - Gaston Dorren, Alison Edwards (trans.)

Monsters in the Closet: Homosexuality and the Horror Film - Harry M. Benshoff

One River: Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon Rainforest - Wade Davis

Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour - Kate Fox

What's Your Pronoun? Beyond He and She - Dennis Baron

Documentaries

Bowling for Columbine

Break It All: The History of Rock in Latin America

ReMastered: Tricky Dick and the Man in Black

She's Beautiful When She's Angry

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

Podcasts

Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda

Freaks and Psychos: The Disability in Horror Podcast

Lingthusiasm

Ologies with Alie Ward

Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia

The Sewers of Paris

#non fiction #nonfiction #book recs #podcasts #documentaries #documentary #podcast recs #book recommendations #podcast recommendations #rec list

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charlesoberonn · 10 months

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I just found out about this old promotional picture for the Phineas and Ferb/Marvel crossover and I have issues with it.

The art itself is great, but the choice of characters is all wrong. I’ll go over them.

Isabella isn’t Black Widow. She’s the most upright and open character of the group. She’s Captain America.

Buford isn’t Hulk, the nerdy and reserved man who turns into a rage monster. He’s the weirdo who acts very self assured about who he is. He’s Thor.

Now, the reserved nerd with anger issues in the PnF crew is clearly Baljeet, which is why he should be Hulk, and not Iron Man.

Phineas is the boy genius who makes his own stuff, which could fit Spider-Man. But Phineas is all about the inventions, while Spidey only invents what he needs. Phineas is also a lot more sincere than the wisecracking Spider-Man. I think he should be Hank Pym Ant-Man. Though without the dark side.

Ferb is the mysterious man of action, who invents just as much as his brother and only speaks when he needs to. He’s definitely not Thor, but I don’t know which Avenger or Marvel hero he does fit. If we’re willing to bend the rules a bit, he’s a pretty good fit for Batman.

#avengers #phineas and ferb #pnf #marvel comics #marvel

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carrotkicks · 1 year

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The BSD analog horror au info dump:

Well Analog Horror AU is a stretch considering analog horror comes in a very specific medium but y'know screw you this story i came up with is close enough to your average analog horror web series. So

things to note:

There are NO ABILITIES in this au. but there's something slightly similar that takes it's place. Not every ability user in BSD will be having that power

In this world humanity is being terrorized by these otherworldly entities (calling them strays bc that's funny) that have been let in through [THE BOOK] which is a gateway to the otherworld because mankind tried play god and fucked around and found out too close to the sun

So abilities users are actually humans that have been possessed by the strays that leaked into our world through [THE BOOK] and are used to cause chaos on Earth.

Strays tend to lock onto humans that experienced unimaginable pain bc their soul juice tastes yummier.

The Special Division for Unusual Incidents is a top secret government organization that's dedicated to destroying [THE BOOK] and ending the stray threat.

But the Special Division is massively shady and inadvertently causes more problems than it solves

Dazai is not quite possessed by a stray like you'd think ;^)

Lol no Dazai actually IS a demon here

The Armed Detective Agency is a private investigation company. They're just normal people. That is until Dazai joins and everything starts going insane. Soon their cases devolve from normal crimes to being tied up in infohazard type mysteries.

The Paranormal Guild is a supernatural hunting secret society in America. Them and the DOA want to get [THE BOOK] to destroy it and end the stray invasion.

So the story focuses on the resident photographer of Armed Detective Agency, Atsushi Nakajima beginning a secret investigation after he accidentally discovers that his coworker, Osamu Dazai, may not be human.

It starts when Dazai and Atsushi are investigating a crime scene from one of a series of horrific massacre where people were found completely torn apart and shredded. Turns out that the serial killings are linked to the Mori Home, a shady clinic that's been tied to several missing persons cases, those of which including Akutagawa and Kyouka. And Dazai has a suspicious connection to Dr Mori.

After this Dazai's mask begins to slip and starts acting really erratic and creepy. Soon enough Dazai brings a strange ghostlike girl to the Agency, and it turns out to be the missing Kyouka Izumi.

Atsushi eventually begins to get worried about Dazai, worry also turns into suspicion because Dazai seems to be involved with the missing persons cases, and starts to investigate into his past to find out what his DEAL is. Which leads him (and the rest of the ADA) down the rabbit hole of government conspiracies and the monsters from an alternate dimension and the Mori Home with all its shadiness.

#i'm thinking there's another side aspect dedicated to worldbuilding told in Ango's perspective #of the governments actions against the strays and how they've been trying to censor all the information to keep the world peace at bay.#(think of the special division as the scp foundation lol)#bsd #bsd analog horror au #ideas posting

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deancashorrorfest · 6 months

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Step right up to another wondrous round of DeanCas Horrorfest! The writers and the artists have collaborated to make this year one for the history books. We've got ghouls, we've got monsters, we've got blood, we've got gay love --- And when I say you shouldn't miss this, I mean you really don't want to miss this collection of spooky stories... you really don't know what could happen if you do 🤡🔪 I'd like to thank all our contributors for keeping the spirit of samhain alive and well. DeanCas Horrorfest would be nothing without enthusiastic cult members participants like you. ❤ So, without further ado...

