The Strongest Hero There Is

I'm seeing a lot of appreciation for the Hulks greatest moments from the Avengers. Hulk had a lot of fun smashing, and we had a lot of fun watching him smash. But where are the appreciation posts for Bruce Banners greatest moments? I see a lot with him and Tony, and some stuff about him wearing a purple shirt. But I see nothing for when he called Black Widow's bluff, or when he stood against Nick Fury, or the one moment I expected to find by now, his reveal of "I'm always angry."
It was that moment he proved himself a superhero. Bruce looked back at his team, and through the quiet, humble voice he had used pretty much the whole film, he told them he had always been full of anger. He showed them he had the rage they needed, and proved he had the will they had been counting on. And then he punched an alien humpback death whale in the mouth and saved the day.
Yes, it was giant gamma-soaked, adrenaline-fueled strength that smashed that whale, but it was Bruce within the Hulk who let it happen. Just as it was Bruce who caught Tony when he was falling from the sky. The Hulk can smash a tank, but Bruce Banner can tame a monster. That's what makes him the strongest hero there is; he kept an uncontrollable force at bay. He sacrificed himself to let this other guy take the lead. And he stayed strong enough to still remain in control through all the wild emotion to defeat the big bad and catch the damsel in distress. Not that I'm saying Tony is a damsel. What I'm saying is that is the stuff of heroes. There are all kinds of giant monsters and super strong things out there in the Marvel universe. So it's not the strength and ability to smash that makes him a hero. What makes him a hero is the ability to fight a constant opposing force and make such sacrifices in his life, all for the greater good. And even if it didn't make him a hero, it still makes him an amazing person.
Bruce is still human. So all the stress of the team meeting, enhanced by a magic scepter, got to him. He lost it a little bit when the was wind knocked out of him. These instances reminded us of just how hard he must be fighting. It's not an easy task. He is angry, all the time! He must give constant effort to make it work. And he is. These instances also are why he had the moment of doubt that all heroes go through. Sitting in a pile of bricks, surrounded by the unforeseeable consequences of his actions, he wondered one more time about whether or not his efforts were worth it. Whether he was worthy. But then Bruce came back to his team, suited up, and became a superhero.

RIP Maurice Sendak

Earlier today I reblogged a picture of an envelope with a Maurice Sendak drawing on it, saying how I could only dream of one day receiving one. I did not yet know the reason that picture was originally blogged was because he had left us this morning.
Moments before I left for the days tasks, I saw posts saying RIP Maurice Sendak on them. Before I could look into it, or take a moment to pay respect for him, I had to go. I got a call from someone saying they were sorry to hear one of my favorite writers had died. I admitted, just as I will now, Maurice Sendak was not one of my favorite writers. I really like Where the Wild Things Are, just as so many people do. I've seen him in interviews and read quotations from him that make him to be a fascinating, honest artist to me. And I love that he regards children's literature as a higher art form than most give it credit for. Even fans of Where the Wild Things Are. I don't have any other of his books, I'm not familiar with the majority of his work, so I'm not comfortable suddenly calling myself a fan of his simply because he has passed away. I want to give him more respect for that, because at the very least, I really respect him.
So tonight, before bed, I'll read through what is the centerpiece of my bookshelf and appreciate his words, his drawings, and his art. I'll have half a smile. And I'll go to bed, hopefully to dream and go where the wild things are. And then I will roar. I will give a moment of roar for Maurice Sendak.

My roommate introduced me to “Spaced” this morning. Watching episode 3, during Brian’s ex-girlfriend’s theatrical art piece, I was cracking up at how committed this show was to its absurdity. I really appreciated how committed they were to the bit.
After all the ridiculousness that was this performance, she took a bow, received a weak smattering of applause, and, without pulling up from her bowed position, told the audience that she was not finished. She stayed bent over in silence.
I sat and stared with this smile on my face, then I started full-on laughing, then laughing even harder. And then I felt the joke had run its course, as I waited and waited for her to declare the performance “finished”. Finally, after five minutes of this avaunt-guard suspense, my roommate came back into the room and told me that the DVD had froze, at the Best Possible Moment.