#ALSO I NEED THE ARMY TO BE JESSICA AND LUKE

[gublurbolts]

hey chat

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK??????

[adhd-winterfalcon]

ok ddba season 2 would be the perfect time to introduce struggling college student spider-man. daredevil needs an army? get that loser peter parker to hells kitchen stat.

also where tf are jessica and luke like. they are also nyc vigilantes, why the radio silence. even frank is there cmon guys! i need the defenders back pls pls pls

ALSO also get ava ayala the white tiger amulet IMMEDIATELY please god. and give the iron fist to lin lie already ffs

[dotthings]

With this final scene that we get with Matt and everybody in Josie's, people have been gravitating toward the line that he says about needing to assemble an army to take down Fisk. The first thing that pops into our heads is Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Danny Rand. Are those characters in your head as you map out season 2 and the future of Daredevil?

Without giving too much away...when you're working in what I would call the Hell's Kitchen corner of the MCU, those iconic characters are always in your mind. The thing is that — and this is kind of hard, I'm trying to thread a needle here — you want to bring in people and relationships and past figures in Matt's life because they help the story, particularly in terms of a story where Fisk has taken over the city. And there is a resistance and a rebellion, so to speak, rising. So there's going to be people, vigilantes, superheroes that are involved in that. There has to be because this is happening to their city. That said, you also want to create a completely organic story for that. So who comes in and why has to be beyond anything earned. So the easiest answer to your question is, yes, those characters that you just listed off are absolutely in my head and everybody's head as we're working. How that manifests itself is both really tricky writing-wise and a pretty closely guarded secret at this point. So I'm being intentionally cagey, but I'm also saying, 'Hell yeah!' in terms of it's something we're thinking about."

--(Daredevil: Born Again showrunner Dario Scardapane in EW)

Okay!! What I was saying earlier...let's goooooo. There's other nyc vigilante heroes who are going to show up in S2.

[ironunderstands]

Shit I want to happen in DDBA season 2

MATT AND FOGGY REUNION SCENE. It better be 5 minutes long. It better have Matt incoherently SOBBING. I don’t care what you have to do for this to happen writers GIVE IT TO MEEE E

Matt secret identity reveal. I doubt Fisk would do it (because if he wanted to he already would) but man the drama that would come from that would be DELICIOUS and I also want to see Matt being the one on trial for once. Murdock vs the people of New York would go so hard.

BB getting revenge for Ben with the help of Karen. I want her to document EVERY corrupt thing Fisk is doing and reveal it to the world, and if Karen’s the one helping her then it’s a full circle moment from the og season one.

4. MORE KIRSTEN SCENES. With what little we have of her I already adore her and I want more!! Also although shipping Matt with everyone is basically mandatory already, I love them together and I need more.

5. Heather and Matt dramatic ass breakup. Honestly I like Heather way more than everyone else does because at least to me the point is that she is Not Good For Him and vice versa, so if this comes with a betrayal too… ugh I’d love it. She basically already did by agreeing to work for Fisk, but doing that in a more in your face manner would be so good.

6. Angela taking on the White Tiger mantle + Matt mentoring her. A) I want more White Tiger stuff B) I love Angela (nobody talks about her either :c) and I want her to avenge Hector’s death and get officer Powell’s bitchass C) I think seeing Matt in a mentor position would be really interesting and I also just love seeing superheroes learning the ropes.

7. FrankKarenMatt love triangle. AND A PROPER ONE. I know Disney would probably rather kill themselves than let Matt and Frank be bisexual but man it would be so much fun. At the very least let them let Karen have her two bad bitches at once, she deserves it.

8. The Defenders + Spider-Man joining the anti-Fisk army. I have faith that they’ll probably include the Defenders in season two, or at least Jessica (man if they let Luke become Mayor after Fisk too that would also be great), but for Spidey even a cameo seems kinda hopeless with how Sony is acting. Marvel I’m gonna need yall to put up a fight for this one because you’re making Peter look like a fraud + his and DD’s friendship is too good not to expand on.

9. Dex v the Fisks but it actually works out for him. Yeah it’s kinda inevitable but I want him getting proper revenge on them for how they used him + I also want him to find a new North Star who’s actually good for him (and who preferably doesn’t die horribly RIP Julie). Lowkey still wish Ray was alive because I think he’d actually be a good role model for Dex and even if Dex was lying when he was trying to befriend his family I think it would be really sweet if he got to do that for real. He’s such a good character man.

10. Officer Powell getting the snot kicked out of him again. It’s already a running gag and I want it to continue. They should let him live for the sole purpose of letting the rest of the cast body him whenever they desire.

11. BRING BRETT MAHONEY BACK WHERE IS HEEEE. Make him the new police commissioner when this is all over. If they give that role to fucking Cherry I’m gonna lose it.

[partheniad]

alright, hey, that was a legitimately good finale. a huge part of that comes to bringing frank and karen back. and they let frank tear the shit through some cops. hell yeah. but i feel so fucking disappointed that we have Matt telling Karen "We have to build an army", and then he doesn't go speak to a single vigilante he knows. My dude knows the Defenders, he's met Spider-Man. I don't expect them to throw out the money to put them all out there. But come on.. SOMETHING? Do you have any idea how people would have lost their shit if he opened up the bar doors to Luke and Jessica? But no. Alright, does he grab a bunch of supervillains to redeem them? Like in his comic run where he gets disenchanted with our system and gives them a chance to do the right thing? Haha no. Also the MCU has the worst problem with villains. They either are Dead. Too big to be touched. Or are a joke. And Marvel HAS joke villains, you need some gimmicks. But a huge majority of villains in the comics are just jobbers. Guys who aren't necessarily big threats but who aren't here to make you laugh either. But Marvel keeps fucking up its jobbers. (Special shout out to She Hulk for doing this to like 9 villains). So yeah... not really a roster that Matt could pull from either. So what is it? What's his army? Is he just gonna get the people of new york on his side? Nah... the answer is cops. It's Daredevil and THE GOOD COPS (TM)

[faofinn]

Hi! Kind of new to your blog and I got a little lost with the characters 😅 Would you mind explaining the main plot or the characters’ background a bit so I can understand the stories a little better? Thank you and sorry for the trouble!

Hey!

Don't apologise at all! It is quite confusing - especially as we have different AUs for our characters!

We're going to do a full intro post for each of our characters, so keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, a quick rundown of the mains.

Fred and Sheila Daniels, adoptive parents to both Fao and Finn. Fostered Harrison on respite. Sheila works as a nurse when Finn and Fao are old enough (in her eyes) to fend for themselves. Fred, on the other hand, stays the furthest away from medicine as he can get, and works as a history professor, writing books in his spare time.

Fao Daniels, the eldest Daniels son, and very independent. Served in the army until an accident ended his career and he returned to the UK as a surgeon. Family: Amelia and James Blackwood (parents), Friend and Sheila Daniels (Adopted Parents), Tomas (Uncle and former 'guardian'), Finn (brother), Luke, Beth, Arthur (kids). Partners: Alex, Ollie, Harrison, Elyana Lozier.

Finn Daniels, the youngest son. Fred's nephew, suffered a TBI when he was ten thanks to #apollothecat. The accident caused his epilepsy and added to his chronic pain. Followed in Fao's footsteps and went to medschool, though he found his place in the ED. Family: Fred and Sheila (adopted parents), Partners: Jessica Weston.

Steve Cunningham. Neurosurgeon by trade, now Harrison's adoptive father. Needs to be protected at all costs, would do anything for Harrison. Mentored Fao while Finn was recovering from his TBI. Family: Bella (wife), Jonathan (son), Amy (daughter), Harrison (adopted son).

Harrison Cunningham-Cole, Steve's son and the reputation of troublemaker. Bounced around the care system after his parents (the Tanners) were arrested for abuse. Has his fair share of crappy partners, but finally found the love of his life in Tai. Works as an ED cons. Family: Steve (adoptive father), Kieran, Alfie, and Levi (adopted sons). Partners: Marcus, Conor, Taidgh Cole.

Taidgh Cunningham-Cole. Harrison's husband and dad to the three kids. Works as a physio, and has a diagnosis of late onset T1DM. Originally from Ireland, he moved to London to train, and met Harrison when he broke his ankle and was hopped up on pain meds.

Elyana Lozier - owned by @epochandeons , Shiv and Ev's best friend IRL! Ely works as an anaesthetist, and somehow fell in love with the idiot that is Fao. Also has seizures from a car crash. Adoptive mother to Luke, and bio to Beth and Arthur

Jessica Weston, another long-suffering partner. Has been Finn's girlfriend since they were nine, much to everyone's amusement (and Finn's denial). Works as a lawyer and has way too many brains to be with Finn, but family game nights prove why the pair are together. They have a daughter, Amelia, who was bit of a surprise to the pair.

