#In one timeline we saw it with the first Captain Boomerang I believe

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 312

You know what I never see used in crossovers? The fact that the Rogues, Flash’s rogues specifically, will not only hold a funeral for any central city rogue that passes, but several, if not all, will don their costume and commit one final crime in their name, so their rap sheet has one final score. Like can you imagine that for a final send off?

Can you imagine being a ghost and seeing that?

The Rogue doesn’t even have to be liked by the others, they can be an utter asshole. And the tradition is still done. And I just think that’s beautiful in a way. 

[cryptocism]

So, out of curiosity (AND a slight fear of messing with what you've laid out so clearly in Frequency, which I see as the most reasonable and rational explanation to Thad's character inconsistencies basically, ever), I am wondering if this version of Inertia from Flash #760 fits into the Too Many Thads AU anywhere? From what I can tell, he's the only one not mentioned in your very thorough (and impressively detailed, he was at boomerang's funeral, excuse me sir why are you here???) timeline of Thad appearances. Would you consider him one of the clones we get from the AU, like Six? Or maybe just Thad himself given he's sort of just... chilling in the Speedforce lol. Or did you just not consider him given it's yet another instance of Thad appearing, doing something wild, then disappearing as quickly as he came haha. (Also, I just noticed he says vibrational FREQUENCY, nice👏)

i did... kinda include this iteration. but admittedly it's pretty brief, and the bits of story that take place in the speed force sit in dreamy abstraction rather than solid prose

start of chapter 2 when Thad is running thru the speed force:

He thinks he sees the Flash, once or twice. Tick tock tick tock. You’re running out of time, Barry. But he often thinks he sees lots of people. Once, he thought he saw Max. But the memories exist in his mind the same way a daydream would, and he can’t be sure if it was real.

The "tick tock tick tock" line is taken directly from #760

compared to the other threads of canon that Frequency is written around, it's definitely more on the borders of believably. The "tick tock" line and the bit where Thad threatens to snap his fingers and "blast Barry's mind to pieces" harkens back to the Kid Zoom era and Rogues Revenge, which fucks with my attempt to differentiate this Inertia as a separate person from Kid Zoom. but the hiccup feels minor enough that i think it still works

(and on a tangential note the whole "i'll snap my fingers and blast your mind to pieces" line straight up doesn't make sense to me because YES Kid Zoom famously snapped his fingers and exploded a baby, but he accomplished that by fast-forwarding that baby's timeline so quick that its literal molecules shook apart under the stress. Barry is a speedster and would not respond to timeline manipulation in that way - if at all - because his molecules are already used to that kind of shit. it's a weird and out of place threat to make and i think Williamson may have gotten the impression that Kid Zoom acquired the power of spontaneous combustion which he Fucking Did Not ok rant over)

the general idea i was going for was: Thad is running on rage, sees Barry, has the brief confrontation in #760 where Barry mostly just feels bad for him, and then disappears back into the storm. Implication being that Thad has actually had a couple different interactions with people during his 5 years in the speed force (Eobard, Max, Barry, etc) who try to convince him of things or promise him things, but staying for that long in the speed force (without being dead) fucks with perception a little bit, especially perceptions of Time. so when he's out and looking back on it, Thad can't totally discern what happened, what didn't, or in what order.

also the attendance at Captain Boomerang's funeral gets a shout out near the end of chapter 8 when Bart is going through Six's collection of Four's old stuff:

Some of the items on the shelf he didn’t recognize. A shot glass. A funeral pamphlet for one Digger Harkness. Several empty syringes and auto-injectors all meticulously arranged. A variety of small gadgets and devices that Bart couldn’t place.

because the funeral is technically Inertia's return after the events of Mercury Falling, I translated that as Four's first appearance in the 21st century

[belphegor1982]

This is coming out of the blue for all of you who weren’t in my head for the past few days as I reread my DCAU Rogues fics to reply to my Janet prompt (1,929 words and counting, anon! 💜) but I still can’t believe the writers gave Captain Cold a wife, of all people. The hilarity. It’s 2006! Len Snart is a grumpy bastard, a barely-functional alcoholic who prides himself on his Rogues code and his found family of misfits even as said family is kinda fraying at the edges (I lost track of the timeline, but Hartley’s been reformed for a while and I think JJ and Mick are or will be working for the FBI by that point?

Anyway, in the cartoon, we have DCAU Len, Sam and James drinking in Harry’s their local bar and whining about the Flash (dorks), and this little conversation happens:

Trickster: You gotta visualize. Captain Cold: Visualize? What the heck does that mean? If I don’t “visualize” a mortgage payment soon, the wife will have me bagging groceries for a living. Captain Boomerang: (off-screen like the bloody drama queen he is) She’s always been an ice queen, that one.

And that’s it, the only mention of Len’s DCAU-only wife in about 14 years of Timmverse cartoons (starting with Batman: the Animated Series and ending with JLU). And god, I’m so glad I watched and really went into JL(U) 11 years ago and not now, because in hindsight it’s A Lot harder to reconcile the cartoon Rogues and the comics Rogues. So I didn’t even try at the time and blithely wrote something along the lines of “okay, wife. Who is she?” and posted the resulting story on FFnet and LJ. Janet turned out... pretty much the opposite of an ice queen. She’s short, she tends to snap, she’s stubborn, and she has what could be called a fiery temper. (heh.) But she and her husband love each other, each in their way (because fuck those unhappy marriage/spouse = ball and chain tropes). But like... Boomer’s such a... yeeeesh kind of guy even in the cartoon that it’s very, very easy to picture why he would think she’s an ice queen. My personal headcanon is that the first time they saw each other he gave her the once-over (lecher that he is) and maybe tried to put the moves on her, and she quickly put him in his place. Instant dislike on both sides.

Anyway. Weird interlude over ^^

[afaimsarrowverse]

My 30 Favorite Arrowverse Episodes:

This list reflects my personal opinion and is in no way objective. Everyone has their own taste. Also Love is Love and  can not be measured – except on stupid lists like this one. If an episode is not on it, that does not mean I don’t like it (unless it does). Everyone ist entiteled to their own opinion, so please respect mine and don’t reblog or answer to that just to tell me how wrong mine is.

 30. The Fellowship of the Spear (Legends of Tomorrow Episode 2.15/31, Written by: Keto Shimizu, Matthew Maala, Directed by: Ben Bray)

 This episode is “Legends”-Homage to Tolkien and his works. However the most quotes and nods go to the Peter Jackson Movies, which is no problem, because we love them too. The Legends recruit Tolkien out of the trenches for a treasure hunt, however things go bad and some fans were not to happy with one of the team betraying their own at the end of this episode. But don’t you guys remember Boromir? I really love this one, because it combines two of my favorite things: “Legends of Tomorrow” und Middle Earth.

 29.  Flashback (The Flash Episode 2.17/40, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Directed By: Alice Troughton)

In this episode Barry travels backt to the time of Season 1 and therefore changes the outcome of the Season 1 Episode in question and creates a new timline, which no one but him notices. Later on stuff like this would happen all the time, but this was the first instance, and it was very very wild to have Barry knock out Barry and pretend to be Season 1 Barry. Also we got Eobard and Eddie back and given how much I love both of them it no wonder I love this episode.

28.  The Last Temptation of Barry Allen Part 1 (The Flash 6.07/121, Written By: Jonathan Butler, Gabriel Garza, Directed By: Chad Lowe)

 Here Barry is infected by Ramsay who gets in his head and in the Speed Force which tries to help but ends up getting attacked by an paranoid and confused Barry, who finally gets to voice all of his frustration about the Speed Force and the way it interfered in his life. This is a very emotional episode that confronts Barrys immanent death, all the losses he had do bare and his conflicted feelings about everything that is going on in his life at this point of his story.

 27.  The Once and Future Flash (The Flash 3.19/65, Written by: Carina Adly MacKenzie, Directed By: Tom Cavanagh)

 In this episode we get to visit the future in which Iris was killed by Savitar. Barry ends up there while trying to find out more about his foe. It’s a dark and depressing „What If“, where we get to see new sides most of our characters and this episodes dives deep into the immanent darkness of the seemingly so bright „Flash“-TV-Series.

