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Hooded Pitohui
Hooded Pitohui
Worthy of noting, in an analysis like this, are also the final pair of Waluigi-focused comics, which do show Waluigi in a somewhat sympathetic light. Based on the reaction of Daisy and Luigi in the last comic, and the way that Waluigi is depicted with less exaggerated features at the end of both of these comics, I'd say the implication is less that Waluigi himself is inherently unwanted, but that his behavior is unwanted. Specifically, his attention-seeking behavior of taking over the comic is what is being chastised and what is pushing others away. Daisy seems to genuinely have hoped Waluigi would improve himself after she called him out, and to be upset by his pushing things to the point of needing to be assist trophy'd.

When you factor that in, I'd say that the comic's characterization is less that Waluigi is repulsive and unwanted, but more sympathetically that Waluigi is a lonely figure who is struggling with feelings of rejection and trying to seize attention in a way that ultimately puts people off. Of course, he doesn't mend his ways, and is ostracized for it, but that we see the more normal-looking Waluigi at all and the fear in his final appearance suggests that, in another circumstance, he could have mended his ways, had friends, and been seen as less repulsive in the comic's continuity.

All of that is to say, while the depiction may be negative in some ways, it seems like the comic tried to add a more somber edge to those parts of his depiction at the end, suggesting the possibility of a more respectable Waluigi.
winstein
winstein
That sounds interesting. I think that it's doubly interesting that Waluigi is seemingly the only character who is repulsive in this manner, whereas pretty much every other character was treated more respectfully, even the villains and Wario.

It's something I have wondered mainly because I get the feeling some came to dislike Waluigi because of this comic's portrayal, so much that any good thing for the character is seen as a negative. I do not know if the sympathetic part came into play as a response to how Waluigi is treated as unlikeable at first.

Thank you for reading.
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