Stephen Strange To His Universe:

Stephen Strange to his universe:

(What If...? Episode 4)

Oh my gosh, this is one of the few times I’ve ever seen this amount of compassion for Stephen from other non-mystic heroes and I’m loving it! 💕

This is sweet 💙 (New Avengers (2010) #7)

One word: exactly.

Okay, let’s make it simple:

1) I don’t like X Youtuber: Don’t watch them. Don’t be an asshole to those that do.

2) I like X Youtuber but didn’t like their latest vid: Don’t watch it again. Don’t be an asshole to people who did like it.

3) I don’t ship X characters: Don’t follow the tags, don’t read the fics, don’t watch the vids etc. Don’t be an asshole and shame others who do ship it, unless it brings FUNDAMENTAL HARM to the COMMUNITY, NOT YOU PERSONALLY; then you blacklist it, and walk away.

4) I don’t ship real life: Don’t follow the tags, don’t read the fics, don’t watch the vids. Don’t be an asshole and shame others who ship it WHO BRING NO FUNDAMENTAL HARM. A gentle reminder not to bring it to the table of those involved may be required at times, because a small section of people DO (and that is the part that is wrong) but don’t scream about your freedom rights while causing mental damage to another person.

5) I don’t like this show/movie: Don’t watch it, don’t follow the tags, don’t give it attention. Don’t be an asshole to people who do.

6) I don’t like X person in real life: Don’t pay attention to them, don’t be an asshole and post or comment hate in the guise of “memes”; living or dead- you’re just an asshole and a disgusting human being; commenting “nah I don’t like them” if you’re asked is different to this.

Tldr: Check in with yourself how you can prevent the foibles of life tripping you up before you become an asshole. No hate comment, post or verbal rant is gonna blanket it as an “opinion” if you’re not open to others differences; it just makes you look like a fucking idiot, mate.

Older comics x accenting Stephen’s physical prowess.

(Marvel Premier #6, 1972)

PREACH!

Honestly it annoys me how all ships that are “valid or good” have to 100% healthy and not problematic whatsoever. But drama makes for great storytelling. Flawed relationships are interesting and relatable. So the people who like to act all high and mighty about their ships can fuck off. Who are you to tell me what “real love” is?

I also encourage reading the Fantastic Four: Books of Doom by Ed Brubaker. It’s an extended backstory for Victor and is actually very insightful as to his Romani heritage.

What are some stories about Dr. Doom that showcase his Romani heritage ? I keep reading that him being Romani is a big part of his motivations but I haven't read a lot of Fantastic Four comics.

I don’t read very much Fantastic Four, either. I’m really not a Doctor Doom expert, but I can tell you that Victor’s cultural identity, and his upbringing in a migrant Roma community, have always a core part of his backstory. Fantastic Four Annual #2, which is first telling of Doom’s origin, details his adolescence and young adulthood in Latveria. Although the language used is, as usual, super problematic-- Fantastic Four Annual makes it very clear that Victor and his community were honest, mostly ordinary people who endured prejudice and violence in a racist system. This is a comic that came out in 1964, so this stuff has been part of the canon for almost sixty years.

Victor’s father, Werner, was a folk medicine healer who was indirectly killed by the cruel Baron who governed Latveria at the time. The Baron had demanded Werner treat his dying wife, but when Werner was unable to save her, the baron threatened to kill him. Werner and Victor were forced to flee their camp and, without shelter, Werner died of cold that winter. Victor, grief-stricken swore vengeance.

Fantastic Four Annual #2 (1964)

Victor’s mother, Cynthia, died when he was a baby. Her life and death have been alluded to many times over the years, but in Marvel Graphic Novel #49, it is stated that Cynthia struck a deal with Mephisto in an attempt to gain enough magical power to protect her community, and especially her young son. As is often the case where Mephisto is involved, Cynthia’s plans went awry and she was fatally wounded by one the Baron’s guardsmen during an attack on his castle. 

Marvel Graphic Novel #49 (1989)

I wanted to share these panels because there is a clear consciousness of race and class, which comes to the surface in spite of the problematic language and flawed imagery. I was really surprised, reading these stories, at how many details resonated with my understanding of Roma history. Werner’s profession as a folk healer, and the way that his skills were both sought after and vilified by non-Roma, struck me as very true-to-life. This line, in particular, really stood out to me.

“... the old Baron of Latveria never allowed us a moment’s peace. He forced us to live on the move, and then condemned us as ‘shiftless wanderers.’ Resistance to his authority was always dangerous and often fatal.”

This a simple, and in many ways shallow, commentary on systemic antiromanyism. It is also one of the only times I’ve seen an American superhero comic interrogate an actual, real function of Roma oppression in a way that would disabuse American readers of misinformation. The popular image of “gypsies” in Western cultures is that “shiftless wanderer,” but this story casts that in a new light. That’s... kind of a big deal, and it’s surprising to me that these stories haven’t had a greater impact, considering how iconic and widely known the Doctor Doom character is .