You Better Not Stay || Rated E

story by @friendofcarlotta with art by @demeters-sketchbook

Recent high school graduates Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak have been friends since childhood, and dating in secret for a little over a year. But their relationship has an expiration date: Cas is leaving town, and Dean… well, Dean isn’t. Not with his dad breathing down his neck and a family business to run.

For their final date, Dean takes Cas to the old skating rink where they used to spend time as kids. What Dean doesn’t know is that when the rink closed down, something else took up residence there. And it won’t let them go without a fight. Link to Fic || Link to Art

The (After) Life of the Party || Rated M

story by @thebatmandiaries with art by @milfycas

After a fight with Sam one night, Dean wakes up in a world he is unfamiliar with. This world only has one rule: kill or be killed. As a designated Killer, he must kill all the Survivors before they have a chance to complete their task. If he doesn’t, he ruins the risk of becoming a Survivor himself. With the help of Charlie and Benny, other Killers, he slowly finds his footing in the new world he was thrust into. If only there wasn’t a strange blue eyed man to distract him… Link to Fic || Link to Art

Danger In The Mirror || Rated M

story by @dwinchester1979 with art by @keikakudom

Castiel is pulled through the mirror into a nightmare. Now his husband has to cover for his mysterious missing presence as he desperately tries to get Castiel back. Can they figure out the secret of the mirror before time runs out, or will Castiel have to face the girl with the silver dagger all alone? Link to Fic || Link to Art

The Beginning || Rated E

story by @valleydean with art by @hawkland

One year ago, soon after Lucifer was freed from the Cage, Dean and Sam parted ways. Since then, Dean has been hunting on his own and, along with Cas despite his declining grace, searching for a way to prevent the apocalypse. When the outbreak of the Croatoan virus begins, Dean and Cas head to Bobby’s to plan their next move. On the way, as the contagion rapidly spreads through America, they must contend with the rabid infected, martial law, and humans who will do anything to ensure their own survival. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Clutch || Rated M

story by @dogfishmonger with art by @dolgoyangi

Dean is a normal, stable man in his 20s: He has a job. He has a boyfriend of three years, even if they're on the rocks. He has a little brother in pre-law. There are, simultaneously, things in his upbringing that he simply isn't supposed to question: His father's unexplained, undefined trips out of state. His mother's death. The body he once found in the basement. When Sam runs off in search of answers, Dean and Cas head east to find him. But after catching up with him, something's... different. Wrong. Dean and Cas are at odds—again—with Dean believing that Sam could be in danger, and Cas suspicious that Sam is the danger. Returning to normalcy will involve more digging into forbidden territory than Dean was ever prepared for. In the end, he doesn't even know if it was worth it. They're left with just as many questions as answers, and the answers they do have are ugly, insidious things, glistening oil-spill black and undulating. Link to Fic || Link to Art

The Void Within || Rated E

story by @preetkiran1016 with art by @sketcheun

Dean's still getting used to the ache of loss and grief burning a hole into his chest. Still not used to the empty space where his brothers used to be. His life is a day to day drudgery, the eternal crawl, and since Cas broke up with him, he's not quite sure what he's got left to stick around for. When Jack and Claire go missing, well, he can't just sit back and watch. Digging deeper, Dean finds himself caught in the middle of a complicated web he can't hope to begin to untangle. Missing Kids, Doomsday Cults, and the sudden return of Castiel in his life have Dean spiraling, even with his trusted Service Dog, Miracle, by his side. But the one question remains, above all others- Who were the Men of Letters, and what were they doing in Lawrence? Dean doesn't think he's going to like the answer. Link to Fic || Link to Art

The Crawling Dark || Rated T

story by @sylvanfreckles with art by @cactus-79

Dean was hoping for a straightforward case, something that would let him and Castiel have a little private time together. But what they found in the caves beneath Delving, Colorado was a stinking labyrinth of a death and decay, with an ancient horror at its heart. At the mercy of the darkness around them, Dean and Castiel must face a creature of immeasurable strength and insatiable hunger, with light as their only salvation. After all, it is better to light a candle than to curse the crawling dark. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Apres Moi, Le Deluge || Rated M

story by @folkbloodbaths with art by @an-android-in-a-tutu

Dean and Sam are on a camping trip, and they haven’t been home in a few days. When a sudden rainstorm and an injured ankle have them seeking shelter, an abandoned ranger’s cabin offers an unexpected port in the storm. Except, the abandoned cabin isn’t abandoned. Is its occupant, Castiel, just a recluse, or is he someone — or something — more sinister? Dean can’t help but feel drawn to him, even as he begins to have strange and terrible dreams about rising flood waters and a canopy of billowing black wings. And still, the rain continues to fall. Link to Fic || Link to Art (cw for flashing gif)

For Crying Out Loud || Rated M

story by @rowanspn with art by @solstheimart

Their relationship is perfect. At least, it was once. After a harrowing rescue from the depth of the Empty, a heartfelt reunion, and a breath of reciprocation, Castiel and Dean started to live life as they deserved. However, every Winchester knows that happiness does not stay long, not for that bloodline anyway. One night, following a fight worse than ever before, a terrible accident rips Castiel's life, and heart, in two. The guilt threatens to consume him but there is something far darker hiding in the shadows of his home. Will Castiel find a way to survive the ache in his chest or will the evil within his lonely walls kill him before it gets the chance? Link to Fic || Link to Art

