C.M. Selbrede's Blog, page 7
June 9, 2019
June 3, 2019
Ranking Every Movie & Show in the MCU (DQs, #40-36)
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge fan of Marvel, and obviously, that includes the Marvel Cinematic Universe films and TV shows! In the following series, I’ve ranked all forty-some entries in order of my enjoyment (not necessarily in quality) from worst to best.
Disqualified
The following MCU products have not aired at the time of composition:
Spider-Man: Far From HomeAgents of SHIELD (Season 6)Agents of SHIELD (Season 7)Cloak & Dagger (Season 2)Runaways (Season 3)
The following I have not seen:
The Incredible HulkThe Punisher (Season 1)The Punisher (Season 2)
#40. Thor: The Dark World
A mess of Marvel cliches, CGI, and rehashing of the first Thor movie, The Dark World lands firmly at the bottom of the MCU for me. Underdeveloped villains and a flat titular character (not to mention an overreliance on Loki) produced Marvel’s most uneven film to date, one that made every subsequent Marvel sequel seem amazing in comparison.
#39. Iron Man 3
I’m not a big Iron Man fan, despite the movies being my introduction to the MCU. Iron Man 3’s a bit of an odd duck, not truly good or bad, and I don’t have strong feelings on it either way but my dislike for the titular character and the somewhat slow pace of the movie sticks it low on this list. Almost every Marvel movie and TV show has an air of excitement, but Iron Man 3 was just… okay.
#38. Doctor Strange
Similar to #37, Doctor Strange is a much better movie than I give it credit for on this list. I’m a huge fan of the comics Doctor Strange, but several factors prevent this objectively good movie from being a favorite of mine, namely: the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch, who I simply dislike as an actor, the whitewashing of the Ancient One, the overreliance on the time stone at the expense of the actual Doctor Strange mythos, and the similarities to so many other Marvel movies.
Still, the Cloak of Levitation is iconic, and it was very, very fun seeing Doctor Strange in action on the big screen, even if I couldn’t appreciate it for what it was.
#37. The Avengers
I know, I know. Everyone loves this movie. And the first time I saw it, I did too. But honestly the first Avengers movie coasts a lot on nostalgia and novelty, being the first real superhero teamup movie. In reality, the odd pacing, cringey Cap costume, dull Hawkeye characterization, and a variety of other factors prevent me from enjoying this movie as much as everything else. Mostly, I’d say my disinterest in 2012’s Avengers stems from my love of the comics Avengers- I went into this movie with high expectations, and the choice to remove Ant-Man and the Wasp from the founding roster damaged it irreparably to me.
#36. Inhumans (Season 1)
The Inhumans TV show gets a bad rep, and for the most part, its justified. Cheap and melodramatic, the show made some truly uninspired choices (such as the immediate negation of Medusa’s superpowers). However, the show’s lead, Anson Mount, did a phenomenal job as Black Bolt, elevating the entire series with his silent pathos, and the show thrived in its unexpectedly complex treatment of Attilan’s flawed society. Inhumans deserved a second season, at least to try to make things right.
May 30, 2019
ACC in 2019: June
In June, new content comes fast and furious between equal parts blogging courtesy of Electric/Eccentric and video content from AC3! Expect exciting new announcements and some brand new creations as we gear up for August’s announcement of ACC 2020 and its contents, not to mention the fast-approaching release of The Valley Chronicles: Tempest!
Sunday, June 2nd- “Surprise Announcement” (ACC Cinematic)Monday, June 3rd- “Ranking the MCU” (Opinion)Monday, June 10th- “Which two Faction Do You Belong To?” (Quiz)Thursday, June 13th- “Issue #4: Slasher” (Starlight)Sunday, June 16th- “Tempest Teaser” (ACC Cinematic)Monday, June 17th- “Swathe” (Poem)Sunday, June 23rd- “Sucking @ Hockey” (Self-Shame)Monday, June 24th- “Ranking the MCU” (Opinion)Thursday, June 27th- “Chapter III: Suspension of Disbelief” (Anna, Farmer)Sunday, June 30th- “June ’19” (ACC in 2019 Inventory)
May 27, 2019
Starlight #3: The Lost
Starlight is a series I started writing for fun in 2016, written in the “style” of a comic book. As such, this is not my best writing, but it’s something I had fun doing.
The issue opens in Ridge Hill High, where Cad is walking out of his last class.
Cadmus (Narration): So, school was interesting.
Cut to similar shots of Cadmus in various classes, looking uncomfortable.
In Chemistry, jocks swarm around him, talking excitedly.In Math, his friends are asleep on their desks.In English, they’re tossing around a paper football.
Cadmus: And by interesting I mean probably the worst thing ever.
As Cadmus walks through the halls, a bunch of smaller kids duck their heads away from him.
Cadmus: Pretty much everybody hates me.
Close up on his face, where he bites his lip.
Cadmus: Not that I can blame them. I sound like a tool.
Cadmus turns the corner, and comes up on something unexpected– police tape. He looks up, and see cops have filled the hallway.
Cadmus: What?
