1. Hi there, Guest

    Only registered users can really experience what DLP has to offer. Many forums are only accessible if you have an account. Why don't you register?
    Dismiss Notice

Oneshot Probationary Member by Adrian Tullberg - T - DC

Discussion in 'Other Fandoms Review Board' started by Nemrut, Aug 10, 2018 at 11:37 AM.

3.4000000953674/5, 5 votes
  1. Nemrut

    Nemrut The Black Mage Prestige

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2009
    Messages:
    1,309
    Location:
    Department of Post-Mortem Communications
    High Score:
    2,101
    Aug 10, 2018 at 11:37 AM #1
    Title: Probationary Member
    Author: Adrian Tullberg
    Rating: T
    Genre: humor/drama
    Status: complete
    Fandom: DC Superheroes
    Summary: Batman brings a new recruit into the JLA ... but there's something he doesn't know ...
    Link: ff.net

    This is a rather interesting story. Not long, only 16k and really a one-shot but it's quite engaging. I don't think it aged all that well and the league does come off as a bit...prudish or conservative (especially the wives/girlfriends) but honestly, it still holds up, 12 years later. The emotional journey that starts out light-hearted and ends on a kick to the heart is really well executed.

    The development of the league members is pretty well handled, I liked the voice of Kelly, her perspective was fun and her situation was super interesting, especially what it meant to join the world of superheroes and all in all, their reactions were rather on point. They were judgemental and uncomfortable but not malicious which is still true to them as people, I think.

    So yeah, fascinating story, definitely worth a read.

    4/5
     
  2. Shinysavage

    Shinysavage Madman With A Box Prestige

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2009
    Messages:
    1,224
    Location:
    UK
    High Score:
    2,296
    Aug 10, 2018 at 8:08 PM #2
    Some elements of this really didn't age well.
    Renting porn? Lol.

    It's not a bad little fic, that aside. I've read plenty of stories - canon or fanfic - that highlight the different identities cause problems - someone's job being at risk because they're off heroing, for example - but not something like this, that I can recall. It's quite interesting, and gets a few laughs out of it too. It's written decently enough, nothing special but other than persistently misspelling Rayner as Rainer, nothing to particularly criticise.

    In fact, the only thing I'd especially criticise is that when the turn comes, it goes from 0-60 pretty fucking quickly. It works well enough once it's happened, but from a lightweight bit of amusing fluff to...well, that, was quite a turn, and not one I really think it earned.

    All in all though, 4/5 is probably about right. It's probably not something I'm going to remember for long, but it does what it set to to, mostly well.
     
  3. CareOtters

    CareOtters Chief Warlock DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    Messages:
    1,457
    Aug 12, 2018 at 5:31 PM #3
    I've never encountered a DC Comics fanfic I liked. That has not changed after having read this one.

    They seem to all have the exact same issue, and this fic is a particularly heinous example. The author namedrops characters but does very little with them, and then they do very little themselves. It's a combination of superhero bloat and over-reliance on reader knowledge of those characters.

    A truly good fanfic should be at least legible to a fandom outsider. That's just good storytelling. It's completely absent here, and the plot was about as engaging as a Wikipedia article about toast.

    2/5