#i think the only thing of his i read and liked is ultimate spider-man. tho i can't remember why i didn't finish this

[bobbinalong]

i just cannot stand the way bendis writes. if 40% of the page is covered in speech bubbles, maybe cut down the fucking dialogue, dear god

[emailsquid]

ok spiderman p5 au thing that infests my brain is coming out

mostly based on ultimate spiderman and spiderverse since those are the 2 im super familiar with.

akira is spider-man obviously. after getting sent to tokyo because of the normal p5 reasons he gets bitten by a radioactive spider and gets the normal spider powers (proportional strength, spider sense, heightened agility), with the addition of being able to get a better read on people's thought process (i dont think spiders can actually do this but i wanted to reference the personas in some way) and induce a low level of delusion in other people, making them more likely to tell the truth with a spider toxin thing. you know the deal i can make shit up. hes initially unwilling to be spider-man until stuff really gets bad with kamoshida, and then is only willing to do it whilst disguised to avoid fucking up his criminal record even more. loves actually being spiderman tho.

sojiro is almost unchanged except stuff with wakaba is different but hes still gruff but comes to love akira in more or less the same way as in p5. hates when theres supervillain fights outside his cafe (oops)

ryuji learn's akira's secret immediately and encourages him to be a hero, partly bc he thinks its cool, partly because he thinks he has a responsibility to use his powers for justice of some kind, partly to get back at kamoshida for being a massive piece of shit. he stays akira's best friend throughout his time in tokyo and almost has his side.

ann is 2nd to learn akira's secret and also encourages him to fight kamoshida (im getting to him btw). She designs the suit as well and makes it with akira. she also wants akira to be a hero but is much more cautious and worried about things than ryuji

i have no idea what to do with morgana but im thinking hes gonna be another superhero, idk what tho. probably like a shapeshifter or something? more thought is required.

Kamoshidas like. a superhero who double times as a teacher, still an abusive shitbag but now hes like publically worshipped. hes akiras first big fight after akira spreads the truth about him with calling cards and gets him to admit to his crimes publically, at which point he has to run away in shame. partly i based him on kamoshidaman (although i dont actually know anything abt pq2 im just assuming) and also mysterio in far from home.

shiho is basically the same except ill bring her back into the story later for something. havent planned that far ahead. she will date ann tho.

most other characters i only have vague ideas for, such as makoto having an alive father (nothing bad could happen to a police captain father in a spider man story surely) and futaba developing tech for akira. its the only way i can think to get him webslingers tbh. for akechi i have something cooking as well but im writing a fic for this so i kinda dont wanna spoil that bc i think its cool. im trying my best to be accurate to the characters personalities ut akira will probably be more quippy than usual bc it just feels wrong for any spider man not to quip. so yeah. other than that i think he maps onto spider man pretty well tbh, hes got the public hate campaign, the saviour complex, the sense of justice, hes stylish and hes got a social life going on to manage at the same time. haru also has some specific stuff i wanna do with her.

also this is a marvel like au so other superheros exist but its an americacentric phenomenon however the phoenix ranger feathermen are real. idk what ill do with them but they are bc it felt wrong to only have like 2 superheros. there might be others too. idk. maybe its more of ust a superhero au with specific marvel ideas. wahtever.

if i had the time and skill to do art for this id love to do it in the style of the original p5 intro with limited colours other than red and black to white spectrum. it would look cool and set it apart visually. also it would look a bit like the guy she was intereted in which i love visually so yeah.

anyway yea this is a pretty specific crossover so cant wait for no-one to care but yea ill update this with more later

[mekatrio]

ok i will update this as time passes but anyways this is MYYYY list of miles morales issues that i actually like <3 will list them in (kinda) chronological order rn but as i add on issues that i read later i.. will not do that. ❤️ also im not listing down issues exclusively from his runs, im listing down any comic shit with miles in them that i like. yay! (but theyre all miles morales focused)

- Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (2011) #5 this is the last issue of miles' origins arc! while i enjoy his spider-verse origins more, im actually OK with his original origins. tho i am not a fan of SHIELD butting in like, at all….. like straight up telling him that his uncle is the prowler? giving him his iconic SUIT? lame as hell.. but whatever! anyways i picked this issue from this arc specifically bc i think miles holding nick fury's hand is the cutest thing ever

- Spider-Men I (2012) this entire arc is great and imo the best miles storyline that bendis ever wrote for him. i dunno why its so good when it has the same amount of pages as every standard comic (17-19 pages). like not just the story and dialogue is good, but this is the best sequencing work ive seen from pichelli (the artist). this is kinda mean but nothing that bendis and pichelli put out for miles after this arc is as good as this LOL, like look how well these pages flow!

also it was peter's and miles' meeting in this arc that inspired the chaotic meeting between peter b and miles in ITSV 😊

- Spider-Man (2016) #10 its so sad that the only run thats titled 'Spider-Man' for miles morales, and not 'Miles Morales: Spider-Man' or 'Ultimate Spider-Man' or Whatever is written by bendis.. and is like. probably his worst run of miles yet but WHATEVER!! but yeah i havent properly sat down and read this run (as opposed to skimming it which is what i did) bc its just like. lame storyline after lame storyline... but this is the one good issue to come out of it. and out of Civil War II, which is the event this issue is having a crossover with.

quick summary of civil war ii: theres some dude who can allegedly see the future and is predicting that the superheroes will betray each other, and now the superheroes are split up against whether to believe these predictions and lock themselves up before these predictions come to fruition, or whether they should just chill tf out and ignore this guy. yeah. its... whatever. miles doesnt do much so i Dont Really Care. he does get a focus tho when the future-seeing-dude foresees that he will kill captain america! awesome!!!

not awesome for miles tho bc bendis-written miles is kinda lame but whatever. but anyways this issue deals with the aftermath of miles being accused of being a killer in his future, and how it deeply affected him, considering his family's criminal history. he has a supportive group of friends too that are there to comfort him so yeah! this is a really neat, touching, and heart-wretching issue.

- Spider-Man (2016) Annual #1 ok i said i hate miles' 2016 run but i actually really like the annual issue for it! its not written by bendis so maybe thats why lol. also ill be commenting on the first story of the annual not the second one. like i like the second one too but thats just ganke and miles fucking around in driving school.

so anyways this issue is kindaaa retconned.. like it was kinda? supposed to be miles' new origin for his immigration to 616 except.... no writer ever used this issue again, ever, so like.. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ the storyline is OK but what i really like abt this issue is two things:

1.) i really like that miles and uncle aaron's relationship is explored further here. like ill always love the exploration between these two bc i have prowler brain disease like you know this i know this im deep in the prowlerverse. whatever. but yeah i just really love the nuance in their relationship, i love that aaron is a product of his environment and is just looking out for miles the best he can. im not gonna analyze him too crazily rn so ill just let these panels speak for themselves:

and 2.) i really love that miles holds his ground and defends his existence in the last few speech bubbles. especially important in the context that this is his first run in 616, so he really has to affirm that he's earned his place alongside the already existing spider-man. miles is spider-man too and hes here to stay you son of a bitch!

(also its funny that he says he isnt an avenger when he becomes an avenger like a year or 2 later. lmfao. he also gets a What If? issue where he becomes captain bitchmerica and thor so... LOL?)

- Generations: Miles Morales Spider-Man & Peter Parker Spider-Man (2017) get a load of that fucking title. anyways this is an anthology, meaning it fits fucking nowhere in continuity and is just here for you to get your kicks in, hell yeah. its some fanfic-esque plot where miles morales gets transported to the past where peter parker is only on his like, 2nd or 3rd year of being spider-man. how does miles get back to the present? who fucking knows! dont worry about it.

whats striking about this comic is that miles isnt meeting some more modern adaptation of peter parker, hes very much meeting the peter parker that was published in the comics from the 60s. the same moody, grouchy, beaten-up-by-life peter parker from the 60s that revolutionized comics. even the art style of this comic reflects this.

its a very introspective and intimate comic. no big fights. just miles morales meeting the actual first spider-man. despite the ending rubbing me the wrong way at first, i eventually warmed up to it. at first i had thought it was saying something like "only peter parker is the true spider-man", but as i thought about it some more, i realized what it was saying was this: spider-man will always distinctly belong to peter parker, and to the writers and artists who established his early and iconic premise and storyline. this does not mean that spider-man does not belong to miles morales, but it means there is always a threshold for miles to reach for, and that isnt necessarily a bad thing. it is a legacy being shared with miles, and it is an amazing one.

(and its one that hes steadily living up to, in his own way ❤️)

- Marvel 1001 (2019) this is literally a one page special in a book of one page specials so ill just post the whole thing here! its just kamala and miles being cute and pranking each other 😊 and its by the artist of the champions, whom art style i love!

- Champions (2016) #25, #26, #27

shadow spider suit is here..... what else is there to say!

- Ironheart (2019) #6 kinda a continuation of the champions weirdworld arc that i just listed, bc it focuses on miles and riri who were paired together in that arc. i think the character dynamics between them are great, theyre both pretty introverted heroes but riri is more confrontational while miles is more withdrawn. it makes for a very interesting duo, and i wish they were paired up more often </3

cute little issue where these two are cute together, and also some pretty ominous commentary on the whole 'miles is not originally from this dimension' thing. like it gets handwaved away but miles was literally kept in captivity for like, 2 months without even being aware of it, and the reason for his captivity is bc he's from another universe that he doesnt even always remember. some dark shit honestly.. i love it!

- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2019) #4 such a silly slice of life issue. miles and his friends skip school and its so cute and silly and its so!! fun!! its got an A plot where miles is skipping school with his friend while still running into spider-man troubles, and its got a B plot, where jonah j jameson has reincarnated into a spongebob-looking vice principal and is trying to catch miles and gang skipping school. this dual page spread is possibly my favorite from ahmeds entire run:

it reminds me of the tt2003 comics where they had a bunch of chibis on the margins, i love it so much!

- Free Comic Book Day 2019 Spider-Man just a oneshot for free comic book day, so its not tied to any on-going arcs whatsoever which is great! set in 616 so u got both peter and miles just chilling.

despite this hysterical first page that i love so so much, its a very chill and introspective issue, that reflects on nostalgia. its a sweet and solid issue!

- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2019) #12 & #13 BILLIE IS BORN!!!! CONGRATULATIONS AND APPLAUSE!!!!

but besides the blessed introduction of the beloved billie, i really love the interactions between miles and aaron in these two issues. aaron reluctantly re-enters a life of crime to pay off a debt he acquired after saving miles, and miles reluctantly has to stop him from committing said crime. neither of them want to fight each other, ESPECIALLY since rio is about to give birth, but they both have to do what they have to do.

(i wanted to post a pics of their dilemma at first but this makes me laugh too much so im putting this here instead)

its a very great two issues, that explores miles' complex family situation really well and with a lot of nuance. and now that ive read bendis' original prowler run, i can see how this mini-arc has several callbacks to that. where bendis' prowler run ended with death (uncle aaron's), this arc concludes with new life (billie's). which i think is beautiful :') i prefer ahmed's take on uncle aaron a lot more than bendis', bc miles having a living and supportive family has always been the strongest aspect of his character imo.

- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2019) #15 the leadup to this, issue #14, is not that bad either honestly! but the only parts i really like from it are the fact that it leads up to this issue #15, and that theres some dialogue from miles where he kinda recalls bits of earth-1610. so anyways regarding this issue.... i really like how honorable the spongebob vice principal is. he endangers himself to defends his students, and those students includes spider-man!! (he learns of miles' secret identity in this issue)

hes just a really cool character. my only complaint is that i wished ahmed dragged this on a bit longer, with more instances of spongebob vice principal trying to catch miles skipping class, so that when he does eventually protect miles and his identity, it wouldve felt much more impactful. but this is just a little nitpick, and i still love this issue ^_^ its DAMN good!

- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2019) #24 this issue is the calm before the storm (clone saga).. but who gaf about that! this issue is just miles and kamala doing fuck all, and its just really sweet and cute.

a very well-needed breather of an issue, except for the part where miles gets to express his RAGE!!!!! also i love this artist's work sm (carmen carnero). their work is my favorite artstyle for this run!

