She makes a shit ton of poses (like 16,000 or some crazy nonsense). I used this lovely lady to draw so much as a teen. Whether it was some nerdy pose for my Mary Sue as fuck OCs
or for full on fight sequences
or for tragic deaths of my OCs in the arms of a totally OOC main protagonist.
this bitch hooked me up.
And with the wildest, craziest stuff that you could see in your head but had no way or resources to reasonably draw like
or this
or this
DUDE! INASNE SHIT!! So I was using her for a pose reference and decided, you know what, I owe this bitch some cash. Lemme dole it out for her. BUT then, I looked and saw she only has 286 fucking patrons!! This chick gives out free shit and spends countless hours arranging these shoots and setting this stuff up.
I’ll fork up the cash, SenshiStock. You’re worth it.
Check out this amazing woman’s stuff, and get knowledged: https://www.deviantart.com/senshistock
Interrupting my regular Star Wars BS to reblog this because @senshistock is amazing and beyond worth the follow and support! I first started using her refs gosh I want to say back in maybe 2008, and I’m happy to be a supporter of her over on Patreon. If you’re an artist please go find her stuff on all the platforms, you will not regret it!
Yessss, she is so awesome! Been following her for years. My favorite stock artist is jademacalla, who is, incidentally, in the last two images above. He has a lot of great angles, costumes, gear, etc! I love his hands, too.
Just so everyone knows, she recently stopped using the name SenshiStock and switched to AdorkaStock! All her links and socials have switched to that. Also she has a TikTok of her doing the poses live, which is stupid useful because you can pause it at any point in the pose for just the right reference.
When I was in my teens, I used to make an entire magic system with 900 unique spells, ordered in magic schools and categories, and it boggles my mind that I basically reinvented DnD mechanics, even down to metamagic.
I wanted to make a wiki about it but I don't have time for it.
The point was to try to encompass every "superpower" I could think of into a magic system.
I even got lore related to it all, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna simply reuse it all for OC worldbuilding. Ngl the fun part was naming all the spells, symbols and coming up with the logic of it all.
Edit : Due to popular demand, I'm making the wiki now yay. There's even more sigils done now >:]
After almost a year of brainstorming, coding, designing, writing and drawing, I am proud to announce that the magical system wiki I was working on is finally ready to open to the public !
You can check it out here !
World Anvil is a worldbuilding community and collection of tools for authors, role playing games storytellers and worldbuilding
The writing part is done, and I've done enough spells to provide an example for each element. The goal is to fill up that huge array eventually! >:]
Viridian. Pied Piper. Ghost. Cicada. Kuroko. Cheshire. Zero. Ivy. Phoenix. So many vigilante names, each with a depth of meaning that at times rivals the meaning of the name Deku. Heck, sometimes Deku IS his vigilante name! I’ve been on a Vigilante Izuku kick lately, and since I came across a few really good ones I’d never seen before, I decided to combine them with the ones already in my bookmarks and make a new fic rec list. Fair warning: I was specifically on a longfic vigilante Izuku kick, so most of these are not short (slight understatement). Most have some degree of Dadzawa, because that’s so common with these and I like it. Quite a few also have well developed Bakugou redemption, for similar reasons. And finally, lots of great Shinsou friendships, because we all know he’s my favorite! I sorted them into three rough categories:
Section 1: Eleven fics with him as a young vigilante, either pre-UA or during high school years without him being at UA. He might end up at UA in the end, but it had to be less than half of the fic for it to be in this category.
Section 2: Five fics where he is a UA student for more than half of the story, though not necessarily in the hero department.
Section 3: Seven Eight fics where he’s an adult vigilante, regardless of whether or not he attended UA.
Ratings range from G to E, and while some are fluffy, many have pretty dark themes, so mind the tags! Hope you all can find a new story to love somewhere in the list, because all of these have stuck with me in some way. And, as always, if you find one you like, please give the author a kudos or comment to share the love!
Section 1: Pre-UA and/or high school age but not a UA student for most of it
Always Chasing After Something by GriffinRose
Rated T, 29/29 chapters, 202,865 words, no / Midoriya ship
So much Eri love in this one!
Author's summary:
While his class is on internships, Aizawa seeks out an underground informant to get information about the League of Villains. After a disappointing conversation, Aizawa finds the informant badly injured and takes him for medical help.
And finds out how young this guy really is.
And that there's another kid. With no parents in sight.
Look, they're underage, he HAS to get involved now.
Heap of ashes that I am, by bunjeegumboy
Rated M, 44/44 chapters, 226,595 words, no / Midoriya ship
Some pretty heavy suicidal ideation in this one, major Dadzawa, and some pretty sincere and long-term work put in by Bakugou to become a better person. Major Shinsou & Midoriya friendship as well.
Author's summary:
Sometimes, when Izuku allows himself to comprehend the sick reality of his life, he finds that it no longer resembles the roots from which he sprouts. He is a fickle rose bush that was cared for and raised and coddled in its early seasons by a loving mother, growing strong, interwoven roots and a reliable base. And, Izuku thinks, he would have been a lovely rose bush. He would have flourished and unfurled and oh wouldn't that have been nice?
Instead, along came Bakugou Katsuki: vegetation killer in a compatibly sized spray bottle.
But this is the life Izuku has. It is ugly and broken and unrecognizable and so unbearably his and, god, how Izuku wishes it wasn't. But it is. So he makes his peace.
or
Izuku finds out he has a revival quirk and uses the opportunity to become a vigilante.
invincible by supercrunch
Rated T, 1/1 chapter, 20,005 words, Bk/Dk
Heartbreakingly sweet, Katsuki seeks redemption and Izuku heals.
Author's summary:
This is the way the world works: the sun rises in the east. The strong come out on top. Bakugou Katsuki rockets through life like a comet and Midoriya Izuku stumbles after. If he believed in such things Katsuki would say it was written in the stars. That some god of war had looked at him and said this one. That he’d been passed along a line to get his blessings – genius, willpower, fearless ambition – and dropped off on earth.
Then, of course, there is the question of Deku. The spitfire runt. Deku, no matter what the world does to him, never stops hoping.
Until, of course, he eventually does.
(Katsuki broke him. Snapped him in half like a twig and now has to scramble to put Deku back together. “We can do this, Deku," he says slowly. "There are so many mysteries that never got put to bed. Criminals roaming around looking to hurt people and you and me, we can fix that.”
There’s a long pause. The comforter slips a little off Deku’s skinny shoulders and drowns him. “You mean like a team?”
In that split second, Katsuki makes a decision he’s never even considered. He swallows his pride. “Yeah, Deku. We’d be a team.”)
