A Case of Mistaken Identity: Caspian X

Even before reading Prince Caspian and watching the movie adaptation, I knew I wanted to spotlight Caspian’s “mistaken identity” in a blog post. His integrity and character were questioned by both sides. Was he Telmarine enough to be king? Was he prince enough to be recognized by the Narnians? Was he too Telmarine to rule both factions? No wonder the boy king was conflicted and tempted to take the easy way.

Nikabrik: "Since when did we become a boarding house for Telmarine soldiers?"

Prince Caspian: "I am not a soldier! I am Prince Caspian, the tenth."

This exchange comes from the film adaptation. After being knocked out in the forest, Caspian was found by Trufflehunter and Nikabrik. The pessimistic dwarf immediately pegged him as a run-of-the mill Telmarine soldier. Caspian responded to the assumption with his claim to the throne, but I have to wonder if that was a recurring theme in his life  

At a young age, Caspian’s father was killed and his uncle reigned in his stead. Yes, Caspian was the crown prince. But did that really mean anything with Miraz in control? I imagine Caspian being treated as a protege for Miraz and not as the prince. 

Because of that, and all the preconceived notions of what a Telmarine is, it’s a miracle that Caspian was able to assert so powerfully his title. I could use a bit more of that in my heart. How often are my missteps and anxieties because I forget my divine heritage and feel like a run-of-the-mill human (if there is such a thing)? Think of Moses facing the adversary after his vision. Or think of the Savior banishing temptation after His extended fast. Surely if I’m able to hold tighter to a testimony of my divine identity, my actions and perspectives would inevitably change.

Dr. Cornelius: "You have the potential to be the most noble contradiction in history: The Telmarine who saved Narnia."

After a failed siege on Miraz's castle, Caspian was desperate enough to defeat his uncle that he nearly resurrected the White Witch. In the shame of that near-fatal mistake, his tutor noted his hope for the young prince. He noted Caspian's heritage, but Dr. Cornelius shared his hope for the prince to rise above the mistakes of his ancestors. Telmarines were known for oppressing Narnians, but Caspian had the chance to own that history and rise above it. 

As human beings, all of us have things in our history and things about us that seem contradictory when looking at the eternities. We are sinners, but the Savior invites us to be saints. We are flawed, but He commands us to be perfect. We make mistakes, but He asks us to bring each other Home. So yeah, it's a noble contradiction, as Cornelius put it. Yes, we have our flaws and we make mistakes. But through those faults, somehow we're able to minister to each other and be edified together.

Miraz: “Perhaps you have the makings of a Telmarine king after all.”

Prince Caspian: “Not one like you.”

After being defeated in one-on-one combat by Peter, Miraz threw this shaming remark at Caspian. He knew what being a “Telmarine king” meant to his nephew. In desperation, Miraz must have thought this would jar Caspian enough to save his life. Refusing to kill his uncle, Caspian claimed the meaning of being a “Telmarine king”.

I’m the first to beat myself up for my mistakes, my labels, and my shortcomings. Am I doing enough as a husband and father? Am I doing and being what I should as a disciple? I’m well aware that most of the pressures on my heart are my own making, but I’m guessing I’m not the only one.

What does it mean to be a faithful Latter-day Saint? Or to be a good father? I have my beliefs (many of them probably subconscious). The stories that weigh down my heart are hard to let go of. Naturally I want them gone now, but I’m sure it takes a lifetime of repentance to gain that much humility. Maybe even longer, stretching into eternity.

Prince Caspian: "I was wishing that I came of a more honorable lineage."

Aslan: "You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve. And that is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth."

It's amazing to me whenever I read this line in the book version of Prince Caspian that CS Lewis had such reverence for Adam and Eve, without the context of the restored gospel. In this exchange, Caspian was again ashamed of his Telmarine heritage. He wanted to be a good king, but didn't think he had the genealogy to reach that potential. Aslan reminded him that, long before the first King Caspian, he was descended from Adam and Eve. No higher honor (as God's creation) and no greater humbling (due to the fall).

This line is humbling to me. In addition to being descended from Father Adam and Mother Eve, we are children of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ. There is no more noble lineage than our divine heritage. President Nelson taught that among our most important labels should be “child of God”. This is true regardless of your identity as Telmarine, Narnian, American, European, convert, single, married, etc. 

All these lessons are relatively easy to understand cognitively, but to internalize them involves gaining a testimony of divine identity. I’m currently working on that and it’s definitely easier said than done. It’s a life long (eternally long) journey of self discovery and that’s why I keep doing these posts about “mistaken identity”.

8th of November

https://youtu.be/

 On November 8, 2006, I entered the MTC to prepare to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Hamburg, Germany mission. Just prior to my entering the MTC I recall hearing a song by “Big and Rich” titled “8th of November,” that was released in May of 2006 but I recall hearing mostly in the fall leading up to my mission. Of course the song stuck out to me given the date I knew I would be reporting for missionary service. The song is about events that occurred on November 8, 1965 during the Vietnam conflict. It is a stirring story of loss and remembrance and worth a listen. There is a line that says, 

“On the 8th of November the angels were cryin’

As they carried his brothers away” 

Referring to fallen brothers in arms of the man who survived to tell the tale. In my case, I will openly admit that there were tears being shed by me and my family as we parted ways at the MTC, not for the rest of mortality thank goodness, but for two years.

 With that backdrop, I am reflecting on my service as a missionary, 20 years ago. It doesn’t seem that time could have passed that quickly and yet, here we are. I enjoyed learning German. I loved eating all of the delicious foods the Germany offered. I loved the fellow missionaries I was able to serve with. I loved my mission leaders, President and Sisters Barber and President and Sister Thompson. I loved being able to draw closer to the Lord through studying the gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing miracles and seeing people change. I had always wanted to serve a mission. I thought I would die on my mission (not really) because I had no idea what life was going to be like after a mission. And now, 20 years later, I’ve lived a lifetime after my mission.

 I still have a lot of living to do, I hope, it’s just now I’ve lived more of my life after being set apart part as a mission as opposed to prior to being set apart, if that makes sense. I am still trying to study the scriptures. I pray. I don’t have as many opportunities to speak German but I still try to practice when I can. Staying is contact is, in theory, easier because of social media. I texted my second mission president just yesterday. Some say a mission is the best two years of a life. I don’t think that’s true but I do believe it can be the best two years for your life. A time when you can set a foundation of faith for the rest of your life. 

Best Star Wars Beards for No-Shave November

Welcome to another year of young men trying to grow a patchy beard half as majestic as Chewbacca! Unfortunately, for the most part, I still fall into that patchy category. It’s okay though because my wife says she likes my goatee. I digress. I wanted to spotlight another round of fictional characters who give me beard envy. Remember that it’s not just about facial hair. It’s about men’s health—except, unlike the Jedi, we encourage attachments and connections here. 

Say what you will about "The Last Jedi", but it gave Luke a great beard.

Full disclosure: I haven't finished Andor, but that doesn't stop the beard envy.

Saw Gerrera over the years saw an evolution of facial hair from soul patch to full beard.

I have a question about Rex post-Clone Wars. How did he keep his beard tamed on the run?

After he was blinded, I expect Hera helped Kanan keep his beard manageable.

Different years. Different colors. But Dooku's beard remained epic.

It was a shame that our time was so short with Qui Gon and his powerful Jedi beard.

Being stranded in another galaxy, shaving becomes something of a lower priority. Right, Ezra?

Finishing off with the best bearded character of the franchise: Obi Wan Kenobi. Enough said.

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• "Andor: Returning to the Heart of Star Wars" by Ben

A Tribute to Captain Picard

(Guest Post by Carl Cranney)

I was surprised at the depth of emotion I felt upon learning of Sir Patrick Stewart’s passing. I have recently been watching “Star Trek: The Next Generation” with my 10 year old and 8 year old and had been pleasantly surprised at how well the show holds up after 40 years. I think in large part that is because of Stewart’s acting. It takes a certain kind of gravitas to be explaining ethics to a person wearing latex prosthetic face coverings all while dressed in basically pajamas, and yet to have everybody on the edge of their seat, enraptured with watching you monologue, but that’s what Patrick Stewart gave us. He anchored that cast and that premise with his dedication to the craft of acting that a lesser actor would not have been able to pull off. 

Of course he gave us a lot more than Captain Picard. I had two different friends tell me they had seen him in “Othello” where he played Othello and the rest of the cast was black, inverting the racial makeup of my favorite Shakespeare play. What an experience that must have been! I regret, sadly, that my exposure to him in Shakespeare was limited to the screen. And his time as Professor X, or as Pharaoh Seti, or Scrooge, or on Sesame Street (either doing Shakespeare or yelling at a Number 1 to shape up), or as a foul-mouther British Journalist on “Blunt Talk,” or any number of a variety of roles that he had, showed that he was versatile in his craft. It also showed that he didn’t take himself too seriously, even if he took his vocation seriously. We could use more of that in the world. But since this is LDS Geeks, I’m going to focus mostly on how he brought Captain Picard to life, and why that particular role meant so much to so many. 

It was interesting to me to try to watch TNG with my 10 year old the evening of his passing. I gave her two options of episodes to watch, either “The Drumhead,” where he gives one of the great speeches of his character, or “The Mind’s Eye,” where he is paid one of the highest compliments in the entire show by a Klingon, “You swear well, Picard.” She picked the one where he swears, of course, but we’ll get to “The Drumhead” later. Maybe I should have just forced her to watch “The Inner Light.” (We didn’t have time to watch “Chain of Command,” since it’s a two-parter, plus it’s a little intense.) But the fact that there were so many great Picard episodes to choose from is a credit to Stewart. Sure, the writers get some credit, but it’s his acting that makes all of their words stand out, that make me want to be a better person, a better man, a better human. There are episodes from the show about Troy, or Worf, or Data, or any of the other characters, but it’s telling that none of them stand out the way the episodes focused on Picard do. Those other episodes have good writing, and interesting ideas, and are executed well, but there’s just something about Picard staring out the Enterprise window as the credits roll that shows that we’re dealing with a level of acting that the others simply don’t reach. (This is not an insult to them, but an indication of the generational talent Stewart was.) 

As a firm believer in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and as a professional religious academic-type, I also think one of the reasons that Picard stands out to everybody is that he can stand out to everybody. I’m reminded of a teaching from a Jewish Rabbi, when asked why God created atheists. After a pause, the rabbi responds “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all—the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his actions are based on his sense of morality. Look at the kindness he bestows on others simply because he feels it to be right.” That was Picard. (And actually, because of Picard, I will never accept the argument that one must believe in God to be a moral person.) Picard always seemed to strike the perfect balance between standing for one’s principles, respecting other people and their choices, and finding compromise. That is a balance I have rarely seen struck so perfectly. You always knew that Picard was thoughtful and careful, yet firm and unyielding when the moment called for it. That is a character that we can all admire and try to emulate. 

I have seen many tributes to Patrick Stewart/Captain Picard on social media since his passing. Maybe it’s the algorithm feeding me Star Trek (I think the algorithm knows me well enough to know that’s my major point of contact with Stewart). However, I suspect that it’s the fact that his Jean-Luc Picard was a subtle anchor in so many different people’s lives. Perhaps, like me, many have suddenly been confronted with the effect this character has had on them. In a world where so much ink is spilled on what it means to be a good person, I submit there are not many better example of what it means to be a good man than Captain Picard. The tributes to Stewart show that. (And as a sidenote, I really mean a good man here. Despite the manosphere invoking some pretty toxic nonsense when talking about what it means to be a “real man,” Captain Picard showcases the hollowness of their examples. I’ll take him over some macho viking any day of the week.) 

So thank you, Sir Patrick Stewart, for all the good that you brought into the world, particularly through your role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Rest in power. (Warp power, of course.) 

Carl Cranney has a PhD in theology and is co-host of the “Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree” podcast. He has watched literally every episode of every “Star Trek” TV show. (“The Next Generation” is his favorite. Usually.) He lives in Springville, Utah, with his wife and 4 kids. 

More Content You Might Like:

• LDS Geeks Podcast #37: Crossover Popping on the Apricot Tree
  Show Notes: click here
  Spotify: click here
  Apple Podcasts: click here
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• "Captain Kirk's Enemy Within" by Spencer
• "T.J.'s Sci-Fi Faves" by TJ

Ranking the Villains of Animorphs

While Russell and I did our Animorphs reading project, I knew I wanted to do this blog post for my annual Halloween villain spotlight. I kept tabs on the different villains we met along the way. Unwilling controllers with nameless yeerks will not be considered for this list.

20. Helmacrons

It should come at no surprise that these pint-sized punks at last on the list. While their shrinking technology is formidable, they’re annoying and have the worst Napoleon complex.

19. Nartec

While this one-off Atlantean race was freaky foe, they were somewhat easily thwarted… especially since their evolution missteps was defeating them before the Animorphs and Yeerks got involved.

18. Taxxons

As an ally of the Yeerks, the Taxxons were pretty bad. However, based on Arbron’s experience, they are to be pitied.

17. Iniss 226/Chapman

Perhaps Chapman shouldn’t be on this list, but since he’s a voluntary controller (albeit somewhat because of blackmail) he fits here. Especially if you take into account his actions in The Andalite Chronicles. That being said, he was pretty incompetent as a villain. Especially a high ranking one.

16. Nesk

Another one-off villain. More formidable than some other villains, but they were defeated essentially by the passage of time. The Animorphs had to get out of the way of history and things took care of themselves.

15. Veleek

Does this creature count as a villain or was it just the tool of Visser Three? Regardless, it was one of the better tools that the Visser used  to catch the supposed bandits. That being said, it took Cassie as a whale to beat it.

14. Visser Four 

The Visser took the Time Matrix and nearly won. He should have been higher on the list… except that the passage of time ended up defeating him, not the Animorphs.

13. Joe Bob Fenestre's Yeerk

Visser Three’s twin could probably go higher on the list except that here is when things start to get interesting. Cannibalizing other Yeerks and eliminating their hosts? That gives me chills. If Fenestre had appeared again, and not just a one-off filler book, I’d probably have ranked him higher.

12. Drode

I debated whether to rank this one separate from Crayak or not. But the Drode appeared enough times separate from Crayak that he deserved his own spot. That being said, being the lackey, he didn’t get near as high on the list as his master.

11. Visser Two

Even though he was a one-off villain, this Visser goes higher than other one-offs because of how deranged he was. That insanity makes his actions more erratic and scarier.

10. "The Familiar"

This unnamed villain only appeared once at the very end of the book, but that mystery makes this being even scarier. There are theories that it was Crayak or something else, but I suppose we’ll never get an answer.

9. Visser Three

How did the big bad of the series end up as number 9? Because he’s so inept. Appearing in nearly every book of the series, he’s delayed and derailed by a handful of preteen humans. That being said, his volatile nature secures him the top half of the list  

8. The Yeerk Empire/Council of Thirteen

I debated whether to list the Yeerk Empire separately, but I think it’s worth noting. The presence of a parasitic species with no qualms enslaving sentient species… that will always be scary. 

7. The One

If a parasitic species is scary, a being that absorbs and assimilates other creatures into its being… that’s even worse. This villain remains shrouded in mystery and is the subject of much discussion. Since it only appears in the final chapters of the series, it’s nature and powers remain mostly unknown.

6. Tom's Second Yeerk

While Tom was always an unwilling controller, He was the host of two different Yeerks. The first was starved by the Animorphs but the second was even more malicious. What gets this one so high on the list is that even after the morphing power was acquired, this Yeerk insisted on controlling Tom. Even after acquiring Tom’s DNA in his natural state.

5. Howlers

Possibly the scariest species of the series. They were mentioned early on, but when they finally appeared, they were even worse than I imagined. And that was before we learned of their true nature. Killing machines that have the innocence of children are not only terrifying but heartbreaking.

 

4. Crayak

The embodiment of evil. Crayak destroys for the sake of destroying. Just as the Ellimist is a gamer, this devil views his carnage as a fun way to pass the time. Just like his children, the Howlers, this makes him all the worse.

3. Visser One

Partly, she gets number three because of the heartbreaking backstory and complex nature of the character. But partly, she’s this high on the list because of her cruel military and political tactics. She would rather lose the war than to let Visser Three be successful.

2. Sub-Visser Fifty-One/Taylor

Again, this one is higher up on the list because of how deranged and insane she became. The controller became one with the Yeerk basically and took pleasure in torturing Tobias. She was also willing to essentially bomb the Yeerk Pool, killing much of her kind, to take out the resistance movement.

1. David 

The thing that makes David number one on this list is that he’s purely human. Even before he got the morphing power he was dangerous. He was willing to sell out the Animorphs to save his own skin. And he killed Rachael and Jake’s cousin to give himself a new life. Plus his flexible morality was ready to kill the Animorphs the moment they weren’t human anymore. If they got in his way, maybe that wouldn’t have even stopped him. 

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LDS Geeks Podcast #76: Fourth Doctor Review

I forgot to order more jelly babies for this recording, but that's life. At last TJ and I were able to find time again to record after a few months or scheduling, canceling, and rescheduling. 

--Spencer

Listen to Episode 76 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Check out Spencer's recent content: click here

Check out TJ's recent content: click here

Show notes:

00:12 - Introductions
02:15 - Spencer's Recommendation: Loki
        Available for streaming on Disney Plus
04:16 - TJ's Recommendation: Izzy Medrano art
        Check him out on his website
05:37 - The iconic Fourth Doctor
09:38 - Fourth Doctor's longevity
19:55 - The Doctor's relationships
27:20 - Ranking the Doctors
        Spencer: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
        TJ: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1

Fourth Doctor Podcast Series:

• LDS Geeks Podcast #49: Fourth Doctor Companions (1)
  Show Notes: click here
  Spotify: click here
  Apple Podcasts: click here
  
  
• LDS Geeks Podcast #58: Fourth Doctor Adventures (1)
  Show Notes: click here
  Spotify: click here
  Apple Podcasts: click here
  
  
• LDS Geeks Podcast #60: Fourth Doctor Villains
  Show Notes: click here
  Spotify: click here
  Apple Podcasts: click here
  
  
• LDS Geeks Podcast #68: First Doctor Companions (2)
  Show Notes: click here
  Spotify: click here
  Apple Podcasts: click here

Digimon Workout

Full disclosure: My son was born last weekend, so my energy towards our blog, podcast, and social media has been limited. Understandable, but I wanted to put a blog post out there, since I’m a perfectionist. Nothing elaborate but something to get the blood pumping along with some Digital Monsters. Time to get jacked like Exveemon and Leomon. 

Disclaimer: While I am a licensed physical therapy provider, I am not a personal trainer or a medical practitioner. Partner as necessary with your doctor prior to engaging in any diet or excise programs. If any of these exercises cause increased pain, stop the exercise immediately.

• Theme Song - High Knees
• Digimon Analyzer sequence - Seated QL Stretch 10 reps
• Someone digivolves - Squats 10 reps
• Digimon gets destroyed - Hip Flexor Stretch 10 reps
• Someone shouts attack name - Prone Hip Extension 10 reps
• Someone talks about food - Quadruped Hip CARS 10 reps 
• Digivice is shown - Seated Hip Hinge 10 reps 
• Gogglehead talks - Cat/Cow Stretch 10 reps 
• Battle music plays - 90/90 Pushbacks 10 reps 
• Someone makes a pun - Hamstring Curls 10 reps

***This workout is intended to work without any equipment, but feel free to add small dumbbells or bands as you're safely able.

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A New Approach to the Vendor Floor

(Guest Post by Ken)

This was my fifth year attending FanExpo Dallas and bringing my children with me. They’ve become quite enthusiastic fans of the event each year and ask repeatedly when it will be happening to make sure I still plan on bringing them again.

