The Bells of St. Martin's

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So it's been nearly a month since we moved to Minnesota, and I'm just now writing a journal about it. But really, man, it's been very busy. There's been so much disconcerting you're-on-your-own-in-adulthood stuff to take care of, like setting up internet service, establishing residency, arranging garbage service, new bank accounts, multiple repairs on the truck, and the bills for all these things. And we haven't yet finished unpacking and organizing the house. And the laundry! And the cooking! And the squirrel that keeps somehow getting into the hall closet at night and then disappearing a moment after we open the door armed with gloves and a broom!

But there is more freedom then ever before for eightcrows and me for receiving, discussing, and emoting over stories. And these stories lately...

We got every single issue of Batman from Jason Todd's post-crisis introduction through Death in the Family. All but one had arrived, and we were waiting, when the last one was hand-delivered by a member of the Green Lantern Corps. For real; this is actually what happened.

I think this is the most devastating thing I have ever read. It is so powerful, and so well-done, and I never guessed that it would... I talked about how the Young Justice cartoon showed forth the Real: what Goodness does and what is done to it in this fallen world. This does even more clearly, perhaps because of historical hindsight. I never guessed that the death of Jason Todd, a bloody tragedy driven by an unrestrained madman, with anonymous masses of people guilty by complicity out-of-universe, would be so connected, in-universe, to the major bloody tragedy of our age driven by unrestrained lust and greed and madness, with anonymous masses of people guilty by participation, complicity, and inaction. I'm talking about abortion.

Yes, it's in there. Read it, and see how well-handled all the horrors of our time are, and tell me if you can why on this earth anyone hated Jason, because I can see no reason whatsoever. No, do not tell me, I do not want to hear from these people. At Space City Con, I had a great time hanging out with crazy Homestucks, meeting Sylvester McCoy, etc. But one thing I deeply regret. At a booth we were looking for issues with Jason, and the seller noticed and felt the need to express disdainful incredulity at our wanting to read about him (sure, great selling tactic there, insult your potential customers' taste!) and proudly boasted he had voted for his murder. I do not wish I had said a stinging rejoinder, because I can never do those right. I just wish I had turned my back and walked away at once. Instead of politely hmming and withdrawing after a little while. I feel the same painful regret at politely applauding the Northern Irish Minister of Education as we had applauded all the politicians who agreed to address our study abroad group, after she had included in her description of goals government-sponsored abortion. (And just what the Hell does that have to do with education?)

Anyway, Jason Todd is an incredible character and now my favorite Robin. (And with how much I love Dick Grayson, this is a big statement.) I am also glad our Death in the Family compilation book included Tim Drake's introduction; it was the best I've ever seen that character at. In Young Justice he's okay, sometimes a bit obnoxious; in the Animated Series HE'S NOT REALLY TIM AT ALL HE'S JASON, and in the Teen Titans comics I've read for the sake of more Jaime he's just plain awful. How could the kid who so selflessly understood what the death of his predecessor meant, go so wrong about such things later and become such a tool? Different writers, I guess is the trouble. That's the thing about DC. So much truly great and True stuff, so much crap as well, so you gotta use your judgement what to accept.

Without this necessarily indicating anything about the content, *cough* I am more motivated for Decadence than ever before. I'm writing Masque, which is the first one I'll be drawing and posting, now. And as aforesaid, the goal for posting the first chapter is: August 25th. I have the first chapter all written so even if I haven't finished writing the story by then I can still have drawn it. (Though I hope I can finish the writing first.)

We are also watching Digimon Adventure. I hadn't watched it in thirteen years, since it aired. And back then, there were many episodes I never saw, so it's almost like a whole new thing! Loving these characters even more now... and the hugs, Meenah! The hugs!

With both these things, it's the Love between characters that makes things so powerful. And I see many people, on tumblr for example, who take the attitude: if you really love a Love between characters, you will envision it as all forms of love, including (and this one seems to be their main interest) erotic. To that I say, HELL NO. If you love a Love between characters, you love what it IS; you don't try to make it something it's NOT. These things are special because they're unique, and they can't be unique if they're whatever you want to fantasize rather than WHAT THEY ARE.
What they are is heartbreakingly beautiful and true. Do not do violence to that, or you do violence to the characters. And those who are guilty of violence toward the innocent will answer for it someday.