For @marveltrumpshate 2024, @misscapsicle asked for a playlist with cover art and liner notes for her ongoing Logan-centric fanfic, When Monsters Become Men. She has been incredibly patient and understanding with me while I worked on this, the first of five custom playlists I'll be curating for her. Below the cut you will find the full liner notes, cover art, and my notes on the creation of the playlist. These notes may have a couple minor spoilers, so go ahead and hit play while you read through her fic, then come back for the notes!
Liner Notes
The image of books on a wooden table is under open license from Debby Hudson from Unsplash and has been modified for use.
On my first read through of When Monsters Become Men, I knew immediately that I wanted to incorporate the memory books into the theme and what better place than the liner book? The books were described as aging along with their memories, fraying and deteriorating from disuse.
The image of many open books is under open license from Kamila from Unsplash and has been modified for use.
I got this idea that each of the pages of the liner notes could be a page from one of the books, but the first run I did turned out a bit, well, boring, so I found this great shot of a pile of open books on Unsplash and the added detail of all the books and pages overlapping really added some much needed visual interest.
The image of many open books is under open license from Kamila from Unsplash. The image of Michael-James Olson as Young Victor is from the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine and is used under fair use. All images have been modified for use.
As described in the fic, reading the books of Logan's memories was more like seeing his memories unfolding than reading an actual book, so I wanted to include images of the people, places, and ideas that were held within. I wanted these to still feel connected to the books, so I made them a bit sketchy, like ink on paper. Here we have Victor, the image covered in blood.
The image of many open books is under open license from Kamila from Unsplash and has been modified for use.
To merge the track listing into the idea of the books, I decided I wanted the tracks to be listed like MLA sources cited. Did you know that there are different ways to cite sources if the music is online versus if the music is being coursed from a physical copy? Well, since I wouldn't be linking each song to a track, I decided to forgo the links for online sources, but the rest of this should be (mostly) compliant.
The image of many open books is under open license from Kamila from Unsplash. The image of Lynn Collins as Kayla Silverfox and Hugh Jackman as Logan is from the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine and is used under fair use. All images have been modified for use.
I wanted to represent in image the idea of Logan's memories being sometimes taken from him by force, like the memory of Kayla was at the end of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. So, I took the memory of Kayla that Logan read about in his books and I overlaid it with a heavy burn covering most of her face and their mouths where they would have been kissing. It's ugly and tragic, just like the end of their story.
The image of many open books is under open license from Kamila from Unsplash and has been modified for use.
The only thing about these MLA style citations that I couldn't get fully compliant is that the album name should be italicized. I decided to go with underlining the names instead because I knew I wanted to use an authentic-looking typewriter font (this one is called True Typewriter) and typewriters typically didn't have an option for italics, so I couldn't find a font that came with that option.
The image of many open books is under open license from Kamila from Unsplash. The image from the 2016 film Deadpool is used under fair use. All images have been modified for use.
As long as we each live, our stories and memories are still being written, so I wanted this final image to be a reminder of that. Logan's story isn't done, just like this image of a place he's found to make a home. Nothing is complete, but there's hope in the unfinished image, that he's still writing his own stories and making his own memories with the people he has found are his family.
Playlist Cover Art
The image of gravestones in a field from RDNE is used under the Pexels license. The image of Hugh Jackman as Logan is from the 2003 film X2 and is used under fair use. The image of the headstone grave by Hucklebarry is used under open license from Pixabay. All images have been modified for use.
The other imagery from the fic that I knew I wanted to incorporate into the themes of the art for this project were the cemetery and headstones that Logan encounters in his inward journey into his own mind. These graves were sort of the precursor to the books so I like them as cover art to the list where the liner notes would have traditionally been found inside.
Here we see Logan looking out on the countless graves of people he doesn't even remember killing, people whose memories he feels compelled to recall out of respect for the lives he has taken. The track listing on the back cover art was supposed to resemble letters carved into the headstone... how well I succeeded probably relies heavily on the size of the screen you're using, lol
Playlist
I began working on this playlist last year when this fic was just a wee baby 15k with more on the way. Initially, we discussed something with an outlaw country vibe, specifically referencing Johnny Cash (who made it to the final playlist), but leaving the door open for other genres.
I took a break from creating and when I came back, the fic had grown. It's currently sitting around 55k and it ain't over yet. So, I got to reading, pulling some inspiration pieces together as I went. The following tracks didn't make the final cut, but did serve to direct the sound of the final mix.
With guidance from MissCapsicle, the playlist came together with a dark americana sound, dabbling a bit into a more indie or singer/songwriter vibe. The final cut brought the list to just over an hour in length.
Annotated Track List
Become the Beast by Karliene: Track one was an early addition to the mix. This song is one I've long loved for Logan and other hunters learning to accept their beastly sides.
Sleeping on the Blacktop by Colter Wall: Another early addition, this song really evoked a feeling of Logan's younger days to me, living rough and running from himself as much as anything.
