I, like many people, enjoyed the paring of John Stewart and Shayera Hol in the JL/JLU animated series and fanfiction like this really helps me appreciate how appropriate that paring was. Both are soldiers. Both have been stranded from home. Both have a sibling-like relationship with the Flash. All of these similarities are touched upon in ‘Trashy Romance’.

The characterization of John and Shayera is pretty accurate. There’s all the witty and sarcastic banter that you would expect when it comes to these two and their ability to exchange insults without being insulting. I found it humorous how John was very prudish about eating bugs and sleeping under moldy blankets but Shayera was completely comfortable with it. There are lots of nice touches here. For instance, when John first wakes up on a strange world, he is very methodical when analyzing the situation, asking himself such questions as: Where am I? Am I hurt? Is Hawkgirl hurt? What do we need in the short term? In the long term? What are the advantages and risks associated with each action? – Like I said, very methodical. Shayera demonstrates impressive familiarity with Earth literature. I didn’t know about the poem, ‘Gunga Din’ until I read this, and I have to say, her conversation with John about books and their similar backgrounds is my favorite part of this piece (What can I say, I like the quiet moments). The use of descriptive words such as ‘chattel’ to refer to a specific type of slavery and ‘carapace’ to create the image of their food as a type of shelled worm or spider or crab is very good writing!

For anyone who is familiar with the Berserk manga or the anime series produced in the late 90’s, John and Shayera’s relationship in the first chapter is very reminiscent of the turning point in Guts and Casca’s relationship during the Golden Age arc. Specifically, Casca’s fever, her refusal to tell anyone, how she and Guts both end up stranded as a result, and how their relationship softens afterward. There are other parallels here as well. Since Berserk is one of my favorite anime series ever, I rather enjoyed the way John and Shayera’s relationship unfolds in this story.

The tone of this piece is more mature than the JL/JLU animated series. It has some profanity and explicit references to sex and alcohol, none of which would be a problem but for the fluctuation in tone. I felt that the sexual encounters between John and Shayera possessed a more mature tone than anything else in the story, including the events that come before and after. As a minor example, the first three chapters have minor instances of mild profanity but suddenly in the fourth chapter, phrases like “son of a bitch” and “Thanks for the fuck” appear. Regarding this, my opinion is simply that the story could benefit from a more consistent tone.

The only other problem I have is that even though this is a story about John Stewart and Shayera Hol’s relationship, I found it disconcerting that the plight of Superman and Martian Manhunter was reduced to little more than a plot device. They’re the reason John and Shayera get stranded, and then they are never mentioned again for the whole month or so the two are together. I felt they deserved better.

I won’t ruin the ending for those who have not read this fanfic but it certainly was a surprise. It didn’t contribute anything to the main plot, but then again, I don’t think it was meant to. Sort of a ‘to be continued…’ which I thought was cool.

Keep up the good work,
anonsaga

I found out about this fanfic through

I, like many people, enjoyed the paring of John Stewart and Shayera Hol in the JL/JLU animated series and fanfiction like this really helps me appreciate how appropriate that paring was. Both are soldiers. Both have been stranded from home. Both have a sibling-like relationship with the Flash. All of these similarities are touched upon in ‘Trashy Romance’.

The characterization of John and Shayera is pretty accurate. There’s all the witty and sarcastic banter that you would expect when it comes to these two and their ability to exchange insults without being insulting. I found it humorous how John was very prudish about eating bugs and sleeping under moldy blankets but Shayera was completely comfortable with it. There are lots of nice touches here. For instance, when John first wakes up on a strange world, he is very methodical when analyzing the situation, asking himself such questions as: Where am I? Am I hurt? Is Hawkgirl hurt? What do we need in the short term? In the long term? What are the advantages and risks associated with each action? – Like I said, very methodical. Shayera demonstrates impressive familiarity with Earth literature. I didn’t know about the poem, ‘Gunga Din’ until I read this, and I have to say, her conversation with John about books and their similar backgrounds is my favorite part of this piece (What can I say, I like the quiet moments). The use of descriptive words such as ‘chattel’ to refer to a specific type of slavery and ‘carapace’ to create the image of their food as a type of shelled worm or spider or crab is very good writing!

