The Tick: Anti-gay?
impu...@yahoo.com
character on occasion. In an issue of BBD, the editors printed a letter that
accused the Eli Stone stories to be "anti-gay". Stone claimed not to know
what this was about, and the editors suggested that perhaps this
letterwriter was referring to a line in BBD #4, in which a prison inmate
seems interested in Arthur.
Are they really THAT NAIVE???
Oh, no, I'm not suggesting that the creative staff at NEC consists of
homophobes. But really, a quick perusal of Tick comics show some lines that
COULD be perceived as being anti-gay. Ben Edlund has The Tick ask Arthur if
he's "funny" and then has him say that superheroes "shouldn't be funny". The
Tick's Back oneshot depicts The Tick crying out indignantly that Arthur
*whatever* is most certainly NOT his date. A recent Tick comic had the big
blue oaf saying, "I hope you mean funny ha-ha".
But what I see it as is some very clever characterization. Let's face it,
what is the appeal of superheroes? Why was "The Matrix" such a success? Why
is it that most comic book readers are not the fairer sex?
Because superhero comics, and flicks like "The Matrix"... are male
empowerment fantasies. And what could be a better candidate for using as a
target to poke fun at in the world of The Tick? The Tick is a spoof on
superheroes. He is a child who wants to be a hero, and to do so, he puts on
what he perceives as a strong male personality.
That is good writing. That is insightful characterization.
Why the hell didn't Eli Stone say so? I have no idea -- but his writing
style, most notably in Luny Bin, seems to indicate he likes readers to draw
their own conclusions.
--Kevin Riley
Snotpanda
impu...@yahoo.com
> How can the Tick be anti-gay when the Tick and Arthur are a homosexual
couple?
Arthur has a girlfriend. Her name is Chet.
--Kevin Riley
the evils
| Arthur has a girlfriend. Her name is Chet.
But Chet's a guy's name. How can we be certain that this Chet is truly a
woman? Or even if she is now, that she always has been? And even if she
always was, that that's all that she always was?
NECP
Actually Chet is Arthur's Girlfriend's nickname. She was always a woman
(check out her slender throat). And she is NOT a candidate for a sex change
(or Gender Reassignment, or whatever the socialist PC name for a Penectomy
or Genital Transplant is this week).
Her real name is Stephanie. Stephanie Atkins. She gains the nickname Chet
because Chet Atkins is a Country Music star of some fame (and Eli thought it
would be clever). It's a little more of a leap than a girl named Petra
being called Pete, or a boy named Sue... but it is on the same path.
Arthur has also had some success with other ladies such as Laverne (in Tick
11) and Myndi (though that was really Myndi hoping to have success with
Arthur).
Also, there is more than a little suggestion that The Tick may have some
unresolved feelings for Ashley (Oedipus Stevens).
In response to Snotpanda's incessant suggestions of rampant homosexuality in
The Tick and its creators, I might suggest that Mr. Panda may have some
unresolved issues himself. If you cannot see two men being roommates and
working partners without making declarations (never mind assumptions) as to
their sexual orientation, I suggest that you have a VERY narrow view of the
world, and none of it good.
We at NECP make no intention toward the ethics or morality of homosexuality,
and we intend no offence toward the gay community within the pages of our
publication, any more than we intend offence toward the heterosexual
community with the antics of Caped Cod, George and Linc, or Sister
Pulchritude (oops, that book's not out yet). What we do intend is to make
our audience laugh at every opportunity, and to point out (subtly or
bluntly) the ridiculousness of life and preconceptions (esp. in the world of
Superheroics).
Loutish
He just really enjoys Arthur's body. It seemed like they were always really
showing off their butts in the cartoon.
I've always wondered about two grown men living together -- like Felix and
Oscar in the Odd Couple. It seemed pretty clear they were getting it on. And
how about the Skipper and Gilligan -- his "little buddy." Skipper never made a
move towards Mary-Ann or Ginger. And a little more to the point, the Batman --
Robin relationship has always seemed troublesome. Robin always drove really
fast into the "Batcave."
And how about Luke Skywalker? Isn't that kind of a Studio 54 flagrantly gay
name?
