I may, at some point, probably talk about it in a video, but for now I just want to say that this is the movie about the Four I’ve always wanted to see- in some ways it’s the Marvel movie I always wanted, too.
The fidelity of everything, from the visuals, to the performances, to the music, to the cinematic influences, to the sheer amount of material incorporated from the source and the respect paid to the people who made it, all helped the sell a world changed by four likeable individuals with extraordinary hearts and minds who still, somewhere beneath it all, are terrified that they will one day be ‘found out’, and be rejected for not being normal. Beneath the shiny veneer of the film is something built on uncertainty, but that will be triumphed over by the very thing I tried to impress as the most important thing about this team years ago- their optimism.
And to top it all off, my sister ended up as an extra in the movie, who features quite prominently on screen a few times, who has told me many stories of how much she enjoyed being part of it as her first major blockbuster involvement, making it now bizarrely linked to my own life and family.
This is what I hoped would happen when I made that video, and seeing that people have genuinely enjoyed it and, even beforehand, just embrace the appeal of the four in the build up to the release, has been incredibly validating. It really doesn’t matter what happens from this point on- because they finally did it, and made them real.
Five years ago, I set out to make a Fantastic Four video.
It started as an essay I'd been writing on Doctor Doom that spiralled when I went looking for other FF related videos, all of which were either old documentaries on comics or worse, videos saying they were never good. The series was in decline, with one video claiming they had to go because they were simply relics of another time that would never inspire anything in todays culture.
This vexed me deeply. This was the comic that made Marvel what it was, it was the series that defied the conventions of the genre and put a dysfunctional, flawed, genuine family at the forefront while showcasing tremendous art that inspired literally every person working in the industry to that point. It had been taken on by other brilliant talents and had managed to move me even in the modern day, reading my copies of the ongoing story as it was happening and still remembering all the ways I had been moved as I experienced their adventures in real time. Relics? On what planet?
I knew I needed to sell this team properly and have people see them the way I always saw them, because without them, the landscape of American art would be much, much poorer for it. I went all out on hiring actors, staging sequences and doing everything I could to get across just how much I loved this team, and thankfully, the response was extremely warm, often the video most followers quote as the work of mine they like best. I hear at least once a week that this is the video that got them to read FF comics- and that's a greater feeling than I could have possibly hoped for. I thank each and every one of you who watched, commented, shared and even enjoyed their adventures, it's meant so much over those years that I've been on here.
Fast forward to today, and everything has changed. The FF came out of retirement in comics that are still selling as we speak, in some cases to critical acclaim. Entire social media accounts are dedicated to their exploits and are practically buzzing with how much they love these guys, the likes speak for themselves. They've made appearances in other media that has driven excitement for them and their stories through the roof. My video is no longer the most popular on the team here- and, most of all, a new film is finally making it's debut tonight.
I have no idea if the film is any good or if I'll personally like it, but I see a lot of what it's doing that I approve of, and how much that's translating to the general online chatter and their excitement not just for the film, but for the material it seems to be honouring, which in itself is incredible. Forgive me for not seeing it the first day of release- I didn't get any special preview of the film, I'm not in it (People keep asking!), I'm just some bum on YT without anyone free around me to catch it with, so I'll be seeing it as soon as I'm able and will have to do a lot of dodging spoilers online in the meantime. I do however have a very interesting point to make about it already that I can't say right now- but when I do, I think you'll be extremely surprised (and hopefully pleased about it, too!)
What I take away from all of this, more than anything, is that those who got it were right. The FF were not a relic, and they're still inspiring people even now to tell their stories and prove that they're worth something, and that they can resonate with audiences today as much as they did in the sixties.
Just a quick heads up, I'm branching out my socials in an effort to spread the word about my work a bit more, feels like it's time. I've got an insta where I'm currently doing daily posts on my phenomenal collaborators and a tiktok where I'm uploading shorts from my videos and other bits and pieces I'm trying out along the way. Would love to see you guys on either of those! And don't worry, lots of new stuff already being worked on - you asked some brilliant questions in my last Q and A session, and i'm assembling the most frequently asked stuff into a video as we speak. Big ups gang.