- Marvel's Voice: Comunidades (2021) probably my most favorite miles story ever ❤️ talking about the last issue of this volume, not the one in the middle.

anyways, i love everything about this story. i love how proud miles is of his culture. i love this beautiful artstyle with strong dynamic lines and warm tones for the colors. and the commentary about diaspora from black panther is so touching. i love that he tells miles that no matter the distance, you will always be the same people your ancestors were. nothing can take that away from you, and we will always be family in that regard.

and i love how much he loves billie, and how he loves that they will come from the same worlds. these panels might be my favorite miles morales panels ever.. this issue warms my heart and makes it aches in the best possible way ❤️❤️

- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2019) #42 saladin ahmed's farewell to miles morales and honestly what a way to go out! wow!! despite not being the biggest fan of his run, i really love this issue!! :D

it neatly wraps up the various elements that he bought to miles morales' mythos for the past 3 years, and in such a creative way. i adoreeee the tarot idea in this issue. and i LOVE that (i think) all the previous artists who worked on this run came back to illustrate different sections of this issue, with different artists illustrating a different tarot card.

sean the bully is here. spongebob vice principal is here. shift the clone is here. kenneth the non-binary fashion designer kid actually designs something that slays for once!

tiana is here! billie is here! hell even the rhino is here again, and the irrelevant villain from the first arc! miles with a living and supportive uncle, proud parents, and a loving friend group are here! i may not agree with all of ahmed's writing choices, but he did not slack when it came to expanding miles' cast <3 its a beautiful and perfect way for ahmed to sign off from a series :D

oh!! and one of my biggest complaints with ahmed's run is how he kept piling trauma after trauma onto miles, but never really gave him time to sit down and cathartically process or acknowledge them (unless it was done in the insane evil clone of miles turns into a dictator in an alternate future arc which i still havent read). but he finally does in this final issue, where it makes him strong enough to beat the villain from this series first arc, but this time without the help of captain bitchmerica!

not the most ideal acknowledgement of his trauma by my standards, but honestly thats ok. bc miles' next writer, cody ziglar, picks up the torch and makes sure miles is Breaking The Fuck Down and acknowledges all this trauma, baby!

- Miles Morales: Spider-Man (2022) #1, #2, #3, #4, & #5 basically the entire Trial By Spider arc. i love this arc. i love this new villain, raneem rasheed, and i love how shes actually related to miles' lottery backstory! cannot believe it took 10+ years for that aspect of his character to be explored, but better late than never ig. the artwork for this is also phenomenal, tho theres some sequencing aspects that are a bit hard to make out, but its very minor. i love the coloring very much.

i already posted quite a bit about raneem, but i really love her character. i love her ruthlessness, rage, and grief. and i cant wait to see her again 💜

- Marvel's Voices: Spider-Verse (2023) both miles stories in this book are pretty good, but im gonna talk abt my favorite of the two, which is 'Training Day' by cody ziglar, which has this world famous panel here:

(i love how miles is the exact opposite of his movie counterpart LOL)

its basically miles' story from comunidades.... 2! what more can i say. i love babies and i love (GOOD) social commentary!!

^im too tired to ramble (again) about how much i love this dialogue. like look at that.... self-awareness in a superhero comic <3

- Miles Morales & Moon Girl (2022)

such a cute comic! moon girl is such a cute and precocious character... really not much to say here LOL its short, snappy, and sweet!

[love-peterparker]

In Extremis || Peter Parker x Reader

Summary: After the reveal of Spider-Man’s secret identity and the release of Quentin Beck’s murder video, there isn’t a lot going right for Peter Parker. But he has you. 

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Warnings: Cursing, protests and rallies, mentions of murder, a gun that is never shot, and some hair description for Y/N for plot purposes (but it should still be generic enough).  

Word Count: 2.3k

A/N: I’m first a Captain America and Agent Carter fan, and I wanted to recreate what makes their relationship so special, but with Peter and Y/N… ‘cuz I also love Peter Parker. I really loved writing this, and I hope you enjoy it.

Also, thanks to @marvelouspeterparker, @sinisterspidey (she actually has a blurb called I’ll Follow You and it builds off of Spider-Man’s identity reveal) and @stuckonspidey for answering my anon asks for general writing tips and Peter’s character. And @spideyspeaches with her kind words after reading one of the final drafts of this fic. Lastly, a special thanks to @peterbenjiparker encouraging me with this fic and for making me so emotional with her series Invisible String (Read this!... but only if your heart can take it) that I needed to write something. This story has nothing to do with it, but it does make some small generic references to her fic, and I would like to think that Y/N and Peter are soulmates in this story.

***

This takes place in a universe where a FFH-esque identity reveal happens when Y/N and Peter are young adults.

***

This fucking city didn’t deserve him.

Peter rarely admits it, but you say it all the time. When you hit a dead end in the Avenger’s database. When checking for your gun before leaving another safehouse. When reaching for him in the dark of night.

This fucking city didn’t deserve him.

It had been over a year since Peter’s identity as Spider-Man was revealed and the dubious video of Quentin Beck’s murder was released. But it felt like a lifetime.

These two Peter problems were like ivy. They rooted, twisted, and spread. Winding into chokeholds around their victims.

But heroes knew how to play with fire.

Peter’s identity was dealt with in a straightforward fashion. Plenty villains who would do anything to exact revenge on Spider-Man, but they would have to find Peter Parker and identify his loved ones first. And for someone like Peter? Well, it was going to take some time.

To you, Peter was lifegiving. A shining ray of golden hope. You fell to sleep and rose to press kisses into his face. To cherish and hold. To share tears. But to the world, or even New York City? He was a nobody, one who couldn’t even hold a steady job.

You all worked fast while the wicked played catch-up. The Avengers searched and wiped all, but ultimately little personal information Peter had on the internet, as well anything that might connect him to your shared inner circle. Everyone was given an Avenger’s signal watch. And both you and May opted to move as a precaution. May to Brooklyn. You to Avenger’s Tower.

The case of Quentin Beck’s murder was a much more grinding process. Through polished superhero reputations, the lawyers secured an Avenger’s Tower house arrest during court proceedings. An overwhelming amount of evidence in Peter’s favor was gathered. Press conferences were held. Speeches were given. And when it all seemed like it was too much for too long, you and Peter would lie in bed, arms and legs entangled, whispering that everything would turn out all right. Good will win. You just had to keep going.

It was taxing, but not impossible. And just when you all thought you were pulling at the end of the thread with the jury in your favor, the ground beneath you crumbles into nothingness. You spiral and crash into a labyrinth, lush and high-walled. Maybe this was the way out- oh wait, you’ve been here- or have you? You all turn and turn only to face a new dead end. A new set of incriminating videos were released. Spider-Man’s videos took the spotlight, but videos of Wanda and Bucky were also revealed. The streets of New York bustled in whispers.

Can we really trust these heroes? What if these videos are the truth?

And what happens when these powerful people think they are right when they are wrong?

When public protests against Earth’s heroes sprouted and jury members started to disappear, it was clear that the whoever or whatever was behind this had greater motives and powerful allies. It was time to buy time.

Everyone had tried to convince Peter to go into hiding somewhere else. Anywhere else. He had enough super-friends where anywhere was possible. Lay low while everyone else above ground scrambled to unweave this massive web of lies. But Peter was infuriatingly adamant that New York, regardless of her wavering loyalties, was his to protect.

So two months ago, he started bouncing around New York City, investigating when he could, and making polarizing headlines with every swing he took.

You tried to continue as if Peter was still by your side. After being terminated from your junior journalist job for “suspect ties to Spider-Man,” Spider-Man became your mission. You originally attended press conferences and rallies as moral support, but after Peter’s first awkward mumbles of a speech, it was painfully clear that he needed a new voice. The public herself needed a normal person who interacted with superheroes. Who better than Spider-Man’s girlfriend? But after the last kidnapping attempt and the Avengers’ numbers shrinking, it was clear that this wouldn’t last. The world now knew who you were too.

The thick ivy had caught up, and you were on fire.

But to hell with it because there was no universe where you would be leaving this nightmare without him. So the next time you looked in the mirror, you donned short red hair and heavy eyeliner.  

Days were spent questioning possible witnesses. Nights were spent in the light of a computer. And when you could barely drag yourself to continue, moments were spent staring at your beautiful boy’s picture. He needed you.  

You had only heard from him twice since he went into hiding, though there were a few times answered unknown number calls would lead to abstract rustling and distinct web shooter noises. To those, you always whispered “I love you,” before hanging up.

That was until last night, when you noticed small slip of paper in the crack of the window of the safehouse you had been staying at. Only a time and an address were written, in messy, but undeniably Parker script.

You spent the next day visiting arbitrary places in the Bronx, trying to determine if anyone was following you and collecting items in an unsuspecting backpack.

It was a balancing act between comfort and practicalities. An extra stealth suit. A waterproof jacket you both shared. Protein bars. Extra web fluid and a first-aid kit. A hefty wad of cash, just in case. And in the smallest pocket, things to help him in the darkest days to come. Letters from you, May, Ned, and your other friends. A few packs of gummy bears. And a picture of you and him, laughing in Central Park on one of your many dates. Sunlight casting halos on your heads. Bright. Carefree. Brimming with love.

Your heart cried and cried and cried, begging for those days.

But they were gone. And as much as you didn’t want to admit it, so were the people in that picture.

You travelled to the building location and made your way to the rooftop. Rows and rows of white sheets were hung, all whipping in the wind to dry.

A small smile graced your lips. You had to hand it to him. He was smart.

You folded yourself into one of the corners of the rooftop, gun in hand and waited. Eerie silence slowly lulling you to…

You woke up to the soft footsteps, sleepy eyes registering a shadowy figure behind one of the bedsheets.

“Hans?” you whispered, pointing your gun with a finger on the trigger.

“Leia,” the figured replied, equally hushed. The shadow lifted the curtain. It took a second to register, but it was really him. You raced towards each other, quick hold each other, beaming. Today, you existed in the same place at the same time.

“That was so stupid. I can’t believe you got me to do that,” you laughed, pressing your face into him, holding him tightly as if he could disappear at any moment.

“Oh, come on, you loved it!” he quipped. You hummed in appreciation.

“True, but I love you more.” His eyes brightened at your confession, pink dusting his cheeks.

“I know.” You shook your head, smiling at his response before turning your head and taking in who he had become. Gone were the luxurious curls, replaced with a buzzcut. A pair of fake glasses perched on his nose in further attempts to conceal his identity. Hallowed eyes. His skin tinted gray from the stress. You ran your fingers through the fuzz on his head, massaging his scalp. A sigh escaped his lips, eyes fluttering shut, with hands reaching to caress yours.

“You cut your hair.”

“You did too.” His fingers danced in the ends of your own tresses. A sad smile furnished your face.

“It had to be done,” you replied, before pressing your lips to his cheek and gently removing yourself from his embrace to get your laptop. “We need to get started. We’ve found a lot since you left.”

With his head on your shoulder, fingers laced with yours, and your laptop on your lap, you recounted the on-going investigation to him. The deep web that just kept going and going. Your theories and suspects. And when that was done, you kept talking. How Aunt May and his friends were fine but missing him. How the remaining Avengers were fairing. Peter was oddly quiet, sharing only a few thoughts here and there, but you attributed it to his weariness.

As the sun continued to dip, the silences between sentences stretched, but you mustered more words. As if your sentences were the delicate string that grounded him to you.

“Y/N,” he interrupted. You looked at him and hummed in reply. He began playing with your fingers, eyes never meeting your own. “I love you more than I ever I thought I could, and I’m really thankful for everything you’ve done. And you’ve done so much. Like, I don’t know if I would have even made it this far without you, but here you are, and well, you can’t keep doing this.” You cocked your head, before shaking your head, hair rustling.

“What? Peter, we are getting somewhere! I just need to visit the-“ He lets go of your hand, fingers clenching into trembling fists.

“No, no more visits. No more investigating. This can’t be your life. When this started, we thought there was a way out. But it’s been over a year. Clearly whoever or whatever is doing this won’t stop until we’re all gone. This may never stop. I can’t have you throwing away your life for me. Hell, I don’t even know when I’ll see you aga-“

“Peter,” you cut him off, your voice pitched lower in concern, “Where is this coming from? We’re gonna make it. It is just a matter of-”

“I can’t give you what you deserve! I’m Spider-Man, so we don’t get to have a house and two kids! We get this-, this fucking disaster! I live like this because I have to. I don’t get a choice. And you shouldn’t be stupid enough where you are doing the same thing!”  

Your mouth fell open, ready to spit back poison when he looked at you. It was in his eyes. Behind the falling tears and redness was the glint of insecurity that Peter had always carried. This was the child whose parents died. The teenager who didn’t stop his Uncle Ben from getting killed. Who held Tony Stark in his last moments. The man who was on the run.  

