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mxyzplk is - and has been for a long while - a very active user and moderator. Ever since I've started reading RPG.SE, every time I visited the site, I've seen his signature on post after post, either providing quality content or helpful moderation.

However, one thing I couldn't figure out was: why did he choose such a bizzare avatar?

enter image description here

It was really odd, and didn't fit the theme of the site.

And then I would click on his avatar,

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and all would become clear. What I was seeing

enter image description here

wasn't quite the thing that everyone else was seeing.

enter image description here

(As in, it's not a misshapen, shrugging, single-toothed Looney-Tunes-style gold-digger.)

enter image description here

And to this day, this optical correction keeps haunting me.

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    \$\begingroup\$ my avatar on the other hand is completely 100% thematic ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) \$\endgroup\$
    – doppelgreener Mod
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 19:33
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    \$\begingroup\$ No matter how hard I look I cannot see what you are. I feel like I did when I was unable to do the magic eye things. \$\endgroup\$
    – Rubiksmoose
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 20:25
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    \$\begingroup\$ So you've been seeing Yosemite Sam all this time? (Via a Mr. Magoo-like vision problem?) \$\endgroup\$
    – nitsua60 Mod
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 20:43
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    \$\begingroup\$ Now I can’t unsee the melting Yosemite Sam. 😝 It’s like the Bunny Duck. \$\endgroup\$
    – SevenSidedDie Mod
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 21:53
  • \$\begingroup\$ @doppelgreener Well, on the one hand, none of yours were playing tricks with my eyes so far. On the other hand, you share a name with D&D's resident shapeshifter, but you picked the one Crystal Gem who can't shapeshift at all, so... \$\endgroup\$
    – Dragomok
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 15:54
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Rubiksmoose It's okay, on some days it goes back and forth for me as well. \$\endgroup\$
    – Dragomok
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 15:54
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    \$\begingroup\$ And here my optical illusion of it was always a close up shot of the eye of a male wood duck. \$\endgroup\$
    – Please stop being evil
    Commented Jun 4, 2018 at 5:45
  • \$\begingroup\$ @thedarkwanderer ...I can sort of see it...? \$\endgroup\$
    – Dragomok
    Commented Jun 6, 2018 at 15:49

1 Answer 1

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That's a picture of Venger, the force of evil and villain of the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon show from the mid-80s.

He was voiced by Peter Cullen, a.k.a. Optimus Prime and Eeyore the donkey.

Venger has wings and can fly. He rides a horse that does not have wings, yet also can fly.

The show is campy and did not age well, but I recommend watching it anyway.

So the avatar is entirely thematic due to its obvious connection to D&D.

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    \$\begingroup\$ So that's who that is! I always wondered but never thought to ask. \$\endgroup\$
    – doppelgreener Mod
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 20:21
  • \$\begingroup\$ I remember that lol. I have a DVD with them \$\endgroup\$
    – David Coffron
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 20:25
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    \$\begingroup\$ In other words, I have the most thematic avatar on the site! You kids nowadays... \$\endgroup\$
    – mxyzplk Mod
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 22:36
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    \$\begingroup\$ This is one of the most famous cartoons here in Brazil. How is it so unkown around here? Haha. It's incredibly thematic! \$\endgroup\$
    – HellSaint
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 6:46
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    \$\begingroup\$ Btw, there is argument if the horse can fly. Some people say that Venger actually carries the horse while flying :P Also I'd argue that Venger is not the force of evil and antagonist - the Dungeon Master is. \$\endgroup\$
    – HellSaint
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 6:47
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    \$\begingroup\$ @HellSaint Venger is literally referred to as the "force of evil" in the title sequence. You are correct though, the Dungeon Master seems to create most of the conflict. \$\endgroup\$
    – MikeQ
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 10:02
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    \$\begingroup\$ @mxyzplk I always thought your dude was a stern pale-faced man with a 60s mustache, not that was a gargoyle-looking fellow with his mouth open. \$\endgroup\$
    – doppelgreener Mod
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 12:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ Coincidentally, I watched a couple of episodes of the cartoon as a kid, and I instantly remembered who he was when I first saw mxyzplk's avatar in full resolution. Still doesn't stop the 32x32 version from playing tricks on my eyes... :P \$\endgroup\$
    – Dragomok
    Commented May 30, 2018 at 16:00
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    \$\begingroup\$ @HellSaint Obrigado, Brazil! youtube.com/watch?v=rrp2nmfzxio \$\endgroup\$
    – Kirt
    Commented Sep 26, 2020 at 20:35

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