#magician toad

[tudulu]

INKTOBER 2023

[cpmhew]

Freliot & Quentoad

A little cozy gay AU because queer people deserve to be happy and safe and loved & loved & loved.

[guilhernunes]

magician frog

prints: Magician frog, an art print by Guilherme Nunes - INPRNT

[pink-octopede64]

please hear me out

even tho nobody talks about the reluctant dragon and mr toad show due to its obscurity, i am somewhat convinced that it can be in a small part of the rankin bass holiday cinematic universe with my only proof being that merlin the magician jr and professor hinkle looking very similar and it could be likely that merlin is hinkle’s ancestor from the middle ages

[entropysoup]

also completely obsessed what you guys have going on with the frog and toad queliot stuff ???

[head-in-the-shrouds]

366 Prompts For 2024:

One word prompts for 2024 (all 12 months) and some alternatives. These are mostly horror / fantasy aimed.

January (31):

Behold

Justice

Oak

Weave

Hook

Waggon

Torch

Jinx

Prey

Must

Lit

Keep

Vanquish

Yarrow

Intended

Tomb

Marsh

Leather

Blanket

Kin

Lordling

Promises

Heath

Rot

West

Under

Sworn

Rusted

Transformation

Quest

Pond

February (29):

Midwinter

Oath

Croak

Blush

Nimble

Malady

Deal

Roots

Willow

Orders

Moss

Lantern

Portent

Lovelock

Mourning

Horned

Keys

Earn

Remedy

Bog

Yearning

Lace

Trunk

Coiled

Linger

Soothsayer

Revenge

Oleander

Revered

March (31):

Metal

Pride

Gunpowder

Inheritance

Master

Brandish

Enchanted

Path

Sacrifice

Tailor

Crypt

Remain

Toad

Understanding

Legacy

Archway

Mirror

Omen

Home

Fur

Dust

Bow

Necklace

Sly

Permanent

Grin

Aim

Nest

Hex

Church

Valour

April (30):

Masonry

Inquiry

Ledge

Years

Hospitality

Clay

Priestess

Sunken

Lavender

Trust

Waters

Guilt

Dusk

Protection

Musket

Castle

Flee

Ancient

Value

Charm

Fever

Penance

Silk

Foxhole

Ornament

Tradition

Meld

Hare

Well

Pest

May (31):

Moonrise

Sea

Wander

Absolution

Bark

Ridge

Crackle

Sacred

Bind

Frozen

Thatch

Naming

Elder

Wealth

Dappled

Reading

Father

Cathedral

Tent

Grey

Payment

Enshrine

Tales

Velvet

Cell

Guide

Dawn

Mines

Riddle

Falling

Clock

June (30):

Vixen

Stolen

Worth

Tar

Alchemy

Fickle

Barrell

Harrow

Pyre

Chest

Worship

Steps

Armoury

Tear

Den

Ladder

Ruins

Bargain

Snake-leaves

Corn-doll

Garnet

Eccentric

Telescope

Antler

Stone

Break

Laden

Tower

Chain

Rook

July (31):

Masquerade

Pines

Mother

Herbs

Limb

Prize

Rescue

Scales

Melody

Shore

Tempest

Appease

Queen

Hermit

Separated

Bear

Righteous

Chimney

Storm

Manipulate

Boots

Apple

Rings

Crafted

Trail

Bleak

Dear-heart

Sanctify

Feast

Gathering

Door

August (31):

Luck

Display

Greed

Autumn

Found

Wildfire

Sleep

Grandfather

Watch

Hidden

Lookalike

Whimsey

Thicket

Runes

Horseshoe

Smoke

Awaken

Gargoyle

Wig

Poison

Thousand-fur

Shatter

Barrow

Tempt

Flag

Mercy

Web

Beast

Candle

Hunt

Serpent

September (30):

Belladonna

Magician

Birch

Reflection

Sight

Elaborate

Captive

Rope

Glass

Decades

Blade

Sorrow

Finickity

Carving

Stag

Fairy-tale

Spark

Blackthorn

Mountain

Century

Fury

Question

Claws

Fangs

Decay

Gift

Shipwreck

Blessed

Harvest

Crown

October (31):

Troll

Vines

Scattered

Prayer

Hatchet

Coat

Fireside

Grim

Sealed

Walled

Healing

Cobbled

Secure

Forest

Blind

Constellation

Shroud

Regal

Helm

Shadowed

Ward

Sinking

Hills

Goldsmith

Silver

Entwining

Soldier

Courtship

Guest

Defy

Crone

November (30):

Bones

Fear

Talisman

Song

Witness

Cloak

Plague

Hearth

Returned

Testament

Ceremonial

Yearning

Written

Silhouette

Gilded

Boundary

Hunger

Stranger

Fiend

Dungeon

Huntsman

Want

Birdsong

Wish

Hierophant

Favour

Dreaming

Coal

Brother

Fields

December (31):

Bottles

Curse

Horizon

Supplies

Wallowing

Hodge-podge

Thorns

Wisdom

Trinket

Warmth

Timber

Honest

Ritual

Welcome

Branches

Disguise

Bound

Gallows

Shield

Window

Finality

Tinder

Starlight

Winds

Bridge

Fortune

Tracks

River

Guardian

Summon

Warmth

Alternative Prompts:

Cunning

Puppet

Hound

Brambles

Eldritch

Garden

Eldritch

Cosmic

Bells

Tainted

Sleigh

Sect

Glowing

Coven

[just-a-gamer-daydeamer-girl]

So now I’m hyper fixated on Rayman again I should probably post some of my head canons on the limbless guy

Rayman is a master at playing all the instruments in the plucked string family. Including the harp. Every time I hear his theme in Rayman M I keep thinking he is the one completely rocking the Banjo.