 26.  The Adventures of Supergirl (Supergirl 2.1/21, Written by: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Jessic Queller, Directed by: Glen Winter)

 This essentially is a Crossover Episode, even though it took Superman three more years to get his own show. However the episode acts as if there is an existing Superman-Show that crosses over into „Supergirl“. This version of the character is as adorable as Kara and a very good antidote to the Snyder Version of the character. Oh, and it does help that the episode is good as well.

25.  Nora (The Flash 5.01/93, Written By: Todd Helbing, Sam Chalsen, Directed by: David McWhirter)

 Season 5 opens up extremly strong with this episode where Barry and Iris meet their future daughter, who has some secrets up her sleeve that change everything for next one and a half seasons. Nora is perfectly portrayed in this one as a mixture of both of her parents and manages to screw up the timeline imediatly, while everyone is still reeling from the fallout oft the last season finale.

24.  The Brave and the Bold (Arrow Episode 3.8/54, Written by: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Marc Guggenheim, Grainne Godfree, Directed by: Jesse Warn)

Crossovers were the moments „Arrow“ had a chance to let ist hair down and just be a little bit different for a while. This one has Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco visiting Starling City and the Flash and the Arrow teaming up against Captain Boomerang. It’s still Arrow, but with a splash of „The Flash“ in it, which makes it funnier and nerdier then „Arrow“ usually is. I always loved it.

23. Haunted ( Arrow Episode 4.5/74, Written by: Brian Ford Sullivan, Oscar Balderrama, Directed by: John Badham)

 John Constantine crosses over in the Arroverse in this episode which reveals Olivers dealings with him in the past and shows him restoring Saras soul. With this episodes the show started to embrace it supernatural arc, which many fans weren’t too fond of in latter part of this season, but this episodes remains a favorite because here „Arrow“ got mystically weird. Also Johnny Constantine tends to make everything better and we got Sara back, so it’a clearly a win.

22. Kapishon (Arrow Episode 5.17/109, Written By: Brian Ford Sullivan, Emilo Ortega Aldrich,Directed By: Kevin Tancharoen)

 This is the episode in which Adrian Chase manages to break Oliver. That sounds painful and yes it is very painful, but it’s really really great at the same time. This episodes asks all the uncomfortable questions the show seemed to shy away from in the previous seasons, builds on Season 5s solid Bratva-Flashback Arc and even presents us Anatoly meeting Malcolm Merlyn. It’s cleary a highlight of the show.

 21. The Bottle Episode (Supergirl Episode 5.10/97, Written by: Derek Simon, Directed by: Tawnia McKiernan)

 The Post Crisis Carzyness lived in this episode. We got a lot of doppelgangers, most of them Brainys, and a lot of chaos, I mean more chaos then most other shows usually have, except for „Legends“. So I guess this episode was „Supergirl“ trying to do an episode of „Legends“. Also Brainy evolves in this one, so it wasn’t just for the laughs. In short: There was nothing not to like in this one.

 20.  Welcome to Earth-2/Escape from Earth-2 (The Flash Episodes 2.13-14/36-37, 36: Written By: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Katherine Walczak, Directed By: Millicent Shelton, 37: Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, David Kob, Directed By: J. J. Makaro)

This two parter is the first time we ever visited a parallel earth. We visit Earth-2 in this, where pretty much everything and everyone is different. Adorable Nerd Barry, Cop Iris, Singer Joe and many more ahoy. But Deadshot of Earth-2 is the best thing about this reality. Too bad it pretty much everyone from over there was done away with later, but we will always have these episodes, so that is something.

19.  Out of Time (The Flash Episode 1.15/15, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Directed By: Thor Freudenthal)

Time Travel is an important plot element of the Arrowverse, but it wasn’t always so. This is the first episode where Barry discovers that he can time travel, after kissing and losing Iris and witnessing the end of Central City. Which is one of those „everyone dies“ instances that are always cool and I always love. Also it’s Season 1 of „The Flash“, where they really couldn’t go wrong most of the time.

18.  Starling City (Arrow Episode 8.1/ 161, Written by: Beth Schwartz und Marx Guggenheim, Directed by: James Bamford)

In this one we are essentially reliving the „Arrow“- pilot with a few signifcant changes. Turns out we are actually on Earth-2 and Oliver pretends to be his doppelganger in order to do a thing for The Monitor. Until the shocking ending, this on is like everyone favorites „Arrow“ fanfic come to live. Even the flashforwards were not bothering me in this.

17.  Flash VS Arrow (The Flash 1.8/8, Written By: Ben Sokoloswki,m Brooke Eikmeier, Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Directed By: Glen Winter)

 This one was the first real Crossover Episode of the Arrowverse and it blended classic comic book action which Season 1 „Flash“-Style, meaning it was beyond great. We never quite saw Oliver like this before and not very often after, and seeing him and Barry connect is just one of the joys of this superior episode.

16.  Worlds Finest (Supergirl Episode 1.18/18, Written by: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Michael Grassi, Directed by: Nick Gomez)

Speaking of the first seasons and Crossovers. This was the Crossover we always wanted, but never believed we would get, because back then “Supergirl” was on another network. But we got it anyway. Barry gets stranded on Karas Earth, which leads to a lot of chaos, many nice moment and fine jokes. This was one of the clear highlights of Season 1, and it paved the way for the season finale as well as future crossovers.

15.  Myriad/Better Angles (Supergirl 1.19/19-1.20/20, Written By: Yahling Chang, Caitlin Parrish; Ali Adler, Andrew Kreisberg, Robert Rovner, Jessica Queller Directed By: Adam Kane; Larry Teng)

 Season 1 of „Supergirl“ ended with this „all or nothing“ two-parter where everything came head to head. Driven and energatic „Supergirl“ cemented itself as one of the superior superheroe shows of it’s time. I loved the show, I loved Kara, I loved Cat and especially in this one.

 14. Camelot 3000 (Legends of Tomorrow Episode 2.12/28, Written By: Anderson MacKenzie, Directed By: Antionio Negret)

 From the far future to Camelot and King Arthur – this episodes travelled far and mixed those two areas up quite nice. In true Legends fashion Ray became a Knight of the Round Table, Sara got to hit on Guenevere, and Mick got to beat the adversary army with his brain. Yes, you read that one right. Just ask poor Martin about it. Given how much a love both Arthurian lore and the Legends this one remains one of my favorite up to today.

13.  Meet the Legends (Legends of Tomorrow Episode 5.1/69, Written by: Grainne Godfree, James Eagan, Directed by: Kevin Mock)

In this episodes Ava tries to race money for the Time Bureau by making a documentary about the Legends and their work. This episode is the documentary and the making oft he documentary. Think Arrows „Emerald Archer“ only way carzier and funnier. The Legends meet Rasputin who kidnappes the camera team, while Ava writes Sara a very weird condolence note, everyone is acting weird(er) because cameras, and well it’s „Legends“ only even nuttier than normally. I love it.

12.  Invasion! (2) (Arrow 5.8/100, Written by: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Wendy Mericle, Directed by: James Bamford)

In the middle of the big „Invasion“ Crossover „Arrow“ celebrated its 100the episode by looking at a world where the Gambit never sank. While the writers cleary had fun with Barry and Kara in this one, the heart lies in the dream reality, where things are better but sadly not real. Oliver, Thea and the others need to chose the life they want and weg et rewarded with a really great episode while they do so.

 11. Raiders of the Lost Art (Legends of Tomorrow Episode 2.9/25, Written by: Keto Shimizu, Chris Fedak, Directed by: Dermott Downs)

 This is officially the episode where „Legends“ went nuts. Oh and it’s a delicous one. George Lucas never became a filmmaker after being scared of by Malcolms and Damiens attempts to kill amnesiac Rip Hunter who thinks he is an American filmstudent, whose script is basically the plot of the shows first season. Too bad he can’t find a decent Vandal Savage. And that everyone thinks he is this Rip Hunter guy. Also Mick gets a brain surgey, Ray and Nate change occupations, and Amayas babysits their attempt to get George Lucas back to film school, and thanks god she does otherwise … well otherwise there would be no „Star Wars“ or „Indiana Jones“, would there?

10. Beebo the God of War (Legends of Tomorrrow 3.9/42, Written by: Grainne Goodfree und James Eagan, Directed by: Kevin Mock)

 This was supposed to be the sad goodbye to Martin Stein and it still is that as well, but mostly it’s the episode about Beebo Day. You know, the blue god, who hungers for war and conquest? Whose birthday we celebrate once a year in december and … wait? What was I talking about? Oh, yeah Leo tries to make Mick quit drinking and Beebo get’s squeezed a lot. Well you have to see that one to know why it’s a great one, but believe me it is great.

