#power pack 4 Preview

[dispatchdcu]

Power Pack: Into the Storm #4 Preview

Power Pack: Into the Storm #4 Preview #powerpackintothestorm #intothestorm #powerpack #powers #outlawed #alexpowers #MARVEL #marvelcomics #comics #comicbooks #news #mcu #art #info #NCBD #comicbooknews #previews #reviews #fantasticfour #FF #amazon

Power Pack: Into the Storm #4 Preview: The Power siblings are free from Snark and Brood clutches – and on strict orders not to interfere any further with the battle. But with their friends still at the enemy’s mercy, interfering seems like the least the Power Pack could do! But the Powers aren’t the only ones looking to take action, and one wrong move could have explosive consequences… LOUISE…

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#comic books #comics #marvel comic previews #Marvel Previews #power pack #Power Pack: Into the Storm #Power Pack: Into the Storm 4 #Power Pack: Into the Storm 4 Preview #Previews

[fontainescape]

Speculation on Childe's "Guilty" Verdict

So my headcanon on Childe's presence in Fontaine to safeguard the traveller from being convicted to a crime is immediately thrown out the window. The situation is actually reversed! Beautiful. Sounds way better, story-wise.

The Oratrice has concluded that Childe is guilty of being involved in the serial disappearances case. I have read many posts and comments stating how it's impossible because Childe is only 21 while the case had been around for 20 years. However, it is possible.

When we met Childe in Fontaine, it is no coincidence that they now bring up Skirk and what Childe saw when he fell into the abyss. We knew that for some time now but it's only mentioned in the archon quests in this 4.0 update.

Let's break down what Childe said.

"I'm not sure... It's as if I suddenly lost control of my Hydro powers when I needed them. Maybe there's something wrong with my Vision?"

"But recently, there seems to be some sort of restless power stirring inside of me... And I don't know why, but every now and then I feel like I'm in a terrible mood."

Here, I assume Childe means he has been feeling this terrible mood upon arriving Fontaine. On top of that, he's losing control of his Vision. Possibly, it's because of the power he felt inside him. Paimon and Traveller thinks so.

I also believe this is the "it" Skirk mentioned. Childe awakened something and its traces remained on him, which is why she accepted him as her apprentice.

"Because I had awakened "it," and traces of "it" remained on me. She said that all my combat training would be useful in the future."

Should also probably take note that Skirk taught him the Foul Legacy, apparently. But I don't think that has anything to do with this case. Just feel like I have to add it because she said this would be useful for him, regarding "it" in the future.

Childe/Tartaglia's Namecard Description: ... Yet, his "Foul Legacy" was not originally his. Rather, it was taught to him by that solitary girl who dwelt in the darkest corners of the universe.

Childe believes this is related to the dream he saw when he fell into the unknown abyss.

"In my dream, I was in the deepest depths of the sea, and the boundless seabed was all around me. But in front of me appeared a whale that was so massive I felt like I couldn't breathe."

I think Childe did not see a dream, but that it actually happened. And maybe it wasn't a whale, but an Oceanid.

I have yet to explore the entire Fontaine region yet, but there was a preview in Genshin 4.0 Livestream of a dormant Oceanid underwater, hugging a huge building. During Act I and Act II, I waited for the appearance of this Oceanid but it didn't really go there.

It doesn't have to be this Oceanid, I'm just comparing its size to how Childe envisioned the whale he saw, but I think Childe accidentally got involved somehow and at least saw something but refused or couldn't help, or even caused it but didn't really understand what happened hence why he remembers it as a dream. Boi probably got traumatized, fr. He might have been in Fontaine during this. And then it made him fled to a snowy forest, where he would then fall to the abyss.

Excerpt from Tartaglia Character Story 4: That 14-year-old boy got lost in the snowy forest. Pursued by bears and wolf packs, he lost his footing and fell into a bottomless crack in the earth's surface. There, he witnessed the endless possibilities of another ancient world. There, he would meet a mysterious swordswoman... Or perhaps one should say that this dark realm had sensed the burning ambition in this boy's heart. This darkness was something that the Harbinger Childe could never again delve into. In those three months, the swordswoman taught Tartaglia how to pass through the Abyss unhindered, and more importantly, nurtured the ability to stir up endless havoc from within Ajax's trouble-mongering nature. No one knew what happened within that darkness during those three months, nor would Ajax ever speak of this to anyone.

Childe was running from "wolves and bears" it said and then abyss sensed a burning ambition. It doesn't sound like just wolves and bears that sparked this ambition, I'd say. What if Childe dreamed to be more "brave" or "confident." And yet, running away from home in itself seems brave enough to me. Something must have happened before he fell to the abyss.

Or was it actually referring to the traces of "it" that is now inside of Childe? It's probably what made him change personality drastically, and not just simply because of his training with Skirk.

It's also interesting that we don't know how he got his Hydro Vision in the first place. Traveller now is safekeeping it, so I wonder if they will find out something through this Hydro Vision.

And I wonder, how did Childe awaken "it"?

Finally, the Oratrice decided Childe is guilty. This was what Neuvillette said in his own judgment of the case:

"Through evidence presented in the public trial that was just held, it has been established that Mr. Tartaglia has no direct connection to the serial disappearances case."

"The guilty party has been identified, and thus, it is logical to suppose Mr. Tartaglia is innocent of the charges."

I really like how Neuvillette says "logical to suppose", cause as Chief Justice, he cannot be firmly sure if one is innocent or guilty unless proven or disproven with evidence. Childe simply didn't have an alibi nor even was mentioned in Vacher's confession.

But Oratrice really said, "no bruh, this dude did something. I ain't letting him get away with it even if he is unaware."

Additional Notes

Now, I did mention about the Foul Legacy before, and that I don't think it has anything to do with what's currently happening in the archon quest. But, as of writing this, I remember that Neuvillette only stopped Childe when he transformed into his Foul Legacy. Some people wondered why?

Foul Legacy looks similar to Abyss Heralds and Abyss Lectors. Additionally, the cape looks like it's of abyss. If you don't know, Foul Legacy has nothing to do with his Delusion.

So I suspect that Neuvillette was either just slow to react, or he only felt it was unsafe for everyone in the court when he saw this form. Because surely, the Gardemeks wouldn't be able to handle that.

And that is all for my speculations regarding Childe's case.

Toodle-oo~

#didnt post yesterday i was playing genshin tehee #genshin impact #fontaine #childe #tartaglia #neuvillette #oceanid #skirk #abyss

[vs120shound]

Nerea and Noemi returning to action with 2 new friends!

SMOKING SWEETIES (SSW) NEWEST | 'SMOKING FRIENDS' (FOUR BSWs MEET AT A POOL)

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ | Five "Stars"

From Smoking Sweeties | ★★★★★ (L)

Dual-Media, 3-Post, 48-Pack Megapost!

They are smoking up a storm but not drinking like fish on this lovely summer's day in Spain! The fish-like activities are centered around the swimming pool. When teenage girls start smoking cigarettes on a regular basis, their adults -- parents or older siblings who have been role models for the newbies' emerging smoking styles and habits -- stress the importance of handling their cigarettes as would an adult and behaving in a mature fashion with the habit ostensibly reserved for adults. Well! The action begins with two cigarettes among the four of them, three of whom have not left their teen years so many years ago! And there's no panic. How mature -- how impressive! Not sure when the reinforcements came in, the additional packs of smokes, but these BHYSWs (Beautiful Hot, Young Smoking Women) met the challenge and dispensed with potential crisis with aplomb and grace. So they were able to focus on having a good time, drinking some glasses of wine, meeting new smoking friends. Hence, the title of this outstanding video, 'Smoking Friends' with remarkable and natural smoking action by all four of them!

. . . Fran, the Smoking Sweeties's experienced, creative and just sensational web-master/web producer is uncanny in his ability to find the right meshing of personalities for his related series. He's done it again, and with flair. What insight! How instinctive/intuitive! This "Smoking Friends" preview clip highlights some outstanding talking exhales, wonderful examples of the rarely seen "residual" exhales, superb light-ups, hard core dragging and some top-notch, powerful exhales. They are consistent by featuring similar attributes in style and flavor, with alike action from these lovely Spanish BSWs (Beautiful Smoking Women), cousins of BHYSWs. The titles of the 13 videos in the same SSW genre, with the addition of Smoking Friends, now includes: Dance Class Meetup with 4 Smokers, 3 Smoking Girlfriends - Part 1, 3 Beginners Playing Pool, Smoking Ladies Night, Lucy and Ainhoa: The Chimney Girls, 3 Chimneys Talk about Smoking, 5 Chimneys in the Wine Cellar, 4 Chimneys in the Wine Cellar, 3 Chimneys in the Wine Cellar, 4 Heavy Smoking Girls Playing Cards, 4 Heavy Smoking Girls and, of course, 3 Chimneys Playing Cards.

The observation/critique that must be stated here -- nothing is perfect, our SF aficionado friends -- is that two of the four participants in this video are unnamed. They are unknown to us and without identification. This is what we know: Nerea has returned from Smoking Ladies Party, wearing the skimpy bikini with the brown top. Nerea, whose French inhales were devastating in her debut, is no rival of Busty Deelite! Noemi is wearing the blue/aqua two piece bathing suit and has dark hair. Her debut post is featured within this Smoking Friends post. All of this leaves two pool partiers without ID: The BHYSW with dark hair, pulled back in a clip in some scenes, wearing a sheer top with a colorful print; and the other with a print bathing suit top and dark solid color bottom with medium length hair dangling is some scenes and pulled up in others. Would like to learn their names and see them again, for this was their debuts with SSW.