He also has a hobby in painting. Just anything he feels like painting he paints, he mostly just does it for himself and doesn’t give any of his paintings away even as gifts. It’s more a hobby for himself and he either doesn’t feel comfortable with giving his works away or doesn’t think that there good enough.

His love language is quality time, he doesn’t care what they do he just wants to spend time with others. Weather it’s sleeping together with globox, helping Ly or listening to murffy ramble.

He does have a spa day at least every week.

Rayman often leaves his home, no one in the glade knows where he goes or how to find him but he always comes back after a few days. The popular theory is that he trains his skills in private during this time but no one knows.

He gets really angry when others blame him for things he has no control over or when he ends up failing and telling him that it’s his fault .

Rayman and Barbara have a bit of a toxic relationship. They both enable each other’s reckless behavior. But their friendship is more of a friendly rivalry more than anything. They are adventurous buddies to the end.

He knows how to fight with a battle axe, and other weapons, Barbara and the other princesses taught him.

In legends he ended up getting captured several times and Barbara had to save him. (Like from the giant toad in the Rayman legends trailer)

He and Barbara often wrestle and have some playful fights together. Sometimes this goes on for hours.

Rayman has a strange relationship with Betilla, she is both his mom but also kinda not. Betilla is conflicting because she genuinely thinks of Rayman as her son (even if she doesn’t realize it) but her duties as a Protector kinda conflict with that (basically her feelings are conflicting with her logic) as she created Rayman to save the world. They really need to talk about their relationship but Betilla kinda keeps pushing the subject away. This is one of the main reasons why Rayman left the valley, he was sick of not getting a straight answer. But he does genuinely care for her.

This odd relationship extends to the other Nymphs, who all adore and care for Rayman but due to their duties keep bit of distance from the limbless boy. Except Voodoo Mama, she full blown calls herself Auntie Voodoo to Rayman and insists on calling Betilla his mother. She is the one who helps Rayman leave the valley, understanding all of his reasons to do so.

The magician (Rayman 1) actually helped raise Rayman if Betilla was too busy. He taught Rayman important lessons about morality. He also liked hyping him up with dramatic speeches and was the first one to call rayman a hero despite, him haven’t done any heroics yet.

Rayman keeps his past and his relationships with his mother and aunts a secret but he does let some things slip every now and again. Hence why the Phantom knows about Mr dark.

Rayman is a foodie, he loves all kinds of food and enjoys eating anything. And he can technically eat anything with no problem, but that doesn’t mean he likes the taste.

He sometimes visits has conversations with both Polokus and Jano.

He is asexual (I don’t think he ever shown any interest whatsoever) but he may be open to a romantic relationship.

Some nights he can’t sleep and just watches the sky.

Hates being picked up and held like a doll or a kid.

The way he ‘ages’ is different from others as instead of growing up naturally he instead incorporates energy, lums and magic into his body which allows him to get bigger and changes his appearance over time. (I think the limbless are creatures who are unable to age)

Rayman makes a majority of his own clothes or gets them custom Made. Not a lot of shops made for limbless people around.

He likes a wide variety of music, mostly he likes 2000’s music though.

Rayman loves to enjoy the little things in life, he likes the idea of riches and glory but doesn’t love it.

He loves children, and is a really good babysitter.

He actually gets really scared when facing threats, he gets scared when fighting Mr Darks forces, the robot pirates, the hoodlums, the knaaren, even the Rabbids scare him. But he knows that fear isn’t something to be ashamed of, embraces it, and manages to act despite of it. That is genuine courage. 

He is clever, and can be an absolute troll when he wants to be, using his extended reach to pull pranks.

He takes care of the walking shell like a pet, it has a weird power of putting itself back together.

There are a lot of legends and rumors about him from what he accomplished and what he looks like to his backstory. Some of them are extremely wild and a lot of people don’t realize that the Rayman in the rumors is the same guy when they meet him in real life.

His hands and feet sometimes wanders around with out his knowledge when he is deep in sleep.

He is very aware that one’s species and looks do not attribute to how good or evil they are. He learned this lesson from others who judged him purely on looks, many people have attacked him in the past due to his appearance and thinking he is a monster.

He ended up ultimately failing to save Globox’s children from the Rabbids, someone else saved them. But he did in up accidentally saving the Rabbids by unknowingly teaching them to enjoy the little things in life, that it’s okay to make mistakes, enjoying their own sense of fashion and getting them into hobbies, allowing them to actually be happy and Turing them away from their conquest and destruction in the long run, and this all eventually leads to the Rabbid heroes in Mario + rabbids. Some Rabbids actually worship him as a god for opening their eyes to the wonders of the universe. To bad no one really knows about this connection.

