ISP Discussion Post #1: Sombra Archetypes

I've noticed that King Sombra seems always fall into a very limited amount of archetypes in fanfiction. Why is this?

Also, does anyone here have a favorite Sombra*?

*A fanfiction specific version, someone's AU, etc.

Comments

[Word Worthy]

Many people tend to base him around his characterization in the show, regardless of how limited it actually was. People playing the easy card in writing, I suppose.

The archetype of the Dark Brooding King is one of the easiest ones to depict, as it's told millions and millions of times over in the nursery rhymes and fairy tales many of us learn as children. Princess Celestia herself was originally meant to be Equestria's Queen, but Hasbro changed her to the lesser title of Princess as they feared the show's original target demographic would find Celestia as a Queen to be "evil." In their mind, kids universally thought Princess/Prince = good and King/Queen = evil.

To be honest, my two favorite Sombras are the one in my own head, and the one in your stories, as most other depictions of him I have trouble remembering. (Probably because they fall into that narrow field of archetypes.)

[Ice Star]

3160548

I'm sure ISPU Sombra would be happy to hear that if he gave a crap of what others thought about him.

Thank you for this comment! I'm glad you like my Sombra, just don't try to feed him peanuts.

[Word Worthy]

3160560 What about cashews and almonds?

[Ice Star]

3160564

Eew. They are almost as bad as peanuts. Do you have a favorite mannerism of Sombra's?

[The Wandering Bard]

I haven't read too much with Sombra in it, but one that did paint a very well thought out and different portrait of him was the story Sweetie Belle's Shadow.

[Ice Star]

3160583

I think I heard about that one...doesn't he possess Sweetie?

[Word Worthy]

3160571 Yeah, its his general and apparent belligerence and irritability towards others, and how it sometimes translates into that very noteworthy snarkiness. It gives me the constant impression that he's trying very hard to conceal the fact that he actually cares about his companion(s) on any given journey.

I'll be amazed if you're familiar with this series, but he kind of reminds me of a character by the name of Damon Baird from Gears of War. Damon started off as a nice enough and optimistic junior officer in the COG, then after sixteen years of demotion, tragic loss of friends, and seeing his own world in the grip of a prolonged apocalypse, he buries his troubles under the facade of a snarky smartass cynic who's his squad's resident know-it-all.

[Ice Star]

3160592

Oooh, sounds interesting I'll run that through some search engines later (G.O.W is a video game right?) I'm rather unfamiliar with that medium).

Also don't drink the dish soap.

[Word Worthy]

3160608 Aye, it's a video game series.

[The Wandering Bard]

3160587
Sort of, but neither he nor Sweetie knows how or why, and he's portrayed as a very sympathetic character.

[Ice Star]

3160645

Heh. I put it in the tracking list.

Have you read anything of my Sombra~he's super snarky-y~!