Mutilante, by Starlight (Fandom_Eclipse)
Rated G, 1/1 chapter, 13,660 words, no / Midoriya ship
The series of hoodies and personalities he uses for this are both adorable and hysterical.
Author's summary:
Izuku was debating the merits of seeking out the new vigilante group that was on the news when he heard the list of known members. He knew those names. Specifically, he knew those because they were assigned to six of his hoodies.
He knew he should come clean. Maybe just stick to one costume, or stop being a vigilante altogether. Groups were treated much more seriously than lone entities, and he could get in serious trouble if they sent heroes after him expecting backup that didn’t exist.
A week later, he had characters designed for every hoodie he owned.
In which Izuku becomes a one-man organization, and everyone has to deal with the consequences.
Prodigal, by writerllofllworlds
Rated T, 15/15 chapters, 56,802 words, BkDk
If you love All Might, Mirio, Inko, or Nedzu, this may not be a good fic for you - they all do some pretty crappy things. But Izuku, being Izuku, perseveres through it all with the support of Tsukauchi, Aizawa, and Bakugou.
Author's summary:
After being convinced to give One for All to Mirio, Midoriya Izuku must rebuild his shattered dreams with bloody hands.
Shut the Gates of Mercy by DoesItSaySassOnMyUniform
Rated M, 12/? chapters as of April 2022, 81,082 words, no / Midoriya ship
This is unfinished, but the world the author builds makes it SO worth a read. The way they write Aizawa’s and Midoriya’s interactions is amazing.
Author's summary:
In Izuku’s defence, when he’d started he’d had no way of knowing the absolute clusterfuck he’d been about to uncover. After a life of being put down, he’d just wanted a chance to prove himself - to say “fuck you” to the people who had doubted him, and maybe save some lives while he was at it.
That’s not what happened.
At least he could say he tried. After all, All might had said he couldn’t be a hero.
He said nothing about being a Vigilante.
this is my family, by sensibleshroom
Rated T, 62/62 chapters, 106,496 words, no / Midoriya Ship
This author has some of my favorite OCs of all time among their different works. There is an unfinished sequel to this one that covers the beginning of UA - also worth a read!
Author's summary:
Nagai's Law: a minor person may use their quirk to its full capability in cases of extreme self defense or defense of a family member. A family member may be defined by personal definition to the effect that it must be reasonably defended in a court of law.
Vigilante: defined as a person not licensed and commissioned by the Hero Public Safety Commission employing their quirk to stop crime.
There is a singular truth to humanity, in the effect that if you provide humanity with a rule, they will find a way to break it. This doubles true for thirteen year olds with something to prove. Someone's going to get gray hairs, and it's not going to be them.
Vigilante Work and Other After-School Activities by lovelysandlonelys
Rated G, 1/1 chapter, 5496 words, no / Midoriya ship
One of the shortest vigilante Izuku fics I’ve read, but no less satisfying. Inko is trying so hard to keep him out of trouble, and unwittingly gets him more deeply involved in it.
Author's summary:
These were the things that Midoriya Izuku lived for:
His mother.
Hero analysis forums.
Katsudon
The time between when his mother went to sleep and sunrise.
Alternatively: Izuku is a vigilante, Aizawa likes cats and therefore kids who help cats, and sometimes breaks must be forced upon overachieving teenagers.
Viridian: the Green Guide by Clouds (myheadinthecoudsnotcomingdown)
Rated T, 120/120 chapters, 272,617 words, KamiDeku
I don’t know, is this one considered to be THE vigilante Izuku fic? It’s certainly the most popular one I’m aware of. I eagerly followed it as it was being published from chapter 30 or so to the end, and LIVED for each and every update. Then later I discovered it had a podfic by RuneLore that kept me company on a very long drive across multiple states.
Author's summary:
After his dream is finally crushed, Izuku isn’t quite sure there’s anything left for him to live for, but...he can’t exactly kill himself either, not without hurting the people he cares the most about. So, when he realizes that the quirkless can’t technically be vigilantes, it seems like the best of both worlds. He’ll be able to save people even without being a hero and, if he happens to die while he’s at it...well, like Kacchan said, maybe he’d be born with a quirk in the next life.
When Tomorrow Ends by JazzRazzberry
NR, 31/31 chapters, 217,625 words, no/ Midoriya ship
My most recent read, and possibly the most awkwardly adorable vigilante name origin. There's a non-vigilante sequel that is still being actively updated if you like their style!
Author Summary:
Midoriya Izuku was not made to be special. Not in any particular form, shape, size or function, it seemed. He didn’t need grandiose, didn’t need all the fame and fortune and riches that seemed so commonplace these days. He didn’t need to be all-powerful, all-knowing, a genius, or well known. And Izuku didn’t want to be greedy, or anything, but he would’ve liked to be special. Just a little bit. Not in a particularly self-absorbed way, but he would’ve liked just a little bit of the special that seemed to surround his peers on the daily. Just about everyone around him had so much special while he had… basically nothing. Maybe a couple hundred years ago, back when quirks weren’t a thing, he would have stood out in a crowd with his green curls, been special and unique for once in his life.
Knowing his luck, though, he probably would’ve ended up burned at the stake for witchcraft instead. That’s how they used to do it, back in the day, he’s pretty sure. With gingers. Green isn’t red but Izuku’s pretty sure it’s different enough to get him set on fire, back in the day.
Well. He’s getting burned either way.
ie: Quirkless Vigilante Izuku with a little Dadzawa on the side!
Wrong Answers Don’t Mean You Should Stop Asking Questions, by Vaimeta
Rated T, 1/1 chapters, 21,941 words, no / Midoriya ship
Not exactly a vigilante fic, but close enough! Accidental vigilante, maybe? Poor Izuku doesn’t even realize what he’s doing beyond just checking things off a list and trying to get through each day.
Author's summary:
How Midoriya was told he couldn’t be a hero by All Might, so he decided he would ask every other hero if he could be one.
Section 2: UA student for at least half of the fic
Conditions May Apply by CinnamonPinecones
Rated T, 132/? chapters as of Oct 2024, 419,130 words, no / Midoriya ship
A large chunk of it takes place before UA (the title of chapter 91 is "The Entrance Exam," for reference), but as of today it's still updating regularly and I have no idea how long it’s going to end up. It is entirely possible that half or more of it will be at UA, so I’m putting it in this category.
Author's summary:
Izuku learned at a very young age that love is conditional. Love is a reward for following the rules, love is reserved for those who are worthy of it, for those who are loveable.