Just thinkin'
Snotpanda
As for Chet, well, Ben Edlund didn't write her...I really meant the Ben Edlund
treatment of the Tick and Arthur when I talked about them being gay. Whatever
steps NEC has taken to "butch up" the comic in his departure are another story
altogether, but Arthur got nowhere with the girl in the Fishbone T-Shirt in
issue 11 (because his big blue bitch showed up, of course)--a sentiment echoed
in the "Little Wooden Boy" episode of the animated series where the Tick gets
so upset by the possibility of Arthur getting it on with Carmelita (based on
the issue 11 girl) that he pouts and sulks and sings showtunes on the roof by
himself. And as for Oedipus, well, she is what's classically referred to as a
"fag hag" (no offense intended).
As for me and my "unresolved issues"...please resolve them for me, oh perveyors
of superheroic soft porn for adolescents!
(btw, thanks for the support, Loutish)
Gregory L. Hansen
I think you'll find all kinds of hidden messages in comics if you look
hard enough. Any hidden messages you want, if you just look hard enough.
I think we should just read the comics and laugh a little.
--
If I had a nickel for everytime someone said "If I had a nickel for every
time someone said..."...
NECP
You made one declaration on this topic. I was refering to the multiple
comments about Ben, Randolph Heard, etc... That you have made in the past.
> (because his big blue bitch showed up, of course)
Make that 2 such comments on this topic alone. Your opinions are pretty
constant here, to suggest that you have only ever expressed them once is
patently false.
> As for me and my "unresolved issues"...please resolve them for me,
I can't do that. I don't have a magic wand that widens people's
experience or perceptions.
You read what you want into my comment, but I actually (unintentionally)
elaborated in my post, when I said: "I suggest that you have a VERY narrow
view of the world, and none of it good." That is what I meant by unresolved
issues (well, that and something I say below). If you read some other
meaning, there is nothing I can do for that.
> oh perveyors
> of superheroic soft porn for adolescents!
Uh-huh, and this name calling is supported by what?
It seems to me as I think about this, that you have some sort of axe to
grind, churn your bile all you want if it makes you feel better, or not. Or
maybe you'd like to share what your problem really is with the rest of us.
> As for Chet, well, Ben Edlund didn't write her...
That doesn't make her any less evidence of Arthur's sexuality. Since
Ben did write for Arthur plainly heterosexual overtones, esp. in relation to
Carmelita in the show.
I would also point out that The Tick was married, but I'm sure you would
say that his divorce was a result of his sexual orientation (as is the
cliche, gay man marrys woman to disguise himself, it doesn't work because
he's gay, etc...), and not because he was commited to a mental institution
(which is historically accurate).
> Arthur got nowhere with the girl in the Fishbone T-Shirt in
> issue 11 --a sentiment echoed
> in the "Little Wooden Boy" episode of the animated series where the Tick
gets
> so upset by the possibility of Arthur getting it on with Carmelita
I would suggest this from a position with a little wider vision: The
Tick is, in many ways, a child. Arthur is a friend, confidant, and care
giver for him. When Arthur's attention is drawn away from The Tick, by
anything, The Tick gets jealous of the object of Arthur's attention, as any
child might. This sort of reaction is not restricted to care-giver/children
either, it is common amongst close friends of any gender and orientation.
If you had such a best friend, you probably would have felt left out when he
(assuming all participants are male) got a girlfriend for the first time,
joined band, or made the football team when you didn't. That doesn't make
you homosexual... it makes you human.
Loutish
the comics now that Ben is no longer overseeing them?
NECP
into
> the comics now that Ben is no longer overseeing them?
First of all: Ben is still overseeing the comics. He retains 100%
script approval authority, and guides all major (and some minor)
developments (such as Barry being in Evanston).
To answer your question:
According to Snotpanda: probably.
According to us: absolutely not.
Our position is simple: The Tick is not homosexual. Arthur is not
homosexual. The Tick is a little wigged out by the idea of homosexuality
(frankly he's a little wigged out by sexuality of any sort). But the
publication is not intended to take any stance on homosexuality in any way,
shape, or form. It was never Ben's intention that The Tick or Arthur be
homosexual. We have merely (with Ben's oversight and approval) continued
along what we feel is the logical course of the story, as set by Ben.