After the Rabbids invasion Rayman starts having trouble sleeping (Ubisoft gave him eye bags in sparks of hope) and his friends (minus Barbara who hasn’t been aware of this situation due to reasons) were a bit disappointed in him after failing to defeat the Rabbids, not offering him any comfort or compassion to him, treating him differently then they used to. This did not help his mental health, and he started taking longer trips from home. (This is not my original idea but I love it.)

Rayman went to the phantom show because he had nothing better to do.

The Phantom invited Rayman because he as a few memories of him before he got fussed, he is also a bit jealous of the limbless hero.

There is quite a bit of distrust between Rayman, Rabbid Mario and Rabbid peach. Beep-o has to play peace keeper. (There is no way he instantly trusts them just because they say they’re heroes.) They do end up forming a genuine friendship by the end of the game but there was a bit of drama we didn’t get to see.

Rabbid Mario is the most friendly to him, liking Rayman’s vibe. But it takes awhile for Rabbid Peach to warm up to him. Rayman is visibly untrusting but civil to all the Rabbids.

When asked about why he doesn’t like the Rabbids by Beep-o he tells the truth about how they originally came from the glade of dreams, invaded and captured others and all the other horrific stuff. He says that he knows that it’s silly to judge if someones good or evil because of their race, but that’s not gonna stop him from being weary of the Rabbids. Rabbid Mario just looks horrified, Rabbid Peach just scoffs saying that she would never be apart of some dum- but never finishing her sentence.

Rayman is technically a demigod.

If he ever met Ramon he would except him as a family member.

He knows the value of listening

Might do more later

[strangelittlestories]

“Did you really think you could defeat me?” Snarled Arch-Oligarch Doré from his throne of eyes. “You, a paltry magician and your reptilian familiar?”

The wizard Threbb took a second to breathe and regret eir life choices, then immediately regretted breathing too. The weight of the Doré’s magic pressed down on eir chest, forcing air Threbb’s lungs.

It was like a pyramid turned upside down, its point pinioned into a single person.

No, not a pyramid - thought Threbb - a pyramid *scheme*; crushing em with all the impossible pressure of power stolen from a thousand thousand unwitting patsies.

Threbb mewled. The Arch-Oligarch’s sorcery was structural inequality made manifest and it was *killing em*.

And still, even under this weight, Threbb somehow found the strength to whisper a few defiant words.

“‘nsot arr ptl” E wheezed.

Doré leaned forward and the shining metallic eyes in his throne shimmered as they planted their gaze firmly on Threbb’s trembling lips.

“What was that?” The tyrant’s words dripped gilt venom. “I would hear your last words, archmage of fools…”

The pressure eased a hair, a fraction of a newton, a feather’s weight.

“She’s not. A reptile.” Each word was agonising. “She’s … an amphibian.”

The prince of power-brokers paused a moment, then laughed a laugh rich as ruby wine.

“Oh, my apologies, wizardling. I should at least do you the honour of getting the taxonomy of your pathetic parasitic spirit correct. Come here then, toad!”

Doré reached out a hand and liquid platinum flowed up from his fingers. The tiny creature ribbited sadly as its attempt to hop away was cut short by precious, unforgiving tendrils.

“Wig isn’t. A toad.” Threbb’s lungs burned, e could feel something burbling in eir chest. “She’s. A … hairy frog.”

“Disgusting.” Spat Doré, lifted Wig the hairy frog so that the sad creature hung just in front of his face. “But if this creature means so much to you, then you can watch me devour it before I squash you to pulp to wash it down with.”

“Did you know,” Said Wig the hairy frog, surprisingly chirpily. “That there are some people who call hairy frogs the ‘horror frog’?”

“...no. Why?”

“This is why, fucknugget.”

And with that, Wig the hairy frog broke her own leg, protruded the bone through her skin, then stuck the disgusting blade in Doré’s throat.

A solitary smooth *SNIKT* filled the room. A gasp of disbelief. A bubble of blood. Then silence.

Threbb slowly picked emself off of the floor.

A knock sounded from outside the throne room. Then a frightened voice called through:

“Milord … the amassed crowds are waiting to hear news of your ultimate triumph? Will you be addressing them soon?”

Threbb and Wig made frantic eye contact.

“Um…” Threbb waved eir broken wand to disguise eir voice. “Give me half an hour?”

“What seems to be the problem, oh king of all things?”

“I’ve, uh …”

Threbb looked at the Arch-Oligarch, then looked at Wig who still had her leg bone planted in his carteroid, then back to the Oligarch.

“I’ve got a bit of a frog in my throat.”

[givemeuniversalcrossovers]

Thoughts from work, the grinch who stole Christmas crossed with Mario. Bowser is sick of his kids not getting gifts from santa him and his magician koopa (Kamek) always buy the Koopalings presents but he hates that toads get special extra santa presents. His kids are good kids!! They're good at being bad!! They should get santa gifts. So naturally he decides right im stealing everyone else's presents in that stupid mushroom kingdom. Magician koopa likely uses a sleep spell to send everyone into a deep slumber so he can rob them blind in peace he especially doesn't wanna deal with the plumbers. Though lo and behold when he goes to rob them (in santa get up obviously) Luigi is awake having metabolised the magic spell quicker than everyone else but he's still dozy af and is just "Santa??" he plays Cindy lou role in a way and says after drinking his milk that could santa make sure to visit the Koopas? The kids are good kids really he knows and Bowser he's a good dad to them so they should get presents. Before promptly collapsing on the staircase going up cause his milk had sleep spell in it. And bowser is just crying on the inside because?? That's so nice he thinks I'm good dad and my kids are good?? He asked santa to go see them?? And decides actually sometimes a present is a person and just takes Luigi with him cause he deserves the treat.

