Monday, April 1, 2013

Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead



In my greatest storyline ever, I defeat PhelousD1 or whatever! ‎

37 comments:

Jumpman256 said...

My lord.... TWO AT4W parodies? You should sue somebody. ;)

WoodBuzz said...

oh phealous your anti-humor ways are of god heights

Tyler said...

Jeeze with all these paradises, crossover, and etc. you would think it was a fool hardy holiday in April. To bad today is only the Ancient Romans new years day.

Jonathan M said...

Linkara, have you been in every single crossover-type thing this week? My, it's almost as if you're popular or something. Your dubbed voice was even the director of some video or something whatever.

GoldenKing said...

Hey Linkara, are you trying to beat Spoony in the number of April Fool's jokes?

AmuroNT1 said...

Lewis, I gotta be totally honest here. I REALLY did not like this one. I confess, I'm not a regular viewer of Phelan's videos, but even a friend of mine who is says this one stank on ice.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to be a jerk or bring you down or anything. The other videos, with you doing Cinema Snob and Noah doing Linkara? Those two were great. The writing and acting were spot-on, and I really got the sense that you guys really know each other, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to pull it off nearly so well.

This one though...it just comes off like Phelan hates you or something. The whole video felt as if it was written by someone who watched one episode of AT4W, decided he hated the series (and you personally as well), and wrote a parody based off of that one episode. Things like flipping out over "Page 2", mocking even famous established characters like Jean Grey and Mar-Vell, and all the excessive mugging for the camera...ugh.

The Snob and Spoony videos felt like honest-to-goodness affectionate parodies, written and performed by good friends. This? This was more like mocking someone by putting on that stupid fakey voice and going "Ooooh, I'm Linkara, and I masturbate to comic books and blah blah blah..." The bright spots provided by your and Brad's cameos just couldn't make up for it. This wasn't anti-humor, it was the Anti-Humor Equation.

Mr. Saturn said...

I really get a kick out of these. You guys always manage to do good jobs of lovingly skewering each other's tendencies and reviewing styles.

Unknown said...

@AmuroNT1

That is the exact feeling I got. This didn't feel like a parody or a comedy. It felt very... hateful. It was uncomfortable to watch.

Tetsu Deinonychus said...

It's just Phelous' style. He parodies himself just as harshly (seriously, he's always pointing out how "stupid" his own videos are). And, I doubt Lewis would have appeared at the end if he had a problem with it.

A gentle parody can be okay, but a harsh parody, even of something good, can be hilarious as long as it's done right.

I love Atop the 4th Wall, but I laughed my ass off at this. It brought me back to reading Mad magazine as a kid (when it was still good), and how I loved it when they'd spoof a show I liked.

Doresh said...

Why doesn't DC make these kind of comics? Even their editors could benefit from such a guide!

@AmuroNT1,Fiona Nickel:

That's just Phelan's shtick. Is character is hateful, cynical and always in a bad mood XD

DerKork said...

Guys, guys, guys...

Phelous wasn't parodying the show - he was just doing a comic book show in his own style (which yes, can be controversial, especially when he goes all over the top. Hope that scenery tastes good, Phelan) while using some elements of AT4W.

Phelous' humour is extremely meta (as seen by his discussion regarding the age of "Not-Harvey Finevoice", strange that he didn't point out that HE was playing the other character as well). This doesn't really gel with the premise of AT4W, which usually takes place in a universe not too dissimiliar to our own, but with giant robots and space ships and.... well, giant robot space ships maybe?

What you forget is that whenever Phelous attempts to "spoof" a show concept he usually relies on something that might be considered "trolling the fanboys (and fangirls)", going extremely over the top in his portrayed disrespect for the source material.

This video is - for me at least - on the same level of awesome as the Halloweenie videos, except that here Phelous shows us two states he can be in: Deadpanning and disinterested, and completely hyper and over the top craaaaazy!

JB said...

Eh, I think that parody was funny. The only Phelous vids I watched were crossovers (Child's play and The Airzone solution), but managing to talk about entries in a who's who of mostly obscure characters and still getting jokes out of it is quite a feat (come on, Baron Zemo II.5 ?).
In a meta-context, I had fun counting how many of the dead/destroyed characters had been resurrected or killed again since then.

"mocking even famous established characters like Jean Grey and Mar-Vell"
You are aware that Jean Grey's deaths and returns have become a running gag even for Marvel writers ? Plus Mar-Vell is mostly known for his death and for preventing DC from using the Captain Marvel title.

Anonymous said...

@AmuroNT1

Okay, admittedly, Phelous's style and humor can come off as a little mean-spirited, but I don't think he was trying to say, "This is how Linkara really comes off"; rather, he was going for "This is how someone would look if he did Linkara's job completely wrong." I don't claim to speak for Lewis, but considering he posted it on his blog, I can't imagine he was too offended.

Still, I suppose I can see where Phelous's style might rub some people the wrong way.

Frosty said...

Wait... I've always interpreted Harvey as someone in his late 40's, maybe even 50. Or is that just a 4th wall joke?

Lewis Lovhaug said...

"Wait... I've always interpreted Harvey as someone in his late 40's, maybe even 50. Or is that just a 4th wall joke?"

Just a meta joke. In the context of the show, Harvey is definitely in his 40s/50s (probably more like 50s).

Frosty said...

"Just a meta joke. In the context of the show, Harvey is definitely in his 40s/50s (probably more like 50s)."
And I fell for it. Doh! xD

Thanks for the response!

Anonymous said...

I think Harvey might be pushing his 60's. After all look how long Sinatra has kept his tone.

But I looked at the credits as I always do. Next time you and Phelous are in the same place could you please slap him in the back of the head for apparently leaving Lupa on the cutting room floor.

C-Puff said...

I love all of you XDD <3 and Spoony too.

PopCultureOtaku said...

This was one of my favorite episode from Phelous. It was funny parody of the show. I know it was all in good jest. What makes it just as funny is how spot on at times it was. Seriously we all need good laugh in a day and there was some good ones yesterday.

Luis Francisco Angulo Andrade said...

I know this is just my opinion. I really didn't know who this Phealous guy was before this review, and I still don't. So maybe there's some meta-joke I'm missing or something. IMHO, this "parody" or "own version of the show" or whatever it was supposed to be really sucks.

To quote my favorite crossover: "There's nothing redeeming or interesting about it. Hell, an entire dimensional nexus might center around how freaking awful it is". I have not seen something this unfunny since Linkara did "Bimbos in time" or "Mightily Murdered Power Ringers" (I mean the comics themselves, the reviews were great).

I got the feeling that "Phelan" (And I'm sure I'm spelling it incorrectly but I just don't care) was going for "so bad it's good" or that's his schtick or something, but this just crossed into "so bad is terrible". It's the first review on this site I've actually skipped around hoping it gets funny but it never did.

This goes beyond "unfunny" and creates a sort of "Anti-funny" where not only are you not amused, the very essence of fun and laughter is sucked out of your soul as if someone was molesting your inner child. It is so bad someone should review the review to riff on it to make it bearable to watch.

Lewis Lovhaug said...

"I know this is just my opinion. I really didn't know who this Phealous guy was before this review, and I still don't. So maybe there's some meta-joke I'm missing or something. IMHO, this "parody" or "own version of the show" or whatever it was supposed to be really sucks."

You are of course entitled to your opinion.

However, I sincerely hope that this was actually a joke post in some manner, since I have a difficult time believing that you have watched my show and never seen or heard of Phelous before.

In addition to me doing a crossover with him (The Airzone Solution) and an even LARGER crossover with him and several other contributers (Southland Tales), Phelous has made more than his fair share of appearances on Atop the Fourth Wall. Particular examples I can think of would include "Mysterior" from the Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility episode, the Previously On segment from Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham #2, and Kamandi at Earth's End #1, wherein I made jokes about the relationship between Canada and the USA.

If that wasn't enough, a running joke I have used in more than one episode is a clip from our review of The Airzone Solution, wherein Phelous pops on screen to declare "Great Continuity!" It is certainly possible that you have missed all of these things or simply didn't connect them to him before. However, I have a difficult time believing that, especially since, on top of all the aforementioned references, Phelous also had a significant presence in all three anniversary movies - in Kickassia as the man who the Nostalgia Critic keeps stealing ideas from, in Suburban Knights as the Rock Biter, and To Boldly Flee, where he takes command away from the Critic.

Again, it's possible you didn't watch all of those, but I would sincerely hope that you check them out in the future, since I worked hard in those projects and am very proud of my role in all three films and of the finished products overall. Beyond that, thank you and I really hope you were just kidding.

Anonymous said...

Loved it.

Parodying the show itself instead of just imitating a review was great, and the meta stuff about the storyline characters was perfect coming from Phelous.

RIP (again) Bessie!

Philipp said...

I adore phelan's mugging.

I completely lost it at 2:57.

Luis Francisco Angulo Andrade said...

@Linkara – I did exagerate a little, and although I have watched a lot of at4w episodes (not all of them, I just got into the show last year), I’m not huge on most crossovers (except the ones you’ve done with Spoony, Lupa, the Nostalgia Chick, that review of the Wonder Woman pilot... Come to think of it I probably HAVE watched Phelous without a mask before, I just didn’t really remember him), and while I liked the “Mysterior” bit from “Power and responsibility” (off topic, but, “Judas Traveller”? Seriously? The guy that BETRAYED the Ravencroft staff and then just WANDERED OFF? That’s "Greedo" and "Porkins" level of naming talent there), I didn’t know who he was. Also I do remember “Great continuity”, but again, since I didn’t know the guy’s name or what he does, well… Yeah.

I do stand by my opinion on this particular crossover just not being funny to me though. The other crossovers got me interested in checking out Spoony (yes, I didn’t know Spoony either, go figure), NC, the Cinema Snob, etc. And I consider them (the crossovers) pretty funny on their own. This one came close to being funny on occasion (4:15, 9:02, 11:38, 12:00, the vampires at 13:00). The rest of the time, it felt to me like he just mentioned things and… that’s it. Things were mentioned. Okay…

Unlike other posters, I didn’t even feel like it was “mean spirited” or “biting”, it felt more to me like punchlines, many with potential were constantly being set up and abandoned for no apparent reason. I understand that’s supposed to be the joke, but it’s just not funny to me. I compared it to Bimbos in Time because, well, that’s what this particular crossover feels like in my opinion: Jokes were attempted, fell flat, things were highlighted and expected to be taken as funny without any actual commentary or “work” on them, and it was supposed to be so bad it’s funny, but (again, to me) they ended up just being bad.

I just wanna wrap my TL;DR with something I’d like to clarify: I have watched (and enjoyed) some of those projects. I just didn’t pay that much attention to many of the other people (The people who I don’t regularly watch videos of) in them. I’m not saying they’re bad, I’m just saying I don’t really get into their reviews as much as yours.

@jumpman256 – We should DO something!

Lewis Lovhaug said...

And that's fine, Luis. ^_^ Different opinions are allowed around here and you're not obligated to watch/enjoy everything, of course. I was just utterly baffled how anyone could not know who he was considering he's appeared in lots of Atop the Fourth Wall episodes. XD

Benjamin J said...

Didn't laugh.

Not once.

Unknown said...

Phelous is pure gold.

Timzor said...

That was WAY funnier than it had any right to be...

Anonymous said...

"WE'RE THE SAME AGE, HARVEY!"

God, that was perfect.

Jonathan M said...

This isn't canon, then. XD

Arianne said...

Alright, I pretty much watch all of the April Fools reviews/episodes. I think each of the three familiar guests of Atop the Fourth Wall: The Cinema Snob, Phaleus and Spoony did a great job at what they did. Each did their own comedic thing and brought something slightly different to the reviews. They were all affectionate imitators in their own way. I think that this April Fool's joke is very smart.Well done gentlemen! BTW this one is my personal favorite of the bunch in a matter of opinion.

Unknown said...

Well, I liked it. I haven't watched a lot of Phelous' standalone videos aside from the recent Ninja Turtles bootleg toy videos which I find entertaining. But here he covered a lot of AT4W references (unilaterally renaming the spaceship, that name for the computer, pointing upwards to initiate music, etc.) while his own style made reviewing a comic that's basically a list of biographies a lot funnier than it had any right to be.

And yeah, I do prefer Spider-Girl over Spider-Woman, at least the Mayday Parker version. Having read only a few books of that and just one half-issue from the 90s with (I think) the Julie Carpenter Spider-Woman, anyway. Mostly just found the idea of Peter and MJ having a superheroine daughter to be really interesting as a story framework. No opinion on Anya Corazon Spider-Girl as I've read none of that one.

Unknown said...

"'Wait... I've always interpreted Harvey as someone in his late 40's, maybe even 50. Or is that just a 4th wall joke?'

Just a meta joke. In the context of the show, Harvey is definitely in his 40s/50s (probably more like 50s)."

I had always figured that he was the oldest of the cast but, seriously? I thought that he was younger than that. Well, I'll say it... he looks really damned good for his age.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely loved this! It has to be the best tgwtg parody I've seen so far. I love AT4W, but I'm pretty sure that Phelous covered all of AT4W's weaker points. It looks like he's done his research for this one.

And yeah, whenever I see Harvey, I think the same thing.

Anonymous said...

I know it's a month late ,but I just want to post a quick review of the April Fool's Trilogy:

Lamp/Frakenstein meets the Space Monster: Really enjoyed the Cinema Snob parody (though I am getting sick of the lamp jokes)

Spoony's review of the Star Wars comics: It was pretty good, but am I the only one who thinks this is revenge for the Star Wars 3D review?....Nah, I was just thinking out loud there? By the way, I'm a huge Star Wars fan ,but I am interested in checking out the Star Trek movies (kind of said this before in another video) and it helps that my dad is a Trekkie

And this one: I didn't enjoy it at first ,but I later realized...actually some of it was a little funny. Especially the ending XD

Anonymous said...

THIS. ISN'T. FUNNY.

Djiinnrae said...

I can never really tell if Phelous is wonderful in the most horrible way or terrible in all the best ways. I watch this and I feel like I should be almost offended on someone's behalf, but I know for certain I shouldn't be and that I have NO reason to be. All that just puts a smile on my face. It's like he's taken being "annoying" and made it into an art form-- I'm not even joking. Uh, I mean-- Phelous... whatever; I don't even care about any of you losers and your "internet videos." What a waste of time.