Character Spotlight: Saint Walker, Part One

I hope he takes requests!

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1.HISTORY

I recall seeing him in one of the Blackest Night storyline issues first, then the animated show that aired on Cartoon Network (before it was canceled). I loved his voice and that prompted me to check out more of the episodes he starred in, as well as more of the GL comics. But, like with many other characters on this list, I had a hand from YouTube thanks to a video that was made covering his backstory. I didn't know anything about his origin story beforehand, but I grew to love him more based on said video. Since then, I've been a Saint Walker fan. 

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2. THE LANTERN OF THE HOUR

Hope. This guy is a textbook definition of that word. His cheerfulness and determination to bring good into the universe is admirable, even after all the losses he endured in his life. I think that's why he's generally beloved among many Lantern fans.  He was well-liked in the comics, but I did notice the animated series helped propel his popularity further. I will argue that the animated series even gave him more personality than the comics did. He's not a typical calm and wise hope bringer, he also has a small bit of playful sass to him and he's gifted at playing the harp (as shown by the gif I've posted here). 

And not a lot can stop him. He's accomplished quite a bit that not a lot of people can say they did: he saved his homeworld from dying by preaching to them and filling them with hope, he will go around bringing peace to every tombstone he could find in a cemetery, and he tamed huge wild beasts. Shoot, in the animated series, he even took down a massive ship with a single punch. Okay, other heroes can say they've done this, but Saint Walker isn't usually characterized as having super-strength or being technologically advanced like Superman or Cyborg respectively- just the power of Hope is enough to make it happen. 

I like that Hope is tied into his belief in a higher power as well. I too believe in a higher power and to see a character like that do that in comic book fiction, alongside other characters like Daredevil and Nightcrawler, is inspiring and widens the demographics more. I also like that he has demonstrated the power of good and how good is NOT weak, which I think is important especially in this day and age. He can be kind, gentle, forgiving, generous, brave, and so on, but weak is far from what I would call for Saint Walker. He can take down opponents easily if he sees they're not going to listen to reason or calm down. Appearances can be deceiving in this case - he might look harmless, but he's far stronger than he appears, and will sincerely fight for what he believes in: hope and will bring it to others no matter how long it takes him. He lives and breathes his amazing motto: 'all will be well'. 

That said, the poor guy doesn't get a lot of chances to be involved in his own stories apart from his things with the Green Lanterns. And with him being the last Blue Lantern in the current canon (at least I think he is, if he isn't, please correct me), it's like, 'folks, you just created a chance for St. Walker to go on his own adventures and goals of getting the Blue Lantern band back together', don't you think you should go forward with it?'

I understand the BLs aren't the main focus of the GL universe, and I'm not saying they need to go crazy with focusing on every Corps of the Emotional Spectrum (otherwise we would have a crazy situation like with the Knuckles spinoffs from Archie Comics), but if the BLs are such a big deal to the GLs to boost their powers, then shouldn't the search to induct more members into the organization be considered a key objective for the Green Lanterns to complete and help them? The more members they can get into the Blue Lanterns, the more powerful the Green Lanterns will be. Plus, Saint Walker can get a chance to be developed more, or at least be featured in more stories that allow him to show more of his skills outside of acting as a power booster for the GLs. We know his backstory. We've seen him actually lose hope - and his ring - in one emotionally powerful instance before regaining them both. What's next for him? More... chances to be battery packs for the GLs?... yeah, no thank you.

I think he faces the same problem Blaze the Cat from Sonic the Hedgehog does - they're generally beloved by their respective fans and went through their own character arcs, and now they're stuck, with the writers at a loss on how to progress forward with their journeys. It can be tough but if there's a will, there is a way. I'd love to see some AUs done with him myself. 

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3. DEPICTIONS/QUESTIONS

*"Why are Blue Lanterns limited in power?": I'm not entirely sure, but I disagree with it as well. At least with the animated series, it's slightly better than in the comics. The comics can be a mess. Many fans, including myself, do agree that the BLs are reduced to being power boosters for the Green Lanterns. Yes, for that part of the DC universe, they wanted to show you can't have willpower without hope and vice versa, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't defend yourself if your backup isn't there. The poor Blue Lanterns only had at least two usages (flight and protective aura) with their powers on hand when they weren't working with the Green Lanterns, which is not a good idea if they have to defend themselves in combat. I think that's a reason why barring Saint Walker and the founders of the BLs, they were wiped out. 

*"He's such a cinnamon roll!": Due to a personally bad experience with this phrase, I despise this description of him. Yes, he's a wonderful kind and caring character we can look up to and admire, and he's absolutely endearing, but he's not helpless. He will kick your tail if needed and besides that, while it's true he has undergone emotional suffering, the animated series did make it clear that he does have an edge to him. More like a trickster edge that can come off as like a benevolent troll, but still an edge nonetheless. He also has a noble nature to him too, which I don't associate with that usage of the term. He's more like Rafiki from The Lion King or 
Friar Tuck from Robin Hood - they can be jolly and willing to do good works for their peers, but they can put up fights with their mad skills if necessary. 

More on Saint Walker in the second post. 

Wanderer out! 

Character Spotlight: The Shadow, Part Two

 

His secret message will most assuredly not be 'be sure to drink your Ovaltine'. 

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4. INSPIRATION 

My inspiration for how I'll write the Shadow is all over the place, so I'll just state that I write the man based on an infinite amount of muses. From Walter B. Gibson to the radio plays to the film, I'll take what I think works for him.  

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5. FUTURE PLANS

He'll be in UPC. He'll just be arriving way later, and will interact with other heroes and do his usual thing. There's a lot more I'll be doing with him, but I'll be keeping it mum on this site until the time comes to reveal the truth.

A Shadow/Sherlock Holmes crossover. Batman's met the famous detective. And so has Scooby-Doo. Why not the Shadow too? 

On that note, I wonder a Superman/Shadow crossover might work? That might be something... 

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6. HEADCANONS

*He's partial to Tibetan cuisine, most notably guthuk (a type of noodle soup) and ara (an alcoholic beverage). He also enjoys tea. 

*During the Great War, he faked an air crash behind enemy lines in Germany and became a secret agent. Working undercover, he helped set up an espionage network. He worked in a number of ways, such as making maps of enemy air bases and helping POWs escape from prison camps. The Germany bit is my headcanon added in to say where he crashed.

*I originally went with the notion he was Kent first before becoming Lamont, but I'm changing my tune. To keep up his mysterious aura, I will state that whomever he was originally (and we won't know), during the first World War, he was disfigured in the face. It hurt a lot, yes, but it did prevent enemies from trying to find him. 

*He likes watching thunderstorms. 

*Whenever he speaks, depending on which role he's playing, he can disguise his voice. In honor of the original radio shows, he'll have Orson Welles as Kent/Lamont, Bret Morrison for when he's in one of his many personas/disguises and Bill Johnstone or Frank Readick as the Shadow. It's hard to choose one or the other for the man. 

*He has a talent for spotting phony supernatural mediums and claims, and knows a thing or two about how magicians' tricks works. This comes from Mr. Gibson himself, who was also a magician and served as a ghost-writer for other magicians like Harry Houdini. He would know a thing or two about the subjects. 

*That said, I think he genuinely does acknowledge the presence of a higher power. He does believe in said power, but he's not going to come out and say it. He'll bring it up if needed though. 

*Due to his aviation experience and keen eyesight, he was called the 'Dark Eagle'  in World War 1. Because of this, if he had a daemon, it would be an eagle. Probably a Golden Eagle, due to how widespread they are, just like how the Shadow is known in many spots world-wide.  

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7. PERSONAL

*I'm not really sure what else is there to say about him that hasn't already been said. But I will admit I underestimated just how much the Shadow has become so integral within the halls of the twentieth century and beyond. Folks are still inspired by him to this day, some even writing their own stories with his character type in mind, while others have put together a fanzine to celebrate over ninety-five years of Shadow history. I've seen fans prefer the pulps over the radio shows and vice versa. Folks can debate all they want, but there can't be any denying that whether one prefers the pulps, the radio shows, the serials, the film, or the comics, all have their places and have cemented key aspects of his legend and the Shadow's place in fiction and in history. However, as we move further into the twenty-first century, one question remains: what will come next for him? Who's to say? Only he - and the assigned custodians of the title - will know. 

*Songs? He has two notable ones, which both focus on him proper. The first up? "The Shadow Knows" by Grand Magus - all about what the Shadow stands for. They also use one of his catchphrases as part of the lyrics.  
The second up is a phenomenal film score. Here's "The Shadow Soundtrack Music Suite" by Jerry Goldsmith One of Mr. Goldsmith's best scores, in my opinion - it captures the mysterious and ethereal touch found in the written word and radio shows perfectly. 

Now I'll step out of the shadows and into another Character Spotlight post in the near future. But for now, the Shadow movie awaits for a rewatch! 

Wanderer out!

Character Spotlight: The Shadow, Part One

 

Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!

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1.HISTORY

The Shadow might have been around for a long time, but I was only introduced to the Shadow through the 1994 film.

At first, I didn't really think much of him, but thanks to scouring the wide canvas of YouTube (come to think of it, that site is responsible for a lot of how I came across many characters, lol) and seeing people explain in depth the history behind the Shadow and his presence in countless forms of media - radio to film to comic books to the written word to even video games - I began to take interest. I rewatched the film and read 'The Living Shadow' written by Walter B. Gibson (and a select few of his other Shadow works), and that's how I became a fan.  

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2. THE SHADOW OF THE HOUR

Like shadows themselves, the Shadow proper is a mysterious figure to decipher, so a lot of this will be me just expressing how cool he is and why he shan't be forgotten.
We do know about Lament Cranston/Kent Allard, but even he, or they (depending on which origin story you'll be choosing) are distant enigmas. The Shadow, at least in the early stages of his appearances, appears more phantom-like. In 'The Living Shadow'  and the radio plays, he's either given a vague appearance or he's rendered invisible, making it hard to create a picture for our minds.

And yet that works as a strength to his character. All the more ammunition to use against those who let evil fester into their hearts and bring them to their knees. It also influences readers/viewers overall to believe this guy is more than just a man - he's a nearly invincible force of nature who will stop at nothing to bring down every aspect of evil down. 

By bringing them down, I really mean axing the baddies to oblivion until they're nothing but worm food. It's a little much to take in, yes, but - incoming unpopular opinion here - he does do it because a lot of these baddies are going around killing or attempting to harm people. He has been seen trying to reason with some of them, and while some have listened and even joined his cause, a lot of them don't want redemption and therefore, are resigning their lives over to him. The gloves will be coming off and he's not going to back down from doing what he must. However, it's important to note that he doesn't always just fire rounds against the big bads like a trigger-happy Sonny Corleone. He would usually try to bring the theme of whatever offense the villain committed back full circle. For example, if a guy was selling poison to people, he would end up ingesting poison. Basically what goes around comes around onto evil, and all doing it with stealth and smarts. 

He does and can get hurt, even though he's a stealthy character. There are a number of media sources, like the 1994 film, where he almost drowned before he was saved by Margo Lane. He could even get shot if the villains get the upper hand through mystical means or just plain luck on their side. 

Regardless, it does establish that he knows what he's doing and he's not likely going to listen if you try and lecture him about it. He doesn't spend time moping about his actions - he's highly aware of what he does, but once his mind is made up, it's made up. This is a confident quality in which while you do see this in some literary heroes today, it's rare to see one with an ironclad sureness like the Shadow. He has his own high standards he will aim to keep until his dying breath. 

I think some introspection is good here and there, and I'm done for moments between he and his love interest Margo, or anyone if it means we can take breathers from so much action. However, for an action-oriented and masterminded-character, too much of it spoils it all. I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't want to see that with him. I want to see and follow his adventures as he saves people, takes down really bad seeds, travels to wherever he's needed, interact with his agents, and live on to fight another day, all the while remaining mysterious and seeming to be a bigger force than life and pronouncing sentences on the guilty. 

But although he's a vigilante, he doesn't try to take over the job of keeping law and order. Even if he's wanted by the police in some timelines, he willingly works with them to let them arrest the crooks and they can be tried. This is especially relevant in the radio series (where they couldn't be too violent) and in the film where he gleans info from them, even having a contact in the force in the literary timelines. Heck, he's even worked with other heroes, like the Green Hornet and Kato or Zorro, to get the job done. He's definitely a team player even if his personality is rougher around the edges than most. 

One of the oldest pulp heroes of our time, his influence over the superhero world is not understated. Choosing to fight in the darkness against darkness is a novel idea. I don't believe he was the first character to pull that off, but the way he goes about it is noticeable and makes him one-of-a-kind to pull off.  The black and red outfit, enlisting others to join his cause, and the act of fighting chaos with chaos add up to his characterization. Not to mention he has two or more memorable catchphrases he regularly uses to scare criminals out of their wits and remind people they're dealing with a powerful vengeance seeker.

