I've just watched Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog for my second time. I just love the musical numbers in this little 45 minute show. If you haven't seen it yet, you must. Trust me on this- I've even embedded it below for your viewing pleasure. Dr. Horrible was created by Joss Whedon during the writers' strike by calling in a lot of favors. Part comedy, part romance, this little show brings all the musts to a comic book setting.
Characters:
This first one isn't a character per say but it is an organization. The ELE or Evil League of Evil, is the most prestigious organization an evil bad guy could hope to belong. If you're not in the ELE you're in the league with the Henchmen.
Bad Horse is the biggest baddie. He's the thoroughbred of sin.
Dr. Horrible wants desperately to join the ELE and has a strong application this year. He's not so much evil as crazy scientist with ideas to change the way the world runs. As he says, it's not about making money but taking it away from others.
Penny is the girl Dr. Horrible has a crush on. He sees her twice a week usually at his local laundromat and fantasizes about saying hello to her. If only he had the courage. Penny is a young woman who cares for the homeless and sees the world through rose-colored glasses.
Captain Hammer is the "good guy." I put this in quotes because from our point of view Dr. Horrible is the good guy. Captain Hammer is vain, self-centered and reminds me a bit of Gaston in Disney's Beauty And The Beast.
In typical Joss Whendon fashion the love interest is partially realized before being ripped apart like with Buffy/Angel and Wash/Zoe from Firefly/Serenity. Still, despite this romantic hiccup the show is simply phenomenal. I give it 5 Stars.
There are two male extremes in romance novels. The first is the rake, who is a ladies' man among ladies' men. The second is the untested virgin hero. Both are equally well received if given the right set of circumstances, but the rake is by far the most likely hero candidate. Why? When as Jane from Dear Author points out a rake in any other romance subgenre outside of historical romance is an indiscriminate immoral playboy? Surely by comparison a virgin hero is sexier! Let’s examine how:
Truth or another whiny complaint from males about our reading material? Does paranormal romance hopelessly increase our expectations in a man? Let’s examine the paranormal hero to find out:
He isn’t human. The paranormal hero is vampire, lycanthrope, demon, shapeshifter, angel, or other. Can a normal man get that irresistible dangerous edge? Yes, and he needn't even have a romantic suspense hero occupation. Role play and grab that Halloween cop uniform! Practice your growl. We love it when men growl their excitement!
He has otherworldly powers. The paranormal hero is powerful in many aspects from his body to his personality, from his wealth to his influence and even to the impossible. Just because the paranormal hero can enter our minds, doesn't mean a real man can't guess what's in ours. Hint: A glass of wine, and a backrub will give any man superhuman powers.
He’s ridiculously good looking. It’s our fantasy! Besides have you never heard of a gym? You expect us to be perfectly coiffed, made up with shaved legs, I think a few hours in a gym is not asking too much. Quit complaining and give me twenty! Or two hundred as twenty a six pack does not make.
He’s an out of this world lover. The paranormal hero is a skilled lover. He’s sex walking and a giver of multiple orgasms. Nervous? Don’t worry. Real men can be phenomenal lovers too. It’s all about the E^E equation: Experimentation ^ Experience = Amazing in Bed.
He’s too perfect. Not all the time! If the paranormal hero didn’t screw up sometime he wouldn’t be so perfect now would he? Flaws create the perfect character. Real men have flaws too.
Conclusion: Paranormal men sparkle. Real men can sparkle too.
This post is in response to a little nugget that I read in Heather’s article at the Galaxy Express entitled Does Science Fiction Romance Need More Alpha Heroes? The specific section that caught my eye was this:
"Why is it the paranormal character is so often the hero and not the heroine?"
Yeah, what's up with that?
I can tell you exactly what is up with that as I am a fan of paranormal romance and fiction. So here it goes… six reasons why the paranormal character is always the hero!
We like our heroes mysterious. What is more mysterious than a mythological creature, be he vampire or lycanthrope or other?
Strong powerful hero + average heroine = swoon. When an extraordinary specimen of the male gender sits up and takes notice of a rather ordinary female it is easier to place ourselves in the heroine’s shoes. That’s not because we think of ourselves as unworthy, this formula just makes it more accessible for readers. This scenario also tends to fill the tenderness and protectiveness side of the fantasy.
Strong powerful hero + kickass heroine = hell yeah. When number two’s formula just doesn’t cut it there are the novels about strong heroes and stronger heroines. In this scenario the reader and heroine tend to dominate over the situation. The hero must work around the heroine to get in her good graces and who hasn’t imagine upon at least one occasion a strong sexy male groveling at your feet?
Angel, Spike, Jean-Claude, Asher, Edward Cullen, Jasper Cullen, Eric Northman, and Bill Compton. Do I really need to go on with this point? I think this pretty much brings it home. Otherworldly men are downright sexy! Especially vampires!
The desires of the paranormal fit better on a hero. The act of drinking blood is considered highly sexual in vampire romances. It’s become part of the erotic fantasy. Sometimes the heroine likes to pretend to be helpless and the hero’s act of feeding gives her a thrilling rush. Besides, I think I pretty much covered how icky it can be to read a heroine drinking blood.
Redemption always looks better on a man. Many paranormal stories involve the preternatural lead repenting his past acts dictated by his nature, circumstances, and misinformed beliefs due to change. This makes him now a brooding hero and occasionally puts the heroine in the middle of the path toward his salvation or as his savior.
So there you go—six reasons paranormal stories always feature preternatural heroes.
As a fan of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight, this was just darn near hysterical. Thanks SBTB for posting it first! I'm reposting it because well, nobody should miss it!
What would happen if Edward Cullen met Buffy Summers instead of Bella Swan?
I was surprised by how good the editing of this spoof film was... weren't you? Wow! I wonder if they'll do it again when New Moon is made available.
The following video is the ultimate expression of love not only in gaming but from one geek to another. Not only is the song cute, so is our singer BlinkTwice4Y. He's 26 years old and lives in the Bay Area of California. One day he'd like to be a professional singer, but even if he never aspires to that dream, BlinkTwice4Y has entered pop culture with his lyrics and music, especially with Mario Kart: Love Song. This video was featured December 2008 on YouTube. Unfortunately for gamer chicks everywhere he's in a relationship and therefore unavailable to be our Toad.
Verse One:
You be my princess
I'll be your toad
I'll follow behind you
on rainbow road
Protect you from red shells
wherever we go
I promise.
Verse Two:
Noone will touch us
if we pick up a star
If you spin out
you can ride in my car
When we slide together
we generate sparks
in our wheels and our hearts
Chorus:
The finish line
is just around the bend
I'll pause this game
so our love will never end
Let's go again
Verse Three:
The blue shell is coming
so I'll go ahead
If you hang behind
it'll hit me instead
but never look back
cause I'm down but not dead
I'll catch up to you
Bridge:
Don't worry about
Bowser or DK
Eat this glowing mushroom
and they'll all fade away
Chorusx2
to the mushroom cup
and the flower cup
and the star cup
and the reverse cup
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The following video is the ultimate expression of love not only in gaming but from one geek to another. Not only is the song cute, so is our singer BlinkTwice4Y. He's 26 years old and lives in the Bay Area of California. One day he'd like to be a professional singer, but even if he never aspires to that dream, BlinkTwice4Y has entered pop culture with his lyrics and music, especially with Mario Kart: Love Song. This video was featured December 2008 on YouTube. Unfortunately for gamer chicks everywhere he's in a relationship and therefore unavailable to be our Toad. 
