February Is Fantasy Month Challenge!: in which kenzie screams about fandoms (oh no)

good morning, cyberspace!

Somehow–whether it’s by luck or sheer force of will–we survived my least favorite month of the year (*hisses vaguely at January*) and have arrived upon one of my favorites: February! I don’t know what it is about February that I love so much. Perhaps it’s the fact that everywhere you look, things are pink and purple and heart-shaped. Perhaps it’s that February First signifies the fact that I actually survived January, which has been habitually known for being the worst month of the year for me.

Or perhaps it’s the fact that every year, the internet explodes with a whole assortment of fantastical blogs and social media posts, because–as those in this circle of the internets know–February is Fantasy Month! And obviously anything to do with Fantasy deserves to be celebrated!

Back in 2016, the ever-lovely Jenelle Schmidt created Fantasy Month, and every year since, there have been prompts and blog posts and a whole host of fantasticalness to celebrate! And this year, I’ve decided to actually commit to participating all month long!

Or…sort of all month long? I’m not sure that all of my posts this month are going to be fantastical, but WE SHALL SEE, PEASANTS! (mwahahahahahaha)

I’m also going to be talking about all things fantasy over on my Instagram, so if you like pretty pictures to go along with my incoherent fantasy squealings, I’d highly recommend checking that out, as well!

But for today, I’m going to be answering all seven prompts in Jenelle’s #fantasymonth challenge! So if me screaming about fantasy fandoms sounds like a good way to spend the next six minutes, stay tuned, because we’re about to dive deep into my fandom past!

>>> <<<

i. what was the first fandom you fell into?

Uggggggh… This is a really tough question! (which doesn’t bode well since this is the first one. XD) Honestly–though I think this is going to be the answer that many bloggers give–I think the first fandom that I truly fell head over heels in love with was Harry Potter. There truly is no describing my obsession with not only that book series, but the movies, the characters, the video games. Anything and everything Harry Potter, I absolutely devoured. And I’m happy to say that even though it’s been years and years and years since I first discovered this fandom, I’m still just as in love with it as I was when I first fell down that rabbit hole.

I don’t think anything can truly compare to my overwhelming love for the world of Harry Potter. It takes me back to a time when anything was possible, and rereading those stories and revisiting that world is like stepping back in time to my childhood.

ii. what is the most recent fandom you’ve become a part of?

Bold of you to assume that I can remember the fandoms I enter on a daily basis. XD

I mean, to be perfectly honest, though I’m obsessive and fangirl about a LOT of things, I must admit that most of the fandoms I’m a part of, I’ve been a part of for years. I don’t generally develop hardcore obsessions very easily, but when I do … well. Let’s just say that I take my obsessions to the extreme.

So in regards to this question, in order for me to count something as one of my fandoms, it has to hold the same weight as Sherlock, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, etc… Which obviously means that I talk about it at least once per day, possess multiple merch items from within said fandom, and become over-excitable whenever such a fandom is mentioned within general conversation.

It’s a difficult bar to hit, which probably explains why nothing has been hitting it recently.

However… I HAVE started watching FMA: Brotherhood with my friend, Phoebe, and LET ME TELL YOU, FOLKS. This show is very nearly becoming one of those obsessive fandoms. I haven’t collected any merch yet, but I desperately want to continue watching it and–potentially, since this is a genre I’m very skeptical on–read some of the graphic novels that go along with them. And also collect merch.

All of the merch.

(“cAn I eAt ThEm NoW?”)

iii. star wars or star trek?

Star….

….

….

….

….

….

….

….

Wars.

I honestly don’t know if I trust anyone who chooses Star Trek over Star Wars*. I’d have to do a thorough examination of our friendship if they prefer Spock to R2D2.

(*pssh, lies. but also I will convert you.)

iv. marvel or DC?

Oh, absolutely Marvel! I mean, how can you choose anything other than Iron Man and Spider Man and Thor and Loki and Black Widow and Hawkeye? Batman is great–don’t get me wrong–but Marvel is forever and always where my heart will be.

(also can we just pretend that Endgame never happened? Because I’m totally down for choosing to believe that whole fiasco was just a nightmare my pre-apocalyptic brain dreamt up one night for my sheer amusement.)

v. what is a fandom you love enough to want to live inside that world?