Izuku was not loveable, well at least not according to anyone he'd ever met.
All he ever wanted to do was help people, to be someone worthy of loving but at 12 years old he's left with nothing and no one. Living on the streets he has to make his own way in life and maybe help some of the people in this community he's found himself in.
Follow his journey as Izuku skirts the line of the law saving people and maybe even finding someone who thinks he's worth loving.
Pied Piper, by Blackholeca
Rated T, 69/69 chapters, 297,013 words, no / Midoriya ship
I mentioned above that another fic was “the” vigilante Izuku fic in the fandom, but honestly, this one’s right up there with it for me. I don’t know why, but his one hits me harder in some ways, and I vividly remember getting the final update email and tearing up. So good, one of my all time favorite fics regardless of trope. Great OC, great relationships with Tsukauchi and Aizawa, and a lot of really heavy moral conundrums faced by Izuku.
Author summary:
If they wouldn’t give him a chance then the solution seemed simple, he’d give himself one. He’d force the world to see him, force them to recognize his hard work. He wasn’t missing a quirk, it was simply that everyone else had been given an advantage. He wasn’t broken, or useless, or incapable, and he’d prove it by outrunning all of them, he who was quirkless, he who had started in last.
[UA rejects Midoriya from the hero course and he finds salvation in vigilantism.]
The Origin of Eclipse by GriffinRose
NR, 24/24 chapters, 129,808 words, no / Midoriya ship
Serious villain Hisashi in this one, along with a very different Izuku and Katsuki childhood.
Author's summary:
In one universe, Izuku Midoriya was born quirkless. Three days after the diagnosis, his father went away on a business trip and never came back.
In another universe, Izuku Midoriya was not born quirkless. At the age of four, his father spits a few fireballs into the air like fireworks to amuse his son, and Izuku claps his hands in delight. The fireballs smoosh together and char the picture frame behind them.
In this universe, Izuku Midoriya has telekinetic control over fire, and his father never vanishes without a word.
It might have been better if he had.
The Thin Gray Line by A_ToastToTheOutcasts
Rated T, 19/19 chapters, 89,614 words, no / Midoriya ship
This is an old one - 2016 - but it’s actually the first in a series that is still being updated as of Sept 2024. Some really great OCs play central roles, and they fit into the universe beautifully.
Author's summary:
The beauty of the era of quirks wasn't the amazing abilities; it was that nobody sane would even entertain the thought that Kuroko, the most wanted vigilante in all of Japan, was Quirkless.
Viridian, by SilvermistAnimeLover
Not Rated, 23/? as of December 2022, 155,337 words, no / Midoriya ship
I jokingly referred to this as “the OTHER Viridian” when the two stories were posting simultaneously - my crappy memory made it really confusing sometimes. Very different vibes from the other Viridian fic. Also: time travel! To be fair, this might belong in the Adult Vigilante section for that reason, but he's at UA (sort of) so it's here. Unfinished, but definitely worth a read.
Author's summary:
"So why should I be the one to go?! You’re the teacher! The Hero!! What good could someone like me do?!”
“Izuku.” The man’s voice was harsh, and made the younger man’s eyes focus on his friend. His eyes softened. “It must be you. You’re not who you were back then. You aren’t useless. Remember this: You are a Hero. And the world is counting on you—even if nobody realizes it. Here. When the time comes... give this to him. You'll know he trusts you when he calls you 'Problem Child.'" He smiled fondly, handing Izuku a pair of rings on a chain.
~~~~~~~
When the world ends, their only hope is to send one Quirkless man back in time. Back in his 14-year-old body, will Midoriya Izuku be able to save the world that shunned him all his life? And will he finally be able to become a hero this go around?
Good thing he had time as a vigilante to practice.
Section 3: Adult Vigilante Izuku
i'll be your biggest kept secret and your biggest mistake by sascake
Rated M, 31/32 and 308,030 as of 1/6/25, TodoDeku
This is a late add - it updated today (Jan 6, 2025) and I realized I'd left it off, so off to edit this post I went! Yoga instructor Midoriya, EMT Shinsou, and #3 hero Shouto struggle to deal with everything life throws at them. Much Todoroki family drama. This does have a ”Bakugo faces consequences” tag implemented in a way that’s a bit harsher than most I rec - he faces some harsh consequences as an adult for hiding what he did in junior high, and we don’t see his attempts at redemption from his pov. But it feels true to character for a Bakugou who never had to confront his biggest mistake while at UA. Shinsou's life also took a very different turn here, but his friendship with Izuku is a core part of the story.
Author's summary:
Devastated by his lack of a Quirk and pushed to the limit, fourteen-year-old Midoriya Izuku takes Bakugou's advice and jumps from the roof of their school.
Ten years later, pro hero Todoroki Shouto can't stop running into a vigilante hell-bent on saving people, going after every villain he comes across, and causing a conflict in Shouto like he's never felt before.
In My Time of Dying by RazzAppleMagic
Rated E, 10/10 chapters, 52,855 words, BakuDeku
Katsuki and Izuku being dramatic both about society and each other, and managing to drag a large chunk of the former 1A into it with them.
Author's summary:
Katsuki crushes the plastic in his palm, turns on his heel to look around him. He doesn’t hear Izuku step out from his hiding place. He doesn’t feel his presence until Izuku is there, right behind him.
“Are you here to arrest me, Kacchan?”
(In which, Izuku is a U.A. dropout turned vigilante and Katsuki is a pro hero that has made it his life’s mission to bring Izuku back to his side.)
Just a Concerned Citizen by Domoz
Rated T, 21/21 chapters, 68,912 words, ShinDeku
Sort of a vigilante fic? He really only dips a toe into actual vigilantism but stirs up a hornet’s nest in the process. A fun read where he meets most of 1A as adults.
Author's summary:
Midoriya Izuku is a normal, quirkless, college drop-out. He's not a vigilante. Everything he does is perfectly above board and totally legal -- He's double checked.
It would be nice if everyone else could see it that way, though.
(Izuku becomes an informant, sort of. Trouble follows.)
Rewind, Reset, Remember by ThyNameNotSpoken
Rated E, 41/41 chapters, 264,739 words, BkDk
I would read ANYTHING this author wrote. Their worldbuilding skills are incredible. In this one, they start with a hint of canon and characterize our favs beautifully, but if you expect any of the normal events, you’re in the wrong place. Canon took a hard left very early on, so the setting is a gorgeous divergence from the typical. Love, love, love this fic!
Author's summary:
The Underground: a network of vigilantes supported and directed by the Hero Commission to assist in maintaining the structure of Hero Society through any means necessary.