From the website administrators' narrative on the Smoking Sweeties post of Smoking Friends, which features five scenes:

"The first meeting happens in the pool during a hot summer day, everyone hasn't smoked for an hour and there are only two cigarettes so they pass it to each other while they talk about how they started smoking. They all started smoking regularly at the age of 14 – Noemi started even earlier – and briefly explain their story of how it happened."

The description -- somehow not naming the other two BHYSWs aside from Nerea and Noemi, who are returning for the second videos by each -- concludes with the following:

"Throughout the video, the talking exhales with residual smoke stand out. In some conversations they talk about their first cigarette of the day, how they do it at work to smoke, and how their mothers detected how they smoked by smelling their hands. Interestingly, the 4 girls are daughters of smoking mothers, from whom they stole their cigarettes."

Now an excerpt from one of the 10 reviews posted to SSW, within the first four days of "Smoking Friends" publication on September 2, 2023:

On September 3, 2023, by Dan Jones

"I love the video, one of the best for a long time from SSW. However, in the talking sections, I'd love to hear about how much the girls smoke each day. This important fact seems to be missing a lot from recent videos from a whole range of different producers. It's the most important piece of information for me!"

Added in early-September 2023. All content on this post (excluding the three posts from our family of tumblr SF-Content blongs/vlogs/webpages) is from the www.smokingsweeties.com website. Production credit goes to The Staff at the ole VS120s Hound SF-Content Shop.

SSW's 'OFFICIAL' ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS

Now for 16 of the 27 photographs released with the September 2, 2023 post on SmokingSweeties.com (Spain) but they are re-arranged in vs120shound style:

Previous Posts from our Network!

"Smoking Ladies Party," posted on June 30, 2023 . . .

The debut of Noemi on June 2, 2023, featured on vs120shound . . .

#SF #Hot women who love smoking cigarettes #Smoking cigarettes #Smoking #Spanish girls partying -- dancing and drinking and smoking! #Smoking Sweeties (Spain)! #Nerea and her cool-as-ice French inhales!

[mimamongbusowg]

MAGNETO (XMEN '97)

Unleash the Master of Magnetism in Your Sims Universe! 🧲

✨ Dive into nostalgia and bring a piece of the iconic 'X-Men '97' animated series into your Sims 4 experience with our meticulously crafted Magneto Costume Set. This exclusive set includes Magneto's iconic New X-Men uniform, his unmistakable boots, and his flowing cape, all designed to make your Sims command attention and power.

🚀 Early Access starts on April 6th, 2024, and runs until May 10th, 2024. Don't miss your chance to add a touch of mutant majesty to your game early! Join us on Patreon today and elevate your Sims' wardrobe with the ultimate symbol of mutant pride and power.

PREVIEW:

SET INCLUDES:

Custom Thumbnail

XMEN '97 Magneto Bodysuit with Gloves

XMEN '97 Magneto Cape (requires this mesh)

XMEN '97 Magneto Boots (requires Batuu Pack)

DOWNLOAD LINK

#x men 97 #the sims 4 #sims 4 custom content #sims 4 cas #sims 4 cc #show us your sims #the sims 4 cc #marvel #marvel sims 4 #marvel sims #xmen sims 4 #magneto #erik lensherr #x men the animated series #xmen #xmen comics #ts4 cc #ts4 cas

[hananoami]

Event Preview

🌊The 5-Star Limited Rate UP Pool [When Tides Echo] will start soon.

The myths of the supreme deity and devout followers shall become a miraculous tale sung by all.

■ Event Duration: from 5:00 A.M. on Apr. 3 to 4:59 A.M. on Apr. 17 (server time)

■ Event Description:

During the event, the drop rate of the limited Solar-Slot 5-Star Memory Pair [Rafayel: Temple's Sunset] & [Rafayel: Temple's Promise] will go up drastically. During this period, if you pull a 5-Star Memory, there's a 50% chance it will be one of these two.

After the event ends, the two event limited 5-Star Memories will not be obtainable through other means and will not enter the permanent Wish Pool, Xspace Echo.

For this year, only one new Companion will be unlocked for each love interest.

■ About Pity System and Wish Gifts

All Limited Wish Pools share one pity system. A 5-Star Memory is guaranteed within a specific attempts of wishes. If the 5-Star Memory you've obtained from the Limited Wish Pool is not the event-exclusive Memory, you will obtain the event-exclusive Memory the next time you obtain a 5-Star Memory.

The pity count from the last Limited Wish Pool can be applied to this Limited Wish Pool, and pity count in this Wish Pool will also be applied to the upcoming limited Wish Pools.

If you have already obtained one event-exclusive 5-Star Memory, your next event-exclusive Memory won't repeat.

Wish Gifts for this event: During the event, the wish you made will be recorded. You may claim Deepspace Wish: Limited*5 upon reaching 50 and 100 pulls of wishes respectively. You can choose between [Rafayel: Temple's Sunset] & [Rafayel: Temple's Promise] upon reaching 150 pulls. *Please note that this mechanism will no longer be active after the wish event.

■ The new Companion [God of the Tides]: collect Memory Pair to unlock Once you have collected the Memory Pair [Rafayel: Temple's Sunset] & [Rafayel: Temple's Promise], you will unlock the New Companion [Rafayel: God of the Tides]. The God holds the power over tides and sea creatures, manifesting miracles with accumulated faith. Enhancing the strength of you and him, and let the tide wash away all obstacles before you!

■ New Packs During the event, the special [Deepsea Shell Pack] and [Sea Breeze Pack] series will be available for purchase, up to 90% off for purchasing [Deepspace Wish: Limited] and other materials! It helps you to get Memories you want! *Please check for more details in the game.

#love and deepspace #when tides echo #limited time wish pool #sea breeze echo #rafayel #qi yu #homura #giwook #기욱 #ホムラ #祁煜 #;outfits #forgotten sea

[paulagnewart]

Sonic the Oz-Hog Act 4/12: Knux Readux!

Knuckles the Echidna Volume 2 issue 1 AU Publication Date: 14th April 1997 Price: $2.70

Spinoffs. No self-respecting media can live with them. No self-aggrandising media can live without them. And for those of us who lived through the space year that was 1997, corporations were chomping at the bit for a slice of those sweet spinoff dollarydoos.

Best place to start and witness such influence would be, arguably, the cinema. After Baz Luhrmann's blockbuster remake Romeo + Juliet spent weeks atop the box office, the majority of March was a bitter struggle between Wes Craven's thriller Scream and Cameron Crowe's football drama Jerry Maguire. A fascinating if ultimately pointless grudge match between two distinct genres. For all their efforts, neither claimed victory when by month's end, a film 20 years their senior blasted both off the map. The Star Wars Special Editions had arrived.

The promotion (and merchandise deals) was huge. A New Hope proved an instant hit, swiftly followed on 10th April by The Empire Strikes Back. Everything old was new again, and the re-hits just kept coming. Audiences pounded the pavements, eager to revisit Jurassic Park when its sequel The Lost World saw release on 29th May (only a week after its US premiere, a then-impressive feat). Superhero buffs ignored the winter freeze to watch Batman and Robin on 26th June, a film often lauded yet pulled respectable numbers and local reviews at the time.

Speaking of space, following a successful campaign through latter 1996, the Oddbodz were back. Smith's Chips and Glow Zone launched their second series of 61 collectable glow-in-the-dark cards featuring a myriad of wacky, wicked and occasionally controversial space-themed characters. If gross-out humour wasn't your speed, ripping into packs of Thins, Ruffles, Cheetos or Doritos chips instead offered adventures in a galaxy far far away with official Star Wars 3D Magic Motion and Techno Tazos.

After the toyline's initial launch in January, Beast Wars had successfully put Transformers back on the map, though kids would have to wait at least three more months to see their favourite characters in animated action. To Channel 7's credit, they at least gave the program a decent timeslot. More than can be said for Channel 9's decision that April to broadcast the all-new Star Trek: Voyager season 2 and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 4 at the ghastly time of 11pm weeknights.

In spite of the former losing 30 minutes off its timeslot, the rivalry between weekday morning children's entertainment continued between Agro's Cartoon Connection and Cheez TV. Both were banking on the spinoff craze, and viewers waking up 14th April could choose between the premiere of Power Rangers Zeo episode 'Oily to Bed, Oily to Rise', or the premiere of Earthworm Jim episode 'Darwin's Nightmare'. For the musically inclined, American rockers No Doubt had enjoyed 8 weeks atop the music charts with the third single on their third album, 'Don't Speak'. At least until April saw them bumped off by Aussie pop prodigy Savage Garden and their third single 'Truly Madly Deeply'.

But of all the spinoffs to arise and bedazzle locals, after three years of development and an exclusive preview party the night prior, SEGA World Sydney opened its doors at 4pm on Saturday 22nd March 1997. Touted in print and on TV as "Australia's Largest Indoor Theme Park!", it offered hours of unrivalled entertainment and programs for Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Anyone who could afford its hefty entry fee lost themselves in all the games and rides they could handle (except Mortal Kombat, which was pulled last-minute). An escape into pixilated fantasy guaranteed to forget their real-world troubles for several hours. Mundane adult things like Victoria and Western Australia's brief yet brutal summer bushfire seasons where 3 lives and some 59 homes were lost. Or how after one year into the top job, captain conservative John Howard faced international anger over comments at the United Nations General Assembly, and local anger over casual dismissing threats by extreme right-wing rival Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.

