Uncanny X-Men #271

[iamrman]

Even a rescue mission to Genosha won't stop Psylocke from saying the thing.

Comments

[icon_uk]

"Betsy, you DO remember you're a telepath right? Your hands have absolutely nothing to do with your powers"

"And your point is?"

"That a psychic blade from your hand serves absolutely no useful purpose and, in fact, is a major liability"

"But it's the focussed totality of my telepathic powers!"

"You've been able to brainblast someone into a droolling comatose state from the other side of the room since before you ever appeared in a US comic. So what the hell is the point of focussing your powers into your hand when you can already do the same thing from 30 feet away?"

[akodo_rokku]

"Ninja."

[dcbanacek]

Ah yes, the Ninja Paradox.

"Anyone who SAYS they are a ninja, isn't."

[mslinsenmayer]

AFAIK, Claremont hated the whole Psylocke/ Ninja thing- he had it forced on him by Ronald Perelman. At the time, Miller's Daredevil was selling really well, and Perelamn, being a genius, concluded the sole reason was the teenage male fans like Elektra.

So he insisted Claremont also add in a sexy white ninja. Which is how Mojo got involved- google a pic of Perelam sometime. Yes, he's the inspiration for mojo.

:)

[bravest_spinja]

I'm not sure that timeline bears out. Perelman bought Marvel in 1989. Mojo first appeared in 1985 and I his personality generally codified by 1986 three years before Perelman bought New World. And if he was issuing orders to Claremont he sure wasn't wasting any time.

As for whether she was specifically changed in light of Miller's Daredevil...he had been off the title for years. Ninjas were still pretty popular, so maybe somebody higher up asked for ninja stuff, or a "replacement" Elektra (Who was still dead at the time), but keep in mind this was an era of wacky transformations, Claremont in particular. I think it was intended to be temporary, but between his tendency to let plots go on too long, and him and then Lee suddenly leaving the X-Books, she got "frozen" into that status quo for thirty years.

[agent8]

"Anyone who SAYS they are a ninja, isn't."....which is exactly what they want you to think.

Since they know that you think that "Anyone who SAYS they are a ninja, isn't." by saying they are a ninja they make you think that they aren't when in reality they are. Misdirection is a classic ninja tactic after all.

BUT Since it is well known that misdirection is a classic ninja tactic, the ninjas will be counting on you knowing that. Therefore, they think, you will reason that anyone disclaiming to be a ninja is actually one (see above).

BUT since the trope is so well know, they (the Ninja's that is) reason, that you will further assume that no true Ninja would invoke such a tired easy-to-see-through trope.

Therefore (the Ninja's reason) you will assume that anyone employing it cannot be a true Ninja, just some amateur playing pretend.

Therefore I propose the Paradox of the Ninja Paradox - "Anyone who SAYS they are a ninja, actually is." True Ninjas always claim to be Ninjas, but you will always disbelieve them.

[scorntx]

You're trying to trick the ninja into giving away something. It won't work.

[bravest_spinja]

An interesting--I don't know if you'd call it a retcon? Deconstruction? Justification? Is Marvel's Hand takes their name from the "stagehand" uniform that ended up becoming symbolic with the Western view of ninjas, because they, like a lot of institutions created for comic books, are peculiarly theatrical.

(In the The Last Samurai, they're ambushed by assassins in stereotypical McNinja garb, but funny enough, it is while the village is holding a play. Overall part of its dichotomy of being considered inaccurate and somewhat problematic in the States, but appreciated in a "Hey, they kind of get us for Westerners" way in Japan.)

[numeronone]

Gotta love that Ewing's "Defenders: There Are No Rules" established that, throughout the history of the MU's various realities and time periods, this is apparently just something that telekines tend to say when they use the psychic knife.