Izuku descended into the Underground after the War, a quirkless medic with no future. Presented with a deal of a lifetime. He entered the doors of Illusion and into the laps of Heroes spilling all their secrets and wants. Strings of Hero Society plucked by the Commission while Izuku and his crew deal with criminals in forgotten areas of the city. Whatever missions the Commission throws at them just a bonus.
There are whispers of a new threat growing in the city and, to make matters worse, Izuku finds himself with the eyes of the Number One hero on him. A slippery slope into something Izuku can't escape.
If there’s anything Izuku has learned as a vigilante and spy, it’s that everything is not what it seems.
Rut Buddy by HazelWitch
Rated E, 27/27 chapters, 135,544 words, BkDk
If you don’t like the whole Alpha/Omega thing, this really isn’t the fic for you. However - most vigilante Izuku stories are about Izuku overcoming societal prejudices and/or bad situations because of his determination to help others, and this is no exception. It’s just set in the midst of a lot of crazy hormonal stuff!
Author's summary:
“You will take one week of rut leave, starting from next Monday,” Mirio says, voice cheerful again and smile tacked in place. “And you will report to the med bay beforehand and afterward to confirm that your hormone levels have been appropriately attended to.”
The thought makes Katsuki feel physically sick.
_______
Bakugou Katsuki hasn't had a rut since he was fifteen years old. He hasn't seen his quirkless childhood friend since then, either.
Both of those things are about to change.
OR: the fic that ended up not really being about heats and ruts at all, but about what it really means to be a hero.
sparks and teeth, by smilelikethesun
Rated M, 15/15 chapters, 47,725 words, BakuDeku
This is also a favorite - I just love the characterizations. Izuku is perfect. More of a social justice vigilante than a villain hunting vigilante, but Inko is badass, Katsuki is a pining idiot, and the former 1A crew really comes through.
Author's summary:
Izuku Midoriya has been missing for almost four years, and this time, he didn't leave a note.
Katsuki, in the meantime, has been searching for him and working full-time as a hero. His mission for the last year has been to locate and capture the mysterious vigilante Zero.
When he opens his apartment door in the middle of the night to a dying Izuku in a Zero mask, he doesn't know what to do.
- - - - -
"Izuku?" Katsuki whispered.
Izuku's eyes fluttered shut as he grimaced, curling into himself. He was holding his stomach. His black, deeply-shadowed jumpsuit looked darker where he was holding himself, a black pool spreading. He moved his hand from his stomach and stared at his scarlet palm.
"I didn't—" He laughed weakly, red dripping suddenly from the corner of his mouth. "I didn't know where else to go. Kacchan."
The Case of Cheshire by rdillard1
Rated G, 27/27 chapters, 134,181 words, no / Midoriya ship
Nice Tsukauchi mentorship here with a good look at what might have happened had Izuku gone into police work.
Author's summary:
Izuku Midoriya had always wanted to be a hero. Even when the world beat him down, he had learned to stand back up. But over time, after watching your heroes fail you again and again, the title of hero took on another meaning. He may not have had a quirk, but he knew he could be a hero, even if it was as a detective.
He hadn't meant to become a vigilante, honestly. It just...happened. But he had quickly learned the law could only get him so far. Almost overnight, the vigilante Cheshire became a name to be feared by the corrupt and praised by the innocent who fell through the cracks of society. Izuku, or Cheshire, finally found a place in the world to belong and he would never be knocked down again.
zero-sum game by roadtripwithlucifer
Rated E, 23/23 chapters, 190,099 words, Bk/Dk
One of the fics I think about more than almost any other I’ve read. In my top ten list of all BNHA fics regardless of ship. Be warned though, it gets really, really heavy.
Author's summary:
It’s been four years since Deku dropped off the face of the earth. Katsuki knows he’s going to find him. He’s so close to him, he can almost touch him.
After nearly a full decade of our time of Stephanie Brown being told to go home and give up being Spoiler, Batman takes her on as a student and sanctions her, with no preamble or warning.
That’s weird, let’s talk about it.
Batmans strange choices in how he treats Stephanie Brown can only be understood by analyzing his character.
Let's place Batman in context of what is going on directly before his decision to bring in Stephanie Brown as part of the team. The last major event preceding Stephanie Brown being sanctioned is Officer Down, which by the time it concludes Batman has lost two of his oldest allies: Jim Gordon has retired and Alfred has resigned.
In the wake of Officer Down, I’d like to track two key conflicting characteristics of Batman, how they are exacerbated, and how they influence how Stephanie is treated.
1. A Longing for Companionship
Batman's desire for the company of others is increased post-Officer Down, as he deals with suddenly being isolated from most of his core group.
Other characters point this out:
Batman #590 (1940)
Additionally, for the first time in a long while, Bruce Wayne is entirely alone in the manor.
Gotham Knights #20 (2000)
So, why doesn’t Batman just do the normal, healthy thing and reach out to the loved ones he still has? I personally believe it’s because of how embarrassed he is after getting epically owned by Alfred, but the more general answer is: he’s the Batman.
Out of paranoia his feelings will be used against him, or out of fears those close to him will be harmed if he directly expresses affection for them, or out of just being too damn cool for “emotions”, any way you slice it, Batman is:
2. Deeply uncomfortable with appearing emotionally vulnerable
We can see this with one of Bruce’s primary response to immediate grief: denial and silence
A simple example of this is how he acts after Jason Todd is killed. Bruce completely refuses to acknowledge his existence, and remains utterly silent when confronted.
Batman #437 / #440 (1940)
Another easy example of this is how he inexplicably approaches Nightwing dressed as Matches Malone in order to express that he isn’t trying to step on his toes:
Nightwing #14 (1996)
While it varies over time how emotionally closed off Bruce is, I believe one of the biggest triggers for an increase in this emotional cut off is when he is made to feel helpless.
During Cataclysm, he is helpless to stop the earthquake or meaningfully protect Gotham, there’s no enemy to fight, it’s just pure random crappy luck. He responds to this feeling of circumstances being out of his immediate control by cutting off almost all of his allies and sending them out of Gotham.
After he learns about how Zatanna and some other JLers wiped his memory and betrayed his trust, his reaction is to create an artificial intelligence to spy on the Justice League.
When Batman is put in situations which makes him feel physically or emotionally vulnerable, when he’s subject to circumstances out of his control, Batmans response has been historically to double down and isolate himself and cover up any potential weaknesses by convincing himself he’s better off alone and paranoid.
Eventually, after some time of this, he has a big moment where he decides to let people in, but his knee jerk reaction is always to pull away first.
