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Tee Morris

Writer, podcaster. and streamer

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2012

The Hero’s Journey: A Spoiler-Free Review of AVENGERS ENDGAME

When the Iron Man trailer first appeared in theatres, there was a sense of optimism shared between moviegoers. We all thought the same thing: This looks pretty good. Iron Man was also the truest definition of “high risk, high reward” that studios rarely if ever do today. Instead of reboots and sequels and low-hanging fruit box office talent, Iron Man dared to launch Marvel Studios — a studio independent of the bigger institutions like 20th Century Fox and Sony — with a superhero not as familiar as X-Men or Spider-Man (still property of the earlier mentioned studios) and with a leading man saddled with a lot of bad baggage. Robert Downey, Jr. was well known for being an actor’s actor with talent to spare, but he also had a darkness that overshadowed his talent. His infamous quote to the presiding judge about his addiction “It’s like I have a loaded gun in my mouth, and I like the taste of metal.” made him, regardless of his talent, a potential powder keg of negative publicity. Still, in 2008, Marvel Studios kicked off their ambitious “Phase One” with a lesser-known superhero and a risky leading man.

But we had seen the trailer, and we all thought “This looks pretty good.”

What we didn’t know was how good Marvel Studio’s Iron Man would be.

Here we are, eleven years and twenty-two films later, and we have reached Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame. This is not so much of a sequel as it is the conclusion to what Marvel started in 2008. Endgame is exactly what the title says. Doctor Strange tells Tony Stark at the end of Avengers: Infinity War “We’re in the endgame now.” just before vanishing with half of Earth’s population. We now see in Endgame the remaining Avengers attempting to cope with the loss, and it is not going well. That is until a glimmer of hope from the last place anyone would expect it offers a way to make things right. If I say any more or get more specific, spoilers will be revealed so I will just leave it at that. This is all you need to know about Endgame, other than this film is the destination for storytelling that began over a decade ago.

If Iron Man is a definition of “high risk, high reward” then Avengers: Endgame is the definition of a “slow burn” in storytelling. There are call backs to many of the films that have come before, and this is what makes Marvel’s storytelling so exceptional. Everything connects, and does so without feeling shoehorned or contrived. Crossovers become essential moments in a story arc that began with Tony Stark meeting the unassuming Agent Phil Coulson of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division (“Just call us S.H.I.E.L.D.”), all leading to the events of Avengers: Endgame.The success of Marvel Studios other studios have attempted to capture, most notably DC Studios; but what Marvel took five films to build up to, DC attempted to do across two. And it showed.

Another way Marvel managed to succeed in this incredible storytelling odyssey was in focusing on the story at hand. Details? Backstory? That would come. Bucky’s fate we discover in The Winter Soldier, the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger. What about Peter Quill’s ability to hold on to an infinity stone with his bare hand? We didn’t find out until Volume 2 of Guardians of the Galaxy. How does Carol Danvers become Captain Marvel? We find this out near the end of her film. Marvel was never in a rush to get to Endgame, and we as an audience are given opportunities to know these superheroes as people. Not as Iron Man, Captain America, Black Window, or Captain Marvel, but as Tony, Steve, Natasha, and Carol. As for things we didn’t quite understand straight away? In Marvel we trust. They would get to it. This journey across the extended Marvel universe has always been something unique, something special. In 2012, The Avengers was regarded as the most ambitious undertaking a studio ever took on — a build-up across five films to this.

Turns out The Avengers was merely Act One.

Avengers: Endgame serves as the coda to a cinematic opus centered around the original vanguard of Marvel icons. Obviously, Marvel Studios is far from done in making movies that both casual and hardcore comic book fans line up for at the box office. Endgame, though, is a curtain call, beautifully captured in the end credits. Torches are passed. The team grows. New stories await to be told. This has been one amazing ride, and looking back on where it all began with Iron Man (which is exactly what we did the night after), it is astounding to see how far we have come since that first step in 2008. We still have other adventures to undertake, but until then, it’s time to take a breath and enjoy the view. There is only one thing left to say at this point…

Thank you, Marvel, for everything.

Lightning Strikes Twice: THE JANUS AFFAIR on Goodreads’ 2012 Choice Awards

As you have probably caught on Twitter, Facebook, and the official website of the Ministry, our repeat appearance in the book readers’ social network, Goodreads, has been the subject of conversation. The first round was comprised of selections from title activity and reviews, and the second round included write-in nominations with the original nominees. This is not new territory for Pip and me as Phoenix Rising landed the eighth top slot for Best Science Fiction of 2011, but still…

We asked for your votes.

