Mary Sue - How to Tell
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EDIT 3: 11/22/09 You guys are kidding me XD For goodness sakes, reaaaaad the liink here: [link] Every time I get a comment that reads "the one on the left is a Mary Sue because she has green hair and a power," I realize that they're not reading the description which contains this link: [link]
tl;dr: If 'special' traits fit in with the universe, it doesn't automatically make the character a Mary Sue. What if everyone else in Ami Machida's universe has green/blue/purple hair? What if everyone else has a cat power? Does that make her a Mary Sue? Not necessarily.
Please, spare me the time from having to point you BACK to the silly description and just take a minute to read the link. You know, the one I linked to a bunch of times up above. And the link here: [link]
EDIT 2: 10/11/09 I suppose this is long overdue, but for those of you with confusion, here is an explanation on why I perceive the one on the left as not a Mary Sue: [link] For the love of god stop whining about it D:
EDIT: 6/21/09 Okay, everyone, please chill with all the 'hay is my character a mary-sue!?11" questions. I get about 3 a day now and one thing you need to understand - I AM NOT AN AUTHORITY ON MARY SUES. This picture is a parody. Just for fun. The one on the right is obviously an extreme exaggeration of a stereotype and not the definitive definition for a Mary Sue. D:
Please full view. You won't be able to read the text if you don't.
For those of you who don't know, a Mary Sue, in a nutshell, is a fanmade character that is usually extremely beautiful, powerful, smart, talented, and in plain words, perfect in every way.
These characters tend to be quite a bother in fanfiction and role playing, since they simply can't be beat, and thus become boring.
Have any of you ever been rping, and come across a character who is like, " oh, well, that planet in the way isn't a problem *blows it up*"
Or, is like, "well, Vegeta and Goten and Trunks and Goku ALL have a crush on my character"
Yep. That's a Mary Sue.
So, for people who still don't understand, I made this little picture/diagram. Usually, Mary Sues have TONS of talents and TONS of powers, and no weaknesses.
Enjoy ^_^
-Done in Copic Markers, with the background and text done on computer -
tl;dr: If 'special' traits fit in with the universe, it doesn't automatically make the character a Mary Sue. What if everyone else in Ami Machida's universe has green/blue/purple hair? What if everyone else has a cat power? Does that make her a Mary Sue? Not necessarily.
Please, spare me the time from having to point you BACK to the silly description and just take a minute to read the link. You know, the one I linked to a bunch of times up above. And the link here: [link]
EDIT 2: 10/11/09 I suppose this is long overdue, but for those of you with confusion, here is an explanation on why I perceive the one on the left as not a Mary Sue: [link] For the love of god stop whining about it D:
EDIT: 6/21/09 Okay, everyone, please chill with all the 'hay is my character a mary-sue!?11" questions. I get about 3 a day now and one thing you need to understand - I AM NOT AN AUTHORITY ON MARY SUES. This picture is a parody. Just for fun. The one on the right is obviously an extreme exaggeration of a stereotype and not the definitive definition for a Mary Sue. D:
Please full view. You won't be able to read the text if you don't.
For those of you who don't know, a Mary Sue, in a nutshell, is a fanmade character that is usually extremely beautiful, powerful, smart, talented, and in plain words, perfect in every way.
These characters tend to be quite a bother in fanfiction and role playing, since they simply can't be beat, and thus become boring.
Have any of you ever been rping, and come across a character who is like, " oh, well, that planet in the way isn't a problem *blows it up*"
Or, is like, "well, Vegeta and Goten and Trunks and Goku ALL have a crush on my character"
Yep. That's a Mary Sue.
So, for people who still don't understand, I made this little picture/diagram. Usually, Mary Sues have TONS of talents and TONS of powers, and no weaknesses.
Enjoy ^_^
-Done in Copic Markers, with the background and text done on computer -
Image size
1293x961px 902.09 KB
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TayToonHobbyist Digital Artist
Honestly I don't care if your character is a "Mary Sue" as long they're entertaining, I like them. A Mary Sue is a Mary Sue if their creator kept on shoehorning down people's throats trying so hard to say that their character is not "said label."
Even though I know I'm supposed to despise the Mary Sue on the right, I have to admit that creating phoenixes from your hands does sound like a cool power to have.
Here's how I define a Sue/Stu character. I believe a character can have flawless beauty, be a total badass, have genius intellect, be loved by everyone, and be a paragon of virtue and still not be a sue or stu. (IE-Boa Hancock from One Piece has most of the traits you'd expect from a Sue but definitely is not one). For me, the defining trait is whether they serve the story or the story serves them. What I mean is the entire story is centered around how awesome they are rather than their awesomeness serving to advance the story.
If someone needs a laconic definition for Mary-sue, then here it is: “someone who does not follow the rules of their reality”.
I think what’s missing for most people is context: neither of these two would be out of context in the right setting (appearance wise at least, the details would just need tweaking). Take the one on the right; she’d likely fit in a very surreal setting, even the parentage thing might work in a very surreal fanwork (and by surreal, I mean like the Beatles and the Yellow Submarine kind of surreal, not the very troll-y kind): I can imagine her being in an anime/Marvel inspired work (if you don’t know how it can have Marvel inspirations, you either need to look at something like Dr. Strange, or just quit now).
With the one the left, she actually would just need tweaking to fit into “My Hero Academia”; she has a power, she has the appearance, and she has a very average background, it would be easy.
I think what’s missing for most people is context: neither of these two would be out of context in the right setting (appearance wise at least, the details would just need tweaking). Take the one on the right; she’d likely fit in a very surreal setting, even the parentage thing might work in a very surreal fanwork (and by surreal, I mean like the Beatles and the Yellow Submarine kind of surreal, not the very troll-y kind): I can imagine her being in an anime/Marvel inspired work (if you don’t know how it can have Marvel inspirations, you either need to look at something like Dr. Strange, or just quit now).
With the one the left, she actually would just need tweaking to fit into “My Hero Academia”; she has a power, she has the appearance, and she has a very average background, it would be easy.
MissLadyCStudent Digital Artist
Man this is old....
ShadowCrystalFox7Hobbyist General Artist
I also hate math. Got an E😑
RetroForLifeHobbyist Traditional Artist
Me: See Prince Vegeta
Also Me: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I HATE KAKAROT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Also Me: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA I HATE KAKAROT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Loud and clear, this comparison sum up everything.
WHY DEOS THIS LOOK LIEK THE 80'S!!!??!!!!
CleanClear777Professional Artist
Man, I'm so fucking glad & happy that my AJ's-(average joes*) & PJ's-(plain janes*) pure human, pure non-human, & half human―half non-human characters with(out) superpowers aren't like these Mary-Sue & Marty-Stu characters. However I have some Mary-Sue & Marty-Stu characters with(out) superpowers as well, so my AJ's/PJ's have some characters to torture to death.
Kenneth-SetserHobbyist General Artist
WHAT?!
KarmaKiruu10155Student Digital Artist
This is why I name my fuckin’ hellhound boy “Chris”
Kenneth-SetserHobbyist General Artist
HA
KarmaKiruu10155Student Digital Artist
he’s also dead-
Kenneth-SetserHobbyist General Artist
What?!
PETFAN776Student Digital Artist
i act same as your left oc lmao
Kenneth-SetserHobbyist General Artist
OH JESUS
CleanClear777Professional Artist
LOL LOL 
Kenneth-SetserHobbyist General Artist
😁😆😊😉
Sparkybonbom27Hobbyist Traditional Artist
Is mine a mary sue
my oc is sparky (she likes lolita and harajuku style unlike people who like trendy clothes)
she is very old billions
hair color is cream yellow
species is something i made up
puffaballoo they can live forever but they aint invincible their hair can change shape and is another dimension
she dosent like sports and is in a video game club
only a mother she is a puffabaloo too
gpa: C+ Although she is very smart
power: I just said
companion: rabbit who likes harajuku style
Weakness: scared of bugs,dark,blood,bad at getting a relationship on purpose because she no want 1
my oc is sparky (she likes lolita and harajuku style unlike people who like trendy clothes)
she is very old billions
hair color is cream yellow
species is something i made up
puffaballoo they can live forever but they aint invincible their hair can change shape and is another dimension
she dosent like sports and is in a video game club
only a mother she is a puffabaloo too
gpa: C+ Although she is very smart
power: I just said
companion: rabbit who likes harajuku style
Weakness: scared of bugs,dark,blood,bad at getting a relationship on purpose because she no want 1
Sparkybonbom27Hobbyist Traditional Artist
Also she has rabbit traits
not all people like her and she aint the smartest although she is very smart with a iq of $
she aint perfect
not all people like her and she aint the smartest although she is very smart with a iq of $
she aint perfect
Sparkybonbom27Hobbyist Traditional Artist
Hobbys include drawing video games playing with toys and social media and games
obsesses over pop'n music (especially kirara) otoca d'or pokemon kirby nintendo in general and the duck life series
obsesses over pop'n music (especially kirara) otoca d'or pokemon kirby nintendo in general and the duck life series
Sparkybonbom27Hobbyist Traditional Artist
She is not royalty and also she is based on me she has to get braces too
Iranoutofname5Hobbyist Digital Artist
it all depends on the story of her character, i always prioritize the flaws to build my character.
i'll tell you one of my ocs
name: josmil
story: a pirate that has encountered a mermaid, they built a relationship and became lovers until enemy pirates from a different country attacked and kidnapped them, she told him to eat her to give him powers to survive. this gave him unlimited memory and eternal youth
flaws: he is still human and can be damaged normally, eating her gave him a traumatic effect that will never go away
see? make the bio only on the important parts like story, personality, flaws, and species. don't make the species or abilities too powerful and make the flaws impactful because the flaws is what affects all characters
i just love criticism, you can criticize mine if you have any.
i'll tell you one of my ocs
name: josmil
story: a pirate that has encountered a mermaid, they built a relationship and became lovers until enemy pirates from a different country attacked and kidnapped them, she told him to eat her to give him powers to survive. this gave him unlimited memory and eternal youth
flaws: he is still human and can be damaged normally, eating her gave him a traumatic effect that will never go away
see? make the bio only on the important parts like story, personality, flaws, and species. don't make the species or abilities too powerful and make the flaws impactful because the flaws is what affects all characters
i just love criticism, you can criticize mine if you have any.
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