So, with the ratings success of Filmation's Everything's Archie Saturday morning cartoon and its chart topping cartoon band, Hanna Barbera came calling and asked the good folks at Archie Comics if they had another music based property they could turn into Saturday morning cartoon gold. The answer was no but they said yes. And the next thing they did was take the Doyle and Decarlo joint Josie title, dropped some characters and concocted new characters with some quickly dumped --, and rolled through a bunch of Saturday Morning friendly concepts to find something that would stick, ultimately landing on a Scooby Doo ripoff starring a travelling girl band -- something in the comic books that would just be a sometime thing. In the interim, one thing they threw out was to have Alexandra be a witch -- a witch with a white stripe in her hair. And, even though they brought this back for a couple issues in the early 1980s -- it was a Dick Malmgren thing I guess -- they apparently did not want this in the twenty first century, so now she reads hypnotism websites and can hypnotize at long distances. It all makes perfect sense. But come the sound of snapped fingers and it is all over. Makes even more sense.
Oh, and the phrase "Mexican hat dance" is un-pc, I guess.
Today's ranking is covering comic book characters introduced in Cinematic film in 2001. Our three contenders are Josie and the Pussycats, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Ghost World. I had no idea each one had a comic series. I never heard of Ghost World, but I knew that the Pussycats had a TV show and that Tomb Raider is one of the most iconic games in history. Although each movie had some boring moments, I really enjoyed watching them. So let's get to the spoilers and rank these characters!
Cameo Appreciation: Melorra, Bus Man, Weird Al Waiter (Ghost World)
Since I've never seen Ghost World before I did some research and was happy to see that the movie included favorite minor characters for some quick cameos. We got the waiter who looks like Weird Al, the old man who waits for a bus that's out of service (or is it?), and a girl from high school that's so bubbly it drives Enid and Rebecca crazy.
Cameo Appreciation: Eugene Levy (Josie and the Pussycats)
Not a comic cameo but a celebrity cameo! Actor Eugene Levy showed up in a educational video that explains how and why kids are being brainwashed by the top artist's music. Even though it's random, it's fun and totally matches the lightness of the movie.
19. Ms. Roberta Allsworth (Ghost World)
“Oh. I thought maybe it was supposed to be your father.”
Starting off on our list is someone I didn't think was going to be significant in the film but just kept showing up as it went on. Ms. Roberta Allswroth is teachers the Remedial Art class Enid has to take after initially failing in high school. I went to a performing arts college and my playwright teacher was exactly like her. I never read a single play that was assigned and would completely bullshit my way through our discussions and she bought every second of it. Goes to show that some people really just want you to believe in what you're saying or, in Roberta's case, creating. She even manages to get Enid a scholarship but Enid screws that up when she doesn't show up to defend her controversial art piece at the gallery.
18. Fiona (Josie and the Pussycats)
"You can kiss my cellulite-free ass for all I've done for you!"
OK on the real, I have no idea why Fiona was in the movie. In fact, I'm still scratching my head at the whole "control the minds of the youth because I wasn't popular and had a lisp!" thing. I didn't even think that whole dialogue exchange where she would mumbled under her breath was necessary. Like I get why they put it there, but honestly they should have just cut her out and make the movie about Wyatt just trying to screw them over or something.
17. Manfred Powell (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
"Lady Croft, tell me, is there a good reason why I just kept you alive?"
I've always said that in a good movie, if the hero is worried about the villain the audience will too. And if the hero isn't worried...well there's probably a reason for that. The whole movie Manfred Powell is trying his very best to show that he is this intimidating person who knows what he's doing and during the whole movie Lara just proves that he isn't. At the end he manages to surprise Lara by killing Alex, but she quickly fixes it and he ends up dying from his own knife throw.
16. Seymour (Ghost World)
"I can't relate to 99% of humanity."
Seymour, Seymour, Seymour. He's probably the only real outcast in the entire movie. He looks and does things in a different way which quickly leads him to this lonely lifestyle when Enid finds him. Of course he falls for the girl after she shows interest in him and sleeps with him because what else is he expected to do? Like the rest of our characters, we don't know what's going to happen to him when the film ends, but you won't hear any complaints from me.
15. Dejour Boys (Josie and the Pussycats)
"Dejour means friendship!"
The boy band that's on everyone's lips at the start of the movie. These four white dudes are at the top of their game when Wyatt and Fiona decide to pull the plug. It probably has nothing to do with the fact that the dudes are spoiled as hell, especially the monkey. It's assumed they met their demise in a plane accident but they appear at the end of the film, revealing they survived but not after getting jumped by a Metallica crowd. You think they're there to save the day, but they don't. They don't really do anything since they're all in casts.
14. Josh (Ghost World)
"That's a vanilla milkshake."
He's the boy that's too nice to stick up to his asshole boss and too nice to say no to Enid and Rebecca's ridiculous plans. Seems that Enid and Rebecca both had a thing for him at some point which is why they keep bringing him around and involving him in their adventures. Josh, being the nice guy that he is, just puts up with it, which earns my respect.
