Hey, everybody! Antoni, here, and I present to you all yet another piece of fanart I did with Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup aka The Reds and The Greens aka my four most favorite characters ever aka My Four Favorite Bruisers of All Time. What better way for these two couples, who happen to black belts in karate, judo, and several other martial arts, to start their day than with getting themselves into their gis, spar with each other, and culminate everything with a grand dragon flying kick to the dawn-hued heavens. In this pic, Brick and Butch are 25 going on 26, and Blossom and Buttercup are 25. Before getting myself to draw this, I had to be very specific on how the famous dragon flying kick looked like, as in where the arm and feet positions are. Plus, it’s one martial arts move that has fascinated me, whether I see this done in video games, anime, movies, or even see stunt people do this. In terms of positioning my dear friends, Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup, I had to make sure that each of them was seen. I originally intended their positioning to be in a sort of diagonal line. However, that would’ve been tough to accomplish. So, as a solution to fill up the sketchpad, I had the Reds be positioned on the left and the Greens positioned on the right, and the results were more than satisfactory. Plus, their gis and general attire were mainly inspired by the likes of Ryu and Ken Masters from the Street Fighter franchise because I happen to be a huge Street Fighter fan as well. I would also like to dedicate this picture to Blossom’s voice actress, Catherine Cavadini, who is celebrating her birthday today, as well as Buttercup’s, Butch’s, and Brick’s voice actors, Elizabeth Daily, Roger L. Jackson, and Rob Paulsen, as they all did amazing jobs portraying these characters from my childhood so wonderfully. I hope you all enjoy this piece of fanart I did. It took time but I ultimately enjoyed making this. Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup from The Powerpuff Girls belong to Craig McCracken.
Butch/Buttercup
Hello, once again! Antoni aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender, here with another Reds-centered fanfic. As promised, I will be taking a look at the sequel to Wedding Madness, Baby Madness, written once again by crazycatmommy and published on January 16, 2017. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It’s Romance/Humor. It’s in fourteen chapters, and the main pairing is, obviously, Brick/Blossom. Other pairings featured here are Butch/Buttercup and Boomer/Bubbles. Other characters featured are Professor Utonium, Miss Keane, Miss Bellum, Robin, Mary, and Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory. There are also some OCs in the forms of Blossom’s co-worker Stuart, Dr. Rosenstein, and some other co-workers of Brick and Blossom. Since the story takes place some months after the Wedding Madness in the span of a year, the main characters are between 22 and 23 to 23 and 24. Well, folks, the Reds have struck again, along with the Greens and the Blues. As you can tell by the fanfic title, Blossom is going to give birth after that cliffhanger in Wedding Madness. With that said, let’s get on to what I thought about Baby Madness. Brick and Blossom are excited and anxious that they are going be parents to their newborn baby but they are not sure of the baby’s gender. Butch and Buttercup are confident it’s going to be a boy. Whereas Boomer and Bubbles are confident it’s going to be a girl. What follows is a wager between Brick’s and Blossom’s younger siblings thus being excited to be uncles and aunties to the newborn child, loads of baby shower preparations in courtesy of Bubbles, an ex-boyfriend in the form of Dexter coming to see Blossom, Professor Utonium being excited about the prospect as a grandfather, Boomer’s and Bubbles’ upcoming wedding in Disney World, and the pangs of pregnancy as experienced by Blossom. By and large, I consider this story an exceptional follow-up to Wedding Madness. It maintains its charm, humor, great buildup, and interest, and I dare not spoil the ending, as it is very heartwarming, sweet, adorable and a great way to wrap everything up. Even more so, I almost teared up in the ending. When all is said and done, this story left me wanting more, as I was thoroughly entertained, touched, and let’s just say I loved everything about it from beginning to end. Seeing that this is also a story of a woman getting pregnant, this is also handled with such thought, care, and sensitivity, especially considering the research and hard work crazycatmommy put into understanding about special classes like the Lamaze technique. To top it all off, there were even some references to the original Powerpuff Girls episodes and those were Mime for a Change, Knock it Off, and Cover Up for all the hardcore PPG fans out there. The characters certainly developed magnificently from the prequel. My heart really went out for Brick in this fanfic. He certainly grew into a mature, wise, caring, emphatic, noble, loving, hardworking, and steadfast husband to Blossom and father-to-be for the new baby. He even proves himself to be an excellent cook making healthy meals for not only Blossom but for the pair of them. I literally rooted for him and Blossom to make it through this particular ordeal and I couldn’t be any happier. Blossom proves herself to be a devoted, strong, steadfast, loving, loyal, and awesome wife to Brick. During her pregnancy, she had one moment where she exploded at Brick. However, what comes after this will leave one with a huge grin. As a mother-to-be, she does have her anxieties in terms of how she will look during and after childbirth and how healthy their child will be. One