#around having a titular character also be a character of color

[hiriaeth]

The way people's standards have fallen sharply with how art has fallen into mediocre content intent to absorb and keep you complacent. Also amazing how hype really lulls people into anything. I truly think i'm not a media person period especially since nowadays copaganda literally has evolved to be considered a requirement in any show and they are centered/protected if not given emotional weight and purpose whereas unless the show was a literally in a precinct this wouldnt be happening.

[gachabastard]

Limbus Company Sinners as Fallen London Companions

Smashing my two hyperfixations together like dolls and making them kiss. What I'm seeking (lol) to do here is not to conflate the Sinners to existing Companions, but rather create Companions based off of them instead. If you know both things then this won't take any explaining.

For people who know Limbus Company but not Fallen London: Fallen London is a browser game made by Failbetter Studios. It is an alternate history of an 1800s London that has sunk deep below the earth into a subterranean cavern known as the Neath and is now overseen by the mysterious Masters of the Bazaar. You begin the game as a Surface-dweller who has recently descended into the Neath for certain reasons, which you are able to decide for yourself and act upon as you progress through the game. Companions are "equipment" of sorts that you can equip to increase (or lower) your character's stats. A full write-up of FL's mechanics could be another three separate posts on its own, so I recommend the wiki's Beginner's Guide and other resources therein to understand the mechanics I'll detail here. If you enjoy the writing in LCB you will most likely also love FL's writing. Please play it, it is awesome. (And lmk if you do, I'll add you as a friend and definitely not stab you in the back)

For people who know Fallen London but not Limbus Company: Limbus Company is a mobile game made by Project Moon. It is the third in a series of games, preceded by Lobotomy Corporation and Library of Ruina, which are both available for purchase on Steam, though Limbus Company can be played independently of these if you want; the player avatar is an amnesiac so things are generally explained as needed (though Lobcorp and LoR are also very good and I recommend them, but you do have to buy those, so). The game centers around a department of the titular Limbus Company, the Limbus Company Bus Team (often shortened to LCB), the twelve individuals referred to as Sinners who make up the team, and their amnesiac Manager named Dante as they brave the ruins of the old branches of Lobotomy Corporation to retrieve strange objects known as Golden Boughs. All of the major characters in LCB are based off of classic literature (for example, Dante is based off of Dante's Inferno). If you like FL's writing you may enjoy LCB, but it is a gacha game which turns a lot of people off. For character info you can visit the Fandom wiki (yeah I know, it's a Fandom wiki), and if you want to read the story so far without playing the game you can check out this github page which contains all of the story text.

And if you don't know either...I don't know why you're reading this, but I hope my explanations and provided resources are enough to help you understand it regardless.

Okay, wall of text out of the way, let's get into the actual point of the post. This isn't meant to be balanced or anything this is just for fun because I'm diseased. Also LIMBUS SPOILERS THRU CANTO VI sorry.

Starting off with Sinner #1, Yi Sang:

Mirror-Marred Litterateur In the Mirror's glass, he observed endless possibilities. One such possibility observed him back. Watchful +4, Glasswork +2, Bizarre +1

Reasoning: Honestly? I thought about Sang Yi chilling in Parabola and that colored my whole concept here. But for real the whole Mirror thing is too perfect. Yi Sang defines Glasswork.

Sinner #2, Faust

Hell-Touched Engineer She hasn't the eyes of a devil, but builds infernal machinery previously unseen outside of Hell. Claims to know all outcomes, but shares precious little. Dreaded +2, Artisan of the Red Science +2, Decreases Nightmare build up

Reasoning: Something something Faust something something Mephistopheles something something her base EGO heals SP.

Sinner #3, Don Quixote

Dreaming Knight The only weapon stronger than a dream is delusion. Dangerous +5, Mithridacy +2, Increases Scandal build up

Reasoning: DQ is so skilled in Mithridacy she's got herself convinced of untruths, man. She's also allowed little a Scandal. As a treat.

Sinner #4, Ryoshu

Bohemian Blademaster Her masterwork blade is her brush; her enemies, her canvas. Legend has it that even the Boatman respects her work. Dangerous +4, Dreaded +2, Monstrous Anatomy +1

Reasoning: I feel like this one's pretty self-explanatory. I added a point of MA since I feel like she'd want to be a bit knowledgeable in monster anatomy for Art Reasons

Sinner #5, Meursault

Chained Stranger "The Neath is a prison," he says matter-of-factly, "And I am here because I am meant to be." Despite this, one could swear they saw the sun reflecting off his eyes. Persuasive +2, Respectable +3, Reduces Scandal build up

Reasoning: Hehe did you see what I did there. I referenced the thing. Anyway aside from being pretty blunt, he's probably the best candidate out of the whole group for Respectable.

Sinner #6, Hong Lu

Bright-Eyed Debonair New to the Neath, from an affluent Surface family. The Neath's many delights confuse and excite him. Persuasive +2, Shadowy +1, Kataleptic Toxicology +1

Reasoning: I think Hong Lu being new to the Neath fits with him being sheltered in canon. Also +1 KA cuz you know that boy is hittin that Honey. The Honey-Dens of Veilgarden already know him by name.

Sinner #7, Heathcliff

Bereaved Ruffian He knows the backstreets of London like the scars on his hands. He remembers that which the world does not, and waits. Dangerous +8, Shadowy -3, Chthonosophy +1

Reasoning: Oops Canto VI colored the fuck out of this one oops oops oops. Happy Firmament Day btw have some Chthonosophy. :)

Sinner #8, Ishmael

Zeefaring Pathfinder She's hunted the most feared creatures known to the Zee, losing her way to chart a path for her mad captain. Her compass will see that she never loses sight of her path again. Zeefaring +2, Monstrous Anatomy +3, Increases Nightmares build up

Reasoning: Ishy-Fishy you were made to embody Zeefaring and MA.

Sinner #9, Rodion

Lacre-Drowned Cardshark Born in a run-down corner of London where the Lacre falls thickest at Sacksmas, she knows a thing or two about cards. She wouldn't mind teaching you...for a price. Persuasive +4, Watchful +6

Reasoning: Heart's Desire vibes. That's it.

Sinner #10, Dante

Timepiece Manager An infernal timepiece ticks away where a head should be. They have no memories of their own, but they can never forget again. Chthonosophy +2, Steward of the Discordance +1, Dangerous -5, Reduces Wounds build up

Reasoning: Congratulations Dante on being the only bitch to not have the Discordance because the Discordance isn't real. Ummm I went off vibes here but tbh I think Dante should decrease your Dangerous by way more actually. Hell, let's make then decrease Dreaded too. Let's make them a Weasel of Woe.

Sinner #11, Sinclair

Unrealized Prodigy Young and anxious, jumping at every shadow. His potential is very promising. Dangerous +6, Dreaded +1, Increases Wounds build up

Reasoning: Sinclair may be baby. But he is Scary Baby.

Sinner #12, Outis

Commanding Oneironaut She's led the forces of Parabola to victory more times than you could count. Don't ask her any questions. Dangerous +8, A Player of Chess +2, Glasswork +1

Reasoning: Everybody shut the fuck up Parabolan War General Outis is everything to me, you hear me. EVERYTHING. She favors the Chessboard, obviously, with that +2 to APoC.

Sinner #13, Gregor

Metamorphic Veteran A large insectoid pincer sits where a right arm should be. He'll talk about pretty much anything but the details around that. Seriously, be careful around that thing. Dangerous +5, Shapeling Arts +3, Bizarre +2

Reasoning: You had to know Gregor would be the only bitch to get Shapeling Arts. Look me in the eyes and tell me he wouldn't. I wanted to give him Persuasive due to his amicability but also he actually. Sucks at being persuasive like canonically, so. Dangerous it is.

BONUS! Vergilius

The Red Gaze The most feared Fixer in the Neath. Whatever could you have done to strike up an alliance with him? Watchful +30, Shadowy +30, Dangerous +30, Persuasive +30, Greatly reduces Nightmare build up

Reasoning: He's the Red Goat I ain't gotta explain shit.

anyway hope you enjoyed even though you definitely didn't. i have a headache now so i'm gonna go consume painkillers and caffeine and go run mirror dungeons in lcb for that limbus battle pass.

[theboarsbride]

Faerie Book Recommendations🧚✨📚

So reading Sarah J Maas and her very, very shitty interpretation and (under)utilization of fae lore is inspiring me to create a personal list of books I've read that I feel like have like... ACTUAL faeries and folklore in them (not the normal-looking-hot-folks-with-pointy-ears-and-MAYBE-wings brand of faerie SJM popularized), and are actually worth your time

And if you've any books, stories, comics, etc. that you'd want to add to this list, feel free to add them in the comments, reblogs, tags, or my DMs!!

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Very eerie fairytale vibes that center on the aftermath of the disappearance, and even more mysterious return, of three sisters when one of them goes missing again almost 10 years later. And also the writing is legit just B E A U T I F U L!!!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

This is chock-full of classical faeries and folklore, and almost reads like a textbook about them since this is about a woman, the titular Emily Wilde, traveling to a Scandinavian country to complete her own encyclopedia about the fair-folk. It also features some lowkey cottagecore vibes and an academic rivals-to-lovers romance!

Gilded (Gilded #1) by Marissa Meyer

A retelling of Rumpelstiltskin that reads like its own dark Grimm's fairytale, and it's as eerie and grim as a YA fantasy novel can get. It also centers on themes of telling stories and folktales since the main character, Serilda, is infamous for spinning wild tales - which is what leads to her encounter with the famed, and feared, Earlking (who, as a villain, is so sinister and creepy - and utterly FAE!). Personally, this book wasn't really my cup of tea and I'm unsure if I'll read the sequel, Cursed, however it still has some classic fae vibes that SJM's work lacks, so it deserves a place on this list!

The Changeling by Victor LaValle

I'm using the term 'faerie' very loosely here, as the idea of changelings (and trolls), for me, is more of a narrative device to help us look into grief in fatherhood. But there is still a very strange, vaguely Pans Labyrinth-esque urban fantasy vibe playing in the background throughout!

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

Not necessarily FAERIES but more of mischievous and distrustful woodland folk - and also forest gods. Very heavily steeped in early colonial America era folk horror vibes... if you love media like Robert Eggers' The VVitch then you will ADORE this book! Also Brom's accompanying artwork is so, so beautiful! This is honestly such a perfect fall-time read once Halloween season rolls around.

Legendborn Cycle series by Tracy Deonn

Ok no faeries but... mixes classic Arthurian legends with southern Black beliefs while also telling an epic urban fantasy story centering on themes of grief, trauma, and prejudice. So no fae, but LOTS of great urban fantasy vibes (which I mean... if you're looking for more series to put on your shelf instead of Harry Potter......) Just... Please... just... this series... it's so GOOD!! IDK what else to add that hasn't been said about this series!