Cop 1: Time of death… about 11:35…
Cop 2: Did you see…?
Cadmus: Is that Eliza?
We see Eliza, huddling in a blanket, tears streaming down her cheeks. Without thinking, Cadmus ducks under the tape and starts towards her. A cop steps towards him.
Cop 3: Hey, you can’t be here–
Cadmus walks right through the man, who watches him go, looking confused. Cadmus approaches Eliza.
Cadmus: Eliza! What– what happened? Are you–?
Eliza sees Cadmus and without another word embraces him in a hug. Tears stream down her cheeks.
We cut to the exterior of the school, where Cadmus is comforting Eliza.
Eliza: He was just… dead… bleeding out all over…. that weird gang sign carved into the table…
Cadmus: …
Eliza looks up at Cadmus.
Eliza: I’ve never seen a dead body before. It makes you feel… vulnerable.
Cadmus: Near death experiences tend to do that.
Eliza: And the worst part is…
Eliza hesitates. After a moment, Cadmus jumps in.
Cadmus: Is?
Eliza: No, uh, its silly.
Cadmus: No, go on. You can tell me anything.
Cadmus: Even though I basically met you yesterday.
Eliza: Last night, after the party, I… I had some sort of dream. You were in it.
Cadmus: I was?
Eliza: Yeah, you were, but you were different… terrifying. Kind of like some sort of…
Cadmus: Sort of what?
Eliza: Your eyes were glowing, and your skin was like a small sky. But everything about you felt dangerous. You were like a demon.
Cadmus’ face hardens.
Cadmus: Damn. She remembers.
Cadmus: We all, uh… we all have nightmares.
Eliza: Yeah, but this was different. You had that same symbol on your chest. The one carved into the desk.
The school bell rings as Cadmus recoils. A police officer comes up to them.
Officer: We have some more questions for you, m’am.
Eliza: *tired* Okay. Cadmus, can you… Cadmus?
Cadmus is gone.
Cut to Cadmus running back into the school, towards the crime scene.
Cadmus: What is happening to this place?
He looks down at his hand, which is glowing like a galaxy.
Cadmus: What is happening to me?
Cadmus bumps into Parker, who is heading down the hall, football uniform on.
Parker: Hey, Cad! Why aren’t you dressed?
Cadmus: No.
Cadmus: No.
Parker: What?
Cadmus: No, sorry, I… I have to go!
Parker: But the team is waiting for you–
Cadmus runs away without so much as a glance backwards. Parker watches him go, a strange look in his eyes.
Cadmus: Come on come on, come on,
Cadmus arrives at the police tape, ducking under it and heading towards the classroom. A number of surprised-looking detectives react immediately, making a beeline towards him.
Officer: Hey–
Other Officer: You can’t be here!
As they grab a hold of Cadmus, he glimpses the crime scene. He sees the symbol, and it reflects back in his eyes for a moment.
Cadmus: *whisper* No…
Officer: Kid, you shouldn’t be here.
Cadmus: This is exactly where I should be.
Cadmus: Say it say it say it
Cadmus: This is.. this is my fault.
Officer: Calm down, son, this isn’t–
Cadmus: You don’t understand! I killed–
???:Excuse me.
An elderly janitor interjects, placing a frail hand on the cops shoulder.
Janitor: I couldn’t help noticing, and I thought I should help clear up any confusion.
Officer: Thank you, sir, but we have this under–
Quick as a whip, the janitor produces an old knife from his uniform, and stabs the one cop right in the chest. As that cop staggers back, confused, the other one draws his gun but is nailed in the shoulder by the same knife, which the janitor pulled from the other cop’s body. As the last officer staggers backward, the janitor rushes him and snaps his neck. Breathing heavily, the man stops, and pulls the knife out of the officer. He begins ti hum.
Janitor: Dum-de-dum-de-dum…
Cadmus watches, stricken, as the janitor begins drawing the symbol in blood on the tile floor.
Cadmus: Wha… wha…
Janitor: Funny folk, dem coppers. They never get a durn thing right.
Cadmus: I don’t understand.
Janitor: Heh.
The janitor pulls up his sleeve, revealing the same symbol as a tattoo.
Janitor: You didn’t kill this man, Cadmus. We did.
To be continued…
Cadmus (Narration): When I was in the hospital, I wasn’t allowed to read or watch TV or basically do anything.
Cadmus stands at the hospital window.
Cadmus: So I made up a sort of game.
Cadmus places a hand on the window. We see stars reflected in his eyes.
Cadmus: I told myself all the things about myself that I knew were true.
Cadmus: *whispering* My name is Cadmus… something… Way. I’m around 16 years old.
Cadmus: It seems dumb now, but at the time it was kind of reassuring.
Cadmus: I’ve lived in Ridge Hill my whole life.
Cadmus: Like– I was real.
Cadmus: My parents names are Henry– no, Howard– and Louisa.
Cadmus: I was more than the blank slate I felt like. I had friends. I had family. I belonged.
A tear slips down Cad’s cheek.
Cadmus: I was human.