Be it stage shows, costumed cameos and all types of merchandise featuring their antics, fans of Sonic, Tails, Sally and Robotnik were in paradise. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for a fifth member of the cast. For someone who enjoyed strong popularity and a species originating right there, SEGA World put the bare minimum effort into giving Knuckles the Echidna his own time to shine. A remarkable oversight undoubtedly leaving young fans wondering where that embattled echidna was hiding. As luck would soon have it, they needn't look far.

Nestled comfortably among the shelves between Sonic issues 45 and 46 came Knuckles: The Dark Legion. Sales had proven strong enough (or at least stronger than Tails and Sally's comics) to warrant the development of a second miniseries. Exciting in its own right, only amplified when exclusively announced through AOL in January 1997 it would evolve to a fully-fledged ongoing spinoff. No longer was trotting off to the newsagents exclusively a Friday end-of-month treat. Knuckles' arrival meant a mandatory Monday mid-month booster for us deprived of Mobian adventures.

Over the course of its 32 issue run, Knuckles the Echidna was, much like Endgame two months later, once praised as a pinnacle of Archie Sonic. Fans adored the series, giving ol' Rad Red his own unique mythos and adventures. While Sonic naffed around aimlessly in a post-Robotnik world, we saw Knuckles as the cool, 'mature' comic. He had stakes. He had drama. Quite a turnaround after the heavy criticism its writer took in late 1996 over Sally's leaked demise. Within months he was described as "a kewl writer!", or "one of the ONLY "good" and "balanced" writers Archie has", or how they're "so much better then sonic comics now its not funny." with "all the good villains and family members." Fans swarmed en mass to his WWWBoard, creating their own stories, characters and entire websites tied to the Brotherhood and Dark Legion. Not everyone agreed on the book's mission statement "Why does everybody liek it so much? All it is really is a bunch of Penders' characters running around with slight appearacnes by Chaotix and occasionally knuckles himself.", but it made a lot of other people happy. Enough for both The Dark Legion and Lost Paradise reissued as 'back catalogue' orders to selected comic book stores in late 2004.

And just like Endgame, those nostalgic memories have since dissipated when adults reflected on his tales with matured, scrutinous eyes. We grow. We learn. We reevaluate on what was once adored as adolescents, realising perhaps those good times weren't all that good. Maybe the series and characters were fine in concept but lacked competent execution. Maybe our childish expectations meant they were never good to begin with and the critics were right all along.

The youthful, creative glory days from the late-90's to mid-2000's of Knuckles of an Echidna, Kragok Comics, Echidna Gals, Dark Legion HQ, Echidnapolis, Knux Redux, Tisha-Li's Dark Legion Camp, Kensuke Aida's Julie-Su Shrine, Echidnoyle, Shattered Moonlight, Knuckles 9000, Kiri Megami's Chaotix Hideout, Darkest Mysteries, and of course True Red's mighty Knuckles Haven have long passed.

It's from learning said past our futures are forged, but do any of these characters have a future? Do they even deserve a future?

Or maybe it's just best they're all forever banished to the Twilight Zone of cultural irrelevance.

Next Time: For years I said it wouldn't be done. Yet promises, like the hearts and cheekbones of fictitious rodents, were made to be broken. Will May's hedgie rectrospect-y truly be worthy of such hate? Or have revisionists painted a far worse picture over the past two decades?

< Previous \ Index / Next >

#Sonic the Hedgehog #Archie Sonic #Sonic the Hedgehog Comics #Archie Comics #Comic Books #Ken Penders #Manny Galan #Andrew Pepoy #Jeff Powell #Karl Bollers #Justin Gabrie #Knuckles the Echidna #Echidna #Dark Legion #Australia #1997 #Musings

[heckcareoxytwit]

A preview of Power Pack: Into the Storm #4

POWER PACK: INTO THE STORM #4

The Power siblings are free from Snark and Brood clutches — and on strict orders not to interfere any further with the battle. But with their friends still at the enemy’s mercy, interfering seems like the least the Power Pack could do! But the Powers aren’t the only ones looking to take action, and one wrong move could have explosive consequences…

Written by: Louise Jones Simonson Art by: June Brigman, Roy Richardson Cover by: June Brigman, Roy Richardson, Nolan Woodard Page Count: 28 Pages Release Date: April 3, 2024

#Storm #Ororo Munroe #X Men #XMen #Zero G #Alex Power #Lightspeed #Julie Power #Mass Master #Jack Power #Energizer #Katie Power #Power Pack #The Brood #marvel preview #marvel

[monsieuroverlord]

Bleeding Cool released the solicits early this month!

source here

We even have a quick preview of Marvel Voices: Pride this year!

Mystique and Destiny Wedding!

(renewing their vows, perhaps? It would be cute having their son officiate a vow renewal)

Marvel Voices: Pride #1 (2024 oneshot)

written by Kieron Gillen, Yoon Ha Lee, M. Louis & more to be announced, artists to be announced, main cover by Jan Bazaldua, variant cover by Russell Dauterman, and two more variants to be announced

"WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA! Mystique and Destiny are one of the most beloved – and longest running – gay couples in history. Somewhere in their 100+ years together, the pair married, but we've never seen the event on the page. This year MARVEL'S VOICES: PRIDE makes history with Marvel's first woman-to-woman wedding in a story by superstar X-Men scribe Kieron Gillen! And with a couple as complex as these two, you know there's a lot more to the story. We promise party crashing! Villainy! Romance! In the classic tradition of FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #3 and X-MEN #30, this anthology will be a must-read for every comics fan. Featuring the Marvel debuts of award-winning writers Yoon Ha Lee (Ninefox Gambit, Machineries of Empire) and M. Louis (Agents of the Realm), and much more talent to be announced!"

Ultimate X-Men #3

written, art, and main cover by Peach Momoko

"• Maystorm's origin! Mei Igarashi was a regular girl until she discovered her unusual abilities and her hair changed from brown to white… • And how she came to idolize a mysterious freedom fighter in Africa who also harnesses the power of the storm!"

X-Men '97 #3 (of 4)

written by Steve Foxe, art by Salva Espin, cover by Todd Nauck

"DANGER ABLAZE! Powerful new foes descend on the X-Men, endangering not just our merry mutants – but any innocent civilians caught in the crossfire! Will humanity's improved opinion of mutants survive the chaos – and will one member of the team find herself pushed past her limits? Find out in the penultimate installment of the official prelude to the hit new Disney+ TV show!"

AND they're releasing a NYX Gallery Edition Hardcover (a.k.a. Laura Kinney's introduction to the comic book world)

written by Jose Quesada & Marjorie Liu, art by Josh Middleton, Robert Teranishi, Kalman Andrasofszky & Sara Pichelli, cover by Josh Middleton

"Headline! Meet a pack of New York City gutterpunks – including the girl destined to one day become the All-New, All-Different Wolverine! Yes, X-23's journey of hardship begins in NYC, where Xavier's dream has failed a group of young mutants. These wayward angels with dirty faces must rely on themselves for everything from food to shelter to love. Just as the X-Men battle for their lives against super villains, these kids face their own fight for survival in the cold, harsh city that never sleeps against the backdrop of their species' nigh extinction. The world of the X-Men hits the streets in this gritty and offbeat different series – now looking better than ever before on the oversized pages of a Gallery Edition! Collecting NYX #1-7 and NYX: NO WAY HOME #1-6."

#june solicits #marvel comics #comic book solicits #x-men #marvel voices #marvel voices pride #mystique #raven darkholme #irene adler #destiny #laura kinney #wolverine #ultimate x-men #peach momoko

[why-i-love-comics]

Power Pack: Into the Storm #4 preview

#power pack #marvel #marvel comics #comics #comic books #previews

[mack3030]

Here is why the news about paywalls today is so important:

The primary reasons are because: 1) The old "ruling" was made by ONE EA staff member and was posted in a forum. So anytime people quoted the 2-3 week early access rule, there was always that potential pushback of "That was years ago, and the guru who stated that isn't even in the company anymore etc." This is recent (this year, this month), and posted on EA's OFFICIAL FAQ for the sims. 2) There was a screenshot that was being spread around of that same guru making other statements about meshes that some people purposefully misinterpreted to mean that they could paywall if the mesh was 100% theirs. This was always untrue, however a lot of people in the alpha CC community were so desperate for $$$ that they took that misinterpretation and ran with it. This statement debunks that screenshot entirely. 3) It indicates that EA SEEMS willing to enforce their policies. Because unlike Guru Drake's statement saying that EA isn't going to police CC, this not only has links and ACTIONABLE steps, but mentions the team will be reviewing them. The fact that this policy on mods/CC also goes hand in hand with another policy (about using EA's logos/etc) that I KNOW they have been very good at enforcing (The modder/CC maker Nando can testify to this as he got contacted by EA about his previews for one of his CC packs) gives me significant hope. I should also note that the strong use of phrases like "do not" "must be" and "cannot use" very much seems like they are behind this. 4) It gives the players the ability to cut through the bullshit of permapaywallers and tell them to shape up or fuck off. Over 90+% of modding communities are not like this one and operate on a donation only model of support for their mods. Usually what happens when people try to make their mods monetized is they are very plainly told what the expectations are for the community and that if they aren't going to follow them, to get out. This gives simmers the power to tell that to these people. Because they can't hide behind the excuses anymore. Now the important questions that remain: 1) What does this do to early access creators? Because the new policy seems very much to be anti-early access. People are very mixed on this right now, with some being very "monetization has ruined this community entirely it all should go" and some going "Well I don't mind early access but permapaywalls are bad". We'll see how this shakes out... 2) How will the community handle this new policy? Will creators who are currently permapaywalling quit and take their ball with them, or will they adapt to the new policies and just hope donations are enough? Will early access creators end up having to change policies? Will this lead to an exodus of creators, or a more thriving community as monetization becomes less of a priority? 3) What will perma-paywallers do in reaction? Although this kinda falls under the previous question, I think it is interesting to see what happens. Will perma-paywallers ignore this change and hope that EA does nothing? Will some of them try to lie and justify themselves to the community? Another question is....could some of them try to scrounge up enough money to try to legally challenge EA? [They wouldn't win, but I can speak from past experience they LOOOOVE legal threats.] And last but most importantly: 4) Will EA actually enforce this? My hope, is that this is a sign that they will. Since it's pretty stupid to massively update policies you don't plan on enforcing. But of course, this is EA...so we'll seeeee..

