…and this is a 
Is anyone going to Comic-Con? You've probably heard that the Phelps gang will be picketing it (IMPORTANT: you know Phelps is a litigious con-man who baits people so he can sue them, right?), so you may have to pick a god to annoy them. Here's a list of appropriate comic book gods and goddesses. Praise Thor, piss off Phelps.
Although I would think being an atheist would be even more effective. For that, here's a list of atheist comic book characters. It's short, and unfortunately, most of them aren't very memorable.
There is, apparently, a comic book called The Atheist. I've never seen it, but it sounds…interesting.
The storyline revolves around present day humans that are having their bodies being "possessed" by the souls from Hell similar to the possessions in the fifties horror movie "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers". The souls from Hell then begin an extremely hedonistic and malicious lifestyle that includes raves, drugs, self mutilation, murder, and other violence. The possessed bodies then start congregating in Winnipeg, Canada.
That's not very atheistic. But, yeah, it sounds exactly like Winnipeg.
Comments
Posted by: Givesgoodemail
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July 19, 2010 9:44 AM
Winnepeg????
Of all the places to stage orgies of sex and drugs and rock 'n roll, Winnepeg floats nowhere near the top of my list.
Posted by: hauntedchippy
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July 19, 2010 9:46 AM
Hagane no Renkinjutsushi is a very memorable character.
I've not read the original manga but have thoroughly enjoyed the animated series (both of them). It's nice to see state sponsored scientists* being the heroes and dealing with all the ethical dilemmas of advancing science.
*Since alchemy is synonymous with science in this universe.
Posted by: Shala
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July 19, 2010 9:54 AM
The possessed bodies then start congregating in Winnipeg, Canada.
So, just a typical day in Winnipeg then?
It's short, and unfortunately, most of them aren't very memorable.
Lex Luthor, Edward Elric, and Spawn being atheists is rather good though at least. Especially Lex, I never even realized that!
The list also leaves out supervillains/heroes that just don't really say their religion either way. I don't really think the Joker would believe in a God, and Batman is a lapsed religious person. Dr. Manhattan never said his religion either, and given that Alan Moore is rather critical of religion I don't think he would have made Manhattan a religious person.
Posted by: Dianne
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July 19, 2010 9:58 AM
Given that characters in the DC and Marvel universes regularly interact with gods, is atheism really the sensible position there? Wouldn't that be a sort of denialism to be an atheist when you've talked to Thor and Odin?
Posted by: Eamon Knight
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July 19, 2010 9:58 AM
But Randy Bachmann seems like such a *nice* guy....
Posted by: Alice Bluegown
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July 19, 2010 10:02 AM
Well, I'm happy to take Booster and Mr Terific for the team, but Fantomex? I HATE that dude - he flat-out gunned down Darkstar!
Posted by: kaylakaze
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July 19, 2010 10:05 AM
That sounds like it'd be like calling John Constantine an atheist.
Posted by: Eamon Knight
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July 19, 2010 10:08 AM
OK, I'm lookin' at a top-banner ad for Nazarene Bible College, and a side-bar for Scientology. Should I get pissed off at the crap they're letting in, or treat it as an opportunity to point and laugh at fools who are parting with good money to pitch to the corner of the universe least likely to buy the product?
Posted by: Jam
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July 19, 2010 10:08 AM
You folks might see my buddy and I on the internet after ComicCon. I'm designing my own counter-protest anti-Phelps signs. Phelps is saying that comics are another example of idolatry in America so I'm taking that accusation and running with it.
The first one is, naturally, Superman being crucified while Doomsday (wearing a centurion helmet) punches him in the side and Super Girl, Power Girl and Lara (Superman's birth-mum) weep and Lex Luthor as the Roman Emperor laughs.
The second one, assuming I have time, is a Last Supper featuring the Avengers (with Thor playing the part of Jesus).
I was excited to be going to ComicCon. Now I'm ecstatic.