Direwood by Catherine Yu

Once again, not necessarily faeries in this book but instead vampires that have a very fae-like quality about them! (as well as blood-hungry butterflies and caterpillars hee-hee) The story as a whole feels like a whimsical fever dream that is STEEPED in tasty Gothic vibes! It sort of has the feeling of being in a late '90s/early '00s Goth music video.

Like Falling Stars by Avalon Roselin (@roselin-books-official)

A story about a girl who's forgotten her past and comes to develop a sweet friendship with a brooding ice faerie prince, and is brimming with so many cozy fantasy vibes!! Also all the fae characters in this novel are so colorful and lively, and they're all very heavily tied to elements and the seasons. Also ALSO!! The main relationship focuses primarily on platonic love as opposed to romantic, and is just as endearing! A perfect cozy winter/fall-time read.

Netvor: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by @rosesnwater

Both a completed novel and an in-progress webcomic available to read on Tapas and Webtoons. Again, another story where major themes center on storytelling and fairytales, but also recovering from trauma and grief! There are so, so many classic faerie vibes, and even featuring pinnacle figures from classic fae lore like the Goblin Market, and it manages to feel equal parts nostalgic and unique in its use of faerie lore!

Dandies in Danger podcast by @dandiesindanger

A table-top RPG podcast instead of a novel! It features four queer men that are dragged into a world of fae and horror, all while set against the backdrop of Regency era London. It starts as a VERY eerie fae mystery (featuring figures like Titania and Oberon), but it slowly becomes a dark, horror historical-fantasy, and it's great! Also art by the podcast's creators is so good!

So these are the recs I have to offer for now!! As always, feel free to add more recommendations!!!💛

[bendysinitiation]

(A timeline of events from an outsider’s perspective, based on @bendyredrawn ‘s very own timeline! In this world, JDS’s growth is much like Fleischer Studios, with some things from Disney.)

1919 - Drew-Stein Studios is created by Joey Drew and Henry Stein. They also release their first short, “Little Devil Darlin'“. It stars a misunderstood little imp that tries to keep a job in turning people to sin. It becomes a hit with minority groups, such as immigrants, as escapism from the riots of the time, and conservative whites of New York find it blasphemous.

1920 - “Imp from the Inkwell“ Is released. In this story, the imp, now named Bendy, gets into antics with a live action Henry Stein. The production of short comics also start, introducing an unnamed hellhound into the picture.

1922 - More cartoons and comics are made. Notably, Boris makes his entrance in “Boorish Beasts”. He is Bendy’s acquaintance and foil, being quiet and calculative, but warm-hearted.

1925 - The Bendy film “Tombstone Picnic” makes a breakthrough by becoming the first ever animated “talkie” through vitaphone. The titular character is voiced by none other than Joey himself. Drew-Stein Studios hits the top of the charts for animation in America.

1926 - Another series, Telltale Trio, is introduced into the catalogue. It is not focused on the well-known imp from hell, but instead a trio of ghastly animals haunting a small town. Drew-Stein Studios changes its name to Joey Drew Studios.

1927-1930 - Countless other comics and talkies are released. The idea of angels are also introduced to the Bendy series. JDS grows exponentially in young employees during the start of the Great Depression.

1932-1933 - One year of mostly comics. Rumors go around that JDS is buying out a new studio in the Brooklyn area to house all its new departments. Joey Drew mentions big things are coming, but keeps it a surprise.

1933 - Construction finishes on the new studio and production moves in. Several female singers, musicians, and foley artists are also hired around this time. Alice Angel is introduced: a trigger-happy messenger that’s ended up in Hell. This also marks the year of JDS’s first color film.

1934 - With the addition of the Hays code, JDS holds back on all the violence, and produces less Bendy cartoons. Strangely enough, its reputation and income is barely effected. Alice Angel becomes the darling of the show around this time.

1936 - JDS releases a feature-length on the return of Bendy. It becomes extremely popular. But at the same time an endemic of sickness spreads throughout New York for a few days. There are also reports of some theatres receiving completely corrupted canisters that have whole minutes blacked out, melting, or incomprehensible.

1937- Henry Stein leaves the company because of “creative differences”. The studio’s growth comes to a halt.

1937-1940 - Production slows on more Bendy cartoons, instead focusing on other series again. Employees start protesting for better treatment outside the studio.

1940-1943 - Employees of the studio start to go missing, along with other employees leaving in droves. All report sickness.

1944-1945 - The studio, again, advertises a new breakthrough. A few more cartoons come out, all focusing on Bendy. People near the studio report cold chills and auditory hallucinations for months upon end.

1946 - After a mass plunge into hysteria from people in the near vicinity of JDS for 3 hours, The studio goes completely silent. All people employed go missing. Many investigations are taken out under these disappearances, but all become cold cases. People that go in don’t come out. Eventually, the studio is demolished.

1963 - New animation released. Henry is told by Joey to record the old studio. Game events.

[hishighnesstheprincess]

MY HATER POST

literally made a hater post just to talk about stuff in the sonic series that I dont like ❤️ if you don't like this post then fuck you block and/or blow me. this is disorganized as fuck btw and i dont care

sonic frontiers was the best mainline sonic game in over a decade but thats really not saying much

i think tangle is kinda boring and whispangle is kinda boring by proxy. whispers cool tho

surge is the best rival sonic character since blaze and the only thing dragging her down is that sonic in the idw comics kinda sucks as a character

its great that we are getting more female characters in idw and the games but quite a lot of them are kinda boring and we still need more female villains

metal sonic is basically nothing but a jobber in idw rn and its really depressing

idw please treat the babylon rogues better, theyre goofy characters with serious storylines just like basically every other sonic character, stop making them NOTHING but a joke

lanolin is an interesting character, yall just cant handle women who are even SLIGHTLY rude to a fan favorite character

the worst part of idw is that its tied to game canon because they cant shake up the status quo too much or have character arcs for most of the main characters

rouge is ABSOLUTELY a sexualized character and always has been. learn to like a character despite the faults in how they are portrayed or shut up about it

sally was the best canon romantic partner for sonic and you cant change my mind

the second worst part of idw is the titular character himself

i dislike surg/amy because of the age difference andalso the fact that everyone wants to disregard surges character to have her be redeemed

if sega is going to keep teasing son/amy then they should just stop dancing around it and make them canon already, make the shippers happy and get the drawn out agony over with for the rest of us. also age amy up for the love of allthat is holy

also, sega should stop ship teasing ships they have no intention of making canon in general, its shitty and edges into queerbaiting when done with gay ships

the above does not apply to whispangle

idw art is overall much much MUCH better than any other sonic comic and its not even a contest

there are a lot of things i disagree with about the current state and direction of this franchise but we are in a much better place than we were even just two years ago and we should be glad for all this success

the worst parts of archie are the most atrocious things that this franchise has ever put out, in art, storytelling, basic morality, etc.

most of the popular ships in this fandom suck ass

unless sega stops rushing sonic team and actually gives some resources to them we are never going to get better than 7/10 games. corporations are not your friends and you dont have to thank them for giving you a mid product

sega should have been sued into oblivion for the literal seizure inducing state sonic colors ultimate was released in and we should never, ever let them forget it

remain skeptical about every single sonic game until release, we've had "WERE SO BACK" moments before that turned out to befalse

the edm in sonic frontiers cyberspace slaps but isnt as memorable as previous sonic soundtracks

stop ghosting sonics friends (sonic frontiers, sonic prime, sonic dream team) its kinda weird and puts way too much importance on sonic again. this is a good cast, USE THEM

sonic frontiers dlc being hard wasnt a bad thing, the jank, glitches, and lack of fairness were bad things that tarnished the experience

the games have never ever been properly translated from japanese into english and that is just an objective fact. but also dont shit on people for only having interest in the english version, you have to go WAY out of your way to get a good translation and that's on the franchise, not the fans

this franchise's "canon" has been fucked since the original classic games, trying to fix it in the sense that you can somehow make every little detail perfect is a lost cause. just pick and choose what you like

of all the characters that deserve a game to themselves blaze deserves it the most. girlie has a whole other dimension that we could explore can you IMAGINE an open world game in the sol dimension COME ON

if lots of people are criticizing something you like then you should give some consideration to the fact that they may have some points instead of just disregarding it as people being nitpicky and nasty. you dont have to listen to it but if you dont do that then you cant dismiss it out of hand either

the stories of sa1 and sa2 arent even the best stories in this franchise

06 sucks ass and no amount of "potential" means jackshit when it comes to actual quality. if we're just evaluating "potential" then congratulations everything ever made is a quality product have fun with that

its okay to games with goofier and lighthearted stories

team dark are just friends

i prefer amys hammer to the cards

let this franchise have its edge back. but also let sonic be cute. they arent mutually exclusive

keep good physics and momentum in the games for the love of god please its what this franchise was built on

sega of japan may do characterization better but the closest brushes to death that this franchise has ever had (Dreamcast, 06, Forces) were all on them as well

this might be the hottest take of all time but sonic team shares some of the blame in how a lot of sonic games turn out very bad, its not all on sega

stating that some sonic-inspired games (spark the electric jester and freedom planet) or sonic fan games (project 06) have turned out better than actual sonic games is kind of objectively correct but youre a dick if you say it just to make sonic fans feel bad about the games or themselves

if you ONLY consume sonic media you need to branch out more. for your own health please

flynn is neither the worst person to ever walk the surface of this planet or gods gift to the sonic fandom, practice some moderation in your opinions people

i think discourse is good, actually. except for when it harms people. and fictional characters do not count as people

sonic frontiers open world biomes are boring and nowhere close to most open world games, even ones from a decade ago

silver was never sonics rival

it would be nice if we could go back to having smaller games on handheld consoles coming out on a regular basis while mainline sonic games come out once every couple of years on a bigger scale and higher quality than weve been getting. and no locking games behind apple arcade PLEASE

sonic lost world isnt a terrible game or a good one. its just weird and boring

sonic riders was fun and its a travesty that it got downgraded into generic cart racing games

sonic unleashed daytime stages are the best boost stages in this entire franchise because they actually rely on quick decision making and reaction times instead of just smashing your way straight through the entire level with little to no effort

the werehog combat sucks ass and the fact that its super slow and super long and takes up like 75% of the time youre playing the game is why unleashed isnt peak. sorry

stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill stop using green hill STOP IT

a lot of fans of sonic do not understand what they are talking about and that includes me a LOT of the time

sonic himself cant just be whatever the writer wants him to be. the reason characters are characters is because they have certain character traits and you cant just change that without getting a different guy, im sorry

archiehad the worst moments but the sonic movies are the worst adaptation overall

the above will change if movie 3 kills off shadow or tom. then the worst adaptation will be underground

game sonic being a static character is cool, actually

sonic fandom is sexist as fuck and that includes the tumblr side of it

sage getting revived in a post credits scene was lame. give us more time before confirming shes alive

the sonic twitter takeovers are not canon. no, not even if you think a thing they said on it was funny

they should let female characters be naked (dont make this weird) and give the boy characters outfits sometimes

amy having a crush on sonic is totally fine but they took it WAAAAAYYYYYYYY too far at many, many points. i dont care if its funny amy threatening chris in x or intimidating cream in various games (battle, rush) was NEVER a good thing

rouges design does not need to be changed, it needs to be framed and posed in less sexual ways

rouges heroes and prime outfits sucked ngl like just from a color and design standpoint like theyre kinda ass and overcomplicated and an eyesore

if sega is gonna age the characters up they should actually go ahead and post the new ages on some official channel, dont just leave us in this horrible limbo where we have to argue with weirdos online about who youre morally okay to thirst over certain characters and whether a different voice counts as a character becoming an adult

the fact that the main official english sonic account only posts memes and advertises hilariously overpriced """"""""products"""""""" kinda sucks tbh. i have to go to other language accounts to get stuff like concept art and celebrating the anniversary of a game the released a year ago. were well past the era of laughing at sonic just for being sonic, now lets act like it

stop harrassing people involved with this series even if theyre doing an objectively bad job. thats a real person and you should care more about them than you do a fictional character

the above DOES apply to ken penders. hes a piece of shit but still a person

criticism =/= harrassment. this goes both ways

cream IS a hero thank you very much

reference to a thing you like does not equal good character writing. critically, it does not equal bad character writing either

amys not a damsel in distress and hasnt been in over 20 years. if we count characters just getting captured as being damseled then congratulations, sonic himself is a damsel in distress (Forces), apply that shit equally across both genders

ryan drummond was the best english va, but jason got the better scripts. roger is getting better and most of the work hes been given is just. bad. so i dont feel okay judging his work. but he is my least favorite

gameplay>story when it comes to the actual games, every time. if you have a good story to tell its only hampered by being in a shitty game

worst game in the series is sonic colors ultimate. say what you will about 06, forces, rise of lyric, or whatever other game. at least they werent literally physically dangerous to play

all the main female characters in the games are asskickers, they just need to be utilized more. as does every member of the supporting cast

the sonic franchise fucking needs to stop having long gone ancient civilizations. please have new ideas

this is the end of the list. go away

[luciaiscool7]

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. - Superhero Roundtable

How do structural mythology, cultural studies, and cultural history reflect the series’ world and world-building around superheroes? 

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K centers on the titular character, Saiki K, a highschool student with Superman-esque levels of psychic power. He has trademark pink hair and must wear green glasses and antennae in order to limit his powers. Saiki, as one of the only actual psychic characters in the anime, actually doesn’t want to solve problems, or help anyone with his powers, and most of the show he uses his powers to minimize attention and keep to himself. His only really widespread use of power was changing everyone in the world’s hair color to also be colorful so that he doesn’t stand out as much. In direct opposition to Saiki’s nonexistent need for attention and immense psychic power, his classmate Kaidou, has no power whatever but claims to be The Jet-Black Wings, the only person standing against The Dark Reunion, an evil organization running the world behind the scenes. This is played for satire as Kaidou loudly brags about being the Jet-Black Wings and blames every mishap on the Dark Reunion, wears red bandages on his arms to “control his power,” and a dramatic action song “Judgement Knights of Thunder” plays everytime he does anything. 

Saiki K is a comedy anime satirizing the idea of a “superhero” through Saiki K, who kind of sucks and doesn’t care that much about other people, but even in using his powers selfishly, ultimately helps the people around him. This show challenges the idea that superheroes would necessarily swing to complete good or complete evil, and makes fun of those ideas in the example of satirizing binary thinking through Kaidou’s fake enemy, The Dark Reunion. Although the show begins with Saiki K doing everything he can to avoid attention and making friends, he warms up to his classmates over the show and uses his powers for their benefit, even as he convinces himself he’s just trying to help himself. 

The origination of manga in Japan was influenced by the globalization of American comics, including superhero comics, brought during WWII. Interestingly, as members of the Axis Powers, Japan and Japanese characters were featured in American superhero comics as enemies to the nation, often depicted as racist stereotypes for wartime propaganda. On an international scale, superheroes are associated with the US, as a national export and national representation of American might and power. This can be seen in superhero anime like My Hero Academia, where All Might represents the All-American superhero figure. Shows like Saiki K and Mob Psycho 100 have superhero-like characters and themes but distance themselves from calling them that, positioning themselves as psychics rather than superheroes.

In what ways are the superheroes and their abilities informed by their racial, gender, sexual, and cultural identities? 

Saiki K definitely participates in the de-racialization of characters as Will Bridges spoke to in “The Past Tense and the Future Perfect,” which we read for Cowboy Bebop. All of the characters are assumed to be Japanese, and are very homogeneous in appearance, save Nendo, whose butt-chin and weird mohawk are played for laughs. In many ways, Saiki represents the ultimate hegemonic male character who is conventionally attractive, cishet, middle class, and extremely able bodied. The only way that Saiki represents “other” could be through his lack of romantic or sexual interest in the show, much to the chagrin of Kokomi, the self proclaimed queen of the school, who appears with a halo of light around her at all times and has caused multiple stampedes of men chasing after her. The character Kaidou, who isn’t very popular with his classmates (somewhat because he always talks about the Dark Reunion), could be acting out social rejection through his fixation on being a superhero fighting evil, above the social dynamics of highschool.

In what ways do costumes and concealing identities further separate the superheroes from normal society? How necessary is it for the superheroes to hide their true identities to successfully achieve their goals? 

For Saiki, hiding his identity is his goal. To this end, he has changed everyone’s hair in the entire world to be colorful so that he doesn’t stand out. When the school has a sports test in gym class, Saiki has to tone down his supernatural speed and strength to blend in, including teleporting a ball back when he throws it so far that it can’t be seen, and squeezing a grip strength monitor so hard that that needle goes all the way around and it looks like he has an average score. For many superheroes, putting on a costume/disguise is necessary to carry out their goals, but for Saiki, his physical appearance is connected to his supernatural abilities, and the antennae and glasses he wears serve not to express his powers or his superhero role, but rather to minimize and control them.

How do the economic, political, and social events that occurred during the series’ creation and broadcast cultivate and inform the superheroes’ decisions and actions? 

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K first appeared as one-shot manga chapters published from 2012-2011, then serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2012-2018. The anime based off of this manga was aired from 2016-2018. I think Saiki K intentionally builds off of the context of preexisting superhero media to satirize it, questioning the characterization of other characters with superpowers as good and selfless or evil and self-serving- Saiki is literally just some guy and he doesn’t feel any pressure to use his powers for anyone. The anime creates a depoliticized superhero- he isn’t connected to any hero organizations or governments, he doesn’t have any enemies. He is so depoliticized and inactive as a superhero figure that his morals swing all the way around into questionable because he is so powerful, and could solve so many problems, but only changed everyone’s hair.

How do the superheroes question themselves, each other, and their obligations and duties to the people around them? 

Saiki K as a show challenges the superhero trope of questioning their purpose, sense of self and obligation to others by making Saiki antisocial and feel pretty neutrally about everyone besides himself. He always ends up helping the people around him, even when he doesn’t mean to, often doing so because it’s the easiest way to avoid being exposed, or not taking action will negatively impact him in some way. In one episode, he watches a magician on TV being locked in a box, and when it seems like he won’t be able to escape in time, Saiki teleports onto the set to save him. He does this in order to save the magician from a deadly incident which could potentially delay the rest of the tv channel, including Saiki’s favorite mystery show that after the magic show. He does help people, but his obligation is (allegedly) to himself first.

@theuncannyprofessoro

[tothepointofinsanity]

hey #1 sayaka fan (appointed by me) . how do you come up with your compositions and stuff?? like the colors u use and just generally how ur drawings are layed out, do you have any inspiration or is it just from your brain? absolutely love them ‼️‼️‼️

Oh, hello. ^^ Firstly, thank you for graciously giving me the title of the "number 1 Sayaka fan". I can think of a few people who like her way more than me, though! Anyways. You have provided me an unfortunate opportunity to ramble incoherently about my main inspirations.

Aside from acknowledging that Gekidan Inu Curry is a titular player of how my madomagi works turn out, I very much like video games a lot, specifically the abstract, no-explanation-walking-task-simulator types. Visuals and music combined can help create an otherworldly ambience unlike any other, even more so appealing if the graphics are striking, colourful, and personalised. They sort of resemble liminal spaces, and I want those vibes in my works. It's hard to directly translate them into my own drawings.

Dull colours are very effective at being gloomy, but since I'm not good at mixing them together, I often end up sticking to bright ones instead. Whenever I draw Sayaka, I also like to imagine that I'm drawing her in a world where she is the only inhabitant wandering around in it, so that's the 'composition' part. Everything in her world is lonely and vast but ambiguous in a way that feels unintentionally hostile. Music can also affect this. Did you know loneliness can be heard too?

I mentally revisit the colours and visuals of games I have previously played and kind of rotate Sayaka around in them and see what clicks for her that day. I also like putting a bunch of 'boxes' in my drawings of her, which are panels that show something happening elsewhere entirely - they are the way they are since I struggle to blend two different scenarios of Elsewhere in the same drawing. It's meant to resemble the weird, clunky interfaces of the games I like, essentially making it a drawing with interactive mechanics that don't exist.

It is also fun to try and put as much nonsense into her surroundings as possible. Because why shouldn't you give her a bunch of different irrelevant things to look at. Most of the time, though, my backgrounds are fairly empty, since I want Sayaka to be within the frame of focus, and the only thing for others to look at. Having spontaneous close-up shots of the character's face and experimenting with that also yields interesting results. < That's a lot of words to pretend I know what I'm doing.

I do take inspiration from other artists' works as well, but I'm too reluctant/awkward to post their drawings here or mention them. There is probably a lot more that I am forgetting to mention, but this is all I can compose for now. I hope it has been satisfactory. Thank you for the ask!

[renyen808]

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The TV Show We (and Disney) Needed

Back when I was a child, I had a difficult time reading. In fact, I loathed it. I never understood why we had to read in the first place, it seemed extremely tedious to me. It had gotten so bad to the point where it became obvious that I just did not want to read. It wasn’t until my parents signed me up for this reading thing at my elementary school, where after hours, like dinner time, they would give us a book to read. I wasn’t a fan of this because why the hell would I want to be reading at 7 pm on a Wednesday night? Yes, you read that correctly, a Wednesday! The first session, they made us read a book from an author in Hawai’i. They wrote a children’s book and they made us read it, which I didn’t because it never interested me. So, the next Wednesday comes around and I just expect it to be the same. Just give me my copy of the book that I am never going to read again and I’ll call it a day. But that didn’t happen. For the first time, I actually found a book I was interested in: The Lightning Thief. 

(Credit: Goodreads)

Everything about Percy entrapped me in this mystical world of Greek Gods, monsters, and half-bloods. I was never like this before, reading page after page just to know what happens next. Along with that, since I started reading them when I was twelve, it was a great way to see myself in these different characters, feeling the triumph and betrayal throughout every twist and turn of their adventure.

