@Hedgeypig: High on Hiddleston | @Lor Tom Hiddleston’s charm | @paperrdoll: changed in many ways be it in music o Hiddleston | @rufalosketches1: Being telligence, and charm! And him being Beeing awestruck and moved by Tom’s abi as a person | @OliwiaDe : Being comple personality, also inspired by him on Being amazed by the sweetness, kindne want to be a better person just like his eyes,hearing nothing but his laugh great,I dare you to resist him | @dr by a magnificent & radiant soul. Being big, aim high | @DSPmoviejunkie : To charm and graciousness of the great ma is hiddlestoned when he/she is on loka for them. Andrea | @neighbours_kid : . toned includes to be attracted to Tom definitions* | @Wife_Of_Peeta : To be c dy and pudding, in awe of the fabulou Army | @asdiso : To be Hiddlestoned is the wit, the modesty and the charm of : Doomed to wander the earth alone b ver have. #howdramatic | @AbyssalOne Spreading the inspiration. Uniting ou @Britta_Jones : It’s when you no long anymore because Tom has taken over you Kanga : Going into shock, after watch You’re Hiddlestoned if you’ve been Lok you do what you want, saying sorry all struck by his good qualities, talent, slow but irreversible process | @elis clapping eyes on a pic of Tom, variati ling & deskbanging | @ShadyMcBrady16 for one Mr. Tom Hiddleston | @KatEmig ves when one realizes that this man, looks, is The Man | @ShadyMcBrady16 : and soul was in this deep lull when I his face | @30_MT_Goddess : When you sl in fact, imperfections... you just do
WHAT IS HIDDLES
ree_Smile : Being under the effect of : To be entirely sucked in, inspired, or life by one man alone, which is Tom in awe of Tom’s kindness, talent, insilly as well :) | @XPURPLEPHOENIX : ility as an actor and most importantly, etely bewitched by his acting&amazing so many levels of life | @ximeniiux : ess and talent of Tom besides that you him | @Archeo_Raki : Getting lost in h,watching his movies spellbound.He’s reachen95 : Being irrevocably smitten g a better person. Being able to dream be inspired by and high on the wit, an | @neighbours_kid : A hiddlestoner aine. Lokaine is the drug that is Loki ...it’s not only Loki. Being hiddlesm. To be inspired by him. *add all the céilidh dancing on clouds made of wenus Mr Hiddleston. Together we are his s to admire the talent, the intellect, f young Mr. Hiddleston | @amberhumbug because we have seen what we can ne: For me it’s: “Sharing our passion. ur love. An appreciation of life.” | ger have the ability to think clearly ur thoughts,dreams,and soul | @Ellie_ hing Tom being flawless | @silargu : ki’d, seeing Wendys everywhere and if l the time | @greekprincess18 : Being , and okay, good physicality. It’s a se248 : A deep trance-like state after ions of symptoms include severe droo: The feeling of being drunk on love gh : The state of euphoria one achiew/ his amazing talent & classic good : When I found out about Tom, my heart I heard him speak and when I first saw lowly begin to realise that there are, on’t care. They’re easily overlooked.
IT TO BE STONED?
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EDITOR IN CHIEF & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
CARLOTA HERNÁNDEZ @Hashtag_Genius | @HiddlestonedMag hiddlestoned.magazine@gmail.com hash.editor@hiddlestonedmagazine.com MANAGING EDITOR
DELUCIENNE MAEKERR @delusionmaker delucienne.maekerr@hiddlestonedmagazine.com SENIOR EDITOR
KARI CARLSON @QueenSerenity42 klc011@hotmail.com queenserenity42@gmail.com EDITORS
AMANDA MILLER @purplelizard25 purplelizard25@yahoo.com GIOVANA RAMOS @GihRamos giovanaramos@uol.com.br ALISON B. @VaGentlenerd alison.y.baker@gmail.com AUTHORS
ARIEL KINGSTON arielkingston.hol@gmail.com CHRISTINE BERNADETTE @TWHiddlestunned christinescottpurple@hotmail.com christinebernadettescott@gmail.com DIANA LUQUE LAVADO @photosynthetica diana.luque@gmail.com DORY ÁLVAREZ @Doryx1lazo moda.dory@gmail.com EMILY L. laamemily@gmail.com ERIN L. @_DaftVamp tokyolovelockdown@gmail.com HAYDAR OZAN KANTARCI haydar.kantarci@hotmail.com KATE MILLER @LokiIsMyCopilot katie_miller@comcast.net dr.kate.miller@gmail.com KATIE DESSIN @KatieDessin therealkatied@yahoo.com L. EDWARDS @Girlsintheback laura_lizz60@hotmail.com diasyifyoudo@gmail.com MAHONEY SMITHTON @artedecoy mahoney.smithton@gmail.com SILVIA ARIZA @silargu sil.argu@gmail.com
ILLUSTRATORS
ZEII ISANGELOUS zeiizeo89@gmail.com DELUCIENNE MAEKERR @delusionmaker delucienne.maekerr@hiddlestonedmagazine.com GUESTS
GABRIELLA (LOKI PAGE) @gabyU2 @Loki_Page https://twitter.com/HiddlesArmy https://twitter.com/Loki_Page LINDSEY MICHELLE (HIDDLE’S ARMY) @lindsqualls @HiddlesArmy https://twitter.com/lindsqualls https://twitter.com/HiddlesArmy TOM’S FANS 4LIFE @TomsFans4life https://twitter.com/TomsFans4life SERAPHINA @JustSeraphina seraphinamails@gmail.com CONTRIBUTORS
ASHLEY S. THOMPSON @MidnightsAshes ast475@cccb.edu ELIZABETH CLARK @liz_clark12978 clark.liz78@gmail.com HAYLEE SADE @HayleeSade eline_wolf_lover@hotmail.com HEDGEY PIG @Hedgeypig hedgeypig@gmail.com JT. @AvengersCast junicetong@gmail.com KIM DUFRESNE @KimPDufresne kimpdufresne@gmail.com ROSELYN SHADE
DISCLAIMER: This project called Hiddlestoned Mag is totally made by fans. We don’t have any monetary purpose with the project, that’s why it is, and will always be free. This is a non-profit project. The pictures we use aren’t ours, except when mentioned. They are all the artists’ property, either photographers or illustrators.
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 6
THANK YOU To Del To Tom Hiddleston Because of “never stop.” Because of “never stop fighting.” Because of “never stop dreaming.” Because “your sky is your limit.” Because “haters never win.” Because of “think big.” Because of optimism. Because of “live now. Right now.” Because of “stay hungry, stay young, stay foolish, stay curious.” And because of “above all stay humble.” Because of compassion. Because of kindness. Because of you. Thank you.
To the whole Team I would like to send a huge and amazing THANK YOU full with hugs, kisses, and loads of love to all the team. Not just the writers or people in the credits, but everyone: to the ones who sent an email offering help, to the ones who write for the mag and are still waiting for their chance, to the ones who had helped us to spread the word, to the ones who just sent us that little tweet or message of support. EVERYONE. Because this magazine is built with every little piece of you and is YOURS. So the credit is all yours. #HugAttack
This crazy girl approached me months ago when I was just thinking about this project and she was so willing to help, so creative, and talented... So I let her in. She has become my Phil Coulson, my Jiminy Cricket, my John Watson, my Caroline Channing. She has calmed me down when I fangirled too much and also has rekindled my dreams when I no longer believed in myself. She has always been there, and this magazine would still be just a dream if she without her. I owe you everything. And just a “thank you” doesn’t seem like enough.
NOVEMBER 2012
HIDDLESTONED 7
MO VING MOUN TAINS I
EDITOR’S NOTE
’ve tried. I should talk about fandom and I swear, I’ve really tried. I’ve tried to explain the reason for this magazine’s existence in this sort of editorial of doom. I’ve really tried to find the perfect words to express what fandom is for me and show it to you. I bought this notebook and started writing like crazy, so confident of myself at the beginning that at some point I’d know what I was trying to say. So I wrote and wrote, talking about everything and nothing at the same time, mixing languages, changing subjects for no reason, writing about friends, my life, about Twitter, about Tumblr, about coffee, about the magazine, the team, about my family, about that annoying fly that is hitting the glass window, writing on the bus, at home, on the train, perfectly straight, upside down, with legible typos, with nonsense scrawls and crossing out. Crossing out and crossing out and crossing out.
And my final conclusion was that I. Had. Nothing. I suck at this. I did not write anything worthy for you to read. What I did have was almost 23 pages full of everything that probably doesn’t make sense
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 8
to anyone but myself and, maybe, someone who for some reason feels the same as I do. I gave up. But two days later, I was staring defiantly at this damn notebook and I suddenly realized that what I was trying to say about fandom was not in the words that I wrote, but in the picture of the pages itself: something inexplicable, messy, mixed, crazy, creative, passionate, limitless. Powerful. Huge. Fandom is the Power of the Tesseract. The Elder Wand. Sherlock’s mind Palace. Just as kindness (quoting a certain someone), it “can move mountains,” and this magazine is about the mountains amazing people moved on their own. From a fan’s messy heart, Enjoy. :)
@Hashtag_Genius
NOVEMBER 2012
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HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 10
Diana and Gio trying to decide a name for food section
NOVEMBER 2012
HIDDLESTONED
11
TOM’S
FAN TWITTER
ACCOUNTS IF YOU ARE A HIDDLESTONER AND YOU HAVE A TWITTER ACCOUNT, THEN YOU PROBABLY ARE ALREADY FOLLOWING THEM. BUT... WHO ARE THEY?
I suppose it makes the most sense to start from the beginning. Don’t worry, I don’t mean the day of my conception - just the beginning of my journey as a fan of Tom Hiddleston. It’s nothing spectacular. It’s similar to many other introductions to the man, but still, it seems necessary to explain. Like wrapping it all up and adding the bow. I wish I could say I had the privilege and luck of knowing about him from his earlier works. From his smaller, more obscure roles, or even from his theatre work. What a treasure that would have been to stumble upon. Unfortunately though, that wasn’t the case for me. It was mid- summer of 2011 when, on a random whim, I finally decided to watch THOR. So, it was Tom’s character, Loki, that drew me to him like very few I have ever been drawn to. I’m sure plenty of you know just what I mean when I mention that iconic moment in which you think to yourself, “who is that guy?” Well, that moment, my friends, is what propelled me into a new fandom that quite swiftly and effortlessly etched its own, very prominent, little cranny into my life. I won’t state the obvious and what you all already know. I’ll spare you
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 12
the details as to why I found myself so captivated by Mr. Hiddleston, and why I still am, and probably always will be. You’re all fully aware. You all see it. It’s why you’re even bothering to read this in the first place. So... let’s bypass all the Youtube marathons, Tumblr reblogs, religious like viewings of all his previous works, the innumerable fangirly fits of child-like flailing AND the exhausting explorations of emotional range I never knew I possessed. Oh, and of course, we’ll bypass the inevitable letter I wrote to him. The only fan mail I had ever written in my life, and the near nervous breakdown I had trying to finally stuff the damn thing into the mailbox. We’ll just go ahead and fast-forward to the day the fandom discovered Tom had joined Twitter. I can’t remember when exactly I decided to start looking at his @ mentions, but at some point, curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to see what others were saying to him. Of course, there was plenty of embarrassing stuff, but there were also really lovely things; really heart-felt things. Things that people really
wanted him to see. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was able to see all of it; if he could really keep up. Especially if some of the more meaningful tweets were being drowned out by the pointless, repetitive ones. Of course, like the rest of us, I experienced the endless frustrations and minor heartbreaks of sending him a tweet and never getting a response back. It became more and more apparent that it was a sort of lottery. However, it wasn’t until months later that I finally decided to tug on the idea that had been lingering in the back of my mind. It was February, a few days before his birthday to be exact, that I finally got up the nerve to give it a go and create the Twitter account. To be completely honest, I didn’t think it’d be all that successful, mainly because the core of my entire idea involved getting Tom to actually follow the Twitter account - a feat that seemed near impossible, if possible at all. But without a follow from Tom, the idea behind the account wouldn’t be able to really manifest completely, and the idea was basically this: If Tom followed the account, anything that would be tweeted from the account would, obviously, show up on his personal
timeline. Thus, he would be much more likely to see it, hence, seeing anything valuable from his fans. I’ll be real with you guys, because there really is no point in hiding something that is normal to the human condition and that we all experience - and that is selfishness. We all have it. It’s healthy and necessary and in my opinion, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, as long as you don’t let it completely devour you, of course. So, to state the obvious, my reasons for creating Hiddles’ Army were BOTH selfish and selfless. Yes, at the same time. Yes, that is possible. Trust me. Of course I wanted a way to connect in some way with Tom and of course it would be amazing, with a capital A, to have him actually follow and acknowledge something that I created. BUT also, I truly and honestly wanted other fans to have another (and hopefully) easier avenue to reach him. I wanted Tom to see some of the extraordinary things his fans were producing, fueled by their love and admiration for him. Every day, I was struck with awe by the beautiful pieces of artwork, videos and words that my fellow “Hiddlestoners” were creating. All of it bursting with so much love and passion for this man and the talent and soul he shared with us. These were things he truly needed to see. These were things that existed for the world, and for the creators, but also for him. The way I saw it, the more people who sent him tweets about the new account, the more likely he’d see it. It was NOT my intention to pressure him into following by spamming him like crazy and flooding his mentions - and it didn’t happen that way. It WAS my intention to make sure he knew about the account and its purpose and decide for himself if he wanted to follow it. Several days passed without success and so I decided to officially retire the effort to get Tom’s follow. It was the very next day that I checked my email and saw the message stating that Tom Hiddleston had followed Hiddles’ Army. I could not believe it. I probably stared at the screen in absolute awe for a good, solid five minutes. He found me worthy. He found the account worthy. If I needed any final confirmation that he is the sweetest man in the world, that was it. I can only hope that my efforts to run the account as tastefully and
HIDDLES’ ARMY {@HIDDLESARMY}
MOTIVE : TO LET OUR LOYALTY, SUPPORT AND LOVE FOR TOM HIDDLESTON BE GLARINGLY APPARENT respectfully as possible are apparent. I hope that it’s clear that I take the privilege of being followed by the very man the account is dedicated to, very serious. Some may never get to meet him in person or have their letters reach him successfully. Some can only put out a simple collection of words and pixels into the Twitter universe and hope that a person they hold in such high regard will, by some chance, see it and, if even for just a moment, know that they’re out there somewhere, watching, supporting and holding too large an amount of love to keep bottled up inside. So large it spilled out in creative form. Yeah, it’s just Twitter, it’s just a fan account and some may think there are more important things in the world. But to me, it’s a powerful thing, because for so many, it’s their one shot to feel some sort of connection with him, however small. A simple tweet can be a fragment of hope, of love, of passion - something that really
means something to someone else in the world. Sometimes, the smallest of efforts can make all the difference. Everything has an influence in this world, everything is connected, no matter how insignificant it may seem. It’s been such a joy to run the account for these past nine months and I know it will continue to be. I can’t even begin to fully express how many extraordinary people I’ve met because of it; how many truly inspiring and touching things I’ve encountered. How much kindness and love I’ve witnessed. It isn’t really just my account. It’s all of ours. It belongs to anyone who’s ever contributed to it with a tweet, a re-tweet, a favorite. It wouldn’t even exist without all of you. We are an army of heart - the very best kind. http://twitter.com/HiddlesArmy WRITTEN BY: @lindsqualls
NOVEMBER 2012
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TOM’S FANS
{@TOMSFANS4LIFE} LIFE IS A HIGHWAY! OURS JUST LEADS TO TOM When I first saw Thor I admit that I wasn’t into Loki/ Tom Hiddleston but over time I grew to love Loki/ Tom. So why make a fan page for him? Like everyone else I have a personal account on twitter. So when I started following Tom on twitter, I met other fans. It was great and exciting to meet new people. Never in my dreams did I believe that I would start a fan page. All these fan pages started to pop up for Tom and Loki. I started to follow a few including other fan pages that was for TV shows etc. This other page (non Tom related page) didn’t run things the way I like so I decided to make my own page. I got it up and running but I was thinking why not make one for Tom Hiddleston. It’s where fans can see photos,
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 14
videos or links or a place to display their art. To be able to talk to another fan or to be followed. I even dedicated to the fans and Tom. It’s been great meeting other fans, although there’s been a handful of rude people but all and all the experience has been great. I have met some great fans and made new friends. Isn’t that what a fan page should be about? I made a few mistakes but we all make them and I’m new at this fan page running. As for Tom following me? I really don’t think about it, but I would like to thank Tom for the support and kindness. I appreciate it.
https://twitter.com/TomsFans4life
I LOVE TOMHIDDLESTON {@LOKI_PAGE}
ASSEMBLE FANS WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT TOM HIDDLESTON. WE DO WHAT WE WANT Hello Hiddlestoners: Let me introduce myself, my name is Gabriella and I am from Mexico. About a year ago I became a huge fan of Tom Hiddleston and for that reason I decided to made a Facebook Page call “I love Tom Hiddleston” (Loki Page) @Loki_Page This is funny because, the beginning of my fascination for Tom was a surprise for me; the truth is that as a huge fan of the Marvel universe I was “uncontrollably excited” about Thor and I was delighted with Chris Hemsworth, and I was excited to see him. I saw the movie a couple of times and after that, the guy who played Thor’s brother caught my attention and I thought: “He’s really cute, who is this guy?” After a research about who is this good looking actor was and after knowing a little bit more about his personality, he stole my heart and I thought: “I love Tom Hidddleston” I had never seen a celebrity like him before. On January 10th of 2012 I decided to create the facebook page: “I love Tom Hiddleston” (Loki Page). Loki Page as the short name for this page because as many of you I met Tom
thanks to Loki Those who have visited my page can see that I have a huge collection about everything related to Tom, from his early years when I wasn’t pretty familiar with his career, to these days. Even though I was not a fan of Tom since the beginning, I can call myself a “TRUE HIDDLESTONER”. I would have loved to see him act since the beginning of his career but better late than never right? Many people have told me that it seems that I have been a fan of him since he stepped on a stage for the first time and they are surprised to know that it’s not true, that I saw him for the first time in Thor.
was a huge honour to me, I am very grateful. My job in the page it’s to share with you all the information about his professional life and to make possible something that we all enjoy very much, that is to see his photos, videos, fan arts, etc. I also share with you some of the work that the rest of the fandom shares with me, but the main goal of this page is to support 1000% to Tom Hiddleston on everything that I can and promote this support with the rest of the fans. Thank you guys, for taking the time to read my story.
After a few months, one day something amazing happened, the date: May 15th of 2012. Gosh! I remember how happy I was, that day Tom Hiddleston decided to follow my Page on twitter, I remember my excitement, it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IloveTomHiddleston. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Loki_Page
NOVEMBER 2012
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HIDDLESTONERS AROUND THE GLOBE
We are thousands, we are legion
We are all over the WORLD
AND TOM HIDDLESTON IS WHAT LINKS US ALL ROUGHLY, WHO ARE WE?. WHAT ABOUT A LITTLE PICTURE OF WHO WE ARE? HUNDREDS OF YOU ANSWERED A SURVEY TO HELP US KNOW WHO WE ARE; AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT
We are thousands. We just have to look all around us, in the social medias we use. Just look and understand what we are ready to do in the name of Tom Hiddleston. We are a majority of “Lady Lokis”, but don’t ever forget that there are boys among us, in this fandom. Not necessarily a lot, but enough to bring something different. From the data I gathered, there is
2.6% OF BOYS, and may I say they are welcome in here!
