Entertaining in a Disturbing Way

YOu GUYS. Like, I keep not skipping when Amy's Choice plays at work, and I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS about season five because of it. And I miss Eleven and the Ponds due to that fact. ANYWAY. (and then I backtrack to end of Eleventh Hour because waiting hurts and then I skip to the middle of Venice because I'd forgotten HOW ANGRY HE WAS--and it's the anger he has in the Dalek episode, too)

I keep minimizing everything to stare at my desktop (because I have feelings about the women on it, and I miss them and also don't want to tempt fate by reading their comics right now, I mean, aside from the Marvels.)

ANYWAY. Someone told me Gail Simone is going to write a Domino limited series. And Timey didn't even have to sacrifice any small children!

I foresee more desktops in my future.

I managed to produce two ficlets for fandom stocking! I produced my requisite two fics for the year and it's not even the third week in Jan! Go, me.

And now, a tiny tiny (probably the Guy Ritchie movies Sherlock Holmes version) Irene Adler(/Mary Morstan) ficlet. It is technically from 2017.
Irene Adler - falsely imprisoned
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I keep putting off reading comic-related things (I keep buying Ms. Marvel, Saga, Lazarus, etc., but managing to remember to read the TPBs doesn't happen often).

For some reason, though, I picked up the Mockingbird trade "I Can Explain", and when it came, managed to read the whole thing.

I hadn't intended to. I simply wanted to look through it to see if it was good (I hoped).

But instead, I read it. And then went back and re-read bits. And then went online to order the next trade (and yes I know, sadly, it's the last).

(not really spoilery, but)
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1. CAPTAIN MARVEL. Are they going to cast Katee Sakhoff or Anna Torv? I am half-holding out for Anna (and then Katee can be Phylla and Tricia can be Moondragon. YOU KNOW IT WOULD BE AMAZING. I have just confirmed this with bluediamond421)

2. Excuse you, but I do want my Captain Marvel to not be Earth-based and surrounded by white dudes. It's a hope.

3. Clara and Twelve = still loving them.

4. Work. It is amazing how people will say, "you should go on the HR site and apply to jobs" and how as a contractor I don't have access to that site (fuck you, hire me)

5. This is amazing - it is a list of one-two-three-episode characters in Oldskool Who and the fics written for them (the House on Allen Road needs more fic, guys; also, so does Gia Kelly. WHERE IS THE GIA KELLY FIC OF MY HEART HIDING?) (if you have more fic to add, go add it)

6. I am pretty sure PoI is doing amazing things this season (Root/Shaw is nearly canon)

7. I am loving the fuck out of Civil Twilight's "Holy Weather" album. (Fave tracks: Holy Weather, The River, Fire Escape, Shape of a Sound, It's Over and Every Walk That I've Ever Taken Has Been in Your Direction)

8. COMICS
a. Deadpool is still killing me, you guys. Issue 34. I almost couldn't. (also, that 90's art is amazing)
b. Not sure I'm liking Storm, but I'm trying to give it a chance (also, where are her organs, artist? Like for fuck's sake, learn anatomy, you aren't Rob Liefeld OR drawing in the 90's)
c. Kamala is still adorable.
d. Hawkeye vs Deadpool is AMAZEBALLS. Almost as amazing as Deadpool vs X-Force was.
e. Velvet was a bit dull this time round. (it was about two dudes, I'm unsurprised. Velvet Templeton is a billion times more interesting than they are)
f. Black Widow continues to keep her clothing on, not use sex to get shit done, and be amazing.
g. Painkiller Jane/22 Brides. Looks like that's it for a while (SO SAD). Also, apparently, there's another film in the works. That sounds terrible but entertaining.
h. Elektra. I still have no idea what the fuck what is going on, but it is so pretty.

9. The worst thing is when your turkey snack sticks are kinda mushy. sigh.

10. I finished First Frontier (did I mention I was reading it?idek). And 1) oh, look, someone else rebooted a Time Lord's lives. I wonder if there was usenet controversy and flame wars over it? 2) this means Falls the Shadow is next, and I don't think I can do it, flist. I couldn't make it through that novel the first time through.

