I have a bit of a Jojo worldbuilding headcanon, and it's related to how the outside world is seemingly completely unaware of the existence of Stands. No one but other Stand users bring it up, and almost exclusively to each other. Civilians don't seem to have any awareness of it, despite multiple worldwide or extremely public paranormal events happening throughout the series (even if they can't see Stands, surely two men jumping and destroying things with superhuman strength around Cairo and the whole Silver Chariot Requiem event would cause some investigation?) There doesn't seem to be any well-known documentation of Stands besides word-of-mouth from Stand users, and newly created Stand users always have no idea what Stands are until they're explained by another Stand user.

I don't consider this a series flaw, necessarily. I don't think it's a direly needed story element to have the world be aware of Stands and it's not a prominent enough issue to bother you while reading/watching. Still, though, it does make me think of potential explanations. I would understand if Stand users were a sort of undercover society that attempts to erase Stands from the public eye, but this isn't shown to be the case at all, either. There's no explicit "don't involve non-Stand users in Stand business" rule that Stand users are taught, nor do they really actively attempt to hide it or lie to non-Stand users.

So, that gets me thinking: Since it's a canonical rule that Stand users are "attracted" to one another, as though they are bound by fate, I think it's just as much that Stand users and non-Stand users are "repelled" from each other. This is demonstrated in a lot of ways: When non-Stand users witness a Stand attack, afterwards, they oddly don't report it to the police or try to document or talk much about it- they just continue about their day and it fades from their mind. Stand-caused supernatural events don't get coverage or worldwide panic, and when asked about it, most non-Stand users tend to go "Oh yeah, that happened. Funny day that was." and change the subject. There's no rule to "not involve non-Stand users in Stand business" because they always just seem to do it naturally.

This would probably give new context to other things as well, like how Stand users or Stand-potential people tend to have turbulent lives and unstable relationships with non-Stand users, usually ending with them dying, splitting up (i.e. Jotaro and his wife), or struggling overall with long-term commitment and attachment. As much as they may try, the strings of fate are simply not in favor of Stand users and non-Stand users being happy and intimate with each other for long. It adds a level of tragedy and isolation to it that I enjoy.

I just finished reading Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez. To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect going in- all I've ever heard about it was from people going "Can you believe Nickelodeon asked a guy who makes stuff like that to make a children's show!?" After reading it, I can say that it's definitely interesting in a way I don't think any basic plot description could've fully prepared me for, and I kind of want to dump my thoughts about it as I just come away from it.

As the title would suggest, its most noticeable surface-level feature is that there is a lot of gore. It gets about as brutal and graphic as it can with its cartoony art style- I was actually a little bothered by it a couple of times. There are a lot of things reminiscent of Invader ZIM beyond its art style- it shares a lot of the same humor, its randomness (often to the point of stupidity), and the chaotic nature of the story progression. (There are also two aliens that show up in a few pages that I'm pretty sure are the same aliens that appeared in the IZ episode Abducted, which would mean that ZIM and JTHM take place in the same universe...? Interesting.) In a lot of ways, it had the same energy as ZIM, but lacking the restraints of a children's network- admittedly, it was very fun and tickled the twelve-year-old ZIM fan part of my brain.

The story itself is a bit trippy and somewhat disjointed. There are lots of times where Johnny will go on long monologues about how he sees himself and the world (alongside blocks of text at the beginning and end of each issue from Jhonen himself). The actual story is cut up in-between little unrelated comics of various characters getting slaughtered and mutilated in some way, facing their inner turmoils and making other people miserable, or yelling incoherent word salads and then getting murdered. You are often left unsure as to whether some of the story's events were really happening or just Johnny dreaming or making things up. It also gets kind of cosmic horror-ish at one point, but that proceeds to end itself somewhat abruptly.

I haven't looked at any discussion of the comic and what it's *really* about yet, but my first impression coming out of it is that it's... a lot of things, really? It's a nihilistic black comedy, but I got the feeling that it was also somewhat of a vent story- A lot of JTHM is dark humor and absurd scenarios for the sake of societal criticism and expressing frustration with the world. It brings up a lot of ideas about what the "nature" of humanity is, if there is a caring God, the good and bad of living, and ultimately, what the true "evils" of society are and what causes them- all told through the eyes of a weird morally bankrupt loner that likes torturing and murdering people he doesn't like.

Most of the people that Johnny goes after are assholes and bullies, generally bad people, or anyone that just generally upsets or inconveniences him in day-to-day life. His arc throughout the story is discovering who and what "controls" him in his search for true freedom- and through that, he realizes that he, himself, is a massive contributor to why everything is so awful, eventually seeing people like himself as one of society's issues (but not really doing anything to change or control his behavior, which, to me, suggested he really never attained the "freedom" he desired so much). It was quite interesting to have a main character like that.