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 16
Hiddles is a pretext to bring us all together. Whether we are 40 or 15. There’s
NO AGE LIMIT to love and support an actor.
Also, we may
KNOW TOM
for a longer time than others, but the amount of time we’ve been into the “Hiddles Fever” is different from person to person.
Also, there is no end to what we can do. Many of us passed the knowledge of Tom to other people. Over 60% of us participate in enlarging the fandom by
TALKING ABOUT TOM
to other people. The knowledge of his greatness widened, even for many developing into an obsession. But remember that obsession doesn’t always mean dangerous, but often life changing. (Cont >)
NOVEMBER 2012
HIDDLESTONED 17
LIFE CHANGING LIFE CHANGING... A LOKIESQUE MULTIFACETED NOTION THAT MAY BRING ON MANY CONSEQUENCES For instance, for 30% of us, this so-called obsession caused a loss somewhere -- like people in our entourage, lacking proper understanding of it, ending up vanishing. Yet, for some, this loss translated itself into a gain, for how can this obsession not be the most positive thing? However, for
the majority,
THERE WAS NO LOSS of any kind. Finally, let it be
said that for more than 85%, Tom himself or the fandom
HELPED all in one way
or another. He helped some fans finding new friends. Also, he helped some others in gaining a better self-esteem, for this is what happens when people with the same interest gather in force. Finally, during his interviews, Tom would influence us in how to think in a more positive way.
FUN FACTS There are many ways to show our support to actors, and Tom offers a lot of opportunities to let him know what we think of him. Twitter and UNICEF are only two ways to show him that we are ready to do a lot of things in his name. There’s also the possibility to
WRITE HIM LETTERS
Less than 10% of us did send a letter to him, but 48.7% are planning on sending one!
Fans, get your pen; and Tom, get ready for some reading! LOKI OR HENRY V?
Loki wins it easily, followed by Prince Hal/Henry V. His characters are all receiving a bit, or a lot, of love!
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 18
What about our relatives? For a small part of the fandom, the love we show to Tom is considered as a bad thing. For about 15%, the family doesn’t approve the level of love shown to Mr. Hiddleston.
EHEHEHEHEHEHE!
We all know what that means, and many of us now found a way to bring this memory or that laugh back to us, voluntary or not. Tom’s mannerisms impregnated themselves into our psyche. A laugh, a quote, a way of life. About 65% of us are replicating his mannerisms! And this fan-phenomena has resulted itself into his own army being created! He has an army!
I SAID KNEEEEEEEEEL!
Who kneeled? I surely did, and by the results, it seems that I wasn’t the only one! A little more than 20% have been able to disregard the weird looks at the movie theatre and kneeled during the Stuttgart scene. Wherever it was, in the aisle or all the way in the front row, we showed our devotion. Tom makes us do strange things.
POSITIVE? Overall, yes. 99% of you said that being in this fandom is a
GOOD EXPERIENCE
The others have their own reason why it isn’t, and it’s totally their choice. Tom helps us all in a way or another, then we help people in his name.
SO, WHO ARE WE? WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT: BOYS, GIRLS; TEENAGERS, ADULTS; FROM AMERICA OR AUSTRALIA. ALL DIFFERENT, BUT JOINED UNDER ONE FORCE, IN THE NAME OF ONE PERSON: TOM HIDDLESTON. OUR LIFE CHANGED, WE EVOLVED OR LEARNED. WE ARE THE ARMY! WE ARE THE HIDDLESTONERS! TEXT:
Kim Dufresne (@KimPDufresne)
NOVEMBER 2012
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WE ARE NOT JUST FANS
I
hate the word “fan.” Derived from the word “fanatic,” “fan” very seldom has any positivity associated with it. Stereotypes of dangerously obsessive and startlingly intrusive individuals often fill the minds of those who hear the word “fan.” Not to say this behavior is totally falsified, but to condemn an entire group to negative labels because the acts of a rotten few is unfair. Where there are fans, there is fandom. Fandoms are widely regarded as the powerful supportive force behind a talent--actor, musician, artist, author, movie, book, comic, filmmaker. Yet there is so much more to fandom than that. Ultimately, fandom is community. It is a place where people of diverse backgrounds come together and are united by one common interest, held together by the very thing that separates them: differences. Within fandoms, friendships are born--friendships that transcend that initial interest of the thing that brought them together in the first place. I have been fortunate enough to experience this firsthand. Two of my closest friends are people I met by being involved with the fandom of a band. We live in completely different countries and only really see each other once a year, but spend most of our time building our relationship by frequently communicating via Sky-
BY SERAPHINA
pe, Twitter, text, emailing, etc. Though I am no longer an avid member of the band’s fan base, I am still very close to these girls. We have been through hell and high water together. Our relationship has completely surpassed the reason of our initial meeting. The band we were fans of was just the catalyst that brought us together. We have been friends for four years now and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them.
FANDOM IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY THE VERY THING THAT SEPARATES THEM: DIFFERENCES
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 20
Most recently, I experienced something s i m i l a r within the Avengers
fandom. More specifically, the Loki/Tom Hiddleston group. One day, I had a ridiculous idea to make a Loki character account. I knew nothing about character role playing. I didn’t even know much about the character. I had only seen Thor once. I was a HUGE Marvel fan and had been looking forward to The Avengers since Iron Man came out in 2008 but Thor was my least favorite hero, therefore I did not make seeing it a priority. Finally, I did. I made the account, wrote a few ridiculous tweets, and the rest is history. The @ godofbadassery Twitter account has given me the opportunity to meet TONS of brilliant individuals from around the word--kind, creative, intelligent, hilarious people I would have never met if not for Twitter and the common interest of Loki. I have met so many incredible people through this fandom
THERE’S SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN THIS WORLD OF FANS, OR FANDOM, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. IT’S NOT BEEN SO MUCH TIME SINCE I WAS PART OF IT, BUT FROM THE BEGINNING IT CALLED MY ATTENTION TO HOW PEOPLE COULD BECOME SO CLOSE BECAUSE OF SOME COMMON INTERESTS, EVEN WHEN THEY DIDN’T REALLY KNOW EACH OTHER. EVEN I MYSELF HAVE ENDED UP TRULY LOVING SOME OF THE PEOPLE I’VE MET IN MY WAY THROUGH FANDOM LIFE. TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THIS, I INVITED SERAPHINA (@ JUSTSERAPHINA), SOMEONE I TRULY ADMIRE AND RESPECT IN THIS FANDOM, AND TO SHARE HER OWN AMAZING STORY.
and those people have impacted my life in ways unimaginable.
YES, WE MET THROUGH A FANDOM BUT IT IS NOT THE DRIVING FORCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS. IT MERELY BRINGS US TOGETHER INITIALLY.
In March of this year, I lost the person I loved the most in the world. My grandmother passed away after losing a battle with liver disease. It destroyed my soul. I can honestly say finding out she had passed was the worst moment of my life. Everything stopped. Time itself seemed to slow. Nothing felt real. I decided at that moment that nothing in my life could be worse than the news I had just received.
A few weeks later something remarkable happened. To pull me out of my slump, the friends I had established within the fandom decided to pull money together to fly me out to Los Angeles for the premiere of The Avengers to meet them and revel at the event together. These were people I had never met in person, ladies I had only spent time talking to on Twitter and Skype, people I met through a Twitter account made for a character of a film. That week spent with those incredible souls in Los Angeles saved my life. It restored my hope, gave me a much needed escape, and renewed my strength. The best parts of that trip did not happen on the red carpet, had nothing to do with Tom Hiddleston, and were not luxurious or glamorous. The camaraderie within our group
was tangible. The richest moments were the most subtle and seemingly insignificant: the shameless laughter shared over a dinner of burgers. A taxi ride from Beverly Hills to Hollywood in which the driver was blaring “California Love” by Tupac. Walking down the Los Angeles streets at night together knowing that every second we were sharing the same air was a memory we were making. Bonds were built that cannot easily be broken, no matter what the state of the thing that originally brought us together may be. Yes, we met through a fandom. Yes, we all have that in common. That is not what keeps us together. It is not the driving force of our relationships. It merely brings us together initially. Inevitably, we fall in love with one another--with each other’s kindness, originality, and passion. We see counterparts of ourselves reflected in the souls of those we meet. We are reminded that we are not alone. We are inspired and motivated by one another to create, love, think, exist. We are not “fans.” We are not a “fandom.” We are quite simply a community of people with individual minds, hearts, souls, and convictions, introduced by a common interest.
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HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 22
HI – I’M KATE. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ME ON TWITTER – I’M THE CULPRIT BEHIND THE @LOKIISMYCOPILOT ACCOUNT, WHERE I NATTER ON ABOUT ALL MANNER OF RIDICULOUS THINGS. AND I USE THE WORD “DUDE”. A LOT.
S
omehow, quite unintentionally – likely due to my lamentable tendency to speak my mind, coupled with a rather raw and florid letter to the universe I wrote in a moment of fangirl despair – I have become something of a peer consultant for things pertaining to fan conduct. Mind you, I never wanted the role – I only ever wanted to be your companion in the adulation
of a certain skinny, immeasurably talented, adorkable British gent. So when Hash asked me to pen an article regarding dude’s privacy for this magazine, I wrestled with how to approach the assignment. I mean, who am I to tell anyone how to behave? But then it occurred to me: I could talk about how I choose to behave, and why; how I think about dude; and what matters to me. That way folks could take away those concepts that resonated and ignore others with which they did not agree – all without me coming off as some kind of selfappointed TWH watchdog. A point of clarification: although the original focus of the article was supposed to be privacy, in the process of writing it became clear to me that the issues under discussion really fell under the more general purview of respect, of which consideration for matters of privacy is but one component. So without further ado, here is how I choose to demonstrate my respect for dude…
1. TWITTER The fact that dude chooses to interact with his fan base through Twitter is a constant source of wonderment to me – that he permits, even encourages, that connection. Where is it written that a celebrity must interface with his or her fans in so intimate and immediate a manner? Plenty of very successful actors do not. Therefore, I never allow myself to lose sight of the fact that this is a privilege, not a right – I am not entitled to anything, and dude does not owe me anything, more than his best performance, for which I have paid my hard-earned money. Anything beyond is a gift, and should be received as such, with utmost gratitude. What does this mean in practice? Here are a couple of my own “dos and don’ts”:(Cont >)
NOVEMBER 2012
HIDDLESTONED 23
A. I DO NOT SPAM DUDE. As a general rule of thumb I permit myself one @mention every other day, although frequently days go by without my using his Twitter handle at all. On rare occasions I have used it more than once in a day, although these are very much exceptions. Consider the math involved: the bloke has over 300,000 followers as I write this; if every one of them tweeted him just once each day, he’d still receive more messages than he could possibly read in 24 hours, much less get any actual work or other aspects of living done. I imagine it must be like being on the receiving end of all of the world’s telemarketers at once – sent literally thousands of messages, the vast majority from people you don’t know. B. I TRY TO MAKE MY TWEETS TO DUDE COUNT. I guarantee you will never see on my timeline anything directed to him that remotely resembles “OMG Tom I LUV U!!! PLZ follow me! :-D”. Putting aside for the moment the debatable merits of such content, dude must receive scores of mentions of this flavor, and I would think reading it over and over again would cease to be interesting at some point. I also try to avoid including him on my replies to someone
THE FACT THAT DUDE CHOOSES TO INTERACT WITH HIS FAN BASE IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.
whose original tweet @mentioned him (although I have been known to err in this regard in the past). Basically if I’m tweeting dude it means either a) I feel I have something relevant to say in response to one of his tweets, or b) I want to call his attention to something I think he would find of interest – and in both cases I want to be fairly confident my perspective is unique (i.e. 10,000 other people aren’t sending him the same information). Only under rare circumstances would I send dude a “me too” or generic appreciation tweet, although there are times when it clearly can’t be helped (e.g. “P.S. I have the best fans in the world.”).
ANYTHING BEYOND
IS A GIFT,
AND SHOULD BE RECEIVEDASSUCH, WITH UTMOST
GRATITUDE
C. I DO NOT ASK DUDE FOR FOLLOWS. Of course I would be delighted for him to follow me – what fan wouldn’t? – but it would be the height of hubris for me to assume that what I, some random person he’s never met, have to say is of such import or entertainment value that he should be subjected to it on an ongoing basis. In my view follows are meant to be earned, not extracted through incessant pestering or begging. If my efforts to support dude and/or the fandom eventually win me such a
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 24
boon – terrific; if not, then clearly I have more work to do. And I certainly would not entreat others to make such a request on my behalf – which leads nicely into the next item… D. I DO NOT SCHEME TO LEVERAGE DUDE’S PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS. If I have something that I want to bring to his attention, I have no problems with making a straightforward, face-value request (“Hi – can you RT this so Tom might see it?”). But I have no intention of wheedling my way into the good graces of one of his contacts with some hidden agenda or ulterior motive. The thought of using another person in such a manner is repugnant to me. Enough said.(Cont >)
Illustration by Delucienne
NOVEMBER 2012
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2. NOT TWITTER I spend the vast majority of my social networking time and energy on Twitter, and as such it represents the main avenue through which I might have a connection with dude; however, I do have a few thoughts on other topics: I do have an account, and although it takes a back seat to Twitter I’ve spent enough time on the site to know that DUDE HAS NO BUSINESS BEING ON TUMBLR. Seriously. I’ve only glanced through a small portion of it and still seen enough to last a lifetime (not to mention burn my retinas). I can’t imagine what it would be like if all that stuff was about me, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be sanity-building. And yes, I know he’s the King of Tumblr and all that – but it’s like he’s the exiled heir to the throne: monarch of a kingdom he can never visit ere it seal his doom. Therefore, since I prefer dude stay sane, I would never knowingly send him anywhere near the site. And I would only send one of his associates there if I had discovered some kind of privacy/legal concern – which brings us to… What I want to say here is in regards to the now-infamous incident where someone hacked into dude’s personal account, stole and then posted a bunch of private photos. Although the followup action was swift, apparently these photos are still making the rounds, blogged and reblogged through either ignorance or blatant disregard. I did not see the original post but have since been made aware of the contents of some – and if it turns out that a particular picture I have saved to my hard drive is one of those stolen, I delete it. The way I look at it, there are so bloody many public photos of dude available on the internet; why do I need to keep one I was never meant to see in the first place? But that’s just my take on the subject; I realize others may feel differently.
DUDE ENJOYS
MEETING
HIS FANS, AND IT’S
WONDERFUL
WHEN SUCH ENCOUNTERS
HAPPEN HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 26
Sadly I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting dude in person, so we now enter the realm of the theoretical. But I like to think that if/when I should be blessed with such an opportunity, I would make my ancestors proud. I would bear in mind that dude is a person, more than just the public image; that although I know all sorts of crazy-ass details about him like his height, birthday, favorite karaoke tune, etc. and could practically outline the contours of his face from memory (dammit), I am a COMPLETE STRANGER TO HIM. And how would I want a complete stranger to approach me, after I’ve perhaps just completed a 14-hour day at work, on little food and/ or sleep? Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely believe that dude enjoys meeting his fans, and I think it wonderful when such encounters happen. But given the likely context of the interaction from his point of view, I just think that a little empathy, compassion and gratitude go a long way.
Alright – assuming I haven’t lost you all by now, I’d like to close with a quote that I feel nicely encapsulates what I’ve tried to articulate here. It’s from dude’s turn as William Buxton in Return to Cranford, and for those situations when I start to get a wee bit carried away with the fangirling, or find myself disappointed because he hasn’t tweeted in a week, or begin to feel anything remotely resembling a sense of entitlement, I find it particularly apt. Perhaps you will as well. Thank you kindly for reading. Tom Hiddleston in Return to Cranford
I do not exist only to thwart or please you! TEXT: Katie Miller EDIT: Amanda Miller
NOVEMBER 2012
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HIDDLESTONERS HAVE HEART
A Fundraiser for UNICEF in Honor of Tom Hiddleston
A
s fans of Tom Hiddleston know, a Hiddlestoner is a person who admires the work of the actor Tom Hiddleston who has starred in such feature films as Midnight in Paris, War Horse, and probably most notably Thor and The Avengers where he played the god of mischief Loki. As his fame has grown, so has his fan base, and that is why the Hiddlestoners Facebook group came about. It is a page where a group of fans can join together and talk about the man, his films, share fan art and fiction, and generally have fun talking about Tom and other subjects. One day a group member posted an article about how fans of Tom’s War Horse co-star, Benedict Cumberbatch, had raised and donated money to his favorite charity for his birthday. I thought how fun it would be to try the same thing for Tom, since we all adore him and his work? But how would we find out where to donate the money? We couldn’t tweet Tom because he of course receives thousands of tweets a day and it would be impossible for him to answer every one, so Sonika E, another member of the group, who had heard that Tom supported UNICEF, suggested we contact Tom’s publicist Luke Windsor. I contacted Luke and informed him that our Tom Hiddleston fan group wanted to raise money for his favorite charity and asked if he could give us an idea of what charity to donate to. Luke was extremely pleasant and thought that what we wanted to do was a “lovely sentiment”. He said that Tom was in fact a high profile supporter of UNICEF and he put
me in touch with the Ambassador Relations/Communications Team – Manager of UNICEF Coco Campbell,
w h o w a s very helpful with providing information on how to set up a donation page. In another serendipitous twist, yet another group member Janet Comby, unbeknownst to the plans already underway, had already started a UNICEF fundraiser page on the same day. So we joined forces and got the ball rolling, Janet Comby had set up the donation page, Jenny Hardt , Sonika
UNICEF IS THE WORLD’S LEADING ORGANIZATION IN HELPING CHILDREN
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 28
>> To learn more about UNICEF please visit
http://www.unicef.org.uk.
>> If you would like to join our Hiddlestoners Have Heart Project, please visit
http://fundraise.unicef.org.uk/MyPage/Hiddlestoners-Have-Heart---Fans-of-Tom-Hiddleston
to make a donation!
>> For more information on our project, visit our Twitter page http://twitter.com/HiddlestonersHH.
approved of what we were doing for him. We are happy that Tom recognized our group as the group who started the project, but in the end it doesn’t matter that we were the ones who started it or that he gave us recognition. We are happier to have brought together so many generous Tom Hiddleston fans to give to such a wonderful charity as UNICEF.
E, and Dina Caraveo set up a Twitter account to let other fans know about what we were doing and also helped spread the word to other Tom Hiddleston fan groups to gain more support. The fan support has been so amazing that we’ve had to keep raising the goal to keep up with the demand! It was supposed to be either a Christmas or birthday surprise for Tom, but somehow he found out about it on Monday, August 13 and tweeted, “You make me very proud indeed” and “thank you so much. I am proud of you.” We were a bit disappointed that he found out our surprise early, but encouraged and excited that Tom
UNICEF is the world’s leading organization in helping children. They assist children with anything from protecting and promoting the rights of children to helping governments raise money for schools and teachers. As Tom Hiddleston said, “[UNICEF is] Showing young children in these communities that there are outlets for their feelings, that there is room in a space for their stories to be told - and that they will be applauded. It’s not about ego, it’s about connection - that their pain is everybody else’s pain.” That quote was one of the inspirations for us to begin this project and hopefully will inspire others to join us too. We began this project to honor a man who is not only an incredible actor, but is an inspiration to us all through his compassion, words, and kindness towards his fans and through a series of serendipitous events we were able to make this happen. We are so incredibly honored to be a part of something that will not only pay tribute to Tom, but also help others in need. To those who have already donated, thank you on behalf of all of us at Hiddlestoners Have Heart. TEXT: @Celeste Santiago, @Jenny Hardt, @Sonika E, @Janet Comby - EDIT: Amanda Miller
NOVEMBER 2012
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PROJECT
WENDY
to trend.
