EVERYTHING BUT IMAGINARY #316: SOMEBODY'S FAVORITE

[Blake Petit]

Those of you who listen to the 2 in 1 Showcase podcast (that’s all of you, right?) know that we often get e-mails from a listener named Robert. (Hey, Robert!) Robert is one of our more enthusiastic listeners, and we hear from him quite a bit – and one thing you can be sure of is that he will always, always call to attention any comic that prominently features Kimiyo Hoshi, the female Dr. Light. Rob’s love of the character finally prompted Chase, a few weeks ago, to ask her just what the deal is, because he doesn’t get it.

I actually do get it. Not the love for Dr. Light specifically – I mean, I’ve got nothing against the character, but she’s not particularly a favorite of mine – but I do understand the enthusiasm. All these years writing columns and reviews, doing podcasts, interacting with people all over the interweb, has convinced me that the adage is true – every character is somebody’s favorite character. It doesn’t matter how obscure, how short-lived, or how badly written that character is. Someone will like it. Look at me – I’m the resident CX lover of Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew (and dammit, I’m not going to let go until DC gives us the promised Showcase edition of their adventures). Lemme tell you, friends, when I try to tell people why I love the character – he was a bastion of old-school superhero fun in a time when everything else was taking a turn for the “gritty,” the title was full of groaner puns, the art by Scott Shaw! was resplendent – I just get blank stares. At least Robert, as we said on the show, can always fall back on “I like Asian chicks.” Sure, he’ll get nods from the guys and eye-rolls from the ladies, but nobody will question him. What do I say? “I like bunnies?”

So I try to be careful not to just trash any character. I’ll talk about a lousy story, or even a lousy character concept, but the truth is that I do believe any character can be made interesting or engaging if placed in the hands of a good enough writer. Take Black Hand, for instance. A few years ago, he was one of the lamest, least-interesting villains Green Lantern ever fought. Now Geoff Johns has made him a major player in one of the biggest events in years, and he’s creepy as hell. Squirrel Girl was a ridiculous character, and absolute joke. So Dan Slott took the joke and ran with it, making her entertaining and a favorite of many fans. Even my own pet hate, Gambit (please don’t ask me again why I hate Gambit so much, I feel like I’ve explained it more often than I’ve explained to my ninth graders what a “verb” is) has had good stories told with him, usually by writers smart enough to avoid that lousy stereotypes that usually make me despise him.

Then there are those popular characters who have been around for years in various incarnations. Even the worst incarnations will have their supporters. There are people who miss the Electric Blue Superman. People who liked teen Tony Stark as Iron Man. A scant few with fond memories of Captain America’s armor or the wing-headed Rob Liefeld incarnation, and even a couple who miss the kung-fu, powerless Wonder Woman. If you really want to start a riot some time, walk into a comic convention and scream ”BEN REILLY SUCKS!” Then you can just sit back and watch while a few stalwart souls try to argue that it really was an innovative idea and there were strong stories and interesting supporting characters and please don’t hit me over the head with a Klingon Bat’leth and how sharp is that thing anyway and OW.

(Again, for the record, I’m not saying you can’t tell good stories with Ben Reilly. I’m just saying they didn’t.)

Even characters that start out as blatant rip-offs of other characters can develop into something of their own. Back in the 50s, a British publisher conjured up a comic book about a kid who said a magic word and turned into the world’s most powerful superhero – Marvelman was the most painful duplicate of the original Captain Marvel one could imagine. But decades later, Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman got their hands on him and, under the name Miracleman, told comics that are regarded today as some of the greatest superhero stories ever written. When word broke last weekend that Marvel Comics has purchased the character, I find myself hoping more that they reprint the Moore and Gaiman runs than drop him into Dark Avengers or something. (Maybe even finally let Gaiman finish the story that got cut short when Eclipse Comics folded.)

The truth is, every reader – every individual human – has his or her own tastes, and every character has some germ of potential. When we see a character with potential that resonates with us, we often adopt that character as our own, even if that potential is never realized. Let’s try a little experiment. I’ll give you a list of characters that are typically considered dull, boring, lame, or just outright silly. And I want you to tell me – and be honest here – if you actually like any of those characters. And tell us why. Don’t get all defensive about it, of course, don’t start saying, “how can you say Howard the Duck is a goofy character?” Because you damn well know why I can say that. Just tell us why you like him.

And nobody else start poking fun here, because no matter how goofy a character somebody likes, you know that you like some character that’s just as goofy.

So c’mon. Fans of these guys, give ‘em a shout-out:

NFL Superpro
Kickers, Inc.
Matter Eater Lad
Boris the Bear
Bouncing Boy
Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters
Blue Shield
Rocket Racer
Vibe
G’Nort
Dazzler
Blue Jay
H.E.R.B.I.E.

