The Hero Lawndale Deserves

Jane is dressed in a just-different-enough-to-avoid-a-lawsuit version of the Batman outfit in honor of late comic book writer Bob Kane's birth on this day in 1915. She did say she wanted to be a bat, although she seemed more interested in sleeping upside-down and spreading rabies than in fighting crime. Still, she's finally getting her wish!

Today is also Food Day, so celebrate by eating food if you weren't planning to do that already. If you need some inspiration, this also happens to be National Bologna Day, so help yourself to some questionable meat-like product if you aren't too particular about what goes into your digestive system.

Fanfic Update!

• Anniversary, by Rémi (COMPLETE!): "Evening. Dr. Calan's appartement. Dr. Calan and Quinn are coming in. Dr. Calan is carrying several bags. Quinn looks approximately six months pregnant."


• Bobbie Caller, by Meester_Lee (part 5): "Daria didn't see Bobbie again until Monday. She missed home room, although she did hand a permission slip to Mr. De Martino just as the students were leaving for their classes. Daria didn't have a chance to talk with Bobbie until after French class."


• Dammit Daria, by SexshiTiTePaNtZ (part 10): "'I can't keep my hands off you.' Jane said as she lurched for Daria. The petite brunette lay under her, belly-side-down, like a piece of buttery toast."


• Daria Drinks in China, by Smijey (COMPLETE!): "'More fucking beer!' Daria demanded, slamming a fist down on the table she and Jane shared at the bar."


• Erin Chambers, by OzFerret (part 9): "Arriving at work on Monday morning, Erin had not taken her coat off before Anne pounced. 'How did it go?' Anne asked,' Was he dreamy?' Erin smirked. 'Do you mean before the marriage proposal or after? Because they were very different experiences'"


• Evil Deed Blues, by Princess_Pasta (part 3): "Blinding sunlight filtered in through the gaps in Monique's blinds and roused her from a fitful sleep. Her dreams were plagued by visions of faceless monsters and endless mazes, not the most refreshing way to spend the night."


• Fates Entwined, by Deep Metal (part 22): "For miles and miles they had traveled, based on nothing more than the printed directions Daria had gotten for the trip back when she was still in Lawndale."


• Flight, by Princess_Pasta (part 1): "Stacy Rowe was born scared. Okay, that was probably a major exaggeration on her part but, for as long as she could remember, she'd been seized by an overwhelming sense of dread."


• Hell-oween (Life After Thirty), by WildDogJJ (COMPLETE!): "Quinn and Jim are getting ready for bed. Jim is sitting up in bed and looks really distraught, which Quinn notices. 'Jim, honey, what's wrong?'" (Part 3) (Part 4)


• Metamorphoses, by Rémi (COMPLETE!): "Dr. Calan's office. Quinn and Dr. Calan are talking. Dr. Calan (benevolent) : How are things, my sweet Quinn ? I hope your parents aren't too harsh with you."


• The Montana Cabin Fund is going to LIT!!! (Iron Chef: MegaMillions), by DIsaac (COMPLETE!): "JANE: It's WHUB 98.5 and This must be Daria and Jane! I'm Jane and Why does your name come first? DARIA: This is Daria and I think it's Branding? Hell if I know? But we have some important stuff we need to talk about."


• The Turn Around, by Silberias (COMPLETE!): "Trent knew he had to take care of his baby sister—no one else in his family was going to do it, and Daria had left for college. Sure, she'd be back, and Janey had taken care of herself just fine before Daria Morgendorffer, but this was something big."


• Unnamed story (LLH Short Entries #2), by Roentgen (part 152): "Mack drove up to the Bel Air home of producer Nicholas Leppner and award-winning actress Jennifer Collins. The plan was that he would meet Carter's parents and have dinner."

To the Jane-Cave!

Jane doesn't exactly look like Batman here, but then again I don't exactly want to get hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit. In any case, today marks the anniversary of Batman creator Bob Kane's birth in 1915. Even if Jane's costume isn't quite right, we know she's always wanted to sleep upside-down and spread rabies.