Alright, let's get the ball rolling- I'll be doing a little follow up video now the first Thunderbolts episode is out. AMA about it and I'll give a short answer here (or on twitter) and maybe put a longer take of the FAQ's in the vid!
900 years later and we finally have it, the REAL Thunderbolts Story, and it's very first installment, covering Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley's phenomenal run with their original iteration of the team. This was the product of my entire lifetime of loving Marvel comics, the work of phenomenal actors and artists, and the people who encouraged me to make this and followed my work as it evolved.
Almost a week in and I am so pleased to see the response! Hopefully you can see why it took so long, including the time spent drafting all the other episodes before committing to this one, and deciding how it was going to look in context. I'd like to think the rest of the series shouldn't take quite as long to produce now a lot of things have been settled, and with future episodes already recorded and in some cases laid out in an early edit. I really hope this first one continues to live up to the hype- and for those who haven't had a chance to see it yet, what are you waiting for! Stop reading this, you've got a video to watch this weekend!!! Quick!!! Before Defunctland drops that epic part 2 Animatronic bomb okay
Over the next few weeks I'll be doing what I can to promote this and the people involved here and on other platforms, including my newly set up instagram ( instagram.com/b_mask__ ). There are so many people to thank and celebrate who are part of this and it'll take a while but I will do my best to ensure you get to recognise the talents and names of literally everyone involved. I also will be delivering some exclusive content for my patrons including behind the scenes material, some public content, and, as a handful of you may have hoped, the blooper reel.
It'll take me a while to get through it all given recent personal events detailed previously here, but I'll be doing my utmost to fulfil my obligations as you continue to share and enjoy the video- and of course, not too long from now, I'll be getting back to my other (smaller!) projects, and of course the rest of this series. Our story is so far from done- and the seeds have been sewn for so, so much more already.
Hi everyone- just a quick update. My grandmother has sadly passed away. We knew what was happening for around a week, so we are somewhat prepared for what follows, but obviously my family and I just need time for it all, and for each other. I promise to be back with better news in the very near future, but this obviously takes priority for the time being. I'll come back to you guys when we're ready. Take care.
Hi Gang! Just wanted to drop a very quick progress update on the Thunderbolts video.
I'm still tweaking some of the sound, receiving the last few pieces of art, polishing a couple of the performed scenes, completing the credits and having to double check myself on some of the pieces of music used, which will be the last and only reason I cannot yet give this a confirmed release date.
But there is a full video in the timeline, and I think it looks pretty good.
Obviously, for those who've been following so far, there should have been a video from me before this happened. I've been working on a long-form Thunderbolts Retrospective series, going from the beginning of the comic through some of its most pivotal moments onwards, for the best part of 4 years, and really kicked things up a gear when I suddenly found out they were making a movie in 2022. I didn't realise I'd be racing against the clock to try and set an expectation for what is perhaps one of my favourite Marvel sagas- before a niche comic got turned into something else in the public's eyes- especially if they were going to secretly do anything either presented in the comic first, or framed in the way I was planning.
I worked extremely hard to read everything, make all the connections, do all the background research, write all the episodes, hire voice actors, and then actually make the first video, which has thus far taken me quite a few months for reasons I'd hope would be apparent to any who saw the final product- and I still just couldn't make the deadline. I have a whole video in the timeline, but it's missing some visuals, it needs polishing, the narration isn't where I want it, it's just not fit for release. I was pushing myself and getting real side effects on my physical health, getting extreme fatigue in the middle of the day that just left me useless as I tried to get myself back to normal.
In the end I had to accept I wasn't going to be first to platform the concept in any significant way, and decided to just go see the movie.
I *really* liked it.
Thunderbolts* is very different from the source, and there's always going to be a part of me hurt by that, but there's a lot it's doing that does honour the concept, as well as the MCU's general landscape, while also being a really great movie. I don't want to get too into specifics here, i'll probably do that later, but as someone obsessively into the comics (trust me, that'll be more than apparent soon) Even for all the things I would have done differently, I totally got what they were going for and how they came to the decisions they made, which now watching some interviews with the director I see were absolutely intended. Audiences are really responding to it, and rightfully so.
But this is the rub- overall, my series is not yet in direct conflict with what the film is doing, so I don't have to worry about feeling redundant in spreading the word, but they did make a couple of key decisions that, oddly enough, mirror the way I've tried to present the overall story. I have to keep it vague again for the sake of spoilers on both ends, but in spite of being quite removed from the original team and concept, there are framing devices, thematic discussions and even whole characters that nobody, as far as I thought in 2021 when I started mapping this out, had thought to connect to the Thunderbolts before. People are responding really well to how they've done it, and i'll be honest, I do feel slightly deflated, like i'm now a lame runner up who copied them despite having similar thoughts years prior. Do I change my thinking to try something else? Do I lean into what they're saying? Do I leave it completely alone and just let people call me a copycat? I dunno. I'm just thinking so, so many things right now.
But the movie, like the book, is about that messiness, the idea of something that wasn't necessarily what you thought it was, finding a way to turn it around and make it work in a way you didn't expect, and other things that again, I don't want to spoil. Perhaps, with the team's name now truly famous, it'll be to the benefit of getting more people to pay attention to the original series, and perhaps explain the full background of something else they've gone ahead and done, too.
So, either way, I'm getting back to it to try and get this thing finished. I have no idea how it's going to be received now the conversation has shifted, and I'm sorry I let that happen, but I can't do any more than i'm doing and just have to deal with the situation as it is. Please bear with me, as these really are the last couple of roadblocks I'm trying to figure out, but I promise you it's on its way out, for my sake as much as anyone else's. I really hope you and anyone else out there still have room for any of this without conflicting with what makes the film equally valid.
And if you were thinking of seeing the movie, you should give it a go. It might tell you things you need to hear.
Just felt like keeping everyone in the loop today given Marvel has been releasing what feels like a dozen new trailers for this new Thunderbolts movie, at the same time that I've been hard at work on my own Thunderbolts retrospective. I have thoughts I want to get off my chest about it all, without spoiling anything about my series or directly ruining the momentum I feel I have going with this project, so I'll keep this as vague as possible.
For those not aware I've been working on this project, a multi part retrospective on the Thunderbolts comic series, for the last couple years and entered production properly over most of 2024, and with the new movie coming out I resolved to get at least the first episode out before its debut. Don't worry- things are extremely positive so far! Progress has been going very well and I'm optimistic that I can beat their deadline, but it has meant pretty much crunching almost every day for the last two months, meaning that I've had no time to work on other videos that I've wanted to make, so I have to apologise for the lack of new stuff in that time.
It might seem like I'm punishing myself needlessly to get this done before the MCU's take, given they're doing something completely different, but without giving anything away I think it's important that the original version of the story is told in this particular way first. I won't talk about specifics, but there are certain things the film is doing that, bizarrely, parallel thoughts I struck upon a few years ago when I realised how I could shape out this retrospective, thoughts that are so specific beyond the original story that I've never seen anyone else connect anywhere outside of my own plans- until the details of this new film began to drop in 2022. It's a very, very specific thing beyond what a fan might normally do in one of these, so i'm curious how closely their approach matches mine in making these connections across the series.
There are also things I think it's going to do- surprising things- that I think might actually have more of an impact if the profile of the original story is raised in a video like this. A lot of friends are convinced they just won't, and the last few movies/shows haven't filled me with confidence that they'll do anything remotely connected like that, but there's always a chance, and the buzz around this one feels very slightly different from the last couple films. I think there is a reason this one was given such an enthusiastic greenlight from the pitch alone despite seeming so unlike the original conceit of the comic, and more than because it seems like what DC did with Suicide Squad- but again, I don't want to talk about it too candidly and take the impact away from what I want to eventually say in these videos.
