Cypher (Doug Ramsey) Appreciation

[MetalWoman]

Take a moment to appreciate Marvel's most cunning linquist, Douglas Aaron Ramsey. From his initial appearance, where he set the Sentinel program back years, by accident.
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/images/spotlight2/cypher01.jpg
To his triumphant return as a Phalanx/zombie/mutant whatever.
http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/3/33806/972792-9662new_storyimage3727403_fullc_super.jpg
Doug has had a wild ride in the Marvel Universe, and he (almost) got the girl while doing it.
http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/8669/214269-130236-cypher_super.jpg
Plus, no appreciation of Cypher could be complete without mention his selfsoulfriend Warlock.
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/images/spotlight2/cypher00.jpg

[Personamanx]

I loved the character as a Psycho TO Zombie in Necrosha. But unfortunately making him good again killed the liking I had for the character.

I'll appreciate him when he's evil again.

[Puunk]

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/0/8669/214269-130236-cypher_super.jpg

Is ... is Warlock watching them?

I like Cypher.

[CmX]

Happy to see Doug get an appreciation thread. :)

I've always liked him and would never think he'd ever make a return. Glad he has.

[Puunk]

Happy to see Doug get an appreciation thread. :)

I've always liked him and would never think he'd ever make a return. Glad he has.

Justttt when I thought I couldn't possibly like you more, I feel a new rush of appreciation. Where's the CmX appreciation at?

[Syrinx]

I adore Cypher. A toast to nerd power! Does Kitty know he's alive yet? She had such tormented delusions after he died...

[Havok83]

I like Doug but hate that he's being written as a male version of Sage. Its gotten pretty annoying

[SDG]

I adore Cypher. A toast to nerd power! Does Kitty know he's alive yet? She had such tormented delusions after he died...

Personally I'd like to see a little interaction with Magneto as well, given how it was Doug's death that pushed him back down the road to villainy at the end of the 80's.

Long live Doug Ramsey.

[Prodigy55]

I see that naked Psylocke scan everywhere. I need some context!

[Washout]

I see that naked Psylocke scan everywhere. I need some context!

Everywhere? What the hell kind of weird ass places do you go to?

Btw, I'm fascinated by Doug. His powers are unique, but they make him such a worthless super hero. I also love that he manages to be a hero anyway. My favorite part about him is how good he is with the ladies.

[TheCatBastet]

Is ... is Warlock watching them?

I like Cypher.

IIRC, Warlock ends up making himself into a 'suit' for Betsy temporarily. Hey, he's an alien! Nothing kinky going on. :biggrin:


But, yeah, I really liked Doug. And was really ticked when Simonson killed him off.

[pryde15]

Finally! I appreciate this thread so very much!

[Prodigy55]

Everywhere? What the hell kind of weird ass places do you go to?

LOL, I've seen it a few times on this board!

[Perfection/Emma 2]

I like Doug but hate that he's being written as a male version of Sage. Its gotten pretty annoying

Havok, U and I are complete opposite in this situation. Personally, I like Doug because he reminds of Sage and I hope he stays that way.

[harostar]

I see that naked Psylocke scan everywhere. I need some context!

That was in the immediate aftermath of Doug rescuing her from Mojo. While his prisoner, Betsy was completely naked -- so when Doug defeated her and freed her from Mojo's control, they found themselves in a closet or something. Her naked, him half-naked.

Awkward.

Though immediately afterward, they start dating.

Truly, Doug gets all the chicks. Seriously, out of all the New Mutants he had....what? Four love interests? Psylocke, Kitty Pryde, Tarot, Roulette, Rahne, plus the horde of fangirls in that one issue.

[Washout]

I like Doug currently in New Mutants because he's such a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of the team.

[Syrinx]

I like Doug currently in New Mutants because he's such a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of the team.

Yeah, I feel that way too, he's more "normal guy" than most X-men, in spite of his amazing brain.

'Course if you meant that as sarcasm, I just failed spectacularly...

[Justin K.]

Cypher's a jerk!

I did enjoy him as a zombie though.

