Yes, that's right: Mega Man can't beat Air Man. Definitely an intentional fan culture reference on Archie's behalf. The "Can't Beat Air Man" audio/video craze brought about a flood of fanmade media showing how difficult it is to defeat Air Man. The song has since achieved memetic status around the globe, with Air Man himself becoming an object of parody in his homeland.
For completeness' sake, here's the issue's solicitation which features a brief synopsis of the action:
“Dr. Wily Returns,” Part 3. Mega Man has been in the fight of his life against Dr. Wily’s eight new Robot Masters! Fearsome as they are, Quick Man has always been there to mock Mega Man and slow him down. Now, at long last, it’s the showdown you’ve been waiting for! And you won’t believe who shows up to help Mega Man at the eleventh hour! -- 32 pages, $2.99.
Mega Man #11 hits comic stands and mailboxes everywhere next month. Thanks for the tip, Tony!
Source: Destructoid
That title made my heart race for a second. Mega Man #11. Oh, man. Haha. :\
ReplyDeleteBen Bates is a badass. FACT
ReplyDeleteCan't stand that song. Air man is a joke. Even in the Japanese version. Now we have a bunch of people who never even played the game going "AIRMAN IS SO HARD'.
ReplyDeleteAnd then three panels later, Air Man is dead.
ReplyDeleteAm I missing something here? Since when was Air Man so difficult to beat? He's EASY.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLbFctG3tw0
ReplyDeleteObligatory. Still gotta pick up #10
@the above comments
ReplyDeleteI don't think "Airman is a mediocre fighter" would make for as catchy as a song.
@Kenichi340
ReplyDeleteSome one who really sucked at Mega Man games wrote a song in Japanese about he couldn't defeat Air Man and people just ran with it. It's obnoxious really.
@Anon 3:59
Yeah especially given the next issue is supposed to feature FOUR Robot Masters I doubt Air Man's gonna live through the next page.
@Anonymous #1 & Kenichi340:
ReplyDeleteOh, thank God I'm not the only one who thinks so. A few years ago, I remember someone claiming that Air Man's difficulty as a boss was watered down in the American release of Mega Man 2, so I decided to download a Rockman 2 ROM and see for myself, and that turned out to be entirely untrue. In fact, I was able to defeat him with just the Buster in only a matter of seconds.
Hey, cynical people. Ever think that maybe some people aren't so great at Mega Man?
ReplyDeleteI know people who can't beat Top Man. Yeah, TOP MAN.
The tune is catchy, especially the later remix, with some really awesome animation. It's a neat piece of the Mega Man fandom.
Stop killing the joy.
Also, Nick Phaelin is correct. Ben Bates is, in fact, a badass.
@TTL:
ReplyDeleteThat would explain why Top Man is the last boss defeated by Mega Man in Captain N.
I wonder if someone can't defeat Toad Man, even with E Tanks...
I'd Believe Proto man. Maybe even Rush. Who else would it be? Ballade?
ReplyDeleteActually, Enker would be cool!
It's a bird
ReplyDeleteIt's a plane
IT'S AIMAN...
Eh, you know the rest.
I love all the nods in this comic series. Yeah, Air Man was easy to me, even as a child, but I still love that song.
Ben Bates art is badass!!!
ReplyDeleteTo the second anon:
Actually the battles of issue 10 were pretty awesome, the battles last longer and megaman is taking a lot of damage, much better than the first two arcs, I hope is the same for this issue.
Hey, protodude -- have you seen these Mods for super Smash Bros. Brawl? Pretty impressive -- might even warrant an update on the site: http://megaman4smashbros.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/mega-man-brawl-mods/
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't believe it if it was Protoman. It'd strain the plot to the third game arc.
ReplyDeleteI'd believe it if it was Roll, with just a broom or a combat armor upgrade. I'd believe it if it was any partner pet/character, or any of the MM1 Masters. I'd believe it if it was Bondman and his existance here is only to show that Megaman is only able to narrowly best Quickman through the application of specialty defying glue attack that'll never work again in a million years.
I'd like to believe it's Bass rather than any of them, especially Protoman. Hum a few bars about how Wily had Burst/Junk/Cloud/Freeze prepped as a backup plan or just show them in the background of Wily's lab at some point. Then when whatever's got Megaman on the ropes at 11:00? Have Bass pop up out of nowhere.
Come on people it's obvious the ones helping megaman are going to be those federal agents from the second arc!
ReplyDelete@mememan: That would suck major balls
ReplyDelete@anon:
ReplyDeleteIts obviously true just look at the MM 11 cover:
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111122022737/megaman/images/6/60/MegaManArchieC011.jpg