Spidey-enthusiast

What you see above is an example of what spam comments may look like. I'm no stranger to receiving them (unfortunately), but this is the first time I got 3 in a row, from the same "username" and 2 of those on the same chapter of a fic.

Most of you will be very familiar with spotting and ignoring/deleting/reporting them, but I keep seeing authors replying to them in comments - believing them to be legit, so I thought I would take this opportunity to post here.

So, how to spot a fake (bot) comment:

They don't go into any detail about the fic they are commenting on. No characters, dynamics or developments are mentioned in the comment at all.

They are often written in an overly flowery type of language, but still very generic. If you can copy/paste a comment and put it under any story (as seen above), it's most likely a bot.

They are usually guest comments, but I have seen some signed user comments that turned out to be bot accounts as well. Though Ao3 is doing their best to get rid of those. It's important to report those as spam to Ao3, so that they can investigate the legitimacy of the account.

They ask you to talk to them on another website. Often Discord. They say something like: Your story gave me ideas about the characters (they never name the characters, they just write "characters"), which I would like to discuss further with you... - something along these lines. They may even offer to do fanart for your fic, or invite you to work together on a "project". DO NOT follow anyone onto another site if you are not 100% sure that they are a real person. (even if you are sure they are a real person I still caution you to do that. Some scammers put in amazing effort just to get specific info on you)

I personally want to leave my guest comments on, because not everyone has an Ao3 account, but might still want to comment on your fic.

But it's completely understandable if you ban guest comments in order to not receive spam bots. (though again, I have seen fake accounts that leave such comments as well.)

And he gets thrown into Marvel, and then tiny mini Batman comes across Peter Parker (who is older), and "saves" him from some robbers (who Peter was about to take out, but make it look as if it was an accident brought on by his clumsiness), and then mini Batman is like:

Why not throw these characters into all kinds of different universes and environments?

But they could also so easily be made brothers or half-brothers as well.

Listen.

Richard Grayson's parents are named John and Mary Grayson.

Peter Parker's parents are named Richard and Mary Parker.

Neither set of parents have canonical middle names (that I could find), but we could EASILY just make it John Richard Grayson, or Richard John Parker.

And the mothers are both named Mary. (Maybe only Mary gets transported into a new life. And then Dick and Peter could be half-brothers)

Peter's parents in most canon settings, die in a plane crash. Whose to say that their souls (or even their whole bodies) aren't yeeted into another universe during that plane crash?

Whose to say that maybe they become a couple of acrobatic circus performers in their new lives, where they have a son named Richard?

Whose to say that the different universes are on different timelines, making it possible for Peter to be either the older or younger brother of one Richard "Dick" Grayson?

And lastely, whose to say that this familial connection between the two is what pulls Peter into the DC universe at some point in time?

At a tailor

Peter stepping out of the dressing room in yet another way too expensive suit. Very annoyed after having to try on multiple suits.

Bruce: "Hm, it's good, but I think-"

Peter: "If you make me try on one more thing, the suit I will be wearing for your gala will be my birthday one."

*in a situation with shapeshifters*

Peter: "Hey guys."

Red Hood, aiming his gun at him: "Don't move! How do we know you are Peter, and not one of the shapeshifters?"

Robin: "Name two of Batman's flaws."

Peter: "... How do you expect me to choose just two?"

Red Robin: "Yeah, pretty sure he's the real one."

Peter: "I mean there is the resting bitch face, for starters, which is guaranteed to make kids cry as much as criminals."

Red Hood, reholstering his gun: "Okay, good. So anyone got a plan?"

Peter: "And those pointy bat ears on top of his head are neither functional nor fashionable. I mean, what was he thinking designing this?"

Spoiler: "From previous observations, while they can perfectly copy someone's appearance, anything else, like sound of voice, speech patterns, or body movement is often imperfect."

Peter: "Speaking of design, a dark grey and black suit, and then he couples that with a bright yellow utility belt?"

Nightwing: "That only helps us in identifying people we ourselves know well, though."

Peter: "Don't even get me started on his need to make his voice sound like a heavy smoker coming fresh off a three day bender."

Black Bat: "Lights. They avoid bright places. Keep to the shadows."

Peter: "And his whole 'I brood, therefor I am' routine gets really old after a while, you know? And-"

Batman: "Thank you, Peter, that will suffice."

Peter: "...- and he is an entitled ass."

Red Hood, enjoying Peter's triade immensely: "So we wake up Signal and light the motherfuckers up?"

Oracle, on the comms: "I have contacted Agent A to get him. Does anyone have a spare comm for Peter?"

Peter, holding up his arms and backing away: "Nope. Not a hero. I'm sure you guys got this one. Imma head home." walks around the group to get to the next street, then lazily turns his head back to them. "Oh, before I forget. I webbed up a group of your doppelgangers who tried to jump me. The 7 of them are now in police custody. Bye." waves and walks away.

Batman: "Oracle, how many-"

Filler episodes! (little things that don't necessarily drive the main story along any further, but instead provide a bit of a break from it. And can contribute to showing facettes of characters that don't otherwise get a chance to shine)

- The group at the beach

- A day at IKEA

- Everyone gets sucked into a fairy tale book and then they have to finish their stories to get out (while possibly diverging wildly from the normal canon)

- The social media chapter

- DND game night

Okay.

Peter Parker getting thrown into Gotham

And the DC universe has POKEMON!

Peter + Batfam + Pokemon

Peter: "Hey there, Cass. Is everything okay? You look kinda down for someone who is planning her wedding. Are you having second thoughts?"

Cass: "No, never. I want to marry Steph."

Peter:"But?"

Cass: "It's stupid."

Peter: "Well, you are in luck then. For I am an expert in stupid. Lay it on me."

Cass: "It... I... I don't know how... *Switches to sign language* After I escaped from my father, when I came to Gotham and started to learn about 'being normal', Babs showed me some TV shows and movies. Some had weddings in them. And the brides always had their best friends be bridesmaids. And they would go dress shopping together, and do their hair and makeup together. And I remember one where they had a mock race in high heels to see who would be maid of honor. And... I'm not particularly feminine, and this is stupid, and unnecessary, but... I always thought that it would be... Fun... To have this? But I don't have many female friends and... It's stupid. Forget it."

Peter: "Hm.. yeah, I see your problem."

Cass, nodding but disappointed.

Peter: "I mean, I will totally have an advantage over the others. With having perfect balance thanks to my powers. No one is gonna beat me in a high heels race."

Cass, looking at peter with wide eyes: "I, I can't ask you all to-"

Peter: "And, I bet I look way better in a dress than Tim. Duke might give me some competition though. Think Damian is good with makeup? He does have the artsy talent and all."

Cass: "You don't have to- it's stupid-"

Peter: "Dick will be game, but we might have to blackmail Jason a bit. Who do you think has the most embarrassing fotos of him? Tim or Babs?"

Cass: "Peter-"

Peter: "Cass. It's not stupid. It's not too much to ask. It's your guys wedding, and you deserve to have everything you ever wanted."

Okay. So I really liked that Wing-fic society Gotham/DC where non-wings-having Peter gets thrown into and everyone is like: Oh no, someone cut that poor kid's wings off!

And then I thought, how else could we change the world`?

So, His Dark Materials rang through my brain.

Peter getting thrown into Gotham. And everyone in the DC universe has daemons.

People are horrified once they notice that Peter doesn't have one. Who could have done that to the kid? How terrible!

And, top tier no question.

But, may I open your minds to the possibility of a pet parrot, who Peter teaches to say

"I'm Batman" in a raspy voice?

Batman: "He could be a-"

Peter: "I swear, if the next word out of your mouth is 'threat', I'm gonna pick up your midlife crisis penis enlargement of a car and throw it into the harbor."

Batman: "-safety risk."