Posted by: Shplane, some shit in french
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July 19, 2010 10:10 AM
#4
The world they live in is full of superpowered people who aren't gods. It's more plausible to assume that they're just some other mutants/aliens/wizards who are pretending to be gods or crazy enough to think that they're gods. Taking the guy with the toga's word on it when he says he's Zeus just because he can throw lightning is a bit silly when you know ten other people that can do so as well.
Plus, not everyone has personally come into contact with Thor.
Posted by: llewelly
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July 19, 2010 10:11 AM
Great idea. I hope your execution is good.
Posted by: Dianne
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July 19, 2010 10:24 AM
@10: Good point. Although it begs the question of what exactly a "god" is if not a superpowered entity. That is, is Superman a god for all practical purposes, just a little more modest than Zeus or is there some important distinction?
I suppose one could claim that the actual gods ie creators of the cartoon universes are people like Stan Lee and Alan Moore who rarely show in the cartoons and whose existence could be reasonably doubted by their characters.
Posted by: Nineveh
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July 19, 2010 10:32 AM
(IMPORTANT: you know Phelps is a litigious con-man who baits people so he can sue them, right?)
Is that right? Well then I urge a counter-protest with signs explaining Phelps' and his God's closeted, deep-seated homosexual urges, explaining their obsession with gay sex. Perhaps some pictures of him have sex with God, or Jesus. Talk about bait - the impending physical assault against you could bankrupt them!
Posted by: sorceror171
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July 19, 2010 10:36 AM
Dianne@4: The TVTropes site has a discussion of this very problem: Flat Earth Atheist.
(Warning, that site can be a major time suck...)
Posted by: Falyne, FCD
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July 19, 2010 10:37 AM
Oh man, I am in total decapitated-chicken-run-around mode right now over Comic-Con(or will be, once I check email and blogs). I'm in charge of transportation for some of my buddies who I'm sharing a hotel room with. I also have to clean and idiot-proof my apartment so six of my buddies from LA can crash here. Which means getting as much Pennsic-garb-making done as possible before repurposing my messy messy 2nd bedroom (craft room) into, y'know, a bedroom.
And this is after driving all the way up to Victorville in the High Desert (I saw snow! While my car's external thermometer read 104 degrees! Granted, it was ~4,500 feet above me, but that was definitely snow on Mt. Baldy!) and back yesterday to find someone to drive my gear to Pennsylvania.
Unless the Pennsic War has moved to Winnepeg. That would complicate my plans further.
Mr. Terrific's not really an atheist in the sense of *denying* the existence of "gods". Sure, he's met them. He knows that entities with strong supernatural powers that call themselves gods exist. He's just not giving any of them dominion over himself, nor does he take their claims at face value (or on faith).
The list left off DC Animated Universe Hawkgirl (one of my favorite characters, ever), who's explicitly an atheist and maltheist. In the DCAU, the Thanagarians (Hawkgirl's people) once worshiped Cthulhu (they called him Eckthultu or somesuch, but it was definitely Cthulhu), who taught them civilization in exchange for their souls. Eventually they decided the price was too high, and rebelled.
Hawkgirl and the rest of the Justice League meet Cthulhu after he tries to invade Earth's dimension, and she kills him by smushing his brains from inside his cavernous skull with her Nth-metal mace.
I pretty much pretend the episode ends at that point, because there's a bit of a morality-police-appeasing faith-is-good-and-happy-and-yay coda afterwards at a funeral. Oh, and when the other character died, Hawkgirl started to say she was an atheist and didn't think he'd be reunited with his soul, but interrupted herself to lie 'for his sake'. Blergh.
Posted by: rironin
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July 19, 2010 10:39 AM
I hate to say it, but that "Fred Phelps is a Con Man" article you linked to appears to lack even a shred of credible evidence. It's a well put-together conjecture by a purported journalist, but the best "evidence" he cites that Fred Phelps is suing anyone is: "I will tell you where I got this truth about Phelps. I looked him in the eye."
Aren't these things (lawsuits) a matter of public record? Shouldn't a newsman like the author have more than eye contact to build his case? As fishy as Fred Phelps admittedly is, so is this guy's story.
