the vynsane asylum

This is going to sound utterly stupid at first, but, if you think of the success of shows like Space Ghost: Coast to Coast or Harvey Birdman, it might start to make sense.

First, take some "EXTREME!!" comic book superheroes. Not necessarily "Extreme" as in created by Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios, though a lot of them could certainly work. Some property that's just so incredibly over-the-top and takes itself way too seriously. But, to be on the safe side, one that's not especially successful right now, so as not to piss off current fans. The original X-Force would be a perfect idea for this, but any of the interchangeable Image teams could work, too, along with any number of 90s Marvel properties. (We'll leave DC out. It will be obvious why in a minute.)

So let's say, just so there's an example, that we're using X-Force as a basis.

Create a cartoon that is a total sendup of shitty old cartoons like Superfriends. But make it subtle. Make it look like someone actually made the cartoon in the 70s or 80s. Crappy animation. Vapid storylines. Ridiculous supervillain plots. None of the pop culture references that you'd typically get in a show of this sort. But definitely an annoying announcer.

All the members need secret identities, though they'll rarely be shown. Obviously, they can't tote around guns, so Cable will have this cable-launcher that ties people up, and Domino will actually have strange-ass domino-based powers.

Eliminate one or two characters altogether. Replace them with an alien sidekick who looks like a talking green dog, and one or two made-up kids with really useless super powers and the uncanny ability to get themselves in trouble.

Follow the standardized plots of old shows. A typical episode might begin with Stryfe trying to break into a bank by using a giant magnet attached to an elephant's back. Then the mandatory, "Meanwhile, back at the X-Force Building." The kids will get in trouble, the heroes will save the day, and the episode will always end with the kids making some stupid comment about the lesson they learned, and the heroes laughing. And, at some point, as he's toted off to jail, Stryfe will have to have, "Curse you, X-Force!"

Fuck, this might not be successful, but it would be hilarious.

A Superfriends parody would be hilarious.

There can't be any violence at all. A while back I watched a few episodes of Superfriends and I don't think there was even a punch thrown. Instead everyone was either tied up, stuck in a force field, fell through a trap door, or were trapped by a cage that fell out of nowhere.

I was gonig to ssuggest using a monkey (like Space Ghost) instead of the dog, but then I remembered the Wonder Twins also had a monkey.

anarky wrote:But, to be on the safe side, one that's not especially successful right now, so as not to piss off current fans. The original X-Force would be a perfect idea for this

i wouldn't be so sure... when milligan and allred were doing their "reality TV superhero" version of x-force (which, incidentally, was long before the "new warriors" seemingly turned into their own reality TV show overnight in order to incite "civil war") they got SHIT-TONS of hate-mail from loyal x-force fans. the change from x-force to x-statix was one part take away royalties from liefeld, one part stop the stupid fanboys from complaining.

i bet half of the hate-mail was FROM liefeld, though.

Something like that would work really well with Youngblood, but not enough people would realize that it was a parody of the 90's "Hardcore attitude" teams like X-Force and the Image groups. They never got enough exposure and cross media attention. So something like this would be many poeple's first introduction to the characters and then if they ever read their original exploits, they would think THOSE were the deviant characterization. Just look at the Ninja Turtles.

Other than that, it sounds brilliant. Too bad brilliant doesn't play well to the idiotic masses that live on planet earth.

I forgot this post, and it just made me laugh. Is that weird, to forget one of your own ideas, only to laugh at it months later?

It would work - we could even name our animation department Liefield Studios (note slight spelling error designed to negate any lawsuits) and have them badly proportioned.... but that's likely a little to "obvious" for something designed to be stealthily silly.

lEAfield stoodeeoz

anarky wrote:I forgot this post, and it just made me laugh. Is that weird, to forget one of your own ideas, only to laugh at it months later?

HA! no, you're not alone. i find little gems i've left around on the net and go "fuck, man, i am FUNNY!"

Just did it again with this one, vyn. Fuck, I totally forgot this idea, and it's still gold.

How funny does this idea sound. Make a Youngblood feature film, but just make it a flat out, balls up straight rip-off of The Avengers. but have shitty Youngblood characters in it. Y'know, Shaft as Hawkeye, Bedrock as Hulk, Diehard as Iron Man, etc. But do it totally straight and non-ironic as if Rob Liefeld had thought it up all on his own.