Some of the reasons for their enthusiasm I understand. They love looking at all the cosplay. They love a lot of the activities sponsored for kids (this year’s new addition that became their favorite was a con-themed magic show). They have even enjoyed some of the panel discussions even if those aren’t always geared towards kids. All of those things make sense to me.

And then there is one part they love that does not compute for me at all: the vendor floor. In case you’ve never been a fan convention, the vendor floor constitutes a shockingly large percentage of the total area of the convention filled with literally hundreds of small merchant booths pressed together on either side of surprisingly narrow walkways. The original sales draw of such conventions was comic book, and there are still many of those. But there are also dozens of other specialties: collectible toys, custom art in many shapes and sizes (and 90% of it having a very questionable relationship with trademark law), trading cards, cosplay accessories, custom dice for tabletop RPGs, and much, much more.

Now, some of my children’s enthusiasm I understand because I have let them make some small purchases so years, so I guess at least some of the thrill comes from dad-sponsored shopping (they’ve also sometimes brought some of their own saved-up cash funds to supplement my meager disbursal). But their excitement for the vendor floor is not purely contained to the thrill of spending, because even after they’ve spent what little they have and I’ve supplied, they would choose to remain among the vendors for hours if I let them. And that’s something I could not understand, but I’m trying.

To me, the vendor floor has always been the number one place to try to avoid. It is loud. It is saturated with products to an overstimulating degree. It is claustrophobically crowded to a degree that gives me anxiety and slows one’s pace to a staggering crawl. Finally, it’s entire purpose is to attempt to sell things to you—and I hate being sold to. I get anxiety when salespeople knock on my door or when I see the internet guy staked out at the store trying to get me to switch. The vendor floor is thousands of square feet of salespeople, which I’m pretty sure must constitute one of Dante’s circles of hell.

Nonetheless, whatever their reason, my kids wanted to walk through and look at all the booths and I allowed it in the name of trying to be a good dad. Was it just as crowded and noisy and overstimulating as ever? Absolutely. But somehow this year I managed to hate it less.

What changed? I think it began as I watched my children spend a solid fifteen minutes just perusing in awe through binders of rare collectible Pokémon cards. Watching the wonder on their faces began to alter my perspective on the whole area to frame is less as an overbearing and bizarre bazaar, and more as a museum of fandom. Even if they knew they weren’t going to purchase anything else, my kids loved seeing so many things related to things they are fans of.

I also now have a co-worker who regularly rents booths at these types of events for his custom 3D prints he creates and I’ve started to get a clearer view into the craftsmanship that goes into the creation of so many things presented on the floor. Some of what he designs on his computer and prints is stunning and amazing and I see many examples among the booths of such great artistry that is worth taking some time to admire.

That said, not all booths represent overwhelmingly admirable craftsmanship to admire and the 3D printed wares are a perfect example—some are filled with originally designed items that can be stunning and unique, while others are stocked to the brim with dime-a-dozen downloaded designs they found on the internet with now effort for the same old 3D printed items that are becoming eye-rollingly common. Another worrying trend is the clear increase in AI-slop products I saw this year, which distract and pull attention from the true great work of the real artists who’ve been selling their talents for years since long before AI started threatening their profitability with cheaper, worse products not requiring the same level of attention or care to create.

Will I still get some anxiety next time I visit the vendor floor at a future con? Absolutely. But hopefully I can emulate my children a bit in also approaching it with a bit more of an eye of wonder for the wonderful things created. And if you find yourself on a vendor floor yourself, perhaps with intent to purchase, I recommend lending your patronage to the real artists and not the AI generated knockoffs threatening their livelihoods.

Oh, and for curious minds wondering what my kids purchased this year: they each purchased a classic comic book (the particular choices were Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers, and Wonder Woman) and they found a Lego Minifig vendor from whom they purchased several favorite characters for themselves (Gandalf, Galinda from Wicked, and a Minecraft Chicken) plus a Bluey and Bingo for their youngest siblings still too small for me to bring.

