[COLOR=lightblue][B]END OF SEASON AWARDS:[/B][/COLOR]

[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST CHARACTER CONCEPT [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]
[h3]Baal, The Flash, Guardians of the Galaxy, Old Man Grayson and Robin the Toy Wonder, The Shadow[/h3]

These are the off-the-wall ideas, notions that have made me look at the game, double-take on the character sheet and wonder how they’re going to be pushed forward.  Unfortunately a few happened late in the season with limited opportunities to see them really flesh out until next season (The Shadow and Baal).  It was incredibly difficult to hold my tongue as time zones and good fortune saw Endgame drop down my neck of the woods first, when the finishing point in the movie seemed to have snatched [@HenryJonesJnr]’s character sheet straight off the boards.

It was a tight two man race between [@Hillan]’s Thawne Flash and [@Bounce]’s Commish Dick and the Boytoy.  And since it comes down to a race, I’m going to give Thawne the edge… slightly… by a rapidly telescoping robotic boy’s nose.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[h3]Captain Marvel, Daredevil, Magik, Static, Wonder Woman (*Bonus honourable mention Green Arrow)[/h3]

Going on a curve here – this is the character’s who have seen change, growth or depth built to them over the course of the season.  I gave [@Dblade26]’s Green Arrow a bonus honourable mention for the rate of change despite such a late start.  Which I’m now regretting since I selected my 5s before writing the actual award descriptions and I’m just now realizing he showed up everywhere anyway…

Bounce’s Billy had great depth built to him as we caught glimpses of an immortal alien altered God-like child referenced over half a century.  We saw Daredevil actually shown fear and pushed beyond his breaking point.  Magik has experienced great trauma and is trying to meet that past head on with a little help from her friends.  Static had a full character arc where he faced a life with diminished powers and whether it was ever really the power or the man.  Wonder Woman, like Daredevil, was pushed to breaking point as well, and we’ve seen it early enough that we’re watching her experience the consequences of those actions, and the way she chooses to face tomorrow after them.

I’m going to give this one to Static.  I think this might be a sleeper to some people, but to me… I think it was a major theme throughout [@The Bork Lazer]’s arc as a whole, and was handled brilliantly.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST SEASON [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[@webboysurf]. [@Bounce]. [@Lord Wraith]. [@Roman].  [@Natty].

I’ve worked these awards a bit different.  Best season to me is IC content.  Posts.  By all characters combined.  If you’ve put out quality production with more than one, frankly it’s going to help.  These have been the engine that’s kept the thread moving.

I’ve got a 3 horse race between [@Bounce], [@webboysurf] and [@Roman].  Wraith has kept the game moving with beautifully detailed posts over a few varied characters.  Natty (and Hexflexagon, honestly… there was a hair’s breadth between 5 and 6) maintained individual characters throughout the whole season, producing wonderfully detailed posts in the magic corner as well.

This one’s brutal…  but, I think Bounce has to just edge this one out.  He’s managed to spin plates and provide a full Grayson and Toy Wonder on limited time, whilst still pushing forward with Billy relentlessly.  Webbs finished strong with Arsenal, and has locked down an action niche.  Whilst Roman finished STRONG with Daredevil, but lacked time to work in Constantine with the season waning.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST STORY ARC [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[h3]Ragged Souls by Magik.  Welcome to the Masquerade by Batman.  Static + Shockers (not the name… try it on though).  Queen’s Heir by Green Arrow.  Homecoming by Zatanna (is that Zatanna’s arc name?)[/h3]

Running out of time at work.  Keep it short.  These have all been major strengths in this season.  The magic corner, Lord Wraith world-building and Bork’s character development.  I’m giving the nod to Bork’s Static who made good use of the full season.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST POST [/COLOR][/B][/INDENT]

[h3]Static’s finale.  First post of The Shadow.  Daredevil vs Kingpin. [/h3] 

All three of these were epic masterpieces.  I put down 3 because I couldn’t keep it to 5.  After these 3 there was no natural cut-off to me.  All three actually made me verbalize when I was reading them (think along the lines of “Oh shit!”, “Whoa!, or similar…)

That said, long story short, this is getting unfair.  [@Byrd Man] knows how to strike joy in my heart, just as he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men...

