The Spider-Man Films: My Way! (Part 1)

Bare with me, Non-Comicbook Nerds, this is probably going to be full of such Nerdom is may explode your mind. (Gosh, sorry, that's so condescending isn't it? Well it's just really full of lots of Comicbook Nerdom and it'll be rather referenced to Comics!).

Max Landis, this awesome Nerdy Writer/Director who also doubles up as a Superman commentator on Youtube, released a 42 minute long video on what he would do if he could idealistically write Superman's Death + Return. It really evoked something within me to get up and talk about my favourite Superhero Spider-Man. But Not talk about a revamp of Arcs (though I do have a couple of ideas and new stuff too!) instead, let's talk about comicbook films. For those of you who don't know, I've got my issues with comicbook superhero films coming out.

While I loved the blockbuster known as the Avengers, as an avid Comic fan I feel they're catering to new fans because they feel like we'll never be satisfied. There's a lot of sides to this argument and basically, I've just embraced the fact I'm a Nerd and a purist and I like it like that and hate seeing my characters getting translated just to pander to someone. But anyway -- I wanna talk about Spider-Man already! If you don't know, Spidey's my favourite superhero ever simply because of all the nostalgia connected to him and the fact I can relate to him and that he is amazing. 

While I thoroughly enjoyed Amazing Spider-Man, I have my doubts over it. There's been talk of adding in MJ, Harry Osborn, a roster of Villains and following Peter's Parents story without using SHIELD (which is vital if you know your stuff - though I guess what you could do is use the CIA. Basically, they were spies in the...Cold War? I think and they were called traitors when really, they weren't).

But there seems to be too many plot lines running around trying to abridge 50 years worth of history into 3-4 films. And that is where Sony is going wrong. Because to be honest? That IS impossible.  Okay, so to point out, this is if every character in the Marvel U was linked under Marvel Studios. I'm not sure if I'd set it in the same 'verse as the Avengers right now as I'm not sure where the Cinematic 'Verse is going buuut just assume that every character can legally co-exist with the other. 

This would mean a lot of being able to utilise a lot of Superheroes within the Spidey films but I don't really do it for that, it's for the access of the vast universe. DC Comics maybe as big as Marvel but Marvel had a tendency to really be branched out thus creating convoluted threads of plots and characters. It's why I think it's always harder to write fanfic/RP of Marvel because it doesn't seem to have anything straightforward. Characters are at 4 places at once on a ridiculous level. 

Anyway, I have a trilogy in mind as things in 3 are lovely (except shoes and relationships and a few other things, now that I think about it). I have names: Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, Spectacular Spider-Man and finally Ultimate Spider-Man. In the first part of the blog post (if between all the bloody parenthesis and digressions) I'm going to talk mostly about "Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-man." I say mostly, I mean I am going to talk about Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-man. By now I think if you’re going to see a Spider-Man film everyone knows Great Power Comes with Great responsibility and Uncle Ben dies at the hands of a robber Peter chose not to stop when he could’ve. (Oh no, spoilers!) 

Anyway; this origin is very straight forward. While I enjoyed ASM’s handling of it and love Martin Sheen, I really am getting tired of the need to patronise an audience, giving them an origin that isn’t a necessity any more. So here’s what I’d do: let’s start a Spider-Man film from a year on or so from his origin point. He’s been Spidey a year or so, done the whole wrestling thing and has seen Uncle Ben die. Life is pretty great – he just stops average crooks except that Kingpin guy; boy what a creep!

However, Spider-Man hasn’t met any super-powered crooks. Sure, he’s come across some weirdass Irish guy called Will O’Wasp and a couple of other weird guys like that but nothing exactly out-of-the-ordinary.  The film opens to Spider-Man just chasing some goons/beating bad guys and NO inner-monologue. It pains me to say that because frankly, Spidey needs his inner-voice narrating and it’s been essential for the stories to continue. However, we just hear a Police radio, then sirens and suddenly some rather dramatic playful music before suddenly; Spider-Man enters the scene! And is full of playful jokes and is a badass. 

We then sort of get him rushing to go and do something for Aunt May but being late, yet again. “Oh Peter!” We hear as usual and then there’s somewhat laughter. 

There’s sadness among them as it’s the day Uncle Ben died and if Hollywood really wants to cater to the “fresh audience” then we get an explanation/flashback as to what happened. This just fills in and then Peter Parker goes off and realises he better get to school (he’s just been on a “paper round” that he doesn’t get any money from…) and immediately, we’re introduced to Pete’s friend Harry, who despite being very popular uses Pete for answers to tests but has found his company very honest and pleasant.

There’s a scene in class with Flash Thompson picking on Peter, Harry half-sticking up for him, Liz Allan (Flash’s girlfriend) also taunting Peter, then suddenly a redheaded girl sticking up for Peter quite fiercely but before he takes any real notice, Pete can’t help but stare at the blonde haired girl in front of him. She’s known as Gwendolyn Stacy and Peter thinks the whole freaking world of her. The redhead? She’s Mary Jane Watson and has been Peter’s friend for a looooooong time. 

