Youngblood #7 - Atop the Fourth Wall

Welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. In this episode, Linkara looks at the seventh issue of Youngblood to see if the book is getting any better!
atopthefourthwa...
Originally uploaded February 9th, 2015.
ORIGINAL INFO: Truly there is nothing more exciting for lovers of superheroes than skiing, shower scenes, and nightmares about overeating.
RUMINATIONS: The sad thing is that some of the idea for Youngblood DO have potential - stuff like a superhero with an eating disorder because they have to keep up a certain physique for the cameras, maybe even that celebrity culture itself is toxic and gets in the way of helping people or leading a separate life from their heroics... but because it's being handled by people who don't have a grasp of the kinds of things they're talking about, it looks and reads as exactly as incompetent as it would appear. Otherwise, this is yet another example of how these books really assume you're reading all of the other Image books at the time despite having no good reason to do so, especially when said books are just as badly put together.

[@POLE7645]

Reminder that the Entity was possessing Linkara at the time. So it got to experience the nightmare of Troll in the shower.

[@ThePheonixHouse]

Maybe be that's why he didn't absorb everyone on the planet when he left linkara's body, he didn't want to absorb Rob Liefeld.

[@OwlEye2010]

One night in the Summer of '94, Rob Liefeld had a dream that seemed more like a premonition: it involved some jackass on the internet reviewing comics. In said dream, Liefeld discovered, to his horror, that he was insulted in the jackass's theme song. Then he got an idea. An awful idea. Liefeld got a wonderful, *awful* idea! "I shall take my character Troll," he said with a devious grin, "And draw him naked in a shower to scar that jackass for life!" 21 years later, Linkara reviewed Youngblood #7 and discovered the horrifying scene and had a mental breakdown. Worth it, Liefeld thought with a smirk, sensing the critic's despair.

[@more17]

"We now cut to Youngblood headquarters and its raspberry orange sky where.....AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

[@GalenNight]

mets2128 IT’S NOT EVEN IN MY HANDS BUT I CAN STILL SEE IT!

[@GalenNight]

mets2128 Tell me your secrets

[@GalenNight]

mets2128 Pollo, Pollo we have to get out of here. We have to...POLLO! YOU DID THIS!

[@nerdandnerdier887]

Rob113 it was definitely funny but felt disproportionate

[@Cartoonicus]

Funniest moment in KZbin history.

[@Trismegustis]

You know, to give credit where credit's due, the idea of having a superhero with a fairly severe eating disorder, and another who looks like the side of a building but is actually just a kid... Some of these ideas actually have potential. If the art and general thrust of the plot wasn't so bad, I could legitimately be interested in reading these. Mind you, Shaft having an eating disorder is sort of weird in the context of Roy Harper bein' on the china cat.

[@RaphBlade7]

I wouldn't say Shaft has an eating disorder given his Liefeldian physique and the fact it was just a nightmare about him becoming overweight due to overeating (I wouldn't call him obese in the dream given it being consistent with Liefeldian proportions just with the muscle replaced by fat). However the dream could be a symptom of underling concerns or fears related to his body image as he is supposed to be a celebrity superhero).

[@ellnats]

"a little known piece of superhero trivia, they cant sing" do i need to bring up batman singing Am I Blue?

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

"I lay blame at Liefeld's feet." What feet? Liefeld doesn't have any feet. Just billowing clouds of smoke that hover vaguely where his feet should be.

[@TehNoun]

The greatest joke in any comic is the idea of a character drawn by Liefeld looking "healthy"

[@TheBronzeDog]

Linkara: I lay most of the blame at Liefeld's feet. Me: Are they badly drawn, too?

[@Duothimir]

Y'know, I kinda like Badrock. In the hands of a better writer, he could be pretty cool, I think. A sendup to those old days when just drinking random chemicals in your dad's lab can turn a sixteen-year-old into a giant rock monster. It also helps he's the only member of Youngblood who has /any/ kind of personality, and his relationship with his parents is pretty adorable. I think he's one of the few superheroes who actually does have a healthy relationship with his parents, without any huge tragedies. Ironic, given the EXTREEEEEME grim 'n' gritty era he's from.

