#ONLY FOR THIS STILL TO BE HAPPENING THE MOMENT DAMIAN IS IN A NON JOSH WILLIAMSON BOOK

[welcometogrouchland]

It's mostly the fault of poor editorial practices that B&R is so heavily misaligned continuity-wise w/ the main batman book. But walk with me for a minute:

You are Damian Wayne. You are 14 years old and have had one of the worst years of your life last year. Which is saying a lot.

Your brother, one of the people you were closest to, got shot in the head and forgot who you were. Your best friend went to space for a week and came back 3/4 years older than you, taking away your previously established dynamic and leaving you to have to bond all over again w/ a new one. You may or may not have gone wayyy too far with your new superhero team, who now all hate you, because you fucked up big time*

And worst of all, when you do try to do the right thing, you end up forced to watch Alfred, a father figure to you, the only one at your birthday that year, the person who has been so patient, loving and trusting with you, even when you probably didnt deserve it...die. you watch him die, and feel it's all your fault.

And your dad never corrects you on that last point. So you run away.

First to your mom who can tell something's up with you, she knows you don't give up that easy, you decide not to stay with her because you remembered how actually, neither of your parents are good at communicating with you despite their best efforts, so now you're 14 and flying solo.

And you do fly solo. For a while. Make new friends, new enemies. You think you're better off for it. You've got your best friend and your brother back. They're not around as much. It's fine.

And eventually your dad tells you that it's not your fault that Alfred died. Bit late but it's appreciated. Really. There's a bit of a hiccup where you get possessed by a demon and wage war against your father but after that, all in all, you two are...together again.

You start to think maybe you want to give him another chance, for the two of you to be father and son.

And in a change of pace, it works out! It's going good, mostly. He insists you go to highschool, you resist, feel like he wants you to be something that you're not (wants you to be normal), but eventually you acquiesce for your own reasons. He cheers you on at soccer and nosies around at your fundraising events with the other parents and gives you a stern talking to about your choice of girlfriend. Because he cares.

Except all the while this is going on, your dad is currently having his brain slowly taken over by an evil version of himself that he created and every time you look away he's slowly tearing your family apart (your brothers are just barely keeping it together. The ones who didn't get lobotmized that is Jesus Christ). You keep taking his side in these conflicts, for whatever reason. Maybe because he promised it would be different this time, and it isn't** and you're going to stick with him until he keeps his word for once.

But at the end of the day?

It's like your brother says. You're not the one who saves him. Broadly speaking, you've made things worse and needed others to come save you. And what else is Robin really for? You thought it was about redemption and teamwork but guess you're wrong. It's about saving your self destructive, apparently two-faced and erratic father. And you can't even do that right.

* TT (2016) by Adam Glass is a racist ooc mess, but unfortunately it's still canon so I'm referencing here, though like a lot of works authors clearly wish weren't canon but are, it's been subsequently glossed over. Win? Maybe? Or not?

** again Zdarky's characterization of Damian is so outdated as to be ooc, and considering the way he constantly and explicitly uses it to illustrate Tim's strengths as robin, I'd argue there's. Also implications there. But the batshit insanity of the main batbook compared to B&R rn is crucial for this post, so I'm attempting to justify it. This time..

#ramblings of a lunatic #dc comics #damian wayne #batman and robin #i know i already made an animatic of steph to tears over beers by modern baseball (you know the bit) #but this post has made me think of damian in this context. weeps #idk i read batman 138 for myself and the ways Zdarsky structures it to portray damian as inferior is just. AUGHH IT MAKES ME SICK #LEAVE MY BOY ALONE #the fact that josh williamson (not a perfect writer but i generally enjoy his stuff) had to single handedly save damian- #-after didio left the company and make him robin/a hero again #ONLY FOR THIS STILL TO BE HAPPENING THE MOMENT DAMIAN IS IN A NON JOSH WILLIAMSON BOOK #SICKENING #anyways. imagine if these titles connected and created a greater narrative besides building to event books. would be crazy huh? #that's not fair B&R is enjoyable in its own right and I'd rather have the main batman book touching less things to be frank #but still #if they ever do the theoretical tim/damian robins miniseries that lives in my brain maybe this could be discussed in some way #anyway <3

[junker-town]

25 non-Warriors reasons to watch the NBA

There’s a lot more to enjoy about this league.

The Golden State Warriors are overwhelming favorites to win the 2018 NBA championship. The Warriors almost swept through the playoffs last year, and they arguably improved in the offseason. Meanwhile, we aren’t yet sure how much their top challengers improved.

Enough to truly test Golden State? Probably not.

Enough to make the season compelling? Absolutely.

In objection to the binary nature of sports commentary, we are going to completely ignore the Warriors in this preview piece, instead focusing on the 25 reasons you should be excited about the new NBA season even though the Warriors are going to win the title.