Posted by: Bill Baconhill
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July 19, 2010 10:44 AM
Hell, Solomon Grundy being on that list makes up for the whole list of nobodies and has-beens. SOLOMON GRUNDY BELIEVE EVIDENCE FOR CREATOR WHEN SOLOMON GRUNDY SEE IT.
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/NxE_lE0Lh_9JksaAqRedu6R7Vg--#bf6f6
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July 19, 2010 10:49 AM
Please, somebody find a buddy, dress up as Ace and Gary: The Ambiguously Gay Duo, and pull up in front of the Phelps brigade in their cock-n-balls-mobile. And do some of Ace & Gary's poses. And get pictures. Please.
"What are you staring at?"
"NOTHING!"
Posted by: NotStradamus
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July 19, 2010 10:49 AM
I'm not surprised the souls from Hell would congregate in Winnipeg. The city does bear some Earthly resemblance to Hell. They only have 2 seasons in Winnipeg - winter and mosquito.
Posted by: AJ Milne OM
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July 19, 2010 10:50 AM
I'm not that familiar with the guy's MO, but yeah, there's a few things strike me as off about that story. Especially, I do have to note the following:
1) The linked article says Phelps is careful about how he does his thing so he doesn't have to face litigation, but if this is the case, it appears to be a recent change. The SPLC has a lengthy timeline at http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2001/spring/a-city-held-hostage/fred-phelps-timel , and you'll note: Phelps and his people have been in court at others' request plenty.
2) ... I also have to note, however, that the linked timeline ends around ten years ago. So possibly, after a few such events, he has moved to said approach.
Posted by: Falyne, FCD
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July 19, 2010 10:52 AM
Here's a pretty good write-up of what I was trying to convey about Mr. Terrific.
Posted by: Alverant
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July 19, 2010 10:54 AM
#4
I would say an Atheist in a comic book universe with pagan gods would be someone who doesn't worship any god. Quasar, for example, regularly interacts with several cosmic yahoos who even the gods would pray to. (And considering his treatment by the true Marvel gods, the writers, I don't blame him for not worshiping anyone/thing.)
Posted by: iasasai
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July 19, 2010 10:55 AM
*blinks*
Yes, I really DID just read Hagane no Renkinjutsushi on this page. NICE!
Posted by: Thebear, just an agent of peas
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July 19, 2010 10:57 AM
The marvel Thor never resonated with me, but for anybody that's able to passably understand Danish I reccomend the Valhalla series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla_(comics)
Apparently it's available on the net thorugh Jyllandsposten (which is of course famous for some other cartoons)
Posted by: mikerattlesnake
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July 19, 2010 10:57 AM
As was previously noted, it doesn't make much sense for atheists to exist in comic book universes. In fact, it would be the anti-rational position when your world is regularly being invaded by demons from hell and Thor is on the news on a semi-regular basis.
I would either dress up as thor and make a sign that says "Thor Hates Trolls" or just dress regular and make a sign that says "Repressed, Closeted Homosexuals Hate Fags and Enjoy Projecting their Particular Psychosis onto an Imaginary God" (it would be a big sign).
Posted by: jafafahots
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July 19, 2010 11:08 AM
I may go to the affiliated Wondercon in SF. Supposed to be kind of more down to earth and friendly than comic-con.
I'm thinking of going even though I have never liked comic books. (well, apart from the comic book era MADs and maybe some Crumb)
I mean, I appreciate the existence of them as an art form, but never really could stomach actually sitting down and reading one.
But going to wondercon might be a good place to experience some mildly entertaining weirdness.
Posted by: gussnarp
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July 19, 2010 11:15 AM
@rironin, AJ Milne - I'm with you guys on the Phelps article. I think the conjecture that he's doing all this in hopes of being able to sue various people or entities and make lots of money makes good sense on its face, but the guy writing the article does all the things that trip my fraud sensors. The "I'm a journalist, so I know" without showing any sign of having done any journalism on this issue and posting it anonymously being the most obvious. If he were a real journalist he would do the research to back up his conjecture and write an actual article and win fame and fortune from it.