also has to leave it up to her loving husband, Brick, to ensure that everything will be all right and she can put her faith in him. As a married couple, these two have excellently heartwarming chemistry. Gone is the bickering from their childhood, as it has made way to pure genuine love and support for each other. In sickness and in health, these two leaders have each others’ backs all step of the way. Butch has toned down his impulsivity and still manages to be charming and hilarious, in an occasionally irreverent manner. Even more so, he ended up being happily married to Buttercup after everything they went through. Moreover, Butch is a supportive, kind, and loyal brother to Brick, and a good brother-in-law to Blossom, even though he can be cheeky, with the whole prosthetic belly dare to Brick. Buttercup has also toned down her stubbornness and impulsivity, and she continues to have Blossom’s back when it came to taking her to her Lamaze class. Even though it was only mentioned, Buttercup states that even though she calls Butch rude names on some occasions, they always make love to each other to compensate for all crazy crap that happened. Even more so, that trademark tomboyish spark she has never dissipated, which has consistently made her endearing. Boomer has proven himself to be an endearing, loving, and totally caring fiancé to Bubbles. It was clear as night and day that these two will eventually end up together, in terms of their plans of getting married in Disneyworld Florida. Sure, he does keep his cheekiness, but it’s done in a way that makes him amusing as a character. Once again, Bubbles steals the show. She goes out of her way to make sure the baby shower will be absolutely perfect. Sure, her whole preparation schtick does feel like a rehash of the one in Wedding Madness, but it’s really nice to see someone who takes the full initiative to make her eldest sister happy. Bubbles still manages to be a good listener to Blossom’s suggestions, even though she is fully confident that the newborn baby will be a girl. Professor Utonium maintains his trademark benevolence as a father to his…
Hey, everybody! Antoni aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender with a Reds-centered fanfic. I’m taking a look at Wedding Madness, which was written by crazycatmommy, published on December 8, 2016, and last updated on January 16, 2017. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It has sixteen chapters. It’s Romance/Humor and aside from Brick and Blossom as the main couple, there is also Butch/Buttercup and Boomer/Bubbles. Other characters involved are Professor Utonium, Miss Keane, Miss Bellum, Robin Snyder, Mary, the chubby girl who is one of the girls’ kindergarten classmates, and Mitch Mitchelson. There are also some OCs in the forms of Candace, Butch’s rebound girlfriend, Jeff, Buttercup’s rebound boyfriend, Sarah the saleslady from Bijou and Belle’s Bridal, Claire the manager of Tasty Cakes, and a teenage girl, who I presume is the intern or someone with a part-time job. Even more so, Brick, Butch, Blossom, Buttercup, Boomer, and Bubbles are between 22 to 23. If I were not obvious already, I now turn my attention to Brick and Blossom also known as the Reds. Whether one likes them as a couple or finds this pairing overrated, there’s no doubt that their dynamics have something rather interesting. Sure, in the TV show, their relationship was antagonistic at best, given the fact that Brick is impulsive, prone to anger, a bully, a major troublemaker, yet has enough street smarts to survive and Blossom is book smart, rational, intelligent, and strong-minded, but let’s not forget, they were about 5 or 6 years old and they were certainly not yet ready to be in an age where they can be together. In terms of how they are usually portrayed as teenagers or young adults mostly in fanfics and fanart, they seem to have this will they or will they not type of dynamic. Partly because they are the eldest and they have to deal with their younger siblings the best they can every single day, in spite of arguments and disagreements, and partly because of their roles as leaders, as they have to constantly face the burden of their responsibilities to not only their family but also the City of Townsville, even though Brick and Butch would usually be assigned in the anti-hero parts with Boomer mostly leaning towards hero. Even more so, they tend to not have the usually clichéd fairy-tale romance, as they are tested to look beyond their personal biases, do what they can to keep the totality of their team together and do what they can to set examples not only as leaders but as the eldest children. Brick, at least according to a lot of shippers, would even grow up to be as smart as Blossom, as he wisened up from his previous life as an impulsive punk and can be more than what he has bargained for, to say the least. All in all, in terms of fan work, unlike Boomer’s and Bubbles’ sentimental, sweet, yet syrupy romance and Butch’s and Buttercup’s Takahashi-level belligerent sexual tension where they are constantly bickering and going back together, Brick’s and Blossom’s relationship grows at a steady yet realistic rate, showing how being in a relationship can be tough if one is not on the same page, if old wounds are in desperate need of healing, and if one is really willing to grow up and take full responsibility for everything one does as an individual and as a couple. Okay, enough of my rambling, let’s get on to what I thought about this fanfic. It seems incredible that Brick and Blossom have been dating for five years. Granted this transition was not at all easy, due to their turbulent past as enemies when they were kids and as teenagers, they ended up matriculating in the same high school. Through