(Don't be offended if you ask me outright about characters or spoilers about the series and I choose not to respond- I just think this is all a lot more exciting, especially for newcomers, if we all play along and not talk about any of it until it happens. I appreciate all of you who've done that for me to this point!)
Regardless, I just want my work out there first to prove, if these things are true, I wasn't copying anyone's homework or riding on anyone's coat-tails. I would love people not to watch this series and go 'you only did this because the MCU did that.' I'd love them to know that I had a very specific idea that I think tied this whole thing together naturally, in my view, and wasn't tainted by anything else anyone thought about, and is what I think makes this story special. Choosing not to talk about it yet and spill all my thoughts online kills me, but I know it's only going to be impactful if I stick to my plan and just tell this all the way I wanted from the start, regardless of if it feels like the MCU or the internet is too desperate to speedrun all these moments and blurt them out without the proper setup. I really, desperately have wanted to tell this story for a long time, but I know if I don't take the time to frame it the way I want, it'll just be another fan online underselling maybe one of Marvel's most interesting tales.
Either way I want to thank everyone who's not only been following this, but also contributing to make sure I can get this finished at the highest possible standard. Donations have ensured the involvement of new artists and some really amazing visual stuff is in there that I again just can't talk about. This first episode is so far unlike anything i've made yet and I think when it debuts you'll all understand why it's taking this long. We're going beyond the way the Fantastic Four video looked, maybe at the detriment of my personal life but hey, go big or go home right? The plan, hopefully, is that a successful first episode will allow me to get more help to finish the others in a way that won't kill me, but you'll decide if we were successful or not with this one!
Hopefully I'll have even better news about this- and it's release date- in the near future.
For the 100th Fish Person post, there was no other choice on my mind. To me, they are the quintessential Fish People, the ones who embody the peak of that concept beyond your mermaids and Aqua-men and Spongebob cartoons. They're the guys who felt like a breath of fresh air in their own budding franchise beyond anything else we'd seen in their genre- and most of all, folks, they originated the soundbite I play in all my videos.
Davy Jones and his crew from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Created purely for the films rather than the Disney Ride, these guys are maybe some of the best movie fantasy creations in a while. Jones himself is actually somewhat up for debate when it comes to fitting in this fpf category- his main features are Octopus and Crab related so he kinda skirts around the fish word in a sneaky cheeky way- but his crew are primo supremo Fish People. Puffer Fish guy. Hammerhead Shark man with lisp. There's even a guy with a bloody Eel for a head who extends his neck out and goes aggghhh and eats some guys face. Great stuff.
But what sealed the deal is the scene where the comedy duo in this series- sorry, the *other* comedy duo- of hapless royal marines guarding Davy Jones Heart suddenly turn philosophical about the nature of their bosses new allies, that they seem to be the reason things have gotten so bad- leading to an argument about whether or not they're being prejudiced about, as they put it, 'fish people.' And they say it in such a limey way that it became the go to quote of my college life and snuck it's way into a Spyro video because a fish character I chose footage of right at the start of the video looked right at me a little too long. And now you know.
Maybe one day I'll have even more to say about these guys. But for now, here they are. The FPF kings.
Thank you everyone who has followed these bizarre posts over the last 100 weeks, a nearly 2 year span. I may take a little break as I crack on with other projects, but rest assured I'm not done with this gimmick. Someone the other day told me that they felt this had been a great way for them to actually discover media they'd never even heard of before and I'm incredibly flattered to have actually done something like that with my silly fish blog. Have a great weekend and, thank you for enjoying more fish people posts every Friday, on Fish People Friday.
B- Mask
I finally saw the Fantastic Four movie.
I may, at some point, probably talk about it in a video, but for now I just want to say that this is the movie about the Four I’ve always wanted to see- in some ways it’s the Marvel movie I always wanted, too.
The fidelity of everything, from the visuals, to the performances, to the music, to the cinematic influences, to the sheer amount of material incorporated from the source and the respect paid to the people who made it, all helped the sell a world changed by four likeable individuals with extraordinary hearts and minds who still, somewhere beneath it all, are terrified that they will one day be ‘found out’, and be rejected for not being normal. Beneath the shiny veneer of the film is something built on uncertainty, but that will be triumphed over by the very thing I tried to impress as the most important thing about this team years ago- their optimism.
