SSA SPOILERS: He's WHO?!

Right, but it's also, therefore, pointless to hide it the way they did, except as a "gotcha", that really doesn't work as a "gotcha" anyway because it exploits us not having knowledge that we "should" have.

For what it's worth, the Wade reveal was much better, since we had that "wait, what?" moment in the second arc. There was at least reason to suspect his involvement, and really, in a way, I applaud the Devs for using the fact that nobody has any faith that they know about previous story to sort of hint at him being something more.

But Malaise could've been handled much better. At least toss in some "illusion" factor to the first couple arcs, or the like.

..it seems like the only thing i've ever seen you do in the years ive been on this forum is complain (not that I disagree with what your saying)

but they DO see him. He's standing around in the shop you go to hero-side in the second mission. Unfortunately you can't interact with him, but he's there.

Not true, in the very first SSA (hero side, anyway) there is a message that the explosion of the Obelisk takes your mind away (or something to that effect) to a strange place, which turns out to be a bar in the Rogue Isles. So at least the first SSA cutscene is meant to be viewed in-character.

No, it mentions what you see in the clue, it's not the bar, hold on a sec, lemme see if Paragonwiki has the clue...

Edit: Here it is

No, I'm pretty sure when it actually happens there's text that says you're seeing it. Apparently I need to play it through again to find the exact wording, will come back...

Erph. I think so. Maiden Justice was Recluse's sister.

You are confusing Megan aka Ms Liberty and Alexis aka Miss Liberty (retired).

States/Marcus married Stephan Richter's sister Monica (all three had grown up together). Marcus and Monica had one child (we know of) whom they named Alexis after one of their friends (who happen to be one of the three Furies of antiquity). Alexis inherited Monica's Liberty Belt (given to her by said Furies) and was a heroine in her own right. Eventually she had Megan who was just a young child when Monica died of cancer but was already showing signs of great strength.

Megan grew up, inherited the belt when Alexis retired, and is now head of Longbow as Ms Liberty - Statesman's granddaughter.

I think it's more that he's confusing Longbow with Freedom Corps. Not unreasonable, considering the former is part of the latter. Kind of like how all Loyalists are Praetorian, but not all Praetorians are Loyalists.

Waaait. Ms. Liberty is in her late 30s?

Don't feel alone. I did too. But then I didn't even know there was a clue to be read. Guess I never looked prior to exiting the mission.

Sister Airlia and Imperious?

More than likely, given that an agreement between them was mentioned during the second arc.

Does sound about right.

A known lunatic said, "She had to die. It's part of the story!" How else am I supposed to interpret it than the writers having him break the fourth wall because it's "funny" when Deadpool does it? I'd actually like to know, because the first mission really was fun.

I don't really think it was a "break the fourth wall" moment as much as a "Malaise thinks of himself as an artist" moment.

It's not strictly speaking breaking the fourth wall, but there is a term for this kind of... meta stuff. Eg. an actor referring to his actions as part of a play, even though he doesen't LITERALLY mean that. Which wouldn't be strange if it happened IRL but because it happens in a play it's kind of nudging at the fourth wall.

Malaise isn't (in character) breaking the fourth wall, as in referring to the player/his own existence as a character in a computer game. He's referring to "the story" on a diegetic level beneath that, the story of his life and deeds.