Or, y’know, bring up the underappreciated character that you like the most and tell us why they don’t suck. Lord knows I haven’t given you a comprehensive list here. Show your love. Some of these characters have had great stories told with them. Many (many, many, many) have not. But somehow, some way, I’d like to believe they all could.

Favorite of the Week: July 22, 2009

Keeping with my “no Blackest Night pledge, and since I devoted the entire column last week to Legion of 3 Worlds #5, I’m going to give the favorite trophy this week to a book that’s getting cancelled long before its time. Last week we got Captain Britain and MI 13 #15, the final issue of the series. Cap and company are facing off against Dracula, trying to hold off a vampire apocalypse. The series as a whole was great fun. It gave some of those underappreciated characters I’ve been talking about a real spotlight and a real home. Paul Cornell made me a fan of a lot of characters I never cared about before, and I’m definitely going to miss having this book waiting for me every month.

Blake M. Petit is the author of the superhero comedy novel, Other People's Heroes, the suspense novel The Beginner and the novel-in-progress Lost in Silver at Evertime Realms. He’s also the co-host, with good buddy Chase Bouzigard and Mike "I Like My Vampires Sparkly" Bellamy, of the 2 in 1 Showcase Podcasts. E-mail him at Blake@comixtreme.com and visit him on the web at Evertime Realms. Read past columns at the Everything But Imaginary Archive Page.

[Chase Bouzigard]

Ok I like Youngblood.
and any time they put out a Adam Warlock book i will buy it.

[PinchyWearO]

C'mon Blake, you don't hate Gambit. You hate the concept of Gambit. I, on the other hand, hate Gambit...I don't care whose favorite character he is.

Too many people overlook well-written books with great stories because they have a hang-up with a character. I hated the idea of the return of Bucky, but that has been executed brilliantly. Anytime you get people to hope for Bucky's continued adventures as the character, you've accomplished something. The Flash's rogues are some of the most ridiculous and outdated concepts ever...but John's has made them interesting by giving them depth.

As for Miracleman/Marvelman. He's a ripoff of a ripoff, actually. What makes him interesting is these is Moore created stories about an "icon" that the mainstream universe would never allow. For this reason, I hope he stays out of Marvel continuity as well.

[tiggerbone]

I have to admit it. I like fun characters. I enjoy Bouncing Boy. He had a great self image. He got to marry that hottie, Triplicate Girl/Duo Damsel. He has a fun sense of humor and I even like his power! In a book like LSH, with intense interpersonal relationships, action, and drama sometimes a bit of lightness and optimism is just what we need!

For that same reason, I love G'nort. G'nort might not be the smartest of the GLs but he is loyal (like every good dog). He's like Neville Longbottom (if I may make a Harry Potter reference). I was really hoping that we would see G'nort vs. Dex-starr in Rage of the Red Lanterns or in Blackest Night. Oh well. I guess that is not to be.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by tiggerbone

I have to admit it. I like fun characters. I enjoy Bouncing Boy. He had a great self image. He got to marry that hottie, Triplicate Girl/Duo Damsel. He has a fun sense of humor and I even like his power! In a book like LSH, with intense interpersonal relationships, action, and drama sometimes a bit of lightness and optimism is just what we need!

For that same reason, I love G'nort. G'nort might not be the smartest of the GLs but he is loyal (like every good dog). He's like Neville Longbottom (if I may make a Harry Potter reference). I was really hoping that we would see G'nort vs. Dex-starr in Rage of the Red Lanterns or in Blackest Night. Oh well. I guess that is not to be.

Amen! I agree totally. I mean -- dude, Bouncing Boy married a hot girl whose power was to turn into THREE hot girls. (And now can turn into apparently an unlimited number of hot girls.) Come on, how do you not respect that?

And you know all about my my love for G'nort. But while he won't be facing Dex-Starr, have you heard who IS gonna fight him? Johns let this slip at San Diego.

Dex-Starr vs. KRYPTO. Aw yeah.

[staredcraft]

Hey Blake!

Great article by the way. Yeah I love Dr.Light...no argument. And the recent announcements at San Diego (She'll be in a JLA BN-Tie In fight against Black Lantern Arthur Light) AND I've got rather concrete info from people at DC (one of which being Dan Didio via Myspace) that she's not leaving the JLA anytime soon AND the fact James Robinson seems to share my views that she's a character who deserves to be great...I feel proud to be a fan of hers!

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by staredcraft

Hey Blake!