And to top it all off, my sister ended up as an extra in the movie, who features quite prominently on screen a few times, who has told me many stories of how much she enjoyed being part of it as her first major blockbuster involvement, making it now bizarrely linked to my own life and family.
This is what I hoped would happen when I made that video, and seeing that people have genuinely enjoyed it and, even beforehand, just embrace the appeal of the four in the build up to the release, has been incredibly validating. It really doesn’t matter what happens from this point on- because they finally did it, and made them real.
They *are* the Fantastic Four.
1 month ago | [YT] | 991
View 51 replies
B- Mask
Five years ago, I set out to make a Fantastic Four video.
It started as an essay I'd been writing on Doctor Doom that spiralled when I went looking for other FF related videos, all of which were either old documentaries on comics or worse, videos saying they were never good. The series was in decline, with one video claiming they had to go because they were simply relics of another time that would never inspire anything in todays culture.
This vexed me deeply. This was the comic that made Marvel what it was, it was the series that defied the conventions of the genre and put a dysfunctional, flawed, genuine family at the forefront while showcasing tremendous art that inspired literally every person working in the industry to that point. It had been taken on by other brilliant talents and had managed to move me even in the modern day, reading my copies of the ongoing story as it was happening and still remembering all the ways I had been moved as I experienced their adventures in real time. Relics? On what planet?
I knew I needed to sell this team properly and have people see them the way I always saw them, because without them, the landscape of American art would be much, much poorer for it. I went all out on hiring actors, staging sequences and doing everything I could to get across just how much I loved this team, and thankfully, the response was extremely warm, often the video most followers quote as the work of mine they like best. I hear at least once a week that this is the video that got them to read FF comics- and that's a greater feeling than I could have possibly hoped for. I thank each and every one of you who watched, commented, shared and even enjoyed their adventures, it's meant so much over those years that I've been on here.
Fast forward to today, and everything has changed. The FF came out of retirement in comics that are still selling as we speak, in some cases to critical acclaim. Entire social media accounts are dedicated to their exploits and are practically buzzing with how much they love these guys, the likes speak for themselves. They've made appearances in other media that has driven excitement for them and their stories through the roof. My video is no longer the most popular on the team here- and, most of all, a new film is finally making it's debut tonight.
I have no idea if the film is any good or if I'll personally like it, but I see a lot of what it's doing that I approve of, and how much that's translating to the general online chatter and their excitement not just for the film, but for the material it seems to be honouring, which in itself is incredible. Forgive me for not seeing it the first day of release- I didn't get any special preview of the film, I'm not in it (People keep asking!), I'm just some bum on YT without anyone free around me to catch it with, so I'll be seeing it as soon as I'm able and will have to do a lot of dodging spoilers online in the meantime. I do however have a very interesting point to make about it already that I can't say right now- but when I do, I think you'll be extremely surprised (and hopefully pleased about it, too!)
What I take away from all of this, more than anything, is that those who got it were right. The FF were not a relic, and they're still inspiring people even now to tell their stories and prove that they're worth something, and that they can resonate with audiences today as much as they did in the sixties.
They still matter. And they always will.
- B
2 months ago | [YT] | 906
View 66 replies
B- Mask
Just a quick heads up, I'm branching out my socials in an effort to spread the word about my work a bit more, feels like it's time. I've got an insta where I'm currently doing daily posts on my phenomenal collaborators and a tiktok where I'm uploading shorts from my videos and other bits and pieces I'm trying out along the way. Would love to see you guys on either of those! And don't worry, lots of new stuff already being worked on - you asked some brilliant questions in my last Q and A session, and i'm assembling the most frequently asked stuff into a video as we speak. Big ups gang.
instagram.com/b_mask__
tiktok.com/@b_mask_youtube
2 months ago | [YT] | 595
View 17 replies
B- Mask
Alright, let's get the ball rolling- I'll be doing a little follow up video now the first Thunderbolts episode is out. AMA about it and I'll give a short answer here (or on twitter) and maybe put a longer take of the FAQ's in the vid!
