Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 37m

There's always a big problem between plotlines that should move the world forward, the desire to never move too far away from our own world so it's recognizable, and the desire to never change anything at all. Hence the Reed Richards is Useless trope.

But I kinda hate when they try to explain it.

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 44m

We oughta be takin' collective action ta' resist an' defend each other.

But we ain't there yet, so when these lone people act out part a' me thinks, well at least someone's doin' somethin'!

(Art sampled from "DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos" Vol. 1 #4. Edits: Dialogue.)

Two comic book panels. The first shows Dr. Barbara West, chief researcher and handler of the Creature Commandos, looking worried and distraught. She is labeled "Me," and she says, "Wait, we need to be strategic!" The second panel, washed in red color, shows Dr. Mina Rhodes, a gorgon with her snake hair wrapped up in a turban, looking back sinisterly. She is labeled "Also Me" and she says "Luigi goes brrrrrrr!" A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit".

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 1h

I made this back in February, an' ya' know what? The Dems are still fumin', they still ain't doin' nothin', an' the media is still copy-pastin' headlines.

(Art sampled from "Nightwing" Vol. 4 #123. Edits: Dialogue, background.)

A comic book image of Nightwing is holding his nose and looking disgusted. In the background are a variety of headlines, all describing the Democrats as fuming over their own failure to do anything. Nightwing says, "Yeah, I can smell the fumes from here!" A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit".

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 2h

I don't think the nazis really thought through the ramifications of a world where laws are inconsistent and due process is a joke.

(Art sampled from "Absolute Wonder Woman" Vol. 1 #5 by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, Becca Carey, Ash Padilla, and Chris Conroy. Edits: Dialogue.)

In a comic book panel Absolute Wonder Woman, her red eyes wide, rests her ridiculously large sword on her shoulder and says, "You mean we can eat the rich?!" A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit".

2

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

That don't fix the problem, that makes it worse!
11/11

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

The Owls/Supervillains/Magic BS stops him and wrecks everything. Batman eventually wins, because Batman always eventually wins... but then the improvements are just never mentioned again an' have no impact.

That is harder ta' suspend disbelief about, not easier.
10/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

He beats Joker. An' he knows the greatest mages on the planet, you're tellin' me he can't counteract somethin' drivin' his city ta' bein' a dystopia?

These stories follow a pattern. Bruce Wayne does somethin' ta' improve the city.
9/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

Every time a writer has tried to say, oh, he'd like ta' spend money on infrastructure, but the Court of Owls! Or the Joker! Or Gotham's actually a magical heart of madness! It gets harder an' harder ta' suspend disbelief.

Cuz this is the goddamn Batman. He wins. He beat the Court of Owls.
8/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

An' each time they do, it makes it worse. Because the truth is Batman, as written, should be able ta' solve Gotham's problems with money. An' in tryin' ta' come up with reasons why he can't, ya' just end up gettin' more things we gotta suspend our disbelief about.
7/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

An' while we should always be aware of the propaganda we're swallowin' in the name a' suspension a' disbelief, still, it's a comic book right?

The problem is, Batman's issues with suspension a' disbelief are so egregious that more and more writers are tryin' ta' explicitly tackle them.
6/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

The thing is, that used ta' be easier. Yeah, sure, the only way ta' fight the Riddler is by putting on a bat costume and punchin' him, not by providin' him with free mental health care and a rigorous an' progressive rehabilitation program, whatever, it's a comic book right?
5/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

We suspend our disbelief that some cops can be good. We suspend our disbelief that Batman can do the things he does without killin' anyone.

An', most topical fer what I wanna talk about, we suspend our disbelief that a billionaire can't fix Gotham through buildin' up infrastructure.
4/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

We suspend our disbelief that Batman can somehow illegally use company funds for those gadgets without anyone noticing. We suspend our disbelief that an insanity plea is legitimate for any of the inmates at Arkham. We suspend our disbelief that Arkham should not immediately be shut down.
3/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

An' Batman requires even more 'n most superheroes.

We suspend our disbelief that a billionaire can be good. We suspend our disbelief that dressin' up as a bat-themed vigilante is a valid path of heroism. We suspend our disbelief that Batman's gadgets can be made with available technology.
2/11

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 3h

Let's talk suspension a' disbelief, poozers.