#paywalls #sims4cc #sims 4 #sims4mm #sims4alpha

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Power Pack: Into the Storm #4

Power Pack: Into the Storm #4 preview. The Power siblings are free from Snark and Brood clutches - and on strict orders not to interfere any further with the battle #comics #comicbooks

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#comic books #Comics #june brigman #louise simonson #marvel #power pack #power pack: into the storm

[baronobexi-blog]

On The Radar -- Monstrous by CloudCurio

Project Title: Monstrous

Format: PDF/Hardcover

Campaign Start: September 5th, 2023

Campaign End: October 5th, 2023

Campaign Goal: $75,000  (Current Pledge Amount: $75,458) Campaign Team Size: 4 --- --- --- Project Info: So, what exactly is Monstrous about? – It’s a Friday night. Your players—after a failed stealth roll triggered an undead swarm—are barely able to stand after a grueling combat encounter. They stand before slowly opening, once ornate doors that will lead them into the throne room of Kras Maza, The Lich of Endless Night. You look at your players slowly, your head lurching at the table like an owl searching for prey. You begin to play the mixtape of ominous whispers and Gregorian chanting, you pull out the dice tower of death, and ask your players one question. “Are you ready to see Death’s real face?”. You know that the lich you’ve made for your players will stay with them long after the campaign’s end and it's all thanks to Monstrous. A tome that might be your newest best friend in the field of monster creation for your campaigns.  With 10 core monsters, 30 monster forms, immaculate vibes, and tables waiting to just spice things up. Monstrous intends to be a ghoulish little thing that offers up new ways to approach monsters and how they work within your campaign setting. Okay, I’m interested but isn’t this just like any other 1st or 3rd party supplement? – That’s an entirely fair question. There’s a variety of supplements out there in the TTRPG world that try to remix, change, or shift things up with monsters. But Monstrous isn’t just another supplement that has traditional TTRPG monsters in a different art style, stat blocks intended for one system, and GM tidbits on how to best use the monster et cetera.  To quote one of its preview pages, Monstrous as a book wants to “bring fear, wonder, and mystery back to monsters” along with also “demystifying” the process that goes into writing/creating monsters. What exactly does that mean though? Well, it means that Monstrous wants to make the action of monster creation a more involved process for the GM.  It wants to give the GM tools that they can use to make a monster that feels unique and interesting for a campaign. And Monstrous does that through some of the following: microfiction to introduce the monster, brief exploration of the monster’s goals/presence in the world, fill in the blank style generation, and inspiration tables to give extra spice. What exactly is in Monstrous? – All right, so, Monstrous is divided up into chapters that focus on 10 specific monsters. With each of these chapters going over the following: Core, Core Abilities, Forms, and Inspiration Tables. Firstly, there is the Core of the monster. This gives a brief exploration of the monster and their place within the campaign setting. Basically, this section is intended to provide an approach to the monster and their potential use in a session. Secondly, there is the Core Abilities of the monster. Which is a fill in the blank section that allows for a great degree of customization in the abilities/powers of the monster, and also depending on the monster. Their goals and motivations Thirdly, there are the Forms of the monster and they can be considered as an archetype of monster. Each chapter comes with forms of three predesigned, statless monsters that can be used with existing or entirely homebrewed stat blocks.

And finally, there are the Inspiration Tables. Pretty self explanatory, really, they’re tables that offer rumors, signs, potential lairs, and names for each monster. Besides these four sections, each monster also comes with a full page illustration and microfiction that gives flavor to set the mood. --- --- --- --- --- --- Campaign Info: What’s the campaign funding? – The campaign for Monstrous is funding the following: design, editing, graphic design, project management, planning/logistics, labor, shipping/packing. Along with that, the campaign funds will also be used to cover various fees and production costs for Monstrous. The campaign page also has a detailed breakdown of where the funds will go upon completion of funding, and I like that because it shows how serious Cloud Curio is with backer transparency. Are there shipping costs? – Yes, there are shipping costs. US backers will have to pay $15 while international backers will have to pay $30. Besides the shipping costs, Cloud Curio will not be collecting/remitting VAT, other shipping fees, or taxes for international backers. International backers will be responsible for any fees upon receiving their package. When will Monstrous come out? – Monstrous will come out respectively in May 2024 (PDF) and July 2024 (Hardcover). If I miss the campaign can I still get Monstrous? – Absolutely! Cloud Curio will have pre-orders from January 1st to March 1st of 2024 on their Etsy store for anyone who missed out on the campaign. The following items that will be available for pre-order are: regular/special edition copies, tarot deck, and unlocked kickstarter freebies.  --- --- --- --- --- --- Pledge Info: * (Note: When funded all physical reward tiers for Monstrous will be given three stickers/three prints for free. For backers outside of the US, make sure you pick the “International” version of a pledge level; Merchant’s Ware pledge is for US merchants only.) • Goblin’s Cache ($20) – Pledgers at this level get the form fillable PDF copy of Monstrous.

• King’s Treasury ($45) – Pledgers at this level get the regular edition hardcover copy and form fillable PDF copy of Monstrous.

• Wizard’s Collection ($75) – Pledgers at this level get the special edition (clothbound, gold-foil) hardcover copy and form fillable PDF copy of Monstrous. • Dragon’s Hoard ($95) – Pledgers at this level get the special edition (clothbound, gold-foil) hardcover copy and the form fillable PDF copy of Monstrous. Additionally, pledgers will also get a 40 card tarot deck. • Merchant’s Ware ($175||Note: This pledge is intended only and only for retailers. You will be asked for proof that you’re pledging for a brick-and-mortar store) – Pledgers at this level will get three regular edition copies and three special edition copies of Monstrous. --- --- --- --- --- --- Stretch Goals: • Book Upgrades! ($76,000) – This will result in more art being created for Monstrous and expands the book’s pages to 96. Along with that, the regular edition will receive a spot varnish while the special edition gets a dust jacket • Freebies! ($77,000||Wizard’s Collection and Dragon’s Hoard only) – The Wizard’s Collection and Dragon’s Hoard pledge levels will get an additional three stickers and three prints for free. Which means along with the free stickers/prints given to all physical pledge levels for Monstrous being fully funded, pledges at this level will get a total of six stickers and six prints for free. Add-ons: * (Note: The only add-ons being offered by the campaign are just additional copies of either the regular or special edition of Monstrous. This is being done in order to provide the campaign team an easier time with managing campaign orders). • Additional Monstrous copy ($45/$75 respectively depending on edition chosen) – An extra copy of either the regular or special edition of Monstrous. --- --- ---

(Thank you reading this latest installment of On The Radar! I hope you have a good day! P.S. If you know any projects that you would like to see get Radar coverage then feel free to comment below. ^_^)

#ttrpg #indie ttrpg #tabletop games #fantasy #monster #GM tool #baronobexiwrites

[strapstylehub]

The Best Apple Watch Features for Staying Connected

Discover the top Apple Watch features for staying connected. Explore functionalities that redefine connectivity and enhance your daily life.

1. Introduction

In a world where staying connected is more crucial than ever, the Apple Watch emerges as a game-changer. Packed with innovative features, it goes beyond a timekeeping device. This article delves into the best Apple Watch features for staying connected, ensuring you're abreast of the technological forefront.

2. Seamless Notifications

Receive and respond to messages seamlessly with the Apple Watch. Stay in the loop without glancing at your phone, making it an ideal companion for the fast-paced world.

3. On-the-Go Calls

Experience the freedom of making and receiving calls directly from your wrist. The Apple Watch's built-in microphone and speaker redefine convenience, ensuring you never miss an important call.

4. Social Media Updates

Stay socially connected with instant updates from your favorite social media platforms. Receive notifications, respond to comments, and stay engaged without reaching for your phone.

5. Emails at a Glance

Manage your inbox effortlessly. The Apple Watch lets you preview and respond to emails, keeping you organized and responsive even when you're on the move.

6. Real-Time Navigation

Navigate with confidence using the Apple Watch. Turn-by-turn directions on your wrist ensure you reach your destination without constantly checking your phone.

7. Health and Fitness Tracking

Staying connected isn't just about digital interactions. The Apple Watch monitors your health and fitness, promoting a holistic approach to well-being.