Cut to the party where last issue left off. A smoking truck has crashed into the sidewalk as Cadmus backs away, shocked. His skin is glowing so that it looks like he is a galaxy.
Cadmus: Now I’m not so sure.
Parker: *Still drunk, slurring* Woooow Cadmoos, you loook funny.
The stars fade from Cadmus’ skin, leaving him looking ordinary.
Cadmus: I… I…
Boy: Hey! *a random jock approaches Cadmus, obviously drunk* Howdya do that?
Cadmus: I– I–
Boy: Yer an alien aren’t ya?
Cadmus: God, I hope not.
Boy: My pa told me how to deal with your kind…
The boy draws a gun, and Cadmus staggers back, shocked.
Cadmus: What the–
Cadmus: What the Hell?
Cadmus: In that moment, I felt like I would do anything to get out of there.
Closeup on the gun.
Cadmus: I guess I did.
Cadmus shoots into the air, coming to rest high above the partygoers.
Cadmus: What the–
Cadmus: WHAT THE HELL!
Cadmus: This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening, this isn’t–
Bam!
The gun is shot. The bullet hits Cadmus and ricochets off. The spot where is hit momentarily turns that same galaxy blue.
Cadmus: Get out of here get out of here get out of here
Cadmus shoots away, out of control
Cadmus: Woah…
He careens awkwardly towards the sky. He stops a moment, and stares at the moon. Unconsciously, he reaches for it.
Cadmus: What am I…
Abruptly, Cadmus starts falling.
Cadmus: Gah!
Cadmus falls for a few panels, before crashing into a cornfield. Dazed, he lifts his head.
Cadmus: My life is over.
Cut to the front porch of Cadmus’ house, where he stiffly makes his way to the door.
Cadmus: Ow ow ow ow
As he pushes the door open with a creak, a light flickers on. His father and his mother are standing in the foyer, arms crossed.
Cadmus: I’m dead.
Father: Cad…
Cadmus: Uh, I–
Father: How was the party?
Cadmus: …
Cadmus: Fine? I–
Mother: You look unusually coherent.
Father: Cadmus, we understand that drinking is a natural part of being a teenager. I did it when I was your age.
Cadmus: You also probably hunted dinosaurs, so…
Mother: It’s not that we’re telling you to drink it’s just… we know it’s going to happen. Please don’t do something actually dangerous, like LSD.
Cadmus: Honestly, this explains so much. No wonder I have brain damage.
Cadmus: *thumbs up* Got it, cool. Alcohol, no LSD.
Cadmus: This life is insane.
Cut to Ridge Hill High, the next day, an uncertain Cad stands outside the building.
Cadmus: I’ve checked social media (and deleted some pretty nasty pics) and nobody’s mentioned any sort of flying freak. They probably all think it was a drunken illusion.
Cadmus: (I wish it was a drunken illusion).
Cadmus shifts uncomfortably from one foot to another.
Cadmus: Man, I don’t want to do this.
Eliza: Hey! *waves and approaches* You okay? You look a little lost.
Cadmus: Eliza. Apparently we dated once? She’s actually kind of nice, unlike all of my other ‘friends’, who act like they jumped out of a bad teen sitcom.
Cadmus: Well, I have a map to classes I’ve spent weeks going to but can’t remember any material from, or where I sit, or basically anything.
Eliza: Ha!
Cadmus: It’s really not funny.
Eliza: No, sorry, it’s just…
Eliza tucks a bit of hair behind her ear.
Eliza: The first day of school sucks, and now you have to do it all over again.
Cadmus: Fair enough.
Parker: (Off-screen) Cadster! My man!
Cadmus visibly winces.
Cadmus: God, no.
Cadmus turns tentatively toward Parker.
Cadmus: Hey, Parker…
Parker approaches him with a pack of jocks, and tries some sort of weird handshake which Cadmus fails. Eliza stifles a laugh.
Parker: Call me Parkster, boy!
Cadmus: Yeah, no.
Cadmus: Do we have any classes together?
Parker: Do we? We’ve got all of them baby.
Cadmus: Now I wish I’d been shot.
Cadmus: *scratches back of neck* Cool…
Random boy: Good ta have you back, man! *musses the top of Cadmus’ head*
Cadmus: …
Eliza: Anyway, I’d better go. I have to talk to Mr. Lyzman about my latin paper.
Cadmus: Uh, great, bye!
As Eliza leaves, Parker grabs Cadmus’ arm.
Parker: What are you doing?
Cadmus: Uh, standing here?
Parker: No, fool. I’m talking about Eliza.
Cadmus: What?
Parker: Nala will be furious when she finds out you were fooling around with another girl.
Cadmus: Does it still count as dating when you have no memory of a girl slash are completely terrified by her?
Cadmus: I’m talking to you, and yet we’re not dating.
Parker: This isn’t a joke. That girl be crazy.
Cadmus: At least she can’t shoot me.
Cadmus: I’ll be fine.
Parker: You were warned, man.
Cadmus watches Parker exit.
Cadmus: This is going to suck.
Cadmus is walking through the halls, looking around.
Cadmus: Okay, classroom 2a…
Cadmus accidentally bumps into a girl. Her books go flying to the floor.