Luigi wakes up in,, a sleeping bag? Huh don't remember sleeping there? Whys it so dark in here?? Before a door slams open followed by a uproar of the Koopalings voices shouting "DAD DAD SANTA CAME!!" The Koopalings??? Why are they here?? Where was he. Iggy speaks up, "hey dad you have something in your stocking!" before Luigi is picked up out of the comically large stocking sock by bowser with a little tag saying "To: Bowser. From: Santa" the kids are so excited santa actually visited them they don't think about how strange it is santa sent them Luigi in fact they start wondering to each other when THEY'LL get a person in their stocking. Luigi is very embarrassed apologising to Bowser and he doesn't know why this happened but Bowser is in a very joyous mood as his kids are so happy.

And he just keeps Luigi for Christmas while Mario panics elsewhere and the mushroom kingdom wonders where their presents and food went.

[yourlocalnicknackkinnie]

Garten of BanBan HC: 1

Ok, so I had this HC that all of the Garten of BanBan characters have a specific scent based on their color and/or vibe-

like, they would either smell like Fruits or a curtain kind of food.

Scents of the mascots under the cut (all)

BanBan

He smells like sausages/j (Hehe, Filipino sausage lookin man)

Ok but fr, He smells like Cinnamon (A hint of it)

Banbaleena

She gives me Vanilla Rose vibes

Stinger Flynn

I would go for Orange or a citrus scent

(Ik Orange seems obvious but I wanna scent that gives off Fresh vibes)

Jumbo Josh

Green apple + Lime

Captain Fiddles

I chose Tutti Frutti for him (Since he has many versions of him in the game)

Opila Bird

Mixed berries

Slow Seline

She was giving... Honey lemon vibes

NabNab

"Blue" Raspberry

Zolphius

Mint

Nabnaleena

Blackberries and Blackcurrant

With a hint of lavender

Tarta bird

Strawberry

Plus a bit of mint

Tamataki + Chamataki

I'd choose Mint chocolate

It's the classic thing that goes with mint so I gotta choose it

Sheriff Toadster

Mocha (aka Chocolate + Coffee)

A ref to the chocolate frogs in Harry Potter (I'm not into Harry Potter and ik Toadster is a toad but I gotta do it)

He gives me Coffee person vibes

Queen Bouncelia

Plum

With a hint of lavender

I thought Grape would be a too obvious for her

Plus Lavender suits her probably

Bittergiggle + Experiment Jesters

Bittergiggle would smell like grapes (like, grape flavored candies and such)

He smells like that one purple Juicy Couture perfume basically

For the other jesters:

Yellow pink (Watermelon Lemonade)

pink cyan (strawberry blueberry)

blue Yellow aka Magician ("Blue" Raspberries lemonade)

Green Pink aka Poet ( Green apple, watermelon)

Kittysaurus

Smells like Gingerbread

Syringeon

Cranberry + rose

Again, idk much about this character why not-

[cinnamon-ginger]

Update to my previous post about my Mutant/X-men Tarot Deck. This is what I’ve decided for the Major Arcana.

The Fool

Kitty Pryde

The Magician

Magik

The High Priestess

Destiny

The Empress

Jean Grey

The Emperor

Cyclops

The Hierophant

Nightcrawler

The Lovers

Rogue & Gambit

The Chariot

Juggernaut

Strength

Colossus

The Hermit

Wolverine (Logan)

The Wheel of Fortune

Domino

Justice

Justice (Vance Astrovick)

The Hanged Man

Toad

Death

Scarlet Witch (although I may change this to the Phoenix force)

Temperance

Wolverine (Laura Kinney)

The Devil

Mr. Sinister

The Tower

Apocalypse

The Star

Firestar

The Moon

Dani Moonstar

The Sun

Boom Boom

Judgement

Namor

The World

Storm

Note: While some of these names match the cards, I didn’t choose them primarily on name. I picked them based on what most connects to the cards meaning.

Thoughts?

[fantomcomics]

What's Out This Week? 8/9

The Summer is winding down, but the comics are still hotttt

Akane-banashi GN Vol 1 - Yuki Suenaga & Takamasa Moue

Akane unintentionally stirs up the specter of scandal when she's discovered taking informal lessons from her father's former teacher, Shiguma Arakawa. But she's about to make even bigger waves, because her first step in climbing the ranks of rakugo performer from zenza opening act to shin'uchi headliner is exchanging her secret lessons for formal training. And she'll still have to finish high school and navigate her relationship with Shiguma's existing apprentices, all while learning that becoming a stellar rakugo performer takes much more than just being good at performing!

The Ambassadors GN Vol 1 - Mark Millar & Frank Quitely

You've cracked the superhuman mystery and can give superpowers to six different people around the world. Who do you choose? The world's greatest and most ambitious superhero comic needs the world's greatest comic book artists. FRANK QUITELY, TRAVIS CHAREST, OLIVIER COIPEL, and an international line-up of superstars step forward to introduce an all-new cast of characters from MARK MILLAR's latest Netflix sensation.