10a. obvsly, I should skip and read Warlock instead.

11. I keep getting kudoes on Red Herring. It's almost enough to make me dig out the rest from mothballs.

11a. That might require effort, though

12. GUYS. people should go read ALL the femslashex fics and give them masses of feedback. So should I. hrm.

13. Scott and Bailey is back and amazing and I have all the feels. Obviously.

14. ( Booklist update )

Sorry, there was a random impromptu Not Paying Attention To Anything. And I'm back now. I'm only at skip 160, dudes. That is just sad

1. I came across this on my travels: In a statement, SFX said:
Revisionists would have you believe that Who was always a show with emotional impact, but barring a couple of companion departures, that didn't really become true until the advent of Russell T Davies.


No. No. You are wrong and everything you will ever think or say is wrong.

2. I suppose it's a good thing I pay no attention to magazines these days (but OH my collection. It's sitting over on a box right now because I was digging for old Avengers issues out of boredom last week)

3. Matt Fraction's Sex Criminals is entirely ridiculous, but hilarious and very readable. I read the TPB. And then I read it again right after. It was that kind of night.

4. I did Summerfest last week. Wednesday was the Airborne Toxic Event (not bad, I think I liked them better when we saw them two years ago? idk). Thursday was New Order (OMG THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN 25 years. /old). NO were amazing and lovely and the new stuff they played had an excellent beat. Sadly, the vocals were drowned in the WALL OF SOUND. unf.

4a. However, before I saw New Order, I suffered two hours of the dullest DJ ever. DJ Whitney? Please never play anywhere near me again. For reals. THE SAME SONG OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

5. But at least it meant I plowed my way through most of Neil Penswick's The Pit, Good god, were large parts of that book dull. And let's talk about disjointed. And I felt like the end was very rushed. I really liked the Benny and Spike bits, though (especially how he never 'broke his programing'). I seem to recall liking this NA a lot more in my younger days. It also felt like Penswick was still stuck on the early Seven characterization, which fell a bit flat for, um, me. Because Seven is clearly the trickster who's playing tiddly winks while everyone else is Seriously Into Chess.

6. After my Ponds and Clara marathon over the weekend, I've been reading lots of fic. It's hard to find in-character stuff. There's a lot that almost manages it, but then Amy or Rory will say 'arse' and it throws me out (yes, yes, I know it is something UK people say. I just can't imagine Rory or Amy saying it. Clara, yes. Especially Victorian!Clara). Even worse are the crossovers where Amy, Rory, River and Eleven tell everyone their life stories. All. The. Time.

No. No, they wouldn't. They're all very private people. Eleven may babble, but there are some secrets he'd never tell (and River and Amy and Rory are secrets ffs)

(I am suddenly intrigued at more thoughts of Pryde & Wisdom vs Daleks, which is neither hide nor hair to this)

7. Still working. Should post about it at some point, and talk about how out of my depth I'm feeling at times.

Picked up comics.

1. I really sort of liked the premise of JMS' Apocalypse Al, but the art is panty-shots and bras peeking out all over the place. Very obviously not being created for women to read. Ugh. NOT buying it again, and really sad I wasted money on it. (otoh, at least now I know who the market for all the sex-ay chicks on the covers of urban fantasy novels are.)

2. Rocket Girl. I wish I weren't so tired of teenagers. Also, Continuum called... (it's probably good, I just wasn't in the mood)

3. Saga was, as ever, amazing. (NOooooo, don't leave me for four months!) It's going on hiatus until May, to give them time to work on other projects and get ahead on the issues. This is probably good, as it means Staples will still continue doing all of the art duties. <3

4. Black Widow I am loving. It is my favorite kind of no-nonsense, action-y, spyjinks with assassinations thrown in stuff for Natasha. And so far? Not a single panel of sexy prostitution to get secrets (and I have three issues. The art is really really lovely)

5. Ms. Marvel. Teenage angst, ugh. That aside, though, it was cute. (I still plan on getting the next issue, but, Marvel, can I please have more Fearless Defenders and Sif? And maybe some Faiza thrown in? sigh)

I bought some other stuff, but haven't read it yet.