Cadmus: Sorry! Sorry!
He reaches down to help her, and picks up the books.
Girl: Thanks–
She seems to realize who he is.
Girl: You.
Cadmus: uh oh.
Cadmus: Uh, hi.
Girl: You may’ve fooled everyone else with this phony amnesia act, but I know you, and I know what you’re capable of. And I swear, you will pay.
She stalks away.
Cadmus: Man, I wish I had some context for that.
The panel pans out to reveal a short boy wearing a Star Trek jacket, watching.
Boy: You look unsettled.
Cadmus: I have no idea what I did to make her hate me so much.
Boy: Don’t take it personally. Most people hate you.
Cadmus: Thanks.
Boy: No, it’s no big deal. Just part of the natural caste system of this place. You’re a jock, you beat people up like me.
Cadmus: Have we–?
Boy: You stole my clothes after gym class back in August.
Cadmus:…
Boy: *extends hand* I’m Hunter. You have any more questions about who you’ve screwed over, let me know.
Cadmus: Fun.
Cadmus shakes hands with the boy. Suddenly, the bell rings.
Hunter: I gotta go. AP CompSci may be my jam, but that teacher will write me up if I’m late.
Cadmus: Okay, great. *he watches as Hunter leaves, a strange look in his eyes*
Cadmus: Great, so I’m friends with idiots and pretty much nationally hated.
Cut to exterior of Mr. Lyzman’s room, where Eliza is knocking on the door.
Eliza: Mr. Lyzman?
She pushes the door open, and her eyes fill with horror.
Cadmus: What other surprises are in store for me?
Mr. Lyzman is slumped down at the foot of his desk, bleeding out. The same symbol from Cadmus’ dreams is etched into his desk, glowing.
NEXT: KILLER ON THE LOOSE
May 20, 2019
Poem: Starlight
Gracious glistening in the gutted heavens,
Full or not, standing beside the moon,
Under or over, singing a sad soliloquy
Just a fading breath against the blue
Breathe on, shattered stalks of green
Breathe against the gutless gait of the forward
Against the simple sighs of long ago
Breathe on, and remember still.
May 16, 2019
Gifted & Talented (Anna, Farmer #2)
Loathe as she was to leave behind Oinky so soon, it was that time of day when Anna was forced to pack up her things and take up temporary residence at Steppe Hills , a moderately sized, somewhat dingy building located in downtown Weary Winds. Steppe Hills hosted the area’s Elementary and High Schools, an odd administrative choice that was frequently challenged but never changed.
Though Anna prided herself on her sunny outlook, she found herself afflicted with an unavoidable distaste for the place. This was not the fault of her teacher, whom Anna adored immensely. While Ms. Guadeloupe Martinez, was very kind and extremely interesting, she hardly ever had the chance to actually teach the class.
You see, all the parents of Weary Winds were very determined that someday their children escape the town of Weary Winds, and were therefore adamant that Steppe Hills offered the best education possible. Unfortunately, Steppe Hills found that in order to support their mission of education, they required the recognition made possible through high standardized testing scores. In order to increase the likelihood of a stellar performance on said exams, an education executive had the brilliant idea to shower the children with as many tests as possible. Eventually, the test-taking and preparation became so expansive that the school was forced to set aside their original mission of education for a new, revised curriculum intended to teach test-taking.
Anna didn’t much care for test-taking. She found it tedious and terrible and her mind wandered frequently during any form of multiple choice. This disappointed Ms. Martinez greatly, for she felt Anna was extremely gifted and talented and wished her scores reflected that. In stark contrast, several of the children who scored well seemed to be a ways off from their full potential. Two of these such children, interestingly enough, had their own connection to Anna.
The first, Maxine Marks, was a well-liked, well-off young girl with an affinity for the digital. Unlike Anna, who hadn’t owned a mobile device since she’d dropped hers in the ocean two and a half months ago, Maxine was a social media sensation with well over fifty followers (for an elementary schooler, a veritable million). Something about Anna rubbed Maxine the wrong way- most likely her complete lack of regard for Maxine’s celebrity- and Anna was content to let Maxine dislike her. Maxine wasn’t a bully, although occasionally she was somewhat cruel to the other child connected to Anna.
Bartholomew Benson was a pale, skinny thing of a lad who had an unfortunate proclivity for picking his nose. Oft-teased by his peers, Bartholomew’s singular ally was Anna, who thought the common distaste for him so ludicrous she made it her business to spend time with him whenever possible. She’d invited him to the Acres on multiple occasions but he’d declined, citing allergies and an extreme fear of pigs.
Much as she did on the rolling hills she called home, Anna tackled the hallways of Steppe Hills in a systematic, whimsical fashion. As it happened, it was currently the space between lunch and english class, wherein Anna and a reluctant Bartholomew extended their break via a detour through the high school. During this brief journey, Anna would make it a point to say hello to each and every high schooler who frequented the Acres; She would wave and smile to everyone from Jerry the farmhand to Jake Jackson, an older boy who picked up eggs for his family every Saturday.
