Quite frankly, I couldn’t choose between these two vids. I’m intrigued by the way two people can take the same song and the same film, and create two completely different videos.

Vidder: Majestic klo
Musical Artist: Imagine Dragons
Length: 4:05
Vidder on LJ: None, as far as I can tell.
Vidder’s Website: Majestic klo

Why this must be viewed: Majestic klo creates a really interesting and lengthy Marvel comics based intro (listen carefully to the audio), and includes clips from Thor and the Iron Man films as well as the Avengers. I like the way the film clips are matched to the music, the way the vid concentrates more on the characters than on the action, and there are some very professional looking segues between clips. Majestic klo’s interpretation of the heavy gasp portion of the song is particularly amusing.

Radioactive by Majestic klo

Vidder: Huush95
Musical Artist: Imagine Dragons
Length: 3:05
Vidder on LJ: None, as far as I can tell.
Vidder’s Website: Huush95

Why this must be viewed: In contrast to Majestic klo, Huush95 takes the same song but chooses different clips from The Avengers, adds clips from X-Men 3, and creates a completely different vid. There’s an interesting symmetry to some of the scenes: Iron Man raises his hands, then Magneto does the same; Wolverine makes an amazing leap, then the Hulk makes a similar leap; one set of heroes takes a stand, and in the following scene…well, you get the gist.

Radioactive by Huush95

Fandom: Doctor Who/Iron Man
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~1500 words
Author on LJ: remindmeofthe
Author Website: LJ fic tag
Why this must be read: Tony Stark is such a powerful and overconfident individual that it's not news to say he's at his most interesting when he's powerless. This one-shot, which follows him through the Year That Wasn't, considers what Tony (and not so much Iron Man) could do in the face of an enemy he can't defeat. Martha Jones is at her best here, and regardless of how things did or didn't go down on the Valiant, I'm pretty sure this is just what happened in between.

( Funny how being right isn't really cheering him up. )

Supply and Demand

Fandom: The Avengers (movieverse)
Pairing: Pepperony
Length: ~4K words
Why this must be read: There's a sense in some parts of Avengers fandom that Pepper's too "good" for Tony. You know, maybe she is, but this fic is a gorgeous exploration of how thoroughly and deeply they understand each other. The focus is Pepper and how she sees the world and why, though, and every sentence is exceptional.

( Tony - you're all I've got too, you know. )

yet turning stay

Fandom: IRON MAN/AVENGERS
Pairing: Tony Stark/Pepper Potts, Tony Stark/Pepper Potts/Steve Rogers
Length: Series Length 128,557
Author on LJ: boombangbing
Author Website: (or a link to where more of their fic is archived) At AO3
Why this must be read: First off, it's the comprehensive backstory of Pepper Potts. Pre-Tony hiring Pepper, their formative years working together, and how they eventually fell in love and eventually became a couple. THEN there's The Avengers and Steve and the three of them venture into a life of polyamory plus being part of the team that saves the world.

The voices here are sharp, the background is richly detailed, it's funny and sad and hot and thought provoking.

I wanted to rec this earlier in the month but decided not to because so much of this is set Pre-Iron Man and Iron Man and then it came to me, CROSSOVER DAY!

Excerpt

From Commitments: Pepper hasn't had a good night's sleep in years, it seems. When she was first hired by Stark Industries, it was work things that kept her up, more nights drinking and talking than she'd ever had in college; once Tony took an extra special interest in her, it was nights drafting letters of apology, organising his schedule, navigating various states' legal systems. Later, it was fielding calls, usually from Rhodey, on the current status of Tony: 'can you get a plane to pick us up? We're gonna need some clothes, too', 'I didn't know that Disneyland security could actually detain people...', 'so, where can one get an annulment in Vegas at four AM?'. And, of course:

“He's-- Pepper... They took... he's been kidnapped. Tony's been kidnapped.”

She didn't sleep for three months.

Now, with Tony in her bed (or she in his, but Tony says everything he has is because of her, really), she can rest a little easier at night, safe in the knowledge that he isn't in an expensive gutter somewhere, or marrying showgirls on a whim. But, still, she wakes up alone, when the sun is just rising over Malibu, or New York, or New Mexico, or wherever they are; because now, Tony doesn't sleep. She remembers Before (there have been a lot of befores in her life: before Tony, before Iron Man, before the kiss, before Steve, but Afghanistan is the Before that takes centre stage in her mind), when he'd work all night and sleep all day and she built up considerable upper body strength hauling him out of his bed. Now he goes to bed with her but wakes four, five hours later, almost without fail, to go down to the basement to work, work, work until he can ignore his bodily needs no longer. When she first realised that he was doing this, before she was in his bed or he was in hers, she tried to draw him out of the workshop, with food, alcohol, lewd comments, anything, but he didn't hear her, so immersed in his own mind. She learnt to let him come out of it on his own.