That said, it is certainly wise to avoid confrontations that could lead to legal entanglements with the Phelps clan. Counter protests that make him the object of ridicule and mockery are the perfect tactic, and of course, comic-con draws the perfect crowd for just such protests.
Posted by: blogsmalldog
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July 19, 2010 11:26 AM
There are definitely more villains that are atheists instead of heroes. Though, there is some speculation that Superman may be a bit of an atheist now.
I talked a little bit about the religions of villains in superheroes on my blog when I critiqued a Christian comic (here)
This page is also a good resource for the religious affiliations of superheroes.
Anyway, I think most people at Comic Con won't do anything to them, but maybe yell and take funny pictures with them.
Posted by: Snoof
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July 19, 2010 11:35 AM
There's a short story by Stephen Baxter which _explicitly_ does the Superman As Messiah thing, which I quite like. Most comics only allude to it.
True to form, it also has (after Supes' totally unfair death at the hands of humanity for being "too dangerous to live") Luthor setting himself up as Paul, which I quite liked.
Posted by: gussnarp
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July 19, 2010 11:38 AM
@blogsmalldog - Wow, that Christian comic is truly awful. The first few pages appear to be simply an attempt to make associate new atheists with a violent street gang. And the evil violent street gang's arguments make a lot more sense than the hero's. It shows an important argument against he notion that religion is good because of the great art it has inspired, namely that the greatest art had religious themes when it was dangerous to use any other themes, but when artists are free to be inspired by whatever they want, the art that tries to stick to strictly religious themes in a religiously approved way tends to suck out loud, while art that challenges religious views, or simply ignores them, tends to attract much better artists.
Posted by: Becca Stareyes
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July 19, 2010 11:38 AM
Dianne@4
Well, you could also get the sort of Granny Weatherwax atheism.
Basically, Granny is a Discworld character who is a powerful witch and has met gods, albeit usually small local woodland gods. At one point, complaining about the new generation of witches, she notes that they are believing in spirits, which leads to believing in demons, which leads to believing in gods. Her fellow witch, Nanny Ogg, notes that all those things exist, and Granny replies that she knows they do, but believing in them only gives them ideas.
So, you move to a point where you acknowledge that these powerful beings do exist, but don't see any reason why you'd think about them as any better than the leader of some foreign country, or J Random Superhero/Supervillain. Basically you move from belief in existence to belief in benevolence/favor.
(Of course, it helps that the Discworld books do have a definition of 'gods', though it's not terribly clear what the difference between 'gods' and 'demons', or even if there is, besides demons being slightly nastier, more interested in the afterlife, and on the out with the more powerful gods.)
Posted by: JMP
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July 19, 2010 12:34 PM
That list of atheist comic characters is fairly incomplete; the omission of Wolverine, who's more prominent than anyone else on the list except Luthor, is particularly glaring.
Posted by: edmundog
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July 19, 2010 12:51 PM
From a Nerd-American perspective, I can let people know that having Mr. Terrific, Booster Gold, and Savage Dragon are well worth bragging about, even if they aren't well known.
Wolverine was mentioned above, but he's actually a Buddhist. Batman is an Episcopalian, but an EXTREMELY lapsed one, and I think it's not unfair to cont him as an atheist.
Posted by: CSB
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July 19, 2010 12:58 PM
#4, #10:
Here's the challenge. Pretend that you're a character in a comic book -- not even a superpowered character, just one of the random bystanders that breaks out the beer and lawn chairs once the fights start. (If you really want, I suppose you can be someone from Damage Control.)
Now, define 'god'. Can you come up with a definition that excludes all of the heroes you see duking it out on the nightly news on a regular basis? Because I don't care how ridiculously all-powerful you claim to be -- if Reed Richards can force you to surrender, you don't get to call yourself a god.