Any homo- or hetero-sexual overtones or themes which occur (such as the
prison scene in BBD 4, or Caped Cod [in general]) are for the sole purpose
of getting the reader to laugh, or to set the scene for appropriate dramatic
or comedic tension.
Loutish
Barry H.
So, two guys living together are considered gay? How about Bert and Ernie??
Give me a break!
NECP <ne...@spam.newenglandcomics.com> wrote in message news:skkgl51...@corp.supernews.com...
> > | Arthur has a girlfriend. Her name is Chet.
> >
> > But Chet's a guy's name. How can we be certain that this Chet is truly a
> > woman? Or even if she is now, that she always has been? And even if she
> > always was, that that's all that she always was?
>
> Actually Chet is Arthur's Girlfriend's nickname. She was always a woman
> (check out her slender throat). And she is NOT a candidate for a sex change
> (or Gender Reassignment, or whatever the socialist PC name for a Penectomy
> or Genital Transplant is this week).
>
> Her real name is Stephanie. Stephanie Atkins. She gains the nickname Chet
> because Chet Atkins is a Country Music star of some fame (and Eli thought it
> would be clever). It's a little more of a leap than a girl named Petra
> being called Pete, or a boy named Sue... but it is on the same path.
>
> Arthur has also had some success with other ladies such as Laverne (in Tick
> 11) and Myndi (though that was really Myndi hoping to have success with
> Arthur).
>
> Also, there is more than a little suggestion that The Tick may have some
> unresolved feelings for Ashley (Oedipus Stevens).
>
> In response to Snotpanda's incessant suggestions of rampant homosexuality in
> The Tick and its creators, I might suggest that Mr. Panda may have some
> unresolved issues himself. If you cannot see two men being roommates and
> working partners without making declarations (never mind assumptions) as to
> their sexual orientation, I suggest that you have a VERY narrow view of the
> world, and none of it good.
>
Josh Marquart
> The Tick is a little wigged out by the idea of homosexuality
> (frankly he's a little wigged out by sexuality of any sort).
So we can assume that there won't be a "Tick's Big Gay Awareness Day Special"?
;)
-JD
--
"If it's such a personal relationship with G-d or Jesus, then why are
they telling us about it during the commercial break?" -Jen Marck
Joshua Marquart jos...@one.net http://w3.one.net/~joshdm
MXLP: 14.5-1 [BAD=1 BK=2 BS=3 FAW=1 I=2.5 MES=1 MK=1 MS=1 WL=1 SS=2-1]
Josh Marquart
"Barry H." wrote:
> So, two guys living together are considered gay? How about Bert and Ernie??
Let *ME* answer that one:
Go here: http://plaza.v-wave.com/bert/bert.htm
Snotpanda
considered to be male adolescent fantasies, and they're generally populated by
men in skin tight clothing and bulging, Tom of Finland muscles (but not so the
bulging Tom of Finland crotches)
But I'm not the one acting like the Tick and Arthur being gay is a BAD
thing...you certainly are defensive about it. I mean, how do you really KNOW
they aren't? Did the Tick say he was married to a woman? We don't know what
state he's in, or was in, so we don't even know if it's legal to marry a man
where he's from. If you're another man, that is.
Did I say Ben and Randolph were gay? If I did, I didn't mean to. They DO play
with puppets, however, that much I KNOW.
Greasyfries
maturity, and Author being practically a neuter by circumstance, well....
this comic ain't any more "gay" or less "gay" than other comics that aren't
played for laughs.
NECP
I wasn't going to respond to this until monday, but I'm in the office,
so what the hell.
Responce 1: They're not.
Responce 2: You don't seem to like The Tick in any form, based on my
evaluation of the things that you have said in here. So I don't really have
anyway to convince you that your question follows from a false presumption,
though I might suggest you try reading the comics.
NECP
> > (frankly he's a little wigged out by sexuality of any sort).
>
> So we can assume that there won't be a "Tick's Big Gay Awareness Day
Special"?
Shhhhhhh... my EIC might be listening, and I don't want him to get any
other ideas that we won't be able to follow up on. (Yule Log 1999 almost
had a Quanza back up story, until we learned that none of our staff,
writers, or friends knew what Quanza was about... other than that it is a
made up holiday to further the goals of evil segregation, and racism...
which we can't really do too much with for the few people who don't know
that statement to be true).