She hates waking alone, though, stranded in his oversized bed. And then there's Steve. Tony likes to be in the middle – of course, when doesn't he – but once he's up, Steve inevitably shifts in closer and she opens her eyes in the morning to his arm snaked around her waist, not too tight, because even unconscious he's aware of his strength.

Steve wakes at every distinct noise: doors being opened or closed, cars backfiring, creaking footsteps on floorboards, Jarvis clanking around getting the house in order for the next day, but curiously he can sleep through any continuous sound. New York traffic, the television, Tony playing his favourite Black Sabbath records way too loud, way too early in the morning. It lets Pepper do some of her work from bed, tapping furiously at her laptop, BBC World News 24 on in the background, with Steve next to her. He even sleeps politely, on his side with both hands under the pillow, blanket pulled up to his arms, taking up no more space than he needs, unlike Tony 'Starfish' Stark. He never snores, or talks in his sleep, even when his eyes are flicking back and forth wildly beneath his eyelids and his fingers are digging into the mattress. He's the perfect person to share a bed with. Though he is extremely noisy during sex.

What a ridiculous and delightful thing for her to know about Captain America.


Magnetic Series

The Courting of Tony Stark
Magnetic
Holding Pattern
Committments
Robotics
Darcy Lewis: Office Manager

Title: Tonight (I’m Fucking You) by canis_takahari
Pairing: Tony Stark/Leonard McCoy
Author on LJ: canis_takahari
Author Website: Masterlist of Fic
Why this must be read: Well as a lover of the Avengers universe AND the Trek universe, this is just perfect: I mean, who doesn't want to see Leonard McCoy all sexed up by Tony Stark? Also, there's the whole scene afterwards in which Kirk finds out, which is totally one of my favorite things ever (jealousy!).

Tonight (I’m Fucking You)

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Comicverse: Marvel 616)
Pairing: Tony Stark/Steve Rogers
Length: 57,702 words
Author on LJ: tsukinofaerii
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
Because Tony whumping is a fandom tradition? Or it's a fine example of 616 angst? I dig the Tony characterization, and anyway, who doesn't like a well-handled amnesia plot...

W.I.P.E. series

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Comicverse: 616/7207 Iron Man Noir)
Pairingw: Tony Stark/Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers/Sharon Carter
Length: 104,796 words
Author on LJ: penumbren
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
Because it's an absorbing alterate universe/time travel story that is plot-driven, with the addition of Tony/Steve complications.

Indelible Series

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse: Thor/Iron Man)
Pairing: Loki/Tony Stark
Length: 30,248 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
Here's a story written before the Avengers movie came out, chosen because it's so much fun! Amora hits Loki with a spell, and he falls deeply in love with Tony. Tony has a lot of fun with this scenario despite the likelihood of his death once the spell is lifted. The Avengers are nervous, Loki learns to like donuts, and Tony? He's just hoping this all works out somehow.

Desiderata

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Iron Man and Avengers Comicverse)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 29,652 words
Author on LJ: jadedoll
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
Open portals in the multiverse land a baby in Tony's arms, and Iron Man becomes a full-time daddy. The biological father happens to be the man Tony is in love with: Steve. Post-Civil War angst, man drama, and baby drama are in the mix, but I enjoyed this kid fic.

Warnings: Character Death - Not Steve or Tony; Critically Ill Young Child; Medical Situations

Buy You a Mockingbird

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse)
Pairing: Bruce Banner/Tony Stark
Length: 7523 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
I like the idea that the Science Bros were so meant to be, so getting them together from the start is fine with me. Slightly AU in that Tony was the one sent to bring in Bruce Banner at the start of The Avengers.

Extraction Series

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse)
Pairings: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Clint Barton/Phil Coulson
Length: 126,280 words
Author on LJ: scifigrl47
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
This massive series is so full of win I can't even express my love. But the highlight for me has to be the Roomba Army of Doom that Tony mods with AI programs. \o/ I want one so badly! There are three completed parts to enjoy, although the series is an (active) WIP.