TWH (Tom Hiddleston) tweets:
The scope of the project increases as a cover art contest and music video are considered. @HiddlestonPro is invited to join the team to oversee the latter. The submission deadline and Twitter flash mob date is set for 07 SEPTEMBER.
Copilot receives the WeLoveFine order, which contains a bonus felt moustache pin. The first seeds of what will become Project Wendy are planted, and initial contact with @HiddlesArmy is established.
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 30
Copilot is galvanized – IT IS SO ON. The team begins to rally the troops on Twitter.
Joel Hanek posts the following article on the MTV Splash Page: “The Tom Hiddleston Effect: Project Wendy, Loki’d, ‘Avengers’ And Mustaches” LINK
TWH responds:
TWITTER EXPLOD Josh Horowitz tweets
Copilot emails LJW (Luke Windsor) to let him know about the project; no response is received. HiddlesArmy suggests tweeting Josh Horowitz, host of MTV After Hours – again with no response. Submissions at this point: less than 200.
+3 h
+110 min
+90 min
+45 min
Remarkably quickly, success in trending is achieved in the US, with the UK and Italy shortly thereafter. Sadly, worldwide trending is never quite established.
7 SEPTEMBER
5 SEPTEMBER
3 SEPTEMBER
18 AUGUST
04 JULY
20 JUNE
#ProjectWendy
Some truly appalling news regarding a couple of fake Twitter accounts comes to light. The fandom falls into despair, and the team considers calling off the flash mob. However, it is decided to proceed as planned and hope for the best.
Copilot drafts an outline of the project for HiddlesArmy input. Planning begins, and a new partnership and friendship is born.
11JUNE
(17:00 GMT) The Army starts tweeting
T=0
Copilot posts the first Project Wendy announcement on Twitter and Tumblr. HiddlesArmy, HiddlestonPro and others begin the mass retweet/reblog exercise to spread the word.
20 AUGUST
@LokiIsMyCopilot places an order with WeLoveFine for (not surprisingly) Loki-related merchandise.
STEP BY STEP
T-3 hours
TEXT: Katie Miller | EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
Josh asks for proof and requests Wendy photos be tweeted to his colleague Joel Hanek.
WeL intro on own
TWH tweets his own Wendy photo: Copilot receives a brief thank-you email from LJW. In the last push for submissions, Copilot tweets HiddlesArmy wondering if they should try to contact Agent_M – who responds and eventually ends up submitting a Wendy photo.
When Copilot tweets his photo the next day, Agent_M retweets to his 1.3 million followers.
DES
16 SEPTEMBER
14 SEPTEMBER
11 SEPTEMBER
10 SEPTEMBER
9 SEPTEMBER
+9 h
+7 h
+5 h
Based on the huge upswell of interest that follows, the team commits to extending the submission deadline.
16 NOVEMBER (projected) Copilot heads to her favorite neighborhood bar for a drink (or two). She is in bed a mere two hours later (8 PM local time), exhausted.
LoveFine reblogs Copilot’s oductory Project Wendy post Tumblr and tweets their n Wendy team photo.
INSERT A TON OF WORK HERE BY THE ENTIRE PROJECT WENDY TEAM
Copilot hand-delivers the Project Wendy finished product (book and video) to the Public Eye offices in London.
Project Wendy gets coverage in newspapers in Hong Kong and Malaysia, including reprinting of TWH’s tweeted Wendy photo.
Project Wendy gets mentioned in The Mary Sue’s “What We Saw Today”. LINK The team sets the new submission deadline to 16 SEPTEMBER.
The extended deadline for #ProjectWendy. The end result: more than 1400 photo submissions for inclusion in the book and video, and more than 50 submissions for the cover art contest.
NOVEMBER 2012
HIDDLESTONED 31
IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 34
Fanart
ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE By Wantstobelieve
http://wantstobelieve.tumblr.com/
Artwork
FEYJANE’S TOM HIDDLESTON PORTRAIT (WATER COLOR) By Evgenia, 22 Russia, West Siberia Graduate of University (NSTU)
http://feyjane.deviantart.com
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 36
Artwork
DEL’S TOM HIDDLESTON PORTRAIT (DIGITAL) Delucienne Maekerr, 24 Turkey Concept Artist, Illustrator
http://delusionmaker.daportfolio.com/ http://delusionmaker.deviantart.com/
Fanart
KAISER-MONY’S LOKI
Monique, 23 Canada
http://fantastique-monique.daportfolio.com/ http://kaiser-mony.deviantart.com/
NOVEMBER 2012
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Cosplay
FAHRCHAN’S LOKI COSPLAY “I HATE SHAWARMA” By Fahr Sindram, 31 Germany, Berlin Mangaartist and Writer
http://fahrchan.deviantart.com http://fahrlight.tumblr.com/
I hate it…really! I do…mhmm… mhm… yummy… I mean -Eerksh! Gross, what foul taste is that?! Peeew! Yes, I gonna burn this shop… maybe... later… yes. Hate it!
Fanart
ANGELA-T’S HENRY V
By Angela Taratuta, 23 Michigan, USA Freelance Artist
http://angela-t.deviantart.com/ http://angelataratuta.com/ http://society6.com/angelataratuta
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 38
Comic
JAZZYSATINDOLL’S COMIC “LOKI MEETS TOM”
By Kate F, 22 Egyptologist
http://jazzysatindoll.artworkfolio.com/ http://jazzysatindoll.storenvy.com/ http://jazzysatindoll.deviantart.com/
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
Comic
SAIROBI’S “THE DEVIL WEARS A CAPE”
By Sair, 29 Southern California/USA Storyboard Artist for Animation
http://sairobi.deviantart.com/
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 40
Artwork
SOFICO’S TOM HIDDLESTON PORTRAIT (DIGITAL) By Sophia Chikriy, 16 Ukraine, Kiev. Student
http://sofico.deviantart.com/
NOVEMBER 2012
HIDDLESTONED 41
IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
INTERVIEW WI TH
JENN ASKTHEDERPVENGERS.TUMBLR.COM
JENN MENZE IS OUR FIRST GUEST IN THIS SECTION FOR OUR VERY FIRST ISSUE. MOST OF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE HER FROM THE TUMBLR ASKTHEDERPVENGERS. IF NOT, I SUGGEST YOU TO CHECK IT OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST HILARIOUS ART/ASK BLOGS ABOUT THE AVENGERS FANDOM, GUARANTEED TO PUT A HUGE SMILE ON YOUR FACE. LET’S GET TO KNOW HER AND HER ART LITTLE BIT MORE...
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 42
DEL: Hello Jenn, thank you very much for accepting our interview request. How are you? JENN: I am doing great and I am ready for your questions! D: Alright! Then tell us: who is Jenn? How long you have been drawing? When did you decide to become a professional artist? JENN: I’m an artist living near Atlanta, Georgia. I’ve been drawing since I was six years old, but I didn’t start taking art seriously until high school and college. I don’t really remember deciding on becoming a professional in the field. Art’s just been something I’ve always enjoyed and I feel very lucky that people want to pay me for it. D: I always felt the same about art and drawing, too. So do you have any education in art, or are you self-taught? JENN: It’s a mixture of both. I studied Graphic Design and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kennesaw State University [in Atlanta, Georgia], but I also have art and design techniques that I’ve taught myself over the years. D: What computer programs do you use most often? Do you work fully digital or do you use traditional materials, too? JENN: I mostly use Adobe Photoshop CS3 for coloring, Paint Tool Sai for shading, and my Wacom Intuos2 tablet for drawing when I work digitally. I typically use traditional media for paintings or drawings when I want to create something to decorate my home. D: What kinds of things inspire you when you are working on your artworks or fan art? JENN: Lately I’ve found that I produce my best work when listening to cheerful or happy music. Something about that
genre of music helps me not take everything so seriously and just enjoy the creative process. Anything other than that tends to bum me out and it’s hard to enjoy drawing when I’m feeling sad. D: Can you give any examples of your “happy music” for us? JENN: I like to listen to popular 1960’s music when I work on art for the blog. More specifically, to Pandora’s “60s Oldies Radio” station. The songs are much older than I am, but I grew up listening to them. It helps keep me in a positive mood when I work. D: How about idols? Do you have any? Who are they? JENN: I have many beautifully inspiring, talented, and creative friends. I really enjoy being in the company of other artists. D: Is there anything that affects you deeply regarding your art career? JENN: I really want to help people and I love to make people laugh. I think that’s what gives me the motivation to create art professionally and for fun. I love receiving messages from fans who write to tell me that my work made them smile when they were having a rough day, or being told by a client that the work I created for them attracted more customers. Whether it looks like a simple drawing or something more complex, I do put a lot of thought into my work. D: How would you describe your “Derpy Arts” and how did you come up with the “Derpvengers” idea? JENN: I would describe my Derpy Arts as “silly drawings in a silly style that just want to make you smile.” The Derpvengers’ idea wasn’t originally mine. I was visiting my friend and fellow artist, Lettie (lettiebobettie.tumblr.com), and she
suggested I create a blog for The Avengers in my derpy art style where people could submit questions and I would draw the answers. I don’t have much experience in comic design or layouts, so it’s a fun and experimental project for me. D: What are your thoughts on the Avengers fandom and the movie itself? How much are you into it? Were you into Marvel comics or Avengers before the movie? JENN: I’m fairly new to The Avengers’ fandom and I’ve only seen the film (so far). I was actually going to wait to see The Avengers when it was released on DVD, but my younger sister convinced me to see it sooner. I’m really glad I listened to her. D: In your opinion, what was the weirdest and/or funniest request you’ve gotten since you started the “askthederpvengers.tumblr.com” blog? JENN: I don’t think there’s a single request that could claim that title right now. I receive funny and weird questions on a daily basis, but many go unanswered because I do try to keep the blog appropriate for younger readers. DEL: Again, thank you for the interview and for sharing your amazing art with us. I’m sure our readers will enjoy it, too! (Cont >)
INTERVIEW: Delucienne Maekerr EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
Illustration by Jenn Menze
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 44
>> Jenn also has an e-shop at
http://www.redbubble.com/people/happyartistjenn,
and she can be found on Twitter as well as @HappyArtistJenn
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
THIS JUNE, WELOVEFINE.COM ORGANIZED A CONTEST ABOUT MARVEL VILLAINS. MANY ARTISTS AROUND THE WORLD JOINED AND SUBMITTED THEIR DESIGNS FOR THIS CONTEST AND WINNERS WERE ANNOUNCED IN AUGUST. WE SAW AND RATED FOR THE MOST AMAZING WORKS IN THE CONTEST BUT THERE IS ALSO SOME DESIGNS DIDN’T GET APPROVAL FROM MARVEL AND LEFT OUT. WE SEARCHED AND ASKED FOR THOSE DESIGNS TO BE SENT TO US. AND HERE ARE OUR CHOICES OF NON-APPROVED DESIGNS:
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 46
By JazzySatinDoll
UNLEASHING RAGNAROK
Kate F., 22 Sydney, Australia Egyptologist
http://jazzysatindoll.deviantart.com/
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
By Jenn
HERE COMES TROUBLE Jenn, 25. Kennesaw, Georgia (USA)
http://jenncandraw.tumblr.com/
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 48
By Katie Khomme
GOD OF MISCHIEF Katie Khomme, 23 Kyiv, Ukraine. Painter, Graphic Designer
http://katiekhomme.tumblr.com/
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
By Hash
I POP WHAT I CORN!
Hash, 27 Spain Graphic Designer
http://hashtag-genius.tumblr.com/
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 50
By kuro-vortex92
LOKI ODINSON kuro-vortex92, 19 Canada Animator
http://kuro-vortex92.deviantart.com/
NOVEMBER 2012
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
By Giusil
TEETH AND POWER Giusil, 22 Italy
http://giusil.deviantart.com/ http://juririn.tumblr.com/
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 52
By Del
CONSULTING DETECTIVE Del, 24 Turkey Freelance Illustrator
http://delusionmaker.daportfolio.com/
MANY OF YOU WERE AWARE OF THIS CONTEST BECAUSE OF TOM HIDDLESTON, WHO WAS ONE OF THE GUEST JUDGES ALONG WITH PRECIOUS JILL PANTOZZI. SINCE WE ALL KNOW WHO MR. HIDDLESTON IS, I WILL INTRODUCE MISS PANTOZZI
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IN THE END YOU WILL ALWAYS
CREATE
JILL PAN TOZZI INTERVIEW WI TH
THENERDYBIRD.COM
SHE IS A BLOGGER AND A JOURNALIST WHO ALSO “HAS BOOBS, READS COMICS”. SHE WRITES ABOUT MOVIES, COMICS, VIDEO GAMES, AND ALL THE OTHER NERDY THINGS THAT CATCH HER INTEREST. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ THEM, AND NO, SHE IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO MARRY YOU BUT LUCKY FOR US, SHE ACCEPTED OUR INTERVIEW REQUEST.
DEL: First of all, thank you for accepting our interview and sparing time for our magazine. It means a lot to us. JILL PANTOZZI: You’re very welcome! D: When you were asked to be a judge for the contest, what did you think or feel about it? JP: I was extremely humbled and honored to be asked, first of all because I love We Love Fine as a company but also because I was placed in the amazing company of Tom Hiddleston. And then I felt a huge amount of pressure to pick a great design, of course!
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D: Are there any specific Marvel Villains you wanted to see in those designs? Your favorite Marvel Villain(s)? JP: I was definitely hoping to see the Women of Marvel represented because they are a great bunch of characters, especially gals like Rogue and Mystique. But what I really thought would be cool was if some of the non-powered characters in the Marvel Universe got some love, too, like Gwen Stacy or J. Jonah Jameson. D: Was there a criteria for you while choosing your personal favorites? If so, what was it?
JP: Not particularly. Of course the design had to look professional. They’re meant to be sold so even if I thought a concept was cool, if the execution wasn’t quite there I wouldn’t have picked it. Other than that, I looked for something I’d actually wear. D: Are there any of them you liked aside from the one you picked? Which designs you would like to wear most? JP: Oh gosh, too many to count! The sheer number of designs that came in were so much more than I expected and it’s safe to say there are a
Illustration by Delucienne
lot of talented people out there. I’m partial to the designs that were totally different than the others, but also the art nouveau ones and the more minimalist designs. D: What do you think about all those different and marvelous designs? JP: I’m constantly amazed by artists. As someone who is a creative type but not in that particular way, I often find myself frustrated because I can come up with interesting ideas and designs in my head but can’t execute them. [I have] much respect for what they are able to imagine and execute. D: As everyone expected, there were a huge number of Loki designs. Did it surprise you? JP: Haha, not in the least. I had a feeling fans would try and garner the affections of
the Trickster God by illustrating him. Though I worry for the ones who met with his disapproval... D: There were a lot of other designs rejected by Marvel but posted around the internet by artists. Did you see any of them? If so, what did you think of them? JP: I did not, actually, but I knew Marvel had to give the go-ahead for designs. They’re a large corporation and need to represent their brand in a certain way. D: Beside choosing your favorites from the finalist designs, did you vote for/rate any of the others? Some of them even have a story of their own, did you come across any of them? JP: I did vote for/rate a bunch of them, but did not have time to read any of their stories, unfortunately.
D: As a last question, was there any design/idea in your mind you would have liked to see in the contest, but never came up? JP: Yes. Batman taking down every member of the Marvel Universe in a different way. A girl can dream, can’t she? DEL: Eheh, yes she can, Again, Jill thank you so much for your time and answers. We appreciate so much you agreed to do this interview and we are sure our readers will enjoy it as well!
INTERVIEW: Delucienne Maekerr EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
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: E R N E G X E D N THE SPA M O T C I M CO T
here are many different views on how comics should be portrayed in movies. Most people prefer something that strictly keeps to the source material, while others enjoy the reimaging and modernizing of some
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S E I V MO beloved characters. The thing about comic book heroes is that they are the fairy tales and mythology of the modern age. Hundreds of years from now, I imagine people looking back and thinking of Batman right there alongside Gilgamesh and Cinderella. They, like their ol-
der counterparts, have been rewritten, dressed up, updated, and down dated to a point that the original stories are nearly indistinguishable from what they have become. Movies are another medium expressing this reimagining. How many stories, movies, or TV shows
do we have of Beauty and the Beast? As long as they stay true the original heart of the tale, we can accept all of the different versions. I have a similar opinion on the movies. They must stay true to the heart of characters’ identities and their message, but other than that, the story is fair game to the interpretation and imagination of the new directors, writers, and actors.(Cont >)
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S
ome recent movies have accomplished this with a bit more finesse than others.
SUPERMAN RETURNS
Take . In most people’s opinion, it was terrible. We are lead to believe that Superman impregnated Lois and then took a jaunt around the universe. We will give him the benefit of the doubt that even with super hearing and x-ray vision he somehow failed to notice the pregnancy. However, we still have Superman leaving his friends and family with no word as to why he left. I may not be as big of a Superman fan as some, but I do believe that he represents loyalty to friends, family, and honesty, as well as other traits that leave him seeming slightly naive. That character would not do this to the people that he cares about any more than he would snap Lex Luther’s neck. It is not who he is. Superman cares. If you The are a bit hold it up against other adapharder to judge because of all tations made to film, such as comic characters, Batman has the first four movies gone through some drasproduced in the 80’s tic chanand the TV show Lois ges. Ori(SUPERMAN) & Clark (my persoginally, he nal favorite), this was a bit newest adaptation campy and just doesn’t hold fun. In the the same oomfirst issue ph. Where is the of Batman, epic Superman he grabs who slugged it out Catwoman with Doomsday in by the arm the middle of Meand tells tropolis? That Suher “quiet or perman I cried for. Papa spank”. The newest one I Can we really winced at. see Christopher Nolan’s version of Batman saying something so light hearted and weird? The movies are still good, however, because
BATMAN MOVIES
even with super hearing and x-ray vision he somehow failed to notice the pregnancy
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they are about a man with no special powers (unless you count copious amounts of money as a superpower) who sees what is wrong with his city and tries to make it right. That is something that stays true through all his various incarnations. There is also a hard division between the light hearted, BAM, POW, WHAM Batman and the very dark social commentary that Nolan has been providing us. I think even though these movies are worlds apart, they are still very valid interpretations since the comic version of Batman went through the same change. I probably am in the minority here, but I loved the 90’s movies that blended dark with camp. Jack Nicholson’s Joker was fantastic, as was Heath Ledger’s, but I enjoy the fact that Nicholson seems to have had more fun with it. Ledger gave an award winning perfor-
mance, but his Joker just disturbed the audience. I enjoy Joker as a completely unhinged sort of character. Does he have a daisy of water or acid? Who knows, but I’m sure he’ll think it is hilarious when he squirts you. The middle set of four Batman movies gave us that. Bright crazy worlds with neon painted villains and lines like “Holy rusted metal, Batman!” but they also gave us a darker, more psychological Bruce Wayne than Adam West played.