Comic Books Kill #1 - Shane Berryhill & Hoyt Silva

NONSTOP. NYC. 1939. Comics creator Jack Levi places his life and career on the line when he begins an affair with the femme fatale lover of his mafia boss publisher. Comic Books Kill! is a crime noir tale of myths, mistresses, and mobsters sure to thrill fans of Kirby, Brubaker, and Phillips.

Damn Them All TP Vol 1 - Simon Spurrier & Charlie Adlard

After the death of Ellie's uncle Alfie, an infamous magician and occult detective, the 72 devils of the Ars Goetia are mysteriously freed from their infernal realm. It's now up to her to track down each of these demons and damn them right back to Hell... using holy water, conjuration, or just her trusty, rusty claw hammer.

Meanwhile Dora, a detective traumatized by the same events as Ellie, is suspicious of the untimely death of Alfie. As new terrors unfold, the two witness strange changes to the political landscape of Britain: a gibbering madness infecting the population. Alfie's meddling made more than just the mortal realm a nightmare, so it's up to Bloody El to set things right... with only eternity at stake.

The Enfield Gang Massacre #1 (of 6) - Chris Condon & Jacob Phillips

The THAT TEXAS BLOOD duo returns to Ambrose County, Texas with an all-new MINISERIES set 150 years in the past!

Gunslinging action meets dark frontier drama in this original Western thriller, as Montgomery Enfield and his gang of outlaws find themselves in the crosshairs of an aging Texas Ranger and a newborn county that's hungry for law.

Finders Creatures GN Vol 1 - P. Knuckle Jones

Meet detective-in-training Finder and her friends as they try to figure out why everyone in Belly Acre Bog has disappeared in this hilarious mystery graphic novel! Finder the tree frog absolutely loves solving mysteries. So when all the animals in Belly Acre Bog mysteriously disappear overnight, Finder and her friends Chopper and Keeper are toad-ally on the case. But when Seymour Warts, the world's greatest detective and Finder's hero, arrives on the scene and begins his own investigation, the young creature finders soon realize that this mystery could be even bigger than their little bog!

Ghost Book GN - Remy Lai

Twelve years ago, the boy and the girl lived. But one was supposed to die. July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren't real. So she pretends they don't exist. Which is incredibly difficult during Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a hungry ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He's a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends set off to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth-for William to live, July must die. Inspired by Chinese mythology, this dark yet hopeful tale about friendship, sacrifice, and the unseen ghost world is a dazzling heir to Studio Ghibli classics.

Hexware TP Vol 1 - Tim Seeley, Zulema Lavina & Mirka Andolfo

Why sell your soul...when you can buy a new one?

In a corporate-ruled city where class inequality is greater than ever, a desperate, lonely populace is drawn to neo-spiritualism and hedge magic. When their teenage daughter is murdered, the Marks family is left asking the gods what they did to deserve this. But their android maid, Which-Where, has a different approach. Perhaps if she asked the devil...

Now, to pay the price, a machine with the soul of a teenage girl must hunt down souls who have escaped from hell. But on the way, she and her only friend, Ren, discover a vast conspiracy threatening to burn the last civilization to the ground. Can Which-Where keep her soul with her humanity on the line?

Mech Cadets #1 (of 6) - Greg Pak, Takeshi Miyazawa & Ian Herring

General Park-head of Sky Corps Academy-must assemble a team of heroes to protect humankind from alien invasions, and Stanford Yu, Maya Sanchez, Frank Olivetti, and Park's own daughter Olivia may have been pulled into the role by fate... as they are Earth's best hope.

But there is more to their relationships with the symbiotic, sentient giant Robos they pilot... and the alien threat of The Sharg is far more epic and widespread than any could imagine!

While Mech Cadets makes a fresh debut for new readers and viewers, long-time fans can delight in having more adventures after the long awaited collection of Mech Cadets Book One!

Oblivion Song Compendium TP - Robert Kirkman, Lorenzo De Felici, & Annalisa Leoni

The entire series, collected in a single volume for the first time!

A decade ago, 300,000 citizens of Philadelphia were suddenly lost in Oblivion. The government made every attempt to recover them, but after many years, they gave up. Nathan Cole...won't. He makes daily trips, risking his life to try and rescue those still living in the apocalyptic hellscape of Oblivion. But maybe...Nathan is looking for something else? Why can't he resist the siren call of the Oblivion Song?

Paul Bunyan: The Invention Of An American Legend GN - Noah Van Sciver & Marlena Myles

Did you know that a mainstay of American folk culture was in fact created as an advertising ploy? Few people realize that Paul Bunyan, the legendary lumberjack, and his blue ox are the product of corporate marketing by a highly industrialized industry. Cartoonist Noah Van Sciver shows us the myth creation as real life marketing man extraordinaire W.B. Laughead spins ever more wondrous tall tales. Van Sciver's story is bracketed by rich contributions from contemporary Native artists and storytellers with a very different connection to the land that the Bunyan myths often conceal. Readers will see how a lumberjack hero, a quintessential American fantasy, captures the imagination but also serves to paper over the seizure of homeland from First Peoples and the laying bare of America's northern forests. It's a tall tale with deep roots... in profit-making!