I read all of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus throughout my time in school, and also watched the movies, but, while watching the movies, I was disappointed to find that it wasn’t like how I imagined it. They changed aspects of the story that didn’t need changing and in doing so, kinda destroyed the magic that made it so great. Grover was a kind hearted boy and while I like Brandon T. Jackson, I didn’t buy him as Grover. Sure he was a great friend to Percy, but he wasn’t Grover to me. Logan Lerman was the perfect Percy, just the wrong time for him. And do not get me started on Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth, she was the worst offender of the three in my opinion. Them changing every aspect of the story just made me super upset, and do not get me started on that second movie (Love you Blackjack). The point is, as a Percy Jackson fan, we needed better, we deserved it!

(Credit: Wikipedia)

During 2020, I finally got my wish when they announced that the show was greenlit. Everyone around the world rejoiced as we finally got our chance. Once that happened, everyone started to wonder about who would be casted as the titular character. Then, April 2022, Walker Scobell was announced. At this point, I haven’t watched the Adam Project or anything that he has done, but after watching it, I was stunned, I was like, ‘That’s Percy…’ Then, Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri were casted as Annabeth and Grover and the world lit on fire in the community.

(Credit: Polygon)

As a woman of color myself, not African American, but Asian, I was ecstatic to see Jeffries take on Annabeth. I’m the type of person that cares more about if they embody the soul of the character than the appearance. Daddario may have looked like Annabeth, but Jeffries IS Annabeth. There are still portions of the community that cannot wrap their head around that the beloved daughter of Athena is a different race, but I don’t care. It is especially prominent in this Facebook group (yes, I still use Facebook) I am a part of to share my love for Percy Jackson. I try to surround myself with like minded people, and sometimes, a few of the racist ones just come through.

As you can see, I loved the series. From the moment I heard Scobell’s voice, I knew the series was built with so much love. I always felt drawn to Percy, being from Hawai’i, the ocean is special to me. I always found his snark and humor relatable, since I am similar with my friends and family. I also was drawn to Annabeth with her no nonsense attitude, along with being a strong female character. Also, cannot forget Grover, the literal glue of the group. The quest would have gone completely wrong if not for him. Scobell, Jeffries, and Simhadri all played their roles to perfection. They are truly the Golden Trio come to life. 

(Credit: Town and Country Magazine)

I need to also call attention to all the different actors and actresses who played supporting roles throughout the series. Virginia Kull’s masterful performance as Sally, showing just how difficult it can be on the mortal parents of a demigod child. Glynn Turman as the perfect Chiron, showing a sense of care and concern as Percy’s mentor. Jason Mantzoukas’ performance as Mr. D is a standout, with him completely capturing what it means to be the punished director of Camp Half-Blood. Megan Mullally was an amazing Alecto, bringing a sense of fear immediately into Percy’s life. Timm Sharp played an amazing Gabe Ugliano, showcasing a different way that Gabe could be portrayed for an audience today. Adam Copeland, also known as Edge in the WWE, plays Ares, a terrifying force in the book that Copeland captures perfectly. Also want to shout out Nick Boraine, the voice of Kronos, who brings a sinister feel to the series, showing he is the big bad of this story.

(Credit: PopBuzz)

I wanted to make a separate paragraph for the last supporting character: Luke Castellan. Luke is played by Charlie Bushnell, who really sold me as a demigod feeling betrayed by the gods. Just from his acting in Episodes 2 and 8 solidified to me that this is how Luke is. Granted, the confrontation scene is not as sinister as it is in the book, I believe that the TV series did it better, where Annabeth is there in person to see the betrayal happen. I mean, that is literally her brother betraying her, I cannot imagine what she is going through. Bushnell really sold it as Luke honestly, showing he’s an upset demigod who believes the gods have turned their backs on them. He made use of his time on screen, and I cannot wait to see him in future installments as our big bad.

(Credit: IGN)

Overall, this series is what we all deserved! I understand that people are upset that it was not completely faithful to the books, and that is a valid argument, but I will say this: if you want a faithful adaptation, read the books and recreate it in your head. Nothing will ever be a perfect copy of another, not with humans around. I think instead of nitpicking the differences and inconsistencies between the two, we should embrace the changes. Embrace the fact that this was even created in the first place and be grateful for it. Embrace the fact that we have a great TV show, but god forbid they forget about the scorpion that Luke poisons Percy with. The books, movies, the TV show, they’re all interpretations of the same idea, and we all have different thoughts about the idea, that at the end of the day, at least one person will be a hater. Anyway, with millions of views each episode, I’m sure season two is coming, and with that my boy Blackjack!

[irysg005]

Whatever Happened to Dr. Rabbit

Hello, one and all. I'm IrysGundam005, and I see everything.

So, I've got a theory for you all. Thanks to the end of HW2, it seems that Vanny is still kicking around. Considering that it's implied that the Princess Quest ending is the cannon ending of Security Breach, that means that Van-Van is most likely her own rabbit free of Vanessa and working on her own terms.

However, as we know, Vanessa wasn't the only one possessed by Glitchtrap. Gregory himself has been heavily hinted to have fallen under the thrall of the golden rabbit but was freed through some means. If so, then that just begs a question.

Where the hell did Dr. Rabbit go?

After all, if Vanny is still kicking around, can't the same be said for him? One of the Tales from the Pizzaplex books implies that separate personalities like this can remain even after being separated from the original. And while apparently that was between a actual person and a split personality, it can still be applied to those possessed by AIs.

So where the hell did he run off to?

Well, I think we've been looking at him the entire time.

He is in the Daycare Attendant!

Specifically, he has latched onto the Moon. His what's causing Moon to behave so weird and aggressive.

And there are a few reasons I point to DC and Moon in particular.

1: Gregory's personal Princess Quest game, the Balloon World game, is in the Daycare Attendant's private room. Considering that we see endoskeletons that have been taken apart littering the place, this was probably another room for Gregory in the Pizzaplex while he was living there as GGY. He was using the DC to gather up endos for him to rip apart and study.

2: Moon is a predominately blue and white character with star patterns on his pants. Gregory's clothing is predominately blue and white, and what does Freddy call him? A Super"star"!

3: I've heard Moon described as a "scrunkly gremlin jester". Do you know who else that can apply to? Gregory. He is a scrunkly little gremlin, and as far as being a jester is concerned, I have come to believe that his Dr. Rabbit costume was most likely inspired by Circus Bonnie. There are a lot of reasons why.

*The color scheme of Circus Bonnie matches both Gregory and Moon. He is a predominately blue and white-character. He has two stripes on each of his ears akin to Gregory's shirt. He carries around an orange accessory like Gregory with his Faz-Watch. In this case, it's a carrot wand with a star-shaped tip. Now what has Gregory been described as? Both "The Wizard's Most Favored Apprentice" and a "Superstar". In addition, Circus Bonnie has bells attached to his ears like the Daycare Attendant have on their body. Even Circus Bonnie's purple eyes could be a subtle nod to Glitchtrap.

*The Circus Animatronics were released around the time RUIN was gearing up to be released and were supposed to have a teaser for it in RUIN itself.

*The Jester theme fits in with the medieval fantasy motif of the Princess Quest game (Vanessa the Princess, Glitchtrap the Wizard, and Gregory the Jester). Since Jesters were entertainers for the ruling monarchs, you could think of it as Gregory entertaining Glitchtrap (who is the Mimic's AI copying William Afton) by being forced to live out Glitchtrap's fantasies (i.e., the Another David theory).

*Gregory is an accurate representation of the Fool Tarot (jesters were often called "fools") and the word "gestour" to which Jester originates is a word that means either "minstrel" or "storyteller". The story GGY, which confirmed Gregory was Patient 46, was included in the same volume of the Tales from the Pizzaplex books as The Storyteller. The Storyteller was the story that introduced both the titular device (the Mimic's head uploaded into a white tiger bust and then installed in an artificial baobab tree) and the character of Edwin Murray. The one who created the Mimic in the first place. Also. The Fool Tarot is often represented by either a jester or a young man with a white animal companion.

*The Mimic in the final epilogue was last seen trapped in a Springlock Jester costume.

4: A lot of Moon's in-game collectibles are found in locations I believe are heavily associated with Gregory.

*Moon Action Figure: Is in the Build-A-Mangle Room. This is significant as I believe Gregory was taken around the time of the Curse of Dreadbear DLC timeline-wise).

*Moon Plushie: It is found in the sunken ship in the Kid's Cove section which seemed to be another living space Gregory had.

*Golden Moon Plush: It is in the Daycare Attendant's private room. Which, again, is where Gregory probably lived and is where the arcade game that kept his mind held is. *EDIT: Here's a new one for you. The Sun action figure is found in a room that is very similar to the start-up screen for The Curse of Dreadbear DLC. Not Moon, but still a DCA connection. 5: Whenever Moon is unleashed during the hourly recharges, Gregory's vision gains a blue taint. Do you know who else messes with Gregory's vision? Vanny. Considering that Gregory most likely has an occipital transponder chip in his head (which would have allowed Glitchtrap to take control over him), Vanny's mask most likely has something in it that's causing his vision to get messed up thanks to that chip. Moon is most likely doing the same as well. And why would he? Because if Dr. Rabbit is possessing him, the AI most likely added something onto Moon to cause that effect. Or Rab himself could cause it by his presence alone.

6: Moon behaves in a rather creepy and eerie fashion. In the Retro CDs, Gregory, while he was under the control of the Mimic, was said to like eerie things more than entertaining ones. Backed up further by the fact that, while Moon's plushie depicts him with one red eye and one blue eye, Moon is only ever seen with either two red eyes or (as is the case in the Princess Quest Ending for HW2) solid black eyes. The Moon action figure, which is found in the Build-A-Mangle Room, has two black eyes.

7: Moon's jumpscare is rather mild compared to everyone else. All he does is just wiggle his fingers at Gregory and leers at him. No indication that he causes him physical harm. And Gregory's vision clears up unlike with Vanny's jumpscare where the red only intensifies. Why is that? If Moon is possessed by Dr. Rabbit, then the latter is most likely trying to reunite with his host. And the blue clearing up is Dr. Rabbit regaining control over his host.

EDIT: Okay. So I decided to watch Moon's jumpscare again, and it looks like Gregory's vision doesn't clear up. However, that said, this point still applies, as the same happens with Vanny as well.

8: Moon is thus far, the only one of the new animatronics to receive a Halloween variant: Jack-O-Moon. Remember what I said about being taken around the time of the Curse of Dreadbear DLC? What was that themed around again? This also ties back into the first point: his design is inspired by the Eclipse we see in the Balloon World game. The same game housing Gregory's mind.

EDIT: Also in regards to this part. The portions of HW2 Jack-O-Moon shows up in? Glitchy and purple.