This is also Food Day, and you could celebrate with whatever food you like. Cheeseless pizza, frozen lasagna, kitchen sink stew...the sky's the limit!

Fanfic Update!

• 40 (Iron Chef: A Slacker Looks at 40), by dmsfanman (COMPLETE!): "Standing in the bathroom in a pair of pajama bottoms Trent Lane looked in the mirror and pondered the reflection looking back at him. His beard was gray. There were even a couple of gray hairs on his head that only he knew about."


• Bond (Pasta's Never-ending Ideas Thread!), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "Jane reached up to adjust an earbud, the low sound of Dream Theater successfully muffling all other noise. If she had to listen to one more second of that cheery instrumental theme song, she'd go mad."


• Contriving Hope, by RubinaLadybug (COMPLETE!): "'FORGET IT, TIMOTHY!' 'But, Anthony, I need counselors for my OK To Cry Corral. None of my students have taken interest in making a difference.'"


• Cynic and a Six-String, by fringeperson (part 36): "'Honey, I'm home,' Daria called in a monotone, tongue firmly in cheek, as she let herself into Casa Lane by the back door. 'Hey Daria,' Trent answered with a smile."


• It's Supernatural, Daria, by elainefr (COMPLETE!): "'New teacher today.' 'What? What class?' 'Mr. Chance's, his wife just had the baby and yadda, yadda, yadda......'"


• A Moment Behind the Mask, by RubinaLadybug (COMPLETE!): "'And so completes our time of raising the dead and causing mass panic in this listless town,' Daria stated, her deadpan tone infecting every word she spouted."


• Unnamed story (Crossovers Still Crossing Over), by Roentgen (COMPLETE!): "'There,' Quinn said, positioning the football. 'That's about right, isn't it?' 'Okay, Jeffy,' she said, the ball balanced between the ground and her fingertips. 'I'll hold the ball, and you come running up and kick it.'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: A Slacker Looks at 40), by darbanville (COMPLETE!): "Trent laid back on his bed looking around his room. Things hadn't changed much since high school."


• Unnamed story (Scenes that should be: Pacific Rimmers), by Szcz (COMPLETE!): "Daria was very tired. The Lawndale did not understand her unique pseudo-asymmetric magnetic field and gave her a magnetic harmonisation class."


• Time (Iron Chef: A Slacker Looks at 40), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "Trent looked good for his age; at least that's what everyone was always telling him. He didn't pay much attention to his appearance, even in his younger days, which meant that the barely noticed the fine lines on his face or the few extra pounds."

Looks Like She's Even Got the Utility Belt!

Jane's off to save the day in honor of the late Bob Kane, who was born on this day in 1915. Kane created the Batman character, and while Jane's costume doesn't really match that of any of the Bat-related heroes, it's close enough for me. Whether Jane plans to stop supervillains or just sleep upside-down and spread rabies is up to her.

Fanfic Update!

• Aftermath (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "The words on the page blurred in and out of focus as Jane fought back against the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. It was so personal that she felt disgusted for reading it but something compelled her to push forward."


• All My Memories of Now (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Anguirus1955 (COMPLETE!): "Helen walked away from the parking area and over to the front entrance of the Zon, noticing the state of decay in the building's outer layers. This place should be condemned, she thought as she walked inside."


• As One (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "'So, how does it feel to be a member of the graduating class of 1986?' 'It would feel a hell of a lot better if I wasn't out here getting eaten alive by damn mosquitoes. I really hate fish.'"


• Before The Storm (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Princess_Pasta (COMPLETE!): "A wide expanse of water stretched out before her, the quiet calm of the early morning making her pause a moment just to enjoy it. It wasn't often that Quinn got to relax and even less so that she got to go camping."


• Busted! (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Daria walked home from Jane's house, contemplating what her friend was experiencing. Jane was dating a boy from another school for over a month, and while Daria was a little jealous at first, she was thrilled to see her friend actually connect with somebody- at least until last night."


