What's this? Comic news that actually makes me kinda happy?

[meganbmoore]

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/july07/previews/previews.html

Black Canary mini written by Tony Bedard, art by Paulo Sequeira(who did some Birds of Prey issues but I don't recall which issues off the top of my head so I don't know how good a thing that is...thumbnails look ok, though)

Upside?  Back Canary mini written by Bedard.

Downside?  Dunno, really.  I see Dinah still has the kid in tow and...well...ok, when Sin grows up and starts superheroing, she's going to rock.  But right now she irritates me.  Though I'd rathe have her than Misfit, who annoys the *hem* out of me...I really don't care for the "fannish stalkerish superhero groupie extension of  self who worms way into team" charactertype...only exception is Hindsight Lad, and that took a long time and unlike Gail with Misfit, Fabes never thought he was cute or endearing, and it makes a huge difference. Course, Marvel completely and utterly destroyed Hindsight by making him no good OOC wretched treacherous DIEDIEDIe scum and...STOP! BAD MEGS! HAPPY POST! HAPPY!

BLACK CANARY MINI!
NEW COMIC I CARE ABOUT!
YAY!

*avoids the deep dark pit of Marvel hate just inches from her feet.*

Wow...two non anime/manga/dorama posts in a row.  *shiny*

*I have no Black canary icons and this is the closest thing I have, and that's only because Yuya is blonde.  Yeah, I suck.*

Comments

[foenix.livejournal.com]

Yay!

Man, Bedard and Pelletier on Exiles was good times.

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

Would this be a good place to continue the BOTI discussion? If you're game, I am.

The thing about BotI is that most of them ARE fighters to their core. Rin and Hyakurin aren't but they're good against your average guy. Giichi really isn't either, I don't think, but I always has someone to protect and to fight for...first his son, then Hyakurin's freedom and that compensates for it. Abayama is debatable, but I rather think he'd be happy NOT fighting, he's just a bit of a softie who's worried about the tounguns and FAR too deadly to not have on your side, ditto for Sorii. But Manji, Magatsu, Anotsu, and Makie? Even if they try to tell themselves otherwise, they'll never be happy without conflict.

I'm not so sure about Makie, really. She clearly has an immense talent for it, but in her personality, she doesn't seem like much of a fighter?
Abayama is pretty old, so that has probably mellowed him out some. But yeah, Manji, Magatsu and Anotsu are clearly of the restless kind.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I think with Makie it's more a case of not wanting to be what she is. She doesn't want to be a warrior to her core, but she is...she's incapable of avoiding a fight, and we've even seen her seek one out, in Last Blood. She just doesn't like who or what she is. Which is probably why I'm not big on the character...everyone else is pretty accepting of who and what they are, but she'd rather angst and be a whore and be used and miserable than get over her issues and move on and be happy.

Abayama has slipped into the "take take of the kiddies" mindframe...heck, he was even worried about that kid wwho was spying on them and gave the itto ryu the poison...

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

Oh, Makie, the epitome of angst. Yeah, I was never big on her either, when she's not fighting. I like Hyakurin a lot more. She's the kind of character that could easily have been cliche, but Samura writes her so deftly, I end up loving her.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Hyakurin is a blast. And I think that's the thing about Makie...she just doesn't fit with the rest of the cast, even most of the smaller characters are well aware that they're insane and not ashamed of it. Even Rin realizes that she's not quite right in the head and faces life head on, even when she's not ready for it. But Makie? Thinks running away is always the answer. Every time. I'd rather have a half competent charater willing to face life than an angst queen who wastes her life running away from it.

The thing about BotI characters is that they all skirt on the edge of being cliches but manage to escape by the fact that they're all screwed up and irredeemably damaged. Except Makie. Sure, she's emotionally damaged too, but it's hard to care when she's always busy angsting and running away, especially with Magatsu, Manji, Rin, Giichi, Hyakurin and Anotsu hanging around. *was displeased when she started hogging time and got the cover for Anotsu and Rin's road trip*

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Makie strikes me as a goner. I guess it's ironic in a way, that the most capable physical fighter of them all has the least fighting spirit when it comes to facing life and its struggles, while someone with as little experience as Rin has determination enough to fight her uphill battle even when it seems like she'll never reach the top. Of course, Rin has Manji, but still.