[@mochiman6307]

Duothimir They brought him back, and made him good in that he wants to do something good, and forms a new youngblood team after finding out the science kool aid is killing him

[@jrcarter9175]

Still think starting with a Badrock solo instead of Youngblood would have been the smarter move.

[@DeisFortuna]

@@jrcarter9175 yeah. The amount of character building present in the youngblood book proper is appropriate for like, the Avengers, where most of the lineup has either had their own solo book at some point, or has appeared as a character in other books, so they come in with an already established character, but instead, Rob had to join the team of monkeys trying to invent glue and throw shit at the wall and see what sticks.

[@DeisFortuna]

@@mochiman6307 please tell me that they didn't actually kill off Badrock. He's like, the one character from this to actually have any potential and even though I don't follow image stuff at all, I'd hate to see him go. (Hell, a good series using him might actually make me consider picking up the book he shows up in.)

[@mochiman6307]

@@DeisFortuna He didn't so much die, as the experiment that made him stopped his aging, when he eventually exploded, he came out not a day older physically than when he drank the formula in the 90s

[@uchecuhkwudaniel7673]

The funniest moments of this beging at 9:20 : *Linkara:* We now cut to Youngblood Headquarters and it's Raspberry Orange sky where... _Looks at the next page and screams wildly_

[@KnightlyNerdandDork]

OH GOD NOW IM BLIND

[@uchecuhkwudaniel7673]

@@KnightlyNerdandDork _stares at a Pikachu doll_

[@KnightlyNerdandDork]

@@uchecuhkwudaniel7673 “It’s not even in my hands, but I can Still See It!!”

[@wikiuser92]

Good old Combine Harvester. This was bound to happen with Youngblood at some point.

[@Reallyrandomcircle]

we'd never abandon you over youngblood, Linkara. it's not worth it.

[@AmaranthOriginal]

+Reallyrandomcircle And why would we attack him for it? Clearl,y, he's suffered enough,

[@AmaranthOriginal]

***** Well, I mean, there would be better books on his show but Quesada sold them to Mephisto.

[@AmaranthOriginal]

***** Hopefully, it was worth it.

[@autobotstarscream765]

@@AmaranthOriginal What did it cost? Everything.

[@annegrey6447]

I should be scarred by a naked Troll, but all I can focus on is your pikachu. Thank you for giving me something to focus on that saves me from needing therapy. ^-^

[@New3DSLuigi364]

@9:25-10:13 (Linkara Starts screaming at Troll in the Shower) Then Combine Harvester Mental Breakdown Ensues!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thepc1727]

+New3DSLUIGI364 it is glorious

[@chaosinc.382]

"if you wanted to get to me you didn't have to hurt so many other people!"

[@KiroBuildZ25]

I had the same reaction when I read the league of extraordinary gentlemen

[@farmerproductions9869]

kingdigi 17 why what happened there

[@jrcarter9175]

Oh I can't breathe hahahahahahahaha

[@ACrustyCount]

That is easily my favorite Combine Harvester joke I've seen yet

[@darkknightfan7520]

9:21 is my favorite part in the entire review lol!

[@daelen.cclark]

darkknightfan75 You like Youngblood’s headquarters and it’s raspberry-orange sky?

[@Morningstar91939]

@@daelen.cclark no, he means 9:26.

[@jaredohlstein7355]

"If you wanted to get to me you didn't have to hurt so many other people" That is so true also nice use of that Futurama clip, and the joke about internet trolls was hilarious

[@ghostofabulletproducciones5748]

He wears his goggles so they don't have to put detail in his eyes.

[@rojaws1183]

+Martín Álvarez Cirillo A lack of goggles haven't stopped Rob from removing eyes before.

[@ghostofabulletproducciones5748]

+Ro Jaws I was thinking about that. Then it's one of Liefeld's design decisions that simply don't make sense.

[@ghostofabulletproducciones5748]

+Ro Jaws I was thinking about that. Then it's one of Liefeld's design decisions that simply don't make sense.

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

+Martín Álvarez Cirillo Of course! It's a preventative measure for Youngblood's Curse!

