Shortpacked! by David Willis

Discussion (19) ¬

1. 
   Wackd

   September 14, 2010 at 9:58 pm | # | Reply

   Hate to burst your bubble, Amber…

   • 
     Warpcorps

     April 5, 2011 at 9:24 pm | # | Reply

     yeah, that was Gwen Stacy.

     • 
       maggPi

       September 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm | # | Reply

       Sigh.
       It’s the comic book she’s reading. It’s a fairly new (21st century) series. Pretty cute, without being too sappy. I’d've bought more, but I got addicted to RASL instead.

       BTW, I though I saw a Dalek in the showcase (1st panel), but it could just be a souparero striking a pose.
       …Maybe I’ll just believe it’s a Dalek.

       EXTERMINATE!!EXTERMINATE!!EXTERMINATE!!!!

       (giggle!)
2. 
   SamClemensRIGL

   December 14, 2010 at 10:24 am | # | Reply

   The most well-recognized fictional character would probably be… Mario.
   I think Jack Sparrow is a fairly likely contender as well.

   • 
     AndyB

     December 19, 2010 at 5:27 pm | # | Reply

     Honestly anytime I hear this debate I get a little confused why people only bring up pop-culture references from the past 10-30 years.
     What about classics like Hercules, Robin Hood, or Santa Claus?!
     My mother wouldn’t be able to name Mario, but you can bet that every individual I’ve ever even seen knew who Santa Claus was.
     ummm, thanks for listening…

     • 
       David Willis

       December 19, 2010 at 5:51 pm | # | Reply

       Mario is brought up because at one point in time (during the late 80s/early 90s?), he was literally the most recognizable fictional character on the planet, across all countries, surpassing Mickey Mouse. This is absolutely true.

       People don’t recognize folks like Hercules or Robin Hood as readily because they don’t have, y’know, a very solid, unique physical appearance. Draw a picture of Hercules, and he could be damn near any Greek dude you could name. Hell, some folks might even tell you he’s some guy from the Bible. Draw a picture of Robin Hood, and folks might tell you Green Arrow, Peter Pan, who knows. And Santa Claus? Dude, Santa doesn’t even look like he does here in other countries, and he has a different name.

       But a round mustachioed plumber in blue overalls wearing a cap? That’s Mario. A mouse with two big round ears that are always facing you regardless of which direction his head’s turned, maximizing recognizability? That’s Mickey Mouse.

       • 
         Julianagra

         December 30, 2010 at 8:24 pm | # | Reply

         I love how readily you can prove points.
       • 
         JW

         August 19, 2012 at 4:56 pm | # | Reply

         A friend of mine visited Haiti with her family a few years ago (before that big quake), on account of they still had family there (by then the dictator they had fled was ousted).

         She had a Mario shirt with her – the local kids immediately said “Oh, that’s Mario!”

         Being that these were kids in areas that didn’t even have indoor plumbing, in a country that only has like a single Radio Shack, she was naturally surprised they knew of him.

         “You know about Nintendo!?” she asked.

         Their response?

         “What’s Nintendo?”

         They knew who Mario was, and even that he was always off rescuing “some dumb princess who keeps getting captured”.

         But they had never heard of Nintendo and until she visited, had never seen a Nintendo system either.

         Ask us again if Mario is one of the most recognizable “pop culture characters” internationally?

         PS: These were pretty bright kids actually. I feel obligated here to point out that despite the aforementioned lack of electronics stores, they were able to take her DS apart and put it back together again… somehow not only putting it back correctly so that it worked fine, but also managing to fix the broken pixel in the screen at the same time. Yes, really.
   • 
     Sophie

     November 25, 2011 at 6:45 pm | # | Reply

     I would say Jesus, but I don’t think he’s fictional, so…

     Umm, the Easter Bunny, Cinderella, Snow White, maybe?

     • 
       Jetstream

       December 11, 2011 at 10:33 pm | # | Reply

       Nobody really knows what Jesus looks like either, but sure I guess the traditional “White Jesus” look (or as Straight Dope put it, “Fine-Ass Bitch With a Beard”) is pretty ubiquitous.

       • 
         Platty

         October 21, 2012 at 4:09 pm | # | Reply

         …Except that Jesus was a Middle-Eastern Jew…

         • 
           Narf

           February 19, 2013 at 12:07 pm | # | Reply

           Gee, it’s almost as though Jetstream said “White Jesus,” using the quotes and capitals, and preceded it with “Nobody really knows,” and “the traditional,” because he knew that, and wanted to ensure that people knew he was talking about the iconic image (my father calls it Swedish Jesus, heh) and not a realistic representation of the historical figure of Jesus, who may or may not have existed.

           INTERESTING
         • 
           Narf

           February 19, 2013 at 12:08 pm | # | Reply

           Also… “middle eastern?” You must mean Semitic.
3. 
   Romanticide

   April 10, 2011 at 6:10 pm | # | Reply

   I’m sorry Amber T.T
4. 
   Plasma Mongoose

   May 5, 2011 at 8:23 am | # | Reply

   When it comes to best known pop-culture icons, it’s gotta be Colonel Sanders.
5. 
   LuffySP

   December 15, 2011 at 5:02 am | # | Reply

   Isn’t he with someone named Gwen Stacy now? I don’t really follow the comics. Nyaah.

   • 
     Platty

     October 21, 2012 at 4:10 pm | # | Reply

     Gwen Stacy was Spiderman’s original love… who was tragically killed during a battle with the Green Goblin.
6. 
   penny_lane0601

   December 20, 2011 at 11:35 am | # | Reply

   actually its mickey mouse.

   • 
     foL

     April 24, 2013 at 1:09 pm | # | Reply

     No acually is dolan.

     http://actuallyamdolan.com/toons/dolandolan.jpg