#opinionated

Is he not " a real character™ " just because he was NOT in a canon romantic relationship? Is his story simply incomplete, and will only be completed once he got laid and had kids, and became another one of the champion of the undefeated heterosexual union and the traditional nuclear family value? Is that the one criteria for a "well-written" character and therefore HE is somehow lacking?

People say things like "You know he wasn't doing it JUST for Daisy" which would be correct, if they weren't ONLY pointing at the family photo AND NOTHING ELSE.

He lost all his marine friends who went to Mars alongside him who did just punched their CO. In Doom I, his biggest motivation was to go home, but when he finally did he came back to a ruin that was once his hometown. Imagine the civilian death if even a rabbit ended up a mounted head. Are those not good enough motivation for someone to want revenge against entire Hell? Only the death of romantic partner and offspring count as valid, or heavy enough life-altering tragic events? Is a story important only if it's about romantic relationships, and any other kind of love, be it platonic, familial, philia; they simply, naturally, had LESS emotional weight than The True Romance?

(The photo, by the way, didn't exist in classic doom at ALL. In Eternal is left near a Garbage Can as another easter egg, that was more likely a nod to Quake Ranger's family photo than anything that holds real emotional value to the story. Even "Daisy's hind leg" did the "memory token" better than this. The only confirmation of "It's his wife and kid" came from Hugo Martin casually commented about it ONCE during one of his streams. Certain people here are weaponizing it as a confirmation that Doomguy must be their straightest patriarchal romantasy daddy dom husband woobified perfect masculinity warrior and attacking fans who headcanon him queer aroace. Except the latter is A LOT MORE IN CHARACTER and compliant to the overall subtext DOOM has been exploring, than the former. sorry.)

Even if we don't quote Carmack, and I mean this quote:

His sexuality is left intentionally vague and it's good they did that. Sex or romantic love interest subplot is not (NEVER!) where a DOOM story is going to explore because 1. it's not important to a story about killing demons in Hell 2. it's not important to the development of the main character 3. it's SO NOT important Doomguy simply doesn't care to know what sex is AND that's a GOOD thing.

Before anyone jump in to say "He can still be non-cishet or aroace and married to a woman or have children" you do realize the point is queer people are oppressed because they do not follow that norm and it's important when we have someone like Doomguy to NOT being part of THAT and still be considered an iconic, self-realized and extremely cool character by the majority of the fans.

There was so many things to explore in Fortress of Doom that can tell us Doomguy's personality as well as his human side, but SOME OF YOU ONLY NOW wants to recognize him as a real character because they finally decided to double down on making another video game "dead wife avenger" guy and add it to the list. Don't joke with me now.

Doomguy was never "NOT an actual character" when the first thing we knew about him was that he punched his CO for ordering them to shoot civilians, thus broke the stereotype of 80s American patriot GI Joe protagonist. He may be a marine but he's one of the most obvious anti-authority "fuck the system and whoever thinks themselves more important than the rest of us" guy, actually.

The next thing was he watches "restrictive flicks" when he was on Mars, so he isn't one of those repressed model citizens either. Then, despite being the toughest, survivalist one-man army who gets angry and aggressive easily and probably had daddy issues (if we consider the part where he sees Commander Keen, likely his father or grandfather's hanging body), he has a RABBIT as pet or family and HE personally named her Daisy.

"Maybe Daisy is his kid's rabbit" NO DAISY IS. HIS. RABBIT. It's part of his characterization if not one of the most important part. When you want a character to be more human, or have more depth, you give them something that contradicts his archetype. Combining it with the fact he doesn't need a relationship or sex, and felt happy living alone with his pet rabbit, Daisy then holds a broader, bigger significance to Him. Maybe he wanted to improve his temper and bought Daisy, maybe he sees Daisy as a reminder to always protect the most vulnerable. Maybe he sees himself in Daisy because they're both mute. But now Daisy is just a representation of his family or kid.

Is that really a good thing?

Idk if it's just me but whenever i read a comic or look into ships etc. and all of the above, i refuse to follow whatever is deemed as 'canon'.

Honestly, it's more like you have the character, you have the personality, the people, and the baseline situations they're assimilated with, for example let's use Jason Todd because that mf gets so much injustice that is my baby people.