13. Alex West (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
"Now for a cold shower."
Alex seems to be having an on-again off-again thing going on with Lara, who seems to be the in charge of their relationship's guidelines. Makes sense, they're both always traveling the world separately, why make it complicated? He's always there when Lara really needs to release some stress and she returns the favor by bringing him back to life when he gets knifed followed by getting crushed by some giant planet machine. It's a win/win situation for both of them.
12. Enid (Ghost World)
"I just hate all these extroverted, obnoxious, pseudo-bohemian losers."
You know how in high school there's that one person in your group of friends that you know you wouldn't be friends with if it weren't for both of you having mutual friends? Well my person was exactly like Enid and I couldn't stand her. I made it my life goal in high school to constantly call her out on her pretentious bullshit which is exactly what someone needed to do with Enid. Like my person, Enid is trying very hard to be something she's not. She's the type to act like being popular was overrated but if the popular kids wanted her to hang out with them, she'd do it in a second. It was annoying to watch her and I'm a little bummed the movie focused on her more than Rebecca.
11. Alan M. (Josie and the Pussycats)
“Josie McCoy, I love you!!!”
I really liked that when Alan M's car was acting up he went to Josie instead of acting all macho and trying to fix it himself. After I knew I was going to like him. He's a good boyfriend that supports the band and their success even when he's still trying to make something of his folk music career. At the end of the film he ends up crowd surfing to proclaim his love to Josie and then runs off to the side of the stage to continue supporting her as she performs her concert.
10. Bryce (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
"Well, I'm a free spirit, me."
The gadget man responsible for all the cool tech Lara sports throughout the movie. He's always cracking a joke and he's always reluctant to join in on whatever crazy adventure Lara is doing next. I also don't understand why he doesn't live in the mansion with 81 rooms that's only hosting Lara and her butler but to each their own.
9. Alexandra Cabot (Josie and the Pussycats)
"I'm here because I was in the comic book."
I never expected a character from Josie and the Pussycats to break the fourth wall. Alexandra did it so well that I mentally gave her a standing ovation (because I didn't feel like standing up from my couch). Because of her answer it doesn't bother me that she's always around despite no one wanting her around. I also appreciate the digs people constantly take on her, mainly as a response to the digs she tries to throw at them.
8. Alexander Cabot III (Josie and the Pussycats)
"I want a vintage tee...and Heath Ledger."
Either I wasn't paying attention or the movie never says who's actually older, Alexander or Alexandra. Are they even twins? Besides that Alexander is the manager of the girls even though he never does anything to actually manage them. He mainly just hangs around and spoils himself on his 15% commission until the end of the film when he realizes that all the superficial things in life do not matter.
7. Hillary (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
"I'm only trying to turn you into a lady."
If Lara Croft was Batman, Hillary would be Alfred Pennyworth. The similarities are ridiculous. Hillary takes care of Lara as her butler and doesn't hesitate to grab a shotgun and do damage when a threat arrives. He doesn't seem to mind Lara Croft's lifestyle, only wishes she'd do it in a very lady-like gown. I would've liked to see a little more tenderness between the two but Hillary serving Lara her pistols on a food tray will do just fine for the time being.
6. Wyatt Frame (Josie and the Pussycats)
"Eye Contact. Hand."
Despite being the secondary villain in the movie I thought Wyatt was way more interesting to watch than Fiona. He's a no nonsense kind of guy and knows how to get things done. I can't blame him for working for the dark side when he had to take care of the Dejour boys but I also can't say I felt sorry for him when his evil plans went to shit. Him punishing the Dejour boys was probably one of the funnier moments of the movie but I still wish they just rewrote the script to make him the main villain with a different (maybe even simpler?) evil plot.
5. Valerie Brown (Josie and the Pussycats)
"Wyatt, you messed with the wrong pussy."
In the TV series, Valerie made history as the first African American female to be a regular character in a TV show. In the movie she's the "mom friend" of the trio. She's always there when Josie's feeling down and she's quick to save Melody from whatever danger her naive self is about to get into. She also plays a mean bass guitar. We also see her insecurities when she seems to be an afterthought that comes with the other two pretty white girls. When the girls resolve all their issues, she serves a can of ass-whooping to Wyatt before performing the concert of their dreams.
4. Rebecca (Ghost World)
"Some people are OK, but mostly I just want to poison everyone."
Rebecca was easily my favorite character in Ghost World. While Enid doesn't try to fit in with the popular crowd because she thinks that somehow makes her cool, Rebecca doesn't because she genuinely doesn't feel the need to. While Enid doesn't go to college because she thinks it's uncool, Rebecca doesn't go to college because it really just isn't for her so she gets a job and starts earning a living. She starts calling out Enid more and more (like when she dyed her hair green) and eventually just gives up and starts becoming her own person. I really wanted the movie to focus more on her instead on Enid struggling to keep pretending to be something she's clearly not.
