#MakeThisBattle Feedback - Aug 31st

Well, good day patrons and welcome to another edition of MTB. I’m your host, Nice Peter, and it feels like it’s been a while. It's good to be back in the hot-seat. :)

Diving in, let’s make a splash with...

Robin Hood vs Jack Sparrow [submitted by J-Star]

Lloyd and myself do not like Robin Hood. He’s been trying to get into a battle for years now, and every time, he just feels a little bit… soft? Maybe its the tights. Maybe it’s how much I loathe Kevin Costner in Prince of Thieves, maybe it’s just an American thing, but any way you slice it, Robin Hood has always been on the bench and never been called into the game. That all said, Jack Sparrow seems to be the best matchup I have seen for him so far. There’s something enjoyable about imagining Jack Sparrow mercilessly mocking Robin Hood, and Robin Hood out-swashbuckling Jack Sparrow. I like this idea, I still don’t like Robin Hood.

Asterix vs Popeye [submitted by The Bird Connection]

Who is Asterix? I need to consult trusty Google. Oh jeez. That…. Guy… I guess? This must be a European thing, because I have barely ever heard of that character. I see the connection, he drinks some magic potion and gets super strong, Popeye eats ordinary leafy greens and gets super strong, they’re both old comics, I see it. I don’t see how or why anyone would ever want to watch that in a rap battle form… but I see how it could be possible. This is one of those matchups that would really strain the credibility of “You Decide”. I don’t hate this idea, but I think almost everyone else on earth besides a few old French dudes would.

Light Yagami vs The Zodiac Killer [submitted by Crabcakes]

I’ve seen this matchup mentioned and discussed at length. I’m not a huge supporter of doing Zodiac Killer in ERB, as I believe the faceless murderer slot has already been filled by Jack vs Hannibal and I don’t enjoy the idea of celebrating more characters of that nature. Light Yagami brings some very interesting new material to the table, and certainly would appeal to a passionate audience. I do find it very interesting that the Zodiac Killer still gets headlines so long after his crimes. In short, I see the value and potential of this matchup, but it just isn’t for me to make.

Mickey Mouse vs Mario [submitted by Leo M.R]

What a switch from killers to M-starting cartoon heroes. This is fun. I like the high voice connection. Their voices could get higher and higher as they get more and more into the battle. It’s hard to resist the South Park version of Mickey Mouse, but I think we would have to.  I think we would have to keep him relatively true to form, while also making him go full on.  Interesting challenge, but I do think it’s possible. Mario would have to be completely reimagined from our original Mario Bros version,  in this context. I like this idea, it’s doesn’t seem highly likely, but it’s nice.

Dorothy Gale vs Geralt of Rivia [submitted by Pihassassa]

Ever since learning about Geralt of Rivia at our last live stream, I’ve become pretty obsessed with him. Still haven’t played his game, but I just keep seeing images of him everywhere. It’s a character that has certainly infiltrated the group consciousness and one I am very interested in exploiting further. Now onto Google this Dorothy person, as I’m fairly certain she’s not the one with the magic red shoes….  Well I’ll be a cow’s bosom...she IS the one with the magic red shoes! What the hell is the connection there? I guess I’ll have to find out by learning more deeply about Geralt. I know Dorothy in and out, except obviously I didn’t know her last name. This is kind of my favorite matchup of this list so far, as I am very intrigued to understand it more.

Bugs Bunny vs Sonic The Hedgehog [submitted by Nick Z]

Bam, boom, more cartoons!  I like this and hate it at the same time. Kind of like Nutella.  I really love the idea of Bugs Bunny, I think he’s just an awesome personality for an ERB.  Great history, great character, etc etc etc.  Sonic is meh, to me, for ERB at least. I was never a SEGA kind of guy.  This would have to be animated, and I never really subscribed to the idea of doing animated cartoon type characters in and animated ERB, but who knows?  Anything is possible. This could certainly be popular, and the jokes could be a blast.

Kim Kardashian vs Coco Chanel [submitted by MarblePipes]

I think Coco Chanel would wipe the floor with Kim Kardashian, but this is still a solid enough idea. Coco Chanel keeps emerging as a strong potential character. Kim Kardashian won’t go away as a strong potential character, although I question how strong she really would be. She seems to lack depth, to me. Maybe I don’t know enough about her, but it’s hard for me to see where her genuine value to history exists. To be fair, you could say that about other characters we’ve done. Anyway, this is solid enough, it seems like it would be fun to watch, LORD knows there are jokes to be made about Kim, and a plenty few hard hitters about Ms Chanel. I give it a B+.

-np

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Our manager HeadMonk offers some extra thoughts...

I actually like the idea of Robin Hood in ERB. Yes, there are some tragic movies out there. But, its a character that endures and a story that will be retold for many years to come. And whilst Pete or Lloyd as Robin Hood does not really excite me, I think its a perfect role for a guest to take on. And multiple ways you can portray the character. 

I loved the Asterix books as a kid. [Tintin similarly] I think Pete has missed out if he's never read them. They are fabulous children's books that adults can enjoy just as much. I appreciate they may not be well known in the US. Popeye makes for an interesting opponent.

Real life serial killers like the Zodiac Killer just aren't gonna be possible. The research wouldn't be fun. The jokes would be difficult. YouTube would likely demonetise. And some people would certainly find it very offensive. It doesn't tick many boxes. I think the connection with Light Yagami is strong, but that isn't enough. All that said I watched Death Note recently and Light Yagami could work in an ERB for sure.

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A new round of MAKETHISBATTLE now begins!!

The theme this time is "Undiscovered". We are looking for matchups that feature at least one character that represent an area of history we have yet to explore. They could be from a country that hasn't been featured before. They could represent an occupation we haven't covered. They may fly under the radar of bigger names, but you feel they have a lot to offer. Are there characters we are overlooking that deserve research?

You can of course always ignore the theme completely if you prefer. But, when selecting the match-ups for feedback we will select 2 or more suggestions that suit the theme.

Same rules apply. Seven match-ups in total will be selected. Three suggestions per person. You can post them in the comments below, email them to erbpatreon@gmail.com or post them on the Discord server in the dedicated '#make-this-battle' channel.

Deadline for submissions is... 5pm PT on Sunday 12th September.