Star Wars Black Series

[JakeEkiss]

I guess it's harder for folks to let go of Star Wars because, and we've talked about this upthread before, the franchise doesn't have a history of alternate timelines and reboots, so everything feels like it has to be CANOOOOOOOOON

Yeah, Star Wars hasn't really done alternate histories outside of Visions, but boy do they have a lot of "we'll just pretend that didn't happen" media.

 

[Ru1977]

This. I have come to hate that movie because strong opinions both positive and negative have made me detest the very thought of it

Not the same, but I had a similar thing with Dark Knight that I eventually got over. And I'm not even referring to the theater shooting, but (apologies to Ace) Joker fans really made me unable to separate the art from its fans and I couldn't watch Ledger for years.

EDIT: forgot the "n't" about "couldn't watch Ledger".

 

[AceofKnaves]

but (apologies to Ace) Joker fans really made me unable to separate the art from its fans

Ha ha ha ha ha!
My dude, I very much agree about Joker fans. Like several of my special interests and pet characters, I’ve seen the Joker “blow up” in the mainstream over the past couple of decades, and while that’s great for the Joker it definitely brought out the worst people on earth who think he is “totally badass and relatable”. Eeeeeew, dudes. The Joker is NOT a lifestyle nor is he an aspirational character. AT ALL.

 

[Ru1977]

Appreciated. Yeah, I can appreciate a great recreation of his costumes, but some people took it way beyond cosplay. I mean, I love my Fett suit but you don't see me constantly walking across town to question someone and immediately take their word for it or jumping into a massive, toothy anus. At least not repeatedly.

 

[docsilence]

As someone who tables at comic cons a lot… Joker and Deadpool fans are a struggle. Not always but there is a theme there.

 

[PanchaMaestro]

The incel vibe is strong in the Joker community

 

[joshsquash729]

The only thing worse than a Joker fanboy that's single is a couple that's based their relationship around the thought that Joker and Harley are this generation's Romeo and Juliet. And yes, I'm sure there's a throughline there somewhere.

I love Ledger's performance as much as the next guy- truly one of my favorite performances, maybe in all of film, but even I'll admit it's probably done irreparable damage.

 

[docsilence]

It's always a misinterpretation of the character with guys that take it too far, too.

Like you've got an all-time great Deadpool writer in Gail Simone saying she loves writing him because he's basically a cancer patient who can't die, in constant, nightmarish pain, and that's why he's so irreverent and snarky, but so many of his superfans hyperfocus on "honk honk, look at how zany I am, wakka wakka wakka!"

(We really don't have that character in Star Wars, do we? I've seen a lot of Strangers, who is a gaslighter extraordinaire of a character, but Manny is sexy AF in that role and I don't blame anyone who can pull it off rolling around in that costume while it's hot.)

All weird or toxic fandoms aside, there's one con I work every year where one guy is ALWAYS a picture perfect Red Skull and every year I look at him and think: fully invested cosplay, or excuse to dress like a Nazi? I can't tell and I really need verification it's the former and not the latter. I mean not green jumpsuit/yellow gloves HYDRA Red Skull, I'm talking Hugo Boss Third Reich perfectly tailored uniform Red Skull.

 

[Ru1977]

"Great costume... so did you have that already or got it with the mask?"

 

[docsilence]

"Great costume... so did you have that already or got it with the mask?"

Admittedly the mask IS pretty cool craftsmanship - I think it's actually metal? It's got a faint chrome gleam to it. It's unsettling. But... if I were going to make cosplaying a character my signature move, it wouldn't be a Nazi. Even Imperial uniforms are a bit too close to the mark, but let's face it, the Empire knew how to look sharp and fascist at the same time. The Emperor hired the galaxy's best designers.

 

[Chooch555]

Empire, Cobra, Nazis, all the best fashion designers work for evil. We could solve all wars with sweat pants.

 

[joshsquash729]

I suppose cosplaying any villain is a bit odd when you put it like that. Even the healthier Joker fans who cosplay are still cosplaying as a homicidal maniac. But I suppose even the Joker has his morals- even he famously won't mess with the IRS. Nazis are, admittedly, a whole other level.

 

[Schizm]

But not messing with the IRS is such a... rational thought.

 

[altcunningham]

The only thing worse than a Joker fanboy that's single is a couple that's based their relationship around the thought that Joker and Harley are this generation's Romeo and Juliet. And yes, I'm sure there's a throughline there somewhere.

I love Ledger's performance as much as the next guy- truly one of my favorite performances, maybe in all of film, but even I'll admit it's probably done irreparable damage.

A decade or so back my friend wanted a con break and to just sit in at a DC panel. Topic was upcoming books. One of the books was Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

When it came time for the questions for the creators, a woman stood up. She was sitting near us and she had been very tense during the whole Dragon Tattoo part. She had a lot to say about that franchise and DC's decision to adapt it as a comic. She was an SA survivor, and she told the room in graphic detail what she suffered and why the Dragoon Tattoo series is problematic and she's very disappointed with them.

What made it awkward was she was cosplaying as Ledger Joker, and kind of just had that voice naturally. So it was just layers of awkward energy in that room between her and the DC writer and editor trying to craft a response.

Anyway: black series - any new stuff been hitting overseas? Kinda thought Katarn would be in this Hasbro onslaught.

 

[docsilence]

Empire, Cobra, Nazis, all the best fashion designers work for evil. We could solve all wars with sweat pants.

This is why raise an eyebrow at Red Skull but if someone's part of the 501st or dressed up as any Cobra Viper variation I don't even bat an eye - even the baseline troops for the Empire and Cobra have the best fuckin' lewks. Imperial Guard? Alley Vipers? SLAY GIRL

I suppose cosplaying any villain is a bit odd when you put it like that. Even the healthier Joker fans who cosplay are still cosplaying as a homicidal maniac. But I suppose even the Joker has his morals- even he famously won't mess with the IRS. Nazis are, admittedly, a whole other level.

My favorite Joker scene will always be that crossover when he realizes Red Skull isn't being ironic. I just love that his reaction is "I'm a homicidal murderer but I'm not a NAZI FFS"

Anyway: black series - any new stuff been hitting overseas? Kinda thought Katarn would be in this Hasbro onslaught.

I was just looking at my Kyle order and virtually poking it with a stick like 'c'mon. move. let's go.' I really want that wave early. But I thought I saw somewhere that the wave with the bounty hunter Ventress is shipping early? That'd be fun. I haven't had any SW love for my collection really since the new Han and Chewie, and as good as they are, upgrades are never as sexy as new figures. C'mon, Kyle and Quinlan...