Shall We Begin Again? || Rated E

story by @livingonaprayerstiel with art by @blanchescarlettm

Castiel is rescued from the Empty and wants to pick up where he left off with Dean. But, it is soon revealed that the Empty is not as gone as it seems. Castiel will have to find out who or what can be trusted as he acclimates to his new life. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Tenebrous || Rated E

story by @deancodedcastielenby with art by @hawkland

The war is over, Chuck is done and it's now the time where the Winchesters get peace... or is it. The war against God may be over, but that doesn't mean smooth sailing. Jack promises to be hands off, but there is a storm coming almost 12 years in the making. Sam knows something is wrong with Dean, it started out small, but now.... now it's become a problem so he enlists the aid of Rowena and Eileen, the only ones he can count on, to help him solve the mystery of Dean Winchester before its too late. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Conversion || Rated E

story by @bleuzombie with art by @nickelkeep

In order to avoid a jail sentence trans man Dean agrees to attend religious-based residential treatment for 90 days. Dean fights to maintain his sense of self as he is attacked mentally, and physically, and fights to protect his new friends Charlie and Castiel. Soon the treatment turns to torture. Jail would have been preferable. Link to Fic || Link to Art

The Elevator Game || Rated E

story by @motherofdragonflies with art by @xfancyfranart

The game is simple. Get in an elevator, and follow the rules. If you follow them correctly, the elevator will rise and when the doors open, they will open onto a world that is not your own. When his brother goes missing after investigating the death of a teenage girl in a hotel in St. Louis, Dean Winchester is dismayed to discover it involved an internet legend called “the Elevator Game”. He’s even more dismayed when Castiel—who walked away weeks ago and hasn’t been returning Dean’s calls—shows up, also looking for Sam. Dean doesn’t want to work with Castiel, and Castiel doesn’t seem thrilled about working with him, either. Can they put their differences aside when they discover that Sam disappeared after playing the Elevator Game? Will Dean and Castiel play the game and travel to the Other World themselves? Will they find Sam before it's too late? The choice, dear reader, is yours. You are in control of the story. But choose wisely, for once you play the Elevator Game, things may never be the same again. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Like Ivy || Rated E

story by @abi-cosmos with art by @soloarcana

Dean Winchester was raised to be a killer, but after losing his brother Sam, he could do with a chance to lay low and rest up. Luckily, a 'roommate wanted' advertisement stuck to the window of a coffee shop leads him to Castiel, a professor at a local college who offers him three weeks' accommodation. At first, Castiel gets under Dean's skin, but they soon develop a friendship within the isolated house they're living in. Despite how haunted he is by his past, or how Castiel seems able to read his mind, Dean feels drawn to him and can't help but take things further. But Dean isn't the only one with secrets, and the line between friendship, love, and obsession gets bloody and blurry. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Rough Trade || Rated E

story by @squirrelofcelestialintent with art by @alicetallula

Dean is used to doing what he has to in order to get by, especially whenever his tough, temperamental father kicks him out during one of his rages. Even if it means getting on his knees for a little extra cash. He can take care of himself. He always knew the dangers of a trick going sideways, and he accepted it. What he didn’t expect was for someone to burst out of the darkness and save his sorry ass. Least of all a weird, nerdy little dude who seems to have just as many secrets as Dean and doesn’t know how to use a vending machine. Dean has street smarts and Castiel has (a little) cash. They’re both headed for the west coast to find their families. Teaming up seems like a safe bet. But the more time Dean spends with Cas, the weirder he seems. And the more he suspects that what he saw Cas do to his attacker on the day that he saved him - the terrible, inhuman thing - wasn’t a trauma induced hallucination after all. Screw it. With someone on their tail, Dean’s going to find out who his real enemies are soon enough. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Autumn Obscurum || Rated M

story by @xiejie-liubo with art by @hawaii-shirt-queer

Bartholomew's Bend is a quiet, ordinary place where ordinary people live their ordinary lives. Nothing of note ever happens, and all of the citizens are content to keep it that way. However, their tranquility is shattered when a series of disappearances startles the town's denizens, coinciding with the arrival of the Carnivale Obscurum and its proprietors, Asmodeus and Sands. Inspired by Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes Link to Fic || Link to Art

Can You See Me? || Rated T

story by @kingdumbass with art by @ephemerastardust

Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 1995. After being stowed with their Uncle Bobby for the foreseeable future, Dean and Sam set out to make the most of their summer ‘vacation’. When they aren’t filling warm afternoons splashing in the creek, riding their bicycles, or suffering through old TV reruns, they’re in for cleanup duty. Namely, sorting through all of Bobby’s old crap. One day, while rummaging through the long-forgotten attic, Sam discovers an antique spirit board and convinces a skeptical Dean to try summoning a spirit. The results of which turn out to be a little more supernatural than Dean bargained for. Link to Fic || Link to Art

Link to Ao3 Collection

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻

#deancashorrorfest #deancas horrorfest masterpost #destiel fic rec #happy halloween

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astoundingbeyondbelief · 14 days

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Kaiju Weeks in Review (March 31-April 13, 2024)

It took forever (maybe they were waiting on the returns for Godzilla x Kong), but Apple TV+ has finally greenlit season 2 of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. According to its listing on the WGA site, it'll run from 2024 to 2025. Multiple spinoffs are also in development at Apple; no details on those yet.