X-MEN MOVIES are The
hard for me to judge across the board. For one, they lose continuity between, which makes it hard for you to really enjoy the story line when the backstories of the characters change nearly every movie. I
will say though that no matter what situation they stick Wolverine in, (BATMAN) Hugh Jackman is a damn fine Wolverine and always seems to roll with the punches. Even if Wolverine: Origins was... a very odd interpretation of how some characters meet. I still enjoyed Jackman playing the character. Of course the most recent movie we have is X-Men: First Class, which for the sake of my sanity I will assume has nothing to do with any of the other movies except for the brief and brilliant cameo of Jackman as Wolverine. Once again the origins of some characters are redone. For instance, Mystique, to my knowledge, has never been Charles Xavier’s sister, adopted or otherwise. I also felt they really downplayed Emma Frost, resigning her to a role that relied on her ability to strut in lingerie rather than her amazing psychic powers. I did enjoy the movie because when it came down to the forming of the X-Men and the Mutant Brotherhood, they did an exceptional job. I’ve always been a fan of the X-Men team, rooting for them to win against Magneto time and time again, but after First Class I saw the other side in a whole new way. Maybe Charles is wrong. I left the movie for the first time ever thinking that I would rather be in the Brotherhood. It added a new complexity to the villains that the previous movies, I felt, didn’t capture. (Cont >)
a man with no special powers unless t you coun copiousof amountss a money awer Superpo
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AVENGERS
The , I would say, represents one of the best comic-to-movie adaptations to date. Not only did they have the challenge of making movies for the characters leading up to The Avengers but then they had to blend all those big personalities together seamlessly. Not only do they stick close to the heart of the original comic book versions, but the movie gives them a field to grow and form new and believable relationships that helped enrich the already great
fandom. Take for instance, Tony and Bruce. The movie created a wonderful friendship there that I have never seen in the comic books but that is still true to both of their characters. Loki was even more interesting because not only are we looking at the comic books, but also the original Norse mythology source material. Loki is a trickster, one of the oldest archetypes known to man. The Trickster has the ultimate job of causing mischief, but what people often forget is that even though they are sometimes downright malicious,
it’s hard to say s what lie t ahead bu if theys take cuee from Ths Avenger l they wilg be doin well
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usually there is a point to it. Tricksters often point out the folly of man and gods, which often results in something positive for the world as a whole. Would Thor have been worthy of the Avengers team if Loki hadn’t gotten him banished? No, he would have been the same brash meat head who thought himself above Midgardians. Loki might be the villain of the movie, but he is a very multifaceted character that is played and written brilliantly. Without him there would have been no Avengers team and then who would have protected Earth from the true evil that is sure to come? I believe the movie Loki stayed true to both of his source materials, helping create a wonderfully complex storyline. This is a role I truly believe could not have been portrayed as masterfully by anyone other than the wildly talented and amazing Tom Hiddleston. With adaptations becoming more and more popular in Hollywood it’s hard to say what lies ahead for our caped crusaders and spandexed villains, but if they take cues from The Avengers I’d say they will be doing well. With the new sequels in the Marvel universe, I have high expectations for the franchise, especially Thor 2 and Iron Man 3. We also have the new JLA movie to look forward to from the DC universe and we can hope that the company takes a page from the blockbuster Avengers movie to give us another great addition to the comic movie genre.
TEXT: Ariel Kingston (@TomsMi5) EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
Villain’ s STORY
The problem with fairytales is the failure to recognize the story behind every villain: what disasters and pains he or she had to face and why. How come nobody bothered to listen? Could the events we are familiar with have been preventable? And if so, when did it all start? The biggest issue with the world is that they “[fail] to realise [a] villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told yet” (Colfer). Take famous villain, Anakin Skywalker, for example: “the chosen one”, Savior of the Jedi’sturned Darth Vader, and why? The death of his mother, friends, and beloved Padme. Other examples include: The Grinch; Cato, from The Hunger Games; the Wicked Witch of the West; and of course, Loki Laufeyson.
Now go ahead and tell me this boy walked away, or rather fell into an abyss, after being rejected by the man he wanted to please without a single scar. Ha! No. Yet another issue with this villain’s complex is that in the beginning, the antagonist does not realise he is Loki’s story seems to touch more hurting anyone and “often lose hearts than any hero could ever sight of those they are trying to wish for, and it all traces back to help, who they might even come the day of his birth. Born of the (COLFER) to despise as weak and deserving monstrous Frost Giants and raiof punishment” (Wikibin). This, sed by the loving Asgardians, Loki was a disaster waiting to happen. Every day then, is why we see Loki and Hitler compared in was a struggle for the boy who wanted to be an many scenarios. equal. He asked for nothing more than to stand next to his brother in the limelight and hear the In the end (you were always meant to kneel), cheers and roars from the crowd that might one we all have a history that needs to be told. day call him King. The fault in Loki’s story is Though there is no excuse for hurting others, that he loved his brother and saw him as there is always a story behind a villain’s pain, and true hero, but that feeling was never retur- it is always preventable. If someone would be ned. Are you beginning to see where it all went there to lend an ear, a heart or maybe even a wrong? Imagine hearing from the parents you hug, lives could be changed. thought you had tell you that you could never be king because you were some sort of mons- Big and small, we all have voices and stoter, and not just any some-sort-of-monster, but ries, we all feel pain and have need, and we the biggest, baddest, nastiest, and most ha- can all relate to even the most merciless of ted monster in all of the land. I’m talking Frost villains, for they too are human (or, you know, gods). Giants- Monster. *Gasp*, No! Yes. After finding out his rotten past, and killing his own birth father to prove his loyalty to the father TEXT: Katie Dessin (@katiedessin) EDIT: Amanda Miller that raised him, he still wasn’t good enough.
”A VILLAIN IS JUST A VICTIM WHOSE STORY HASN’T BEEN TOLD YET”
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HOTTING UP WITH HIDDLESTON IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED IN WEB CHATS AND INTERVIEWS THAT ‘HEAT’ IS MR. HIDDLESTON’S FAVOURITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME. BUT WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THIS MOVIE SO UNIQUE AND SPECIAL? WHY CHOOSE THIS MOVIE OVER ANY OTHER?
T
he crème de la crème of American acting pair up again to produce a fast paced action thriller combined with humour, suspense and emotion. The movie ‘Heat’ is full of surprises. At its heart it is your quintessential thriller but beneath the surface there’s the
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story of intricate human relationships and all the complexity which it brings. Any preconceptions the viewer has regarding this genre is pretty much blown away within the first 10 minutes of the film. Here we see Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Pacino) of the LAPD struggling to balance his job within the
Film: Heat (1995) Director: Michael Mann Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Niro, Val Kilmer, Voight Genre: Mystery & Suspense Rated: 15 (R)
DeJon
MOVIES&TV
ANY PRECONCEPTIONS THE VIEWER HAS REGARDING THIS GENRE IS BLOWN AWAY WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES
robbery-homicide division with his demanding third wife and severely depressed stepdaughter (Natalie Portman). The protagonist, Neil McCauley (DeNiro), along with his gang, set out to obtain bearer bonds from money launderer Roger Van Zant. Mann achieves this by constructing a fast paced action sequence where we see McCauley’s gang trash an armoured vehicle, set up a stinger for the approaching police and Waingro (a volatile member of the gang) needlessly murder three guards. The two opening scenes of the film
although completely different complement each other perfectly. Contrasts in pace, setting and dialogue ensure that the viewer is captivated from the very beginning. McCauley realising his precarious situation is forced to sell the shares back to Van Zant and dispose of Waingro. Waingro manages to escape and continues to go on a murder spree through the city. Van Zant, devastated that someone would have the nerve to steal from him plans to kill McCauley. This plays out in ty-
pical gangster style, a deserted location, a shady meeting, a package and a few bullets thrown in for good measure. As predicted the assassination attempt fails in dramatic LA style. From here on we witness the emotional development of the the characters as they try to justify their existence within this fragile gangland setting. Hanna’s one goal is to capture McCauley, though this is not without difficulty. Time and time again we see Hanna sneak up on the unsuspecting criminals only to see(Cont >)
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his plans fall apart at the seams. What is noticeable is the effect this game of cat and mouse has on the two main characters. Hanna descends further into himself to the dismay of his wife , who eventually ends up having an affair. McCauley, still hot on the heels of Van Zant and Waingro begins to focus on his latest project; a bank heist with an estimated payout of approximately 12 million dollars. A chance meeting in a coffee shop signals the beginning of McCauley’s ‘supposed’ redemption as he starts to realise that his life is worthless without having someone special to share it with. As the
THE MOST PIVOTAL SCENE CENTRES AROUND PACINO AND DENIRO AS THEY SHARE A COFFEE IN A BUSTLING CAFÉ
Michael Mann prepares the scene in Heat
story unfolds we’re treated to a mix of high end drama, shoot outs, intimate moments, fear and frustration. In my opinion the most emotionally evoking scene of the piece centres around the death of a sixteen year old prostitute. Here we see Pacino at his acting best as he attempts to console the victims mother as she falls apart in his arms. However, the most pivotal scene centres around Pacino and DeNiro
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as they share a coffee in a bustling café. This is not your stereotypical face-off, Mann instead opts for a slow buildup. Hanna and McCauley face
their demons and talk about a ‘normal life’. Hanna realises that his problems are solely down to the fact that he has spent his entire life hunting
MOVIES&TV
greats “I gotta hold on to my angst. I preserve it because I need it. It keeps me sharp, on the edge, where I gotta be.” Haven’t we all had that moment when against our better judgement when we pursue something we know is bad for us? This is the fatal flaw in humanity. We are never satisfied and are always striving for more. Our angst keeps us sharp, cynical and above all, ready to do it all again.
down criminals like McCauley. During the conversation the characters seem to develop a mutual respect for one another. McCauley delivering his mantra, “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” With the cards clearly on the table, it’s only a matter of time before one of them is looking down the barrel of a gun. This movie surprised me. Although it has everything you would expect from a cat and
“ALL I AM IS WHAT I’M GOING AFTER” mouse style thriller, there are many delights to be hadalong the way. Tom stated that “the fatal flaw in masculinity, which is summed up in Pacino’s line: ‘All I am is what I’m going after.’” I’m inclined to disagree with this statement, instead opting to go for another one of Pacino’s
Whatever your opinion, it is clear that this movie is up there with Mann’s greatest work. With such a stellar cast and fantastic script I guarantee that once you’ve experienced ‘Heat’ you will be back for more.
TEXT: L. Edwards (@Girlsintheback) EDIT: Amanda Miller
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MOVIES&TV
WHAT TO WATCH
SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO FIND SOMETHING NEW TO WATCH WHEN A FAVORITE SHOW OR ACTOR IS ON HIATUS. FEAR NOT, FELLOW FANS. HERE IS A LIST FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE BASED ON PROGRAMS YOU MAY ALREADY ENJOY Written by Mahoney Smithton (@artedecoy) - Edited by Amanda Miller
IF YOU LIKED You should watch
THE ARTIST
A silent movie star meets a young dancer, but the arrival of talking pictures sends their careers in opposite directions
You should watch
LUTHER
This television series follows the cases of atroubled yet brilliant English police detective, DCI John Luther
You should watch
SECRETARIAT
Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown
You should watch
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
A poor boy of unknown origins is rescued from poverty and taken in by the Earnshaw family where he develops an intense relationship with his young foster sister, Cathy
You should watch
BRAVEHEART
William Wallace, a commoner, unites the 13th Century Scots in their battle to overthrow English rule
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You should watch
PLEASANTVILLE
Two 1990’s teenagers find themselves in a 1950’s sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change their complacent world
You should watch
DEXTER
A likable Miami police forensics expert moonlights as a serial killer of criminals who he believes haveescaped justice
You should watch
MY BOY JACK
Author Rudyard Kipling and his wife search for their 17-yearold son after he goes missing during WWI
You should watch
I AM LOVE
A tragic love story set at the turn of the millennium in Milan. The film follows the fall of the haute bourgeoisie due to the forces of passion and unconditional love
You should watch
THE LONGEST DAY
The events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view
MOVIES&TV THE HELP
AL TER NA TI VE
VIE WING A SELECTION OF FILMS RECOMMENDED FOR THEIR SENSATIONAL SCRIPTS, BREATH TAKING CINEMATOGRAPHY, SORING SCORES OR JUST FOR THE EYE CANDY. ALL THESE MOVIES ARE A MUST SEE. Written by L. Edwards @Girlsintheback) Edited by Amanda Miller
(2011) The might of the human spirit This award winning film has everything, a fantastic cast, perfect score, and a sensational script. The Help is the story of black suppression in 1950’s America and one woman’s courage to stand up for what she believes in. Truly inspiring, this story will stay with you forever.
NEVER LET ME GO
(2010) This will break your heart Based in an alternative Utopian society, Never Let Me Go, questions the ethics of organ donation. Clones are being raised with the sole purpose of being donors until their completion (death) at an early age. The film deals with themes of love, loss and acceptance at the brutality and fragile nature of existence - A beautifully harrowing piece of cinema.
TOMBSTONE
(1993) Everything a good western should be Based on actual events, this action packed western tells the story of the Earp family as they try to settle in the lawless town of Tombstone. Soon the family find themselves under threat from local outlaws, the cowboys. The famed fight at the OK corral is just one of the many highlights this film has to offer. Extra bonus – look out for Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday!
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MOVIES&TV
“I THINK IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BEGIN WITH A BANG DON’T YOU?”
B
ased on a true story, the film focuses on the rise and fall of club promoter Michael Alig (Macaulay Culkin) as he attempts to make his name on the New York City club scene. Along for the ride is well es-
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tablished party veteran James St. James (Seth Green); struggling author, young socialite, and all out queen of ‘fabulousness’! We open with James St James promoting his new novel ‘Disco Blood Bath’. “I think it’s so important to begin with a bang, don’t you?” , says the pouting St James. Unfortunately, this movie produces more of a high pitched squeal then the aforementioned bang. St. James starts the story with Michael confessing to the murder of Angel, a drug dealer whom he made famous through associa-
MOVIES&TV
ALL THAT
GLITTERS PARTY MONSTER, A FULL ON ASSAULT OF THE SENSES, PURSUES THE THEMES OF FAME, GLAMOUR AND DRUG ADDICTION IN LATE 80’S/ EARLY 90’S MANHATTAN.
Film: Party Monster (2003) Director: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato Starring: Al Pacino, Robert DeMacaulay Culkin, Seth Green, Chloë Sevigny, Marilyn Manson Genre: Mystery, pense
tion with the club kids. We are given a brief description of the two main characters upbringings. Both feeling different, they dream of bigger, better things and decide to move to New York in search of their escape. Straight from the beginning it is clear that both characters are flamboyant, attention seeking souls, so wrapped up in their own reality, that it is hard for them to retain any serious credibility. Throughout the film, narration switches from Alig to St. James’s at sporadic intervals. This occasionally results in mild confusion and an overlap
of the narrative. St. James’s perspective of events is somewhat different from Alig’s and as a result, we are left with many unanswered questions – what is fiction and what is fact?
Drama
&
Sus-
Rated: 18 (R)
What we can be sure of is that the two met in a club where Alig is immediately drawn towards the exuberant St. James. The two meet again in a doughnut shop where Alig asks for hints on how to be fabulous. Elated at the attention he’s received St. James promptly reveals his tricks of the trade to the impressionable Alig and(Cont >)
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MOVIES&TV the two soon become an inseparable pair. During these early scenes we see St. James flaunting his casual drug use, passing it off as being part of his party persona. This has an effect on the somewhat naive Alig who eventually ends up with his own drug problem later in the film. It is from this initial meeting that Alig sets his heart on the pursuit of fame/glamour and sets out to become a club promoter. His first few parties are a complete disaster, so much so that he is
forced to pay back damages to the owner of the Limelight club, Peter Gatien. In a bizarre twist of events Alig is commissioned to host another three parties at said club, in which any earnings will be used to pay off his debt. Why Gatien decided to employ a clearly unhinged character is never fully explained. However unlikely, a father-son bond develops between these two characters and we regularly see Gatien fork out money to fuel Alig’s hopes and aspirations with dire consequences. Alig’s constant need for
LIKE ALL PARTIES (...) THIS MOVIE LEAVES YOU WITH A FUNNY TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH, A POUNDING HEADACHE AND NO REAL MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE LAST 95 MINUTES HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012 72
approval sees him enrolling many waifs and strays into his circus, converting them into his own ‘superstars’. From Marilyn Manson’s cross dressing Christina, baggage handler turned DJ Keoki, Freez the drug dealer, and Angel, the ‘wannabe’ scene kid , each character is slightly more outrageous than the last. The arrival and subsequent departure of these characters is rarely touched
upon, again providing limited insight into the dark world of the King of the club kids. Perhaps the most pivotal point in the story is the break up between Alig and Keoki. Although only a brief scene in the movie, it is this loss of love which sends Alig spiralling into the world of drug fueled escapism. As Alig concerns himself with parties and promotion, the club kid movement reaches an all-time high; and it’s not too long until the central characters find
MOVIES&TV
themselves touring the states. Throughout the movie, we see Green and Culkin delve deep into their characters in an attempt to make them resonate more with the audience. Unfortunately, it, like the story seems rather superficial. On a positive note it is fascinating to watch Clukin throw aside his clean cut childhood image opting for a far trashier approach which works well in his favour. Green, on the other hand, always possessed the ability to deliver comedy with tremendous effect and this remains the case even with a film as schizophrenic as Party Monster. Deliriously camp, from costumes to dialogue, this film isn’t a piece of high end drama but is still mildly entertaining. Like all parties, it seemed a good idea at the time.
However, Party Monster far from being the event of the decade, is a mediocre affair. This movie leaves you with a funny taste in your mouth, a pounding headache and no real memory of what happened during the last 95 minutes.
TEXT: L. Edwards (@Girlsintheback) EDIT: Amanda Miller
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DOCTOR “FIRST THERE WERE THE DALEKS AND THEN THERE WAS A MAN WHO FOUGHT THEM, AND THEN IN TIME HE DIED. THERE ARE A FEW, OF COURSE, WHO BELIEVED THIS MAN SOMEHOW SURVIVED AND THAT ONE DAY HE WILL RETURN”
L
ast month saw the return of Doctor Who to BBC one. Like so many eagerly awaiting Whovians, there were many questions that I needed answered. I tried as hard as I could to stay away from the blogs and rumour mills on the internet and I’m happy to say I mostly succeeded. I was determined to watch the new se-
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ries just as Moffat intended: there would be no cracks in my bedroom wall, no silence, and no question, except one, doctor who? Excited, nervous, and full of anticipation I positioned myself in front of my TV, glass of wine in one hand, remote in the other and prepared myself for the emotional roller coaster which lay ahead.