2 months ago | [YT] | 643
View 311 replies
B- Mask
Kept you waiting, huh?
900 years later and we finally have it, the REAL Thunderbolts Story, and it's very first installment, covering Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley's phenomenal run with their original iteration of the team. This was the product of my entire lifetime of loving Marvel comics, the work of phenomenal actors and artists, and the people who encouraged me to make this and followed my work as it evolved.
Almost a week in and I am so pleased to see the response! Hopefully you can see why it took so long, including the time spent drafting all the other episodes before committing to this one, and deciding how it was going to look in context. I'd like to think the rest of the series shouldn't take quite as long to produce now a lot of things have been settled, and with future episodes already recorded and in some cases laid out in an early edit. I really hope this first one continues to live up to the hype- and for those who haven't had a chance to see it yet, what are you waiting for! Stop reading this, you've got a video to watch this weekend!!! Quick!!! Before Defunctland drops that epic part 2 Animatronic bomb okay
Over the next few weeks I'll be doing what I can to promote this and the people involved here and on other platforms, including my newly set up instagram ( instagram.com/b_mask__ ). There are so many people to thank and celebrate who are part of this and it'll take a while but I will do my best to ensure you get to recognise the talents and names of literally everyone involved. I also will be delivering some exclusive content for my patrons including behind the scenes material, some public content, and, as a handful of you may have hoped, the blooper reel.
It'll take me a while to get through it all given recent personal events detailed previously here, but I'll be doing my utmost to fulfil my obligations as you continue to share and enjoy the video- and of course, not too long from now, I'll be getting back to my other (smaller!) projects, and of course the rest of this series. Our story is so far from done- and the seeds have been sewn for so, so much more already.
Til then.
-B
2 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 304
View 14 replies
B- Mask
Hi everyone- just a quick update. My grandmother has sadly passed away. We knew what was happening for around a week, so we are somewhat prepared for what follows, but obviously my family and I just need time for it all, and for each other. I promise to be back with better news in the very near future, but this obviously takes priority for the time being. I'll come back to you guys when we're ready. Take care.
3 months ago | [YT] | 893
View 58 replies
B- Mask
Hi Gang! Just wanted to drop a very quick progress update on the Thunderbolts video.
I'm still tweaking some of the sound, receiving the last few pieces of art, polishing a couple of the performed scenes, completing the credits and having to double check myself on some of the pieces of music used, which will be the last and only reason I cannot yet give this a confirmed release date.
But there is a full video in the timeline, and I think it looks pretty good.
Will see you all back here real soon.
4 months ago | [YT] | 374
View 16 replies
B- Mask
Today I saw the Thunderbolts film.
Obviously, for those who've been following so far, there should have been a video from me before this happened. I've been working on a long-form Thunderbolts Retrospective series, going from the beginning of the comic through some of its most pivotal moments onwards, for the best part of 4 years, and really kicked things up a gear when I suddenly found out they were making a movie in 2022. I didn't realise I'd be racing against the clock to try and set an expectation for what is perhaps one of my favourite Marvel sagas- before a niche comic got turned into something else in the public's eyes- especially if they were going to secretly do anything either presented in the comic first, or framed in the way I was planning.
I worked extremely hard to read everything, make all the connections, do all the background research, write all the episodes, hire voice actors, and then actually make the first video, which has thus far taken me quite a few months for reasons I'd hope would be apparent to any who saw the final product- and I still just couldn't make the deadline. I have a whole video in the timeline, but it's missing some visuals, it needs polishing, the narration isn't where I want it, it's just not fit for release. I was pushing myself and getting real side effects on my physical health, getting extreme fatigue in the middle of the day that just left me useless as I tried to get myself back to normal.
In the end I had to accept I wasn't going to be first to platform the concept in any significant way, and decided to just go see the movie.
I *really* liked it.