[mcrdvcks]

what the fuckkkkkkk!?!?!

i'm going to be talking about the finale so please look away if you haven't seen it!

matt waking up and immediately saying karen's name when it was heather next to him? oh, diabolical. my man was just like "no thanks" to heather

fisk basically enacting martial law and letting the police run rampant and do whatever the fuck they want? wayyy too real.

frank showing up and insinuating that karen called him to keep matt safe? and even shaving? oh, mannnn! fisk sending the police to matt's place rather than daredevil? insane.

shocked we didn't see more poindexter other than that one final scene - i guess we'll see him next season!

frank being pissed off at the police wearing his symbol! get 'em frank! and speaking of that apartment scene, matt tilting that police officer's head up with his baton?? oh, something about that was so hot. (need him to do that to me in a mocking tone...)

so, seems like foggy may actually be truly dead. which, even though i miss him, may be the better play as to not just take an easy way out.

frank and karen? gimme kastle, please!!!

i got so excited when matt said he needed his own army. really thought we'd see spider-man, jessica, luke, maybe even danny, but no. does make me wonder if the state of nyc will come into play in spider-man's new movie.

all in all, a good episode! lot's of gore (we went from fisk bashing a guy's head in with a car door to literally crushing gallo's skull in with his bare hands) and frank being frank, but also, again, very realistic to what's happening in our country right now. if you didn't feel almost sick and uncomfortable watching this episode, i envy you.

about to watch the season finale of born again.

a few things i want/wish to happen:

i know frank is going to be in it, but i'd love to see a kastle reunion. karen i miss youuuu!!

PLEASE LET FOGGY BE ALIVEEEE

heather and matt breakup - sorry, i don't think heather is right for matt

something is going to happen to dex, whether it's him ending up dead or back in prison, idk

there's probably going to be a cliffhanger, i just hope it's not a major one

i'd love to see jessica (or even luke cage)!

maybe another spiderman reference? or even a maya/echo one?

will fisk still be mayor? or will he go back to being kingpin?

no matter what happens (unless it's a bad episode) i'm so grateful that we got matt back - even if it's going to be another year until we see him again.

anyways, here i go! i'll come back with my thoughts later😮‍💨

[suituuup]

pieces - chapter thirteen

Five years ago, Chloe dropped off the face of the Earth. Beca didn’t expect to see her again dancing in a strip club, out of all places.

rated: E (drug use and emotional abuse in early chapters)

ao3 link

*

It didn’t take long for Beca to realize that Sarah was right. 

She probably had been oblivious to her feelings for Chloe or chalked them up to close friendship because Sarah was in the picture, but as soon as her guilt over breaking-up with Sarah faded away a couple of weeks ago, it felt as though a veil lifted. 

Her whole being lit up every time she saw Chloe, and she craved those soft moments with her, either talking about Bean, or working on the nursery, or cuddling up on the couch. 

Beca didn’t know if Chloe felt the same way, and even if she did, she was probably miles away from being ready to launch into a relationship, between the baby and her recovery. 

She focused on her music in the meantime, writing three more songs to go with that one piece she came up with the day after she saw Chloe again. One was about being brave, another about getting redemption, and the last one about finding happiness. All about Chloe, and how much her journey inspired Beca. 

Beca came home pretty late from the office that night, wrapping up the final versions of all four songs with Luke. She found Chloe on the couch watching a sitcom and padded over. Chloe was now shy of 22 weeks and sporting the most adorable baby bump.

They had worked on the nursery over the last two weekends, hanging cute, colorful pictures of several woodland animals and sticking colorful, minimalist tree wall decals on the opposite wall. The crib, changing table, and car seat had been ordered, and Beca was planning a surprise baby shower with Aubrey, a month after the Bellas reunion, which was taking place in two weeks at a cabin upstate. 

“Hey,” Beca murmured, plopping down beside her. “How was your day?” 

“Pretty good. Bean and I went for a walk, then we met up with Aubrey for lunch, and napped for most of the afternoon. She’s kicking like crazy right now, though.” 

Beca grinned. “Yeah?” She cleared her throat, hesitant. “Can I… feel?” 

“Of course,” Chloe said softly, taking Beca’s hand and setting it on the left side of her stomach. “That’s where her foot was just a second ago.” 

Beca folded her legs under her and sat back on her heels to be more comfortable, silence descending upon them as they waited. After a minute, she glanced at Chloe. “Maybe it’s not strong enough to be felt from the outside, yet?” 

“No, it’s not that. I think she’s stopped.” 

“Oh,” Beca let out in slight disappointment. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, she felt a light tap against her palm and gasped. “Oh my god, I felt it!” 

A giggle burst from Chloe’s mouth. “That was a strong one.” 

“That’s amazing,” Beca mused aloud, her voice sticking to her throat a bit. Yes, she was about to cry over Chloe’s baby kicking, that’s how soft this whole thing had made her. “Jesus Beale, your kid is turning me into a giant puddle of mush.” 

Chloe chuckled, moving Beca’s hand to a new spot and keeping hers on top. Bean kicked again, pulling another gasp from Beca. 

“Does it hurt?” Beca found herself asking, her gaze sweeping upwards to watch Chloe’s expression. 

“It’s a little bit uncomfortable whenever she kicks in the ribs, but other than that, no.” Chloe moved her hand to another spot, tracking the next kick. “How was your day? You’re home pretty late.” 

“Yeah, Luke and I added the finishing touches to my EP.” 

Chloe’s eyes lit up. “When is it going to be out?” 

“We still have to get the art for the cover, so probably in a couple of weeks, right after the Bellas reunion.” Chloe nodded slowly. “Are you excited to see the girls?” 

“I’m… a bit nervous to be honest. What are they gonna think?” 

Beca smiled. “They’re going to think that you’re a badass.” Chloe broke eye-contact, shaking her head as looked down to her lap. “Hey, I’m serious. None of them are going to judge you. And just like Aubrey and I, they’re going to be so happy to have you back in their lives.” 

Chloe hesitantly met her gaze. “You really think so?” 

A firm nod. “I know so.” 

Chloe managed a smile and a faint nod. “Okay.” 

The following two weeks were busy for Beca as she focused on promoting her EP and tied some loose ends before the Bellas reunion so she wouldn’t be bothered that weekend. Early on that mid-August Saturday morning, they set off to Lake Placid, having planned to meet the Bellas there by lunchtime. Chloe didn’t mention anything, but Beca could tell she was nervous from all the cooking she had done in the past few days, enough to feed an army. 

She was glad, however, that Chloe used that as a stress-reliever as opposed to falling back into bad habits. 

They made it to the cabin Beca rented just before 1 pm, and Beca heard Chloe suck in a sharp breath as soon as she killed the engine, her expression similar to when they made it to her parents’ two months ago.

“It’ll be okay,” Beca murmured, covering Chloe’s hand with her own and squeezing it. She was a bit worried about there being alcohol, as Chloe insisted they shouldn’t have to restrain themselves for her sake. 

“Thanks,” Chloe breathed out, flipping her hand over and holding Beca’s for a moment. “Okay, let’s do this.” 

Most of them had made it there last night as they were flying in, shouts and laughter carrying from the backyard, where the outdoor pool was. It was sunny and way too hot for Beca’s liking, but she didn’t say a word, as being pregnant in that weather was definitely worse. 

If Chloe was uncomfortable with the temperature, she didn’t let it show, looking gorgeous in her yellow maternity summer dress. 

Stepping inside, they set the food bags on the kitchen island and Beca walked towards the open bay window, Chloe following behind. 

“Hey nerds,” she called out as she stepped out on the patio just as Amy made a cannonball, the splashing water nearly drenching her. “Dude!” 

“Sup Shortstack?” Amy greeted as she emerged a few beats later. 

“Chloe!” Beca turned around to see Stacie striding over and hugging Chloe tightly. “I’ve missed you.” 

“Hey Stace,” Chloe murmured, embracing her back. “I’ve missed you, too.” 

As Beca had predicted, the Bellas took it all in one stride, greeting Chloe like it hadn’t been over six years since they last saw one another and making her feel like a part of the group without a second thought. 

Now able to relax, Beca helped herself to a drink, watching from afar as Chloe met Stacie’s three-year-old daughter for the first time, a fond smile etched in her features. It was clear from that first exchange with Bella that Chloe would rock this mom thing, given how much of a natural she was around kids. 

After lunch, the girls made the most of the pool, either playing various games in the water or sunbathing in the lounge chairs. Beca was content soaking it all in at the table, sipping on a margarita. Her gaze often wandered to Chloe as she chatted with Jessica while reclining on a chair, clad in a bikini with one hand rubbing her belly. 

It was easy for her thoughts to escape towards what it could be if she and Chloe were to become something more. Raising Bean together, buying a house somewhere outside the city, getting a dog, possibly getting married...