This one may garner some strange looks from acquaintances, but Alice In Wonderland. 100%, hands down. I can’t even tell you when my adoration for this story first began, but I have a vague feeling it happened sometime around 2010, when Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland officially hit theaters.

Coincidentally, I also think this is when my obsession with all things Tim Burton first began, so really I have Alice In Wonderland to thank for introducing me to the world of Tim Burton, and also for showing me that it’s perfectly normal to be perfectly weird.

And not only that, but can you imagine living in the same world as the Mad Hatter and Absalom and the Bandersnatch? I want to paint roses red and cut off heads and wear floofy blue dresses and wonderful hats and have slightly insane tea parties. It would just be so magical and beautiful and impossible–the perfect combination. And you wouldn’t have to worry about sane people coming ’round and ruining your fun, because everyone in Wonderland is perfectly unsane.

I just … I love Wonderland. I would live there for an eternity, if I could.

vi. if you could hang out with a character from one of your fandoms, who would it be and why?

I mean, aside from the obvious (since, you know … he’s a villain and also quite possibly psychotic), I’d probably have to choose The Doctor. Who, granted, isn’t any less insane, but at least you know his intentions are good. XD

I’ve always had this wild fantasy of becoming part of the Doctor Who family, actually–whether that’s by someday writing episodes for the show or by starring as a background cameo–and although the logical part of my brain knows that this will most likely never happen, he’s constantly overshadowed by the much larger, wilder side of myself which feeds off delusions and the most unbridled of fantasies.

However, even if my dream of writing for Doctor Who never happens–which it mostly likely will not–at least I can still choose to spend a Day with the Doctor. Which will most likely end up being years, because time travel travel and time-space continuums and all that wibbly wobbly … timey-wimey … stuff.

(my mom would like to add the comment that I would absolutely NOT pick the Doctor, and would, in fact, choose Moriarty. whether or not I want to, I must admit she’s probably correct in this assessment. but alas. I’ve already typed up my answer, and therefore we are sticking with it. XD)

vii. unknown fandom (something you love but nobody else seems to have heard of)

Um…

Narrator: and it was within this exact moment that Kenzie realized she’s a most basic peasant, and therefore knows nothing unique or unknown

So. This is awkward. Tbh, I’m not that unique in my fandoms. I like a lot of overhyped things, which honestly makes me rather lame. BUT. I talked to my writing group, and they sort of collectively agreed that The Lunar Chronicles is a lesser known fandom, so therefore THAT IS MY ANSWER.

Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely ADORE The Lunar Chronicles. Cress and Thorne and Iko and Cinder and Kai and Jacin and Winter and Scarlet and Wolf … they are all my precious children, and I adore them with my whole entire heart. (also would 10/10 murder a small man to get to play Cress in the live-action remake but YA KNOW. Previous obligations and whatnot)

Also–and I only just remembered this one–the show Fringe is definitely another fandom of mine, and literally no one seems to know about it whenever I bring it up in conversation. (also this one is lowkey science-fiction, so whether or not it actually counts is highly up for debate. but since this is more fandom-themed than fantasy-themed, I’m going to assume that it does…? yes…? *nervous sweating*)

I also think Kyle Robert Shultz’s Afterverse is highly underrated, especially by people outside of this wonderful writing community, so could we PLEASE get this man the recognition he so clearly deserves? Please and thank you.

>>> <<<

And that, my friends, was the #FantasyMonth challenge! Definitely check out Jenelle’s blog for more Fantasy Month goodness, and also keep an eye out on instagram for more fantasy-ish-ness from me! (and also the blog, obviously. but I have some fun behind-the-scenes ideas for my instagram that I’m really excited to experiment with! Whether they’ll actually turn out is another thing entirely, but we shall see. XD)

talk to me, peasants!

what are some of your favorite fantastical things? do you enjoy overhyped fandoms, or do you prefer to find the obscure and anonymous before pledging your loyalty? what was the first fandom YOU ever fell in love with?

Let’s talk about ALL of the fandom-y/fantasy things down in the comments below! And as always, until next time…

*flings cookies in the air and disappears*