• Dammit Daria, by SexshiTiTePaNtZ (part 4): "Jane followed Daria out to the garage and watched as Daria swept her bushy bangs out from in front of her glasses. 'Do you need a hat to hold your hair back?' Jane asked as Daria opened the door for her."


• Daria The Mighty, by Anguirus1955 (part 8): "As soon as Daria entered her room, she plopped down on her bed and fell asleep. Quinn turned off the light in her sister's room and closed the door before making her way back to her own room."


• The First Time (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Anguirus1955 (COMPLETE!): "Jodie Landon looked across the table at her younger sister, Rachel. She had grown a lot over the years."


• How I Met Andrea (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Zetor (COMPLETE!): "Trent paused the TV and looked over his family. Next to him on the couch sat his wife. Andrea wore her dark hair longer these days, but her various piercings were still visible; she loved the way they freaked out the other parents in the PTA."


• The Hunt for Scarlett the Fairy, by Aloysius (COMPLETE!): "Have you ever wondered how you hunt a wild fairy? No?"


• Lawndale 2021, by Anguirus1955 (part 15): "We cut to the interior of Sealab as several crew members sit around a large table with envelopes, tablets, and papers. There are some computers in the room, with Upchuck stationed at one of them. He looks over at the camera before returning to his duties."


• Rollin', by 11tee (part 2): "Jodie Landon pushed her chair frantically across the court amidst the yells and whoops of both her own team-mates and her opponents. She hurled the ball to her own team-member, then was hit- hard."


• Smorgasbord Shuffle (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by Anguirus1955 (COMPLETE!): "Steve Taylor looked at the unusual concoction on his plate. He had no idea what it was, and it smelled... potentially life-threatening."


• Was it a Dream?, by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Jodie woke up with a start; her heart was pounding, and her sheets were soaked with sweat once again. The recurring nightmares were so vivid she swore she her body felt shattered as the last fleeting images of the wing-suit trip vanished."


• Unnamed story (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Stacy strapped on her skates and looked out at the other early-birds to the practice. Brittany and Tiffany were present, but so far, none of the other team members were there."


• Unnamed story (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "'J... Janet... Can we talk about this? Please?' 'Quiet, Skinny. It isn't your choice. Not anymore.'"


• Unnamed story (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Trent looked at his little sister as she tried sitting up off her bed. He found her just minutes before on the floor with an empty soda bottle spilled across her desk. She was sweating, and her skin was very pale."


• Unnamed story (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Quinn Morgendorffer looked across the blanket at the love of her life. The picnic was something they kept talking about but never had time for- not given their incredibly busy schedules."


• Unnamed story (A different Type of Writing Challenge), by 11tee (COMPLETE!): "Tiffany Blum-Deckler sat in front of her computer; it was late on a Friday afternoon, and she was bored. Lawndale State was a mediocre university in most subjects, but in several areas it shined."

Holy Blog Post, Batman!

It was on this day in 1939 that Detective Comics #27 hit the stands, and with it the first appearance of Batman. A ton of comics, various TV/cartoon series, quite a few movies, and any number of offshoots have followed, including several crossovers and references in Daria fanfic. The Batmobile was featured prominently in The Angst Guy's A Knight to Remember and NightGoblyn (as well as a few guest writers) have created an entire series that includes a Batman crossover in Lawndale's Finest.

And speaking of fanfiction, here's the latest update!

• Ajar (Iron Chef: The Name Game), by Ajar (COMPLETE!): "One girl stood in the changing room, / Near purchases on parade. / And when she held the door ajar, / She knew she'd found the shades."


• Daria is Raven's Apprentice, by project pegasus: "Hilary Dorff: (staying his hand) It's ok. (She rises and walks to Cartoon Lezzie, who backs away a few paces.) Jesus, what have they done to you? (She begins to caress her face, but Lezzie turns away, as though she is ashamed.) No, it wasn't just them. This is my fault too. I'm so sorry. We all knew we were pushing you too hard. We knew something like this would happen. (She then notices her gunshot wounds.) Those bastards. We're breaking out. Come with us. We will make you whole again." (New part)


• Daria, or the Confession of a Single Lonely Male, by Arena del Sur (part 6): "Never in my life had I confessed so much or received so many confessions. The sincerity with which she discussed what she called her "love-life", from first necking to connubial experience. I was considerably amused by certain remarkable sexual habits that the good Jake Alfred Morgendorffer had had according to Helen who thought my mirth improper. But otherwise her autobiography was as devoid of interests as her autopsy would have been. I never saw a healthier woman than she, despite thinning diets."


• Esteeming Out The Gutter, by RX-87 (part 1): "Daria didn't care about how big a hole the next stop was, she was getting off. Anything for a change of scenery. Then again, it's not as if there was anything she did care about, was there?"


• Eye of the Beholder (Iron Chef: Popular Daria), by Hyrin (part 3): "Ms. Li slumped in her chair as the two girls yelled at each other. The nurse had brought them to Li's office after she ran out of bandages and was forced to go buy more (Note to self: arrange for a carpet cleaning). 'Both of you SHUT UP!' The girls complied, mainly out of shock. 'Ms. Hecuba, please tell me your side of this story and Ms. Lane, you will stay quiet!' 'I was in the bathroom,' Andrea began."


• The Gift (Iron Chef: The Gift), by thatLONERchick (COMPLETE!): "'That's the thing,' Daria lamented, staring into the depths of her Ultra Cola. 'He's rich; if he wants something, he just buys it. What the hell could I possibly give him that he doesn't have already?' Jane was silent as she studied her friend, awash in melancholia so thick, Daria was even neglecting her pizza. 'Well,' Jane mused. 'There is one thing....'"


• To Hell and Back Again, by Chris Tucker (COMPLETE!): "Their adoptive parents were none to pleased with the idea of their daughters taking off to the town that held such terrible memories for them. However, both girls were adamant. Daria was legally an adult, and Quinn would see her 18th birthday in Texas in another week. In the face of parental disapproval, Daria didn't hesitate to go thermonuclear. 'Doctor Slosberg thinks it would greatly help my progress to get some closure by seeing Greyfield and their graves.'" (Part 2)


• Jane Morgendorffer 2: The Middle School Years, by LadieT (part 1): "Daria and Jane stood and stared up at the front doors of Highland Middle School. The next chapter in their young lives were about to begin. The principal was just inside the front entrance giving the sixth graders directions to the gymnasium. Seeing a couple of their friends, Melissa and Jennifer, getting dropped off, Daria and Jane slowed their pace up in order for them to catch up. Despite getting better about being around others, Daria still stayed close to Jane."


• John Lane 50: Boxed In, by RLobinske (part 2): "Later, as Daria pulled the covers up and closed her eyes to go to sleep, the distant memory of a slamming door caused here to hold the sheet tight and want to crawl back into the safety of the box. In his room, John looked at the dark shape of the box. Oddly, he then recalled a box of half a dozen cupcakes with a candle placed on each one."


• LLH Alternate Future Mini - Win The Battle, Lose The Girl, by psychotol (COMPLETE!): "Quinn then emerged running, both guns empty with the sliders locked back, she threw them both across the car park and ran to Lori. The two men emerged from the alley carrying the clips and got to the guns before Eliza was halfway to Lori. 'ELIZA, LOOK OUT!' shouted Lori. They slid the magazines in and released the sliders, and pulled the triggers."


• LLH 'Mini' - 'Attraction', by Brother Grimace (COMPLETE!): "'Hey – check it out. That's Jane Lane.' Pete Ross stopped in the doorway of the Talon (the local coffeehouse that the teens in the tiny town of Smallville, Kansas hung out at) his eyes wide as he took in the image of the slender, raven-haired girl in the National Legion windbreaker, sipping coffee at the counter as she finished off a blueberry muffin. 'Man, she's way cuter in real life than she is on TV – and look at those legs...'"


