Vampire, Weak End: ACTION COMICS #577, JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #25 (JLI 32)
Dec. 3rd, 2025 08:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tcampbell1000 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scans_daily
Warning for mass grave scenes, likely suicide, and overall “humanity sucks” vibes. After establishing themselves as “the funny League,” Giffen, DeMatteis, and Templeton would spend about six issues going dark, and that run starts right here. But before that…
In Action Comics #577, 1986, Keith Giffen broke out one of his AP English vocab words and created Caitiff, the first and now-last vampire. The word “caitiff” means “wretched, contemptible person” or occasionally “villain,” and it shares roots with “captive.” But the word wasn’t generally associated with vampires, AFAIK, until the launch of Vampire: the Masquerade in 1991. It’s possible that VtM got the idea from this. Dialogue by Robert Loren Fleming.
Right from the start, Caitiff lived down to his etymology.
( He was hiding in the sewers and didn’t even make it look fun the way the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles did. )
The Mortal Thor #3 - "The Father of Lies"
Dec. 3rd, 2025 06:02 pmlaughing_tree posting in scans_daily
Weirdly, I’d actually been the last person to touch Donald Blake after Donny Cates gave him the role of God of Lies – I was writing a crossover between Thor and Venom, and the main plot point Donny requested was that Blake should become the Serpent at the end, so he obviously had some plans for that status quo that were sadly curtailed, so I wasn’t planning to do much with them at first. But then, the closer I got to actually writing the story, the more Blake wove himself back in. -- Al Ewing
( Read more... )
Mod Post: Off-Topic Tuesday
Dec. 2nd, 2025 09:35 amicon_uk posting in scans_dailyIn the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like.
Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.
The intent of these posts is to chat and have some fun and, sure, vent a little as required. Reasoned debate is fine, as always, but if you have to ask if something is going over the line, think carefully before posting please.
Normal board rules about conduct and behaviour still apply, of course.
It's been suggested that, if discussing spoilers for recent media events, it might be advisable to consider using the rot13 method to prevent other members seeing spoilers in passing.
The world situation is the world situation. If you're following the news, you know it as much as I do, if you're not, then there are better sources than scans_daily. But please, no doomscrolling, for your own sake.
I hope that those who celebrated Thanksgiving did so in as harmonious a manner as possible.
In the UK, our own Right Wing extremist wannabe cult leader, Nigel Farage countered claims of Anti-Semitism and racist behaviour in his school days by saying that he had "never directly racially abused anybody"... which managed to make the word "directly" do more heavy lifting than an Olympic shot-put team.
However bad your workday was, the odds are that it was better than whoever at the Office for Budget Responsibility pushed the button which accidentally released a detailed response to, the UK Government's Budget report, several hours before the UK Government actually announced it's Budget report.
The Terry Pratchett Estate has announced that in Discworld terms, following 2025 being "The Year of the Luminous Lemur", 2026 will be "The Year of the Curious Squid".
Stranger Things, Season 5 Pt1 dropped. Having forgotten to actually watch most of Season 4, I made do with the recap and don't think I missed too much. I suspect a lot of shippers will be unhappy with some choices being made but, whilst sympathising with them of course, never having been that invested in it myself, I think I actually liked the realisation at the end of the last episode of this part. I've also seen these episodes described as being "A lot of build up, but not much actually happens", which is probably fair but that's what happens when you split a season in two for marketing purposes)
Hey look, they've made a sequel to the weird by excellent (IMHO) 2022 Norwegian monster movie "Troll" and it's on Netflix!
Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.
The intent of these posts is to chat and have some fun and, sure, vent a little as required. Reasoned debate is fine, as always, but if you have to ask if something is going over the line, think carefully before posting please.
Normal board rules about conduct and behaviour still apply, of course.
It's been suggested that, if discussing spoilers for recent media events, it might be advisable to consider using the rot13 method to prevent other members seeing spoilers in passing.
The world situation is the world situation. If you're following the news, you know it as much as I do, if you're not, then there are better sources than scans_daily. But please, no doomscrolling, for your own sake.
I hope that those who celebrated Thanksgiving did so in as harmonious a manner as possible.
In the UK, our own Right Wing extremist wannabe cult leader, Nigel Farage countered claims of Anti-Semitism and racist behaviour in his school days by saying that he had "never directly racially abused anybody"... which managed to make the word "directly" do more heavy lifting than an Olympic shot-put team.
However bad your workday was, the odds are that it was better than whoever at the Office for Budget Responsibility pushed the button which accidentally released a detailed response to, the UK Government's Budget report, several hours before the UK Government actually announced it's Budget report.