It's said that the Shadow is an early example of the archetypal superhero, which includes having a rogue's gallery, donning disguises, sidekicks (agents in the Shadow's case), and a secret identity long before the likes Superman and Batman did. The Shadow is not the first literary superhero to be made, but with the help of mediums like pulps, radio and films in the 1930s, the he laid the groundwork for modern superhero paths to follow.

As an aside, the Shadow's rogues did come back for a number of times, but the writers found creative ways of bringing them back before they decide to finally write them out of the source material. Shiwan Khan came back about four times, likely due to popular demand, but the Shadow eventually took him out for good. By doing this, the writers and so on indicated they knew what they were doing, or so I read it. It's refreshing to see a rogue come back a number of times until the writer says, 'no we're done writing this character, let's write him out', vs. keeping a popular rogue around just because the audience wants to see said rogue around until the villain loses all flavor and relevance. 

Because there's so much of an emphasis on his adventures, we don't always see in full detail, outside of the film and other sources, how Lamont/Kent goes about his day. It's almost the opposite from Batman - we know about Bruce Wayne and his dealings with people and businesses. I think part of it is to hold up the mystique of the Shadow but also because it's not just him doing the heavy load of vigilantism, it's also his network of agents. Going back to 'The Living Shadow' for instance, we read more about Harry Vincent and the events of the plot, with the Shadow only showing up in key moments. 
And in the 'Coils of Leviathan' , although the Shadow does show up, the whole story is told from the eyes of the city and its citizens. That's unique and helps empower the common folk in some ways. 

We do see Lamont/Kent in some stories, of course, even an unnamed cameo in 'The Rocketeer' comic by Dave Stevens, so he's not a total enigma and is very much active in whatever's going on. But it is telling when writers focus more on his alter ego than the man behind the hat. Shoot, I think there have been debates on who the Shadow really is - Kent or Lamont, or is he someone - or something - else entirely?

And yet somehow, every appearance he makes as the Shadow or Kent/Lamont makes him so fascinating to watch and it does not grow old. It can get creepy with how he can successfully take down evil whether it's outright taking them out or hypnotizing them to their own dooms, or overwhelming if you take the time to listen to all the radio episodes, but he has a timeless flair to him that makes him able to transcend time and have him still remain relevant to this day even if he's sticking to the shadows for awhile. 

I find that although people know who he is, he's severely under-appreciated because of how much he has contributed to the superhero genre at large. He hasn't been largely forgotten, but Batman is able to eclipse him in some respects (although Bill Finger has gone on record confirming the original comic book version of Bats is an infamous example of plagiarism of the Shadow). Batman does have his place, don't get me wrong (as I'm a fan especially of the '60s Bats myself haha), but if it weren't for the Shadow, Batman wouldn't even be a thing in this day and age. Several attempts have been made to launch him back into the spotlight, but they've either fizzled out or they haven't found the right script yet. Or they had really goofy Shadow ideas put into comic book form that shouldn't have been thought into being in the first place, and people really despise these things. 

I don't know what people are doing with him nowadays, but perhaps it's best not to dwell on it too much. I prefer my own take on him, which will partially be inspired by those who brought him into being in the past and by a few headcanons I'll have popping up. And don't worry, they won't be horrible headcanons. 

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3. DEPICTIONS/QUESTIONS

"*The pulp magazines were full of ethnic stereotypes and outdated thinking!": First, injecting modern sensibilities into 1930s literature, or any literature from the past, is not wise. Just like today's time, some things have thankfully improved and other things have unfortunately declined.  If you disagree with how things were back then, by all means, do so. There are things about back then they did that I'm not a fan of. But to presume one knows better than generations past for how they lived and behaved, and to inject modern thinking into new adaptations of older media is an utterly foolish and disingenuous move. Come many future generations later, when we are older than we are now, they will say the same thing about us and mock us for what we believed. They too will believe they are better than us, perhaps even try to lecture us on how we should have lived according to their viewpoints. Doesn't sound fun. But acknowledging this and coming to understand generations with how things worked back then, while taking the best of those times and learning from the worst of those times, are signs of growth and wisdom. 

Second, the writers/editors did actually make efforts to create characters that broke stereotypes, in an attempt to expand their readership base. One of those examples is Dr. Roy Tam, a Chinese professor of science and/or a physician. And to boot, in the film, he works at NYU (New York University). Added in 1931 to the pulps, he's well-spoken, dedicated to his work, and a trusted agent to the Shadow. He's not only a contact in the Chinatown neighborhood in Manhattan, he's also - in some media sources - one of the few to know the Shadow's true identity. That's a really big and important deal, and one that deserves kudos. 

Third, here's a fun fact: the head editor of the Shadow magazine confirmed at a 1980s convention that one-third of Shadow readers in the 1930s were female. Not bad for that time!

*"Batman is better than the Shadow!": If that's your take, keep in mind that Batman owes his existence to the Shadow. And so does Darkwing Duck. And so does V from V for Vendetta. And so does the Silver Shroud from Fallout 4 (never played the game, but yes, I have confirmation this is the case). Gratitude goes a long way. 

*"The Shadow doesn't work in modern times": Depends on who's doing the writing. I haven't read this comic book in its entirety yet so I can't claim if it's good or not, but "The Shadow: Blood and Judgment" was set in the 1980s and written in 1987. It seems to have done its job if people loved it back then and now. His staying power is immense even if it's not the 1930s/1940s/1950s. I'm good with keeping him in between those times, but I'm also content bringing him to a modern adaptation as long as his moral character remains intact. If a writer knows what they're doing, it can be pulled off wonderfully. 

*"Kent Allard vs. Lamont Cranston": Whichever works for you to paint a picture of the Shadow's backstory, I say. I think either/or/both can work if crafted well. 

*"The Shadow vs. Shadow the Hedgehog": This is more of a personal nitpick than anything, but whenever I'm researching the Shadow, I tend to see Shadow the Hedgehog pop up in the search results. I understand why, and I have nothing against him, but no, I am not looking for Shadow the Hedgehog. I'm looking for the Dark Avenger, please. 

But I do mean it when I say I'll have the usual for next time. 

Wanderer out! 

Character Spotlight: Jean Grey, Part Two

She needs a Snickers bar; she's not herself when she's hungry.

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4. INSPIRATION 

 Like other fans, I prefer my own take on Jean who will be a culmination of various depictions as opposed to the official version. But there is one X-Men writer who has partially inspired my take on Jean, and the other X-Men characters to an extent. MarvelMaster616 AKA Jack has developed his own interpretation of the X-Men comics. While his fanfics aren't to my tastes I have read his bios and I do like some of his ideas for some of the characters. I plan on using some of those ideas into my X-Men take. 