However, as Anna and Bartholomew rounded the corner this dreary Monday, Anna was shocked to see that Jake was not standing by his locker as usual. With something of a jolt, she recalled for the first time that he had not been by to pick up his eggs last Saturday. Inwardly, the little girl scolded herself… something was wrong with her friend and she hadn’t even noticed it! Excusing herself from a confused Bartholomew, Anna marched over to the nearest teacher.
“Excuse me,” Anna asked earnestly. “Have you seen Jake Jackson?”
“No, I have not,” the teacher tilted her head. “Shouldn’t you be in class?”
“Yes,” Anna agreed, heading back to Bartholomew with a humorless look on her small face. To the little farmer, this seemed very bad… very bad indeed.
“Excuse me, Bartholomew,” Anna told her friend with much seriousness. “I will not be returning to class with you.”
“What?” Bartholomew blinked. “Why?”
“I have to find a friend,” Anna said simply, and marched away.
Next: Suspension of Disbelief
May 13, 2019
Short Story: Fall of the Infinite City
This story was written in 2017 as part of a group project.
[image error]Photo by Kong Ruksiam on Pexels.com
“Have you been around here before?” the guide asked, his voice friendly, his English good. Preston liked him , even though he felt the question was rather silly. Preston was thin, lanky, wearing a bright red t-shirt and his favorite pair of indigo jeans. He was clearly not from around here, based on the way he glistened and groaned in the mid-afternoon sun, and his hardly worn boots cast equal doubt onto his outdoorsiness. Preston knew he didn’t belong here.
“No,” he smiled, hoping it looked more gracious than pained. “I’m not from around here.”
Are you an American?” the guide asked, curious, as they grew closer to the splash of green.
“No,” Preston admitted. “But I am from the west.”
The guide nodded and turned away, inspecting the path before them. Preston took this opportunity to glance behind him, towards their buggy and the endless sand dunes beyond. For a moment, he allowed himself to gaze at the cloudless sky, where the sun stood solitary against the blue banks of the heavens.
Preston missed home. But he missed his sister even more.
“Who are you looking for, if you don’t mind me asking?” the guide questioned as they set off into the shaded woods.
“Nobody interesting,” Preston deflected. “I’d rather hear about this place.”
The guide chuckled. “Oh, there’s not much to say. Beautiful and mysterious as this desert-bound forest may be, its existence is scientifically impossible. I’m afraid I have no interesting factoids or tidbits of knowledge to purvey. This forest… it just is.”
“What of the ruins that lie within?” Preston pressed.
“Yet another mystery,” the guide sighed. “A forgotten city, lost to the world? It gave the archaeological community palpitations. It took a lot of negotiations to keep this site from prying eyes. I’m surprised they even let you come along.”
Preston was not surprised he’d been allowed to visit. It would have been more surprising had the Minister withstood the days Preston had tortured him and refused to sign the papers.
The forest around them gave way to a small clearing, where an odd, collapsed structure stuck half-heartedly from the
soil. It was
crooked, and gold, and awe inspiring. Windows of clear
glass, looking like they’d been put in mere days ago, made the tower even more
confusing. Preston had seen
better, but he’d seen far,
far worse.
“This will do,” Preston bit his lip as he scanned the tower. “This will do just fine.” He turned back to his guide. “I will be alone now.”
The guide frowned. “Sorry, sir, I don’t think I am allowed to leave you unattended.”
“You misunderstand,” Preston stepped close to the guide, moving his hand to the man’s chin and snapping his
neck without a second thought. Sighing slightly, the
young man strode towards the odd structure and
placed his palm against it.
The glass lit up, revealing a complex screen. Familiar symbols
scrolled by, and Preston smiled. It was all prepared.
“Terminal Enterprise Log,” Preston spoke aloud. “Begin preparations for Stage Two.” “No,” said a recalcitrant voice, and Preston became aware of the glowing outline of a bear, appearing on the screen and blotting out everything else. Preston’s eyes widened.
“Terminal Enterprise Log,” he tried again. “Clear bugs from your system.”
“I’m not a bug, I’m a bear,” the electronic voice chuckled. “Also, I am TEL.”
“You’re what?” Preston blinked. Was this a human hacker’s idea of a joke?
“Terminal Enterprise Log,” Tel explained. “T-E-L, Tel. Gosh, for an extraterrestrial, your imagination leaves much to be desires.”
“I don’t understand,” Preston blinked. “How did you gain sentience?”
“Your sister,” TEL shrugged. “She knew you would find her and she knew you would come. She said to remind you that this was created to observe, not destroy.”
“Our ancestors used it to collect data on the humans, true,” Preston crossed his arms, finding this interruption fairly irritating. “But once they used them for labor they killed them all to obscure the city. They’re specimens. And their usefulness has come to an end.
“Our planet has run dry of Krystaneum,” Preston continued, his fist clenching as he remembered the pain and suffering of his own world. “Without it our society decays. We need the untouched supply remaining in these outposts in order to power our own world.”
“If this machine is destroyed, some fairly unfortunate side effects will occur,” TEL reminded Preston. “Including, but not limited to: the destruction of this planet, the unbalancing of this solar system, and the cancellation of many excellent television shows.”
