#dj arora

[superfish-discussions]

The funniest thing about engaging with Superfish and thinking about its lore… is writing out names like Superfish and Toppleprey in completely serious contexts. It still takes me out half the time. DJ really said it best here.

[superfish-discussions]

The Shape of Loss and Grief in Superfish

While DJ's parents are absent from the narrative, having passed away years ago, in a way they still haunt the narrative at large. A particularly telling instance of this are the following words said by DJ in Episode 6,

This has gotta be the worst day I've ever had.

Wait...

No... There was definitely a worse one.

DJ's parents are ever present in the background of his life. Clearly, the way he lives has been both inspired by their lives and by their sudden passing when he was a young child.

He was, presumably, taught how to prepare the food he prepares so carefully by his parent(s).

Even within this small frame, and through a few miscellaneous pictures from his and Arun's childhood, we can see that they were kind and loving people who understood the value of affection and care.

Hence, DJ's life is defined not by an absence of care from the very beginning, but the endless pursuit to attempt to fill the gap left behind by its sudden cessation.

Arun was forced to grow up early, taking a mediocre job to support himself and DJ at the young age of 18. DJ himself has taken over the more domestic aspect of things. Since he is disallowed from getting a part-time job, he instead does what he can to support the two of them otherwise.

Most likely, the "worse day" that DJ is referring to is the day his parents passed away, leaving behind a family of two that must now navigate this large world on its own. When it comes to grief such as this, there is only a before and an after. It becomes a defining point of your life, and I am certain the same is true for DJ.

As readers, we have only been shown the after of this tragedy, but the before lives in the quiet moments. What were their lives like? How did his parents meet each other, and come together to build a family? How much of the house's decor is the lingering effect of their own tastes? The dishes that DJ prepares, and the way he labels containers carefully for his brother with messages of goodwill—is that something they used to do for the two of them? Was the car that Arun drives theirs?

Sometimes, there is more meaning in the careful ways in which we look away from some things, than the ones we look directly in the eye. DJ's offhand comment that's never elaborated upon leaves his thoughts up to interpretation, highlighting how he himself prefers to leave them behind.

Still, all of this is ever present in DJ's tendency toward self-reliance and self-denial—making himself convenient so he can support the people he loves and cares for.

I look forward to learning more about his parents, and the way his own childhood is a part of who he is today.

[superfish-discussions]

Why Superfish Stands Out in Romantic Media

While the focus of my enjoyment of Superfish is the world pegl0 is building, it is bolstered significantly by how natural the way he depicts romance feels.

In some recent Instagram stories, he discussed how he will be evading the common pitfalls that are rampant in romantic media/romantic pairings in general such as the following:

Having two characters get together near the conclusion of the work, and hence not showing anything of the way they navigate their relationship and life going forward. Instead, he has made it clear that readers will see Superfish and DJ grow together beyond just entering a relationship.

Having two characters constantly locked in a stasis to artificially elongate the time it takes for them to realize how they feel for each other, whether the feelings are reciprocated, etc.

Having the characters enter a relationship, and then somehow become completely different and utterly unenjoyable versions of themselves, because the creator is unsure as to how the story must progress.

Introducing misunderstandings, sudden breakups, pointless arguments, etc. to further the story.

Even in the comic so far,

He is focusing on the natural attributes of an easy physical closeness that define feeling comfortable around a person. Superfish and DJ are constantly pulling each other along, teasing each other, etc. They act like two people who work well together, something that you don't always see so much as get told.

He has given ample development to each of them individuals, allowing the viewers to develop a rich understanding of who they are. Hence, the way they bring out the best in each other becomes more appreciable.

Through the sketches and miscellaneous art pieces he has shared of them, he shows us the minor details that characterize their dynamic. Without a focus on explicitly romantic actions, the way they interact with each other feels much more lived-in and real.

It certainly is novel to see.

[superfish-discussions]

who’s better

dj or superfish

This is a very broad question. To better answer it, I will reframe it as follows.

Who is the more interesting character, DJ or Superfish?

Before I elaborate, I will state my answer simply: they are both interesting to me in very different ways. Superfish is the one that is the most interesting to see, as his appearance coincides with us learning more of Obscaria and of the themes his existence in such a world embodies.

On the other hand, DJ is the one I find the most compelling as a character, because we get an in-depth look at his motivations and who he is.

DJ and Superfish both represent the following two different philosophies for character creation respectively.

Characters whose lived experiences are explicitly shown to the reader.

Characters that embody a specific concept.

Dhananjay "DJ" Arora, being the protagonist and primary narrator, is the character whose life we inhibit in the comic. In the very first arc of the comic (that revolves around introducing us to the characters and the world they live in), we quickly learn the following:

He feels very responsible and protective towards the people he cares for.