Posted by: Rey Fox, Bird Caller Guy
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July 19, 2010 1:09 PM
"Well, I'm happy to take Booster and Mr Terific for the team, but Fantomex? I HATE that dude - he flat-out gunned down Darkstar!"
He had to, she was possessed by Weapon XII.
Uh...I mean, how 'bout them Mets?
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler
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July 19, 2010 1:19 PM
Alan Moore having been mentioned, it's time to hail his "Top Ten" stories about a city where everybody is a super-person (hero or villain), and about the cops trying to maintain order therein.
The reason this comes to mind now is an episode in which the police are called to investigate a murder in a god bar. What, you ask, is the first thing they say upon entering?
Posted by: Horatio
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July 19, 2010 1:26 PM
Phelps and his minions have even more reason to get their panties in a bunch this year-- a graphic novel adaptation of the Origin of Species has been nominated for two Eisner Awards, which are handed out at Comic-Con. http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_10nom.php
Idolatry of two-dimensional superheroes and evolution. Oh, the horror!
Posted by: tauarmy
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July 19, 2010 1:44 PM
So when was Communist a religion? That chart confuses and infuriates me. /Morbo voice
Posted by: The Pint
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July 19, 2010 1:45 PM
STFU, Conservatives had some amusing counter-protest comicbook character art, using Bible-quotes and picking major superheroes whose actions exemplified said quotes.
http://stfuconservatives.tumblr.com/
You have to scroll down a little to get to the posts, but they're pretty funny, using Batman, Spider-man, Superman, Capt. America and even Capt. Canuck (I had no idea that character even existed).
Seriously, he's pissed off because comic book readers are, well, comic book character fans? I can't even pretend that this shit makes sense anymore.
Posted by: Kraid
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July 19, 2010 2:14 PM
I couldn't Google up any evidence of courts awarding Phelps any sums of cash in response to his suing people. What I did find was that the WBC was successfully sued for like $11 million by the father of a marine whose funeral was picketed (Phelps managed to wrangle $12k back in the form of legal fees, but that's all I found). Soooo... the money-making con-man story is a bit suspect.
If Phelps seems overly lawyerlike by carefully avoiding personally slanderous statements, that's probably because he has a law degree.
Posted by: PP
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July 19, 2010 2:24 PM
I read the page on "Phelps is a litigious con-man" and it's the most ridiculous piece of fluff I've ever read. I expected to read something about all the litigation Phelps & Co have been involved in, and how much money they've made from this so-called "scam of the decade", but the page doesn't even mention a single case.
All the page says is that Phelps might sue you if you assault him. No shit Sherlock.
Posted by: Shadow
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July 19, 2010 2:26 PM
Phelps and clan are just jealous that there are people who can separate reality from fantasy, and they're protesting this as 'idolatry'.
It may be -- to the Phelps Phreaks. I do not have to play (live) by their rules.
Posted by: Shadow
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July 19, 2010 2:41 PM
Others have noted that, in a world/universe where there are extremely powerful beings (some claiming to be gods, others not), is atheism a valid stance for the heroes/villains who may have encountered them?
Joe citizen may never have seen -- directly Thor smacking around a baddie except on the tv, so can realistically believe/disbelieve in the godhead. Thor, Zeus, Brunhilda (The Valkyrie) and those who deal with them daily, not so much.
Posted by: Shadow
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July 19, 2010 2:49 PM
What would 'The Beyonder' or 'Eternity' be considered? How about Galactus?
Yeah -- I mainly followed the Marvel Universe. How this relates to the hellish babble -- don't many of the fundies (of which Phelps' clan is prominent) believe the earth was 'specially created' and there isn't any life elsewhere? In which case, all these other worlds would be heresy by the rules Phelps and crew want us to live by.
Posted by: Maslab
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July 19, 2010 2:53 PM
Are the gods of certain comedians okay?Posted by: Brianblackberry
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July 19, 2010 2:53 PM
I always felt the best thing to do with the Phelps is to utterly ignore them. The group craves attention, and will revel in any negative attention you give them. Dressing up as your favorite comicbook god will not send them in a tissy, it will simply strengthen in their minds the idea of their own righteousness and our infidel nature. These people crave persecution and mockery, because they honestly believe that it further proves their beliefs that they are "chosen of God" and thus win their god's blessing and approval.
Posted by: Farwell3d
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July 19, 2010 3:33 PM
There is only one appropriate, comic book based response
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2456/phpcbkx5lpmer5.jpg
"Yeah? Well my god has a hammer."
Posted by: Harry Tuttle
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July 19, 2010 3:33 PM
It's short, and unfortunately, most of them aren't very memorable.
Wolverine, Colossus and the two Wasps aren't too bad a pick-up really. And hey, Lex Luthor!
There's an episode of X-Men Evolution where Cyclops implies a belief in angels which Rouge finds utterly incredulous. Odd little scene for a kids cartoon.
Posted by: Circe
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July 19, 2010 3:49 PM
So what if most of the characters in the list of atheistic comic book characters aren't very memorable. There is just one man on that list who beats all other comic book characters, whether theist or atheist, god or goddess, hands down.
In other words, that list has Alan Turing. I rest my case.
Posted by: CortxVortx
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July 19, 2010 4:12 PM
Re: #4
They could be Rime Isle atheists: People who acknowledge that gods exist, but don't pay them much attention. (from Fritz Leiber's "Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser" stories -- in fact, Odin and Loki visited Rime Isle)
Posted by: danielfloresislas
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July 19, 2010 4:46 PM
FarWell3D ar #47
Could you tell me what comic that's from, and the issue if possible?
Posted by: btthegeek
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July 19, 2010 5:34 PM
This reminds me of the scene in Stand By Me when the kids were arguing about who would win a fight between Mighty Mouse and Superman. One of the kids said "Superman of course. Mighty Mouse is just a cartoon character, and Superman's a real guy."
So, who would win a fight between god and Batman? My money is on the dark knight detective. No, wait, god is really R'as al Ghul's sick plan to control the world, and Fred Phelps is his minion. See, R'as always screws up when it comes to the details.
Posted by: KingUber
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July 19, 2010 7:25 PM
Atheists in comic book universes usually just assume that the various "gods" are really just powerful aliens.
Posted by: Marie the Bookwyrm
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July 19, 2010 7:25 PM
danielfloresislas @51, it's from Secret Invasion--the actual limited series, not any of the tie-in comics. I believe that's from the last issue, which was #8.
Marie the comic book geek :)
Posted by: KingUber
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July 19, 2010 7:36 PM
Also, I'm not sure Booster Gold really qualifies as an atheist, since he seemed to accept the fact that Darkseid was a god.
Posted by: hznfrst
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July 19, 2010 7:55 PM
WBC = Westboro Batshit Crazies!
Posted by: Kieranfoy, Faerie Godfather of Death, GMKSC, OED
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July 19, 2010 8:38 PM
Meh. No interesting comic book gods.
So... praise Mystra and the Emprah! And the Omnissiah and Shub-niggurath!
REAL gods. I'll set them against any comic book gods.
Posted by: Birger Johansson
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July 20, 2010 7:44 AM
"IMPORTANT: you know Phelps is a litigious con-man who baits people so he can sue them, right?"
Let him try litigation on Rorschach...or The Midnighter!
Speaking of Midnighter, everyone in The Authority is an ateist (except possibly the Doctor, but he is so weird he cannot be easily pigeonholed).
Posted by: Drake_Tungsten
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July 20, 2010 10:44 PM
There was a Len Kaminski issue of Iron Man that involved Shellhead having a discussion about supernatural and god-like beings with one of Marvel's cosmic characters which strongly suggested that Stark is an atheist.
Posted by: jaybgee
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July 21, 2010 4:35 PM
I don't know much about what comics are included in Comic Con, so I don't know if the Futurama comics would make it. Anyway, Professor Farnsworth seems pretty atheistic, although he did call out to God, Satan, Buddah, and Atheismo before.