The Rec Center #480
Hello all! This week we have articles on AO3 stats, Wikipedia’s bad celebrity portraits, and Marvel Comics’ exploitative working conditions. Plus some delightful Jeeves and Wooster fanart, and a multifandom grab-bag of fic recs! — Elizabeth
new stuff
“AO3 is entering a new era” by Allegra Rosenberg at Polygon
A deep dive into the changing makeup of works on the AO3, featuring extensive interviews on fandom stats with centreoftheselights and Destination Toast.
“Photographers Are on a Mission to Fix Wikipedia’s Famously Bad Celebrity Portraits” by Jules Roscoe at 404 Media
Your fave’s Wikipedia photo is probably Not Great because all images on the site must be CC licensed/free to use—something pro photographers would be unlikely to do with their work. Now, a group of volunteers is trying to improve the quality and accuracy of those photos.
“‘OMG F--k Them’: Eisner-Winning Artist Slams Marvel’s Comic Contract Rates” by Nnamdi Ezekwe at Comic Book Resources
Comic-book artist Dustin Nguyen accused Marvel of exploitative labor practices this week, prompting (mostly) support from others in the industry. This is far from the first time we’ve heard this kind of story from artists freelancing for DC or Marvel, a pair of publishers that thrive on controlling IP created by underpaid contractors.
I hate to admit it but in my heart I know Jack Aubrey would get devastatingly into crypto, like he would ruin his entire life, 2025 Jack Aubrey has to go capture a Russian aircraft carrier because he lost all his money on slurp juice
— Sascha Stronach🏳️⚧️, The Sunforge out now (@understatesmen.bsky.social) 2025-03-06T08:21:10.549Z
older stuff
“David Lynch Was Here” by Katherine Cusumano at Longreads
“A dispatch from the real Twin Peaks, where fans of the director flocked after his death.”
tumblr & beyond
Jeeves and Wooster fanart by notanartist143
IWTV writers room assistant Lin Codega shares a photo of the creative team’s spoof planning board for season 3.
An insightful diagram: the Batman believability horseshoe.
“people make fun of youtuber stans for being obsessed with some mediocre white man but to be fair…”
A heartwarming exchange between a Severance fan and the show’s lead director Ben Stiller.
“Thinking about how Anakin canonically both touched grass and got laid and was still Like That.”
fanfiction
We’ve got a grab-bag this week! Thanks so much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“The Case of the Man Who Two-Thirds Wasn’t There” by glisteningceruleaneyes. 80K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Disco Elysium (Video Game); Ship: Harry Du Bois/Kim Kitsuragi
Recced by: Alexa
Backstory: Harry and Kim try to solve the murder of three and, well, one third of a person who were found in an abandoned motor carriage. They have to wrangle the mystery, their feelings for each other and worst of all… rich people.
Rec: Disco Elysium is a thoughtful, political, dare I say existential game. It is also really funny. This fic absolutely captures that humor - it made me laugh out loud multiple times while also being smart about its politics, a thrilling murder mystery and so!!!! goddamn romantic!!!!!!!!!
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence, discussion of nationalism, bigotry, drug and alcohol abuse
“Ondine” by pasiphile. 7.8K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Sherlock (TV); Ship: Irene Adler/Kate
Recced by: anon
Backstory: In canon, Irene is a dominatrix and Kate is her live-in assistant. This oneshot imagines how the two might have met.
Rec: Not in this fandom, but I adore this fic. It’s a lovely exploration of both characters with gorgeous sensory details and fun dialogue.
Content warnings: Discussion of eating disorders and body image issues; reference to harassment
“Deku Sees Dead People” series by PitViperOfDoom. 465K words over 3 works, rated Teen.
Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia; Ship: Mostly gen
Recced by: anon
Backstory: One of the main characters in BNHA has no inborn superpower, but has been secretly ‘gifted’ one. In this story, he does have an inborn power too—he sees the spirits of the dead.
Rec: Great friendship building and world building. No need to have seen or read the canon.
Content warnings: Child abuse and child endangerment (canon)
“Something Like a Pipe Bomb” by impertinence. 19K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Venom; Ship: Venom/Eddie Brock
Recced by: Nicole
Backstory: Takes place after the Venom movie! All you really need to know is that Eddie Brock is sharing a body with an alien symbiote, and they’re in love.
Rec: Eddie and Venom accidentally befriend a young neighbor with her own secrets, which shows Eddie’s great heart. There’s also endless pining between Eddie and Venom.
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence and cannibalism
“An Autocorrect Arrangement” by vinkunwildflowerqueen. 61K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Wicked (musical); Ship: Fiyero/Elphaba
Recced by: Owl
Backstory: Modern AU (no magic)—Fiyero’s autocorrect leads him into fake dating Elphaba for Christmas.
Rec: Adorable and filled with cute moments throughout! The OCs are well-integrated as well and the flow of the story is superb.
Content warnings: N/A
“I wanna be your dog” by jamiethegardener. 7.4K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Stranger Things; Ship: f/f Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson
Recced by: Alana
Backstory: AU where Stevie is a teen pageant queen and Eddie is an ’80s heavy metal singer. Stevie has always thought she’s straight, but when she goes to a concert and meets Eddie’s groupies she suddenly wants—no, needs—Eddie to pick her out of the crowd instead.
Rec: Cute, hot, funny genderbent oneshot that has some surprises in store. Bonus strap sucking!
Content warnings: N/A
And a vid!
“You Spin Me Round (Kirk/Spock)” by ImaginarySanity. 4:28, Not Rated.
Fandom: Star Trek: The Original Series; Ship: Kirk/Spock
Recced by: TyFighter123
Backstory: Star Trek TOS is a story about a crew on a spaceship discovering new worlds. Two members aboard the ship are the human Captain James T. Kirk and the half human half Vulcan first officer Mr. Spock. Their sexual tension is legendary. Those who get it, get it.
Rec: This video fills me with so much joy deep in my soul; it may be my favorite video on the internet. The music, the drama, the editing of various k/s moments through the series with special emphasis on them touching, all combine to make a somewhat silly masterpiece.
Content warnings: N/A
awkwardly meeting a new gay couple so which one of you is the rosencrantz
— Tyler, from the Internet (@tylerjameshill.com) 2025-03-13T17:24:32.650Z
FINAL THOUGHT
That’s all, folks! Have a relaxing weekend! — Gav