The hero who would never stop giving to a world who would never stop taking.

Your thoughts frenzied. If you held on to him too tightly, he would resist. The more he would thrash, determined to save you while slowly sacrificing himself until there was nothing left. Your brain was frozen, so your heart gave you the words-

“Marry me.”  

Peter’s eyes widen before retracting into a tight furrow, scrunching his nose.

“What?! No! Did you not hear anything I just said-“

“I’m not leaving you. I will never leave you. The one thing you never get to doubt in the world is us. So, I’m gonna ask you again; will you,” you took his hand, went to one knee, and let your voice soften as you held his gaze, “Peter Parker, marry me?”  

You both bathed in silence. His chocolate doe eyes boring straight into yours, searching for truth. The thought that maybe you had gone about this the wrong way started to crawl into your mind, but then a smile slowly creeped onto his face, bright red with blush. More salt-water pooled in his eyes. He pulled you into a near lung-constricting embrace, smothering wet kisses into every inch of your face. Mine. Mine. Mine. You could practically hear his thoughts as you basked in each kiss. I missed you. I love you. And oh my god, you’re here to stay.

“What did I ever-, I have no idea know what I ever did to ever deserve you.” A smirked formed on your lips.

“Is that a yes?” The gold stars in his eyes shined at your playfulness. There was the man you always loved.

“Yes, yes, oh god yes. I do, Mrs. Parker,” he said pulling you in for a passionate kiss. And you both stayed there, melting into the ground beneath you. Breathing each other in as moments passed. Tender “I love you’s” flowing generously from both of your lips. As if the world had vanished and all that existed was you and him, and him and you, and this understanding that this, this was a love until death do you part.

Peter was the one to break the string of kisses, leaving you to chase his lips before touching his forehead with your own. His breath hot on your face. “I- , if you go to my lab there is a secret compartment. In my desk. The code is your birthday. I was going to ask you myself, but then, well… this.” You chuckled as he stumbled on his words.

“I’ll get it as soon as I can.” You both leaned in to close the gap again when a cacophony of sirens and lights echoed in the streets below.

Frustration filled Peter’s eyes as he sat up. “Shit. I-, I gotta go. Are you gonna be okay?” You let out a shallow breath, but quickly forced a smile.

“Go get’em.” And with the whip of his webs, he was gone.

You sat there for a moment, taking in the new quiet. Your fingers graced your lips, still warm with the memory of his. A lightness had settled in your chest, and with every breathe you could feel it pulse stronger.

Because no matter what it took, no matter how long the wait, there was two things for certain.

He was going to protect the city. And you were going to save your husband.

[katnissmellarkkk]

Okayyyy here comes the next chapter ! Number .... lemme look. Okay, number six! 🥳🥳🥳

And yes, my thoughts as usual will be a messy, very Everlark-biased and full of typos. Letsss gooooo 🥰🥰🥰

Is this the first time Katniss and Peeta have been to their floor or is this just the most opportune time to explain and introduce the Tribute Center living quarters?

Also why are they called tributes anyway? That word suddenly seems weird to me after nine years... 🤔🤔🤔

“I've ridden the elevator a couple of times in the Justice Building back in District 12. Once to receive the medal for my father's death and then yesterday to say my final goodbyes to my friends and family” .... 😶😶 so only good memories and connotations to elevators then, huh?

“The walls of this elevator are made of crystal so that you can watch the people on the ground floor shrink to ants as you shoot up into the air.” My mind is just imagining the elevator in Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone’s Spider-Man movies 🤗.

“It's exhilarating and I'm tempted to ask Effie Trinket if we can ride it again, but somehow that seems childish” this is so cute and innocent omg. Katniss, like I said in my last chapter blog, still has some childlike innocence left in her 🥺🥺🥺. I’m a sad.

Also excuse the unnecessary extra gif use but 🤭🤭🤭

Oh wow, so Haymitch hasn’t been around since they were on the train? No wonder neither Katniss nor Peeta fled they could trust him for basically the entirety of the first book. 😐😐😐

You know it’s bad when Effie being around feels like a blessing to Katniss. Girl has more restraint than me, I’d have ripped off this woman’s janky wig by now without remorse. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

Effie acts like they’re her purebred show dogs. I know I know how is this news, that’s a blatant fact. The movies really softened her up tho for the general audience. And I bleed the movies and books together more than I should 😔😔😔

Well at least she’s made herself useful, trying to get Everlark sponsors ... even if it’s ultimately to benefit herself above anyone else .... 😤

Effie calling Twelve barbaric while she’s preparing them for the slaughter isn’t even ironic it’s like literally just brainless. Johanna probably had the nickname floating around for a lot of people before she officially knighted Katniss with it 😭

“Everyone has their reservations, naturally. You being from the coal district.” Is this how they refer to Twelve? So basically if a district makes a better item, it’s a more worthy one in the Capitol’s eyes? So essentially, if District Eight made like diamonds or pearls or whatever then it would be more worthy? So are the districts assigned their numbers (one, two, three, four, etc) based on their order of importance to the Capitol’s lifestyle? I always thought it was based on their distance in relation to the Capitol? Okay so I didn’t really pay much attention to these facts previously when I read these books ok look away I’m an idiot

Omg 😭😭😭😭 Effie is such an idiot. But the coal turns to pearls thing is my favorite line from her only because it serves as the cutest inside joke when Peeta makes a callback to it in Catching Fire and Finnick is just like “why are these two teenagers so stupid who did I ally with? 🥵😳🥵😳🥵”

“I wonder if the people she's been plugging us to all day either know or care.” After reading Songbirds and Snakes, I’m sure they don’t have a clue, boo. 😑😑😑😑 although not everyone was an idiot back then ... maybe Snow is putting lead in the drinking water?

“But don't worry, I'll get him to the table at gunpoint if necessary.” I know she’s trying to help and I know we say this kind of thing today, but considering this is two kids she’s well aware will be heading into a death match this is just bad wording I know surprise surprise 🙄🙄🙄😬😬😬😬

“Although lacking in many departments, Effie Trinket has a certain determination I have to admire.” Katniss really does see the best in people. What’s sad, y’all, is I think Katniss unconsciously really tries to like people and that’s why she has her guard up so high. Because the softer you are, the easier people will step all over you. Terrible phrasing here, Samantha, I’m so sorry to any of my readers ... okay now that sounded arrogant, implying I have readers 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤣😅🤣😅🤣😅

“My quarters are larger than our entire house back home.” Omg? I mean, yes, I knew this already obviously no duh but like also. Just the fact that three people live in a space smaller than a bedroom and bathroom arena is saddy sad sad. Also do they have indoor plumbing in the Seam or is their backyards just full of—okay, I’ll see myself out. 😶🤭😅🙃

“The shower alone has a panel with more than a hundred options you can choose regulating water temperature, pressure, soaps, shampoos, scents, oils, and massaging sponges.” I’m just imagining a Spongebob scene ngl.

I’m sorry there’s so many gifs this time around it’s probably taking us out of the reading headspace I’ll never do it again 😩😩😩😩 I talk like I have a class of people listening to me 🤭🤭🤭

“Instead of struggling with the knots in my wet hair, I merely place my hand on a box that sends a current through my scalp, untangling, parting, and drying my hair almost instantly” I need this someone invent this NOW my brush is yanking out my hair 😔😩

“I program the closet for an outfit to my taste.” ‘Yes, Alexa, I’d like a hunting jacket, some boots and a green shirt. Yes, it can be brown.’

“You need only whisper a type of food from a gigantic menu into a mouthpiece and it appears, hot and steamy, before you in less than a minute.” I like this idea because it means that Peeta could order hot choccy to comfort Katniss after her nightmares in Catching Fire from the comfort of her their own bed. 🤗🤗🤗 also I want this for myself. The bad people are giving my greedy self ideas look away everyone 😬

“I walk around the room eating goose liver and puffy bread until there's a knock on the door.” 🤢🤢🤢🤢 Of everything you could have chosen, child, this is what you decided on? Someone help my girl and her rotten tastebuds now.

“Effie's calling me to dinner. Good. I'm starving.” Baby, you were just eating. She’s so nutritionally messed up. 😔😔😔

Katniss trying wine 🥳🥳🥳 she’s so funny, trying to find a way to improve the taste 😅. She’ll make a good taste tester for her baker husband one day.

Hahahaha Katniss not liking the feeling and judging Haymitch for always being tipsy. Also this is sad because she ends up addicted to morphling later one which is far worse than a little wine.

I’m glad to know Baked Alaska survived the apocalypse 😅🥳

Katniss just constantly trying to decipher the recipe of every meal and how to recreate it reads cute on a surface level but it’s actually so tragic because everything to this girl is based around food. Like even more than is typically noticed. They really should have given a hint at this in the first movie. Good thing she marries a man who can always keep her full.

I’m just forever side-eyeing you, Gare Bear.

That’s Gary Ross for the confused kids in the back.

Why does Katniss yelling mid-sentence, “oh! I know you!” add to her innocence? 🥺 it’s because she was overwhelmed by all the food and new luxuries she’d never even been able to imagine ... and also this is pre her first games so she’s still got some childhood left in her 😩😔

I wonder how Lavinia felt seeing Katniss volunteer and knowing she’d be her Avox? I wonder if she, like Cinna, somehow volunteered to be her Avox?

I mean ... talk about convenient placement that this specific girl was assigned to Katniss’ district—oh wait, y’all, I just caught myself. She’s from Twelve. She was assigned to Twelve’s tributes because she’s from there, duh. I’m such an airhead omg just call me Effie.

Don’t you actually dare.

“When I look back, the four adults are watching me like hawks.” Meanwhile, Peeta is just like 😬😬😬 eating his dinner.

Actually, ngl, this could be such a reach and it probably is but like maybe Peeta sensed a confrontation coming and, because of his implied upbringing, he naturally becomes silent or makes himself invisible when trouble starts looking like it’s gonna arise. 🥺🥺🥺 I don’t know why I say these things I’m just hurting my own feelings but ya know the drill. I thought it so I said it.

Why is Effie yelling at Katniss for saying she knows the Avox girl like omg overreaction much? And I know, the sky is blue 🙄🙄🙄 she’s prejudiced against basically everyone, I know, I know

Rip her wig off, Katty Deen 🤗🤗🤗

Oh I stupidly forgot that Avoxes are supposedly known by everyone to be traitors or criminals. So I suppose this isn’t Effie’s worst offense but I’m keeping a tally anyways

Katniss is blaming her stuttering on the wine but my girl just has social anxiety 😔😔😔

Peeta coming in with a save 😭😭😭 he’s already trying saving his girl 🤧

Alsoooo the unspoken friendship, the covering for the other and teaming up against the adults, is still riding high and going strong here 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 look away, y’all, the shipper comments are coming in strong

Also why is this the first real interaction with Peeta in this chapter yet? My baby needs more page-time 🤭🤭🤭

“Delly Cartwright is a pasty-faced, lumpy girl with yellowish hair who looks about as much like our server as a beetle does a butterfly.” Now why did Katniss just tear Delly to shreds for no reason at all 😭😭😭 this was a surprise assault on the poor girl 🙃🙃🙃🙃

“She may also be the friendliest person on the planet - she smiles constantly at everybody in school, even me.” Okay not to tie absolutely everything back to Peeta ... but to tie absolutely everything back to Peeta ... this description of poor, sweet Delly is actually indicative of Peeta’s character? Since Delly, we find out in Mockingjay, is Peeta’s childhood best friend, her personality being this sunny, kind, good-natured person tells us Peeta has always probably been somewhat like her and perhaps not as much like the other town kids Katniss implies to be stuck up or snooty. Maybe Katniss is just shady and deflects onto others 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️.

Also the fact that she gives this like ... mean description of Delly but saw Peeta as popular, even though surely Delly and Peeta spent time at school together, implies further that Katniss did indeed harbor a secret crush on Peeta even before the reaping. A very mild comparison of his on her though, of course 😅😅😅

“It must be the hair” “something about the eyes too” their piggybacking on the other’s comments really is just chiefs kiss 😘🤗🥰🤧 FYI I know the saying is chefs kiss but I made the typo once a long time ago and decided to add it forever to my brand 🤗🙃🥳

Also though this Everlark interaction is reminiscent of when two kids get caught by their teacher goofing off in class and covering for each other 🥰 only it’s a lot more deadly stakes

“A few of the other couples make a nice impression, but none of them can hold a candle to us.” She’s so modest 🤧🤧🤧 her narration here and during the Tribute Parade just has the vibes of ... well .... sorry in advance

Haymitch’s comment “Just the perfect touch of rebellion. Very nice” leads me to think he and Cinna and maybe Portia were always in cahoots about the rebellion even before Katniss and Peeta came along and well ... lit their match on fire 🥁🤗🤣🤭

Katniss is like “rebellion??? Rebellion where??? What’s that you old people speak of???” And yet, girlfriend goes out to the woods and hunts illegally every day of her life 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

“But when I remember the other couples, standing stiffly apart, never touching or acknowledging each other, as if their fellow tribute did not exist” too lazy too look it up but there’s a quote from Ballad about Lucy Gray and Jessup being distinguished by their visible friendship too that set them apart from the other tributes.

