http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com This is a discussion forum powered by vBulletin. To find out about vBulletin, go to http://www.vbulletin.com/ . en Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:07:48 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6896&goto=newpost Wed, 01 Sep 2010 06:01:17 GMT I would like to acknowledge the irony of this entire thread considering my username...I am aware. ;_;

With that aside...HOLY SHIT I'M SO EXCITED.

http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/...ial-07-22-2010

Thanks to Face I've found this out and started to hypervenilate. ]]> Yu-Gi-Oh: Abridged Series Discussion PegasusJCrawford http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6896 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6894&goto=newpost Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:31:07 GMT Hey Android-rowdies!
I'm still working on a YGOTAS soundboard for android phones. But I think I can already present you the first beta version. It has 32 sounds yet and I'm working on implementing more... much more!

Feel free to download and use it as long as you like. Comments, suggestions, bug reports; everything is welcome.

Greets!

P.S. Oops! Almost forgot to give you the download link xD. Here it is:
http://www.deskmation.com/android/ygotas.php

]]> Yu-Gi-Oh: Abridged Series Discussion ejcyrax http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6894 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6893&goto=newpost Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:16:27 GMT I do not want to write this! It's not far! It's bullsh*t! I do not want to write this, I do naaaaaaaaaaaaught!

Oh hi website.

This coming weekend, Littlekuriboh, Kroze, and I will be attending Anime Vegas (September 4-6th). LK is an official guest and will take part in multiple panels! We are very excited to do another west coast con, as well as hanging out with our good friends over at 91.8 the fan!

• The Yugioh Abridged panel will be on Sunday at 3:30pm-5:00pm in the “Zeus B&C” room. We'll be showing some clips off, as well as take Q & A as usual.
• LK also scheduled for an Autograph Session from 5-6:00pm in Parthenon 5, and a always-a-good-time 18+ Panel from 10-11:30pm in the Apollo ¾ room!

We will also be selling YGOTAS shirts and buttons in the maid cafe, NOT the dealers room. So if you want to get your YGOTAS merch fix, be sure to stop by! Hopefully Kroze wears that maid outfit I got for him for Valentine's day...



I mean, when else is he gonna wear it? Hope to see many of you in Vegas!

ALSO don't forget that only 3 days after Anime Vegas is Alcon in Leicester, England! That's right British-people; Littlekuriboh, your national treasure (as I like to believe he is) is coming home to the convention where this time last year was LK's first convention appearance ever as a guest. He'll be joined by fellow abridgers DarkSideIncorporated (which includes Shadyvox and XtheDarkone) as well as Team Four Star member and also VERY British-person, MasakoX!

YOU'RE TEARING ME APART KROOOOOOOOOOZE!

-helixD ]]> News helixD http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6893 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6888&goto=newpost Sun, 29 Aug 2010 05:40:53 GMT Hey guise, I am starting a playthrough of Baldur's Gate 1 and 2; and I have created a total of six characters, 5 of which are members in the IRC. Here they are:

Lemme Peekachu; leader - Lvl 1 Human Chaotic Neutral Sharpshooter (Created by me)
Popcorn - LVL 1 Gnome Neutral Evil Swashbuckler (Created by Bakura/vampire lemons)
Juana - LVL 1 Half-Elf True Neutral Berserker (created by Jou)
Shadoe - LVL 1 Elf Chaotic Neutral Barbarian (Created by Shadoe)
Varkas - Lvl 1 Elf Chaotic Neutral Sorceress (created by moo102)
Chef Brian - Lvl 1 Human Chaotic Evil Mage (Created by chef brian, not on forum or irc)


Our...Neutral Villians everyone?

I will be posting updates on everything that happens, feel free to post bets on who dies and who doesn't; there will be a death count and the one with the highest numbers of death will be booted from the team! ]]> Games Nerdlinger http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6888 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6886&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:19:35 GMT WHY IS IT THAT THIS THREAD HASN'T BEEN MADE?!











]]> Yu-Gi-Oh: Abridged Series Discussion LordZorc http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6886 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6885&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:01:43 GMT Asu no Yoichi translates to "Yoichi's Harem". This is quite an ecchi anime, but still not on par with Ikkitousen, so it's... sort of family friendly. Except for the one character. You'll know who she is.

Anyway, the story is quite simply. Yoichi is a samurai who grew up in the mountains. He'd learned all he can while up there, so his father sends him to live with a family in the city who practices the same sword style as he does. Yoichi, however, did not know that the family consisted of only girls! There's the Mary Sue character, the invisible tomboy, the young loli who knows how to cook, and the manga artist. Pretty much everybody.

Oh, and they all have large breasts. Except for one. Seriously.

