#heroes.

[crongfucius]

Thoughts on Thunderbolts*-- their story, their character, and their positive reception-- from an OG Avengers fan. [Slight spoilers, but no major plot points aside from what Marvel has already revealed themselves lol]

Marvel has been struggling to fill the void the original Avengers left. Their story, the Infinity War Saga, was an insane cultural and cinematic experience. Many of the past films have fallen flat, and feel like another cash grab just to keep up with the MCU's story (I gave up TBH). With so many new characters and so little time to understand their motives and backstories amidst another "big baddie", it's been hard to connect and care.

It's been a while since I've actually given a shit about a Marvel movie, and how the emotions during the film stayed with me days after, and how I GENUINELY care about the characters. It was so nostalgic and refreshing leaving the theater and actually feeling hopeful about this new group of heroes.

But after watching Thunderbolts* (*New Avengers, very bold and smart marketing move, Marvel. But you could've waited a few more days LMAO), I really love how Marvel leaned into the anti-hero hero. Because OG Marvel stans of the Avengers know that those heroes, especially the"Big Three" shiny cool beacons of superhero goodness and awe, were not just these characters of uprightness and goodness. They were not just the one-dimensional heroes the media simplified them to be. They all had their own demons and struggles before they got to where they could be.

In the fandom world, we dived into their backstories. Their angst. The hard lessons they had to learn. The personal battles they had to face. The past they had to do better by (God, I miss all those angsty fics).

Because at the end of the day, these heroes (and their villain) were human.

And I just love how in this movie, which is I believe catered to the grown up 13-year-old OG Marvel fan, finally puts their humanity, darkness, struggle, and pain in the forefront. That even broken, fucked-up people can do good. And that even weirdos who aren't too sure what they're doing or why can still be seen as heroes because they put in the *effort*, even when the choice is strange or difficult. And I think that's really speaking to the crowd right now, and to the current pulse of the world.

In a society of cancel culture and the pressures of being judged with every move, it's nice to know that you are not your mistakes. Being a hero doesn't mean being infallibly good and perfect-- being a hero is choosing to do what's right and good, even when it is hard.

Playing the Avenger's theme at the end really tied it all together and made me remember that the Avengers weren't always this de facto savior group-- but started as a bunch of fucked up individuals choosing to work together for the greater good. Godspeed, New AvengerZ. I am so happy to be excited for what is next in store for you.

[apostatefeverdream]

in the world's deepest skyrim trench rn and going from my da pcs with fully fledged names and backstories to "this is gregolas leengreaf and he came from a gay lake" is... Something

[critgoblin]

liam’s characters have such complicated and batshit and different relationships with death. like on the one hand, you have caleb whose whole purpose in life is continuing it. he wants to redeem himself, he wants to be a better man, he wants to atone. and he can only do that alive. so he he runs from death because it is the ultimate failure—if he dies, he cannot change the past. he cannot put life back. he cannot save his soul. so he runs from death for nearly the entire campaign. death is his scourge, it haunts his steps like a phantom. it is evil, it is scary, it is the epitome and the reminder of every mistake he has ever made. death has damned him, he has damned himself through death. and so his relationship to it can only ever be antagonistic and over-the-shoulder, desperately keeping himself two paces from its grasp. 

and then you have vax. death is obviously a much more active, assertive force in vax’s life than caleb’s--it has a form and a face and a name. vax’s strength lies in his faith in himself, in his friends, in the living, and in people. he has a gritty, resilient focus on a life that defies death. so much of vax’s conflict, what made his character arc so beautifully done, is how much he spites what tries to control him. vax bows to no one. not his father, not the council, not god, and certainly not death. when the raven queen tries to take his sister from him, he refuses. he stands at death’s feet and spits in her face, calls her a bitch. demands that she takes his soul. one mortal half-elf rogue, not a lick of magic to his name--he forces death to make a deal. coming to terms with his patron, learning to serve her, learning to be death’s right hand - her champion - almost kills him. he is only able to do so once he has realized that death is not a force. the raven queen does not exert herself on the living; she collects what fate is owed. she is inevitable not because she takes life, but because she is life’s successor. vax’s relationship with death begins as a challenge - try to kill me, try to take my loved ones away from me, i fucking dare you - and finishes as a mutual bond of respect. 

and then there’s orym. orym’s relationship with death is fascinating. we’re still early in the campaign as i’m writing this, so there are likely details yet to be revealed, but as i see it: orym doesn’t fear death, and he doesn’t run from it. he doesn’t spite it, but he certainly doesn’t respect it. orym sees death like a house on fire and runs right into it. vax may have been impulsive and rash, but he never sought death the way orym does--strategically, persistently, actively. if death got vax before his pact with the raven queen, it would be because she caught him off his guard. orym sees death coming down the tracks and puts himself in her way. willingly! not because death will earn him glory, and not because he wants to die, but because he has to fall on the sword. because orym is driven by action, and he can always take a hit, even - especially - when it’s his last. because he is the worst kind of hero--the kind who believes in the narrative; who sees his bloody fate written into his stars and runs headfirst into it. because there is only ever forward. because orym is, first and foremost, brave. because dying for something is better than outliving it. 

[ded-j-27]

My boy is shocked with this woman

[equalstrength]

you be the moon i’ll be the earth

and when we burst start over

please keep cred.no repost.click for quality.

[mc-posts]

A friend of mine was honored. The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. - Koda

Hits: 8A friend of mine was honored. He made the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. A retired Youngstown police officer was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. The only local inductee. A career law enforcement officer, attorney and 30-year veteran who has dedicated his life to public service. Had served as an officer […]

[murdermost-foul]

went to a bowie tribute last night so naturally i'll be out of business for the next five to ten working days