We watched the deadlines come and go.

And this week, you all made it official — The Janus Affair is a Finalist for Best Science Fiction of 2012.

Goodreads and its community of readers have spoken and here is (by author, in alphabetical order) their Top Ten Best Science Fiction of 2012: [Read more…] about Lightning Strikes Twice: THE JANUS AFFAIR on Goodreads’ 2012 Choice Awards

From the “Coming Out of Left Field” Department: The 2012 Parsec Awards

Holy Hanna on a hotplate!

This past Thursday, it turns out, was the day the 2012 Parsec Awards were announced. Now if you have never heard of the Parsecs, don’t sweat it — you’re about to get schooled on one of the most prestigious awards in podcasting and Science Fiction.The Parsec Awards, now in their seventh year, is awarded to podcasts featuring Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Whether it is fiction, fan news, or even geek-a-licious music, the Parsec Awards celebrates the best in speculative fiction and do so as part of the wild ride that is Dragon*Con.

(Pictured here is the 2011 Parsec brought home by Technorama. Good on ya, guys!)

It’s been a while since I’ve been up for a Parsec. In 2008 Billibub Baddings and The Case of the Singing Sword won that year for Best Audio Drama (Long Form), although you could argue last year I was in the Parsec Run as Tales from the Archives gained a nod for Best Short Story with “The Astonishing Amulet of Amenartas” by Nathan Lowell.

Nah. Pip and I produced that episode. “The Astonishing Amulet of Amenartas” was all Nathan, and more of a nice feather in the cap for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.

Now we’re up to this year’s Parsecs. I was chatting with Veronica Giguere when the announcements went live. I know this because she started chuckling and then said, “I’m laughing about the Parsecs, and about you in the Parsecs.”

I’ll say it again… [Read more…] about From the “Coming Out of Left Field” Department: The 2012 Parsec Awards

5 Things to Do after You Lose Your Job

Tee Morris, Adventurer...for hire.It’s hard to believe, but last Friday marked a month since my last day at Intersections.

For the past four weeks, I’ve taken in a lot. Good and bad. Of course, the irony of all this is that when I was hired by Intersections, the Recession was in full swing. And at the beginning of 2012, where a variety of news outlets from around the world were all noticing an economic turnaround at the beginning of 2012, I was downsized.

In this month, from the day I was let go to now, I’ve learned a lot. Granted, each layoff is different. Some involve severance packages. Others do not. Some employers treat you with respect. Others waste no time in getting you out of the door. It’s hard to predict how bad news like this will come, but I can say — after a month of letting the dust settle — there are at least five things to keep in mind when Corporate America pulls the rug out from under you. [Read more…] about 5 Things to Do after You Lose Your Job

So Long, and Thanks for All the Tweets: My Final Friday at Intersections

Staying on track.You might have noticed a few enigmatic tweets from me on Friday. I got a few responses of concern but I was okay. Still am.

No, really, I’m good. January 6, 2012 was a date for the books so I’ll just go ahead and kick off this blogpost with what happened.

Somewhere around 10:15 a.m. last Friday, I was told my services at Intersections, Inc. was no longer needed.

If you’re expecting a complete and utter meltdown against my former day job, you’re not going to get it. Never will. I will only say this: [Read more…] about So Long, and Thanks for All the Tweets: My Final Friday at Intersections

Tee’s Top 5 from 2011

Looking back on 2011Recently, J.C. Hutchins asked across various social networks for people to sum up their 2011 in one word, and then sum up their hopes for 2012 in another. I responded with three.

Yes, I’m a rebel. Screw the rules, ‘cause that’s how I roll.

Man, I really need to make “avoid talking street” a New Year’s Resolution. Now where was I? Oh yeah, Hutch’s “Sum Up Your 2011” question…

I responded with “The Small Step” because I’ve started looking ahead already to 2012. Planning for appearances. Pre-production for a book trailer. Considering a posting schedule for Volume Two of Tales from the Archives.  And, of course, the release of The Janus Affair. It just feels like everything is piling on already, and I’ve still not put away Christmas decorations.

Not sure what it was about this week — maybe the storm front breaking, maybe the sunrise, maybe the unusually smooth commute to work, who knows? — I started to look back. 2011 has been one astounding year. A year of change. A year of direction. Some of these items may some across as a touch trivial, but they defined the year for me, and are helping me work through tough spots and dark times. I stopped to think of those high points and put them out there on this blog, my intent being that you might find five things to be thankful for at this time. [Read more…] about Tee’s Top 5 from 2011

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