And I have thoughts.

Doctor Who (IDW Volume 3) #9-11
WWII pilots! That is like Lyssie catnip, and it did not disappoint, as there were not only pilots, but STEAM ENGINES and ridiculousness and mehanical bird-things! And Eleventy grew a beard. Again. (It is better than Crichton's dead animal-face, but not by much)

AND THEN THEY WERE INSIDE THE TARDIS. It was all the things I wanted out of Journey to the Center of the Tardis, but didn't get. (which is not a dig at JttCotT, just an observation of how tardis journeys could be milked forever and ever and ever and I would love them. I should go re-watch Invasion of Time)

The writer does a nice job getting the Eleven and Clara banter, and even just Clara on her own--I could hear the intonations and inflections of Jenna Louise Coleman, and it was brilliant to read.

I'm very glad I picked these three up, even if I have to wait for issue 12 where the conclusion lies.


Journey Into Mystery #652-654. Siiiif.
IT IS ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS IN ONE. Sif in space! Sif making jokes! Women having conversations! People having complicated relationships and making stupid choices and getting things wrong!

Grief and silliness and gross alien bits!

Ok, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I really like these three issues. And I really like Sif. I stepped right into her world without really having much trouble. And I would highly recommend these three as a start to anyone looking to get into them.

I also love that it feels very much like part of a larger universe, but I didn't feel like I had to go buy a million other titles to get the rest.

But that aside, whhyyyy is it another month for the next? siiiigh.


The Fearless Defenders #7
omg the art is so shiny and pretty. And I love the almost dream-like quality of the whole narrative. It's just lovely.

I didn't feel like I needed to go back and read earlier issues to understand where I was, and what was going on. Which is good, as I tried issue four and was just confused.

I'm trying to have something coherent, and sort of failing. I just really really enjoyed this book, and the ending made me squee like a silly person, as I love that whole tropey, ridiculous plot kind of thing. Giving everything to save another! I've always loved that (and then I went back and read the end of the previous issue, where Misty punches Val and ALL THE HEARTS EVER.)

Basically, I'm going to have to track down the first three and read them through, as well. Even if the art doesn't look as pretty.


Cable and X-Force #6-11 (I think?) So, basically, I don't really know what the hell the Avengers are doing here, but if this book could just be the Domino and Boom-Boom show forever? It would be amazing.

omg, though, Blaquesmith. I mean, the bug, man. He has sort of been around, screwing things up for eons. (last time, he sent Dom to the future where she almost killed Stryfe, heheheheh)

The Avengers, though? Man, do they come off as obnoxious holier-than-thou bullies. They really dragged the book down.

(OMG THAT BIT WHERE NATE AND SCOTT HAD A CONVERSATION. *sniffles* -- also, is this the second or third time Nate has used X-Force to break someone out of prison?)

I'm not sure what I make of the Domino/Piotr/Kitty triangle? I mean, I don't ship Kitty/Piotr, anyway, so I'm good with Dom swanning in for some of that. And it's not like Wisdom isn't free to sweep Kitty off her feet (he can make horrible 'sexy schoolmarm' jokes at her and get slapped)

Also, the last time Kitty visited Piotr in a cell, from my perspective, it was just after he'd beaten the shit out of Wisdom and no one was sure Wisdom wouldn't end up crippled.

So this was a bit jarring.

ok, also, FASTBALL SPECIAL IN SPAAAAAAAAAACE

X-Men #1-3 (the one with Kitty, Rachel, Rogue, Storm, etc.)
I'm going to state this up front to get it out of the way: I wanted to like this book more than I did. I just. I have never ever given much of a fuck about the 'school' aspect of the X-Men, so all the school stuff just left me bored. (don't get me wrong, oldskool Generation X, New Mutants and X-Force still bring a nostaglic happy feel. But that was, like, twenty years ago, ok?)