I wonder about Magatsu and Itto-ryu. It's quite clear that the only reason he's with them is because of loyalty to Anotsu (it would be nice to see more of their relationship and what brought about this loyalty). If that hadn't been, he would probably have been quite happy to kick them off a cliff. I don't think he sees himself as fighting a righteous cause at this point, just being on a grey side facing a darker side and sympathizing a great deal with Rin as well. If it ever came to choosing between his loyalty to Anotsu and Rin's life, I tend to think he would jump to Rin's defense.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I think we're supposed to be struck by the tragedy of Makie's life, it's just hard to care when she's always whining and running. Rin is actually usually a LOT more competent on her own...she survived on her own for two years and, for her youth and naivette, did surprisingly well when she took off on her own. Honestly, I think she's just had it so rough that when there's a guy around, she wants to be taken care of a bit(perfectly natural, really) And, let's face it, even when he's giving her his tough love routine, Manji tends to coddle the girl a lot. And Anotsu...well while I wouldn't say he feels guilt over the past, he does recognize that he has a certain responsibility to her and it-combined with the fact that she's kind of like this cute wounded kitten trying to scratch him-makes him inclined to take care of her.

As far as the Itto Ryu goes, Magatsu has never struck me as caring a bit about anything but keeping anotsu alive and getting the chance to kill some samurai. In Last Blood(or was it the next arc? I get the titles confused sometimes), I had the impression that the ONLY reason he was involved was to make sure ALL that happened with Rin was kidnapping(lets face it, without him there, she probably would have fared as bad as Hyakurin did in Beasts)-there was a distinct impression of both controlling the situation and REALLY not wanting to be there. From his reaction, he though the poison was hogwash...probably thought Manji would show up, kill the others and that would be that, or something along those lines(in the fight, he was just kinda wandering around, hoping he wouldn't have to fight anyone but not wanting to take off before it was over, and it was clear that, despite what he said, he felt more obligated to fight than any real need to). From Manji's reaction when he showed up, he clearly doesn't view Magatsu as being remotely a threat to Rin...the almost-PG version of what he was thinking that was "What the hell? YOU have her? Damn, I may have just as well left her with a babysitter! Stupid punk! I got things to do here!" (Incidentally, one of my favorite scenes is when they meet again after vol 2. Best way to tame 2 psycho swordsmen? Be a girl half their size and ask what their doing. Course, it only works if they both have serious sister complexes. Hmm...I should post the scene to scand_daily...)

Even in book 2, I think we kinda knew that Magatsu was just blowing hot air about killing Rin to stick it to Manji, but in the flashback to her parents' deaths when he tried to help her mother, I think we knew that it wouldn't have happened...he just wanted Manji to think it would. I don't think he COULD hurt or kill a woman unless she was actively trying to kill him and he couldn't just fight her off*which is basically limited to Makie)

Rin, I think, is safe from Anotsu unless she gets to be good enough to really be a threat to him. HE definately has a feeling of responsibility for her, and an awareness that she has every right to kill him, he just won't let her.

I've wondered a lot about how Magatsu and Anotsu met...they've referred to "all these years" at times, which leaves me with the idea of a young(12~) Magatsu deciding he'd beat up some skinny uppity samurai kid and getting his butt kicked, and keep on trying until they somehow became friends. But it's obvious Anotsu is the only reason he follows the Itto Ryu, and that, now that it's more than just fighting and killing people who piss you off, he's not interested any more. He only came back because he though Anotsu needed him. I get the feeling the only other one he actually likes is Abayama(who wouldn't?) but beyond that, he really couldn't care.

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

I think we're supposed to be struck by the tragedy of Makie's life, it's just hard to care when she's always whining and running.

...especially when pretty much all of them have had tragic lives.

Honestly, I think she's just had it so rough that when there's a guy around, she wants to be taken care of a bit(perfectly natural, really)

She very much deserves it, too.
...I just hope Samura doesn't go nuts and hook her and Manji up.