In Which Tony Stark Builds Himself Some Friends (But His Family Was Assigned by Nick Fury) Series

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 6007 words
Author on LJ: kellifer_fic
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
Here's a fun "coming together" story in which Fury unwittingly wields the clue bat when he makes the guys pretend to be dating.

i stole the keys to this guy

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse)
Pairing: Bruce Banner/Tony Stark pre-slash
Length: 3226 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
After the Tony/Bruce pornfest of my last rec, I though you could use something sweet. Hulk story time followed by snuggling is about as sweet as I can picture the Hulk. *g*

By Certain Definitions of Normal

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse)
Pairings: Hulk/Tony Stark, Bruce Banner/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark
Length: 16,951 words
Author on LJ: thingswithwings
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
Recommended because it's hilarious, pornilicious, and long. And there's art linked in the story note. Note: Pay attention to the AO3 story tags for things you might not enjoy.

Stark, A.E., and Banner, R. Bruce. (2013). "Biodosimetric Tools for Measuring Induced Isomeric Transition in Inverted Paired States." International Journal of Radiation Biology 89.9, 43-85.

I missed posting on the 15th, but I think it will please the readers, so here's my June crossover rec.

Title: Special Hell by ChristyCorr
Pairings: Mike Ross/Harvey Specter, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 7260 words
Author on LJ: christycorr
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
The Avengers Movieverse/Suits crossover shenanigans made me laugh, and both 'verses were used well.

Special Hell

Belated recs are better than none? Sorry the Marvel Van has been in park this month.

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers Movieverse)
Pairing: Clint Barton/Phil Coulson implied, but it's team gen, really
Length: 4642 words
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Author Page on AO3
Why this must be read:
This story has excellent characterization of Clint along with the rest of the Avengers, so this is teamfic that focuses on Hawkeye more than anything. However, it's a comprehensive look at how the team learns more about Clint.

Down From the Bird's Eye View

Here is my last rec for comics fandom this month... which has mostly turned into Avengers-movieverse recs, but what can you do with the movie coming out this week? Heh, it's been fun driving this van again, thanks all!

Fandom: MARVEL (Avengers-movieverse)
Pairing: Darcy/Clint, Jane/Thor, Tony/Pepper (mentions of Steve/Natasha, Clint/Natasha, Natasha/Winter Soldier, Sif/Coulson, and Hogun/Fandral, as well as sort of implied Sif/Loki)
Length: 47,182 words
Author on LJ: carleton97 and sister_wolf
Author Website: carleton97 on AO3 and reconciled among the stars, Sister_Wolf on AO3 and on Dreamwidth
Why this must be read:
Because this story is totally awesome. Once upon a time 2 years before the events of Thor, Darcy Lewis hooked up with Clint Barton for a one-night stand. Later, she threatens to taser a woman and Tony Stark hires her on the spot, whereupon she somehow becomes the administrator behind the Avengers Initiative. Meanwhile, there is UST, Captain America is totally hot, and Tony Stark builds Darcy pretty toys.

Seriously, just go read this fabulous thing, and be sure to check out the sequel, too!

Gift of Asylum by carleton97 and Sister_Wolf

Fandom: MARVEL (Avengers-movieverse)
Pairing: Darcy/Clint, Tony/Steve, Jane/Thor
Length: 4,700 words
Author on LJ: kellifer_fic
Author Website: on AO3
Why this must be read:
I love comedy-of-errors and everyone-is-clueless fics, they just tickle me -- but only if they are well done and slightly understated, not going to absurd levels. This fic? Is pretty much perfectly that. Everyone thinks Steve and Darcy are dating because they're besties, and Tony and Clint are jealous. It's ridiculously cute. Enjoy!

the best of life is but intoxication by kellifer_fic

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (Avengers/Iron Man/Thor-movieverse continuity, with some shoutouts to Earth-616)
Pairing: primarily Tony Stark/Steve Rogers, but with some adorable Thor/Jane and a mention of Pepper/Natasha
Length: 87,241 words
Author on LJ: valtyr
Author Website: valtyr on AO3
Why this must be read:
Because it is terribly awesome and frank. Tony's an ass, Steve isn't a caricature, Thor is trying, Loki is trying too hard, Darcy and Jane are awesome, Fury is devious, Clint shoots things real good, and Natasha Romanov, Maria Hill, and Sharon Carter are the epitome of badass. Also, there are Nazis.