Every single work a' fiction, no matter how grounded in reality, requires suspension a' disbelief. Comic books, historically not very grounded in reality at all, requires a lotta suspension a' disbelief.
1/11

2

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 4h

So there's a gang war in Bludhaven, each gang your standard toughs with a few supervillains, but one of the gangs have all just casually genetically spliced themselves with insects.

WTF?

(Art sampled from "Nightwing" Vol. 4 #123. Edits: Dialogue, picture of Baxter Stockman.)

In a comic book panel a slightly overweight older man stands before a screen showing an image of a man mutated with fly DNA, giving him compound eyes and green skin. There is also a small image of Baxter Stockman, the fly mutant from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The older man says, "I don't want to be that guy, but even in a world of superheroes, is no one weirded out that a street gang casually Baxter Stockman'd themselves?" A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit"

1 2

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 6h

This is not one of my memes, it is a sketch by Daniel Warren Johnson, of Wonder Woman: Dead Earth fame, who's working on the upcoming Absolute Batman Annual.

I just think it's neat.

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 18h

Dear James Gunn: Please. PLEASE.

An' yeah, I know bein' strong has lotsa different looks, not just this one.

(Art sampled from "Birds of Prey" Vol. 5 #17 by Kelly Thompson, Sami Basri, Vicente Cifuentes, Adriano Lucas, Clayton Cowles, Jessica Berbey, and Rob Levin. Edits: Dialogue.)

In a comic book panel Queen Nubia of Themiscyra is flanked by her amazon warriors. All of them are tall, broad-shouldered, muscular women. Nubia says, "I don't care what gender you are, if you dedicate your life to being a warrior you're going to put on some serious muscle! Maybe think about that before you cast, I don't know, some genocide-supporting waif in a movie about an amazon." A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit".

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 18h

Is it just body shamin', or is there more acceptable comedy in there somewhere?

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 18h

But on the other hand, it feels a little bit like body shaming? Definitely some of the posts mockin' it are. That's the weapon of the enemy, we don't use that.

I'm honestly not sure about this one. What are ya' feelin'?

1 1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 18h

Hey poozers, maybe ya' can help me out. I'm kinda torn on the whole Trump Time magazine cover thing. On the one hand, it's an objectively terrible picture. I mean, just awful, it really shows off all the most unflattering things about him.

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 19h

Also don't headbutt a fascist unless ya' know how ta' do it right.

(Art sampled from "The Question: All Along the Watchtower" Vol. 1 #3 by Alex Segura, Cian Tormey, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., Dave Sharpe, Jillian Grant, and Paul Kaminski. Edits: Dialogue.)

In a comic book panel The Question, a.k.a. Renee Montoya, is in the Justice League Watchtower sick bay talking to Kenn Kawa of the Challengers of the Unknown, who is in bed and heavily bandaged. Question says, "So, what have we learned about punching fascists?" Kenn sighs and says, "Keep my wrist straight?" Renee says, "Good boy." A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit".

1 1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 21h

Cops are pathetic in every way imaginable.

(Art sampled from "Poison Ivy" Vol. 1 #29 by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, Arif Prianto, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Jessica Berbey, Arianna Turturro, and Rob Levin. Edits: Altered panel order, dialogue, and captions.)

Two comic panels. In the first, four stereotypical cops are running forward, stern. Captions from Poison Ivy say, "Sure, I expected the cops to be evil." One cop says, "Oh Grodd... winded after... jogging a block..." Another says, "Grodd Dangit, I can't get my baton out of my belt! Ow! Dangit!" A caption reads, "But the utter incompetence was a surprise. These were the terrifying stormtroopers of fascist America?" The second panel shows Poison Ivy in her battle outfit effortlessly binding up the cops in plants. A caption reads, "Perhaps they only have such power because we don't stand against them." Ivy says, "They are scary... but organized and standing together we are far scarier than any line of sad cowards in riot gear." A caption reads "A Kilowog-core Edit".

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 21h

An' I love even more havin' all ya' wonderful poozers followin' me! Remember ta' check out the QR codes on my memes ta' see my other social media pages! I just started makin' TikTok videos again, so that's new.

Love ya' poozers!

1

Kilowog-core @kilowogcore.bsky.social · 21h

Facebook's told me that cuz I interact with my wonderful fans so much, they're gonna push me ta' more people! So that'll be fun. More people gettin' angry whenever I make fun a' Batman! My numbers here are growin' too, there's hundreds of ya' now!

I love it, though, it's what I signed up for.

1 1