MOVIES&TV
R WHO The Doctor (Matt Smith) is reunited with his two longest serving companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) for yet more adventures through time and space. Unfortunately, this was to be the last series starring the married couple, who departed the show in heart-wrenching style ear-
THERE WOULD BE NO CRACKS IN MY BEDROOM WALL, NO SILENCE, AND NO QUESTION, EXCEPT ONE, DOCTOR WHO?
lier this month. Approximately 6 million viewers tuned in to see the couple bow out of the series in an episode aired 09/29/2012. An outpouring of emotion not witnessed since Tennant’s farewell back in 2010. I, like so many, wept like a lost child. The episode did not disappoint. In true Moffatt fashion, it was full of plot twists, unexpected surprises, and a very touching farewell. Over the first part of the series we’ve been thrown through the vortex, landed on Skaro, brought before the high (Cont >)
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parliament of the Daleks, spiralled towards Earth (Egypt 1334 B.C., to be exact), explored a spaceship the size of Canada, and fought a cyborg in the wild west. Let’s not forget the ‘year of the slow invasion’ and a brief trip to the 1920s to fight of some very nasty statues. Oh, and did I mention, dinosaurs
nosaurs and cyborg marshals in the Wild West, we’ve begun to formulate some theories. Each opening credit sequence gets darker than the previous week’s and hints to things in books, last pages, and adventures away from Earth. Without giving too much away, there seems to be a subtle sense
AMY MANAGED TO REACH ACROSS TIME AND SPACE TO LEAVE HIM A MESSAGE: AN AFTERWORD IN THE BOOK ‘MELODY MALONE’, TELLING HIM TO NEVER BE ALONE. on a spaceship?! Combine all of this with a bumbling, quirky alien with a blue box, a fiery Scot, and a sympathetic husband and you have the raw ingredients for a cracking season 7 of Doctor Who. From The Doctor’s encounter with the Daleks in episode one to his adventure with di-
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of urgency about this series. The Doctor often makes musical references throughout but how much of this is important? The Doctor may be older in years, but is he any wiser? This series has given us a taste of the darker side of The Doctor and his willingness to
MOVIES&TV
“disband” the antagonists that appear throughout this series. The Daleks have their memory of him completely wiped in Episode 1, Solomon in Episode 2, and Kahler-Mas in Episode 3. As Amy says, “This is what happens when you’ve travelled by yourself for too long.” It is clear that The Doctor needs a companion to reel him in from the darker side of his conscious, so it will be interesting to see how the departure of the Ponds will affect him. Amy managed to reach across time and space to leave him a message: an afterword in the book ‘Melody Malone’, telling him to
never be alone. Rumour has it, the new companion is Carmen, who we’ve previously encountered as a Dalek in Episode 1, but how does this encounter play out? In theory, anything is possible with time travel so we could have another River Song situation where, on first meeting, she knows who The Doctor is and what he is capable of, his adventures, and his enemies. Have we started from the end? Did The Doctor actually see her “human” face? If not, could he meet her again (in the past) and not realise it is her? Could even encourage the brilliance of her mind shine
AN OUTRAGE THROUGH TIME AND SPACE >> At the time of going to print, Steven Moffatt, current writer and producer of the Doctor Who series, has closed his account on social networking giant Twitter. There are many theories surrounding his swift departure, and to my knowledge, Moffatt has made no comment on the matter. Some theories suggest that Moffatt was receiving death threats from
people claiming to be ‘true Who’ fans. Others state that he was just ‘too busy’. What I found surprising is a couple of days prior to his departure, Moffat tweeted the universe asking if there were any way to limit who can follow you and tweet you? He also mentioned blocking, saying that he had tried this but to no avail. Whatever the reason, it is clear that more protection is needed for ce-
through, feeding her need for adventure? As we’ve said, there is a lot that needs to be answered. First, however, we have to wait for the Christmas special. Amy said, “There’s a little girl waiting in a garden. She’s going to wait a long while, so she’s going to need a lot of hope.” This is the story of season 7, part 1, and this is how it ends. TEXT: L. Edwards (Girlsintheback), R. Lawton (@RetroSpanda & @Pandamaticfilms) EDIT: Amanda Miller
lebrities who choose to use social networking sites to communicate with fans. It’s a privilege to get to communicate with someone you deeply respect and admire, and it is a shame that this opportunity has been ruined by a few bad apples. All you distressed Sherlock and Doctor Who fans out there, do not worry. Moffat is safe and well, probably concocting another story to steal our hearts and keep us guessing. The more attention we draw to this story, the more we satisfy the trolls – “Silence will fall.”
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HEADPHONES ON
MORE THAN
SONG OF THE DAY REVIEWS Written by Silvia Ariza (@silargu) - Edited by Giovana Ramos (@GihRamos) PLAYLISTS Prepared by Delucienne Maekerr, Silvia Ariza (@silargu) and Haylee Sade
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BON IVER B
on Iver (Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States) is one of the most successful musical projects of Justin Vernon, an indie-folk band that has published three works: For Emma, Forever Ago (2008), Blood Bank (EP, 2009) and Bon Iver (2011). They are known for their intimist songs, which is almost impossible to distinguish Vernon’s voice from the melodies. The band members are, besides Vernon, Mike Noyce, Sean Carey and Matt MacCaughan. The name of the band comes from the French expression “bon hiver” (good winter), and its pronunciation is as it is in French, “bon eevair”. The first album, For Emma, Forever ago, was recorded in only four months in a remote cabin in Wisconsin. That retirement resulted in very personal lyrics, catalyst to all of Justin’s troubles, feelings, problems and thoughts. It was self-released in 2007 and due to its success and positive reviews, was picked up by Jagjaguwar in 2008. It continued to be acclaimed with the second edition, and was published by 4AD in the UK.
and finally got to sustain itself, the heat blisters your face while your back is frozen solid.”
THE NAME OF THE BAND COMES FROM THE FRENCH EXPRESSION “BON HIVER” (GOOD WINTER)
The self-titled album Bon Iver is the band’s change of direction. Justin Vernon let people in, hiring well-known musicians Colin Stetson (saxophonist) and Greg Leisz (pedal-steel guitarist). All of them worked together to bring to life 10 wonderful songs, each of them representing a place. In Vernon’s own
words, Perth was described as a “Civil War-sounding heavy metal song”, Minnesota, WI is “finger-picked guitars, double bass drums and distorted bass saxophone” and Beth/Rest (which Vernon is most proud of) is “horn heavy”. The album was awarded a Grammy Musical Award in 2012 as the Best Alternative Music Album, and the song Holocene was nominated as the Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year.
You should listen to: Skinny Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssdgFoHLwnk
Woods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_cePGP6lbU
Holocene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oCPAO3bp4Q
and Beth/Rest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UtQe0JOCnM
The EP Blood Bank features four tracks, and as the record company has stated: “As much as For Emma, Forever Ago is about the cold, the Blood Bank collection is about the warmth that gets you through it. You can feel the air move, like a fire you’ve been stoking for hours
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HEADPHONES ON
ABNEY PARK A
bney Park is more than the name of a cemetery in London, it is also the name of a band from Seattle (United States). The band was formed in 1997, starting their career with two albums of gothic music, Abney Park and Return To The Fire. Their third album was a compilation of the former two, and also included several new songs. In 2002 they published their last gothic album with new songs, From Dreams Or Angles. The next one, Taxidermy (2005), was a collec-
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tion of different versions of old songs, live versions and two covers. Their next release was The Death of Tragedy, in 2006. This work marked the beginning of major changes, from the band’s sound to their members. Their former melodies, more gothic and pagan, developed into more world music and fusion; and the line-up of the band changed. The original members were Robert Brown, Traci Nemeth, Krystof Nemeth and Robert Hazelton. The last three left and were replaced by Magdalene Veen, Jean-Paul Mayden and Nathaniel Johnston. Not long af-
ter this change, Jean-Paul was replaced by Daniel C. The versions of their own songs in Taxidermy, and the new direction that Abney Park took with The Death of Tragedy, has made the band one of the most famous groups of steampunk. This genre is known to incorporate elements of fantasy, alternate history, fiction and horror to the songs. Abney Park went as far as possible to create fictional identities for themselves, a fictional backstory and very imaginative sets on-stage. They used this transformation to also explain the change of members and who they had become. The novel The Wrath of Fate, authorized by the band’s founder Robert Brown, explains with great detail that backstory. In 2008, with the release of the album Lost Horizons (the first official steampunk work of the band), Magdalene Veen left the band and was replaced by Finn Von Claret. He retired to work
Playlist of Tom FOSTER THE PEOPLE Pumped Up Kicks THE KILLERS Mr. Brightside U2 Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For LOUIS ARMSTRONG Skokiaan THE CURE Friday I’m In Love FREELANCE WHALES Generator First Floor ARCADE FIRE AND DAVID BOWIE Life on Mars RAY PARKER JR. Ghostbusters THE MUPPETS SOUNDTRACK Life Is A Happy Song VAN MORRISON Sweet Thing
Playlist of Fans THE BEATLES Norwegian Wood (suggested by @babyfoo03)
MIKA Make You Happy
(suggested by @itsagirlpanic)
THE HEAD AND THE HEART Lost In My Mind (suggested by @Amy_said)
SUPERTRAMP Take the Long Way to Home (suggested by @MinaPili)
on side projects in a year after, and Jody Ellen joined Abney Park, in time for the 10th album, Æther Shantie. A year later, in 2010, The End of Days was released and Titus Munteanu replaced Nathaniel Johnstone. Their last two albums are Off The Grid (2011) and Ancient World (2012). You may have listened to some of their songs included on movie and TV shows soundtracks. For example, their song “Sleep Isabella” appeared on episode 4 of the 5th season of True Blood. Abney Park have even their own tabletop RPG (role playing game) book based on their backstory: Airship Pirates. You should listen to: Anything Here is not a song similar to another, it is impossible to get bored from listening to any of their numerous albums. A personal favourite: From Dreams or Angels
LA OREJA DE VAN GOGH A Diez Centimetros De Ti (suggested by @OaklandReyesnow)
DIRE STRAITS Sultans Of Swing (suggested by @EvaVictoria7)
THE USED Smother Me (suggested by @ajguapa)
WOODKID Run Boy Run (suggested by @DalekNek)
DARIO G Sunchyme
(suggested by @Adanwen)
THE GUILLEMOTS Vermillion (suggested by @Girlsintheback)
Playlist of Magazine LION KING SOUNDTRACK Circle of Life (Carlota) BREAKING BENJAMIN Dance with the Devil (Kari) KEVIN RUDOLF Let It Rock (Kari) BLACKALICIOUS The Craft (Katie) DEPECHE MODE Home (Diana) SOULSAVERS Take Me Back Home (Diana) BRAZZAVILLE Bosphorus (Del) MUCC Nirvana (Haylee) THE SUNDAY DRIVERS Do It (Silvia) PETULA CLARK Downtown (Silvia)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVJkt8YcT8c
Playlist link: http://grooveshark.com/#!/playlist/HFM+1st+Issue+Playlist+2012/77211188
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BUT LET’S DO A
FASH ION HEAD COUNT
HERE: LOKI’S BROTHER, THE DEMI-GOD; A SUPER SOLDIER, ZTH-TAKING ANGER MANAGEMENT ISSUES; A COUPLE OF MASTER ASSASSINS, AND MARVEL HAVE MANAGED TO DRESS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM Written by Hash and Dory Álvarez (@Doryx1lazo) Edited by
Our beloved god of Thunder is not so mighty in his look. Yeah, Thor looks gorgeous, but let’s face it his costume is just two basic pieces in basic colors... for a pretty basic mind. He keeps his clothes functional and comfortable, perfect for the performance of his Midgardian duties. The red cape (gods’ neverold-fashioned trend) is his only detail of vanity, along with his bare arms: heavenly naked arms we needed to see in all their glory and truly believe those biceps can summon the thunder with no trouble.
{
{ THOR
Fitted, functional, comfortable and black as hell: those are the main rules for the perfect professional assassin’s outfit who must go unnoticed and be quick, efficient and lethal. In his costume choice, just as in war, Clint hits his target. With all his equipment handy and plus protection on legs, chest, and neck, our favourite archer keeps bared arms for free movements: we won’t miss his sleeves as long as he doesn’t miss the shot.
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{
{ HAWKEYE
Natasha knows that following the previously mentioned “rules for the perfect professional assassin’s outfit” doesn’t mean you can’t be sexy. This red haired Russian girl knows exactly what she’s doing adding visible sewing to accentuate her curves in her catsuit. The side part in her hair tells us she can be sweet too, but completely covered in tough black leather, she gives us the impression of mystery and that frontal zipper lets us know she’s just as sensual as lethal.
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{
{ BLACK WIDOW
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{
HIDDLESTONED NOVEMBER 2012
{ LOKI
Let’s see: long jacket, metal pieces, arm pads, shoulder pads, belts, straps, gold everywhere and of course that huge horned helmet... The Lord of Mischief is just as greedy in his outfit as he is about power: he wants it all! So, don’t you think he’s trying to compensate for something? Exactly: insecurity. Maybe Phil was right and Loki lacks conviction, that would explain why he dresses himself with gold as a reminder that we should kneel before him (as if some of us needed a reminder, ha!). One thing is clear: he tries to be completely different from his brother, and that’s why he wears exactly the opposite color of Thor’s cape: green. How funny, the color of envy...
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People might just need a little old fashioned, and we’re not talking just about Captain America’s suit but Rogers’ daily outfits, too. Being kind and noble is really underrated (where did I hear that before?) and there’s a serious lack of gentlemen in this world like Rogers, with their good-boy side part hairstyle, white cotton underwear, sweet light blue shirts... *sighs* The leather jacket is a must if we want this angel look a little tougher. He’s Captain America after all...
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{
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{ CAP ROGERS
{
{AGENT COULSON
You know what is said: behind every great man there’s a great... Coulson. Let’s face it, Nick Fury would be nothing without his “good eye”, and that responsability obliges Phil to be ready for any mission. That’s why he wears a suit. Elegant, stylish and... invisible. Because it’s perfect if you don’t want anyone to know what you’re really doing, or who you really are. And most important: it doesn’t matter if he’s in New York or New Mexico: he will always look cool.
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{
{AGENT HILL
Quoting Joe Quesada: “[Hill] is such a strong personality (...) while perhaps not immediately loved by all involved, she’s certainly as strong and imposing a figure as Nick Fury. (...) what’s different is that we aren’t quite clear about her motives”. We can see her personality in her SHIELD suit: not fitted like Black Widow, not a single personal accessory like maybe Hawkeye... We have no idea who this strong woman really is and as Joe said lots of us didn’t even like her... until Gag Reel, of course.
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He does what he wants, but unlike Loki, he doesn’t need to show off in golden accessories (except in Iron Man’s armour, there’s a picture of it in the dictionary’s “show-off” entry). Tony is rich, insolent, arrogant, and he dresses the same way: a crazy mixture of expensive designer clothes and following no recognizable fashion rules. You may think that would be a disaster of an outfit but, hey! It’s Tony Stark we are talking about! In the end, he always gets his way and fashion is not an exception.
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{
{ TONY STARK
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We’re back to the the “perfect professional assassin’s outfit rules”. For Nick Fury, black is not a color, it’s a lifestyle (no joke). With him all it’s about mystery, secrets, and poker faces. You can’t even look him in the eyes (again, no joke). Unlike Hawkeye and Black Widow, his long leather jacket is not functional at all, but he can wear it because he’s da boss, he stays on the ship and gives some orders most of the time. Of course, he doesn’t hesitate if he needs to kick some asses.
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{
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{ NICK FURY
{
{ BRUCE BANNER
As a busy and hard working scientist that tries to go along with a simple life in India, Bruce Banner has no time for frivolity: modest suit, in modest colors, even modest glasses. No accessories, no rings, or tie, nor even a watch... which is reasonable because he’ll be turning all of them into pieces if suddenly the other guy shows up. The comfortable clothes he wears look wrinkled and worn-out, probably because he’s too busy working and worrying about his condition to mind about his appearance... It’s ironic then, how he dresses himself in a purple shirt that will accentuate and look great over his green skin while ripping his clothes off in Hulk-mode.
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Sweet Dreams are made of WHAT BEGAN AS A NECESSITY IS NOW ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL PLEASURES OF HUMANITY: FOOD
O
riginally men were hungry and lacking energy, so consumed what they found in their path and hunted the animals for food and to satiate their appetite, just like that. But if we believe the Greek myth, which Prometheus decides to bring the fire to humanity, everything changed. Accidentally dropped a piece of meat in the middle of the flame and the smell fills the village, they had never tasted anything so delicious and there emerged the pleasure of food. Women, with all the intelligence of the world, discovered in the fire and the food made with love, that they could satisfy the palates of men and have a ticket to their hearts. This has not changed, or you just think in the closest path to Tom’s heart is have a pudding in hand, or well, at least you will arrive at his table. For those who don’t have the reference, all due to a tweet he put with a word: pudding. And the desserts are the most beautiful way to sweeten life.
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It is in the Renaissance time that the desserts took shape and strength. The first was the arrival to the occidental world of one of the America’s wonders: the xocoalt, like the Aztecs called it, who had this marvelous sweet as a gift from the god of wisdom and knowledge, Quetzacoalt. We are talking about chocolate. Good reason to understand why Tom eats it nonstop -but with apologies in the middle-: it is the source of wisdom.
THE XOCOATL, WHO HAD THIS MARVELOUS SWEET AS A GIFT FROM THE GOD OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, QUETZACOALT
Sweet came to the mouths of our ancestors long time ago, almost since someone found a hive and decided to taste what was inside. Of course, after they got the honey, they had to run because the bees were chasing them. But in New Guinea someone thought: “might that plant that
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adorns the garden maybe tastes good!”. They discovered sugarcane, and found a safer replacement for honey. With the advent of crystallized sugar, Greeks and Romans started to use it in pastries and drinks, and the Arabs mixed with nuts, the time for dessert arrived as the perfect way to end a meal.
So, between sugar, honey and cocoa just went from sucking the rod to trying to create combinations for the delight of the kings and courts. Over time, cooking techniques add to the traditions and begin to create combinations with all those existing elements and emerging dishes, like apple pie in 1381, the gingerbread in 1400, the praline, sweet almond french candy in 1600, the cupcake in 1740 and lemon pie with meringue in 1800. Between the Renaissance and industrialization was a good time to be alive and enjoy the desserts at the end of dinner.(Cont >)
THE HIDDLESTONED
Everything and more of that we explained to get to our invention. Inspired by Tom, pudding and chocolates, we present what we call gladly:
DESSERT SOCIAL PYRAMID
Name a little fetched but according to all that we can dream, here we find desserts for all tastes: from the king’s favorite to what a simple beggar might want and have. The pyramid is arranged by groups in levels, which you can find different desserts. It also can be combined to make better tastes and delicacies to create for any moment.
LEVEL 2 THE DELICIOUS GROUP
LEVEL 3 THE COMPLEMENT GROUP
LEVEL 1 THE KING
1. Chocolate pudding Does it need explanation? Well, we will give it next.
2. Chocolate in all appearances, including melted by heat 3. Pudding vanilla, caramel and with fruits
4. Whipped cream alone or like said the name of the group, as a complement
5. Caramel apple the simple pleasure of the beggar
6. Cheese cake Shakespeare’s favourite. Seriously: he loved the goat milk one
7. Fruits strawberry, orange, peach, banana, kiwi, even the exotic mango or passion fruit. Alone or together
LEVEL 4 THE EVERYBODY GROUP
8. Ice cream milk and fruit pleasure, icedtogether. 9. Eclair the perfect pastry filled with custard 10. Jam or jelly complement for every bread breakfast at morning
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Evidently the king of desserts, chocolate pudding can be eaten alone and will be the delight of the day, but Tom is smart and used whipped cream, which is on level 3 of The complement group. Do you want some dessert right now? It’s not just choose from the 10 ones are on our list: you can decorate a vanilla pudding with fruit, put ice cream to cheese cake and what would be a eclair without their respective coated chocolate: There is something for everyone! But we decided to spend time at Tom’s favorite: the pudding. Is right to be the one, although it is difficult to trace its history. On the same family are duff, a stiff flour pudding boiled in a cloth bag or steamed, and flan, related to British history that claims it as part of their culinary heritage. In the beginning it is related to the tanners and sausages as evidenced by a fourteenth cen-
tury recipe found in the British Museum. After, the Tudors were those who thought in a dish worthy of their rank and pudding becomes famous, but its base was flesh. It was not until the nineteenth century in the UK that it was worth making sweet pudding and Victorian court invented the dish, like many other modern desserts. Throughout the century, it was decided to combine the recipe with fruits like peaches and so to the delight of Queen Victoria. For this reason, and because Tom has chosen, the pudding is the king of the pyramid. But that does not mean that you can not enjoy a good homemade pudding. This recipe is something I thought for this article, -I’m not inventing anything new, just was an idea that I implemented-, to what I called
Chocolate Pudding Chocolate For: one Tom, two Hiddlestoners, six normal people. For pudding: 2 pudding boxes 6 cups of milk 1 orange for a juice. For chocolate cover: 200 grams of baking chocolate Cream or milk
First, find the boxes of pudding. In some countries find made pudding is not so simple: it is expensive in a delicatessen or maybe not found in any bakery, so you have to find the mixture to prepare in some supermarkets. But, by experiencing this recipe, I can tell that I almost couldn`t find the mix to make my own chocolate pudding. Begin with the preparation of the pudding: simmer the milk with pudding boxes and whisk. You must be sloped to prevent the pudding stick to the pot. While whisking, add orange juice: it’s a touch for a smooth, delicious flavor. When the pudding boils, let it one minute simmering and then pour the content in the heat-resistant mold, the best is glass bakeware like Pyrex. Chill the pudding enough for support the chocolate. It’s time to melt the chocolate. There are many ways to do this, as the familiar double boiler, which is done with
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water and heat, but this is our recipe. First, mix the cream and diced baking chocolate over low heat to melt, really slowly. You must also be aware or it can burn because of the lack of attention (as experience told me). Gradually the chocolate takes consistency and the smell begins to flood the house, so watch out for intruders! When it’s melted and liquid, but thick, put on top of the pudding. Bring to the refrigerator and let it chill until pudding achieves the right consistency. Be aware that this may take about two hours: be patient. Since there are two different textures is not so easy to serve, but it will look great, as it is a two-color chocolaty and awesome dessert. Warning: this is sweet and sweeter. If you want lower blood sugar can make a combination like vanilla pudding chocolate.
Calories. Was the first thing mentioned at house, but when I tasted I could only think why Tom likes pudding and chocolate, and is understandable. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortés found that Moctezuma’s court was around the chocolate and it was a society fan of this food. This, with the Victorian British tradition, results in we create a society around the pudding, desserts and of course the king, -we mean, Tom-. It’s more to explore in The Hiddlestoned dessert social pyramid, but this is our welcome to what will be this section, for the smell and taste. TEXT: Diana Luque Lavado (@photosynthetica) EDIT: Giovana Ramos
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“THAT MAN OVER THERE IS PLAYING GALAGA”
MASS EFFECT 3 IS THE A RECENT BIOWARE OFFERING, RELEASED IN MARCH 2012. WE TAKE A GENERAL LOOK AT THE GAME AND COMPARE IT WITH THE FIRST TWO GAMES IN THE SERIES AND POINT OUT THE EVOLVING PROCESS. THE GAME WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE ACTION/ ROLE PLAY THIRD PERSON SHOOTER SCI-FI GENRE VIDEO GAMES WITH A DEEP AND FASCINATING OVERARCHING STORY. AS PROTAGONIST COMMANDER SHEPARD, YOU HAVE ONLY ONE AND VERY BASIC DUTY TO ACCOMPLISH: SAVING THE GALAXY (!) AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND BELIEVE US, IT’S NEVER EASY.
T
he connections between missions, characters, “mysteries” you have to solve, and hidden details like when a basic side mission on the first game turns out to be great plot point at another part of the series are what absorbs the player and makes this game so interesting and widely popular. Sometimes you gain victories and sometimes you are defeated, but the game never lets you down... until the last moments of the legend. DEL Well, could-have-been legend. OZAN I say it is still valid to call it a legend. DEL Well, yes. If you refuse to play last 10-15 minutes.
Mass Effect 3 does what a third installment should do. It takes the successful
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“THAT MAN OVER THERE IS PLAYING GALAGA”
parts of the first two games and improves them even more. It also cuts out the some of the weak parts that annoyed players previously. The game allows you to import your old save games and lets you carry over your old decisions and prior events to your new game. Yes, that means all those different situations that you could have seen in the earlier games will affect this game’s story. BioWare did change the feeling of storytelling and how your various actions could affect the whole saga with this feature.
This saga could quite easily be considered a milestone of how a roleplaying game could give players the full thrill of a beautiful action movie in addition to delivering an awesome story. Do you remember when was the last time in a game, before every move you made, you started thinking about possible outcomes and how would it affect your position in the story later? No? ME3 gives you plenty of those moments to remember later on. There are tons of scenes in the game where players will be unable to choose their path easily. This situation gives the player a feeling of realism, even though everything is happening in a futuristic galaxy. Making decisions in this game can be really hard, just like in real life. Storytelling and atmosphere
are great, so let’s get to the action part a little bit. The game improved its action mechanics tremendously throughout the saga. The game uses a skill system containing three branches: Combat, Biotics, and Tech. In ME1, the shooting and action was mostly based on cover. ME2 went further and put more details into it: More stuff to throw, worrying about your ammo, and new biotic attack skills granted an improved battle system. However, ME3 took it to another level. At the character creation screen, players have to choose one of six classes that uses one or two of the three branches. Three of them are focused solely on one skill branch: the Soldier (combat), the Adept (biotics), and the Engineer (tech). (Cont >)
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rability. Their special ability is the Singularity, which creates a small black hole and pulls everything inside and disables it while you fry them with shocks from afar. Seriously. Portable. Black. Holes. One of my favorite classes.
- SOLDIERS are the tanks of the ME universe. If you want to focus on dealing damage with weapons and taking massive damage without going down, this is your stop. Quite hard to take down, so recommended for new players. Being a Soldier also comes with a handy Omni-Blade which causes massive damage in melee. Shiny! DEL Yeah, they gave to Soldier the Omni-Blade and other fancy things to other classes. But at one of the most crucial moments of the
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game, a cinematic shows you attacking with an OmniBlade, regardless your class. Lame move BioWare. As a Vanguard, I would prefer to tear him apart with my badass biotic punch at that moment. It would be much more satisfying and proper to class itself.
- ADEPTS are the spellcasters of the game. It is normal to see enemies being tossed around when an adept is on the battlefield. They wield biotic power and use it to disable and kill enemies at range at the cost of lower du-
- ENGINEERS use tech (surprised anyone?) to deal with enemy shields and other defense. An engineer might not be useful for 1v1 fights, but in a team they are priceless. Bonus feature: Summoning fighting drones for support firepower. The remaining classes are combinations of the previous three. Even though they cannot reach the highest level skills the “pure” classes can, they make up for it with the flexibility of using two different branches instead of just one. - VANGUARDS (Soldier + Adept) are on the riskier side of the coin. Making use of great gap closers and strong short range weapons with the support of biotics, they hold the power to massacre the battlefield in their palm. Very effective biotic charge on the target, dealing tons of damage. Another biotic power for the Vanguard is Nova, a small shockwave to use when completely surrounded. My favorite class of the whole saga. DEL I always try to play a new class, but then I always end up with a Vanguard. I love this class. OZAN Power overwhelming. ^^ DEL None of the other classes can give the pleasure of charging into a Krogan who is charging straight at you. My kind of head-butt. Period.
- SENTINELS (Adept + Engineer) may seem like the most vulnerable class due to the lack of Soldier in them. However, with their advanced shield system, they can take a lot of damage and keep standing while supporting the team with tech powers and striking back with biotics. The shield can also be detonated to deal AoE damage and stunning to surrounding enemies KARI This is my favorite class. I like sniping and being able to take things out from afar (like Brutes!), but still being able to survive if something gets up close and surprises me.
- INFILTRATORS (Soldier + Engineer) are the tech-based assassins of
this universe. With ammo upgrades and sniper rifle skills from the Soldier branch, they are deadly at long range. However, if you don’t use their stealth efficiently and let enemies get close, you might end up dead in a flash. While in sniper aiming mode, the game turns to slow motion and gives the player an easier shot to take down their opponents. For those who love handing out headshots, this class is for you.
DEL Also Shephard will have a squad that you can select with characters from different classes as well, like Ashley-Soldier, Kaidan-Sentinel, and I am assuming Liara-Adept, Tali-Engineer, and Garrus... is Garrus. It’s a good idea to make sure you take a wellrounded team!
GIVE PLAYERS THE FULL THRILL OF A BEAUTIFUL ACTION MOVIE IN ADDITION TO DELIVERING AN AWESOME STORY
After picking a class and rolling into action, players will gain experience points from missions, fights, or side quests. With these points, your characters level up and improves his/her stats. In addition, players are granted skill points to spend on training new skills or improving the current ones. You will lose a considerable amount of time staring at the skill tree screen deciding which path to advance. The skill system provides you tons of ways to defeat your opponents, however, finding the one that suits your play style is all on you. DEL CHARGE! KARI Sit back with a Black Widow and Warp/Throw the bastards!
As you move through the story and advance your characters, the game improves your skills and understanding of the gameplay and tactics. (Cont >)
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Players are slowly forced to do whatever is right for each situation rather than just pouring ammo at everything that moves. The game teaches you how to manage heavily shielded
or high armored-covered enemies, the differences between them, and how to take them on effectively. After some time, you will find yourself commanding a group of three characters on a battlefield in the most efficient way possible. Pressing the shift button (or the right or left bumpers on an Xbox 360 controller) and holding it pauses the game and gives you enough time to think and plan your attack while giving your teammates orders. The best part of the battle system is that it works! Even though it gets quite complicated from time to time and you start to think things are getting out of your control, the battle system maintains its constancy and holds up. If the player does not import a save from ME2, there is a
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mode selection screen at the beginning. These modes are: Action mode, where there is less dialogue but more fighting; Story mode, where players can play the game more like a movie with more speeches and cutscenes; and RPG mode, in which these two sides are combined. In ME3 there are fewer squad members in your party pool than ME2, but the relationships you can build are deeper and provide more interesting interplay, including both opposite and same sex relationships for male and female Shepards. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you were stuck in a love triangle from earlier games, things will settle in ME3.
Aside from all these aspects, that makes the game a legend, there is a severe problem that fans just can’t ignore. All these great storylines that got stronger and more polished in each game sum up just not the way it would feel natural. The ending(s) feel completely different from the game. It’s not like a ME game, not its story-dialogues part, not its actionscene usage part, not even the characters. We all wish that they wouldn’t finish this saga so roughly. DEL This was before the Extended Cut and Levithan DLC. Some improvements were made and some ques-
tions answered, but many fans, like me, are still not satisfied with the endings.
Overall, game gives its players a full taste of the ME series gathered from the successful parts of the previous chapters and ends it. BioWare created one of the best protagonist characters in gaming history, and that character deserves to be paid his/her final respects by finishing the story. If you haven’t done so yet, do not leave him/her hanging. See you on another mass relay!
DEL Or it can go with more creepier, like a certain guy who can’t get the “HELL NO” signals. KARI Beware of ninjamances. I romanced Garrus through ME2 and was trying to romance him in ME3, but somehow ended up in an accidental romance with Liara instead.
Multiplayer mode is another addition to ME3. Even though it is not as popular as the single player mode, it gives a gameplay similar to the Gears of War team survival modes. Waves of enemies pour from every corner of a map and a team tries to survive the waves and buy new weapons, heal, and level up in between. It is not new story content, but after finishing the game countless times, it is a way to kill time inside the game with three other friends, co-op.
TEXT: Haydar Ozan Kantarcı & Delucienne Maekerr EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
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SPOILERS
ME3 ENDINGS, EXTENDED CUT, & LEVIATHAN DLC SPOILER-HEAVY AREA, I SUGGEST YOU NOT LOOK IF YOU HAVEN’T PLAYED THE GAME.
A
fter playing the EC and Leviathan DLC, both my gamer and writer senses were tingling, saying there was something not right, not fitting. When Mass Effect 3 first ended, there were tons of questions. Most of the fans were so disappointed after what they had accomplished throughout the entire series. Finding the truth behind the Rachni; curing the genophage; making Krogans, Turians, and even Salarians work together; cementing peace and understanding between the Quarians and the Geth, giving them an opportunity live together and learn from the mistakes of their ancestors; and teaching EDI about love, humanity, free will, and more. Somehow these events make Shepard more than just a commander and “bloody icon” but also a parental figure, a role model to her/his friends as well--to Tail, to Grunt, to Legion, to EDI, etc. Endings aside, there were also many missing plot points, and a few of them were very important for the sake of the story. With the EC and Leviathan DLCs, some of these plot points recovered. Yes it was fun to play them, they
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gave a new point of view, new information about the enemy, and new story but even then there was still something missing. While I was gathering my thoughts and notes together, I read Koobismo’s Journal about Leviathan and ME3. He was way more successful than I about pointing what was taken from the story and why I felt like there were missing pieces. I suggest you to read it, too. In Leviathan DLC we learned the origin of Reapers, that they were artificially created by an advanced and ancient race, not a godlike beings. We tracked down the Leviathans and somehow we make them work with us, to fight on our side with one condition--they were going to enslave the Reapers when the war was over. Enslaving the Reapers? After everything we did with the Geth and EDI, gathering the synthetics and organics to work and live together, how is the idea of letting Leviathans to enslave the Reapers is logical? What is the guarantee that they would not going to turn on us and try to enslave us, too? Protheans did the same thing to the whole galaxy and it
self. And what about the Controlling choice for the game ending? Shepard became the “solid force” of control for the Reapers. In a way, s/he became a Reaper, so in the end, is our main character, the hero, the bloody icon, Shepard enslaved by Leviathans instead of Reapers? What was the reason for uniting the whole galaxy then? How do we know our sacrifice will hold the peace until the end of time? Well, we don’t and we can’t. Some stories left the ending semi-open, they left it to the readers/watchers/gamers to have our own ideas about it. Most of them are good, making quite strong questions and letting people find out the answers by thinking. But this one wasn’t one of them.
ween organics and synthetics. SHEPARD So you are just an AI? STARCHILD In as much as you are just an animal. I embody the collective intelligence of all Reapers. By “becoming solid force of the control”, we (as Shepard) would become an AI, the next StarPerson, and take control of the Reapers. I don’t think the Leviathans will come and say “Hi there comrade, so you are the new AI now. Alright then, don’t need to enslave you guys, have fun!”
“ I FIGHT FOR
So we had the answers for few things and more questions along with them before the last moments of the game. While running through the field, our squadmates are almost killed by a, what, truck? Jeep? Whatever it is, then Joker comes with the Normandy and takes them back to space. We followed the path, were hit by the Reaper beam, got half roasted, shot Marauder Shields (sorry, pal), teleported to the Citadel, put some sense (or a bullet) into the Illusive Man’s head, pushed some buttons, had a nice chat with Anderson, got knocked unconscious again, and end up with sparkle boy poking us. STARCHILD Wake up.
FREEDOM. I FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE OUR OWN FATE. IF I DIE, I WILL DIE KNOWING I DID EVERYTHING I DID TO STOP YOU. AND I WILL DIE FREE
At this point we had an opportunity to question the StarChild a little more, courtesy of the EC, which basically tries to make the endings more reasonable. But then comes one of the huge question marks: ... STARCHILD The Citadel. It’s my home. SHEPARD Who are you? STARCHILD: I am the catalyst. SHEPARD I thought the Citadel was the catalyst. STARCHILD No. The Citadel is part of me. … SHEPARD You said you’re the catalyst, what are you? STARCHILD A construct. An intelligence designed eons ago to solve a problem. I was created to bring balance. To be the catalyst for peace bet-
“
What? Seriously, what kind of plot hole is this? I’m not even going to talk about the Destroy ending. After everything I accomplished, everything I built, there is no way I’m going to ruin it all. In the Synthesis Ending, I have to admit EDI’s speech was pretty touchy. The endings were nothing but a variable set of concept art. Back to the Citadel, we knew how AI works, thanks to EDI, Legion, and the Geth. And here it is, an AI telling us the Citadel is part of it and meanwhile is also its home, like the Normandy and EDI. If the Normandy is destroyed, EDI dies. Or if EDI in Dr. Eva’s body taken away far enough, the platform loses its connection and dies until someone plugs in it again. So it is obvious the Citadel is the AI Core, the source, of the StarChild, therefore destroying the Citadel destroys the connection and the Reapers.
With that dialog, we actually learn what, correction, “who” we were looking for from the very beginning of the game. The Catalyst was Shepard, who gathered all synthetics and organics together, made them work together, and brought balance and peace between them. It was a decision, Shepard’s decision, and the correct decision was calling Joker or Hackett and telling them to destroy the Citadel and save the galaxy once and for all. This is how it should have ended after hearing these lines: SHEPARD I fight for freedom. I fight for the right to choose our own fate. If I die, I will die knowing I did everything I did to stop you. And I will die free. TEXT: Delucienne Maekerr EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
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After all the review and spoilers about the game, here it is: our biggest gun. No, Garrus, no calibrating that one. When the game released in March 2012, the endings were highly disappointing to most of the fans. They rose up, protested, created theories, drew their own endings, wrote articles (like us), and made bittersweet jokes and videos about how the endings were unreasonable and unsatisfactory. They wanted the glory of the game back, they wanted the story that allowed them to move freely back. In the end, they united under the banner of one name, Marauder Shields, the final boss, the one who tried to warn Shepard. It was a brilliant idea: an amazing fan-made comic series born with style and deep, detailed plot points from all of these acts. It became the ending that fans desired, fans believed, and fans respected.
TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT MARAUDER SHIELDS, ZEII AND I REACHED OUT TO KOOBISMO, WHO CREATED THE COMIC SERIES, FUELLED THE FANS’ LOVE, AND INSPIRED EVERYONE TO “HOLD THE LINE!”
INTERVIEW WI TH
KOO BIS MO Illustration by Delucienne
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“THAT MAN OVER THERE IS PLAYING GALAGA” DEL: Hello Koobs, thank you for accepting our interview and for marching forward with a great idea while being a voice for most of us! KOOBISMO: Hi guys and a big hello to everyone checking out this interview. No need to thank me, I’m making the Marauder Shields Comic primarily for myself. Mass Effect was an incredible experience for the first two games and an awesome one for two-thirds of the last one. As a big nerd, I feel obliged to not let my favorite g a m i n g universe die off in the embrace of the StarChild.
