"National Mascots" or "Since When Is There A Mother Canada?"
 

Well, the answer to that second question is since about 1936 or so.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...her_Canada.JPG

Thread inspired by a few SATW comics. America has Uncle Sam - who I have no idea where he came from - and apparently, Canada has a Mother Canada. Go figure.

Why did I know about Uncle Sam before I knew about Mother Canada and the Nordic personifications? What's the story behind these characters? There's usually a story. I hope it's a good one. But the idea stands that the countries of the world felt a need to personify their most valued virtues into a character-symbol-whatever. What's the thinking behind that?

There's a female version of America, too. Trying to think of her name...

Here we go, Colombia:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2383368/431p...ahrArtwork.jpg

Mostly to evoke feelings for propaganda. Posters of Uncle Sam or Colombia needing your help, etc.

DC kind of turned Uncle Sam into a Super Hero at one point. Not sure when they did this for the first time though.

Actually, it was National Comics. Created by Will "The Fucking Story Master" Eisner no less.

Here's the Dutch unofficial mascot:
http://traveller.gls-community.de/en...frau_antje.jpg

Here's a parody:
http://goedgelovig.files.wordpress.c...er_spiegel.jpg

And other than that, we've still got our good old Dutch lion.
So, yeah. Be proud of Mother Canada, Seil. She wasn't designed to sell Dutch cheese to the Germans.

EDIT: I'm actually surprised there isn't a red light to be found anywhere in that parody picture.

What the fuck is wrong with Colombia's eyebrows? Why are they in, like, the middle of her forehead instead of on her brow like they should be?

God Dammit, Paul Stahl, it's back to art anatomy for you. There is no excuse for that.

I think that's shadow from her hair or hat.
Her eyebrows are where they should be, as far as I can see...

At least, I hope so.

<spellingpedant>
 

It's Columbia, guys. With a U. Colombia is a country in South America. They're two different things, dammit :crossarms:

</spellingpedant>

If it is a shadow why is it not the same shape as her hat and broken in the center? And why is there an actual shadow between them that is a different color entirely?

And if she has eyebrows where they should be why is there no color differentiation on her brow?

Those are totally eyebrows.

@S.O. I, of course, knew about Colombia, but I had no idea about Columbia until Viridis posted it. I thought it was weird the name was the same, but I kind of assumed he had looked it up.

Bad, Viridis. Bad.

Don't take it too personal--it's just that I live in Washington State, so "Columbia" is part of like every third place name, practically. So I know whereof I speak, is all.