I do not think that word means what you think it means

Atlas Comics briefly published a comic titled "The Grim Ghost", but I think maybe the fact that Dictionary.com didn't exist yet really hosed them, because this guy doesn't exactly look "Grim" to me:

Purple, aqua, and white aren't exactly the colors that spring to mind when I think "grim". A "g" word, yes, but not that particular one. And when I suggest that "The Gay Ghost" might work better, it's not in the modern derogatory sense but rather the more traditional "happy or festive" connotation. I mean, look at the guy -- that enormouse double popped collar and painted-on-jeans with flyaway purple bandanna clearly says to me that he's looking for a party. I think he's even got a frilled cravat, for the love of fashion!

My understanding is that he was some sort of revived pirate from the Colonial age or whatnot, so I can understand wanting to stick with the fashion that brung ya. But come on, one set of deep knee bends and we'll all get to see just how happy he really is, if you see what I mean.

Just going from the outfit, and knowing how much editors love alliterative character names, I think a better fit in addition to my earlier one would have been "The Happy Haunter", or the "Spectacular Spirit", or the "Phantasic Phantasm". Because the one thing I absolutely do not get from this guy is "Grim".

(Image and character © Atlas Comics.)

16 Responses to I do not think that word means what you think it means

  1. Loki says:

    Fabulous~!

  2. Runt82 says:

    And he’s the Son of Satan? I think maybe daddy disowns him.

  3. Danny Beaty says:

    @Jeff: According to “The Atlas Archives” website, Atlas Comics will be making a comeback. “The Grim Ghost” was a highwayman who was betrayed by a double-crossing dame, killed and went to Hell. Satan told the highwayman that he (the highwayman) would be sent back to Earth to collect the souls of evil men.

  4. Jeff Hebert says:

    Hm, what other popular character has a similar origin and life? I can’t for the life of me imagine who that might be, popular say in the early Nineties, well after the publication of the Grim Ghost …

  5. Alan Bates says:

    There actually was a character called the GAY Ghost that was later renamed to be the GRIM Ghost. It’s not this guy though.

  6. Jeff, If you’re thinking of the Ghost Rider that automatically shoots us back to that Gay Ghost thing.

    AND

    what on earth are they doing to that poor girl on the right? And the gay, uh, grim ghost is just standing around playing with his shoulder? Heavens to murgatroid. Why doesn’t he do something for the love of Pete! Or is he just too interested in those three semen descending from the right side of the panel?

  7. I mean, left side. Our left. Uh, his right shoulder. The seamen are descending on his shoulder.

  8. Reader Kate says:

    It’s…No Peripheral Vision Man!

  9. Cliff says:

    Maybe it was supposed to be the Prim Ghost

  10. Cliff says:

    and of course I think he is absolutely FAB-U-LOUS!!!

  11. Zforce says:

    Look at this guy… his secret identity has to be Prince. PURPLE RAIN! Lmao…

  12. You are to PC, me thinks…the ONLY word that comes to MY mind with THAT pose is wellll….that he probably has had some man secks in his time….not that that’s a bad thing….BUT….maybe…Jus maybe… I’m just a horrible pervert and can’t help but notice how….”akward”? That pose is…and the poped collar doesn’t help.

  13. Jeff Hebert says:

    GtaMythMaster43, since you seem from another thread to be in a correcting mood: it should be “too PC” not “to PC” (that one irks me even more than misused apostrophes or there vs. their vs. they’re); there’s only one “L” in well, not four; it’s sex not secks; it’s “jusT” not “jus”; awkward not akward; and popped, not poped. A poped collar would, presumably, be holy or have a cross on it or something.

    Finally, I LOATHE the casual usage of calling things “gay” as you’re doing here. It’s derogatory, yes, so I suppose that falls under the broad brush of “PC”, but even worse is that it’s flat-out lazy. Why use accurate and descriptive words or put any effort into anything if you can just fall back on a generic, tired, trite, over-used default? Particularly when that default is also used to slander an entire class of people?

    So yeah. I hate it when people do that, so please don’t.

  14. Eh, Fair enough. I was in pinch of a bad mood last night. Sorry if I put you on unease, also I like the princess bride reffrence in the title.

  15. Also I try to censor myself, I meant “Secks” Instead on “Sexs” and the other typos are courtecy of the hour. I did post a 2.AM and I was in an unerved mood due to the sheer amount of idiots on youtube that day, so my apologises. Typos seem to be abundent with me latelty….So please forgive me. Also I never said “gay” this guy just looks like everything wrong in one picture. Also some of your corections don’t really make sense to me but…I’m not in a proper state of mind today. I am super busy today so…