November 25, 2009 

And I Blamed the 90s.

I personally have an issue with “kewl” spelling in comics. You know, calling a character Syrin instead of Siren, or Deathstryke instead of Deathstrike because it looks neat (and is trademarkable in the case of Siren). It’s mostly annoying because, well, how would any of the other characters know how it’s spelled? I mean, they’re talking, right?* So what’s the difference between a Madam Masque and Madam Mask? Nothing.

A lot of the blame for this goes on the 90s, but it turns out odd names go back even futher:

“Sure, we could have called him that or something, but that’d be boring”

*My favorite example of the speaking/reading thing is in an early appearance of the Tunderbolts, maybe issue one, where Citizen V tells a reporter something like “That’s V as in victory, not five.” Um, he’s talking to the reporter – the guy would hear the “Vee”.

At least the above example used a footnote


  • Dr. Novakaine

    It's because names with unusual spellings are eye-catching. People like the infrequent letters – since they're used less, they appear more unique and appealing (though annoying to some of us). I call it Scrabble Spelling – trying to get more value by using less common letters.

  • HellRazor

    Silly boy, that's not radspeak. Everyone knows that everything sounds more science fictiony with an X.

    “I am XENXOR the XYNXAXOR from Planet XENUAX!”

    Kids read that and automatically knew XENXOR was from another planet. Because hardly anyone from Earth has a name with an X in it, and NO ONE has a name with 2 X's. Ergo, he's an alien.

  • HellRazor

    Silly boy, that's not radspeak. Everyone knows that everything sounds more science fictiony with an X.

    “I am XENXOR the XYNXAXOR from Planet XENUAX!”

    Kids read that and automatically knew XENXOR was from another planet. Because hardly anyone from Earth has a name with an X in it, and NO ONE has a name with 2 X's. Ergo, he's an alien.

  • HellRazor

    The most hilarious part is that the writer actually took the time to put a little blurb on there telling everyone how to pronounce Xnon.

  • Naryldor

    Who's the bad guy anyway? Some contemporary wannabe Don Quixote?

  • Michael

    That's “Siryn.”

  • Dierna

    Well yay… now I know how to prounounce the dude's name…. phew.. I was so worried and confused there for a second…. :P

  • Anderson

    This scene was so cool and intense that the artist forgot to draw the Spectre. :P

  • http://sezaarsez.wordpress.com/ sezaar

    Who is pulling Ecksnons's strings? Ksander?

  • http://doctorpsycho1960.blogspot.com doctorpsycho1960

    Except for the Maltese people, who have names like Fixx and Foxx.

  • http://doctorpsycho1960.blogspot.com doctorpsycho1960

    Except for the Maltese people, who have names like Fixx and Foxx.