8. Customizable Watch Faces

Personalize your watch face to prioritize what matters most. Whether it's calendar events, weather updates, or activity tracking, the Apple Watch keeps you informed at a glance.

9. Apple Pay for Quick Transactions

Make secure and quick transactions with Apple Pay. No need to dig through your wallet—your Apple Watch is your digital wallet, simplifying your transactions.

10. Music Anytime, Anywhere

Carry your music library on your wrist. With the Apple Watch, enjoy your favorite tunes wherever you go, further enhancing your connectivity experience.

11. Siri, Your Virtual Assistant

Access information and execute commands with the power of your voice. Siri on the Apple Watch makes tasks hands-free, adding a new dimension to staying connected.

12. Water Resistance for Active Lifestyles

Designed for those always on the move, the Apple Watch is water-resistant. Whether you're swimming or caught in the rain, your connection stays intact.

13. Emergency SOS Feature

Prioritize safety with the Emergency SOS feature. Quick access to emergency services ensures that help is just a button press away.

14. Third-Party App Integrations

Expand connectivity with a myriad of third-party apps. From productivity to entertainment, customize your Apple Watch to suit your lifestyle.

15. Innovative ECG App

Monitor your heart health with the ECG app. The Apple Watch goes beyond connectivity, prioritizing your well-being.

16. Fall Detection for Safety

Enhance personal safety with fall detection. The Apple Watch can detect a hard fall and automatically call emergency services if needed.

17. Family Sharing for Connection

Connect with family through the Family Sharing feature. Stay informed about their activities and whereabouts, fostering a sense of togetherness.

18. Theater Mode for Undisturbed Moments

Enjoy movies or performances without interruption. Theater Mode on the Apple Watch silences notifications, letting you immerse yourself in the moment.

19. Battery Efficiency for Extended Use

Experience extended connectivity with efficient battery life. The Apple Watch ensures that you stay connected throughout your day without constantly worrying about charging.

20. Always-On Retina Display

The Always-On Retina Display allows you to stay connected with a quick glance, without the need for a dramatic wrist movement.

21. Workout Sharing for Fitness Communities

Join virtual fitness communities with Workout Sharing. Stay motivated by sharing your achievements and cheering on friends directly from your wrist.

22. Noise App for Hearing Health

Prioritize your hearing health with the Noise app. Stay aware of your auditory surroundings and protect your ears in noisy environments.

23. Mindfulness with Breathe App

Stay mentally connected with the Breathe app. Quick mindfulness sessions guide you to relax and stay focused, promoting overall well-being.

24. Solar Face for Sustainable Power

Opt for sustainable power with the Solar Face. This feature harnesses solar energy, underlining Apple's commitment to eco-friendly practices.

25. Conclusion

The Apple Watch is more than a wearable—it's a connectivity hub that seamlessly integrates into your life. With an array of features catering to communication, health, and convenience, it ensures you stay connected in the most dynamic and efficient ways possible.

FAQs

Q: Is the Apple Watch compatible with Android phones? Yes, the Apple Watch is designed to work seamlessly with iPhones, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility.

Q: Can I reply to messages directly from the Apple Watch? Absolutely! The Apple Watch allows you to respond to messages with pre-set replies, emojis, or even dictated messages.

Q: How does the fall detection feature work? The fall detection feature uses advanced sensors to identify a hard fall. If it detects immobility after a fall, it automatically calls emergency services.

Q: What is the purpose of Theater Mode? Theater Mode ensures a disturbance-free experience during movies or performances by silencing notifications and preventing the screen from lighting up with arm movements.

Q: Are third-party apps reliable on the Apple Watch? Yes, the Apple Watch supports a wide range of third-party apps, enhancing its functionality and adaptability to individual preferences.

Q: How does the Emergency SOS feature function? In case of an emergency, pressing and holding the side button on the Apple Watch initiates a call to emergency services. It also sends a message to your emergency contacts with your location.

#sales #shopify #online store #sports #apple watch #apple news #apple music

[dispatchdcu]

Blade #4 Preview

Blade #4 Preview #blade #vampire #MARVEL #marvelcomics #comics #comicbooks #news #mcu #art #info #NCBD #comicbooknews #previews #reviews #Amazon

Blade #4 Preview: DOCTOR STRANGE JOINS BLADE ON A HIGH-SPEED HEIST! Blade must break into the armored fortress of a weapons collector to steal a sword of unknown power – the key to defeating the Adana. But the fortress isn’t just heavily armored. It’s mobile. Doctor Strange guest-stars in this action-packed heist that gives new meaning to the term “bullet train”! BRYAN HILL • Valentina Pinti (A)…

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#Blade #Blade 4 #Blade 4 Preview #marvel comic books #Marvel Comics #News #Previews

[mimamongbusowg]

MARY MARVEL SET (SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS)

Get ready to unleash your inner superhero because we're bringing you this MARY MARVEL CUSTOM CONTENT SET inspired by the blockbuster film "Shazam! Fury of the Gods." This exclusive set brings the electrifying superheroine to life in The Sims 4, allowing you to embody her power and style in your virtual world.

CAS PREVIEW

Available for early access to our amazing $5 patrons and above, this extraordinary content pack will equip your Sims with Mary Marvel's iconic suit, majestic cape, and stylish boots. It's time to transform your Sims into fearless champions of justice and embark on thrilling adventures in the virtual world.

By becoming our valued $5 patron or above, you'll gain access to this epic set before anyone else. Explore the possibilities of Mary Marvel's ensemble and create unique stories, dazzling screenshots, and awe-inspiring gameplay that will leave your fellow Simmers in awe.

For those who can't wait to get their hands on this extraordinary content, mark your calendars! The Mary Marvel Custom Content Set will be available to the public starting August 7th. So, save the date and prepare for an adventure that will ignite your imagination.

SET INCLUDES:

MARY MARVEL (CAPE)

MARY MARVEL (SUIT)

MARY MARVEL (BOOTS)

Thank you for being a part of this thrilling journey with us. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to embrace the superhero within your Sims! Together, let's unleash the power of Mary Marvel in The Sims 4.

Stay tuned for more updates, sneak peeks, and exclusive rewards on our Patreon page. Your support means the world to us!

EARLY ACCESS LINK

#sims 4 cas #sims 4 custom content #the sims 4 #show us your sims #sims 4 cc #the sims 4 cc #ts4 custom content #ts4 superhero #mary marvel #shazam #shazam fury of the gods #dc sims 4

[be-netz]

— NOW PLAYING: NEXT GEN EPISODE 4

“welcome to next gen episode four,” RHEE JIAN’s smiling face once again graces television screens all across the nation, “the performance evaluation,” as she speaks, the scene fades away to quick previews of the upcoming episode; LEE NAYOUNG speaking sternly—albeit her words unintelligible at the moment—to PARK DOHYUN, MIN HYEJIN smiling in a dressing room mirror before her team’s performance, MOON JINYOUNG and JUNG JOOMI looking a bit awkward in one another’s company, and the shocked faces of various contestants at some yet unknown surprise. it looks to be yet another action-packed episode and even jian and the judges seem eager to get into it.

the screen splits into three with each section showing a shot of a different practice room and each of the teams meeting together. two weeks before the performance… the captions read. after a few seconds, the segment containing the LIME ENTERTAINMENT team takes over the entirety of the screen.

upon closer inspection, it seems that the members of the lime entertainment team are not as bright as one might hope at this point in the competition. shots of HWANG BADA and LEE NOEL struggling in group practices play out over the screen. they’ve been the subject of scrutiny for a while now. but it’s not only them; PARK DOHYUN looks frustrated and LEE SEOJUN looks a bit tired as they power through their various rehearsals, lessons, and independent practice times. lime entertainment would be the team of underdogs if it wasn’t for the young woman who seems to have taken up the mantle of their makeshift leader, LEE NAYOUNG, who currently sits in the number one position for the entire competition. it’s nayoung who directs the team in dividing up their parts for the song, who helps lead the others in practice, and even encourages her teammates who seem to be a bit down on themselves. 

“this is difficult mentally,” noel appears in the interview room, “ i’d like to climb the ranks, but i’m against people who have been singing or dancing for years. i’m against people who know what they’re doing.”

dohyun is the first to approach nayoung with concerns. “hey nayoung, sorry, could i ask you about the lines?” he seems a bit timid, maybe even intimidated by the woman’s presence. who can blame him? she’s beautiful, talented, and currently in the top spot; she’d be intimidating to anyone. “do you think, um, maybe that some of my singing lines should be distributed more out? i just, i don’t think, um…”

“you don’t think what?” though nayoung comes across a little harsh at first, her demeanor seems to soften as if she realizes how difficult it might be for dohyun to approach her with this. . “if you’re just not feeling confident, you should be. you’re the best vocalist on the team,” she assures the young man, “i think all of the others would agree.”

“i don’t want to let the group down,” dohyun is still rather quiet as he responds to nayoung, not immediately taking her pep talk to heart. this must be serious. 

“it’s easy to listen to others that may put you down, or make you feel unimportant, insignificant,” dohyun says in the interview room, followed by a shot of him sitting there quietly. who made him feel this way? the captions and viewers alike must be asking the same question.

without the situation being resolved on camera, another teammate with struggles approaches nayoung as well. this time it is hwang bada who is approached once again by nayoung, the supposed cheerleader for the lime entertainment team. “you open the song for us,” she reminds the other girl, “so you need to at least pretend to be confident. attitude is everything, remember?”