[@segundovargas]

+Gratuitous Lurking Don't you mean Youngblood Disease?

[@ShinoSarna]

8:22 "World's greatest super team" is still funny in-universe, because at the time, Stormwatch - an actually great book that people still remember fondly - was part of Image shared universe.

[@Savagewolver]

Seriously? Storm watch and Youngblood were in the same universe?

[@ShinoSarna]

@@Savagewolver At the time, yes. So was WildCATS, another superhero special ops team. Eventually 'Image universe' splintered off into a million mini-universes and it's no longer canon, but it's funny in hidnsight.

[@FNGLHR]

I repeat something Obscurus Lupa said during one of her recent Baywatching episodes: "What even were the 90s?" Never has that phrase been more relevant than in reference to Youngblood.

[@Tareltonlives]

+FNGLHR I'll even take Hassehoff in a speedo over Troll in the shower....

[@FNGLHR]

Tareltonlives Hasselhoff? Don't you mean MITCH VON MALIBU! "I'm... the best... at everything!"

[@Tareltonlives]

Hey, at least he's SAVING people! Unlike Youngblood! "MY SAVE!"

[@shis1988]

As 90s Kid put in the movie: something unique. Yes a lot of that uniqueness was stupid, but it also brought as much awesomeness as stupidity. For every Youngblood we had a Batman and Spider-Man or other great events in the Marvel-DC wombo combo. The same is true for TV and games. And we have never had something like that before or after the 90s.

[@rikowolfin4984]

SuperHero's can in fact sing! Does no one remember the time Batman Saved WonderWoman from being a pig by singing in the Animated Justice League show? He was amazing at it!

[@BodySprayMan]

2:00 It's interesting to note that Eric Stephenson nowadays is one of the heads of Image Comics and has been writing They're Not Like Us and Nowhere Men, which was actually nominated for Best Continuing Series at the Eisners. So yeah, he's certainly moved up in the world since then.

[@realrealwarpet]

Super heroes can't sing "What about night cat!" What about dazzler. Her whole shtick is converting sound into light.

[@DetectorCliche]

Oh Linkara your mental breakdowns never will cease to amuse me. ^_^

[@FuugaNatsu]

Oh god would that line raise questions out of context xD

[@jonahfalcon1970]

The Sunny D commercial reference always makes me giggle.

[@rojaws1183]

You just had to shock us with showering Troll didn't you? Oh well, we should be used to such things from all your Liefeld reviews by now.

[@TheHeroOfTomorrow]

"IT BUUUUUUURNS!!!!!!"

[@geekinggrounds2917]

Wow.......Liefeld broke Linkara

[@qwellen7521]

His comics have been known kill people. This should not surprise you.

[@HeirofAzaran]

+Sam Weth You're not kidding. I've seen SF Debris' "Rise and Fall of the Comics Empire". That is the stuff of legend.

[@dinosaurusmaximus8506]

Geeking Grounds Linkara.exe has stopped working. Someone should hit the reset button.

[@countD8852]

Damn...you can stuff SO MANY women into that fridge...

[@jakebryant3445]

:| not really funny

[@countD8852]

I'm sure you can find Digger Harkness and Jack Drake in that fridge too. ... Are either of those two alive again yet or are they still sharing fridge-space with Sue Dibney and Lian Harper?

[@scifiguy9000]

I guess Digger would be alive, seeing how he would be around in the new 52 and rebirth, plus is popular through the suicide squad.

[@mogan4534]

Who are you, Geoff Johns?

[@TheBonkleFox]

@@countD8852 I thought digger was brought back during blackest night and lian was resurrected in convergence.

[@All2Meme]

9:25...Dear God, there are some things you wish you could UNSEE...Poor Linkara... :-(

[@meowistforlife]

Indeed truly a horrific sight

[@qwellen7521]

10:51 actually the flash can sing pretty well.

[@Anicomicgeek]

+Sam Weth And Batman.

[@DanielFoolhardy]

+Anicomicgeek ROCK AND ROLL IS THE SPAWN OF THE DEVIL.

[@qwellen7521]

Daniel Foolhardy PUNK IS NOTHING BUT THE RAGE OF THE BEAST!