[Washout]

Yeah, I feel that way too, he's more "normal guy" than most X-men, in spite of his amazing brain.

'Course if you meant that as sarcasm, I just failed spectacularly...

No, I was being serious. He feels like a brand new character because he's been gone so long.

[Prodigy55]

Zeb Wells' Cypher sucks!

Chris Claremont's Cypher is cool.

[darknessatnoon]

I like Doug but hate that he's being written as a male version of Sage. Its gotten pretty annoying

Sage has more charisma than he does.

[CmX]

Sage has more charisma than he does.

I love the new Cypher, but he does seem like a baby Sage.

He could be her secretary or assistant when she returns.

They both also come off as asexual.

[Pseudicide]

I loved Claremont's Doug so much, that I've avoided reading the new New Mutants. I think I'm going to have to cave soon.

~Dee

[Washout]

I loved Claremont's Doug so much, that I've avoided reading the new New Mutants. I think I'm going to have to cave soon.

~Dee

It's really not that bad. Doug kicks some ass in it.

[coconutphone]

*girlish squeal*

I love Doug so much. If you loved Claremont's Doug definitely pick up the new book. Doug is delightful in it.

[Havok83]

Sage has more charisma than he does.
which is why I say he's gotten annoying. The guy is being written almost like he's a computer but without the human charm he once had in the original series. He's like a new character and Im not digging the new personality or lack of one for that matter

[Peter F.]

zeb wells' cypher sucks!

Chris claremont's cypher is cool.

WHAT LANGUAGE AM I?!?!

Please kill him again

[M.I.Brooks]

I'm hearing alot about him being the new Sage. I don't like it, there's no-one other than Sage.


That was in the immediate aftermath of Doug rescuing her from Mojo. While his prisoner, Betsy was completely naked -- so when Doug defeated her and freed her from Mojo's control, they found themselves in a closet or something. Her naked, him half-naked.

Awkward.

Though immediately afterward, they start dating.

Truly, Doug gets all the chicks. Seriously, out of all the New Mutants he had....what? Four love interests? Psylocke, Kitty Pryde, Tarot, Roulette, Rahne, plus the horde of fangirls in that one issue.
I can't wait to see if we get a reaction from Rahne at his reserection.

[CmX]

WHAT LANGUAGE AM I?!?!

Please kill him again

I thought it was funny how Wells makes him say that sort of thing a lot, and the first chance Fraction had the first thing that came out of Cypher's mouth was, "It's all a language!" yeah we fucking get it.

Still I'm a Dougie.

[harostar]

I kinda disagree with the whole "Doug is ripping off Sage", and not just because I don't care for Sage. Everything we're seeing now with him, especially in terms of his powers, has a basis in the original series when Claremont was still writing it. There were considerable hints at his potential (body language, reading situations, ect) and touches a little on what he was shown to be able to do in the AoA universe. That, I think, was interesting in that it showed what he could be capable of when given instruction and training by someone that didn't just view him as useless. That, ultimately, was Magneto's failing as Doug's teacher -- he considered Doug's powers useless, so never seemed to bother with really teaching him. So he never got the chance to test them out and grow beyond spoken/written languages.

As for now, I don't think he's computer-like so much as kind of.....shell-shocked, is a good choice of words I think. As he explained to Amara, the vast expansion of his abilities has him sort of overwhelmed. He's taking in so much information, that he's kind of become disconnected in a manner. Everything is different, and people are like an open book to him. It hasn't been very long since his return from the dead, and even he admits that death changed him. It'll only be a matter of time before we see the full extent of how much he's been changed by his experiences.

[Jay R.]

Having whole talking computers will be great if he can get it complete then.

[Pseudicide]

*girlish squeal*

I love Doug so much. If you loved Claremont's Doug definitely pick up the new book. Doug is delightful in it.

I shall take your word for this and do so, post-haste!

[Alexrules]

I love his amazing power of taking a bullet for a friend.

I can't believe they brought back Doug Ramsey. He was such a big death and really made the threat of death real to the books.

"Doug Friend Dead!":cool:

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

Cypher (Doug Ramsey) Appreciation Thread

Calling: The Lucky One...

[yanapryde]

This thread needs more delectable Doug imagery!

Here he is fearlessly assisting Illyana in taking out an alien enemy.
Marvelous!
http://pics.livejournal.com/icon_uk/pic/001c7aqg

[SDG]

That was in the immediate aftermath of Doug rescuing her from Mojo. While his prisoner, Betsy was completely naked -- so when Doug defeated her and freed her from Mojo's control, they found themselves in a closet or something. Her naked, him half-naked.

Awkward.

Though immediately afterward, they start dating.

Truly, Doug gets all the chicks. Seriously, out of all the New Mutants he had....what? Four love interests? Psylocke, Kitty Pryde, Tarot, Roulette, Rahne, plus the horde of fangirls in that one issue.

New Mutants Annual #2. It's a great read.

He and Psylocke never actually dated. Betsy admitted that she knew Doug liked her and that she was attracted to him as well, which is incredibly creepy given that he was only about 15 and she was in her early 20's. But then this is Chris-bondage is amazing so statutory rape must also be cool-Claremont.

I also wouldn't count Tarot or Roulette as love interests. I mean yeah Tarot sort of had a crush on him and Doug was a bastard to her in New Mutants #53, but they didn't date or anything. Roulette managed to help him cheat his way to a poker victory. She then got him incredibly drunk at which point he realised what she'd done and he smacked her around (also New Mutants #53).

And Kitty never really reciprocated his feelings.

Rahne was one of his only actual successes and personally I didn't like their relationship very much, I mean let's face it she was never going to put out for him back in the day. :biggrin:


WHAT LANGUAGE AM I?!?!

I actually had this printed on a t-shirt. I love Zeb's Doug although I'm hoping he'll delve a little more into Doug's emotional state. But given that they've gone from event to event there hasn't been much time for character pieces.

[darknessatnoon]

which is why I say he's gotten annoying. The guy is being written almost like he's a computer but without the human charm he once had in the original series. He's like a new character and Im not digging the new personality or lack of one for that matter

We agree. He's a personality leech.

[MartinRedmond]

I'm glad Doug is back. Killing him was selfish in the first place.

[yanapryde]

My would-be-power-couple lounging at the beach with their gender-role defying alien friend.

http://www.thibaut-cousin.net/xmen_images/Douglas_nm.jpg

[Washout]

I'm glad Doug is back. Killing him was selfish in the first place.

What did Louise Simonson gain by killing him?

[yanapryde]

What did Louise Simonson gain by killing him?

Rusty, Boom Boom, Skids and the like.
Cuz they're so impressive. <rolls eyes>

[coconutphone]

My would-be-power-couple lounging at the beach with their gender-role defying alien friend.

http://www.thibaut-cousin.net/xmen_images/Douglas_nm.jpg

LOL Gender-defying. I love Warlock so much. SOOO glad they're both back. Looking forward to some more in-depth scenes for them once 2nd Coming is over.


What did Louise Simonson gain by killing him?

Artists no longer complaining about having to draw him.

[coconutphone]

double post

[MetalWoman]

What did Louise Simonson gain by killing him?

According to interviews, Louise kept getting letters from fans saying they wanted him dead. So she decided to kill him to see if they where bluffing. After she killed him, she got a flood of letters morning his death, proving once again that we comic fans are a fickle lot.

Metal Woman

[yanapryde]

Artists no longer complaining about having to draw him.

Artists complained about drawing him???
Why for?
He's ADORABLE. He's the Zac Efron of the New Mutants. All the ladies wanted him even if he couldn't punch through walls (sunspot) or create illusions (mirage) or....attract fleas (wolfsbane)

[Washout]

Rusty, Boom Boom, Skids and the like.
Cuz they're so impressive. <rolls eyes>

yanapryde! Do not bad mouth Boom Boom in my presence. Say whatever horrible things you want about Rusty and Skids though.

[yanapryde]

yanapryde! Do not bad mouth Boom Boom in my presence. Say whatever horrible things you want about Rusty and Skids though.

