u/cranberryliar

Are you ever watching/reading/playing something with superheroes when all of a sudden there’s queer representation that you had no idea was coming and actually isn’t that bad?

It’s a great feeling. I got to experience it today when reading a random-ass comic from almost a decade ago. A kid (!) main character is pretty openly transmasc, and this is accepted by the protagonist as soon as he realizes that the kid isn’t “girl pretending to be boy on streets” but “actually not girl at all”—which is only takes about a page. After that he’s an ally who doesn’t slip up on pronouns once. All this from a mainstream comics company in 2018! (And not one of their Pride specials, either.)

I’m familiar with a lot of queer characters from DC already (I’m a fan of Jericho, Alan Scott, Batwoman, Connor Hawke etc) but I’d never run into something like this. Trans characters are rare enough already even in fictional LGBTQ rep, trans men even more so, and a trans *minor*? Whose identity isn’t looked down upon because of his age? Awesome.

Have any of you ever had that happen? Came across a queer character that you weren’t expecting to be in that media, and were pleasantly surprised? I hope to have it happen again :)

What the title says. I’m hoping to read some stories centering around Gwayne Hightower. They can be ship fics (with Rhaenyra? Or Cole? Or whoever?) or not; it doesn’t matter to me. Nothing that is just smut though. I’d also prefer if they were completed, not A/B/O or modern AU, and Gwayne does not die in it.

What the title says. I’m hoping to read some stories centering around Gwayne Hightower. They can be ship fics (with Rhaenyra? Or Cole? Or whoever?) or not; it doesn’t matter to me. Nothing that is just smut though. I’d also prefer if they were completed, not A/B/O or modern AU, and Gwayne does not die in it.

“I love you… but not in the way that you want me to.”

This line is a bit of a tricky one. Why does he say it, when she held him captive for seven years and (in the source) SA’d him—and even if you are able to listen without the source material influencing it, she at a minimum harassed him as well. What love could he have?

I’ve got a couple ideas of what it could mean. I’ve ranked them from—in my interpretation—the least likely, to most likely.

- He really does love her. Just as a friend.

Over time, Odysseus actually did grow to appreciate Calypso’s company to some degree. He understands her backstory and feels sorry for her, and doesn’t hold his captivity against her too much now that he’s being freed, essentially not holding a grudge and expressing that he did like her to some extent.

Why I doubt it: Ody is right in the middle of his monster arc. There’s no reason for that to drop for one line for someone who’s wronged him.

- He doesn’t “love” her, but he does begrudgingly appreciate that she saved his life.

Ody doesn’t really like her that much, but there are a few things he can’t deny: she helped him when he washed ashore, and she’s kept him alive since then. He’s drawing upon that to have something to say to her.

Why I think it’s possible: Ody does still have elements of the man in him, and he could be trying to be nice. There are a couple things she did like keeping him fed, warm, healed (after the wreck), all in a tropical paradise, that he could find a small level of gratitude for, even after all she did to make him otherwise dislike her. It’s just so low because again, monster arc.

- He’s trying to twist the knife.

Explicitly confirming he only likes her as a friend might hurt more than eternal silence—especially after getting her hopes up with “I love you”—and he’s more than willing to be blunt when she hands him an opportunity like that. As established, Odysseus is on a vengeance arc (this song starts the Vengeance Saga!) so this is hardly out of character after what she’s done.

Why I think it’s likely: Calypso has kept him from home for seven entire years. And possibly done any range of bad things, too. He has no reason to be charitable, and a whole lot to want to be cruel.

- He’s trying to placate her.

He has angered enough gods recently to know that it is a baaaaad idea. Telling her what she’s begging him to tell her theoretically appeases her. And that betters his chances of getting home.

Why I think it’s likely: Helios, Poseidon, Zeus… Odysseus has come afoul of too many gods, and it never ends well. Even Athena left him (for a time). He’s smart. So it’s quite realistic that he’s not going to risk this opportunity to escape her island, and he’ll give her what she wants.

- He’s lying.

Calypso’s line right before this is “I wish you would lie and say—“

Ody doesn’t actually love her at all. But she invited him to lie, and he did, either as a mercy or to set up the “but not how you want” line to crush her. This one is more of a qualifier to the other ones than a reason all its own.

Why I think it’s possible: As previously established, he doesn’t have a whole lot of reasons to be nice to her. A few exist, but with just how long she kept him trapped there, while he’s suicidal from longing and grief, I doubt he’d be able to genuinely say he loves her. Which, again, could be a lie in what he thinks is her benefit, or not, according to what other reason you think he has.

- A mix of most of them.

Odysseus wants just two things at this point: to go home, and to enact revenge on those who threaten a happy reunion. He doesn’t love Calypso. But it makes sure she won’t switch up and stop him from leaving by “telling her what she wants to hear,” while still probably hurting. He also does appreciate her, to some degree, mostly for keeping him alive, but that’s overshadowed by his captivity and harassment. And Odysseus is smart enough to come up with such a backhanded and layered response on the spot. Hence why I believe it’s the most likely meaning behind him saying those lines.

But this is all only my opinion. Feel free to share your own thoughts as well!

I like watching people react to Epic for the first time. I’ve already gone through a lot of the more established ones/by more well known creators. However, I would love to see reactions that are more recent as well.

Are there any reactions on youtube (that you’d recommend) which either came out/ended in the last six months, or have less ubiquitous/more recent animatics?

Thanks :)

What channels out there have reacted to Teen Titans 03 (that you would recommend watching?)

I love seeing people react to the series, whether they have prior DC knowledge or not. I’ve seen a few such videos already, but I’m curious as to if there are more. All I ask is that they have reacted to all seasons (though the Tokyo movie isn’t necessary), and that said videos are available for free (as in, not exclusively on Patreon or the like.) Any recommendations appreciated!

As in, who came the closest to defeating the Titans, but were ultimately put down in one episode (even if they came back once or twice to be once again put down?)

So no Slade, Brother Blood, Trigon, or The Brain + associates.

My personal pick would be Mad Mod, but there are several other choices too I think.