Plush TP - Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard & Rico Renzi

Serial-killing, cannibalistic furries! PLASTIC and VINYL creators DOUG WAGNER & DANIEL HILLYARD are back. This time, they've recruited colorist extraordinaire RICO RENZI for their disturbing "neon-horror" spin on fursuit psychopaths and bizarre love. In PLUSH, Devin Fulcher is coerced into attending his first furry convention. When he accidentally happens upon a group of furries devouring a human, the insanity begins. Do they just want Devin for dinner...or something much more wicked?

Skeleanor The Decomposer HC - Emily Ettlinger

An instantly charming and vivid chapter-book graphic novel, starring a music-obsessed skeleton, Skeleanor, and her quest to find her sound (and her confidence) by debut creator Emily Ettlinger. Skeleanor loves music more than life itself. There's just one problem: She has a bit more rattle than rhythm at the moment. No matter what type of instrument she plays-from the fiddle to the xylobone-she always seems to scare the people of Little Casketon away. But with the Little Casketon Summershine festival coming up, and the town band missing a player, maybe Skeleanor (along with the help of her best friend, Batima) could show people her skills and finally take center stage.

Summer Ghost The Complete Collection GN - Otsuichi, Yoshi Inomi & loundraw

Based on the critically acclaimed animated short film about three high schoolers' supernatural coming-of-age! There's an urban legend that claims the ghost of a young woman will appear if you set off fireworks in a certain abandoned airport. Three high school students are united by their shared desire to meet this ghost-and each of them is close to death. What happens when they come together one fateful summer night as the boundary between life and death grows thin?

The Summer Hikaru Died GN Vol 1 - Mokumokuren

Two boys lived in a village: Yoshiki and Hikaru. The two did everything together...until the day Hikaru was encompassed by a mysterious light. That was when everything changed-Hikaru most of all. Yoshiki still wishes from the bottom of his heart to always stay by his side...but is there even a Hikaru left to be with?

The Madness #1 (of 6) - J. Michael Straczynski, Aco, & David Lorenzo

In THE MADNESS, Sarah Ross has been using her power as a thief, stealing from the rich and...well, keeping it. Until the day she stole from the wrong person, a highly placed official who pressures the government to assassinate her. The plot, aided by so-called "good" superheroes sponsored by the government, misses her but wipes out her family. Driven mad by grief, and laser-focused on revenge for the murder of her family, Sarah and a hidden side of her personality - an imaginary friend who may be more real than she believes - goes after these superpowered operatives determined to take her revenge, at any cost.

Us TP - Sara Soler, Silvia Perea Labayen & Joamette Gil

Us is Sara and Diana's love story, as well as the story of Diana's gender transition. Full of humor, heartache, and the everyday triumphs and struggles of identity, this graphic memoir speaks to changing conceptions of the world as well as the self, at the same time revealing that some things don't really have to change.

Vampirella/Dracula RAGE #1 - Christopher Priest, Christian Rosado & Lucio Parrillo

NO MORE MS. NICE VAMPIRE!

They're coming for her baby. They're going to murder him before her eyes. And then she's going to kill every last damn one of them. Picking up where Vampirella: Year One left off! In an unprecedented turn for our titular heroine, Vampirella/Dracula: Rage presents Vampirella as you've never seen her before. Inconsolable grief yields to irreducible rage as Vampirella tracks the cultists who threaten her son across Europe and America, unsettling political and economic alliances and unraveling the global network of the baby's father - Dracula.

In a macabre exchange of norms, it is Dracula, the Lord of Vampires, hunting the elusive Vampiri, trying to save Vampirella from herself - or, more precisely, to save her from becoming like him. To this end, Dracula recruits Victory, once Vampirella's closest friend, to act as his ersatz Renfield while they try (and fail) to anticipate the next moves of a woman whose anger has now completely consumed her.

WYND Book Three: The Throne In The Sky GN - James Tynion IV & Michael Dialynas

The land of Esseriel is a darker and more dangerous place than ever, as tensions between the Human and Faerie realms build to the brink of war. Could Wynd be the only hope for peace?

Danger, betrayal, and even some romance confront our heroes at every turn, while elsewhere, the Duke makes murderous plans of his own. Things seem dire, but help from an unexpected figure might just be the lifeline Wynd and Merien need... even though the final battle draws near.

Whatcha checking out this week, Fantom Fam?

[cpmhew]

Freliot & Quentoad part 3!

(parts 1 & 2)

This was originally created for this year's Philanthropy, Bitches! zine, which raised money for Covenant House to support their work with youth experiencing homelessness. Please support them if you are able!

[arthistoryanimalia]

Another fave from The Met's #KimonoStyle show for #FrockFriday + bonus #FroggyFriday:

Fireman's Jacket (Hikeshi-banten) w/ Shogun Taro Yoshikado Japan, Edo period (1615-1868), mid-19th century Quilted cotton with tube-drawn paste-resist dyeing (tsutsugaki) with hand-painted details John C. Weber Collection

“[The jacket] features a scene popular in Kabuki & based on a print by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865) in which the warrior Yoshikado asks a frog sage for magical powers to avenge the murder of his father.” This is that print:

Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786-1865) "Actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Shōgun Tarō Yoshikado" 1862, 12th lunar month Publisher: Hiranoya Shinzō Dimensions: 14 9/16 × 9 3/4 in. (36.99 × 24.77 cm) (image, vertical ōban) Print (ukiyo-e / yakusha-e); Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper Portfolio: From Toyokuni's Drawings: A Magic Contest (Toyokuni kigō: Kijutsu kurabe 豊国揮毫　奇術競) Minneapolis Institute of Art 2016.137.2