Speaking of Godzilla x Kong, it continues to do well, staying #1 at the domestic box office in its second weekend and falling to #2 (behind Civil War) in its third. Current totals are $158 million domestic and $437 million worldwide. It'll soon pass the domestic gross of Kong: Skull Island and the total gross of Godzilla vs. Kong.

Godzilla vs. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers II #1 promises more of everything: more heroes (the White Ranger joins our heroes from the first comic), more villains (including Psycho Ranger Ghidora up there), and more alternate universes. Godzilla gets a bit buried in all the Ranger antics though.

A couple of kaiju series debuted on TV too: Kaiju No. 8 and Season 2 of Chibi Godzilla Raids Again. The former followed the manga very closely, and as such didn't really keep my attention; hopefully it innovates a bit more going forward. Chibi Godzilla's as irreverent as ever.

youtube

Tsuburaya Productions has released preliminary information on the next installment of the Ultra Series, Ultraman Arc. The logline:

A town called Hoshimoto City... On Mt. Shishio, there is a gigantic object towering above the city. Named "Monohorn," (モノホーン, Monohōn) it is actually a kaiju’s horn stuck in the ground since an incident 16 years ago. After the incident known as "K-DAY" in which kaiju appeared all over the world at the same time, monster disasters have become commonplace. In Japan, the Global Defense Force (GDF) uses force to deal with them, while SKIP works closely with the community in scientific investigations and evacuation guidance to prevent the occurrence and aggravation of kaiju disasters. SKIP has also been investigating the Monohorn, the horn of the galactic beast Monogelos (モノゲロス, Monogerosu) that appeared on K-DAY. Yuma, then only 7 years old, was camping with his parents in Mt. Shishio when Monogelos attacked. After miraculously surviving unscathed, he decided to pursue research into monster biology. Despite his traumatic past, he has not lost his “power of imagination” to dream. As a rookie investigator, Yuma joined SKIP and was assigned to the Hoshimoto City Branch. Not long after, another large-scale monster disaster occurs in Hoshimoto City. As Yuma sees the desperate people in front of him, a strong will springs into his mind — “I want to protect them!” At the moment when this strong and straightforward desire welled up from the bottom of his heart, Yuma hears the voice of Rution (ルティオン, Rution) a being of light that he once saw as a child: “You and I are one and the same… Unleash your imagination!” When a mysterious light appears in Yuma's hand and envelops his body, the unleashed power of imagination unites light and man and he transforms into Ultraman Arc, the Giant of Light who protects the future! Alongside his precious friends, Yuma, as well as Ultraman Arc, races towards his everlasting dream!

Yuma is played by Yuki Totsuka, while Takanori Tsujimoto is the lead director. He's directed for the series since Ultraman X, but this is his biggest assignment to date.

After beginning to release select Movie Monster Series figures in the States, Bandai America is now fully back in the Godzilla game, with articulated figures, 5-inch vinyls, blind box figures, and transforming eggs all up for preorder at the Godzilla Store and other toy sites. The eggs come from the 2014 Godzilla-E.G. line and the rest is all-new. Not much of a selection so far, but with how big Godzilla is right now, I'm sure there'll be more to come.

SRS Cinema has opened preorders for its War of the Ninja Monsters: Jaron vs. Goura Blu-ray, due in late July or August. Shinpei Hayashiya's latest epic, it'll come with behind-the-scenes footage and maybe a commentary track, which would be nice given how little information is available about his films online.

#kaiju week in review #godzilla #monarch legacy of monsters #war of the ninja monsters jaron vs. goura #toys #ultraman arc #Youtube

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safely-in-vhagars-belly · 6 months

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The heart is an Ocean (brat oc x darkish aemond)

Darkish aemond x reader/oc (?) (TITANIC THEMED!)

Cool devider credits: its uhm me.

Tags: Au Aemond, criminal Aemond, angst and hurt titanic au aemond x oc aemond x you aemond x

🔷Summary: You attend the ship of dreams, the Balerion in hope of finding your match to enrichen your family. But fate is cruel for those who dream. And the Balerion might not even reach the harbor of Valyria.

🔷Author's note: ''WILL THIS BE THE MOVIE REWRITTEN'' ASHSHSHDH I WISH! NO, its so not the movie. I was planning on naming the ship ''Titanic'' but I could not do that, it felt so icky. Big fan of the movie, big fan of books, the boat in general, and big nerd of it all. I went with a copy of the boat, and named it the Balerion. The route was original from Belfast to America i think but it will be from Crownlands to Valyria.

🔷Wordcount:4397

Warnings can be found under here

🔷Warnings: blood, arranged marriages, smoking, cocaine, illegal drugsdealing, eventually...you know, and murder. (the you know refers to the well-known fate of the boat) Classism, violence (not aimed at OC) and darkish criminal ruthless aemond.

1912

The year 1912 started the way only a disaster year would. Your father, who had finally found gold and diamonds in a mine somewhere in Dorne, had been killed in a mysterious incident, leaving your mother widowed with you and two of your younger sisters.

But your family would not be your family if you had not survived into the cold and golden world of the rich for generations. And your mother was assured that you would continue the generation, by finding a rich match.