9: Tieing into Point 5, Moon is the only enemy capable of dragging Gregory out of Freddy. Chica, Roxy, and Monty won't even so much as touch Freddy even if Gregory jumps into him right in front of them. But Moon will go for Gregory inside of Freddy. This indicates that he knows Gregory is in there. Possibly because Rab would know his old host is hiding inside of Freddy. This would also explain why Vanny knows to check in there as well. She most likely worked with Rab, and thus, would know his host's hiding habits.

10: Playing off of Point 9, Moon is also the only animatronic to show outward aggression towards Freddy. Based on what we hear when Gregory is hiding inside the recharge station, it's possible that Moon outright attacked Freddy before dragging him into Parts and Services. If Rab is infecting Moon, it's possible he held some resentment over his former host and favorite animatronic teaming up against him.

11: In one of the Retro CDs, the first therapist mentions things related to the Daycare. She uses phrases such as "time out" and "troublemaker".

12: This one is a minor point, but is note worthy. Moon is typically depicted as having one of two coloration. The first is having both eyes red. The second is having one eye red, the other blue. I bring this up because at the end of HW2, he is shown with completely black eyes. The only time his shown with black eyes? His action figure. And where is the collectible of that found? In the Build-A-Mangle Room. And while his eyes are closer to amber in-game, other depicts of Gregory show his eyes being closer a dark-brown that boarders on black.

It is because of all this, that I believe that Dr. Rabbit is most likely inside of the DC and is influencing Moon. I think what happened is that one day, Moon got a little too curious for his own good and decided to play the Balloon World game, accidentally freed Gregory, and Rab jumped ship into the DC because, as a purely mechanical being, he can be taken over without the need of an occipital transponder chip. Either that, or whatever event that caused Rab to separate from Gregory most likely left him stuck in the Balloon World game, and then one day, Moon played it and he latched onto him. In either case, Moon is now under the influence of Dr. Rabbit and is effectively his new host. Which, if true, then this explains the ending to HW2 and Moon's presence as the claw that delivers Glitchtrap to Vanny.

If Rab and Vanny are both freed from Gregory and Vanessa, then the two may have decided they are sick and tired of "Daddy Glitchtrap" and have teamed up to take him out. As we see with the ending to HW2 to with Rab delivering Glitchtrap's remaining code to Vanny so she can squash him. After all. Just because Dr. Rabbit was described as the wizard's most favored apprentice, doesn't mean it's outside the realm of possibilities that he has grown bitter towards Glitchtrap/Mimic following his separation from Gregory, and has decided to stop being an apprentice and started being a wizard himself. Not helped by the fact that I imagine being stuck in a body with the Sun and Moon hasn't helped his mood.

But hey, that's just my theory. Let me know what you think. :)

EDIT: On a side note, while thinking about this theory, I realized there is a subtle bit of brilliance to a character called Dr. "Rabbit" possessing a character called "Moon".

In East Asian mythology, there is the myth about the Moon rabbit. In Chinese mythology specifically, the rabbit (known as the Jade Rabbit) is the companion of the Moon goddess Chang'e, and is constantly pounding the elixir of life for her. You wanna know what can be considered an elixir of life in FNAF? Remnant. Metal infused with emotion and memory that can grant life to both animatronics and give immortality as shown with Michael.

EDIT: I would also want to point something out. Although Dr. Rabbit is described as being "the wizard's most favored apprentice", that doesn't mean he didn't feel the scorn of Glitchtrap on occasion. Much like how Elizabeth was William's golden child but he still abused her, it's entirely possible Rab suffered under Glitchtrap as well. It's just that unlike Elizabeth, Rab had an alternative person he could side with. One who probably hated Glitchtrap just as much as he grew to. And that person is Vanny.

[overlooked-gems]

A Look At Stuff You Probably Never Heard Of: Rayman: The Animated Series

Well, with the Rayman DLC being released for Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, I feel it's rather appropriate to talk about Rayman's first foray into other media outside of video games. In fact, we'll be taking a look at his first TV show. Today, we'll be taking a look at... Rayman: The Animated Series!

Rayman: The Animated seres was a very short-lived TV series created by Ubisoft in 1999, following the success of Rayman 2, the most recent game at the time. 26 episodes were planned to release sometime in Autumn of 2000, but the series was cancelled after only 4 episodes were produced and the 5th being near compleition. With the episodes already made, they aired in France, Germany and the Netherlands from December 20th, 1999 to January 10th of the following year.

Rigatoni and his lackey, Admiral Razorbeard run a freak show; a circus comprised of weird, bizarre, and unflattering characters made to perform for the amusement of attendants while being abused and mistreated.

Within their group of performers are Lac-Man, a blue rabbit-like creature who's dim but very strong (and is the star of Rigatoni's freak show; Betina, who performs as an acrobat; Cookie, a paranoid, whiny, and dramatic mole with hypochondria (thinking he's sick or ill) but is a really good handyman and cook; Flips, a little fairy who can only speak in squeaks, but the others can understand her; and Rayman himself, the newest member of the troupe, who instantly decides to escape.

After the group escapes, Rigatoni enlists the help of Inspector Grub to track them down and return them to him. As such, the episodes are mostly minor "adventures" while trying to evade Grubs, but they also secretly live in a flat just above his house, where he lives with his wife.

Obviously, when the show was made, CGI was the big new thing, releasing around the same time as the likes of Donkey Kong Country (1997-2000), ReBoot (1994-2001), and Beast Wars: Transformers (1996-1999). So as a result, the CGI hasn't aged all that well. The TV show is also a massive departure from the games, with the only connection being that it has Rayman.

And here comes the Final Recommendation Never Let Go Of It||Get It||Hold Onto It||Try It||Consider It||Stay Away From It

The series is honestly, not that good. Granted, it's not awful or even horrible. If anything, it has its moments, but they're really nothing impressive. As I stated before, the biggest issue the show has is that it has practically nothing to do with Rayman outside of having the titular character, as well as Razorbeard, who was just downgraded to a dim-witted lackey. Although, Betina and Lac-Mac may also serve as stand-ins for Betilla and Globox, respectively, due to their similar color schemes.

Also, one of the things this series is known for is that it has Billy West voicing Rayman. There's even a meme of how Rayman says "car".

At the end of the day, this show isn't all that special. But if you want to watch it, it's there. In fact, here's a video showing the entire series in one video.

And with that, I'll see you all next month!

[violetqueenofwands]

Lyria is my favorite character in the series and I think she’s gotten a bad rep for being ‘whiny’. Lyria being powerless is kind of the entire point of her story and one of the obstacles she has to overcome.

TLDR; Lyria is both a narrative dark horse that deserves more love, the angriest lesbian in the entire solar system and quite possibly the figure the narrative has set up to be the titular Red God of book 7

I really empathized with her in Iron Gold because she is just as angry as Darrow was in Book 1 but unlike him she doesn’t have Dancer to find her or Mickey to carve her into something stronger, and everyone keeps telling her to shut up and be quiet and be grateful to the republic for “All they’ve done for her” when all they did was turn her into the embodiment of the failures and broken promises of the republic.

The interrogation scene between her and Daxo and Theodora shows this the best.

If Daxo and Theodora acknowledge that Lyria is earnestly telling the truth that means acknowledging the failures of the republic; the reds rotting in assimilation camps, the continued wealth inequality and colorism, The Red Hand executing and raping Gammas; every single point the Vox Populii make is embodied in Lyria and believing her story would be an admission of failure.

Which is why it’s such a big fucking deal that Virgina DOES apologize to her and admit that she failed her personally. It validates everything Lyria has been feeling throughout the book and shows her that she’s not as powerless as she thinks. It’s the catalyst to Lyria and Holliday then confronting Ephraim about how he manipulated her and why she ultimately chooses to forgive him as well.

This theme of unlearning learned helplessness is expanded even more in Dark Age. Lyria is put in a situation where she has to choose to …… you guessed it: LIVE FOR MORE!

Instead of events merely happening around her and Lyria reacting she becomes a not just active but proactive in her own narrative. She saves Volga. She saves Victra (more than once), she saves the red girls from being child brides and her radio signal ultimately is the spark that unites all the citizens of mars to come to her aid and stomp the Red Hand into the dirt where they belong once and for all.

And it isn’t the Parasite that made this change happen either, it’s merely a tool she’s been given. Much like the red woman that gave Atlas’s men poisoned dates she’s found that she can play on the stereotype people expect of her as “a dumb mine lass” in order to do what she has to do and save those girls.

Ultimately I think Lyria is going to be huge loaded wild card in Book 6, between her going to Oculus where multiple narratives seem to be convening, the future of her relationship with Volga, another encounter with Volsung Fa, and hopefully a reunion with her brothers and Liam.

I also firmly maintain there is textual evidence Lyria is a lesbian, including the poem The Parasite speaks (O my mountain hyacinth) being one written by freaking SAPPHO the OG lesbian.

[https-hunter]

In honor of pride month, here’s my research paper on representation within bob’s burgers. I wrote this for my history of animation class last year

Bob’s Burgers: A Powerhouse of Representation in Adult Animation

The hit Fox animated comedy, Bob’s Burgers, revolves around restaurateur Bob Belcher, his family, and the burger establishment that they run together. The family consists of titular cook Bob, eccentric wife Linda, awkward and hormonal 13-year-old Tina, boisterous 11-year-old Gene, and mischievous 9-year-old Louise. The show premiers on Sunday nights as part of Fox’s Animation Domination (AniDom) lineup, alongside The Simpsons, The Great North, Family Guy, and previously American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. The show started out with the edgy humor like that of most adult animated sitcoms, but that vibe was ultimately dropped in favor of a more healthy and realistic family dynamic. What sets this show apart from most programs in adult animation is its diversity and the representation of marginalized groups, particularly the LGBTQIA+ community.

It is no secret that representation matters in entertainment. Seeing a character with the same skin tone, sexuality, or gender identity gives the viewer the liberating and euphoric feeling of being seen. In her book entitled “Queer Representation, Visibility, and Race in American Film and Television”, author Melanie Kohnen, when discussing the concept of the closet and LGBT characters, writes “the closet can never fully screen queerness from view; a specter of queer acts and identities always remains, even in those spaces that appear to be fully saturated with heteronormativity”. By saying this, Kohnen insists that the closet can never hide the fact that a character is queer, even when surrounded by straight characters and ideals. However, sometimes, it is important for a character to come out of said closet to give queer fans that sensation of feeling visible and seen.

The start of Bob’s Burgers and its incorporation of representation began all the way back in the show’s first season. The show’s sixth episode, “Sheesh! Cab, Bob?”, revolved around Tina’s birthday party and Bob’s struggle to make extra money to pay for the party. He ends up taking up a job as a taxi driver during the night shift, where he drives and befriends numerous transgender sex workers and drunkenly invites them to the birthday party. They show up, much to the surprise of the rest of the family, but they end up saving the episode when Tina is upset that her crush, the son of Bob’s nemesis, is not allowed to attend the party. They remind her that Bob worked very hard for the party and that he cares deeply for her, which improves Tina’s mood. The episode has since been criticized as being problematic due to the use of the term “transvestite” as opposed to “transgender” when referring to the women. Their designs (seen below) can also be viewed as transphobic, particularly due to their highlighted masculine features. In addition, these characters are voiced by cisgender men, although most of them never returned to voice the characters again. However, people have to keep in mind that the episode came out in 2011, four years before the nationwide legalization of same sex marriage in the United States. The country has changed since the episode premiered, and although living as a trans individual is not easy, awareness has been spread and people are learning. Although the episode is on the problematic side, the creators listened to the criticism from fans and did not repeat their mistake, but rather improved upon them, pushing forward to become the representation powerhouse it is today.