This aversion to vulnerability is in play during and post-Officer Down, where Bruce is confronted by Jim’s mortality and retirement as well as Alfred’s resignation, all “enemies” he can’t just punch away.
Nightwing #53 (1996) / Gotham Knights #13 (2000)
In the wake of Officer Down, these conflicting traits are prominently portrayed.
In particular, Gotham Knights #18 demonstrates how these ideas clash.
Batmans loneliness is explored heavily: he starts the comic off talking to a bat, repeatably calls Oracle who is trying to sleep, and wanders through the completely empty manor.
His loneliness is conveyed through how he is framed: a shadow in a batsuit, wandering though desaturated and darkened hallways and rooms, completely silently, like a ghost.
Finally, the silence ends. Bruce calls Aquaman, asking for help excavating his giant penny. They have an awkward conversation, until Aquaman eventually calls him on his BS, pretty much directly stating that the penny was a total excuse, and that Bruce just wanted company, that he only called because he was lonely.
Gotham Knights #18 (2000)
When confronted with his loneliness, we see his desire for companionship come into play. He tries to talk to the bat, to Oracle, and then Arthur.
We also see it mitigated by the second impulse, his aversion to vulnerability. He can't tell Oracle that he just wants to talk, he has to frame the interaction through a case that he himself admits he no longer needs her help with.
Likewise, he can't just tell Aquaman that he wants to hang out, he has to make up a lie about needing help moving his giant penny.
His desire for companionship drives him to reach out, while his aversion to emotional vulnerability forces him to obscure this desire for human connection.
So, thats fine and all, but what does any of this have to do with Stephanie Brown?
As I mentioned earlier, Officer Down is the event that occurs just before Batman brings Steph onto the team. I argue that this dynamic of yearning for companionship vs. resistance to emotional vulnerability influences heavily his decision to "sanction" her as Spoiler.
Stephanie as a balm for Batmans loneliness.
This is immediately clear if you compare how much he's talking in Gotham Knights #18 to how he chatters away at Stephanie. He directly references Tim and Alfred's absence. But unlike Gotham Knights #18 the absence is not a bad thing per se, its framed against Stephanie's presence, how he allows her to stay.
Green Arrow #5 (2001)
Stephanie's role in assuaging his loneliness is evident in other places as well, for instance, in the Gotham Knights Last Laugh tie in. Stephanie realizes she forgot to turn her comm of, and had been "blabbing in [his] ear all night", Batman reassures her that he isn't upset. Just the opposite in fact, he tells her to not turn it off, saying he "doesn't mind the company" and placing a hand awkwardly on her shoulder. He clearly appreciated the relief from his loneliness her "blabbing" had provided.
Gotham Knights #22 (2000)
So Batman's embarrassing loneliness might have had some role to play in him taking her on as a student and "sanctioning" her. But what about that second impulse? How does it come into play?
2. How Stephanie as an outsider allows for emotional vulnerability
Originally, Batman takes Stephanie on because he needed her to help him find Tim at Brentwood, as he is unable to go himself. The reasons he "can't" go himself only become clear when Tim confronts Bruce, calling him out for being afraid of running into Alfred.
Robin #87 (1993)
This scene illustrates how Stephanie satisfies the second impulse, her outsider status. Stephanie is different from the rest of the team.
Tim has access to the context and information which allows him to expose Batman's emotionally vulnerability. Tim can call out Batman out for his pettiness and cowardice in how he hides from Alfred.
But Stephanie? Stephanie doesn't know who Alfred is, or how embarrassing it is for Batman to be avoiding him after Alfred yelled at him and called him a baby. She doesn't have the context that Tim and the rest of the team have.
So what does this mean? It means that Batman can tell her shit that is not true, like that he calls his car "The Car" instead of the Batmobile. And, more importantly, it means that he can express emotional vulnerability without any of the potential consequence. She has no context, and she has no one to tell.
Alfred is beefing with her over Bruce's choice to tell her Tim's identity, so that potential friendship is over before it could begin. And she gets (seemingly) brushed off by Batgirl.
Robin #88 (1993)
She doesn't even have Tim, who Stephanies believes is mad at her.
Robin #94 (1993)
I cannot emphasize this enough: she has nobody to tell. And Batman absolutely knows this.
He is emotionally vulnerable with her, expressing concern for the future and uncertainty:
Robin #92 (1993)
This moment is weird. It stands out. Stephanie seems aware of the strangeness of this moment, she reflects on it internally.
This moment parallels something in another comic. His fears and uncertainties about bringing other people into his "war"? We see a similar dialogue in the beginning of Gotham Knights.
Gotham Knights #1 (2000)
These are his uncertainties and fears that he can normally only express through creating a case file where he writes in the third person, assessing himself as Batman as if he is a completely different person. But theres no subterfuge here. He just straight up tells Stephanie Brown, utterly unprompted.
And this isn't the last time it's mentioned. At least half a year later, at the very start of War Games, the strange and scary vulnerability of this moment is still etched in Stephanies mind.
Batman: The 12 Cent Adventure (2004)
And while Batman gets to dump his insecurities on Stephanie, it's not exactly reciprocal. Stephanie expresses fear that Batman will drop her if she goes to him for help after her dad threatens to kill her. She has no feeling of security in her place on the team if she's afraid of this.
Robin #94 (1993)
And she's not even wrong about Batman's willingness to fire her at the drop of a hat, it just occurs later.
And when it occurs is important. The events of Bruce Wayne: Murderer lead to Alfred coming back into the manor and Bruce's employ. It ends with a big reconcilltion between the primary team, where Bruce explains he's been off since Officer Down.
Batman #605 (1940)
Alfred is back, no questions asked. The "real" team gets an apology and an explanation. And in other words, Batman is no longer as alone as he was before.
Everyone was locked out of the cave during Bruce Wayne: Murderer/Fugitive, but Stephanie is the only one who is not let back in once it concludes. She doesn't get an explanation, and Batman did not seem to have a plan to tell her she's been fired. She had to track him down and confront him to find out he'd given up on her.
Gotham Knights #37 (2000)
We can see how his isolation contributes to how she is treated by who is told when she is fired/sanctioned. When he brings her on the team, no one knows ahead of time. We don't see him tell anyone at all. In contrast, once his primary support system is firmly reestablished post Bruce Wayne: Murderer, Bruce separately informs Tim, Cassandra, and Alfred that Stephanie was fired. He's able to do this because his web has been repaired.
Stephanie Brown essentially fulfills the same role as the bat that Bruce talks to in Gotham Knights #18.
