Lack of Visible Arms
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Revision as of 21:07, 15 August 2008 by Mechamind90 (Talk | contribs)
One of the ultimate mysteries in the Homestar Runner body of work is that Homestar Runner, Marzipan, The King of Town, Homsar, and many other characters all lack visible arms and hands. In spite of this, they have the ability to pick up, carry, and manipulate objects at will. The most common explanations for this phenomenon are that they either have invisible arms or can manipulate objects with some kind of psychokinesis. Some suggest the latter over the former, as these characters' articles of clothing rarely have sleeves where arms would normally be. Others believe that there is a combination of both factors in use. Usually none of the other characters seem to pay any attention to this curiosity, possibly because they have become accustomed to it, although sometimes their lack of arms is referenced.
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References
- Armless Invaders — Homestar is the titular "armless invader".
- The Interview — Strong Bad refers to Homestar as a "no-armed whitey".
- Strong Bad is a Bad Guy — Strong Mad starts to tell Homestar that he doesn't have arms, but is cut off by the end of the cartoon.
- Stinkomanual — Level 5's intro reads, "1-Up takes matters into his own, um, torso!"
- No Hands On Deck! — Homestar's lack of hands, which comes with his lack of arms, is referred to in the title and in a newspaper headline within the toon.
- Sketchbook — Homestar is seen doing a push-up and the caption reads, "no handed-style!"
- DNA Evidence — Upon being told that the DNA analysis will cost "an arm and a leg", Marzipan replies "Not a problem." (see also below)
- Ever and More! — Strong Bad and The Cheat (who have perfectly visible arms) practice Homestar's and the King of Town's secret "handshake" (see below) by putting their hands on their hips and bobbing up and down.
- Homestar Ruiner — When Marzipan asks Strong Bad to leave because her mood ring is a deep brown, Strong Bad asks himself, "Who will ever tell that girl that she doesn't have any hands?"
Strong Bad Email
- vacation — Strong Bad imagines, in a hypothetical email from Monkey D, "How does Homestar pick stuff up if he's not wearing any Marzi-pants?"
- action figure — Homestar's action figure box reads "No arms! Like real life!"
- fingers — Homestar makes himself a pair of fake arms.
- more armies — Homestar remarks that by joining the Homestarmy, one can have a career in the "no-armed forces".
- love poems — Homestar claims that he has "no-arms-on experience with the lady-makes".
- magic trick — Homestar is in a box and wearing fake arms, and Strong Bad says to Homestar, "You look like a man of many arms," and Homestar replies, "Yeah, I'm like an octopus."
Oddities
- In Search of the Yello Dello — Marzipan slaps Homestar across the face, leaving a visible handprint.
- In the commentary, Strong Bad says that Marzipan has really nice hands and Homestar replies, "Yeah, I suppose she does."
- In Search of the Yello Dello New Version — Marzipan asks if the oven mitts Strong Bad is wearing are hers, but she would not need oven mitts if she has no hands.
- The Reddest Radish — Marzipan knocks on the door of Homestar's house with her head, despite the fact she could have used her invisible arms/telekinetic powers instead.
- Likewise, in 3 Times Halloween Funjob, Homestar knocks on Marzipan's door with his head, although this could be due to his silliness, or possibly because he's holding his bagful of candy with both "hands".
- A Jumping Jack Contest — The Announcer proclaims that Homestar has completed the most jumping jacks despite the fact it would be hard to tell if he ever stopped clapping his "hands."
- Homestar vs. Little Girl 2 — When Puppet Homestar plays tag with Little Girl, he touches her with his head.
- Strong Bad Sings — One of Strong Bad's songs is titled "This One Time I Saw Homestar Punching a Kitten in the Throat".
- Secret Song (video) — Puppet Homestar plays the piano with both his invisible hands and the side of his head.
- Puppet Jam: Everybody Knows It — Puppet Homestar gives high fives to They Might Be Giants.
- Arcade Game, and emails credit card, 50 emails, and anything — Homestar can type on a keyboard. Also, in anything, he is able to lift and pour a bottle of soda on Strong Bad's computer.
- Similarly, in the King of Town Email (reached via the King of Town Main Page), the King of Town is heard typing on the keyboard of the broken Tandy 400.
- Puppet Jam: Apple Juice Blues - Homestar says, "my arm really really hurts," though it is probably Matt Chapman speaking about his own arm.
- Strong Bad's Character Video — Homestar stands in line to receive a high five from Strong Bad.
- Biz Cas Fri 1 — When Homestar "helps" Strong Bad with his spreadsheet, Homestar types with his head, when he could type with his "hands" in 50 emails, anything, and Arcade Game.
- Strongest Man in the World — Homestar gives Pom Pom a high five.
- Lappynapped! — The King of Town refers to himself as "Furious Fingers."
- Ballad of the Sneak — The Homestar Runner is seen with crutches after the Sneak "dropped him from his flying machine".
- Decemberween Short Shorts — Homestar wears a towel around his neck as though he has shoulders.
- Date Nite — When Marzipan and The Cheat go out for their date, he offers her his arm to escort her, and she apparently holds it as they walk.
- DNA Evidence — When Homestar, while wearing a trench coat, lifts the glass of DNA evidence to drink it, the right arm of the trench coat raises as though he has an arm, but he seems to lack shoulders. (see also above)
- Ever and More! — Homestar and the King of Town can be heard slapping hands as they demonstrate their "secret handshake."
- Main Page 24 — Homestar asks "How many fingers am I holding up?"
- Quality Time — Both Homestar and Marzipan are able to manipulate the cardboard versions of each other from several feet away. Marzipan is also able to both play guitar and manipulate Cardboard Homestar at the same time.
Strong Bad Email
- halloweener — Homestar wears boxing gloves on his feet and an oven mitt on his head.
- the bird — Strong Bad flips Homestar off, and after Homestar replies "Right back atcha," Strong Bad exclaims, "He just gave me the bird!"
- your friends — When Strong Bad asks Marzipan to hold out her hands, she just says she doesn't want to. Of course, she may be aware that Strong Bad is preparing to hand her a saw blade.
- the show and Main Page 19 — Homestar holds a microphone and sorts through a stack of index cards at the same time. This action could require more than two hands.
- marzipan — Strong Bad remarks that "Marzipan can't keep her hands offa" him, although this could be just a figure of speech.
- time capsule — Homestar is able to manipulate the box, box lid, and wig all at the same time.
- extra plug — Homestar is tied with an extension cord around his torso in a position normally used to secure someone's arms.
- highschool — Teenage Homestar sings "Shaking hands with my man" in Strong Bad's doodle memory/hazardous guess.
- strong badathlon — Homestar, the champion of the Greco-Roman Homestar Crud-Out-of-Beating event, takes swings at himself. Visible air disturbances show where his extremities are traveling.
- your funeral — As Homestar enters Marzipan's house, he hangs up a coat with sleeves.
Characters With No Visible Arms
These characters have no visible arms, yet have been observed manipulating objects:
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Debatable Characters
These characters lack visible arms, but have never been seen manipulating objects:
