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We don’t appreciate the fact that Bruce Wayne is a Kardasian level celebrity enough. Everyone knows him. I want more one shots and crack fic moments where the League (Pre identity reveals) just openly talk about Bruce Wayne in front of Batman.

Just imagine them playing fuck, marry, kill with famous actors and such and throwing Bruce into the mix. And Batman just sits there, silently suffering as he listens to the reasons why Flash and Lantern would marry, fuck, or kill him. He prays they choose kill. They don’t.

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There is a fairly significant bit of wordplay in Frieren that will escape the notice of most English-speaking viewers, but I quite like it so I’ll explain it here. The title of the series in Japanese is 葬送のフリーレン (Sousou no Furiiren). “Furiiren” is of course Frieren; “sousou” means “funeral rites” or “attending a funeral”, but can literally be translated as “sending to the grave”. Since the story opens with Frieren watching her old adventuring pals growing old and passing away, we’re naturally led to the simple interpretation of the title: she’s attending her friends’ funerals.

(The full official English title is Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, because literal translations rarely make catchy titles.)

Later, as Frieren is fighting Aura, Lügner explains that Frieren is the most prolific demon-killer in history. In the English translations I’ve seen, this earns her the nickname “Frieren the Slayer”. But in the original Japanese, this nickname is 葬送のフリーレン: “Sousou no Furiiren”, the title of the series.

In this context, this line (and the title, too) could be more literally interpreted as “Frieren, who sends you to your grave”. It also means the line is a little more impactful in Japanese — you’re supposed to point at the screen and yell “hey that’s the name of the show!!”

There’s really just no way to preserve wordplay like this through translation so I can’t fault the translators at all for not trying, but it’s a fun thing that’s worth pointing out nonetheless. I just love that this was clearly something the author was setting up from the very beginning.

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"as long as our journey continues, we can always meet again"

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nature artwork by Andy Goldsworthy

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i feel like no one really wants to hear that sleep/exercise/nutrition/hydration are major factors in treating mental health issues bc we’ve all talked to that person who thinks your depression would be cured by one good session of goat yoga or whatever but unfortunately they do help and i’m chronically annoyed about it

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you know how when you go out in the middle of the woods, your phone loses internet service? that is because the trees naturally protect you from the evil dark energy rays generated by influencers and twitter opinions. follow for more information about the beauty of nature

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As someone who is REALLY into the seven deadly sins, I originally had my doubts with the Hellaverse making the Princes of Hell positive versions of their respective sins (except for Mammon, who is the vice of Greed in its most awful glory). I mean, while the positive message and denunciation of religious madness is appreciated and needed (such as Asmodeus representing the modern, positive and non-religious meaning of lust while posing as the religious meaning of "lust"), it kind of removed something from the fact Hell is supposed to be... well Hell, a fucked up, horrible shit-hole where everything keeps going wrong for people.

But now that Hazbin Hotel is out I am at peace with this, because it was all to better make a parallel between the Princes of Hells and the Overlords. The Overlords truly depict the seven deadly sins in what they have of most horrible and evil, and thus make perfect "evil twins" to the Seven Deadly Sins demons. Valentino is the evil lust to Asmodeus positive lust ; Rosie and the cannibals are a dark reflection of Queen Bee's positive vibes ; Vox, Velvet and Alastor are all much more prideful in a negative way than Lucifer himself. In fact, the battle between Alastor and Lucifer in episode 5 truly highlights the "regular" pride of Lucifer, just misguided self-centeredness and deep confidence issues/self-loathing leading to a massive "I'm the best showman" persona ; to the arrogance of Alastor, the manipulative, ambitious demon who is obsessed with being respected and feared, and who keeps trying to take down seen "rivals" even when they are way above him. (There's a whole thing to say about Alastor being just as much of an "attention-whore" than Vox, but in a different - more intelligent and reserved way, like how he was clearly annoyed by Carmilla shooting down any talk about his mysterious disappearance)

This truly drives well the point that the real evil in the world of the Hellaverse comes from humans and humanity, by showing how the "fallen angel" demons are roughly positive, just not conforming Heaven's strict rules ; but the Overlords are truly depraved and vicious. Thus, in a twist, these over-powered Sinners are better at depicting the cardinal vices than the Seven Princes of Hell themselves.

Except for Mammon of course, 'cause nobody can top him as the greediest bastard.

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Emperor and the Female Knight (2019-2023) - :)

There have been times, when I have been reading manhwa and it has a gender nonconforming element to the story, when what they really mean is that author wrote a shounen ai story and then slapped some tits on the "female" lead in a few panels and called it a day. Why they would do this instead of call a story what it is could be for a lot of different reasons, but it's never been my cup of tea because it doesn't ring true. This story is nothing like that.