We KNOW and all follow the fact that he became Robin because he was stealing the tires off the batmobile, we all know he was written off the basis of classism throughout his comics, we all know that he was brutally tortured and murdered by joke *insert crowbar*.

Now as a continuation from this, when we look at his resurrection from the Lazarus Pit most things after that i refuse to sort of acknowledge, as though in my own mind i come up with more logical scenarios.

Jason was brought up in poverty, around drugs, criminals, and had to do so much to survive, him being m'd off by downright diabolical readers, anyhow his entire 'angry' persona DC and the fanbase has given him, honestly is a misjudgement of character when instead the outlook should be somewhat more like :

Joker clipped Jasons wings, Jason cauterised the wounds, and Bruce picked at the scabs until the skin toughened over and his wings would never grow back from inside of him (yes this is a robin metaphor my shayla)

2. He is consistently outcasted, from literally nearly everyone he knew, once returning as the Redhood sure i understand Batman's anger to an extent, he was m'ing people off at the end of the day, but Bruce should have nurtured that anger, despite it all Jason mentally was still a child who just wanted proof his dad still loved him, he didn't know how to regulate those emotions, he didn't know how to process it or accept it, men don't fully develop their mind until age 25+, and emotionally until mid 40's, now he died around age 15 but his mental state was significantly younger due to intense trauma, amnesia, and an extended coma, now when Talia (the love of my life i am so gay for her) put him in the Lazarus pit to recover those memories it would have put him mentally, in a catatonic headspace, unlocking a darker more angrier side of him, now how i said earlier his mental state is way younger than that of his current age of the time, he didn't know how to regulate those emotions and lets not forget he's become so familiar with being hurt and being let down as well as being put down as an individual he's become comfortable in that zone, he's expressed that as being an angry person because once you supress emotions they come out as either extreme anger or anxiety, Jason had that latter and it is hard to change from a certain mindset because of the familiarity within it, he just became so used to it it's like his default, he's not an angry person it's his inability to express those repressed emotions causing such behaviour. He's such an intense and misunderstood character i feel for him so bad i swear it's like the only way for him to cope is to usually resort to violence or spiralling within his own mind and its so sad because its the only thing he understands and has experienced it's his 'norm' at this point i feel like he knows he can change that coping mechanism within him but he's afraid of what that change will bring same way when people try to help by default he's expecting them to give up or to eventually become disappointed and abandon him so he tries to close off before he realises they have indeed gotten to him, in this case any reconciliation with Bruce.

3. Additionally, his upbringing on the streets and his childhood dynamic with his mother and his heavily absent father as shown in most comic issues (personally his fathers absence and gang involvement was just to ensure their survival i don't agree with his methods but i can't be one to speak since i haven't lived in such a state myself, i assume he was desperate and just wanted to do enough to keep his family afloat, by all means he wasn't a bad father but not a good one either) he struggles with overthinking and anxiety over those around him that much is clear, he is consistently trying to live up to everyones expectations, first when he was Robin, trying to live up to the first boy wonder, the golden boy, Richard John 'Dick' Grayson, the legacy he left behind is indisputable, alongside him and Batman being the iconic dynamic duo, Jason looked up to that ideal, it's even mention in Batman : Urban legends (2021) [i recommend reading it, there's even Brutalia Crumbs in the 20th issue, the first 6? i think, comics contain Batman and Jason's dynamic and i think it's portrayed quite well even though without a doubt for every comic there will be flaws *cough* Jason's art *cough*] consistently how they could never achieve the role of Batman and Robin together, as well as Alfreds consistent pushing towards Bruce that Jason doesn't need Batman, he needs his father Bruce Wayne, [ik im side noting but every time Bruce says son in those issues my heart melts because THATS HIS SON FIGHT ME] but anyways, Jason knows he can't live up to Grayson and in a way he doesn't have to, but he doesn't realise that yet and it hurts my heart because he is his own man, he shouldn't be defined as the 'Angry Robin' or Batmans 'Greatest Failure' because he isn't that, why have we refined and narrowed him down to that when he is so much more, he lived a life of pain and hardship and always bounced back from it, that is the strength we need to recognise, not that he's straying from 'Bruce's antiquated sense of morality' [Yes i did just quote that cry about it] but he is trying to figure himself out, he's not Robin, he's just a kid who wishes he found a home that not only embraced him but nurtured him correctly.