(IMDb, 2022)

Among the openly transgender characters that appeared in the first season of the show, only one of them went on to have several appearances: Marshmallow. She is a 23-year-old transgender woman of color that frequents the titular restaurant and appears to be good friends with Bob. She is a fan favorite, known for being her true, authentic self, and has been described by Bob as someone who “comes and goes as she pleases. She answers to no one. And she's truly free.” However, even after the show improved its portrayal of trans individuals, Marshmallow still had room for improvement. In 2020, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, while people were pushing for recasting Black characters played by white actors, Marshmallow came into the spotlight (Comic Book Resources, 2020). Ever since season one, she has been voiced by David Herman, a white cisgender man who voices other characters on the show. Due to this, the character has not had a speaking role in a few years, despite being one of the most iconic characters to come out of the show. However, Marshmallow had a special moment for the transgender community in the credits sequence of the Bob’s Burgers Movie (2022), when she danced in a dress comprised of the colors of the transgender flag (seen below). Marshmallow is an icon to the trans community and has been the driving force that turned Bob’s Burgers into the transgender ally fans know it to be now.

Twitter (2022)

When it comes to representation in entertainment, the Belcher family, themselves, are at the forefront of the fight. In the season four Thanksgiving episode, “Turkey in a Can”, Bob is heavily implied to be bisexual. The plot of the episode revolves around the Thanksgiving turkey ending up in the toilet each night the week of the holiday. After several visits to the grocery store to purchase a newer, fresher turkey, the deli clerk begins to suspect that Bob is romantically interested in him, and turns him down. Bob responds by saying “I'm straight. I mean, I'm mostly straight. And I'm married. But if I wasn't… who am I kidding, you're out of my league." (Digital Spy, 2021). This is not an isolated incident, as Bob has occasionally expressed finding other men attractive and even discussing his “type”. Bisexual male representation is so few and far between, so having positive and casual representation, in the titular character, no less, is refreshing to see in television.

However, Bob is not the only queer member of the Belcher family, as his eldest teenage daughter, Tina, is canonically polyamorous. In the season three episode, “Two for Tina”, Tina gets caught in a love triangle between two boys, Josh and Jimmy Jr. When the two have a dance battle to settle who gets to date Tina, she suggests that they attempt a relationship in which she can be with both boys, suggesting that they “put the ‘try’ in ‘triangle’”. In the season nine premiere, Tina, after being called boy crazy due to falling for several boys in a single day, accepts this about herself and sings a musical number in which she dances with just about every boy she has had feelings for up to that point in the show’s run. What is so intriguing about the representation of Tina’s polyamory is that no one in the show sees this as unnatural or a negative trait; everyone just accepts it as a part of who Tina is. Tina can also be interpreted as transgender, since she was originally a boy named Daniel in the show’s concept art and initial pilot, and is voiced by male actor Dan Mintz.

Although Bob and Tina are the only confirmed members of the Belcher family to be part of the LGBTQ+ community, the other family members are also implied to be somewhere on the queer spectrum. The only Belcher son, Gene, is heavily suggested to be genderfluid, or as many fans have suggested, Gene-derfluid. He has often referred to himself as a girl and has even claimed to have a vagina. He has often dressed in drag, and in an episode where Bob asks him why he was wearing a dress, Gene passionately responds “I’m just a girl with a dream who got tired of hearing the word ‘no’!” Many fans under the transgender umbrella relate the Gene’s character and have made compilations of his implied identity, one such video being titled “Gene being a closeted trans girl for 21 minutes: Bob’s Burgers” (Youtube, 2022). No one in the family represses or stifles Gene, but instead, they encourage him to be his true self.

To top off the Belcher children trio is Louise, the youngest and most chaotic member of the family, and the nonbinary coded character of the bunch. Louise is often one to reject typical gender expectations of a nine-year-old, such as liking sleepovers, stickers, and fairy princesses in favor of knives, anime plushies, and threats. In the season twelve premiere, aired in 2021, Louise and Tina share a moment in which the younger sister asks the elder why she doesn’t like traditionally feminine things and if she is being a girl correctly. Now, Louise could simply be a tomboy and not interested in girly things, but questioning if one is being their gender properly is not a thought that typically crosses cisgender children’s minds. Whether intentional or not, all of the Belcher children come across as queer, or freely themselves, in some way, shape, or form.

While Linda is not coded or canonically queer like the rest of her family, she still plays an important role in representation within the show. She is voiced by John Roberts, a gay man, so her voice in and of itself adds a queer flair to the show. Furthermore, part of the appeal of Linda’s character is how accepting she is of her family, their many, many quirks and all. If anything, Linda is a little too supportive and goes to great lengths to show those she cares about that she has their back. The Belcher family is perhaps the most LGBTQIA+ friendly family on television, despite their show not revolving around this aspect.

Part of the beauty of representation in Bob’s Burgers is how casual it is, particularly in its minor characters. Other than Marshmallow, there are several side characters who are confirmed to be queer. A notable example is Nat Kinkle, a limousine driver and family friend to the Belchers. She is known for her eccentric personality and enthusiasm for lizards, but also the fact that she is a lesbian. In one of her appearances on the show, Nat casually mentions her ex-girlfriend, which no one questions and the episode carries on. A funny, albeit odd case of representation can be found in the raccoons Linda watches in the alley. She dubbed one the raccoon king and accordingly named him Little King Trash Mouth, claiming that he is gay and has a husband named Gary. While other shows either have no representation or make being queer the only aspect of a character, Bob’s Burgers has nearly perfected the craft of LGBTQIA+ representation in portraying it casually.

When it comes to adult animation, Bob’s Burgers goes above and beyond compared to its television counterparts. For example, Family Guy, which airs immediately after Bob’s Burgers on AniDom, is notorious for being one of the most offensive shows on television, often making unfunny jokes at the expense of others. Some of these jokes include bashes on the LGBTQIA+ community, and while it is lightening up on these jokes in the modern day, the show has not made any attempts to right its wrongs.

Bob’s Burgers circles back to several points discussed in our class as we learned about the history of animation. Firstly, the show was directly mentioned when we studied international animation, due to the fact that Bento Box Entertainment, the American studio that makes Bob’s Burgers, outsources its animation to studios in South Korea. The use of LGBTQIA+ visibility in Bob’s Burgers, like with Marshmallow, ties into the lesson on representation in animation, particularly the portion including the voice of Apu in fellow AniDom program, The Simpsons. Both characters and studios have since had their white voice actors removed from the roles in favor of listening to criticism from fans. Bob’s Burgers relates to the history of animation because of its significance as an example of how to get representation right and to own up to one’s mistakes.

Bob’s Burgers has one of the best cases of queer representation in adult animation. Most of the main cast are queer, themselves, whether in canon or through subtext, and has mastered the art of casual and organic displays of queerness. The show does an excellent job in representing the transgender community and owns up to the errors showcased in earlier episodes so that it can move on and become a better program. Every show, particularly other adult animated ones, should take a page from Bob’s Burgers’ book and learn to properly represent marginalized groups in a healthy and positive way.

Works Cited

Flint, Emma, “Bob's Burgers — Bob Belcher is actually bisexual (and always has been)”, 2021

https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a37724151/bobs-burgers-bob-belcher-bisexual-lgbtq/

IMDb, 2022

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1854660/

Kohnen, Melanie, Queer Representation, Visibility, and Race in American Film and Television, 2015.

https://docplayer.net/57154947-Queer-representation-visibility-and-race-in-american-film-and-television.html

Me0my, “Gene being a closeted trans girl for 21 minutes: Bob's Burgers”,, 2022

https://youtu.be/yot6MUwwxbE

Murphy, Z, In-Depth Analysis | The Unexpected Queerness of ‘Bob’s Burgers’: Why the Show is an Animated Ally

https://www.hollywoodinsider.com/bobs-burgers-queerness/

Piipstachio, Twitter, 2022

https://twitter.com/piipstachio/status/1542167300081864704

Ridlehoover, John, “Bob's Burgers Will Recast Show's Black Transgender Character, Marshmallow”, 2020

https://www.cbr.com/bobs-burgers-recast-black-transgender-character-marshmallow/

[balioc]

I've been asked to provide brief commentary on some specific books from my 2023 reading list, so --

Achieving Our Country: Leftist Thought in Twentieth-Century America, Richard Rorty

I was not super impressed by this one. The core thesis -- the radical theory-driven left is not particularly helpful in terms of advancing concrete leftist political goals within the American system -- is, at this point, not news. (It wasn't even really news in 1998 when the book was published.) And everything surrounding that thesis...well, it is very serious about the idea that it is Good and Helpful to develop a nationalistic-but-leftist ideological consciousness, which should raise a lot of eyebrows no matter who you are.

This book was recommended by Matt Yglesias, and it reads very much like part of the ideological grounding of someone like Matt Yglesias. Which is not a compliment. I like Yglesias, but -- ideological grounding is not his strong suit.

The Tatami Galaxy, Tomihiko Morimi

It was...fine, I guess.

There are four stories, which are theoretically all alternate-universe versions of the same events. (Not a spoiler, that fact is revealed extremely quickly.) They're all very modern-Asian-style magical surrealism. The last story is substantially the longest and substantially the best; its vision of the titular "tatami galaxy," a Borges-style labyrinth made from endless iterations of your own college dorm room, is at the very least punchy and memorable. But there's not really enough there there, and the first three stories are a slog.

The Man Who Was Thursday, G. K. Chesterton

This is fucking amazing. Probably the best book I read all year, unless that goes to the Oscar Wilde.

It's witty throughout, although it's the wit of an old stodgy conservative British guy who sneers at a lot of things, so you have to be willing to live with that. But it's also...well, ballsy is the best word I have for it. Saying that it's a "twist book" fails to do it justice. There is a twist -- but the more-relevant thing is that it sneaks around behind you and kicks you in the back of the head in a way that is mostly not about the twist, but about a much-more-fundamentally-weird thing that Chesterton is doing. The book you are reading at the end is very much not the book you thought you were reading at the beginning.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin

Mnr mnr mnr mnr. My feelings here are complicated.

On the one hand: this is a book about a small number of people with incestuously-tangled lives who make art together and in reaction to each other, who are absolutely obsessed with the art that they're making. This is a theme that has a lot of resonance for me, and, like, it gets the feel of that thing largely right. There are also other, more-idiosyncratic reasons for this book to have resonance for me.