9.      Elseworlds 1-3 (Flash, Arrow, Supergirl, Part 1: The Flash Episode 5.9/101, Written By: Eric Wallace und Sam Chalsen, Directed By: Kevin Tancharoen und Tom Cavanagh, Part 2: Arrow Episode 7.9/147,  Written by: Marc Guggenheim und Caroline Dries, Directed by: James Bamford, Part 3: Supergirl Episode 4.9/74, Written by: Mac Guggenheim, Derek Simon und Rob Rovner, Directed by: Jesse Warn)

In this Crossover Oliver und Barry switch identities which no one on Earth-1 believes, but Kara’s help leads to an evil not-quite Superman and a brand new reality. Also we are introduced to Batwoman and Gotham. And Lois Lane. Well, there is a lot going in there - even Gary guest stars on „Supergirl“ – but mainly Oliver is Barry and Barry is Oliver and that if fun and Kara makes a connection with the Elseworld version of Earth-1 Alex Danvers which is also great.

8. Legends of To-Meow-Meow (Legends of Tomorrow Episode 4.8/59, Written by: James Eagan und Ray Utarnachitt, Directed by: Ben Bray)

 Sulky about missing out on the Crossover the Legends crossovered with themselves in Season 4. John and Charlie destroyed the timeline for selfish reasons, and now everything is wrong and everything they do makes things worse instead of better. Zari gets to spend most of the episode as a cat, the rest of the Legends get turned into puppets, we meet the Sirens of Spacetime and the Custodians of the Chronology, and a gay kiss saves all of spacetime. Why can’t all shows be more like „Legends“?

7.      The Scientist/Three Ghosts (Arrow Episode: 2.8/31-2.9/32, 32: Written by: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns, Ben Sokolowski, Directed by: Michael Schultz, John Behring)

 This two parter introduces us to Barry Allen and culuminates in the „Arrow“-Version of a „Christmas Carol“ Oliver gets visited by three ghosts and Barry gets hit by lightning. Among other things. All very good stuff – I watch „Three Ghosts“ every Christmas, if I manage to get around to it. But this also is very the Arrowverse was born. And back then it was the best of „Arrow“ they ever did. And it still stands out today, combindes strong Flashbacks with a strong Main Story, which is all we ever wanted from „Arrow.“

6.      Resist/Nevertheless, She Persisted (Supergirl 2.21/41-2.22/42, Written by: Derek Simon, Jessica Queller, Andrew Kreisberg, Robert Rovner, Caitlin Parrish, Directed by: Milicent Shelton, Glen Winter)

 Season 2 of „Supergirl“ ends with a very strong two-parter that features the Daxamits Invasion of earth. Superman is in it, but these are all about Kara who get’s inspired by Cat Grant again, goes on to inspire everyone else in turn, faces of against the truly evil mother of the love of her life, and has to make a big sacrifice. The two parter was especially well written and  no season finale of the show later ever measured up to it afterwards.

5.      Reset (Arrow Episode 8.6/166, Written by: Onalee Hunter Hughes und Maya Houston, Directed by: David Ramsey)

Yes it’s a time loop episode in „Arrow“! Yes, it’s still „Arrow“, it will still break your heart. But it’s probably the moment the show embraced it’s funny pages origin the most wholehearted. It will make you cry in all the right ways. We get to say goodbye to Quentin in a prober way in this finally and that is beautiful. And Oliver gets around to accept his destiny which is heart breaking, but still this is my favorite episode of „Arrow“ if you get right down to it.

4.      Fast Enough (The Flash 1.23/23, Written By: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Gabrielle Stanton, Directed By: Dermott Downs)

 Season 1 of „The Flash“ has the strongest Season Finale in the history of the Arrowverse. In a very real way it could only get downhill from here. This one will break your heart in so many ways, but it’s the good sort of pain, that makes an impact, may even destroy a part of you, but makes you come out stronger in the end. The whole season comes together in this one and never falls apart (that will only happen later, if you think about it, but it’s explained away by later reveals). Sadly neither this show nor the others could ever measure up to this one, but on the other hand that is exactly what made it special.

3.      The Faithful (Supergirl 3.4/46, Written By: Paula Yoo, Katie Rose Rogers, Directed by: Jesse Warn)

 This one is my favorite episode of „Supergirl“. Mainly because this is what a certain director tried to do nut failed at in three movies: An exploration of the idea that Kryptonians are essentially Gods compared to humans. This episode is always respectful and has much to say, it touches on Karas own faith, shows us a new and intriguing side of James, and creates a villain that should have ruled the show and the season, but who sady stumbled later. In this one though Coville is just perfect. Like the whole episode.

2. Duet (The Flash Episode 3.17/63, Written By: Aaron Helbing, Todd Helbing, Greg Berlani, Andrew Kreisberg, Directed By: Dermott Daniels Downs)

 It’s the Musical Episode! This „Flash“/„Supergirl“-Crossover has all the jazz – singing, dancing, kissing, opening up about feelings – and also a mini „Glee“-Reunion. Kara and Barry are trapped in a Musical Dream World and doomed to follow the plot, while Wally has to confront Darren Crisses Musis Meister. For vocals sakes the episode also includes John Barrowman and Victor Gaber of course, because there was no excuse to make this episode without them. I love this one just as much as it was to be expected and I will never forgive them for never making another Musical episode in any of the shows.

1.      The One Where We are trapped on TV (Legends of Tomorrow Episode 5.13/81, Written by: Grainne Godfree, James Eagan, Directed by: Marc Guggenheim)

And the award for the Craziest TV Episode of all time goes to this one, where the Legends are trapped on TV. Charlie put them there to protect them, and so we get very familiar but strange versions of „Friends“, „Downtown Abbey,“ and „Star Trek“ with the Legends as the main characters instead. We also meet a murderous Mister Parker, get another musical number lead by the Tarazi siblings, and are as amazed as Mona about everything that is going on here. Can „Legends“ ever top what they did here? Or anything else in the Arrowverse? Let’s not challenge them, I am sure they can. But until then, we have this one, which of course is not only my favorite episode of „Legends“ but also the whole Arrowverse.

[bookdragonlibrary]

First Tuesday YJ appreciation

1-3 ; 4-6 ; 7-9 ; 10-13 ; 14-16 ; 17 ; 18 ; 19 ; 20 ; 21 ; 22 ; 23 ; 24-26

—————————— Influence

- The half part of Justice League who is in space. 

- The victims of the battle were Thanagarians against the parademons. No idea for the first but the last one sounds like the ennemis in the JL films, both animated and real. 

- Apokoliptans kakash are parademons. Kakash is an insult. I took it :) 

- Lieutenant Thal is Hawkwoman and Captain Hol is Hawkman. 

- Apokolips stole Nth metal, a rare material from Thanagan. What does Darkseid whant to do with it? 

- “Earthlings biosigns” the metaslaves :( Now Aliens see Earth as a threat... 

- Commander Talak is pretty deft or blind, or stubborn for not understanding it or he took a bribe for Apokolips? 

- “We should send our Hawk fleet to put Earth on quarantaine.” As it happened in the first JL series? Will Earth have to fight Hawk and Darkseid at the same time? 

- Guy gives me life xD He’s like an adult Bart! He found a new lead to save the metateens! 

- (So much information in 3min!)

- Tara, Violet and Forager are cute with their burrito. 

-Don’t talk about Wally! :’( “Today’s the day” ok, now I’m crying... Aquaman cheer me up! 

- I’m sure James Gordon still worked with Batman secretly, right? 

- Of course, Granny accused Dakar Marlowe of this debacle... who’s dead and can’t tell the truth. “New and improved technology” the same problem but more difficult to shut down... Great. And they will still give found the MHYC. 

- Garfield just did like his brother-in-law and lost his shirt :D “I know what you are, Gretchen.” That was a stupid move, Gar...

- Mogo, the sentient Green Lantern planet, exists in YJ verse. 

- Did Guy just sing about his ass? Kakash!

- Now they’re on the Team I want them to interact with the others. OMG Violet is NB!! Brion is a supportive boyfriend as always! They’re so cute when they’re embarassed! And Tara is smiling at them! 

- “I’m really thrilled you discovered who you are inside” Believe me, M’gann went there before, with her color skin insecurities.