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5. FUTURE PLANS

She'll play a leading role within UPC as a literal leading lady. She'll also play a role in helping other leading characters out with their problems. I won't say who. Also, she and Misty Knight - and other friends she'll have made outside of the X-Men - will have a chance to go on some adventures of their own!

In a non-UPC setting, she'll be in an AU where she'll work as a teacher/counselor. Also, she'll be involved with volunteering at an orphanage that will be partially run by a friendly Disney character. This will be the same one in which Thirty-Thirty will be involved.

I also have an X-Men/Star Wars (original trilogy) crossover planned. I'm not sure when it'll take place, but she'll play a part.  

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6. HEADCANONS

*After the Phoenix Force left Jean, it didn't leave her entirely. It left behind a small portion within her in case Jean was needed again in cosmic affairs. However, this portion isn't as powerful and Jean can only use some of its abilities.

*Jean's favorite films are Peggy Sue Got Married, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Fantasia. 

*She likes strawberry milkshakes. 

*She's not really a fan of manga. This comes from the Marvel AU where the characters have been turned into manga characters. I'm not sure she would like the way she and her friends were drawn. 

*It has never been stated when Jean was born, but I'll take it that, as her comic book debut took place in September of 1963, she was born in September.

*This is a headcanon from an X-Men fan I'll be taking and tweaking for my stories- in part because of their psychic rapport, Scott and Jean have developed a series of subconscious thoughts in their heads in a unique sequence (like a DNA code of sorts made out of memories and specific details) as a failsafe to make sure each person is not a clone. This was put into place by Jean. 

*Another borrowed headcanon: When Jean uses her powers (and not as Phoenix), pink highlights will sometimes and briefly appear in her hair. As Phoenix, the same thing will happen except the color will be either red or orange. 

*Jean's not fond of clowns. 

*Third borrowed headcanon: she can't have kids due to extensive exposure to cosmic radiation. But in UPC, this could very well change. 

*Jean enjoyed soccer a lot when she was a kid and still has her trophies to prove the fact. She still has mad soccer skills.

*My final borrowed headcanon: Kitty Pryde is the one who suggested that Jean return to her original Marvel Girl outfit on occasion. In the meantime, Jean will get a slightly modified MG redesign. 

*She occasionally brings the family cat, Prometheus, to the X-Men home. 

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7. PERSONAL

*Jean was the first woman in the X-Men lineup when they first came on the scene in the 1960s. She was the first X-Men character to make a vital impact on my life and get me through rough stuff as I outlined in my prior post. But in the past few years, I almost forgot about her or why I became a fan. With all of the  outpouring of Marvel content over the past years - heck a decade now - sometimes all of the focus on the Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy seem to drown out the X-Men's stories. I think the last time I genuinely got excited about a Jean-focused story was the X-Men movie series in the 2010s. But - and this is cliche by now that those who know me - the muse and admiration I held for Jean when I first became a fan rose from the ashes like...well, a phoenix.  

To express how grateful I am to her because of what she stands for and believes in would prove difficult, but I could say this: if a fictional hero can make a difference in the world of comics, and that impact goes beyond the pages and into reality (and not at the expense of hurting anyone), then that's the sign of a series that has something worth listening to, reading, etc. She wasn't the first supergirl to have telekinesis or telepathy, but she was an early example of that archetype. I think she's even had an impact on other red-haired and psychic-based characters from other properties as well, like Mira Nova from Buzz Lightyear of Star Command or Gwen Tennyson from the Ben 10 franchise. Perhaps a coincidence, but it's not hard to imagine the creators may have garnered some influence off of her. 

* Choices of songs: I've got a number of 'em. 
-"The Phoenix" by Fall Out Boy For obvious reasons and I see this song as her embodying her full potential as Phoenix, but using it for good and not evil.
-"Daydream Believer" by the Monkees This might not seem like it would fit Jean to an exact T, but there does seem to be a bit of a back-and-forth between her and Scott here: this would harken back to not only their debut in the early 1960s but it would also represent a different time in their lives when they were carefree teenagers once upon a time.

-"More Than This" by Peter Gabriel Jean has been into space and met other lifeforms beyond Earth's borders - I feel she would feel curious about what else is out there. Seeing as how she did that with Lilandra, it wouldn't be out of character for her to think about the lives she could meet and the kind of things they think about.
-"Long Way" by Calm Canopy This is a fairly lax song, but I think it does a good job of describing Jean somewhat. She has a powerful mind and isn't afraid to make up her mind too. She tries to encourage those around her, even trying to get others to calm down should they be in distress. Knowing a thing or two about thoughts zooming in our minds at supersonic speed, she's an expert in bringing others back to the present moment through breaths or focusing on their environments. Kind of reminds me of autumn, now that I think about it.

-"Lean on Me" by Bill Withers The lyrics speak for themselves. If you need a shoulder to lean on, she'll be there for you. 

-"Supernova" by Echoing Green This song was used in one of the first AMVs I saw on YouTube that focused on Jean that wasn't angsty like other AMVs of her can be, and instead focused on wonder and lifting one's spirits up. The AMV itself is no longer present, but the song? Forever present. 

Yes, there has been a lot of thought put into this. But it's the Internet. Why not?

Now I must go and exercise my powers in the world of writing. 

Wanderer out! 

Character Spotlight: Jean Grey, Part One

 Jean used tackle! It's super effective!

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1.HISTORY

I enjoyed the original 1990s animated show, but I didn't really take stock of the characters, let alone Jean, until much later. In 2009, I went through a terrible time in my life, and needless to say, it left me scarred and miserable. Sometime after it happened, I was catching television channel waves and came across the animated series again. After not having watched it for years, I put it on for escapism. 

But it was not one episode I watched - it was a whole arc, namely the Phoenix Force saga. I can remember exactly when I officially became a fan of Jean's. It was the moment when Jean harnessed the power of the Phoenix Force for the first time, appearing so strong and powerful, like she could take on anything and win. There was something about her strength and passion that touched me and helped heal my scars. 

From there, I began looking up everything I could about Jean - her media appearances, her powers, character analyses, I even started collecting Jean-focused comics. I considered her a role model: kind and empathetic, feminine yet unafraid to get down and dirty, a desire to achieve excellence in all she does, unafraid of the unknown and unafraid to sacrifice herself, and passionate about helping those who can't help themselves. A fictional character she may be, but she helped me get through my pain and I'm grateful to the original creators for bringing her to life. 

