8. Fandom Has The Keys To The Internet
Marvel StudiosEver since 2012 saw The Avengers assemble, fandoms been quietly going berserk over the all-new possibilities involved in shipping the Marvel franchise. Not sure what fandom or shipping means? Oh, you
are new. Heres a little primer: fandom is a subculture that comes together when fans of a book, television show, movie or similar franchise develop emotional attachments to the characters and stories and form online communities specifically to share the love: often involving ideas, stories and images of their own, even dressing up as their favourite imaginary friends at conventions and gatherings in real life. Its creative, fun and social or obsessive, weird and creepy, depending both on the individual fan and on your own point of view. Although fandom tends to revolve around the science fiction/fantasy community in the 21st century, you can make a valid argument that trainspotters and birdwatchers fall into the same category of fan community. Shipping is what happens when members of a specific fandom decide that, come hell or high water, two characters are destined to be together. Pictures are drawn and painted. Photoshop gets a workout (photoshippers?). Stories are written, often rather pornographically. Got it? Good. The ship-du-jour is, of course, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, aka Iron Man and The Hulk although we should point out, for your peace of mind, that people arent interested in seeing an enormous green rage monster and a tin man sharing a tub of Ben & Jerrys with one spoon. No, its Stark and Banner, played by RDJ and Ruffalo, that has the kids a-quiver. And both actors are fully aware of this theyve played up the quasi-homoerotic undertones of their bromance in interviews and pictures taken together ever since, even before they became aware of the huge online following that Stanner Truce Brony actually, what
do they call it? Anyway. The Iron Man 3 post-credits scene revealing that Starks narrative voiceover throughout the film was actually him telling the story to Banner (unaware that the good doctor had dozed off) just added the cherry on top. The Avengers sequel is going to make the internet
explode.