(my ideal Kitty book would be her and Wisdom tracking fairies, weird shit, and aliens in a sort of X-Files meets Fringe meets Holmes pastiche)

That said, I liked most of it. I liked the teamwork, and the almost world-weariness of Rachel, Psylocke and Kitty. I'm confused about how Rogue and Storm don't think Rachel would, uh, 'get' that Bad Things Happened at the end, where they're talking about not telling her stuff? I mean. Rachel Summers isn't exactly a fainting violet.

I enjoyed seeing Rogue without Avengers, too. She doesn't really fit with them. But here, with Storm and Psylocke? That's the Rogue I know and enjoy reading.

The plot wasn't particularly interesting. Mostly, these three books were entertaining for the character beats. And Kitty running through a gigantic room of servers. (seriously, who needs that kind of hardware? What are they, the pentagon, FBI and Interpol all in one?)

Well, sort of. timjr made us watch Ponies when we were too tired to object.

My only thoughts are:

a. Applejack is Paige Guthrie, and all her family are Guthries (for serious, she even has an older brother she looks up to. She's a perfectionist and over-achiever who refuses to ask for help. Paige to a T)

b. Rainbow Dash is Kara Thrace. No words or pictures will sway me from this decision.

-

I watched four episodes of 'Wish Me Luck', a British show about female spies during WW2. It's tense and dramatic, and v v serious, so four episodes was as much as I could manage at a stretch. It's not bad, though, and I'm saddened that I hadn't ever heard of it before meganbmoore asked me if I'd seen it.

-

Finally saw Captain America. It was all right. Not the best movie (Thor was still more entertaining). However, one of the things I saw complaints of from people was how it wasn't all "RAH RAH AMERICA" patriotic, and I want to know wtf those people were smoking. The movie couldn't have been MORE "RAH RAH AMERICA FUCK YEAH" if it made every watcher wear an American flag.

The complete disconnect between the British view of WW2 and the American is just... It is so different. I mean, I know that comparing CA to Foyle's War and Wish Me Luck is like comparing Stargate to Ghost in the Shell, but there's still a huge huge sense of "wow, America didn't really get how crap WW2 was for everyone else, did it" compared to how the British (and it has to be different for other countries, too) seemed to have this ingrained "things suck" about it all. The British must have had their own propaganda machines, but somehow, I don't see them having dance revues with a muscled airman punching Hitler.

1. I've signed up for the femslash big bang, hurrah. Now to write it. *cracks knuckles*

2. I'm tempted to sign up for the Leverage big bang, but there, I'm not so sure I'd manage 15k (I'd probably have to do something like a wacky AU to manage it)

3. I really do not want to go back to work tomorrow.

4. I bought comics on Saturday. Three issues of the new Ruse. HALLO, EMMA BISHOP, I HAVE MISSED YOU A LOT. Also, Simon was missed. A bit. I find it hilarious that they keep veering between calling the city Partington and London, too. I am reserving judgment, though I enjoyed them (perhaps they should put Emma in a suit again, that would help my enjoyment. ;D)

I'm just... man. This book was so awesome, and now it's over and done with. There were people who were characters first and genders second, but also with their own personalities and bits and pieces. There were silly plotlines and things of magic and derring-do. There was the reclamation of Meggan.

There was Dracula trying to take over Britain and Doom being adorable.

There was a team that worked well together, with wit and grooviness.

And they are all put back in the box at Marvel. The friendships, romances, bits and pieces of their lives that were in this book will be ignored by the next person to write them, I'm sure. Not that many will write people like Brian, Meggan, Lady Jac or Alistaire Stuart. Wisdom and Blade will certainly have their day elsewhere, and the Avengers can always use the Black Knight again.

But Faiza and her family will be forgotten quickly, such is the way of bit characters who aren't mighty heroes or damsels in distress.

It's just as well Kitty Pryde is still dead stuck in a bullet in the middle of space, traveling away from the planet Earth. Wisdom's having wine with other women.

This is... not really coherent, or rather, not very in-depth. I am feeling shallow and rushed. And have a gold-plated iron to play Monopoly with. Also, I frosted the cookies PURPLE.

Er. Anyway.
ETA: goddamn lj ate me typing my cut tag. *kicks it a lot*

( Daring you to move may be the only thing we're good at together. )