“Oi, Mitchell.” 

Beca snapped out of her reverie, clearing her throat in embarrassment as Stacie plopped down next to her. “What’s up, Stace?” 

“You good?” She asked, cocking an eyebrow. “You looked like you were having a moment.” 

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Beca assured her and smiled, setting her drink down before pushing to her feet. She wanted to get in on the pool action, but her bathing suit was upstairs in her overnight bag. “I’m gonna go change.” 

“Be quiet if you’re going upstairs?” Stacie asked. “I just put Bella down for her nap.” 

“No problem.” 

Beca headed to her room and changed into her bikini, sliding her denim shorts back on and grabbing her sunscreen as she didn’t want to resemble a lobster tonight. As she quietly headed down the hallway towards the stairs, she couldn’t help but freeze when she heard her name behind a door left slightly ajar. 

“Feelings? For Beca?” 

It was Aubrey’s voice. Beca knew she shouldn’t eavesdrop, but she really couldn’t get her feet to move, curiosity rooting them down. 

A sigh that belonged to Chloe followed. “I was convinced it was just my hormones going wild at first. But then something happened the other night when she felt Bean kick for the first time. You should have seen her reaction, Bree... she was completely moved by it, and it’s like I felt my heart double in size. And I think about her non-stop, even when I need to… take care of myself.” 

“Oh my god, ew, Chloe!” Aubrey hissed while Beca nearly choked on her saliva, her entire body feeling as though it just caught on fire. “I don’t need to hear that.” 

“I’m sorry!” Chloe whispered, stifling a laugh. “What I mean by that is that it’s not just platonic love or gratitude because of everything she did for me lately. I’m physically attracted to her, too. It feels exactly the same as it did in Barden.” 

Beca’s heart stuttered at that. Chloe had feelings for her back then, too? 

“Are you going to tell her?” Aubrey asked softly. 

“I…” Chloe hesitated. “I want to. But I’m just getting my life back together, I’m not ready for a relationship yet. And I’m also… scared she might not feel the same way.” 

Beca forced herself to walk away, knowing that what she was doing wasn’t right. Her brain reeled from the onslaught of information all evening long. She was physically there, but her mind felt thousands of miles away, her thoughts going back and forth between that night at Barden, and if she should tell Chloe about how she felt. 

She retreated to her room before the others, not that it surprised anyone as she was, along with Aubrey, considered the grandma of the group. She had just slipped into bed when a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” she called out softly. 

The door opened just wide enough for Chloe to step inside, and she shut it behind her, padding over to the bed. “You okay? You’ve seemed off tonight.” 

Beca nodded. “Yeah, I’m okay. I promise.” She patted the space next to her. “Wanna hang out here for a bit?” 

As Chloe nodded and shuffled to lie next to her atop the covers, Beca felt her heartbeat quicken. It was odd, knowing for certain Chloe had feelings for her and holding the cards in her own hands. 

“Today was a lot of fun,” Chloe murmured as she sat propped against the pillows, bracing a hand over her stomach. “You were right. The girls don’t care about my past.” 

“Well, your past doesn’t define you,” Beca said with a soft smile. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.” 

“Are you nervous about tomorrow? About your EP coming out?” 

Beca shook her head. “Not really. I didn’t write those songs with the goal to hit the top of the charts, so I don’t exactly feel any pressure.” At Chloe’s slight tilt of the head, she added, “I wrote them because they helped me work through some of my feelings. Especially the first one.” 

Twisting her head to the right, she grabbed her phone and her headphones, plugging them in before gently setting them over Chloe’s ears. She puffed out a breath and pressed play, willing her ratcheting heart to chill the fuck out as Chloe closed her eyes and listened. 

The song only lasted a few minutes, but it felt like the longest of Beca’s life. Chloe’s lids slowly opened, and she lowered the headphones so that they hung around her neck, her gaze full of questions. 

“It’s about us,” she whispered, no doubt having picked up the few hints woven into the lyrics. 

Beca swallowed, nodding. She had never felt at ease pouring her heart out, and she sucked in a deep breath through her nose, puffing it out through her lips. “You remember when I told you about listening to your gut?” Chloe gave a faint nod. “That’s what I should have done that morning after because not telling you how I felt was the biggest mistake of my life.”

She briefly glanced down. “I had broken Jesse’s heart just a little while before, and I was scared that I just wasn’t made for relationships. So I didn’t say anything, because I couldn’t break your heart, either. I would have never forgiven myself if I did.” 

Chloe remained silent for half-a-minute, processing Beca’s words. “I knew you were in love with me,” she admitted softly. “And I had the feeling you were just scared, so I didn’t push you. I figured… you just needed time, and I was ready to wait for you. But then…” she cleared her throat, her eyes flickering down. “My life skidded out of control.” 

Beca’s heart suddenly feels heavy with the weight of regret. She can’t help but wonder how different things could have been, had she been honest with Chloe that morning. But she willed her mind to come back to the present because there was no point in wallowing in the should-haves and what-ifs. Not when she was being given a second chance. 

No chickening out this time. She wasn’t a kid anymore. 

“I want to be with you, Chlo,” she murmured, her throat shrinking with emotions as she forced her gaze to remain locked with Chloe’s. “These past few months… living with you and being by your side through this journey-- it made me fall in love with you all over again.” 

Chloe closed her eyes, and a few tears toppled down her cheeks. She released a long breath. “I want that, too. I do,” she croaked out, and something that had been poking at Beca’s heart suddenly vanished. Chloe reached out to swipe her palm over both cheeks, her other hand sliding into Beca’s. “I just need some time. I need to find a more stable mindset before I open that door.” 

“I know,” Beca whispered, blinking back her own tears. “And I’ll wait, this time. For however long it takes. I promise.” 

“I know,” Chloe echoed, her thumb slowly stroking Beca’s knuckles back and forth. “I trust you.” 

They shared a soft smile, and Beca didn’t think she had felt this light, ever. 

“I guess I should head to bed,” Chloe said after a moment of comfortable silence. 

Beca nodded. “Okay.” Releasing Chloe’s hand, she rubbed her palm over Chloe’s belly gently. “Night Bean.” 

Chloe stood up and cast her short wave when she made it to the door, shutting it softly behind her.

[iamanartichoke]

To kind of add on to that “are you excited about phase 4″ ask I got a few days ago, I think something that I have felt for quite awhile but haven’t known how to put into words is that, honestly, I feel like IW/Endgame really ruined the MCU as a cohesive universe, in addition to screwing over the characters and the stories. 

What I mean is, after Avengers 1, we had a pretty tight-knit, cohesive world where all of the connections made sense and allowed the characters to both function together as a team while realistically going off in their own directions to continue their solo stories. Each character who had a movie prior to Avengers 1 got a fleshed out background and a narrative that got rid of a lot of the convoluted tropes so rampant in comic books/superhero movies in general. That’s what used to set Marvel apart - that they took their time to really build up to Avengers and make the story as satisfying as possible. 

After that, not only did the OG Avengers continue on with their own stories, but Avengers also set up a narrative that allowed for spin-offs to simultaneously exist while also being autonomous stories - Agents of SHIELD was made possible due to the groundwork laid by Avengers, Coulson’s resurrection storyline was solid and believable (for this universe), there were tie-ins linking it to the main universe, including appearances by the movie characters, up to and including Nick Fury. When the Winter Soldier came out and SHIELD collapsed, AoS followed suit and became an even better show, while still staying true to its MCU roots. 

Simlarly, the Netflix shows took the audience on a super realistic view of what the every day world could and would look like post-Avengers, in that after the porthole closed and the aliens were defeated and the government agencies moved on, there were still regular, every day people who had to create a new normal. This normal closely resembled the old, in that these people still went to work, rode the subway, went out to eat, spent time with friends, experienced trauma, and so on and so forth, but with the caveat that everyone is aware that Strange Things Are Possible and Super Powers Are a Thing.The events of Avengers were referred to and shown to have an effect, as it would, but life goes on. Characters like Jessica Jones and Luke Cage showed us what happens when regular people - not gods, not billionaires, not government spies, just people - are thrust into situations that could happen every day, like theft, murder, betrayal, vendettas, and so on, but with superpowers. And the results were so, so engaging and satisfying, overall. 

Up through Age of Ultron and even Civil War, in that the Accords had ramifications on AoS and the Raft became a real threat for Jessica and for Luke. The movies and its spinoff shows were still very connected, even as they did their own thing. 

And then .... Infinity War happens. Setting aside my personal grievances with the film, what its plot basically does is set fire to the cohesive unit of story-telling that had been happening previously. Yes, the universe had been getting kind of large by this point, and more and more characters are being introduced/given movies, but it still more or less made sense. More suspension of disbelief was going on, probably, but it wasn’t too confusing. 