The Terry Pratchett Estate has announced that in Discworld terms, following 2025 being "The Year of the Luminous Lemur", 2026 will be "The Year of the Curious Squid".
Stranger Things, Season 5 Pt1 dropped. Having forgotten to actually watch most of Season 4, I made do with the recap and don't think I missed too much. I suspect a lot of shippers will be unhappy with some choices being made but, whilst sympathising with them of course, never having been that invested in it myself, I think I actually liked the realisation at the end of the last episode of this part. I've also seen these episodes described as being "A lot of build up, but not much actually happens", which is probably fair but that's what happens when you split a season in two for marketing purposes)
Hey look, they've made a sequel to the weird by excellent (IMHO) 2022 Norwegian monster movie "Troll" and it's on Netflix!
Mary Renault, did you lie to me?
Dec. 1st, 2025 06:45 pmselenakNot being an Alexander the Great fangirl, I had never read the primary sources (which were written centuries later, because all the contemporary sources on AtG were lost) on everyone's favourite Macedon, but now I got around to reading at least Plutarch. And you know, if there is ONE thing not just the late Ms Renault and her trilogy but the entire internet led me to believe, it's that Hephaistion was Alexander's One True Love And Soulmate; even absolute homophobes concede him as the friend of friends, the Patroclos to Alexander's Achilles, etc. So imagine my suprrise when I stumbled upon these few paragraphs by good old Plutarch:
Moreover, when he saw that among his chiefest friends Hephaestion approved his course and joined him in changing his mode of life, while Craterus clung fast to his native ways, he employed the former in his business with the Barbarians, the latter in that with the Greeks and Macedonians. And in general he showed most affection for Hephaestion, but most esteem for Craterus, thinking, and constantly saying, that Hephaestion was a friend of Alexander, but Craterus a friend of the king.
For this reason, too, the men cherished a secret grudge against one another and often came into open collision. And once, on the Indian expedition, they actually drew their swords and closed with one another, and as the friends of each were coming to his aid, Alexander rode up and abused Hephaestion publicly, calling him a fool and a madman for not knowing that without Alexander's favour he was nothing; and in private he also sharply reproved Craterus.
Then he brought them together and reconciled them, taking an oath by Ammon and the rest of the gods that he loved them most of all men; but that if he heard of their quarrelling again, he would kill them both, or at least the one who began the quarrel. Wherefore after this they neither did nor said anything to harm one another, not even in jest.
Craterus? CRATERUS? And he "abused Hephaistion publicly?" Hephaistion - who in fiction shows up eternally chill and calming emo Alex down - was jealous of some guy who wasn't at least Bagoas? Truly, this is not what I expected.
To be fair: Plutarch also later describes the complete breakdown and momentous grief for Hephaistion when Heph dies. (Oh, and he does mention Bagoas as well, to wit: We are told, too, that he was once viewing some contests in singing and dancing, being well heated with wine, and that his favourite, Bagoas, won the prize for song and dance, and then, all in his festal array, passed through the theatre and took his seat by Alexander's side; at sight of which the Macedonians clapped their hands and loudly bade the king kiss the victor, until at last he threw his arms about him and kissed him tenderly. ) Still. I feel let down by the OTPlers.
Not really surprised, though. This kind of thing happens constantly in Frederician fandom.
To celebrate the latest example of research making everyone more complicated, I'm linking this gem, which includes both Alex and Fritz:
Moreover, when he saw that among his chiefest friends Hephaestion approved his course and joined him in changing his mode of life, while Craterus clung fast to his native ways, he employed the former in his business with the Barbarians, the latter in that with the Greeks and Macedonians. And in general he showed most affection for Hephaestion, but most esteem for Craterus, thinking, and constantly saying, that Hephaestion was a friend of Alexander, but Craterus a friend of the king.
For this reason, too, the men cherished a secret grudge against one another and often came into open collision. And once, on the Indian expedition, they actually drew their swords and closed with one another, and as the friends of each were coming to his aid, Alexander rode up and abused Hephaestion publicly, calling him a fool and a madman for not knowing that without Alexander's favour he was nothing; and in private he also sharply reproved Craterus.
Then he brought them together and reconciled them, taking an oath by Ammon and the rest of the gods that he loved them most of all men; but that if he heard of their quarrelling again, he would kill them both, or at least the one who began the quarrel. Wherefore after this they neither did nor said anything to harm one another, not even in jest.
Craterus? CRATERUS? And he "abused Hephaistion publicly?" Hephaistion - who in fiction shows up eternally chill and calming emo Alex down - was jealous of some guy who wasn't at least Bagoas? Truly, this is not what I expected.