‘’Another boat,’’ You commented, putting your gigantic elegant hat straight on your head. ‘’I hope Mother tires of these useless vacations soon.’’ The boat looked like a monster that had just risen from the bottom of the sea. A steel death trap, filled with dozens of already cheering workers and middle-class citizens who had been dreaming of even touching the dirty decks of The Balerion.

‘’Don’t be negative, Y/N.’’ You rolled your eyes at your sister’s constantly annoying optimism. ‘’And besides, it’s a ship. The Balerion is known to be the ship of dreams.’’ You thought you would not survive being with your sister Maelyn that long. You would not see the Port of Valyria before you had thrown her overboard, into the cold icy waters. Or so you thought.

Your brain had no trouble seeing the negative, dark reality that all fools around you ignored. ‘’Why does it look like a nightmare, then?’’ You commented. ‘’It’s like a death trap. Once we are at sea, nothing will save us.’’

‘’Y/n!’’ Your mother hissed as you passed suitable gentlemen of your age. You briefly lingered to inspect the men. Some smiled back at you, some adjusted their ties. You huffed before walking back in pace with your mother, climbing the big stairs and finally, you walked the bridge that connected the big ship to the shore.

Your cabin had been styled in the latest true nobility fashion, with a double bed and your very own vanity, and fresh roses were put in every vase they could fit in your room. Your servants had already brought your luggage and your dresses were neatly hung into your wardrobe. You let yourself fall in the luxurious blush-colored armchair, comfortably resting your arms on the soft fabric.

It could very well be your last vacation as a rich noble lady, should you not find that match your mother seemed so eager for. You had always known you would marry for stability and riches, but back then it suddenly felt real. As if you have been eating good meals all your life, and someone just handed you the bill. You were not aware of the consequences.

Your second youngest sister, Dysera entered your rooms, looking at your cabin in clear envy and with balled fists. ‘’When will I get the pretty grant rooms?’’ She whined like a little spoiled brat.

You didn’t even look up from your gloved hands. Dy was often not worth the effort. Just a teenage spoiled brat looking for trouble. ‘’The moment you bring home a man. It is expected of me that I have the bigger cabin, as I am the heir and the eldest.’’ You tell her, your voice bored and yet very sharp.

Her envy only grew as you reminded her of this fact. ‘’You are only the heir because mother failed to give father a son. The only thing you attract is drama and toxic men. Good luck finding a match here, sweet sister. I think you’ll need it.’’ She turned to leave, but your voice called her back, hissing as a wildcat.

‘’What is that supposed to mean?’’ You demanded an answer from her. She turned around to face you, with a wicked grin.

‘’It means, that’s a point for me.’’

—-----

Your mother wasted no time throwing you at suitors, as she hired one of the many restaurants for your quick-sessions to meet the eligible men aboard. She had no regard for age. Or rather, no respect for yours. Men that were so old that they could have been there to witness the grace and beauty of the dinosaurs themselves.

One man was interesting, around your age. Jacaerys Velyaron. He was to inherit the Velyaron cruises from his grandfather, the very same man who designed the boat you were both dining at. Jacaerys or Jace as he preferred to be called, was a true gentleman in all aspects, having raised incredibly well in manners and grace. When the waiter tripped and spilled your meal over your gorgeous red wine dress, Jacaerys helped up the waiter first.

That was a little annoying. You are the lady. His concern should be with you. Not some waiter who can’t keep his tray straight. ‘’I must say, I had hoped your staff would have been better vetted.’’ You entrusted him with a half-meant coyish catlike smile. ‘’My dress is simply ruined. You must make it up to me, now.’’ You told him, filling his head with guilt, manipulation, and lies, folding your hands as you placed them under your chin, smiling seductively at a blushing dumbstruck Jace.

‘’I shall, Miss.’’ He promised you quickly. ‘’I shall. My apologies for your dress-’’ He might have been your best shot at marriage at the ship. The other men were old enough to wet themselves if you told them a funny joke about the likes of the lower class you have seen aboard this ship.

But when you returned from ‘’adjusting’’ your dress (slightly loosening your corset so that Jacaerys could see more of your wares) you were met with a horrible and utmost disappointing matter. Jace, your perfect victim, was with a harlot—a gold digger.

Someone beat you. Someone bested you. And someone just made the biggest mistake of their lives.

The girl laughed loudly at his jokes and you could tell she had him wrapped around his finger in ways you never could. ‘’Damn it.’’ You muttered, under your breath as you made your way over to him. You smiled sweetly at the girl. ‘’Sweetie, I think you got lost. The third class is actually below us.’’ You told her, waiting for Jace to laugh but the weasel kept quiet.

‘’The only one who is lost is you, Miss Waters.’’ She told you when she rose from her seat, perfecting her annoying gorgeous blue dress. ‘’You seem to have forgotten that your family is powerless and poor. No man will look at you.’’ You faked a smile.

‘’You would know what men like, don’t you, Lady Baela?’’ You would recognize her everywhere. Gorgeous girl with silver locks and beautiful blue gowns, that was Lady Baela. Your mother had warned you about her and her sister, who too, were hoping to find a good match. There were only so many good men aboard this…disaster and she scooped up the only good one that seemed somehow a bit decent.

Baela seemed very contemptuous with your hatred and dislike. ‘’You know my name. I am shocked that there was even enough space in that delightful little thing you call a brain.’’ That hurt, and you were close to ripping that diamond necklace off her neck right there and then. Jacaerys was the only reason you remained civil.