This is now a Warriors-free zone.

1. Russell Westbrook has superstar friends again. Westbrook went full Dr. Manhattan last season and was named MVP. It’s going to be fascinating to see how he adjusts to having Paul George and Carmelo Anthony alongside him. George isn’t near the offensive mastermind that Kevin Durant had been, and Carmelo has seemed to acknowledge his powers are waning, so Westbrook should still maintain majority control on that end. But George and Melo provide relief and secondary perimeter attacking points that OKC lacked a bit last season. George’s ace defense will help, too.

2. BOSSton. If you’re not giddy with anticipation to see what Brad Stevens does with Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, something’s wrong. The Whiteboard Jordan helped Isaiah Thomas reach All-NBA status and made a weird, mismatched roster into art. What will he do with high-aesthetic players like dribble-master Irving and a smooth passer and scorer like Hayward? They might not be good enough to beat Cleveland, but it’s going to be fun to see them try.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

3. H-Town. The Rockets, who were awesome last season, went and pulled Chris Paul out of a hat. CP3’s arrival will shift James Harden back to two-guard and give Houston one of the most powerful backcourt attacks in decades. Paul is known as a bit of an on-court control freak, whereas Harden is more a free spirit. Watching them feel each other out and find ways to maximize their abilities should be fascinating.

4. The Conscience Of The NBA. Gregg Popovich isn’t shutting up, and thank goodness. He offered a sermon on media day, and we can expect him to wax philosophical throughout the season. When has a coach’s media availability ever been appointment television? (Since we haven’t mentioned him yet, let’s throw a nod to Kawhi Leonard here. A masterful player who is completely mind-blowing to watch in action.)

5. You Must Be Yoking. Nikola Jokic was a revelation last season, and he’ll have the reins in Denver from Day 1 in 2017-18. With Gary Harris and Jamal Murray developing and a new co-star in Paul Millsap up front, it should only get prettier from here.

6. No More CP3s in L.A. The Chris Paul era in Los Angeles ended rather abruptly, meaning Blake Griffin is back in charge. The good news is that Griffin, when healthy, is a preternaturally gifted creator with the ball who should be able to keep feeding DeAndre Jordan lobs and open shooters clean looks. The bad news is that the best non-Warrior shooter in the business, J.J. Redick, is gone, too. But an unlocked, mature Griffin should be glorious to behold in any case.

7. Zo-Time. Let’s stay in L.A. for a minute and hang out with Lonzo Ball. Skepticism is understood: His jumper form is, uh, interesting and his pops is a menace to airwaves. We don’t know whether he’ll ever be an All-Star. But he will be fun. This is guaranteed. No one who watched his work at UCLA last season, or paid attention to Vegas Summer League, can deny this. If the Lakers cannot yet be good, at least perhaps they can be entertaining.

8. Milos Fever. Milos Teodosic, perhaps the most creative passer in Europe over the past several years, joined the Clippers this summer. It remains to be seen how much he’ll play given his defensive shortcomings and expected heavy roles for Patrick Beverley and Austin Rivers. But with a big target like Jordan running the floor, this could be a highlight reel in the making.

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

9. The Next Evolution of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Last season, Giannis really put everything together. He became an All-Star and perhaps the second- or third-best player in the Eastern Conference. (Once Jimmy Butler moved west, Giannis claimed that No. 2 spot.) He’s 22 years old. He’s nowhere near maximizing his potential. Giannis has become one of those players where you need to know if he’s playing any given night so you can be prepared to switch over on League Pass.

10. Stan Van Gundy Meltdown Watch. Something gnarly happened in Detroit last year. The Pistons were disappointing in total, but Van Gundy’s particular moves — paying Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, specifically — didn’t work out. If Detroit starts slow again, Van Gundy might flip into IDGAF mode as he did in his waning days in Orlando. While that’d be painful for Pistons fans, a mad Van Gundy is always a delight for neutral observers.

11. ROOKIES! We mentioned Lonzo already, but heavens there are some incredible first-year prospects in the pipeline. Among just the point guards we have Ball, Markelle Fultz, De’Aaron Fox, Dennis Smith Jr., and Frank Ntilikina. Jayson Tatum, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Lauri Markkanen looked awesome this summer. Josh Jackson, Jonathan Isaac, and Donovan Mitchell have high fun quotients. And let’s not even get into Kyle Kuzma ...

12. Keep Calm Like Porzingis. Having moved on from Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony for different reasons, the Knicks can finally commit to slowly building around Kristaps Porzingis. That’s a shift, and it will be interesting to see how Porzingis steps into the void. We still don’t know whether he’s a future All-Star or he’s a future Best Center in the League. This season will offer guidance.