IW changes that. Thanos comes along with his plan to wipe out half the universe. Wakanda, which has only just revealed itself as a powerful nation to the world, becomes the site of a huge alien battle, much huger than the Battle of New York. 

Half of the universe literally turns to dust, with nobody knowing what the fuck has just happened. People living their every day lives suddenly have their friends and loved ones vanish into thin air, and no one knows why.

 The Battle of Wakanda goes largely unmentioned. AoS and the Netflix shows don’t even address these events. 

The Avengers either go their separate ways or hole up in the Compound, running some version of SHIELD. (No mention of what the AoS version of SHIELD is doing, especially since in that show’s canon, Coulson  made Mack director, but it’s implied in the main canon, Nat’s acting director since Fury got dusted, and Fury’s return in FFH implies he’s still very involved in SHIELD. So I guess the SHIELD in AoS is redundant, or ...? I honestly have no idea how they’re connected anymore.)

Five years pass. 

General Ross doesn’t show up, either during the passage of time or after the battle. There’s no mention of what’s happened to the President, or the government in general during this time. 

The Avengers decide they’re going to bring everyone back.

The Avengers Compound is blown up by an alien army and a massive battle follows. There’s not a peep from the government about this. 

The dusted people return without explanation. 

Five years have still passed. The Compound has been destroyed by aliens. No one seems very concerned about this. The dusted people go back to their regular lives. From what I understand, in FFH, Tony Stark/Iron Man is mourned, but that’s about the extent of the ramifications of all of this. 

Captain America is gone, but might have created a new timeline, but maybe he was in the main timeline all along, but is a new timeline the same as a new universe, so is the multiverse real? but no, Mysterio made up the multiverse to fuck with Spiderman, but something alternate has to exist bc the Ancient One specifically said that new timelines will be created if the stones are moved/changed, but but but - 

What I’m getting at here is, the further we get into the events of IW/Endgame, the less and less sense the overall story makes, not only in the films themselves but in setting a foundation for the Phase 4 movies. The MCU world is all kinds of fucked up now. There’s seemingly no explanation besides “that’s just how things are now” to explain how this whole convoluted mess works once the fancy explosions and fan service are over and the story has to continue.

And just like that, the MCU has become just as convoluted and outlandish as the genre stereotype it was originally trying to establish itself away from. For me, that’s the other side of the coin - yes, I am disappointed in the MCU and the decisions Marvel is making and how my favorite characters have been treated, but there’s also the fact that even if I was still invested in the new movies, I would be confused as all fuck about what story they’re even trying to tell at this point. 

It’s not fun if it doesn’t make sense, or if extensive mental gymnastics are needed to put it into some semblance of coherence. It’s not enjoyable to me. I’m here for good, solid stories and characters I care about. And it actually really, really bugs me that logic has been tossed in favor of narrative decisions made purely for shock value rather than genuine investment in telling a satisfying story. 

Which is also why I’m not excited for phase 4. 

[electronicdelusionstarlight]

Alright, I’ve gotten back into writing Spider-Man.

I’m scrapping the Wonder Woman x Spider-Man open relationship with Mary Jane X Felicia Open relationship that ultimately culminates into a 4 people polycule where Peter gets pegged, and go for something a bit more simple. So, I’m sorry for the, like, 20 kudos I received on Ao3 over that, and 31 favorites on HF, but that’s abandoned at the moment.

So, new idea...

Amazing Spinnerete, an AU where MJ gets bitten by the spider instead.

(Spider-Woman and Jackpot were already taken and Spider-Girl didn’t sound right to her, as if it was too early for that).

1) Peter, who doesn’t get any powers ever for the entirety of my story (unlike I was planning to do for Mary Jane in the previous one as I piled power after power on her among star sapphire rings, spirits of vengeance, symbiontes, Gamma Radiations and Thor’s hammer), turns into a Sidekick/IT Guy role to her.

2) He’s there to fulfill a purely supporting role to MJ Heroics, craft the webs, be a support to her, all that shebang you’d expect, while getting worried sick over her going out in New York and risking her life daily among villains and criminals and whatnot. He’s the “Nerd behind the computer,” a concept that got admittedly popularized by Oracle, as well as her “field medic” when she gets back home and needs stitching on both the costume and her scars. 

3) Also uncle Ben is alive and on a ongoing trip with Aunt Anna and Aunt May around the world. They solve crimes, off screen, like 3 Jessica Fletchers, so Peter isn’t as fucked up emotionally as in canon.

4) I’m gona take from the MC2 and say that, unlike Peter, MJ is actually trying to profit off her image from the start. This might cause some conflicts with Peter over him not wanting them to lucrate on some of their crime fighting (Such as not wanting to patent the web fluid in fear of criminals getting a hold of it), and mixes up with their already canon conflict over her being the main breadwinner in the couple AND the possibility of her doing progressively more risque work.

5) Specifically, I’m gona say it: Spinnerete and Mary Jane have two separate OnlyFans. It’s a modernized story and they are in their mid twenties and need a stable source of income and what better than a horde of people out there paying the same woman TWICE for pics of her buying wonderbread? “Pictures of Spinneret” therefore become a way different phrase, and there is a debate in universe over a superheroine essentially being a sex worker, and all that that entails. I don’t know how well I’m going to explore it tho so this might get dropped after a while and just make her a ASMRtist or a Twitch Streamer, basically the same thing at this point.

6) Since this is a AU I can do like Spider-Gwen did and not just fuck up one piece of the main universe but make every aspect of the universe different, so, bullet list of things I’ve been coming up with that are different from main continuity:

6A) The Hero to Heroine ratio (as well as Villain to Villainess) is 1 hero every 10 heroines. Major (Male, Homo Sapiens) heroes in the setting are: Johnny Storm (Johnny Storm), Thor (Thor Odinson), Power Man (Luke Cage), Iron Man (Rhodey Rhodes), Original Captain America (Steve Rogers).

6B) The mutant community is a massive polycule of free love and shit. The biggest mutant community in the world is stationed in the Free Republic of Genosha, currently part of a worldwide international federation of small nations around the globe born to contrast Soviet and American influences during the cold war called IFMP (International Federation of Micro-Powers). Latveria and Wakanda are part of it, and are the leaders of the two major factions among the delegates in the form of the isolationists (Wakanda) and the Expansionists (Latveria). The second biggest mutant community in the world is in San Diego. most male superheroes and some of their villains happen to be mutants.

6C) Susan Storm lead a year long deep space expedition team financed by the united states government, and managed to contact several alien races in her travels, returning to earth with diplomatic ties and Power Cosmic given to her by Infinity herself as a sign of good will after she and the united armies of space finally managed to slay and destroy “The eldritch abomination at the edge of reality that makes people racist by existing,” as it was called. This starts a age of cooperation between the various alien races and empires out there in the cosmos and Earth, their embassies being built in most of the major nations of the world, trade and science deals cropping up as a result.

6D) Susan Storm later formed the (apolitical, above nations and planets) superhero team the Fantastic Five, which changed members over the years based on relationship with other alien planets and tensions between the members of the team. Current line up consists in Susan Storm (Susan Storm, former Ms. Fantastic), super partes leader due to the Power Cosmic, alongside Lyja the Lazerfist (Second Ms. Fantastic and Former Skrull chaos agent on earth during the Skrull-Kree Cold War), Crystalia Amaquelin (Crystal, Inhuman Ambassador), She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters, earth representative and legal expert), Thundra (Thundra, Femizonian Ambassador). The Kree empire was disbanded after the end of the Kree-Skrull cold war.

6E) Johnny Storm never became the second human torch but ends up becoming Evil Jesus. During his trip to the stars with his sister he accidentally ends up in the Negative Zone, the void between dimensions, and befriends the locals, becoming a jesus like figure and ending up ruling the place. It’s not as banged up as it sounds but with prolonged commuting with the Negative Zone he has achieved a state of resonance with Oblivion, one of the other 4 great entities of the universe, and has become his champion. (in direct contrast with his sister’s coming from Infinity). He still uses his powers for good, if in a chaotic good way compared to his sister lawful good one.

6F) Peggy Carter was subjected to the Super Soldier program during WWII, thus becoming Agent England, de facto leader of the Invaders (Mostly same team, Sub-Mariner, First Human Torch, etc.), and guiding the assault against nazi germany and hydra. She and her sidekick end up frozen on the same plane

6G) Steve Rogers was still picked under her wing, if not able to receive super soldier treatment, and still became the (original) Captain America, a purely propagandist figure of a scrawny, physically weak son of immigrants Brooklyn dude, the complete opposite of the German Ubermech ideal for the white man, but with enough anger and outrage over an unjust world to pick fights with people 5 times his size, shown in many a propaganda video punching Hitler square in the jaw and knocking him out cold. They both ended up on that plane crashing in the arctic and were defrosted several years later.

