benzjr

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 14: It’s Just A Lot To Think About The World I’m Used To (The One I Can’t Get Back, At Least Not For A While)

Sorry may not have been able to save him, but Josh's reckoning leads to the beginnings of reconciliation. The Yellow Superdude has a long road ahead of him, and a lot to think about.

And so we arrive at the end of story 8! A bit of an epilogue this one because I generally hate when we don't get to see much of what happens after a big finale. It has been a very long time since I've seen the end of a Josh story I started relatively recently, and it's still a little surprising to be back writing him. But I honestly think this has been one of the biggest stories in the universe so far, amplifying all the dizzying heights and crushing lows that make this kid so special. I hope you've enjoyed the ride.

There is more Josh coming, a ninth story in the works; but it won't be for a while, because I've kinda been struggling to get it to feel right. But it'll be diving even deeper than we've ever seen before into all these kids from Cornbury...

Clean version of the chapter art, one last time, under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 13: ...But Power Isn't Pain

Sorry Can't Save Me Now continues, as Thunderstrike's all-out assault on the Superdudes reaches a frightening climax. As Thunderstrike grows more powerful and more dangerous, and the Superdudes look more and more helpless in stopping him, the true origin of this powerful villain is revealed... and Josh may have to make an impossible choice.

This is essentially the second half of the battle that started in chapter 12 a few weeks ago, and I think it's one of the biggest, most emotional pieces of writing I've ever put into a Josh story, even going all the way back to 2016. This has honestly been one of the most cohesive stories I've done, and this is a culmination I've been wanting to put out for months. The chapter art is also a creative triumph, as much as it's also held back the actual posting of this chapter a bit; the image size here on Tumblr does not do it justice.

And yet, there's still more to this story...

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 12: Sorry There's No Way Out (But Down)

It's the beginning of the end for the Superdudes, at least if Thunderstrike gets his way. But a shocking revelation about the identity of the heroes' newest formidable foe may prove more powerful than the all-out assault he's waged on them...

This is the first time I've ever posted a "chapter 12" of one of these stories, and perhaps there's no better time to break that new ground than the dizzying climax of Sorry Can't Save Me Now, an epic battle that, like so many of these, I've split into two chapters for reasons of both length and suspense. All I can say is that even from a position of this much power, Josh -- or Thunderstrike or whatever you want to call him -- may not have everything he wants here...

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

(the power)

Some very angsty art to go with chapter 11, and admittedly part of the delay for it, because I wanted to get this art done first (I did, but I didn't post it here). Just what has Josh gotten himself into?

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 11: I Had A Dream I Got Everything I Wanted (Not What You Think)

Josh Carter's internal rampage continues! As Josh struggles to regain control of his spiraling social game, he crosses paths with the person he'd least expect to. Meanwhile, Thunderstrike discovers there may be more to his unlikely alliance than he first thought.

This is such an interesting chapter because it doesn't go in the way you'd expect it to whatsoever. It all falls apart -- or comes into place -- in a way that is uniquely "Josh", and I think even if you think you know where this is all headed, you'll still be left guessing.

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 10: I'm Still A Victim In My Own Right (But I'm The Villain In My Own Eyes)

After a few weeks away all of them chapter art related, this is a real problem, Josh's antihero alter-ego era continues. The Superdudes attempt to regroup and turn the tables on their powerful, mysterious foe. Josh is breaking under the pressure of keeping his cool when everything inside him is feeling anything but. And is it muckraking or is Zoey just milking a good story?

Merry Christmas! Not a hugely angsty chapter this time in contrast to some of the other ones, but there are some good elements in here that keep things moving. And you'll appreciate the break later; the next chapter is a doozy.

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

Tuesday was my 13 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

[benzjr]

i find it so interesting how people act like "critically examining a piece of media" is the opposite of "enjoying that piece of media." rip to you but i actually find it really enjoyable and compelling to dissect and think through the art i engage with

[benzjr]

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 9: I'm Overheated (Can't Be Defeated)

this chapter art could be way better -- it definitely doesn't look the way it does in my head -- but I do not have the patience for it

Our villain strikes! The Superdudes face off with their mysterious new foe, but perhaps he knows them a little too well...

This is definitely one of the chapters where it finally feels like the story's ramping up. I felt inclined to accelerate the back half after how slow it felt the story was developing in the front half, and that pivot's definitely been apparent the past few chapters. And yet this isn't even the biggest, most explosive part of this tale! That's still to come.

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 8: I Just Never Know How You Feel (Do You Even Feel Anything?)

Sorry can't save him now, and yet Tyler still tries to say it anyway, in his latest attempt to try and get through to Josh in this new chapter. But will this chance for emotional vulnerability just leave one (or both) of them stabbed in the back?

Last chapter was downright explosive, and this chapter follows it up with some more subtly startling developments. It may not seem like as much is going on here as previously, but the stage is still being set for the real action still to come.

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

[benzjr]

Project 2025 ain't gonna roll out all at once. So what we're gonna wanna do is make passing each individual part of it as difficult as possible, so there's less to undo once we finally get this country back on the rails.

[benzjr]

I fully understand why "character A is astounded at the sight of character B's penis" is a specific kink that gets tagged for, but the fact that some platforms choose to tag this kink as "penis awe" is unintentionally very funny. Now I'm picturing penis experience kink tags for all those other allegedly transcendent emotions in the glossary of your Philosophy 101 textbook. Penis faith. Penis Weltschmerz. Penis apprehension of the absurd.

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 7: Don't Ask Questions You Don't Wanna Know

Another Friday, another new chapter of our hero-turned-villain. The emboldened Thunderstrike has made his mark, but the day after, Josh is dealing with some lingering side effects that aren't going away... and that he can't seem to hide.

We're about halfway through this story now, and I'd say if things already weren't interesting enough, they're definitely about to get interesting now. I don't want to spoil too much of what happens, but the tension and the drama are only going up from here!

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5 6

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

Sorry Can't Save Me Now, Chapter 6: I Must Be Missing Something

it's been a while, hasn't it

There's a chill in the air, as Sorry Can't Save Me Now returns! As previously stated, chapter art was the holdup; I had to design some entirely new characters, including the one we're seeing the back of in this chapter art.

The emboldened Josh comes face-to-face with the Hemmingtons, the moody sellout socialites throwing this soiree. But could there be more under the surface than meets the eye? And what happens after the party that wreaks just as much havoc?

This is the second half of a two-part arc that started with chapter 5 back in September. The stakes are quite high here, but there are still plenty of surprises in store -- and the big moments in this story are just getting started. My favorite part of this part of the story is just how well-placed the music in this chapter and the last one is; I feel like it embodies the altered atmosphere that separates this party -- and Josh at it -- from all the other times I've written or mentioned parties before.

Clean version of the chapter art under the cut.

Previously in Sorry Can't Save Me Now: 1 2 3 4 5

A Future Super-Something, the first story: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Perfect Disasters, the second story: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Over and Out, the third story: 1 & 2 3 4 5

Diamonds on the Rebound, the fourth story

Reminiscence, the fifth story

A Hero’s Prelude, the sixth story: 1 2 3

Dancefest, the seventh story: 1 & 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

[benzjr]

It's such an amazing feeling when someone picks up on something in your writing that you 100% intended but didn't think people would notice. Like, YES!! My writing properly conveyed the thing it was supposed to!!! You are so awesome for noticing that!!! I am so awesome for writing that!!! I feel so good about my story now!!!!