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2. THE MARVEL GIRL OF THE HOUR

I feel like there's nothing really new for me to say that already hasn't been said about Jean. She's been around for over sixty years and over those years, numerous analyses and studies of her character have been made. But I will share observations that I share with other Jean fans. 

It is a general consensus that Jean is a fierce force for good with or without the Phoenix Force. Her powers enable her to help others in ways her peers can't, often reaching them on mental and psychological levels. Sometimes even on microscopic or cosmic levels. Her deep empathy, combined with her telepathic/telekinetic abilities and well-rounded personality, do make her a compelling character to write. 
Barring the whole love triangle between her and choosing either Scott or Logan, her on-and-off connection to the Phoenix Force, and her sometimes headstrong ways, she’s one of the most grounded individuals of the X-Men. 

It does make me wonder then, why middle ground is hard to come by for some writers attempting to write for Jean. There is one quotation I have seen across cyberspace that I will paraphrase here: Jean is known for her compassion and willingness to help anyone yet can also be headstrong and fiery, but where's the in-between? Writers seem to gravitate to different points of the spectrum: she's either a goody-two-shoes who can do wrong, an emotional wreck caught in love shapes, or she's a loose cannon possessed by a mystical bird of eternal flame. I can see why writers would depict her as one of these things, but to pigeonhole her as one or the other doesn't do her character justice. I'm not going to blame writers for how Jean is/was written in the world of comics, but I do need to point out along with other fans that there usually isn't a lot of focus on her rougher sides, other parts of her personality and struggles she faces when the Phoenix isn't involved in the comics. 

Let's go to when her powers first manifested - she saw her best friend Annie get hit and killed by a car, and mentally linked with her, almost dying due to her empathy and mind powers manifesting. She would have been completely comatose had it not been for Charles Xavier. Then she enrolled into his school to learn how to control her powers. 

I don't recall how old she was in-canon when all of this occurred, but that's a lot for her to take in. For an emotionally connected character like Jean, seeing her seemingly brush it off after Professor X came to her aid and blocked off her telepathy until she was old enough to use her telepathy like it didn't matter almost feels off-putting. How would she have dealt with it? We don't really know, even though this was a pivotal point in her life.
Shoot, I have many more questions to provide exploratory material for writers to explore: How did Annie's parents react to their daughter's demise and Jean's powers? Does any of it still impact Jean as an adult, and if so, how so? 

None of this might be an official priority in Jean's storyline, compared to that of say Batman's backstory with his parents or Wolverine's extensive lifespan and mental turmoil, but a small story dedicated to this point in time would go a long way towards developing her own thoughts and letting the audience know more about her inner life than what she shows on the outside. 

The shipping aspect... I'm not going to do a deep dive into that. I do have my own preferences, but I'm reserving that for below. I will say that in this love triangle where Jean's the Archie to Scott's and Logan's Betty and Veronica, seeing her go back and forth in the comics - and also have a short-lived relationship with Beast in an AU (that one was just random, and I'm guessing that after she and Cyke broke up and Wolvy was dead, the writers wanted to try pairing off Beast with Jean to see how it clicked)- can be a drag. 

If it's part of her story to end up in a relationship with someone, fine, but there does need to be a consideration for how the personalities bounce off each other, what challenges the couple has to face, how they help each other, and why they would be good for each other. But some stories can't seem to make up their minds on whom she's supposed to be with for all time and there's only so much pull and tug in relationships one can put up with before deciding enough is enough, and the audience just wants the lead to pick his or her love interest already. 

I'm glad that they did show Jean in the past having her frustrations with these guys sometimes, but I do wonder how nowadays she feels about her role in the middle of their rivalry. As far as I know, they usually present her emotions like typical melodrama material that could make for a new soap opera series. Would she really like that? This is a woman who can get irritated quick if you rub her the wrong way. I don't think she would appreciate feeling like she was some prize to be won. 

I don't think she would like it if someone called her weak either. In the 1990s animated show, they dimmed her down slightly to be a damsel in distress for Cyke or Wolvy to save. She had her moments of heroism, but constantly giving her headaches or severely limiting her powers weakens her likability and relatability to the audience. She can still be interesting without compromising her powers and talents in those fields in which she excels at. Her personality is great, but I'd like to see less headaches, please. 

Besides, who is she when she's not surrounded by the X-Men, especially Scott or Logan?  
How does she deal with the many responsibilities and burdens she has to take on? Not just the typical superhero assignments or looking after younger students at the school, but what about behind the scenes, like checking in with her family or Misty, or what she does on her own?  

The comics did briefly answer this question from time to time. One example that comes to mind is in the 1960/1970s when the original team first split. Before Jean returned to the X-Men, she worked briefly as a fashion model. It would be nice to see a callback to that in a mini-comic of sorts, but with a twist because when she worked as a model, she thought about the X-Men and how much she missed them. There's nothing wrong with her missing her old friends and home, but it doesn't really tell us anything about how she's doing or any new challenges she has faced since leaving the team outside of meeting Misty Knight. That's great she found a friend outside of her X-Men circle. So what have their adventures been like together? Between Misty working as a private eye, and Jean's experience in handling crooks (if she decided to let Misty know her about her powers), there are possibilities for stories to be written handling their exciting days of catching crooks and righting wrongs.  

Exploring these things would help stretch the comic's lifespan and world. X-Men comics are generally based on action, yes, but continually running on action can leave the audience ragged with no energy to learn more about these characters or just to chill from running around all the time. 

It also would be nice if the comics could stop going back and forth about the Phoenix.

Guess it's time to talk about the White Phoenix in the room. The comics, and some media, seem to have a hard time concluding if Jean is A) a host of the Phoenix, B) showing her powers at their highest potential through a phoenix bird image, C) the human manifestation of it and its mother or D) an evil world destroyer. 

Um.

I don't want to overstate what a logical mess the comics have made. I acknowledge figuring out how a spacey entity can work has its field of challenges, but none of these options can firmly stick for the Phoenix's identity if it keeps changing on a dime. Anyone can take any of these four and leave the rest, but personally, I especially don't really want to choose C even if it's often the answer on a test. It makes it sound as if Jean isn't her own person devoid of the Phoenix, like she was never fully Jean to begin with and it just fell into her lap. Seeing Jean work hard to control her powers before becoming a host of the Phoenix is more gratifying and makes her story, her journey, believable. The Phoenix is a part of her, but it's not all she is, and it's unfair to keep her stuck in that role. We have evidence she is not just the Phoenix. 