Either Suzanne thought of drawing a nice parallel showing what a failed Everlark attempt looks like, because I firmly stand by the fact that without their real feelings behind their act, even Katniss’ unconscious ones, they wouldn’t have pulled it off, or Suzzie just reused her own content. I prefer the former but I think it’s probably the latter 🤭🤭🤭

“Now go get some sleep while the grown-ups talk." I know Haymitch is being facetious here but this quote reminded me of the fact that the movies would have hit differently if they’d cast actual sixteen year olds in the roles.

“When we get to my door, he leans against the frame, not blocking my entrance exactly but insisting I pay attention to him.” This is such a flirty, high school boy pose, you cannot convince me otherwise 😭😭😭

Also I definitely feel like Peeta is getting more and more confident here because he’s oblivious to Katniss’ inner monologue as much as she is his actually we all are his sadly and he probably thinks she’s starting to like him 🤧🤧🤧

“So, Delly Cartwright. Imagine finding her lookalike here." 🤣 He honestly cracks me up idk why this line isn’t even special or that great. He’s just so ... subtly nosy / funny. Which brings me to that quote from Mockingjay where Katniss talks about his sense of humor because it’s one of the things she loves most about him 😭😭😭

But he’s like, “I can keep a secret, Katniss, tell me who that tongueless chick is to you 😬”

Katniss stop talking about debts, friends cover for the other all the time 🙄🙄 I know it’s in her character stop yelling at a fish for swimming that’s not a real phrase I know that too

Okay first of all, they’re about to share a secret 🥰🥰🥰🥰. My shipper goggles are on tight and obstructing my vision. I know this and am proud 😬🥳🤗

And secondly, “Maybe sharing a confidence will actually make him believe I see him as a friend.” Hey, butthead, you two are already friends. She doesn’t even recognize that the girl who constantly sits with her, talks to her, eats with her and trades with her is her friend either though, I’m shocked she calls Gale her friend

Does Peeta get to know Cinna too? I don’t think so but it’s mentioned now a couple times in this chapter alone that Peeta has interacted with Cinna. Katniss never interacts or has a conversation with Portia.... then again, is that even surprising? Katniss isn’t ... what you would call ... social. Hashtag relatable.

Awww, they’re communicating so effectively together 🥰😭🤧🥳

Also rooftops belong to Everlark only 😍😊😉 I mean, seriously, Katniss never goes up on a rooftop with anyone else. Besides Haymitch in the first movie but we ignore.

“Electricity in District 12 comes and goes, usually we only have it a few hours a day.” Earlier she said the Seam didn’t often have electricity, in particular, so either she’s not specifying her section of the district anymore or Suzanne is backtracking.

“But here there would be no shortage. Ever.” I’ve had two power outages recently so clearly the Capitol isn’t based on us currently today then 😐😐 I’m just joking ok

“I asked Cinna why they let us up here. Weren't they worried that some of the tributes might decide to jump right over the side?” .... boyfriend, where does your mind go sometimes? Peeta’s darker than we realize, y’all 🤭🤭🙃🙃

“He holds out his hand into seemingly empty space. There's a sharp zap and he jerks it back” between this and Catching Fire, Peeta is addicted to getting shocked by forcefields 🤧🤧🤧

“I wonder if we're supposed to be up here now, so late and alone.” If this was a romantic drama or comedy, that line would have meant something a lot more fun 😒😔😬😉😏

“On the other side of the dome, they've built a garden with flower beds and potted trees.” Is this meant to resemble Snow’s grandmother’s garden???? Like he had them put a garden there to like ... put a piece of his Grandma’am in the games? Idk this made zero sense it was a stupid thought

Two people in a garden at night, with wind chimes, sounds romantic in any other context. 🥺🥺

Ummm does everyone in the entire district know Katniss and her father used to hunt together?

Oh nevermind, Lavinia is not from District Twelve. My bad, guys. I should go up and edit my previous thoughts but that’s a lot of work. 😅😅😅

Katniss, stop being so hard on yourself. You and Gale were kids. 😣😣

Ummm, Katniss for a girl always complimenting Peeta’s storyteller, you’re pretty good at painting a picture yourself...

Peeta noticing she’s shivering 🥰🥺

He gives her ... his jacket 😭😭😭😭 such a romantic troupe Samantha, get over it there’s literally children dying

Oh wow, Lavinia was from the Capitol originally. Hmm, it is sus now that she got District Twelve this particular year.

But also 🤧🤧🤧 “he secures a button at my neck.”

His hands .... are .... often .... at her .... neck .... 😶😬 .... look away, y’all

Oh wow, Katniss is over here thinking, “who’d leave the Capitol if they were from here???” And Peeta’s like instantly, loudly, without hesitating, “well I would 🙋🏼‍♂️”

Hot take, y’all ready? Peeta was a bigger rebel than Katniss from the start. At least internally.

Awww, Peeta is so jealous 😭😭😭😭 and kind of nosy 🤭🤭🤭

Katniss : “me and Gale are not related” Peeta : “😬🙃😭😩😶”

“I'd set out to tell her I was sorry about dinner. [...] my apology runs much deeper. [...] I let the Capitol kill the boy and mutilate her without lifting a finger. Just like I was watching the Games.” I feel like this is actually a good comparison though, because of you grew up in a society where you have to watch kids die, your whole entire life you’ve watched it in a glorified television show, you would be really desensitized to it...

“You don't forget the face of the person who was your last hope.” Here she’s talking about Lavinia but it applies to Peeta too. Katniss was Lavinia’s last hope and she feels like she let her down but Peeta was her last hope once and he came through. And, as she said in chapter one, she’ll never forget him for it. And for other things too. Later on. 😏

Of course my last bullet point was focused on Everlark 🤣 is anyone surprised you shouldn’t be we all knew who this post was written by right? 😅

And once again, if too made through this marathon, congratulations 🥳🥳🥳🥳 maybe next chapter I’ll talk less not likely though so don’t count on it 😅

[maydaymemer]

Ultimate Spider-Man (2005) - Short Review

Just replayed Ultimate Spider-Man for PS2. And ive got some thoughts on it

Overall it’s still really fun to me, I think it’s way ahead of its time graphically, it looks amazing with the only problem being terrible draw distance. the city design is super underrated, theres lots of landmarks and little areas you’ll find swinging around that are detailed. The city doesnt feel copy paste like spider-man 2. the combat is kinda button mashy but i like that alternating between attacks causes more damage, but when the combat asks you to go up against groups of tough enemies like the combat tours do it kind of falls apart. It feels more luck based because you do more damage alternating between enemies and that can be used to break thru blocks. But if you are constantly hitting kick and punch and moving the stick you dont always switch to another enemy and just button mash at one guy. Luckily the combat doesnt ask you much in the main campaign so no worries there

Swinging is momentum based which i prefer over the more automated feeling of the new games. Not that the new games are bad, theyre an improvement on for example the TASM games but what i like about these old games is you handle spider-man sort of realistically it you had his powers. You’d fumble about and get caught on things at the start and then slowly get used to it and as you got a handle on your powers and became familiar with the city youd get really good at it. tho its not as good as how sim-like the swinging felt in spider-man 2 but i feel what usm does better is great missions and a great campaign. Especially the bosses I found really enjoyable for their variety, uniqueness and how they used good picks from classic and some more obscure villains. Also you get to play as venom. Hes not got much depth but the novelty is excellent

The story is really good, it’s penned by an actual spider-man writer and it has a good sense of universe thats intriguing as someone whos never read ultimate comics and heard bad things about how edgy the non spidey books could be. I actually did laugh at one of his quips too, about the parking attendant during the rhino mission. spidey humor is the only superhero humor that i get a kick out of

Where the game falters is in its structure. The game is short, i beat it in two hours and 22 minutes but ive beaten it loads of times already mind, and i dont falter the length at all as i dont think you could stretch this story and gameplay over eight hours, but the way they lengthen the time is by forcing you to do some of the side stuff like races and beating up muggers and stuff in order to unlock more missions. Now i like that the game makes me feel like a superhero, of course im going to help people it makes sense. I especially like that they do it within missions in certain scripted moments which is very spidey as hes always getting inconvenienced. But I dont think the way they encouraged it by making it necessary was a good choice. I think the way spider-man2 did it by having it so helping people gave you points to use for upgrades was better. I also think it was just there to prolong the game’s length because i was able to beat it in two hours with experience and i bet half an hour was just waiting for crimes to appear and doing those and then having to swing from Manhattan to Queens or vice versa to get the next mission. I also have a bone to pick with that. Most of the time you swing over to manhattan, do a mission, then if youve reached the requirements the next mission is in queens and thatll happen for the next mission but the opposite too. Seems padded

Theres also two moments i want to point out where i got the requirements to unlock the next “story mission” in the games own words but as soon as i went to the marker i had to do a combat tour, which is one of the game’s many side activities. Then after finishing it i get told to do more side content to unlock the next mission. So i unlocked a tutorial that i had to do before i could do another mission. This same thing also happened again but this is funny and a better example of the game’s padding. I met the requirements and went to a mission marker. A cutscene played and then i was told to do more things to unlock the next mission. So i unlocked a cutscene

Id still recommend it to anyone. It’s fun to play and the short length and its loads of side distractions does make it replayable

[littlehollyleaf]

So talking of finales penned by spn writers.

One of my fav comics the last few years has been Spider-Man/Deadpool, written by our very own Robbie Thompson.

Obviously, Deadpool is a character I was always gonna be fond of, since his fourth-wall breaking power / chatacter trait makes him all about the meta, and metafiction is My Jam.

Spider-Man/Deadpool has the additional fun of being about Wade and Peter's relationship specifically, which is just fun and adorable any which way, but the series also makes constant nods to the idea of them as a romantic couple (the title IS a LITERAL REFERENCE to slash fic/shipping). Never in a baity way either. The writing celebrates the idea of Spider-Man/Deadpool without ever teasing the idea it might actually happen. It's mostly Wade explicitly referencing them as a slash pairing in his various fourth-wall breaking speeches, while in the 'reality' of the universe the writing is pretty clear on the fact Peter only thinks of Wade platonically (or occasionally antagonistically :p), while Wade genuinely has an explicit romantic crush, but overall just simply respects and cares for Spider-Man as a person and primarily wants to be and have him as a friend (tho there's absolutely, deliberate, space left in the writing to imagine/fanfic a mutual romance between if you want).

(ASIDE: PETER PARKER IS NOT A KID IN THIS CURRENT VERSION OF MARVEL CANON HE IS 100% AN OF AGE ADULT, like he is in the Spiderverse film - in case anyone was freaking out)

So yeah, that's all fun and sweet and completely catering to my interests.

One of the big, big things about the characters and their relationship, though, is the fact that WADE DOES NOT KNOW SPIDER-MAN'S IDENTITY. And this quickly became one of, if not THE, things at the heart of their evolving friendship/relationship. The closer they get, the more and more you WANT Wade to find out or, better, for Peter to TELL HIM. Because you want them to reach that place of love and trust where they each know intimate things about each other, where Peter cares about and knows he can trust Wade enough to share that vulnerable truth about himself.

So, Peter telling Wade his secret identity - that's, basically, the ship/relationship endgame everyone is rooting for.

SO.

In the *cries* final storyline of the series, this whole epic Thing happens, that I won't explain cos it'll take too long. But basically, the world appears to be ending and in that context of dire and angsty straits - Peter reveals his identity to Wade! *insert Deadpool movie shock gif*

Now closer than ever, they team up with a rag tag collection of other characters to take on the Big Bad and, long story short, they discover the whole epic end of the world Thing has been a fake reality created by the real villain of the piece -

THE WRITER, aka Robbie himself!

Due a series of implausible comic book events they are able to confront and defeat him and he offers this in his defence -

and I just -

<3

aw Robbie

your supervillain origin story was... WANTING FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO GROW?

(#relatable)

When I first read this (which was, oh, back near the very beginning of spn S15) I thought

a) amusing that an ex-spn writer is, like spn itself, writing a meta story in which the writer is the villain

b) it's funny how spn's villain writer and Robbie's villain writer both harm/manipulate their characters for the exact opposite reasons - Chuck wants to prevent the characters from developing, comic!Robbie wants to force them TO develop

(and c) I wonder if this lament over characters not being allowed to grow, and the fact that wanting to change that associates Robbie with villainy, in any way connects to... other writing jobs he may have had... before the comic...)

The tragedy, tho, is that after his defeat, as Spider-Man and Deadpool are locking comic!Robbie away, he tells them his capture doesn't matter because in the end HE WON, because Wade now knows Spider-Man's identity!!

To which we end with this -

The growth Robbie wanted was denied!

*sad face*

(I forget the in-universe explanation, if there was an explicit one - either defeating comic!Robbie and his fake world caused all memory/experience if that world to be lost/destroyed... or there was genuinely no real explanation and that in itself was a meta nod to how comic book narrative is constantly dropping/discarding/ignoring/retconning plot points in order to maintain the wider status quo of the comic universe narrative)

AND YET - while the biggest growth of learning Peter's identity was denied (presumably because, as noted above, wider comic book canon requires/insists both characters and their relationship remain in a specific, static, status quo - so the industry can keep churning out multiple comics with them without necessarily having to bother with the extra time/hassel of researching specifics of continuity - because, money), as Peter and Wade's further discussion points out, SOME development HAS happened at least. Wade has grown more moral/heroic in how he doesn't immediately kill his enemies. And Peter has come to care deeply enough about Wade to be proud of him for this and tell him so. AND they walk away together side by side, their friendship cemented.

So bottom line - the story ends. And it's not in the BEST way. It denies the readers and the characters (and the writer!) the fulfilment of that key endgame plot point.

And YET.

It manages to still be a funny, heartwarming and ultimately SATISFYING end. One that, tongue in cheek, lampshades the development the rest of the story has, in many ways, been building up to and, using metafictional tricks, tells readers in a way that is funny, entertaining and also feels somewhat apologetic, that it simply wasn't a plot the creatives involved were able to give. But offers SOME growth at least, and leaves things open enough for readers to imagine the characters are poised for more in the near future (...although due to the nature of comics that may well have been jossed by other comic book runs at this point - I haven't read any that include the characters since this title ended).

WHY am I making a longass post about this you ask?

Well

a) because the comic is great and I think more people should read it, consider this a recommend (tho sorry for spoilers!)

b) ...just ...wanted to big up Robbie Thompson for a bit. A++ Robbie, way to land an ending, both in fiction and meta, kudos to you, nice to be reminded that it can be done!

(also in case by some miracle anyone at Marvel is reading this - I said the ending was satisfying, but that doesn't mean I WOULDN'T SPEND GOOD MONEY ON A REVIVAL OF THIS TITLE IN A HEARTBEAT! just because I'm ok with the last comic being the end doesn't mean I don't WANT MORE WITH A BURNING PASSION why must you cancel all my favs?? ...*coughs* so, yes, thank you any Marvel execs for your time...)

[just-a-creep-babe]

Matchup!

Commissioned by @nemkultra, tysm ^^ 💗✨

~Requests are closed~

Masterlist: x

I match you with: Eyeless Jack

This mans has some hardcore heart eyes for you ngl 💗~💗

You’re just,, so chill and easy to get along with??

Maybe it’s your style—that dark emo kind of fashion that he also tends to stick to himself—but something about you just makes him feel super at ease from the very beginning

In a room full of people, even before he got to know you, he kinda just naturally gravitates towards you tbh

You just have this magnetic pull on him that feels right

Your scent too btw?

It’s kinda weird to say but you smell fckn delicious to him 👀👌

And the fact that you’re pretty short—especially compared to him—combined with your scent & that magnetism really sends his demon instincts in overdrive

Meaning, he ends up getting very protective of you very quickly

He realizes earlier on that you can most certainly take care of yourself, but like,, that’s not gonna stop him from wanting to defend you any way he can

Any threats in the near vicinity, especially the physical/confrontational ones, are nearly nonexistent when he’s around

Which might be more often than you realize

Like I’m not saying he stalks you, he just sometimes keeps a close eye on you,,, from a distance,,,,, usually lurking in the shadows skdkhdksldl

Honestly, lord help anyone who comes near you with aggressive intentions smh

Not only that, but he also can and will remove anyone who’s bugging you or draining you social battery & making you anxious

All ya gotta do is ask or gives him some kind of signal

And even then, if he gets suspicious they’re being rude or unpleasant or anything, he’ll straight up just come to you like “is he bothering you, queen?”

But other than that, he’s a pretty laid-back person ngl

He’s a great listener & will gladly hear you ramble on about anything and nothing

Whatever it might be, whether you just wanna talk about your day or some new songs you’ve discovered, he’ll put you on his lap, stroke through your hair or trace your tattoos while purring contently, listening to you

Boy just wants to be near you and hear your soothing voice as you explain to him your general thoughts & opinions—it makes him so damn happy tbh ^^

He’s a very good bf and will always support you however he can uwu

Even if you don’t really feel like talking, he’s fine with just wrapping his arms around you & quietly enjoying your presence

He might not know much about ADHD, but he will do his research to get a better understand of it & learn how to help any way he can

He does, however, have a bit of PTSD himself, so he already knows a bit on how to help deal with that

So he’s very considerate of any triggers you might have and does his best to keep you safe & happy & comfortable :>

Also like,,,, this man’s presence is so damn comforting

Any time you feel a panic/anxiety attack come on, having him around does wonders

It’s very reassuring to have a tall, strong & protective demon bf in life tbh

Like he knows he’s pretty intimidating, so he‘a got a very calm & relaxed demeanor to make up for it

Knowing this strong ass predatory monster would do anything in his power to protect you from legit anything does wonders to your peace of mind

And having him hold you in his arms, purring and rumbling soothing praises is always very comforting—like the two of you are in your own little world & nothing can reach you

He’s kinda effortlessly powerful, but it goes without saying that he’s an absolute gentleman & would never use that strength against you—with exception in the bedroom, but we’ll get to that later ;)

He doesn’t wanna abuse his capabilities, but he still does end up naturally taking charge tho—both in the streets and in the sheets

Those are just demon instincts for ya ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Boy admires how you don’t take any crap & won’t hesitate to stand up for yourself tho

He likes knowing you’d tell him off if he ever crossed any boundaries; that way he doesn’t have to overthink or worry too much

Also, that nurturing side you’ve got with those strong maternal instincts??

His demonic side is crazy for it

He honestly admires you so damn much, you have no idea ✨🤧

Like he, himself, isn’t the best with kids; he’s kinda scared to hurt them and he’s not really sure how to react around them

But he still appreciates them & their different perspective on life

So he genuinely likes asking how your day went at work, and after a while, he’ll start learning about the kids & asking about them too ^^

If he can help them with any kind of,, situations out of their control, he most certainly will, almost like a guardian demon angel :”)

Like with kids, even if he does appreciate them, he’s also not the best with animals

They can usually sniff out his demon side & it scares them

Cats are sometimes ok with him, but even then, it depends on the cat

So honestly, ya just gotta give him a lil time to adjust to them and vice versa :”>

He’s also a lil freaked out by spiders, snakes, rodents and the like, but he’ll never admit it, so it’s just fun to tease him skdjdksll

He’s a very clean boy himself, so unless he doesn’t eat/sleep for a while & loses control to his demon, you don’t have to worry about him making any kind of mess

Ultimately, this mans is super chill & laid back and will absolutely not hesitate to cuddle up with you any day/any time, whether or not you’re feeling stressed or anxious tbh

You've had a long day & just wanna unwind watching anime or playing video games?

No prob boo; even if he might not understand them, he’ll gladly watch any show with you while offering up some fine back rubs to help you relax 😌👌

He doesn’t really understand poetry either, but he’ll listen to you read it aloud, purring faintly, rubbing his thumbs over your skin and sometimes planting lil kissies here n there 😚😚

He also might try to pick up an instrument, having the faint recollection of knowing how to play from his old life, just to impress you ngl

He just wants to make you happy & care for you because he loves you and thinks you deserve the world uwu

NSFW

Omg you’re honestly like,, the perfect height for him to just pick up & manhandle however he pleases tbh skdjdhslsl 😳😳

When you’re wearing dresses too?

All the easier to use you like a perfect little doll~

But he won’t do it unless he knows it’s alright with you, ofc

Like I said, he’s a gentleman first & foremost 😌👌

Homeboy’s also got a thing for those fishnet tights 👀

So you can bet he might just tear a hole through them & stick his dick in them to fuck your thighs through the lace

He just can’t resist the feeling of your plush thighs squishing his length, squeezing him with the frail material stretching & wrapping so perfectly around him

Don’t worry though, he definitely buys you new clothes all 👏the 👏time 👏to make up for it ;))

Sometimes when he’s feeling like a tease, he’ll settle you down nice and comfy while you’re still wearing those tights & get between your legs to tease his tongue through the material

Loves hearing your little gasps and moans as you try to rub into him for more friction, desperate to feel the entirety of his tongue without that stupid obstruction

Once he thinks you’ve had enough, he won’t be able to hold back any longer before dislocating his jaw and absolutely devouring you until you’re practically shaking against him

But other than the occasional teasing that has you mewling and squirming, this mans will absolutely treat every inch of your body just right 🥴👌

Those belly button & nipple piercings will definitely receive the attention they deserve 👅💦💦

If you’ve had a stressful day at work or if your anxiety’s starting to get the best of you, it’s no prob bb

You can lay back, relax & let him do all the work—having his fun tasting you & shoving his tongue in and out of your dripping core~

He’ll be on cloud 9 knowing he can help while also getting to stuff his face between your legs

Also likes dislocating his jaw to cram the full length of his tongue down you throat to toy with the little metal ball on your tongue too :pp

His demon is totally enamored with everything about you, so you can bet he’ll always leave plenty of possessive bite marks all over you

He’s super scared to hurt you tho, so it’s safe words galore tbh

He pays a lot of attention to your boundaries & needs; you’re so frail & vulnerable compared to him, how could he ever forgive himself if he hurt you?

His heats are especially bad when it comes to being rough—he has to resist absolutely ruining you every time

It honestly takes a long ass time for him to let you stay to help through it because he’s so scared of losing control

If he ends up going too hard & you need to use a safeword, he’ll treat you like porcelain during the aftercare

And even throughout the next couple of days that follow, he’ll be extra careful around you because he’ll feel like shit for taking things too far ngl

I’m talking about waiting hand & foot on you—not that he wouldn’t already do so regardless

And he might be a tad reluctant to do the nasty afterwards, but a lil convincing & reassurance on your part and he won’t be able to resist

Except he’ll take things real slow and careful

Like,, excruciatingly slow skdjdhsl

But honestly, it doesn’t make the orgasms any less intense

Instead of hitting you hard & fast like electricity rocketing through you, it’ll be like one long wave crashing into you as he keeps rocking his hips at a perfectly steady pace

He just wants to make you feel good & show you how much he loves and cares for you, ya know?

Those back rubs I mentioned have some high ass chances of turning into something more

They might end up with you beneath him, one of his large hands pining your hips down, the other entwining his fingers into yours so he can feel every little squeeze when he drags his cock along you most sensitive spots

And if you read him some steamy poetry, he just might end up between your legs one way or another, chuckling and coaxing you to keep going as he hits every spot so wonderfully

This mans is practically a sex god even if he might not realize it ngl 👁👅👁

Only thing is, like I’ve mentioned, him and animals don’t always get along

So he can’t stand being watched by your pets while he’s trying to get some :/

You, ah, might wanna close the door behind you or he’ll have to stop halfway through 😬

But he’ll be more than happy to keep going once he knows the two of you are completely alone again~ 😏👌

[reachexceedinggrasp]

Fated to Love You here reaffirming my long held conviction that no pure romance drama should be 20+ episodes.

This show is... really something. It is, in the fullest possible sense, A Lot. It starts out as an all-out screwball comedy wrapped around a troperiffic romance fluff plot. Wall to wall clichés, but not in a bad way; in a meta, self-aware, peak performance, finest Velveeta way. And if you’re not familiar with screwball comedy, think ‘light-hearted crack fic with slapstick and farce’. There is nothing believable or grounded about any aspect of it, it starts at Bonkers Level: Platinum and it only climbs higher as it goes on.