4. This one goes without saying and i hate hate hate the writers for doing this to my two most unfairly treated characters, Talia helping Jason and then the writers going ahead and saying they slept together is fucked beyond any means. Sorry to say Talia is his literal MOTHER figure, alongside Diana, but Talia raised him from the ashes and gave him what Bruce couldn't, a life without expectations, because he inevitably did branch off, return to Gotham, and operate as the Red Hood. My point is it is a huge injustice and a result of misogny, racism, poor writing, and just generic hatred for them, like it's clear they wanted to portray Talia as a lustful maneater [i think thats the word for womanizer but for women idk im yapping sm istg] but honestly, they've stereotyped her into a generic Arab/Egyptian/Chinese baddie that the writers had so much potential with especially in terms of Brutalia and their relationship [fuck you Grant Morrison], but going back on track, that should have never happened, in my head it never happened, aside from the fact it's just WRONG, it's a firm belief Jason shouldn't have any love interests (Like Artemis or Roy or Barbara if you ship any of them with him) until he is mentally stable again, but that can only happen if the fucking writers do their fucking job and develop his fucking character, and romantic relations should be cut off, in a way he is a boy in a mans body, he is still navigating this world, it'd be so very wrong to throw a love interest at him and expect a happy outcome when he can't yet work through his own emotions. But regardless it is FACT that him sharing a bed with Talia is just incorrect in so many ways and all in all the writers poor excuse for it was so that Talia could punish Bruce, what kind of logic is that, they're simply portraying her as some sort of evil, lustful, manipulative whore when in reality my queen is one of the most misunderstood, loving character known to man like she loves her beloved and her son the writers are so fucked for it.

And honestly, i understand the part where his time with the Al-Ghuls was to exemplify his transformation into the Redhood, but honestly that entire sexual encounter, all of it, and yes i do understand it was RETCONNED but what in the several hating fucks did that idea even come about? Yes i know Talia is still a villain but she is not that kind of woman at all, i swear with these writers it's anything to destroy and incriminate the Brutalia ship, and they did the same thing with Damian, tf you mean he married his niece? You cannot tell me that wasn't written by blatant racism and stereotyping, these writers and their incest makes me want to beat my self with a crowbar.

5. Last but not least (yes i am aware this is my first post and yapping out my ass) CLASSISM : 'prejudice against people belonging to a particular social class.' Now when we look at this it can be from 2 perspectives, From Bruces/ Alfreds or from Jasons.

a) Bruce / Alfred :

Like from this we can say that Bruce has seen the poverish life, he has also lived the lavish life, through his global training there are many depictions where he chooses to live as a vagabond and in prisons in order to understand the criminal mindset, and even engaged in many street fights during his travels in learning different fighting techniques, these selections i have taken from the comic are specific but when put in context, the next few panels entail Bruce's reluctance to give up on Jason while Alfred speaks his mind and he opinionated truth in saying Jason is unstable and unsaveable .

Batman is frequently portrayed as a millionaire who uses his wealth to combat crime, but with Jason, this relationship can underscore the disparity between Gotham's wealthy defenders and the vulnerable, lower-class individuals they protect.

While Alfred provides care, the Bat-cave's polished, controlled, and frequently sterile environment can accentuate the sense of class disparity by placing a working-class, often traumatised, kid in a new, privileged setting.

b) Jason Todd :

Unlike Dick Grayson or Tim Drake, Jason comes from a background of great poverty and neglect, making him an outlier in Wayne Manor's polished atmosphere. The story of Jason Todd in the Batman mythology emphasises important class concerns, frequently drawing comparisons between the affluent world of Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth and his poor, brutal upbringing in Crime Alley. Todd, a working-class Robin, reflects on topics of wealth disparity and the "traumatised child" storyline within the Bat-family by contrasting his trauma and rebellious nature with the affluent, well-groomed demeanour of predecessors.

[Holy yap where is this passion in my english exams]

All in all, Jason isn't an angry person, the storyline he went through (and im talking about the tiny increments not the larger pieces eg. his death, his need to clean the city etc.) was just based off of shit writing, they could have done so much more with his character, made him more potent in explanation as to why he is the way he is instead of people mischaracterising him and just saying they like him bc he's hot like people no theres layers to this fight me right now.

All these images below are from Batman Urban Legends [there is so much more to go through but i wont spoil it if you haven't read it yet]

In finality, there are a lot of condensed story lines for every single DC character, but i for one cannot take one narrative or portrayal and assimilate it with that character, simply because some of these writers are so fucking shit it makes me want to cry yes Tom King i am talking about too and i can and will go off on one because how dare he do Diana dirty like that.

There is simply an extensive surplus amount of 'hatedom' for so many of these characters, the unresolved injustices in writing, hell half the fanbase, AO3 and Tumblr writers alike can do a better job than these 'qualified' writers, these 13 year olds on here can do a better job, to write a character, you must know a character, to know a character you must look at logical responses to what they have been through instead of making a continuation in scenarios where they are just constantly eating shit.

And if you made it to the end of this strenuously long shit talk, i congratulate you, i think i want to do indepth, deep dives on different character personalities, specifically the Batfamily since those are the comics i am focusing on, then im hoping to jump to the Wonderwoman comics, the Arrowverse, etc. etc.

Neal wanted the freedom to live his own life and make his own choices.

Though he knew that he and Peter understood justice differently, he wanted Peter to agree that Neal had paid his debt and earned his freedom.

Neal was trying to get both Mozzie and Peter what Neal thought they wanted from him: a big score for Mozzie, a big bust for Peter, and Keller on a silver platter.

To protect his friends from retribution from the Panthers. If he were dead, they'd be left alone.

Enough money so that he could create his own version of Witsec, and he'd never have to worry about being poor. I think there's some old trauma around that for him.

A con that didn't directly hurt anyone. The money had no clear owner, and Neal didn't have to deceive anyone else to take a share of what the Panthers were already stealing.

The perfect good-bye to all his New York friends.

A chance for Peter to see how good Neal really was at his work. A chance to share the rush of the heist with Peter.

Getting Keller out of the picture for good. Neal wouldn't shoot Keller himself, but he is ruthless enough to send Keller out to face Peter with a gun neither knows is unloaded.

A really memorable last con. I think Neal is done chasing the big score; I think he's learned that much from his time with the FBI, and from his experience with people like Ford who didn't know when to walk away. If the Panthers had been as likable as Neal, Mozzie, or Gordon Taylor, I'd be less sure about that.

A head start in getting set up in his new life, before Peter and Mozzie could find him and start trying to get him to be the man they wanted. The last scene of Neal in his suit and hat, wandering through Paris, is from Peter's imagination, not necessarily a depiction of what happened; the newspaper might be a misdirect from Neal.

Neal wanted to let Mozzie and Peter know that he'd faked his death, again, but he didn't want to come back on the FBI's radar (partly because he'd just stolen millions of dollars, and partly because he thinks the FBI will find an excuse to get him back on the anklet.) That's why he goes the indirect path of giving Mozzie the card and Peter the key to the storage locker (it's in his effects when he "dies"). Why is this episode called "Au Revoir" and not "Goodbye"? Because the literal French meaning, "until I see you again," is different from the literal English meaning.

But he also wanted to give Peter space in case he decided he was done dealing with his mess and didn't want to look for him. Peter has a real son now, after all, and Neal thinks he might have been replaced.

I think Neal reached out to Mozzie fairly quickly, partly because he missed Mozzie, partly because Mozzie understands staying off the radar, and partly because Neal's going to need his share of the fourteen million. Or he sent a clue so obvious that Mozzie reached out.

I think Neal misses Peter, and eventually asks Mozzie to carefully reach out to Peter and see if it's worthwhile to try to get back in contact. (This explains Mozzie's behavior in the last ten minutes of the series.) Is Peter (a) eager to prove what happened to the missing money and (b) happy to say goodbye to Neal? Clearly no on both counts.

Most of this goes according to plan (though I'm not sure what Neal was going to do about Keller if Keller hadn't left without being arrested. Maybe he'd just let Peter prosecute him for Luc's murder?). The one real error is that Neal doesn't anticipate Peter would be too heartbroken and deceived by his fake death to solve the fun little puzzle with the key and the storage container, because he's not used to being loved.

As for what Neal is actually doing post-series, I think it's really open. I don't think it's either running cons or working full time with law enforcement, though. I think that's all over for him now.

The Brother

likes to relax

under pressure.

Who needs an anxiety jacket when you have blankets and dog beds to pile on? (And he will lay there and complain until you get the layers right.)