[@cobrasphere9760]

+Sam Weth Technically, punk is also death and crime.

[@nathanthompson4613]

Daniel Foolhardy Rock and roll IS Spawn

[@Magitek1112]

Apparently Overtkill was originally named Overkill, but they had to change the name because there was a Marvel character named that, or something. So at least this name actually has a reason behind it.

[@FNGLHR]

+Magitek1112 Maybe they should've just realized at that point they were basically making the same generic character over and over. I would've.

[@artemismeow]

It's even stupider than that, in the video drawing comics the marvel way (or something like that)stan lee asks McFarlane and Liefeld to create a new character based on a name stan lee pitches liefeld makes a forgetable mess of "i swear its not cable" and McFarlane comes up with that monstrosity for the prompt of overkill. :/ stan lee tries to hide his look of "dear god why do i employ these clowns" the whole thing is pure cringe.

[@artemismeow]

And so the fact that now overtkill is an actual character kinda highlights that they were REALLY out of ideas when image was founded

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

@@artemismeow That actually is on KZbin somewhere. Stan's absolute savage sarcasm to all of Lee and McFarlane's suggestions and ideas regarding Overkill is so hilarious.

[@artemismeow]

@@gratuitouslurking8610 yea. My wife showed me the video back in college. I think its called "drawing comics the marvel way" and yea stan owns McFarlane and Liefeld

[@SudokuBro]

9:25 AAAAAHHHHH!

[@nathanthompson4613]

SudokuBrony Who thought that would be a good idea?! Also, instant insanity montage. Probably the fastest escalation we’ve seen so far

[@snakes3425]

WHY LIEFELD???? WHY???? WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU THINKING????

[@DaBlueJay2001]

What's worse about this books cover is that it was traced from marvels the Thing #6, I don't know why I know that, but there's some trivia for you.

[@Merit2397]

9:25 Linkara's reaction to the fact that there are more volumes of Youngblood than just one.

[@edwardramos4591]

9:25 Insert Solid Snake's death sound here... Seriously though, which ding bat let that one through?

[@chrissysky01]

I work in a used bookstore so naturally I've had to endure being told by fans how good the art in Image comics used to be.

[@OnDavidsBrain]

O_o, why Rob? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY?

[@KidSnivy69]

Because Liefield hates Linkara and us.

[@rojaws1183]

+KidSnivy69 Obviously Rob is trying to make everyone lose any sort of interest in sex.

[@dnmstarsi]

+1TrulyMad He knew in the future that a comic book reviewer would talk bad about him and decided to add that scene to spite him and anyone else that agreed with him. LMAO

[@rojaws1183]

dnmstarsi Are you saying that Liefeld is a troll with the power of precognition? That may be true because what character did he use to troll us? Troll!

[@dnmstarsi]

Ro Jaws I see that happening. He predicted that rant Linkara had in Youngblood #5 about his comic series and how comic book companies should stop giving him work and consumers should stop buying his work and was like "You know what? I'm gonna mentally scar him for life with a showering Troll. That'll teach him to mock my talents and success!" Unfortunately, he also scarred innocent readers by doing that as well.

[@orkess8634]

fun fact rob liefield was so lazy he stole the overt kill(over kill) likeness from a pitch stan lee gave him and todd McFarlane on a show to draw for fun tsk tsk

[@nathanclark2424]

I KNEW THAT NAME SOUNDED FAMILIAR. GOD the nerve.

[@Grim_Sister]

I'm learning anatomy now. Liefeld makes me laugh because of this new knowledge.

[@popcorn_ceiling8798]

That meltdown is why this is my favorite episode

[@josephcage7955]

Okay, I'll give Youngblood one point: There are at least two characters I like. Shaft and Badrock. I feel like they have actual personalities and character. Their costumes aren't that bad, either. Congratulations, Rob. You made two characters I actually kinda like. However, that is it. That is all. Diehard? Some boring robot. Vogue? Black Widow with face paint. Brahma? A less interesting version of Badrock. Troll? Terrifying. Task? Who? Chapel? Crappy Punisher. Everyone else? Fucking beats the hell out of me! I don't even know their names!

