Okay I have to refute pervyficgirl's fandom letter disagreeing with Bucky as a Mary Sue. (I link here because link was in a newsletter so I'm assuming linking is okay)

My main problem is that it is assumed the accusation of suing is based on the power/Charisma scale of the character.

For me at least, it is not.

Honestly, I think it's ridiculous, in comics, to judge an established character as a sue based on the power/charisma scale. Especially when in their own comics. Looking just at Steve and Tony, Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have been written by a lot of writers. Bajillions to use my terminology here. There are certain characterization aspects that are inherent to the character, and yes some of them are Sue-ish but I'm not gonna accuse say Bendis of writing a Mary Sue because he follows decades old characterization. Kirby and Simon and Lee maybe for creating it, but they haven't been the creative team in ages. So it's a none-issue there IMHO. Also of course in their own comics, Steve (or Bucky, but Cap-family works for me same as Dick in Batman) and Tony are the center. Again, that is the nature of a comic, not in my opinion, grounds for a Mary Sue accusation.

However, if a writer comes in and radically changes an established character or creates a new one, then you have to re-look.

Enter Brubaker and Bucky. Because lets face it, Bucky today is Brubaker's Bucky, not Lee's, Or Kirby's, or Thomas's (and maybe this is an issue, those who read Bru's Bucky first may not necessarily see some of the characterization shift that makes me feel he comes off sometimes as a MS).

I love Bucky to death you all know this.
I think he's awesome and after my first painful spasms of OMG MY STATUS QUO YOU BASTARTD I did love post-WS Bucky.

But, as opposed to Bendis or Miller, or Fraction, or Ellis or other writers, Brubaker basically got to recreate Bucky however he wanted. And however he wanted reflected a lot more of his own childhood than any characterization in the Silver age OR EVEN recent pre-WS modern comics with Bucky in them. ( look I'm a tangent )

And I'm sorry, but when I found out that Brubaker was an army brat, got into fights all the time, had adored Bucky throughout his entire childhood that gave me pause. Then when given a chance to write Cap he immediately brought back this character AND retconned Bucky into having a lot of matching childhood traits,and even rewrote his exact same thoughts that he gave in an interview into actual dialog for Bucky down the road, that was a bit much. I understand there is going to be identification when you like a character and share some background with the character, but Brubaker crossed my personal line from authorial identification into authorial insertion..

And to me, that is the bigger definition of a Sue than whether or not someone is awesome and the whole Marvel U loves them.

If Brubaker never crossed your personal line in authorial-self insertion, that's fine, just he did mine, for the reasons listed above.

Not because I don't see the power aspects of Steve and Tony's characterization.
Nor do the Sue-ish issues prevent me from enjoying Bucky as much as I do Steve (and more than I do Tony ^^) But I do think they are there, and I don't think it's crazy for a fan to see 'em.


Hoooooo that is a lot of fandom meta.
Damn,

Okay now I have to go turn Bucky into a fairy literally not metaphorically.
Far more fun.

Quick before work post

Siege #2
The image of Bucky with the GIANT ASS gun.
Can't stop giggling at it. Dear god he looks like a bad anime character or something, esp with the sudden random sideburns threatening to become mutton chops. What, is he still going for the "trucker" look?

Please tell me I'm not th only one who has this comic and is laughing at it.


Anyway, seriously, can't stop laughing.
I'll tr

These are my OMG I CAN DRAW SOMETHING OTHER THAN CHIBIS picture. I realize you guys aren't seeing it yet but in the last few days I've drawn 12 chibis (well two simle portraits too) and I was a little burn out on it all, so these pictures, especially the Garth and Cerdian one, are products of that burn out.



( Ben and Alicia, Toro, and Garth and Cerdian )

The first of 5 ficlets I owe from the meme

Title Lighten Up
For kirax2
Rating G
Characters Tim and Kon
Word Count 258
Notes errrmmmm I ummm know so very very little canon for these two. Thank god for wiki and full steam ahead was my motto on this. I hope it works ^__^

( Tim began to rise from his seat, realizing he was in trouble )

Still working on others, but they needed to take a backseat to the art for Help_Haiti
And ummmm comic conventions

Been working on the Help_Haiti art. I'm having way way fun with these commissions, so yay for work and fun happening at the same time.

I'm a bit behind though, last weekend was convention weekend for me.
The Dallas Comic Con, which was fun. Saw Adam West. Sadly it was 50.00 ON TOP of the ticket price to get his signature, so didn't happen. But he was nice.

I also met Ann Lockhart (Sheba from ToS BSG) OMG she was a sweetheart. Again, I couldn't afford her signature, but all her money goes to an Autism charity so I donated. It seem sshe is local, right here in Fort Worth. Coolness.
Herbert Jefferson was also there, but I didn't talk to him. He always seems grumpy ^^;;

But man, Anne was a sweetie.

Got me some Aquaman comicc in which Garth and Family appear (the run on which Steve Epting was the artst, prettyies!!). Those are really fun.
Best line ever was Aquman'sline "Batman has his attitude and toys, Superman his his cape, I have an army, and I intend to use it." Something like that anyway.

Also grab some Titans back from I think late 90o's or so, when Grayson was the writer. I'm love hate on her.

She has great character moments interspersed with horrific OMG did you just Mary Sue Donna Troy and Jesse momments. It's kinda like in fanon when you love a character but the only person who writes said character is hit or miess with their writing, but you tolerate their WTF just to see the character.

In my case, Garth, Dick, Donna, and Kory ^^;;

Kon my be the cutest Chibi I have ever drawn.
ZOMG.

I hate "epic" crossover events because none of my comics make any sense anymore. I get New Avengers because I think Bendis actually writes good character scenes. Sometimes sucky overall plots, but Avengers debating at a table wins over that for me.
Then comes issue 61 and I do not know WTF is going on because it does not follow from issue 60 so well. Steve is there (since when) there are doing something(what). Seriously Quesada all you have to do is insert an editoral note to tell me what comic to buy that actually leads into this, and I'll buy it. But I'm not freaking buying every comic relating to Siege. I don't know why you mandated against editor notes, but you keep loosing my money because of it.

Anyway, so despite the WTF in my comic, there was awesome, and long awaited by me, Steve and Bucky interaction. This makes up for everything.

I thought I'd scan for you ^__^.
Also, massive Bucky trauma. Poor Buck.



( Awesome Bucky Steve interaction in New Avengers )

I need to go make art, but before I do quick comic Review:

Reborn #6: Finale issue of the mini series comes out about two months AFTER Steve has been back everywhere else. And now, looking at this as a whole I can honestly say it is shit. Complete shit. The art is average to "WTF is wrong here", the plot can only be considered strong if you think the clip-story TV episodes have strong plot and there is no emotional payoff what so ever. All the emotions that came with killing Steve are no where to be found when he comes back.
Also, the ending, total cliche use of the villians. yawn.
No really, I would rate Avengers/Invaders higher in terms of plot and pacing.

New Avengers #61: Want to see Steve and Bucky together? Get this comic. They fight together are cute together and Bucky keeps traumatized in a way that should spur liek 5 billion fanfics. Also Spiderman is made of win and for the first time ever, I liked a scene with Jessica Drew in it. Bendis just pwned Brubaker this month.
Not sure what I think of the more Black Ops Style Steve, but it does fit into the idea that Bucky never did anything Steve wouldn't or coudn't do hismelf, if he weren't Captain America, which he is not right now.
Also pretty pretty art.
And man does Bucky have him some eyelashes. This is consistent now between three separate artists, so I conclude Bucky has some loooong eyelashes.