‘’At least I have one.’’ You bit back, your fists balling in an unladylike fashion as Jacaerys became uncomfortable. He made a gesture to the waiter who nodded. You watched in shock as he came to you, to Y/N Waters, heiress and rich heir. ‘’That must be why you are clearly trying to compensate with your jewels for what you lack inside your head.’’ You replied, smiling as Baela’s smug little smile died a miserable death.

The waiter who had ruined your dress earlier had the audacity to open his mouth to you. He spoke three words that would dig his, and Baela and Jace’s graves. ‘’Miss, please leave.’’ You scoffed, thinking he was joking at first. Perhaps that is something new under servants. But that was not the truth. He was serious about your removal.

So you became angry. ‘’Me? My mother hired this restaurant!’’ You yelled, in righteous anger. ‘’If any should leave, it’s her.’’

‘’For only an hour Miss.’’ The waiter told you and you were shocked at that. The thought that you were just a third-class passenger, was disgusting, disheartening, and unfair. You were more than that. Why didn’t those stupid people see that? Why didn’t anyone see your worth?

Baela snickered and Jace joined her. You felt your cheeks redden with shame before you left the restaurant, but before you left you made sure to accidentally bump into a very expensive vase, causing it to fall into a thousand little pieces. You smirked at Baela before bringing your hand to your mouth, faking a gasp, and heading off.

You sighed, groaning when you had left the mediocre restaurant, and looked for anyone or someone to help you find your way back to your cabin. The ship was like a maze to you. You would not be surprised if you opened one door that led straight to the ocean floor itself.

Hot tears full of anger ran down your face, as you angrily wiped them away with your satin gloves, as you noticed tiny holes in the fabric.

The lights briefly flickered, sent chills down your spine, and made you briefly clutch your locket. When the lights were turned on again, a man in an elegant black and white suit greeted you with a small elegant bow and a boyish smirk on his lips. ‘’Fancy a smoke?’’ He wondered, his voice betraying he was from the Crown lands.

You huffed, still insulted that your fish did not take your bait. ‘’Do I look like I smoke?’’ You are a lady, a woman of noble class. Smoking is for the gentleman and the homeless.

The man stepped into the light, and for the first time, you could take in his good remaining eye and his sapphire that covered where the other once used to be. ‘’You look bored and stressed. Any man would tell you to smoke.’’ You would enjoy a good cigarette, just blowing off some steam and forgetting the ugly world for a moment. You loved smoking, that was a truth, but your mother always disencourage you to do it in front of other men or anyone important.

He must think your worries could be solved by a simple smoke, he must think you were some lonely depressed rich girl in need of her daddy. The worst part is, you were just that. You needed and missed your daddy’s fortune, but most of all, you missed him. Your mother had barely made time to mourn him and soon you would be married into a loveless marriage, making you completely alone.

‘’You would be too if they sent hoards of bored old men your way.’’ You replied, and usually, your icy cold exterior sends men running from you. Men don’t like women they can’t outsmart or control. Men don’t like well-read women. Men don’t like unknown or mysterious women. Men want to know what they purchase when they try to find a wife.

This one started to smile, however taking you completely by surprise. ‘’You’re the Waters girl.’’ He knew of you. You exhaled deeply. You could not take another peasant storming in and demanding you to leave the room again. You could not face the reality that this could be the final chapter of your family’s legacy and that you would be their downfall.

You had hoped to shut him up before he would even start. ‘’Yes. What of it?’’ You snapped, crossing your arms over your chest when readjusting your dress.

He briefly scratched behind his left ear, before he stepped closer, his hips swaying to the rhythm of your every unsteadier growing heartbeat. ‘’Quite hostile, aren’t we?’’ He tsked, grinning from ear to ear and revealing his beautiful white teeth.

He grabbed your left hand and went to his breast pocket before handing you a cigarette. ‘’Smoke with me, Princess. It might do you some good.’’ You looked at his cigarettes, likely all the good stuff from the Riverlands. The good stuff.

You wanted to smoke when he grabbed his lighter and made a flame for you, carefully shielding it with his hands. But you pretended, as always, that you were not interested right away. ‘’Alright, let’s see if you have anything worthy of my company.’’ You brought the cigarette to your lips after he had lit it for you, and for a brief moment the tabaqua cleansed your soul of all its troubles and misery.

He stood there, watching as you peacefully smoked his cigarettes, both of you not giving a damn about the bypassing passengers who glared daggers. ‘’What is your name?’’ You asked him after you finished your cigarette.

He spoke again, his voice rough as a diamond with a befitting sharp edge that could slit throats. ‘’Aemond.’’ He said.

Your chin lifted and you nodded, as you recalled that your mother had given you and your sisters a warning about absolutely not engaging with this ‘’new-money’’ called ‘’Aemond Targaryen’’. You wondered how a Targaryen could be New money, as most of them relied on their ancestors for wealth. Yet you were in the mood for teasing, perhaps in the mood for upsetting your mother.‘’Oh, mother warned me for you.’’

The moment you mentioned that, something changed and shifted the mood from teasing and fun to serious and worry. ‘’Did she?’’ He asked, his fingers slightly fumbling with his ring. You eyed it, curiously. It did not look like a wedding ring, however.