6H) With the disappearance of Agent England, the Invaders disbanding, and the cold war underway, with no superhero team really cropping up, Doctor Deidre Wentworth managed to develop a modified version of the Super Soldier Serum, testing it on herself, and becoming the Superior Captain America. She forms the (US Exclusive, extremely political) “Americommandos” superteam, with selected superheroines and “reformed” supervillaines of the time. The team was responsible for many controversial superhero activities during the cold war, in and out of the united states, and is still going to this day, even if some members have retires or have outright died. Not Superior Cap tho, no, her aging has been slowed down due to the serum, so here she is still guiding black ops teams to capture and imprison some worker rights activists that happen to be mutants.

6I) The Sorcerer Supreme of this dimension happens to be Doctor Doom, Ruler of Latveria.

6L) Norman Osborn never became the Green Goblin. He was still a scummy CEO and millionaire, and still had a affair with one of his son’s best friends. Gwen was dating Peter at the time and ended up getting pregnant with Norman, he finds out, pressures her to get an abortion, almost terrorizes her, she doesn’t cave, Peter is understandably confused and shocked but still wants to support her (as does Mary Jane), but on the day of Gwen’s son’s and daughter’s birth Norman pulls the same shit he pulled in canon with Mary Jane and Mayday, hires an assassin to force a miscarriage, Gwen finds out a couple months later, stages her death, and becomes the Ghost-Goblin, ending up throwing Norman off the New York bridge and killing him in the process for good. His estate and company was inherited by his son, Henry, who devolved most of it to charity, destroying the Osborn business empire.

7) That’s the gist of it really, gona elaborate on more tomorrow.

EDIT: 8) Nightcrawler is the Pope.

[tripsonflatground]

Okay, but why are all superheroes/vigilantes either businessmen that happen to be heads of companies founded by their families, military/law enforcement/agents/lawyers, news staff, scientists, celebrities/royalty, or aliens/myths who for some reason don’t need jobs to support themselves? Like, I get that people like the fantasy of high profile jobs, but come on, get creative. Where are my teachers and professors(no, not like the X-Men, people who work at actual schools/colleges/universities where they do actual learning and isn’t just a vague front for housing abandoned/rejected children and superhero activism) who have to decide between hero-ing at night or grading homework, who do a ton of ass-kicking in the summer and a rumor goes around that sunlight or warm weather boosts their powers? Where are my chefs and bakers who try to carry food on them or have it stashed somewhere for the homeless and victims of crime, who hire other vigilantes at their restaurant/bakery/coffee shop so they can have flexible hours for fighting crime or recovering from injuries? Where are my social workers and childcare professionals and music/art/academic tutors who learned from their jobs how to deal with kids well and are often used as the sidekick wrangler? Where are my athletes and sports coaches and personal trainers and self-defense instructors and therapists and life coaches and dancers and dance instructors who not only want to save people but help people save themselves? Where are my paramedics and dentists and veterinarians and school nurses and basically any other medical professional that isn’t a hospital or army doctor/surgeon, because they never stop saving people? Where are my psychics and mediums (or fake psychic detectives lol) who use their powers and run their own business? Where are my office workers who can disappear easily because they’re an average joe in an office building and no one notices they’re gone? Where are my auto shop mechanics who were able to build their own tricked out cars and motorcycles for their superhero identity? Where are my seamstresses and clothing retail store owners and fashion designers who also know how to make great looking costumes that are also protective and make a little extra money from creating or repairing another vigilante’s costume? Where are my comic book/webcomic authors/artists who laugh at the irony yet use their own experiences as writing material until they go on some crazy adventure where they end up in an alternate universe where they’re a comic book hero themselves? Where are my librarians who are great at researching bad guys and perfected the art of sneaking up silently on people in order to scare them into being quiet at the library? But no, I guess we gotta be businessmen that happen to be heads of companies founded by their families, military/law enforcement/agents/lawyers, news staff, scientists, celebrities/royalty, or aliens/myths who for some reason don’t need jobs to support themselves. Honestly, look at this:

businessmen that happen to be heads of companies founded by their families: Iron Man, Batman, Green Arrow, Iron Fist

military/law enforcement/agents/lawyers/mercenaries: Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Winter Soldier, Falcon, Nightwing, Flash(both Barry Allen and Wally West), She-Hulk, Daredevil, War Machine, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom, Nick Fury, Maria Hill, Phil Coulson, Quake, The Rest of SHIELD, The Thing, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman(Jessica Drew), Deadpool, Green Lantern(any and all), Punisher, Elektra, Moon Knight, Blade, 

news staff: Superman, Spider-Man, 

scientists: Hulk, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Ant-Man(Hank Pym), Doctor Strange, Atom, 

celebrities/royalty: Human Torch, Wasp(Janet Van Dyne), Black Panther, Aquaman, Namor, Zatanna, 

aliens/myths who for some reason don’t need jobs to support themselves: Thor, Starfire, Martian Manhunter, The Guardians of the Galaxy, Wonder Woman, Valkyrie, Ghost Rider, 

There’s probably more characters I’ve left off, but honestly, you get the picture.

[ryanmeft]

What Will Happen to the MCU Post-Endgame? Some Predictions (Part 1)

So, there’s that big Avengers movie coming up. You may have heard of it. There’s a lot of speculation about what will happen during it, but one thing’s known: it will not be the end of the MCU. So what happens after? In order to preserve us from spoilers, Marvel has been unusually tight-lipped about exactly what’s on the docket after Endgame. Yes, we know who is getting movies, but we don’t know when, in what order, or how things will be affected by Endgame. Heck, it’s possible Black Widow eats it and her movie is a prequel.

However, I have a few predictions to offer about the larger future of the MCU. Remember before you break out the knives that they’re only predictions, not necessarily all the things I’d want to happen. Let’s go.

No More Big Team Ups (For a While)

The Avengers branding isn’t done. Eventually, some of the newer characters who survive Endgame will face some great cosmic threat and will have to form a new iteration of the Avengers to defeat it---but it’ll be a while. Not only will Endgame be such an epic finale to the team as it currently stands that Marvel will be reluctant to release any other Avengers movie in its shadow, we’ve had four of these things plus Civil War in seven years. Look at Spider-Man: Far From Home to be the template for at least the next 4-5 years of the MCU: single character-driven movies with maybe a more minor guest star like Nick Fury. When you really think about it, Marvel sort of rushed the build up to the first Avengers, trying to get it in before people began to doubt the feasibility of the concept. Now that their shared universe is in no trouble, they’ll take their time on the next iteration.

It’ll Be Weirder

We think of the MCU as being an established force in Hollywood, but many of the characters who will take center stage in Phase 4 and beyond---Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Spider-Man---are just barely wetting their wings, with only one solo movie apiece before Phase 4. Three of those four also happen to be among the Marvel characters whose stories often take a turn for the bizarre. Factor in that Ant-Man and his Quantum stuff, not to mention the Guardians, are clearly around for the long run and that The Eternals are tagging in, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the MCU get into some of the crazier stuff and take more chances in order to stay fresh.

The Fantastic Four Will Tag In…

There’s no Marvel without the FF. They set the tone for not just the classic Marvel era but the entire Silver Age of comic books. They got some rocky treatment from their own publisher, possibly out of pettiness from Fox having the rights, and the movies have not done them justice. I’m not a huge fan of Disney’s acquisition of Fox Entertainment, but what’s done is done, and now that it is the time has come for Marvel’s First Family to bring their unique flavor to the MCU. That weirder vibe I predicted would almost have to include them. And Marvel, please…get it right. Your parent company has Brad Bird, for F’s sakes. Get him on this and knock it out of the park.

…But The X-Men Will Not

There’s no dispute over who owns the X-Men movies now, but there is some debate about what they will do with them. Plenty of nerds want them in the MCU, but logistically, this is a case where the fans are wrong and should be over-ruled by good business sense. Even if a few old soldiers are retired after Endgame, the MCU is already incredibly dense, with three films and multiple television series featuring an army of characters per year, and it doesn’t need dozens upon dozens of mutants crowding it up even more. The most likely scenario is that Marvel will do what they did with the Netflix shows: officially “integrate” the X-Men into the same universe, but keep them mostly separate and not actually incorporate the major characters into the MCU. You might get an occasional cameo from Professor X, but that would be the most of it. Anything else is just going to make it all bulge at the seams a little too much.

The Black Widow Movie Will Morph Into a Television Series

Or rather, a streaming series…and it won’t feature ScarJo, but rather will replace her with one of the other, obscure Widows from the comics---or invent an entirely new one, perhaps putting an actress-of-color in the role, perhaps someone who appears in the film. ScarJo will kick things off with a first-episode cameo before passing the torch. The character in any form is much more suited to this format than a single two-hour movie, as she is more fun and interesting when she’s being a real spy than when she’s fighting Thanos (Don’t believe me? Watch Winter Soldier again. It’s the best use of the character to date.)