“i know,” bada responds with a weak smile, though she avoids eye contact with nayoung. she’s once again an intimidating presence. “sorry,” bada apologizes, “i’m trying, i promise,”

“it’s been hard for me to assimilate and learn the ropes,” bada says in her interview shortly before the scene changes to a clip of her, teary-eyed, from a previous practice session. this competition has been hard on the girl and it’s difficult not to feel sympathy for her.

mental challenges aren’t the worst that the team has to face either. when the scene changes, it’s to lee noel dancing in his socks on a slick practice room floor. as soon as the thought occurs that practicing this way might not be in his best interest, his feet slide out from under him and he hits the floor. one might be reminded of matty and his fall and the injury that ultimately lead to his removal from the program. is noel in danger of a similar fate?

“are you okay?” seojun is by the other’s side in a moment. but, like dohyun and bada’s insecurities, the situation is again left unresolved onscreen.

they’re not entirely without hope, though. scenes of sarang interacting with his teammates play across the screen. the young man seems to be doing his very best to keep morale up despite the challenges ahead of them. “you should hydrate,” he squeezes noel’s arm reassuringly as he asks him to take care of himself, “trust me—you’ll feel a little better if you pause, drink some of this, and take a breath.”

“not only can you sing, but you’re handsome and you take good care of yourself? wow—what a catch! you’re going to make someone special really lucky someday!” he gushes to dohyun during a vocal rehearsal. after his recent conversation with nayoung, surely that had to help to some extent.

“my confidence with singing was always a bit low in the beginning,” seojun’s words might only be about his own personal experience, but it seems to encapsulate the experience of the entire team all the same; “but i feel that started to change with this song so i’m hoping that will continue moving forward since i want everyone to see me confident in more than just dancing.”

rather than move onto the performance of the lime entertainment team, the scene instead changes to the STUDIO DELTA team. the dynamics are noticeably different. while there’s still a vague sense of stress and all of the team is working hard together, the unease and desperation is not nearly as intense as the previous team. MOON SAEA brings the entire team banana milk before practice one day to encourage them. likewise, SEO JUNHO brings the entire team a meal to share together, dishes upon dishes of homemade food shared with the others. the girls, saea and MIN HYEJIN, practice together with smiles on their faces. it’s a lighter atmosphere overall, though that’s not to say it’s completely without its challenges.

it’s during a dance practice that ZHOU RENYI suddenly excuses himself from the rest of the team. at first it’s thought to just be a quick break, maybe a bathroom run, but something about ren’s expression captures junho’s attention. the other young man follows the first just a few moments later. while they entered an area that’s not usually monitored by the cameras, the talented crew manages to send part of their team to capture what will certainly be a significant moment.

“i can’t do it, i shouldn’t be here–” renyi’s breath comes in ragged gasps, just barely audible as the production team struggles to capture the interaction between the two men. junho runs his hand through renyi’s hair to comfort him even as the boy gasps and half-sobs, “i’m dragging everyone down.”

clips of renyi failing over and over again in practice are played on screen. he appears in the interview room not a moment later, looking to be on the verge of tears yet again as he speaks. “every day i’m here, i can’t help it…i can’t help but wonder what i’m doing here.”

junho appears in the interview room a moment later. “i suppose just the competition ramping up is what I find hardest,” he explains, “the pressure to get better and better and never fall down. you can’t make mistakes in things like this, there’s no time to mess up, not when the people around you might take that chance to leap over you and get ahead,”

again, the situation is left unresolved for the moment. can renyi get back up? what can junho do to help him?

rather than give the viewer any answers, the show instead turns to the SR MEDIA TEAM.

if the lime entertainment team had been dark and the studio delta team a bit lighter, then the sr media team is sunshine and rainbows in comparison to the other two. the team seems to be heavily involved in the creative direction of their performance, JUNG JOOMI composing a brand new arrangement while MOON CAMERON focuses on the visual aspects of their performance. namely, the styling.

“i think the best thing i have that i can show everyone is my ability to write music,” joomi explains to the camera in his interview. and while the full song has yet to be revealed, it seems that it’s something to look forward to.

“joomi, what do you think about me distressing some sweaters for our outfits?” cameron holds a garment up to joomi as he asks his opinion. the concept? zombie princes, apparently, tying together the original concept that cosmo had in their music video with a fun spin of their own. a preview of the arrangement that joomi is working on sounds like something made for halloween; the creative aspects of this team are truly something else.

they practice the performance just as hard as they plan it to the point that joomi lays down on the practice room floor, totally and completely spent. “haneullllll,” he whines to his teammate, “can you get me my water bottle? if i move i’ll die.” rather than hand him his water, CHO HANEUL instead elects to be a little playful with the other, leaving it just out of reach and laying down on top of his teammate instead.

“you’re lucky i like you. i would let you die of thirst otherwise,” haneul teases his friend and teammate.

“you’re lucky i like you too, otherwise i would smack you with this until you get off of me,” joomi managed to wriggle out from under haneul just enough to reach his water and also sit up, lightly tapping the other man with his water in an empty threat.

“was very lucky to have the group that i did this time,” cameron says in an interview. and it’s true, this is a team with excellent chemistry.

“we all seemed to get along really well,” haneul is the next to be seen, “so it was easy to make decisions when it came to the line distribution and how we should sing. there was a lot of constructive criticism and advice going around, and i’m really grateful for everyone in the group.”

it appears that the whole team was like this. a scene of everyone piled on top of cameron earlier in their rehearsals plays across the screen, the laughs of the young men echoing around the practice room. but just as much as they play, they work even harder. MOON JINYOUNG rehearses his singing with haneul, carefully working through the difficult parts until he can both sing and dance at the same time; it was something he was not able to successfully accomplish during my turn. the proof of his improvement is right there on screen, the show even sharing a clip of jinyoung’s poor previous performance in comparison to what he does now in practice, just in case anyone forgot.

as good as their synergy is, there are some hiccups. something is off between jinyoung and joomi and the cameras are quick to point it out. jinyoung had joined in the pile on cameron, but he carefully stayed away when haneul laid on joomi. jinyoung laughs easily with haneul and cameron, but he seems to avoid alone time with joomi. 

“hey, jinyoung, can we practice our part?” joomi is the one to approach the other. the part in question? a clip from the original music video plays on screen; a rather close moment between the original performers of the song, the two men face to face as they circle around each other before dramatically breaking away. with how awkward jinyoung and joomi are being, is it possible for them to pull this off?

jinyoung looks startled that joomi even approached him.

each team is left on a cliffhanger, unsure if they’ll be able to overcome their challenges for the final performances when…

“we have a surprise for you,” rian had visited each of the teams, an identical sly smile on her face as she appears making the announcement three different times, once to each group. “we’ve brought in special experts to help you rehearse and perfect your performance today. they’re waiting just outside of the room. shall we invite them in?”

in unison, all three practice rooms are edited together saying “please come in!” to their mystery guests. their eyes widen, jaws drop, and the shocked expressions from the preview at the beginning of the episode finally make sense. into the lime entertainment practice room comes JOOYEON, BORA, HYOJIN, and EUNHA of CHERISH; the studio delta group is greeted by O.N, BYUL, and CADE of VERTEX; and last but certainly not least, the sr media team meets the entirety of COSMO.

“i know i love every member of the group,” seojun’s interview plays over his awestruck expression after meeting the girls for the first time.

“what song are you doing?” jooyeon asks the lime entertainment team, a genuine interest in her expression and voice as she interacts with the contestants. she looks excited when someone tells her that it’s the boys. “oh!” she exclaims, nearly as giddy as the contestants themselves must be, “that’s a good one, very powerful. you guys will definitely win with that one,”

“i can’t help but notice,” bora remarks with a funny little grin on her face, “half of this team is boys,” a good laugh goes up between the members of cherish, the staff, and even any of the contestants who have snapped out of their shock and started to loosen up a little.

the girls ask to see what the team has worked on so far and they watch with careful attention as bada, nayoung, noel, seojun, and dohyun perform for them. eunha murmurs something to bora not caught by the microphones and despite their friendliness, it’s clear that they’re giving a sort of evaluation.

“this song is a very confident, empowering sort of theme,” hyojin gets to her feet, explaining what she means by demonstrating one of the dance moves herself. “this right here, this has to be powerful yet elegant. it’s not easy,” she asks each contestant to do it one by one until she’s satisfied with their performance. 

when given the opportunity, bada dares to ask the senior idols a question: “were there any rituals you guys followed before performing the boys? it’s quite a confident and powerful song, how did you psych yourselves before each performance?”

“we cried backstage,” bora jokes and eunha smacks her arm lightly before giving a more serious answer, “we had to live and breathe this song for several months as we prepared for the comeback and then promoted it on shows. i know you don’t have that long, but a lot of it it was about believing everything we were singing. even the first words of the song were a sort of encouragement for us. ‘if you haven’t even started because you’re scared, then stop complaining. if you hesitate, opportunities will pass by you so open your heart and come out.’ it’s all true.”

while the girls from cherish mentor the lime entertainment team, the creative masterminds and members of vertex greet the studio delta team. the cameras immediately zoom in on hyejin, who seems to be minding her expression very carefully.

the scene changes to one of just saea and hyejin in a practice room, rehearsing together. “you’re a fan of vertex right?” saea asks the other.

“i am,” hyejin confirms, “i had to stop myself from having a full blown fangirl moment. like i never imagined meeting them this close ever.”