You nodded, eager to make him sweat. ‘’Yes. She says you are a bit of a bad boy.’’ You recalled what your mother told you, as well as many ladies in her gossip circle.

He smirked, quite liking your description as you moved closer to him, staring at his pink luscious lips that seemed quite comfortable to touch, perhaps to lick. ‘’Hm.’’ Was all that left his lips, and you would not know if it was an answer or a moan.

You continued filling his head with info you overheard, reminding yourself in the process why he would be a horrible match. ‘’You have a reputation of a horrible temper, flirtations that don’t end well respectively, unbefitting of a follower of the Seven.’’ You were a good religious woman. Your faith mattered to you.

Aemond seemed insulted by your catlike smirk, before grinning. ‘’Life is too short to keep yourself chained down. Unless you like your chains.’’ He added, sizing you up and down as if he was picturing you in chains.

You huffed. ‘’You see, Mr Aemond: I am a woman. Our reputations matter and we can’t just flirt with anyone.’’ You were insulted that he would think you would let him tie you up as some weak meak thing.

Aemond grabbed your gloved hands, making contact with your skin before staring into your eyes, making contact with your very soul. ‘’Are you really that bored with the old fucks she sents your way?’’ You heard of the word fuck before, but never in that way, and certainly not o describe your future husband. It is disgusting, but the silver lining is, whoever you would marry would perhaps not live very long.

‘’Mr Aemond-’’ You started, your sentence unsure as he pushed his fingers against your reddened lips, silencing you before grabbing you gently by your hips.

He breathed against your throat. ‘’Yes or no, love?’’ He asked as you felt more like a woman than any of those old fucks ever could.

You nodded, hesitant at first. ‘’Yes.’’

He grinned, happy that he was handed what he was ever. ‘’Good girl.’’ He whispered against your lips as you breathlessly watched. ‘’I will make you a deal. My father will name me heir soon, and I’ll become a very wealthy man. We can pretend you are my fiancee.’’ His breath briefly raged over your throat, as his eye danced with mischief and promises he would not dare to keep. ‘’No man would dare to bother you during this voyage, after that, I help you find a proper match.’’ You had never been very romantic or desperate. Not the way your little sisters are.

You knew what men wanted. You knew it back then, you know it now and you would know it until the Stranger dragged you into the seventh hell, screaming and dragging your nails into the carpet. Yet you asked, coyly as if this was a great sacrifice. ‘’What shall you wish in return, Mr Targaryen?’’ Aemond grinned, brushing his fingers against your cheeks before slightly bending his face so he could whisper in your ear, sending shivers down your spine.

His price was simple. ‘’One night alone with you, love.’’ He had hoped for one night alone with you. You can imagine what you will be doing that night. ‘’I want you to surrender fully to me, for one night. Just one.’’ He must mistake you for a harlot.

You knew his intentions and you knew his plans. Yet you kept coy as a lady and pretended to not understand where he was hinting at. ‘’And what shall we do on that night?’’ Aemond glanced subtly at your breasts.

He grinned devilishly. ‘’I can think of many things.’’

You liked the attention of someone your age for once. And there was something else about him too. He was like fire and you loved to get burned. You knew he would hurt you, but that didn’t stop you. But no businesswoman would accept her first offer. ‘’What if I talk to your father, hm? How you dare to propose this ridiculous offer to me?’’ You knew Viserys Targaryen was on this ship as well.

His smile vanished and he became quite catty and serious. You liked how he glared at you, clearly affected by your threat. ‘’Talk to him all you want love, I did so for 20 years and he’s not very good at listening.’’ You and Aemond decided to take to the quiet coffee lounge.

‘’But your father has four other children. How are you so certain that you will become the heir?’’ You asked him.

He grinned as if he found it very funny before answering. ‘’I just am, Love.’’

You nodded, lowering your eyes as his lips got closer to yours. ‘’Confidence is the most attractive trait a man can have.’ He simply nodded and bent his head to kiss you. You turned at the last moment, letting your locks touch his lips before you took another cigar from his breast pocket, your red-stained lips curling into a smile. ‘’But cockiness is not.’’ He tried to trap you under his arms, with a grin before you outsmarted him once more, stepping aside, taking off with the cigarette. ‘’I enjoyed your company, Mr Targaryen. Let me know if you ever become anything more than your father’s second-born son, and we shall converse again, perhaps under the delight of a glass of champagne.’’ He grinned, his breath still heavy of your almost kiss before he ran a hand through his silver-blonde hair, nodding as you walked away.

‘’Miss.’’ He muttered, more to himself than to you.

—

Aemond Targaryen stood on the deck of the Balarion, smoking a cigarette and watching the beautiful stars drift by, as clouds blurred the skies. He liked to watch the stars, even when he was homeless for a while, the stars were all he had. And he was soon to be atop of the very world, and he would soon have everything they tried to take from him.

An eye, a woman, a legacy. It was within his grasp. He could not lose focus now. He would not lose focus now. One of his handymen he hired for his dirty work, made himself known by whistling the few short tones they had agreed on. Aemond snapped his head. ‘’How did it go?’’ Cregan wondered as he took a seat beside Aemond. No one was there but the regular watch post.