She has faced character conflicts that help iron out parts of her, such as her former fear of death and her surprisingly hostile streak when she's in the kitchen (see below, it makes sense in context) and/or in the case of X-Men Evolution, her competitive streak, pursuit of excellence in her powers and her sometimes testy response to Scott's standoffish and tense attitude before they admitted they like each other. These things give her something to overcome and entice her to rely on her wits, heart and mind. She's a valued member of the X-Men, and a role model for her friends and younger students to look up to because of her kindness, selflessness, determination, bravery, stubbornness, and hot temper. 

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3. DEPICTIONS/QUESTIONS

*"She's such a weakling in the cartoon": Blame the 1990s cartoon's writing staff for giving her constant headaches and not allowing her to do anything particularly powerful with her powers (besides the Phoenix/Dark Phoenix arc). I think the writers of the show realized that she could do just about anything due to her heightened senses and abilities. If they went with her original comic incarnation where she did toughen up post-Phoenix, they would have breezed through the episodes without giving anyone else a chance to do anything. And then they would need something else to fill out the remaining, what, twenty minutes of screen time? I say this as someone who enjoyed the show - I'm not fond of how they handled Jean. I understand why they did it, but it dealt a huge blow to who she is. 

Although it's been a long time since I've read the comics and I don't know what they're doing now with her character, they can do - and have done - a good job of keeping Jean a strong fighter but not overpowered even before and after she became one with the Phoenix again. Although the Phoenix is a tricky element to work with, as I'll explain below.

*"Phoenix is overrated!": Forgive my bias, but no, she isn't. I have noticed many powerful beings, like Superman or Thor, can be looked at this way. True, the ways people try to interpret the Phoenix are contradictory but this is a cosmic force that's powerful enough to wipe out an entire solar system or bring people back to life. Jean shouldn't be tied down to the Phoenix, yes, but it's still an important part of Jean's life, and has helped build more of the X-Men world beyond Earth. We can see that there are mystical beings in charge of keeping Earth 616 in order (even if the writers don't always succeed at writing them as such, but this is a matter of opinion.) It's a matter of decrying what the Phoenix can or can't do, and if the Force should make regular appearances in the medium. That's why I think writing the Force can be difficult - what are you willing to have it do or not do? What restrictions and weaknesses are you willing to give it and are you willing to make it all consistent without a good reason to change anything and not just of throwing something in to see if it sticks?
The 1990s show handled the Phoenix arcs and character well: she wanted to become one with Jean to save the M'kraan Crystal, became addicted to human emotions, did bad stuff, Jean sacrifices herself to kill the Force and herself, and then became itself again before bringing Jean back and exiting the stage. It's simple and straight to the point... even if the show went back to giving Jean Psyduck-themed brain freezes again. Yeesh. 

*"Team Scott vs. Team Wolverine!": Whatever floats your shipping boat. I think Logan is a better fit with Storm, due to their chemistry feeling more dynamic (and I do have a soft spot for their interactions in X-Men: Evolution: they bounce off each others' personalities quite well in Evolution, and surprisingly well in TAS too in the scenes they share together). Getting back to Jean, thanks to her influence, Scott has gradually come out of his shell; he smiles freely and he can be snarky in a fun way. Which is kind of how he's portrayed in X-Men Evolution, now that I think about it.

When paired with Logan, while she does manage to bring out Logan's gentler side, thinking about pairing them out makes me frown a bit. Jean does show more spark in some ways, but it almost comes off as unsettling. The spark can lead her to be depicted in... less-than-admirable lights, and in some comics that did happen. 

In one instance, before Scott and Jean marry in the official timeline, she cheated on him with Logan. Not a good look when she was supposed to be with Cyke. If there was a story where she focused on feeling guilty for betraying Scott and she tries to take responsibility for it, that would show an evolution in the love shape. 

I'm not really a fan of the love triangle because it creates another layer of melodrama on top of the whole 'humans vs. mutants' thing. Before I sound like I'm contradicting myself in regards to earlier, I do believe melodrama can work if woven in the right way, but when squared up against bigger conflicts like an overpowered ancient mutant like Apocalypse who wants to purge the Earth of humanity? That has to take a backseat if it can't be written properly.  

*"She loves to cook, that's a stereotype": Why is that bad? A woman enjoying cooking is a crime? I was unaware cooking was suddenly only a thing enjoyed by one elite section of the caste system.

Cooking can be enjoyed by anyone, end of story. Case in point, go watch Julia Child's shows, they're amazing.

 
I think Jean likes cooking because it's fun, yes, but due to her older sister persona, she probably does it to serve those whom she considers a family. She's kind of one of the heads of the X-Men household so she's taken on a responsibility of feeding a lot of mouths. There are so many to feed at the mansion and it's a role I think she takes really seriously. But if she's in the kitchen with someone else.... well, uh....

Lesson noted: never get in Jean's way when you're in the kitchen; it will not end well. Poor Gambit though. 😅

But as silly as this scene is, her irritation is irrational yet understandable. Have you ever been in a kitchen with someone else while they're cooking and you wanted to make something for yourself? And this same person was judging  how you're preparing your food? Speaking from my own experiences, it is not always fun to be in the same kitchen - people will give unwanted advice on how you cook something even when you're doing it right. Of course she'll feel threatened if there are too many cooks in the kitchen, quite literally. I don't think she hates accepting help or having another cook to be around (and one she can work with) as it is her wanting to stick to a consistent menu - in this case a Christmas-themed one - vs. having someone interject their own ideas that may garner mixed results from other people who might not dig a certain type of cuisine. I personally would love to taste both her cooking and Gambit's food, but that's just me. 

Speaking of cooking, I'm cooking up the second part to this Character Spotlight with the usual, so until then - 

Wanderer out! 

Character Spotlight: Thirty-Thirty, Part Two

 

Say hello to my not-so-little friend!

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                       4. INSPIRATION 

Like Christine, Thirty-Thirty comes from a relatively quiet fanbase in the literary circles so I don't have much material to use for my writing style. However, there is one exception - the fanfiction Stompin' is Magic (thank you for showing it to me, OLU!). There are some things in the fic that I will be using for Thirty-Thirty to flesh his background out, but besides this fanfic, I just go by what I observe in the episodes, although how I wrote him back then is not so good. I can do much better now.

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  5. FUTURE PLANS

Oh yes, do I have plans for him! Spoilers, but he will be in various crossovers, but I'm not saying when, and he'll get involved in quite a few scuffles with characters - both heroic and villainous. 

