Comics – My Geek Wisdom

“Ain’t no thing like me, ‘cept me.”

From: Guardians of the Galaxy

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Rocket

The story behind the quote: This quote comes from the first Guardians of the Galaxy film. The Guardians of the Galaxy wasn’t all that well-known outside the comic book community. However, thanks to this movie, their popularity and they’ve became some of the most beloved comic book heroes today.

The quote comes from the middle of the film. Each of the individual characters were captured and sent to a prison planet. Star-Lord (played by Chris Pratt) comments that he wouldn’t have been captured by “a tree and a raccoon” anyway. referring to Groot and Rocket. Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) is confused as, since he’s never been to Earth, doesn’t know what a raccoon is. Star-Lord then tells him he’s a raccoon and Rocket delivers the quote in reply.

Geek wisdom: Even identical twins, while they may look exactly alike, have little differences that makes them unique. No two people will ever be exactly alike because of their strengths and their weaknesses. We should celebrate both of these things as these are what makes each of us unique and special in our own little way.

“I’ve told this story so often, it might even be true.”

From: Larry King Live

Genre: Television and Comics

Who said it?: Stan Lee

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote is a unique one as it doesn’t come from any form of geek media. It does, however, come from one of the legends of the geek community, comic legend Stan Lee. It’s one of my favorite quotes from the man.

During a 2000 interview during Larry King Live, Stan Lee was asked about how he came to creating one of Marvel’s most popular characters, Spider-Man. Stan Lee starts out by saying how he’s created a whole lot of superheroes before and then sticks in the quote before continuing.

Geek wisdom: Our memories are a funny thing. While we think we have perfect recollection of a moment in our lives, it’s always clouded by our own perceptions of what we’re feeling at the time. Some events may be too good to be true while others may seem not so bad in reality.

“You lived what anybody gets, Bernie. You got a lifetime. No more. No less.”

From: The Sandman Vol. 2

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Death

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote come from The Sandman comics. Created by Neil Gaiman, the comic generally follows Morpheus, AKA Dream. The stories generally follow Dream as well as his siblings, the Endless. One of his siblings is Death but, instead of the usual Grim Reaper figure, Neil Gaiman changed the character into a more perky girl.

The quote is more of a side story that pops up in the Brief Lives story arc. A man named Bernie Capax looks like any other ordinary man but he is, in fact, more than ten thousand years old. Unfortunately, through sheer bad luck, he finally perishes when an unstable brick wall falls on top of him. Death finally gets to take him away. Bernie, while initially upset, looks at Death and is strangely proud of how long he did live. This is when Death delivers the quote.

Death Sandman

Geek wisdom: No matter how long we have for this world, it will always feel like it isn’t enough. This is all the more reason to live life to its fullest.

“I love mankind… It’s people I can’t stand!”

From: Peanuts

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Linus Van Pelt

The story behind the quote: The quote comes the very popular Peanuts comic strip. Created by Charles M. Schulz, Peanuts featured a huge cast of characters, including the born loser Charlie Brown, the enigmatic beagle named Snoopy, the Beethoven loving Schroeder, the ever crabby Lucy Van Pelt and her brother, the security blanket carrying Linus. The last two just so happen to be the topic of today.

The quote comes from a storyline wherein Linus proclaims he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. Lucy then scoffs at the idea because she believes her brother doesn’t love mankind. This is when Linus gives the quote as a retort.

I love Mankind

Geek wisdom: The idea of people and humanity as a whole is very idyllic and we want to believe we all will do things for the greater good. Unfortunately, there will always be people who will be selfish and only care for themselves. It’s easy to love humanity as a whole but there are always going to be individuals you can’t help but dislike.

“Rats are the lowliest and most despised of all creatures, my love. If they have a purpose, so do we.

From: The Suicide Squad (2021)

Genre: Movies, Comics

Who said it?: Ratcatcher 1

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the live-action DC comic book movie, The Suicide Squad. This is not to be confused with the film that was released in 2016. Written and directed by James Gunn, The Suicide Squad serves both as a sequel and a reboot of the franchise, which sees various supervillains from DC comics recruited to serve on black ops missions for the US government.

The quote comes near the very end of the film. Overwhelmed by Starro the Conqueror’s zombie-like soldiers, Ratcatcher 2 (played by Daniela Melchior) uses her ability and summons all the city’s rats to attack the alien creature. As she does this, she remembers when she was young and asking her father, Ratcatcher 1 (played by Taika Waititi), as to why he chose to control rats. This is when he gives the quote.

Geek wisdom: Every thing in the world and in the universe has its purpose. Even the tiniest thing you might think as useless still has its uses. This is especially true for people.

“Life is good. But it can be better.”

From: Wonder Woman 1984

Genre: Movies, Comics

Who said it?: Maxwell Lord

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the most recent live-action superhero film from Warner Bros. and DC, Wonder Woman 1984. This time around, Wonder Woman (played again by Gal Gadot) takes on Maxwell Lord, a struggling businessman with big dreams, who has managed to come across the Dreamstone, a mysterious object that can grant anyone’s deepest desires but with a cost.

The quote is said several times throughout the film as it is what Maxwell Lord (played by Pedro Pascal) says as his catchphrase and mantra. He basically uses this catchphrase as well as his charisma to paint himself as a successful person.

Geek wisdom: Although the way Maxwell Lord did try to build his success was skewed, that doesn’t mean what he says isn’t bad. Even when things are good, we should always try to get better. We can try to be healthier, save more money and indulge in life as much as we can because, even when things are okay, that doesn’t mean we have to settle for it.

“None of you seem to understand. I’m not locked in here with you. You’re locked in here with me!”

From: Watchmen

Genre: Comics/Movies (sort of)

Who said it?: Rorschach/Walter Kovacs

The story behind the quote: The quote comes the Alan Moore comic Watchmen, which was later adapted to a feature length film of the same name. Both the comic and the movie takes place in a world on the brink of nuclear war and a group of costumed heroes try to solve the murder The Comedian, a former comrade of theirs. There’s a lot more going on but, if I did try to cram all of the details of the incredibly dense narrative, this would be one long paragraph.

The quote comes from the middle of both the film and the graphic novel. Rorschach (played by Jackie Earle Haley) is captured and eventually unmasked as a disturbed individual named Walter Kovacs. He is interviewed by a psychiatrist where he narrates how Walter Kovacs “died” and Rorschach was “born.” Afterwards, at the prison cafeteria, one of the other inmates tries to kill Kovacs to make a name for himself. Kovacs doesn’t let him and splashes boiling oil over the inmates face. While Kovacs is dragged away by the guards, he delivers the quote.

In the comics, it’s done a little differently. We do see Kovacs pour the boiling oil over the attacker. But the quote is just overheard with the psychiatrist putting the quote in his notes.

Geek wisdom: People will have different perspectives on things. Some of them will believe one thing when the same person in the same situation will believe in another. It’s just the way people see things from their point of view.

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.”

From: V for Vendetta

Genre: Movies, Comics

Who said it?: V

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from V for Vendetta. This was originally a comic series written by Alan Moore and made into a feature length film of the same name. Both the comic and the movie are about V’s vengeance against a tyrannical government and Evey, a young woman who eventually joins V in his revolution.

The quote comes early in the film. V (played by Hugo Weaving) had just rescued Evey (played by Natalie Portman) from agents of the government. He brings her to his home/hideout and they discuss the bombing of a Parliment building that V claims he did. Evey asks if he’s scared because he’s now a wanted man and every one who he’s incited will also be hunted down. This is when V delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: The people can also affect change by other means, such as voting these people out or, in the worst case, depose a corrupt leadership. Even the most tyrannical governments can be toppled if enough of its citizenry fights back and these governments must be afraid if they really want to stay in power.

“We could change things back. If we believed. If we dreamed.”

From: The Sandman, specifically from A Dream of a Thousand Cats

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: A Siamese Cat

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the highly acclaimed graphic novel series, The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman. The Sandman is a non-conventional “comic book” series and focuses on Morpheus, the personification of dreams and stories. He is also not really a hero and he is sometimes not even the main character in his own series. However, most of the stories do have him interact with the story in some way.

The quote comes from one of the series’ short stories, A Dream of a Thousand Cats. In the tale, a cat is listening to a Siamese cat with a rather radical belief that cats used to rule the world and humans were the pets instead of the other way around. The Siamese cat came to this realization because Morpheus (looking like a black cat) came to her in a dream and showed the cat this reality. This reality was destroyed because enough humans believed in a vision where humans ruled. Enough humans eventually believed it and that dream became a reality. The Siamese cat then tells the other cat the quote, stating that things can be changed.

Geek wisdom: We sometimes feel helpless with the way the world currently is but we refuse to believe that anything we do will change anything. This isn’t true and the only thing that’s stopping us from changing the world for the better is the thought that anything we do won’t matter. But, if enough people actually get together and believe and dream for a better future, then the world will have not choice but to change.

“I’m loyal to nothing, General… except the Dream.”

From: Captain America (but specifically from Daredevil #233)

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Captain America

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from a very old comic but the saying still rings true, especially during these troubled times.

This week’s quote comes from Captain America, who made a guest appearance in Daredevil Issue #233. In the issue, Daredevil is in the middle of a battle against the supervillain known as Nuke. Daredevil manages to take out Nuke but the Avengers, who were busy helping civilians during the fight, arrest Nuke afterwards. Later, Captain America meets up with Daredevil and the patriotic hero asks The Man Without Fear who Nuke is. Daredevil retorts and tells Captain America to ask his “superiors” (the US government) who Nuke is, as Nuke has the United States flag tattooed on his face.

Captain America does just that and asks one of the generals who Nuke really is. The general hints that the information is classified and that, as a patriot and a good soldier, Captain America should stop looking into to. This is when Captain America delivers the quote while holding on the flag of the USA.

Geek wisdom: People nowadays seem to be taking sides. It may be about political ideals on how people have become too conservative/liberal. Or it could be how one’s lifestyle is corrupting the world we live in and we denounce the “other side.” We are currently dividing ourselves needlessly because we all want the best for ourselves and everyone. The worst thing is that we become loyal to one “side” just because of our race, religion or party alignment without even taking a step back to think for ourselves if the “side” we’re on actually falls on what we believe in.