Superheroes schmuperheroes

[Nordwand]

When I was a boy, comic book characters were a bit more down to earth:

Story File: D-Day Dawson — GREAT NEWS FOR ALL READERS! incorporating OOR PALS IN THE NORTH

Steve Dawson was a sergeant in the British army who took a bullet to the chest in the process of saving a fellow soldier during the D-Day Normandy landings in June 1944. He was returned to one of the Allied boats, where he was told by a medic that the bullet had lodged close to his heart – not close

www.greatnewsforallreaders.com

 

[CDRhodes]

Its $799.

I'm not here to say it isn't worth $799 because its obviously yuge, intricately-detailed, and you're paying for double-branding (LEGO and Star Wars).

But. Its $799. If you've been begging your wife for permission to spend $799 for two years, guess what, you are the wife.

While you are 100% correct, I would also like to add that if I came home with a $800 children’s toy, I would hope that my wife would lay a rolling pin upside my head for wasting the family’s money and acting like a 10 year old.

 

[dicknixon72]

While you are 100% correct, I would also like to add that if I came home with a $800 children’s toy, I would hope that my wife would lay a rolling pin upside my head for wasting the family’s money and acting like a 10 year old.

Its funny because I feel the analogue to a children's toy is really what divides the nerds from the geeks in terms of these hobbies.

I'm an aviation buff and anyone vaguely familiar know that any kits of respectable scale or of an obscure aircraft (like a prototype, foreign aircraft, or - oddly - civilian model) can be pricey. Combine the two like a 1:72 kit of an XB-70 or Tu-22 and you're talking ~$100 for the kit alone, not to mention proper brushes, solvents, paints, etc. But there is a real difference between assembling a detailed resin-cast model of an aircraft and finishing it out correctly and snapping together LEGO blocks per step-by-step instructions. I would respect an actual MODEL build of some Star Wars spaceship for that skill alone.

 

[CDRhodes]

Its funny because I feel the analogue to a children's toy is really what divides the nerds from the geeks in terms of these hobbies.

I'm an aviation buff and anyone vaguely familiar know that any kits of respectable scale or of an obscure aircraft (like a prototype, foreign aircraft, or - oddly - civilian model) can be pricey. Combine the two like a 1:72 kit of an XB-70 or Tu-22 and you're talking ~$100 for the kit alone, not to mention proper brushes, solvents, paints, etc. But there is a real difference between assembling a detailed resin-cast model of an aircraft and finishing it out correctly and snapping together LEGO blocks per step-by-step instructions. I would respect an actual MODEL build of some Star Wars spaceship for that skill alone.

I agree. I hate to sound judgmental but there’s a massive difference between a legitimate hobby and a children’s toy. I’ve been known to shell out some decent money for a nice jiu jitsu gi or a fly rod, but the only legos I buy are for my kids. What I can’t understand is how these men have no shame over essentially being children.

 

[Long Haired Samson]

Its funny because I feel the analogue to a children's toy is really what divides the nerds from the geeks in terms of these hobbies.

I'm an aviation buff and anyone vaguely familiar know that any kits of respectable scale or of an obscure aircraft (like a prototype, foreign aircraft, or - oddly - civilian model) can be pricey. Combine the two like a 1:72 kit of an XB-70 or Tu-22 and you're talking ~$100 for the kit alone, not to mention proper brushes, solvents, paints, etc. But there is a real difference between assembling a detailed resin-cast model of an aircraft and finishing it out correctly and snapping together LEGO blocks per step-by-step instructions. I would respect an actual MODEL build of some Star Wars spaceship for that skill alone.

I agree building something from scratch, even a toy, takes actual skill. I marvel at wood carvers who can use a chisel or a wood lathe and make intricate wood toy designs.

 

[Easy_C]

Even within models I've seen a number of stunningly skilled paint jobs for above what I can accomplish.

The closest I've gotten was Warmachine. When I lived out on the coast we had a relatively good group of dudes, mostly surprisingly well adjusted and professionally successful (a Staten Island blue collar guy, a school district manager, an astrophysicist, and a few others) where we would meet every so often and generally just play for the fun of trying to beat each other at the game.


Even though the activity is cosmetically similar and it's hard to articulate, I feel like there's a world of difference between a group like that and the people who spend endless hours in self-insert fantasy about being space marines and superheroes.