This can sometimes be to his own detriment, as he is very averse to being a burden or relying on anyone else. Not out of a need for perfect autonomy but from a desire to avoid selfishly causing others any inconvenience.

He is careful and quick on his feet; even when he is intimidated in dangerous situations, he doesn't freeze. He instead does what needs to he done.

Meanwhile, Superfish is a character that's meant to embody a concept—the picture of a powerful witch who grew up alienated in a strictly militaristic and hierarchical society. What does it mean to be raised in an environment such as this? What is it like to be a witch in this world in the first place?

He lives his life simply and practically—finishes chores, cooks for his brother and himself, studies as required, and spends time with his friends.

But, in all this, it is quickly revealed that he has been keeping himself at a distance from these very friends. His life is defined by structure, but it lacks a free spontaneity. He hasn't come out to his friends in fear of their reactions, and this has caused him to implicitly other himself in their presence.

He is our gateway to Obscaria—the guide to understanding a complex new world and its rules. In general, he represents the newness DJ needs in the narrow life he has crafted for himself.

Characters like Superfish do not simply exist as people. They exist to embody specific ideas and concepts for both the reader and the protagonist of the story themself. That's why he is a perfect contrast to DJ in nearly every way, and becomes personified through him. As the story progresses, they go through two opposing transitions:

Hints of his life's experiences lie in offhand comments, half-shown memories, and the background of his current life. Generally, he is the antithesis of a character like DJ. He thrives in luxury, possessing ornate furniture, expensive fragrances, fresh ingredients to cook himself decadent meals, etc.

Decadence is central to his character. He loves delicious food, drives a Vespa just for the aesthetic, has cultivated for himself a striking appearance, and he enjoys keeping someone like DJ on his toes.

DJ goes from being just a person to someone who himself can embody something greater—what does it mean to offer yourself up again and again in the face of the unknown because you know it is the right thing to do? Of all the possibilities, knowing Superfish is easily the one that will introduce the most complexity to his life, and not always in a good way. But, that's what he is to Superfish—a representation of all the ideals that are antithetical to what witches generally believe.

Superfish goes from simply embodying a concept to being a person. He is unused to compliments, yet evidently likes them. He can be sulky when simple things don't go his way. As we move through the story, we will learn more of these simple details that make a person, and thus Superfish will become more than just a vehicle for the unknown.

[superfish-discussions]

What's happening with the witch's core inside of DJ?

Reference Post on All Known Information About Witches

The events of the story began with DJ, a human, absorbing a witch's core—something that has never happened in the known history of that world.

While Superfish has outright denied the possibility of DJ being able to perform magic, we have seen that the core has been having at least some effect on DJ.

DJ has been having frequent fainting spells.

He can read languages he does not know, as is typical of how witch cores translate languages.

He has also had at least one hyper-realistic nightmare; it involved a gigantic predatory-looking Superfish squashing him to death.

I believe DJ will eventually be able to utilize the witch's core in either of the following ways:

As a way to defend himself from other magic users, with his magic potentially only activating when his life is threatened.

In conjunction with Superfish's own powers, perhaps functioning as a power source for Superfish to draw from.

Enhanced physical abilities such as strength and endurance that kick in once he takes the strength potion.

Find more information enclosed below. I welcome all discussion and opinions, and you may send a message, a question, or comment upon the post itself.

It seems highly unlikely that pegl0 will take the traditional route of having DJ develop the ability to use magic exactly the way an average witch does; he has specified multiple times that DJ cannot perform magic the way a witch can. While this could also be to throw the readers off momentarily, I believe he has different plans for DJ.

We know that,

DJ is set to become physically stronger over the course of the series, and will also become a better fighter with experience.

Witch cores are parasitic in nature, and each core is unique to each witch.

We can speculate on the following,

At the very least, the witch's core is going to be something that allows for DJ's increased physical abilities, especially since he is presumably going to be fighting other magical beings.

Does a witch's core being unique to each witch mean that another witch would not be able to use it to its full abilities? Or is that irrelevant?

Superfish is the strongest witch alive. Given that a witch's core is the source of all their abilities, his core likely exhibits an anomalous strength that could potentially have unintended consequences. Could DJ's nightmare have been the core's response to Superfish's proximity? With Superfish acting almost as a sink for magical energy to be siphoned off to.

Given the nature of the story, we can be almost certain of the following,

The witch's core will not be extracted from DJ's body anytime soon, if at all. If it is extracted from him, it will still leave him permanently changed in some way. It functions as his introduction to Obscaria, and narratively this introduction has changed his life in ways that can't be reversed. Hence, whatever happens to him in regard to the witch's core will reflect that.