ZEII: Marauder Shields has became the symbol of the fandom, especially the group that’s not happy about the ending. How do you think you have accomplished that? D: And most importantly, how did you end up with the idea? K: I always subscribed to the philosophy that you have to make your own luck. If you want your series to grab someone’s attention, you have to go the extra mile, put the extra effort in, make it special in one way or another--you can’t just say “that’ll do” and move on. Marauder Shields started off as a joke, a parody and pastiche of the horrible ending of Mass Effect 3, but once I rolled out episode 5 I knew that it wasn’t enough. I wanted additional closure. I wanted the world of Mass Effect to make sense once more. I wanted the story to follow the same themes it followed previously. I wanted it to be about unity, hope, defiance in the face of doom, about different species working together and making the best of their differences, not about how cool it is to kill off biodiversity and homogenize the universe via the semi-fascist Synthesis. So I penned
the scenario for my alternative ending, vowed to fill all the plot holes and inconsistencies that have arisen between Mass Effect 3 and the previous games, and just went with it. I left the character of Marauder Shields in, even though he started off as a comedic meme, and turned him into Nihlus, made him relevant to the plot and the themes, gave him a proper backstory, made him an actual character that I treated with full seriousness and what I call “writer’s respect”. It just went on from there. Z: How does it feel being the head of a very popular fandom gag? K: Marauder Shields was a meme created by Michel Kobayashi, who rolled out the “His name was Marauder Shields” YouTube video a few days after the Mass Effect 3 ending fiasco became reality. All props for the joke should go to him. I contacted him that I’m going to craft a comic series around the character, an idea he loved. What my Marauder Shields story became famous for, however, wasn’t really the humor aspect. Its popularity really picked up after the shift to a more serious tone toward becoming an actual alternative ending. D: When I first saw the project it was only images, stories, and comics, but now you also have audios and voice actors. The first time I listened while looking at the comic page
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I wanted to play Mass Effect all over again. It was magnificent. How did you manage to find such talented people? How many people are working/helping on this project? K: After episode 21 of Marauder Shields, another grand milestone of the project, I was
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contacted by Matt “Calavera” O’Connor, a brilliant voice actor and a fan of the series. He created our first audiobook chapter all on his own--loved the monologue I’d written and wanted to make it come alive with his Nihlus impression. Instead of just leaving it at that, I decided that I wanted the whole series transformed into a big, epic audiobook. Something that could fill the gap between the medium of the comics, consisting of nothing but text and images, and the original games, which utilize different tools of emotional engagement, with music and voices being an important part of bringing the universe to life. Alongside with Calavera and Jeff Daniel, our audio producer, we started to look for people who could voice our characters. Because the series already gathered some acclaim by that time, a lot of the people we contacted had already heard about it, ma-
“THAT MAN OVER THERE IS PLAYING GALAGA”
calling the series “amazing” and “rad” on Twitter. Here’s the deal: my comic series was born out of pure fan love and remains a huge love letter to the Mass Effect universe and the people responsible for bringing it to life. I’ve actually become pretty close with a few of them and became a friendly acquaintance to a few others, so I can tell you here and now that they are some of the coolest people in the gaming industry I’ve ever met, seen, or heard about.
king the recruitment process a whole lot easier. Right now, our core team consists of 15 people, most of whom are voice actors for our audiobook. The comic and the scenario remain my sole responsibility, so our publishing times are heavily dependant on the pockets of free time I can gather during the week. Z: Have you ever had a response from Bioware? If so, what was it like? K: I am flooded with positive emotions coming from BioWare, initially more sedate and sent through private channels, but finally declared publicly and cranking up the feels. BioWare loves the series despite its rather sarcastic and arguably arrogant undertones. There I am declaring that the StarChild is just a plainly bad concept that should never have happened, and they are still calling me “awesome” and
D: Also, new DLC launched on the 28th of August. Did you play? What was your impression of it? K: I checked it out. It was as I expected. And I expected it to be a fun adventure with a really nice locale and a few cool ideas, and yet of no real consequence to my feelings regarding Mass Effect 3. It remains a pretty awesome game with a few flaws and a horrible, horrible ending. D: Anything you want to add about Marauder Shields? K: Keep reading the comics. We’re just arriving at the good stuff. I’m really hoping that this will be the ending that Mass Effect truly deserves and I’m putting a lot of effort into making sure that it is. D: Again, thank you for sparing time for us and answering our questions. We are sure our readers and every single Shepard will enjoy it and continue to hold the line. K: Thank you, guys! It was a pleasure. And, always remember... Hope is alive.
You can read the hole interview in our Tumblr cienne Maekerr http://hiddlestoned-magazine.tumblr.com/tagged/Interview-with-Koobismo INTERVIEW: Delucienne Maekerr EDIT: Kari Carlson (@QueenSerenity42)
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NEVER STOP
Writting
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NEVER STOP
Reading Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children REVIEW Written by A riel K ingston Edited by A manda M iller (@ purplelizard 25) Everyone’s heard the old adage don’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” it is one of the first things to draw you in. This book by Ransom Riggs, is slated for a Young Adult audience. However, its quirky mystery, eerie antique photos, and delightful handwritten letters is unique enough that even an older audience will find something to love. This book follows the tale of a young boy, who through a string of mysterious photographs left to him by his grandfather, journeys to find out the truth about his grandfather’s childhood; and the peculiar children in the photos and stories his grandfather told him. Can a girl really float, or a boy have a mouth on the back of his head? Not only is it for the protagonist to decide but the reader as well. All of the delightful pictures found in the book are real antique photos that the author has gathered and formed a marvelously unique fantasy adventure around. Even if the story is not your cup of tea, pick up the book at least once to give the photos a gander.
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The Little Prince REVIEW by E mily L. Amanda Miller
Written Edited
by
The Little Prince is a much acclaimed novella both written and illustrated by Antoine de Saint- Exupéry. Originally written in French, it has become one of the most translated and widely read texts that people of all ages and nationalities cherish, marking its place in classic literature. It tells the tale of a young prince’s journey to Earth from his planet – Asteroid B-612 - and his exchanges with the narrator and other characters. It is told from the point of view of the narrator, Saint- Exupéry. There are also a series of original watercolour sketches done by Saint- Exupéry which serve as a fitting and crucial accompaniment to the story. As the plot progresses and the young prince’s own story is revealed, a lovely friendship unfolds in the middle of the African desert. The story itself is complexly layered and can be read at many different levels of meaning. At a glance, The Little Prince is a light-hearted bedtime story for children. On a strictly superficial view, it is the whimsical recollections of a fighter pilot’s desert hallucinations. With a more assessing eye, one can see that the simple language belies deeper themes of love, loss, relationships and the insight that is found in childhood innocence. At the heart of the book, The Little Prince is simply a gentle reminder to never forget the child that we once were and still are. The Little Prince’s themes are hidden under the façade of the young prince’s view on life. Despite being aimed at children, the book itself makes many thoughtful observations. The bulk of the themes can be summed up in a simple quote by the wise fox given to the young prince - “One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye”. This quote epitomises the themes of love and relationships simply because humanity knows that such things - which are so unequivocally important to inner happiness - exist, even though they cannot be seen. Saint- Exupéry makes use of the prince’s idealistic attitude to convey profound albeit infinitesimally forced messages to the reader. These revelations are expressed through his journey to Earth and the prince’s interactions with other characters. Each character is carefully thought out, from the prince himself to the adults on asteroids and even his beloved rose. The businessman represents man’s infinite goal not only to possess wealth, but more importantly, the recognition and power that comes with it. The rose can be seen as an example of mankind’s collective insecurities; the same insecurities which hide behind vanity. They piece together the cloak of adult maturity which smothers the essence of the child inside.
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The Knife of
Never Letting Go REVIEW Written by A riel K ingston Edited by A manda M iller (@ purplelizard 25)
“The Knife of Never Letting Go,” by Patrick Ness, is the first in the Chaos Walking series and has one of the most interesting opening paragraphs I’ve seen in awhile. The book follows Todd Hewitt, and the dog he never wanted, as he counts down the days until his thirteenth birthday when he will be a man. The only problem is he lives in Prentiss town, where all women are dead and all men have the ability to hear each other’s thoughts and the thoughts of animals. As it gets closer to his birthday he realizes there are more secrets in his town than he ever thought. Especially when he finds a girl in the woods when he’s been told they all died off many years ago. This dystopian novel really had me hooked I loved the interaction between Todd and his dog. I will admit some parts of the book plot wise are very formulaic. The thing that sets it apart is Patrick Ness’ unique writing style and memorable characters. Even side characters you meet briefly will stick with you. I just finished the first book and with its whopping cliff hanger you will want the second book nearby.
The Rise of Renegade X REVIEW Written by A riel K ingston Edited by A manda M iller (@ purplelizard 25)
“The Rise of Renegade X,” by Chelsea M. Campbell, is no ordinary superhero story. The protagonist wants to grow up to be a super villain! The book follows Damien Lock as he is approaching his sixteenth birthday, which is the magical time in a teens life where on their thumb will appear an H to mark them a hero or a V to mark them a villain. Raised by his genius super villain mom, Damien has been waiting for this day his entire life so that he can be accepted into Vilmore, the villain academy. But what is a burgeoning super villain to do when instead of a V he gets an X, meaning the other half of his genes are pure hero. I loved Damien, he’s witty, sarcastic, and sometimes just downright obnoxious, but he is definitely not cliché. As he is thrown in with the hero side of his family he learns that being a villain or a hero is not all it is cracked up to be and he must take control of his own fate on whether his X will ever turn into the V he desperately desires or the H he fears. This young adult novel is fantastically surprising with clever dialogue and wellrounded characters. Some content might make it more suitable for older teens and adults though. The only problem I had with the book is that the sequel isn’t out yet.
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“Okay” is not the Same as Being Happy ORIGINAL STORY Written by H edgey P ig Edited by A manda M iller (@ purplelizard 25)
Listen
to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZUFQhuJ6D8
M
egan gave a dry laugh, drawing on the cigarette he had scrounged for her. ‘I really should go back to work,’ she informed him. Gabe lifted the cigarette from her and took a long drag, inhaling deeply before exhaling a swirling haze of blue smoke. For a moment he looked the epitome of cool – before he started coughing, then laughing. Megan took the cigarette from him. ‘When did you give up?’ ‘About four years ago,’ he spluttered with a grin, ‘When I had my lovely seventies teeth fixed.’ ‘Seventies teeth?’ ‘Crooked and discoloured. I’m an old bastard remember. You’re just a young slip of a thing. I could be your Dad.’ ‘I fucking hope not.’ ‘Well, maybe not,’ he lowered his voice to a whisper, ‘I didn’t lose my virginity until I was nineteen. And even then she took the lead.’ ‘And now you’re such a sex symbol.’ ‘Like fuck I am. It’s all fantasy isn’t it? If people knew me they’d think, what a boring great bastard. He goes out bird watching, likes fantasy fiction, leaves his
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dirty clothes on the bathroom floor and enjoys nothing better than a good scratch of his ball sac.’ ‘Is that why you live alone?’ ‘Selfish, moody, penis the size of a baby carrot, workaholic. I’m a prize catch. I think I probably snore as well.’ ‘Do you fart in bed?’ ‘Do bears etc…’ Megan chuckled softly, ‘I have to go back now. If that knobber is rude to me again though I’m going to ram a bottle of champagne up his arse.’ ‘Just imagine him on the toilet.’ ‘Fuck off. What a repulsive concept.’ Grinning she headed back inside and quickly gathered up a tray of drinks to move once more amongst the film world glitterati. Her rescuer came in from the smokers’ area and crossed to his friends once more, sliding easily back into conversation. Funny guy, she rather liked him. Her older sister fancied him something rotten and she had never seen the attraction, in fact she still didn’t. He had a nose you get pickles out of a jar with and was all limbs, like a spider in a tux but he had a cheeky smile and lovely expressive eyes, and most of all he’d made her laugh when she had felt so miserable. As she approached Gabe’s group with her tray he grinned at her and said, ‘This is Megan. She’s from Merthyr,’ in a very passable Welsh accent. Megan popped out her tongue as Gabe’s friends greeted her. Several were well known actors, similar in age to him, friendly, decent, unpretentious (well as much as actors
could be) people. It was a long night shuffling between the increasingly drunk film people, the women in dresses that cost more than she received in a month’s salary, or would if she worked full time. At one she changed her clothes and headed out to get a bus home. A lot of the guests were waiting for their cars, still chatting away and as she stopped to light a cigarette a familiar voice greeted, ‘Alright?’ ‘Off to get the bus home,’ she informed Gabe Kane. ‘Where do you live?’ ‘Why?’ ‘I’ll give you a lift.’ ‘No it’s fine,’ she replied. ‘I’m not …there’s no strings attached.’ ‘No blow job for a ride home then?’ ‘No, it’d take you the whole journey to find it anyway. I’m not like that, Megan.’ ‘I have no idea what you’re like, Gabe. Diligently middle class and polite I suspect. Self assured, like’s to hide his arrogance behind self-deprecating humour.’ ‘Ouch…’ ‘I’m a psychology student…I’m just bullshitting. Quite a blow to my ego really. Successful actor offers to take me home and there’s no strings attached. Where’s my, I want to take you home and roger your rigid with my humungous pork sword?’ ‘That’d be mis-selling. I could take you home and roger you with my cocktail sausage.’ ‘Go on then. It’s been ages since I had a jump.’ Gabe looked a little taken aback and Megan guessed that he had genuinely just been being nice. Laughing a little awkwardly he rubbed the back of his neck, obviously trying to find a polite way to extricate himself from having to bonk the little waitress. Behind someone called his name from a black Mercedes. ‘That’s my car…’ ‘Sure, thank you for rescuing me earlier anyway.’ ‘You can…uh come back if you want...might not be very exciting. I’m second in line in the celibacy stakes to the Pope.’ ‘You’re really selling this aren’t you,’ Megan laughed. ‘Next you’ll tell me you don’t have any condoms.’ ‘I don’t…I’ve been on my own for quite a while…’ he was grinning but she could tell he was extremely embarrassed. As chat up techniques went this was truly appalling. ‘I’m sure there will be somewhere we can pick some up,’ she started to walk toward the car and the stick insect followed her. Why she was doing this she had no idea? Because it would be nice just to not sleep alone for once. Because he was fundamentally decent and even if the sex was awful she suspected he’d give good cuddles. ‘How long is quite a while? I thought the acting
world was awash with casual sex.’ ‘Two years. I’ve had one brief encounter in that time. I just haven’t met anyone. Been on a few dates but they rarely get far. I guess I’m not very good company, not what they expect. They see a persona on the screen and that’s not me. Start talking about bird watching and you see their eyes glaze over.’ ‘Oh come on, there’s Chris Packham, he’s gorgeous and he’s a bird watcher.’ ‘Not what most people think of I’m afraid,’ he replied. ‘It doesn’t help I’ve been working a lot. As my career improves my love life takes a nose dive.’ ‘What about all those fans?’ ‘I could get sex if I wanted I’m sure. I’ve just never been that sort of bloke. I haven’t had a personality change with my success.’ He leaned forward and asked the driver to stop at a twenty-four hour garage. When he returned from the shop he handed her a Kitkat and opened another for himself. ‘New type of contraceptive.’ ‘I like chocolate after drinking. And a big mug of tea.’ ‘Regular party animal.’ ‘Too fucking right.’ Scoffing the chocolate as the car pulled up she followed him out and into a grandiose Victorian apartment block. Sweeping spiral stairs led upwards to the individual flats. Gabe lived on the third floor, his flat a beautiful Victorian delight with high ceilings and fireplaces in each room. He made tea in the kitchen, which she was pleased to see was a bit of a mess, washing up gathered in a bowl. Nursing her mug she perused his bookshelves, ‘Lot of books on birds then.’ ‘Just a few,’ he stood beside her and she felt his fingers slide across the back of her neck, his first hint at intimacy. She closed her eyes and arched back against his touch like a contented cat; buoyed by that he leaned down and kissed her mouth softly. ‘The designer stubble looks nice but it’s like kissing a hedgehog,’ she said. Awkwardly he rubbed his chin. ‘I’ll go and shave shall I?’ He took a sip of his tea then disappeared into the bathroom. Megan sat down and switched on the television waiting for him to return but after about twenty minutes he was still not back so she went in search of him. He was lying on his bed asleep in just his boxer shorts. On his bedside table was the packet on condoms he had bought and a packet of tablets. She picked the tablets up and gave a wry smile. Gabe was on antidepressants. For a moment she considered waking him, he’d shaved so perfectly as well and he looked rather appetising in his black boxers. No sign of a cocktail sausage there. But after switching off the lights she undressed and slid into the bed, covering them both with the duvet. (Cont >)
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Snuggling against his warmth she closed her eyes and was almost immediately asleep. Gabe got up in the night to use the toilet and when he returned he furled his rangy frame around her, muttering, ‘Sorry,’ against her neck. ‘Do the pills mean you have trouble?’ ‘Pills?’ ‘The ADs?’ ‘No, I can get it up fine.’ ‘Hmm, so I can feel.’ She wiggled her bottom against him then turned around to face him. ‘Why don’t you take those shorts off?’ *** Megan stroked her finger up the sole of Gabe’s bony foot, watching his toes curl as he stirred from his sprawl on the settee. She guessed he had been unable to sleep and had retreated from the bed to watch telly. His dressing gown was just about still on, but was wide open, exposing his nudity; self-consciously he sat up and wrapped it around himself. Now he was awake, blinking sleepily at her she was uncertain what to say and for what seemed an eternity they simply gawked at each other in tense silence. Finally Gabe stood, securing the dressing gown belt. ‘I’ll make some coffee shall I?’ ‘I have a lecture,’ she replied. Gabe pushed his fingers through his hair and nodded. ‘Apologies for what was probably not quite what you expected. Bloke falls asleep and when he does get going squirts in thirty seconds.’ Megan bowed her head with a chuckle, uncertain whether to touch him or not. ‘It wasn’t exactly one of those momentous film moments…ooh that’s quite nice….ooh…it’s over…’ ‘I was quite a good lover once,’ he said sadly. ‘Can I make you some toast to see you on your way?’ ‘No, I’ll get something on the way.’ She zipped up her jacket and moved toward the front door. Gabe opened it for her. ‘Thank you for rescuing me from that angry tosser.’ ‘He’s a known arsehat in the industry.’ Megan turned away but then back, ‘I had a bizarrely enjoyable time you know. You’re a funny guy. And the depression is just…part of who you are in the same way I’ve accepted it’s part of me. I take the same drugs. Been on them for two years.’ ‘What a pair of saddo fuckers we are.’ ‘Speak for yourself,’ she laughed. ‘I really do have to go. I have an essay to hand in.’ She moved toward him and let her fingers stroke down his sternum. ‘What are you up to today?’