From his reaction, he though the poison was hogwash...probably thought Manji would show up, kill the others and that would be that, or something along those lines

Seems likely. One of the endearing things about Magatsu is his pragmatic exterior over what is clearly a pretty soft, idealistic heart. Similar to Manji, of course, but still, at the end of Autumn Frost, where Manji hands him money, he seems more willing to open up than Manji is (who seems pretty determined to keep him at a distance). I wonder how young he really is.

From Manji's reaction when he showed up, he clearly doesn't view Magatsu as being remotely a threat to Rin...the almost-PG version of what he was thinking that was "What the hell? YOU have her? Damn, I may have just as well left her with a babysitter! Stupid punk! I got things to do here!"

Hahahaha!

(Incidentally, one of my favorite scenes is when they meet again after vol 2. Best way to tame 2 psycho swordsmen? Be a girl half their size and ask what their doing. Course, it only works if they both have serious sister complexes. Hmm...I should post the scene to scand_daily...)

You definitely should! The BOTI love needs to be spread and that scene in particular:
"We're...killing mosquitoes!"
"With swords??"

I've wondered a lot about how Magatsu and Anotsu met...they've referred to "all these years" at times, which leaves me with the idea of a young(12~) Magatsu deciding he'd beat up some skinny uppity samurai kid and getting his butt kicked, and keep on trying until they somehow became friends.

It sounds like it could be an awesome story in itself. Skinny little peasant boy with thirst for vengeance meets lonely samurai boy with thirst for vengeance. I would assume everyone else in the Itto-ryu must have been a great deal older than Magatsu when he joined and that he had to go through social hell. God, I want that story to be told.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

...especially when pretty much all of them have had tragic lives.

Which is why it's hard to care for Makie's. She really hasn't had it worse than Rin, or Hyakkurin, and actually had more ways out, she'd just rather whine and dwell than do anything about it. Makie had a father who hated her because she was a good fighter and a mother who hated her because her father did, and she chose to let that beat her. She didn't have a band of murderers murder her father and rape her mother in front of her when she was 14, or a husband who murdered both her children and then have the law take his side over it. In another book, I could be all about Makie, but here, it's kinda hard to care.

She very much deserves it, too.
...I just hope Samura doesn't go nuts and hook her and Manji up.

Rin always deserves cuddling, Hyakurin agrees. I've always figured it doesn't matter whether Rin/Manji is romantic or not, really. He's never going to leave her(assuming he lives through it all) unless he finds someone he deems good enough to take care of her, and that'll probably never happen. Magatsu's a possibility, though I'm not sure he'd be comfortable with it as girls who rely on him tend to die bad deaths. Way I see it, if Manji and Rin both survive, it'll probably happen eventually anyway(esp given the "your man" "your girl" comments and Manji's "my woman") but not for some time. But I also kinda see both Manji and Anotsu dead at the end, anyway, so...

Seems likely. One of the endearing things about Magatsu is his pragmatic exterior over what is clearly a pretty soft, idealistic heart. Similar to Manji, of course, but still, at the end of Autumn Frost, where Manji hands him money, he seems more willing to open up than Manji is (who seems pretty determined to keep him at a distance). I wonder how young he really is.

Magatsu is very much a softie at heart, and he has a serious hero complex. In Autumn Frost, I think Manji was trying to not get close to someone he figured he'd have to kill eventually, as Magatsu was already worrying about Anotsu. Though, in Last Blood, when we see Manji approaching, he looks really bulky, but is walking alone, and then when he gets closer, Magatsu is beside him, hacking up a storm...I've always wondered if Manji came across Magatsu on the way back(IIRC, we don't see all of Magatsu's fight, just some, and then him coming back) was hauling him back. them dumped him as soon as he realized they were in sight.

I've always figured Magatsu was about Anotsu's age, so probably 21-24.

You definitely should! The BOTI love needs to be spread and that scene in particular:
"We're...killing mosquitoes!"
"With swords??"

And, of course, she's not fooled for a second...and they're not brave enough to go at it again.

It sounds like it could be an awesome story in itself. Skinny little peasant boy with thirst for vengeance meets lonely samurai boy with thirst for vengeance. I would assume everyone else in the Itto-ryu must have been a great deal older than Magatsu when he joined and that he had to go through social hell. God, I want that story to be told.