BTW that “frog sage” is Gama Sennin, the Toad Immortal; here is another woodblock print (actually a triptych) by the same artist of the same legend:

Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786-1865) “Gama Sennin Instructing Yoshikado and Takiyasha," 1845 ôban triptych (38 x 77.5 cm)

“Gama Sennin is the toad immortal, and here they appear almost like an old woman, with their long hair fashioned from a toad-faced pelt and appearing in a toad-like body. Here the magician demonstrates their magic, causing the image of a young woman to materialize on their breath. Gama Sennin, the Toad Immortal, is based upon the Chinese Immortal Liu Hai, the Sage with the Toad on his back, a benign sage with great magical powers. Kuniyoshi has outdone himself with the cave of Gama Sennin, as all the rocklike outcroppings are comprised of frogs, and a giant frog spectre hovers over the magician. In the center panel, Yoshikado has been consulting a scroll of some sort, and looks up in surprise, his hands in the ‘astonished’ gesture that Kuniyoshi favored. The motivation of the two young people is of course vengeance for a murdered loved one. A scarce design.”

image & info via https://egenolfgallery.com/products/kuniyoshi-gama-sennin-and-frog-magic

[alifeasvivid]

This is the "ghost" document that I mentioned in that one post. Arthur's a witch and he has a big black dog named Toad and he helps get the dead where they need to go so they don't become ghosts and Alfred is........... someone he's supposed to help >.> I actually don't remember how I got this idea; basically I really like it when Arthur is actually really good at magic and then it spiraled out into this sorta fantasy au where magic exists, ordinary people know about it, and practitioners of magic are generally as much a part of society as anyone else. And also Arthur's kind of a spooky guy who gets a teeeeeeny bit of mary-sue treatment for my personal enjoyment... as a treat.

I don't think I will continue this, even though I know the plot of it, but I like it too much not to share, I guess P:

cw: homophobic slur, violence, also technically major character death, but it's a story about ghosts so... >.>

An overcast sky has the morning sunlight shifting in and out of Arthur Kirkland’s modest cottage. The air in mid-April is cool and crisp, but promises warmth; a promise on which it may or may deliver and it hasn’t decided yet.

A massive, shaggy, black dog of indeterminate breed dozes on the kitchen floor near his master’s feet. Arthur brews his morning tea, dressed in black from head to toe, black shoes, pressed black slacks, and a black sleeveless shirt with a mock turtleneck, leaving his heavily tattooed arms on display.

Most of the tattoos are sigils, some are gifts, and some are purely aesthetic.

Steam rises from a ceramic mug as Arthur removes the strainer containing leaves and petals of rosemary, thyme, and marigold. He’d have much rather had his usual Earl Grey, but he will need stronger protection today. He flavors the tea with neither his customary cream or sugar, instead using only a small drizzle of lavender honey.

The sun peeks in through the parlor window.

Arthur raises his eyebrow in that direction.

A cloud ushers the sun away again.

Today is not a day for sunshine.

Arthur moves into the parlor from the kitchen and the dog pads along after him. He sits on the small sofa and his green eyes vacantly observe his altar, which is built out from the opposing wall. He pets the dog’s head when it comes to rest on his thigh. “Ah, Toad,” he sighs, “you felt it coming too, did you?” The dog huffs in response.

Ghosts have never been the problem. Actual trouble comes from what they evolve into over time: poltergeists, ghouls, banshees, phantoms, wraiths, and many other dark, tormented beings, all lingering and longing for whatever they never had in life.

In turn, human societies have always relied on the spiritually gifted, known very broadly as magicians, to take care of such beings. Shamans, psychics, witches, sages, practitioners of all sorts have always been able to manage, until recently. With humans becoming more isolated from each other, losing community in the modern world, more and more people are dying alone, unseen, with unfinished business causing the problem of persistent, tortured spiritual phenomenon.

Attempts are being made to change this. Non-magical humans have made solid efforts to reach out to each other, form communities, and look out for anyone who might be struggling so as to prevent violence and suicides—two main contributors to the formation of ghosts.

The air shifts and swirls around Arthur’s altar and he buries his free hand in Toad’s fur.

The other measure has been implemented by various magical and psychic associations banding together to create a very specialized role: the mourners.

Since even the best efforts cannot prevent all souls from dying in pain and alone, a varied group of magicians takes part in a systematized ritual to make sure that high risk souls are appropriately mourned and thus mitigate the chance of them becoming ghosts.

Most people assigned to the job are elder shamans, crones, sages, and the like. The average age of a mourner is around sixty years old.

At thirty-three, Arthur Kirkland is one of the youngest, world wide, but the only age requirement is that mourner must have completed their first Saturn Return and Arthur had signed up voluntarily as soon as he became eligible. Those in charge of the organization had doubts at first, but Arthur is descended from a strong magical and psychic bloodline and they were hardly in a position to turn away volunteers.

When his tea is finished, Arthur stands up and lights a charcoal with some frankincense. Any minute now.

Arthur considers himself well-suited for the job of mourning, given his large internal well of energy, his familiarity with the Lower World and the Fae realms, and his generally grim and eerie disposition.

Initially, the mourners received assignments every day, but due to the non-magical world pulling at least some of its weight, the number of mourners increasing, and the decision to only focus on the more dire cases, Arthur typically receives one per week. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Once a week is a good pace. It gives Arthur time to find the person’s body (if possible), where it was laid to rest or where it ought to be, sever any ties that might be holding the person’s soul back, soothe any pain and surround the soul in feelings of love and warmth. After that, he performs any relevant funeral rites and then the assignment is completed.

Assignments are nearly always received within twenty-four hours of the person’s death.

The air settles and a small thump sounds from a willow wood bowl Arthur carved himself. In the bowl is the usual gleaming black polyhedral made of jet. This one is an icosahedron with each side carved with a sigil relaying information about the deceased person. Arthur steels himself before picking up the relic. It’s usually fine, but occasionally the information can be terrifying and overwhelming.

The jet is soft and light in Arthur’s palm. Jet is an opaque black stone with a slight gold sheen to it and it has the strange property of looking like it will be much heavier than it is since it is created from decomposed wood subjected to heavy carbon compression: a perfect stone to deal with death. Arthur caresses his thumb over the sigil he prefers to examine first: an image of what the person might look like alive, but at peace.

Arthur gasps slightly at what appears in his mind’s eye: the face of a young man with brilliant blue eyes and strawberry blond hair appears. His smile could light up the dead of night brighter than a full moon. He looks to be in his early twenties. His skin is warm and tan and the rest of him comes into focus, he’s a little on the thin side, but otherwise well-proportioned.

“Beautiful,” Arthur mutters reflexively. He immediately wonders how anything terrible enough to designate this boy as high risk could have happened to him. Something about his general aura is so warm and inviting. Yet Arthur has seen enough by now to know that beauty is hardly a guarantee of happiness or safety in a world that often resents innate joy.

The next facet reveals some basic details: despite having died in England, the boy is from America, his birthday is July fourth and he is twenty-five… or would have been, in just over three months or so. Without having to consult the stone, Arthur senses a very troubled childhood: loneliness, neglect, a desperation for anyone’s attention.

Tragic though it is, it’s nothing so striking as to put this boy on a mourner’s list.

As Arthur’s left thumb traverses the other facets, he sees more of the same. The loneliness grows and the desperation in proportion to it. The cycle seems to repeat itself over and over: loneliness, finding acceptance somewhere he ought not to have looked, things are good until suddenly they aren’t and the boy is removed from the situation… often violently, cruelly. Arthur experiences it each time: the sights, sounds, smells, the feelings. It does break his heart.

Sensing the feeling too, Toad moves to sit by Arthur’s leg, pressing himself against it and Arthur’s right hand finds its way behind his ear for scritches.

“Good boy, Toad,” Arthur says. At last, Arthur comes to the boy’s final moments. After all he’s seen, he doesn’t flinch as his third eye replays the full experience of a horrific beating in the pelting rain: distant shouts of ‘fucking freak’ and ‘faggot’ hit Arthur like bullets. Well. That explains some of it, he supposes. He feels every blunt boot as if it were battering his own ribs and the abject misery, the boy’s own conviction that this is deserved.

Then there is the boy, from his own perspective, vision going dark as he watches the raindrops fall on the pavement around him.

Arthur collapses next to Toad and buries his face in Toad’s soft, schorl fur. He doesn’t cry and he has certainly seen worse, but it never stops affecting him. He considers that to be a good thing and worries for the day he watches such a scene and is unaffected.

Toad whines sympathetically, highly attuned to Arthur, and flops into his lap so Arthur can curl around him.

The next facet shows the boy from the outside, eyes open and lifeless, body distorted and covered in blood and bruises.

Arthur sets the stone aside for a moment and simply cuddles Toad until he can breathe again. When he can, he picks up the stone and digs his thumbnail into the grooves in the facet containing the boy’s name:

Alfred F. Jones.

“Alfred,” Arthur murmurs. “Oh luv. You deserved none of that, to be sure.” He gently strokes the stone. “And yet… what on earth has happened to put you in my hand, hm?” Arthur brushes the facet that contains the time of death only to find it is obscured. That in itself is nothing to give pause, it has happened before. They who make the assignments are not omniscient, Arthur can tell from the scene of Alfred’s death that it is recent and, most likely as usual, to have been within the past twenty-four hours.

Rubbing that facet a little more reveals that an impromptu memorial has sprung up for Alfred—only hours after his body was taken away. While an outcast and unwelcome from most places, the local queer community has already begun vigil for him.

Arthur can't help but scoff just a little. “And yet where were you lot when they were beating him to death, hm?” he mutters. He can’t help but think that, as always, non-magical humans are relying far too much on magicians to do the heavy lifting and the community-building needs a bit more attention.

Still. The presence of such a memorial means that Alfred is already being mourned.

So why does his soul require a mourner?

[the-eggplantblog]

There’s many amphibious species found in Rayman from the Globoxes to the toads.

The toads of Rayman Legends are quite a handful. Unlike the jolly and peaceful nature of the distant species cousin the Globox. The toads are of a military culture as such many of them are soldiers who would happily invade peaceful lands. It’s no surprise they would work with the evil magicians.

of course not all toads are bad some even live together with other globoxes.

interesting factor