The Rec Center #238
Hi folks! This week we’ve got an article about faith and Comic Con, a look at Star Trek’s complicated history with female characters, some unique Transformers fanart, a multifandom fic rec list, and more! — Gav
new stuff
“When I Left My Faith, I Went to Comic Con” by Raven Leilani at Esquire
“The decision to go to Comic Con was a hail Mary of sorts, a means to feel the kind of joy I felt when I was younger and more pious, and it took nothing at all to suspend my disbelief.”
“The Sexist Legacy in Star Trek’s Progressive Universe” by Eleanor Tremeer at io9
Star Trek is famous for its groundbreaking casting choices and progressive themes, but behind the scenes it’s also infamous for grim tales of discrimination. This article interviews numerous Star Trek actresses about their experiences in the franchise.
older stuff
“You’re Gonna Love This Franchise” by Elizabeth at Fansplaining
With SDCC online this weekend, a piece on what the IRL con—with its commitment to corporate fandom—has looked like these past few years. For more SDCC content, check out the newest episode of Fansplaining, a conversation with the delightful Pam Noles, who manages one of the restricted entrances of Hall H.
tumblr & beyond
“an oil painting of starscream like one of those Flemish portraits”: Transformers fanart by Anna Malkova
A truly incredible piece of Star Trek installation art.
Italian anime openings are a whole thing, apparently?
This TikTok teen’s ATLA video is so good!!
“Periodically I remember how one time a Czech newspaper erroneously used an old drawing I did of Drowzee in a thong”
“do you think they did interviews with hannibal’s patients after his arrest”
fanfiction
A multi-fandom grab bag this week! Thank you to everyone who sent in a rec. <3 — Elizabeth
“Still Life” by dogpoet. 40K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Star Trek (2009 film); Ship: Kirk/Spock
Recced by: Gryvon
Backstory: Traumatized by his experience on Tarsus IV, Jim Kirk runs away to Vulcan to undergo kolinahr.
Rec: This fic explores a what-could-have been and dealing with emotional trauma.
Content warnings: N/A
“born of the ice” by anirondack. 57K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Yuri!!! on Ice; Ship: Gen (some brief pairings)
Recced by: Shade
Backstory: Victor Nikiforov is a trans man, and this is the story of his experiences growing up in an environment that is as supportive as he can ask for. A backstory to the anime—it ends roughly when the anime begins.
Rec: I love stories that talk about trans people, and this one has an underlying truth to the emotional experience that is truly great. Also it’s just got great characterization and worldbuilding.
Content warnings: Misgendering (by people who don’t know better), descriptions of injuries, depression, and alcohol mentions
“The Part of Her Hair” by scioscribe. 11K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Pride and Prejudice; Ship: Mary Bennet/OFC
Recced by: Orangistae
Backstory: Mary visits Jane and Bingley in town, and makes a new friend.
Rec: I love fics that focus on characters overlooked by canon, and this one does a wonderful job of exploring Mary’s POV and finding sympathy and humour in her prickly awkwardness. The romance is also very sweet, as are the relationships between Mary and her sisters.
Content warnings: N/A
“Superheroes” by manic_intent. 8K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Ant-Man, MCU; Ship: Scott Lang/Jimmy Woo
Recced by: Jeanne
Backstory: Scott Lang/Ant-Man is under house arrest for breaking the Sokovia Accords in Civil War. Jimmy Woo is the FBI agent assigned his case.
Rec: “Ant-Man and the Wasp” was nothing to write home about, but I did enjoy the side characters, especially Randall Park’s Detective Jimmy Woo as well Luis and Ghost, who both also make an appearance in this fic. The story takes Scott and Jimmy from somewhat mutual dislike to friendship to lovers and combines it with some social commentary.
Content warnings: Scott being generally clue- and sometimes thoughtless about Asian cultures (which is called out, however!), mentions of racism, mentions of the current U.S. administration and the general hellscape we live in
“the lawyer, the witch and the minotaur” by arimabat. 13K words, rated Mature.
Fandoms: Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Angel; Ship: Tara Maclay/Lilah Morgan
Recced by: tinysnapdragon9
Backstory: Lilah picks up Tara in the afterlife for a special job, but Tara isn’t sure she should help her.
Rec: It’s fun, an unusual pairing, but also in character.
Content warning: Major character death (canonical)
“sweet chaos” by eachandeverydimension. 86K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: The Untamed/MDZS; Ship: Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian
Recced by: Gav
Backstory: The main characters are members of aristocratic clans of wizards in ancient China. Lan Wangji is the second son of the conservative Lan clan; Wei Ying is an adoptive child within the more carefree Jiang clan. In the show they’re soulmates who meet as teens and live through an epic war, but this story is an AU where they’re betrothed to each other as children.
Rec: This fic is a wonderfully sweet and charming look at what life would’ve been like if Lan Wangji went to stay at Yungmeng as a teenager, learning how to relax and befriend the Jiang clan. The main relationship is a lovely (age-appropriate) slow-burn friendship/romance but there’s also plenty of screentime for supporting characters, with lots of Chinese cultural detail.
Content warning: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
Have a great weekend, and if you’re attending SDCC online, have a great virtual con! — Elizabeth
Have a favorite one-off rec? Please send it our way! We’ll use it in a future list. Other fanworks—comics, vids, zines, etc—are strongly encouraged as well. And if you have any interest in doing an entire rec list, explainer, or ship manifesto, please get in touch! elizabethandgav at gmail dot com.
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