Thoughts of a Fandom Essayist

The writing of someone who enjoys a whole lot of worldbuilding

[emeraldlupin]

World Building Series and Fan Resources

I'm altering this pinned post to include the essays and stuff I'm doing/done for other fandoms. Sorry, Naruto, but you're sharing space!

Note: You have to be a registered user to read my stuff on AO3. Sorry. I'm taking what minor precautions I can against AI bot harvesting.

DC Comics

DC Comics Fanfic Writing Resources

A set of writings meant to help fanfic writers of DC Comics' stories.

Entries (Some of these are just possibilities for the future)

The Index of DC Comics Businesses (WIP)

The DC Calendar (WIP)

The Global Guardians and International Heroes (?)

A Guide To Gotham City

A Guide to Metropolis

A Guide to Krypton (?)

DC Geography (?)

The Daily Planet Staff (?)

The Index of DC Comics Businesses: A Fan Writer's Reference Guide

LexCorp. What does it do? What does it REALLY do? What does Wayne Enterprises do? How does Bruce Wayne have so much money? What does Queen Industries do? Can you name the media outlets? Sounds easy, right? The Daily Planet and...uh... Or what about places to catch a bite? There's Bat Burger and Big Belly Burger and...Bat Burger...?

The DC Universe has a lot of businesses, from the big players, to the little hangouts, to all those strange, funny fictional counterparts. Wouldn't it be nice to have a big, old index of them all backed up with reliable, verified sources?

Well, here you go. One mammoth-sized, work-in-progress index broken into broad categories, ready to serve as a resource for all you fanfic writers out there. Want to know the different retailers? The most ubiquitous coffee chain? The leaders in science and technology? Media and entertainment? Look no further.

Focused mainly on the comics primarily because I had to keep this under control.

Now a series!

The DC Calendar (A Fan Reference Guide)

Naruto World Building Essays

I figured I'd put a link here. I am the writer of a long series of essays looking at different parts of the Naruto series. Timelines, geography, the Leaf ID system, nature transformations, etc.

If I haven't made it clear already as to why I put so many screenshots here--and I may already have and forgotten, my memory is funny like that--well, that's why. I have used those in the geography essay.

Series

Part 1 (Rewriting the timeline)

Part 2 (Geography)

Part 3 (Reworking the Leaf ID system)

Part 4 (Blood Types)

Part 5 (Hiruzen's Failures, Plus Yamato's Nonsense)

Part 6 (Fixing the Danzo/Root disaster)

Part 7 (Nature transformations)

Part 8 (Kotoamatsukami)

Part 9 (Itachi and the Uchiha Massacre) (NOT DONE OR POSTED, NOT SURE WHEN I'LL GET TO THAT)

Part 10 (Kaguya) (NOT DONE WITH THAT EITHER)

Part ?? Technology (NOT SURE WHEN I'LL GET TO THAT)

Part ??? Power Scaling and Rebalancing (NOT SURE WHEN I'LL GET TO THIS)

The geography essay is still incomplete, and the timeline rewrite is a perpetual work in progress.

[emeraldlupin]

Good DC Fics to Share: Erase the Epitaph

As I go forward, I know I'm going to talk a lot about horrible or flawed stories, so I wanted to also share some good stories I've found. This one is Erase the Epitaph by adventuresofcomicbookgirl.

In this story, Leslie Thompkins comes to her senses and doesn't fake Stephanie's death, and everything proceeds from there.

This story is well worth a read, and the author herself is extremely knowledgeable about comics in areas that I'm not. But considering how I know Stephanie was mishandled, I can hardly blame myself for not wanting to dig into her stories.

[emeraldlupin]

DC Calendar Shots 5

[emeraldlupin]

"The shape of the future is not so distinct as this imaginary city [The 1939 New York World's Fair City of Tomorrow] would have the world believe. There are so many things that could easily pull civilization off its chosen path of advancement, "So many skewed viewpoints eager to shape the world in unpleasant ways. So many men poised to cross lines never meant to be crossed, to upset the balance of the systems that govern their cities, look past the moral limits posited in their minds, and conspire to topple the very foundation of hope that the future holds. "Still, there is a certain light the future carries. A shining promise not easily set aside. And for every perpetrator who would act against that promise, are there not countless others who would band together to prevent its breach? One would certainly hope so. For if not, the future would offer no more comfort than the present."

--Wesley Dodds, the Golden Age Sandman, from Sandman Mystery Theatre (1993)/Vol 1 #41 (August 1996)

[emeraldlupin]

Happy Birthday, Renee Montoya!

First of all, happy Pride Month! And while I gave up at the DC birthday thing on Tumblr, I'm making an exception for today, since I can be on time and because this is one I discovered myself. Because today is, from the looks of it, the in-universe birthday of Renee Montoya, Gotham City detective, import from Batman: The Animated Series, canon lesbian, and Question the second!

As for how I know that, well, I'm sourcing it from Detective Comics (1937)/Vol 1 #747 (August 2000)). They don't say it outright, but...well, I'll be discussing it in here...when I get to June.

[emeraldlupin]

DC Calendar Shots 4

[emeraldlupin]

DC Calendar Shots 3

[emeraldlupin]

DC Calendar Shots 2

[emeraldlupin]

Map of Canterlot City from the Equestria Girls website. If you're writing stories, one would presume this map is very simplified compared to the city's realistic layout.

[emeraldlupin]

DC Calendar Shots 1

I just posted a DC Calendar to AO3 as part of my series, a replacement for the daily posts here that I fell behind on. I'm thinking of adding images to the calendar, so that's what this is for, all the images I haven't gotten already.

[emeraldlupin]

Lois Lane IS An Animal Person! (She Has a CAT!)

I posted about this a long, long while back, but I want to say it again. Out of curiosity, I asked Google if Lois Lane has a pet, and it said "no." In a CBR article, Rachel Brosnahan said she didn't even think Lois was an animal person.

Not. True.

Post-Crisis, she had a cat named Elroy. She did. I'm not sure what happened to Elroy. He may have just faded away for all I know. He doesn't even have an article on the DC Database. But it's still true. Lois had a cat.

If you're an animal person--or a cat person--reblog this to remind people that yes, Lois had a pet.

[emeraldlupin]

Superman vs. Physics (It's Not Always Easy)

Here's a fun example of how Superman can sometimes have trouble with basic physics. Because while he may defy the rules, that doesn't necessarily mean everything else around him does.

This one comes from Super Friends season 1, episode 1, "The Power Pirate."

A freight train in California is making its way up a very steep hill when all of the sudden, it's power disappears. They've got the engine on full blast, but they're not getting anywhere. The engineers consider breaking on the hillside, but it will never hold. And then the train starts to roll down the hill toward a bridge.

What's the problem with the train going downhill? Well, on any other day, maybe nothing. But today, a passenger train had been right behind them. It, too, has lost all power, and is stranded on the bridge. They're going to collide.

Superman rushes to the rescue. He gets behind the train, grabbing onto it and trying to brace it, but the train's not slowing down. He turns around, pressing his back against the final car, digging in his feet. Wooden slats from the rail fly off. The train's still not stopping.

But why? Superman is more than strong enough to lift the entire train, right? Well, the problem isn't him, it's the ground.

Even Superman says it. "It's no use. I can't get solid footing on this soft ground. There's just too much weight." He may have had the strength, but he couldn't apply that strength without a good enough grip.

Ultimately, Superman had to go back to the bridge, pull the passenger train off of it, disconnect a piece of the bridge's track, then hold the track up at a curve so the freight train came to a gentle stop. Then he put the track back together and pushed the freight train off the bridge and to safety.

How difficult things are for Superman depends on how you write him, and even with superpowers, it doesn't mean you completely get away from physics.

[a-mel0n]

reblog if you’ve had an online friendship that’s lasted more than 2 years

[emeraldlupin]

I think one of mine has been since...2013? I can't remember. And another at least since...2016? Not totally sure, either.

[emeraldlupin]

I Wish I Had a Sounding Board for my DC Fanfic Stuff...

I know I sound like I'm whining, but it's true. I work better when I have someone to talk to, bounce stuff off of. It helps me shape ideas, or know when I have a good idea or bad idea. But I don't. Not for DC-related stuff.

**Le sigh**

[emeraldlupin]

Bat Family Headcanon (Malone/Alias Name List I'd Use in Fanfic)

Since I'm still playing with Maria and since I made a note of this in the first chapter, I thought I'd post it here, too. Members of the Bat Family either have "Malone" aliases in canon or fans have created ones for them, so here's the list of Malone aliases (or just aliases) I'd use for writing.

Bruce: Matthew "Matches" Malone (Family Patriarch)

Source: Canon

Alfred: Alan Malone (Also called "Grandfather." Some, like Helena, literally call him "Grandpa," in real life anyway)

Source: My own. Taken from Alan Napier, the actor who played Alfred in the 1966 TV series.

Dick: Robert "Robbie" Malone

Source: I've seen this name floated around in a few fanfics. Can't be more specific without doing a search.

Jason: Bennett "Benny" Malone

Source: My own choice. Taken from the last name of the main character in Pride & Prejudice, which fanon Jason loves.

Cass: Roxanne "Roxie" Malone

Source:  Have I Told You About Minnie? by Hinn_Raven

Stephanie: Wilhelmina "Minnie" Malone (not niece, though police files are conflicted on whether she is a niece or a daughter)

Source:  Have I Told You About Minnie? by Hinn_Raven

Tim: Alvin "Al" Malone

Source: Taken from Alvin Drapier, Tim’s alias during Young Justice comics of the 1990s.

05-20-26 Note: Hmm, is this really a good idea? It's mixing up two of his aliases. Wouldn't it be prudent to pick a name that's different from Alvin Drapier? Work on that.