(On a side note, this results in the leading man being possibly the most memorable love interest in romcom history. His introduction scene is nothing short of batshit insane and you can't reliably predict how he will respond to anything. I have never seen a main character like this, he is all over the shop and utterly singular. Your first reaction to him is ‘wtf?’, your second and third reactions are ‘really?! this guy??’, your fourth reaction is ‘okay he do be mad hot tho’, your fifth and final reaction is ‘I cannot believe this performance exists, I have no idea what he is doing, but it is amazing.’

Appropriately(?) the actor who plays him is an uncanny Korean doppelgänger of Johnny Depp and- between the resemblance, the mannerisms, and the fearless total commitment to a bold as fuck acting choice with the very serious chops to back it up- I’m not convinced they aren’t half brothers separated at birth.

They do sabotage my happiness several times by starting to randomly style his (long, beautiful) hair very weird, fixing it right when the plot is rapidly circling the drain so he looks his hottest just as the show becomes briefly unwatchable, and then ruining him for the entire second half of the series by shearing it all off. WHY, my anguished cry goes up. Why do you do this?! Why does he have like seven hairstyles over the course of the show? Much later they even briefly give him that ubiquitous Kdrama Second Lead haircut with weirdly forward combed fringe in a solid straight line across the brow all the way back from the crown. It looks terrible on everyone and I hate it so much. This version was less bad than most but it is still bad. Anyway.)

So it’s an incredibly fun time to start but there are some problems with the tone and plot even in the first 9 episodes, including when the lovers start getting along really well right away and they’re both thoroughly decent people so there’s nothing keeping them from having a lovely time together making the best of the circumstances (forced/fake marriage). And, instead of introducing new conflict or advancing one of the dozen conflicts previously established and actually moving forward, there is a painfully contrived rehash of something they already dealt with which is then just never resolved. They make the hero leap to a conclusion his wife is nefarious after he’d already decided once that she isn’t (though it was completely reasonable for him to think she was- the fact that he decided to trust her so quickly just speaks to what kind of person he is), never try to find out more or talk to anyone about it, start pushing her away because of it, and have all this come to absolutely nothing. It only exists so he’ll stop being so incredibly nice to her and they won’t fall in love too fast.

You’d think they would have to eventually clear the air before the romance advances right? No. It wasn’t a real plot point, it was just a reset button to get them estranged and hostile again after they connect over their kindred spirits and we’ve spent a bunch of time showing how profoundly supportive and honourable our hero is. He’s being beautifully mature and selfless because he’s a really good dude (unusual for a romcom drama, right? for the main guy to be nice and considerate? to accept responsibility even if he doesn’t have to? Gun’s weird but he’s wonderful), but the writers need him to be cold and standoffish, so they just make him act like an unreasonable idiot for a while. He’s been thus far hugely proactive and direct and honest about everything, it’s one of his most prominent character traits, but suddenly he’s going to avoid confrontation in favour of being super passive aggressive?? Then the writers never solve it. Never! It just goes away. He got over it, I guess? He decided he doesn’t care if she’s a gold digger who deliberately trapped him? God forbid we have motivations that make sense and organic character drama, right? It's not like he didn't have totally valid reasons to be suspicious that could have led to legitimate conflict our heroine would struggle to vindicate herself from.

But anyway, apart from that kind of lazy bullshit, it’s a fine romance plot with extremely endearing characters who have great chemistry. They are fun and well-rounded and incredibly human despite all the silliness and OTT antics. Their relationship is hugely, hugely engaging and the dynamic is perfect, they really complement each other as characters and organically drive each other's arcs. There's the genuine depth and warmth and quiet pathos so often lacking from this kind of show. Things progress at a semi-reasonable pace. They work up to confessing their mutual feelings and get into some cute shenanigans before making out. It happens soon enough that you are not frustrated, but there's still plenty of build-up. Then- uh oh! We’re only 9 eps in and we have another 11 hours to fill with this fluffy plot!

Time for a bunch of absolute fucking nonsense. Time for our show, which has been so goofy and removed from reality it occasionally resembles a Monty Python skit, which has been so light it asks you to ignore the frankly incredibly fucked up implications of its premise for the sake of comedy (they were both drugged and proxy raped resulting in a pregnancy- the FL was a virgin prior to this and Gun had a girlfriend he wanted to propose to- and it was the FL’s family who did this to them: SUPER FUCKED UP), so farcical that it makes Some Like it Hot look like a gritty crime drama, that show to cover a bunch of serious heavy shit.

First, the rankest of melodrama. The families and the world all turn on our couple, but their love is true and will conquer all- UNTIL, he randomly collapses and gets convenient Soap Opera Amnesia. He’s forgotten their entire relationship and a series of coincidental pieces of misconstrued evidence, the machinations of his scheming ex girlfriend, the Soap Opera Doctor’s advice, and his closest confidants all going along with this conspire to make him believe (AGAIN) that his wife just wants his money.

This whole terrible episode is mercifully brief, but it just gets worse after his memory returns. This is where we get into the Noble Idiocy. The ‘pretend you don’t love them to “save them” from getting hurt by hurting them and making their important life decisions for them as if they don’t have a basic fucking right to decide that themselves’ kind. Which goes on for three FUCK years in the show. He wastes three years of their lives they could have spent together because he’s worried he might die young (in a terrible way) and doesn’t want to put her through that. And, of course, they inevitably get together later, so all he did was make it infinitely worse for her either way. To say nothing of how he thus couldn’t be there for her through the loss of their child. Possibly my most hated fucking trope of all time when done this way.

And, yep, you read that right. This show that has the single most batshit bonkers over the top slapstick I have ever seen in a kdrama, this show has a storyline where the fluffy romcom trope accidental pregnancy ends in massive trauma. Because she was standing around in the street after realising he does remember her (he continued to pretend he had amnesia after his memories came back, it’s all part of the stupid noble idiocy so I glossed over it) and gets hit by a car in the middle of their angst staring.

It is nearly Meet Joe Black levels of hilariously abrupt and incongruous.

so, blah blah, they lose their baby (there’s a very stupid whole thing about her telling everyone to save the baby instead of her- the baby is not far enough along for this to have been remotely viable. She is like 3 months pregnant. They all act like there’s a choice to be made between them and she’s mad at her husband for choosing to save her, but there was NO CHOICE. Either she lives or they both die! ffs I’m so irritated about this) and then he dumps her ~for her own good~~ because he loves her too much to make her go through losing him? So she loses him sooner?? right after their baby died???

Why do people in these stories always think being betrayed and abandoned for no reason and being incredibly angry at someone you love while also not getting to be with them is somehow less painful than making the best of your life together and then losing them against their will? ‘I will make her hate me and then she won’t be sad we broke up/I died!!!!’ is such a fucking galaxy brain take and I despise it with the heat of ten thousand suns. Fuck you, Spider-Man. You aren’t protecting anyone, the villains still know you love MJ and will still use her against you, you clod. Emotionally torturing the person you love is not going to make them not a target because the villains are not as fucking stupid as you two. Anyway.

Amnesia was right where I started fast-forwarding and skipping around (because I couldn’t bear it), but it only goes downhill from there. Maybe I would have toughed out more of the wretched middle part plot twist if they hadn’t cut all the hot guy’s hair off. If I’m going to watch total nonsense tedious melodrama, I need it to at least be pretty. I understand it was a Symbolic Haircut but damnit! Let me have this!

And it ultimately does the thing that kdramas seem obsessed with and which makes me want to claw out my own eyeballs with frustration. There’s a giant time skip, the female lead gets a personality transplant, all narrative momentum is lost, and the characters who eventually (at ENORMOUS length) get together permanently are essentially completely different characters with a completely different dynamic than the couple you were shipping for 90% of the story. It is so FUCKING unsatisfying and it is EVERYWHERE.

Not so much with this one because this one still had a lot of very romantic scenes late in the game, but most that do this, it’s also like all the romance is sucked out of the post-time skip episodes and the ending is a consolation prize instead of a triumphant culmination. Inevitably, the heroine abruptly cools off and is suddenly wary of the hero and wants this Important New Career she never mentioned until the penultimate episode but is now her one true life’s dream. What the apparently irresistible appeal is of these contrived separations and demure conclusions is I CANNOT FATHOM. I’m here for the fucking romance guys, you have not made Citizen Kane, please just indulge me with a big schmoopy finale.

And if not that, it’s frequently that there’s been so many random mood swings and so much shitty behaviour by the end that the relationship doesn’t make sense and you don’t know why they even bother to get back together.

I’m not inherently against all misunderstandings (they are the bread and butter of low stakes romance let’s be real) or attempts at noble idiocy from misguided characters, but the duration and seriousness of the drama these generate needs to be in proportion to how ridiculous they are. If your entire plot can be solved by a thirty second conversation there is NO REASON not to have and the continuation of the misunderstanding is a result of someone just NOT SPEAKING UP when any functional human being would have spoken up seven times by now IT’S BAD.

Do little cliff-hangers, whatever, but don’t draaaaagg out silly misconceptions into Shakespearean tragedy, it’s just wearying. It makes me hate the characters for acting like emotionally constipated toddlers with terminal stupidity. If there is so little trust, so little understanding, and so little basic patience between these people, they probably shouldn’t be dating, so try fucking harder, writers. And noble idiocy that is more than an impulse they fairly quickly see the error of is just insulting. You are not helping the other person, you are being domineering and selfish. I have a whole complex about wasting time and seeing endless parades of characters flushing years down the toilet for literally no reason gives me hives. Especially when the whole issue is about time!

(And, btw, so much of the plot is about how desperately the family needs an heir and everyone still wanting them to have kids the second time they get together- while the ~dilemma used to keep them apart is a GENETIC DISEASE which could STRIKE AT ANY TIME. Do you SEE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WRITERS????? NO, I KNOW YOU DON’T. ommmmmmmmggggg that’s awful! So they’re just dooming more kids to Soap Opera Brain Disease? And maybe growing up without a father just as Gun did? And no one even considers suggesting adoption??? He never considers that he shouldn’t have biological children despite thinking he shouldn’t have a wife?)

ANYWAY. Please do watch the first nine episodes and the last three, it’s bananas. They are cute as fuck, Gun is The Best, and the tropey romance scenes are top quality. You don't get those things executed so well, it doesn't happen, so you need this in your life. The acting is of a calibre you never usually see in modern romcoms; these are people at the top of their game committing utterly and taking these characters completely seriously. In that way it is pure wish fulfilment for me as someone who loves romance and is almost always disappointed by popular romance media, and thus the show is incalculably special. But skip the middle. Just skip it. It's not worth the suffering. I find the tone whiplash honestly just this side of crass.

I’ve been thinking about it for over a week and I truly love the main characters so it did plenty right, but I just cannot with wedding the two things this show is trying to be together, especially when it goes so hard in two mutually exclusive directions. but also the Meet Joe Black sudden car accident device is not redeemable under any circumstances. Can we never do that again, please.

[kittybellestark]

Okay I think Time Can Heal All, But Maybe Not This has been out long enough that I can actually talk about it

If you haven’t read TCHABMNT yet there’s gonna be some spoilers but you can find it here

EDIT: I forgot to talk about May bc I did this at night when I was really tired and my brain just wanted to talk about Peter ig, that is my absolute bad so I added that in everything else is the same tho

So obvs y’all know I had troubles with getting it published here and there’s still been some struggles but I wanna actually talk about the story.

So I started writing it a few months ago but only got 7 paragraphs in before not knowing where to bring the story. Originally the line “And Peter is terrified” was supposed to end that paragraph.

After that the fic was going to be all fluff and Harley and Tony trying to reassure Peter that his insecurities aren’t going to come to fruition.

But then I had a bad day. And the story had been sitting in my drafts forever. So I figured out how to continue the story.

Make Peter feel alone.

I had to keep the snap canon because otherwise there’s be no other plausible way for all of Peter’s family to just ditch him and for Flash and Peter to become friends.

I had to make it so that everyone in Peter’s life moved on without him.

So May moved to Italy and has a boyfriend who Peter assumes will be her husband by the time he’s 20, she has her dream job and is doing what she loves.

She moved out to Italy to forget Peter. It was for selfish reasons, she lost everything in her life, her husband, his family (Peter’s parents), her parents had died years prior and now Peter is also dead. She’s left alone and she doesn’t know what to do. So May moves to Italy to forget Peter and forget the pain and grief she feels. She doesn’t want to remember him.