- The Hall of Justice is still in ruins? :( The UN has a satellite near the Watchtower? It’s to spy on them? “Who watches the Watchmen?” Seriously? 

- Now, Lena Luthor, Lex’s sister, runs LexCorp. Is she secretly working with him? LexCorp is also giving fonds to the MHYC? That can’t be good news...

- Gretchen is torturing poor Barda :( Is she controled too? Or just brainwashed? So Granny works directly for Darkseid, is she part of the Light to spy on Earthlings? 

- Desaad, we saw him in season 1 and at the end of season 2. 

- “It wasn’t torture, it was discipline.” Sure, all abusers say that...

- Did Victor sense Violet’s text because he’s connected to her as Father and Motherbox or just connected to technology in general? Victor seems so embarassed :( 

- Helga feeling useless just to lay her hands on Victor? Nobody sees that? 

- Tara is working with Slade as she’s recording Dr Jace’s words. Is she against her and not the Team for once? 

- Heil? Now Darkseid is the new Hitler. Or it’s Granny? 

- Barda is brainwashed. 

- Still no sound in space, the battle is pretty cool :) 

- So clever to punch the wall at the same time than the missile to cover. 

- Section 16. 

- “Sommon the Furies!” Will we see Scandal’s girlfriend? 

“Stay whelmed.” Did Superman picked that directly from Dick or from Conner? 

- Missing 8 from Markovia. Aren’t they 6 now or were they other teens? Who is the blue skin boy and why does this girl have a drawing on her forehead? Magical tatoo like Atlanteans? 

- All the stolen materials served to build this machine. What does it do? 

- Whoa, the Furies can go hand to hand with the big hitter of the JL! 

- Granny is definitely a sadistic... she attackes her own team slaves. Not surprising. 

- What is it doing? They look like they disapear like Wally. Will it the one who’ll bring him back? 

- Being saved by their “ennemies” maybe will turn the Furies into good. 

- Of course, Superman, the only man, is the one who succeeded to go out... Even Superman can’t breathe in outter space?

- Garfield is not happy with Granny... 

- Wolf and Bioship again!

—————————— Leverage

- Four 16 in 30 sec, a record! 

- It’s the alien animal from season 2! 

- The producer knows Granny can “ruin” a person. So she’s not as sweet as she want us to believe even in her civies...

- Auntie Mouse, this nickname is so cute! Lian is so cute!

- “They always said recon only. It never turned out that way.” I’m pretty sure the first team told him their mission as bedtime stories xD 

- Markovia should be in East Europe if it was under Sovietic Union’s influence during the cold war. Maybe Vlatava is also in Central Europe or in East Europe. 

- ED! I love his teasing and sarcasm xD 

- Is the blonde girl the same they save in the gladiatory in episode 13? 

- Did he just say crash? He must hang out with the Team pretty often and took from Virgil who took it from Bart xD 

What did he call Nathaniel Newt? Wait, did he mean Neut like Neutron? Why would Nath even wants to be called that? Did he know what he did in Bart’s timeline by the way? 

- Inhibitor collars? Are they produced by Granny?

- Polar suits like in the trailer! 

- So the green aura can also make illusions and make you invisible? 

- Lieutenant Dimitri Plushkin and Colonel Olga Ilyich as Red soldiers/Red Brigade. Area 52. Is that an easter egg for Area 51? Did the Russians took inspiration from Blue’s armor? 

- Why the JL is presented as American while it has Aliens as members, Atlanteans and Amazones? --’ It should be presented as an international alliance to protect the Earth and protect humankind, not just the USA... (thank you for the imperialism...)

- Here are Captain Boomerang, Monsieur Mallah and Black Manta. 

- “Did anyone tell them?” xD 

- The Russian armor look like the ones from a video game, what’s its name again? Blue VS Red? 

- “What the what now?” xD 

- Artemis just burned BM with words! 

- Siblings teamwork! 

- The Red transformation was really painful to watch, even with just sounds... Not a magical girl transformation you want to watch every episode... 

- “Little Sheila” is that an Australian expression? The only Sheila I know in the show is Tye’s mom but I doubt CB knows her.

- This face it’s was Vertigo’s minion. And Violet is gory again è.é Why is she pink instead of violet? It’s to protect her as she’s healing? What does the pink color do by the way? 

- “Halo, Boom Tube” uuuuh was not your goal to not look like bad guys in flee? But to make a diplomatic conversation with the Russians? 

- Did CB just made a Looser sign? “They should not be underestimated”. BM learnt his lesson in S2E19 :) So the bad guys and... I assume is Amanda Waller know the JL has a young covert cop unite, crash... 

- The US government doesn’t like a competitor as they wanted to eliminate the Rocket Red Brigade and steal their tech for their own. Cold War is back again! 

- So she makes them obey with chocks and a promised blown head just like in the film right? She’s quite the same sadistic woman than Granny but it’s ok because she works with the “good guys” understaood (US) governement... She’s even ready to sacrifice US teenagers (well except for Brion and Tara, but you got my point.) Do you realise US governement is worst than the Russian one? Yes, the Red armor seems painful but at least they’re volunteers soldiers and not formal criminals used and tortured like in Guantanamo :( I mean Waller’s ways are the exact ones than Granny’s except Waller isn’t hypocrite about it. 

- Ed is so great as a peer counselor, big bro Ed time! She’s the French speaker Black girl we saw in episode 13 right?

- The team is between two fires... 

- Brion plays the mole game xD 

- Artemis is hurt! But why the laser never made wounds while Halo was gory again with a boomerang?

- Here’s Windfall! She sounds like a character in She-Ra right? 

- Livewire is the protective butch girlfriend, isn’t she? 

- Wendy is panicking because she realises she hurt someone? And she aspiring the air because she’s hyperventilating or something? “I’m a monster, a monster” Shh, baby girl it’s alright :( 

- Big Bro Ed is hurt too :( (emotionnaly I mean) So heartbreaking :(

- They made Belle Reve like the Alcatraz in San Francisco right? 

- Kaldur, the only Atlantean who can burn you with words! 

- Why does Kaldur ask about Terra specifically? Does he know something? Or it’s because she’s new? 

- Here’s Amanda Waller... Is Kaldur more worried about his father’s escape or his father being tortured? Does he know that by the way? or understood it with “very persuasive sticks and “extremely expendable”? Do you remember when we thought hopefully bad guys escaped from the Stagg op and will safely stay in Belle Reve while they were in the same condition and working for Waller? Do you imagine Livewire and Mist nearly suffer that too? :( 

- Suicide Squad and Force X, they said it! 

- “We all have secrets to keep.” Does he talk about the big secret with Batman and the others? *Artemis nods* You know he can’t see you? 

- Dr Jace finally has her lab in Dakota city with... Hardwire? (I love his eyes!) All characters from Static Shock’s show/creator come from Dakota? Vic, how could you accept to be the rat lab from a stranger, possibly evil, and not from your father? :( 

- Oh no, Wendy now wears a collar :( And Ed looks so sad about himself :(

- Dr Jace isn’t here only for testing Vic, but Violet too :( Wait... What does that look mean???

- Brion is such a caring and lovely boyfriend :3 

- We still don’t know what CB meant by “proposition”... Did he want to make her turn into a bad guy or something? 

- So it wasn’t a coincidence, but she opened it because of a bribe. What did they promise to her? offer to her? did she know it was for an assassination? Now Violet has a secret from her boyfriend about her past. She is Artemis’ mentee after all...

- Brucely! Where is your plushie? :( 

—————————— Illusion of Control

- Aaaw! Bart hugs everyone like in season 2! :3 Ed is there and WAIT! Was that a kiss? *check again* I don’t know what this is supposed to be but it’s something right? And Ed is smiling at him!!

- Supermartian house! Forager moves his horns, so cute! Those scenes remind me of season 1! But Vic is still depressed and lonely :( 

- Artemis, Will, what are those looks? Paula, stop making assumptions... 

- Brion and Tara are there two! 

- Dr Jace is not happy with what she found... Nothing good, guys! 

- Ed’s smile again! I love it!

- OMG Jaime is so bad drawn this season... What happened to him? 

- Gardita? Dudes, YJ fans can find better ship names that this, forget Gardita... 

- “What didn’t you tell they’re coming?” Maybe because Jaime wanted to make a surprise for you maybe? 