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• "Shopping for My Kids at Fan Expo Dallas" by Spencer
• "Dos and Don'ts of Comic Con" by Ken

8 Classic Doctor Who Memes by Me

TJ and I have finally recorded the last of our Fourth Doctor podcast episodes (release date TBD) but it's about time we get going on our Fifth Doctor viewing again. Until we come out with more podcast content, check out some of these Doctor Who memes that came to me (because I process life with memes) while watching Classic Who.

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Across the Multiverse: Fan Expo Dallas

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(Guest Post by Curtis)

How Dallas Fan Expo Reminded Me That Sometimes the Best Things Aren’t What We’re Searching For

There is something truly awesome about attending a comic convention with friends. For a few hours, the ordinary rules of reality seem to bend. Superheroes walk among us, villains become celebrities, and entire universes collide beneath one convention center roof. At the 2026 Dallas Fan Expo, I found myself surrounded by the incredible worlds of Marvel, DC, anime, gaming, and pop culture. Everywhere I turned, there was another character to recognize, another artist to admire, and another piece of nostalgia waiting to transport me back to childhood.

But I wasn’t there simply to admire the multiverse. I had a mission. I was searching for a Black-Suit Peter Parker Spider-Man Funko Pop for my nephew.

Simple enough, right?

As any superhero fan knows, however, even the simplest missions have a way of becoming origin stories.

The Mission is a (Spider) Man

In the Marvel universe, Peter Parker has worn many suits. The classic red and blue. The advanced technological suits. The Iron Spider armor. And, of course, the iconic black suit, a darker version of the familiar costume that carries its own fascinating history.

The black suit represents something more than a costume change. It symbolizes transformation, hidden potential, and the delicate line between power and responsibility. It is a reminder that even our favorite heroes can become something unexpected when circumstances change.

That made finding the Black-Suit Spider-Man Funko Pop feel like the perfect mission.

I had a specific target in mind, and I was determined to find it. Walking into Fan Expo, I imagined myself navigating a maze of collectible displays, hunting through boxes, scanning shelves, and eventually spotting that unmistakable black-and-white spider emblem.

In my mind, the ending was already written.

My friends and I would locate the figure, secure the prize so I could deliver it to my nephew. Mission accomplished. Heroic music would play somewhere in the background. Somewhere in the multiverse, Peter Parker would give an approving nod.

Unfortunately, reality had a different script.

Searching Through the Multiverse

Dallas Fan Expo was filled with enough collectibles to make even Tony Stark consider expanding his storage space. Vendors displayed everything from rare comics and original artwork to action figures, memorabilia, and Funko Pops representing characters from nearly every corner of popular culture.

Every booth offered another possibility.

I continued searching - maybe the next vendor would have it. Maybe the figure was hiding behind another character. Maybe one more aisle would bring me face-to-face with exactly what I had come to find.

But the Black-Suit Peter Parker Spider-Man remained elusive.

Eventually, I encountered a figure that wasn’t what I had envisioned: a Venomized Miles Morales Funko Pop.

Now, if you’re familiar with Marvel, you know Miles Morales is already an extraordinary character. He represents a new generation of Spider-Man, proving that the mask can belong to more than one person and that heroism isn’t restricted to a single identity. Add the visual influence of Venom, and you get something that feels like a collision between two powerful forces.

It was certainly cool. It was also not the figure I had been searching for.

/My original plan had been straightforward: find Black-Suit Peter Parker, buy Black-Suit Peter Parker, give Black-Suit Peter Parker to my nephew. Venomized Miles Morales wasn’t part of the plan.

But sometimes the universe doesn’t care about your plan.

The Unexpected Plot Twist

I brought home the Venomized Miles Morales Funko Pop and mailed it off, and here’s where the story took a turn worthy of a Marvel post-credits scene.

My nephew liked it even more than the figure I had originally intended to find.

The thing I hadn’t been looking for turned out to be the better choice.

I had spent my time focused on one particular outcome, convinced that I knew exactly what would make the mission a success. Yet the actual outcome exceeded my expectations in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

In superhero storytelling, we often see this happen when a character’s journey takes an unexpected turn. Peter Parker doesn’t always get the life he wants. Tony Stark doesn’t always emerge from a battle with the outcome he planned. The Avengers themselves discover that saving the universe sometimes requires abandoning the strategy they thought would work.