Aemond grinned, madly as his best friend took a seat beside him, also stealing one of his cigarettes. He thought back to the girl he saw earlier. The photos they sent him did not do her justice. Her luscious lips, her beautiful hair, and her attitude. He always loved a strong-minded and strong-willed woman. ‘’Excellent. She is even more stunning than her in the photos.’’

Cregan brought the cigarette to his lips before taking the lighter from his pocket and smoking a well-earned cigarette. ‘’You weren’t worried about that, were you Boss?’’ He always called Aemond boss, despite Aemond insisting they were friends.

No. Her beauty was unmatched and unrivaled. ‘’I was worried about my nephews fucking it up, I knew she agreed to meet with Jace and various other men. I must snatch her up before her little kitten claws wander to another man.’’ He muttered. ‘’I’m new money, she does not like new money.’’ And that could be a problem.

‘’Money is money,’’ Cregan commented with a shrug. Aemond would agree. Money is money.

He nodded.‘’To us, yes, we are sane men.’’ But they were not sane men. ‘’To them its like an insult. But I have seen the way she looked at me. I will get her on her knees.’’ He vowed to himself before taking another smoke.

‘’You’re evil, boss.’’ Another man commented, who had just arrived with a very important guest. Aemond made eye contact before grinning, sending his guest into waves of terror.

He stood up. ‘’I know. Perhaps if the good path gave me the rewards the evil path has given me, more people would choose for good. Good does not pay pills, unless you’re a septon.’’ He strutted over to the guest, before grabbing him by the throat. The poor man was arranged with sending the suitcases to Y/n’s rooms. He knew where she slept.

Aemond and Cregan ignored their hostage and the watch did nothing, as the entire trip, the entire ship, was one big coverup to get Cocaine to Valyria. The ship, the walls of it, were filled with bricks as big as doors. ‘’I will seduce her. She seems to like me, so far. I just need to keep sabotaging her little attempt at finding a rich husband, and she will have no one to turn to but me.’’ The more he talked with himself, the more he became convinced this could and would work.

Cregan grinned as their hostage briefly whimpered. ‘’Does she remember you, boss? Do you think she recalls?’’ How she kicked him out of the house? How she left him to die in the cold, in the streets? How he almost starved? That brat would not only not know, she would not give a damn. He was middle-class. But now he is upper. And soon, she would become his.

‘’No. She did not. Y/N Waters thinks herself a clever woman, but I assure you, she is not.’’ Aemond turned his attention to the hostage. ‘’Now, I believe you handled the suitcases for my lovely lady friend. Do you know where she sleeps?’’ He saw the fear increase in the eyes of the poor stewart his men kidnapped after dinner.

He nodded, the foolish man, fiddling with his glasses before speaking. He did not eye Aemond at all, afraid of him. ‘’I do, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you, Mr Targaryen.’’

Aemond did not bother to respond.

Cregan laughed.

He continued, nervous and scared. ‘’She is a lady, it would not be proper to share her room number with just anyone, Sir. Please unhand me.’’ That is true, Aemond admitted to himself. Normally he would not ask, but this was not a normal situation.

He nodded to the other man, Cole. ‘’Very well. You can unhand him.’’ He told his loyal watchdog.

The stewart was relieved at first, until Aemond grabbed him by his dirty blonde hair, dragging him with him to the prow of the ship, where the decorative seahorse was hanging. ‘’No! Sir! Please!” His terrified cries echoed over the sea, and Aemond briefly exhaled the sweet scent of salt, fear, and death.

He whispered one thing in the Stewart’s ear, convinced the boy would wet himself in terror. ‘’Her room number?’’

The boy finally caved, tears streaming down his face as he told Aemond. ‘’192B. The second door on the left.’’ The boy whimpered once he was done speaking. Aemond grinned, pleased as Cregan had noted the number down.

Aemond slowly petted his sweaty hair, rubbing him as a loyal good dog. ‘’That’s a good boy.’’ He told him.

‘’Please sir…’’ the boy croaked, weakly. ‘’I told you. Please let me go.’’ That would be a risk.

He kept the boy above the waves, staring down as the ship created new fresh waves, ever moving forward. ‘’I wonder if they have sharks here. What do you think?’’ He asked the terrified boy.

He shook his head. ‘’No, Sir. Sharks are common in warm waters, they dislike the cold.’’ Aemond was surprised by that but didn't show.

He kind of could sympathize with the sharks. Lonely, powerful misunderstood creatures. Killers. ‘’Hm. I can understand. I am the same way. The cold, cruel waves. No one would live long. You would not drown, it will be the cold that stops your heart.’’ He told the terrified boy. The boy clung tightly to the rails before Aemond slashed his fingers off, sending a scream to the boy's lips. Cregan handed him a wrench, and all Aemond had to do was hit the back of his head. The wrench craved a hole in the skull, knocking the boy out cold. He then used his dark boots to give him a final kick that sent him flying in the cold dark waves below.

No one would hear him scream, for he was now with the gods, if not now, then he soon would be. The fishes would eat away the evidence and the problem was solved.

Nothing was heard except the engine of the boat and Aemond’s pleased sigh as he became a step closer to his revenge and a step closer to building his empire.

And now you have seen my horrible banners xD

no, im just going to share this here, its my playlist for the story. You are not like FORCED to listen to it, but i wanted to share it.

And thank you for always reading my random stuff. It means the world.

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