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Thread: Darth Malack

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    Default Darth Malack

    So, as you all have probably noticed, there's been a ton of Star Wars references going on in the past few comics, specifically concerning those of Elan and his father of course. One character it seems may have escaped the scrutiny of most, that is Malack.

    IMO, his name could be a vague reference to Darth Malak, the antagonist to the very popular game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

    If correct, this could actually have a profound impact on the story. In KOTOR, the story goes like this: Darth Malak takes his chance on securing power by betraying his master, Darth Revan. This opens up the possibility that Malack actually betrays Tarquin if, for example, Tarquin decides to side with Elan at some point.

    Thoughts?

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    A possible theory... I believe it has been thrown on here before, but not necessarily because of the Darth Malack angle... but yes, people have mentionned that their names are the same and with all the other star wars references... I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but I'm sure someone will have a link to it being mentionned.
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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Seems unlikely. It's just a name. The main protagonist is named Roy but I don't expect him to become an alchemist that specializes in Flame attacks and joins the military. Besides, unless it was in a film, most people wouldn't get it's a Star Wars reference. And the Star Wars references have died down a little.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Quote Originally Posted by Dr.Epic View Post
    The main protagonist is named Roy but I don't expect him to become an alchemist that specializes in Flame attacks and joins the military.
    Of course not. He's Roy from Fire Emblem.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malak

    It's not that hard to put the two together to get the name of an evil magic-user. Neither the Giant nor George Lucas were the first to do it.
    Last edited by DaveMcW; 2010-10-08 at 03:42 PM.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Not that I agree with that theory, because I don't really have an opinion on the matter, but I feel I should point out that many of the people that think this have noticed that "Kotor the Paladin" is one of Malack's Macebook friends.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Has been suggested before. I think it's possible (though I think your suggestion that it would impact the story at all is ridiculous), but it rests on the assumption that the Giant has in fact played KotOR, which we really can't be sure of.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Well, I can certainly see Malack being a villain, for multiple reasons:

    - The first syllable, "Mal" is not only french for hurt/harm/bad (depends on context/suffixes) but also used in some english words such as "Malicious" or "Malpractice" This alone is not enough to substantiate a Malack = antagonist theory, but is interesting to keep in mind.

    - Albino. Don't get me wrong, albinos rock, but they are also staple villains in many JRPGs. True, you may have the odd albino protagonist, such as Haseo from .hack//G.U. However, most albinos in games are antagonists or at least supporting/recurring foes. A few examples from more recent games include Duke from Tales of Vesperia, Shuzuru from Phantasy Star Portable 2, Selvaria from Valkyria Chronicles, and I really needn't continue.

    ***Please note that the two major albino characteristics are the white/silver hair and RED eyes. Please don't lop characters into this discussion that only have the haircolor, as many Sephiroth, Genis (Tales of Symphonia, party member,) Allegretto (Eternal Sonata, party leader,) and so on fans tend to do. These characters aren't albino and are thus irrelevant to the stereotype.


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    Quote Originally Posted by Ranylyn View Post
    - Albino. Don't get me wrong, albinos rock, but they are also staple villains in many JRPGs. True, you may have the odd albino protagonist, such as Haseo from .hack//G.U. However, most albinos in games are antagonists or at least supporting/recurring foes. A few examples from more recent games include Duke from Tales of Vesperia, Shuzuru from Phantasy Star Portable 2, Selvaria from Valkyria Chronicles, and I really needn't continue.
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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    I just hope Malack has some domain that allows lightning bolt.

    BTW, Mal goes back to the ancient Latin malus, which ment bad(and apples. Hence how in the Garden of Eve story, the fruit is often an apple.)

    and Latin leads to You're French Mal words, English Mal words, and many others, including Spanish mal, which sipmly translates into just bad.
    Last edited by Acero; 2010-10-09 at 12:48 AM.

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    At first I chalked it up to pure coincidence, but after the paladin named Kotor, I don't know anymore...

    I think between Tarquin/Tarkin, Malack/Malak, and Kotor, there's a good chance that at least one of them is an intentional Star Wars reference. Of course all of them, 2 of them, or none of them are also possible. Maybe it'll be touched upon in the commentary. He has settled pop culture references in those before (Fruit Pie and the roach's Green Lantern joke spring to mind).

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gift Jeraff View Post
    At first I chalked it up to pure coincidence, but after the paladin named Kotor, I don't know anymore...

    I think between Tarquin/Tarkin, Malack/Malak, and Kotor, there's a good chance that at least one of them is an intentional Star Wars reference. Of course all of them, 2 of them, or none of them are also possible. Maybe it'll be touched upon in the commentary. He has settled pop culture references in those before (Fruit Pie and the roach's Green Lantern joke spring to mind).
    What's funny is that I didn't even notice that before.

    So much win...

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Quote Originally Posted by Ranylyn View Post

    - Albino. Don't get me wrong, albinos rock, but they are also staple villains in many JRPGs. True, you may have the odd albino protagonist, such as Haseo from .hack//G.U. However, most albinos in games are antagonists or at least supporting/recurring foes. A few examples from more recent games include Duke from Tales of Vesperia, Shuzuru from Phantasy Star Portable 2, Selvaria from Valkyria Chronicles, and I really needn't continue.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cisturn View Post
    You forgot Pete Wisdom from Venture Brothers
    His last name is White. He, like all characters on the show, have a symbolic last name.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Quote Originally Posted by cdstephens View Post
    So, as you all have probably noticed, there's been a ton of Star Wars references going on in the past few comics, specifically concerning those of Elan and his father of course. One character it seems may have escaped the scrutiny of most, that is Malack.