3. Josie McCoy (Josie and the Pussycats)
"It's cool if you like it, it's okay if you don't, just decide for yourselves."
The leader of the band, Josie is the only one who's name is promoted in the group's title. She sings, writes, plays guitar, and knows her way under the hood of a car. She has her insecurities, like every normal teenager does, but she's always there for her girls no matter what. She learns to share the spotlight and encourages their finds to like them for them, not because they're part of the next new fad.
2. Melody Valentine (Josie and the Pussycats)
"The tough makes lemonade!"
This precious cinnamon roll is too good for this world. She's literally always in a good mood, except for when she's being attacked but even then she throws in a few smiles here and there. Melody is the glue that holds the band together, always looking at the bright side of any situation. Despite Valerie being my favorite of the trio, I can acknowledge that the movie was as good as it was because of Melody. In the end she shows us just what a little ass kicker she is before rocking out on the drums for their dream concert.
1. Lara Croft (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
"I woke up this morning and I just hated everything."
Is anyone surprised? Lara Croft is one of the most iconic women in pop culture. When I was young, so many people were pumped for the movie. Despite the film being a bit of a bore, one thing most people agreed on was that Lara Croft was everything! The first scene with her against the robot literally felt like I was sucked into the game itself with her flipping around and sporting her signature dual pistols. She's unimpressed by the film's villain the entire time and easily outdo's him in literally every scene they share together. This badass proved early on how awesome a woman can be...and only in a tank top and shorts!
2000's list was dominated by the cast of X-Men and this list was dominated by awesome female characters from three different universes. The next list will cover all comic book characters that showed up in cinematic film during the year 2002. Can't wait to get started!
Two panels from Josie and the Pussycats #3 showing Alexandra and Josie as children. In the first panel, the two girls sit around a dollhouse, there are books, a guitar and a karaoke machine strewn around them.
Dialogue:
Alexandra (narrating): Because what I remember Josie was that you liked me because my family was rich. You liked the toys and vacations and karaoke machine--
The second panel shows Josie playing her guitar for two other girls, all of them are smiling. Alexandra stands alone in the background, clutching her karaoke machine to her chest.
Dialogue:
Alexandra (continued): But the minute I couldn’t buy you some talent, you bailed on me like Hollywood after an actress turns thirty. ]
I felt like #3 is where this comic really started to dig in and set itself apart from the earlier Josie and the Pussycats comics. Up until this point, there have been some hints about how the characters are different, but it's through this story between Alexandra and Josie that I really saw what was beneath the surface. Alexandra was always mean, petty and vengeful but I like that this comic tells us that even with all that being true she was still the person wronged when her and Josie stopped being friends. I like that Josie is selfish and single-minded and that its something even she didn’t really know about herself but that Alexandra did. I like that it’s Josie who says sorry and makes amends. And I love that we can see that same kind of single-mindedness in Alan M. It makes sense that he and Josie are attracted to each other because they’re sort of similar and it allows the comic to go interesting places by exploring these two central relationships in Josie’s life.
I am also a big fan of the b-plot involving Melody and Valerie doing some snooping and unearthing a secret animal smuggling ring. I really enjoy the way that the comic balances a really grounded story up against a larger than life adventure.
A lot of the jokes and referential humour fell flat for me in this comic but I love where the story is going when it's not trying to make one-liners.
Issue #3 is where the writers really started to give us more of this version of Alan M. and he’s very different than the one I remember from the older comics. Suave and charming he has swept Josie off her feet but it seems like he rubs Valerie the wrong way. Always trust your intuition ladies!
[Image description: Two panels arranged side by side showing one long panel from a comic. Alan M. leans towards Josie from the left and she mirrors him from the left. Both of their eyes are closed and they are smiling flirtatiously. Valerie is positioned in the centre, leaning slightly away from Alan M. with a suspicious frown. All three are wearing beachwear
Dialogue:
Alan M: Valerie, mind if I cut in--?
Valerie: A little, kinda?
Josie: Alan M. Long time no see, I thought this band had a manager?]
And last, but certainly not least: Alan M. Fans of the original Alan M. from the old comics may have mixed feelings about this new iteration (a pretty successful manager and producer) whose relationship with Josie, and the rest of the Pussycats, journeys on some pretty rough waters.
[Image description: The panel shows a scene outside at sunset. Alan M. steps towards the three Pussycats with one of his hands held out open. Melody and Valerie smile as he speaks to them. Josie clutches her hand, clearly blushing and flustered.
Dialogue:
Someone off-panel: Mr Alan M.
Alan M.: Hello ladies, tell me... How would you three like to be famous?
Melody: You know that’s a really good question!I watched a lot of “Behind the Music” with my dad when I was little, and while being famous seems pre-e-etty--
Valerie: Hi Alan. Yes, please.
Josie: It’s really-- it’s a pleasure to meet you.]