No no no... misunderstanding, my lovely Washout.
Your glorious Boom Boom / Boomer / Tabby / Meltdown (etc) remains unscathed by my bitter tongue. Promises!
I was just trying to make a point that Doug was killed off, and many of the other original members were killed or deported to parts unknown to be replaced by the X-Terminators.

I don't disapprove of Boom Boom.
I disapprove of this elimating characters to make room for your own originals.
Tabs is grrrrrrr8!

kisses.

[Washout]

No no no... misunderstanding, my lovely Washout.
Your glorious Boom Boom / Boomer / Tabby / Meltdown (etc) remains unscathed by my bitter tongue. Promises!
I was just trying to make a point that Doug was killed off, and many of the other original members were killed or deported to parts unknown to be replaced by the X-Terminators.

I don't disapprove of Boom Boom.
I disapprove of this elimating characters to make room for your own originals.
Tabs is grrrrrrr8!

kisses.

Okay good. I overreacted. I think Doug and Tabby could have functioned quite well on a team together. They probably would have had sex.

[peopleofpaper]

i wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea to make betsy like doug. like even for 80s standards wasn't that creepy?

[yanapryde]

Okay good. I overreacted. I think Doug and Tabby could have functioned quite well on a team together. They probably would have had sex.

Missed opportunities for drama! Cypher would have out done Sunspot on being the ladies man, bedding all the ladies....cept for Karma of course.

[Washout]

i wonder why anyone thought it was a good idea to make betsy like doug. like even for 80s standards wasn't that creepy?

It was fun. Eighties art was a little hazy, and Sam and Doug looked a lot alike. Betsy's attraction to Doug showed us how physically attractive he really was.



Missed opportunities for drama! Cypher would have out done Sunspot on being the ladies man, bedding all the ladies....cept for Karma of course.

I bet he could have gotten Karma in bed once.

[coconutphone]

Artists complained about drawing him???
Why for?
He's ADORABLE. He's the Zac Efron of the New Mutants. All the ladies wanted him even if he couldn't punch through walls (sunspot) or create illusions (mirage) or....attract fleas (wolfsbane)

Apparently yeah. He wasn't the most visiually interesting to draw (no physical powers or psychic blades etc).

[MartinRedmond]

According to interviews, Louise kept getting letters from fans saying they wanted him dead. So she decided to kill him to see if they where bluffing. After she killed him, she got a flood of letters morning his death, proving once again that we comic fans are a fickle lot.

Metal Woman

If I recall, and I might be retelling this wrong, Byrne's mentioned often that the same kind of letters used to pour in for Kitty and Wolverine. Even after she was shown for just 2 pages.

[PO!]

Doug was an amazing character in the80s very human and easygoing!
Now he is less human but even MORE AMAZING and hot
MIEIN GOTT! have you seen him wearing that xforce uniform? mmmm
I would love him to be dating with some girl from the xmen. but NOT RAHNE or any bizarre gay thing with Lock. They are best friends even Brothers but not a couple.

[Anodyne]

Everything we're seeing now with him, especially in terms of his powers, has a basis in the original series when Claremont was still writing it. There were considerable hints at his potential (body language, reading situations, ect) and touches a little on what he was shown to be able to do in the AoA universe. That, I think, was interesting in that it showed what he could be capable of when given instruction and training by someone that didn't just view him as useless. That, ultimately, was Magneto's failing as Doug's teacher -- he considered Doug's powers useless, so never seemed to bother with really teaching him. So he never got the chance to test them out and grow beyond spoken/written languages.
That's why I've never liked the codename "Cypher." As a linguist Doug must have known that, when referring to a person, the word cipher means "a person or thing of no importance or value." That sounds like a term Magneto would have chosen for Doug. Way to build a guy's self-confidence--NOT.