On the other hand: it's a character-driven litfic book, and I don't love any of the characters, or even particularly like them. They are the wrong flavor of nerd, with the wrong kinds of thoughts and emotional issues. Also, it is a book about making and selling video games that...reads like it was written by someone who doesn't quite understand how video games work or how the video game market works.

On the gripping hand: it does a very good job of portraying the aspect of life experience that is "as you get older, the intense dramas of your youth don't get forgotten, but the colors kind of fade and the feelings come to seem much less important with perspective."

In particular: Near the beginning, there is a side character who is portrayed as the Absolute Fucking Unforgivable Shitbag Monster of a contemporary story told using contemporary norms. He does the kind of things that are specifically tailored to make you think this guy deserves nothing but hate, forever. The characters, to the extent that they know about him and what he's done, by and large do feel that way. And then...well, it's not like there's ever a comeuppance or a redemption or anything like that. But at the end, the feeling is much more -- well, he's this guy we know, there's a lot of awkwardness related to past pain and past wrongdoing, but even so we're something sort of like old friends and really it's mostly just water under the bridge at this point.

Which is, complicatedly, interesting.

[treblrebl]

Bones: Patterns and Precedents

Almost a year after Lucifer ended, I decided to follow the Morningstar’s advice and binge Bones. Since the Devil has great taste, B&B certainly helped to soothe the heartache left by the show’s ending and its corresponding choices. Bones introduced me to another host of interesting, complex female characters, and I amused myself heartily with the thought of the Catholic altar boy interacting with the literal biblical Devil.

(And let’s be honest, fending off Satanic overtures because there’s no way Lucifer wouldn’t be head-over-heels attracted by Seeley Booth)

Streaming an older show years after its’ last airing date reveals certain patterns and dimensions to characters which would likely not have been apparent in the show’s original episodic run. Some of the most prevalent fan takes about Brennan and Booth around 2010-2011 are quite surprising, as are the general perceptions of the titular characters. Sometimes it’s understandable – weekly episodes along with the usual season hiatuses don’t really translate well to a continuous, consistent narrative in the viewer’s mind. Other times I wonder if some of the popular takes would hold water if replicated in a current show.

With that out of the way, here are some subtle patterns which seemed to jump out at me.

Brennan’s most defining relationship pre-Booth is not Sully, but Stires.

To an objective eye, Michael Stires absolutely is a creep who took advantage of Brennan’s naivete. But he is also the quintessential brilliant young professor, a certified expert in her chosen field. To Brennan, who has always only known ostracization from her peers for her genius, he is the one person who not only appreciated, but actively honed her brilliance and talent. From the perspective of a young Brennan, he is her guide, her champion, and her coach. Her relationship with him isn’t a surprise and starts to make much more sense once we are introduced to Russ.

For the longest time, Russ was Brennan’s male role model. The older brother with his own significant social capital who had no qualms extending his metaphorical protective wing over his socially marginalised little sister. The brother whose support and protection she had absolute faith in – until the day he disappeared, shattering her heart, her trust and whatever little was left of her world in one fell swoop. It would have been devastating for any neurotypical teenager, but for Brennan it was almost catastrophic.

Is it thus any wonder that Brennan’s first serious ‘relationship’ was with an older man who was her teacher in every way, and in some ways, I’m sure acted as a protector? It was obvious that in contrast to all other subsequent relationships where Brennan pulled the trigger, it was Stires who taught her that emotions were illogical distractions and have no place in a truly efficient relationship. Brennan’s survival drive had already repressed most of her emotional centers, strong as they were, and Stires’ teachings solidified her transactional view of relationships. This stands her in good stead when Stires finally shows his true colors – she was genuinely pleased to see him again initially. His betrayal put things into perspective for her and cemented her ambivalent view on relationships.

Sully on the other hand, was very clearly only a transitory figure in Brennan’s life. By Season 2, Brennan was already infatuated with Booth. Their emotional connection is yet to reach its peak, but it is there, and the physical attraction has been smoldering from the very beginning. The Girl in the Gator takes place immediately after the final Epps episode, and Booth’s infamous ‘line’ conversation. It’s only when you watch the episodes in sequence that you realise how deeply she internalised that proclamation. It was a knee-jerk reaction by Booth, brought about by his own fears and insecurities, but Brennan had no way of knowing that. From her perspective, she wants him, but he doesn’t want her back, and that’s that.

So, what happens when Sully comes on the scene? Here’s a guy who at least on the surface has all of Booth’s best qualities. He’s also an FBI agent, charming, interesting and a genuinely good guy. He’s respectful of Brennan’s abilities. And in contrast to Booth, he is open about his interest in her. Naturally, Brennan projects all the confusing Booth feelings she doesn’t have an outlet for on Sully. He doesn’t have Booth’s formidable history with her, nor does he challenge her the way Booth does. He doesn’t have that ineffable connection – but he is deferential, kind, and good to her in the short time they were together. In the end though, he doesn’t imprint on her anywhere.

I do think Gordon Gordon had it exactly right when he said that Brennan’s inability to lead a purposeless life is what made her refuse Sully’s proposal to sail away with him. What he didn’t add was that she had already found a shared life purpose with Booth, and a connection which existed on its’ own plane, beyond any labels. Before either of them could define it as love, they both knew it was the most important connection they would ever have with another person.

(Additionally, I find the fan discourse that Sully was wrong for leaving her behind utterly hypocritical – it was clear that his dream was a long standing one, and a relationship of a few weeks, irrespective of the pull, should never come in the way of that.)

[rivuletmansion]

Mansion AU’s Cast: Part 1!

The first part of the colorful cast of the au, introduced in order of left to right!

Rivulet, The Mansion Owner (They/Them)

The titular character of the AU, Rivulet is the crazed and chaotic owner of the cursed mansion, who delights in throwing parties and causing chaos for its residents (and sometimes the people in the nearby town) on a daily basis. Armed with oddly friendly mannerisms and even odder whimsical desires to create fun, happy atmospheres for everyone in vicinity, this undead ex-assassin is sure to either brighten up your day… or make it very wacky- Often times, both! Just don’t piss them off (which is quite difficult), and you’ll prolly be fine- unless you’re not a fan of dark and gallows humor, which Riv loves to indulge in!

Artificer, The Mother of Six (She/Her)

The mansion’s first living visitor and inhabitant, Artificer is a fierce fighter in her own right who will fight tooth and nail to keep her family safe, and do whatever it takes to make them have the happiest lives they could ever ask for. Yet underneath this strong front lies a gentle, sensitive and surprisingly shy soul whose scarred heart is as big as the world she lives in… and as fragile as glass at her lowest moments. Her family’s previous poor living conditions was due to a terrible betrayal by those she once held dear- a part of her past that she hesitates to speak about, and has been trying to move on from. But maybe, just maybe, her heart has room for one more chance at love?

Saint, The Light Priestess (She/Her)

In this world, priestesses and monks also double duty as protectors of the living who are tasked with fending off threats against towns and cities- especially ones of the supernatural variety. Saint is no different, and thus was horrified when she first discovered the cursed mansion. Before she could do anything about it though, Rivulet found her and forced her on a tour similar to Arti’s first time, and made her swear to keep the mansion a secret. She eventually complied, first begrudingly and later happily, too curious about the mansion and the nature of its inhabitants to hold any ill will. She visits the mansion every weekends, not just to keep an eye on things but also to keep her eyes on Arti… who she has been developing feelings for! Now, Saint is, as you’d expect from her name and position, usually a dignified slugcat who uses her light magic prowess with grace. But she also has a surprisingly short temper (that Rivulet loves to stoke, resulting in many comical chase scenes), a childish sense of humor revolving around memes, and overall cares way too much about the state of her hair!

Spearmaster, SRS Riot Police Captain (He/Him)

Adorned with a fancy cape, the ability create to makeshift spears out of his tail and mastery over various weapons and firearms, Spearmaster is the iconic captain of the Seven Red Suns Riot Police Force (SRSRPF) and the paragon example for many police officers. Loyal and brave with a strong sense of justice, he’s an old friend of Arti who’s been trying to track her down so that he can do something about her poor living conditions. When he discovered Riv’s mansion and the fact that she lives there, he was quite suspicious about the mansion owner’s possible nefarious motives. While willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, Spear makes it a point to visit his old friend twice a month to catch up and keep an eye on things. It’s in his visits that he reveals himself to be something of a dork- someone who tries his best to look “cool” to Arti’s kids, only to falter hilariously due to his fear of ghosts and jumpscares, something that the mansion has no shortage of. Thus, he’s often the target for pranks courtesy of the mansion owner, much to his chagrin!

Survivor, The Silent Sister (She/Her)

The oldest of Arti’s children, Surv takes on the role of a quiet, kind and caring sister towards her younger siblings. Due to past trauma, she’s selectively mute and thus struggles to voice out her feelings vocally. That however doesn’t stop her from being very expressive- both in terms of facial expressions, and when writing out messages on a small whiteboard (that she always carry around) for others to read. She’s also very animated when she wants to be, using exaggeratedly dramatic gestures and body languages to get her messages across. Around people she’s comfortable around, Surv is actually quite sarcastic, with a sense of humor as dry as desert and a sharp wit that ensures no one wants to be on the receiving end of her ire!

Monk, The Sunshine (He/They)

Despite being the 3rd oldest child of Arti’s kids, Monk is nonetheless fussed over by his siblings and mother a lot, due to a mobility impairment that prevents him from walking on his own. He is also very physically fragile, and is more sensitive to pain than most, making injuries feel all the more awful for him. But this doesn’t stop him from being the most happy-go-lucky and positive child of the group, who often has to act as a mediator (alongside Surv) whenever arguments between siblings happen, and has an extremely friendly and social demeanor that makes him very likeable. Out of everyone here, he is the most tolerant of Riv’s antics, and is more or less amused by them most of the time- but he can still get annoyed if pushed too far, like being reminded of his inability to walk. He can also sass his family and especially Riv all day, if he feels like it, so don’t get on his bad side!

Hunter, The Fierce (She/Her)

The 2nd oldest sibling only behind Surv, Hunter used to help her mother forage for food using her agility and quick thinking to get out of dangerous situations. Now that she no longer has to do any of that after the family’s relocation, she has taken to instead training with practice weapons so that she can one day become a professional bounty hunter. Passionate and stubborn, she won’t let her blind left eye and PTSD regarding fire hinder her from becoming a world known fighter that’d make her family proud. Hunter doesn’t like accepting help, as it wounds her pride, but she’s willing to set her ego aside when it comes to her family and friends. She knows she has a long way to go before she can reach the top, and until then, she’ll keep on training hard- especially with her mother, Riv and Spear giving her fighting lessons!

Gourmand, The Innocent (He/Him)

The youngest and tiniest of Arti’s children, Gourm often gets fussed over just as much as Monk. He inherited his mother’s oversensitive nature, and this alongside his separation anxiety has caused him to be prone to crying a lot, though he’s been trying his best to work on that. For being as young as he is, Gourm is very smart for his age, and although the more mature stuff often eludes his childlike innocence still, he’s always eager to learn something new. He’s also quite knowledgable about cooking, and while he needs help when preparing the ingredients, he knows a lot of his family’s favorite recipes by heart and loves seeing his family enjoy a good meal personally made by him!

Marine, The Determined (They/Them)

Eager to please their family and even more eager to learn new things about weapons and firearms, Marine looks up to Spear as their idol and strives to one day become like him. Being the 2nd youngest sibling of Arti’s family also doesn’t stop Marine from trying to take on the role of a responsible sibling, which they succeed at very well for their age, and they can often be seen helping their mother and/or Surv at anything they can and with all the determination that a young child can muster... so long as they're not in the mood for causing mischief, that is. No matter what they’re doing, whether it be simple chores around the mansion, combat lessons taught by their idol or silly pranks they want to pull on their siblings and mother, Marine always give it their all. And if you think constant nightmares related to their insecurities and their lack of tail will slow them down, think again!

Wolf, The Wild (He/Him)

Out of all the kids living in the mansion, Wolf is the one who prefers the outdoors the most. His love for nature makes him very in tune with wildlife, and animals often flock to him whenever he gives them any attention. Wolf can often be seen tending to his personal little garden by himself, not just because he enjoys the activity, but also because he’s very self-conscious about his anger issues. He tries to limit his interactions with others for fear of snapping at them, though he’s been making steady improvements towards self-control and socializing more. Wolf is very protective regarding his family, and will not hesitate to direct his aggression towards anyone who wishes his loved ones harm, no matter who they are. He’s the first one of the family to openly show hostility towards Riv, back when the family had just relocated, and the mansion owner was so impressed by his guts that they’re currently tutoring Wolf on controlling his “inner beast”!

[cocoabubbelle]

Watching “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” (1969-1970 CBS) + Thoughts

Episode 24: Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Werewolf

Background/Scenery Art lovely as usual.

Dear colorists for the series, did you seriously believe werewolves have technicolor fur or were executives more interested in crooks in bright colors?

Camping episode! Also, color/design-coded tents so we know the boys sleep in the purple one with flowers and the girls use the light blue one with teal tie-dye designs (jk)

Daphne calls Shaggy and Scooby the Laurel and Hardy of their group. I wanna know who is the Laurel and who is the Hardy.

Scooby gets a pup tent of his own. Maybe. It’s a work in progress at least.

“There’s nothing I like better than food, unless it’s more food!”

Camera takes the time to focus on each character’s respective reaction of alarm upon hearing the titular werewolf’s howl.

Werewolf apparently has an invisibility cloak with holes for his eyes bc we see them not peaking out of darkness but right on top of a background of forest trees.

Ok who was in charge of the size ratio of the tents bc when we first saw them they seemed to be the height of an average man while Scooby’s was half his size but now suddenly it’s big enough to fit both him and Shaggy while the other tents are the size of huts???

It’s a good thing an artist made an effort to make Daphne place a hand on Fred’s shoulder again so I can recognize this as a Fraphne moment. (I say this both lovingly and teasingly.)

Look Shaggy you ditched Scoob earlier for food while his face was stuck in a tent; are you really going to be annoyed by him swiping your snacks?

Velma is able to tell that the footprints Scooby find that while they have the appearance of a large wolf, the repeated shapes indicate that it is a bipedal being as opposed to a quadrupedal one.

Animation Goof: Velma almost had the mother of double chins for a moment before the color of her turtleneck’s top reverted back to orange.

Graveyard! Fred think’s it’s sus that there is a fresh grave dug in such an old place. I know it is probably related to treasure hunting, but wouldn’t it be interesting if this episode’s masked menace was a murderer this time??

Fred , Velm, and Daph have no problem looking into a coffin while Shag and Scoob are more squeamish.

Silas Long doesn’t sound like a werewolf name to me, but who am I to judge?

Fred grabs Shaggy and Scoob by the shirt/tail before they run away. Shaggy carries a pair of scissors for situations like this so he can resume running. Fred just grabs them again.

“Oh-swell-it-ain’t-bad-enough-we’re-following-a-werewolf-now-it-looks-like-it’s-the-GHOST-of-a-werewolf!!” These are technically two separate sentences but the speed and delivery of these lines by the VA was so funny 😆

Also, I’d argue that it’s a zombie werewolf, since it’s leaving tracks.

SQUEE!! Frelma standing super close on one side of an old mill’s entrance, and Shaphne also standing super close on the other side with enough space dividing one ship from the other!! 🥰🥰🥰 also Scooby’s there.

Aaaand in the next scene, suddenly they’re mixed up again despite not moving (guess somebody wanted to fix the ‘mistake’ and move Daph right back to Fred’s side where Velma was and visa versa so now Velms is with Shaggy)

“We’ll split up. I’ll take the girls this wa—!” “Yeah, yeah*, I know. And Scooby and me will go the other way.” *admittedly I added a second yeah, but come on XD I couldn’t be the only one hearing Shaggy’s inner sass at Fred’s usual divisions of their group.

Scared-by-a-frightening-monster-only-to-discover-it’s-a-warped-shadow/reflection-of-a-tiny-and-harmless-creature gag

Guys. Please just turn around. He’s right there. Not even 6 feet behind you. Making loud steps. How can Scooby smell tracks but not a living, breathing stranger right next to them? I call shenanigans, writers!

…What is a stronger word for shenanigans that isn’t crossed with a curse word to describe the ridiculousness of the scenes that just followed? 😑

A tribal mask (little easter egg paying tribute to the prior episode?)

HAHAHAHA!!!! Ok I’m still annoyed by the previous scenes, but Shaggy pulling the mask and accidentally making the werewolf he and Scoob had no idea was so close to them fall through a trap door got me 🤣

Upon the trio coming across a map in a secret room, Daphne is about to correctly deduce that whoever they are looking for is a costumed criminal since ghost don’t need maps to find things when the Werewolf attacks.

Heh they all crash into each other upon reuniting.

Ah, here comes the chase scene music with singers we didn’t get last episode. Strange to admit I missed it.

Animation Goof: Shaggy’s running model is either going backwards or was flipped the wrong way.

Hey, I vaguely remember this song! At least the “Na na, na na na na” part.

There are many things ridiculous about this chase scene, but the main ones are: 1) the werewolf is only focused on chasing Shaggy and Scooby. Talk about biased; 2) Aerodynamic Trashcan Lids though honestly that is more fun than ridiculous 3) Scoob and Shag happening to fall into a convenient pile of wool.

“What do you suppose happened to Shag and Scoob after they fell on that old water wheel?” Bruh if you were watching the whole time and not doing anything as a potentially dangerous man was chasing your friend and dog—!

Not Fred-Velm-Daph and Shag-Scoob taking turns accidentally scaring and being scared by each other 😆

I kinda like Daphne’s model having her arms folded across her chest, even more so than when they are planted on her hips. The latter (and standard) pose makes her seem sassier than she actually is, while the former pose gives off her reserved nature a little more — at least in this series so far.

“I’d sure like to know how Mr. Creepy-Crawly fits in with all this.” “Yeah!” “Let’s go find him.” “Oh, why don’t I just keep quiet?” “Yeah.” Sorry boys, you’re the designated comic relief. You can’t help it.

Animation Goof: Is it me or does Fred seem significantly shorter than Shaggy in this frame??

“Come on, girls. Let’s go see where that railcar came from.” “Don’t tell me. Scoob and me go to see where it’s going, right?” C’mon Fred; try to be more creative. Shake the status quo up a bit!

*sees the shadow that is in the exact shape as the Werewolf Ghost that they’ve encountered* “Who’s that?” “And what’s he up to?”

Unless the window has been refurbished with new glass and frames, I don’t see why Fred doesn’t at least try to smash his elbow through it if it’s part of a supposedly old mill so he and the girls are no longer trapped.

Not me wondering why Shaggy and Scooby are racing the railcar during their investigation when actually they’re running away from the Werewolf ghost.

Pop Top Barge

Shaggy and Scooby begin swinging on a hook trying to escape Werewolf, and I’m trying to remember if that’s the same hook that snagged Daphne’s dress and disrupted Fred’s trap in an episode I vaguely remember watching as a child. Is this the same episode???

Either Shaggy used Ultra-Instinct to switch clothes lickety-split fast or this is an Animation Goof.

Shaggy tries to distract Werewolf by cutting his hair and Scooby filing his nails and shining his feet, when they COULD HAVE used the barber’s aprons to TIE HIM TO THE CHAIR. Also I bet the shaved look doesn’t last, though I would be pleasantly surprised if it does.

Shaved look staying so far.

“Sure would know what this thing is.” “I’d rather know how we’re gonna get out of here.” This is why I like Frelma 😁

“Dr. Livingstone and friends, I presume?”

Poor Shaggy being bullied by Frelma when they find his observations related to the railcars and pop top barge hard to believe.

“You know how Freddy and Velma are when they got a mystery to unsolve.” Even Shaggy sees Frelma. Yet most known adaptations/reboots are convinced Fraphne are meant to be. Maybe those creators ignored Shaphne content that followed later because Scrappy had joined his uncle’s adventures???

Animation Goof: it looked like the costumed creep found a replacement mask with a head of hair, but the following frames show him with the shaved head 😆

Sheep? SHEEP!

“I think I’m beginning to get the picture, right Freddy?” “Right.” So much Frelma content this episode that was probably unintentional but so welcome!

Let’s see how well this plan of Fred’s works.

Animation Goof: Daph and Velma’s models look more fuzzy/out of focus compared to Fred’s despite being right next to him.

This IS the episode where Daphne gets snagged by a hook!!!!! DARN YOU FRED THIS IS YOUR FAULT! 😂

“I’d trade almost anything for a good, fast motor right now.” “Except me?” “Right. Anything except you, pal.” Friendship Goals, anyone?

Random Purple Fish.

“I’ve got an idea!” Hon, your last one didn’t work out so well.

I’d call shenanigans over how Fred, Velma, and Daph were able to make/find a big enough net with a handle, find an area stable enough to stand on, find a strong and conveniently shaped support, and get there on time to save their friends, but Velma looks adorable hanging on the end of the handle so I’ll let it slide.

Frelma standing together again, then a bonus shot of Fred’s arm around Velma.

Werewolf ditches his commitment to the act and cries wolf for help before he plummets to his death.

Handsome Sheriff alert. Also, the “werewolf” is a sheep rustler.

Minor Shaphne standing together.

“Shucks, [the werewolf sheep rustler] didn’t scare Scoob and me for a minute.” Nope. Not at all.

Day 24 of no “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids.”

Also, I don’t know if I’ll be able to finish watching all the episodes while balancing schedules and work since I’m not the breadwinner in my family and we might not keep HBO Max. Whatever may happen, thank you to those who are having fun reading my thoughts and enduring my shenanigans as I watch Scooby Doo!