Misfits #2 - Our Songs are Better Pt 2
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scans_dailyOne of the biggest differences that the IDW Jem series has done is change the LOOK of the characters, not just updating them but varying the bodyshapes significantly, and none moreso than that of Stormer.
The original series, designed as it was to sell toys, used the generic bodytype of the doll line. It varied the charatcers, but everyone had the same shape. (One character, who wouldn't have had a doll, was Techrat, was originally intended to be deliberately androgynous, but ended up being definitely male).
The new series has given us Rubenesque Stormer, a more pear-shaped Shana, and a definitely buff Roxy, and it's just been accepted from the get go. How realistic that is, is another story, and this issue looks into it from Stormer's POV
Warning: This issue contains body shaming and fatphobia.
In an effort to restore their reputation and find a new recording label, the Misfits have decided, reluctantly, VERY reluctantly, to take part in a reality TV series, with them all living in the same house. And it's moving day!
Yeah, it's one of THOSE moving days...
One of the most fascinating things that Kelley Thompson has done with the series is how she's redefined Pizzazz.
Cartoon Pizzazz was pretty much a one note villain, an enormously FUN one-note villain, and they did give her some interesting daddy issues, but she was driven by a near sociopathic ego and would cheerfully throw anyone under a bus to gain what she wanted. She was the undisputed Queen of Mean, and even usually only seemed to tolerate the other Misfits (until she was FORCED to admit she needed them on rare occasions).
THIS Pizzazz genuinely cares about the group that she pulled together, her constructed family, and though they may drive her nuts, and she will lose her patience with them, and yes she still has a temper that measures on the Richter scale, she will also go to the wall to defend them, and especially for Stormer, the first of her recruits. (Oh, and she genuinely loves Madmartigan, her cat)
It turns out that Stormer hasn't signed the contract to agree to appear in the reality show, and without them ALL signing, it's a no go situation.
Pizzazz is confused and annoyed, but wants to know why, and Stormer shows her a magazine, which has an article about "Best and Worst Beach bodies this summer" and they are clearly less than kind about Stormer.
We then cut to a page which is just so damned cute it had to be included in it's entirety as we see young Mary Phillips
The in-joke for fans here is that Makin' Mischeif was one of the first Misfits songs we ever saw in the pilot cartoon. (And boy, did that pilot have a limited animation budget!!)
But it's not as much fun at school, where Mary is planning on auditioning for a band...
Mary decides to go ahead and audition, because shes NOT going to let Heather win.
(I also love that not all the girls are automatically evil, the blonde looking back clearly did not enjoy it, but goes along with it. It's a nice humanising moment, and in some ways perhaps echoes cartoon Stormer's usual approach, she was not as cruel as the other Misfits, not even close, but she went along with them because she wasn't usually a strong enough personality to defy them, but did feel bad about doing so)
And so...
We saw a bit of this scene in #1 too, as Pizzazz approaches Mary with an offer.
And so the Misfits were founded... But again, life wasn't always smooth and there are jerks everywhere in the world... So some time later...
Pizzazz being ao fiercely protective of her band mates is delightful...
It's Stormer who comes up with Pizzazz bail after she's arrested for assault.
And this, right here, confirms that Pizzazz is my favourite character in the Jem-verse! Because she damn well means it.
And whilst Pizzazz intentions are the best, it can't protect Stormer for people in general.
She repsonds by blocking Annie Brown,
And now we're a couple of weeks ago at Stormer at a meeting with the reality TV company execs. It may be "reality", but like many such shows, the team behind it want to have some storylines. (What I think is refered to in the real world, with gloroous cynicism, as "guided reality")
and that's where she draws the line, because there is no way in hell she is going to change herself. Living up to her name she storms out.
So now Pizzazz is sort of up to date...
And these pages are VERY powerful IMHO.
Pizzazz admits that she'sd thought Stormer had come to terms with it, because she was always so fierce and brave.
So Stormer does her first talking heads piece for the show and is asked what changed her mind.
And the next pages are gold.
Okay, I've changed my mind, STORMER is now my avourite character in the Jem-verse! It's been a long time since I've wanted to cheer an actual comic book page, but this one did it!
The original series, designed as it was to sell toys, used the generic bodytype of the doll line. It varied the charatcers, but everyone had the same shape. (One character, who wouldn't have had a doll, was Techrat, was originally intended to be deliberately androgynous, but ended up being definitely male).