• Mad Dog's Legacy Chapter 9: Hard Time, by Hyrin (part 3): "'Hey, Jodie?' She stiffened when she heard the all-too-familiar voice. She turned slowly and said, 'Yes, Mack?' 'Are you still selling tickets to the Roller Derby?' 'Yeah,' she said quietly, knowing what was coming next. 'I'll take three,' he said, pulling out a wad of 1 dollar bills from his pocket."


• Not So Different 28: Something For Everybody, by J-D (COMPLETE!): "'What a pretty girl ...', Mrs Patterson said. 'Um, excuse me?' Sonny began. Taking him for 'pretty' would have to be put down either to failing eyesight or to incipient dementia (or both); 'girl', maybe the same, but he'd known able-bodied people in the prime of life to make the same mistake. Except that the conclusion of Mrs Patterson's sentence made it clear that it wasn't that kind of mistake. '... that Brittany is.'"


• Not So Different 29: 'Not Concerned With Any Particular Attribute Of Those Who Are Involved', by J-D (COMPLETE!): "Do you know the Good Time Chinese restaurant? — Sure, I've been there a couple of times. Are you looking for a recommendation? No, I was just wondering if you'd ever been out the back of the restaurant. — No, should I have been? Is there something worth seeing? I don't know. Would you consider a dimensional wormhole worth seeing?"


• Not So Different 30: You're On Your Own With This One, by J-D (COMPLETE!): "'I was going to say an adolescent mating ritual, but look who else has turned up to participate in it', he went on, indicating to Jane a direction to look in with as inconspicuous a gesture as he could manage. 'Barch and O'Neill', said Jane. 'I did wonder what happened between those two that day at Jim's Paintballing Jungle.' 'Nothing good, obviously.'"


• Not So Different 31: Not Getting It, by J-D (COMPLETE!): "O'Neill was babbling something about 'secret' and 'incognito' and then, unable to contain his exultation, he embraced Sonny, shouting 'We won!' WE?? thought Sonny, but all he said was, 'Lawsuit.' O'Neill's arms recoiled and he sprang back. Too bad he didn't go further. Three States would have been good."


• OverlordMikey (Iron Chef: The Name Game), by OverlordMikey (COMPLETE!): "'Yeah, well apparently everyone's coming out. All of our boyfriends say that; not only are they all bi, but they have all fallen in love with him and can't see us anymore because they yearn for his dorky and awkward, but ultimately endearing and cute personage - or something like that; they said it in a sonnet.'"


• Parts of a (Bung)Hole, by RX-87 (COMPLETE!): "As Max brought Jane down the hall to Beavis' studio, where he was currently working on his latest masterpiece, she wondered what she would say to him, what he would say to her. What was going to happen between them now? What would Max say if he found out? Would any of it make a difference? She had given up on living. She had no job, no plans and the money was beginning to run out. Would seeing him again really make anything better?" (Part 6) (Epilogue)


• Quinn's Code 03: Cafe Geekdale, by cfardell_Brenorenz29 (part 1): "'Oh, my! A break-in. That never happened to a cybercafe in Highland.' 'Though it certainly happened a lot at other places,' she thought. 'I don't think there are any cybercafe's in Highland,' Quinn said. 'At least, I never heard of any,' she said. 'You do have a point there,' Helen said, after some thought."


• Reunion, by Hyrin (part 4): "'Brittany, get out of here.' Her voice was filled with venom and her eyes smoldered in a sudden flame of anger. 'Daria, calm down,' Brittany said, sounding afraid. 'I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought that you and Jane were together, so maybe this guy was available.' The burst of light from the camera flash was simultaneous with the slap of Daria's hand across Brittany's face. Raul was obviously expecting this moment, and was not disappointed by the results."


• Screams of Silence, by Jim North: "With a thorough deliberation, I set about getting myself put back together. My boots slide back on easy and lace down tight. The scars on my legs gradually disappear under the ace bandages, my left wrist gets nice and armored with the brace, and the katana goes back on my belt. I check the ammo in all of my weapons, then sort them back into their proper places. After stretching and shaking out all my limbs, I suddenly find that I almost feel whole again. Safe. Confident. Amazing what a serious amount of firepower can do for the old ego." (New part) (Newer part)


• Silent Melody, by Silver: "It doesn't take much to ruin a good day. Daria had, simply by walking through the cafeteria door, encountered such a thing. To be fair, it was ruining everyone's day."


• Size does matter, by BlackHole (part 46): "A day that had started so beautifully for Sandi - she woke up with her mother already gone and her father and brothers still asleep - was completely ruined within a single second during the customary pre-school meeting of the Fashion Club. All it took was Quinn Morgendorffer to ask a single question: 'Say, Sandi, why isn't the Fashion Club school sanctioned?'" (SFMB


• TAFKA (Iron Chef: The Name Game), by tafka (COMPLETE!): "The artist formerly known as Jane held proudly aloft her deed poll name change."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria the Test Subject), by Hyrin (COMPLETE!): "THE CAKE IS A LIE / BE STRONG, AMIGA / THE CAKE IS A LIE / BE STRONG, AMIGA..."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Daria the Test Subject), by Hyrin (COMPLETE!): "'Ladies and gentlemen?' a man in a tuxedo holding a microphone said. 'Can I have your attention, please? First of all, let's give the band, Mystik Spiral, one more round of applause. Weren't they great tonight?' The crowd clapped and cheered, causing most of the band to blush bright red. 'And now, for the crowning moment of this year's 'Bring Your Daugher to Work Day,' we are unveiling our latest creation: GLaDOS!' All eyes were drawn to the mass of computer circuitry and modules hanging above them."


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: Popular Daria), by eujennya (COMPLETE!): "'... so I still have time, because I don't play sports, but student council and "Compositions" are keeping me busy enough and on my toes,' a smiling Daria was telling a group of parents surrounding her as she handed them copies of the school's student-run fiction publication. 'Life here never gets boring.'"


• Unnamed story (Iron Chef: The Name Game), by RX-87 (COMPLETE!): "A commotion coming from the back at the pharmacy counter caught the girls' attention. A long line had formed and many of the customers were getting restless. 'Oooh, unrest at the breadline.' Jane quipped."


• Wassersauefer (Iron Chef: The Name Game), by Wassersauefer (COMPLETE!): "It was in my senior year of High School when it started again. I had long since alienated myself from my family, or they had done it, I don't really know anymore. I forgot moments again, first only seconds. Then I would stand there and stare at my friends who looked at me like I was crazy, only I could not recall what happened. The times this happened were few and a lot of time between, at least at first."


• Worldburner Finale: The Heart of the Matter, by Erin M. (part 2): "Archangel reached down to the floor and came up with a hard plastic case. 'I figured we shouldn't take off without leaving you something.' 'A parting gift?' Reiko smirked. 'More like a peace offering,' Archangel said, sliding the case across the bar. 'Go ahead.'"

Holy Spandex! It's Bat-Jane!

On this day, 71 years ago, Detective Comics #27 came out, featuring a new crimefighter named Batman. The rest was history.

One hundred and thirty years ago today, Isadora Duncan was born, considered one of the greatest of American dancers. Jane Lane appeared as Isadora Duncan in an alter ego used earlier in this column.

This is also the 74th birthday of renown science-fiction author and critic Harlan Ellison, whom this blogger considers one of the True Gods of writing, period. One of Mr. Ellison's stories, "The Deathbird," had a profound effect in the writing of a Daria fanfic: "Mad Dog."

In addition to the various Three Word Story threads at PPMB, fen in need of a game can play The Amazing Daria Race. And Deref the Conquerer has a few more cave paintings to show of his recent excursion into civilization, which now lies in ruins from Spain to the Urals. Hail, Crom!

In the spirit of the elections this year, here's a T-shirt design you might like. Why pick the lesser of two evils?

SFMB has been little used of late. Getting concerned about that. Fanfic writers and fan artists are encouraged to post there when possible; exposure is always good.

PPMB

• Falling Into College 62: Run It Up the Mast, by Richard Lobinske (COMPLETE!): Friendships are made and preserved . . . an one enemy-ship is made as well.