While I do love me some 616 MJ (the mainstream comics-verse) I also happen to love a bit of the early Ultimate Spider-Man MJ who portrays her as more nerdy. So for the films, for various reasons, she shall be a nerd who’s close with Pete. Then there are a couple of mentions: Randy Robbertson, whose Father works for the Daily Bugle and a quiet kid called Hobbie Brown who hates everyone. 

I’d really spend some time trying to flesh out some of these characters in just a few scenes, nothing too special. We’d get through that and it’d be nothing too special, all except the interactions of Harry, MJ, Peter and Gwen. Harry will hit on Mary Jane a lot, she’ll deflect and Peter will mumble around Gwen. Shortly after they leave, Harry & Peter are taking before MJ tackles Peter and simply go: “go ask her out!”

Very frantically and sort of runs off to go with Liz, who happens to be her other BFF (MJ is nerdy but hides it most of the time. Only her and Harry have sympathy for Peter in School). Peter will sort of wonder off in a daze before suddenly FORESHADOWING YAY! And there’s “Harry’s Dad” who comes to pick him up and is awfully polite/creepy with Peter. 8D There’d be some rushing I guess but on the whole, I guess it would kinda work. This sort of first half hour introduces everyone. (5 minutes on the fight scene, 5 at Aunt May’s, 10 at School and 10 for our next section!) 

Which is: the Daily Bugle. I loved the Bugle in the first 3 set of films. They got it spot on. But, I would still try and add its own flare. Parker would not only be taking photos of Spider-Man but he’d be writing the Daily Bugle blog…Along with the “Spider-Man Tracker” Blog too. Because that sort of thing is modern and one of touches that once again I enjoyed from Ultimate Spider-Man and could be translated quite nicely. 

When suddenly there’s a report of mysterious kidnappings, Peter Parker gets very suspicious. Immediately, he starts snooping around so he can write the blog but also so he has a Spider-Man hunch about things. Now THIS is the trickiest part of my first “film”…How you would lead to the villain. It’s pretty simple, I guess: this guy from Russia, Dmitri Smerdyakov, has come in to work with the Kingpin on an arm’s deal. Now this reporter called Ben Urich is OBSESSED with trying to catch the Kingpin as he’s such a big crimelord. 

Hell, he even has help from the DA office…Some guy called Matt Murdock (OH THE FORESHADOWING!) But he even believes that businessman Wilson Fisk is this Kingpin guy which Pete thinks is NUTS!

Oh and did I mention Aunt May borrowed money from Wilson Fisk? Yeeeah. So that kinda REALLY SUCKS! Peter goes to stop a scene of gun trading with this Russian and looks for a familiar face (or the face that was described) but cannot see it in the crowds anywhere. However, he does see Wilson Fisk and manages to snap a photo of him at the crime scene. Which then gets published. WHICH MAKES PETER A BIG SHOT FOR A SECOND IN THE PAPER! But then makes the Kingpin really mad. So he turns to Dmitri, who has turned up with a different face on-screen (before hand, we saw a file photo of some guy. Now it’s completely different). 

Dmitri and Kingpin figure out who has caused this photo to be published by looking at CCTV and seeing Ben & Peter on the cameras. Dmitri then cackles and goes: “Aside selling weapons, I have another ability”. Then there’s this shot of Kingpin being horrified then smiling and there’s a shadow of a face being taken off. We then cut to Peter, who feels on top of the world and gets enough courage to ask out Gwen Stacy. She’s taken aback but agrees and they agree to go for a date on Friday night at cheapest place that’s still classy too.

Peter then is slinging about town before suddenly, he sees a group of criminals attacking Ben Urich and quickly FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD SPIDER-MAN, TO THE RESCUE! Only when that happens, Spidey is suddenly attacked massively by Ben Urich, who definitely is not Ben Urich. He says: “I am the first of many” during this epic street-fight scene. Peter’s freaked as he sounds EXACTLY like Ben. And suddenly, Peter Parker feels incredibly nervous as he fights him and is hesitant about trying to beat him up. 

This fight scene is interrupted when he hears reports that somewhere in Queens, right where Peter lives; there's been an attack on an old woman. Spider-Man frantically leaves and is sloppy enough for a tracer to placed upon him by "Ben Urich". Aunt May is left in a battered state and rushed into hospital; this is vengeance for two reasons: the publishing of the photo Peter took and of late payments.

Peter SO MAD. He runs out of the house but before he can do anything, he bumps into MJ. She says that Harry’s trying to wrangle some money around and he goes; “I don’t want your charity, MJ!” but she doesn’t really take that smack talk. And as she comforts him, hell even convincing him to still go on his date, there’s this moment where you go as an audience: “Hey wait a minute---THEY’RE SUPPOSE TO BE TOGETHER, OH MY GOD!” But that moment is suddenly destroyed when they have to move along.

It goes to “Ben Urich” once again and suddenly he takes off his face and goes is a complete white mask. He’s on the phone with the Kingpin who goes “you’re really quite the Chameleon, aren’t you?” And BOOM fanservice. He smiles and goes: “Phase one complete. I wish only my brother were here—” #2 FANSERVICE! Kingpin rushes him along. Then suddenly…He changes to a mask of DUN DUN DUN Harry Osborn.

We cut to where Kingpin is; who by the way is on Payroll because there’s no real evidence yet but we see a gagged up Ben Urich. There’s some lameass joke about “freedom of the Press” or some shit and then suddenly, we see Harry Osborn next to him. Then Harry heads into school, where Peter seems to be recovering ever-so-slightly with the company of Gwen but to the shock of everyone, Harry goes and asks Peter & Gwen if he can double-date with them on that Friday with Mary Jane! They agree and between then and the Date, there is not much of note that happens. 

Peter looks into the harrowing background of Dmitri and also notices Ben’s absence since the fight. He also happens to realise that the kidnappings happening earlier in the plot (YES, I REMEMBERED THOSE) happen to be related to whenever Dmitri has turned up in the vicinity. They reappear for a moment…Only to transfer money to the other missing people’s accounts which then go to a mystery-account.

And just as Peter gets into his mystery? He’s ordered away from the computer to go and report Fisk beginning his time in court. Heading along with another reporter, Ned Leeds (F.A.N.S.E.R.V.I.C.E) and there’s a small report before suddenly BOOM a figure attacks the mob and BOOM there it is: Spider-Man wailing around trying to kill the Kingpin. And Peter is so-mad but even he wouldn’t go that far! He quickly changes to costume and begins a fight with this doppelganger and really starts to lay into him, only to have the two battle it out really furiously and have Wilson Fisk not have any attention on him so no one happens to see him starting to make a getaway. 

This angers everyone but there’s so much confusion over Spider-Man, he’s ruled as a menace by the city! Peter runs off and just as he manages to change into his normal street-clothes? He bumps into “Harry Osborn” who leads him right to where Fisk wants him: to the building that the Kingpin occupies. Suddenly, Harry Osborn takes off his face and reveals a white masked man and Peter dramtically cries: “but…How?!” And this guy just cackles before suddenly grabbing his very own Peter Parker face mask. 

The following scene is: THE DATE! Chameleon-Peter goes to meet MJ and starts hitting on her to start then explains that “Harry’s gonna be a while”. We have a cut-scene to where Peter, Ben Urich, Harry Osborn and other people who Chameleon/Kingpin have kidnapped. Peter is trying to subtly get out as soon as possible. Then, back to the date where Peter is behaving like an ass to Mary Jane and then afterwards to Gwen Stacy.

Peter eventually breaks out, get Harry to lead people through and then says he “has to go and take care of something” then donning his Spider-Man costume on, goes to try and find out where the bad guys are. ‘Cept the only problem is, he suddenly realises where Chameleon gets off to. Before heading out to the date, he comes across a room COVERED with masks of faces. He realises that Chameleon isn’t just some guy working for Kingpin but is really freaking insane. Spidey also figures out that there is a reason why not only Peter Parker was targeted but Harry too….

And it involves his Father Norman, who just so happens to know where the kindappers are and gets his own security to bust in (this happens kinda in the background, we suddenly see a SWAT team busting in of sorts). Spider-Man breaks into the date, starts fighting Chameleon and really kicks his ass this time, trying to get answers. But he just starts rambling about he is everyone and really quite nutty. I’d definitely have a creepy effect going on here. Then we’d get Wilson Fisk and Norman Osborn talking about the fact they “had a deal” and then Fisk says “it was the crazy Russian!   

He’s obsessed at replacing not just impersonating!” It’s then cut off with the police/explosions and the sort. We go back to Chameleon and Spider-Man’s fight, only to have them sparring before finally; Peter takes his facemask off to see the white mask beginning to crack after damage. He starts raving: “DON’T YOU SEE, I AM EVERYONE. EVERYONE. EVERYONE!” And then is unconscious. MJ & Gwen smile slightly at Spider-Man before he keels off in pain/manages to get away. Okay, so there are dramatic slow mo scenes of Fisk in trial and getting away free, of Chameleon getting arrested and of Harry’s return and finally – we see the four on a date. 

Then it goes “1 Month Later” and the first thing on the screen is a Daily Bugle article saying “FISK FREE OF ALL CHARGES” then it zooms out to Peter reading, with a small print near the photograph of “By Peter Parker.” Harry then congratulates Peter on making the front page on something again besides Spider-Man and suddenly, Peter asks Harry if he thinks his Father maybe involved with Wilson Fisk in some way. Harry shakes that comment off and they all go off when their girlfriends (Harry’s being MJ, he really DID like her. I want to highlight that this is so outlined that I’d have more detail on Chameleon’s obsessions) and Gwen Stacy. 

It sort of ends happy but Peter realises – Chameleon wasn’t the only whackjob out there with an almost supernatural ability.

AFTER THE CREDITS

We see darkness and the shape of a strange elf-like face. It’s in a dark room between Wilson Fisk. It goes as follows:

Wilson Fisk: “So, Chameleon is gone. There are others of course…But does this give you good measure on where that vermin stands?”

Mysterious Figure: “Yes…And I think this one’s for me at this rate – hahahahahahahah!” (Evil laughing and cuts off!)

Or something like that, with the Green Goblin’s face getting a glimpse of screen time. And basically, that’s my first film. The choice of villain inspired by Amazing Spider-Man#1. This is an outline so if full of plotholes, it’s a “draft I”. It’s a legist of what I’d do. Stay tuned for Spectacular Spider-Man and Ultimate in Parts 2-3, along with a couple of positions I might put people in!

A late Happy Birthday Note.

OK. So this one is about a friend from the States that I've known for a couple of years who recently, I've had very little contact with. This is partially my fault; sometimes when you're friends with someone you want just companionable silence but when online, it's hard to do such a thing. But she still comes into my thoughts each week and I always wonder how she is doing. It was her birthday some time ago and like my Mum, who I wrote a big Birthday note to, I want to write something for my friend here. It's a birthday gift that's free and considering we're countries apart, something quite warm.

Anyway, here goes nothing.

Dear Athena, 

It was your Birthday just a few days ago but a Royal birth sucked up people being born this week. Sorry about that, as an adamant British Republican I'm working on the Royal family getting removed. But I *did* remember just on the complete wrong day then forgot on the right day. So here's this note, an e-card if you will, for your Birthday. And to be honest, I'm probably going to talk a lot about me because I'm just that Self-absorbed. But it also saves you from great embarrassment from your young dorky Brit friend. 

There are three people in life who from ages 1-20 I know have had it very, very hard. My Mother; moved from foster homes, losing her parents aged 12 and not having any blood family and then my Father, who still carries the scars of his childhood around him like a chain around his neck. Finally, there is you. When I hear of your stories, my blood seems to boil slightly. I get angry and sad that someone so wonderful has such stories to tell. But then I think: well actually - she is wonderful. And that's really something there. 

People who come out with these stories can be angry young men/women, who think the World owes them everything and go around with a chip on their shoulder for a life time. You on the other hand? You seemed to have tread in some dark murky waters and yet come back with a smile on your face, ready to draw and ready to face the world. And that is just so marvellous and I cannot even comprehend how you even do it. Which is why I would probably say that you are one of my heroes. (Up there with Spider-Man, Stan Lee, William Pitt the Younger and if I'm honest, Jesus Christ and my Parents). 

The internet is full of weirdos and people who are just bizarre to talk to and uncomfortable. I can't tell everyone of my real troubles because I feel like it's talking to some mysterious Oracle and not a human being. But you have always been different. I think it's because we seem to have a lot in common between our love of Spider-Man and having some hardships along the way. And it's really nice that I know that somewhere in Oregon between Gravity Falls & the rain, there is this wise American Girl who can say those Buddha-wisdom words. 

Recently we've not chatted so much. Even when we're online at the same time, I'm so bad at not starting conversation. I go through bad-conversation periods where I'm not that good to talk to and need to find a hook in conversation. But I have ya' in my thoughts. Like recently; I bought a Spidey graphic novel - you popped to my mind! However I should try to just chat more - learn of the great things that seem to be happening in your life and even the not-so-great! 

You seemed to be having such a good time of life. And I'm so glad to hear as you've definitely earned such a good time. And I do wish I could just turn up on your doorstep and be that tall British kid you had to guide away from the bad Americans before I just annoyed them too much. It's on my bucket list to come and visit you just once in my life, at least. And I hope you don't mind that! 'Cause I would love to meet all my heroes but you seem like a realistic one to meet. 

'Thena, to quote Toy Story, "You've got a friend in me!" (And Spider-Man). And I hope your freakin' Birthday was GREAT. 

Love,
Uly.

Marvel's Civil War: It's time to talk.

I dunno how but I ended up in debate with Herbert about Superheroes and Captain America came up and I was like: AW HELL NAW CAPTAIN AMERICA IS AWESOME

Anyway it got me thinking about this Story Arc called Civil War. Okay so you're all lame I'm assuming and have no idea what that was about and so because I'm a kind blogger I'm going to write out a brief summary. So this supervillain (ah there we go have I had a sandwich and it's given me the jump-start) called Nitro goes to Connecticut while he's fighting these guys that no one since the 80s gave a crap about called the New Warriors and they're so lame now that they have to have a TV show to get any sort of publicity. But all of a sudden because no one actually gives a shit, most of them are killed when freaking Nitro just blows the shit out of EVERYONE. This huge event happens which just doesn't please anyone and it's SO similar to 9/11 and I'm just sat there riding like: WTF Marvel, WTF.

I think everyone was like that in-universe over this event because they just killed a boatload of people too (not literally but 606 people were killed - 6 of which superheroes).

But what makes this worse is the fact that a year ago or so, Spider-Man, this big black guy called Luke Cage, Wolverine, Daredevil and Nick Fury (who's white in the main universe - Ultimate/Movies he's Black). They all go on this HUGE covert operation mission thing and it pisses off the rest of the US and they're like: Guys, seriously. What the hell are doing. Which then leads to everyone flipping out EVEN MORE when there's this huge thing about the "Secret War" (name of the mission that those heroes were on) and this just pissed everyone off. Including the United States Congress, I have no idea why they were annoyed. I dunno why they were because frankly wouldn't you want them focusing on the economy but y'know WHATEVER.

So Congress made this act called the "Superhuman Registration Act." Requiring all superheroes to register their identity and work for the Federal Government. Some people are against it, 'cause it's like: "Oh PATRIOT ACT AND SPYING AND ALL THAT" and others are like: WELL FREEDOM MEANS COMPLYING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YEAH. And this creates a rift. ANyway, it's passed because of Stamford (finally remembered where in Connecticut) and because of the Secret War. Errybody get so mad because what makes this worse is that Iron Man supports it. Then he gets Peter Parker to take off his mask to EVERYONE to "show support". Then Captain America, surprisingly, is against it. So he forms one army, then Iron Man forms another. Then superheroes just BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF EACH. SERIOUSLY - JUST BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF EACH OTHER.

And then Iron Man wins. But I think this arc is brilliant yet at the same time terrible. Because the idea, in and of itself, is excellent. But I'll explain along the way why the execution was just so bad. BUT I got thinking about the way I would do it. Via explaining what I'd change, I'll explain where it went wrong/inform you about comicbooks. I don't do that often enough:

1) Captain America, as much as I love the character, is conservative as hell. Now being Right Wing doesn't necessarily mean you'll cage up mutants, arrest your friends and clone Thor (all things Iron Man did) but it does mean you wouldn't just go right against your ideologies. I call ridiculous writing on the idea Cap was "defending freedom." I think he was because stuff like this is why I hate Government but Captain America would have stuck by the Government. Iron Man, on the other hand, would've tried to rebel. He's a privatised businessman! Sure, in the comics he was Defence Secretary for a while but it makes very little sense that we have him on that side. So, I would've had it written that Captain America was about the "preservation of freedom" while Iron Man would say "it's a volunteering service of defence, then can f*** off."

The arc itself would've ran better. It makes more sense that at the end, Cap could've become Director of SHIELD. I think part of the reason he got turned into the Anti-Registration Side (the name of 'his' Army) was because they wanted to kill him off. But think about it: Captain America goes out of his way to really push his argument that the Government of America knows best, soon as he's about to be made new Director of SHIELD *bam* he's killed by brainwashed Sharon Carter. This would be such a whole on the entire thing and really break everything down. Iron Man works as an ass but the whole "Greater Good" idea that he had was just very, very insane. It made him a villain in my eyes and that just didn't work whereas Steve Rogers would just be serving "The American Way".

2) Spider-Man: The role of Spider-Man was mishandled. Just before Civil War, he'd lost his family home so him, MJ and Aunt May all lived together in Avengers Tower (the Tower was the 'New Avengers' HQ. It was also Iron Man's tower). They had Tony Stark make him a new costume after he died and his got ruined. So, he wore the "Iron Spider" suit that happened to be bugged so that Tony could record his every move...Just in case he switched sides. Tony made him pledge to stand by his side no-matter-what. Then he asks him to unmask? But doesn't really help with the backlash that happens (Bugle suing Spidey, Debrah Whitman writing a smearing book, his teaching job at the time being ruined).

The ending for Spider-Man's story had him switch to Captain America's side so Tony Stark just stopped helping him. Eventually, Aunt May is shot by Kingpin, making Spidey go INSANE then he eventually does a deal with the Devil to get rid of his marriage in order to save his Aunt's life. Now, don't get me started on this. While Rants & Rambles is my place to rant I will just rededidcate this blog to smearing that arc. It was terrible. The idea Peter would do it, the idea MJ would agree, the idea that THIS was considered, THE IDEA THAT IRON MAN JUST WOULDN'T HELP AT ALL. It was ridiculous. And it angered me more then anything. His role shouldn't have been done like that.

My Spider-Man's role would have him aligned with Iron Man, no-matter-what as he promised prior but with the Avengers themselves on the run from the Avengers Tower. I'd have Peter conflicted because he has so much care for Captain America but then Peter wouldn't know what to do. There'd be no "poster boy for Registration" and Peter would have a simple role at first before wanting the safety of his family...Turning to the Registration side. This would change his alignment, piss of Tony SO much and then we'd possibly have him unmask on TV to show support, only for his family to be then injured, kidnapped by super-villains who now finally know his identity.

This would make far better story telling, as we'd really have a conflicted Peter Parker. The Government would throw Peter's identity out and have him really be the dividing argument between the two, which leads me to my next point...

3) Neutrality at it's finest: No opinions. Well, maybe opinions. But done properly. I would release exactly 8 issues of Civil War (as a main story). There'd be #1 focusing on both sides, #2 On Pro-Registration, 3# Anti-Registration, #4 Pro #5 Anti #6 Pro #7-8 Both. If I have to, I'd get different writers writing the parts to the story because it'd be such a waste having one side better then the other. Civil War ended with Iron Man just being a douche and Captain America being the one we have sympathy for. When actually, Cap got Punisher to kill people. He really got obsessive and was putting everything on the line. It was a real shame that they'd just made Iron Man the worse of two-bad dudes. You needed to be able to argue with a fan on a forum why you were Pro or Anti but in the end, the classical trope won and Captain America became the "Good Guy" while Iron Man was the "Bad Guy.

4) The Ending: I actually didn't mind the ending. Mostly because it made sense. For one thing, Iron Man realised he'd been a douche, let out a lot of the people he'd trapped and then set up the 50 State Initiative, meaning an Avengers for every state (or something similar anyway). There was then a superhero training academy (which makes you scream X-Men but hold on) for future Avengers Candidates. Iron Man was temporarily head of SHIELD with Maria Hill - a fellow SHIELD agent who served as an Anti-Superheroish character within the organisation in comparison to Nick Fury. But...None of this mattered. Because then what happened was the Skrull Invasion, where Skrulls hid as superheroes and then everyone had to become temporal allies only to have Norman Osborn "save the Day" and then become the new head of SHIELD because Tony Stark was incompetent.

My issue here is: that doesn't make any sense. That doesn't make any sense why you couldn't just make two pieces to the universe and have a force properly unite them. I like the idea of a Skrull invasion. But y'know what would've made it for me? That one of the forces in one of the Armies, Pro or Anti, had been a Skrull. Then someone in the other Army also had a Skrull. That would've just made everyone FREAK OUT and realise that maybe there were loads of Skrulls everywhere amongst them, thus beginning the invasion properly. We'd have a dead Steve Rogers just after his victory and then Skrulls just appear out of nowhere. And everyone has to get along to beat 'em.

If they wanted to cover up Peter Parker's identity? After the invasion, lie and say a Skrull was pretending to be Spider-Man. Simple. And this would've just united everything and if people REALLY wanted someone to take over SHIELD, maybe they could've had a Skrull-Norman Osborn alliance in the Government that sudden took over, Osborn becoming head of Super-Military-Defence or something. That would've tied up all rather neatly instead of the shitpile Marvel Comics made with such interesting concepts.

But if that doesn't float ya boat, there was Hulk coming back from an Alien Planet and trying to kill everyone. World War Hulk was excellent, imagine Hulk & some of his Alien friends (such as his advanced aged son) coming down and having to bring heroes together? That would've been an interesting read too. I feel like they should've joined together at the end, having a real evil to fight. Not just each other. And if there was more of a swing for Anti-Registration (such as I, even without arguments. I don't think we should all be on some list somewhere for the Government, that goes for real life too) the go for that. Everyone goes suck it and eventually, people have to accept that.

I want to say too, I'd have rewritten the X-Men tie-in. I'm not sure with what yet because X-Men, like Spidey or Batman, are practically their own universe because everything's so big/so developed. This was my interpretation of what should've happened: Cap on the side of Pro-Registration, Spider-Man switching from Anti to Pro and then ending with the Secret Invasion/Dark Reign all at once. Not to mention the sudden death of Steve Rogers thus SHIELD really not having the time for superheroes under Maria Hill's command (who hell, could even be working for Norman to get him into power. I don't particularly like the character that much).

Now, there ya' go. Some comicbookdom.

Lessons learnt upon the worst week of my life.

I'm really struggling with coming up with anything to say.

For the past week or so, I've had a terrible time of it. That's not been because I've done anything, actually. In fact I think I've remained quite still. But you know when you see those TV shows where they're throwing a play and it goes awfully so the set falls down but you get some lovely message at the end of it? (I'm sure some comedy show you like has done it). Well that sort of happened. I'm wondering what messages I've learnt but I guess I already know the answer to this. And already I want to apologise for the terrible standard of English in this post but when you don't know how to put something, your language gets sloppy.

But some how or another, I've had the worst week of my life. That's not because it's been worse then other days or months or years in my life but because SO many bad things happened that it just piled all over. And if I'm 100% honest, I've not had any time to process facts in a neat, emotional fashion. So there's been no anger or sorrow even when it feels like it's appropriate but I've found those feelings not joining me. Instead I think I've just ran around after friends doing damage control. Because if I'm honest once again, my friends haven't been in the greatest shape. The real close ones too.

It's actually angered me. For a moment, I felt like Joeb. (Jobe? Not sure. Look it up if interested). From the Bible. Why? Because I honestly was self-absorbed enough to think that this was God testing my barriers of faith after I set them up. Interestingly enough, a very human event happened which did make me question what I have settled on to believe but actually I realised I'm quite strongly with the concepts I carry now. (Which I've mentioned and said before; I don't really like talking about. Spirituality is yours to keep private if you see fit to).

I guess that's what we do when situations get to us: we try to make it about us. And in a lot of ways, it really doesn't have much to do with me. Because the events were out of my control completely and utterly. But they did influence me as I've seen people cry or crushed, people so strong stand so weak. People I love more than I ever have words for if I'm truth. I'd probably walk through hell and back if that would help them right now. I'd be willing to do that at any time. Why? Because  I like to think I'm a very loving person.

To put it briefly, as I don't want to "name and shame" anything or anyone I'll put this: someone died, a couple split, someone got made homeless and then two guys got drunk. And cried. A lot. And with relationships failing around me, I really want to have a hankie and a shoulder for everyone to cry on. But I am mourning, which I probably don't really show. But basically (this I will say) I have lost a cat.

A cat whom would sit up with me and lay upon my bed in her sleepy moments or actively be on my lap as I typed away. She was, and still, with me as I would come up with brand new ideas (and I wouldn't use my whiteboard for a while because I never wanted to disturb her). I use to feed her every day and I'd get up whenever she was sick of waiting for my bed. This dates back to when I sat & watched West Wing in a month as a way to cope with December - which wasn't a good month if you log my life. With that animal companionship gone, I've felt awfully alone at the desk. I think it's almost made blog writing/my own fiction writing hard? I want to get onto writing but right now, I still have a couple of points to cover as I've seemed to not covered anything I wanted to at all.

I've learnt this week that life is about change. And that change is not always a good thing. Anyone who tells you "change is good" is full of fucking bullshit. Sorry to swear like that but I'm not really in the mood to write with moderation. Yes, now I've got to grips with this post. At last. Yes; the world is full of change. But it shall change into it's two "universal moods". Which are: joy and pain. You can't have one without the other because you'll learn to appreciate joy too much and too much pain is just not right for a man.

Which actually brings me onto the next point: appreciate the good. That's a lesson I can't stress enough. Because the "good" can be swept from right under your feet and you can be left on the pavement wondering what the hell just happened. I think I've had a lot of that on my metaphorical pavement as I can't seem to grasp what the hell HAS happened. It all seemed like some big blur because bad did just land upon me. But I really have learnt to appreciate the good of my friends. Because so many have jumped to my support, offered me a hand of love and care. And it just makes me REALLY appreciate such good in the world itself. So this is my formal thanks. I'm sure I'll repeat it personally.

One thing my brother and I (who, equally have been having a bad time of it) noted was that "we're always okay." That's the thing. You're always okay. No matter what, if you just think that, it's enough to push you in the direction of okay. Even if just slightly. And that's awesome because it's not a lie or just a comforting piece of advice, it's true. With just a little bit of will power you CAN definitely be okay and you really don't need to sweat about it. Honestly, you really can be okay. And will be.

OKAY so my final two lessons are: don't be too prepared and prepare to laugh. The first point comes from the idea that, I was totally unprepared for what happened today. I do not have a machine that can predict everything that happens because not even heightened paranoia can. Things are bound to go wrong even if you feel like you've avoided them. Jacob pointed out to me this evening something rather profound George Carling said about praying. If God has a divine plan then, praying for something to happen will mean it'll happen anyway because it's part of "the plan." Then if it doesn't, well, that's because it's part of God's "divine plan". I think the same sort of thing can be applicable to life: while there might not be a set-plan, shit is going to happen.

So prepare but always expect bad stuff. Try to come up with a plan if makes you comfy but I guess just go with the float of life. It'll lead you to what you want, you just had to get up and grab it when the time's right. You'll know that as, people generally do. That's why they miss out in the first place. Now onto my second point: laugh. Because really, that's what I did when I wasn't what to do. Laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Laugh about you feeling sad. Just laugh until you can't laugh no more then "sober up", bite the pain and then laugh a wee bit more. It's really my best piece of advice.

I want to also mention juuust a few of things before I rap up.

1) An RP site where I got to see some of my friends who I've not RPed with in a while. Once again, you guys have kinda brightened my spirits just by being hilarious, or, just by being a bit nerdy with me. Can't express my thanks to you enough.

2) My friends who are close-by: you've been awesome yet again. "I'm sorry friends for the time I desert you most days it feels like I don't deserve and I wonder that you're all still around" to quote Frank Turner, I think that says it best.

3) No matter what you've done, it does not matter now. Look to the now and then slightly glimpse to a possible future. Because whatever's happened, even if you've hurt someone I love, I hope you've done it because it's the best thing for you and fundamentally, them. Those group of people -- you're not bad. And I'll struggle to talk to you but, you're not. And I want to thank you for the good you DID instil.

Right. The lessons are in there and I've gotten something out there. I'm still in shock and eventually, will truly weep and grieve. But for now? I will settle for this.

I love you all!X

Just a quick one about the height!

Haha. Just a quick one, I'm sure plenty of guys who'll read this have heard that before - right? *dum dum tiss*

So, I was listening to Jonathan Coulton's "Just as long as me" from his Album Thing a Week Three. He use to write a song a week and then makes compilation albums, they're very good. Anyway, found a song I can utterly relate to. Because it is rather long lyrically, I'm simply going to post up the chorus so for those of you know me can understand why I find it so relatable!:

I don't care what color hair is growing on her head
She doesn't have to be a sight to see
It don't matter if she's fat or if she's good in bed
Just as long as she is just as long as me
Just as long as she is just as long as me"

It's this lovely, traditional styled folksy song. With a violin solo and everything! Anyway, at 6 Feet and 7 Inches, I just think it's class and interestingly relatable. Though I know it's a very slim chance I'll met anyone "just as long as me" who isn't some sort of model and probably way out of my league, the notion of dating someone tall when you're my height is nice. I'm use to being around short people and while they're still attractive (if they weren't I'd probably not have much choice in life!) I know a lot of short people who like the idea of tall people as it means security and then guys want the power of being taller then girls. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm just exposed to North Waelian teenagers' preferences but I think it's a general (I say general lightly - I'm not a fan of generalisations which may have noticed by now). 

If you're just as long as me, I find that attractive. And if you're shorter, well there's always more of me to love! (My next post is to come very soon but I've not had the time to finish it. As it's about comics, I have more to say...)

Where's Project Adventure? (And why I can never go on Omegle)

For this wondering where my seemingly short lived comicbook superhero Project went, everything's gotten moved to next year. This summer I'm going to write everything up and have it all neatly prepared. When I'm more organised with a bit more dough, I think I'll even get more of a professional look to it. For now I'm getting this summer to be able to write all of Draft IX/Project Adventure up and so that it's all nice. This also means that between getting-a-job and other projects this summer I can have time to spread everything out and also get to write leisurely.

With job getting, I had an interview today that didn't go too well and so I'm not sure where that's at. I was late for it because of train times and then bus times and being late to an interview is never good. I thought the trains would be running smoother; turns out they weren't. Thus, resulted in me being late. WHAT didn't help is that I went to bed at 5AM. Why? Because I was on Omegle. And this just didn't help anyone as I carried on meeting...weird...people who were very very strange and I have to say it's incredibly strange, scary place. But it's awfully addicted.

I've got quite an obsessed personality and the only danger at the moment with my obsessions is that they leave me quite broke but I gain a lot of joy. Omegle was an ugly, awful habit that I struggle to shake off when I click on it. My brain seems to deplete and so I don't get much done and it brings out an ugly side that I don't want to be me. And so I was on that until the early hours of the morning. Isn't something I advise and then I ended up not being very "with it" when I awoke. Thus, I think this set the tone of the day.

I have another blog post but tonight, I'm trying to dedicate myself to writing everything but wanted to get this one out there fairly soon. Next is going to be about why I hate Batman (again!)

What happened to June?

Well, for starters: yay, July-posting!

I've just had a hectic week and a half, topped with the best weekend of my life. I'm reminded how I've got these wonderful friends who with a bit of drink, food and a bit of sunny weather can just make everything seem so excellent. And that's been great. But arranging a party, despite it being the "annual routine", never ceases to be stressful. But it always works out and always proves to be worth it. Thanks for everyone who came and those who didn't, you were missed.

June vanished. Exams took it up and big life changes happened too. Bigger then I had time to take in account to. For the last six months, people have noticed my mood has been...mixed constantly. And there is a reason. One I can't disclose for reasons of discretion. But now that 'issue' is over. I'm no longer waiting around, to put it lightly. And life appears more free and now I'm trying to live peacefully. I'm exploring my spirituality, writing (which I'm about to get to) and also waiting on a reply to an interview. Uly might be employed, hooray!

Yes, I'm writing a lot. There's a Facebook, Twitter and Blogger. To give a brief explanation of Project Adventure -- it's a superhero multimedia project I'm doing for fun. To be more confident, I want to post stuff online. If I don't update for months, I don't. But I want to try and go about doing this. Keep following it as much more is to come. The other writing is Star FROST, a co-joint RPG with my good friend/GM Curtis. Which is next Saturday. Should be badass but very complicated.

So now June's over. My summer is about 8 weeks now. Which is still long. I feel rather relaxed about it and am hoping that this weekend has set the tone of my summer. I think there's a chance. Now, back to all the reading and 3DS playing (new gifts) that I've got. A blog post will be coming, hopefully later. Maybe. Maybe not. July is the month of "Maybe" as May has too much shit going on. July has barely anything going for it, God bless it.