#apocalypse how

From out of nowhere, the Thirteenth Inspector suddenly steps into the BOOTH control centre, just to warn their fifteenth incarnation that they’re about to do something that will likely destroy all of creation.

Also, GMK!Ichi has no idea how girls work, much less a moth goddess, buuut hey, pulling a knife on him would totes get his attention. . . And interest. Ni and San are now the unfortunate and reluctant wingmen who want their bro to be happy and not stabbed. Meanwhile, GMK!Mothra just wants these annoying delinquents to just bugger off. . . Maybe. But only because she doesn't want them attacking her or anything!

Assuming no repeats (WW3, widespread fires, pandemic), here’s what I’ve got so far:

Zombies

Super volcano eruption

Asteroid

Nuclear fallout

Hyper intelligent apes

Cybergeddon (possibility for April once people are homebound and reliant on the internet for company and pandemic updates)

AI rebellion

Max Max style energy crisis

Mad Max again, only it’s packs of maurading preppers/gun fanatics/non-preppers raiding for food, antibacterial soap, and toilet paper

Aliens; invasion/colonization, infiltration, all out attack, hostile terraforming

Antichrist

Blob released from the glacier

Rapture

Reverse-rapture (only atheists get spared)

Cthulhu

Ragnarok

Mass isolation-induced madness

Worldwide famine

Thing is, on paper, I don’t see much wrong with arguing who bears what responsibility for causing the apocalypse. If each character’s actions were weighed fairly, compared to what the others did, and discussed accordingly, that could be a very interesting conversation. It could lead to an in-depth examination of all the characters involved, what constitutes responsibility, what sort of mitigating factors should be considered….all kinds of fascinating questions with no right or wrong answers. 

But most of the apocalypse discourse I see isn’t meant to spark a discussion. It’s not meant to get people examining the situation or the factors leading up to it. No, apocalypse discourse in this fandom often has one purpose: Exonerate one character and condemn another. If I have to name which character is exonerated and which is condemned, then I don’t know what to tell you. Spend a little more time in this fandom and you’ll find the answers pretty quickly. 

I know I’ve used a fair number of words calling attention to Vanya’s role in the apocalypse and insisting she be held responsible for her actions. And I stand by them, because, to put it simply, if Vanya had made different choices, the apocalypse would not have happened. She’s more than a nuke that detonates because Luther squeezes the wrong buttons; she’s a dynamic and flawed character whose deep-seated anger and vindictiveness lead her past the point of no return. Without her choices, there would be no apocalypse. 

But her choices don’t happen in a vacuum, either. They’re influenced by her siblings’ actions, and her choices influence their actions. Her choices play a role in the family tragedy, but they aren’t the only choices that do. Everyone played a role, and everyone played a sizable role. We could be having a fantastic intellectual discussion of whose choices caused what and how and when the apocalypse might have been prevented; but instead we’re arguing for or against the notion that the woman who literally destroyed the planet is completely innocent and bears absolutely no responsibility for what she did. 

Seriously, guys? 

“Terrible Red Angel”, The Parking Lot is Full, Jul 16/99 strip, by Jack McLaren and Pat Spacek.