“Our world is the only one that matters,” Preston sniffed. “Before she left my sister was part of a team designing a new spacecraft- one capable of travelling backwards through time. It has been completed, and can return to our planet’s glory days to acquire more Krystaneum.”
“So go then,” TEL waved. “Bye.”
“It requires Krystaneum to run,” Preston informed TEL dryly.
“Well,” TEL’s electronic face was impassive. “That seems to be a sizable design flaw.”
“Enough of this,” Preston rolled his eyes. “Where is my sister? Once I find her I can end this and bring the Krystaneum home.”
“No you can’t,” TEL shook his head.
“Oh? Would you stop me?” Preston laughed. “Bypassing this strange program will be easy.”
“Probably,” TEL admitted. “But even if you did bypass me there wouldn’t be enough Krystaneum for a time machine. A good chunk of it is missing.”
“What? How much?” Preston balked, eyes widening. He scrambled to his own tablet, working to bypass TEL so he could verify this bad news.
“About enough for a time machine,” TEL explained. “Your sister needed it.”
“Why would she do that?” Preston blinked. “She knows that will result in a delayed explosion. She’ll be killed!”
“First of all, its a much smaller explosion, should take out this desert at most,” TEL tilted his head. “Second of all, she’s not here right now- you are.”
Preston gave a nervous laugh. “What are you saying?”
“Oh, woe that I must spend my final moments explaining the obvious,” TEL sighed. “Your sister was determined that this planet not be destroyed. She stole a Time-Machine sized chunk of Krystaneum, used her research to build said time machine, and popped back in time to prevent the prove from being planted here in the first place. She left me, and the decaying Krystaneum, here to buy her some time. It’ll take the empire decades to realize you’ve failed, and they’ll never be able to mount another mission.”
“Ridiculous,” Preston scoffed. “Why would my own sister betray me?”
“No offense, dude,” TEL shrugged. “But you’re kind of a jerk.”
This statement was punctuated by a beep, a flash of red, and a very, very large BOOM.
May 6, 2019
My 10 Favorite Comics of 2018 (#5-1)
As anyone who knows me knows, I’m a huge fan of comics! Marvel, DC, Indie, etc. and there was a lot to like this year. Over the course of two articles, I’ll be breaking down my favorite comics of the previous year.
5. Champions
Art by Humberto Ramos2018 was a twice-strong year for Champions, as Mark Waid and Humberto Ramos wrapped up their initial run and Jim Zub and a host of new artists took over. Waid’s Champions was smart and poignant, featuring a mix of characters, superheroics, and character work (even if I didn’t love Ramos’ art) and the inclusion of Viv Vision and Cyclops made it a series I could not pass up. It is fair to say I was nervous when I learned Waid was leaving and taking Cyclops with him, but Zub’s run has blown my expectations so far.
Despite the lack of a consistent interior artist, every arc has been drawn with a surprisingly simplicity that really narrows in on the story: a tour de force of character work and heroics, enhancing on all the messages put forward by Waid while carving its own, vastly superior, path. Champions is consistently one of the best series Marvel puts out, and I’m excited to see where it goes as it relaunches in 2019.
4. Moon Knight
Art by Jacen BurrowsAlas, poor Moon Knight, we hardly knew ye. I read lots of Moon Knight, being a big fan of the slightly unhinged Marc Spector and his Dissociative Identity Disorder, but recently he’s been on a streak of extremely good series. Jeff Lemire’s previous run had been surreal in the best possible way, so new series writer Max Bemis went the opposite route and created a series that was bloody and frank in a very honest way.
Exploring motifs of family, mental illness, society, and sanity, Bemis’ Moon Knight was always a solid read. It took many, many risks, not all of which paid off, but I looked forward to it every month and was very disappointed when Marvel cancelled the book after only a few issues.
3. Green Arrow
Art by Juan FerreryaI love Black Canary, let me get this out of the way, and I picked up the series for her. I’ve never disliked Oliver Queen, but his series has been very, very bad for the past decade or so and Arrow only succeeded by changing everything about him, so I went into the series with very low expectations. I expected to read maybe the first three issues of Ben Percy, Otto Schmidt, and Juan Ferrerya’s Rebirth Green Arrow run. Instead, I picked up all 39 issues written by this powerhouse team.
Another smart and topical mix of politics and danger, Percy’s Green Arrow tore down Oliver Queen and built him back up, kept him snarky, hilarious, but grounded by a multifaceted and strong supporting cast, and never went quite where the reader expected. I was pretty bummed when this run came to an end– I would’ve stuck with it for as long as it was around.
2. Avengers: No Surrender / (Uncanny Avengers)
Art by Mark BrooksSo, anyway, I’m a huge Avengers fan. Not so much of the movies, but the comics (as I will obnoxiously brag, I have technically read the entire first decade of Avengers stories straight through). Recent Avengers comics haven’t gelled with me that much as they’ve tended to focus on the movie cast (eugh) and ignore the previous soap opera character work and smaller characters (coughVisionandScarletWitchcough) for very flat stories about Tony Stark and his friends. Only side Avengers series, such as my much-loved Avengers Academy and Uncanny Avengers, have even attempted to capture the old Avengers magic.