The series itself is only 12 episodes long, with practically no story line, other than the compulsory shadowy organization trying to defeat Yoichi for vague reasons which are only revealed in the final episode.

All in all, it's your typical harem anime. With samurais. ]]> Anime/Manga Fishmeistercod http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6885 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6884&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:09:36 GMT Yeah, baby! I'm bringing it back! Best caption gets... a pat on the back. Ah, *bleep* it. Picture. Caption. MAKE-A DA FUNNIES.

]]> Forum Games Fishmeistercod http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6884 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6883&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:55:04 GMT Being an avid otaku - I never leave the house =w= - I tend to watch a lot of anime. Because of this, I like to thing of myself as knowledgeable about... Being an avid otaku - I never leave the house =w= - I tend to watch a lot of anime. Because of this, I like to thing of myself as knowledgeable about anime. Thus, I write reviews. I've written quite a few, and I'll post them here. Feel free to add some comments about my reviews should you disagree with something that I said. :D So, without further ado...

FISHY'S AMAZING SUPER-FANTABULOUS ANIME REVIEW!

This time, I think we'll take a look at a more popular, yet under-appreciated anime, called "Ah! My Goddess!" This just so happens to be another anime that I preferred to watch dubbed rather than subbed, so for all of you "eager buyers" out there, be sure to get it in English!

The story starts simple. Our protagonist is... well, pretty much "Chaotic Good".

"PERSON! MUST... HELP... NAOW..."

Of course, this means he's dirt poor, a university student, and always taken advantage of.

One day, he accidentally dials the Goddess Help Line. They decided that he should be rewarded, and through the mirror comes the mega-hot goddess, Belldandy, who will grant our hero one wish. He wishes for her to be by her side forever.

Now, this means he has a goddess for a girlfriend. You know, goddess powers and everything. Yeah.

The series itself doesn't have an awful lot in plot until pretty much right at the end, but it made me laugh quite a bit, and of course there's fan service galore. In short, if you're looking for a romance-induced chuckle, then this is for you! Just watch the first episode, and you'll be hooked!

Pun very much intended. ]]> Anime/Manga Fishmeistercod http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6883 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6882&goto=newpost Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:59:41 GMT Well I was forced to sit through this film tonight and it was so bad that second finished, felt need to go onto the internet to rant to other... Well I was forced to sit through this film tonight and it was so bad that second finished, felt need to go onto the internet to rant to other ineffectuals, such as myself about it:- ^_^

=But in all seriousness, this was probably the worse film I have ever seen in my opinion and though generally I dislike comedy films all round because 90% of them, are all exactly same cringe worthy films as each other, this one somehow took that to whole new level of woefulness=
-The plot is most contrived one ever,
-The story-line barely follows the plot,
-The characters are ether bland and uncreative or simply degenerates (sorry I don't find moron's being moronic that entertaining)
-The acting is simply terrible,
-The visional imagery is done like a bad US advertisement,
-And the only thing worst than this film's lack of breaking the mold, is when it actually attempts to break the mold o_0

=However all of this could be forgiven if film was actually funny, because this is a comedy and therefore it is not media effect which counts, but how funny it is. However this film didn't even make me smile once, let alone laugh, because 90% of jokes are predictable, boring moron jokes and the other 10% were somehow worse, because in end all they basically were, was some degenerates saying random and none sensical things in hope that somehow make sense and be classed as funny to those watching it,
-they did not link to anything which was happening, had no reference to anything in real world and did not make any sense what so ever in short, and clearly those I was watching this with, disagreed, I personally think, just because makes no sense, doesn't mean it is funny, their just has to some sense which could applied along side it, to make the lack of sense amusing and ironic in some way

PS also though again some may disagree, i think making fun of other comedies is sure fire sign of bad humor

PSS this just my opinion and if someones thinks completely missed point of this film, tell me so ]]> Movies Fat1Fared http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6882 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6881&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:16:54 GMT Welcome back to the convention reports of the 404s Improv comedy troupe trips! Today’s report will talk about our return once more to Montreal,... Welcome back to the convention reports of the 404s Improv comedy troupe trips! Today’s report will talk about our return once more to Montreal, a.k.a. CRAZY BRIDGE TOWN! Yes we recently were at Otakuthon 2010 at Otakuthon Main Page and once more it was a blast! So sit back and enjoy this con report of the shows, events and more that we did!