By trying to forget she finds a new life. She’s a version of who Peter could have become. May is alone with no one, left behind in a world that lost everything. She has a new family and she can’t give it all up to move half way across the world. May would be uprooting her whole family. She moved on from Peter. Tried her hardest to forget him.

May wants to have a relationship with Peter, she just mentally cannot handle having him back in her life because then that opens up the possibility of Ben being back in her life, or her parents, or Peter’s parents even. By acknowledging that Peter is back for more than a phone call or a FaceTime it’ll send her spiraling. May has crafted this reality for herself and it is safe and she cannot give it up.

She loves Peter, of course she does, but having him back will only hurt her more.

I still think it’s canon, in this story,  that Tony reversed what Thanos did for Peter. And I couldn’t just kill Tony off either because that wouldn’t really be as painful as Peter just not having contact with him after everything.

It’s not because Tony just forgot Peter existed that they don’t really talk at the beginning. Obviously the affect of snapping left Tony seriously injuries and I referenced that in the story, “…Tony needed a lot more attention after the snap due to his injuries…” so Peter doesn’t really have the full idea of what his injuries are like, but I imagine pretty horrible, which would mean that Pepper wouldn’t be able to move him very soon.

Not to mention Morgan, who is born post snap and now the world had doubled in population and suddenly her father is so badly injuries he can’t be moved. That’s traumatizing on a child of her age, and then try and move her into the city?? That’s going to cause lasting affects on her mental health so of course the Starks are going to do what they can for Peter, but they have some really big things they need to deal with too.

But the Starks did move back into the city for him, it’s just a little late, because Peter is now going away for school. It’s not that they didn’t put an effort in to be with him, it’s just that they were spread thin between the Tony’s recovery, having Morgan cope, the company, what’s left of the avengers, trying and get themselves back to the city and being in the midst of what is probably an economic crisis.

When Peter turns 22 there’s a line “Just some empty seats and empty promises,” which isn’t much to go on, but a little bit later when Peter is thirty I wrote that Tony also has an 8 year old son. So Tony and Pepper were supposed to go to Peter’s MIT graduation, but she went into labour and they couldn’t go. It’s such a small little thing that’d be easily missed, but I wanted to sprinkle in that Tony and Pepper were trying to make an effort with Peter at least. But then they have another kid and being parents is hard enough, but now two kids? That’s hard, they’re going to forgot to prioritize Peter, especially when he hasn’t been a priority yet.

I felt it was important to give Peter someone though. Which is why Peter and Flash are friends through the story. It’s unlikely, and it wouldn’t have happened had they not been left behind. In the beginning I had wanted to have Flash and Peter get together romantically at some point, but that felt like a cop out, and too predictable. Which is why Flash ended up with Peter’s P.A, Gwen (yes Gwen Stacy). Having Flash move on with his life could either give Peter the idea that he could have what Flash has, because they’ve been in the same boat forever, or it could lead him to think that he’s incapable of having a life like that.

I had originally written that Peter tells Flash about Spider-Man, about how he can’t put on his suit without getting really bad flashbacks and panic attacks about what happened. But I didn’t want to turn this story to be about Spider-Man, because it’s not. This isn’t about Spider-Man’s struggles to get the suit back on and save people, this is about Peter’s struggles with mental health and his addiction. In my head Peter told Flash when they were still in high school, sitting on the bleachers in the evening, drinking a bottle of whiskey that Flash stole from his Dad’s liquor cabinet, which would also be the beginning to Peter’s alcoholism. But I ultimately didn’t feel like it was necessary to add to the story. It is something I’m willing to write out in the future though.

It felt really important for me to make everything in the story connect with each other. Peter goes to school at MIT, which is in Boston, where Ned lived when he was an adult (and we know that’s also where Tony went to school), and Peter is in California when he meets Harley again, where MJ went to school (Tony also previously lived in Cali). Everything needed to be connected to the life Peter lost. Which is also why there are so many similarities in Peter’s life now and Tony’s life before he settled down.

Tony went to MIT, well now so does Peter. Tony is an alcoholic with preference for whiskey? Yeah, Peter too. Tony is pretty much alone except for Rhodey? Peter is also alone, but he has Flash. Tony had suicidal and self-destructive tendencies? Peter has only tried killing himself multiple times. By making Peter into a version of Tony, it brings a reference to SM:HC, where Peter says after the ferry boat accident, “I just wanted to be like you” and Tony responds “And I wanted you to be better.” Peter is Tony, he’s just found fame and fortune at a different time, runs his own company and makes ground-breaking research that will help the world.

It’s why Peter is so hurt when he’s called (look a SM:FFH reference) “The Next Tony Stark.” He already is Tony Stark, except he doesn’t have the happiness or the family Tony currently has. Peter just has Flash and his assistant Gwen (just like young Tony only had Rhodey and Pepper). Peter being a version of Tony Stark, he can’t really see an escape. He is so horribly hurt and the only way he can see there being peace in his life is if he isn’t alive. Which is why he continues to try and kill himself.

I didn’t want Peter to die though, I wanted him to find something that would make life tolerable. Which is why I reintroduced Harley. Peter tries to ignore Harley, pretend he doesn’t recognize him, because Peter doesn’t want to remember his past and who he was and what he lost anymore. Harley being there is such a big reminder of who he used to be and who he wants to be, that Peter wants Harley to go away. He doesn’t acknowledge that he knows Harley, even when Harley all but says ‘I’m Harley Keener’ to Peter. At this point in the story Peter made up his mind that he is going to die. There was no other option, but then this beacon of hope shows up and Peter doesn’t want it anymore.

I think by reintroducing Harley it was important to never say that Peter and Harley end up together or that they’re still in contact. I left that pretty open ended because Harley just swooped in at the last second and stopped Peter from killing himself. Peter’s recovery is clearly not an easy one because that was when Peter is 30 and it’s only when Peter turns 32 that he’s one month sober. It was important that you don’t know who is Peter’s family. Because maybe it’s not the Starks or MJ and Ned or Harley or May. Maybe Peter moved on from his past they way they all had and has finally made peace with life, or maybe Peter’s past is now in his life again and he’s happy because he has what he always missed.

Everything in this story was so deliberate and there’s so much that I did that’s just these small little things and I love it so much. I think it was important to see Peter struggle with life and death and his mental illnesses.

So yeah, I’m completely in love with this story and if you guys have any questions about it please send me some asks and I’ll totally answer them, I’m just not over this story yet and I really want to talk about it some more !!

[davidmann95]

I got a BUNCH of X-Men related asks in fairly rapid succession - I think from multiple people though - so I’ll just put ‘em all together here.

Anonymous said: Does a metaphor need to be perfect in order for a story to work? You’ve pointed out the problem with the X-Men’s civil rights metaphor, but a lot of people still connect with them anyway so when does the metaphor not work?

It causes problems but certainly it doesn’t inherently break a story.

Anonymous said: Honestly, it’s weird they brought Xavier back when he became so out of focus and irrelevant over years I'm fairly certain no readers even remembered he was still alive when they actually killed him off. Remember Schism? Tell me it doesn't read like even Logan and Scott forgot.

He hadn’t been the headmaster since 2003! Which itself seems like a very deliberate choice on Hickman’s part (and you can no-prize it that the real reason for his absence is that that’s when he really started working on what would become Krakoa).

Anonymous said: Thoughts on Days of the Future Past movie? I know you don’t like X-Men, but I still think that one was pretty great. Sadly, in retrospect rather then new begining the franchise it was its real end, but still a good, heartfell story and I like how complex and non-formulaic it was compared to most superhero (including X-Men for that matter) movies.

Liked it a lot at the time, wouldn’t ever recommend it knowing what we now know, and I remember thinking “why did this take off while The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was lambasted given they were about equally dumb fun” (the silly thought of an immature young man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was much better).

Anonymous said: Ever seen that Gifted show? One of the saddest things about it was that because they were using all the good mutants in the movies, the show had to make such deep cuts they had to use a numbers filled off expy of freaking SUNSPOT-when most of those mutants in the movies are just extras who get killed off in between sequels.

Nope, but that is an extra shitty/hilarious layer to the frequent “you can’t use them because of the movies!” TV limitations.

Anonymous said: How come Moira Mactaggert never tried in any of her later lives to expand her operations outside the X-verse? Why not work with Tony Stark or Reed Richards or even Hank Pym to avert an Sentinel AI uprising? Or try to get her hands on a Cosmic something or Infinity whatever?

The former is because she definitely wouldn’t trust humans in this (and rightly so, any of those guys would inevitably make it ten times worse), the latter I guess she just wasn’t able to manage it. Interesting what she might have thought of House of M though, since that’s basically what she would have presumably done with such power herself.

Anonymous said: Reading first arc of Ultimate X-Men, isn’t it amazing how many intruiging changes to the classic X-Men status quo happen only to be immediately shown to be fake outs? And Magneto’s backstory (well, the one big part everyone remembers) naturally gets changed, therefore Millar updates it with… Nothing. He’s just a complete piece of shit just cause (but he and Xavier were still friends cause that’s how it was in 616). Also, Millar actually does „sending Sentinels against Magneto“ unironically.

Ultimate X-Men from Millar was such an oddity, especially given Hickman ended up drawing on notions from it for HoXPoX. The main signifier for things to come I think was that all the relationship stuff happened off-panel, which made perfect sense for The Authority as celebrity super-people but none whatsoever for the X-Men, the first sign he wasn’t changing for anyone. I think there was a flashback suggesting Magneto still went through the Holocaust though, wasn’t there?

Anonymous said: Since you enjoyed it, did you grow any affection for any of the New Mutants from that Hickman arc? A criticism is that they all come off pretty one-note in it, leaving little impression. You obviously don’t have experience with the team outside of it anyway, but you can see how Ewing wrote Sunspot in New and USAvengers for comparison.

I enjoyed it well enough but it and they didn’t much stick with me.

Anonymous said: You've voiced your dissapointment with most of the X-line not really comitting to the new direction (I hear X-Force is trying tho), but was it any different back with Morrison's X-Men? To my knowledge, all that translated to other titles, including the other main book, was wearing black and yellow leather.

Fair, but A. That was a failing then too, and B. Even if it didn’t work out, they put Joe Casey on Uncanny and I’d certainly say that counts as trying.

[shellheadtmark2]

@auntlarb if I was to start reading comics for 616 Tony, which comic would you recommend to start with? like I have zero idea how comics work or where to even begin

honestly, and this isn’t really a good answer, but it’s the honest one, it depends on what you want to know.  because otherwise the answer is everything.  every single scrap you can because...well, to be absolutely real with you, shit from one panel from one comic fifty years ago will be referenced in a comic now and the only footnote you get in explanation is something like “AS SEEN IN INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #5! - EDITOR” when invincible iron man #5 was published in 1963.

i’m also going to really preface this in general for anyone reading this and also be incredibly real and say if anyone that wants to start reading iron man comics and goes in expecting anything at all like mcu tony - you’re gonna be disappointed.  mcu tony is as different to 616 tony as ultimates tony is to both of them, which is to say...they’re different characters.  or, rather, very different takes on the same character.  the mcu is something like what if 616 and ultimates had a baby and that baby grew up to marry thanos.  616 tony is less cinnamon roll too good for this world and is literally charred cinnamon roll, crunchy, been through hell and back, throw him in the trash.  i love him a lot tho.

alright, that’s my expect something completely different disclaimer.

the problem with reading guides in general is that they don’t...you don’t get the full picture.  with comics you have to jump around, read an issue here and there of a title you wouldn’t normally do so with (as i wait patiently for wednesday so i can read loki #2 and find out why tony’s wearing armor on the cover he logically shouldn’t - assuming that’s even addressed).  there’...honestly i’d argue there’s no perfect place to jump in, you just pick a spot and start reading, and if you get to the end of an issue and it says “contined in [some other comic title and number]” you hunt that down and read it, and then bounce back to what you were reading.  so you get the full picture.  you read  a lot of comics - and i mean a lot - digging out every scrap of one storyline.  

which is a lot of words to say pick a spot and just dive in.  but it’s true.  i can, however, offer suggestions for runs that i personally enjoy and think give good groundwork for how 616 tony feels different from mcu tony, and eases you into it being less jarring because of that difference.  

iron man: extremis director’s cut (2005) will never not be on my recommended list.  it shows you how extremis works in 616 and why tony would do that to himself.  it’s also one of those comics that gives you a little bit of a sense of how 616 tony’s brain works.  be warned tho, it’s...it’s dark.  and gory.  i can tell you right now most of the iron man comics on this list are going to be both of those things, because that’s just how iron man rolls.  there’s no happy endings for tony, y’all.  this is one comic i reference a lot.

invincible iron man (2008) is another favorite.  it’s a little bit director of shield, a little bit of a mandarin face off story, a little bit of yanking tony out of the armor, a little bit of getting involved in asgard’s bullshit, a little bit of a detective story.  this is the run with the brain thing.  also gory.  also, at times, dark.  it does not shy from the body horror of what tony does to himself.  but it’s a solid look at tony’s world, i think, from tony’s point of view.  also i can verify you can read this one without having read others because @gwinnetts did it for reasons and furthermore and didn’t have any trouble.

invincible iron man (1998) is another good run, though it’s one that...goes for a long while.  the mandarin shows up, you see bits and pieces of tony’s ridiculously bad love life, he’s secdef for a while, there’s all kinds of weird horror shows going on, it’s dark, it’s gritty, it’s the golden age of iron man comics, in my opinion.  also a good place to start because it’s post heroes-reborn so everything’s new and shiny and you can follow along right through it.

avengers (2013) requires some prerequisite reading and some intermittent reading of other stuff (AXIS, superior iron man, new avengers, infinity) to get the full picture by the end, but good lord it’s a beautiful avengers run.

because that’s the thing.  you can’t just read iron man comics, you gotta start dipping in all over the place to understand what’s going on.  

new avengers & young avengers (2005) is okay in the set up to civil war.  you’ll get to see characters like luke cage and spider-man, stature and patriot, as well as jessica drew and wolverine, and it starts laying that foundation.

civil war is super! super! important to tony, even if he doesn’t remember it anymore firsthand.  and there are so many tie ins to civil war like...you could spend forever just here.  on top of the seven issue run, i also highly recommend fallen son, the confession, and what if? civil war for maximum tony stark manpain.  because civil war fucking wrecks me.  it’s been fifteen goddamn years almost and it still fucking wrecks me.

demon in a bottle, because tony being a recovering alcoholic is such a huge part of his character development, and demon in a bottle is crucial to that.  to add on to that, in invincible iron man runs in the early 80s help fill in the blanks from this nicely.

iron man legacy is incomplete, but it’s so so good.  so good.  it gives you a taste of homeless tony in a modern sense, as well as how inventive his brain is when he’s armorless.  well worth the read and it won’t even take that long.

the armor wars (both of them) are another set that definitely deserve a skim through, because it shows just how out of hand shit gets sometimes, and how far tony will go to get his shit back.

iron man: viva las vegas is also incomplete, which is a goddamn shame, but it’s another quick read that gives you and idea of tony doing tony things.  it was also a great little plot, killed before its time, and the art was, imo, solid, in the same style as iron man: extremis.

iron man: fatal frontier is hooo boy.  it’s sure a thing that happened.  think mining boomtown.  on the moon.  with tony as the sheriff.  who’s also suffering from a metal poisoning that’s making him megalomaniacal because “tony knows best”.  it’s good.  if anyone doesn’t agree, we can meet in the pit, i love fatal frontier.  i have lots of feelings about fatal frontier.

fantastic four/iron man: big in japan is great to lighten things up again.  kinda gory but in a cutesy...way?  it’s hard to explain, this comic is just wild as fuck.  also hilarious.

captain america: man out of time is probably a weird choice outwardly to put here, but it’s about the avengers finding cap from cap’s perspective, and how badly tony was mancrushing on him.  the start of the unnecessary touching.  tony wiggling in excitement to take steve rogers out.  tony’s dual identity.  it’s all here, and from steve rogers’s perspective.

anyway this thing is...really long, and this is a good start.  it gives (i personally think, anyone else is welcome to disagree / make suggestions) a good comparison for just how different 616 tony is.  you’ll both hurt for him even more?  and feel pretty unsympathetic to some of his bullshit by the end of it.  but what you will see is a lot of nuance that’s missed just because the mcu couldn’t develop these kinds of layers in the time it had.  tony’s complicated, and that’s putting it...extremely mildly.  he’s so so good, but he’s willing to throw himself on the pyre and nail himself on the cross and it fucks him each and every time he does it.

[smokeybrand]

Smokey brand Movie Review: Boo-Yah!!

So i’ve had a day to process what i saw in Justice League and actually take in everything that kind of happened to me. I needed that time, and a second viewing, to actually process how i felt about this film. My conclusion? i don’t like it. I don’t know what it is but Warner Bros can’t make a good DC film to save their lives. I mean, Wonder Woman was pretty good but upon further viewings, it’s serviceable at best That ending was just terrible. And so was the ending in this one, too! but i’ll get to that.

The Good

There’s this bit about a janitor’s wife complain about her abducted husband getting anal probes and it was the best thing about this movie, hands down.

The opening scene with Diana savings those cats in the bank was the best representation of her powers i have seen set to film, yet. That Diana is the Wonder Woman i know.

Boo-Yah.

Batfleck is growing on me. I found his portrayal charming and true to the character. Good job, yo!

The overall tone of this flick is much brighter. There’s a lot of levity in this cut and i rather enjoyed that. I don’t much care for Snyder’s vision as a filmmaker so bringing in Whedon was a good look to kind of lighten up everything.

Cyborg was pretty legit. Ray Fisher did a helluva of job giving life to Vic Stone. I found myself wanting more, and as i understand it, there WAS much more but all those Whedon cuts kind of killed everything. Unfortunate.

I adored Ezra Miller’s Flash. He’s basically the quippiest of the lot a la Spider-Man and i  thought it was good fit for the team. I’ve read other reviews that think ol’ kid’s portrayal was heresy to the core of the Barry Allen character but i adored his take.

I also liked the interpretation of the Speed Force. Snyder did a good job visualizing Barry’s powers.

The best scene in this film is when Supes comes back and dog-walked the entire league and he sees the Flash in the speed force. That was a dope ass visual for real.

The post credit scenes were outstanding. I adored the Race scene but that Lex and Wade stinger was dope. Like, i adored seeing actual Lex Luthor but there are concerns raised with that little fan services extra.

I rather liked Steppenwolf as a character. I thought he was every bit the menace and scourge he was made out to be. Ciarán Hinds did a wonderful job. It’s too bad that...

The Bad

Steppenwolf was flaccid and inept as a villain. His whole shtick feels cowardly and doomed to fail. He was more a petulant child throwing a tantrum than an actual global threat. Doomsday from BvS felt like more of an issue that Steppewolf and his hit-n-run tactics.

The ending was ridiculous. The way Steppenwolf went out doesn’t make any sense. How do you have an army of these Parademons that feed on fear, turn on you because you’re scared? You’re f*cking Steppenwolf! Destroyer of Worlds. you lost ONE battle. One. This would be your second defeat. Why re you scared?? how are you not VIOLENTLY enraged by all of this?? How do you let your lackeys eat you like that?? How are they not slaves?? Sh*t doesn’t make any sense, manq.

Also, why did it take 5000 years for him to try again? why wouldn’t you come back in, like, 50? it took all the tribes of man, a green lantern, and literal gods to stop you the first time and you took, like, no damage. Why the f*ck would it take this long to get back to earth and finish what you started?? That sh*t doesn’t make a lick of sense.

Was it weird to anyone else that Cyborg’s pops was the ct from Cyberdyne systems that created Skynet?

Speaking of robots you can’t trust, when and where in this film was it established that cats couldn’t trust Cyborg like he was a sleeper enemy. The only time we saw that might be a thing was when he took that pot shot as Supes but Vic was a team player from the start.

Yo, i don’t know if this is jus me, but this film feels like it ws shot mad close. Like, intimate doesn’t describe how close you are to these characters.

The power scaling was all over the place. You’re telling me that this Superman is stronger than literal Gods this go around? You kind of see Heracles or Zeus dotting Stepenwolf’s eye before he was forced to retreat but Clark was just rag-dolling that cat. You saying Krypton was just full of motherf*ckers that could run Apokolips? Really?? Yo, Clark got murdered by a reanimated corpse.re you seriously telling me Zodsday was more of a threat than a New God??

How did Aquaman know where everyone was in the tunnels under Gotham bat or whatever? He wasn’t in contact with any of them and none of them were in water. How did he know any of that?

The f*ck was up with Mera? I liked Amber HEard’s portrayal and i thought she was legit badass but why was she even in this flick?

On that note, the f*ck was Aquaman doing there anyway? He, apparently, abandoned his throne to Mera and just disappeared. How is he suppose to be the protector of the sea when he doesn’t even sit on the Atlatean throne? The f*ck, man??

Going from Steppenwolf to the teased Legion of Doom/Justice League seems like a deescalation. It feels... soft. There are so may villains that pose a proper threat to solicit the nuclear option of the JL and Lex’s merry band of misfits is not one of them. Unless they translate that Justice League: War story line. That would be dope. Or bring over the Crime Syndicate but that wouldn't align with that stinger too well.

Bro, they re-shot this ENTIRE movie, yo. Next to nothing from the trailer made it into this film ad it sucks. There were some interactions i was looking forward to that just didn’t happen.

This movie is ugly. I hate the DCEU aesthetic with a passion but i felt that way about almost every other film release though. Except Wondy. They did good with Wondy. All of their costumes are disgusting looking. I feel the same way about these hero uniforms as i do about the first time i saw Bayformers.

but that  Superstache, tho.

The Ugly

They neutered the f*ck out of Lois. Amy Adams worked miracles wit the material she was given but that materiel was sh*t, man.

Yo, how is this movie not three hours long? Literally, this flick should have been three hours long instead of BvS. I mean, it’s ludicrous to think that two hours was enough time to tell this story. You can totally feel that rush.

It also doesn’t help that it’s VERY apparent there was more than one cook in the kitchen overall. The direction is all over the place, man. You can totally tell where Snyder was trying to go but was abruptly vetoed by Whedon and the WB executives.

This flick is wildly sexist. Watching this, after watching the excellent Wonder Woman, you are acutely aware of that male gaze, man. Literally every Amazon in this looks like they went shopping at the same place cats got their wardrobe for 300 from. If this was our first outing on Themyscira, then okay, but we watched Patty Jenkins create a world not a handful of months ago. Seeing them go from armored wars to armored bikinis was crazy jarring for me.

The overt sexualization of Diana was wildly troubling. I don’t know that EVERY character in this flick wanted in her pants, but it was still very apparent Whedon/Snyder oversexed her character. SO man plunging necklines and butt shots, not that i was complaining. Gal Gadot is a beautiful woman but coming of her solo flick where things like this weren’t an issue, it felt like an overall disservice to the character.

So much of this movie was left on the cutting room floor that it feels incomplete. There was a different movie shot before Whedon got his hands on this flick and i don’t know if it would have been better or not , but i kind of feel like it would have made more sense. Well, as much sense as you can make with this plot.

Yo, whoever wrote this is a goddamn quack. The plot of this film is hs*t and the Super-Resurrection was poorly executed. I get they had to do the best with what they had but, and i keep coming back to this, Wonder Woman was SO good! you’d think Snyder/Whedon could have delivered a similar narrative.

Bats and Supes never really address the Bat-Guilt that Bruce has for getting Clark killed. HE just buys Martha a house by buying a bank.

This is another circumstance where the trailers oversell a DCEU movie. They gotta stop that.

The Verdict

Overall, this was a bad film. I didn’t much care for it. I thought it was boring at points and really, really, ugly. The bonkers tone from being directed by two different people doesn’t do the paper thin narrative any favors. I hate the DCEU aesthetic so much but i will say this is the best film of that universe, after Wonder Woman. Objectively, Justice League isn’t the worst thing out there. It’s fun at points and wildly entertain most of the time, i think, because of the cast chemistry, but it just feels rushed and panicked. Like, you can tell WB wanted Avengers but they didn’t want to invest the time or energy to organically grow the brand. This is a cash grab and a poor one at best. It was pretty to watch though i guess. Ultimately, i’d say i was disappointed but my expectations are already so low because the DCEU is all trash. If you’re a DC fan or you’re into seeing a spectacle, check it out. It’s hard for me to reconcile whyit’s so bad when it was built up for so much success. Yo, check it out of you’re into cape films or if you’re a fan of that generic,blockbuster formula. You’ll have a good time. Just don’t go into this thing expecting Wonder Woman levels of dope. Justice League is decidedly not that.