I've always wanted a flashback just to see if I'm right. A lot of the Itto Ryu refer to Magatsu as a kid but view him as being higher authority, which makes me think he was around Anotsu since before there was an Itto Ryu. I really hope it comes up before the book ends.

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

I've always figured it doesn't matter whether Rin/Manji is romantic or not, really. He's never going to leave her(assuming he lives through it all) unless he finds someone he deems good enough to take care of her, and that'll probably never happen.

That's true. But an actual romance between them would still creep me out. It's the age difference, the vast difference in experience and outlook and all that. I could see him staying as her bodyguard, but other than that...only if she is allowed to grow up properly first.

Magatsu's a possibility, though I'm not sure he'd be comfortable with it as girls who rely on him tend to die bad deaths. Way I see it, if Manji and Rin both survive, it'll probably happen eventually anyway(esp given the "your man" "your girl" comments and Manji's "my woman") but not for some time. But I also kinda see both Manji and Anotsu dead at the end, anyway, so...

You too? Yeah, that possibility has sprung to mind a lot, but then, in BOTI, anything could happen, I think. Still, my guesses: I can't really see Makie surviving. Anotsu seems kind of doomed without the Itto-ryu - he's done too much to be able to dodge the Bakufu all his life. I'm not so sure about Manji, though. He started out the story striving for death. Perhaps he will learn to appreciate life? I don't see much point in killing off Magatsu. Nor Hyakurin. Giichi I see marrying her. Killing Rin off would be a surprise, but I don't see much point in that either.
I don't know if I could see Magatsu taking care of Rin. Even if she did forgive him, those memories would probably always be in the way. I could see him being a friend and ally, though.

Magatsu is very much a softie at heart, and he has a serious hero complex.

Yeah. For good and for bad. I think our boy is growing up a little, though. But I hope he never ends up quite as crass and bitter as Manji.

In Autumn Frost, I think Manji was trying to not get close to someone he figured he'd have to kill eventually, as Magatsu was already worrying about Anotsu.

That, and he's already admitted that Magatsu reminds him of himself a bit too much for comfort.

Though, in Last Blood, when we see Manji approaching, he looks really bulky, but is walking alone, and then when he gets closer, Magatsu is beside him, hacking up a storm...I've always wondered if Manji came across Magatsu on the way back(IIRC, we don't see all of Magatsu's fight, just some, and then him coming back) was hauling him back. them dumped him as soon as he realized they were in sight.

Really? I didn't see that. I'll have to look again.
Btw, that scene where he rescues Manji with a coin? That's SO Magatsu. I want more of that before the series ends. Samura had better finish Magatsu's character arc.

I've always figured Magatsu was about Anotsu's age, so probably 21-24.

Yeah, that's what I figured too.

I've always wanted a flashback just to see if I'm right. A lot of the Itto Ryu refer to Magatsu as a kid but view him as being higher authority, which makes me think he was around Anotsu since before there was an Itto Ryu. I really hope it comes up before the book ends.

Higher authority? Yeah, that could be. Araya in particular didn't seem to be too fond of him. Man, Samura could do several interesting spinoffs off this series. I almost wish he would.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

That's true. But an actual romance between them would still creep me out. It's the age difference, the vast difference in experience and outlook and all that. I could see him staying as her bodyguard, but other than that...only if she is allowed to grow up properly first.

The age difference is actually a lot less than what a a lot of girls like Rin could expect, its also on a par with other samurai manga pairings like Kenshin/Kaoru(Rurouni Kenshin) and Kyo/Yuya(Samurai Deeper Kyo) the reason the age part stands out to us is because Manji makes a big deal out of it. And part of the reason I can see it(eventually) is that Rin actually is starting to grow up quite a bit. That said, it's not necessarily something that I WANT as much as it is something I don't object to if it's handled right...I'm more worried about him hooking her up with Anotsu.

Still, my guesses: I can't really see Makie surviving. Anotsu seems kind of doomed without the Itto-ryu - he's done too much to be able to dodge the Bakufu all his life. I'm not so sure about Manji, though. He started out the story striving for death. Perhaps he will learn to appreciate life? I don't see much point in killing off Magatsu. Nor Hyakurin. Giichi I see marrying her. Killing Rin off would be a surprise, but I don't see much point in that either.