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST ANTAGONIST [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[h3]The Mad Hatter by [@Lord Wraith].  Kingpin by [@Roman].  Brick by [s]Ben Folds Five[/s] [@Dblade26].  Electrocutioner by [@The Bork Lazer].  The Suit by [@DocTachyon].[/h3]

I feel frustrated, because I know I’ve gone early and Wraith isn’t done with The Mad Hatter…

I like subtlety, which is why the Black suit got a mention.  Thought Doc’s done a good job with the odd inflection, bringing an insidious presence that’s wearing away at Pete without being outright overbearing.  The other three brought it home strong at the end of arcs.  I’m going to give the slight nod to Brick (and thank God… because we know Connor’s got a pretty limited rogues gallery to pick from) as the multi-faceted top-dog who has been holding back the torrent of chaotic unfettered crime in Star City, but has to prove a point.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST SUPPORTING CAST [/COLOR][/B]  [/INDENT]

[h3]Blade’s Supporting Cast by [@SimpleUnicycle].  Captain America’s Supporting Cast by [@webboysurf].  Magik’s by [@Natty].  Spider-Man’s by [@Doc Tachyon].  Valor’s by [@Ceta de Cloyes].[/h3]

Making me pick between Tasky and the Spider-gang…  you monsters.

Ugghhhhhhhhhhhhhh… Spidey.

Shout out to Ceta’s great work in limited time though and I’m looking forward to the Legion’s expansion next season.  And of course Uni’s supporting cast for Blade – a man who shares my own taste in the humour of seeing the star get regular comeuppance at the hands of that supporting crew.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST WORLD BUILDING [/COLOR][/B]  [/INDENT]

[h3]Namor by [s]Lord Wraith[/s]…  Hup, you played yourself.  Captain Marvel by [@Bounce].  Magik by [@Natty].  Zatanna’s by [@Hexaflexagon].  Supergirl’s Metropolis by [@inkarnate]. Guardians of the Galaxy by [@HenryJonesJnr].  Special mention: Teen Titans by [@Retired][/h3]

Wraith… you had this!  Those Namor Atlantis posts were masterpieces and you not only threw in the towel, you deleted them!

Love it when any of these drop.  Doesn’t happen often, but you won’t find people up for this one rushing stuff.  These guys are the prestige Oscar chasers (although this isn’t Cannes, [@inkarnate], and we don’t give awards for short pictures!)  Worth a mention, Retired, who had a late start and ate into his own time helping out, reviewing others’ posts.

I’m going with nnnnnnnnnggg!  Magik.  So tough though.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   BEST CROSSOVER [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[h3]Arrows Red and Green.  Spidey and the X-Men.  A Couple of Old Wardogs.[/h3]

I think these just got better as the season wore on.  I’m going with Red and Green Arrow.

Bears mentioning though…  Doc is a joy to work with, and tolerates my foibles with aplumb.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   THE ABSOLUTE BREAKOUT CHARACTER [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[h3]Green Arrow.  Old Man Grayson and the Toy Wonder.  Arsenal.  Raven.  Blade.[/h3]

These are the characters that raised the eyebrows.  Surpassed my expectations in terms of where I thought my interest would be.  I like Raven as a Titan, but have struggled reading solo comics with her before.  Blade seldom interests me in the comics (although the first two movies surpassed the comic material to me)… but I should have known better, because Uni finds a way to keep interest.  Connor’s probably down the list on archer’s to me, Dblade then compounded that with Felicity… and then somehow made it far surpass what any combination of the parts should have any right to be.  Likewise, I’m not terribly into post-Speedy Roy.  Again, webs made it work.

But I’m still trying to figure out what the Hell happened to bestow Old Man Grayson and Robin the Toy Wonder upon us all…  and I’ve got nothing.

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[INDENT][B][COLOR=SLATEGRAY]◼   THE ABSOLUTE MVP [/COLOR][/B] [/INDENT]

[@webboysurf].  [@Lord Wraith].  [@Retired]. [@Inkarnate]. [@Saint Maxx]. [@Hillan].

These are the people who inspire activity.  Whether it is from post frequency, pushing on conversation about character work and posts as a whole, reviews, or a combination of any or all of these.

Retired’s had a colossal impact on the game since his late start, and the sacrifices which cost him a legitimate chance at the World Building award are basically what wins him this one to me.