Great article by the way. Yeah I love Dr.Light...no argument. And the recent announcements at San Diego (She'll be in a JLA BN-Tie In fight against Black Lantern Arthur Light) AND I've got rather concrete info from people at DC (one of which being Dan Didio via Myspace) that she's not leaving the JLA anytime soon AND the fact James Robinson seems to share my views that she's a character who deserves to be great...I feel proud to be a fan of hers!

You are my inspiration, sir!

[staredcraft]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

You are my inspiration, sir!

Really? I couldn't tell.

But seriously now...Kimiyo may be my #1 fav but my other favs range in levels of obscurity at one point in their "Careers" or another...like Jubilee, Ravager (Rose Wilson),or even Black Cat! (Yeah all girls I know)

[Dalarsco]

When I'm talking to normal people I tend to list my favorites as Wolverine and Batman, because people know who they are. But my real favorite is Canonnball. It's interesting to have seen his development in reverse. I first read him in Carey's X-Men as Rogue's gruff, badass lieutenant. I next saw him briefly when I read Morrison's New X-Men. After that I read through all of Uncanny X-Men on the DVD and saw his lame Loeb version. Then I read a near-complete X-Force run. After that I started buying the New Mutants trades. Of course, now I'm just incredibly happy that they finally gave him his own team in the new New Mutants book. I just hope it lasts.

[Blake Petit]

I loved Cannonball back in the old New Mutant days -- haven't read too much of him lately, though.

These are the claims I want to hear, folks! Keep 'em coming!

[staredcraft]

You know guys, I just realized after I did one of my previous posts...yeah a lot of characters people consider favorites HAVE, at least in some point in time, had a LOT more embasis put on them, be it when they were first introduced OR, like w/ my fav Dr.Light, more recent times. I mean look at Power Girl...I bet money that a lot of Power girl fans probably felt, during the 90's then like I've felt about Dr.Light a few years ago and NOW look at her. She' sbecome a MAIN character in the DCU!

[demon]

Good article, Blake!

I personally like Jeph Loeb.... oh wait, that's not how this works.

I always thought Dazzler was kind of cool, actually.

[Justin Byrd]

Great article! I often catch flak for loving Optimus Prime (and by extension, the Transformers in general) based on they were just a show/comic based on toys.

I often think the same thing: I hate certain characters, but that doesn't mean I don't understand why people do like them. I have people (who aren't any more than casual comic fans) ask me how I can love Superman..."he's too powerful." Look, just because you don't enjoy it, doesn't mean I don't connect with and love the character.

[renegauthreaux]

Wow... someone else remembers Boris the Bear? I have the entire run of that comic including the new one they did a year or so ago. I even had a Boris the Bear tee shirt that I made back in 96 or so

[tiggerbone]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

And you know all about my my love for G'nort. But while he won't be facing Dex-Starr, have you heard who IS gonna fight him? Johns let this slip at San Diego.

Dex-Starr vs. KRYPTO. Aw yeah.

Really?! That's great! I thought that it was a joke, but I am quite happy with that eventuality.

[chrismozer]

Shout out to Star Brand. One of my faves from the olde Marvel New Universe. Loved the concept and had hoped for amazing stories once John Byrne took over. Too bad it fell short. Pause....is John Byrne still around?

And let's not forget Team America and US1!

[Dirge]

My favorite lesser know charater is Penance (Not Speedball, the Gen X character. I will not call her Hollow). Penance was such a cool looking character and I have an affinity for characters who do not speak. Her introduction into Gen X was cool. But sadly, her character was unused and mutilated. I hoped they would return her as a cool character in Loners, but it did not happen. I live in eternal hope that some writer will spin her an awesome yarn.

[Ben Lehnsherr]

I'm sure I've announced by B-list and lower character love all across the halls of cX. Moon Knight, War Machine, John Stewart, Ghost Rider, Aztek, Marvel Boy, Sentry, Geo-Force, Ares, Nightwing, Scarlet Spider, etc., etc.....the list goes on and on. Not all of them are small timers anymore, but I've loved them all along anyways....

Great pick of the week, Blake. LOVED the last issue and sad to see it go. Excalibur was well on her way to being my NEXT lower tier favorite.

[B. Schatz]

All the Slingers. Every. Last. One.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by renegauthreaux

Wow... someone else remembers Boris the Bear? I have the entire run of that comic including the new one they did a year or so ago. I even had a Boris the Bear tee shirt that I made back in 96 or so

I didn't even know they did a new one.

Yeah, I remember Boris. Back in my formative comic reading years, an uncle gave me a bunch of old books he wanted to get rid of (this was pre-eBay) and it included several Borises. I've tracked down a lot of the other issues in the years since.