 The Netflix Continuity Will Live On

It’s highly unlikely that Marvel is willing to abandon Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and the rest just because Netflix has ended their involvement. It’s also unlikely they’ll hit the reset button, since the shows were mostly well-received and they already established them as part of the existing MCU continuity. It’s hard to say if there will be more shows on Disney+, but don’t be surprised to see the characters, now likely all entirely back under the Marvel Studios umbrella, make appearances in non-stand-alone movies---perhaps as recruits for that future second Avengers team. I’m behind on these, so do me a favor---don’t spoil anything if something I said is impossible.

Part 2 Tuesday!

[dramaaroundtheworld]

Donald Trump

REAL NAME

Donald John Trump

ALIAS(ES)

Mr. President[1]

SPECIES

Human

CITIZENSHIP

Flag of United States of America.png American

GENDER

Male

TITLE(S)

President of the United States (formerly)

AFFILIATION

United States Government (formerly)

STATUS

Alive

APPEARANCES

TV SERIES

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (mentioned)

Luke Cage (mentioned)

Runaways (indirectly mentioned)

I'm the only person that can make Harlem great again, D-Dub."

"Luke Trump.

LUKE CAGE AND D.W. GRIFFITH

Donald John Trump is an American politician and businessman who served as the 46th President of the United States of America.

Biography

Presidency

Election

I haven't felt this weird since November 9th.

D.W. GRIFFITH

On November 9, 2016, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States of America, defeating Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and replacing Matthew Ellis.[2][3] This event instilled political uncertainty in Harlem, notably upsetting D.W. Griffith.[4][5]

Working with S.H.I.E.L.D.

After assuming office, Trump was made aware of his predecessor's plans for S.H.I.E.L.D. and took oversight of the final steps of Project Patriot, which consisted in turning Jeffrey Mace into a superpowered being.[1]

Blackout Attacks

I need a win, Phil, with a capital "W". Been on the phone with the President. He says if we don't have answers soon, he's gonna do something...

JEFFREY MACE TO PHIL COULSON

When several cities in the United States suffered a wide blackout, seemingly as a result of a terrorist act done by the "Inhuman Resistance", Trump contacted Jeffrey Mace and asked him for an explanation. As the blackouts continued to spread across the nation, Trump said that he would send the Army troops into the blackout zones to take out the Inhumans by any means necessary.

Mace convinced Trump to give him one more hour to solve everything because Phil Coulson was already working on that case in Miami. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents' efforts were successful as they restored the electricity and discovered that the real culprits were the Watchdogs. Later, Trump asked Mace to explain to the public what happened. Mace used that opportunity to publicly reveal the existence of S.H.I.E.L.D. to the world.[6]

An Urgent Call

Mr. President. We don't know who survived, but I've got our top agents searching for the Quinjet. Agent Burrows has the package, but we don't know if he was onboard. Yes, sir. Let's hope for all our sakes that Director Mace got it.

GLENN TALBOT TO DONALD TRUMP

Having learned that Jeffrey Mace's Quinjet had crashed, Trump called Glenn Talbot and asked him if Mace had survived. Talbot answered that they did not know who had survived but that they were looking for the Quinjet. The President asked about the package with the Patriot Serum, so Talbot said that Burrows had it, but it was unknown if he was also on the Quinjet. Talbot finished the call by hoping Mace still had the package.[1]

Legacy

In late 2017, members of the club "Undermining the Patriarchy" at Atlas Academy reused campaign t-shirts promoted by Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. One of the members mentioned that the shirt at one point filled him with "unspeakable sadness."[7]

By 2018, Trump's presidency led to a very tense political climate in the United States, which people like Phil Coulson found distasteful.[8]

Relationships

Allies

Matthew Ellis - Predecessor

Advanced Threat Containment Unit

Glenn Talbot †

S.H.I.E.L.D.

Jeffrey Mace †

Phil Coulson †

Burrows †

Enemies

Watchdogs

Appearances

ExpandAppearances for Donald Trump

Trivia

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage poke fun at "alternative facts," a phrase used by the Trump administration that gained notoriety in popular culture and social media.

References

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.10: The Patriot

↑ Captain America: Civil War

↑ Runaways: 3.10: Cheat The Gallows

↑ Why the 'Luke Cage' season 2 finale made all those Donald Trump references

↑ Luke Cage: 2.13: They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)

↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.03: Uprising

↑ Runaways: 1.04: Fifteen

↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 5.19: Option Two

[oosteven-universe]

Devil’s Reign #1

Devil’s Reign #1. Marvel Comics 2021 Written by Chip Zdarsky Illustrated by Marco Checchetto Coloured by Marcio Menyz Lettered by Clayton Cowles    The story that’s been building for years is here! Wilson Fisk went from Kingpin to mayor of the biggest city in America and is going to bring his full criminal and political power to bear on the super heroes who call NYC home. The man who once destroyed Daredevil has set his sights on The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and more. And since it’s Fisk, once he takes them all down, you know he’s going to sign it. CROSSBONES! TASKMASTER! TYPHOID MARY! SHOCKER! WHIPLASH! RHINO! KRAVEN! Fisk has an ARMY of super villains at his command – and this is just his opening salvo. For years, Fisk has waited for his time to strike, and YOU WON’T BELIEVE the aces he’s got up his sleeves!    Well the good, bad & the ugly of it all is that it feels like every so often Marvel tries to reenact the Civil War in some way.  Last time the targets were kids and now Fisk targets any hero operating or living in New York City all because he’s feeling a bit butt-hurt by actions that were out of his control, namely all the work he did on Daredevil’s secret identity being turned into gibberish.  This along with the other part of the opening where Fisk’s political life is at stake giving the book an out should it need it.    It’s a good thing I like Chip and his writing because the man is talented as all get out.  The story & plot development we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information are presented exceptionally well.  The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter does a marvellous job with their personalities.  The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more and more of the story we begin to see just how big this story is going to be.    I am pretty impressed with the way we see this being structured and how the layers within the story begin to emerge and grow.  I am also liking the way that we see the layers opening up new avenues to be explored.  What these avenues do is add some great depth, dimension and complexity to the story.  How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward are impeccably handled.      I am very much enjoying the interiors here.  The linework is fantastic as it’s clean, crisp and strong while the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail we see within the work is extraordinary.  We do see some nice use of backgrounds though I'd like to see more but they do enhance and expand the moments as well as work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story.  The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling.  The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work show an extraordinary eye for how colour works. ​    I’m a sucker for a blank cover and that’s why I picked this one up.  As it turns out the story is a bit predictable at the moment but the potential we see is out there.  Without heroes versus heroes and instead a gangster mayor in an election year stunt whose feelings are hurt that he’s not fully in control and uses the super-villains and as his own personal army is something exciting to see taking shape.  Also while I don’t know if this will bleed into the line of books Marvel has, here’s hoping this self contained to these six issues.  Chip’s got some strong interesting writing happening and the characterisation is strong and familiar while the interiors really manage to capture the power and emotions that the characters possess.  

[undeadsnorlax]

Earth-4213

when canon is your playground, you fling yourself off from the swings onto the climbing frame and yell loudly

aka I needed somewhere to dump this timeline for my Marvel fanfiction universe lmao,, this is still kind of WIP (as I post, there is a bit of a gap in the dates where logically things COULD happen and also it's kinda fluid, y'know)

also very much focuses on characters I like because I'm like that

1940s

- Steve Rogers becomes Captain America. Disappears three years later.

- Bucky Barnes (who served as Cap’s sidekick) goes missing the same time – taken by HYDRA and gets Winter Soldier’d.

1970s-1980s

- An ‘original’ Avengers is formed. Members include Ant-Man (Hank Pym), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne) and Black Panther (T’Challa’s grandfather). Headed by Nick Fury Sr. Have to break up because of too much government interference in their work. No other real hero teams form in this time.

- Matt Murdock has the accident that blinds him.

- Young Peter Quill is abducted by the Ravagers moments after his mother’s death.

1990s

- Charles Xavier opens his school for mutants mid-90s. The X-Men is formed a few years later.

- Marc Spector is admitted to a youth psychiatric hospital until he’s eighteen. Is in and about for much of the next decade after.

- Frank Castle marries his wife, serves his first tour with the army.

2000-2004

- Fantastic Four are formed.

- Bruce Banner is involved in the accident that turns him into the Hulk.

- Tony Stark becomes Iron Man.

2005-2010

- Tony Stark openly admits to being Iron Man.

- Luke Cage is experimented on whilst in prison and is given his powers.

- Steve Rodgers is found and brought off ice (2008)

- Marc Spector’s father dies. He later joins the army to escape home. (2009)

- Avengers mark 2 is formed by Nick Fury Jr (2010) – Iron Man, Cap, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow make up the core team.

