*facepalm*

[andraste]

I have now seen multiple people on Tumblr complaining that Professor X doesn't use his telekinesis in X-Men: First Class.

All I can think is that Ultimate X-Men must have made more of an impression than I thought since that is the ONLY continuity in which he has any such power! Please stop me from wandering through the wilds of Tumblr correcting this misconception. (I know Tumblr is often a whirling maelstrom of stupid, but when it complains about my favourite character not having a mutant power that he, y'know, doesn't have ...)

I also noticed someone being surprised that Ian McKellen is gay! That was kind of adorable. I think the only way he could make it clearer is if he started carrying a neon sign of some sort.

Comments

[mara]

Surprised that Ian McKellen is gay? I...um...yeah, a neon sign is pretty much the only thing left. A shirt that says "Hello, I'm gay"? Wait, he's done that one.

[andraste]

Surprised that Ian McKellen is gay? I...um...yeah, a neon sign is pretty much the only thing left. A shirt that says "Hello, I'm gay"? Wait, he's done that one.

He has indeed!

I think this clueless person was young enough that she didn't know anything at all about Ian McKellen beyond his being the dude who played Gandalf and Magneto. It still amused me that there was someone on the internet who was unaware of his sexuality and activism. He is gloriously unsubtle.

[lilacsigil]

There were some hints WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back in the 1960s that he had some telekinesis, but it was just one of the times Stan Lee forgot exactly what everyone could do, AFAIK. Ultimate X-Men ran with that.

Also! Some RPG systems combine TP/TK so maybe they're used to seeing them together?

[andraste]

There were some hints WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back in the 1960s that he had some telekinesis, but it was just one of the times Stan Lee forgot exactly what everyone could do, AFAIK.

Indeed - like a lot of odd and inconsistent things, it's easily put down to Stan Lee having way too many comics to write. (There's also that much later Claremont issue where he zaps a Sentinel, but that doesn't look like TK so much as technopathy.)

Also! Some RPG systems combine TP/TK so maybe they're used to seeing them together?

Maybe so. It just annoys me when I see people ranting about the movie getting something wrong ... that it didn't actually get wrong!

[lilacsigil]

It just annoys me when I see people ranting about the movie getting something wrong ... that it didn't actually get wrong!

Me too! And like you, I'm wondering why they would fixate on this, when powers seem pretty clearly defined from what I've read outside spoiler cuts! (I'll get to see it on Tuesday, hooray!)

[andraste]

Me too! And like you, I'm wondering why they would fixate on this, when powers seem pretty clearly defined from what I've read outside spoiler cuts!

Without being spoilery, they certainly are. The movie is very clear about his abilities.

I mean, if you're going to get stuck on things that are different from comics canon, there's so much else to worry about! (I thought that particular horse bolted sometime around Wolverine being 6'2, Mystique walking around naked and Charles being British, but I guess some people still get excited.)

(I'll get to see it on Tuesday, hooray!)

Yay! I will not have to worry about spoiling you! (Not that I won't still spoiler cut, but I hate to think of accidentally ruining anything for you.)

[redfiona99.livejournal.com]

I get visions of you with a machete of knowledge, hacking at tumblr. Plus, you know, you'll never convince them.

I wouldn't put a neon sign past him.

[andraste]

I get visions of you with a machete of knowledge, hacking at tumblr. Plus, you know, you'll never convince them.

Is it a sign of maturity when you get better at letting people be Wrong On The Internet? Five years ago, I doubt I could have stopped myself wading in.

I wouldn't put a neon sign past him.

Maybe for the next protest march he attends!

[johnnash]

Ultimate is what a lot of people in my generation grew up with so that's not surprising.

And to be fair, in some of the early issues (and then in X-Men First class the comic series), he does have powers that indicate telekinesis, including being able to fly a plane that he isn't on with his mind. Also, Cassandra Nova's telekinetic-type abilities have led to people assuming that's one of Xavier's, even if it hasn't outright manifested.

But yes, more people should read source material first. And I don't even know where to begin on the surprised that Ian McKellen is gay part. I suppose I'll have to quote the Simpsons.

Marge (to her sister Patty who has just come out of the closet): "I'm not upset; I'm just surprised."
Homer: "Here's another shocker. I like beer."