Tim (New): Xavier "Xavie" Malone

Source: One of my own. It's a weird one, but this way Tim doesn't mix up aliases. Created in a roundabout way from the actor of the male lead (whose name is Javier) in a show Tim likes, Wendy the Werewolf Stalker. No, I am not kidding, that show is canon.

Duke: Julius “Jules” Malone (Police files are unsure whether he is a nephew or a son)

Source: My own, taken from Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction. Duke likes Tarintino.

Damian: Matthew "Matt" Malone Jr. (aka 'Lil Matches")

Source: Comics canon, at least as far as 'Lil Matches. The rest was mine.

Helena: Maria Malone

Source: My own. Taken from the name of her maternal grandmother.

Barbara: Annie

Source: My own...and I totally admit was random.

Selina: Rubina “Ruby” Leone

Source: Ruby taken (with permission) from  Lost Kitten by RED2quill, but I added my own twist. Leone is an Italian surname meaning “lion.”)

Kate Kane: Marcilla “Marcie” Malone (Either Matches sister or his cousin. Sister would be better to separate the alias from the truth...think about that)

Source: Taken from Marcilla, one of the anagrams of Carmilla in The Vampire Lovers (1970))

Hmm...Harper isn't a Bat sibling, but she should probably have an alias of some variety as well. But what could it be? And Luke, perhaps?

What do you guys think?

[dragon-in-a-fez]

knowing that the past tense of "hang" is "hanged" when it's a method of execution can be very entertaining because you'll be watching a horror movie and someone goes "local legend says a woman was hung in these woods" and you're like "👀 good for her I guess"

[emeraldlupin]

I remember an episode of Murder, She Wrote I watched with my mother (well, she watched it in front of me), that said "Curtains are hung, people are hanged,"

[emeraldlupin]

Trinity's Awful Name (And An Alternative! Introducing...Palladia!)

Lizzie. Elizabeth Marston Prince. Diana's daughter with Steve Trevor created by the ever awful and angsty Tom King in 2023. Also known as Trinity.

I don't really know the character, and don't wish to because I've made a promise to myself to avoid Tom King's work as much as humanly possible. But let's talk about her name. Have I mentioned this before? I forget. Oh, I hope not. If I find out I have, I'll be so embarrassed.

First of all, her middle name. I get it, it's a reference to Wonder Woman's creator. But it's also kind of bad since Marston is really a surname, not a first name. Although Lizzie's first name is taken from Marston's wife, one of two women that helped inspire Wonder Woman.

Elizabeth is, to be honest, a great name choice for Diana's daughter. Marston is...not. Me, I'd suggest Olive. Olive Byrne was Marston's polyamorous life partner, and was the other woman who inspired the Amazing Amazon. Or make it Olivia!

Elizabeth Olivia Prince. Wait, is that a bit clunky? Would Elizabeth Olive Prince sound better?

But that's probably a little nitpick. And there probably are people with surnames for middle names. I've never seen it myself that I recall, and I suppose I just don't like it as a creative choice. The real problem is Lizzie's hero name.

Trinity is lazy. It is lazy, unimaginative, and shallow. It's so lazy and pathetic it actually becomes incredibly sexist.

If you don't know "The Trinity" is what people call Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman collectively. Comics already had bio-kids from Superman and Batman in the form of Jon and Damian, so Lizzie here filled out the future Trinity....and her name is Trinity.

That name screams "I'm here to fill the triangle!" It screams "I'm nothing but marketing!" It says "I didn't really care to put serious effort into making her a real character!" It's the same laziness that plagued Tenten from Naruto, who was literally invented to pad out a trio team with two fantastic, far more powerful boys who got 99.99% of the attention. And when you're on the same level as Kishimoto when it comes to handling women, you know you've failed.

Ah, but what would you use as an alternative? I have one idea, and everybody reading this is free to use it if you want. I don't mind. I really don't. Use it for professional work. Full waiver. Unless you're Tom King, in which case I deny you.

My choice is...Palladia.

The Palladium, in case you don't know, was a statue of the goddess Pallas, or possibly Athena. One myth goes that Pallas was a childhood playmate of Athena's who Athena accidentally killed during a war game, and built a statue in honor of her.

This statue, called the Palladium, ended up in Troy, and was thought to provide divine protection upon the city. That's why it was stolen during The Odyssey.

The word eventually came to mean any object or image of antiquity that provides some kind of protection for a city, state, whatever. Merriam-Webster defines it as "something that affords effectual protection or security." Palladia is the plural of palladium.

For someone like Wonder Woman, who seeks peace before war, referencing a symbol of protection and safety works.

So, yeah, Tom King was lazy, unimaginative, ended up being very sexist by those first two things, didn't know his classical mythology, and I'd use Palladia for Lizzie...if I wanted to use her at all in any hypothetical work. I haven't decided.

Or I could just use Wonder Woman's ORIGINAL daughter with Steve, Hippolyta "Lyta" Trevor, aka Fury. That, too.