Avengers: No Surrender was the first main Avengers series in a long time that changed that. Juggling a gigantic cast of characters and three teams (Avengers, USAvengers, and Uncanny Avengers) along with Voyager and Lightning, No Surrender somehow wove a straightforward, beautifully vast yet equally intimate look at what made the Avengers tick. A worthy conclusion to the powerful Uncanny Avengers saga I’d also been enjoying, it was a phenomenal experience I was privileged as an Avengers fan to read.
1. Shade: The Changing Woman
Art by Becky CloonanI don’t even know how to describe Shade the Changing Woman. It’s weird. Really weird. It’s about an alien acting as a tourist on Earth, and it speaks to humanity and what makes us human, and the art and the writing are beautiful and Oh God, I miss this comic so much but I could not describe any of it to you without spoiling it. Just read it, please.
Castelluci and Zarcone were at the top of their game and this comic was life-changing. I miss it. Come back.
May 2, 2019
Starlight #2: Hard Lessons
Starlight is a series I started writing for fun in 2016, written in the “style” of a comic book. As such, this is not my best writing, but it’s something I had fun doing.
Cadmus (Narration): When I was in the hospital, I wasn’t allowed to read or watch TV or basically do anything.
Cadmus stands at the hospital window.
Cadmus: So I made up a sort of game.
Cadmus places a hand on the window. We see stars reflected in his eyes.
Cadmus: I told myself all the things about myself that I knew were true.
Cadmus: *whispering* My name is Cadmus… something… Way. I’m around 16 years old.
Cadmus: It seems dumb now, but at the time it was kind of reassuring.
Cadmus: I’ve lived in Ridge Hill my whole life.
Cadmus: Like– I was real.
Cadmus: My parents names are Henry– no, Howard– and Louisa.
Cadmus: I was more than the blank slate I felt like. I had friends. I had family. I belonged.
A tear slips down Cad’s cheek.
Cadmus: I was human.
Cut to the party where last issue left off. A smoking truck has crashed into the sidewalk as Cadmus backs away, shocked. His skin is glowing so that it looks like he is a galaxy.
Cadmus: Now I’m not so sure.
Parker: *Still drunk, slurring* Woooow Cadmoos, you loook funny.
The stars fade from Cadmus’ skin, leaving him looking ordinary.
Cadmus: I… I…
Boy: Hey! *a random jock approaches Cadmus, obviously drunk* Howdya do that?
Cadmus: I– I–
Boy: Yer an alien aren’t ya?
Cadmus: God, I hope not.
Boy: My pa told me how to deal with your kind…
The boy draws a gun, and Cadmus staggers back, shocked.
Cadmus: What the–
Cadmus: What the Hell?
Cadmus: In that moment, I felt like I would do anything to get out of there.
Closeup on the gun.
Cadmus: I guess I did.
Cadmus shoots into the air, coming to rest high above the partygoers.
Cadmus: What the–
Cadmus: WHAT THE HELL!
Cadmus: This isn’t happening, this isn’t happening, this isn’t–
Bam!
The gun is shot. The bullet hits Cadmus and ricochets off. The spot where is hit momentarily turns that same galaxy blue.
Cadmus: Get out of here get out of here get out of here
Cadmus shoots away, out of control
Cadmus: Woah…
He careens awkwardly towards the sky. He stops a moment, and stares at the moon. Unconsciously, he reaches for it.
Cadmus: What am I…
Abruptly, Cadmus starts falling.
Cadmus: Gah!
Cadmus falls for a few panels, before crashing into a cornfield. Dazed, he lifts his head.
Cadmus: My life is over.
Cut to the front porch of Cadmus’ house, where he stiffly makes his way to the door.
Cadmus: Ow ow ow ow
As he pushes the door open with a creak, a light flickers on. His father and his mother are standing in the foyer, arms crossed.
Cadmus: I’m dead.
Father: Cad…
Cadmus: Uh, I–
Father: How was the party?
Cadmus: …
Cadmus: Fine? I–
Mother: You look unusually coherent.
Father: Cadmus, we understand that drinking is a natural part of being a teenager. I did it when I was your age.
Cadmus: You also probably hunted dinosaurs, so…
Mother: It’s not that we’re telling you to drink it’s just… we know it’s going to happen. Please don’t do something actually dangerous, like LSD.
Cadmus: Honestly, this explains so much. No wonder I have brain damage.
Cadmus: *thumbs up* Got it, cool. Alcohol, no LSD.
Cadmus: This life is insane.
Cut to Ridge Hill High, the next day, an uncertain Cad stands outside the building.
Cadmus: I’ve checked social media (and deleted some pretty nasty pics) and nobody’s mentioned any sort of flying freak. They probably all think it was a drunken illusion.
Cadmus: (I wish it was a drunken illusion).
Cadmus shifts uncomfortably from one foot to another.
Cadmus: Man, I don’t want to do this.