To start things off though since the Eastside 404s troupe comes from various parts of Ontario these trips to Montreal (about 8 hours plus including stops) tend to be our longest road trips to date...but also making them some of the funniest bonding times! This year for entertainment (and in some ways improv practice in some cases) we played car games (not CARD games as my deafly ears thought I heard-yep I was already confused to my close friends to know I generally do) like “I’m so boring because...” (where you say something you’ve done and the others raise their hands if they’ve done the opposite), a few rounds of Family Feud on my Gameboy SP where we got such fine categories like “Name Something that is Tight” and “Name Someplace that Echoes” (where apparently a PHONE BOOTH was a correct answer so anytime I saw one I wondered about its echoing), and even trading stories from childhood, but 1 particular activity stood out this year on the road trip. See one of our troupe members happened to have found the complete DVD set of a series that has won the award for best dubbing ever and yes sometimes dubs are hit or miss...this one was a homerun hit as it was Ghost Stories.

See Ghost Stories I was told its history which can be read also at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Stories_(anime) and you shall see how this was inspirational for us to laugh to and adopt some in even the weekend’s performances, particularly the random gibberish crying of one Keiichirou Miyanoshita, who in even more funny coincidences was dubbed by Christine M. Auten who voices such opposite characters like Izumi Curtis, Ed and Al’s sensei in Full Metal Alchemist! Oh how THAT meeting of anime characters would be like and we’d love to thank Auten, Greg Ayres (who plays the redone funny Jewish kid Leo), Monica Rial (the overly religious gal who used to have many “personal demons”) and the rest of the cast that made us laugh so much with its extremeness and many pop culture references or names. Each actor by the end of the convention had adopted their own sounding version of Keiichirou’s gibberish cry for games like Murder Telephone, or on at the end of the weekend driving home doing an impromptu game of Every Other Line using the dub lines and text messaging, AHBAHHAABBAAAHABA!

Once the trip was done getting there we checked into the Holiday Inn across from the Palais de Congrès we did our first Friday show in the Main Stage of the weekend, with later shows coming on Saturday (1 on the Main Stage again that was a team competition show between Team Broliferation and The Real Amish People (who ended up “winning”, naturally) then the famous Late Night Mature Show in one of the Events room) and Sunday’s finale show, a best of show. We thank all that attended as you guys in Montreal packed each show with a few hundred showing each show! The Late Night show of course had the biggest crowd of the weekend to see along with our games the “Last Pants Standing” contest as you voted for who was to take their pants off each time to random songs sung by the crowd (I guess I won that being the Last one to have pants on), as well as the return of the Mousetraps game some of you filmed of our actors being blindfolded and bare-footed to act out a scene surrounded by 100 mousetraps, and a special surprise birthday cake and song for our host and founder of the 404s, Mark. It was another special show indeed!

As for the games we played, we sure got to plenty of them for your entertainment this year. You can once again see the videos we found from you the fans as well as soon some from our own filming at
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...40D4CF10ED601B by going to it and going to the end of the playlist (it’s gotten so big I’ll likely have to create another new one soon so good job, keep those videos coming in).

And for videos of other convention events (again go to the end of the playlist to see the latest saved videos from Otakuthon and more), go to that playlist at http://www.youtube.com/view_play_lis...73FEAC695D7A72

If my memory serves me correctly some of the games that come to mind that were memorable include:

-Telephone Murder where one must mime with sounds only a murder scene, murderer and weapon (again how Ghost Stories flowed into our games for the gibberish sounds) about cake, Wonderland and somehow Jewish Butter Churning that carried over into Freeze Tag for a Jewish Carnival and hospital visit

-99 Mushrooms from the 99 Things game becoming an “influential” thing to later games.

-Megan Fox being a part of the Michael Bay Theme Park in the Sound Effects game (perfect for the monotone voice of a robotic ticket dispenser).

-Our new game, the Vulgarity game that replaced swear words with common ones and inverted for saying those common words. We had such a church-ing time with it we encouraged it for use in your life and some of you have at least during later parts of the convention as everyone who was at the shows got it, Furby!

-Sunday’s Authors and Characters Story Game about Violence Man featuring Yuki Nagato from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, the cast of Homestar Runner and me as a Moogle from Final Fantasy! Kupo!

-Story Die telling the Story of the Old Spice Guy...on a horse of course.

-Dating games that saw me doing an angry Montreal Sports fan (I gave my passion for the Habs and GSP of the UFC) and a person who points to cosplayers and starts acting like them (I got to be Mario, Ash Ketchum, a giant Mudkip we saw for other games, Link, Raven from Teen Titans, Ichigo from Bleach and more). Also in those dating games were GLA-DOS from Portal (great job hanging upside down for that one), Jack Sparrow, and the Slap-chop guy.

-Web comic artist Lar deSouza came to our shows, even Twitter-ed about us and came up so we can tell “The Day in the Life of...” game for him.