To be fair: Plutarch also later describes the complete breakdown and momentous grief for Hephaistion when Heph dies. (Oh, and he does mention Bagoas as well, to wit: We are told, too, that he was once viewing some contests in singing and dancing, being well heated with wine, and that his favourite, Bagoas, won the prize for song and dance, and then, all in his festal array, passed through the theatre and took his seat by Alexander's side; at sight of which the Macedonians clapped their hands and loudly bade the king kiss the victor, until at last he threw his arms about him and kissed him tenderly. ) Still. I feel let down by the OTPlers.
Not really surprised, though. This kind of thing happens constantly in Frederician fandom.
To celebrate the latest example of research making everyone more complicated, I'm linking this gem, which includes both Alex and Fritz:
I, Max, in 3-D: JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #24 (JLI 31)
Dec. 1st, 2025 09:09 amtcampbell1000 posting in scans_daily
The cover’s a spoiler of sorts: by the end of the issue, this will be the official membership of the Justice League International--America and Europe.
But the most important character in this issue isn’t on the cover. All three of its stories are a showcase for the JLI-est of JLI characters...( G’Nort? )
Look! I remembered to post before December started this year!
Nov. 30th, 2025 02:42 am![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
denise posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_newsHello, friends! It's about to be December again, and you know what that means: the fact I am posting this actually before December 1 means karzilla reminded me about the existence of linear time again. Wait, no -- well, yes, but also -- okay, look, let me back up and start again: it's almost December, and that means it's time for our annual December holiday points bonus.
The standard explanation: For the entire month of December, all orders made in the Shop of points and paid time, either for you or as a gift for a friend, will have 10% of your completed cart total sent to you in points when you finish the transaction. For instance, if you buy an order of 12 months of paid time for $35 (350 points), you'll get 35 points when the order is complete, to use on a future purchase.
( The fine print and much more behind this cut! )
Thank you, in short, for being the best possible users any social media site could possibly ever hope for. I'm probably in danger of crossing the Sappiness Line if I haven't already, but you all make everything worth it.
On behalf of Mark, Jen, Robby, and our team of awesome volunteers, and to each and every one of you, whether you've been with us on this wild ride since the beginning or just signed up last week, I'm wishing you all a very happy set of end-of-year holidays, whichever ones you celebrate, and hoping for all of you that your 2026 is full of kindness, determination, empathy, and a hell of a lot more luck than we've all had lately. Let's go.
karzilla reminded me about the existence of linear time again. Wait, no -- well, yes, but also -- okay, look, let me back up and start again: it's almost December, and that means it's time for our annual December holiday points bonus.The standard explanation: For the entire month of December, all orders made in the Shop of points and paid time, either for you or as a gift for a friend, will have 10% of your completed cart total sent to you in points when you finish the transaction. For instance, if you buy an order of 12 months of paid time for $35 (350 points), you'll get 35 points when the order is complete, to use on a future purchase.
( The fine print and much more behind this cut! )
Thank you, in short, for being the best possible users any social media site could possibly ever hope for. I'm probably in danger of crossing the Sappiness Line if I haven't already, but you all make everything worth it.
On behalf of Mark, Jen, Robby, and our team of awesome volunteers, and to each and every one of you, whether you've been with us on this wild ride since the beginning or just signed up last week, I'm wishing you all a very happy set of end-of-year holidays, whichever ones you celebrate, and hoping for all of you that your 2026 is full of kindness, determination, empathy, and a hell of a lot more luck than we've all had lately. Let's go.
Red, Dog: SECRET ORIGINS #34-35 (JLI 30)
Nov. 28th, 2025 11:29 pmtcampbell1000 posting in scans_daily
Elsewhere, I’ve covered the many identities of Reagan in superhero comics. Gorbachev’s portrayals are fewer but no less fascinating. In GREEN LANTERN CORPS #209, 1986, he is intelligent and charming…far more so than Reagan in the same issue (one of the few portrayals I missed). But he is also, at the end of the day, a two-faced bad guy.
( Not Two-Face, though. His scar isn’t THAT pronounced. )
Moonshine Bigfoot #1-4
Nov. 27th, 2025 06:38 pmzylly posting in scans_dailyThis year saw the publication of the greatest mini series of all time. Not DC KO, not One World Under Doom, not Age of Revelation…
No, I’m talking about the one, the only, MOONSHINE BIGFOOT!
Featuring Bigfoot, hippie chicks, moonshine, car races, Bigfoot Hunters, ghosts, degraded kids' show hosts, and the Cobra Commander you get on Wish!
Pluribus 1.05
Nov. 27th, 2025 11:43 amselenakIn which the Hive just needs space, okay?
( Figures it would use the voice of Howard Hamlin to demand it… )
( Figures it would use the voice of Howard Hamlin to demand it… )