Eliza: Hey! *waves and approaches* You okay? You look a little lost.
Cadmus: Eliza. Apparently we dated once? She’s actually kind of nice, unlike all of my other ‘friends’, who act like they jumped out of a bad teen sitcom.
Cadmus: Well, I have a map to classes I’ve spent weeks going to but can’t remember any material from, or where I sit, or basically anything.
Eliza: Ha!
Cadmus: It’s really not funny.
Eliza: No, sorry, it’s just…
Eliza tucks a bit of hair behind her ear.
Eliza: The first day of school sucks, and now you have to do it all over again.
Cadmus: Fair enough.
Parker: (Off-screen) Cadster! My man!
Cadmus visibly winces.
Cadmus: God, no.
Cadmus turns tentatively toward Parker.
Cadmus: Hey, Parker…
Parker approaches him with a pack of jocks, and tries some sort of weird handshake which Cadmus fails. Eliza stifles a laugh.
Parker: Call me Parkster, boy!
Cadmus: Yeah, no.
Cadmus: Do we have any classes together?
Parker: Do we? We’ve got all of them baby.
Cadmus: Now I wish I’d been shot.
Cadmus: *scratches back of neck* Cool…
Random boy: Good ta have you back, man! *musses the top of Cadmus’ head*
Cadmus: …
Eliza: Anyway, I’d better go. I have to talk to Mr. Lyzman about my latin paper.
Cadmus: Uh, great, bye!
As Eliza leaves, Parker grabs Cadmus’ arm.
Parker: What are you doing?
Cadmus: Uh, standing here?
Parker: No, fool. I’m talking about Eliza.
Cadmus: What?
Parker: Nala will be furious when she finds out you were fooling around with another girl.
Cadmus: Does it still count as dating when you have no memory of a girl slash are completely terrified by her?
Cadmus: I’m talking to you, and yet we’re not dating.
Parker: This isn’t a joke. That girl be crazy.
Cadmus: At least she can’t shoot me.
Cadmus: I’ll be fine.
Parker: You were warned, man.
Cadmus watches Parker exit.
Cadmus: This is going to suck.
Cadmus is walking through the halls, looking around.
Cadmus: Okay, classroom 2a…
Cadmus accidentally bumps into a girl. Her books go flying to the floor.
Cadmus: Sorry! Sorry!
He reaches down to help her, and picks up the books.
Girl: Thanks–
She seems to realize who he is.
Girl: You.
Cadmus: uh oh.
Cadmus: Uh, hi.
Girl: You may’ve fooled everyone else with this phony amnesia act, but I know you, and I know what you’re capable of. And I swear, you will pay.
She stalks away.
Cadmus: Man, I wish I had some context for that.
The panel pans out to reveal a short boy wearing a Star Trek jacket, watching.
Boy: You look unsettled.
Cadmus: I have no idea what I did to make her hate me so much.
Boy: Don’t take it personally. Most people hate you.
Cadmus: Thanks.
Boy: No, it’s no big deal. Just part of the natural caste system of this place. You’re a jock, you beat people up like me.
Cadmus: Have we–?
Boy: You stole my clothes after gym class back in August.
Cadmus:…
Boy: *extends hand* I’m Hunter. You have any more questions about who you’ve screwed over, let me know.
Cadmus: Fun.
Cadmus shakes hands with the boy. Suddenly, the bell rings.
Hunter: I gotta go. AP CompSci may be my jam, but that teacher will write me up if I’m late.
Cadmus: Okay, great. *he watches as Hunter leaves, a strange look in his eyes*
Cadmus: Great, so I’m friends with idiots and pretty much nationally hated.
Cut to exterior of Mr. Lyzman’s room, where Eliza is knocking on the door.
Eliza: Mr. Lyzman?
She pushes the door open, and her eyes fill with horror.
Cadmus: What other surprises are in store for me?
Mr. Lyzman is slumped down at the foot of his desk, bleeding out. The same symbol from Cadmus’ dreams is etched into his desk, glowing.
NEXT: KILLER ON THE LOOSE
April 29, 2019
ACC in 2019: May
In May, a brand new season of blogging content from Electric/Eccentric premieres, including more poetry, short stories, Anna Farmer, and Starlight! Meanwhile, learn my Top 5 Comics of 2018, get a closer look at the city of Portland and what it means for The Valley Chronicles: Tempest, check out more of ACC Cinematic’ inaugural season of content and get a look at what’s coming in June!
Thursday, May 2nd- “Issue #2: Hard Lessons” (Starlight) Monday, May 6th- “My Favorite Comics of 2018” (Opinion)Monday, May 13th- “Fall of the Infinite City” (Short Story)Thursday, May 16th- “Chapter II: Gifted & Talented” (Anna, Farmer)Sunday, May 19th- “Exploring Portland” (The Valley Chronicles: Tempest Preview) Monday, May 20th- “Starlight” (Poem)Sunday, May 26th- “First World Problems” (Self-Shame) Monday, May 27th- “Issue #3: The Lost” (Starlight) Thursday, May 30th- “June ’19” (ACC in 2019 Inventory)