- “It’s so nice to see you again.” So crash Perdita often hangs out with the Team :) “I’m a big fan!” She’s so cute! :D

- “I feel like a fifth, sith, seventh wheel.” Poor Virgil :( Wait, that means there are 3 couples here, who are the third one... OMG is Bart and Ed? Ok, make sense after the “kiss” scene. Unexpected, but let’s see their dynamic! :D

- “Where’s the rest of the Team? Like, you know, Cassie?” Virgil misses his BF :)

- Lian is so cute! Did I already hear this mix of songs? In Misplaced, season 1! Why season 3 has so many season 1 vibes? Especially when Wally is still missing :( 

- Violet doesn’t feel good. Probably because of Gabrielle’s action? 

- I love Artemis’ Markovian accent! xD

- “Tara had been through a lot / She doesn’t talk much”. Silent could be a consequence of trauma :( Or is it because she doesn’t want to risk to blow her cover or to get attached to them?

- “It’s so nice that you two include me” Helga, stop, you make things suspicious.

- Aw, Ed has heart eyes while looking at Bart :3 “My friend” Wait, what? Are they still pining for each other? And the rest of the team know and wait for these two to make a move? Because Jaime and Traci seem to know Virgil was talking about them.

- “Watch me terrorise the other drivers.” Ed, the other drivers are mostly your students, don’t terrify them too much xD

- Bart’s smile is so cute! And it’s a genuine one! 

- “You’ll pay for that, peasants!” I love Perdita! So great she can still have fun like a normal teenager!

- “Got to get a girlfriend” *next scene about lonely Victor* Is that a foreshadowing or...? Was I right when I said Vic can be gay in YJ?

- “Forager must help uncrush Victor Stone!” Forager is still cute. Why all the team are so cute? :D

- I love when Ed’s face soften when Perdita says they’re friends :) In Spanish! :D I’m sure Perdita could speak few foreign languages plus English and Spanish :)

- Wendy still wearing an inhibitor collar :( Aw, Perdita is so sweet with her, like they are two normal teen at high school :)

- Of course Bart did eat all the food in ten meters... And I love Ed’s amused face and Bart’s shock when he realises he did eat all the cotton candy xD (I just remember the scene in Teen Titans with Robin and Starfire and cotton candy ^^)

- Livewire brings cotton candy to Mist! :D 

- Ed’s feel down despite all the work he does here. Do you want to create a club with Kaldur? Of course Bart supports him :)

- And Traci nudges Jaime again :( Now I understand why the nudge hurted him in Far Away episode: he has bruises here... Is that the only thing we’re going to see them do as a couple? :( 

- Wait, did Bart say “Maybe I did eat too much cotton candy” or “Baby I did eat too much cotton candy?” Because it’s a lot different!

- Everyone is sick. Uh... Poison? Oh that’s Vertigo’s minion agin. There’s he is. No, Perdita is in danger! But she still has the nerve to punch him! Karabast! :o

- Arg, that should hurt to trip at superspeed :( And hurt to run at superspeed in jeans and not in a frictionless suit :( Of course Ed teleports next to him to see how Bart is :D

- Does Blue has canines that big all the time or it’s an effect on the suit?

- Lonely Vic again :( 

- “I don’t have a Hive, Fred.” Don’t worry, Vic, you’re not the only freak here. Heck you’re talking to an alien! 

- Butterfly Vic :) That would be another common point with Blue! (Yeah, I want them to interact at some point) 

- Vic is still worried for Fred but don’t want to show it :)

- Scarab is back! I missed his snarky and sarcasm comments! And Blue is still tired by his suggestions! xD “Scarab wanted to blow it up, didn’t he?” Traci should see those interactions so often xD But it’s great she accepts Scarab :) Blue’s smile after she succeeded! And it’s me or Scarab sounds jealous? “Dude, you’re the king of overkill” xD

- “It’s good. Could use a little salt” My mom could say something like this xD

- “I’m so thankful to have been included.” Helga, you’re a terrible actress... Am I the only one seeing this? Or all the characters are blind? (Except Jeff, he’s a lost case, he’s in love... Actually why he’s in there with his lover?) Or I’m just overanalysing and YJ is leading me in a wrong path?  

- The way Jace insists on the hero part feels like she’s doing this on purpose... 

-Why Tara and Brion feel so bad? It’s not their fault! Or did they tell something to Jace thinking it was an innocent comment? 

- Well, Jace didn’t apologise for the argument she created so maybe she did this on purpose. Or am I overreading this?

- Please don’t mention Wally again :( So basically Paula is afraid Artemis got killed in a mission (like she was for fake and like Wally?) and try to scare her with a wheelchair? “What will it take to covince you?” Yes, she’s totally scared and don’t know what to say anymore as a wheelchair (or any big wound) and Wally’s death don’t seem enough. “You don’t have to fight crime to help people.” This point is good, look at Ed :)

- “You and Will” Uh... no Paula, you got too far and that’s not your busines here... “Your sister isn’t coming back and Lian needs a mother.” Have to disagree... You should be worried for your daughter because it doesn’t seem by free will and Lian already has two female figures. So don’t force your second daughter in a relationship just for pratical things... Thank you no thank you.

- Ed and Bart are the two pathfinders/advance men (not sure of the accurate term) of the Team! :D 

- I’m impressed Scarab uses metric and Jaime still understands it. They use metric in Mexico, right? That could explain why he’s at ease with both systems (unlike me xD).

- The Team is so clever! Virgil makes connexion that Vertigo doesn’t have those powers; Traci makes the link that what they see is at cause and Gar finds a solution :)

- “What are you made of?” “Sugar and spices and everything nice.” He’s a fan of cartoons for this second reference right? And that reminds me of the scene between Bart and the Terror Twins at Mount Justice. Bart, sweetie, stop punching people stronger than you :(

- I thought the guy was powerless (I mean litterarly), how could he resist a bear’s strenght? 

- Uh, that wasn’t Vertigo’s voice. “Be careful my love.” So Vertigo (or whoever this is) is with their minion? Like a boss and his secretary?

- Perdita going straight for the nuts xD Vertigo killed her father? That’s why she was queen at ten :( She should talk with Brion and Tara, they also know an uncle who killed their parents for the throne...

- It was Psimon, make so much sense! I knew I know this voice! Meaning the other is... Devastation! We know theiy’re together since episode 13.

- “He... She was Devastation!” Jaime would never misgender someone! :)

- I love when the girl saves herself but the boyfriend is still worried for her :) 

- “Are you... Come on!” We feel you, Virgil!

- The Team is still so clever to connect the clues. Of course Big Brother Ed is worried for Wend and the others ^^ (He didn’t name any other kids. Is it because he “failed” her and not the others?)

- Bart and Ed finish each other sentence! :D 

- Bart is so clever he put fire againt ice xD

- No the boom tube, the boys will be kidnap... Oh come on! I theorise for months about this scene! “Don’t want to know where that would lead us;” Bart, I tried to figure it out for months, be kind. 

- “There’s just no pleasing you...” Jaime, be gentle, Scarab is learning, you see?

- After their fight in season 2, it’s good to see Ed openly worries for his father :)

- Gar is so pissed about the covert part since 2 episodes.

- Poor Violet, it’s not her fault :( But Jace is more and more suspicious. Wanting to keep secrets like this... Did she speak German with “Hallo”? “It’s been a long time.” Who is she calling? Jeff? Someone we don’t know?

- It’s Mal and Karen! :D 

- Vic rejoins them and Forager is happy! Vic is smiling! 

- “I’m more a lemonperson myself.” Bart, what are you saying? xD Don’t change! And that goofy smile xD  

- Ed’s soft smile! :D (while looking at him?)

- Virgil, you’re good, you don’t need a girlfriend for that D: But he’s so awkward at flirting it’s so sweet! 

- Did the “hot” comment was necessary? è.é

- Gar is up for something... Going solo behind the Team’s back?

- Forager is eating with/in the bioship:3 Wait did he fart and burp inside of her too?!

[ohhicas]

I've only been into comics for a few years, but I've read enough of the old Flash stuff where I adore the classic incarnations of the Rogues. Honestly curious here: what's it like to be a fan of James Jesse back when he was retgonned around 10 years ago and see him brought back but now all mwahaha crazy evil? I'm way more used to Axel (and all that off-panel character development in Nu52, thanks DC) but even I find this kinda weird. Was James ever crazy evil in any arc?