Pauliana has been fighting all her life even before she met Lucius, the king of an enemy country. Talented in battle, with a strong will and natural charisma, Paul forges ahead in the only manner she knows how. Lucius is a visionary leader who sees Paul's worth and accepts her as his vassal. This story is more about the long partnership they forge as Lucius goes from king to emperor and stabilizes his new kingdom. The political and personal journeys they go on make sense in the context of the story and knowing their respective histories. As the story move towards Lucius finally acting on the feelings he develops for Paul, it feels natural.

I wish more manhwa would embrace female leads like Paul. Women with real flaws, not cosmetic ones. Women with real bodies, be they muscly or rounded and not just so they can be glowed up ten chapters in. Women who are attractive because of more than their facial symmetry or long hair. While I can't say this story was what I look for in a romance, it was a truly fantastic story with compelling and consistent characters. I hope more people find their way to it.

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An Isekai anime that doesn't use only stereotyping is refreshing!

(as a woman it’s nice to not roll my eyes or sigh for every panty shot or normalized sexual harassment behavior from the male hero)

Suzune and Ryusen relantionship

One of my favorite : Yes, Woman and man can spend time together and being friends. It is nice to enjoy time with a colleague.

(well, we don’t know for sure if their relantionship will evolve. Ship them if you want. For now my ace heart was pleased).

Multidimensional characters are what I crave !

Within 5 minutes of the episode we have three stereotypes :

- Genious student council president : smart, team leadar, sportive … : Suzune

- Smart, capable and composed student council vice-president : Ryusen

- normal guy : Usato

Don't get me wrong, clichés and stereotypes are useful. They give you a sense of knowledge and help you get into the story more easily.

Although when someone is only the "funny guy/girl" who is a cute and silly cinnamon roll for 10 episodes. Then, say an inspirational quote for the last episode, it is a frustrating and quite boring experience.

That’s why, when the magic circle appeared I was happily surprised.

Ryusen is freaking out. Usato is surprised but almost chill and Suzune is really excited about the event

That’s the moment, I said to myself, it might be interesting.

Usato has empathy and is attentive to his surrondings (I link it to the bird scene). Before saying Ryusen as to calm down, Usato acknowlegdes his anger and makes him understand that it is not a good option for them.

Like in real life, only shooting to someone to stop is often not effective, but if you add emotion (by example : « you seem hurt let’s discuss about it » or « you are right to be angry but it’s not my fault » …) you create a space for both your emotion to connect (at least in my real life experience maybe their is an on/off bouton I haven’t discovered yet).

THIS, THIS !

Am I too old ? Is the world a better place now for teenagers ? (calm down. I am not your mom, I am only in my late-twenties) ,or I have watched too many crappy or clichéd anime.

Simply, two guys checking how they are feeling. « Like, are you alright dude ? I am pretty angry to be here. How about you ? ».

No stupid joke, nothing pervy about the magician « nun outfit » (I don’t mak judgmenys, she is rocking this outfit).It feels realistic. Amazing.

To sum up, I enjoyed being surprised. I have watched countless anime for years and more often than not you can predict what will happen or what characters will say. I know I am not the only one. Sadly we are not super human, it is the source material which is poor.

Suzune is not the « Damsel in distress » or the nurse / the one caring for the guys . In fact she is the main character in spirit. Usato and Ryusen are bonding over their insecurities about being

thrown out into another world (in opposition to Suzune who is living her best life).

Additionally, I am sick and tired of genre stereotypes. . Woman as to be gentle, elegant, weak … Man have to be strong, fearless, insensitve …

It doesn’t seem like it in this anime, I have hope 

#chiyu mahou no machigatta tsukaikata #the wrong way to use healing magic #winter 2024 anime #anime 2024 #isekai #noralities vibe

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It feels like a farewell to "slide of life" chapters, angst and death is coming. We have 6 months to harden our heart

(what does the panels look like a shojo manga confession though ?

I prefer to focus on this "shojo vibe" and forget Allen's question "What if this is our final meeting ?" T.T)

Mangaka : Hoshino Katsura

#d.gray man #chapter 249 #spoiler #allen walker #kanda yuu #hoshino katsura #d.grayman hallow #farewell #final meeting

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the relationship between a person and the native flora and fauna of where they grew up is something that can actually be so personal

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Asexual and aromantic are not “spicy straight trying to be special LGBT”.

This argument, much like “you’re not really bi/pan if you are with someone of the opposite gender”, asks for visibly performative queerness then ignores the inherent queerness in these experiences.

If being straight is being allosexual, heterosexual, heteroromantic, alloromantic, and cisgender, all at once, then a person only needs to not be one of these to call themselves queer if they want to.

This always ruffles feathers, but..cishet isn’t the inherent opposite of queer.

Allosexual — not ace or under its umbrella

Alloromantic — not aro or under its umbrella

cisgender — aligning with your gender assigned/designated at birth

Heterosexual— sexual attraction to the opposite gender

Heteroromantic — romantic attraction to the opposite gender

If all aces and aros were cishet, which we’re not but just for the sake of this example, how would this detract from the queerness inherent in asexuality and aromanticism? Each are complex spectrums of a fundamentally different experience than the world teaches us we should have.

Aces, aros, and bi/pan people in “straight passing” relationships are often lumped into cishet as a way of delineating “not queer”, regardless of other factors. But this dismisses queerness and asks for specific, unnamed perimeters to be met for it to be recognized.

When presented with ways that experiencing little to no sexual attraction, or little to no romantic attraction, are in fact in opposition with the expectation for everyone to have both (allonormativity and amatanormativity or amanormativity respectively), people don’t accept it. Or rather, they don’t accept it as a thing on its own. Sometimes this means getting treated as if you’re just trying to be edgy, as if proclaiming you’re part of a marginalized group gives social media clout or something. Other times it’s just not treated as enough on its own by other queer people.

This happens in ace and aro spaces too. Cishet is used often as shorthand for “not queer”, directly pushing away aspecs who may be cishet and also ace and/or aro. It doesn’t seem intentionally exclusionary, but unintended exclusion is still exclusion.

This reflects, also, the expectation of performative queerness that is thrown at bi and pan persons both in and out of queer spaces. There are also many aces and aros who are bi and pan, and who may or may not be cisgender.

The reality however is there is no way to “perform” queerness that is satisfactory to all who demand it. The result this odd sort of existence where when one appears queer “enough”, that is used as weaponry against them, but when it isn’t, it’s used to exclude queer people from queerness.

And the real kicker is asexual and aromantic are enough. Bi/pan folks are still their orientation regardless of what their relationship looks like. Gender is it’s own thing, separate from the others, but related because this all ends up being a pile of queer identity spaghetti.

Regardless of how queer a person appears to you, or if you understand their individual experience… Ace is enough. Aro is enough.

The demand for performative queerness is used to try to defend from harm, but it ends up attacking anyone not visibly queer enough to the beholder.

We need to be more explicitly inclusive — especially in our own spaces, but also outside of them when talking about how queerness operates. If someone else’s queerness makes your idea of queerness more complicated, that’s not a bad thing. Learn from that, and let them be.

If you see someone is ace or aro and then see they’re more like you than you thought they could be, or that they don’t engage with it how you expected, that’s not a reason to be exclusionary. It’s a reason to try to expand what you include in your idea of queer.

Once, you needed someone to include you to feel comfortable in your queerness.

Set your ego aside and extend a hand to those you don’t quite understand. Be inclusive. Especially if someone’s relationship to their queerness challenges what you thought was possible.

thank you for reading if you like this please consider contributing to my moving expenses, there’s $425 to go and anything and everything helps

you can also find my blog, my links, my socials, read/listen to interviews, or just say hi here on my linktree

thank you again for reading and remember to be inclusive! Other queer people are not your enemy. have a nice day!

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Good Omens 2 + Text Posts

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a pirate, a serial killer and a demon walk into a bar after a break up Pt 1 -> (x)

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Last Gender vol. 2 came out (English/North America)! I cannot overstate how great this manga is for queer representation--the entire purpose of the series is to educate and represent. I posted about it before, but with an adult flag, so I don't think anyone saw that post. The manga is 18+, with sex scenes, but not doujin work. It's published by Kodansha, and the writing is not doujin writing at all, but drama writing. It's researched and thoughtfully written vignettes tied together with a location. It appears it'll be a 3-volume miniseries in scope.

Author Rei Taki has already tried her best to accurately, thoughtfully depict (in order of appearance):

A lesbian woman trying to escape an abusive cishet marriage

A bisexual transfemme person, tired of feeling like a sideshow

A pansexual male whose parents kicked him out

A middle-aged bigender person hiding/closeted from his wife

An aromantic girl who's very much into sex, and things are awkward

A gay man whose partner was outed on social media and killed himself (because Japan. Sigh.)

A lithromantic girl who only likes unrequited love and faces negative reactions from men

A gray-gender person (very nearly aromantic and asexual) who has trouble fitting in

A woman who cross-dresses but identifies as female and hetero, and faces a lot of prejudice from all sides as a result

A person who identifies as agender and is addicted to plastic surgery (has severe dysmorphia), and

A polyamorous triad/throuple who explain how they all came to love one another.

Whew!

If you are queer, you owe it to yourself to read Last Gender. If you want to educate someone, it's a good tool, but they need to be comfortable enough with sex to begin with, so. . .

It could give you a better vocabulary to discuss these topics with, at least.

(And the art can be hot af.)