From: U16244@uicvm.uic.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: Coolest characters
Date: 2 Sep 92 15:52:21 GMT
Article-I.D.: uicvm.92246.105222U16244
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

Well, it looks like people are starting the coolest characters thread.
May the flame wars begin after I dive out of the way with my interpretation.

We have apparently three types of cool characters, of which I only agree
with one as being right for me as cool.

First, we have the KEWL characters.  You know the ones: People with either
massive amounts of weaponry (Cable, Solo, Punisher) with absolutely no
tactical or even actual weapon knowledge, or others who are nothing but
fanboy ideas.  Wow, wouldn't it be kewl if there were someone who could
absorb the energy blasts of other mutants and use them to kill the mutants
who shot them?  Or how about a really really really big, musclebound guy
with a stereotypical indian ripoff name like W*rp*th?  Or how 'bout yet
another master of all martial arts like Sh*ft or V*g** or Ch*p*l?  Wouldn't
that be sooo kewwwwwwl?
Frankly, I hate kewl concept characters.  There are some who are mistakenly
viewed as kewl characters because they have abilities that are clever
ideas.  But then, Gambit seems like a clever application (Gee, if I were
to unleash the potential kinetic energy of a playing card...) but then
turned around to be another fanboy proxy for all of those hormone laden
geeks who actually wanted someone to fuck with Rogue, regardless of actual
romantic and sensitive involvement.  But then, I also heard sexual
harrassment was kewl too.

Then you have the post I responded to.  Cool characters.  Icemen (no, not
Bobby Drake).  Manipulators who are in total control.  The reason V for
Vendetta works is because it was just one ongoing story.  Were he to
be continued in a series, it would start to become a tired retread.
The Punisher also started out as a good, cold character, especially able to
bounce back from major setbacks by sheer resourcefulness.  Batman is my
favorite cold character because he takes precautions, and should his plans
still go awry, he has the raw courage and resourcefulness to overcome
in the end.  But then you have C*pt**n *m*r*c*.  Yes, I used to be resourceful,
but now I just go in and bop skulls.  Stern!!!  Claremont!!!! Engleheart!!!!
Come back!!!  Puh-lease!!!!! (I sincerely hope that the Huntsman is more
reminiscent of his Captain America than his Wolverine, or even a clever
cross between the two.  Cap's belief in life and liberty and awesome
resourcefullness, with Wolvie's no-nonsense, down and dirty fight fire
with fire, the right tool for the right job combat style.  Now THAT
would be cool.) Also, as I mentioned in the parentheses, Wolverine is no
longer all that cool.  The goofs writing him now portray him as nothing more
than a wild beast, as far as I can tell.  Sawed off attitude.  The old
Wolverine had a bit of a sense of humor, struggled with his berserker and
tried to be a man, and actually thought in advance.  Again, now he just
shows up, slices and dices.  Sucks.

Now my idea of cool characters.  These are the clever ideas.  A blind
superhero who nobody knows is blind, but just thinks is really tough and
really agile.  Daredevil's always doing new and clever things in my point
of view, and he's incredibly resourceful.  Also, his skill with the billy
club makes me think the Punisher is even more of a wimp for needing an M-60
to take out a dozen thugs when two aluminum sticks do just wonderfully.
Ghost Rider is a clever, ingenious idea as well.  The penance stare is an
idea I love, and GR even is resourceful.  When he teamed up with the
Punisher the first time, I was surprised that GR even suggested the little
"joyride" that made the thug they caught 'fess up.  Also, he's so nasty,
and yet, at his best, has a strong sense of poetic justice.  That, and
the fact that he has most thugs scared shitless, even though he's never
personally taken a human life.
Nightwing is cool too, because he took all of Batman's abilities, added
his sense of humor, and (if he's not being portrayed in the Titans, or
wearing the Space-Pimp outfit) is a great mix of detective and physical
skills.
The same goes for my four favorite JLer's- Booster, Beetle, Fire and Ice.
However, now the book has none of the charm that made me love these
guys in the old book.  And I have a friend who's glad that Superman and
Bloodwind and Maxima are on the team, because they were such wimps.  To
me, that wasn't the point.  They were smart, funny, and gave you some
suspense as they went into action.  They didn't know what they were doing,
but that made it more exciting.  This friend also loves the super-military
X-Men Strikeforces, and the fact that Storm and Bishop and Colossus are
so damn powerful.  Make me puke.  I liked it when Colossus wasn't nothing
more than the Russian version of Juggernaught.  He'd get his ass whipped
alot because though he was invulnerable, he still was loathe to use his
full powers for fear of harming others, and would eventually get beat due
to his reluctance to hurt someone.  But now he's bigger and stronger than
ever, he's a match for the Hulk!  >YAWN!<

But, now I give you my list of favorite characters and offer others to
do the same.

Guido (er, Strong Guy)
The New Hulk
The New Superman
Daredevil
Nightwing (new costume)
Hawk and Dove II
(I'm secretly hoping that the Black Russian and someone else take up the
mantle of these two.  That, or Dark Horse puts out its own version of
H&D, especially without that Lords of Order bullshit.)
Wolvesbane (has taken the place of Wolverine as the troubled soul with a cool
concept.  I'd like to see more of that ultimate wolf form, but then, I'd
like not to.)
The Early Rogue with her current look (using Susan B. Anthony dollars as
missile weapons was great.  Match that one you low-brained Cajun.)

DPW
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc