Topic: What's your phobia? (also unofficial Mighty Max thread)

[A-Yty]

But at the same time if I were to see a flick that had a woman webbed up and a giant spider came down on her and started mating then I'd feel pretty turned on...

For some reason this seemed like a prudent opportunity to give a +1.

[Laina]

This topic has reminded me of a Mighty Max cartoon episode. I only remember certain parts, most of them vaguely save one, but the gist is there was a giant, furry tarantula like spider in the episode that the bad guy was controlling. Some shit went down, Max won of course & they were escaping a collapsing temple or something. On the way out they pass by the spider trapped under some rubble-Max & crew rush past as the spider gives them a look of, "So you're leaving me...I do not wish to die, and am somewhat surprised that one espousing virtue such as yourself would leave me to my fate, but at the same time I expected this. I must accept it with dignity, though I am not at peace...", or at least that's what little Laina got from that glance. I cried...I'm tearing up a little now in fact.

Let me break down my feelings for the spider: it makes me think about when creatures in real life feel like that-fear, terror, being trapped, in immense pain mentally & physically, alone, facing death with no comfort whatsoever. When creatures are in terrible situations like that, when people like Max that are supposed to be heroes, people in positions of power who willingly refuse to try save everyone, or if they're truly not able to & they don't even acknowledge the tragedy of that fact. It was more than upsetting to think the heroes aren't always like Jesus; that they don't always forgive, save & then welcome the bad guy with open arms if he's willing to come over. It made me realize that there is no safety net, nothing is guaranteed & that life isn't sacred to all. It made me realize that there is true, profound, unending darkness in this world. That was horrifying to me at the time...and that's what that spider represented to 8 year old me-horror. That spider was an avatar of horror. *sigh* I need a shower...

This goes deeper & as I've grown, I've began to see some positive sides to this revelation from childhood on how the world works, but I've written a book up there. Honestly, I sometimes believe I could write a thesis paper on this. But this is the CVD & we ain't got time for that crazy mess! This is a place to relax & forget real life for a few moments as we smile & giggle at Gunlord's signature prunyuu~'s, tales & pictures of people's kitties, and MooningFreddy sparking political/philosophical debates. That's right, this place serves an actual helpful purpose-who'da thunk it?

[Phoenix7786]

A few Mighty Max spoilers (but still kinda relevant to the topic) while we're on the topic of MM!

(click to show/hide)

I remember being horrified at the episode where they get like 4 people (an Amazon-esque African woman, an elderly Native American archer, a hulking pro wrestler, and the Monkey King) to help them take on the big bad (can't remember his name) and they all die. Big Bad kills the Monkey King, lava swallows the Native American's arrows (leaving him defenseless), and it's down to the wrestler and the woman fighting alone against a horde while Max, Virgil, and Norman are forced to escape without them. Even as a kid I knew they were all gonna die.

The other awful episode was the end episode, where Norman (or whatever Max's bodyguard was named) died fighting that giant spider--and he had a phobia of them to begin with. Even worse, he and Virgil both knew the exact locations they were going to die but they had to to secure Max's destiny and success. I can still remember Norman trapped in the spider's maw, yelling for them to get out and leave him. Virgil has to force Max through the portal, while Max can only sob in horror and frustrated anger.

I remember that one zombie episode, where they're irrevocably drawn to the hat. In fact, I distinctly remember that Max's father was the hat-bearer until that incident.

[Laina]

A few Mighty Max spoilers (but still kinda relevant to the topic) while we're on the topic of MM!

(click to show/hide)

I remember being horrified at the episode where they get like 4 people (an Amazon-esque African woman, an elderly Native American archer, a hulking pro wrestler, and the Monkey King) to help them take on the big bad (can't remember his name) and they all die. Big Bad kills the Monkey King, lava swallows the Native American's arrows (leaving him defenseless), and it's down to the wrestler and the woman fighting alone against a horde while Max, Virgil, and Norman are forced to escape without them. Even as a kid I knew they were all gonna die.

The other awful episode was the end episode, where Norman (or whatever Max's bodyguard was named) died fighting that giant spider--and he had a phobia of them to begin with. Even worse, he and Virgil both knew the exact locations they were going to die but they had to to secure Max's destiny and success. I can still remember Norman trapped in the spider's maw, yelling for them to get out and leave him. Virgil has to force Max through the portal, while Max can only sob in horror and frustrated anger.

I remember that one zombie episode, where they're irrevocably drawn to the hat. In fact, I distinctly remember that Max's father was the hat-bearer until that incident.

I REMEMBER THOSE SPOILER EPISODES. This was after the spider for me, so I was pretty jaded to it all by then, but part of me still thought, "Okay, that's GOTTA be as dark as this show gets."...no, no you tiny little fool, it wasn't. The Monkey King...the Monkey King... *sobs into a pillow*

I feel like we should be in a sort of group therapy session where we help each other to work through the "bad feelings" MM gave us as kids. Like, Robin Williams is there telling us, "It's not your fault. It's not your fault. It's not your fault."

Back on topic-the dark. It fascinates & frightens me.

[Shiroi Koumori]

I am afraid to stare straight down to the ground from the top floor of a high rise building. My head feels like swimming in goo.
But when I was younger I had no problem with it...

[TheouAegis]

Mighty Max didn't give me bad feelings. I loved that show. .... I didn't make it very far into it because I never woke up in time or had fucking horseback riding lessons while it was on (parents didn't care that I was too busy watching cartoons for horseback riding lessons).

Now you make me want to watch the series even more. I just loved the show because it had Richard Moll. I was a HUGE (no pun intended) Richard Moll fan as a kid. The only reason I could stand that show Shake, Rattle & Roll.

[Lashen]

I'm actually so much of a Mighty Max fan that I somewhat-proudly own the awful SNES game.

Where's MY Norman, Virgil, and chosen one cap?

[crisis]

THIS IS NOW A MIGHTY MAX THREAD


MM had pretty dark stories as the series progressed, it went from typical Saturday "defeat the villain save the day" episodes, to more morbid, dark material, with the apparent death of the main leads & all at the series' climax. Pretty radical for a show aimed at young kids, and what originally started as a toy line. Although I don't think I or anyone here is required to use spoiler tags for a 20-year-old cartoon series 

b-but the series finale was very bizarre i recall, with the whole "i must reset time so none of this ever happened" plot device, thus putting the entire series in a time-loop (i think there just had to be another way of defeating Skullmaster; Max's decision to revert the entire space-time continuum for the sake of victory was a bit drastic, don't ya think? lol but i realize it was an "in-the-moment" decision so he really had no time to think things through, just that it would stop Skullmaster)

and yeah Norman's fear of spiders was pretty cool i thought, cuz here's a guy that's essentially immortal, has been mistaken for various gods throughout the centuries (Thor, etc.), has fought in countless battles & thousands of demons and entities, yet his only single fear in the entire universe is spiders. that's pretty fucking hilarious if you think about it. i may be paraphrasing but i believe he explained it like "i don't know what it is about them. th-they, they just frighten me!"

[Flame]

"Why did it have to be follow spiders? Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies?" -Ron Weasly

speaks for itself.

[Laina]

I remember being drawn to it after hearing the voice of Max for the first time-"OMG, it's Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!". My kid brain equated a show's level of awesome with the voice actors chosen for it; in this case, it didn't do such a bad job.

[TheouAegis]

Richard Moll

Just him being in it made it the most fucking epic cartoon ever. Norman all the way baby!

My biggest fear is the entertainment industry losing Richard Moll. 

[TheCruelAngel]

As a kid growing up, I was always partial to characters voiced by Cam Clarke

Max Sterling from Robotech, Leonardo from TMNT, Kaneda from Akira, Liquid Snake from Metal Gear Solid, etc.

So I can understand the feeling of recognizing a voice and basing something's awesomeness on it. My fear is Cam Clarke being forgotten through time. 

[X]

and yeah Norman's fear of spiders was pretty cool i thought, cuz here's a guy that's essentially immortal, has been mistaken for various gods throughout the centuries (Thor, etc.)

Last time I checked Norman IS those various gods. Well half-gods actually. He was once Hercules in that one episode were he had to fight that man lion in order for the Gods to grant him another 10,000 years of life. And he was Thor in the episode with the Doom Dragon and even said that while he was Thor he fought and defeated the Doom Dragon the first time. Even the Dragon itself recognized Norman as Thor. But I had to like the little reunion speech the two had before they fought again;

Doom D: What do they call you now thunderer?

Norman: They call me..!

*Lightning strikes*

Norman: ..Norman.

LOL!

[Laina]

As a kid growing up, I was always partial to characters voiced by Cam Clarke

Max Sterling from Robotech, Leonardo from TMNT, Kaneda from Akira, Liquid Snake from Metal Gear Solid, etc.

So I can understand the feeling of recognizing a voice and basing something's awesomeness on it. My fear is Cam Clarke being forgotten through time. 

Last time I checked Norman IS those various gods. Well half-gods actually. He was once Hercules in that one episode were he had to fight that man lion in order for the Gods to grant him another 10,000 years of life. And he was Thor in the episode with the Doom Dragon and even said that while he was Thor he fought and defeated the Doom Dragon the first time. Even the Dragon itself recognized Norman as Thor. But I had to like the little reunion speech the two had before they fought again;

Doom D: What do they call you now thunderer?

Norman: They call me..!

*Lightning strikes*

Norman: ..Norman.

LOL!

Richard Moll

Just him being in it made it the most fucking epic cartoon ever. Norman all the way baby!

My biggest fear is the entertainment industry losing Richard Moll. 

These things. All of these things.

I also fear water. I think more so than the dark, but slightly less than spiders. Spiders that walk on water are pretty much my Silent Hill.

[Phoenix7786]

b-but the series finale was very bizarre i recall, with the whole "i must reset time so none of this ever happened" plot device, thus putting the entire series in a time-loop (i think there just had to be another way of defeating Skullmaster; Max's decision to revert the entire space-time continuum for the sake of victory was a bit drastic, don't ya think? lol but i realize it was an "in-the-moment" decision so he really had no time to think things through, just that it would stop Skullmaster)

I distinctly remember he is able to remember everything, but only when he sees the hat. He goes through his first day back in deja-vu. However, once he reads the note it all comes back to him. He promises that he'll do everything right this time, so this probably avoids the time-loop.

Also:

Mighty Max Episode 01: A Bellwether in One's Cap Part 1 of 2