I feel bad for Statesman...

My impression has always been somewhat different. I more or less always felt that Statesman was less an actual character than he was a generic guy on the cover art meant to represent the concept of "you could build your own hero!" At least, that is how I interpreted it for years when I would see CoH for sale in video game stores but hadn't yet played the game. And even after I did start playing, it was months in before I realized anyone on the box art was actually present in the game.

As for Silver Age characters in general, I think they make great icons, but I find them frustrating when they are pulled into the modern age, because of the clamp of tradition from an era that was censored so severely. There is a naivety to the Superman archetype that I find extremely spooky when the character is drawn into an updated and "realistic" environment. The character existed in a time when the comics code prevented even such words as "zombie" or "werewolf." But it's also complicated by the fact that these very old characters were MIA when dealing with actual historical situations that could have used some heroism, like the Civil Rights Movement. Some people would suggest that the characters exist in a "vacuum" but I'm not sure I agree. It's more like they existed on a soundstage designed to promote what would be called "an alternative lifestyle" or "an agenda" if another social or ethnic group were to promote it as if it were the "ultimate good."

Well, I think I said it earlier in one of my other posts when I said 'how do you have realistic situations in the most unrealistic genre getting around, superheroes?' I'm pretty sure that goes for characters as well. I'd always argue that the Silver Age as an entirety was affected by society's fears rather than being written simplistictly. All you have to do is look at the origin of the Comics Code Authority that existed all the way into this century and how it effectively demonised comics as a threat to the nation's youth, and you have a situation whereby these characters were not allowed to be portrayed any way other than what they were. It's not naivety, it's artistic censorship writ large.

But I don't think it also by definition renders the notion of iconic figures invalid. We as humans look for heroic figures in all our literature; it's why the Greek myths are still with us, even though we're meant to be a 'Christian society'. We want heroes, we want heroic ideals. We want to see people who represent the very best in humanity to inspire us and lift us up. I personally would rather much look up to those kinds of characters rather than those who would do precisely whatever it took to do the job, simply because as much as you might applaud the outcomes, you would never want them in your society. I think the Jack Bauer character from 24 is a prime example. He's not a hero so much as a necessary evil.

Statesman is intrinsically tied to the Greek mythology and if he could ever have gotten a more mixed bag, it's the inheritance of that particular god, full of such nobility in a lot of ways, but also great tragedy. He is our Zeus, 'the father of all', and he shoulders that burden and that responsibility a lot better than a lot of heroes I've seen.



S.

Good call. I like me some noble heroes.


S.

I don't think Statesman's daughter and grand daughter would mind him dating - it's just that Desdemona appears to be portrayed around Ms. Liberty's age, haha. Let's face it, if your grandfather was suddenly dating someone who was your age, you'd be mildly uncomfortable, wouldn't you? XD

Yes I was...I mean would be! WOULD BE!! *runs away crying*

Well, given Statesman's age, it's kind of unavoidable unless he sought out something like a demi-deity or another immortal life-form.
And those relationships get... complicated.

Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow City of Heroes is a game about freedom of expression and variety of experiences far more so than it is about representing any one theme, topic or genre.

Why hello, Lady Grey...

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Lady Grey would chew Marcus Cole up and spit him out.

She's a "By Any Means Necessary" kind of woman. (Vanguard works with heroes and villains, remember? They're only concerned with defeating the Rikti.)

(Besides, I think she has her eye on Dark Watcher.)

(Or maybe Nemesis.)

"Pretty Little Head"

Sounds like an Old Lady Crush to me.

Most of us didn't grow up with an immortal grandfather.

And the thought of Marcus dating someone her age is probably not nearly as uncomfortable for Miss Liberty as knowing about the relationship her alternate self (who she met) has with her grandfather's double!

Except that there was none. Other than that attributed by people who should go ask the gutter for thier minds back.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Ah, I see Denial isn't just the name of a river in Egypt.


(In the Praetorian Arc in the City of Heroes comic book, written either by Manticore the Dev-- or just input from him; I don't recall which-- even Neuron is weirded out about the relationship that Domi has with her Grandpa.)

"Oh, steps will be taken".

I love that arc.

It's a game the whole family can play!

Yeah, which the devs have since said did not happen in canon. People can kvetch and try and push their personal fantasies as much as they like, but the Devs said it was retconned. End of.

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

I think her main target is Hero 1

It's not quite as cut and dried as that

It's not as cut and dried as the Dev's saying, "That never happened"????

Yeah, I spoke with one of the Devs at a recent convention. It is as cut and dry as that. He explicitly said the words "We retconned it."

See? That seems pretty "cut and dried" to me.

Actually yes. Yes it is.

/Thread

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

Actually, no. No it's not

Alright, fine. Explain how you are right, and the entirety of Paragon Studios is wrong. Please, we're all waiting.