Author's Summary: Steve wakes up in the 21st Century. He doesn't think much of it, and it's dubious about him. He meets a Norse God, joins a superhero team, and feels terribly awkward about the whole momument at Arlington he's rendered obsolete by not being dead. Meanwhile, Tony is trying to make his mark on history by being the man who finally drove Nick Fury over the edge.

( Steve is working on acclimating to the future... )

Tomorrow Belongs To Me by valtyr

Fandom: THE AVENGERS
Pairing: Phil Coulson (Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.)/Clint Barton (Hawkeye)
Length: 67,871 words
Author on LJ:
Author Website: gqgqqt on AO3 or fic Masterpost on LJ
Why this must be read:
This story is a fantastic casefic and character portrait. It starts out with a mystery -- what happened to cause Hawkeye to shoot Coulson during three missing days Coulson can't remember? This story has action and adventuring in abundance, and even though all of the emotions are stoically understated or implied, the emotional payoff is high. Be warned, there is a lot of physical and psychological torture in this story, but the characterizations of Coulson and Barton are phenomenally nuanced and the writing is superb. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

Disclosures by gqgqqt

Fandom: COMICS (Iron Man movieverse and DC comicsverse)
Pairing: none
Length: 5,504 words
Author on LJ: galaxysoup
Author Website: galaxysoup on AO3
Why this must be read:
Tony finds out that sidekicks have a slightly lower mortality rate than wise-cracking bestfriends through his "research" into comic books, so he finds someone to train Pepper to be his sidekick (no, she will NOT let him call her Iron Maiden). This story is fantastic because it is so true to every character. The author gently makes fun of the standard comics tropes while at the same time staying within their bounds, making this a lovely story with layers to it. She never actually states WHO Alvin Draper is, but if you have read DC you should know, which gives this story a delicious undercurrent -- so many things left implied, and yet you still come away from the story satisfied. Do give this story a try, it's fantastic!

On the Care and Feeding of Superheroes, by Pepper Potts and Alvin Draper by galaxysoup

Fandom: MARVEL (movieverse-compliant continuity)
Pairing: none
Length: 1,688 words
Author on LJ: wabbitseason
Author Website: check out her LJ tags or Archive of Our Own page
Why this must be read:
I love these little slice-of-life moments, especially when it is between characters that normally wouldn't see much of each other. In this story, Jubilee is an intern for Nick Fury (Iron Man and X-Men movieverse). I don't want to give too much away, since it is short, so let me just say... it is DEFINITELY worth a read. Enjoy!

Jubilation Lee: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (AVENGERS MOVIEVERSE)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Length: 1807
Author on LJ: somehowunbroken
Author Website: LJ Master List and AO3 Profile
Why this must be read:

One of the best thing about the Avengers movies is that everything is new again. Authors can now reimagine how Steve and Tony met, how Steve adjusted to his new time period, etc. In this lovely fic the author shows us a Cap who even a week after getting out of the ice just can't seem to get warm...until Tony helps him.

( An Excerpt )

Warmer

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (AVENGERS MOVIEVERSE)
Pairing: Steve/Tony
Length: 890 words
Author on LJ: sheafrotherdon
Author Website: AO3 Profile
Why this must be read:

Tony Stark is an extremely complicated character. He has an undeniably strong will and yet is broken in numerous ways both subtle and not. Instead of painting him in broad strokes that highlight his narcissism and rudeness, this fic touches on his pain and shows how he cares for Steve.

Both Steve and Tony have gone through a lot in their lives and this fic is a snapshot, showing their quiet struggle with PTSD as a result. Tony is there for Steve as he adjusts to a new era and we get a glimpse of how he had to deal with his own trauma with only JARVIS to support him. This fic is short but leaves you aching.

( An Excerpt )

Twenty Twelve

One of the chief joys of being a comics fan, I think, is that there's constantly something new on the horizon, and if something happens that you don't like, you only have to wait a little while for a retcon or a reboot. The unpleasant corollary, of course, is that sometimes it's something you do like that falls victim to the retcon/reboot. And of course, the whole thing can seem impenetrable and inaccessible to new fans.

My advice then to new fans: don't try to get entirely caught up, just dive in and start reading the fic! If there's a character you don't know who seems vaguely important, look them up on Wikipedia. That's what it's there for! (Jimmy Wales may disagree.) That's what I did, and it was enough to convert me from DC to Marvel in the real world as well as the fandom one.

( The single biggest change in Marvel waters this year, I think it would be hard to argue, has been the popularity of the new movies, and thus the increased exposure of characters who were not necessarily well known, or well-fanned, outside comics circles. )

( Fandom Overviews here at Crack Van )

(  Pairing Specific Introductions at Ship Manifesto )

The Cap/Iron Man Slashy Moments List (Illustrations from Forty Years of Comics)

(  Livejournal Communities )

(  Big Bangs )

( Kink Memes )

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (specifically AVENGERS/CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 29,000 words
Author on LJ: tsukinofaerii (author prefers DW)
Author Website: AO3 Account

Warning: None. Woohoo.

Why this must be read: How far would you go to forget the worst thing that ever happened to you? If you're Tony Stark, the answer is pretty damn far. Comics Spoiler: Steve Rogers died in Civil War. Comics Spoiler: He got Better. No Spoiler at All: Tony would rather forget the whole thing ever happened. And after that whole other comics thing where he injected himself with an experimental nano-virus that turned his brain into a hard drive, he has the technology.

Per Expectations

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (specifically AVENGERS/CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 170,000 words (yes, you read that right)
Author on LJ: seanchai and elspethdixon
Author Website: Fic Index

Warning: None. Woohoo.

Why this must be read: Again, one of the first fics I ever read in this fandom and one I re-read when I'm feeling nostalgic. Aliens have taken New York; interesting, well-realised aliens who are hideous and cruel and occasionally sympathetic, and complicated in their motivations... Steve and Tony are physically separated for the vast bulk of the story, and yet they're in each other's hearts and minds constantly, until the reader is as desperate for the reunion as they are. The supporting characters are great too, and as an introduction to Hawkeye especially, who I didn't know from Adam at the time, it was a great primer.

When the Lights go on Again

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (specifically AVENGERS/CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 4,000 words
Author on LJ: muccamukk (author prefers DW)
Author Website: AO3 Account

Warning: None. Woohoo.

Why this must be read: One of the first fics I ever read in this fandom and still one of my favourites, this fic skillfully weaves together vignettes from many different points in comics and film canon that deal with the various physical scars Tony Stark carries related to his damaged heart, while also commenting on the mental and emotional scars that fragile organ also bears. All rolled in with some scorchingly hot sex with Steve Rogers that again touches on those hidden depths. It's just a wonderful piece all over.

That One Man, Scorned and Covered with Scars

Fandom: MARVEL COMICS (specifically NEW AVENGERS/CAPTAIN AMERICA/IRON MAN)
Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Length: 35,000 words
Author on LJ: valtyr (author prefers DW)
Author Website: AO3 Account

Warning: Wow, that's two warnings for consent issues I have to give in two days. Unintentional, I promise. This time it's dub con thanks to pheromones and such but both parties are/would be willing, so if that's cool with you you're good. There's also a brief, unsuccessful, attempt at a sexual assault also under the influence of said pheromones.

Why this must be read: Valtyr's one of my very favourite, and if I may say so, the very best, authors in the fandom, and her work has been recced here a couple of times. This story is hands down my favourite of them all. It's set in the New Avengers period, ie after the original flavour team had split up, and Cap and Tony put the band back together, with some new members. I'd never heard of Luke Cage (Power Man) and Jessica Jones (Jewel), and had heard of but didn't know Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman) so this was a glorious introduction to them. Spider-Man and Wolverine round out the team. Via a plot device I shall leave unspoiled, the team's powers and abilities get shuffled and randomly reallocated between them, and shenanigans break out. It's intriguing, amusing, and ultimately moving watching them cope in varying degrees, and Steve and Tony as Spider-Man and Spider-Woman respectively are hot like fire.

Conjugate

Fandom: MARVEL MOVIEVERSE (including Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and Avengers)
Pairing: none
Length: 10,776 words
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: unknown
Why this must be read:
Normally, I try not to recommend kinkmeme fills, because they can be hard to read in that format, and normally I don't recommend anonymously-authored fics, because I like giving credit for greatness where it is due. With this rec, I'm breaking both rules, but this story is totally worth it.

Loki accidentally calls Steve Rogers (aka - Captain America) by mistake while mortally injured (he was trying to reach his brother). Much to Steve's confusion, he keeps calling. This story is hilarious, has wonderful characterization of everyone, but particularly Captain America, and is sweetly poignant in depicting the love/hate relationship of feuding siblings. The author-anon does a great job of subtly implying feelings and motivations. I really enjoyed this one.

Telephone by anonymous

(PS: Please let me know if this story has been posted in complete form by the author elsewhere, and I'll edit this rec.)