Thunderbolts* is very different from the source, and there's always going to be a part of me hurt by that, but there's a lot it's doing that does honour the concept, as well as the MCU's general landscape, while also being a really great movie. I don't want to get too into specifics here, i'll probably do that later, but as someone obsessively into the comics (trust me, that'll be more than apparent soon) Even for all the things I would have done differently, I totally got what they were going for and how they came to the decisions they made, which now watching some interviews with the director I see were absolutely intended. Audiences are really responding to it, and rightfully so.
But this is the rub- overall, my series is not yet in direct conflict with what the film is doing, so I don't have to worry about feeling redundant in spreading the word, but they did make a couple of key decisions that, oddly enough, mirror the way I've tried to present the overall story. I have to keep it vague again for the sake of spoilers on both ends, but in spite of being quite removed from the original team and concept, there are framing devices, thematic discussions and even whole characters that nobody, as far as I thought in 2021 when I started mapping this out, had thought to connect to the Thunderbolts before. People are responding really well to how they've done it, and i'll be honest, I do feel slightly deflated, like i'm now a lame runner up who copied them despite having similar thoughts years prior. Do I change my thinking to try something else? Do I lean into what they're saying? Do I leave it completely alone and just let people call me a copycat? I dunno. I'm just thinking so, so many things right now.
But the movie, like the book, is about that messiness, the idea of something that wasn't necessarily what you thought it was, finding a way to turn it around and make it work in a way you didn't expect, and other things that again, I don't want to spoil. Perhaps, with the team's name now truly famous, it'll be to the benefit of getting more people to pay attention to the original series, and perhaps explain the full background of something else they've gone ahead and done, too.
So, either way, I'm getting back to it to try and get this thing finished. I have no idea how it's going to be received now the conversation has shifted, and I'm sorry I let that happen, but I can't do any more than i'm doing and just have to deal with the situation as it is. Please bear with me, as these really are the last couple of roadblocks I'm trying to figure out, but I promise you it's on its way out, for my sake as much as anyone else's. I really hope you and anyone else out there still have room for any of this without conflicting with what makes the film equally valid.
And if you were thinking of seeing the movie, you should give it a go. It might tell you things you need to hear.
- B
4 months ago | [YT] | 348
View 45 replies
B- Mask
Little update on my next big Marvel Project.
Just felt like keeping everyone in the loop today given Marvel has been releasing what feels like a dozen new trailers for this new Thunderbolts movie, at the same time that I've been hard at work on my own Thunderbolts retrospective. I have thoughts I want to get off my chest about it all, without spoiling anything about my series or directly ruining the momentum I feel I have going with this project, so I'll keep this as vague as possible.
For those not aware I've been working on this project, a multi part retrospective on the Thunderbolts comic series, for the last couple years and entered production properly over most of 2024, and with the new movie coming out I resolved to get at least the first episode out before its debut. Don't worry- things are extremely positive so far! Progress has been going very well and I'm optimistic that I can beat their deadline, but it has meant pretty much crunching almost every day for the last two months, meaning that I've had no time to work on other videos that I've wanted to make, so I have to apologise for the lack of new stuff in that time.
It might seem like I'm punishing myself needlessly to get this done before the MCU's take, given they're doing something completely different, but without giving anything away I think it's important that the original version of the story is told in this particular way first. I won't talk about specifics, but there are certain things the film is doing that, bizarrely, parallel thoughts I struck upon a few years ago when I realised how I could shape out this retrospective, thoughts that are so specific beyond the original story that I've never seen anyone else connect anywhere outside of my own plans- until the details of this new film began to drop in 2022. It's a very, very specific thing beyond what a fan might normally do in one of these, so i'm curious how closely their approach matches mine in making these connections across the series.
There are also things I think it's going to do- surprising things- that I think might actually have more of an impact if the profile of the original story is raised in a video like this. A lot of friends are convinced they just won't, and the last few movies/shows haven't filled me with confidence that they'll do anything remotely connected like that, but there's always a chance, and the buzz around this one feels very slightly different from the last couple films. I think there is a reason this one was given such an enthusiastic greenlight from the pitch alone despite seeming so unlike the original conceit of the comic, and more than because it seems like what DC did with Suicide Squad- but again, I don't want to talk about it too candidly and take the impact away from what I want to eventually say in these videos.
