Fanfic The Mandalorian Reunification Arc
SPOILERS!
This story keeps improving the longer it goes in combining Legends, Canon, the MCU and regular marvel lore together. And one great aspect of that is the reinterpretation of the Mandalorian problems. Namely, that it's a Mêlée à Trois with 3 different factions all interested in changing how things currently are for their "people". Whether it's the reactionary Death Watch, the revolutionary New Mandalorians, or the Reformist Protectors, all are interested in changing how their people are perceived in the galaxy. To bring peace, strength, fear, or honor to their faction. But then Ultron unleashed hell on the galaxy, and despite her own beliefs, Satine decides to make a change in herself and her policy. Bending slightly, and calling for a summit back on the home world to negotiate a new truce with both factions.
In part, that's why the "Unification Arc" is so good. Spanning chapters 66 to 68, it's an unexpected direction to develop the ongoing Mandalorians, and have them actually interact in person with each other.
It's a small step for the Protectors, who do want to grow their influence and aren't directly hostile to the New Mandalorians. It's a big step for Bo-Katan, the prodigal sister. As her escape and time in service was also a moment to begin seeing that she can be more than what she's made for herself. Thus beginning a new arc as a breakaway from the Death Watch.
But in all the groups joining, it's also continuing to lay the seeds for how The Avengers reunited the galaxy in friendship. For in traveling, MCU: Vision makes it back to his friends alongside the protectors. The team also meets the Guardians of the Galaxy for the first time, connecting those 2 superhero teams formally. And since HK-47 is also around, it furthers the "ancient history" arcs with his holocron.
The Mandalorian cameos are..fine. Greef was best cameo in showing how the Ravagers are elevating themselves alongside the bounty hunting guild. Though I also like the little things of Boba meeting lead clones and Obi Wan again. A tale of 2 peters. Matt continuing to vex Bo-Katan.
But the best part of the arc was that the panic and danger that Ultron unleashed on the Summit was a great way to show how the old feelings MUST be put aside in order to survive a present where the Robot War is a real, present fear. Especially since he's also a thief. And thus, against all odds, the Summit creates a grand truce between most Mandalorians. This then promises some subtle shifts in the directions of Spar's teams, Satine and Bo for their arcs. Bo as a redeemer for Death Watch. Satine beginning to accept the violence as a part of her people and herself. Spar's trio finding a new chance to appreciate the home world and bring the clan history together for all mandalorians to enjoy.
While the arc might have its small problems, its part in the grand narrative is fun, engaging and a worthy part of the Infinite Wars.
Fanfic Improves Significantly From Rough Beginnings
I'll admit it: I was a sceptic of this fic, mostly because it seemed unwieldy and such fics always risk either overpowering one side or the other to make them look cooler, or forcing a power level equality. I'm a crossover fiend and an extremely picky one. Eventually, I gave it a chance, thinking it overrated.
Rarely have I ever been so wrong. Rarely have I ever been so very glad to be so.
It is rough to begin with, and frankly, the copy-editing is a bit of a consistent problem: it could be neatened up considerably. However, all that would be doing is polishing a diamond, one that shines pretty brightly all by itself.
The author knows their Marvel lore, their Star Wars lore, and more importantly, how to deploy that lore to best effect. I don't necessarily agree on some of the interpretations of the Star Wars stuff, but that's personal opinion, and damn if they don't make it interesting nevertheless.
They interweave the fandoms very neatly and provide a neat ripple effect on both sides of the crossover, merging the backgrounds carefully and very cleverly (the Force is the tip of an iceberg better known as the Power Cosmic). Not only that, but they maintain a huge cast while giving everyone a day in the limelight, multiple plotlines that could easily be The Stations of the Canon or 'X Film/Episode With X Characters' and instead diverge in interesting yet familiar ways, adding unexpected twists, and allowing all sides to shine.
Oh, and in Ultron, who retains his MCU offbeat wit mixed with savagery and adds some of the cold-blooded megalomaniacal viciousness of his 616 counterpart, he provides a truly horrifying villain. Seriously, this fic's version of the character is High Octane Nightmare Fuel incarnate, a Mechanical Abomination of the highest order.
More to the point, the character work is very strong. Your mind readily conjures images of this as an episode or a show. Again, I have one or two minor gripes: I will admit that throuples really are not my thing, so I'm not overly enthusiastic about it, but I'm willing to go with it. It doesn't dent my enjoyment.
An excellent fic. I give it 7.5 out of 10, because it could be neatened up and I am incredibly picky about grammar, editing, and occasional spelling. With that, it would easily be 9 out of 10. On story quality alone, however, it's easily a 9 and it ranks as one of the best crossovers I've ever read.