The detours become part of the story.

My little Funko Pop adventure wasn’t exactly an Avengers-level threat, but the lesson was surprisingly familiar.

I went looking for one thing and found something else. And the person I was trying to make happy preferred the unexpected discovery.

Sometimes, the plot twist is the point.

The Problem With Having a Script

How often do we approach life the same way I did at Dallas Fan Expo?

We identify something we want, create a mental picture of what success looks like, and begin working toward it. We establish a destination, develop a strategy, and convince ourselves that happiness is waiting at the end of that particular road.

Maybe it’s a job we believe will finally make us successful. A relationship we think will complete our story. A business opportunity we are certain will change everything. A particular milestone, possession, or achievement that becomes the centerpiece of our expectations.

There is nothing wrong with having goals. In fact, goals give us direction. Without them, we risk wandering through life without ever pursuing the things that matter to us.

The problem begins when we become so attached to one version of success that we stop recognizing it in other forms.

We become convinced that there is only one acceptable ending. In the language of the multiverse, we fixate on a single timeline and forget that countless other possibilities might exist.

What if the job you didn’t get would have kept you from an opportunity better suited to your talents? What if the door that closed forced you to discover a skill you never knew you possessed? What if the plan that fell apart was making room for something you couldn’t have imagined when you first started?

We cannot always know the significance of a detour while we’re living through it. Sometimes, all we can see is the thing we didn’t get.

Every Universe Has a Different Story

One of the most fascinating ideas in superhero fiction is the multiverse: the possibility that countless versions of reality exist, each containing different choices, consequences, and outcomes.

In one universe, Peter Parker might make one decision. In another, he might choose differently. Each path creates a different story, with its own victories, losses, and unexpected discoveries.

Our lives aren’t quite as neatly divided into comic-book panels, but the metaphor is powerful.

Every decision opens certain doors and closes others. Every unexpected circumstance creates possibilities we might never have considered. And every disappointment can become the beginning of a story we didn’t know we needed to tell.

We spend so much time wondering what would have happened if we’d gotten the thing we wanted that we sometimes overlook the beauty of what actually happened.

Perhaps the opportunity we missed wasn’t our only chance at happiness. Perhaps the person we met by accident will become one of the most important people in our lives. Perhaps the alternative we initially dismissed will eventually become the very thing we’re grateful we discovered.

We don’t have to believe that everything happens for a reason to recognize that something meaningful can come from an unexpected outcome.

Sometimes, life doesn’t give us the ending we requested. It gives us the opportunity to write a different one. And occasionally, that ending is even better.

Keep Searching, But Stay Open

My experience at Dallas Fan Expo didn’t teach me to abandon my goals or stop pursuing the things I want. I’ll probably keep an eye out for that Black-Suit Peter Parker Funko Pop, because the hunt isn’t necessarily over.

But I walked away with something more valuable than the collectible I had originally imagined buying.

I was reminded that the purpose of a mission isn’t always limited to the object we’re pursuing. Sometimes, the real reward is the experience, the discovery, or the happiness we get to share with loved ones along the way.

I went to Dallas searching for one Spider-Man and came home with another. My nephew was happier than I expected, and I gained a reminder that will stay with me long after each year’s convention floor is packed away.

So, by all means, set your goals. Chase your dreams. Put on the suit, study the map, and embark on the adventure. Just don’t become so obsessed with finding your Black-Suit Spider-Man that you overlook the Venomized Miles Morales standing right in front of you. Because life is full of unexpected crossovers, alternate timelines, and plot twists that no amount of planning could have predicted.

You may be pursuing one particular future, convinced that it is the only one worth having. But somewhere along the journey, you might discover an opportunity, a relationship, an experience, or a new direction that makes you grateful things didn’t go according to plan.

And maybe that’s the real superpower: not controlling every outcome, but having the courage to recognize something extraordinary when it appears in an unexpected form.

After all, even the greatest superheroes don’t always get to choose how their stories unfold.

They simply have to decide what they’ll do next.

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