-Random Lines had tons of your suggestions, particularly cleaning out my cat Sean’s kitty litter which somehow became the Death Star by the end, heh. We also saw new PBS TV shows involving Transformers and Cats Rolling Out and “The Canadians are coming!” to somehow help out with the mess since they rarely do much else (again am a big Habs fan so let me have my praise and pains for the team!) when I somehow made a booboo of the box.

-Some interesting “Scenes from a Hat” suggestions also came from you the fans, from what is Little Mike thinking about the other 404s to bad times to time travel to (like your parents’ bedroom or to discover Michael Jackson was once black) to bad people to wake up next to (Paris Hilton?!) to even how to get out of your date with a stalker (sic him Papillon!).

-Oh and once again we welcome any artists who saw the show to draw out our Press Conference suggestion of Papillon from Busou Renkin revealing he’s really a Terminator from the future who just killed Chuck Norris!

The fans had some great ideas too for asking us for things from taping us say random lines like CRAZY BRIDGE TOWN and Poutine de Tabernacle (a suggestion for Foreign Dubbing and some other games) to the one fan who dresses as Papillon wanting to do a Kill Bill film parody (fear my Hyuga Gentle Fist technique and pose). Also thanks to those who gave our actors some nice flowers and a tiara and on Friday whoever brought the pre-show fudge that was delicious!

We also did a neat photo shoot for an upcoming piece for Super Kawaii Magazine who was also doing photos for fans, so keep an eye out for that one. I’d like to thank the staff for making it such a fluid photo shoot and we look forward to looking as DASHING as my new WWE wrestling inspiration is, DASHING Cody Rhodes, heh.

Speaking of thanks all of the staff were tremendous running the convention and accommodating all of us guests, not just the 404s but some of the ones we talked to as well. Keep up the good work Otakuthon! They helped also bring many other fun activities, like a board gaming room for a quick game of Settlers of Catan among other things, video rooms to see stuff subbed in English or French (Heroman in French, engagez!) the return of Irulanne and friends to sing on stage, the Dealers Room with tons of stuff, the video gaming room and much more!

Speaking of the video gaming room I got to play surprisingly a game that just came out on the PS3 for the Playstation Network: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game! I love the classic beat ‘em up games of old like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Golden Axe so this was up my alley. Add in RPG levelling skill elements, lots of Toronto/Canadian references like loonies and toonies for cash, and supers like when using Scott he has a Streets of Rage borrowed burning knuckles move and a Ryu hurricane kick special and you had an excellent 8 bit looking game that was very fun if difficult even with friends to play with! The challenge was very much worth it for all the beating up of exes, aliens, cosplaying dinosaurs and more!

Got a decent amount of merchandise too from the aforementioned Dealers Room that included:
*A Moogle Button with pompom made by http://www.mangacature.com
*A signed CD of Vic Mignogna’s Remixed songs called ReVix (he’s always a blast to meet and his fans showed their appreciation at his events too!)
*2 packs of trading cards: 1 Pokemon HS Unleashed (rare was a holo Torterra) and 1 Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Ancient Prophecy (rare Gaap the Divine Soldier) since the new sets had yet to come out by the con
*On the way up stopped by an EB Games and found for my Nintendo Wii (yes I own one even if it was dissed it in the Hey You, Down There! Game) Okami which many have been telling me to try
*And finally at the con’s dealers room also found for my PS2 Guilty Gear Accent Core.

It was definitely a fun time once again in Montreal, from a relaxing pre-show swim at the hotel on Saturday to shopping in Chinatown, to sightseeing and even to a group visit to La Belle Province for poutine and smoked meat. It was a fun time had by all and we look forward to seeing all the fans and congers again next time!

Don’t forget to check out the 404s website for more info on shows and more at http://the404s.com/ with the Eastside Troupe having this autumn a full schedule. Look for my last con report for 2010 for Anime Syracuse when we go there http://animesyracuse.com/anime-syracuse-festival-2010 when we make the trip across the border for shows on Sept. 11! Until then keep on laughing! Yatta! ]]> Conventions Haruhifan http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6881 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6880&goto=newpost Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:51:37 GMT for those that love the beatles and want to know a little more about John Lennon, this movie is for you. The movie takes place during John's early teen years just before he joins the beatles. It tells the story about what it was like for a young John Lennon growing up in Liverpool and how he got his start in music, playing guitar, and everything else that is John Lennon folklore. The movie will be playing in select theaters starting October 8th then opening abroad soon after. look for it when it comes to your town.
to view a trailer of the film and learn more about it, please click the link provided.
http://nowhereboy.com ]]> Movies gcar90 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6880 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6879&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:23:00 GMT What many anime watchers agree with is that 4kids disrespects anime and anything that is foreign. I hear many anime fans criticize 4kids all over,... What many anime watchers agree with is that 4kids disrespects anime and anything that is foreign. I hear many anime fans criticize 4kids all over, but why hasn't anybody started taking action. I believe action is needed to bring change. Words are great for expressing ideas, but they have little meaning if nothing is being done with it. What we need is a giant group of all anti-4kids people, a group large enough to make sure 4kids can't ignore us. I will not stand by and let 4kids degrade society with their so called protection of young minds and their lack of respect towards other cultures. Anybody with any other ideas, please express them. ]]> Anime/Manga kaiser11492 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6879 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6878&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Aug 2010 17:21:29 GMT Fight Club