“are you all working hard?” o.n asks the contestants, a smile on his face. “we weren’t sure how you were doing, so we brought vitamins for everyone, here,” he gives a grocery bag to the nearest contestant, sharing the gift with the entire team. “make sure you all stay healthy!”

like cherish had with the lime entertainment team, the members of vertex also want to see the studio delta team’s progress with their song. unlike cherish, though, byul is terrible at masking their expressions.

“i know you’re still practicing,” byul speaks slowly, choosing his words carefully despite his thoughts probably already being out in the open with the expression on his face. “but i have to say, i’m a little disappointed… i thought we were the only ones who could pull off this song,” what started sounding like a criticism turns into a huge compliment and a wide grin splits his face. “there’s definitely a little refinement needed, but you guys are doing great.”

cade is rather quiet during his time there, though he does single out renyi for a moment. “your voice is really good,” he praises the young man openly despite usually being of few words, “no matter what happens in this competition, please continue to practice and work hard. when you have a gift like that, it needs to be shared with the world.”

vertex have a very busy schedule and a comeback to prepare for, so the members can’t stay too long. they bid the team farewell. no sooner does the door close behind them does saea grab junho’s hands, jumping and squealing out her excitement about meeting vertex in person. "wasn't that the coolest thing ever?" she exclaims.

despite any expectations the viewers may have of junho, he’s right there jumping and fangirling with saea. “that. was. so. damn. COOL!” he gushes, clearly unable to keep his cool.

while the studio delta team celebrates, the sr media team finally meets their idols as well; the entirety of cosmo fills up any of the empty space in the practice room. it seems that the studio delta team aren’t the only ones who want to fangirl; it’s only barely caught on the mic as cameron whispers to haneul “hannie, hannie, pinch me please! i can’t believe they were just here, i can’t believe they know we’re performing their song now. like how am i supposed to do that now with that knowledge?!” jinyoung looks equally as starstruck as his teammates.

“oh, they’re handsome,” KYU remarks to MINSOO, “when i heard they were competing to be trainees, i didn’t really know what to expect, to be honest. they’ll definitely debut,” the two share a laugh, though it doesn’t seem mean.

“enough, you two,” SEO MINJAE scolds his members lightly, “we’re here to help them with their performance, not flirt.” M.Y snickers behind kyu and minsoo’s backs as they get in ‘trouble’ with their leader, who already looks exhausted with his team.

“we heard that you did something new with the arrangement of this song,” JAEYOUNG directs cosmo back to the topic at hand with a genuine interest in hearing the new variation of their song “we’ve performed this a couple different ways before so i couldn’t help but wonder how you could make this feel new again. i’m excited to see.”

the contestants get into formation to share what they’ve made of frost to the group who originally performed it. they’re only a few seconds in when the microphone catches SUBIN murmuring praise: “it’s completely different,” he remarks to minjae, “but it sounds really good,”

again, the editing is careful not to reveal the entirety of joomi’s arrangement before the final performance is revealed, just a teaser no longer than 30-seconds. cosmo, of course, saw the performance in full. “this is incredible,” minsoo is open in his praise right away, “you’ve completely transformed frost. did you make this yourself?” he looks around the team until it’s indicated to him that joomi is the mastermind producer behind the remix. “you’re really talented!” he can’t help but gush. who’s the idol and who’s the fan in this situation…?

“it really leans into the scary parts of the song,” minjae nods his approval, “i think you guys are doing a really good job of that. even singing it the way you are… oh, i’m getting chills!”

“i think you guys just need to tighten things up a bit,” jaeyoung points out, “there’s some inconsistency in your angles. jinyoung is out-dancing half of you which makes him stand out in a bad way. there’s some room for originality, but you want to look like a cohesive group too.”

each idol group stays and practices with their teams for a few hours, the screen showing a short montage of clips rather than the boring details of everything that was discussed. and there’s a few more days of practice with the teams and their regular teachers before the final performance. however, the countdown is quickly running out and d-day is upon them before they know it.

“the order of today’s performances has been decided by the current ranks,” jian explains to the audience as clips of the three teams preparing and waiting backstage flash across the screen, “the team with the lowest average ranking among its members is going first, with the highest ranked team performing last. everyone has been preparing hard, with special lessons and advice from the original artists themselves. who’s excited to see what our contestants have come up with this week?”

she pauses as if to listen for cheers and the three judges humor her; YUNA and SEO RAN actually call out their cheers while YOON JIHUN smiles and claps beside them.

“lime team is up first,” yuna remarks, looking at a sheet of paper in front of her. “i hope they do well. it feels like our company’s pride is on the line,” she smiles but there’s a hint of nervousness to it. ran reaches over to squeeze her hand in comfort while jihun sits back with the faintest smirk on his face; he obviously seems a little overconfident that his company’s instructors are the best, but how true that is remains yet to be seen.

they watch in silence as the group of contestants take the stage, make their introductions, and wait for the music begin. again, the audience is reminded of all of the struggles of their rehearsals. will bada find her confidence? what became of dohyun’s lines? is noel hurt after his fall? the camera zooms in on each and every one of them, capturing any nervous expressions or tics they may have.

finally, the music starts.

it goes remarkably well for how many trials the team had endured over the last several days. bada in particular doesn’t seem to struggle too much with her part, that nervousness all but completely gone as she becomes more comfortable on the stage as the song goes on. dohyun looks much more confident than he had been during this conversation with nayoung. and noel doesn’t stumble or fall at all, any signs of injury carefully hidden away.

there are no surprises, no dramatic issues or flaws that hinder their performance. and when it comes to a close and the cameras zoom in on each member’s face, each looks rather proud of their performance. the camera loves seojun’s bright smile and sarang’s good looks, noel flashes an ‘L’ with his fingers before it becomes a heart with his other hand, and nayoung and bada smile brightly.

“we all just wanted to put on a good performance, and i think we delivered on that!” bada’s voice plays over an image of her ending fairy shot. “i’m glad we could deliver something to be proud of.”

the contestants are able to relax and then stand in line for their evaluation from the judges. yuna is the first to speak, a smile on her face. “congratulations,” she tells the team before them, “i know this performance was hard for some of you. you did an amazing job, i don’t know if even cherish themselves could have done better. bada, noel, you two in particular have improved quite a bit. it’s very exciting to see. bravo,” she smiles at the contestants warmly.

“it was a good performance,” ran speaks next, smiling despite the feeling that the other shoe is about to drop, “but when we assigned this mission, we expected you all to make this song your own, make us forget about cherish and believe that this was made for you. i just watched a cover. it was a good cover, but i don’t feel like i learned anything about your musical style or preferences. sarang and seojun, you two in particular did not stand out as much as i hoped you would in this performance. sarang, you’ve shined so brightly on every other stage. i’m not sure what happened here, but i hope we see your sparkle again.”

ran’s critique is barely over when jihun is picking up his microphone, sharp eyes fixed on one contestant in particular, “lee nayoung,” he calls the young woman out, “we decided you were the best after the teamwork evaluation last week, but i think now that we made a mistake. you really put yourself in the center a lot, didn’t you?” the callout is clearly not a compliment. “you’re talented, but the job of a leader isn’t to make themselves the center of attention all the time. i know you did support your team this week, but none of that showed on stage today. i shouldn’t be watching nayoung and her backup singers, i wanted to see a more cohesive team.”

“also, noel,” jihun isn’t done yet, apparently. he makes the ‘L’-shaped gesture back at the young man he’s addressing. “what does this mean? in our day, we used it to call others ‘loser’. were you trying to insult us?” he laughs, as do the other two judges, but there’s something a bit threatening about it that remains unresolved.

“good job, everyone,” jian takes over again as the judges wrap up their review of the performance. it’s the cue for the team to leave the stage and wait to return after the next two teams perform. “up next, we have jihun’s team, representing studio delta with their performance of hot by vertex,”

the team takes their places, renyi notably holding a guitar. “is this a band concept?” ran’s brow raises in surprise and anticipation as they wait for the team to begin their performance.

their intro starts and from the beginning, their performance is different from what is expected from vertex. it’s dramatic, building as renyi and junho sing a few opening lines, before suddenly breaking into a guitar solo, performed by ren, as saea and hyejin come forward for a featured dance break. it’s high-energy, it’s unique, and it shows each member of the team off in their own unique way.

the guitar was just for the beginning, apparently, and a staff member takes the instrument from renyi as he joins the rest of the group in the original choreography of the song. while in the beginning they had all shown their unique talents, now the group comes together as a team to perform in sync with one another. their hard work and practice pays off and they give an excellent show on stage.

jihun is already applauding them as the cameras focus on their ending fairy shots, each team member highlighted in full; saea smirks at the camera, hyejin smiles, and junho breathes heavily as the cameras show only their best angles.

“i always thought…i’d be behind the scenes i guess, making music,” renyi’s face appears in the interview room, looking a bit emotional though he holds it back as he speaks. “but now…” scenes of the studio delta team practicing together flash by, renyi smiling and laughing with his teammates in particular. “here’s something about doing it as a team, with people who believe in you—” his voice breaks and the young man looks up at the ceiling as he continues to fight tears. “my teammates are the only reason i’ve made it this far.”

the scene changes back to the group on stage, performance now completed and lights back to ‘normal’ as they await their review from the judges. jihun obviously looks quite pleased with what his company was able to make of this group in such a short time and wastes no breath before picking up his microphone. “this is what we wanted to see,” he glances at ran, as she had made the comment about the lack of innovation from the last team. “all of your talents were on display today. i feel like everyone really shined in this performance. renyi showcasing his instrument skills, saea and hyejin with the dance… really great stuff.” he doesn’t say it, but there’s the sense that he wants to remark about how much better this team was compared to lime entertainment. yuna’s lips are pressed into a tight line, but she doesn’t make any remark for the moment.