And, while I do not really know anything about Jhonen Vasquez as a person, a good amount of Johnny's traits struck me as... maybe a bit of a projection? A lot of the blocks of text from Vasquez at the start of issues will have him describe his thoughts and behaviors, and then in the story, Johnny displays a lot of those same thoughts and behaviors, like his hatred of sleep resulting in him regularly staying up the entire night and his tendency to experience loneliness and sadness (though, of course, these blocks of text might also be Jhonen simply putting up a persona as well.) Still, though, I wouldn't be too surprised if a lot of things about Johnny were in fact an exaggerated depiction of the author's own perceived negative traits and turned into an edgy serial killer character (especially since I know that this is indeed the case for a lot of Vasquez's characters, like ZIM in his inability to realize when his ideas won't work and Dib in his undying need to prove himself above all else in IZ.)

JTHM was one of the most unique things I've read in a while- it's one of those stories that sticks in your brain and leaves an uneasy feeling in you when you come away from it, but it definitely has a lot of substance to it beyond the "edgelord serial killer gorefest" surface-level appearance. It doesn't give you any moments of comfort in its overt negativity, but I think it manages to come out as something meaningful beyond just a nihilist "everything is awful and there's nothing you can do about it" message. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you're up for it, I'd really recommend giving it a shot.

the thing is, we were never meant to sympathize with luke when he betrays percy. we aren’t meant to see his inner turmoil. we aren’t meant to see hesitancy, or regret. it’s meant to be a slap in the face. luke takes percy to the woods knowing full well what he’s about to do. in tlt kronos orders him to kill percy because he’s too volatile; kronos said so himself when percy hijacked luke’s dreams and began to figure out there were bigger things at play. the thing is, when kronos orders luke to kill percy, he doesn’t hesitate. that’s the point!!! it is essential that luke is so blinded by rage and vengeance for the gods that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants (the god’s destruction). percy accuses luke that kronos is using him, but he just retaliates that the gods do the same, and they do!!! but see, the thing is, luke’s whole point is that he’s so focused on the god’s injustices that he forgets what’s important. he goes for the “greater good” but he destroys his family, his life, in the process. by attempting to dismantle a system, he turns to another system that follows the same oppressive logic. THAT is why luke fails. THAT is why it’s so important he be blinded by rage, because it’s his inevitable, tragic end. he’s doomed by the narrative from the start. yes, we’re meant to be surprised by his betrayal because of how cold and calculating it is, but also it’s important to set the grounds for luke’s character to be this angry, vengeful boy because later on we come to understand why it is that he made those choices. we see annabeth’s side of things and percy’s side. we see luke’s side. we see many sides. we see a man who is too far gone yet comes to understand, in the end, that he’s been doing more harm than good to those he was supposed to protect (annabeth is the most obvious example). we get a complex character who won’t hesitate to kill but who also won’t hesitate to sacrifice himself so that he can save the family he has left.

the thing is, luke was supposed to be angrier in the show. percy was supposed to be angrier in the show. they’re both foils. luke is what percy could become, if percy lets his anger win. so, to change—even if it’s only slightly altering—their characters, is to change the point of the story. because luke tries to kill percy in his betrayal and later percy tries to kill luke but then percy starts to understand luke…until luke is gone and kronos is gone yet the gods don’t change but percy does. and percy’s initial anger is supposed to transform and he’s supposed to see what luke saw and the cycle continues. the thing is, it’s not even one of the worst changes the show made, yet it’s still so, so telling that they failed to see why it’s important to let your characters do bad things, to make mistakes, because that’s how a story can carry on. that’s how you give a story depth.

Legends Arceus is such a good game if you try to play it from a character's POV. I personally do it with most pokemon games because it's just a thing I've done since I was like seven I think BUT it just adds FLAVOR. Blorboify your experience.

Like. OK. Say you play as Akari but HC her as Dawn being isekai'd, partial memory wipe maybe if that's your jam. Does she choose Oshawott because it reminds her of Piplup at home, wherever home may be? Does she hear about Almighty Sinnoh and vaguely recall something about adventures with friends, something so close that she just can't quite grasp onto? Does she feel this... unease around Cyllene, even though she knows Cyllene has done nothing but be helpful and stand up for her so far?

Currently in my playthrough, Playing as Drew and having this immense adverse gut reaction to Melli? Frowning at Akari, knowing she seems familiar from... somewhere, assuming Drew and Dawn have crossed paths coordinating. Or him seeing Irida's red headbandy thing and short bobbed hair, and feeling this jolt of familiarity that he feels like he should know like the back of his hand? Picking wildflowers in Cobalt Coastlands, trying to grasp onto fleeting memories of flowers and conversations on far-off beaches?

A funnier option: Playing as Ash, being surrounded by people you vaguely swear you know one way or another but having to deal with the fact that to them you're just some guy that fell out of the sky?

Possibly the funniest: Playing as Iris/Cilan/whoever in Unova and seeing Ingo like HEY WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE

also. amber gris as a character is really important to me as an appalachian.

not just her accent or the specific type of person justin based her off of but like

the feeling of losing someone to addiction/overdose while the government does nothing to help, just criminalizes and stigmatizes and makes things worse. which obviously happens in more places than just around here, but we have one of the highest rates of overdose death in the whole country and that whole set of scenes felt like they were really informed by growing up around that

DILUC AND 8 (their pet peeves) -- @milkstore

[Character Analysis Ask Meme]

What are Diluc’s pet peeves?

Lack of respect for service workers - Some may find it surprising seeing how rude Diluc is to the Knights of Favonius, but it’s true. Growing up on the winery, Diluc has seen firsthand the amount of work that goes into making wine and caring for the mansion. He understands the pride his workers put into their jobs. Not to mention his father raised him, not only to respect those under him, but to protect them as well. Is it really surprising then that he does not stand for those who harass his workers? To him, they’re the scum of the earth.

my thoughts after the eighth episode of The Artful Dodger:

1. okay just bc i don’t trust Fagin doesn’t mean i want him to die!

2. what do you MEAN he fell asleep with his finger on her pulse 😭😭😭 don’t TOUCH me!!!

3. the ominous music instead of romantic music is just cruel

4. OH NO MAMA FOX 💀

5. Oh when Belle went off on Sneed about not believing her, god anyone with a chronic illness Felt That

6. DARIUS WORKING WITH OLIVER TWIST, THEY LITERALLY BROUGHT IN A PLOT TWIST

7. “you awakened something dark and glorious in me, Fagin. my passion, my genius for crime.” you should see the grin on my face this is so fucking funny

8. HETTY FOUND THE NOTES

9. “you love her, don’t you?” 😭😭😭

10. Hetty is too good for this world

11. oh god her SIGH when he leaves the room that alone nearly did me in, I CAN’T CRY YET IT’S TOO EARLY

12. the lotuses on Belle’s wall are lovely and also i’m crying for real now about the Fox sisters 😭

13. i love Fanny so much

14. oh the ticking clock in the background is just CRUEL

15. A NOOSE!!!

16. there is something about Hetty always being with Jack in surgery, in doing what he loves best, and how it’s what Belle loves best too, and now they’re together doing it to save her, idk it’s such an intense dynamic, like they took it further than just unrequited love and made it something more

17. Sneed finally admitting Jack is the better surgeon as if this scene didn’t need to be more intense!!!

18. oh Rotty’s gonna give it back to save her man!!!

19. IS SHE BREATHING

20. “you just sent the best surgeon i’ve ever seen to his death.” ABOUT FUCKING TIME SNEED

21. “and you was always my number one” oh that’s a dad

22. RED GOT TO KILL HIM HELL YES!!!

23. and he ran back to check on her ofc

24. JACK

25. he did a murder for you, Jack!

25. “thank you Fagin” “piss off”

26. UNTAPPED POTENTIAL

27. this instrumental version of joker and the thief is a banger tbh

28. I NEED SEASON 2 ASAP

i'm the antonymph of the internet

I'm at the Daniel D'Arby gambling fight now, and it's got me thinking. Avdol was frustratingly underutilized, but I think he has a lot of character that people don't give him credit for (albeit they're pretty subtle on first glance).

He always tries to make himself seem cool and composed due to being the only one with knowledge of Tarot cards and skill as a fortune teller- you kind of look up to him as the "wise, experienced" one on the team. But he also has the interesting trait where he completely loses his cool under enough pressure.

In the Tower of Gray fight, he almost blasted the Stand with his steel-melting flames despite the fact that they were on a plane. And in the Daniel D'Arby fight, after Joseph and Polnareff get their souls taken, he forgoes trying to gamble himself and just grabs D'Arby and tries to beat the shit out of him (not even with his Stand- with his fists).

For the wise old fortune teller, it seems like he gets pretty rash and impulsive when the lives of the people he cares about are in danger.