The Return of Hobbes
Hobbes is reborn as Tyler to save "Jack" (a grown-up Calvin) from the slough of un-comic despair.

In the film Fight Club, the real name of the protagonist (Ed Norton’s character) is never revealed. Many believe the reason behind this anonymity is to give "Jack" more of an everyman quality. Do not be deceived. "Jack" is really Calvin from the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. It’s true. Norton portrays the grown-up version of Calvin, while Brad Pitt plays his imaginary pal, Hobbes, reincarnated as Tyler Durden.

Part I: The Hobbes-Tyler Connection
Picture this: a hyper, self-absorbed child initially concocts an imaginary friend as the ideal playmate, to whom more realistic qualities soon become attributed. This phantasm becomes a completely separate personality, with his own likes, dislikes, and temperament—and the imaginer and the imagined clash and argue constantly, though remaining fast friends. This pattern continues to the point where the child begins to perceive what was originally mere fantasy to be reality.

Just as Calvin has an imaginary jungle-animal friend named Hobbes, whom everyone else believes to be nothing but a stuffed toy, "Jack" in Fight Club has an imaginary cool-guy friend named Tyler, whom no one but Jack can see.

In both cases, the entity that began as the ideal companion soon took on a more realistic, three-dimensional quality. In other words, they became real. This is evident in that both Hobbes and Tyler also began to function as scapegoats for their creators. For instance, consider that Calvin often blames broken lamps and other assorted household mischief on Hobbes, and that Jack is inclined to believe that Fight Club and other various anti-society mischief is brought about by Tyler, not himself. Calvin claims Hobbes pounces on him every day after school; Jack believes Tyler beats him up next to 40 kilotons of nitroglycerin in a parking garage—the list goes on and on. The relationships between the two sets of friends are the exact same. Is this mere coincidence?



"There are eight rules of Fight Club."
Filling in the time-gap between Calvin and Jack, we can imagine the story as something like this: Once Calvin reaches the hostile environment known as the seventh grade, the constant teasing from the other students and the frustrated concern of his parents finally becomes too much, and a reluctant, disillusioned Calvin is finally forced to grow up, or at least begin to. This decision is sealed by one of the hardest things young Calvin will ever have to do in his life: un-imagine Hobbes, an act which to Calvin is essentially no different from murder. After being Calvin’s best friend for over a decade, Hobbes is packed away in a box, or tossed carelessly into a garbage bag, perhaps even stuffed under the same bed that once contained so many monsters. This is all, of course, very painful for Calvin, so much so that he represses it all in shame. Little does Calvin suspect that while he is busy growing up, deciding what "dinette set defines him as a person," Hobbes is also maturing in the recesses of his mind, waiting to be unleashed at an appropriate time.

It’s worth noting that during these twenty or so years, Hobbes never bears a grudge against Calvin nor wishes any ill upon him. Hobbes, remembering the depth of their past friendship, does not hate Calvin but rather hates the society that made Calvin put him away. Hobbes, residing in Calvin’s mind, sees and experiences all that Calvin does—and truly despises all of it. He witnesses a bright, superbly imaginative kid (with a genius-level vocabulary) reduced to nothing more than another nameless cog. Fighting off the tears wept for his conventionalized pal, Hobbes resolves to set Calvin free, paying special attention when Calvin idly looks up homemade-napalm recipes on the Internet.

Flash forward to the timeframe depicted in Fight Club. Calvin/Jack has reached an all-time low. He has done everything society has told him to do but is completely void of happiness. Hobbes, newly adjusted as "Tyler Durden" (after all, grown-up Calvin would no longer accept a jungle animal walking, talking, and eating canned tuna), re-enters Calvin/Jack’s life, determined to show Calvin everything he’s done wrong, whether he likes it or not.


Tyler to Jack: "I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I’m smart, capable, and most importantly, I’m free in all the ways you wish you could be."