So unless you and your big mouth have ruined my week for me... no, I
don't think we'll be seeing The Tick go to Big Gay Al's petting zoo any time
soon.
(And for those who think that I have lost my sense of humor on this
subject, I know he's kidding, and so am I [mostly])
NECP
In the middle of a post which included clear evidence that you took
offense to something I said, I think you can understand why I would not see
the alleged humor in the statement.
> Comics are widely
> considered to be male adolescent fantasies, and they're generally
populated by
> men in skin tight clothing and bulging, Tom of Finland muscles (but not so
the
> bulging Tom of Finland crotches)
Mostly true, and I hope that you see where The Tick satirises those
ideas.
> But I'm not the one acting like the Tick and Arthur being gay is a BAD
> thing...you certainly are defensive about it.
I have to be. It is untrue, and it will cost us some readers if the
general perception were that The Tick and Arthur were homosexual.
> I mean, how do you really KNOW
> they aren't?
I work here. I have the clear authority to make the statement (with
approval from Ben, which he has made clear to us). I can consult with the
people who make decisions like that, and our responce is unambigious and
unanimous. The Tick is not homosaexual (period). Arthur is not homosexual
(period). Caped Cod is a sexist pig (period).
> Did the Tick say he was married to a woman?
Yes. We've also seen her (in flashback). And there is evidence of an
off camera romance going on between her and Running Guy (granted some of the
evidence, including the words "aren't you dating that WOMAN in the suburbs?"
is not yet released to the general public, but it is still the case).
> We don't know what
> state he's in,
I do.
> so we don't even know if it's legal to marry a man
> where he's from.
Rather than point out the federal (U.S.) non-recognition of "same-sex
marriages," I will point out that the question is irrelevant, since Cloris
is a woman.
There's been a lot of Tick story and information since issue 12.
> Did I say Ben and Randolph were gay? If I did, I didn't mean to. They DO
play
> with puppets, however, that much I KNOW.
Actually the most recent comment I remember (verbatim) was that you were
sick of all the rumours that Ben and (I believe you said Randolph, but it
might have been Chris or Richard) were gay as petulias. Now it struck me
odd, because I do not know what a petulia is, but also because that was the
first I had heard of ANY such rumor... so it occurred to me that you were
actually starting said rumor, since there had been other erroneous comments
from you as to Ben's sexual orientation.
Snotpanda
favorite flower is the narwhal.
Josh Marquart
> > So we can assume that there won't be a "Tick's Big Gay Awareness Day
> Special"?
> Shhhhhhh... my EIC might be listening, and I don't want him to get any
> other ideas that we won't be able to follow up on. (Yule Log 1999 almost
> had a Quanza back up story, until we learned that none of our staff,
> writers, or friends knew what Quanza was about...
OBVIOUSLY, because I think it's spelled "Kwanza". =-)
> made up holiday to further the goals of evil segregation, and racism...
We'z gonna go rally up against them thar BLUE men.
So there won't be a "Tick Black Awareness Month Annual" or "Tick's Chinese New
Year 80 Page Giant" anytime soon?
> So unless you and your big mouth have ruined my week for me... no, I
> don't think we'll be seeing The Tick go to Big Gay Al's petting zoo any time
> soon.
Whew. Hate to have ruined the week. =)
> (And for those who think that I have lost my sense of humor on this
> subject, I know he's kidding, and so am I [mostly])
Oy.
Can't wait till I get my "Tick and Arthur Big Bris Special".
Gregory L. Hansen
>NECP wrote:
>
>> > So we can assume that there won't be a "Tick's Big Gay Awareness Day
>> Special"?
>> Shhhhhhh... my EIC might be listening, and I don't want him to get any
>> other ideas that we won't be able to follow up on. (Yule Log 1999 almost
>> had a Quanza back up story, until we learned that none of our staff,
>> writers, or friends knew what Quanza was about...
>
>OBVIOUSLY, because I think it's spelled "Kwanza". =-)
I thought it was "Kwanzaa".
--
"The preferred method of entering a building is to use a tank main gun
round, direct fire artillery round, or TOW, Dragon, or Hellfire missile to
clear the first room." -- THE RANGER HANDBOOK U.S. Army, 1992
beaniebaby...@gmail.com
sorry but its true