- Wilson Fisk starts to climb up in the criminal underworld of New York.

- Jessica Jones finally manages to break free of the hold the Purple Man has had one her for the last five years

2011

- Hawkeye (Clint Barton) joins the Avengers, after being a brief antagonist of them.

- Nelson & Murdock’s law firm is formed.

- Daredevil comes onto the scene.

- Peter Parker is fifteen and bitten by a radioactive spider after a visit to Oscorp. Spider-Man is born!

- Uncle Ben dies :(

- Marc Spector is discharged from the army after they find out his mental health past. Found by Frenchie and becomes a mercenary for hire.

- Danny Rand arrives back in New York after a 20+ year absence/disappearance, with the powers of the Iron Fist.

2012

- Frank Castle returns home after his third tour, on leave until further notice after an intense mission. Six months later, his family is killed, and he becomes the Punisher. Three months on, he is put on trial for killing those responsible and is arrested.

- Marc Spector returns to New York with the Moon Knight alias, after being brought back to life by Khonshu.

- First modern sighting of the Winter Soldier.

- Jessica Jones starts Alias Investigations

2013

- Frank Castle escapes from prison and becomes the Punisher full time.

- After an encounter with Castle not long after his escape, Billy Russo becomes Jigsaw.

- Scott Lang is released from prison and, through a series of events, ends up becoming the new Ant-Man under the guidance of Hank Pym. Later joins the Avengers, along with Hank and Janet Van Dyne’s eldest daughter, Hope, who becomes the new Wasp.

- Sam Wilson joins the Avengers.

- Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Danny Rand and Matt Murdock team up properly for the first time. Jessica and Luke start dating not long after.

2014

- Clint Barton leaves the Avengers due to disagreements, fakes his own death, and takes up the anonymous mantle of Ronin in the meantime.

- Kate Bishop takes up the Hawkeye alias with the formation of the Young Avengers.

- Bucky Barnes is un-brainwashed (??) and given a government pardon. Semi-works with the Avengers, mostly with Steve and Sam. Mostly trying to recover.

2015

- David ‘Micro’ Lieberman is fired from his job after leaking company info and exposing them. Enforcers come for him and severely injure his son. Micro fakes his own death then tracks down the Punisher to work with him, seeking revenge.

- Age of Ultron-y stuff

2016

- After it comes out that he didn’t actually die, Clint Barton rejoins the Avengers and begins working alongside Kate Bishop, both using the Hawkeye name.

2018

- Peter Parker, now graduated from college and dating Mary Jane Watson, starts teaching science at a local high school.

2019

- Miles Morales (fourteen years old) is one of Peter’s students and has an oddly similar encounter with a radioactive spider. Peter realises this and takes him under his wing, offering support and training him to be another Spider-Man.

- Due to several ~mysterious gas leakages~ around the world, more and more Inhumans are popping up. This includes Kamala Khan, who becomes the new Ms Marvel.

[weekendwarriorblog]

The Weekend Warrior Movie Preview 12/6/2019  - PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE!

You may have noticed by now that I didn’t have a Box Office Preview over at The Beat today, but that’s only because there wasn’t much I had to say about the sole new wide release, PLAYMOBIL: THE MOVIE (STXfilms) which is clearly trying to capitalize on the success Warner Bros. Animation has had with its LEGO movies. Playmobil is a pretty known brand, and this one features the voice of Daniel Radcliffe as secret agent Rex Dasher, as well as the voices of Anya Taylor-Joy and Jim Gaffigan. The movie looks fun for sure, and it is the only release this weekend, although the weekend after Thanksgiving is notorious for bombs, and STX dumped this here into 2,300 theaters after moving something else.  STX’s UglyDolls movie earlier in the year also bombed with just $20 million and with a much bigger push, so I’m not sure I can see this making more than $6 million this weekend either. It won’t help that some theater chains are only charging $5 for ALL tickets… we’ll see if that helps or hurts.

Also, Focus Features will expand Todd Haynes’ Dark Waters nationwide, though I’m not sure into how many theaters, plus Amazon Music will push Alma Har’el’s Honey Boy, starring Shia Labeouf, into significantly more theaters this weekend. The former seems like a better than the latter, since Honey Boy – which is great, mind you – averaged just $2,101 theaters in 186 theaters this past weekend.  Even if it expands to 500 theaters or more, I can’t see it making more than a million this weekend. Dark Waters did better in about half as many theaters, so it’ll be interesting to see how wide Focus will take it. Either movie will only need to make about $2.2 million or more this weekend to get into the top 10, but Haynes’ film starring Mark Ruffalo will really have to be VERY wide (2,000 theaters or more) to stand a chance.

LIMITED RELEASES

There are a LOT more limited releases this week, as we get into the month where studios try to get all of their “awards-worthy” movie theaters for enough time to be eligible for that year’s Oscars.

Amazon is releasing the historical drama THE AERONAUTS (Amazon), reuniting Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne from the latter’s Oscar-winning The Theory of Everything. This time, she plays balloon pilot Amelia Wren and he plays scientist James Glaisher who go on an adventure to take a balloon higher than ever before so he can do weather-related scientific experiments. Sounds pretty exciting, huh? Actually, it isn’t bad, directed by Tom Harper, whose previous movie Wild Rosecame out earlier this year. This is a perfectly fine historic drama with lots of exciting shots up in the air since most of it takes place in the balloon as the two try to survive against the odds. This is definitely a movie I’d check out a second time but it will also be on Amazon Prime in a couple weeks in case you miss it in theaters or it’s not playing near you.

Fortunately, there are also a number of semi-cool genre films this week, some better than others.

Opening at the Metrograph in New York and L.A.s’ newest Alamo Drafthouse and the Frida Cinema is IN FABRIC (A24), the horror film from Peter Strickland (The Duke of Burgundy), who will be at the Metrograph for most of the weekend to do QnAs and introduce the movie. It stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste as a lonely woman who starts dating again and is coerced into buying a red gown at a London department store which might be cursed with an unstoppable evil force.  It’s another fantastically original film from Strickland that will probably be lumped into the current wave of “elevated horror” that so many filmmakers hate being lumped into, but it’s also good to know that it’s actually a movie in two halves (kind of like Trey Edward Schults’ Waves), as Ms. Jean-Baptiste only features in the first half and then the second half is another person who encounters the dress. And boy, that department store is one freaky place with Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie as what could only be described as a creepy mannequin come to life. In Fabric will be On Demand starting Tuesday, December 10. My latest interview with Strickland will be up later today over at The Beat.

There’s also Jessica Hausner’s sci-fi film LITTLE JOE (Magnolia), starring Emily Beecham as a single mother scientist who is working on developing a new species of plant at a company that will offer therapeutic qualities if fed properly and spoken to. As the plant grows, she realizes that it’s also creating different emotions in those that encounter it. The movie also stars Ben Whishaw, Kerry Fox asnd Kit Connor and will open at the Quad Cinema in New York, as well as in Philadelphia and other cities this Friday.

DANIEL ISN’T REAL (Samuel Goldwyn) is the new film from Adam Egypt Mortimer, starring Miles Robbins (Halloween) as Luke, a college Freshman who had an “imaginary friend” named Daniel as a kid who his mother (Mary Stuart Masterson!) forced him to lock up. As Luke starts dealing with a world away from his mother, Daniel returns, this time in the form of Patrick Schwarzenegger, who has deadly intentions for Luke and those around him, including a wild artist named Cassie (played by Sasha Lane). It opens in select cities.

Jennifer Reeder’s teen thriller KNIVES AND SKIN (IFC Midnight), which premiered at this year’s Berlin and played at Tribeca is an attempt to create a modern-day River’s Edge based around the disappearance of a teenager named Carolyn Harper. It stars Marika Engelhardt, Audrey Francis and Tim Hopper and will open in select cities and On Demand.

James Frey’s controversial 2003 novel A MILLION LITTLE PIECES, which was once sold as a “memoir” but then, like the work of JT Leroy, turned out to be more fiction than fact, except that this was learned about Frey’s novel after it was made a part of Oprah Winfrey’s prestigious Book Club. Anyway, Frey’s novel has been adapted to the screen by the husband-wife team of Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as the latter plays a young man dealing with his addiction. Haven’t had a chance to watch the movie, but it should be interesting going by the Johnsons’ previous together.

Getting a one-week Oscar-qualifying run is Céline Sciamma’s critically-praised drama PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (NEON), which has been playing a number of festivals since Cannes. It’s about a painter who travels to a remote island, commissioned to paint a widow still in grieving for her dead husband, but without her knowing.

Also opening at the Metrograph is Luke Lorentzen’s Midnight Family (1091), a film set in Mexico City where there aren’t nearly enough ambulances for the city’s population of nine million residents. The Ochoa family runs one of the city’s privately-owned ambulance services, taking nightly calls while trying to beat rival EMT crews to the scene.

I’ve heard good things about Naomi Watts’ performance in Alistair Banks Griffin’s thriller The Wolf Hour (Brainstorm Media) set in New York City in 1977 where a citywide blackout is causing fires, looting and the Son of Sam murders are plaguing the city. Watts’ June shuts herself inside her grandmother’s South Bronx apartment but someone keeps ringing her doorbell as visitors keep showing up to make her even more paranoid and fearful. The movie also stars Jennifer Hele, Emory Cohen and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (who co-starred with Watts in the excellent film Luce earlier this year.)

Pantelion Films will release En Brazos de un Asesino (Pantelion) this Friday. Directed by Matias Moltrasio, it stars (and is co-written by) Cuban-born actor William Levy (who appeared as himself in Girls Trip!) playing Victor, the “world’s most handsome man” (not too much ego there, Señor Levy!) who is also a cold-blooded assassin, killing for money. When he goes to collect from a drug lord, he encounters the beautiful Sarai (Alicia Sanz) who has been held captive for years and uses  Victor’s arrival as a chance to escape. This actually sounds kind of fun, even though Pantelion rarely screens their movies for critics sadly.

Beniamino Barrese’s doc The Disappearance of My Mother (Kino Lorber) follows model-turned-activist Benedetta Barzini, a muse to Warhold, Dali and others in the 60s, who now in her ‘70s just wants to get as far away from the camera as possible, only allowing her son Beniamino to film this deliberate journey into obscurity.

This week’s film from Bollywood is Ashutosh Gowariker’s Panipat (Reliance Entertainment), a film set in 1761 as the Maratha Empire has reached its height and the Commander-in-Chief of the Hindostan army, Sadashiv Rao Bhau (Arjun Kpoor) has to fight  off the invading forces of Afghanistan king Ahmad Shah Abdali (Sanjay Dutt) leading up to the Third Battle of Panipat.

Other movies out this week and mainly on VOD that I don’t have time to write more about include:

Code 8 (Vertical) Grand Isle (Screen Media) Beyond the Law (Cinedigm) A New Christmas (Cinedigm)

This week also sees a couple re-releases including the excellent doc APOLLO 11returning to IMAX theaters and the Anime Promaregetting a “redux” release into theaters on Sunday, December 8 (the subtitled version), and then on Tuesday (English dub) and Weds (English dub in 4DX).

LOCAL FESTIVALS

Not really a festival but not exactly repertory either, Film at Lincoln Center will debut a new one-week series called Veredas: A Generation of Brazilian Filmmakers, running from Friday through December 11, which features a lot of work from this year and a few years back from Brazilian filmmakers, many which haven’t really been giving much U.S. distribution.

STREAMING AND CABLE

On Thursday, Netflix is debuting its new sci-fi thriller series V-Wars, based on the books by Jonathan Maberry, starring Ian Somerhalder (Lost, Vampire Diaries) as Dr. Luther Swann, a geneticist who is trying to put a stop to a virus that’s creating mutations across the planet. You can read my interview with Somerhalder over at The Beat.

Also, Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story will hit the streaming network on Friday with its fantastic performances by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, Laura Dern and Alan Alda. This is a must-see... in case you don’t ever planned on getting married... or divorced.

The third season of Amazon Prime’s Emmy-winning The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will also debut on Thursday, while HBO will release the season finale of Silicon Valley on Saturday, making it the next HBO series to end this year after Game of Thrones and Veep, giving people even less reason to subscribe. You can watch the Seth Rogen-Charlize Theron comedy Long Shot on HBO this Saturday so there’s that.

REPERTORY

METROGRAPH (NYC):

This week’s Noah Baumbach in Residence offerings are his 2013 film Frances Ha, starring Greta Gerwig, and then Gerwig’s own movie Lady Bird. Both are already sold out. This week’s Late Nites at Metrograph  is a good one, Fritz Lang’s 1953 movie The Big Heat, while Playtime: Family Matinees  will show Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). The Academy’s monthly series continues on Friday night with Kryzysztof Kieslowki’s 1991 film The Double Life of Veronique with a conversation and “musical discussion” with the filmmaker and Oscar-nominated composer Nicholas Brickell, who also scored the recent Netflix film The King.

FILM FORUM (NYC):

Just one week after many people will have seen Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman on Netflix, Film Forum is putting a spotlight on the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s documentary work with “Scorsese Non-Fiction,” running from Friday through December 17, including some of the filmmaker’s better-known work like The Last Waltz (1978) and the Rolling Stones movie Shine a Light through some of his lesser-known documentary work.s If you really want to spend some time with Scorsese than maybe check out 1995’s A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese through American Movies, which runs longer thanThe Irishmanat just under 3 hours! Scorsese’s 1974 short doc ItalianAmericanis also playing quite a number of times with 2001’s The Neighborhood. Personally, I’m kind of interested in seeing his 2011 doc George Harrison: Living in the Material World (also about 3 hours long), because it was recently the anniversary of Harrison’s tragic death. (The Film Forum will also use this as an opportunity to play some of Scorsese’s non-doc work like Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, Baby Dol land more.) This weekend’s “Film Forum Jr.” is the 1956 musical The King and I, starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner… that’s a good one!

THE NEW BEVERLY (L.A.):

The Weds “Afternoon Classics” matinee is Charles Laughton’s The Night of the Hunter (1955), starring Robert Ludlum, while Friday’s “Freaky Fridays” offering is Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic The Shining (1980). The Weds and Thursday double feature is On Dangerous Ground(1951) and Jacques Tourneur’s Nightfall  (1956), and then this weekend’s “Kiddee Matinee” is Joe Dante’s Gremlins. Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs screens Friday at midnight, while Saturday’s midnight offering is 1983’s Lone Wolf McQuad, starring Chuck Norris and David Carradine. The Monday Matinee is Curtis Hanson’s L.A. Confidential, and then Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut will screen Tuesday and Wednesday night.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

Friday will be a special Brian De Palma double feature of Sisters (1973) and Blow Out (1981), while Saturday will be a screening of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia (1999).Sunday are two MORE double features, an afternoon pre-CodeJoans Crawford/Blondell double feature of Our Blushing Brides (1930) and Footlight Parade (1033) and then in the evening is a TERRY GILLIAM NIGHTS OF KNIGHTS double feature of Monty Python and the Holy Grail(1975) and Jabberwocky (1977).  The Aero will be showing the excellent Varda by Agnès for the next week or so, which is all the repertory you’ll need!

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):

The Terrence Malick retrospective continues with a preview screening of Malick’s latest A Hidden Life with actor Valerie Pachner (who I met last night and she’s wonderful!) appearing to give an introduction. Friday is the “Brad Pitt version” of Voyage of Time and The Tree of Life: Extended Cut, while Saturday is Malick’s Song to Song and Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey as well as To the Wonder. In other words, all of Malick’s most recent films with multiple screenings through the weekend including Knight of Cups on Sunday. On Monday night you can see Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas as part of “Martin Scorsese: Four Tales over Four Decades.”

ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE BROOKLYN (NYC)

Next week’s “Terror Tuesday” is Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula from 1993, sadly already sold out, then “Weird Wednesday” is something called Blue Vengeance from 1989. Also next Wednesday is this month’s “Out of Tune” musical, Adam Sandler’s animated Eight Crazy Nights from 2002.

MOMA  (NYC):

Modern Matinees: Iris Barry’s History of Film continues this week with a few more screenings from the 1920s including Walt Disney’s early film Plane Crazy from 1928, plus Robert Wiene’s classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on Friday afternoon. Vision Statement: Early Directorial Works finishes on Thursday afternoon with Bong Joon-ho’s first film Barking Dogs Never Bite from 2000. (Plus there will be a screening of Parasite with director Bong in attendance, so who knows? Maybe he’ll pop in to say a few words after this one, too.)

IFC CENTER (NYC)

Waverly Midnights: Spy Games will screen Brian de Palma’s Mission: Impossible while Late Night Favorites: Autumn 2019 is David Lynch’s Eraserhead. The IFC Center also begins its annual theatrical run of Frank Capra’s 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, playing three times a day with Donna Reed’s daughter Mary Owen introducing a bunch of the screenings.

ROXY CINEMA (NYC)

Continuing the Roxy’s “Nicholas Cage-athon” with David Lynch’s 1990 film Wild at Heart, co-starring Laura Dern,

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART  (LA):

This Friday night’s midnight movie is Penelope Spheeris’ 1985 movie The Boys Next Door.

Next week, we’re back to normal with three or four wide releases including Jumanji: The Next Level, Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewell and the horror film Black Christmas. Plus the Box Office Preview will be back at The Beat!