Why is it always 'Captain' something?
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Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Well, not always 'Captain', but I was musing on this yesterday and mentioned it to Glenn so I thought I'd share my puzzlement: Captain America, Captain Britain, Captain Marvel, Captain Triumph, are you seeing what I'm getting at here? Then there's good old General Jumbo, Major Victory, and on the side of the black hats we have Colonel Computron, Major Disaster and Captain Nazi, among others. So, why do these guys always rather grandly appoint themselves officers? Why are there no lower ranks? There's a Major Disaster, but no Corporal Punishment! There's no angst ridden, shy and withdrawn super villain called Private Pain, and indeed no Inspector Gadget like modular robot called Private Parts. Even Captain Marvel's sidekick was called Captain Marvel Junior, when surely it would have far more logical had he been Cadet Marvel. Are all these people egomaniacs? I bet they aren't even really in the army!
There was a Sgt Strike a few years back. But I'm fairly certain he was only called that because they thought General Strike might sound a bit silly...
There was a Sgt Strike a few years back. But I'm fairly certain he was only called that because they thought General Strike might sound a bit silly...
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
I Think its possible part of the typical American views of what makes a Hero. We all know the USA are besotted with their military heroes and so by giving a character a rank as such it perpetuates the idea of a real American Hero.
To some extent this works for UK too, Commander Bond, Captain Britian etc.
What I want to know is why are a lot of villians Doctors. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a PHD. Youd be found out to be a corrupt bastard in no time and if you did go evil your university would take your PHD off you.
To some extent this works for UK too, Commander Bond, Captain Britian etc.
What I want to know is why are a lot of villians Doctors. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a PHD. Youd be found out to be a corrupt bastard in no time and if you did go evil your university would take your PHD off you.
Hourglass- Posts : 466
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Not if you went to ...evil university!
felneymike- Posts : 237
Join date : 2010-01-05
Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
I'm fairly certain Doctor Doom got expelled from college before getting his doctorate, in fact-so that's the obvious one debunked. Although I guess he could have taken a correspondence course while he was at that monastery in Tibet...Hourglass wrote:I Think its possible part of the typical American views of what makes a Hero. We all know the USA are besotted with their military heroes and so by giving a character a rank as such it perpetuates the idea of a real American Hero.
To some extent this works for UK too, Commander Bond, Captain Britian etc.
What I want to know is why are a lot of villians Doctors. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a PHD. Youd be found out to be a corrupt bastard in no time and if you did go evil your university would take your PHD off you.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
I seem to recall a college for super villains featuring in an old 2000AD Future Shock. Maybe all these evil doctors were graduates? Doctor doom, Doctor Octopus, Doctor Demonicus, Doctor Spectro, Doctor Death and Doctor Destiny may all have been classmates!felneymike wrote:Not if you went to ...evil university!
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
tony ingram wrote:I'm fairly certain Doctor Doom got expelled from college before getting his doctorate, in fact-so that's the obvious one debunked. Although I guess he could have taken a correspondence course while he was at that monastery in Tibet...Hourglass wrote:I Think its possible part of the typical American views of what makes a Hero. We all know the USA are besotted with their military heroes and so by giving a character a rank as such it perpetuates the idea of a real American Hero.
To some extent this works for UK too, Commander Bond, Captain Britian etc.
What I want to know is why are a lot of villians Doctors. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a PHD. Youd be found out to be a corrupt bastard in no time and if you did go evil your university would take your PHD off you.
Maybe he paid for one of those "life experience" PHDs which you can get for £100 online.
My university had HAROLD SHIPMAN and gave him his doctorate
Hourglass- Posts : 466
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
tony ingram wrote:I seem to recall a college for super villains featuring in an old 2000AD Future Shock. Maybe all these evil doctors were graduates? Doctor doom, Doctor Octopus, Doctor Demonicus, Doctor Spectro, Doctor Death and Doctor Destiny may all have been classmates!felneymike wrote:Not if you went to ...evil university!
See if you can (when you have the time) to find more info on that, I'd be most interested.
Hourglass- Posts : 466
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
I suppose Doctor Light could have a PhD in optics.
The Mirror Master could have an MSc in the same subject.
The Mirror Master could have an MSc in the same subject.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
I believe Dr Light actually did have a PHD in his subject. And also, rather conveniently, the surname 'Light'.Lucy McGough wrote:I suppose Doctor Light could have a PhD in optics.