Batman and Robin
Well, my WTF quota is full now. Thank you Morrison. Tim will kill Dick. KILL HIM.
I think it's also 100% OOC what Dick has done and he has a better head on his shoulders than this. Also, in all fairness, can I razz Morrison for moving this comic to the UK right AFTER having a UK carney meandering around Gotham. I only ask because when an American writer get stuck onto Hellblazer and moved it to LA for a bit, he got razzed. I thik Morrison is doing the exact same damn thing. The European Circus trope annoyed me enough (guess what, we have those too!).
Oh and Morisson has created a sidekick so annoying that I officially want Damian back like whoa.
Have a mentioned Tim will kill Dick? Their reunion will now be even more crazy.

I realized I'm obligated to do this meme again but I shall do it on my own terms.

first 5 people who respond to give me characters a and a prompt get a drabble or a sketch from me. The first 5 people who respond with characters, prompt AND a Bucky/Toro drabble get a ficlet and illustrations from me

Yes I am kinda desperate to read some more Bucky/Toro stuff not be me.

Fandoms BSG TOS, HP, Bat-Family, Titans, Invaders, New Avengers, Classic Avengers, Babylon 5, X-files, Millennium, or if curious just ask. Because of the sketch bit, I'm flexible.

Sorry only 5 but last time I did 10 I only got through 6 ^^;;;; I should finish those other up *blush*


Also
Dallas Comic Con this weekend YAY!
Really, someday some f you guys should come see me.
Like this April, when I get a table and you can give me money for art LOL (j/k of course) =P

So, I've continued to feel unwell this weekend. It royally sucks.
Here's what I did with myself today:
I wrote comment_fics

( Marvel, Bucky Barnes/Toro Raymond,  )

( Marvel, Bucky/Toro, ghosts )

( Marvel, Toro/Bucky,  )


( Marvel, Bucky Barnes/Toro Raymond, celebrating Toro's return )

( Marvel, Bucky Barnes/Toro Raymond, all Toro had was time now )

( Marvel, Bucky Barnes/Toro Raymond, some people are monsters; they learned that in the war )

( Marvel, Toro Raymond/Bucky Barnes, flaming )


( Marvel, Bucky Barnes, solo mission )

( Marvel, Bucky Barnes/Toro Raymond, hiding from Namor after calling him Subby one too many times )

( Marvel, Steve Rogers&Bucky Barnes, it's not greedy to be this relieved to get Steve back. )

( Marvel, Bucky Barnes&Steve Rogers, the last time he really saw Steve )

Title Adjust
Rating G
Character Toro
Notes wanted to draw a companion Toro, really umm not much. I am very surprised the cool color scheme worked so well. I kinda think of this as the companion to he Bucky pick I did and I didn't want them both to be warm. Wasn't sure cool would work for Toro, but it did.


( Toro )



and a meme. I was tagged by jynx
List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
Tag seven people to do the same.
Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it"

1. I will put on music and just walk around the house. I'd like to say it helps me write fics, but I've done this since before I wrote fics. Since forever. Somtimes I also dance.
2. I doodle through most TV shows and movies. If there is light at a movie theater sometimes I even doodle then
3. I read at stop lights when I know they are long long LONG lights
4. I like reading all the answers to trivia cards. Not because I want to win the game, but because I want to know.
5. One of my favorite foods is brown rice wrapped in seaweed
6. The first fanart I can recall drawing was for Usagi Yojimbo and ElfQuest
7. Dan Aykroyd is the first celebrity I had a crush on

I tag:
ellyr_in_ink,kijikun, isilweth, bodgie, vocalight, junkfood_monkey

First though:
ellyr_in_ink is awesome and created a mathematical theory for the consistency of ethical beliefs. For use in avoiding hypocrisy ^___^


Now the meme:
1 - Write down the names of ten characters.
2 - Write a fic of fifty words or less for each prompt, using the characters determined by the numbers. Do NOT read the prompts before you do step 1.

1. Steve Rogers (Captain America)
2. Bucky Barnes (Bucky)
3. Sam Wilson (Falcon)
4. Toro Raymond (Toro)
5. Jim Hammond (Torch)
6. Natasha Romanov (Black Widow)
7. Sharon Carter (Agent 13)
8. Jackie Fallsworth (Spitfire)
9. Namor
10. Nick Fury

( 10 out of 11 drabbles, PG rated, in general, these are kinda dark )

Title Torn
Character Bucky Barnes
Rating G
Notes A quick watercolor sketch of Bucky done during my work breaks. I enjoyed painting this and think it came out rather well for what it is.



( Read more... )

YAY! Captain America comic is back.
Steve is not in it, because a few Wednesday's ago Steve told Bucky to keep being Cap.

The art is a big step up from Reborn, and even from the Who Will Wield the Shield comic. Which is funny because I think it's the same artists as in WWWtS, but Bucky looks WAAAAYYYYYYYYYY better and less creepy-wrong (yes, I thought adult Bucky looked creepy-wrong in that, I just never mentioned it).

The plotline looks interesting, but I'm concerned it is going to hinge on too many divisive and insulting political stereotypes about rural conservatives and thus I will want to smack people.

But all in all I was happy to have Cap comic back.

Also I think I'm gonna miss Bucky's metal arm :(
Even though I did think it made sense.

The help_haiti auctions end soon.

I have two auctions going for help_haiti. You can bid on an original chibi commission (up to three characters)of darn near any character/person you can provide a photo ref of. Details are HERE and also HERE.

However, because there is such interest in my work, I also did this:
The first 15 people who comment with a 5.00 donation get a one character chibi sketch.

I figure this way it won't go beyond what I think a sketch is worth, more people get something, and more money is raised, yes? ^^



Jut as a note, I can't get online at work at all, so I will be AWFK for the next say 10 to 11 hours ^^

A reminder:
I have two auctions going for help_haiti. You can bid on an original chibi commission (up to three characters)of darn near any character/person you can provide a photo ref of. Details are HERE and also HERE.

However, because there is such interest in my work, I also did this:
The first 15 people who comment with a 5.00 donation get a one character chibi sketch.

I figure this way it won't go beyond what I think a sketch is worth, more people get something, and more money is raised, yes? ^^

Some icons:
Toro (4)
Bucky (7)
Toro/Bucky (3)
Steve Rogers (6)
Misc (Natasha, Miss America, Nightcrawler)
DC (3)

Previews:


( The Rest of the Icons )


feel free to add text to any of these
Credit on the comic icons is not required
please credit me though if you use one of my fanart icons

So ummm outing . . . .
This is not a fling around word. It's serious.
I mean to go all dictionary on y'all (like we don't all know, but humor me)
the public disclosure of covert homosexuality of a specific person . . ."

This has been expanded to include now religious or political affiliations
Fandom has further expanded this to mean outing a fan to their bosses and/or loved ones.

All of these things I feel are fair.

Insisting a TV show "outed" fandom because it mentioned fandom, especially when said fandom has been slightly less than "covert," is fail on the word usage front.

If you aren't happy with how fandom was shown, that's one thing. I'm not happy a lot of times with how fandom and fans are portrayed. But don't call it outing.

It wasn't. No one specific was named, no fingers pointed, so to call it such takes a away from the actual seriousness of the word.

Fandom may have been jossed sure, but no fandomers were "outed" by that show.

OH MY GOD!
I hd near heart failure this morning when I realized that I had forgotten to pay the renewal few for my (horribly out of date) website.

It was gone.

Luckily I paid it late and not it is back. But I was freaking out. I need to totally re-work and update stuff anyway, but the thought of loosing all the art archives killed me. I mean I'm sure I still have it on a disk or a flash drive somewhere, most of it anyway, but getting it all back up, having all the places I linked it from now be dead . . . it killed it.

But yes, it is up.

And the xmas decorations are down. Holy god.

And now I'm off.

Also reminder:
I have two auctions going for help_haiti. You can bid on an original chibi commission of darn near any character/person you can provide a photo ref of HERE and also HERE.