As for now, I don't think he's computer-like so much as kind of.....shell-shocked, is a good choice of words I think. As he explained to Amara, the vast expansion of his abilities has him sort of overwhelmed. He's taking in so much information, that he's kind of become disconnected in a manner. Everything is different, and people are like an open book to him. It hasn't been very long since his return from the dead, and even he admits that death changed him. It'll only be a matter of time before we see the full extent of how much he's been changed by his experiences.
If other New Mutants are remarking on Doug's personality changes, that's a good sign that the writers aren't planning to ignore them--which to me is one of the more annoying aspects of a new writer's take on a character. If someone's undergone a personality change, show me what experiences led to that change.

[MetalWoman]

That's why I've never liked the codename "Cypher." As a linguist Doug must have known that, when referring to a person, the word cipher means "a person or thing of no importance or value." That sounds like a term Magneto would have chosen for Doug. Way to build a guy's self-confidence--NOT.

That is why I loved the name, it is cool that the linguist gave himself a pun for a named. It referred both to his translating powers, and to his own feelings of worthlessness for not having a power that is useful in combat.

Although I will never understand why Professor X never sat him down in front of a computer and said "Okay Doug, I need you to erase all the Sentinel program's research, drain the accounts of the Hellfire club, and email all the illegal activities of the Weapon X program to every major news outlet in the world." Granted watching him do that would be a very boring comic book, but it would be fun to just have someone mention that he did that.

Metal Woman

[PrometheusX]

Didn't read much about Cypher back in the day, though I liked his interactions with Psylocke.

Now that he's back, I'd like to see that interaction again. I'd like to see what she has to say to him now.

I like that his suped-up powers now put him on level ground with everyone else. And his personality seems dark. Gotta love that.

[Phoenix]

As for now, I don't think he's computer-like so much as kind of.....shell-shocked, is a good choice of words I think. As he explained to Amara, the vast expansion of his abilities has him sort of overwhelmed. He's taking in so much information, that he's kind of become disconnected in a manner. Everything is different, and people are like an open book to him. It hasn't been very long since his return from the dead, and even he admits that death changed him. It'll only be a matter of time before we see the full extent of how much he's been changed by his experiences.

I can't wait to see the implications of this. And I'd agree, he's shell shocked for sure! So much happening all at once must be overwhelming. Especially cuz he was, you know, dead and all. The expansion of his powers has to be affecting him somehow. He's most likely learning things that change his views on many things. Especially body language, he'll be able to tell if someone is lying, sexually attracted to someone etc... the possibilities are endless!

[XaviersMisprint]

I think I actually started really liking Doug. I always thought I hated him, but every time I read him in anything, I liked him. But lately I realize I like him without even reading him at that moment in time, so Zeb Wells must have done something magical.

[yanapryde]

I think I actually started really liking Doug. I always thought I hated him, but every time I read him in anything, I liked him. But lately I realize I like him without even reading him at that moment in time, so Zeb Wells must have done something magical.

Everything Zeb does is MAGIK-al

[coconutphone]

Everything Zeb does is MAGIK-al

I really can't wait for the post-SC plans for the New Mutants. Especially Doug and Warlock.

[Twisted Bliss]

I really can't wait for the post-SC plans for the New Mutants. Especially Doug and Warlock.

Any confirmation anywhere that Doug survives SC?

[Phoenix]

Any confirmation anywhere that Doug survives SC?

I don't think it's been confirmed, but I doubt they'd kill him off after just bringing him back! =D

[Askani's Flame]

Any confirmation anywhere that Doug survives SC?

Although he's shown on the cover to New Mutants #15 (as well as Karma's bionic leg), it's possible he might not make it. My thoughts are that he does.

[The Lucky One]

I see that naked Psylocke scan everywhere. I need some context!

What context is needed? Betsy had a hankering for some good lovin' and found Doug impossible to resist. Really, given all the teachers-sleeping-with-students cases of recent years, she was ahead of her time.

But hell, that was before Doug could consciously read body language. Now that he can, no woman is safe.

-D

[Phoenix]

What context is needed? Betsy had a hankering for some good lovin' and found Doug impossible to resist. Really, given all the teachers-sleeping-with-students cases of recent years, she was ahead of her time.

But hell, that was before Doug could consciously read body language. Now that he can, no woman is safe.

-D

Maybe he could square off against Daken!