The Mirror Master could have an MSc in the same subject.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
That's just cheating. That's not a proper supervillain name at all.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Thing is, if you're a doctor and your name is Arthur Light, you're Dr light-and with a name like that, you don't have much option other than to put on a cape and start flying around Manhattan or wherever. I mean, Victor Von Doom was never going to be a chiropractor, was he? And Dr Anthony Druid had little option but to become a warlock. How dumb would he have looked, becoming the GP of Little Bungling in the Marsh with a name like Dr Druid?Lucy McGough wrote:That's just cheating. That's not a proper superhero name at all.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Ten Characters who were basically doomed to one particular career from the day they were born
1) Victor Von Doom (Dr Doom)
2) Dr Anthony Ludgate Druid (Dr Druid)
3) Dr Stephen Strange (Dr Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts)
4) Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night)
5) Eddie Nigma (the Riddler)
6) Dr Arthur Light (Dr Light)
7) Scott Free (Mr Miracle the Super Escape Artist)
8 ) Dr Terry Thirteen (Dr 13 the Ghost Breaker)
9) William Zard (the Wizard)
10) Prof. Ira Quimby (Professor I.Q)
and not forgetting my personal favourite, deranged geneticist the High evolutionary, who was apparently christened Herbert Edgar Wyndham...in tribute to HG Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs and John Wyndham! No wonder he ended up living in a mountain and creating super evolved animal people!
1) Victor Von Doom (Dr Doom)
2) Dr Anthony Ludgate Druid (Dr Druid)
3) Dr Stephen Strange (Dr Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts)
4) Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night)
5) Eddie Nigma (the Riddler)
6) Dr Arthur Light (Dr Light)
7) Scott Free (Mr Miracle the Super Escape Artist)
8 ) Dr Terry Thirteen (Dr 13 the Ghost Breaker)
9) William Zard (the Wizard)
10) Prof. Ira Quimby (Professor I.Q)
and not forgetting my personal favourite, deranged geneticist the High evolutionary, who was apparently christened Herbert Edgar Wyndham...in tribute to HG Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs and John Wyndham! No wonder he ended up living in a mountain and creating super evolved animal people!
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
It would all have been all right if they just hadn't bothered to go to university.
On a tangent, does the Martian Manhunter ignore female villains?
On a tangent, does the Martian Manhunter ignore female villains?
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
No, I don't think so-why do you ask?Lucy McGough wrote:It would all have been all right if they just hadn't bothered to go to university.
On a tangent, does the Martian Manhunter ignore female villains?
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Well, he's a MANhunter. If he goes after, say, Catwoman, he could be done under the trades descriptions act.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
When did this "Captain" trend start?
Hourglass- Posts : 466
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Oh God, I walked straight into that one, didn't I...Lucy McGough wrote:Well, he's a MANhunter. If he goes after, say, Catwoman, he could be done under the trades descriptions act.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Captain Marvel was probably the first one, back in February 1940 (created to rival Superman), though Captain America had followed by March 1941. By the mid 40s there were a host of bogus Captains flying around-Captain Nazi included!Hourglass wrote:When did this "Captain" trend start?
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Been a long day?tony ingram wrote:Oh God, I walked straight into that one, didn't I...
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
A surprisingly long day. Time to crack open a beer and watch Gene Hunt kicking someone, methinks...Lucy McGough wrote:Been a long day?tony ingram wrote:Oh God, I walked straight into that one, didn't I...
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Shouldn't he have been Terrier-By-Night instead of a werewolf?tony ingram wrote:Ten Characters who were basically doomed to one particular career from the day they were born
1) Victor Von Doom (Dr Doom)
2) Dr Anthony Ludgate Druid (Dr Druid)
3) Dr Stephen Strange (Dr Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts)
4) Jack Russell (Werewolf by Night) . . .
(Or else he should have been a parson.)
MajorHoy- Posts : 2735
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
I always liked the absurdity of Russell's name, actually. He could have been a very small werewolf...
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Yes, there are no rules about how big werewolves have to be.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
But I don't think a man would suddenly change from a human to a Chihuahua under the full moon.Lucy McGough wrote:Yes, there are no rules about how big werewolves have to be.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2735
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
How about under a quarter Moon?MajorHoy wrote:But I don't think a man would suddenly change from a human to a Chihuahua under the full moon.Lucy McGough wrote:Yes, there are no rules about how big werewolves have to be.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
There is a problem about what happens to the excess body mass.MajorHoy wrote:But I don't think a man would suddenly change from a human to a Chihuahua under the full moon.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Oh, that can also be explained by mystical liposuction or something.Lucy McGough wrote:There is a problem about what happens to the excess body mass.MajorHoy wrote:But I don't think a man would suddenly change from a human to a Chihuahua under the full moon.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2735
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Re: Why is it always 'Captain' something?
Ewww. That sounds gross
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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