The Tone

Dark Kat is a villain type that I haven’t really seen since him, the closest I can come to comparing him in recent years would be some of the villains in Venture Bros when they do their honorary throwbacks to classic cartoons. I’m still trying to piece together my understanding of Dark Kat from a contemporary cartoon retrospective xD I’m dying for a cartoon history nerd Dark Kat break-down xD

The Metallikats were always amusing as villains, but the lack of their brand of oldschool gangster banter in mainstream media since then really packs a nostalgic treat.

Felina Feral and Turmoil, and even the “hey, you can’t break a story without breaking a few rules” Ann Gora all had perceptible impact on me as I grew up xD

The feminist leanings in that show really galvanized my own rebellious attitude in the face of the claustrophobic conservatism that I had to face growing up to an extent I didn’t recognize til I re-watched SWAT Kats. Looking back, I’m super grateful for that!!

I oddly identify with and appreciate Callie Briggs more.

The joke that she basically “ran the city” behind an incompetent, figure-head mayor wasn’t lost on me as a kid, but really struck a much deeper cord as I got older.

20+ years ago it was still fairly controversial for women to be in positions of political power in a social/political settings (and as much progress has been made, still is).

And to me, not only does Callie’s position as Deputy Mayor scream progressive, but also actually running the city really strikes me as one of the strongest underlying “stick it to the man” statements the show made in the historical/social context of feminism in the real world.

The fact that Callie’s duties aren’t officially substantiated with a position AS mayor when the incompetent Manx is in charge really strikes a bitter historical chord of how many far-more qualified women wind up taking back-seat to men in positions of power who either squander or abuse it, or get passed down to the less deserving male candidate because he’ll be taken “more seriously” as a leader than a woman.

But the situation is still handled with humor, and not only that, but Callie isn’t bitter or out to prove a point. She sets an example I looked up to instead, and still admire. She shows up for the greater good and takes action, rather than getting caught up either apologizing for her power, or her helplessness when the odds are against her.

She is down to earth, simply takes charge as she sees fit, and has the guts to toss her courageous sass even in the face of death.

Callie utilizes her freedom within her limitations as Deputy Mayor, has progressive and humanitarian views (I’m skipping the cat puns here) and rebels against the status quo within the establishment by being an accomplice to the SWAT Kats, and by being a woman in power trying to make changes to a system begging for an upgrade.