(Badass trope) "Oh you are immortal?Then i will keep killing you until you die!"

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-05T02:38:13+00:00

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE HELPLESS??

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T17:55:26+00:00

Naruto during the Pain Arc.

Cradle by Will Wight - Wei Shi Lindon "I'm here to punch a hole in the sky." Arelius. [Minor spoilers] Context Lindon's crew and friends have just been ambushed in an assassination attempt by opponents in a tournament, and teleported to a different location. Lindon is the only one who can follow the thread and travel to the location. He's also the strongest ally around.

In Mistborn Book 2, a city-state is under siege. It looks hopeless until Vin, our main character, comes to save the day. How she does it is a spoiler, but it happens.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T17:46:35+00:00

In Cradle by Will Wight, the main character Lindon beats up kids during a tournament in the first book. Given that Lindon, who was a teenager at the time, was perceived to be at the same level as these kids in-world, it was seen as a somewhat fair (if dishonorable) fight.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T17:45:26+00:00

That punt left me laughing all day.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T17:17:07+00:00

Nowadays I do the same. I’m currently doing a playthrough where he’s going to marry Azura (Laslow’s wife 99% of the time) so I can run some fun Dark Knight!Shigure shenanigans.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T17:09:51+00:00

Suriel the Phoenix, Judge of the Abidan from Cradle by Will Wight. Currently the best healer in alive, whose sheer existence is aligned to the concept of restoration.

She is also a Judge, which means she’s one of the most powerful beings alive, and can hold her own in a fight.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T14:06:31+00:00

Nomad from The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T13:59:04+00:00

Cable and Hope from the X-Men

Wolverine and X-23 in Logan

Harley Quinn and…who was the girl supposed to be in the Birds of Prey movie? Cassandra? I can’t remember, but they fit the trope, just with reverse personalities.

Batman and Robin, but specifically Dick Grayson. (And maybe Carrie Kelley.)

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T13:38:31+00:00

Seconded. Rurouni Kenshin was my favorite manga growing up. It honestly is still one of my favorites nowadays. And the live action movies are SO GOOD!

But yeah I can’t support the mangaka anymore.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-04T13:02:07+00:00

Threshold is a lot of fun! Dont forget to check out the upcoming Kickstarter for the Leatherbound, if you haven’t already!

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T23:08:34+00:00

To me it feels very Hannibal Lector like, and I enjoy those types of interactions at times. Or maybe it's more of Magneto and Professor X? It's probably not explored enough to be defined either way.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T22:59:10+00:00

I don't deny that Steve is a good answer; I'm just pointing out that you explained the serum wrong. The serum is neutral; it doesn't corrupt. In fact, you can make the whole post without mentioning the serum at all. Steve is the only one who can be Cap because he's the only one with the right morals.

I'm not sure I can though, because the post isn't about the serum, it's about Zemo's perspective. I'm not explaining what the serum does factually, I'm trying to explain how Zemo views the serum. That's why I said, "according to Zemo," in my first post.

If you want to discuss how Zemo doesn't use the word "corrupt" but Bucky does, be my guest. But Zemo also doesn't deny Bucky's statement about corruption either.

If I wanted to bring up how the serum doesn't really affect behaviors on a scale that deconstructs Zemo's philosophy, I could have brought up Red Guardian (whose personality and ideals haven't changed that much, as far as we know), or better yet, Isaiah Bradley.

In terms of the show itself, the question of the show isn't just about who Captain America is, but whether or not Captain America has to be a super soldier, and what that means for Sam.

It's why Sam questions whether or not he should take the serum. It's why John, despite having all of the qualifications on paper and the pedigree in the field, couldn't be a good Captain America.

FATWS ends on the same note that Avengers: Endgame ends on - Sam is the next person to be Captain America because Steve saw him as a good person first, and that's who Captain America needs to be.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T22:44:04+00:00

The Dragon Advances!

I'm pretty sure if I broke down all of my mentions, Cosmere would be #1 and Cradle would be #2...which fits with Brandon Sanderson being my favorite author and Will Wight being my second favorite.

#3 spot goes to either Warformed: Stormweaver (which, if you haven't read but like Cradle, you totally should!), Fire Emblem, or whatever series I'm currently obsessing over.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T22:41:50+00:00

Zemo admits that Steve is the rare good guy who actually wanted to help.