(Don't be offended if you ask me outright about characters or spoilers about the series and I choose not to respond- I just think this is all a lot more exciting, especially for newcomers, if we all play along and not talk about any of it until it happens. I appreciate all of you who've done that for me to this point!)
Regardless, I just want my work out there first to prove, if these things are true, I wasn't copying anyone's homework or riding on anyone's coat-tails. I would love people not to watch this series and go 'you only did this because the MCU did that.' I'd love them to know that I had a very specific idea that I think tied this whole thing together naturally, in my view, and wasn't tainted by anything else anyone thought about, and is what I think makes this story special. Choosing not to talk about it yet and spill all my thoughts online kills me, but I know it's only going to be impactful if I stick to my plan and just tell this all the way I wanted from the start, regardless of if it feels like the MCU or the internet is too desperate to speedrun all these moments and blurt them out without the proper setup. I really, desperately have wanted to tell this story for a long time, but I know if I don't take the time to frame it the way I want, it'll just be another fan online underselling maybe one of Marvel's most interesting tales.
Either way I want to thank everyone who's not only been following this, but also contributing to make sure I can get this finished at the highest possible standard. Donations have ensured the involvement of new artists and some really amazing visual stuff is in there that I again just can't talk about. This first episode is so far unlike anything i've made yet and I think when it debuts you'll all understand why it's taking this long. We're going beyond the way the Fantastic Four video looked, maybe at the detriment of my personal life but hey, go big or go home right? The plan, hopefully, is that a successful first episode will allow me to get more help to finish the others in a way that won't kill me, but you'll decide if we were successful or not with this one!
Hopefully I'll have even better news about this- and it's release date- in the near future.
Til then, Marvellites,
- B
7 months ago | [YT] | 307
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B- Mask
Welcome back to Fish People Friday- number 100!
For the 100th Fish Person post, there was no other choice on my mind. To me, they are the quintessential Fish People, the ones who embody the peak of that concept beyond your mermaids and Aqua-men and Spongebob cartoons. They're the guys who felt like a breath of fresh air in their own budding franchise beyond anything else we'd seen in their genre- and most of all, folks, they originated the soundbite I play in all my videos.
Davy Jones and his crew from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Created purely for the films rather than the Disney Ride, these guys are maybe some of the best movie fantasy creations in a while. Jones himself is actually somewhat up for debate when it comes to fitting in this fpf category- his main features are Octopus and Crab related so he kinda skirts around the fish word in a sneaky cheeky way- but his crew are primo supremo Fish People. Puffer Fish guy. Hammerhead Shark man with lisp. There's even a guy with a bloody Eel for a head who extends his neck out and goes aggghhh and eats some guys face. Great stuff.
But what sealed the deal is the scene where the comedy duo in this series- sorry, the *other* comedy duo- of hapless royal marines guarding Davy Jones Heart suddenly turn philosophical about the nature of their bosses new allies, that they seem to be the reason things have gotten so bad- leading to an argument about whether or not they're being prejudiced about, as they put it, 'fish people.' And they say it in such a limey way that it became the go to quote of my college life and snuck it's way into a Spyro video because a fish character I chose footage of right at the start of the video looked right at me a little too long. And now you know.
Maybe one day I'll have even more to say about these guys. But for now, here they are. The FPF kings.
Thank you everyone who has followed these bizarre posts over the last 100 weeks, a nearly 2 year span. I may take a little break as I crack on with other projects, but rest assured I'm not done with this gimmick. Someone the other day told me that they felt this had been a great way for them to actually discover media they'd never even heard of before and I'm incredibly flattered to have actually done something like that with my silly fish blog. Have a great weekend and, thank you for enjoying more fish people posts every Friday, on Fish People Friday.
7 months ago | [YT] | 528
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