How Does Malcolm Reynolds Measure Up to Superheroes?
Our favorite captain appears in i09's Wish-Fulfillment Checklist. Check out how he "hits... the sweet spots of escapism" and how he compares to other superheroes.
It's unclear why the recently honored Buffy was not on the list? Oh, and Mal deserves a brown coat in at least one other column.
July 25 2008
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NYPinTA | July 25, 18:37 CET
Septimus | July 25, 18:44 CET
I'd say so, considering all she did was kiss him and knock him out. ;)
NYPinTA | July 25, 18:46 CET
What I loved the most about Cap'n Tightpants was that he actually WASN'T a superhero- just a man with a man's foibles, flaws and quirks.
missb | July 25, 18:55 CET
Septimus | July 25, 18:55 CET
Work, work, work.
NYPinTA | July 25, 19:04 CET
Grotesk | July 25, 19:18 CET
witchlover | July 25, 20:15 CET
ManEnoughToAdmitIt | July 25, 22:03 CET
Though Honor Harrington should have aced all categories, better than Buffy actually, cause if being one of the richest people on two planets doesn't qualify you as insanely wealthy I don't know what does. While Buffy had to enter the lucrative fast food industry to make a living for herself and her non-paying house guests.
[ edited by jpr on 2008-07-26 08:08 ]
jpr | July 25, 23:08 CET
missb | July 25, 23:15 CET
Having your own space ship to commute between your palaces on two planets beats a puny scottish castle in my book :)
[ edited by jpr on 2008-07-26 08:20 ]
jpr | July 25, 23:17 CET
I may need to see that movie cause I don't understand that.
FaithsTruCalling | July 26, 01:06 CET
Buffy actually WOULD win that one according to my count, as she qualifies for 8 of the 9 categories which is more than any other character there.
I don't see how she's "not tied down" or "becomes a god or king", "cool gadgets" seems doubtful (though it could go either way - she's certainly used cool gadgets, whether enough to count is iffy IMO) and we don't know if she's actually "insanely wealthy" (she's certainly well-off currently but not like e.g. Batman where it's basically a limitless resource, to an almost ridiculous extent in fact). I have Buff at a solid 5 categories.
Not really sure that Mal has "cool gadgets" either (unless Serenity counts cos she's plenty cool ;).
Saje | July 26, 02:28 CET
5 categories sounds about right for Buffy and Mal, poor Buff just works on a different scale than the space opera guys, Harrington like Paul Atreides and Miles Vorkosigan takes 9 categories with ease.
God bless Mr Pointy but consider what Buffy would be able to do with a division or two of superdreadnoughts and a couple of grateful planetary populations throwing money and medals at her :)
jpr | July 26, 05:31 CET
(but yeah, the day we can't find "room for debate" it'll be good skating weather in Hell ;)
Saje | July 26, 05:40 CET
ManEnoughToAdmitIt | July 26, 07:31 CET
But the criteria was...
Insanely wealthy- Hence Buffy's bank job and mysterious benefactor. Plenty more moolah where that came from...
Excuse for self pity- Buffy is all about that!
Devoted sidekicks- Xander and Will.
Cool Gadgets- The (former) castle set-up, plus prophetic scythes and stakes with a backstory.
Marked for greateness- Through numerous prophecies.
Superhuman powers- Well, these are evident.
Not tied down- As evident, no consistent partner but still plenty offering when she gets a bit antsy.
Gets laid- No complaints from Satsu. Or Spike.
Becomes a God or King- this is the only 'nay' category, in my book.
Hence the 8/9 rating. Which bugs me, as I only like voting /10, actually.
YMMV, and welcome!
[ edited by missb on 2008-07-26 17:24 ]
missb | July 26, 08:21 CET
Guess I see 'cool gadgets' as actual gadgets rather than just devices (James Bond has many gadgets but his Walther/Beretta isn't one of them, that's just his gun - likewise the scythe, stakes and definitely the castle for Buffy).
'Not tied down' I may have misinterpreted actually, I was seeing that as not having commitments, being able to just walk away at a moment's notice, generally being mobile. Seems to me like Buffy can only "walk away" when it's for a mission, she has too many responsibilities (and a castle ;) to just swan off whenever she feels like it. No steady partner maybe but most definitely a "steady job".
'Insanely wealthy' might well be true, that's something we don't really know yet IMO. If it's just the proceeds of one bank job then that's not insanely wealthy in the sense I mean it which is basically "Money is literally no object, limitless" and we don't know much about the benefactor (hence mysterious ;).
I agree with the rest of your 'ticks' though missb ;).
Saje | July 26, 08:35 CET
It's been (and I say this with a note of sadness) decades since I could enjoy a superhero tale presented in simple earnest.
Ghalev | July 26, 18:56 CET