Journey into Mystery

Couldn't crosspost this yesterday.

( Magnolia conspiracy, revised )

Even the veterans should check it out. I found a new thing regarding a certain species of magnolias in the Tang dynasty.

60-page long notes. On color. I weep for the printer.

Happy birthday, elihice! ^_^

This = a whole level of WTF. None of my icons are actually direct-linked from my own server, apparently; although my Urahara/Yoruichi one is direct-linked from the LJ server, from someone who's using it. Now that sucks. Stupid Xanga teeny-boppers.

On happier news, my XXXHOLiC fanbook arrived! ^_^ It took 8 days.

( Pictures of the fanbook plus my X Zero artbook )

I realized I didn't have a non-fandom icon, so I made one. Yeah, I'm sad. And I know the text is an antithesis or something, since penguins can't fly.

Anyway, here's a meme.

( fandom character meme )

Sadly, I saw/read CCS before X/1999. So there are some characters in X that remind me of those in CCS, when it should be the contrary. Remember, X is older than Card Captor Sakura.

There are two characters in particular that have their physical resemblance to ones in X. I think Nekoi was easily influenced by Mokona's old style when she started. Good thing she developed her own, the one you can see in Gohou Drug and XXXHOLiC.

So here they are, the "clones" and the "originals", in a heavy-graphic post I'd like to call... nah, I'd better not call it anything.

( Kakyou and Yue, Fujitaka and Aoki )

I was about to tell how much Subaru looks like Touya (or is it the opposite?) in some illustrations, but I'm too lazy and there are no big similarities among them.

Yeah. I decided to make a use for the LJ. Finally! It took me what, 6 months?

So, my blog is going to be more for facts, quizzes and daily events, besides of my "Current section", which I love. Here I will make opinions about random stuff. Not exactly reviews, but I could do those if I'm inspired enough, I guess. Sometimes English, sometimes Spanish. Is that OK for you? ^____^

Today I was thinking about angst in characters, be it anime, manga, books and movies. Why are angsty characters so appealing? What do they have that genki, easy-going characters don't? Maybe it's because the pain makes them more human. I personally can't stand happy-go-round characters. It's not like I like them masochistic, because I don't. But I'm fond of those who have pending issues ^_^U You know, they could use a session with a therapist...

And besides, they're gazillion times more interesting! Take The Mother Of All Pink (TM), Card Captor Sakura. She may be loved by the masses, but I can't find all that fuzz about Sakura Kinomoto. None. Even the dead mother has more personality, IMHO [dodges tomatoes]. So, what characters are interesting to me? The first to pop into my mind is the Feathered Judge himself, Yue. He's so fragile it burns >_< Yue's so afraid of getting hurt, that he doesn't want to accept anything or anyone new in his life. He's not a cold bastard, he's just afraid. He was the one who drawn (sp?) me to the series, actually. Who else is angsty? Touya. He's always been different, because of his ability, and he isolated himself from normal people. It's really hard to earn Touya's trust. He only opens to people who are as weird (or more) as him. And when he finds someone, she breaks his heart and leaves him. But suddenly, a sweet boy is transfered to his classroom, a boy who's not human and is fond of him and accepts him. Awww! *-* OK, I'll stop now. Yuki also has some angst at the end of the series. He looks cutesy when he's sad, poor thing. Even characters that smile often have their little dose of pain. Tomoyo with her one-sized love (and read my lips, you baka fanfiction succubus, it is not Eriol!), and Clow/Eriol with their overwhelmed powers.

That's an example, of course. I would talk about X, but even genki characters have angst or personality disorders there (i.e. Yuzuriha, Sorata). CLAMP are professionals, you know.

How about Harry Potter? A lot of people complains that they can't stand the angsty, cranky Harry in OotP. I think it's better that way. Why does he have to have a perfect life full of victories and happiness? What he's been through would piss anybody off. Of course, that doesn't justify J.K. for killing good ol' Padfoot... ¬___¬ He could've killed... I don't know... Cho? XD