Calvin has always idolized Hobbes. In Weirdos From Another Planet, he dresses up like a tiger and attempts to live in the woods. Like Hobbes, Tyler is cool, collected, and incredibly cerebral. Given this evidence, one can conclude that Tyler is Hobbes, reincarnated after being trapped inside Calvin/Jack’s brain for so many years. Just as Calvin is Jack, Hobbes is Tyler.

Part II: Marla Singer—Avatar of Susie Derkins?
Somewhere between the end of high school and beginning of college, uptight, grade-obsessed Susie Derkins lost her way. The pressure to get good grades, the pressure to succeed, simply became too much for her, and she snapped.


Marla remembers the girl she used to be.

Free from the protective bonds of her parents’ guidance and the bland safety of her suburban home, Susie loses her moral bearings entirely and sinks into a dark, seamy, grim world of sex, drugs, and eccentric Albert-Einstein-like hair. Her transformation is so complete that she no longer even remotely resembles the upright citizen that her parents and society wanted her to be: thus, she changes her name.

Like Calvin, Susie has become a misfit, one of society’s lost lambs. It is for this reason that she soon finds herself frequenting support groups such as "Remaining Men Together." Fate has brought her back to Calvin, whom she probably spurned back in junior high. But the two have changed so much that they no longer recognize each other!

The pink dress Marla wears in one scene slightly resembles something that "Binky Betsy," Susie’s favorite childhood doll, once wore: the doll that Calvin stole and attempted to ransom. While Calvin and Susie mostly teased and tortured each other, Hobbes was infatuated with the raven-haired beauty. Accordingly, Jack despises Marla, whereas Tyler takes an *ahem* sort of interest in her (definitely inappropriate for the Sunday Funnies).

When we are first introduced to Marla, she is but a tumor on Jack’s slowly deteriorating world. She is disenfranchised, morbid, socially apathetic—and Jack despises her because she is a mirror image of himself, his own female double. On the other hand, Calvin hates Susie because she is his exact opposite: Bright, obedient, demure—the unruly Calvin has every reason to hate her. However, certain strips definitely infer that Calvin has somewhat of a crush on Susie, and some even imply that Susie shares these latent feelings. But as a cootie-fearing grade-schooler, Calvin may only express these strange feelings through attention-getting antagonisms such as constant snowballs to the head, ransoming her dolls—and through his separate, conveniently more mature other personality—Hobbes.

Unlike Calvin, Hobbes has never been bashful about showing his affection for Susie. Calvin’s imaginary tiger-friend has called her a "cutie," worn swim jams to impress her ("Girls flip for guys in jams"), and even claimed he would betray their club’s secret code if she gave him a tummy rub (which is one of the key differences between Tyler and Hobbes). Naturally, all of this confuses and frustrates Calvin beyond words, even though Hobbes is really nothing more than a product of his own mind! And though Hobbes and Susie never consummated their love for each other (he’s a stuffed tiger and she’s a kid, you sicko!) this is, of course, the exact same deranged love-triangle that is shared between Jack, Tyler, and Marla, or at least a natural progression thereof. Perhaps Marla puts up with Jack/Tyler’s apparent nonsense for so long, because it’s the sort of thing she became used to as a child? And perhaps, in the end, Jack finds solace in Marla because it’s the exact same connection he should’ve made long ago, in his suburban youth. A connection that may have saved them both.

Part III: GROSS—Precursor of Fight Club

In a scene eerily reminiscent of Fight Club, Hobbes blithely informs a sulking Calvin that he decides his own level of involvement in G.R.O.S.S.

When you boil it down, the Fight Club that Jack and Tyler start is really just an odd sort of boys’ club—no ovaries allowed—where men can be men, and the so-called stronger of the sexes can take solace in the fact that, even in our politically correct times, some exclusivities of manhood still remain. (As a side note, imagine how much more controversy the movie would have generated if it involved scenes of men fighting women on equal ground!)

And clubs like this, of course, have their beginnings in backyards, tree houses, and garages all over America. Not surprisingly, Calvin started such a club when he was six years old. Little did anyone realize that he would construct another one much later in his life, again with the aid of an imaginary friend. For just as Calvin, Hobbes, and Susie have dark future versions in Jack, Tyler, and Marla respectively, G.R.O.S.S. (Get Rid Of Slimy girlS) has the same in Fight Club.

G.R.O.S.S. shares the following characteristics with Fight Club:

Both have catchy names (although the "slimy" part of G.R.O.S.S. is redundant, otherwise it doesn’t spell anything).

