Astral Dog
Member
Not sure why you included my post but...
It's possible to like things while critiquing them.
HIM is cool (probably my favorite villain from the series), but he's also a very stereotypical played-out sissy villain creepy crossdresser relic character with tons of homophobic and effemiphobic qualities; he can come off as really offensive to a lot of people, and it's clear that a lot of what makes him unnerving has to do with his gender expression and even sexuality- like when he licks the professor-. Which makes sense given that he was created by straight men in the 90s.
The point of my post was questioning why they saw fit to remove Miss Bellum for being problematic while keeping the effeminate crossdressing queer devil man who's the embodiment of all evil in a society where a lot of the representation effeminate queer men get in the media involves psychotic villainy or gross out gags.
It's just a little odd to me that this flew over their heads.
If Him was a weak, joke villain i would agree with you, but what makes him work is that he is one of the most threatening and powerful enemies the girls ever face, with no sure way how to stop him, he has magical powers, knows how to trick the girls psychologically, is powerful, and even would be the villain that rules the world when the girls are not there to protect it.
All this despite his effeminate manerisms or way of dressing, wich is a bit stereotypical, but dont take away how powerful and evil he is.
It does not always work, like Mojo who goes from pathetic butt monkey to dangerous (even worst) enemy frequently, but Him is one of the best parts of the whole show.
edit: the new version try to downplay it like anime where he is more of a jester joke or the new show where he is more or less the same but far worse lacking what made him a fun baddie