[@svartfrasr9755]

11:59 Hold the phone, this guy is clearly Billy Kane.

[@patrickmorris71]

10:42, what about Marvel Comics Dazzler? She made a career out of being a singer.

[@jamesmason3734]

This is much funnier now that this episode was uploaded on the day of pokemon sun and moon's announcement.

[@michaelpeacock4228]

As insane as it sounds, I was... and still am... a fan of this trainwreck of material. I don't compare Liefeld's work to Kirby or Buscema, but for 90's excess... it still gives me a bit of a cheesy grin. ;) That being said, there WAS no expansion on Youngblood developments in "Extreme Prejudice". That was mainly a story that dealt with a Magneto rip-off threat, the temporary depowering of Supreme, the basic extermination of Bloodstrike and the launch of the WHOLLY forgettable "New Men" team.

[@SasukeUchiha-ix2yk]

I"VE GONE BLIND!

[@okami-onome3912]

Holy [Beep] On A [Beeping] Sandwich With [Beep] On Top With A Side Order Of [Beep]

[@danthefan28]

9:30 yep that's my reaction... AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!

[@mogan4534]

6:11 I think this is the best panel in all of Youngblood because the lack of details makes the art look sort of minimalistic and unique. Why couldn’t every panel be from a distance so they all looked like this one?!

[@chaosinc.382]

What's kinda sad is that I like Badrock and Night-Saber... And they's stuck in this series.

[@pandorasangel2747]

I was about to say that so far this was my favorite Youngblood comic just because it gave personality to the heroes but then that shower scene.... ....just.....no.... god no....

[@nvfury13]

OK, confession time, I own these books. I also kind of like Troll (not that scene though), I always saw him as a blend of early Wolverine and Puck of Alpha Flight.

[@Tareltonlives]

Youngblood: Turn off the Dark. And throw away the comic while we're at it

[@farmerproductions9869]

Sorry linkara but your combine breakdowns are the funniest.

[@ellnats]

I think they were trying to go for a sitcom approach with that dream, not too bad, but it could have been done better

[@ZarynScribbles]

Did Liefeld get the name Knight Sabre from Bubblegum Crisis?

[@autobotstarscream765]

Sylia Stingray > all of Youngblood put together, even including their one actual character, Badrock.

[@PSIHedgehogChris]

Five minutes of Night Sabre, and I'm already "WE GET IT, YOU'RE FROM AUSTRALIA!"

[@Tareltonlives]

Eyebrows: "But what country was he from?"

[@Tareltonlives]

"SPACE Australia, specifically Space Brisbane! Go Space Broncos!"

[@alexjewett7455]

9:28 *rips out my own eyes with a bottle opener*

[@Tareltonlives]

Ah, it's Troll's shower scene that's the reason Liefeld characters don't have eyes.

[@Tareltonlives]

Nightsaber-doesn't dress in black, doesn't carry a saber. I'm going to call him SuperTrevor

[@autobotstarscream765]

The origin of Youngblood's Disease!

[@griffinguy2436]

Wow, that fridge... you could fit, like, five of Kyle Rayner's girlfriends in there! I'm going to hell for that.

[@Bebop411]

I don't care what anybody says I love Youngblood!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Rgoid]

Okay.

[@SnakeRoadComicsOfficial3677]

9:25 Linkara upon discovering The Crossed comics.

[@danthefan28]

5:06 or he's gonna dress up like Lady Gaga, with a meat dress.

[@zman2836]

This video finally reminded me to go back through the single issues I own. Through that I found the only Liefeld comic I own. A little crossover between Valiant and Image, Deathmate Red.

[@Cartoonicus]

Oh my gosh, I died at 9:29!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!! I'm gasping for breath over here!!! *pants exasperatedly, lying on the floor*

[@1987MartinT]

9:46-9:53 There, there. Don't say that. Remember you also get to review good comics from time to time.

[@samuelbarber4154]

I love your combine harvester breakdowns. Do more of them.