13. Paul George has a superstar friend for the first time ever. Remember that PG-13 had the Pacers very competitive during the Heatles era with George Hill, Roy Hibbert, David West, and Lance Stephenson as his co-stars. Those were all plus players, and Indiana made its mark on defense, where the supporting cast excelled. But we have not seen George play with an All-Star caliber scorer outside of the weird Indy overlap with Danny Granger. Going from Jeff Teague to Russell Westbrook should be life-changing for PG-13.

14. LeBron. I mean, that’s really all that needs to be said. If LeBron is playing basketball, you should be watching.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

15. Peanut Butter and Jelly. LeBron lost Kyrie Irving, but he got reinforcements, too: Dwyane Wade signed with Cleveland in the middle of training camp after getting sprung from the Bulls. And their reunion is every bit as glorious from a Banana Boat perspective as you’d imagine! (The basketball perspective? We’ll wait and see.)

16. New Heatles. One of the most disappointing moments of the 2016-17 season was when the Miami Heat fell just a game short of making the playoffs after an incredible mid-season turnaround. Well, they are back. The front office retained the roster to great expense and added Kelly Olynyk. If they start the season like they finished the last one, the East had better watch out.

17. Kemba Walker. The Hornets’ watchability is directly correlated to how much Kemba is feeling himself in any given moment.

@KembaWalker ➡️ @DwightHoward #BuzzCity http://pic.twitter.com/agy4ESGlqH

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) October 9, 2017

18. The John Wall-Brad Beal Encore. The Wizards hit their stride last year thanks to health and camaraderie. Wall is deeply underrated as a passer and attacker; everyone knows Beal can shoot and scoot to the rim. The dual attack is really something.

19. Guards Galore! Speaking of which: The East is relatively weak compared to the West, especially at the team level. But holy smoke the East has some fantastic guards, from Kyrie and Isaiah Thomas to Kemba, Wall, Beal, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, and Goran Dragic. If you like guard play, those early East games usually have something for you. (Just don’t watch the Knicks, Pacers, or Bulls.)

20. Isaiah Thomas might explode into flames. It’s a scientific fact: every time someone in a position of power doubts Isaiah, he gets stronger. That’s why he was so successful entering the league as the No. 60 pick. That’s why he became a 20-point scorer after coming off the bench behind Jimmer Fredette. That’s why he became an All-Star in Boston after the Suns pawned him off. And that’s why he’ll drop 50 in a game for Cleveland after Boston traded him. Provided his hip doesn’t keep him off the court too long, he’s going to be a maniac this season.

21. Boogie And The Brow. DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis were thrown together with the Pelicans already in peril of missing the playoffs last year. Now they have a training camp together, plus Jrue Holiday and Boogie-whisperer Rajon Rondo in the backcourt. The Pels remain desperate for shooting, but the whole roster and organization is desperate enough to win — Davis and Cousins for their reputations, Alvin Gentry and Dell Demps for their jobs — that something magical is possible. And if something magical does not happen and the Pels disappoint ... well, that will be its own kind of magic, won’t it?

Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

22. Blaze On. Portland didn’t solve its major roster problems in the summer (hello Evan Turner), but Damian Lillard continues to set a high bar, C.J. McCollum continues to impress, and Jusuf Nurkic looks to be in shape and healthy in the preseason. I dare say the Blazers will be shockingly fun this year.

23. The Pack Survives. For the first time in more than a decade, the Timberwolves are going to be straight-up good. Adding Tom Thibodeau to a team led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins didn’t do the trick a year ago. Adding Jimmy Butler? That’ll do it. The Wolves’ Thibsian style of play may not be too aesthetically pleasing to the masses, but watching the growth of a future MVP like Towns, a manageable role for Wiggins, and a happy environment for Butler — that should be joyous in its own right. Minnesotans have suffered long enough. Go get ‘em, Wolves.

24 Brotherly Love. Perhaps the most intriguing, endearing, and exciting team to watch early this season will be the Philadelphia 76ers. They have two Rookie of the Year candidates, the two runners-up for Rookie of the Year last year, J.J. Redick, assorted other fun youngsters, and a coach with the most inexplicable accent in the nation. Most of all, they have Joel Hans Embiid, a damn good player molded for internet godliness. He’s funny, he’s brash, he’s completely self-aware. And we just might get more than 1,000 minutes of him on the court this season. It’s Embiid’s time. Treasure every second.

25. Revenge LeBron. Look, Kyrie requested a trade while playing under LeBron’s tutelage. Kyrie’s Cavaliers were winning 30 games a year before LeBron came back. And this is the thanks LeBron gets? Dude’s going to be mad when the Cavaliers line up across from the Celtics on opening night. Mad mad mad mad mad.