In Dreams by Ben Howard: This was in the first draft playlist, though it was one of the last additions to that cut. This was a new find for me and I think I'll be listening to it in the future. Beautiful picking and the lyrics are so enchanting. It reminds me heavily of Kayla--"In dreams I have lain in sin just to be the cracked and the cared for. How can I ask, ask for more?"
Hypothermic by Goodnight, Texas: So, this was added in one of the last changes, but it's long been a Logan song for me and fits nicely in his hiding out in Alaska years. I just wasn't sure that it fit the vibe for this particular fic, but it was an instant yes when I suggested it. Seriously, read the lyrics, the whole thing sounds like a narration of him circa early X-Men (2000).
Bad Dreams by Bellhound Choir: This was a pretty late addition, but the sound of it is so, so tasty. Bluesy guitar work, moaning fiddle that has so much tooth to it that it sounds like a saw sometimes, and growling, gravelly vocals.
Brother Run Fast by KALEO: This was very much a Victor song for me. "Brother, run fast, they're headin' your way, it's best you not speak of what you found, please don't pass judgment on me now, don't seek the truth, they'll make their own rules and when they've come for me, they'll come back for you."
Dogs of War by Blues Saraceno: This was one of the last additions in the final round. I initially seeded this list with another song by Blues Saraceno, but it didn't quite fit the story. This felt like another Victor song to me (this is the Victor section, clearly), dealing with Logan's inability to control Victor and Victor being unable--or unwilling--to control his bloodlust.
Bad Things by Rayland Baxter: Logan and his guilty conscious. When Dogs of War joined the list, I knew I had to place it near this song (which was already firmly on the list) because of all the burning bridges.
Ballad of a Prodigal Son by Lincoln Durham: This was one of a few songs that had a strong religious bent that I had to sift through and choose carefully which ones would make the cut without making this too much of a fire and brimstone playlist. The singer being around for "a lifetime or more" and the dark americana sound of the song contributed to this one making the final cut.
It’s Alright by Shawn James: Initially, this was a late addition while I was looking for songs about being lost in your own mind, "Seems like I can't ever, I can't ever outrun the past All these good times, well they never last Maybe it's all inside of my head Maybe all I've ever wanted is all I've ever had But it's alright now, I'll be just fine on my own I'll be just fine on my own If I go any deeper, I'm bound to lose my mind If I had any answers, maybe I wouldn't waste my time," but MissCapsicle pointed out, and I agree on subsequent listenings, it really captures that internal struggle Logan has and his reluctance to reach out for others, always telling himself it's alright, that he's fine on his own.
Too Old to Die Young by Brother Dege: Another of the religious songs that made the final cut. I think we can all agree that Logan is too old to die young.
The Hurricane’s Eye by Jesse Roper: This was one of the earliest additions after I finished reading the fic. It initially caught my eye because it was a stomp 'n' hollar from a Canadian rocker, but it grew on me really fast--it's just a really fun jam with an older man giving advice to a young traveler swept up in an unexpected flurry and now I can't stop associating it with Logan and Marie.
On the Road Again by Jack Broadbent: The heaviest blues influence in this list, but with a very americana steel guitar and great lyrics. "My dear mother left me when I was quite young, when I was quite young, she said, 'Lord, have mercy on my wicked son.'" Great moments in the lyrics of Logan finally reaching out in his way--if you ain't coming, gonna find somebody else.
Hurt by Johnny Cash: The Man in Black was always going to be on this list. I initially had both this song and God's Gonna Cut You Down on the seed list, but in talking to MissCapsicle, it turned out that this song was an inspiration for one of the scenes in the fic, so of course it had to be included.
Cocaine and Abel by Amigo the Devil: Literally the last song added to the playlist, Amigo the Devil was actually one of the original seeds, too, but with a song called Cannibal Within. I love this artist so much that I actually sat down and listened to his entire library of songs and narrowed down to two finalists to be included, this song and Stray Dog. I think a little read through of the lyrics will explain why this one won.
Years in the Making by Bryan Martin: This song is exactly the auditory vibe I was going for with this playlist and has great verses. I wasn't sure about the chorus being so heavily about making music, but MissCapsicle convinced me to keep this one.
Peace Somehow by Avi Kaplan: Now, this song wasn't the original final track, but I'm so happy with how it sounds now that it is. The beautiful bass tones are so lulling with the lovely guitar over it and lyrics about finding peace--not a perfect, happy ending, but something hopeful--somehow.
Second of three fanarts created for @marvakakittenwrites for the MTH2023.
This one in particular is a Cover/Poster for their WinterFrost fic "of the same name"I Have a Heart; It's Just Less Trusting than Yours", which can be found right here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34684192
Jack Rollins/Brock Rumlow for @marveltrumpshate ! @kalika999 won my auction and requested Jack/Brock with a limited color scheme. It was a lot of fun!
I’m doing Marvel Trumps Hate again this year, which is running RIGHT NOW, look at the cool charity auctions! I’m offering all kinds of ship, including winteriron <3
