new fic

Since I've started writing fic again, I've written in five new fandoms. In a couple of weeks, after I've posted my story for the Hetfic Challenge, it'll be six. I'm having probably about the same amount of fun as when I first started writing in Harry Potter, but I'm putting a lot more effort into it. I think my writing has improved a lot since my first stories. I'm definitely a lot less pretentious. *g*

I'm enjoying this random fandom thing. I know that a lot of people need some serious infrastructure (friends, places to talk and post, reliable betas) to enjoy their fandom experience, but after a while I tend to find it oppressive. Near the end of my regular participation in HP and Smallville fanddoms, I felt like I was being pulled in too many directions, and had too many obligations to too many people. That obviously has more to do with me than fandom, but it's what inevitably drives me away.

I like this flying under the radar thing I'm doing now. It's good to be a nobody.

So anyway, here's my latest:

Attack/Retreat
New Avengers Pre CW | Steve/Tony | Adult
Word Count - 12,224
Steve and Tony work out some relationship problems.

Footsie
New Avengers Pre CW | Steve/Tony
Word Count - 3281
Stealth footsie, Mr. Toad and tiny, malevolent robots.

This fandom is ridiculously fun to write in. OMG I love comics. I should also note that this is probably the first time I've written a pairing twice, without killing one of them off. Discounting drabbles, I calculate that overall, my writing is 24% shippy, 76% gen.

Let's see. I wrote Clark/Lex twice and killed Clark off both times, Lex once.

I wrote Snape/Sirius twice, both times for the lulz, and neither of them died. So there's that. I also wrote Narcissa/Lucius/Snape, Martha/Jonathan, Lillian/Lionel and Will/Jack. Once each, and nobody died. Huzzah!

Invincible Iron Man #2 and Buffy #15

Ok, these are not going to be positive reviews. I give you fair warning. Get out while you still can.

Invincible Iron Man #2

I'll start with the good. Fraction did a little better with the tech-talk this time, although it tends to be imho a lot easier to bullshit about jet engines, than it is to bullshit about experimental bio-augments.

The bad? There's a lot of bad. Fraction continues to write Tony like a pathetic old guy ,who wishes he were back in college, sucking on a beer bong, with his best years ahead of him. Fraction seems to be writing Tony's dialog as if Tony were one of his hipster friends. Tony of course, is at the very least, ten to fifteen years older than the writer, and raised in a really, really, I can't emphasize it enough, different social circle. Having him talk like a twenty/thirty-something hipster actually has the effect of making him sound older.

Tony should basically sound like a regular guy. He doesn't sound like an isolated, supergenius billionaire, though that's what he is. He sounds like a regular dude who happens to also be a supergenius billionaire. Movie!Tony's dialog was extremely effective in a way that Fraction's is not - in Iron Man, Tony sounds freakishly intelligent, and aware of this fact, but also like someone it'd be cool to hang out with. Fraction's Tony is trying too hard. Exhibit A: ( Read more... )

Tony should NOT sound like Faith Lehane.

Fraction's characterization problems extend beyond the dialog. In the space of one issue, Tony performs some intense emotional gymnastics that should leave him reeling, but instead only gear him up for a party. Here's where it gets spoilery. ( Read more... )

This issue has given me something, though. It's something I'd like to share with you all. I have a PSA for the flist:

SALVADOR LA ROCCA HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A SKRULL.

The man is a talented artist. What the hell is this dreck he's passing off as art? It's like he combined a slightly more cartoony style of penciling with awkward and inconsistent photo-referencing, then finished it off with an over-use of effects, and a poorly chosen colour scheme. Granted, that's not his fault, but what's up with all the pastels? The smiley armor? The horrifically blurry faces? I honestly can't say a single good thing about the art in this book, because ever time La Rocca got it right, he did something idiotic to screw it up.

And since I normally quite enjoy his work, that's saying a lot. Really. A lot.

Oh yeah, and Ezekiel Stane? Still annoying. ( two thumbnails of him being annoying )

OMG he's so extreeeeme.

***

Buffy Season Eight # 15

As for this issue (some scans here), I mainly have one thing to say.

Dear Joss Whedon and company, ( spoilers )

zombie meme

Weapon: Since I only get one, MP7A1. Good in close quarters but with the power of an assault rifle. You can use it as a rifle, machine gun or pistol. Penetrates body armor, including helmets.

Music: Tool - Stinkfist or Aenema. Really, anything by Tool.

Famous person: Ashley J. Williams. Hey, he did ok with that army of deadites, right?