Mimsey's Top 11 Favorite American Icons: Brought to you by the Testing Fate blog tour

Hello Gentle Readers, 

I was asked to do a blog post by my friends over at TTC & B2B blog tours. So, I decided that since it's the 4th of July, theoretically U.S.A.'s birthday, I'd do something patriotic. 

With that in mind, here’s “Mimsey’s Top 11 American Icons”. Why 11? Because I’m a giver. 

And I bleed RED WHITE AND BLUE....

1) Weird Al

A perfect addition for any weekend getaway!

Al Yankovic is an amazing musician, songwriter and satirist. He also has one of the funniest Twitter feeds ever. Also, if you have never seen UHF then seriously stop what you’re doing and watch it. Right now. I’ll wait.

While you’re at it, consider that Al might be aging backward. 

He may in fact be a Time Lord. 

Yes, Weird Al is actually Doctor Who.

Because if Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Elvis Presley have taught us anything, it’s that taking someone else’s original work and putting your own spin is THE AMERICAN WAY!

It's a hard life to be talented and handsome. I should know.

2) Wonder Woman

Fighting crime with fashion accessories!

Wonder Woman, the DC Comics superheroine, may be an Amazon from the island of Themyscira, but that red, white and blue corset is as American as apple pie.

Lynda Carter, ladies and gentlemen.

 

With super strength, the ability to fly, super speed, a magic lasso, bullet proof bracelets, a throwable tiara and an invisible jet, Wonder Woman has it all covered. She also has one of the most memorable themes EVER. Seriously, that thing will be stuck in your head ALL DAY!  

Yes, she has an invisible jet. She can fly but has an invisible jet. 

Why? Because she’s Wonder Woman! Deal with it!

3) Rocky Balboa

You can do it!

Rocky Balboa, the lovable loser played by Sylvester Stallone scratches his way to success through perseverance, hard work, and the ability to be beaten repeatedly in the head. If that’s not the American Way, I don’t know what is. 

And in Rocky IV he defeats He-Man and brings down Communism. 

Through friendship!

 What’s really great is that in the original Rocky, Balboa doesn’t even win. It’s Rocky II where the dude actually wins. And in true American tradition, ends up being best friends with Apollo Creed! No seriously, this epic boxing film is really about friendship!

And subtle homoeroticism.

 4) Jeannie the Genie/Samantha Stephens

GIRL POWER!

In the 1960s, America had not one but two TV shows about near-omnipotent women who decide that what they really want is a man in their lives. Kind of. Bewitched was about a beautiful woman who marries a man, tells him she’s a witch, and then her mother-in-law make his life a living hell. With Paul Lynde as Uncle Arthur!

"It's so hard to get ahead in life!"

I Dream of Jeannie is about an Air Force astronaut who finds a beautiful genie, and the hilariously awesome dynamics of who really wore the MC Hammer parachute pants in the relationship. 

Larry Hagman knows. He knows and doesn't care.

 Both shows were incredibly progressive in terms of gender politics, where the male characters were mostly comedic foils, the women really held the real power in the relationship, and the marriage despite all this was still an equal partnership. A very 1960s skewed partnership, but you take progress where you can get it.

Also, this is what Barbara Eden looks like at 78. 

 5) Batman

I am vengeance! I am the night! I EXFOLIATE!

This is where I tell you who Batman is. You are on the internet. Don’t play that game. Seriously, I just made a Paul Lynde joke like two paragraphs ago. If I'm not explaining who Paul Lynde and Larry Hagman are, you can bet I'm not explaining Batman.

Batman fighting a shark with a lightsaber. Your argument is invalid. 

This is a man whose super-powers are his indomitable will, his commitment to justice, and money. Like Scrooge McDuck levels of money.  And if a man who uses a can-do attitude, overwhelming force, and all the technology the military industrial complex’s money can buy isn’t an American icon, then I don’t know what is!

6) The Fonz

 Aaaay!

 

The breakout star of the TV series Happy Days, Fonzie, played by Henry Winkler, defined cool. He could start the jukebox with a fist thump, was best friends with a ginger, and could jump a shark in a single bound.

Leather jackets always make the best swimwear.

Here was a short Jewish guy who stood up for those who couldn’t defend themselves, always kept his cool, and NEVER took gruff from bullies.

7) Spider-Man

I can't help feeling, we could have had it all. 

Living by the code that with great power, comes great responsibility the Marvel character Spider-Man is as American as homemade apple pie. He lives in New York, he takes care of his elderly aunt, and he makes money by selling photos of himself. Self-promotion, the American way!