For anyone who is familiar with the Berserk manga or the anime series produced in the late 90’s, John and Shayera’s relationship in the first chapter is very reminiscent of the turning point in Guts and Casca’s relationship during the Golden Age arc. Specifically, Casca’s fever, her refusal to tell anyone, how she and Guts both end up stranded as a result, and how their relationship softens afterward. There are other parallels here as well. Since Berserk is one of my favorite anime series ever, I rather enjoyed the way John and Shayera’s relationship unfolds in this story.

The tone of this piece is more mature than the JL/JLU animated series. It has some profanity and explicit references to sex and alcohol, none of which would be a problem but for the fluctuation in tone. I felt that the sexual encounters between John and Shayera possessed a more mature tone than anything else in the story, including the events that come before and after. As a minor example, the first three chapters have minor instances of mild profanity but suddenly in the fourth chapter, phrases like “son of a bitch” and “Thanks for the fuck” appear. Regarding this, my opinion is simply that the story could benefit from a more consistent tone.

The only other problem I have is that even though this is a story about John Stewart and Shayera Hol’s relationship, I found it disconcerting that the plight of Superman and Martian Manhunter was reduced to little more than a plot device. They’re the reason John and Shayera get stranded, and then they are never mentioned again for the whole month or so the two are together. I felt they deserved better.

I won’t ruin the ending for those who have not read this fanfic but it certainly was a surprise. It didn’t contribute anything to the main plot, but then again, I don’t think it was meant to. Sort of a ‘to be continued…’ which I thought was cool.

Keep up the good work,
anonsaga

Great story, loved the character interactions between GL and HG. Only prob, I had was the ending. Cause Wally was supposed to die before Supes killed Luthor, either way it was a nice twist.

is it just meor those this remind anyone else of star treck to rene in hell

Oh, I love the ending! Great jobs on whole, guys! Nice, nice, nice!

Wow. All I can say is wow. I read the uncut version though - seems a lot more complete with those scenes left in. I haven't seen the Justice Lords episode yet, so I don't really recognize the reference at the end, but apart from that - the fic was brilliant. I love the way the characters were handled, how they reacted to the situation, everything. Can't praise this one enough.

-Kija

I really liked these first chapters. Nothing was rushed and the details and dialog were very good.

This fic is so fucking great! YOU HAVE TO WRITE A SEQUEAL!

Wow. That is a hell of a way to end a story. Great job.

DAMN YOU! Y END IT THERE! Oh... tee hee.. jk OMG! That was SO needed. i really like ur work and i cant wait to read more in the future... ;)

An interesting story, well put together, although I think the ending detracted from it simply by destroying the flow, and any sense of continuity - unless you planned all along to make this a Justice Lords story - kind of pull a 'Sixth Sense' on the reader, so to speak. Like I say, an interesting story.

This story is so F* great! How you can be such a great story writer is byond me. HG/GL is like my all time favorite couple, but they are also pretty D* rare. Most people only like to write about BM/WW. It DOES get boring after awhile. I know you dont have many reviews, but keep at it! You may not have many reviewers, but know you have at least one completely loyal reader right here. I've been reading this thing religiously sense the first day it came out. I would have reviewed sooner, but I have this thing about being the first reviewer. This is probably a really stupid suggestion, but maybe you could have like HawkGirl being pregnant and add it to whatever problem she has now. By the way, is the current problem anything to do with Talek? He's an ass. He doesn't know what it's like to have to choose between the people who raised you and the people who you've come to care about as family, yet he assumes that whatever she had with Earth is just going to drop because he's there. Well I've rambled enough. Sorry if it bothered you. This is truley a work of art, don't let anyone or anything tell you differently becuase if they do, they're just jealouse of your greatness. Okay, that just sounded obbsessive didn't it?

See ya!

Lil' Pup out