*Originally published on 7/6/10
When Lewis Lovhaug aka Linkara first started doing video reviews for Thatguywiththeglasses.com, he had a fairly simple format. Sit on a futon and make fun of bad comics for all of their various failures. As time went on, he decided he wanted to incorporate story elements into his reviews. He wasn't the first to do this, there are several Angry Video Game Nerd videos that develop a story. Those, however, tend to be self contained. Even the two parters are essentially independent reviews linked by some loose thread. Linkara's stories, on the other hand, developed into ongoing arcs. They were more like subplots, as Linkara has been careful not to have the story overshadow the review aspect, but it is a major aspect of the show's format now.
There are several aspects of the show that built on things previously mentioned in other episodes. As such, the show has developed something of its own mythology with various recurring objects and characters.
The Magic Gun and the arsenal of freedom
This is Linkara's primary weapon against foes. He first used it when a bad Star Trek comic became sentient and attacked him. It's a replica flintlock pistol that actually fires (in show, in real life it's just a prop). It's ammo varies, sometimes it fires a solid laser beam, sometimes it fires bullets, but mostly it fires photon torpedo-like bolts. One may ask how or why its blast changes, but I imagine the answer would be "it's magic, I don't have to explain it".
Over the course of the show, Linkara has acquired other weaponry as well, most of them just appear randomly when he needs them, but others have had their acquisitions explained.
His secondary weapon is the infamous dragon dagger from Power Rangers. While it can't summon the Dragonzord, it can function in a hand to hand capacity, or when played, can shoot green lightning that can defeat enemies.
After reviewing Silent Hill: Dying Inside, Linkara picked up a handheld minigun that proved useful when he was attacked by Pyramid Head. He also has another Pyramid Head stashed away in a pokeball that was acquired in an earlier episode. While Linkara hasn't deployed the monster yet, it is one ace he has up his sleeve in times of crisis.
When he reviewed a Cable comic, the character himself appeared, angry at being mocked. The X-Men character got lost in his own internal monologue and Linkara was able to teleport the character away, though not before Cable dropped his huge gun. Linkara, naturally, picked this up for himself.
Linkara also has a power morpher, was seen tinkering with a Zeo morpher, and utilized a battilizer in a recent episode.
In addition to all of this, a recent vlog showcased some weaponry that has yet to be utilized, but may appear in later episodes.
Who is Dr. Insano?
Dr. Insano is a stereotypical, over the top mad scientist character played by fellow web critic, Noah Antwiler aka Spoony. The character started off as a one time joke to be utilized in one of Linkara's "previously on" segments, but eventually became a canonical character, appearing as a nemesis to Linkara as well as tormenting Spoony himself from time to time.
He's similar to the Venture Bros' character of The Monarch in that he is generally portrayed as incompetent and bumbling, but is more than capable of being legitimately menacing when he wants to be.
He also takes a cue from The Joker in that he has no known origin. OK, that's not true, there are several origins for Dr. Insano and they all differ. Much like the aforementioned Batman villain, Insano simply is, or as Spoony himself put it in a video commentary, "there is no continuity, only Insano".
Insano is notable in that he is responsible for setting things in motion. It was the first review of the Warrior comic ( a review done by both Lewis and Noah) that planted the seed for the story arcs that would soon follow. The comic was so bad that it actually ripped a whole in hypertime and caused universes to collide and intersect.
Who is Mechakara?
Mechakara is a robot duplicate of Linkara that appeared in the Superman vs. Terminator review. You'll recall, I wrote an article a few months ago that did a recap of his sub-plot and posited my own theories as to what he was and what he wanted. Suffice it to say, I was completely wrong.
I'm not going to give away his background, as you'll have to find that out for yourself, but it is related to the aforementioned Warrior event.
A stinger at the end of the climax of that arc implied that Dr. Insano himself returned to finish off the robotic villain himself, but a recent episode has hinted at a possible return.
Linksano
Following the defeat of Mechakara, a new villain entered the fray. During the Warrior review, Linkara briefly donned the role of Dr. Insano (a version from an alternate universe). It seems he enjoyed it as this villain acted in much the same capacity. Linksano came to our universe in the same temporal rift that brought Mechakara to our world.
Linkara has said that it was originally just going to be "Dr. Insano from a parallel universe" but the fans dubbed him "Linksano", probably as a way to differentiate him from the original. He sees our Insano as something of a rival, always noting when Insano has achieved something he hasn't or vice versa.
Where Mechakara was dark and menacing, Linksano was bumbling and played up more for comedic value. His arc only recently came to an end. Taking a cue from our universe's Insano, Dr. Linksano tried to tear reality apart, this time using two issues of Warrior as opposed to just one.
It results in a war of Insanos (played by various members of TGWTG) but ultimately it is our team of critics who win the day and put an end to the villain's mad scheme.
Lord Vyce
After his humiliating defeat, Linksano hid to lick his wounds. His plans changed, however when he was told someone was coming. The someone is named Lord Vyce, and according to Linksano himself, he is the reason that Linksano fled his universe in the first place.
Linksano describes him as a powerful conquerer who even drives fear into the ancient world eating evils that lie between dimensions. When Linksano discovers that Lord Vyce is coming, he taunts Linkara with it briefly before fleeing once again.
Linkara himself disappears at the end of the episode in a bright flash of light, leaving only his hat. Where the arc goes from here has yet to be seen.
We actually get our first clue to Vyce's arrival much earlier than that, however. In the review for the second issue of Sultry Teenage Super Foxes, Linkara retreats into his own mind as a way of coping with the comic's existence. It is here where Mechakara (or at least a psychological manifestation of him) appears and warns Linkara that "all that he sees, he conquers". Many took this to refer to Linksano, but it is evident (and outright stated by Lewis himself) that it was referring to this new villain.
Atop the Fourth Wall was originally just a standard, albeit quite funny review show. Through a creative use of subplot and an ongoing devotion to continuity, it has become something of an epic saga that rivals the very comics that Lewis reviews.
Linkara has developed a unique rogues gallery and the plots and story lines are just as much a reason to watch now as the review itself.
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