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‘Nothing today, I start rehearsals tomorrow for the third series of Warriors.’ ‘The evil sergeant Mackey. He gets all the ladies. I like that series.’ Her hand slid down further into his gown, loosening the belt. A rather surprised Gabe drew her toward him and kissed her gently. ‘Thank you for not crushing my fragile male ego.’ ‘You should know life is not like the movies.’ ‘Could I call you?’ Megan shrugged awkwardly, ‘I don’t think that would be…’ ‘No…you’re right. Off you go. I’m going to have some coffee and go back to bed.’ Megan turned and headed back down the spiral stairs and out onto the tree lined street. As she hurried toward the tube station she looked back at the architectural beauty of the building and thought of Gabe heading back to his bed. She’d had a few one night stands before but never when she was sober and never at her instigation. In the past she had laughed at her sister’s assertion that Gabriel Kane was gorgeous. She still stood by that belief but he was kind of lovely in a geeky, gawky, totally at odds with his imagze way. Perhaps that was why she liked him, because he was so unlike the characters he played, the evil sergeant in Warriors, the rakish gay Earl in The Window Seat. He liked bird watching, he suffered from depression, he made her laugh. And he was 41. Old enough to be her father. So why had she arrived home having thought about him all the way? In the house she shared with three friends she showered, took her own tablet and packed her college bag. ‘Where were you last night? Did you cop off with Greg Warner.’ Her friend Lucy enquired, leaning on the doorframe. ‘No, I did accidentally spill some water on him though. Turns out he’s a prize arsehat.’ ‘Oh no…so where were you?’ ‘I went home with someone. It was a moment of madness. Don’t ask me why I went.’ ‘Someone famous?’ ‘No…it was a mistake so…’ She shrugged, ‘Rubbish sex and no breakfast.’ She shouldered her bag and passing her friend headed to get a bus. *** The day dragged terribly and she could hardly remember a word said in any of her lectures. Mid afternoon she went home and lay on her bed listening to some music seriously wishing she had not gone home with Gabe. Why did she feel like this? What allure was there, because he was famous. Frankly she really couldn’t care less. Did she now wish she’d given him her num-
ber. She was a 22-year-old depressive from the Welsh Valleys, a right catch. And Gabe was a 41-year-old bird watching depressive from the Sussex coast. How would that ever work? Okay is not the same as happy. The words from the Frank Turner song on her ipod made her sit up. Impulsively she snatched up her coat and keys and left the house. It was rush hour on the tube now and she was squeezed in between commuters, feeling her heart banging against her rib cage. What if she had this all wrong? What if for all her psychological learning she had completely misjudged Gabriel Kane? Nausea rose in waves as she left the station forcing her to stop, leaning against the wall. A cigarette calmed her a little but as she looked across the street at the red brick of his apartment block her heart began to pound once more. This was ridiculous, she felt like some loony stalker standing outside his flat. She’d been here fifteen minutes trying to pluck up the courage to ring the security buzzer for his flat. A pizza delivery moped pulled up and the driver rung another bell. As he entered she dashed across and slipped in behind him, looking up the
daunting hill of stairs as the pizza man went off to a ground floor flat. Her hand was shaking as she held it out to knock on Gabe’s door but finally she rapped gently. After a pause the door opened and he blinked out at her. ‘Megan?’ ‘I followed a pizza delivery bloke in…’ ‘I was just cooking some sea bass. I have another if you’d care to join me. It’s not Masterchef but it’ll be edible.’ ‘Fuck Masterchef, all those ridiculous names for what is basically a bloody sauce.’ ‘Ah so I’m not the only one who shouts at my telly. It’s just fancy bloody gravy.’ Gabe stepped back. ‘Nope.’ She grinned, moving into the hall. Shutting the door Gabe said, ‘I’m glad you came. I missed you.’ ‘Yeh well, I was curious to know if you could last 45 seconds.’ ‘A minute…I promise.’ Smiling Megan said, ‘Don’t ask me why but I missed you too.’ ‘Sad fuckers eh.’ ‘Too right.’ She laughed and leaned up to kiss him.
Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)
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Acquisition ORIGINAL STORY by A my M orgen (@A my _ said ) Edited by A manda M iller (@ purplelizard 25) Written
Listen
to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auzfTPp4moA
W
hat’s black, white, and red all over?” “Seriously?” “Okay fine, so a priest, a rabbi, and a bear walk into a bar.” “A bear? What’s a bear got to do with a priest
and a rabbi? Or a bar for that matter?” “Just let me finish, Abby, it’s funny!” “I doubt that. Seth plus funny equals does not compute,” Abby said, drawing plus and equal signs in the air with her finger. Seth crossed his arms and leaned back against the rusted metal bench upon which they were sitting. “I resent that.” “Wah,” Abby glanced up and down the dark street, kicking away the garbage on the sidewalk that offended her, “When has anyone ever told you that you’re funny?” “My mother.” “Your mother,” she said, giving him a dubious look. “Yeah.” “Your mother thinks you’re funny. Ergo, you think you’re funny.” “Yeah. My mom was a funny lady.” “Mama’s boy.” Seth sat straight up on the bench and gestured somewhat impolitely with one hand, “I am not a mama’s
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boy.” Abby crossed her arms and grinned, “Yo’ mama is soooooo ugly that—“ Seth pointed a finger at her, “Do not insult my mom!” “Mama’s boy. Can’t even handle a Yo Mama joke.” “I’ve always hated you,” he said. “More than anyone else.” “Whatever,” Abby said, flapping her hand at Seth as she looked up the sidewalk once more when she heard a noisy rattle near the garbage dumpster across the street from them. Seth sat immediately at attention, “Oh look, game time.” “Took long enough,” Abby stretched her limbs as she stood, “Okay, let’s do this.” She rolled her eyes as Seth took off ahead of her, always eager to be the interceptor. “Yo,” Seth said to the man who was staggering toward them, hands clutched to his ribcage. The man scowled at Seth, “What do you want?” Seth circled the man twice, catching his bewildered gaze and causing the man to turn with him until he staggered once more, “Ha, you’re dead!” Seth bounced slightly and brought his arm above his head to point dramatically at the man’s head. “I’m what?” “Yeah, tough break.” “Why do you always do that stupid pointing thing with your hand?” Abby said as she approached them. “It’s not stupid,” Seth said defensively. “Who’s she,” the man said, waving with irritation at Abby. Seth leaned down, his height causing the man to
take a step back, “I told you, numbskull, you’re dead!” The man snorted and shook his head, “What are you guys, cops?” “Yep,” Abby said, “I’m Reaper, and this is my partner, Grim.” Seth curled his lip and huffed, “Why am I always Grim?” Abby placed her hands on her hips, “Have you looked at your face lately?” She suddenly took a step back as the man darted away from them, “What’s his deal?” Seth laughed and pointed, “Oh look, this should be funny.” As the man ran across the street and attempted to jump to the sidewalk, a loud ZAP cracked through air, sending the man flying backwards where he landed right at their feet. Seth crouched down as the man stared at the night sky, trying to assess what had just occurred. “YOU see, you can’t go anywhere. ‘Cause you’re DEAD.” “Oh yeah?” the man croaked, his lungs still recovering from the impact of hitting the asphalt, “If I’m dead, where’s heaven?” Abby looked at Seth and grinned, “Nice, he thinks he’s bound for heaven!” “Sorry, dude,” Seth said as he stood up and towered over the man, “You’re going to the other place.” The man snorted another laugh as he slowly crawled to all fours and then wobbled up to stand on unsure legs. “You’re not the first jackass to tell me I’m going to Hell.” Seth arched his eyebrow, “Oh really?” “Aw geez,” Abby sighed knowingly, pinching the bridge of her nose. She took a step back the instant before Seth’s arms swiftly stretched toward the ground, his hands turning to dark hooves. His head inflated, ridiculously out of proportion with his body, large red orbs bubbled up where his eyes had been, sparks of flames snapping out his nose as he brayed loud enough to smash the streetlight above them. The man screamed in terror, his knees buckling as he fell back to the ground. “Really,” Abby sighed with exasperation, her hands on her hips, “You had to do the jackass thing again?” Seth suddenly returned to his mortal façade, “Hey, he was asking for it.” “You’re like Shrek’s Donkey on crack.” “Yeah, but Donkey is – wait for it – funny!” Seth pointed his finger in her face, and she smacked his arm away. “Please… please,” the man stuttered below them as he scrambled to his knees. “Don’t hurt me.” “Awww,” Abby pouted. “Look, Seth, he groveling.” The man looked to Seth and then Abby, shuffling on his knees toward her and gazing up with his hands clasped together.
“I don’t know what you want from me, but just don’t hurt me.” Abby crossed her arms and regarded him for a moment, “Are you trying to appeal to my forgiving, feminine nature?” The man nodded frantically, “Yes, yes, please….” Abby smiled softly, lowering herself to sit down on the street next him. She patted his back until he stopped yammering pleas for mercy. Then she leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Maybe you should have been much nicer to women.” “Oh, snap!” Seth exclaimed with a stomp of his foot, “She’s got you there, pal.” Abby sprang back to her feet and smacked the man hard on the back. “Little tip: That big guy in heaven you were hoping to see,” she said, marking heaven with air quotes, “doesn’t take too kindly to misogyny.” Seth moved over standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Abby. “But our boss? Big fan of misogynists. Big, big fan,” he said, giving the man the thumbs up. “Miz-wha?” Abby rolled her eyes, “Why are they always so stupid?” Seth shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “I really miss the days when we had all the clever ones. At least we could have some laughs before we sent them off to burn.” “B-b-burn?” The man shuddered, still crouched down on the street. “Mwahahahaaa!” Seth bellowed to the sky, “We are angels of Lucifer! Born of fire and smoke!” He surreptitiously glanced down at the man to gauge whether or not this had the desired effect. “Uh, wouldn’t it be one or the other? Smoke being a by-product of fire and all,” Abby said. Seth turned on her, holding his arms out, “Give me a break, I’m improvising here.” “Wait, you said Angels?” The man had a hopeful, if futile, look in his eyes. Abby’s head bobbed slightly from side to side. “Eh, not angels in the traditional sense, so much as—“ “Gods!” Seth exclaimed. “We are gods and you shall worship—“ “Not gods,” Abby said, shaking her head. “Don’t listen to him, he’s delusional. Long time ago, he did a very bad thing,” she said pointing at Seth who did a little tap dance and spin. “Boss stripped him of the divinity. He hasn’t shut up about it since.” Seth shifted into a relaxed stance as he shot Abby a look. “We could totally be gods. And I’m being incredibly generous here when I say we.”(Cont >)
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“No. Well, I could be a god, but you—“ Seth patted his chest, “I’d make a much better god than you.” “Oh please! You had your chance.” Seth shook his head, “You’re being very hurtful. Just because I’m not actually a god now—“ “See!” Abby pointed at the man on the ground. “You heard him admit it. Not a god.” “But if I were,” Seth said, stepping forward, knocking Abby out of the way, “I would be SO insufferable.” He grinned maniacally at the dead man on the ground. Abby sighed, “Already there, Seth. Al-ready there.” Seth crossed his arms and turned to Abby, “Don’t pretend that you aren’t totally in love with me.” Abby squared off with Seth, “Oh, really?” “Yeah,” Seth said with a nod. “Really. My awesome just overwhelms you.” Abby raised her eyebrows. “Who’s still in The Book?” Seth sighed. “That’s not fair. Technically, there were no books in my—“ “Who?” “An unfair comparison,” Seth said, raising his index finger to emphasize his point. “Say my name,” Abby said. “Say it. Go on, big man,” she swayed from side to side, punching him on his shoulders. “That’s right, bringer of the pla-a-a-gue.” “A really butt-ugly plague, I might add,” Seth said, completely unfazed by her fists randomly pummeling his torso. “Yeah, well,” Abby shrugged, ceasing her battering of Seth as the man crawled away from them and scrambled to his feet. “Oh look,” Seth said, suddenly remembering the task at hand, “there he goes again.” “Poor bastard,” Abby sighed as they watched the man attempt to scamper off. ZAP “Okay, I’m bored,” Seth said, looking down at their groaning target, who was flattened once again at their feet. “Yeah, me too. Let’s finish this.” Seth looked up at Abby, “You want this one, Destructor, or shall I?” Abby flapped her hand. “Nah, go for it.” “Sweet,” Seth said, crouching down and grabbing the man around the neck, lifting him effortlessly, and holding him high above his head. “Check it, Abs, onehanded.” With a swift squeeze of Seth’s grip, the man squealed and then suddenly burst into flame before the darkness split open around him with a growl, quickly sucking him into an inky black chasm. Abby and Seth scrunched their faces as a rotten blast of air whipped around them, and then the man was gone. “Eechh, it’d be so much easier if we could do that
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without noses,” Abby said, her hand clamped over her nose and mouth to block the stench. “Whoa,” Seth said, then opening his mouth wide, sliding his tongue in and out to try to shake the taste the odor left in his mouth. “That was one nasty bastard to generate that much putrid stink.” Abby glanced at him over her fingers, as she tried to wave the air around with her other hand. “I’ll bet when you got sucked in there was a fetor like no other.” “Aw, nice Abby, you know I love it when you throw down with the Latin,” he said, landing a chummy smack on her shoulder. “So many Romans and just not enough time to truly enjoy it.” “Busy days,” Abby said, nodding her head. “So who’s next?” Seth checked his watch. “Looks like we have seventeen minutes ‘til we have to hit a pretty rad potluck at the Synagogue of Satan” “You’re joking,” Abby said. “And did you actually just say ‘rad’? “Yes, I did. And no joke. Full-on Beelzebub groupies.” “Nice,” she said, grin spreading across her face. Seth laughed. “I exist solely to experience the looks in their eyes when they realize that it just got SO REAL. Priceless!” “Never gets old!” “However,” Seth said, pausing mid-step to face Abby. “I am feeling a little off my game after that rotting aroma of woe. Frappuccino?” “Magic word!” Seth gave her a wink and turned on his heel. “Let’s roll.”
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ASK THE DOCTOR HE HAS ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR PROBLEMS... IF THOSE ANSWERS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE TO YOU IS NOT HIS PROBLEM. Written by Christine Bernadette (@TWHiddlestunned)
If you want to ask the Doctor, send an email to: askthedoctor@hiddlestonedmagazine.com
Dear Doctor Who: I have a serious health issue, Somehow, I can’t actually go to bed, and I don’t know why! I’m on Tumblr around 8:30pm at night. I look back at the clock and feel like 5 minutes has passed but it’s 3:15am and I still don’t feel like sleeping! What’s happening to me? Love, A Fangirl ...................................... I swear, Tumblr is a Time Lord in disguise! Taking away the precious time of young teens of the 21stCentury. But, from what I have seen, you, Nameless Fangirl, have a severe case of…a severe case of… umm… Well, there really is no name for it. Let’s diagnose and name it now! Let’s see, you log onto Tumblr, blog for hours on end without knowing what time it is… Hmm…We shall call it Tumblritis! Yes! What ails you is Tumblritis, the terrible disease of joining Tumblr and creating a blog of your favourite show, movie, actor, ecctera. Of course there are many other symptoms that I have yet to discover, though I have heard that they are worse than this one. I cannot suggest a cure for your case of Tumblritis, since it is very new to me. If any other of you Nameless Fangirls would like to come forward with any other symptom they have, I would really appreciate it. I’m sure you do not want to leave me crying in the rain. Good luck, Nameless Fangirl! I’m sure you will need it! THE DOCTOR.
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U PUZZL Z L E S
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HOROSCOPES TAURUS
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Thou needs’t be wary of coach safety. Verbal quarries on wealth will occur with th’ wench if thou is not cautious. Aphrodite herself could take interest in thy sorrowful life. But, be warned: this new found love could be quite poisonous if it is thy past lover.
ARIES
OAKLEY
Lucky Day: November 18th Lucky Colour: Dark Green Lucky Number: 348
Relationships in the workplace could cause you serious trouble if you don’t control yourself. Listen to your doctor this month, even if it causes an inconvenience. Your health is important. Be careful revealing information to people, especially those you’ve just met.
GEMINI
LADY LOKI Romances (more likely allies in your case) left on the backburner could suddenly flame up or die out, depending on your reactions. Avoid arguments with colleagues over minor accomplishments. You’ll end up with the bigger victory in the end. Also avoid overeating and overdrinking this month, though I doubt you’ll have the time to do that.
Lucky Day: November 2nd Lucky Colour: Firebrick Red Lucky Number: 877
Lucky Day: November 12th Lucky Colour: Pale Grey Lucky Number: 583
SCORPIO
FREDDIE PAGE Find your pleasures in simpler things; don’t be too tied to modern conveniences and frivolities. You could avoid some problems if you rely on the advice of an old friend. Career matters could improve and financial gain may be in sight if you move fast, pilot.
LIBRA
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD This could be your lucky month if you take advantage of opportunities that come your way! Clear up old debts that might be lingering. Better to have a clean slate while working on getting published. A new love partner could enter your life but you may not notice her because you’re too tied up with inconsequential matters. Zelda won’t be happy..
Lucky Day: November 31st Lucky Colour: Royal Blue Lucky Number: 663
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Lucky Day: November 15th Lucky Colour: Shadow-Black Lucky Number: 745
SAGITTARIUS
ELDER LOKI
If you set your mind to a task that’s been bothering you, it won’t be as difficult as you thought. In dealing with an old flame that no longer interests you, be gentle but truthful (though gentle is not your speciality). Begin a savings plan, however small it is.
Lucky Day: November 1st Lucky Colour: Mauve Lucky Number: 131
TEXT: Christine S. and Erin L. EDIT: Giovana Ramos
CANCER
VIRGO
The ability to say the right thing at the right time is treasured, but sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all, tough as it may be. An urgent appeal for financial help should be handled carefully, though there’s always something under the surface with you. Excitement in romance could be intoxicating, but view the entire picture before saying yes. Then again, you always look at the bigger picture, you smart little bugger.
Be cautious around jealous people, as anything you say can and will be used against you! Romantic plans could go sour if you don’t overcome flirting. Make the most of your talents and let others know of your abilities! Show your family you can do it!.
KID LOKI
Lucky Day: November 28th Lucky Colour: Pearl Lucky Number: 475
EDWARD
LEO
HENRY V
Lucky Day: November 24th Lucky Colour: Peach Lucky Number: 579
Whens’t thou make plans to travel this moon, makest sure that thou send a letter first. Behead all of the witches in thy kingdom that smite thee. Thou art quite experienced with this, Henry. Utilise thy strong mind whens’t thou buys luxurious items. Little pleasure will be given if these items have no purpose in thy short life.
Lucky Day: November 13th Lucky Colour: Gold Lucky Number: 978
CAPRICORN
PISCES
Your creative talents have been dormant long enough! Are you starting pottery or something, Loki? Excellent chance for matrimony this month, but you’re married to yourself so... spend a little extra this month - you deserve it!
A business partnership could enhance your earnings if you choose a partner who is talented; but don’t become involved with someone who can talk a good game. Keep things light in romance and don’t commit yourself too early! A horse needs water and hay first before a brand new bridle. Parental problems could become paramount but may lessen if you’re frank with them.
LOKI LAUFEYSON
Lucky Day: November 9th Lucky Colour: Forest Green Lucky Number: 35
CAPT. NICHOLLS
AQUARIUS
TOM
A trip to another city/climate would open things up and be much more interesting than you imagine. The world is your oyster. If you’re in the mood for romance, don’t stand on ceremony - tell the object of your affections how you feel. Just remember, your fans will always be there for you should you need love. Career problems may improve suddenly. Wait, what problems? You’re on fire!
Lucky Day: November 29th Lucky Colour: Sea Green Lucky Number: 569
Lucky Day: November 27th Lucky Colour: Electric Green Lucky Number: 673
NOVEMBER 2012
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NOVEMBER 2012
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