Coincidence or Swipe?

[X-O HoboJoe]

It's an iconic image that implies power, a weapon and the willingness to use it. Ever the faces are tilted back a bit to imply the character's larger and stronger than the viewer.

I totally forgot about those images—thanks for posting.

I wonder what the original source was.

Go back and look at ancient statues. I'd guess that kind of posturing has meant the same kind of thing for hundreds or thousands of years.

Original source would be tough thing to figure out as I'd think this qualifies as one of the root-images our brains view as an emotional gesture: Not nearly as obvious as someone choking, a smile or tears but more along the lines of a sultry "come-hither" look. It's been around as long as we have and it's one of those looks artists use to get an emotive response.

Sounds like the makings of an interesting research paper—shared iconic imagery and meaning.

Lots of Jung and Campbell.

[X-O HoboJoe]

[sanman]

Lots of Jung and Campbell.

Indeed, you know Arkham Asylum’s subtext is all about Jungian archetypes—the characters can be seen for the symbols they represent.

To deconstruct how psychological themes behind American comics are communicated to the reader might make an interesting thesis. This would be great for a MASS COMM program...

[Tim]

Leave it to Stu to summon the Mad Titan......

[xodacia81]

Lots of Jung and Campbell.

Indeed, you know Arkham Asylum’s subtext is all about Jungian archetypes—the characters can be seen for the symbols they represent.

To deconstruct how psychological themes behind American comics are communicated to the reader might make an interesting thesis. This would be great for a MASS COMM program...

Damn, I wish I'd considered that for my American Culture thesis. Oh well, Cold War and the Media it is, then...

[X-O HoboJoe]

Leave it to Stu to summon the Mad Titan......

Chiclo's slacking.

[X-O HoboJoe]

Lots of Jung and Campbell.

Indeed, you know Arkham Asylum’s subtext is all about Jungian archetypes—the characters can be seen for the symbols they represent.

To deconstruct how psychological themes behind American comics are communicated to the reader might make an interesting thesis. This would be great for a MASS COMM program...

Damn, I wish I'd considered that for my American Culture thesis. Oh well, Cold War and the Media it is, then...

I'd love to read that. Hell, I'll draw it into a comic! How many have considered what the popular culture characters will be like in 1K years?Will they be seen as outdated pantheonic gods, simple entertainment or some sort of hero/villain cult? Will Batman and Darth Vader still be extant viable characters or a dusty footnote?

[sanman]

I'd love to read that. Hell, I'll draw it into a comic! How many have considered what the popular culture characters will be like in 1K years?Will they be seen as outdated pantheonic gods, simple entertainment or some sort of hero/villain cult? Will Batman and Darth Vader still be extant viable characters or a dusty footnote?

Good questions, philosophically I’d imagine that the big ones would be seen as American mythology...

[dave]

What a stupid question.

Earth to Hobo, the world is ending in 2012...

[Chiclo]

Leave it to Stu to summon the Mad Titan......

Chiclo's slacking.

If I remember right, that's card art.

[Chiclo]

Lots of Jung and Campbell.

Indeed, you know Arkham Asylum’s subtext is all about Jungian archetypes—the characters can be seen for the symbols they represent.

To deconstruct how psychological themes behind American comics are communicated to the reader might make an interesting thesis. This would be great for a MASS COMM program...

Damn, I wish I'd considered that for my American Culture thesis. Oh well, Cold War and the Media it is, then...

I'd love to read that. Hell, I'll draw it into a comic! How many have considered what the popular culture characters will be like in 1K years?Will they be seen as outdated pantheonic gods, simple entertainment or some sort of hero/villain cult? Will Batman and Darth Vader still be extant viable characters or a dusty footnote?

I heard Matt Wagner talking about that very thing at a panel a few years ago. He said that the culture will soon outgrow Superman and Batman.

[Tim]

If I remember right, that's card art.

It's the Infinity Gauntlet card (#134) from Marvel Universe Series II.

[nutflush76]

Lots of Jung and Campbell.

Indeed, you know Arkham Asylum’s subtext is all about Jungian archetypes—the characters can be seen for the symbols they represent.

To deconstruct how psychological themes behind American comics are communicated to the reader might make an interesting thesis. This would be great for a MASS COMM program...

Damn, I wish I'd considered that for my American Culture thesis. Oh well, Cold War and the Media it is, then...

I'd love to read that. Hell, I'll draw it into a comic! How many have considered what the popular culture characters will be like in 1K years?Will they be seen as outdated pantheonic gods, simple entertainment or some sort of hero/villain cult? Will Batman and Darth Vader still be extant viable characters or a dusty footnote?

I heard Matt Wagner talking about that very thing at a panel a few years ago. He said that the culture will soon outgrow Superman and Batman.

I'm not so sure about that. Sherlock Holmes has been around for over 100 years and there wasn't the volume of work, or the complexity that characters like Superman and Batman have behind them.

Plus, these characters get reinvented every 20 years or so and keep in line with the times that they are in. I don't think that we will outgrow the characters at all. Now, printed comics as a medium, well that may be a different story alltogether.

[sanman]

Now, printed comics as a medium, well that may be a different story alltogether.

Sad but probably true.

[steverino]

I think the reason characters get reinvented is simply because their fans are growing up and there's no new fans to take their place. The comic companies are simply trying to keep the fanboys they have by trying to keep the characters interesting.

Games and lack of proper distribution are the biggest causes of this and one of the problems isn't getting the attention it needs. We need comics in grocery stores and they need to be more affordable.

[sanman]

Considering your point, I think the superhero will last at least through the rest of our lifetimes—as long as we are supporting the products. I wish the same could be said about floppies, but I’d imagine I’ll be colleting comics—if only back issues—until I step into eternity.

[Knightt]

The post is very iconic and I am sure you could find the same fist clenched, face contorted as if trying to give birth to a 12 pound brown baby boy pose on comic covers across any number of comic companies.

[Knightt]

until I step into eternity.

"Until I step into eternity."

I like that saying, I think I will hijack it one day.

[sanman]

until I step into eternity.

"Until I step into eternity."

I like that saying, I think I will hijack it one day.

It’s all yours—I try to really live each day while not fearing the end.

[Foxtrot]

Gentlemen .... it's never a swipe. It's a 'homage'.

[Knightt]

Tell that to Liefeld.

[sanman]

Tell that to Liefeld.

Give the guy a break, in forgetting to draw hands and feet he probably also forgot to give due credit.

[slym2none]

Gentlemen .... it's never a swipe. It's a 'homage'.

Tell that to Greg Land.



-slym

[X-O HoboJoe]

Gentlemen .... it's never a swipe. It's a 'homage'.

Tell that to Greg Land.



-slym

That would be a "Pornage."

[Knightt]

Gentlemen .... it's never a swipe. It's a 'homage'.

Tell that to Greg Land.



-slym

Abso-frikkin'-lootly....