this turn of events, Brick and Blossom steadily ended up being good friends, as she was still in a relationship with Dexter. However, she decided to break up with him after some derogatory remarks directed not only at Blossom but her sisters too. Come one day at Brick’s soccer match does he make the move on Blossom to be his girlfriend and all the way up until college, with Brick being in a community college and Blossom in Yale, he decides to give her a romantic trip to Paris for two, as a graduation present. Whilst in Paris, he then proposes to her and Blossom joyously accepts. The news has been spread to their siblings and the wedding preparations are being put into motion in courtesy of Bubbles. What follows is a gamut of madcap activities from Butch’s and Buttercup’s break up leading them to try to get back at each other with their respective rebound partners while still harboring feelings for each other, Bubbles trying desperately to make the wedding plans as perfect as possible, Boomer’s love for Bubbles ever increasing, and Brick and Blossom just doing what they can to keep it together. This story is an absolutely fun blend of humor, romance, and truly genuine and heartwarming moments, enough for one to feel so fuzzy inside. Speaking of the humor, it also functions as a sort of comedy of errors. From Butch and Buttercup setting up strippers for the main couple to the cake fight to Brick and Blossom not being able to tolerate their siblings’ tomfoolery to the main couple’s romantic moment of intimacy being interrupted by Butch’s whining to even the main couple attempting to elope in Paris, there are a lot of moments where I did find myself laughing. I dare not spoil the ending but let’s just say that it’s not only greatly satisfying seeing our three favorite couples together, especially the main one, but it managed to wrap everything up so blissfully and warmheartedly. Even more so, the ending gives the reader a major hint that there will be a continuation. By and large, the story was charming, rollickingly fun, and it’s almost reminiscent of such films like The…
Hello, once again! Antoni, here, aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender back with another recommendation starring the Greens and co-starring the Reds. It is called She Ain’t You written by SilverTonguedHunter and published on June 18, 2014. It’s rated T. It’s in English and the genre is Drama/Hurt/Comfort. All the characters here are in their mid-to-late teens. The Greens have struck again in this fanfic and they have been joined by the Reds. So, let’s not waste any time and get on with it, shall we? Butch, feeling like Buttercup has been inaccessible to him, as she broke up with him, decides to see other girls. However, there is one problem. They do not measure up to Buttercup’s brand of femininity, and as a resolve, he dumps his latest fling, while having coffee. The question remains if Butch really wants to rekindle with Buttercup, with Brick’s pep talk propelling him to do so. By and large, this story is simple, short, and sweet, as it is a one-shot. It did not need to complicate nor convolute things. However, if you ask me, I would’ve loved to have a little more development, as to why Butch is the way he is. The scene that really stood out to me was, undoubtedly, Brick’s pep talk to Butch, more on him later when I talk about the characters. As to be expected, it is absolutely lovely to see Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup in this particular one-shot. Butch serves as our flawed hero who can’t stand Buttercup and her indifference towards him. In spite of that, his feelings for her grow and grow, to the point where he is sick and tired of all of these insipid flings with the other girls. Despite everything they do or say to each other, he knows that Buttercup might just be his Mrs. Right, but he is hesitant to think that. Plus, it’s also nice that Butch’s impulsive nature was intact, making him all the more balanced as a character. Brick plays his role as the wiser older brother, given that he is in a stable relationship with Blossom. He makes sure that Butch does not do anything foolish or worth regretting. He serves as the only sane man to Butch’s impulsivity, which is something I find very endearing. Blossom only appears in the middle, as she and Brick were having a little session with each other departs to be in her room studying. She does keep her sweetness and diligence intact, but it would’ve been nice if she had a say on this in terms of her sister, as she has known all her life. I’m very sure she could have given Butch that extra push to go back to Buttercup so that they can rekindle their broken relationship. Speaking of Buttercup, she appears in the beginning and the end. There is no shadow of a doubt that she kept her brand of sarcasm in the first part, but it would’ve also been nice if she were given a lot more development. By and large, the story is well-woven and well-written. However, there was one grammatical I spotted near the ending and that was the phrase “much to her upset”, which should have been replaced as “much to her annoyance or displeasure”. In spite of that, I spotted no other mistakes. Overall, this was a rather nice and short Butch/Buttercup-centered fanfic. Even though it could’ve benefitted from more character development, I still think it’s a worthy read if you are a Greens fan. With that said, I give this fanfic an A. Some slight things do need to be fixed up, but otherwise, go read it. You might feel charmed by its simplicity. Well, that’s all for now. Tune in later for a Brick/Blossom-centered fanfic called Wedding Madness, which was written by crazycatmommy. Until then, this is Antoni aka the Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup FanFiction Critic and Recommender wishing you all a most pleasant day. She Ain’t You by SilverTonguedHunter
Hey, everybody! Antoni, here, with another Powerpuff Girls fanfiction recommendation. I’ll be taking a look at Loosen up Buttercup written by xxTommiexx, published on March 26, 2013, and updated on June 24 of the same year. It’s rated T. It’s in English. It’s in 12 chapters and the main pairing is Butch/Buttercup with some hints of Brick/Blossom and Boomer/Bubbles. Other characters involved are Mitch Mitchelson, Princess Morbucks, and Dexter from Dexter’s Laboratory. All the characters in the fanfic are teenagers between 17 to 18 years old, and for that, there will be swearing to be found in this fanfic. Ah, Butch and Buttercup. When it comes to fanworks involving the greens, they have an interesting dynamic. A lot of people interpret their relationship as on-and-off with a lot of belligerent sexual tension enough to give any Takahashi couple a run for their money. And boy, do I enjoy Butchercup like there’s no tomorrow. When one combines Butch’s untamed bruiser nature with Buttercup’s tomboyish bruiser cuteness, it’s certainly a fun yet dysfunctional pair up of great interest, as there is neither a dull nor syrupy moment to be found with them. One can tell that with pairings like this and Blossick it’s not easy being in a relationship and it’s no fairy tale, as things need to be patched up for reconciliation’s sakes and it takes a lot for two people to be on the same page no matter how tough or demanding circumstances may be. With that said, let’s get on to what I thought about the fanfic. Butch and Buttercup have been in a relationship for what seems to be barely a year. Prior to this, a freak accident occurred in Professor Utonium’s laboratory, which decreased Townsville’s crime rate as well as turned the Rowdyruff Boys into the side of good. Throughout the course of the story, Butch’s and Buttercup’s relationship is constantly being put to the test riddled with an old flame Buttercup had at the beginning of her high school years and abundant trust issues. Thus, causing the two to be at odds with each other, especially where Buttercup’s attitude is concerned. Meanwhile, Brick, Blossom, Boomer, and Bubbles are doing their very best to ensure that Butch’s and Buttercup’s relationship does not go haywire. This story is essentially The Powerpuff Girls meets The OC, 90210, and many other teen melodrama you can think of, given the will they or will they not situation that Butch and Buttercup find themselves in. I will give the story credit for not sugar coating how tough being in a relationship really is, as arguments will occur, trust between a couple will be tested, and there will be a tendency to be defensive when push comes to shove. The first chapter could have used an establishing paragraph to indicate where and what time does the action takes place, who are the main characters and how do they present themselves, and what is the overall mood in the beginning. Just going straight into dialogue ruins the initial world building the story has to offer. Then there is the whole reveal in the climax in terms of the Rowdyruff Boys and the Powerpuff Girls powers, which was an exposition dump of what really happened, and the possibility of a sequel, which was never made. I’m very sure xxTommiexx wanted to focus particularly on Butch’s and Buttercup’s roller coaster of a relationship, but it would’ve been nice if the whole backstory were more fleshed out from the beginning and if there were also a continuation of this whole story in the form of a separate story, as the ending, though well done, made me feel like I could have wanted more. I do have some favorite moments in this fanfic such as Buttercup adamantly telling Butch to stop smoking in both the flashback in Chapter 2 and after Butch’s beatdown with Mitch in Chapter 5, as she does care a great deal for him, in spite of her crabby outer shell. Even small moments like the flashback of her and Butch watching a soccer game, Blossom’s pep talk to Buttercup, as well as Brick’s and Boomer’s word of friendship are enough to make me feel elated. Let’s not forget about Butch’s and Mitch’s fight in Chapter 5, which I do have playing on my head. In terms of the final chapter, I am not going to spoil it, but let’s just say that it was really sweet and it put a nice smile on my face for our main couple. The characters all maintained their charm with a few tweaks. To say that Butch is the designated male hero dampens the overall quality of his characterization presented in this fanfic. He keeps his impulsive, brawns first nature to a T, yet it is coupled with his brand of nobility, sensitivity, and charm, which make him all the more lovable and diverse as a male protagonist to the point where I not only admire him but root for him as well. He is a flawed hero, who does his best to protect Buttercup from any ills, and I really love his characterization in this fanfic. It is so simple to mark Buttercup as pushy and easily defensive, but as the toughest fighter, needing help from others as well as putting her guard down are not things she is bent on doing. Some people, whether it would be Butch, Blossom, or even Mitch, call her out on it. It’s nice to see that the author kept her tough, tomboyish, fiercely independent, sarcastic yet impulsive and at times cynical front intact, and couple that with a few moments of sensitivity and relatability. I, as the reader, was completely invested with Butch’s and Buttercup’s roller coaster of a relationship. They love each other to bits, yet they break up and get back together, and it’s a crazy ride these two go through. But, like I said, their romance is not an idealistic fairy-tale, it’s real and at times raw,…