Talk:Matter-Eater Lad

User 154.20.19.74: I was wondering why you have reverted my edits to the page Matter-Eater Lad. Much like the factoid about Jeph Loeb in the same "Trivia" section, my contribution speaks as to Matter-Eater Lad's importance. If one of the factors by which one determines the cultural signifance of a subject is the impact that that subject has had on the arts, then the fact that Matter-Eater Lad has inspired two parodies-- two distinct and different characters-- in another fictional universe is noteworthy. I wish to avoid an edit war, and so I hope to discuss this matter; I invite you to do so (and any one else who should choose to weigh in) on this talk page. Anonymoustom 20:08, 29 April 2006 (UTC)Reply

My edit in dispute is this:

Matter-Eater Lad has two parodies in the LNH universe: Cheesecake-Eater Lad, who can consume all varieties of cheesecake, and Briefcase-Eater Lad, who can consume all varieties of briefcase. Anonymoustom 20:15, 29 April 2006 (UTC)Reply

A reference to fanfic is not relevant to the character. It does not provide a neutral point of view, and my edit is made in good faith. Do not conitnue to revert it. -- signed, that user. User:TFG

I understand that your edit was made in good faith, and I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't. I apologize if I came across that way. I was merely asking for your reasoning, which you have provided, and to which I will now respond.

First, I fail to see in which way my contribution is POV. It is a statement of a simple fact: that Matter-Eater Lad has inspired these two parody characters. It does not argue for or against the characters, or for or against Matter-Eater Lad, for that matter.

Secondly, the LNH is not a fan-fiction group. The LNH is made up of original characters (and parodies would also constitute original characters). It itself is historically significant, in that it is the oldest, and possibly the first, shared universe to have developed on USENET. It is not fan-fiction, but an entirely different body of literature.

As for the issue of relevance, it is as relevant as anything else on the page: for example, the fact that he's Jeph Loeb's favourite character is also "irrelevant" to the character himself, and, in fact, could be miscontrued as being POV: that is, as being in favour of Matter-Eater Lad. I believe that the fact that he is Jeph Loeb's favourite character is a worthy contribution to the article; I believe also that the fact that he is the inspiration for Cheesecake-Eater Lad is equally worthy, and I hope to convince you of the same.Anonymoustom 20:36, 29 April 2006 (UTC)Reply

Not buying it. Look, you can call it whatever you want, but it's not relevant to the character. Neither is the note about Loeb, but I don't have to be even-handed in my edits. I suggest you drop it, unless you want me to take a close look at the LNH article for POV ("continued success", etc.) User: TFG

I'm going to drop it because it's obvious that neither of us will convince one another, and it does not behoove me to make waves: Wikipedia is a communal thing, and I'll bow to the wishes of another member of the community. It really is a minor thing, which is why I wanted to discuss it: there's no need to be threatening, sir.Anonymoustom 23:44, 29 April 2006 (UTC)Reply

I found the reference to Jeph Loeb to be a valid. The reference to his speech highlighted the importance of the character in the history of comics.

Someone should really add to the character's Silver Age history, however. Points to add would be the fact that M-E Lad was first suspected of being a traitor when he joined and his later near-execution and subsequent weight gain. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.168.115.30 (talk • contribs) 21:51, 6 March 2007

Rewrote the entry; added a couple of paragraphs about Keith Giffen's work on the character during LSH V4, which was barely mentioned, a major league crime, given that Giffen's portrayal of the character is widely considered to be the defining portrayal of Matter-Eater Lad and the main reason why the character is popular in the first place.

As such, I also think we need to get a new picture of the character from V4 for the character as again, Giffen's portrayal is the definative version and as such, should be used for the entry's picture..... BakerBaker (talk · contribs) 04:21, 26 April 2007

I have removed the picture in the infobox, Image:MattereaterladLarge.jpg, which was taken from Who's Who in the DC Universe. The members of WikiProject Comics feel that because we are a "competing" encyclopedia to the Who's Who, borrowing its images are not fair use. --GentlemanGhost (talk) 02:22, 8 December 2007 (UTC)Reply

How absurd. 74.12.77.238 (talk) 19:01, 18 May 2024 (UTC)Reply

He has the power to cosume matter.. Organic or non-organic? Both:::?

Both. -Golem866 (talk) 22:53, 31 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

Shouldn't the article mention that many people say Matter-Eater Lad's power is lamest ever? -Golem866 (talk) 22:55, 31 December 2009 (UTC)Reply

• Then we'd have to say that for half the super heroes out there. I mean, at least M-EL has an active power. Dream Girl's ability is so useless in a fight she had to study martial arts to supplement it. I suppose one could say her mental powers are so strong they only trot D.G. out once in a blue moon, but, still...kinda lame, sister. Also, not to be crass, but has anyone addressed M-EL's bathroom habits? I mean, if it goes in, it's got to--er--come out. If a guy can eat solid metal, I imagine he does a number on the Legion's plumbing...unless there is something about his metabolism that perfectly burns his intake and produces no waste or fat about the old middle. --The_Iconoclast (talk) 19:23, 6 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

It doesn't matter what "many people" say. It matters what reliable sources say. —chaos5023 (talk) 21:57, 6 August 2013 (UTC)Reply

Hi. I cannot edit anything on the main page because I am not a member of wikipedia. But I believe the first time Matter-Eater Lad appeared in comics and joined the Legion was in December 1962, NOT 1963 as it says in the article. I believe that because Element Lad and Lightning Lass appeared and joined the legion AFTER Matter_eater Lad did. Element Lad was introduced in Adventure Comics #307 whose publication date was April 1963 and Lightning Lass was Adventure Comics #308 in May 1963. So, if Matter-Eater Lad was introduced and joined the Legion in Adventure Comics #303 that should be December 1962 (NOT 1963) BTW my name Chuck and I can be contacted at chuck1815@yahoo.com —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.69.107.156 (talk) 01:39, 4 January 2011 (UTC)Reply

The article should mention the pun on the name of Matter Eater Lad's planet of origin -- Bismoll -- and Pepto Bismol, a popular over-the-counter remedy for indigestion due to over-eating. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.95.43.249 (talk) 00:22, 1 April 2015 (UTC)Reply

What is the significance of this article? ThePRoGaMErGD (talk) 17:27, 22 June 2019 (UTC)Reply

He is a comic book character and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Spanneraol (talk) 17:36, 22 June 2019 (UTC)Reply