^- me 90% of the time someone says James is coming back to recent media & it’s not a direct continuation of the comics prior to 2004

[ Warning: this is gonna get long and be full of a lot of assumptions. I can never form solid statements and things will get jumbled, because I suck at presenting things ]

[ this is my can of worms hill and you opened it so I’m dYING HERE ]

I mean, back in the earliest ages, no Rogue had a real personality to speak of? They were just “1960s Bad Guy in a different outfit” at the very start, with quirks! Like James having a thing for toys and nuclear powered flying tricycles. It wasn’t until that era ended that they started getting real distinct and into what a lot of ‘classic’ James fans loved and appreciated? 

(I think at least, I’m just One Person here pretending like I even understand HALF of what the ‘classic’ fandom enjoyed. I’m wildly speculating just going off what fanworks I’ve seen produced.)

(I don’t have all my scans anymore but I’ll toss in scans when I have them)

But that’s when we started getting things like James actually having specified friendships with certain people

or clear distaste towards others, and when you could tell he was more of a wild card than the others. Or when he decided to fuck off and hang out in Hollywood with Blue Devil for a bit, even siding with Kid Devil to deck out Captain Boomerang. 

Or when he decided to fuck off to Gotham, to mess with Catwoman by pretending he didn’t know who she was, but absolutely knew who she was because of how she walked and carried herself, but James being James was like “mmmmm long con, nope”

hey lil Cold, gimme all ur guns and don’t question why I’m in drag xoxo

Even then, he wasn’t shown to be vicious yet! He’d hopped around various places, was still considered A Rogue, A Criminal, and as far as any comic reader could tell by trying to count up how many civilians may have been crossfired at, he had no On Purpose deaths racked? Like, the only thing you could really argue was he may have made someone drive their car off a cliff once, but I’m like 98% sure they’re fine. He’s not a murderer, he’s just here for a laugh and a long-con for funsies because he know he can get away with it!

AND THEN WE GET A LITTLE OLDER, LITTLE DARKER

[ I’M PUTTING A CUT HERE CAUSE AFTER I THREW IT INTO DRAFTS, I REALIZED I GOT REALLY LONG, I’M SORRY IF MY LAYOUT SUCKS ASS FOR THIS. ]

little more 90s Hair. Little more 90s stereotypical “But what if EVERYONE WENT TO HELL” demon plots against Satanic Hockey Hair Neron. And James? still wasn’t evil? He was a little dismissive when everyone ELSE died sure but he still in the end turned around like “nghgng I’m THE ONLY ONE”, purposely got his ass down there, regretted it, and then beat Neron at his own game to save the entire fucking world. Because! He could! And he did it so well. STILL NOT EVIL, even when he had a chance right then and there to take over everything alongside Neron should he so desire. Like, two words, maybe some under the table BJs depending on how you feel about that pairing (I don’t), and bam. He would’ve bested nearly any other villain in the DCU save like, Satan himself. Or i guess one of those world destroyers. But we’ll get back around to those BOY HOWDY WE WILL GET AROUND TO THOSE. 

So James! Saves! The world! Sorta! Later they fight Neron again and his kid he somehow had somewhere down the road (it sounds like I’m complaining, i’m not, I love Billy and Mindy both I just wish they showed up like… ever again?) and he sTILL SAVES EVERYONE. 

Piper helps by their 90s ponytails combined. 

Somewhere around here, because dates and timing aren’t my strong suit, he also goes and messes with Bart for a bit. It’s pretty much a Spy Vs Spy episode, but with less bloodshed. 

ANYWAY IT’S AFTER THIS POINT THAT THINGS GET… where I think the majority of “James is a Low Rate Joker” comes from? 

For some unknown goddamn reason, in between issues (James wasn’t a Super Frequent Rogue? He’d show up, sure, but in the huge run of the series he’d just kind of vanish for 20 issues at a time and you’d go “welp, guess he’s still alive”) James went super-cop? like, the FBI? For some reason? Hired James “I am a probably still wanted felon, a man who has escaped jail numerous times, probably never served a full sentence, known Trickster and liar” Jesse. to the FBI. And for so many issues it’s like he legit just. Did this. He threatens to shoot Piper who he was up until this very moment, considerably very close friends with (as far as comics would show Rogue/Rogue friendships), unwilling to help his friend clearly framed for murder of his parents and losing his mind by the day. Despite James talking Hart down a little on the whole ‘THE MAYOR IS ROSCOE ADN NOBODY BELIEVES MEEEEEEEE” thing. 

Also he steals Digger’s dead ass corpse? 

FBI James is a fucking enigma. Here he is standing up for Gay Rights even though Piper is like “mm maybe I should forgive my abuser??”

BUT. AFTER THIS? WE GET COUNTDOWN WHICH IS JUST. Countdown is. IT’s a problem. James’s personality is IMMEDIATELY HORRIBLY u-turned into “well we need SOMEONE to be the Bad Guy to Piper’s Good!” DESPITE. ALL THESE YEARS OF COMICS.This is the shit you’ll see people who don’t know better or just want a reason to hate the Trickster (despite being 100% okay for them to just say he’s annoying/they don’t like his tights/acrobats are stupid) reference. James is, suddenly, very abruptly, a homophobe. Like an “ew don’t touch me” level homophobe because I’m pretty sure DC snorts cocaine and threw a dart at a board for “how could they make these two fight” and landed on GAY RIGHTS IS TRENDING. 

BUTSTILL IN THE FUCKING END OF ALL OF THIS?After so many issues of James being a complete fuckass prick? 

springboards himself from his current job of being railroad face putty to catching bullets to make sure Piper wasn’t gonna die. Without knowing the proceedings of this entire plotline, James out of nowhere after so much gaybashing, still finds it in him to leap into the path of multiple bullets and save Piper. Because, yknow, he’s evil!

Later it’s shown he’s been working to take everyone down (y’know, like when he was in the FBI) and left Piper specific helpful notes to do it himself. Because Evil Bad Guy! Helping his gone-good friend! Take down bad guys! 

DC I STILL HAVE SO MANY GODDMAN QUESTOINgsd

But yeah that’s. That’s where we last saw James. in 2007, dead, after saving Piper when he could have easily pulled a Joker and ripped HIM down to take hte bullets and etcetc, y’know. Something a Very Bad Person would’ve done, like the characterization we’ve seen now. 

His ghost (easily argued as Piper’s own mental construction of James sassing him) sasses Hartley to even, in his mental state, saw off James’s hand so Piper doesn’t have to lug his weight around and has a fighting chance at living. And in the end, when Piper’s fighting the thing that can destroy the fucking world, it’s shown only Piper was the one who could save them? Because his flute, and his musical ability, and [enter DC comic science here]. You could argue this was James, once again, somehow knowing the long-con at play here, getting screwed over at EVERY turn, and sacrificing himself so they ‘good’ team had a fighting chance.You could also argue this is me losing my mind trying to make sense of the things they made James do. (my running argument is he was purposely a prick to push Piper away, so he could keep him safe) 

Also Piper plays James a Swan Song of Queen as the final boss explodes and he’s fully prepared to die. So like. There’s that. 

AND THATS BASICALLY THE COMICS? The main, ‘canon timeline’ comics. I’m missing a LOT of little things here and there, but I’m not missing anything like body counts, or murder attempts, beyond the old Silver Age “Bad guy of the week” things like trying to make Flash’s head explode, or you know. Other “nobody really has a personality, we just have quirks”. 

MY NUMBER ONE GUESS TO WHERE THIS NEW PERSONALITY TREND COMES FROM?

Mark Hamil|’s OG run as him in the old live action show. That characterization was fun, for the time, and I even enjoyed it cause it was just that off the wall and you could tell it was what they used to decide he should be the Joker for the BATS Joker. Consider it a prototype (combined with all the previous comic jokers but that’s not for this long ass post) 

And if it’d stayed there, that’d be it! That’s it! But then JLU came along, and they referenced the old show for their version of James with a sprinkling of early-era comics, and a lot of people loved and watched that show. That was their version of the Trickster, because it was their first meeting with him! And I can’t fault that! But that guy was clearly off his rocker and I’m sure if the JLU allowed a higher rating, it would’ve been even closer to the old TV show. 