A new presence, unencumbered with the point of view the rest of the team has, unknowing of Bruce's history of fucking up. A sounding board, a stand in for Bruce's normal company.
Stephanie's presence perfectly satiates the contrasting impulses Batman deals with when it comes to how he interacts with other characters. Through her, Bruce can have companionship without being afraid of the danger of emotional vulnerability. She doesn't have the context, she doesn't know Bruce Wayne. She only knows Batman, and she seems pretty starstruck about finally being let on his team.
There is an idea that Stephanie Brown was crime fighting as The Spoiler for fun, that she saw it all as a game. This reading isn't out of nowhere, it's supported by the things she and other characters say, especially in War Games (2005). However this understanding of Stephanie Brown's actions doesn't account for the large majority of her time as Spoiler, and oftentimes directly contradicts things she says or does.
This is important because how we understand why Stephanie keeps acting as The Spoiler informs what is true about the character. If she's doing it solely for kicks, it's not exactly unfair to call her a reckless idiot who should have listened when Batman and Robin told her to go home and stop wearing her costume.
So, should she just have listened when she was told to go home over and over again? Did she never take crime fighting seriously? Or was she battling against her father's sins to prove herself worthy? Or is there something else entirely going on? It seems like even Stephanie doesn't know at times:
Robin #40 (1993)
There are points where she makes light of her involvement, likening it to something she's doing for "the fun":
Robin #5, Robin #25 (1993)
And times where she rejects that same premise utterly:
Spoiler/Huntress: Blunt Trauma (1998)
It's very tempting to see this as character progression, she starts her first appearance in a Robin comic calling being Spoiler a "goof" but by the time Cataclysm rolls around, she says she isn't doing it for "the fun of it". However, this idea doesn't align with her first appearance and attitude at all.
I'd like to propose a reading which can account for the multiple reasons stated that she returns time and time again to being the Spoiler: the Spoiler represents Stephanie's agency and serves as a way for her to empower herself.
If we're determining why Stephanie Brown is Spoiler, we have to start where she starts, analyzing the her first appearance, and her motivations for creating the Spoiler mantle.
Stephanie's anger at her father + feelings of helplessness and lack of agency + desire to protect others = The Original Spoiler
I’ll stick to only evidence and panels which refer to or depict her time before becoming the Spoiler, or during her very first Spoiler "mission".
Let’s break it down
1.Stephanie Brown's Anger at her Father
This one's pretty self explanatory. I'll get into how her hatred of her dad has to do with Stephanie's feelings of helplessness and self loathing later. But for now, Stephanie's anger at her dad is pretty clearly one of the main things motivating her very first Spoiler appearance.
Detective #648
2. Stephanie Brown's Lack of Agency
Her father is an abusive piece of shit to Stephanie and her mother. He never stays in jail for long, and now that he's been cured of his clue-leaving psychosis, he might not go back at all.
80 Page Giant: Secret Origins (1998)
Her mom is, as Steph sees it, hopelessly addicted to her pills and drinking, Steph is unable to help, as she states: “talking to her didn’t do any good”
Creating this costume and persona is not only a way to get back at her dad, it’s about her seizing power, it’s a decision to have agency, to no longer be helpless. She is no longer a passive observer in her dad's crimes, she is the force actively 'spoiling' it.
In her first story as Spoiler, we see that culminate to a dark point: she’s so desperate to have some control of her life and by extension, her father who has been robbing her of it for years, that she nearly kills him.
Detective #649
When Stephanie became the Spoiler for the first time, it was about her anger at her dad, and finally having control over his influence over her life.
But most crucially, her first appearance as Spoiler is also largely about her desire to help others.
3. Stephanie’s desire to protect other people
This is established solidly in her first appearance as the Spoiler. She states that she was stalking her father “trying to make sure nobody got hurt”
Detective #468
And later in the same introductory arc, she only jumps into the fight when Batman’s life appears to be in danger:
Detective #469
This applies to her mother too, who she sees herself as responsible for protecting.
Stephanie identifies her father as a trigger for her moms struggle with addiction, and the same shot which shows Stephanie sewing together her first Spoiler costume also features her mother, sleeping next to an empty glass and pill bottles.
80 Page Giant: Secret Origins (1998)
The 80 Page Giant furthers this idea by recontextualizing the scene where she jumps into the fight with her dad in Detective #649 by adding her internal monologue in that moment: clearly reframing her actions through the lens of this protective instinct towards her mother
80 Page Giant: Secret Origins (1998)
I'm sticking to her first appearance backstory stuff primarily, because for now I'm just making a case for her original reason for putting on the costume, but I think it's worth it to mention something Steph says about "one of the first" missions she gave herself as Spoiler.
Steph says she made it one of the very first missions she wanted to achieve as Spoiler to track down the man who nearly sexually assaulted her as a child. Despite the fact that she was severely traumatized by this (unable to stand being alone with men for years afterwards) she didn’t try to do so out of revenge, but specifically because she knew he would go after more young girls.
Robin #111 (1993)
She first becomes the Spoiler in order to stop her dad from hurting her mom, herself, and other people any more than he already had. But why does she keep going? Especially, why does she keep fighting crime after her dad is locked away in prison?
And if she's Spoiler because of her genuine desire to help people, and her anger towards her dad, and her feelings of helplessness, where does the idea that she does it for "fun" come from?
Contextualizing "The Spoiler" as a way for Stephanie to give herself agency is the strongest reading which answers both of those questions.
Much of what we see Spoiler do, is directly paralleled to what Stephanie cannot.
The most obvious example is her stopping The Cluemaster.
Stephanie Brown might be stuck with an abusive, criminal dad who never stays in jail for long, but The Spoiler can make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else.
80 Page Giant: Secret Origins (1998) / Robin #111 (1993)
But there are more covert examples of this as well.
Stephanie Brown might not be able to make her mom get clean, only able to watch as she seems to succumb to her addiction over and over again, but the Spoiler can confront and potentially stop her gymnastics coach from dealing drugs after one of her classmates overdoses, in a way which is shown in conjunction with Steph's relationship with her mom.
Showcase '95 #5 (1995)
Her rage at being misled by her gymnastic coach, her anger at him for betraying the kids who "looked up to you", mirrors her anger at her mom in this same comic for how her struggle with addiction has affected their relationship. Spoiler attempts to do what Steph wishes she could: fight and defeat addiction, as a proxy for her desire to help her mom, and her frustration that she can't.
Stephanie Brown might be in a relationship with a selfish asshole, but as The Spoiler, she gets the attention of a smart, honest, good guy:
Spoiler/Huntress: Blunt Trauma (1998)/ Robin #80 (1993)
Robin (debatably) is the one who instigates this idea. (Kissing a girl on the mouth, even if i was out of relief for her saving your life, sort of sends mixed signals as to whether or not she has a shot.)
