#huh Batman has 6 kids

[imma-dragon53]

I think something that a lot of batfam fics don’t take into account, especially fics where they meet the justice league, is that the kids alone could reveal Batman’s identity.

Of course Batman doesn’t want to introduce his kids to the league. If he only had one or two? Sure he’d probably eventually be ok with them meeting, lots of people in Gotham have one or two kids. But there are at minimum 6 bat kids, if you’re only counting the ones he adopted legally, though we all know that Steph is always there for the shits and giggles. The number of people in Gotham who have six kids? Specifically 5 sons and one daughter? That list is probably pretty short. It wouldn’t take a genius like Tim to link the bats to the Wayne’s, and all of their associates.

Huh dicky Wayne’s best friend is from star city. Batman’s eldest son is really close with kid flash (who also happens to have red hair)

Huh didn’t spoiler make a joke about kissing both RR and Black Bat? Didn’t two of the Wayne kids date the same girl (at different times)

Huh Damien Wayne moved to Gotham at the same time the new stabby Robin showed up.

Hey doesn’t Bruce have a cousin with red hair? Weird so does bat woman

The mere existence of Bruce’s kids could reveal not only his but all of their identities. So of course he’s going to hide their existence.

[charlotteking23]

Can I request any headcanon or Oneshot of Batmom calling the Batfamily by their names? Batmom always calls them nicknames (sweetie, babybird or somenthing), so the Battys think she's upset.

Sorry if it's written wrong or it is not understood!! My main language is not English 😓😓

sure I would love to.

NICKNAMES

Early in the morning, Batmom lies there in her bed staring at the wall. At 6 in the morning, no one was awake except for the infamous Batman sitting next to her.

"Honey, what's wrong why are you up?" To Bruce, it was very unusual to see her up early for she had a habit of sleeping till 10 in the morning.

"Nothing Bruce", and Batmom stood up from her bed and left for the bathroom.

"SHIT, SHIT! what did I do?"

that's all he could think because she NEVER called him Bruce unless she was upset at him. He thinks of all the things he had done the latest skipping a gala and lying to her about an emergency when he was really hanging out with Superman and Wonderwomen.

Batmom came out of the bathroom and left towards the kitchen. There Tim sat at the table with a huge cup of coffee in his hand. He expected a hi or hello but nothing just an awkward silence.

"Hey Mom", but she grunted and said, "hi Tim."

OH MY GOSH, Tim was in complete panic, forgetting about his coffee. She always calls me Timmy, Fuck what did he do?

Finally, Dick comes and sees Tim in complete panic. "What's wrong with you?"

All Tim does is point. To Dick's shock, he points at his mother. Dick thought nothing of it and greeted his mom and gave her a hug like every morning. But to his surprise, His mom didn't greet him back nor return the hug.

"Mama, are you okay? I am fine Dick"

What where's my nickname. Dick looks at Tim and Tim just looks completely horrified. He sees his mom leave and goes back upstairs.

"Alright, Tim fess up what did you do?" said dick. "Me this could have been easily you, Maybe Mom found out about you breaking her very expensive vase," Tim said defending himself. "Well, it's not like you are innocent, Mom probably found out that you're the one who's been finishing all her expensive French coffee," Dick said as a comeback.

"Alright Dickhead, why is mom so angry?" Jason comes walking behind him, "I have no clue she's been acting strange all morning AND SHE DIDN'T CALL ME BY MY NICKNAME," Dick says wiping his tears.

jason says, "Huh same, she usually calls me Baby Bird but she just stood there staring at me". "Maybe, Jason, she found out how you snook out to patrol even though you are grounded," Tim says. Jason says in response, probably... "WAIT how did you know about that Tim. I Know everything... you have cameras around the house don't you Tim," Dick said. "Maybe, Idk", Tim said with an evil grin.

"Okay, guys come on let's go upstairs and apologize to whatever we did," Dick said. "Fine Dickh"-, Jason said but was interrupted... AHHHHHHHHH

"what the hell! I think my eardrum exploded," said Tim

"come on guys, someone could be in trouble," Dick said. "Okay, dickhead calm down," Jason says.

"Damian what's wrong, Ummi said Damian instead of Dami. What did you idiots do this time?"

"Hold on demon spawn we didn't do anything let's ask Dad," Tim suggested.

"Dad, what's happening with mom?" Dick says

"I don't know Dick your mother has been acting weird since this morning and she even woke up early like 6 in the morning early." [GASP], Bruce answers.

"Damn, what the hell did we do?" Damian says.

"shut up demon spawn, I am trying to think," Jason continues.

"Hi, kids... MOM/UMMI!!," Batmom says out of nowhere.

"Kids, I am very disappointed in you," Batmom continues

"But mom we don't even know what we did wrong," dick said, and collectively everyone said yeah.

"Sweethearts, why is there a FUCKING COW on my lawn," Batmom yelled out.

"OHHHHHHHH, yeah Mom we all decided to get a cow," Dick answered truthfully. "Shhhhh dickhead don't get me involved," Jason says slapping Dick behind his head

"Well, I am so glad you told me what happened, so here you go," Batmom says while handing everyone a paper.

"What's this Honey?" Bruce said while taking the paper in his hand

"well, that's the list of chores and you all are grounded for a month!!!" Batmom said yelling.

"WAIT, DOES THAT MEAN I AM GROUNDED FOR TWO MONTHS STRAIGHT", Jason shouted in fear.

"No, Babybird, you all are grounded for two more months since you all exposed yourself when trying to figure out why I was upset with you guys", Batmom said with her hands on her hips.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!," Jason shouted.

[starry-bi-sky]

Snippets for my Clone^2 Au that I thought was funny...

in incorrect quotes style format (Clone^2 = Both my Clone Damian Au and Clone Bruce Danny aus combined)

Snippet 1: Danny and Damian meeting for the first time

Danny, avoiding Damian's katana: I don't wanna know who made you I don't wanna know who made you I don't wanna know who made you Danny: pleASE STOP TRYING TO STAB ME

------- Snippet 2: Danny and Damian meeting (Alternative)

Bby Damian: gets dropped off in the ONE city where his dad's clone is Danny, internally: damn I don't wanna know who made you

Danny: alright little buddy, lets -- *blocks Damian's sword* please don't stab me -- let's get you something to -- *blocks Damian's sword* please don't stab me -- something to EAT

------------- Snippet 3: Danny checking out books in the library Librarian: oh, are you trying to learn arabic, Mister Fenton?

Danny: oh- uh, yeah :) my parents recently,,, took in a foster kid from overseas,,,, but we found out he doesn't know english and he's having a hard time adjusting Danny, lying (only partially) through his teeth: so I,,, thought,,, maybe it would help him acclimate to his new environment if I learned some arabic :) Librarian: oh how sweet! let me know if you need any help, i can find you more books Danny: thank you

----------

Snippet 4: Damian wants to patrol Damian: let me come with you on patrol Danny, 16 year old idiot who fights without powers: uh. no. you are Itty Bitty Child Damian: comes with anyways

----------- Snippet 5: Damian, trying to fight a ghost without a ghost-proof sword: Danny, catching him and holding him against his chest: *radiating exhaustion* no,,,, no,,,,, not yet,,,,

-------- Snippet 6: danny has an epiphany Danny, realizing that he needs to set an example now that Damian is coming with him on patrol: fUCK Danny: I NEED AN ACTUAL SUIT ---------- Snippet 7; dynamic duo Danny: what is it with you and batman and robin???? Damian, silently sweating: ,,,,,,,because they are exemplary partners and i would like to think that us two are the same Danny, doesnt know identities: ...aww??? thats kinda sweet??? okay :)

---------- Snippet 8: hypocrite Damian: dijaal (affectionate) Danny, on day ?? of solving a cold case after a ghost asked him to: hrbhk - Damian, what are you doing up? it's late, you have school in the morning Damian, staring at him deadpan: you have school too. you should go to bed Danny: five min..utes buddy. then i'll go to bed Damian, grabbing the back of his rolling chair and pushing him to bed: no. now. danny, with eyebags the size of the marianna trench: ...fine. now.

--------- Snippet 9: ...the line Danny, doing homework with Sam and Tucker: Danny: *has an epiphany* wait. shit Tucker and Sam: ...? Danny, his head in his hands: am I Damian's dad or his brother?? Danny: wh- what do we define this??? Tucker: ... you're brothers until its funny? and then you're his dad?

----------- Snippet 10: learning Danny: reading a book about learning arabic Damian, slamming his hand down on the book to get his attention: dijaal, *points to book* kitab Danny, frowning: what? Damian, tapping book: kitab Danny: ..ki..kitab? Kitab? Book? Damian: Boog...book. *points to table* tawila --------- Snippet 11: clone reveal Damian, later after he knows enough english and months of chilling out: i am a clone.... meant to kill my original Danny, internally: wow you don't say? Danny, out loud:..huh. okay. thanks for telling me, uh, same here. except that last part

---

Dijaal = imposter Damian is affectionately calling Danny an imposter because danny is a clone of bruce :)

[toodrasticallydumb]

20 questions for fic writers

Oh! Hello! I was tagged by @pinkytoothlesso11 ! Thanks for thinking of me pinky! I’m kinda new to the whole fanfic scene so i really appreciate it! This was already a long list of questions to begin with but i fear i may have made it worse…

OH WELL HAVE FUN SPORT :}>

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Unfortunately just 2, though I do plan to add a few more in the future as ideas flow. Might take me a minute ‘cause my schedule is just a little bit kinda sorta really swamped down with my main child which requires let me you, A LOT OF CARE DONT SIGN UP TO ADOPT KIDS PEOPLE IT’S NOT—

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

Phew. ummmm it changes very rapidly (because i’m a girl w suspected adhd and can NEVER be told to shut up) with every chapter but as of this moment is 228,665! wow! i don’t really know how great of a number that is but i’m sure it’s a lot! I told you I can never shut up! (-whispers- Hey kid, u want some dRuGs? i mean- an update? That itty bitty word count is about to take another not regularly scheduled mini-skyrocket so get ready for it ehehe ;})

3. What fandoms do you write for?

For now, just Trollhunters/Tales of Arcadia, mainly Trollhunters despite the fact that the first of the Tales of Arcadia shows that i watched and really enjoyed was actually 3-Below, but oh well my man is in Trollhunters sooooo oopsie but i DO have some random snippets of fics for Miraculous (rewrite), the Star Wars sequels (rewrite), Batman, some for the Dream SMP, and weirdly enough also Raya and the Last Dragon (rewrite). All of which i prolly wont ever post because i wrote them a while ago and yeaaaahhh not my best writing but if i get enough people other than my best friend wanting me to post them, i might…

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

uhhhh i dont actually HAVE five fics to my name, so i’ll just…put em in order (w their long-ahh title names):

Trollhunter!Strickler: Destiny's Ill-fitted Chosen

'A MiStAkE' because I haven't updated in ages--A Stricklake month 2023 prompt collection

but i am so happy for the people who have left so many kudos on my work it really warms mah little heart ❤️

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes. At first, I sorta struggled with it (who the heck am i kidding i STILL do) but since my fic USED to be two times a week updates i would feel like i couldn’t respond to a comment left after i posted a new chapter so i might’ve left some comments in the earlier days unanswered, super sorry. Nowadays i make it a point to reply back to everyone in the order that they commented in because (anxiety makes me think if i don’t respond they won’t comment anymore and know that i love reading their comments and that they’re so amazing for actually taking the time to write something back AND I DO LOVE IT I PROMISE IT JUST TAKES ME A WHILE TO RESPOND—) …because it’s pretty chill to geek out w em and see they liked stuff that i loved to write! I do have a backlog of comments to get to i just end up overthinking everything to match the person’s energy to be sure they know i love em.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Unfortunately, i haven’t actually finished a fully-fledged fic to say it has the angstiest ending bUt definitely a contender would be chapter 1 of my 2023 Stricklake prompt collection because i just leave it on the sad note and don’t do anything about it because angst and because spoilers for my actual story fic that will eventually make it to that point.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Happiest ending, huh? I like to say that most of the things i will/have chosen to write end happy/hopeful because i hate when books/tv shows end bittersweetly it’s like i have enough with life itself being bittersweet most of the time let me be happy LET THEM BE HAPPY. But that doesn’t exclude me from providing the proper banquet of angst that ends in caretaking, my absolute favorite trope.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Oh heck no. I would be devastated honestly, but thankfully everyone who comments is always the sweetest and kindest people ever and really encourage me to keep going, for that i am only thankful.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No. Just no. I love romance but i am a minor, so i’ve never consumed smut nor intend to ever write it. Give me a soft romance and loving gestures, I can allude to greater happenings but not details.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I don’t, sorry. I don’t know something in me just doesn’t sit well with crossovers, for the life of me I don’t know why. Like genuinely i wish i could get into them but maybe it’s like food on a plate? i don’t like the foods touching each other so maybe the same rules apply??? yeah i’m drasticallydumb

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that i know of, no.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I don’t believe so, and if someone did they’re in for a heck of a lot of work there…

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Nope! I’d like to sometime but i have no idea how one even goes about making a co-written fic, on top of which i am a very sporadic person in terms of motivation and random ideas produced by a song i’m listening to while writing.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

Stricklake obviously is a really big contender if not the winner, the ship that brought me to AO3, writing fanfics, and tumblr. But, if i had to pick other options i’d say Eugene and Repunzel from Tangled would be one of my ogs, another might be uhhh Chris and Aviva from Wild Kratts the og of the ogs.

15. What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Chapter 3 of my stricklake 2023 prompt collection, it just has a lot of moving parts and me and my best friend are chronic procrastinators and with the month pretty far gone it might just end up sittin’ there for the foreseeable future 😞 but who knows

16. What are your writing strengths?

Phew, that’s a dozy mainly because i’m not super sure. I’d like to think one of my main strengths is descriptions and really putting you in the mind of the character, i don’t really like spelling things out and i like a little investigating to get you where u end up, u know? I like to think my writing FEELS a little more like a show on a page rather than a true book, most to blame would be my maladaptive daydreaming taking up a lot of time in my planning for my writing.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Ah. How the turn tables. I would say that my weaknesses in writing mostly consist of me going a little *too* far into detail on meaningless things or making it too convoluted for people to understand, sometimes spelling it out is better in certain scenarios and i just really need to get myself past that. Another one i would say is that i go REALLY into detail not only in a sentence/chapter sense but also a complete STORYLINE sense, i hate time skips and i shoot myself in the foot wanting to completely document every moment of everyday w a character and hence it seems like a lot of time in universe hasn’t gone by. Trying to improve and grow tho 💪

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Can’t wait to do more of it! Especially with Claire and her family (including NotEnrique) speaking spanglish w each other automatically mainly because i am hispanic and completely fluent in Spanish and live in a similar household so i just love to add a little ✨personalization✨ to my dialogue and interactions in that way. Other languages………….yeaaaahhh i’m not super good will prolly use google translate and hope.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Trollhunters, my gateway into AO3. HOWEVER. if you promise not to tell, the very first fandom i read/wanted to write a fanfic for was actually, as far as i can tell, Wordgirl. don’t ask why. don’t ask me how. it just kinda happened. But, officially, it’s Trollhunters. (maybe with a side of Warrior Cats).

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

Not hard at all! My pride and joy, my youngest baby in the grand scheme of my writing journey, Trollhunter!Strickler: Destiny's Ill-fitted Chosen! A surprise to absolutely NO ONE. It’s honestly so amazing to both write and see people read and enjoy as much as I do, he’s my little man ❤️ And doing so much rewriting and character growth and having so much written and planned for the future, it’s just my absolute fav

[thevindicativevordan]

Comics this week ?

Rent got raised, so I had to cut back on expenses again. Sorry Blade, I like you, but I like Ultimate Black Panther more and one of you had to go. Also I didn't pick up some other series I had been planning to, I'll read 'em on Hoopla. Left me without any Marvel books this week, but next week is USM baby!!!

Action Comics #1062 - This is so good! I love how Aaron is exploring the darkest extent of Bizarroism, Bizarro has been portrayed as a joke the way Metropolis talks about him in the flashbacks for so long that it's nuts to see how dangerous his backwards style thinking can actually be. Even after all the chaos he's caused, I can't help feeling sorry for Bizarro with the way everyone in Metropolis made fun of him when he came looking for help. Loved the part where the brain damaged patient and the brain surgeon switched roles in terms of who gets operated on, and Lois becomes Metropolis' premiere book burner. Shocked myself by being excited when I saw Joker go sane as a result of Bizarro's spell, been eons since I was happy to see Joker getting involved in anything. As a Superman fan, it's great to see Superman resist Bizarro's possession for days. After the SS game he needed that win.

Batman #143 - For all his flaws, Zdarksy's answer to "how can there be three Jokers?" is far more interesting and doesn't make Bruce look like an idiot compared to Johns' story. I prefer this answer and am glad it's the "canon" one. Who will be the writer bold enough to actually tell a modern story with the "clown", instead of the Alan Moore/Scott Snyder Jokers everyone always uses? Would say Waid, but even he stuck to the Moore killer Joker in World's Finest.

Green Lantern #8 - Huh wasn't expecting the UP Lanterns to channel the entire Emotional Spectrum. Take it that means the UP is behind the Power Batteries blowing up? I question Adams canonizing Razor the way he has, the show isn't canon to the comics so now we have a case where Razor's backstory is a complete mystery that we have to fill in the gaps ourselves for.

Blue Beetle #6 - Goddamnit was that Booster who teleported Jaime away? Couldn't have picked a worse time for the poor kid. Surprised they actually went through with Jaime killing him, that's sure to drive a wedge between him and the scarab.

[4-thehopeofitall]

sick day

just a little eruri ficlet since i've been sick for the past few days and i swear this helped heal me

"It was probably that brat Eren, I swear to go--" Levi breaks out in another fit of coughs.

He's been laid up in his bed for the past three days. He hasn't missed this many days at the beginning of the school year ever. He's taking it… not to well. It's about 6 pm now and Erwin has been by his side since he left Mitras High. He's in the kitchen right now, with Levi moved to the couch wrapped up in a large blanket.

"You can't guarantee that it was him, you know. You're surrounded by hundreds of kids every day."

Levi sniffles and rolls his eyes. "Yeah but he's always hanging around me in between classes asking me to buy him lunch so he doesn't have to go to the cafeteria. As if any of that fast food shit would be any better for him."

Erwin chuckles and continues to stir the pot of soup in front of him. "Is that why I saw him meeting Mikasa outside of school today with a bag of Mc Donald's for her?"

Levi throws his hands up in the air. "I've got to get him off my ass somehow!"

"I know, love. This soup is almost done, did you decide what we should watch tonight?"

Levi glances at the TV screen that's been sitting on the home screen for the past twenty minutes. "Smith, do you really expect me to have a clear enough head right now to decide what to watch?"

Erwin smiles to himself as he ladles the soup into the bowls next to him. He comes around into the living room and sets the soups on the coffee table. He carefully moves Levi's legs off the couch cushion and places them on his lap as he sits down. He grabs the bowls again and passes one to his boyfriend. "You know that you'll hate anything that I pick, you can take your time and pick something. I don't mind waiting."

Levi blows on his spoon and gently slurps the broth. He closes his eyes in contentment before he takes some more bites. Erwin watches him in amusement and rubs Levi's leg. "Did I do well? I didn't burn down the kitchen like you so adamantly thought I would."

Levi huffs in response and continues eating. Erwin smiles and grabs for the remote. He opens the Discovery Channel and starts to scroll through. "So, there are a few new documentaries that came out this week, if you're interested--"

"How about The Dark Knight?"

"Sure, love. I'll watch those documentaries after you've fallen asleep."

Levi watches as Erwin immediately leaves the app he's in and navigates to the platform to watch the Batman movie. "Huh, you really love me, don't you?"

Erwin pauses and looks at Levi. "Of course I do. Don't be ridiculous, now."

Levi sits up more and places his soup down. He rests his chin on Erwin's shoulder and sighs. "I love you too, you big nature nerd. We can watch one of those documentaries after this. I promise I'll stay awake."

Erwin looks at his boyfriend's face, tired and pale with sickness, but he can't help but want to hold him until the color returns to his cheeks. He brushes a small piece of vegetable from his lip and places a kiss on his forehead. Levi scoffs, with no real disdain behind it, and presses his nose against Erwin's neck. They watch The Dark Knight and eat their soup chatting quietly. By the time Erwin turns on the documentary about dinosaurs, Levi is snoring quietly in his lap.

[violetswritingg]

Canary Cry

Robin/Nightwing (Dick Grayson) x OFC!

Description: Her violence was silent. Until it wasn't.

"I'm fine."

"Fine is just another word for drowning."

Rating T-M (mentions of blood, child abuse, mental health, cannon situations of violence and the like. Loss of parents, hard of hearing/deaf character, poorly written fight scenes lol)

Want to read the other chapters?

Click here

13

Gotham City

August 27, 06:17 EDT

Goldfinch used the crates around her as springboards, hefting her batons over her head, newly outfitted with tasers on the ends, and tried to land a hit on Clayface. Only to be swiped out of the air with the force of a sledgehammer and slammed into a wall.

Her head snapping back and hitting the cement hard, black spots and stars exploding across her vision as she blinked hard, trying to get back up to her feet. Forgetting about screaming after trying it before and having it only result in slowing him down as he would just reform.

To say they were getting their asses handed to them was a disgusting understatement. Aqualad had made a careless play, and the plan crumbled in seconds when faced with the villain, it wasn't like their heroic leader to make stupid mistakes, and it had cost them.

Goldfinch fell as her world tilted, her head hitting the ground and knocking her out right beside her fallen teammates.

The blonde awoke to a familiar headache, groaning as hands grabbed her arms and helped her sit up.

"Take it easy GF." The blonde opened her eyes when Robin's voice sounded in front of her.

"Clayface-" Goldfinch's slightly out of focus eyes whipped around the space.

"Taken care of, don't worry."

"That's your job, I won't take it from you." Goldfinch huffed out a tired laugh, regretting it when her entire body ached. Her eyes fully taking in her surroundings and seeing the Dark Knight talking to Miss M and Kid Flash. "Why's Bats here?" He didn't usually come in person to oversee missions.

"He just had to swoop in and save us, no big." Robin said sarcastically, sitting down next to Goldfinch, leaning back against one of the many storage crates in the warehouse.

"Great," Goldfinch pinched the bridge of her nose as the pounding in her head spread across her forehead and behind her eyes. "That's just... Great."

~~*~~

MOUNT JUSTICE

August 27, 07:30 EDT

"Recongized, Robin, B-0-1. Goldfinch, B-0-4. Superboy, B-0-5. Miss Martian, B-0-6. Kid Flash, B-0-3. Artemis, B-0-8. Aqualad, B-0-2."

The computer called out through the echoey mission briefing and training room, not helping Kate's headache, that has only gotten worse. The team trudging into the cave, exhausted and covered in clay.

"I need to speak with Aqualad. The rest of you hit the showers and head home." Batman said, the team not needing much prodding to follow his orders, Kate internally hating that it was a Friday and that she had to go to school because of a history test she had in fifth. A test she hadn't studied for and would definitely fail with her current head trauma making it impossible to string together more than a handful of coherent thoughts.

"Are you still coming over after school?" Robin asked suddenly from beside Kate, the blonde flinching at the jump scare, having thought he stayed back with Aqualad and Batman.

Now was not the time to be asking her questions, evidence of that being when Robin had to ask again as she started zoning out, internally questioning what she had just been thinking about. "Kate?"

"Huh?"

"How hard did you hit your head?" Robin asked in concern, Kate just blinked and shook her head.

"Not hard, I'm f-"

"I'll lock you out of the library if you finish that sentence." Kate narrowed her eyes at the Boy Wonder.

"You wouldn't dare."

"I think I would." Robin smirked in silent laughter at how Kate crossed her arms and started pouting. "We can hangout when you don't have a broken head. Get some rest." Robin and Kate parted ways with quiet goodbyes. Robin frowning when his back was turned to the blonde.

~~*~~

STAR CITY

Starlight Prep

August 27, 08:30 PDT

Kate groaned internally, leaning her pounding head on her cool locker, "You okay?" Emily's voice startled the blonde, who let out a quiet yelp and put a hand on her chest.

"Jeez Emily, way to give someone a heart attack." Kate snapped, the bespectacled brunette contracting into herself like a scared turtle. The blonde sighed and grimaced out a smile. "Sorry, I just have a headache." Emily shyly smiled, looking up at Kate through her eyelashes.

"It's okay, I get it, I have some Aleve if you want?" Emily unzipped a pocket of her pink backpack and pulled out a travel sized container of pain relievers. "I get really bad headaches too, because of my glasses."

Kate gratefully took two, hoping it would help the pounding in her head, "Thanks, have you studied for the history test?" Kate asked, her and Emily basically having the same schedule by some stroke of luck. The short brunette nodded, her frizzy curls springing around her face. "Could I borrow your notes at lunch?"

"You can borrow them now." Emily enthusiastically gave Kate her history notebook, "It's the least I can do." Kate paused, biting her lip and playing with the sticker covered, pastel purple spiral bound in her hands.

"You don't owe me anything Emily, you know that, right?"

"I owe you a lot actually," Emily pushed up the bridge of her falling glasses, the lenses hiding what Kate suspected would be pretty brown eyes, "Ever since you started eating lunch with me and-and talking to me, people have been leaving me alone. I don't show up to school to a locker covered in sticky notes and mean words anymore.... Because you're my friend."

Kate had worked in the background to make that happen, using Ben's little crush on her to make the bullying stop, she had to promise to go to homecoming with him. But... it was worth it. Emily had taken Kate's introspective moment of silence wrongly and started to backtrack.

"I didn't mean to assume-"

"No, we are, friends." Kate smiled gently at the delicate brunette; she was fourteen but looked closer to ten. The blonde feeling some sort of protectiveness over her for whatever reason, it was a sudden change and extremely confusing but she couldn't stop herself from caring.

Emily didn't ask her about her past, or her family, their relationship consisted of recommending each other books and helping each other with homework.

It was... kind of nice.

"Cool, that's uh- that's great." Emily smiled bashfully. "I'll see you next period?" She asked tentatively. The only difference in their schedule being their first class.

"Yeah, see you in English. Thanks for the notes." Kate grinned, shaking the notebook in the air next to her head, "You're a life saver." Emily pushed a couple stray curls behind her ear and basically bounced down the hall. Kate chuckling quietly, feeling her headache start to fade.

~~*~~

"Hey! I'm home!" Kate called out upon entering Dinah's apartment. Their apartment. The blonde's stomach being filled with butterflies at that thought.

"I thought you were heading to Gotham today?" Dinah asked once Kate made her way into the kitchen, the teen starting to raid the pantry as usual.

"Nope." Kate said, popping the P and quietly cheering when she found what she was looking for. Pop tarts. God's blessing to mankind.

"How was school?" Kate looked at Dinah weird, biting into the delicious pre-packaged pastry, swallowing and going to answer when her phone rung loudly. Begging for her attention, and her attention it got.

Restricted

"I uh, I gotta take this." Kate distractedly said, quickly walking to her room and closing the door firmly. Hitting the green answer button, "Who the hell is this?" The teen snapped, mindful of how loud her voice was, met only by quiet breathing. "Stop calling, whoever the fuck you are." Kate hung up quickly and threw her phone on her bed.

Biting her thumb nail in stress as she paced, her uniform shoes squeaking in protest at the aggravated movement.

The same number had been calling her almost everyday since the first time it happened, if she didn't answer the first time, they called again. Never leaving a voicemail. At first, she had thought it was just some sick prank but as it kept happening, the more she thought it wasn't just prank calls.

Kate pushed it from her mind, getting changed into comfy clothes and heading back out into the kitchen, her phone staying in her bedroom.

"Everything okay?" Dinah asked upon Kate's re-entry, an interested, concerned look on her face.

"Yeah, it was nothing." The teen evenly dismissed, hoping that Dinah bought it.

"Okay, well, dinner tonight, as usual," Dinah paused, watching the teen in front of her carefully during what she said next, "Oliver wanted to bring Artemis...." Kate's eyes instinctively fell to Roy's chair. Artemis's chair now, she guessed.

"Right, um, I'll make sure to set an extra plate." Kate awkwardly nodded.

"You know, it's okay to feel apprehensive about her coming," Dinah gently laid a hand on Kate's, "Roy-" Kate snatched her hand away from Dinah.

"I don't want to talk about Roy." The teen snapped, starting to pull out plates and silverware, violently starting to set the table for the meal their little family would be having in less than an hour.

"I know it may be hard, but you can't bottle it up either Kate. Hey," Dinah grabbed the girl by her shoulders, "We're worried, that's all, you haven't talked about him since..." Dinah's eyes trailed over the three place settings, Roy's place left empty.

"There's nothing to talk about, he left. That's that. Changed his name and everything." Kate broke free of her mentor and guardian's grip, grabbing the last place setting from the counter, hesitating before setting it down.

"Kate-"

"What's for dinner? Italian or Chinese?" The teen bulldozed Dinah's attempt of shrink wrapping her head for the night. Going to grab her phone to call one of their usual places only to remember she had left it on her bed. "I vote Italian, cheese ravioli sounds amazing don't you think?" Kate didn't give Dinah any opportunity to answer, "I'm glad you agree, I'll go place the order." With that she made her escape.

When Oliver showed up with Artemis in tow, he could tell things were tense in the Lance household. Pulling Dinah aside in the kitchen as Artemis awkwardly tried to help Kate dish out food at the table. The fourteen year old obviously not in a very sociable mood.

"What's wrong with little bird?" Oliver asked in concern. Dinah sighed through her nose and let her eyes settle on the teenage girl as she made stilted conversation with the emerald archer's protégé. She always got like this when Artemis came for Friday dinner's, tonight was the worst it had been though.

"I tried to get her to open up about Roy earlier, after telling her Artemis was coming... It didn't go over very well." Oliver looked to Kate as well, his blue eyes filling with sympathy and pain.

Dinner was tense, Kate in a foul mood, Dinah and Oliver walking on eggshells trying to get the girl to actually engage in conversation, Artemis just watching the family drama go down slightly confused and a little worried.

"Why don't you show Artemis your room Kate?" Oliver suggested over-enthusiastically, the teen just looking at him deadpan before sighing quietly and getting up from her chair, the legs screeching against the floor.

"Come on." Kate quietly said, nodding her head in the direction of the hallway. Artemis uncomfortably getting up as well and following the younger girl.

"Cool room." Artemis said truthfully, taking in the LED string lights strung up around the ceiling and the bookcase shoved up against the far wall. Bursting at the seams with well-loved paperbacks and more vinyl records Artemis thought you could ever listen to in one lifetime. A desk and laptop in the opposite corner, right beside the door. The bed stationed in the middle of the spacious room, the medium wood headboard flush against the wall, a vintage record player sat on the nightstand beside the sage green comforter covered queen sized mattress, opposite to a wall length mirror covered closet.

Polaroids stuck to the wall by the door and over the bookshelf. There weren't many, which inadvertently called even more attention to them, and made them seem more special.

"Thanks."

Artemis walked over to the bookcase, ghosting her fingers over the faded and hard to read titles, "I'm not trying to take Roy's place." The older blonde said, looking over her shoulder at the fourteen year old as she plopped onto her bed.

"Nobody said you were." Kate said detachedly, not looking at the blonde archer, but focusing on what she was doing, tensing up when Artemis ran a finger over a polaroid of her and Roy, ice cream on the red heads nose, his expression unamused as he glared at a laughing Kate.

"You feel like I am though." Artemis called her out, not one for people's bullshit.

"Doesn't matter, I told you when we first met, it doesn't matter how I feel-" Artemis rolled her eyes.

"Of course it does," the older blonde whirled around to face Kate, "We're teammates, on the team, on this team," Artemis pointed to the door, "I'd like to think we're maybe-friends. I don't have to come to these dinners if it makes you this upset."

"I'm not- It's not you-" Kate huffed, trying to put together the words she wanted to say.

"Then what is it?" Artemis pushed.

"He's an asshole!" Kate surprised Artemis with her outburst. "I knew that, but I didn't know he was this much of a dick. I trusted him, I let him in, and he just-" Kate cut herself off, suddenly very aware of who she was with and who was probably listening in.

"He left, and I'm sure that sucked," Artemis harshly started, earning a glare from the girl on the bed, "But you can't just sit on the hurt, you either let it consume you or you push past it and move on. You sink or you swim. It's up to you and only you. But don't take it out on the people that are still around. All that does is make you as big of an asshole as he is." Kate's glare softened as she took in Artemis's words, her eyes falling on the polaroid's of her and Roy on the wall in front of her.

The older teen sighed and sat down next to Kate, their eyes meeting when Kate cautiously looked up at Artemis. "Sorry." The blonde archer just shrugged, "I don't mind having you come to dinner. It's actually... kind of nice, to not have an empty, glaring reminder right across from me, you know?"

Artemis smirked, "So, what you're saying is.... You actually like having me around?" the teen gasped in fake shock, "Oh my gosh! Next thing you know we're going to be painting each other's nails and braiding each other's hair and gossiping about how in love you are with- oof."

Kate elbowed the older blonde, knocking her back onto the bed.

"Not. Another. Word." Artemis laughed at Kate's tomato red face, the little bird pursing her lips and puffing up her cheeks.

"I don't hear a denial." Artemis playfully jabbed, earning an eye roll from the younger girl.

"Shut up." Kate grumbled, right before two loud dings went off at the same time. The teens sobering and sharing a look.

Kate rushed to grab her suit and gear, all of it placed in a black duffle under her bed. Her and Artemis quickly exited the apartment, the briefest of goodbyes being thrown over their shoulders.

They zeta-ed to the cave and got changed. Meeting up with their teammates in the mission room, Batman and Aqualad standing before them with a holo-screen behind them.

"The Watchtower detected an immense power surge in the Bialyian dessert..."

~~*~~

[dolphs-world]

March 30th ~ "Sequel Gripes"

I really liked "Toy Story 4". Despite the dumbing-down of Buzz, the lack of the original toys, the shoving aside of Bonnie's toys from 3, the lack of Jessie, and that one scene where the toys are driving the RV and Bonnie's parents are like "huh? what's happening? huh?". Stupid. But other than that, I really loved the film. I thought it was better than the original! So I was surprised to find out a lot of fans online don't like the movie. In fact, I found someone who made a 6 hr long video about why it sucked (which is a bit egregious, it's "The Phenomenology of Spirit" or "Ulysses", you know? most complaints, criticisms, praises, annotations should not be longer than what they are interacting with) claiming that it was the worst movie they ever saw! What?! The worst?! And then I found a video of theirs listing the worst movies they've seen. Most of them were children movies, which is a little worrying, but also sequels or adaptations. This got me reflecting on the worse movies I've seen. Most of them are original works but there a view that fall in the category listed above: "Muppets Wizard of Oz", "The Last Airbender", "Son of the Mask", and "Batman & Robin". Now, there were other sequels there but they were part of franchises I already found bad. Three of these movies, whilst I think fail as sequels are also just movies that give you a migraine. But "The Last Airbender" is an already dull movie with poor performances and poor action but is made worse by the knowledge that it's an adaptation of a very good piece of fiction.

I think for a lot of people, the worse movies they saw were ones that ruined or at least tampered with already beloved pieces of work but I mind myself of the mindset that "the original is still there". I get when something is really bad, like what fans have said about the remixed music in FF7 Remake, that it can ruin the original but none of the movies I've listed I think ruin the original. I can separate the tail end from the body. (side note: I understand it's very different for something long form and builds in anticipation, like Game of Thrones or Dexter, but that's typically saved for television because of how connected it is. Movies need to work on their own until a franchise can be made, except for specific circumstances)

I didn't mean to preamble for so long because my next point is somewhat short. I don't really get the vitriol that "Megamind 2: the show" is getting. I understand that the original is beloved, I love it too, and is more complex than it may seem. I think Schaffrillas' video on it is his best as it's his best use of analysis and actually peels back the layers of the film. And I understand that this new movie/show breaks the setup of the original. But just don't interact with it? Dreamworks has made tons of weaker shows based on their IPs, tons of kids films got TV shows. "Lilo and Stitch" and "All Dogs go to Heaven" come to mind. And I hated the "How to Train your Dragon" shows as a child. (hell, I still only like the first movie) Not every kids show is good, most of them aren't, and not every kids show can be enjoyed by all ages in the way that "Avatar" or "Spongebob". I get that this has struck a nerve because of how special the original film is but does "Why Megamind 2 is a Cinematic Disaster" need to exist, Schaff? No. Bad children's shows don't really need to be analysed, not if they're not harmful, which I doubt this is. If you want something like this to go away, ignore it. Giving attention and watching it is going to keep it around.

It's bad, move on.

♪ ~ Work It! - Warioland 4 ♪ ~ CAPTAIN FALCON - F-Zero GX/AX (which I just picked up today!)

[mischief-lies-and-stories]

Reacting to Animated Marvel Shows 6/?

Again, no context for this show. Spoilers for Superhero Squad 1x20 (though on IMDb it's 1x07 so it might be mixed up on Disney+).

I'm afraid of what cliched writing I'm about to get myself into.

Hey, hey, Marvel? Would it kill ya to give us an animated Loki that isn't, or at least doesn't stay, the villain? Just once?

Here comes my boi!

That is a disturbing uhh post-modern industrial take on Cthulu?

THE FUCK IS M.O.D.O.K'S VOICE???

THAT'S STITCH!!!

Oh shit Loki's a little one in this

I mean, they're all kinda chibi-ish, but my boi is YOUNG

FUCK OFF, creature from the black lagoon, only Loki gets to make that stupid pun

I take issue with "wicked" and I take issue with "half-brother". It's "anti-heroic adopted sibling," M.O.D.O.K.

Oh my god, we're going Batman rogues gallery levels of nonstop shitty name-related puns, huh?

Also god I hate the voice this actor is doing for him but it is pretty camp, so I guess it's accurate in that respect.

Whoa Loki flirting with Doom is a very bold choice [please I want to see this in the MCU please]

Characterization? On point. Fight skills? Horrendous. No magic, whatsoever. Voice? Makes me want to chew glass. Like Kronk coming off of helium while starting a sugar rush. Laughter? I'm gonna hit him as hard as I can and I will not resent the consequences, it's so fucking grating. Who is this voice actor and why did they think it was good casting?? At least he has green eyes this time.

Why does he have one of those handheld devices from Cyberchase???

Why is Falcon fighting over a ball with a kid? Sam, it's a game and Reptil is like 15.

Hulk spit it out oh my god

Ironman's like "All right time to stage an unprompted invasion. You know, like how heroes famously always do?" Tony, please stop violating the Geneva Convention

And then Hulk recreated the story of John Henry

Hey guys, where's Loki? He's kinda the whole reason that I'm here. Not that Tony starting a war isn't fascinating and very original...

Tony is warmongering and horny

Tony, you literally watched Thor jump onto her horse and hug her immediately. I'm gonna guess she's not single.

Falcon I am begging you to grow up

Heimdall stop with the Lord of the Rings references

Heimdall is also a voice I recognize. Hang on. Well I was on IMDb for like 10 minutes because the man was in a lot of video games (which is not helpful because I only play Animal Crossing), but the only thing I recognized was that he played Santa/Jolnir in Frost Fight.

Wolverine's voice is so funny!

Fandral! Volstagg!

It has taken me an embarrassingly long time (15 min in) to realize that while Travis Willingham does not voice Thor in this show (I looked that up immediately), he does voice Hulk.

Noooo Volstagg!

Thor: This is your fault. Dad asked me to stop you.

Loki: Yeah, he always loved you best.

Loki, I'm with you, usually, but that's not the point right now. You're leading a fucking coup, you don't exactly get to play the "Daddy's choosing sides" card here.

He's got a point, Thor. It is coming off the "Thor is a baby" schoolyard taunts, but he's not wrong about the inaccurate Elizabethan English.

"Take it back!" Take what back, Thor? That you talk like a middle schooler playing dnd for the first time? He's making an observation, and frankly, the shit I've said about your jargon is ruder than what he did.

Most accurate representation of sibling squabbles, but y'all aren't twelve

I'm SQUAWKING! Never have I been so excited over a typo before.

Doom watching TV Guide is the best joke in this episode

Ruh Roh

[westofwonder]

DC Comics Sept. 2023 Solicitations initial thoughts

Okay, wanted to do one of these again - y’know - for fun.

I’m excited for the Batman & Robin book mostly because I want there to be a Batman & Robin book! Di Meo on art is the clincher. Williamson keeps attaching himself to good artists. It’ll look good to say the least.

Birds of Prey is going to be an uphill situation; if it tries to be “funny” I’m gonna have to cut it loose earlier. But I want a book with Dinah and I want a book with Barda. I like Cass. Thought Zealot was gonna be my hard sell. The Harley of it all isn’t easy, but I’d be lying if I didn’t see how that would work. I wouldn’t do it, but then I’m not a professional writer. Hopeful.

I have to finish BB: Graduation Day to even consider the BB ongoing. I’m at a wishy-washy opinion. Jaime being a college kid makes me feel so old.

Nothing wrong with the ideas of the new Flash ongoing, but Spurrier hasn’t really sold me on previous stuff he’s done. Deodato on art is intriguing to say the least. Might trade-wait at the very least. It’ll depend dot dot dot.

I haven’t been enjoying the back ups to GL, so GL: War Journal is a pass.

I’m dropping Catwoman after Knight Terrors; I’m not really interested in Gotham War.

Why is there a Penguin ongoing? #Rhetorical

Whatever keeps happening in the Brave and the Bold title I am not a fan of it. Would be fun if this book took a direction out of World’s Finest book. More books should be like World’s Finest.* *Subject to change.

Are people sleeping on TEC? I don’t know - one person I know says it’s really good and that’s it. Most Bat-readers are not talking about it. Could just be me.

Stuff keeps happening in the Nightwing book I see.

The Harley solicitations are still doing that, huh? SKIP!

Ivy has Rogues now?

Had anyone else been given the Wonder Woman title, I most likely have been on board. King is a lazy, overrated writer. That is all. I should be for finally having a writer focus more on the lasso and less of turning Wondy into “Warrior Woman,” but still: KING! Pass!

.The Power Girl ongoing is happening? I thought that was a joke! No thank you!

Fire and Ice miniseries will be fun.

Hoping the Sinestro stuff ramps up in GL.

Shazam still looks fun. Haha, “Grexit”

Titans still feels like Taylor at his worst. No thank you!

Cyborg is still an “of 6″ miniseries so I think I’ll ride that wave out.

Melnikov better just be a guest artist! No offense!

Action still seems fine - so that’s good.

Parallax Hal! EEEEEEE! Did GA switch to ongoing?

I think Hawkgirl will be fun and fine. No big worries there. Would love a Hawkman book though again that doesn’t get lanced by a stupid event.

Has anybody been paying close attention to the Man of Tomorrow? Do people remember the Robins book?

Steelworks still sounds good.

Never been a modern Doom Patrol fan - sorry.

Already have a Perez Wondy #1 Facsimile edition, DC!

The Donna focus Tales of Titans issue has me curious - TO SAY THE LEAST.

I don’t have room for more black label books!

Don’t read Fables; don’t read White Knight

And not collected edition for Wondy except Evolution. Oh well

Stuff will get added, stay on the list, dropped from the list, and ignored completely. Not a bad September tbh.

Could be fun. It’ll be fun to see which books don’t feel at all changed after Knight Terrors - but I feel like completely stopping the line for two months is for that purpose and that purpose alone. It’s like that sometimes.

[axolotlsauce]

Game awards trailer reactions

Kinda didn’t expect a death stranding 2 tbh Was that... the backstory for the weird baby from the first game? alright IS THAT A METAL GEAR????? no it’s a big fucking hovercraft EVIL GUITAR PERSON??????? what the fuck is death stranding about

Okay I don’t like that there are title cards for all the trailers. I would’ve been taken by surprise to see a new armoured core game.  dude I fucking love rubicon mango juice.  anyway this game looks fucking awesome (in terms of explosions and cool looking robots) i’m just wondering if it’s gonna be a soulslike? I have no idea what the old armoured core games played like so. It’s a numbered entry in the series so i’d guess it’s going to be in-line with previous games? Anyway no gameplay shown so I can’t really get hyped.

I already saw the hades 2 trailer and GOD can I NOT WAIT 

Okay so this is a suicide squad game but it’s made by Rocksteady so basically it’s going to be an Arkham game FUCKING CAPTAIN BOOMERANG anyway I like the concept of having the justice league be the antagonists Oh batman’s evil an shit now kay HAHA HE SAID THE LINE FROM THE MOVIE that is not a batman voice I do not know who kevin is Skeptical about this game but hopefully it’ll be good, No Gameplay Shown™ 

I do not care about tekken. I do not know what tekken is about. I have no idea what is happening in this trailer. What nice graphics. Points for showing some fucking gameplay (even though nobody was wondering what tekken gameplay looks like)

NEW STAR WARS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (remembers EA makes star wars games) okay my expectations are now curbed I think the title implies that this is a sequel to fallen order? oh yeah there’s the guy from the first game Oh fuck yeah this game looks EPIC Did he have a beard this entire trailer and I’m only now noticing BATTLE DROIDS?? BOOOOO KYLO REN SABER BOOOO LAME ASS PIECE OF SHIT LIGHTSABER DESIGN BOOOOO why is there a cheering sound effect at the end anyway YEAH THAT LOOKS COOL

The new final fantasy game is revealed to feature childhood trauma! no wait nevermind the kid’s dead Yeah that certainly is a new final fantasy game Nice to see they’re continuing with the action-rpg formula Are you fuckers HEARING this music? (no you’re not this is a textpost) THIS IS A BANGER GOOD BOI CONFIRMED okay I’ll be real with you I’ve only ever played final fantasy 1 on the gameboy advance I do not have enough investment in this series to be excited

I have no fuckign clue what judas is about but I want to play bioshock now

Diablo 4 opening with the feet shot I’m skeptical of activision-blizzard to make this game not a diabolical cashgrab oh and no gameplay. obviously

“From the creators of celeste” sent me from zero interest to 1000000 interest immidiately It looks like earthblade is gonna be celeste platforming but with combat in a metroidvania world? I am going to lose it

warhammer 40k, the series I know only for being the origin of the term “grimdark” Warhammer space marine, the game I know only as a game that exists I’m not gonna care im sorry

oh hey they’re making a dune game I literally watched dune and I still don’t know what dune is about anyway it’s an MMO which means I instantly Do Not Care and will never play it

Never heard of remnant before. cool enemy designs I guess WOW! GAMEPLAY SHOWN! WHAT A CONCEPT! AND IT LOOKS COOL!

Haven’t I heard of lords of the fallen before? YUP it’s a sequel to a 2014 game WHY would you make the only change in your title a “the” people are gonna think this is a remake I guess if Fromsoft isn’t gonna make dark souls someone has to

Bayonetta prequel huh [joke] What’s the point of a bayonetta game where she isn’t sexy??? More of a spin-off I guess since that is not bayonetta gameplay Why did no one tell me that bayonetta was briish

New destiny 2 bullshit can’t wait for the IHE video  WAIT SONY OWNS DESTINY 2 NOW??

New street fighter game. Looks like a street fighter game. Where’s mega man zero 5 capcom I actually hope street fighter 6 is really bad because I have a specific gag written that requires a third sixth capcom game to be bad

I DON’T CARE ABOUT HELLBOY

Dead cells DLC! THe animation is so cute!!! CASTLEVANIA CANON??? WHAT IS A MANNNNN

(the crash trailer wasn’t even fucking in this compilation but I sought it out) Anyway it looks bad.

MY TAKEAWAY FROM THESE TRAILERS AS A WHOLE

is really that I just want to play all the games that the games they revealed are sequels to tbh. Also HADES 2!!!!!!!!

At least the PS5 is finally getting some games

[robbed-ghost]

“Batman is a billionaire that puts on a fur suit and beats up mentally ill people—” no wrong incorrect, Bruce Wayne is a billionaire that gives mentally ill people jobs and the resources to turn their lives around with the help they need in order to not have to resort to a life of crime. He also puts on a fur suit and beats up rapists and murderers. Hope this helps! Get well soon.

[bougenvilleeaa]

Wholesome Batsiblings Moments in Nightwing #86

spoiler alert (duh)

1. Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin digging through rubble under the impression that the Batgirls (Steph and Cass) were in the building when it collapsed.

We don't get very many iconic Batsibling moments in canon, so this is a refreshing sight to see.

It really shows how much they care about each other. The way they're panicking and refusing to give up although they know that it's probably a lost cause to hope for Batgirls' survival. They absolutely refuse to accept the high possibility of losing members of their precious family.

This family has been through so much pain and loss over the years, most of them have experienced loss even before they were part of this family. But that doesn't mean they ever got used to it, just because they know and accept that it comes with the job doesn't mean they'll ever get used to the shock and grief of the probability of losing a family member.

Dick's internal monologue is absolutely heartbreaking, he thought he'd lost his sisters and he was in absolute denial. He even states that he knows its hopeless, but he refused to accept it, refused to believe that he had just lost the girls he grew to love.

As heartwrenching and sad this scene is, it also potrays how much they all care about each other perfectly.

2. Reunited with the Batgirls.

We hardly ever get to see many Dick x Steph wholesome sibling moments, so it's nice to see them sharing a hug for once.

They're so happy and relieved to see that Steph and Cass are okay. Tim and Cass have always been such good siblings and it's nice to see that fact being acknowledged by the way the hug, he looks genuinely happy to be hugging Cass.

It really feels like a happy family reunion.

3. Teasing the older siblings.

This has got to be one of the most accurate older sibling x younger siblings moments I've seen in the main canon of DC.

Tim has been stuck in between Dick and Babs' awkward (re)discovery of their relationship since issue #80 so he's probably ecstatic he can bug them about it freely now that they've finally kissed.

The best part is Steph and Cass joining in on the teasing when Tim told them about it, it's such a younger sibling thing to do.

Steph's giddy face, as if she's been waiting a long time for them to finally get to it. It's all so adorable.

Dick trying to be rational and prove a point, but Tim is having none of it and just continues poking fun at his older brother.

"I don't know what you find romantic." Look at that smug face, he knows what he's doing.

Babs, being the older sister she is, is obviously exasperated by their behaviour, yet she indulges Cass anyway when asked if it was a good kiss.

Playful banter among the Batsiblings truly make my heart a little warmer, they're so cute.

4. Kicking ass together.

I always love when they show larger panels with all of the present Batfam members (Urban Legends #6, Robin #5, Truth & Justice #16 - #18, etc.)

They always show how well they work together, the solidarity between siblings, the mutual understanding of each other's fighting stance, it's like they're harmonized even without realising it.

Batman must be proud to know that all his kids get along so well.

5. Nightwing putting Batgirl on a pedestal.

Dick knows his sister is a badass. And he isn't afraid to admit that she's the best fighter out of all of them.

Cass has been one of the most overlooked member of the Batfamily, most of the Batfam posts we see on Tumblr are usually about Batman and the Robins. I'm glad that people are starting to take more notice on the Batgirls, and in this case, Cass.

She has an interesting background, she was trained by David Cain and Batman, her mother is Lady Shiva. What's not to love about her?

By the way, Cass, your Batman is really showing in that panel, with your brooding stance and all. You really are his daughter huh.

Anyway, that's all I got for y'all today. Thanks for reading, and be sure to keep up to date with Nightwing!

[autistic-damian-wayne]

I found an article about Chuck Dixon's (he wrote a big chunk of Tim's Robin solo) opinion on Tim being queer and it's... a lot

Link to the full article

(Warning for homophobia, pedophilia.)

“Robin is an iconic character. He’s been around forever. I’m not surprised by what happened because this is what they do. It’s disappointing more than anything else.”

He continued, “Because why couldn’t they just create a new character instead of leaning into a question that’s existed for the Robin character almost since his creation thanks to this gentleman, Frederick Wertham, who introduced the idea that there may be some sort of homosexual subtext to Batman and Robin and now they’ve basically confirmed.”

I. Did he really just bring Wertham into this??? The man who caused the creation of the Comics Code Authority because he thought comics were corrupting the youth??

Robin being queer doesn't mean there's anything between him and Batman, a man who's historically been portrayed as a father/mentor figure to the various Robins. Jesus Christ.

“For what reason, I have no understanding. It’s a cynical marketing ploy because it brings attention to the title. What it will not bring to the title is increased sales because these things never work that way,” Dixon asserted.

*looks at UL #6 selling out and getting a reprint* Sure.

He then posited, “There have been gay characters in American comics since the 80s. It’s not a new thing. It’s not stunning or brave. It’s just changing things for the sake of changing them. I mean what’s next? Hal Jordan is a cannibal? What are they going to do next?”

This man really just compared a character coming out to being a cannibal huh

Dixon then explained how he predominantly wrote romantic stories rather than sexual stories, “And for my money and when I was writing comics, and I was writing under the Comic Code, none of my characters were ever sexually active. Now, I wrote plenty of scenes where there was a clinch and a fade out and you could assume that the characters went on to you know do the deed. But I left that up to the reader. You could believe that or you could not."

Dixon then argued, “But by introducing the idea that a character is gay or bisexual, you are introducing the sexual aspects of it. You are saying the word and I just don’t think it has a place. I know kids don’t really read these things anymore and they’re written for adults, but it just seems like a weird way to go. In a medium filled with characters who run around in masks, and capes, and boots, it just seems to approach the fetishistic to explore their sexuality in any way. Even just to hint at it.”

I have no words. A teen pregnancy arc doesn't bring in sexual aspects, but a character being queer does??

“Which I imagine is what this comic is doing. It’s simply hinting at what might happen in between the panels or in between issues. So I don’t see any point to it,” he stated.

“No, I’m not disgusted. I’m not angry. I don’t own these characters they can do what they want with them, but it is just…It’s boring at the end of the day. It’s just boring and a little disappointing,” the creator of Bane concluded.

Absolute clownery

[alonetogether]

Hey :) I’m really new to DC, and I was wondering if you had any comic recs? I just started World’s Finest and I LOVE it. I saw your blog and thought I’d ask (especially after reading your shipping preferences/dislikes and Star Trek posts lol). I have a good bit of background with the bat clan because my friend has been into DC since she was a kid.

lmfaooo yeah i really make it clear i do not like b*tjokes from the get go, huh? but yes for sure i can give some recs for specifically superbat content (so glad youve picked up the new worlds finest series starting its already so so good for superbat and as a whole ughghgfdh)

literally just read as much of the superman/batman run as you can but especially the first arc which iirc are issues 1 - 6 from volume one (public enemies) like if you see this style you know youre in for a fucking treat

also batman/superman issue 15 snow fight, they have a sweet scene in there

batman/superman new52 issue 29 (if you know you know why)

but the superman/batman or the batman/superman volumes are easy to suggest, cause well. its in the name (also yes s/b and b/s are different arcs and comics completely)

so, superman and batman vs alien and predator, i know the names amusing, but its good for superbat (care-filled) bickering

the dark knight 3 master race (as much as it pains me to say it, iykyk) just dont read the first 2, they suck and this one does too but the superbat in it? dear lord look at this shit

justice league volume 4 issue 52 is an amazing superbat issue

superman issue 76 from the 50's (or the recreated scene from superman/batman annual 1 though the issues really off colour 00's writing) is their meetcute and there was only one bed moment, no joke

and in general, older issues like the worlds finest like theyre campy and very old-school but theyre besties always in those lol

also dont be afraid and let anyone tell you to only read comics and go consume them in media that isnt comics cause it rly does give the best moments, like the movie adaption of public enemies and the world's finest 1998 movie also highly recommend the dceu movies (bvs and zsjl, i mean, gestures to my pinned post, i love them) but id say get to know them more before you go into those movies

uhh hope this is satisfactory?? lmfaooo

[spirits-reviews]

Rise of the Blue Beetle!

Review+Summary

Batman: The Brave and the Bold (season 1, episode 1)

Let’s start with the opener for the episode.

The first voice line spoken in the entire season (and series as a whole) is said by Clock King. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, as he’ll be a reoccurring villain in the series. Though it’s an odd choice to open with an originally Green Arrow villain instead of a stereotypical Batman one like the Joker.

However, this makes more sense when we pan down to Arrow and Batman in a trap together. Both look mildly inconvenienced by this. Naturally they escape the trap while bickering. However Batman has a little mental monologue? Narration for the audience? Which goes as follows;

‘Sure, Green Arrow and I have our squabbles... but that’s because we go way back. As competitive as we are, the truth is we make each other better. And though I’d never tell this to his face... there’s no one else I’d rather have at my side in a tight jam than him.’

Straight away we know that this version of Batman isn’t a loner and actually cares deeply about his friends. Actually wanting to work with them over just working with them out of necessity. 

And freeze frame into the intro. So far we know that Batman is friends with Green Arrow and Clock King is a villain in this universe. Not a bad opener for a kids show.

Speaking of the intro, part of it shows heroes in single colours. The order is as follows;

Etrigan the Demon

B'Wana Beast

Doctor Fate

Deadman

Fire

Red Tornado

Guy Gardner

Plastic Man

Bronze Tiger

Blue Beetle

Kamandi

Jonah Hex

All of these characters are seen in about 6 seconds and the expectation is that we’ll see them at some point in the season. (I won’t list the intro again unless it changes.)

And from the intro we go straight to posters that I can only assume are meant to be Easter eggs for future episodes. From what I remember about watching the series as a kid, it seems likely. Either that or being a superhero doesn’t pay the bills so they all sell merch in this universe. 

Back to the plot though. We’re introduced to 2 teens talking about a hypothetical situation with Batman and Superman. Then they switch channels to the news, showing that Batman and Green Arrow are stopping Clock King. Once he’s defeated, we finally learn the names of the teens.

Paco (right) and Jaime (left). Jaime asks if Paco could ever see him as a hero up on a poster and Paco’s response is pretend to scan him, ‘detecting high levels of geek.’ Jaime is obviously hurt by this, but brushes it off as him just having to sleep. Personally I feel like Paco was kinda a jerk here, but moving on.

Batman shows up and when Jaime expresses sadness at his friend not believing he could be a hero states;

‘Secret-identity thing’s a bummer, huh?’

First off Batman just said bummer. Second, he just sympathised with Jaime rather than just being there to get him for the mission. This small bit of acknowledgement sets up Batman as more of a mentoring figure, instead of just a boss-like one.

Blue Beetle!

Oh and I should also mention that there’s a meteoroid heading straight towards a space station. On the way out of the atmosphere the pair have this conversation;

Blue Beetle: This is like a dream come true. Partners with Batman.

Batman: We’re not partners. Not yet at least.

Blue Beetle: I know. You teach. I learn.

Batman (inner thoughts): I’m here to learn something too. I could’ve asked Green Lantern to help me with this mission. But I wanna find out if Jaime has what it takes to be a hero.

Once again setting Batman up as more of a mentor.

Also Batman’s regular suit can just allow him to go to space. I guess this is a kids show and and understandably follows these rules.

Anyway, Jaime loses control of the suit. Batman asks if this happens often and we get a flashback to him trying to get a cat out of a tree. The suit clearly takes control in the flashback but Jaime says no to it happening often. 

The suit opens a portal to another planet and both heroes go through it. Obviously the meteorite has not been dealt with. Where are the other heroes who can fix this? I refuse to believe that all of them are busy.  

So there’s these little alien blob creatures getting attacked and abducted by these guys. One alien tries to fight back but is wounded. I assume this one will be important as they’re a different colour to the rest.

These two are awfully calm given that they’re lost on another planet with currently no way home. They get surrounded by the aliens and look at that, I was right, the one that’s a completely different colour is indeed important.

This one states that the ‘great one’ has once again returned to save their people. Beetle assumes that they mean Batman, but Batman looks at a statue of an alternate Beetle while saying that they’re not talking about him. Jaime is understandably shocked.

We then learn that Kanjar Ro is the name of their attacker and he wants to harvest their bodies for fuel. Kids shows in the 2000s did not mess around. There is mention of a previous encounter where the last Blue Beetle faced a gamma gong. All shudder before referring to their people as ‘Gibble.’

I will be referring to this character as P Gibble (short for Purple Gibble) unless a different name is given.

‘All hail the blue one!’

Jaime is being very polite despite having no idea what’s going on. Batman points out that it’s probably the scarab. He backpedals on saying the last host could’ve been killed after he realised that he scared Jaime.

‘Sidekick... why do you not bow?’

While Jaime tries to explain that Batman is the bigger hero, Batman just goes with it.

Playing the part of the sidekick and even bowing to Beetle.

Beetle doesn’t like this. Thinking the plan is bad given that he can’t even work his suit fully and doesn’t think he can save them.

A child handing him a drawing makes him change his mind. Speaking of which, why does the paper look the same as earth’s? Are there the equivalent of earth trees on this planet? It looked completely made of rocks earlier.

Batman realises that the Gibbles will be needed if they are to win this fight. Beetle manages to convince them with some minor encouragement from Batman.

I would also like to point out the closing statement;

Blue Beetle: ...and, um, you know, better to die on your feet... than live on your knees.

Batman: They don’t have knees.

This got a decent laugh out of me I must admit.

And the attack begins.

Then we get to see what Kanjar Ro is doing to the Gibble people. I have to point out that what looks like a pile of Gibble corpses is actually a pile of still alive Gibbles. They’re screaming in pain so we know that they’re alive. Thanks writers. This isn’t horrifying in the least.

From that we swiftly move onto the fight. The Gibbles go to find their kidnapped friends and Kanjar Ro initiates a fight with Jaime believing him to be the original Beetle he fought.

Jaime blasts Kanjar Ro into a console. The latter yanks a blaster off one of his men and just starts firing. He almost blasts Batman but Jaime defends him. Earning a ‘way to go kid’ from Batman.

From here we get some nice stylised action shots as Kanjar Ro is seemingly defeated. However while they’re celebrating it is revealed that Kanjar Ro is still in the fight.

Jaime lets the victory go to his head, giving the Gibbles a hypothetical situation between him and Kanjar Ro. Similar to the one he gave Paco at the start of the main plot.

An explosion in the ship’s deck reveals Kanjar Ro. Batman says he should take the lead but Jaime brushes him off to rush in. 

This leads to him getting struck down by the gamma gong that was mentioned earlier. Black Beetle in young justice was also defeated with the same tactic, though there was no gong used.

Everyone is defeated. Jaime is taken by Kanjar Ro while Batman and the Gibbles are left as bait for... giant space squid leeches? That’s the best description I’ve got. Honestly. 

I mean look at these things. What else could I describe them as? The most concerning thing here is that someone will want to smash these things. I know.

Anyway, Batman gets an arm free and punches the leech things. P Gibble wishes that they could find the power within that Blue Beetle spoke of. Batman responds by pluging a cable into them which makes them super-charged. Making P Gibble realize the power within.

Cut back to Kanjar Ro throwing water on Jaime. Given in the next shot he’s hitting the gong to try and vibrate the scarab off his back, I can only assume Jaime passed out from the pain and was woken back up with water.

Batman gets dropped off by the Gibbles. Takes out the guards and then hits Kanjar Ro into the gong which causes the scarab to jump off Jaime’s back. The gong is then bashed into his head by Kanjar Ro.

Kanjar Ro puts on the scarab and begins to fight Batman. Meanwhile, Jaime reflects on his arrogance and spits on a lever to escape. Picking up the gong on his way out.

Using the gong, Jaime removes the scarab from Kanjar Ro. He recovers it as Kanjar Ro reaches for a blaster on his calf. P Gibble blasts him twice before he can do anything.

The episode ends with the Gibbles thanking both heroes before they return in time to stop the meteoroid. With Batman’s final words being;

Batman (internally): Of course, that’s just a fancy way of saying “That’s weird.” But half the things I encounter on this job make no sense. Take this mission. I wanted to see if the kid had hero potential. Instead, I got to see him become one.

Batman: Ready, partner?

This ends the episode on a good note. Jaime finally gets to be Batman’s partner like he wanted to be at the start.

Overall I’d rate this episode a solid 8/10