And both of THOSE were heavily, heavily referenced for the CW version, which as I’m at this point now means I need to slap my usual anti-CW tag onto things. I hate the CW James. There is so little comic in him it’s almost disgusting, and they ramped up so much of the Joker side of JLU & OGTV he might as well just be the Joker. It’s not a good representation of him at all. I have, also, only seen his first appearance episode, so maybe I’m wrong? But when you fuck up hard on the first run, why would I return for round 2? 

So with ALL THIS– 

REBOOT TIME. Whatever the newnew remake is calling itself. 

At first! With how James was! In the first panel flash of him clearly behind the scenes tugging so many wires and lines, watching everything with a bucket of popcorn while pulling others to his side, sitting pretty in an old museum? warehouse? highlighted in purples and vintage toys, I was like “holy shit this it. This is My Boy, back from the goddamn limbo-dead. It’s him.” But then“taking over the city entirely” to do? What? Turn it into the world’s biggest Trickster themepark? Make everyone wear striped leggings and combat boots? Martial Law of murder if you don’t carry rubber chickens? This is already veering from anything major James has ever done. As it stands I can’t see the gag here. Its’ weirdly dark and edgy, and way too close to something we saw the 90s TV show Trickster do, in the episode where he basically took over the place. The previews show him being what I’m assuming a Judge, Jury, & Executioner joke– and unless this spins into a Clopin song and dance number and his little hand puppet crops up to slam the button on the guillotine, I’m not having it, DC. 

They’re trying to tie him back into the CW, despite the writer saying he really enjoyed the Neron-era things with James (if I’m remembering the interview correctly). And it’s also why you may see me constantly saying “Well I sure as fuck hope Neron shows up” at anything new that’s released, to explain away all of… this.

This isn’t him. If they wanted a murderous Trickster, they should’ve just used Axel. The kid, canonly, tied explosives to stray dogs and homeless people. AXEL is the not-good Trickster, the murderous Trickster, the one you aren’t suppose to feel sorry for beyond being in way over his head due to his young age. 

i think I somehow didn’t answer your question

TL;DR

it sucks? it’s also great because there’s a .5% chance that maybe they’ll do it right and won’t reference the fucking 90s noncomic media. But then they do. And all I can do is laugh and shrug like ‘welp I expected nothing’. But when they get it RIGHT it’s like christmas came early.

[sebeth]

Babs-a-thon, Part 5

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

 Oracle debuted in Suicide Squad #23.  The true identity of Oracle was a complete mystery – man, woman, group?

Oracle would provide information for the Squad until the mystery was solved in Suicide Squad #38. It was a rather low-key revelation: Amanda contacts Oracle in cyber-space.  Oracle questions why Flo (the Oracle’s usual contact) isn’t the one reaching out. Amanda informs Oracle that Flo died on a mission.  The next panel reveals a wheelchair-bound redhead, a Batgirl plushie on the desk, mourning the loss of her friend.

I love the subtle revelation of Oracle’s secret identity.  No storming the secret lair and gasping in shock.  A simple one-panel revelation that relied on the art to provide the clues to her identity.  Not that it didn’t blow my mind at the time.

A small pause in the Babs-a-thon to promote John Ostrander, Kim Yale, and the 1980s’ Suicide Squad title. If you haven’t read the Ostrander/Yale run – what are you waiting for?  Ostrander & Yale created two of the most unique, groundbreaking, and iconic women in comics:  Amanda Waller and Barbara Gordon as Oracle.  The Squad consistently had multiple female characters – Flo, Karen, Nightshade, Enchantress, Mind-Boggler, Plastique, Vixen, Duchess, Jewlee, Poison Ivy – all different types of personalities, all written well.  The development of the villains was great – Captain Boomerang and Deadshot owed their prominence to this title.  Read this series!

Back to the Babs-a-thon –

Barbara had two more prominent appearance in the Squad.  In Suicide Squad #48, Barbara visits her therapist.  Babs reveals she has a recurring dream – she runs down a corridor to open the door – the identity of the person on the other side changes – it ranges from the Joker, Jim Gordon, Batman, to Batgirl herself.  The individual always has a gun and shoots her.  Babs doesn’t reveal the multiple choices to the therapist and focuses on the Joker –

“And then I feel the bullet boring its way through my body.  My legs give way, useless as my spine is severed.  There’s this awful wrench and grinding in my back – like a clutch out of gear – and then pain.  There’s a woman screaming for rescue that never comes.  And the room stinks of cordite and blood – my blood – and the Joker claws at me.  And there is pain.  And then the Joker is beating me, and he smells like paraffin and rotten lilacs, screeching I’m not cooperating, and every blow reverberates through my shot-out, shattered spine.  And there is pain.  And then – then – when he’s – when I’m naked – he starts taking pictures and I can’t stop him! And when – when he’s done – the Joker just…laughs!”

“For six months all I had was pain.  They had to build a bridge between sections of my spine just so I could sit up straight. And I will never, never, never walk again.”

The therapy session would be taking place around 2 years after the Killing Joke.  The Batman Chronicles story mentioned 6 months of therapy and Babs spent a year training with Richard Dragon, throw in 6 months to establish contact/work with the Suicide Squad = 2 years.

Bab��s paralysis/recovery, Jason’s death/resurrection, the 4 Robins, and Dick becoming Nightwing are all examples of why the New 52 compressed 5-year timeline doesn’t work for the Bat Family.  Barbara and Jason’s respective Joker traumas were the defining obstacle of their lives – it took time and much inner strength to overcome.  In the New 52, Babs, in a space of 5 years, became Batgirl, was paralyzed by the Joker, created the Oracle identity, formed the Birds of Prey, disbanded the Birds of Prey, regained the ability to walk, discarded the Oracle identity, and regained enough athletic ability to resume the Batgirl role. So, Babs was paralyzed for less than a month?  Still traumatizing but it removes the strength and struggle it took for Babs to even create the Oracle role.

The therapist informs Barbara: “You have a right to be angry.  It was a heinous act.  It was unfair.  You need to tell other people about your rage – like your father.  Whenever you’re with him, you put on the act of perky, plucky Barbara Gordon. Why?”

Barbara responds: “What good would it do to get mad?  He’d only feel more ashamed and guilty.  He holds himself responsible.  Dad always refused to have an officer of duty guarding us like they do in other cities. Wanted to be more ‘accessible’ to the taxpayers.  We were ‘accessible’ all right.”

“But you do blame him – and Batman.  Not unreasonably!”

“I mostly blame myself mostly.  I should’ve known better than to just pop open the door without seeing who it was.”

“Why? Why should you have known better?”

Barbara leaves the therapy session, worrying that she has “another murderous sociopath stalking me!”

“And whose fault is this one, Barbara?  Batman’s? Dad’s?  Simon LaGrieve?  Uh-uh. You wanted to be a superhero again so you created a computer version and called yourself Oracle.  But you weren’t as good as you thought you were.  Stop it!  No more self-pity.  No more playing the victim!  Whatever it takes, Thinker, I’ll deal with you – myself!”

Trademark Barbara determination and independence on display.

Suicide Squad #49 was near the tail-end of Babs’ run with the team.  Barbara continues to be stalked by the Thinker.

Babs is at the Gotham City Police Department Shooting Range: “What am I doing?  I hate guns!  Shut up! You know very well what you’re doing! You’re preparing to kill someone. You touched that maniac’s mind! You know what he wants to do! Carmichael’s a sociopath!  He wants to kill you, your father – anyone who care’s anything about you!  You swore – never again!  You’d never be a victim again!  Isn’t there any other way?  Of course there is – I could just go tell Dad.  But that would be the end of Oracle.  The only place I have left where I can walk, where I can run, where I can dance is the cybernet!  I lost my physical mobility because of one madman, must I lose my mental freedom as well?”

Notice that Bab’s never entertains the thought of contacting Batman or Nightwing.  It reinforces the pre-Crisis and immediate post-Crisis canon that Barbara was not an intimate member of the Bat Family.  I’m in the minority but I prefer it this way.  I love Bab’s as an independent, adult woman, who, while inspired by Batman, carved her own path as a hero – one who didn’t need or require his guidance or approval.  I prefer that Batman, amazed by Bab’s intelligence, strength, and determination, brought her into the fold after she created the Oracle identity.  I feel Bruce saw Babs as well-intentioned but lacked the “true dedication” in her Batgirl career.  He wasn’t wrong as Babs had retired her Batgirl-career pre-Killing Joke.  Post Killing-Joke, Bruce realized Babs wasn’t here to play!  We shouldn’t underestimate the guilt Bruce felt – not only for the shooting but for laughing with the Joker.