The new series has given us Rubenesque Stormer, a more pear-shaped Shana, and a definitely buff Roxy, and it's just been accepted from the get go. How realistic that is, is another story, and this issue looks into it from Stormer's POV
Warning: This issue contains body shaming and fatphobia.
In an effort to restore their reputation and find a new recording label, the Misfits have decided, reluctantly, VERY reluctantly, to take part in a reality TV series, with them all living in the same house. And it's moving day!
Yeah, it's one of THOSE moving days...
One of the most fascinating things that Kelley Thompson has done with the series is how she's redefined Pizzazz.
Cartoon Pizzazz was pretty much a one note villain, an enormously FUN one-note villain, and they did give her some interesting daddy issues, but she was driven by a near sociopathic ego and would cheerfully throw anyone under a bus to gain what she wanted. She was the undisputed Queen of Mean, and even usually only seemed to tolerate the other Misfits (until she was FORCED to admit she needed them on rare occasions).
THIS Pizzazz genuinely cares about the group that she pulled together, her constructed family, and though they may drive her nuts, and she will lose her patience with them, and yes she still has a temper that measures on the Richter scale, she will also go to the wall to defend them, and especially for Stormer, the first of her recruits. (Oh, and she genuinely loves Madmartigan, her cat)
It turns out that Stormer hasn't signed the contract to agree to appear in the reality show, and without them ALL signing, it's a no go situation.
Pizzazz is confused and annoyed, but wants to know why, and Stormer shows her a magazine, which has an article about "Best and Worst Beach bodies this summer" and they are clearly less than kind about Stormer.
We then cut to a page which is just so damned cute it had to be included in it's entirety as we see young Mary Phillips
The in-joke for fans here is that Makin' Mischeif was one of the first Misfits songs we ever saw in the pilot cartoon. (And boy, did that pilot have a limited animation budget!!)
But it's not as much fun at school, where Mary is planning on auditioning for a band...
Mary decides to go ahead and audition, because shes NOT going to let Heather win.
(I also love that not all the girls are automatically evil, the blonde looking back clearly did not enjoy it, but goes along with it. It's a nice humanising moment, and in some ways perhaps echoes cartoon Stormer's usual approach, she was not as cruel as the other Misfits, not even close, but she went along with them because she wasn't usually a strong enough personality to defy them, but did feel bad about doing so)
And so...
We saw a bit of this scene in #1 too, as Pizzazz approaches Mary with an offer.
And so the Misfits were founded... But again, life wasn't always smooth and there are jerks everywhere in the world... So some time later...
Pizzazz being ao fiercely protective of her band mates is delightful...
It's Stormer who comes up with Pizzazz bail after she's arrested for assault.
And this, right here, confirms that Pizzazz is my favourite character in the Jem-verse! Because she damn well means it.
And whilst Pizzazz intentions are the best, it can't protect Stormer for people in general.
She repsonds by blocking Annie Brown,
And now we're a couple of weeks ago at Stormer at a meeting with the reality TV company execs. It may be "reality", but like many such shows, the team behind it want to have some storylines. (What I think is refered to in the real world, with gloroous cynicism, as "guided reality")
and that's where she draws the line, because there is no way in hell she is going to change herself. Living up to her name she storms out.
So now Pizzazz is sort of up to date...
And these pages are VERY powerful IMHO.
Pizzazz admits that she'sd thought Stormer had come to terms with it, because she was always so fierce and brave.
So Stormer does her first talking heads piece for the show and is asked what changed her mind.
And the next pages are gold.
Okay, I've changed my mind, STORMER is now my avourite character in the Jem-verse! It's been a long time since I've wanted to cheer an actual comic book page, but this one did it!
no subject
Date: 2017-03-25 10:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-25 10:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 12:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 03:00 am (UTC)(Her affinity towards her cat helps.)
no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 03:27 am (UTC)I'm going to guess the rotoscoping they did for the opening credits was expensive.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 11:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 06:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 06:22 am (UTC)♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
T'is about what I'm feeling myself anyhow :D
no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 08:01 am (UTC)I simply adore that they were able to take the Misfits and actually make them interesting, complex, and three-dimensional.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-26 02:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-04-02 05:17 pm (UTC)