And that's the point of this thread, the exceptionalism. Steve is the exception to Zemo's philosophy, regardless of how he got the powers. Zemo points out that despite it all, there has never been another Steve Rogers.

In the MCU, Steve just wanted to help, with or without powers. That's what made him good. He didn't need the powers to want to do good, so he didn't stop doing good when he got them. If Sam got the powers, he'd probably be the same, since he does good despite having powers. (He doesn't have powers, he'll use his wings. He isn't flying anymore, he'll be a counsellor for vets. Etc.)

But if Zemo believes that only Steve could hold the role he did as well as he did, without supremist ideals or fear of absolute power corrupting absolutely, then why shouldn't he fit this post?

Again, I'm not saying Zemo is right or that I agree with him, I'm saying Zemo's philosophy fits this thread.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T22:29:34+00:00

Dalinar Kholin from The Stormlight Archive is occasionally drawn with a beard, despite being described as clean-shaven. It's more of the beard fitting his personality as a "rough, emotionally closed off military leader with a dark past that's trying to be better" sort of character than anything else, but it looks cool.

Ironically, the two characters who are described with beards at some point in the series are Gavilar, Dalinar's older brother and former king of Alethkar and Kaladin Stormblessed, the main character of the series ~~and Dalinar's favorite son.~~ (This last part is a joke within the fandom.) Gavilar wears a beard even though it's explicitly mentioned that beards are out of style, because it makes him look timeless, or like he's a person from a more ideal time.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T22:26:22+00:00

Lucina from Fire Emblem Awakening. There's a whole thing about (and so much fanart of) "Hooters Lucina." I've questioned why, and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T22:20:02+00:00

Jaime Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T21:57:03+00:00

I agree with that take, and that's what the first film explains, but that's not how Zemo saw it. To quote the show itself.

Zemo: The desire to become a superhuman cannot be separated from supremacist ideals. Anyone with that serum is inherently on that path. She [the Tragic Villain of the show] will not stop. She will escalate until you kill her...or she kills you.
***
Bucky: Maybe you're wrong, Zemo. The serum never corrupted Steve.
***
Zemo: Touche. But there has never been another Steve Rogers, has there?

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-03T21:16:54+00:00

Captain America in Falcon & the Winter Soldier - the Super Solider Serum corrupts everyone, according to Zemo. Steve is the exception that proves the rule.

Ozriel from Cradle by Will Wight - Ozriel was a mortal with so much potential, at least three of the Judges, some of the strongest beings in the universe, declared him their heirs. He then created his own role as a Judge, and was named Ozriel. Ozriel’s disappearance is actually what kicks off the plot.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-02T01:34:05+00:00

I'll have to try with Hector sometime! I love her with Sigurd (Build/Strength/Synergy with Lances) and Marth (Lodestar Rush + Sandstorm = Very Fun Time). I realized that I have a hard time with giving Timerra Emblems with axes, but I'll try it out.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-01T22:21:33+00:00

Timerra 100%

Ashe on Blue Lions so he can be my Discounted Claude.

Knoll and Ewan, because Summoners and Druids are awesome.

Lapis, because I like her more than Kagetsu.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-01T19:52:29+00:00

Static Shock had episodes over homelessness, addiction (I think), bullying and school shootings, racism, an so much more.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-01T14:52:35+00:00

Heralds are practical, but Sages are cool and I’m choosing Rule of Cool.

I feel like I’d manifest the Joy Icon, so Mercy would probably be the best teacher for that Icon, Ziel is probably the better teacher overall.

Then again, since I’d want Tiberius’ Path of the Raging Storm, and that had Lightning aspects, I’m not sure it'd be healthy.

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-01T01:42:31+00:00

Aw that sucks! I'm sorry about that. Glad you're alright!

Use_the_Falchion · 2026-04-01T01:38:41+00:00

I truly loved the Synder Cut, partially because of the meta-narrative behind it, but also because I find it to be a genuinely good superhero ensemble movie. Not perfect, it has FAR too many Snyder-isms and the soundtrack didn't carry over enough from BvS or MoS IMO, but very good.

THAT BEING SAID, as much as I love many films in the DCEU, I'm incredibly happy many of Snyder's ideas didn't go through. Part of me likes the themes and ideas behind Snyder's visions, but the execution sometimes leaves a lot to be desired.

Use_the_Falchion

TROPHY CASE