    IMO, his name could be a vague reference to Darth Malak, the antagonist to the very popular game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

    If correct, this could actually have a profound impact on the story. In KOTOR, the story goes like this: Darth Malak takes his chance on securing power by betraying his master, Darth Revan. This opens up the possibility that Malack actually betrays Tarquin if, for example, Tarquin decides to side with Elan at some point.

    Thoughts?
    It may have been a reference, but I doubt it will have any effect on the story. By the same token, you could claim that he had his mouth taken off, and thats why he wouldn't eat in public.

    Also, on your signature. I'm pretty sure Donna didn't take her wall down just because of you.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lade View Post
    It may have been a reference, but I doubt it will have any effect on the story. By the same token, you could claim that he had his mouth taken off, and thats why he wouldn't eat in public.
    "Had his mouth taken off"? How is that possible? A mouth is a hole. You'd have to like sow it up and even then the hole would still technically be there.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dr.Epic View Post
    "Had his mouth taken off"? How is that possible? A mouth is a hole. You'd have to like sow it up and even then the hole would still technically be there.
    http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_Malak

    Specifically, there's a picture of him with his "jaw casing" removed. He got his mouth cut off by his master's lightsaber.
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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Jaw, Darth Malak lost his jaw.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lade View Post
    http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Darth_Malak

    Specifically, there's a picture of him with his "jaw casing" removed. He got his mouth cut off by his master's lightsaber.
    Looks like his jaw was removed. Malack, as we've seen, has all the elements of his skull intact (unless his hood is hiding something).

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    Well, my personal opinion is that it's a direct reference to Darth Malack, but that doesn't mean that the story will develop the same way (Tarquin's and Elan's interaction hasn't corresponded to the movies -- it wasn't "Elan, I am your father!" "Noooooooooo!", after all).

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    Quote Originally Posted by Lade View Post
    It may have been a reference, but I doubt it will have any effect on the story. By the same token, you could claim that he had his mouth taken off, and thats why he wouldn't eat in public.

    Also, on your signature. I'm pretty sure Donna didn't take her wall down just because of you.
    Was referring to Michelle Archer, not Donna. I'd tell you the story, but it's a bit off topic.
    Last edited by cdstephens; 2010-10-10 at 02:27 PM.

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    I've never played Knights of the Old Republic. The name was originally going to be Malachi, but I decided at the last minute that I didn't want names that were too closely related to any real-world religion. So I dropped the "hi" and slapped on a "k", which happily gave me a unique name.

    And his "friend" Kotor was just random. I picked sounds that sounded like an ancient Conan-type warrior to me.
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    I've never played Knights of the Old Republic. The name was originally going to be Malachi, but I decided at the last minute that I didn't want names that were too closely related to any real-world religion. So I dropped the "hi" and slapped on a "k", which happily gave me a unique name.

    And his "friend" Kotor was just random. I picked sounds that sounded like an ancient Conan-type warrior to me.
    But....but....it was so perfect.....Malack....KOTOR....the Star Wars references.....


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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    I've never played Knights of the Old Republic. The name was originally going to be Malachi, but I decided at the last minute that I didn't want names that were too closely related to any real-world religion. So I dropped the "hi" and slapped on a "k", which happily gave me a unique name.

    And his "friend" Kotor was just random. I picked sounds that sounded like an ancient Conan-type warrior to me.
    If there isn't some kind of "law of unintentional references," I'm gonna have to write one up. I caught Howard Tayler on an unintentional Portal reference a couple years back...

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mando Knight View Post
    If there isn't some kind of "law of unintentional references," I'm gonna have to write one up.
    There is. It's called "coincidences."

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    (Tarquin's and Elan's interaction hasn't corresponded to the movies -- it wasn't "Elan, I am your father!" "Noooooooooo!", after all).
    If anything it's the reverse, they started off on a good start while Luke started off hating Vader. Unless you want to count those few minutes where Elan thought he was just an evil general.

    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant View Post
    I've never played Knights of the Old Republic. The name was originally going to be Malachi, but I decided at the last minute that I didn't want names that were too closely related to any real-world religion. So I dropped the "hi" and slapped on a "k", which happily gave me a unique name.

    And his "friend" Kotor was just random. I picked sounds that sounded like an ancient Conan-type warrior to me.
    And thus people will still debate about Tarquin/Tarkin.

    Who am I kidding? Malack and Kotor, too.

    Still, good to have some clarification from Mr. Burlew.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cdstephens View Post
    Was referring to Michelle Archer, not Donna. I'd tell you the story, but it's a bit off topic.
    PM. Meh, Meesh/Archer attracted enough attention anyway.

    Quote Originally Posted by Zevox View Post
    There is. It's called "coincidences."

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Coincidences are frightening and dangerous things.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Xykeb Zraliv View Post
    Coincidences are frightening and dangerous things.
    Especially ones of this precision ....

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    Default Re: Darth Malack

    Quote Originally Posted by Gift Jeraff View Post
    And thus people will still debate about Tarquin/Tarkin.
    Tarquin is named after the king of Rome. It's a different name altogether, there's nothing to debate about.
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