In a non-UPC story, he'll be involved in an AU I'm still trying to develop that recently popped into my head. Still working out the details, but what is definite is that he'll serve as an officer of the law in the world I'm creating. 

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6. HEADCANONS

*He dislikes some bugs, which I'll go with beetles in this case. This bit is an ironic inside gag that comes from Thirty's voice actor. When Mr. Gilbert was active, he was not only a voice actor and television actor, he was also an entomologist; he discovered new beetle species. Who knew?

*He can store Sara Jane and other items in his fluffy mane, but this only happens when he’s in his bipedal form, when his mane grows longer and bigger. When he's on all fours, the items stay tucked in his mane until it's time to bring them out.

*Sara Jane can destroy a boulder and stun opponents based on her settings à la Star Trek phasers. 

*With all the technology Thirty-Thirty has on hand, such as his radio to Bravestarr and whomever else is within range on New Texas (seen in "Rampage"), his specialized communicator implemented into his snaffle bit to contact military branches/official government organizations (I don't remember the episode), and his scanner (seen in "Ship of No Return" , one wonders where he gets those marvelous toys. I think asides from either having some of them literally built into him like his communicator or naturally belonging to him like Sara Jane, he regularly likes to keep on ordering gadgets to better improve himself or to aid him in his work. He's like an IT worker except he's a horse and we can actually understand what he's up to with his tech.

This headcanon comes from a piece of unused Thirty-Thirty lore, in that he was originally a hypochondriac robot who enjoyed ordering new gadgets to attach to himself. This brings me back to my point about his attachment to his salary - I theorize that the more he gets paid, the more money he can spend on obtaining whatever tech he fancies. Knowing his personality, he likes to go for things that can help him fight, yeah, but he's pretty practical on what tech he sees fit to acquire. Maybe the latest tech on occasion, but in Thirty's case, I see him obtaining technology that A) is not complicated to use and easy to fix and B) something that can benefit him or others, which doesn't always have to be the hottest must-have item. 

*At one point in the show, Bravestarr taught Thirty-Thirty about constellations and in turn he taught Fuzz about those same constellations. Since then, Thirty has obtained a fascination in learning more about them and the different names they go by on other worlds. 

*Thanks to One Lucky Unicorn, I've also adopted the headcanon that he can't swim for very long due to the weight of his cybernetic limbs. 

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7. PERSONAL

*Thirty's a fun character to write. He's not your typical heroic character - he's heroic with an edge, but does know to when to cool it. He has a cool concept that can touch upon a number of archetypes all at once - the noble and loyal steed, the wild stallion, the impulsive partner who loves jumping into the action, the adventurous gunslinger, and the techno enthusiast (which in retrospect is different than other technological characters - he doesn't build them like Disney's Gyro Gearloose or hack into computers like Ed from Cowboy Bebop; he uses his tools and when they have to be fixed, he either gets someone to help him or he fixes them himself). It's not really a combination one commonly sees, but it's a welcome combo of traits that makes for a compelling and well-loved character among Bravestarr fans. 

I kind of like the fact that we don't know that much about his backstory. Even though it's hinted to be a tragic one, due to his position as at the last Equestroid, it does allow us to use our imaginations to fill in what happened and go off of what was clarified in the movie: the Equestroids settled on New Texas after an Equestroid named Equus led a revolt aboard a slave ship and Thirty somehow later acquired Sara Jane after the fact. And according to some sources, the film script compares the Equestroid civilization to the Vikings, and if this is true, then that could open up a world of possibilities for the kind of lives the techno horses had by incorporating bits from various Viking aspects to build up the history left behind by these horses. 

*This point is kind of moot, but I declare ''Spoilin' for a Fight' by AC/DC'' as his theme song lol. I'm tempted to throw in "A Horse with No Name by America" as well. I love this song, but that's not the only reason. Thirty has his moments when he's quiet and reflective, and I like to think that before he met Bravestarr and the rest of the crew, he spent a lot of time thinking about things while guarding what remained of his home in the middle of a vast desert. The song's very much like that - it suggests a lot of contemplation about nature and one's life while walking through a desert where our thoughts are either our companions, our traitors or our passive observers. But knowing Thirty-Thirty, he'll take it on with all his might and never back down from a challenge. 

As a meta joke, I might also try and find songs by David Lee Roth of Van Halen fame, due to the common observation fans and commentators have made on Thirty's mane and attitude coming from the man.  

But now I can consider this post conquered like a Viking!  Thanks for reading. 

Wanderer Out!

Character Spotlight: Thirty-Thirty, Part One

 

What do you get when you have a riot, a marshal, and an Equestroid? One heck of a show!
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1.HISTORY

How late I discovered Bravestarr and once I did, I couldn't get the theme song out of my head. I found out about this show through YouTube long ago. I don't really  remember which episode was my first viewing of the show (it might have been the movie), but I started watching it and I really dug the western-space vibe to it. 

The adventures, the action and the '80s-ness of it all were all entertaining, but what really made me become a fan of Thirty-Thirty and the show by extension was a music video focused on the super stallion. Unfortunately, the video is no longer available for viewing, but I remember it was an AMV set to the song, 'Spoilin' for a Fight' by AC/DC. It was about three or so minutes of Bravestarr footage with the song playing over various scenes, but a majority of the footage focused on the first rocky encounter between Thirty and Bravestarr, where they fight it out at the Hall of the Equestroids in the film. I was blown away by how well the song seemed to match the energy of the scene, and how it captured Thirty-Thirty's larger than life essence and his love for fighting. A few more videos, mainly show commercials and bumpers, only sealed the deal.  

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2. THE (TECHNO) HORSE OF THE HOUR

Thirty-Thirty doesn't like to be called just a mere horse for one thing. He'll assert he's a techno horse, and with his temperament and gadgets, he's proud of his heritage.
  
Around the time when the show aired, Thirty-Thirty was already standing out among Filmation audiences and still does today. He's more belligerent than other supporting Filmation characters like Orko or Kowl of He-Man and She-Ra respectively. And he's also very vocal - he doesn't beat around the bush when speaking his mind. If he has a complaint to voice, he will let you know about it. Sometimes his complaints are really minor where I can either roll my eyes or laugh it off. But he will also speak up when something is not right, although a bit harshly sometimes, which does serve as a strong counterbalance to his dissatisfied remarks. 

When he's not shouting out his opinions, he's either happily fighting with his beloved and trusty weapon, Sara Jane, or putting his full strength to the test while he stomps the bad guys. Which is a good thing for the heroes, considering if you get kicked or stepped on by a horse, you're going to end up in the hospital, as the villains probably have done. So Thirty's a horse of action, and does not like to be tied down with tedious but important work, such as patrolling the perimeters around Fort Kerium. 