 

[Easy_C]

For example, this guy from the game I'm talking about was hand-painted (not by me):

I don't have any examples hand but I've taken that painting skill and used it on other things like fixing up dolls for my mother in law's friends, painting religious statues that I give as gifts to Catholic family and friends, and doing Christmas ornaments.

 

[NickK]

I agree. I hate to sound judgmental but there’s a massive difference between a legitimate hobby and a children’s toy. I’ve been known to shell out some decent money for a nice jiu jitsu gi or a fly rod, but the only legos I buy are for my kids. What I can’t understand is how these men have no shame over essentially being children.

I recently bought a 3000€ simracing rig (direct drive wheel base screwd on a 8020 aluminium profile rig with a racing seat.
And I feel awful about it. Kind of like that guy with the lego toy but without the wife stuff.

 

[Long Haired Samson]

Check out this "paper airplane". Amazing.

 

[infowarrior1]

Heroes of Old Sagas weren't cringe. Yet superheroes in spandex is cringe.

Especially those that refuse to put the unrepentant villain down for good. Resulting in a futile cycle.

Likewise there is no growth into those powers compared to heroes in the DragonBall universe who had to earn them through training and overcoming challenges:


Or interesting exploration of powers like in the "Jojo bizarre adventures" universe where overcoming enemies are more strategic and chesslike. Who are more multidimensional and interesting explorations of the genre.






And at the end of the day the defeat of the villain in superhero stories of D.C. and Marvel don't impact the status quo.

Mangas like Jojo on the other hand has a storyline that starts and ends. And so every choice matters.

 

[MartyMcFly]

Watching an occasional superhero movie is fine. However, I don't get the idea of grown men attending fan festivals and dressing in costumes. The exception is for fathers and uncles attending with their sons and nephews who are children (if the son is 16 and obsessed with superheroes, the father needs to discourage this obsession). It is very weird when a man is obese and wears a superhero costume. Superheroes tend to be physically fit and they should follow the example of their hero in this way. I feel the same about sports. Watching an occasional game is fine but centering your life around a sports team is crazy.

Adults are really trying to delay childhood far too long. I think it is good for adults to have hobbies and enjoy their free time. However, the way adults use their free time now vs. the past also reflects America's decline in a way.

Some superhero movies I will NOT be watching. This article came out recently:

'Loki' reveals that the Marvel villain is the MCU's first openly bisexual character in latest episode

Marvel Studios has its first official LGBTQIA+ superhero — or, depending on your point of view, supervillain.

www.foxnews.com

 

[dicknixon72]

It is very weird when a man is obese and wears a superhero costume. Superheroes tend to be physically fit and they should follow the example of their hero in this way. I feel the same about sports. Watching an occasional game is fine but centering your life around a sports team is crazy.

Story of two friends of mine from high school; we're now all in our mid-30s.

One was always a bit obsessed with Ghostbusters - quoted lines all the time, dressed up as Spangler for Halloween, etc. He's been to few Cons, has some memorabilia, but also has a real job, a family with a sweetheart of a wife, and two young kids. They still do the Ghostbuster thing and they're part of a local fan chapter that goes around and does events for children's hospitals and raise money for local charities. I found him one of those HHR panel wagons he turned into an Ecto-1 and they get invited to be part of local parades and the like. Sure, he's a bit over the top with it, but its not the center of his life, he has other hobbies, and he uses it as something to involve his family in and help out people as well.

This is cool.

Another one is far off the deep end into all the Manga/Anime scene - card games, dressing up bordering Furry style for those conventions. Literally has an entire bedroom devoted to these cards and toys and stuff. I'm talking $100,000+ investment in collectibles. He looks like a stereotypical neckbeard - bald, obese, literal neckbeard hair growth. Always wears this weird apparel out in public, has an remote work job so he doesn't have to leave home, has multiple cats, and constantly Uber Eats.

This is sad.

Not going to lie, I am an automobile hoarder, but I can at least sell this metal for something when I need to.

 

[Long Haired Samson]

"Ya know for working out as much as you do, man, you're kind of a nerd."

LOL!!!

So is Steve Houston a soy boy or an alpha male? Haha.

 

[Prosciutto Crudo]

Open borders for those mexican kids and the (((comics industry))) is done.

 

[Elipe]

Infantilisation of adult males is never more starkly shown than in Comic Book / Movie fans.

What's telling is in the rare cases they actually marry, how the wife takes on the maternal role to them. He's literally being doing chores for two years to get permission to buy a toy.

View attachment 31437

This is the kind of dork that other dorks beat up and take lunch money from.