The Joker is a DC Comics supervillain with a clown-like appearance. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman’s life. Generally portrayed as a highly intelligent but sadistic psychopath, he is one of the most iconic and recognized villains in popular media.
The 34th President of the United States and a five-star general in the United States Army. During World War II, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. As president, he was a moderate conservative who continued New Deal agencies, expanded Social Security and launched the Interstate Highway System. He died on this day in 1969.
Note: This is 8-bit U.S. president #11 of 43.
Joseph Kony is the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a Ugandan guerrilla group operating in several African nations. While initially enjoying strong public support, the LRA turned on its own supporters, supposedly to “purify” the Acholi people and turn Uganda into a theocracy. Kony proclaims himself the spokesperson of God and a spirit medium. He has ordered the abduction of over 66,000 children to become soldiers and sex slaves.
Kony was recently popularized by the manipulative Kony 2012 viral campaign from the controversial group Invisible Children. See the Visible Children blog for a critical view of Kony 2012.
Ludwig van Beethoven is a German composer and virtuoso pianist. He is one of the most famous and influential of all composers, and is an important figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras. His hearing began to deteriorate in his late twenties, yet he continued to compose, conduct and perform, even after becoming completely deaf. He died on this day in 1827.
Princess Leia Organa is a main character in the original Star Wars trilogy, portrayed by Carrie Fisher. She first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977. Leia is the daughter of Padmé Amidala and her husband, Anakin Skywalker, a fallen Jedi also known as Darth Vader. She is also the twin sister of Luke Skywalker.
I know 8-bit Leia is missing her classic cinnamon-bun hairdo, but I couldn’t resist the iconic slave girl costume. Behold her metal bikini from Jabba the Hutt’s palace at the beginning of Return of the Jedi.
Luke Skywalker is the main protagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy, portrayed by Mark Hamill. He first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977. Skywalker is the son of Padmé Amidala and her husband, Anakin Skywalker, a fallen Jedi also known as Darth Vader. He is also the twin brother of Princess Leia Organa.
Yoda is a major character in the Star Wars saga, appearing in five of the six films (all except the original). He made his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda was responsible for training Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi. In Return of the Jedi, he dies peacefully at the age of 900.
P.S. “Do, or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a major character in the Star Wars saga. He is a legendary Jedi Master who plays a significant role in the fate of the galaxy during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. He first appeared in the original Star Wars in 1977. Along with Anakin Skywalker, R2-D2 and C-3PO, he is one of only four characters to appear in all six Star Wars films.
P.S. Happy Spring Equinox!
Han Solo is a major character in the original Star Wars trilogy, portrayed by Harrison Ford. He first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977. Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca, become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire. Solo then becomes a chief figure in the Alliance and succeeding galactic governments.
Helen Keller is an American author and political activist. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. The story of how Keller’s teacher broke through the isolation and helped her learn to communicate is the basis for the play and film The Miracle Worker. A prolific author, Keller was outspoken in her opposition to war and campaigned for women’s suffrage, workers’ rights and socialism.
Helen Keller is one of a trio of American women activists (along with Clara Barton and Harriet Tubman) that recently appeared to my girlfriend in a dream.
Clara Barton was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse and humanitarian. During the American Civil War and many subsequent international wars, Barton tended to wounded soldiers. In 1881, she founded and became the first president of the American Red Cross, a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization.
Clara Barton is one of a trio of American women activists (along with Harriet Tubman and Helen Keller) that recently appeared to my girlfriend in a dream.
Harriet Tubman was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian and Union spy during the American Civil War. After escaping from slavery, she made 13 missions to rescue more than 70 slaves using the Underground Railroad. She later helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry, and in the post-war era struggled for women’s suffrage.
Harriet Tubman is one of a trio of American women activists (along with Clara Barton and Helen Keller) that recently appeared to my girlfriend in a dream.
A prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women’s rights movement to introduce women’s suffrage into the United States. She was one of the important advocates in leading the way for women’s rights to be acknowledged and instituted in the American government. She died on this day in 1906 at age 86.
In early March 1945, Anne Frank died at age 15 in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. She later became of the most renowned and most discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Her diary documents her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II and chronicles two years of her life, from 1942 to 1944. Frank gained international fame posthumously after her diary was published in 1947.
An American martial artist and actor. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he rose to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do. As a result of his “tough guy” image, an Internet phenomenon began in 2005 known as Chuck Norris facts, ascribing various implausible or even impossible feats to Norris. He was born tomorrow in 1940.
C-3PO is a protocol droid and major character in all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion R2-D2, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Obi-Wan Kenobi throughout the saga. He first appeared in the original Star Wars in 1977 and is one of only four characters to appear in all six Star Wars films.
R2-D2 is an astromech droid and major character in all six Star Wars films. Along with his droid companion C-3PO, he joins or supports Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Obi-Wan Kenobi throughout the saga. He first appeared in the original Star Wars in 1977 and is one of only four characters to appear in all six Star Wars films.
An Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, poet and engineer who exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. Like fellow Italian Leonardo da Vinci, he is an archetypal Renaissance man. Michelangelo was considered the greatest living artist in his lifetime. His best-known works include David, the Pietà and the frescos in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. He was born on this day in 1475.
Darth Vader (born Anakin Skywalker) is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists of the original trilogy and as the main protagonist of the prequel trilogy. This dark cyborg character was created by George Lucas and first appeared in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977.
After successfully completing a full year’s worth of other 8-bit characters on Mascot Mashup, I have lifted my self-imposed ban on Star Wars characters. Many iconic Star Wars personalities are inevitably coming soon, because, as we all know, the Internet is in desperate need of more Star Wars remixes and fan art.
Al Gore – No. 386
The 45th Vice President of the United States (1993-2001), under President Bill Clinton, and the Democratic candidate in the 2000 U.S. presidential election. Gore is also an environmental activist who wrote An Inconvenient Truth. He has founded several nonprofits including the Alliance for Climate Protection, and received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in climate change activism. A well-known animatronic human, Gore was “born” tomorrow in 1948.
I’m pretty tired of creating 8-bit versions of famous white dudes in suits, so this character is based on a Futurama version of Al Gore (plus his South Park superhero cape). In the 31st century, Gore is First Emperor of the Moon. You guys, I’m serial. I’m super-serial. Lockbox.