He makes this look good. 

If I’m being honest, Spidey was and is my favorite hero. He was the first comic I ever read, was my favorite cartoon character, and I love all the movies. Even Spider-Man 3! He’s everything you could want from a hero, and is a true American icon.

In all seriousness folks, this is one of the best comics ever written.

8) Bruce Springsteen

 

Go ahead, start singing Born in the U.S.A. we’ll wait.

The Boss is a true American icon. A Jersey boy who made good, Bruce is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, the epitome of the working man, and has probably contributed more to the American musical landscape then Francis Scott Key.

 A man and his guitar, a love story.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by Springsteen, and if you’ve ever listened to Top 40 Radio between November and January, you’ve heard that song. The highlight for me is The Boss’ interaction with Clarence, the saxophonist for the E-Street band. Clarence Clemons passed away June 12, 2011. But, the music lives on. 

Play on Clarence, play on!

 9) Superman

He's here to rescue you. From your pants.

Standing for truth, justice, and the American way, the man of steel was sent to Earth from his dying planet Krypton, found by loving parents in Kansas, and raised to be a beacon of hope. And yes, I've blogged about him before.

He's also a cat person. 

An immigrant from another planet, Supes does everything in his power to make sure no one gets hurt on his watch. He’s the big blue Boy Scout, represents the best people can be, and is what we should all aspire to be. 

 10) Michael Bay

MORE BOOM!

The director of such art house films as The Rock, Armageddon, and the Transformers trilogy, love him or hate him, the guy’s movies make money. And giant explosions. And Megan Fox running in slow motion.

Michael Bay demonstrates subtlety!

 

His films fart bald eagles and crap apple pie. Michael Bay bleeds red, white and blue. He’s done more to promote the military then Top Gun and Stripes combined. What’s more, the guy makes the kinds of movies he wants to make. He’s a true American hero. 

Oh Martin Lawrence and Will Smith...what happened? 

11) Captain America

Who else?

The original Avenger himself, Captain America's story perfectly encapsulates the States. A weakling who volunteers for an experimental drug, Cap gets a mega-boost of awesome and proceeds to punch out Hitler. 

This is the first issue. It came out in March 1941. Just laying that out there.

Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, published by what would become Marvel Comics, Captain America fights evil with a giant shield, red, white and blue color scheme, and a lot of punches. In fact, there’s not many problems that can’t be solved by Cap hitting it as hard as he can. Why? Because he’s American! USA! USA! USA!

Jay Mims has seen every Muppet movie, even the terrible “Wizard of Oz” one. He lives with a passive-aggressive Dalek named Steve, a quasipet cat named Eartha Kitty, a lizard named Bob, and may have adopted a second cat Meowthezar. He writes books and is far funnier on Facebook then in real life. He is terrible at Twitter. His next book "The Gray Ghost Inn" is due out October 15, 2013. Feel free to email him here.

 Hey, what's more American then a blog tour about a transplanted Aussie named Boring?!!! AND FREE STUFF!!!

Who is Belinda Boring? 

A homesick Aussie living amongst the cactus and mountains of Arizona, Belinda Boring is a self proclaimed addict of romance and all things swoon worthy. When she's not devouring her latest read, you can find her celebrating her passion for books on her blog The Bookish Snob.

With all that excitement, it wasn’t long before she began writing, pouring her imagination and creativity into the stories she dreams. Whether urban fantasy, paranormal romance or romance in general, Belinda strives to share great plots with heart and characters that you can’t help but connect with. Of course, she wouldn’t be Belinda without adding heroes she hopes will curl your toes.

Surrounded by a supportive cast of family, friends and the man she gives her heart and soul to, Belinda is living the good life. Happy reading!

Nothing burns as bright as the flames of the refiner’s fire.

Moments after hearing the Council sentence her enemy to life imprisonment for attempted murder and illegal use of magic, Darcy is whisked away by the Fates—accused of tampering with destiny. The cherished dream she shared with Mason has been called into question, placing doubt about whether they are actually true mates. To resolve it, a price must be paid—the Heart or Death—a grueling series of tests designed to reveal a person’s worth.

The stakes are high and Darcy finds herself facing the unknown in conditions that leave her more vulnerable than she’s ever been. Separated from Mason and her Pack, with Devlin as her only companion, she is pushed to her very limits. She must succeed—or lose everything.

Will she crumble under the pressure or emerge stronger for testing fate?

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