Robin #5 (1993)
Tim himself juggles with the fact that he both feels a responsibility to discourage Stephanie from acting as Spoiler, but doesn't, because he doesn't have an excuse to hang out with Steph, but he can spend time with her when she's Spoiler.
Robin #41 (1993)
Stephanie Brown doesn't get loved, doesn't get understood. Not by Dean, not by her mom, and certainly not by her dad. But Spoiler? Spoiler seems has a real shot.
Steph doesn't really feel like her mom cares, and she knows her dad doesn't. She wants to feel powerful, she wants to feel useful, she wants to protect people, and she really really wants to be loved.
She sees Spoiler as a way to achieve all these things, and that’s how she uses the identity.
Therefore, the Spoiler feels empowering, specifically in contrast to Stephanie Brown and her garbage home life and her helplessness and feelings of inadequacy.
This ties into something I haven't really explored yet, Stephanie Brown's canonical self loathing. This seems to linger in the periphery of her earlier time as Spoiler, but picks up significantly during and after her pregnancy arc.
She's dealt with blaming and hating herself in her past, we get a mention of how she had to overcome believing she was a bad person in the wake of her nearly being sexually assaulted:
Robin #111 (1993)
And she deals with feeling of inadequacy and self hatred again and again in her time as the Spoiler as well.
Steph refers to her boyfriend, who is unable to tell her his real name, share the majority of the stuff going on in his life with her, and who always has to wear a mask around her, as potentially "too good" for her. I don't care how cool and nice you think Tim Drake is, I think this is definitely indicative of at least some self esteem issues.
Robin #57 (1993)
Her self esteem issues become more clear during her teen pregnancy arc. She tells Tim straight up that she would understand it if he had cheated on her/left her.
Robin #59 (1993) / Robin #62 (1993)
This ties into why she acts as the Spoiler as well.
Stephanie blames herself in part for her dad's crimes.
She obviously didn't make Arthur Brown commit his crimes. This is just another instance of Stephanie's self loathing informing how she acts, in this case, being part of her rationale as to why she is Spoiler.
Robin 80 Page Giant (2000)
As Stephanie, she was helpless to stop Cluemaster from abusing her mom, unable to stop how his presence pushes Crystal Brown further into her addiction, unable to stop him from hurting other people and herself with his crime. This lack of agency explored earlier combined with her self blame leads her to believe it's her job as the Spoiler to "make up for" the bad she wasn't able to stop before, a responsibility which is obviously not on her. We see this also in the 80 Page Giant: Secret Origins (1998), where she briefly refers to 'spoiling' his plans as "her job", in a way that indicates a degree of responsibility.
It's no wonder that Stephanie becomes so attached to the Spoiler mantle. As Stephanie Brown, she is helpless and unable to control her environment, and she deals with thinly veiled self hatred and blames herself for this helplessness. But Spoiler gives her the opportunity to take control. That's why she returns to it time and time again, against the wishes of pretty much everyone.
This reading also aligns with the instances we get where Stephanie is portrayed as doing crime fighting for "fun". While I think its clear enough by now Stephanie clearly isn't out there for "the thrill", it's absolutely no surprise to me that Stephanie refers to it as a "rush".
It's, quite frankly, a little bit of a power trip. Of course it feels fucking fantastic to finally have a say, to no longer feel useless and helpless and guilty, to finally get to do something about all the shit that used to crush her. To finally stop feeling helpless and worthless, to have a chance at being loved. It probably feels fucking fantastic!
Why in god's name would she ever want to give that up? For her, I think its a very easy choice, the potential danger of acting as Spoiler brings upon herself doesn't factor in all that much at all.
The Spoiler as a symbol of Stephanie's Agency theory accounts for the multiple different and somewhat contradicting explanations we are given for why Stephanie acts as Spoiler.
I want to emphasize that this is not a bad thing, and also not entirely selfish. Agency means the freedom to go after the guy who she was powerless to meaningfully stop as an 11 year old (telling her asshat of a dad about it only got her yelled at and dismissed), but who might still be out there preying on other young girls. Spoiler means having the agency to protect her mom from her dad. Spoiler means having the agency to protect her neighbors.
But Spoiler also means this 15 year old girl gets to feel strong and loveable and worth something for the first time in a long time.
Let’s talk about the significance of how Stephanie Browns first ever appearance is tied directly to a TV broadcast about Batman, and how it perfectly explains why she's such a remarkable character.
Detective Comics #647
The full sentence the TV broadcaster says is “It’s not up to some masked vigilante to protect our citizens …. No matter how good his intentions…No matter how noble his cause”.
This scene asks us to compare the characters of Batman, who the statement is textually about, and Stephanie, who is viewing it and (presumably), being inspired by it. The panel itself seems to encourage use to try to apply these lines to Steph instead of Batman, framing the latter proclamation directly above her head, almost like a text box telling us this information about her. If we apply these lines to her, we can see an idea emerge.
There is this figure, who is not only not necessary, but unacceptable on the face of it, “…No matter how good [her] intentions...” / “…No matter how noble [her] cause…”
The first time we see Stephanie brown, she is being showcased alongside a condemnation, which is followed by her disregarding the message of this broadcast, and appearing for the very first time as Spoiler.
Dismissal and Stephanie ignoring this condemnation continues on to be one of the central facets of Stephanie’s character. In the same introduction arc we already see the dismissal/disregard dynamic established.
Batman and/or Robin tell her to Fuck Off, she chooses not to:
Detective #649
This pattern continues on for some time. She is dismissed by Batman
Robin #16, Robin #26, Robin #50 (1993)
And by Tim Drake/Robin:
Robin #25, Robin #35, and Robin #26 (1993)
And by her own mother:
Robin #71 (1993)
When she finally becomes an official part of the team in 2001, there is a break in this pattern. But, as always, Stephanie is eventually pushed out again:
Gotham Knights #37 (2000)
But, as always, Steph says “fuck that”, and refuses to stop.
Even in the face of dear friends agreeing she should give it up.
Batgirl #38 (2000)
And when Steph is brought in as Robin, she is again dismissed, in this case “Fired” soon after. She doesn’t quit of course, leading to the disastrous events of War Games.
Robin #128 (1993)
And when she comes back from being “dead” she is dismissed again, by Robin.
Robin #182 (1993)
This isn’t every time someone tells her to quit being Spoiler, but instead a showcase of how prevalent the Dismissal/Disregarding dynamic is for her character.
