Making fun of old people is wrong. Fun, but wrong.

Pop-quiz time! If you saw this guy wandering around, would you think he was a deadly super-villain or an escapee from the local "retirement village" ?

I'd have bet "escapee", especially since he's gadding about in his favorite green footie pajamas and a woman's feather boa. Plus, look at that pose -- it practically screams "Get off my lawn, you damn kids!"

On the one hand, I'm all for non-traditional types appearing in comics, and it's nice to see someone out there representing Geritol Nation. But did they have to bring up the grim specter of looming death hovering over his aging body by naming him "The Vulture"? That's just cruel.

On the other hand, this guy's going to snap in half like a dried-up old stick the first time he tries to pull out of a power-dive. And I don't think, in general, anyone over the age of 24 or so ought to be wandering around in anything skin-tight. Just say no to drooping.

Luckily none of that matters to Spider-Man, who gleefully beat the snot out of him on a regular basis back in the day. Sometimes it's nice to have an opponent who can be defeated just by starting a conversation about low-rise pants and/or that loud rock-and-roll music.

(Image and character ©Marvel Comics.)

20 Responses to Making fun of old people is wrong. Fun, but wrong.

  1. Kaldath says:

    Considering his green footsies look more like fur then feathers he has always reminded me of the flying Monkeys from the Wizard of Oz

  2. William A. Peterson says:

    Laugh if you want to, Jeff, but the Vulture is a lot tougher than he looks! He’s had dozens of ‘youngsters’ steal his suit, and his schtick, and gone after each and every one of them, and beat them into the dirt…

  3. Joshua says:

    Ah the Vulture, a man not content to spend his golden years keeping himself regulated, nor enjoying 4pm early-bird (…*sigh* pun unintended) dinners at Shoneys, nor lamenting the state of affairs. Not him, no sir. Brings to mind a quote from “The Hangover”; one that typifies his and Spider-Man’s encounters:

    “That’s right. You better walk on. I’ll hit an old man in public.”

    🙂

  4. Jeff Hebert says:

    WillyPete, he can kick as much as he wants, he still looks ridiculous.

  5. ams says:

    It’s funny you don’t see him around much anymore. Damn Viagra!

  6. Watson Bradshaw says:

    I never got why he was in the green, how many vultures do you see rocking the jade. I think most of Spidy’s villains get there fabric from the same discount bin.

  7. TopHat says:

    In fairness, he’s alot tougher then a normal old guy. The problem is, he’s dressed so badly that even Electro, Kraven and Mysterio laugh at him.

  8. Mr.MikeK says:

    @Watson: Due to the restricted budget Marvel had back in the day, the only color they could buy for Ditko was green, red, and blue. Red and blue went to Spidey so that left green for the villains. Jack Kirby really sucked up the ink.

    I’ve always like the Vulture as a character. It doesn’t bother me that he tries to look like a vulture. I’ve seen a few vultures in my day and they look pretty much like this guy ‘cept for the green color and his lack of talons.

    I thought one of the “youngsters” that put the suit on added the worst accessory ever to the suit: a cap with knobs on it to control birds. Seen here in a still from the classic Spiderman cartoon series: http://www.cedmagic.com/featured/spider-man/vulture-man-4511.html

  9. Dan says:

    I’ve always found the Vulture to be uber-lame. The only time I ever had any kinda of feeling that he could be a threat was in Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions. That version was beyond creepy.

  10. Myro says:

    One of my favorite quotes about the Vulture came up in Deadpool: Suicide Kings. Deadpool and Spider-Man start breaking into a pissing match.
    Deadpool: Shouldn’t you be off battling one of your many mortal enemies–like, I dunno, The Vulture? What is that guy, like, ninety?
    Spider-Man: He’s in his early seventies! And that’s ageism.

    So, be careful about having this thread up, Jeff. The AARP might sue to have it shut down as you’re ridiculing the super-aged.

  11. EnderX says:

    You want the grim specter of death over him? Remember what the guy’s official last name is.

  12. ajw says:

    yes, toomes is quite the omen

  13. Kytana says:

    I don´t like it. So i create my own old supervillain. And now he called his person “The Eagle Eye”, a smart guy who won´t go in retire. So he took his old wings away and changed it to a modern version. With that he can control all birds around him and he have also hiding weapons inside.

    http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/6467/rentner.png

    For his early seventies he looks greet. *smile

  14. William A. Peterson says:

    Oh, if you’re just mocking the costume, I’m with you all the way, Jeff!
    But, he makes lunchmeat out of people who underestimate him…
    Including an entire TEAM of Vulture Wannabes!

  15. I’m sticking up for the Vulture. Spider-Man is all about the off-beat and the misfits. That’s his appeal. As with his villains.

    Adrian Toomes is a reflection of Stan Lee. Stan was sitting around wondering, “What if I fail? What happens if I become some bitter old man? How would a septuagenarian exact revenge?” Yes, the costume is horrible. It got your attention.

  16. punkjay says:

    See I work at a retirement home and my biggest suprise is that The Vulture wears a color other than White or beige.

  17. punkjay says:

    I bet you anything that outfit is polyester! Anyone want to take me up on it?

  18. Kytana says:

    I worked not in a home but i helped old people too. Red Cross(Rotes Kreuz) is the orgination where i am. So i feel a little bit disgusted as i seen this image. The color is not so bad, better than a white nightdress.

  19. Mr.MikeK says:

    @William P. I remember that issue of Web of Spiderman! It’s the same issue where Spidey gets rid of the symbiote in the bell tower. Ole’ Toomsey kicks some serious Vulturion butt. Granted, they used the lamest weapon ever for a flying team, a blowgun and deserved to have their heads handed to them by the real deal.

  20. Dra.Luana says:

    muito daora o hero machine 2.5