It seems like Avdol values his image very highly. In the Bastet fight, he exclaims things like "I swear, this isn't the role I've taken!" and "This doesn't fit my image!" as he's forced into stupid antics with Joseph and embarrasses himself in public. But as we can see, when he's in private, he also initiates stupid antics himself, like when he and Polnareff mess with Cameo by pissing down his breathing hole. In a lot of ways, Avdol is just as much of a goofball as every other Crusader- he just doesn't show it.

(Not to mention, it is interesting for an outwardly composed character to have a Stand with the ability to shoot steel-melting flames. Wouldn't that suggest a user that is inwardly wild and intense?)

I think Avdol likes to give off the image of a cool, composed wise guy, but in reality, he's prone to be reckless, weird, and make mistakes, just like the other Crusaders are. I wish it was explored more in the story, but it's definitely there. He is really not as bland as people so often claim he is.

Okay, this is the first big thing that strikes me as an issue in Divergent: The Dauntless don't make any sense. Their faction centers around bravery and strength, and they display this by... jumping off of a moving train every single day?

First of all, I get that they're the "cool badass brave" faction, but that would be extremely dangerous, largely pointless, and unsustainable. You would have Dauntless dying every single day- we even see a Dauntless-born girl fail to land and die after attempting the train-jump. There would be no Dauntless left by the end of the week. If they don't die, they would almost certainly be severely injured, which seems counterintuitive especially considering the Dauntless are supposed to be this society's equivalent of the military. You can't have your future soldiers getting injured for stupid reasons.

Plus, it's stated that Dauntless-borns do this regularly, which makes me wonder: At what age do they start forcing their kids to jump off of moving trains? Five? Ten? Twelve? Are they really risking their potential future soldiers with underdeveloped limbs and senses in a bravery stunt that could either kill or severely disable them for life? What does that accomplish?

But what baffled me the most is that this novel tries to claim that the Dauntless differentiate "bravery" and "idiocy"... huh?

Dude... you jump off of moving trains as what can only be described as a daredevil stunt when there are significantly safer options available. What are you even on about?

I get that it's a dystopia, so it's not supposed to be a good society, but I feel as though there is a solid difference between "Society that oppresses its citizens in order to benefit the people in power" and "How the fuck are you guys still alive??"

And that's not even getting to the recruitments- during initiations, only ten recruits are made into actual members.

I assume initiations are a yearly thing, since it happens when the kids graduate from school. If so, this means that Dauntless are only bringing in a maximum of ten people a year, which seems an incredibly low and unsustainable amount. Divergent's Chicago has a population of about 50,000, correct? This means that, in order to have the five factions evenly divided, they'd need around ten thousand members each (or a bit less, considering the Factionless folk, but it's a decent estimate.) If we're going with the implications that the Dauntless kick out their elderly and only bring in ten people a year... that's not going to be nearly enough.

This novel's weak point so far is definitely looking to be its worldbuilding. (I also have a bunch of other nitpicks with that so far, which I may or may not share.) All I can really do is hope that this is going to be explained or retconned sometime.

stacy: what are you hiding?

house: i'm gay

kaycee has slowly been becoming a creacher but what's she gonna look like when she's 100% creacher/leshy/changeling/wildling/???

ough..

i dunno! i think i technically have already drawn her as 100% creature when shhe has grass growing all over her body. then its just a matter of attaching animal limbs to herself! if she lives hundreds of years she could possibly grow very large like Leshy.. but her having anything but a premature death seems unfitting to me. sorry girl but youre so sucks.

RE: cultural appropriation primarily being about an economic state of affairs where white people make money off of other people, a related idea I've been contemplating but haven't been able to like. Finish writing about is the idea of cultural decontextualization, which is when a cultural majority (often but not always white people) engage with another culture in a manner that erases- and may simultaneously replicate- racist histories, and is more about creating false narratives than economics.

A personal example would be white people making clothes based off of Coptic Egyptian artifacts, especially while generically referring to them as "Roman" or arguing Coptic art does not exist, which denies Copts part of Coptic history while resurrecting the French Coptomania of the 1920s, and specifically Albert Gayet's actions of taking items from Coptic graves to the point where a model was dressed in a tunic and shown off (which is also terrible from an artifact preservation perspective- this tunic would've been at minimum, 1300 years old at the time).

it’s a problem that hawkeye looks like this: 

while talking about this: 

sir:

sir I know this is an entire scene’s worth of “pretending to be a homosexual who’s in love with frank” but you make it come out so sincerely that I have to overanalyse it just because and headcanon you’re talking about trapper by proxy (and you get away with it, because it’s a “joke” and juuust removed enough to be taken as such)

Edit: i got self conscious about my writing 🤐