I pretty much agree. Anotsu and Makie are goners, and I kinda figure Manji for a goner, too. Hyakurin, I think, is completely safe and I think Giichi is pretty safe, too...Rin is a character it never really occurs to me that Samura might kill off...he's mean to us sometimes, but not THAT mean...Magatsu I figure has a 50-50 chance...boy has serious suicidal tendencies that he needs to get past.

I don't know if I could see Magatsu taking care of Rin. Even if she did forgive him, those memories would probably always be in the way. I could see him being a friend and ally, though.

Samura made a relatively big deal about Magatsu trying to spare her mother from the rape(and I've always thought the main reason he didn't pull Rin out with him was because the others had essentially forgotten about her and that would have made her a target, Anotsu or no Anotsu) Rin's reaction when she saw Magatsu wasn't nearly the reaction she had to other Itto Ryu associated with that night, and most of it was centered on finding her father's sword...Magatsu was there, but he didn't kill her father and tried to spare her mother, which puts him in a different category from the others. Others she wanted dead and/or apologizing...him she just wanted the sword back from. I figure forgiveness is considerably less of an issue with him that it is others.

Yeah. For good and for bad. I think our boy is growing up a little, though. But I hope he never ends up quite as crass and bitter as Manji....That, and he's already admitted that Magatsu reminds him of himself a bit too much for comfort.

I think having Manji as an example is why, if he lives and gets over this "Throwing himself into fights to get chopped up" thing of his, he'll be OK.

Really? I didn't see that. I'll have to look again.
Btw, that scene where he rescues Manji with a coin? That's SO Magatsu. I want more of that before the series ends. Samura had better finish Magatsu's character arc.

Heh. It's not much...when I first saw it, Rin saw Manji walking alone and he looked REALLY bulky, then when he got close up, Magatsu was beside him. Granted, what probably REALLY happened was Magatsu was coming back from another direction they they met up along the way, but my version is more fun.

Do you remember off the top of your head when it is he saves Manji with the coin?

Higher authority? Yeah, that could be. Araya in particular didn't seem to be too fond of him.

Well, maybe not higher authority(then) as much as someone theyt can't touch even if(like Araya) they really want to. In the current timeline, when Magatsu shows up in Dark Shadows and Heart of Darkness, though, he's pretty vclearly viewed as being a "higher authority" at least as the Itto Ryu view such things(and seems to really not care one way of the other)

And spinoffs would be lovely.

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

I'm more worried about him hooking her up with Anotsu.

Oh dear. That would be...less age difference, but more wrong. I doubt it will happen, but...noooo, I don't even want to think about it.

Magatsu I figure has a 50-50 chance...boy has serious suicidal tendencies that he needs to get past.

Oh yes. One day he's just gonna have to make his mind up between "Must get chopped up" and "Must survive getting chopped up".

Samura made a relatively big deal about Magatsu trying to spare her mother from the rape(and I've always thought the main reason he didn't pull Rin out with him was because the others had essentially forgotten about her and that would have made her a target, Anotsu or no Anotsu)

Yeah. I think Magatsu did the best he could in that particular situation (although the ideal would of course be that he wasn't there killing people in the first place ;).

Rin's reaction when she saw Magatsu wasn't nearly the reaction she had to other Itto Ryu associated with that night, and most of it was centered on finding her father's sword...Magatsu was there, but he didn't kill her father and tried to spare her mother, which puts him in a different category from the others. Others she wanted dead and/or apologizing...him she just wanted the sword back from. I figure forgiveness is considerably less of an issue with him that it is others.

True. Rin doesn't know about Magatsu's story, does she? Would she forgive him in a heartbeat if she did?

I think having Manji as an example is why, if he lives and gets over this "Throwing himself into fights to get chopped up" thing of his, he'll be OK.

That's possible, but even before he met Manji, he seemed to have a relatively strong sense of ethics all on his own, like on the night Rin's parents were killed. His only real problem seems to be his blind hate for anything Bakufu and he seems to be losing his passion for even that. When getting ready for his fight with Giichi, his hate flared up in, like, one panel, and the rest of the time it was like "Hey, I know it's petty and all, but it's just a principle thing, you know?"