Patience is not an easy virtue for him to maintain whereas Bravestarr exhibits this virtue well. This is an important contrast to Bravestarr, actually; Thirty-Thirty's about the stompin', Bravestarr's about the thinkin', and why their dynamic - especially during their arguments - is partly compelling to watch, and adds another layer of depth to their relationship. They both have contrasting views, but they both value each other's sense of honor and fair play, which is a reason why their friendship still stands. 

But even though he is strength-focused, Thirty-Thirty's not without his smart side and keen sense of awareness. In situations where action is not an option, he will adapt and use other methods, like in "Fallen Idol", where he called upon Deputy Fuzz to dig a tunnel so the two of them can stealthily trail after Bravestarr in case he needed help. In "Ship of No Return", he exercised caution when he, Bravestarr, Fuzz, J.B. and her father, entered the Kerium freighter and discovered no one was onboard, save the five of them. Shoot, even in "Big Thirty and Little Wimble", he held back his aggression because Wimble and the other children looked up to him. As an officer of the law, even if he's gung-ho most of the time, he is aware sometimes self-restraint or any other non-violent resource will prove the best solution, especially during really tense scenes (no matter how badly he just wants to shoot first and ask questions later).

If he finds that he did something wrong and it negatively impacted others, he will self-reflect on what he did and try to make amends for it. Hot-tempered he may be, but he's not close-minded to reason or emotion. He'll learn - sometimes the hard way - his lesson and admit his mistakes, as shown in "Rampage", "The Ballad of Sara Jane", and "Balance of Power" to name a few. In those episodes, he either let his temper and/or worry got the better of him or he acted carelessly in his responsibilities, but he accepts what happened and does learn valuable lessons even if he doesn't want to outright admit it. I mean, considering he, Bravestarr and other characters give PSAs at the end of each episode, I think it's safe to say he's taken those lessons to heart. 

When the situation calls for it, he can be gentle and tone down his gruffness. In the climax of the episode, "The Price", for instance, he acts as a calming presence around Jake's mother while she's grieving over the loss of her son. Thirty-Thirty doesn't say a word to her; he just stands there and holds onto her to show his support while she mourns Jake. In a more comedic moment, he admits he cries at weddings in "Memories" when Angus McBride and Karen Kane wed. It's a cute moment and shows Thirty's not all rough-and-tumble. 

Loyal and honorable to a degree, Thirty-Thirty is a strong believer in earning friendship. To paraphrase him, he states, "you can't just snatch friends from off the streets; you gotta earn them". This is especially true given how he and Bravestarr met; the latter saved him before the Hall of the Equestroids collapsed on them, even after their rough scuffle over Sara Jane. That's bonafide proof, and it's enough for Thirty to extend his friendship to Bravestarr. Their friendship stands strong that when Thirty-Thirty thought his pard had been kidnapped in 'Rampage', he scoured across the worst parts of Fort Kerium and even stampeded his way to the Hexagon just to find his friend and make sure he's safe. 

This protective streak towards his friends and his fellow citizens doesn't just come from his role as deputy, but also from his inherent horse instincts. Horses will protect their herds from danger; they'll constantly be on guard and act if something's threatening the group. This, along with the inclination to earning one's place in a herd, lines up with Thirty's protector role. All of this extends to his peers, not just because of his job, but also because of how he views his friends as his herd. We don't know what happened to the rest of his kind, so it would stand to reason Thirty-Thirty would seek out others to settle this instinct of his (even if he had to be dragged out of his home to see that). I don't know if that's what the people who worked on the show intended, but even if they didn't, it does add another layer of thought into his character. 

One surprising aspect about this guy is his desire to get paid for his work. There were at least three instances where he called attention to it: "The Disappearance of Thirty-Thirty", "Sunrise, Sunset", and most notably, "A Day in the Life of a New Texas Judge". Not that I blame him; what he does can sometimes be grueling work and he wants compensation for it. I just find it an interesting and unexpected facet to him. I'll discuss a headcanon for why he points this out in the second part of this character analysis. 

Going back to "A Day in the Life of a New Texas Judge", we can also see he can be mischievous, as he teases his pard about forgetting to collect a parking fine from the character of the day. Poor Bravestarr has to pay the fine and Thirty-Thirty? He basically says, 'you're on your own, marshal, you pay for it'. Bravestarr gives his traitorous pard a disgruntled frown. Always makes me laugh!

He makes a lot dry and snarky jokes, sometimes with the intent to joke about how Bravestarr has a lot to learn from Thirty-Thirty, but he's never cruel about it. Joshing is how he lightens things up and shows his fun-loving and boisterous side. He's the kind of person with whom you would want to have a few pints of Sweetwater (if you can stand the stuff, but I'll just take a nice ginger beer, thanks lol.)

Honestly, whenever Thirty-Thirty does things like this, it's a treat. It makes you want to get up and join in on the fun with him, and also learn a few good zingers in the process. 

On a small note, I love how his voice actor, Mr. Ed Gilbert, gave him a verbal tic of making horse sounds as part of his way of talking. Sometimes there are moments where Thirty-Thirty will speak, but there's a brief husk of a whinny or nicker before he starts talking. Adds a nice touch to how he speaks. Also, Mr. Gilbert gave Thirty such a powerful and rocker-ish quality to his voice, one would wonder how he would fare in a 1980s metal band. 

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3. DEPICTIONS/QUESTIONS

*"Is it awkward that Bravestarr rides Thirty-Thirty when he can stand on two legs? ": I personally would feel odd if I had a horse I could ride on who could also transform between quadruped and bipedal forms, and it is reasonable for non-New Texas citizens to be bewildered by Thirty's ability. But in a galaxy inhabited by humans, animals, aliens, robots and other creatures, this is probably nothing out of the ordinary. I take it as part of the natural law system of New Texas- they share similarities with intrinsic conventions of other worlds, yes, but they also don't conform to all of the laws of the universe we know. It's hinted in at least one episode that New Texas is not located within our solar system, so logically they would not be subjected to all of the same natural laws in our universe. Therefore, it may be illogical to the residents of one galaxy while it's completely normal by the citizens of New Texas. 

*Thirty-Thirty or Thirty/Thirty? : It's a case of 'tomato, tomahto'. I go with the former spelling mainly to avoid confusion if I have to type it out in URL code.

More stuff to come in the next post!

Wanderer out!