Babs wonders if she can bring herself to shoot Carmichael: “I won’t be a victim again.  But does that mean I must become a killer?  It flies in the face of everything I was taught – everything I believe!  But perhaps everything I was taught to believe is wrong.  Don’t we have the right to defend ourselves?”

Barbara hides out at the Hotel Tamarindo.  Carmichael storms into the room, yelling for “Amy!”

Babs/Amy claims she only ships computers to Oracle but has never seen the actual person.

Carmichael throws Babs out of her wheelchair and threatens to “rip open her mind” and discover the truth.

Carmichael’s interrupted by Amanda Waller’s entrance: “So there you are, you nasty boy, you.”

“I know you.  You’re Amanda Waller!  I read all about you in the papers a year or so back!  But you couldn’t be Oracle – or could you?!”

Carmichael tries to control Amanda’s mind but fails.  Amanda and Carmichael brawl while Barbara grabs her gun: “Stand away from him, Mrs. Waller.”

“You can’t do it, girl.”

“I’ve got to do it! He’s a sociopath – he wants to kill me and my family – my friends!”

“Who you really trying to kill, girl?”

Babs visualizes shooting the Joker, Batman, Jim Gordon, and Batgirl.

“No one.  Take this, please, Mrs. Waller.”

Waller knocks Carmichael unconscious and offers Babs continued work with the Suicide Squad: “Also got an offer to make to you.  You got a thing about privacy.  Fine. I won’t pry.  But I think we can be a help to each other if you’re willing to listen.”

“You saved my life and helped keep me from taking a life.  All right, Mrs. Waller – I’ll listen.”

I love the mutual respect between Babs and Amanda.  Amanda didn’t threaten or blackmail Babs – she simply made an offer and was willing to back off if Barbara declined.  

For those unfamiliar with Amanda’s backstory, she came from a poor background, suffered numerous heart-breaking tragedies, and built herself up by pure force of will.  I think Amanda sees herself in Barbara – another woman brought down low by outside forces who raised herself up through pure determination.

Barbara would continue to aid the Suicide Squad but I’m switching to Showcase ’94 #12.

“A Little Knowledge” by Scott Peterson and Brian Stelfreeze.  The short story takes place during the Prodigal-era of the Bat titles. Babs has stopped working with the Squad and began to make appearances in the Bat titles.  

Babs hears a knock on her door – she opens it (using the peephole first), and discovers a rodent impaled by a knife.

“I can’t help wondering if they have to deal with this kind of thing in Metropolis.”

Babs receives a call: “I’ve been watching you.”

What is it with Babs and stalkers?

Barbara continues her work day: “A note from Robin.  Great kid. Knows his stuff, too.  And he always thanks me for the help.  Means more to me than the money they send my way once in a while.”

Yes, Tim is polite and gracious.  Unlike Bruce.

“Not that I’m complaining. Their generosity is what keeps me state of the art.  Still, as much as I love Robin, I wish I didn’t get the feeling that he and Alfred were the only ones sending the mysterious checks I receive, funneled through dummy corporation seven times removed.  Like I wouldn’t find out.”

Sorry, boys, you can’t fool the Oracle.

Babs continues to receive calls and weird notes.

Barbara is out grocery shopping when someone shoots at her: “I’m on my way home when the first shots fired. I see it hit the pavement before I hear it, and I’m already looking for places to dive.  Then I remember I can’t dive anywhere anymore.  I’m about to be shot.  And there’s nothing I can do.  Again.”

Babs returns home and receives another threatening call.

Babs has an origin/Killing Joke flashback:

“It was the Batman who made me want to become a hero myself.  And even after he made it clear he didn’t want another partner, I kept at it.”

Independent Babs for the win!

“It was fun.  Until the night when all the fun went away…forever.”

“I worked with what I had. From my days as Gotham’s head librarian I knew how to find out whatever I needed.  If I could do that for citizens, I could do it for colleges, non-profit corporations, private investigators and super-heroes.  Having been blessed with photographic recall, I studied a dozen newspapers, four dozen magazines, and my main haunt, the computer bulletin boards.  I even hacked into the Gotham Bar Association to take the exam, just out of curiosity. Passed the first time, piece of cake. But the whole time I was improving my mind, I never got over losing the use of my legs.  Although, when I think back on it all, I can’t believe I used to fight crime with a brown belt in Judo.  A brown belt, for God’s sake.”

Barbara decides to talk to a friend.  Enter Batman (Dick Grayson) via Batcave phone call.

Barbara confides in Dick: “The last time I was in a physical confrontation I shot a secret service agent. The time before that I got my spine blown out by the Joker.  You can see why I’m a little nervous.  Not exactly a great track record.  I’m afraid.”

Dick advises: “Barbara, look – it…it never really goes away, you can try to lock it up, you can pretend you don’t feel it, but…but the fear’s always there somewhere.  You can never escape it.  You just have to overcome it.  You have to prove you’re stronger.  Do you want help with this guy?”

“No.  Thanks, Dick, but…no.  I need to do this on my own.  I need to know if I can.”

My personal feeling is Barbara was brought into the Bat Family circle during the Knightsend/Prodigal era.  I believe Dick is the one that invited Babs into the “family”.  Not in a romantic way.  Bruce was largely absent during from Gotham during this era and Dick will always be the more social/team-oriented member of the family.  I see a reveal similar to the Batwoman/Nightwing moment in Batman: Bad Blood.  The twist being that Barbara knows the secret identities – she’s had a lot of time to research since the Killing Joke.

Babs waits in her apartment. She receives another call: “Get ready, little girl.  Here I come.” And the lights and phone go out.

Babs uses a back-up generator to access her computers.  The security cameras reveal a Nick Riley: “And I finally understand who wants to kill me, and why.”

“I finally push the button. The first thing I installed.  The think I hoped I never have to use.”

Riley enters the apartment: “You and me, we’re going to have a whole lotta fun.”

“No.  I don’t believe this is going to be very much fun for you at all.”

Babs beats the man into unconsciousness.  She then calls out to another man: “You can come in now, Mister Armonk.”

Armonk was sent to jail for murder two years ago with the assistance of Barbara Gordon.  Armonk prepares to shoot Babs but she whips out her escrima sticks and knocks him out.

Batman compliments: “Nice job.”

“Batman?  How long have you been here?”

“About five minutes. I came as soon as I got your signal.”

“Why didn’t you give me a hand?”

“Didn’t look like you needed it.”

“Hey, you looked good. Really good.  How did it feel?”

“It felt good.  I hope I don’t need to do that again.  But it feels good to know I can.  It may not be swinging from rooftops, but…but it’s not bad. Not bad at all.”

Babs would shortly form the Birds of Prey, first as a partnership with Black Canary and later expanding into a full-fledged group.  One of my favorite series but it’s simply too lengthy to include in a Babs-a-thon.

Barbara’s other major development of the 90’s/2000’s was her romance with Dick Grayson.  I started as a fan of the pairing.  Babs – in the immediate post-Crisis era – dismissed Robin as a flirtatious, too young boy.  Pre-Crisis, Babs dated Clark Kent and had a lengthy romance with Jason Bard.  In both eras, Babs was intrigued by Batman.  The point I’m making is Barbara dated adult men because she was an adult.

Shortly after the Prodigal era, Barbara and Dick began to head in a romantic direction.  What I wanted, and what was initially portrayed, was Barbara falling for an older, more mature Dick.  Dick is an adult and their age difference is no longer an issue for Barbara.  Their early romance had touching moments as Babs let down her guard and allowed Dick in. Dick was still healing over the brutal end of his relationship with Starfire, so it made sense to go slow.

It didn’t take long for the pairing to jump the tracks for me.  First, Babs is continually de-aged to become Dick Grayson’s one (only?) true love. First, no.  Second, why does Babs have to be the one to have her history and accomplishments removed to accommodate Dick?  Why does she lose her independence to become yet another sidekick of Batman? Third, Dick’s true love of his teenage/college years is Starfire.  It’s Dick’s first intense, full-out love experience.

I could go on for a while about this pairing but I’ll save that for a separate post.

This concludes my Babs-a-thon.  The issues mentioned in parts 1 – 5 cemented my impression of Barbara: an intelligent, determined, driven woman.  I adored Barbara as Batgirl but it’s as Oracle that she became a force of nature in the DC Universe.