Both are co-run by a friendless male and his imaginary companion (Calvin is Tyrant and Dictator-for-Life; Hobbes is President and First Tiger).
Both are exclusively male organizations, although Fight Club’s membership is considerably larger.
Along with that, all members of both organizations are very loyal.
The leaders of both organizations constantly engage in fisticuffs (but only in G.R.O.S.S. does a member receive a demerit for biting).
And in said fights, in both organizations, there is only one fight at a time!
Both are supposedly very secretive (though Jack never tells his mother about Fight Club).
At least one leader of both organizations is fond of giving speeches (though Calvin never uses the term "space monkey").
G.R.O.S.S. and Fight Club both wreak havoc on their respective neighborhoods (G.R.O.S.S.’s target is considerably more focused, i.e., Susie). Clearly, the roots of Fight Club can be seen in G.R.O.S.S. Calvin shows his penchant for such male-oriented, destructive organizations. Also, just like cardboard-box-time-machines and water-gun-transmogrifiers, G.R.O.S.S. was likely created as an escape, a release—as, of course, was Fight Club.

Part IV: Moe Develops Karmic Bitch-Tits


Moe secretly seeks atonement for past sins.
Robert "Moe" Paulson, Calvin’s grade-school bully, becomes a six-time weight-lifting champion, and somewhere along the line develops large man-boobs as a result of testicular cancer. This of course leads him to his support group, where he is shocked to find Calvin.

Moe greatly regrets his bullying days, but, too ashamed to reveal his true identity to Calvin, he instead offers his ample bosom for him to cry on, as a measure of retribution.

Part V: The Root of Evil
Although we’ve already learned of the fates of Hobbes, Susie, and Moe, there are a couple of other people important to Calvin that are missing. People that are even more integral to his development than (arguably) Hobbes: his parents. Mr . . . uhm . . . , and Mrs . . . uh. . . . Okay, so they don’t have names. But then again, there is no need to know them. Because in the comic strip, they’re not supposed to be important characters in their own right. They only matter in regards to how Calvin is directly effected by them; an effect which, by the time of the film, doesn’t seem to have been very positive. From what "Jack" mentions, he’s not exactly close to his parents, particularly his dad, on whom he seems to pin many of his problems. And this matches perfectly with the relationship depicted in the comic, as well as with what happened afterwards (in Part I).


Calvin’s dad seems to have done quite a number on his son. As stated, it was probably at his urging that Calvin "grew up," that is, finally started to conform to society’s rules, which was the death of Hobbes. Of course, his father wasn’t without his playful side—good-naturedly teasing Calvin at every opportunity—but perhaps this is why "Jack" resents him so much. Maybe after Jack reached the end of his dutiful journey, only to find emptiness, he thought back to the day his father told him that the sun sets down somewhere in Arizona every night. "Maybe," thought Calvin, "maybe ALL of it’s been just another one of Dad’s cruel jokes."

In the "bathtub" scene of Fight Club, "Jack" and Tyler discuss their woeful parents. In this scene, crucial information is revealed, as well as some inconsistencies. "Jack" claims his father left when he was six, an age when Calvin’s dad was obviously still around, but this statement is contradicted soon after, when Tyler mentions his own dad telling him to get married when he was thirty, to which "Jack" responds, "mine said that too." The self-pitying "Jack" is most likely seeking to garner additional sympathy from his newfound friend by making his childhood sound worse than it actually was.


But even more interesting is Tyler’s hostility towards his father: when "Jack" asks him who he would fight, if he could fight anyone, he answers, "I’d fight my father." But, since Tyler is only a figment of Jack’s imagination, we can only assume he’s referring to Jack’s father. And while this hatred would only make sense given that the two are sharing the same brain, why is it that Tyler seems to hate Jack’s father even more vividly than "Jack" himself does? Maybe it’s because Tyler hasn’t forgotten who’s ultimately responsible for the un-imagining that took place years before . . . maybe he’s still not too happy about it . . . and maybe he’s got some pretty good ideas for revenge.

The role of Calvin’s father in all of this is no small one. Other than to "save" Calvin, it’s entirely possible that Tyler’s real motivation for taking down civilization is simply to get back at Calvin’s father. For by destroying the society that forced Calvin into repressing Hobbes, he’s also destroying the society that Calvin’s father, after all, epitomizes. And this of course allows Hobbes an indirect measure of revenge.

Part VI: Calvin—"I Am Jack’s Lost Youth"

Although the personality differences between Calvin in the comic strip and Calvin in the movie are pretty large, it can be explained as easily as taking Id and introducing him to Superego ("Jack" actually seems to have sort of a Super-Superego). Nearly all people go through the same thing when first confronted with the crushing grind of reality. But, as they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall—and in terms of imagination and dreams, Calvin was a giant.