“it was an excellent performance,” ran agrees, “though i feel that wonjae was lost in the shuffle. renyi, you really stole the show with your guitar solo. hyejin, saea, you’re both excellent dancers and it was a treat for you to share that with us. and even junho, i know you said you struggle to work with a team, but we couldn’t see any of that struggle here today. your chemistry on stage with ren was amazing. wonjae, you sort of… disappeared.”

“i agree,” yuna finally speaks, smiling despite her apparently displeasure with jihun. “it was a very engaging performance and ran’s critique included a lot of what i noticed as well. for someone who says he doesn’t know how to work with a team, junho, you’re shaping up to be a very talented leader. i’m excited to see more from you as we go forward. thank you all for a great performance.”

the team give their thank yous and bows as they’re dismissed from the stage and jian’s smiling face is once again the focus. “our final team had the highest average scores from last round,” she announces, hyping up the sr media team before they even take the stage. shots of their backstage preparations play across the screen; haneul rehearses his lines quietly as he shakes out his hands, jinyoung similarly shakes out any lingering jitters.

“performing frost by cosmo, please welcome sr media team to the stage!”

the boys take the stage, seemingly confident and cool despite the nerves that had been on display backstage. cameron’s ripped sweater concept and hints of zombie makeup already sell the concept of their performance before they’re even in their places.

“they look like a sr media group ready to debut,” yuna remarks, sending a smile to ran. ran smiles her thanks and looks rather pleased with the contestants representing her company. jihun is notably silent and stoic.

the group stands in a single-file line, ambient sound and glitchy audio their intro as joomi is the first to dance. after a few seconds, the real song starts, and finally the remix that has been teased all episode is revealed. a haunting melody rings out behind moon jinyoung’s voice as he opens the song vocally, “i’m so shocked,” he speaks in english as he staggers forward, laughing, before reaching over to joomi as they both seem to gasp for air.

while no changes were made to the original choreography, the zombie concept seems to create a new spin on the execution of it. suddenly those jerky, staggered movements take on a new meaning, a new story as the young men interact with one another throughout the performance. they mimic the stylized singing of cosmo’s original performance, perhaps covering for some of the weaker vocalists’ abilities with artistic liberties. they seem to fall deeper into madness and zombism as the song goes on, each contestant losing himself in the performance and the story they tell on stage. they end with the dance break, jinyoung at the center, and a clean performance is completed successfully by sr media team.

“i thought we looked and sounded very cool,” cameron sits in the interview room, looking quite pleased with the performance they just pulled off, “i’m looking forward to the critiques we will receive.”

ask and ye shall receive; the scene changes back to ran picking up her microphone with a wide smile on her face. “i’m sorry, do you guys want to debut tomorrow?” she’s half-joking, laughing with the other judges before she continues. “i know i’m biased to my own company’s training, but you all looked like a cohesive group and not just a temporary team for a survival show. with such a short time to practice this, that’s very impressive. you look like a sr media group already with the makeup and storytelling of your performance. honestly, i couldn’t be more pleased,” her expression matches her words, a rather proud look on her face as she congratulates the contestants on a successful performance.

“i hate that i have to agree with ran,” jihun speaks next, “that was an excellent performance to pull off in such a short amount of time. joomi, i heard that you composed the arrangement?” he waits for the young man to confirm before continuing, “it was good. you completely transformed a popular song and made it your own, which is exactly what we wanted you to do with this mission. cameron as well, you helped out with styling, right? great job, truly. it’s that sort of attention to detail that helped you all pull off such an engaging performance.”

yuna is the last to speak, her expression pleasant but unreadable as she picks up her microphone. “jinyoung,” she begins slowly; the camera zooms in on the young man’s face as he’s addressed, “you’ve improved a lot with singing in a short time. you’re still a very talented dancer but we’re starting to see you become a more well-rounded performer. joomi as well; you came into this competition not knowing how to dance, right? you’re doing a great job. cameron, haneul, you both were able to use your previous experience to help your teammates. if there’s anything negative to say about this performance, it’s just that kou seemed to be a little disengaged. it would be nice to see you own this more, kou,” she sends a smile to the young man despite the critique, obviously encouraging him to do better.

the judges take a few moments to discuss the results of the performance and what they believe the current rankings should be, a short montage of their discussion playing before the results seem to be decided.

“congratulations to all three teams for their successful performances,” jian announces, the stage suddenly rearranged for the results and ranking announcement the next time she appears on screen with contestants from all three teams gathered again. “i personally thoroughly enjoyed all of your performances and it’s been amazing to see you all grow since this all began. however, there must be a winner and unfortunately some of you will be sent home today. this is my least favorite part of my job,” she pouts, looking toward the judges as she accuses them, “this is so mean.” jihun laughs in response.

“i have the results of the performance evaluation here,” she holds up a cue card, brandishing it to all of the contestants before she decides it’s time to open it and reveal the winners. “as a reminder, the winning team members are all safe from elimination this week. second and third place are in danger of some of their members being sent home.”

she opens the card, taking a breath and revealing a smile before she reads off the results. “in first place… SR MEDIA TEAM!” the team in question is bathed in bright lights, a round of applause going up from the judges, jian, and other contestants as haneul, cameron, kou, joomi, and jinyoung are given time to celebrate their victory. “congratulations, all of you are safe from elimination.”

“you put on the best performance,” ran explains, yuna and jihun nodding despite the bitterness that must come from their companies’ teams not being the winners of the week, “and really transformed cosmo’s song until it became truly your own. congratulations, we look forward to seeing what you all do next,” she smiles proudly.

“unfortunately, that means that the lime entertainment and studio delta teams are in danger,” jian resumes her emcee responsibilities, glancing at the losing teams once the sr media team has left the stage safely. “the last place team is lime entertainment,” red light bathes the team in question, their position the most fragile as the ultimate losers of the day.

“only one member is being sent home today,” jian announces, sighing as she reads the name off of the card in front of her. “i’m sorry, HWANG BADA, your journey with us ends here.”

the team is given time to console their eliminated teammate before yuna picks up her microphone, a sympathetic frown on her lips as she speaks. “bada, we still see a lot of potential from you. however, you’re just not at the same standard as the rest of your teammates just yet. i hope you continue to practice and perform and we get to see you on stage again someday. unfortunately, the next gen stage will not be your next performance.”

sad music plays as bada is escorted off stage separately from her team that will continue in the competition. it’s heartbreaking; a short montage of bada’s previous weeks of practice and performances play out in grayscale and slow motion as the girl is dismissed from the program. her presence will absolutely be missed.

“studio delta team,” once the time for tears is over, jian’s thankless job begins again, “you took second place today. however, one team member is also going home today.” she looks across the team as if she’ll be the one to decide it, though in reality it’s written on the card in front of her. she glances down, and with a frown, reads out the name: “GEUM WONJAE,” she reads, “i’m sorry, but you have been eliminated.”

“for two weeks in a row, you completely disappeared,” jihun explains to the eliminated man, “i’m not sure what’s going on, but it’s clear to us that you’re not ready for our training programs, let alone to be an idol yet. you’re talented. i hope whatever is going on gets sorted out, but unfortunately we cannot justify your place in this program any longer.”

perhaps it’s harsh, especially when tears are shed over a lost teammate so easily. but wonjae too is escorted out the same way bada was, with a slow montage of his previous weeks and teams and performances. it’s a shame that his talent had to go to waste like this.

“congratulations to all of the surviving contestants,” jian is once again surrounded by all of the next gen participants, their numbers much smaller than they had been at the beginning of the show. “our judges have shared the updated rankings with me, if you could please direct your attention to the screen,” the large monitor on stage reveals the updated rankings one by one, giving each contestant time to react to their position before moving on to the next. first and last place are the last to be revealed.

“we’re getting close to the end of our competition,” jian explains once the excitement over the rankings dies down, “your next performance will be your last. but it will also be the most exciting. each team will be given an original song, never before revealed to the public let alone performed by another artist. and what’s more; you’ll be performing in front of a live audience who will vote on your performances in real-time. the final winners of the competition will be decided by both these votes and the judges.”

three songs are revealed, only played in a short, 30-second preview, each with a very different concept from the last. onscreen, it’s explained that the audience will vote on which contestants they want to see perform each song. instructions are given to vote online and the results will be announced in the next episode. instructions for where to buy tickets to the next gen ‘concert’ are also given to the audience.

“however,” jian takes over for the informational screen for the immediate next mission, “you’ve all worked so hard to get this far. so the next time we meet, we’ll be doing something a little different. the weather is getting nicer now, so we’re going to give you all a little break with a sports day! no eliminations will take place next week so you all have ample time to prepare for the big finale.”

it’s revealed that the next episode will not be a performance evaluation, but rather a day of fun in the sun and games. various athletic competitions and games will be performed by the remaining contestants to de-stress and get themselves in the best possible condition for the finale of next gen. with that, the episode comes to a close, a short preview of the upcoming episode airing as the credits fly across the screen.

#BE:NGS1 #BE:NGS1P4