Book 5, 49: Blue Boy, Red Boy

It's a conclusion: Next, whenever, (it's hard to get back on track once you've let yourself slip), Book Five. Who doesn't love a (double) superhero wedding?

In the original version, Lois, Lana and Lucy Lane all got married to Blue, Red and Jimmy Olsen at the same ceremony, in what I like to think was the most harmonious, least stressful day in the history of Metropolis. 

Book 5, 48: The District Office is Under Attack

Joan Chen's blouse, in honour of the return of Twin Peaks, which is a thing that us old folks like:

Book 5, 47: Peter Out

I'm not a huge fan of the Colleen Wing character in the comics, and it's not just all the crappy things they've done with her, or the katana worship. Is it too early to be on Team Misty?

I have, however, somewhat revised my opinion. Jessica Henwick is great, but, no offense to everyone else involved, I think the reason that she killed it in Iron Fist is that she's the only one with an arc that made sense. It's easier to sell the character when you don't have to constantly stop and ask, "Why am I doing this?" Finn Jones, on the other hand, needs that on a t-shirt.

The jacket, which I like better than the sukajan everyone is talking about, is by Sanctuary.

Book 5, 46: A Temple, a Sword, Then We Hit Red Robins?

"Speak, friend, and pass."

(Remember, it's January of 2013. Gangnam style is still a thing. History!)

Book 5, 45: Upwards and Ever Onwards

I was about Rose's age when I heard some CBC radio announcer reading Longfellow's Nineteenth Century "inspirational" poem, and making fun. 

"The shades of night were falling fast, 

As through an Alpine village passed 

A youth, who bore, 'mid snow and ice, 

A banner with the strange device, 

      Excelsior!"

Spoiler: he dies. I'm sure that Rose doesn't lie in bed in the early morning listening to CBC radio, but she probably heard the poem somewhere equally nerdy. It's a slice of life, yo.

I saw this outfit at Mountain Equipment Co-op the other day. The hose is very practical for summiting.

Book 5, 44: Not Woola

Woola the calot, and some guy who forgot to wear clothes today. Which, to be fair, is true to the John Carter books, except you're never clear just how naked is naked in those old books.

Book 5, 43: The Scary Tree

Remember long ago, when Mockingjay, Part One was released (Christmas, 2014, if ancient history isn't your strong suit), and its album included a suprise number recorded by Jennifer Lawrence?

"Across the board, the songs sound like threads of hope escaping gloomier pasts." For "Millennials," it was getting some serious traction by the end of April of 2015, and caught the spirit of much of the year to come. 

But, oh well, "Buy this magazine or we'll shoot this dog works, too."

Book 5, 42: Ancient History

Warehouse 13.

The world is full of warehouses of ancient mysteries; but the contents aren't weird statuettes and bits of bling. They're documents, manuscripts, tablets, photographs, rubbings, tapes, inscriptions --things written, and full of facts, and never yet read by anyone.

Sure, you can't read a receipt book and be taken over by a mysterious, dark entity, but, in some ways, these old documents can get you into far more trouble than--

Wait. That's stupid. Forget I said it. Getting possessed by an ancient, malevolent entity is way worse than reading something and not realising its implications until it's way too late.

Book 5, 41: Digging For Answers

A one an'

an a two

I'm going with a Community reference because I'm old enough to remember the Seventies and I am not going to do anything that might be perceived as endorsing Journey. 

Book 5, 40: Red Shoes, Blue God

The original disco super-person. Chokers are back (although I haven't seen any inch-wide ones made of tinfoil yet), but not the eye-makeup. At least, not yet.

Book 5, 39: Bridesmaid Revisited

 Cheongsam with boots.

Source

Book 5, Chapter 38: Sidekick to a Spirit Quest

Sometimes, we're the hero in our own story, and sometimes we have to be the sidekicks in someone else's. Doesn't mean you can't use the dress again, later!

A wedding is about the bride, so no matter what the bridesmaid's dress looks like, you just nod and smile. But not when she tells you that "You'll be able to wear it again for something else." If you want to make that joke, you need to, I don't know, go to the basement of the CIA headquarters to make it.

Or post the pictures on the Internet.

Book 5, 37: When Your Breakfast Smells of Hand Grenades

I had a specific example in mind, but let's just enjoy a compilation video instead.

Also, Clark speaks Chinese. Hunh? Hunh? Learning languages is hard. For example, French-English, pomegranate-hand grenade.

Book 5, 36: A Long Time Dreaming

On the ancient ramparts of the last city of a dying species on a dying planet, the last boy walks, and wonders. It's a great setup, although I'm not sure how you deliver on it.

And from the soundtrack of The Martian. . . 

Book 5, 35: He Will Go No More A-Wandering

Home is the hunter.

By DC Comics, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18299786

People have weird hairdos in the Future. The character was introduced in 1964, so he didn't start out as a Wolverine imitation, but I think the hair of the class 70s Legion incarnation speaks for itself. Too bad, because if Wolverine's so cool, why did he spend 35 years in high school?

Book 5, 34: Old Red Planet

"Torte." So, cake.

Canada Day: Off from 1 am Thursday to 7 Saturday.

Book 5, 33: Deal

He seems a little, I don't know, too cocky. Also, dumb. Lois is smart.

And then sometimes this happens.

Let's see you talk your way out of this one, Kal-El.

Book 5, 32: Drop the Mic or Whatever

Book 5, 31: That Agent Elrond Moment When

The title is a reference to the fact that the same actor plays very different roles in Lord of the Rings and The Matrix. I was going to expand on that before I got to writing, and realised that I was riffing on this:

Source

If you don't know what it's on about, it's a creator-produced fantasy comic book of the late 70s about primitive elves who hang out with wolves and have adventures. Like, for example, Bone, it goes on to resolve its conflicts and explain its background well after the initial creative impulse is lost, so it seems more like a daydream than a story, not that there's anything wrong with that.