Still, it’s not as though common traits between Calvin-Calvin and Jack-Calvin can’t be identified at all. Besides a preference for imaginary friends over real ones, and an inability to express affection for girls, Calvin has never done well when forced to play by any sort of rules. Take, for instance, his utter inability in any sort of organized sport, compared to his unbridled joy while playing the make-it-up-as-you-go-along "Calvinball." Furthermore, even at age 6 Calvin never exactly thrived in stifling, authoritarian establishments (i.e., school), and he’s always had clashes with authority figures since the strip began (his parents, the doctor, his teacher, Rosalyn)—which actually may have initially planted the seeds for Tyler. Beyond that, his excellent vocabulary and way with words are still with him in the voice-over narration of Fight Club, and his rampant materialism that started with mail-order propeller-beanies ends with yin-yang shaped tables. As for the differences, they can be credited to the demoralizing effect of reality.


In the end, Calvin’s involvement with Fight Club and return of Hobbes can be boiled down to two words: "Personal Responsibility." For although Fight Club and Project Mayhem were both mostly Tyler’s doing, by the end of the movie, Jack readily accepts his own part of the blame, as Tyler is his creation. And by doing so, he also accepts responsibility for the undesirable condition of his own life—his father may have pushed him, but Calvin himself was the one who chose to obey. It is through this newfound self-accountability that Calvin/Jack is able to take control of his own life at last. As skyscrapers flash and crumble in the background, and blood oozes from the bullet hole in his head, Calvin says that he is "okay." And we are apt to believe him.

Part VII: Conclusion
Calvin’s world in the comic strip is pure, romanticized idealism, whereas in the movie, he lives in gray, bleak reality. Within the safety of the panel, Calvin is perpetually six years old, terrible things can never happen, and no matter how crazy a stunt he pulls, everything always returns to status quo. Because of this, our hero is free to do as he wishes, free to chase his dreams as wildly as he desires, never having to worry about tomorrow because there essentially will never be one—unless it’s part of a continuing storyline. This makes the reality of Fight Club all the bleaker, because it depicts what happens when you take someone weaned on dreams and limitless possibilities and jam him into a cramped cage confined by rules and regulations. It probably only took poor Calvin a few years in the adult world (or growing-up world) to fully make the sad change.

This transition from gleeful Calvin to dull "Jack" is not uncommon. Little Nemo became a banker, Peter Pan became a lawyer, and Garfield was caught and butchered by the chef of a Chinese restaurant. (One exception is Charlie Brown, who from all indications was mentally middle-aged at the time of his birth.)

The moral of the story is that reality bites, kiddies. Calvin and Hobbes in Fight Club are proof of this sad, sad truth.


discuss ]]> Turtlicious http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6878 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6877&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:22:43 GMT Here's what I mean. Stuff like yelling, normal singing, growling, opera singing. You get the idea. What's your favorite to hear? What kind do you want to attempt, or do? What kind do you prefer to do?

Mine is, personally, a multitude. I'll just give examples, since not everyone is going to know what I'm talking about.

Here's the ones I like, or want to attempt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OwFtHm7ERg
Ecos by Hocico
Vocals: The vocalist actually can do these without the help of a computer, but they are made with the help of one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuezNswtRfo
Lucretia, My Reflection by Sisters of Mercy
Vocals: Normal singing, but I'm a sucker for Bela Lugoshi, and other vampire movie actor style singing. I know I could do this type of stuff, as a Bela clone voice isn't that hard. I'm pretty good with voice manipulation, as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DOPkHrW5bA
Journey to the End by Windir
Vocals: Demonic shrieking. Ever since I heard my first black metal song, which was Betrayed by Antestor, I've dreamt of at least being able to be a black metal vocalist, even if I never do any. I doubt I have the vocal range for this.

Oh, good Odinn(educational note: Odinn is the guy who is a shapeshifter in Norse mythology. Odinn is not an alternative name for Odin. Kthx) Now we're onto the stuff I love. Hold on, folks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L75ikjK1vaI
2 Minutes to Midnight by Iron Maiden
Vocals: I can't really spell the term for Bruce's vocal style, but this is one thing I wanna put in my album. Something like this. With my own twist, obviously. I'm just a fangirl of this album in general. If you like metal, get freaking POWERSLAVE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5TAs...eature=related
Burnt Identity by Morgoth
Vocals: Death growling. I'm planning to learn to do this kind.

That's about it for now. ]]> Music KlawedFlaw http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6877 http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6876&goto=newpost Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:04:51 GMT In romantic relationships, what's more important to you: sex or companionship?

I'm asking those of you who've actually /had/ a girlfriend or boyfriend before. ]]> Serious Discussions AllisonWalker http://forum.yugiohtheabridgedseries.com/showthread.php?t=6876