[@johnlemus7921]

I went to my friends Comic Shop this past weekend and picked up a few things. One of the was a Civil War II issue with a variant cover by Rob Liefeld. Then I picked up an issue of Deadpool, it too had a cover by Rob. I don't know if he went back to school and learned how to draw correct proportions or what. But his work of recent s gotten really good. He can still draw some shit. But its not as hilariously bad is his older stuff. And according to a recent interview he is bringing Young Blood back next year.

[@Lawnie]

Oh hey, Overtkill is that guy Rob Liefeld designed live on a TV show with Stan Lee, who was originally called Overkill and is basically Cable but with a worse design!

[@brianlewolfhunt]

"Now over to 'Night Saber' who I should probably call 'Australian and competent' given that's his characterization." Ah, there's the Lupa Beywatching joke.

[@ThatGuyfromBrazil]

Badrock is honestly the only character I have any inkling of a like in this mess of a "story". The single most interesting, probably should have his own solo series with better writers and artists. I bet he would've been a good breakout as a plot of needing to mature and grow up as a superhero and as a person. But no, more conflict... more bad art, more overly-dynamic fight scenes... That's how these creators want it...

[@tracydavisjr1980]

bender: oh wait your serious 8:29

[@zacharypreval3186]

In spawn issue #14, we learn that Chapel was the one who originally killed Al Simmons.

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

9:20 THE SCENE I WAS LOOKING FOR!

[@triple8176]

Gundam!!! And with that out of my system I can now watch the video.

[@stoneyboyd]

9:24 Best part of the review

[@Tareltonlives]

Superheroes can sing! Spiderman and Superman had musicals, and it turns out Batman can really belt the Blues.

[@animefan25]

+Linkara-AtopTheFourthWall Why did you choose "Combine Harvester" as your breakdown song?

[@nintyfan1991]

Lewis... I got to say, this one has my favorite of the Combine Harvester insanity gag.

[@tanuki01]

Is it weird that I forget Youngblood exists until each new review

[@beats0me]

No not really, the series is pretty forgettable

[@doubledamn2599]

Wait, you mean Troll and Tommy Wiseau are different people?

[@antibishonen]

9:21 BEST TROLLING EVAH!

[@snakes3425]

9:25 MY EYES!!!! THE GOGGLES DO NOTHING!!!!

[@Silver_Chivalry]

Linkara, your Aussie accent is magnificent! 😂 lol

[@roberth.9664]

I'm sure the people of Vail are glad this comic keeps saying their town is just the place people visit when Aspen doesn't have room for any more tourists.

[@wannabehistorian371]

Hey, they actually have Shaft depth!

[@huangwen-si7498]

9:25 Linkara says Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

[@CthulhuianBunny]

"Super-Hero Trivia: They Can't Sing." I call bullcrap on that! Batman sang a wonderful rendition of Am I Blue in Justice League Unlimited!

[@Rgoid]

Puh-leeze. That would be something from the campy Adam West series but not the DCAU Batman.

[@TheZombiehunter24]

at least marville had only 6 issues, technically 7.

[@robbt.2386]

Overtkill was one of those characters (like Chapel) I first learned about in Spawn. He was better used in that book (like Chapel).

[@DAsrada]

...I kinda suddenly related to Shaft. I've had eating disorders before - I've held myself from eating in my teen years so I don't turn "fat and ugly" again, and then grew obsessed with muscle building to the extent I neglected all else. So....yeah, kinda awkward admission there.

[@Oliver-fu1go]

Dazzler is a famous pop star

[@PauloPereira-hk9nw]

The cover is a swipe of the cover to THING #6 by Ron Wilson.

[@blackroseknight77]

OMC! that Fridge is so organized :) man, wish mine was. LOLZ

[@NickLenz26]

Do you have Youngblood #10 to review?

[@willgillies5670]

Linkara bashing Rob Liefeld. Priceless....

[@clockworktri]

Frankly, if it wasn't for Liefeld's horrific misunderstanding of humanoid musculature, I would have really appreciated some equal opportunity nudity...

[@1rhpsfan]

12:31 They sure were the bane of Tegan's existence wore they.

[@mediahoodreviews4110]

9:25 It's not even in my hand AND I CAN STILL SEE IT!!