WTF Marvel???

[furtech]

I just got exposed to a concept so mind-numbingly stupid and clueless that my brain seized up for a moment.

The Super Hero Squad Show

WTF marketing genius came up with this steaming pile? I -think- the show is supposed to be in the style of the super-deformed cartoons in Japan (anime is still "cool"; execs throw the term around like they used to use "CGI" and "morph" a decade ago). I honestly can't tell if the characters are supposed to be "teens" or kids or dwarfs. They all look like Hobbits: big heads and HUGE feet, but they act like petulant, little kids. The God of Thunder...Wolverine...that floating head-guy villain...Hulk as the lovable retard character...nrrg.



Beyond the horror of the character design, Marvel canon is utterly bonkered. Clearly intended at very young children, I can only think that some exec came up with this concept, loosely based on the Avengers comics. The writers took a stupid pill as well: today they're protecting a "fractal". Is there some web site that writers go to that have lists of tech words or 'hood slang? Geeze.

If anyone thought that WIRED magazine was incorruptible (well, there -might- be someone), forget it. Here's a shill " article " that appeared there about this cool show. This quote from the article reads like it was written by someone who has never read (or allowed their kids to read) comics:

The new animated series, which lands on Cartoon Network this Saturday, could easily find a home on Adult Swim: Featuring pint-size versions of Iron Man, Wolverine, Silver Surfer, Hulk and many more cracking wise and kicking ass, it’s another great entry for kids (and for their elders who refuse to grow up).

Only someone with a brain injury or a marketing nut uses words like, "pint-sized" and "cracking wise" and terms like, "and for their elders who refuse to grow up." Good ghod. "Elders"??? Oh, and they throw the "ass" in to show that this HAD to be written by a genuine, edgy WIRED writer...

To think that a it wasn't that long ago that this network showcased "Samurai Jack," "Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends," "Dexter's Lab." Sad.

Comments

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

The styl;e of these is based off of some toys that have been produced for years, and I think they're adorable >.>

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the toys are actually really cute; the husband has been collecting the Marvel, GI Joe, Transformers and Star Wars ones. ^_^;

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I can believe the toys are cool...but the writing and the personalities they gave the characters is annoying (the Silver Surfer is...a surfer-dude. Really.)

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

No pint-sized super-heroines, I guess, because girls don't fit the stereotyped "Buddy Team" theme, and girls are considered no good if they are kid-shaped and sans boobs. :p

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

With the toys, they've made a buttload of tiny heroines- Teeny Storm, Teeny Phoenix (three different colors on costumes), Teen Ms. Marvel, Teeny She-Hulk, Teeny Wasp, Teeny Rogue, Teeny Sue Storm, Teeny Elektra, Teeny Emma Frost... even Teeny Mystique.

I think Teeny Storm and Teeny Ms. Marvel are in the show, and rather than wear leotards, they have modest full length pants.

[swirling-chaos.livejournal.com]

Disappointing indeed. :\

I don't know if you're already aware of this, but if you do want to watch shows like Dexter's Lab and Chowder, Boomerang has been broadcasting them - you need to have a satellite subscription to view it though.

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I should program in Boomerang...more and more of what I like is there. When Boomerang first went on the air, they were all Hanna-Barbara shows (the bad ones), so I never got into the habit of watching it. Good advice!

[desertcoyote.livejournal.com]

Those do look kinda weird to me, too.
What's happened with Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon? I haven't had the time to watch them in a year or more and now I'm hearing they've both changed- for the worse. Something about becoming totally hyper-politically-correct-afraid to offend anyone. I'm hearing the cartoons are really bland and dumb now ("unoffensive" in other words) and most of the old classics aren't being run anymore? Is this true? If so, that's beyond sad. I never was a big fan of most of the art styles featured on those networks, but they've always had smartly written shows around....

[furtech.livejournal.com]

I think that's why I'm so angry: it's bad enough that they're filling prime-time with awful, low-budget "live" shows, but even the animated shows are getting dumber and dumber. Plus they've had a huge talent exodus. None of this bodes well for the future.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

LMAO!
As in the past, I guess it's only a matter of time till we see these on Disney Diapers!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Don't you remember the Loony Tunes Babies? That show always gave me the creeps.

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

Oh yes!... Precisely my point :D .. The whole premise doesn't even make sense!

[iisaw.livejournal.com]

Infantalization marches on!

[angikate.livejournal.com]

Really?! They think this show should be on Adult Swim?! I'd expect Ergo Proxy to air on A.S. before Marvel Mayhem Bobble Brats. And I, too, take offense to the "elder's who refuse to grow up" bit. Animation is a *medium* not a *subject* and just because most animation is aimed at children, it doesn't mean that animation is only for children.

Makes me want to marathon "Dexter's Lab" and "Venture Bros."

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Yeah...there are still good shows getting on the air on CN, but it's been a while since I could watch a block of shows at once. If I've got the television on for white noise, I'm more likely to have it on the Weather Channel: less potential for annoyance.