I am working on two other posts, one which will explain in depth Why the way she was “fired” as Spoiler has everything to do with Bruce Wayne’s own hangups and emotionally manipulative quirks and very little to do with her own skill level. The other will analyze why she feels the compulsion to be keep being Spoiler even after having Every reason to quit and being told to do so hundreds of times.
However, for the purposes of this post, all that matters is that this Dismissal/Disregarding dynamic exists and is a huge and reoccurring part of Stephanie’s character.
Whether or not you think she “deserved” how often she was rejected, and whether or not you think her disregarding the rejection was “good” or not doesn’t come into play here.
For now, let’s focus on the implications this dynamic has for her character in a meta sense, as a character who is used and discarded.
A character who is for all intents and purposes, the narrative punching bag. She endures character dismissal and belittling, three separate backstory instances of sexual harassment as a child and teenager, teenage pregnancy, abuse, taking care of a parent struggling with addiction, brutal and (debatably) sexualized torture, character assassination, death, retconned death, and further character assassination until 2009, where she finally gets her own solo comic, and a modicum of respect. The thing that separates the horrible shit Stephanie goes through and the bad things that happen to other characters is only rarely are Stephanie’s struggles treated as significant on their own, and almost always her narrative is used for drama or to prop up Robin Tim Drake’s plot. Very rarely does she get treated with the care and attention her character merits.
But let’s go back to that news broadcast, all the way back in Detective #647. How does she take it, when we are told, when Stephanie is told, first thing, straight out of the gate, plain and simple: No matter how good your intentions, no matter how noble your cause, you is not enough, or you’re too much, or your just not right?
It is met by a triumphantly tragic: “And?”
Stephanie hears from the VERY start the same refrain she will hear for years and years: she is not good enough, she needs to go home, she needs to quit and she does the exact thing she will continue to do every following time she is told this: she puts on the damn Spoiler outfit and she still tries anyway. Again and again.
The next time we see Stephanie Brown after this, the second time we ever see her character, she has donned the Spoiler costume, and she’s got to work. “And?” She seems to say. “As if!” She seems to shout. What a perfectly awe inspiring thing, and what a perfect summary of what makes Stephanie Brown so damn cool.
For better or worse, you cannot keep her down. I love Stephanie Brown so much.
And if you want to read a comic which understands this, which treats the terrific character of Stephanie Brown with respect and love, and which for the first time maybe ever lets her stubborn refusal to give up go her way? Read Batgirl (2009)!!
Batgirl #3 (2008) & Bruce Wayne: The Road Home - Batgirl (2010)
The Exotic Animal Photo Reference Repository is live!
You can find it at: https://www.animal-photo-references.com!
Here's how this repository works: all photos were taken by me, a human, at zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and other facilities with animals in human care. There is no AI involved in the photo editing or creation and there never will be. Right now there's 56 species on the site; my catalog has over 300 and I will be uploading the rest of them as fast as I can.
Artists creating derivative or transformative works (without AI) have blanket permission to use these references. Yes, even for work you're going to sell.
All other usage/reproduction requires permission, but assume I'm friendly and please do ask! That's educators, researchers, the media, people who need images for a school presentation, etc. This is just to retain copyright/control in case they're scraped/reused unethically - it doesn't meant I don't want folk to have access! So please do reach out via the contact form on the repository website, I don't bite and I'm most likely going to say yes.
Please don't repost the repository photos to your own blogs: I've created @animalphotorefs as a dedicated blog to share photos from the site, and of course I'll reblog a lot of it here! That again just helps with retaining copyright and sourcing of the images. If you really want to repost some for a specific purpose, please just ask me first!
Also, folks, this project has no funding. It's just me and my camera.
There will never be a paywall on the site - I believe resources like this absolutely must be free for everyone to access. So please, please, please support the repository if you use it. Want sneak peeks at photos, cute videos I take, or to help choose what I photograph and what gets posted first? You can do that through Patreon (and there's a free trial on the most interactive tier!) If you'd like to just drop a tip, I've also set up a Ko-Fi.
I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks of the repository.
To whet your thirst for cute photos, here's an Indian rhinoceros contemplating a goose.
I just wanted to shout out all of the people over at Archive of Pimps who've worked so hard on archiving 21 years of content across the RT site and YouTube channels. With the Rooster Teeth site shutting down in just about a week (on May 15, 2024), and the future of the YT channels unknown, this was a massive undertaking to quickly preserve a metric fuckton of content before it could be lost forever. So much media has been lost because of bad storage practices, lack of foresight, and (most critically) corporate greed, so I seriously applaud those folks for working so diligently to get this done.
The Rooster Teeth archive can be found here
You can read MrSheen's full reddit post about the archive here
(there are still about 1800 videos missing from the archive, if you've ever saved any RT content and want to see if you can help, you can join the Archive of Pimps discord here)
gotta add these because what is more beautiful than nathan mackinnon winning the stanley cup to defend his longtime crush sidney crosby’s honor and THEN attributing the win to staying in a hotel room that contains sid’s jersey number. who wrote this fic? (also: nate eats ass and sid is The ass of the nhl so…)
I've been resource gathering for YEARS so now I am going to share my dragons hoard
Floorplanner. Design and furnish a house for you to use for having a consistent background in your comic or anything! Free, you need an account, easy to use, and you can save multiple houses.
Comparing Heights. Input the heights of characters to see what the different is between them. Great for keeping consistency. Free.
Magma. Draw online with friends in real time. Great for practice or hanging out. Free, paid plan available, account preferred.
Smithsonian Open Access. Loads of free images. Free.
SketchDaily. Lots of pose references, massive library, is set on a timer so you can practice quick figure drawing. Free.
SculptGL. A sculpting tool which I am yet to master, but you should be able to make whatever 3d object you like with it. free.
Pexels. Free stock images. And the search engine is actually pretty good at pulling up what you want.
Figurosity. Great pose references, diverse body types, lots of "how to draw" videos directly on the site, the models are 3d and you can rotate the angle, but you can't make custom poses or edit body proportions. Free, account option, paid plans available.
Line of Action. More drawing references, this one also has a focus on expressions, hands/feet, animals, landscapes. Free.
Animal Photo. You pose a 3d skull model and select an animal species, and they give you a bunch of photo references for that animal at that angle. Super handy. Free.
Height Weight Chart. You ever see an OC listed as having a certain weight but then they look Wildly different than the number suggests? Well here's a site to avoid that! It shows real people at different weights and heights to give you a better idea of what these abstract numbers all look like. Free to use.
drifting off to sea @someanoniguess - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag