A lot is wrong with Daken, and that's why I love his character. There is so much to poke at. He's an ammoral bastard but also he's a pathetic wet cat. It's explored through both of his solo runs, but there is one particular arc I want to talk about: Dark Wolverine #82-84, or Daken's part in the Siege arc.
Quick background: Norman Osborn is attacking Asgard (for reasons, long story) with his H.A.M.M.E.R. mooks and Dark Avengers--villains and anti-heroes he has paid, manipulated, and/or blackmailed into working for him.
It's implied in several comics that Daken has trouble knowing himself, due to decades of abuse (being lied to, used, and ordered around), but in this comic it's shown so succinctly. (This is my read of it, anyway)
Daken insists his actions are his own choice. Hmm.
So it starts with the Fates being involved. They want Daken for something, but state they can't outright tell him. They can only "guide" him. So they show him glimpses of the futures, where his choices lead him to.
(they say this, but they are more involved than that)
That's only the mechanics of their powers, though. Effectively, what it gives Daken is a reset button. He makes a choice, and if the Fates don't like his choice or they want to talk to him, they reset him back to the moment before he makes the choice. He chooses differently the next time. I don't think this is him making informed decisions based on possible consequences-- it's him avoiding the consequences completely after he'd already made his choice.
So which choice is actually his and which one is the Fates manipulating him? I don't think even Daken knows. He thinks his final decision was entirely "him".
After a couple of resets, including one where Daken saves and tries to inspire the troops, he gets this:
Daken finally asks the Fates:
Same guy who told them this in the beginning:
This is already years after discovering Romulus' lies. He knows he is sick of being used. He'd been described by telepath Emma Frost as "not allowed his own thoughts".
But in the end of Siege, Daken's last decision (in line with the Fates) is a relief to him. Being told what to do, what he is, is a relief.
Someone get this man some therapy. For many reasons. (Don't get me started on the masks he wears just in these issues)
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I want him to have this same energy with his new teammates. That’s allowed. We can have him still say shit like this to people.
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Guys what if their hair was curlier?
The context for this image
Akihiro wants to take Laura to a gay bar. Gabby wants to come as well but they both say no. Much to Gabby's jealousy when Jubilee asks to tag along there is an immediate yes. Jubilee wanted to take photo of them before they left and in typical older sibling fashion (source: I do this t my baby brother) they use Gabby as an armrest even though she's still kind annoyed at them.
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is it just me or has Akihiro been more macho/manly in the past few years than he used to be? remember when he wore nail polish and jewelry and crop tops and shit? We need to bring that back, he can have a girlfriend and still be feminine yknow
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