Daredevil Message Board

Stanley · Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:08 pm Post subject:

I think that for whatever reason, either people don't understand what "loner" means, or that they're attempting to use qualitative means (number of teams, sidekicks, etc.) to prove its definition as it pertains to DD and Batman.

First, "the loner member of the team" and "if you're the member of a team, you are by definition not a loner": Did you know a guy in high school who liked to keep to himself, and would rather not interact with anyone? But by the second quoted statement, he wouldn't be a loner because he's part of the high school. Don't buy that one? Maybe the kicker of the football team doesn't like to hang out with the rest of the team. Part of the team, but he's a loner. Who likes ballet. (After all, he's a kicker.)

ANYWAY

The real test of a "loner" is how he interacts with people. Both Wolverine and Batman (since they've come up in this conversation) are awkward as it relates to long committed relationships. They'd rather not interact with a team if they can help it. In Wolverine's case, you can cite any number of comics from the 70s where he digs Jean but doesn't say anything...or when he does, everybody looks twice because it's so unexpected. For Batman, he PUSHED DICK GRAYSON AWAY. There's an issue where Tim Drake is taking the Robin mantle, and Nightwing talks to Bruce in the cave...and it doesn't go well. Batman would rather be alone--he works better that way.

Now, does Matt/DD shy away from contact? No. Although Foggy, Karen, Black Widow, and any other number of supporting characters are props to the writer, they are NOT props in his life. He'd rather have no crime. He'd rather hang out with his friend/partner. He'd rather be happily married. But since he's a victim of circumstance, and the only super-powered one in his immediate group, he often does work alone.

Unfortunately, some people that are either loners themselves wishing to romanticize his plight to match theirs or just don't understand what "loner" means like to hijack the meaning and the word and affix it to Matt/DD, who is not a loner.

I hope this puts to bed any confusion.

Matt is not a loner. kthx

james castle · Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject:

Forget it Stan, it's like arguing apples and oranges. Only in this case it's arguing character development and themes (what me and Stanley are talking about) vs. counting (what The Master Meglomaniac is talking about).
_________________
JC

So why can't you see the funny side?
Why aren't you laughing?

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