Years back, when I first got into the fandom and actually posted on the email group, I had this theory that Giichi would turn out to be Magatsu's brother. It sounds silly and it probably is (I was like "they have similar eyebrows!"), but just the idea of him finding out that his brother worked for the Bakufu was enough for me to wish it was true. I was thinking that Giichi shaved his head to hide the family spikes and put on dark glasses to not show the facial resemblance. Hrm.
It's probably not very likely, given what we have heard of him at this point (and the fact that Magatsu having a brother has never even been mentioned, heh), but I still pet the theory now and then, just because it would stir things up majorly for Magatsu.

Heh. It's not much...when I first saw it, Rin saw Manji walking alone and he looked REALLY bulky, then when he got close up, Magatsu was beside him. Granted, what probably REALLY happened was Magatsu was coming back from another direction they they met up along the way, but my version is more fun.

Let's go with your version (*imagines Manji dropping Magatsu like a hot sack of potatoes when realizing they're being watched*).

Do you remember off the top of your head when it is he saves Manji with the coin?

I don't remember the issue number, but it was his grand entrance to the fights by the lake, against Anotsu's wife's dojo people. Manji was fighting two guys and about to get skewered, when a coin suddenly hit one of the guys in the eye. Cut to Magatsu standing in the distance with another coin in hand, saying something along the lines of "Hey, Manji, here's the rest of the money I owe you".
That scene deserves to be immortalized.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. That would be...less age difference, but more wrong. I doubt it will happen, but...noooo, I don't even want to think about it.

yeah, but it's been hinted at a bit. I think, though, that ity's just going to be her with him when he dies or something.

Oh yes. One day he's just gonna have to make his mind up between "Must get chopped up" and "Must survive getting chopped up".

very much so, though i think it's more "don't care if i get chopped up as long as i win" than "must get chopped up"

Yeah. I think Magatsu did the best he could in that particular situation (although the ideal would of course be that he wasn't there killing people in the first place ;).

yeah. though, he didn't kill her father, either. mostly he looked like he really didn't want to be there in that scene it always seemed to me that he thought it was more about "your granddad was mean to my granddad so my granddad beat me up when i was a kid"(which, you know, is what it was when you strip it down) than about anything else, and killing and raping people who were going about their business wasnt what he signed up for.

True. Rin doesn't know about Magatsu's story, does she? Would she forgive him in a heartbeat if she did?

I don't think she associates him with the rest of it that much, anyway. Even when he showed up to help Manji, it was "huh? he's with Manji?" as opposed to "ITTO RYU!!! DIEDIEDIE!!!" and then when she was kidnapped, she was confused that he was one of the kidnappers.

That's possible, but even before he met Manji, he seemed to have a relatively strong sense of ethics all on his own, like on the night Rin's parents were killed. His only real problem seems to be his blind hate for anything Bakufu and he seems to be losing his passion for even that. When getting ready for his fight with Giichi, his hate flared up in, like, one panel, and the rest of the time it was like "Hey, I know it's petty and all, but it's just a principle thing, you know?"

Magatsu has a more defined sense of morals and ethics than most BotI characters, which is one of the things that makes him about the most awesome thing ever. He's growing up, which means he's starting to figure out that hatred doesn't get you anywhere, but he's spent so much time being ruled by it that it's opening a big hole in him and he doesn't have anything to fill it up with yet. With Giichi, it was very much a case of what he thought he SHOULD do, as opposed to anything he wanted to do.

Interesting Idea about the brothers stuff.

Let's go with your version (*imagines Manji dropping Magatsu like a hot sack of potatoes when realizing they're being watched*).

Yes, because it's fun. And it fits the scene and characters.

[roily-rogue.livejournal.com]

Magatsu has a more defined sense of morals and ethics than most BotI characters, which is one of the things that makes him about the most awesome thing ever. He's growing up, which means he's starting to figure out that hatred doesn't get you anywhere, but he's spent so much time being ruled by it that it's opening a big hole in him and he doesn't have anything to fill it up with yet.

So true. I'd say "poor Magatsu", but meh. I have confidence that he will find his way eventually, provided Samura lets him stay alive.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Rin, Magatsu and Hyakurin are the ones where I just don't see any point in Samura killing them except to be mean, and samura isnt mean just to be mean(though he can be incredibly mean at times.)