# Sometimes the imitation is better than the original. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100 "2013-11-04T21:54:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/1 "2013-11-04T21:54:43Z")
I like Flash Gordon better than Buck Rogers. I like Parker Lewis better than Ferris Bueller. I like the Watchmen better than the Sentinels of Justice. Of course, James Bond is a much cooler character than Matt Helm, but I think Donald Hamilton was a better writer than Ian Fleming. I love Superman, but Alan Moore’s version of Marvelman/Miracleman was better literature than 99% of Superman stories. What instances can you name, where you liked the crass commercial knock-off better than the original creation? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/2 "2013-11-04T22:47:18Z")
I like the early English heavy metal bands (Zeppelin, Beck, Cream, et al) a LOT more than the American bluesmen they thought they were imitating. I like Dylan a lot more than Woody Guthrie. I like Denis Leary way more than Bill Hicks. ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/3 "2013-11-05T00:12:11Z")
Cool thread. 1. Golden Age Captain Marvel\>Golden Age Superman 2. Alan Moore’s Supreme\>DC’s Superman 3. The Painted Doll\>The Joker 4. Count Orlock\>Count Dracula 5. Lady Gaga\>Madonna ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/4 "2013-11-05T00:43:51Z")
> [@Gerald\_II](#): > > Cool thread. > > 1. Golden Age Captain Marvel\>Golden Age Superman > 2. Alan Moore’s Supreme\>DC’s Superman > 3. The Painted Doll\>The Joker > 4. Count Orlock\>Count Dracula > 5. Lady Gaga\>Madonna Methinks maybe you need to check out this thread: [Is there an easy way to remember what ‘\<’ and ‘\>’ mean](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=706122). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/5 "2013-11-05T01:12:28Z")
Doesn’t “\>” mean greater than? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/6 "2013-11-05T01:17:55Z")
Oreos are better than Hydrox. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/7 "2013-11-05T01:19:21Z")
> [@Gerald\_II](#): > > Doesn’t “\>” mean greater than? I believe he is saying that he disagrees with all your choices. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/8 "2013-11-05T01:34:23Z")
Jimi Hendrix is a better, more important guitarist and songwriter compared to Stevie Ray Vaughn - but SRV’s version of _Voodoo Chile_ is better to my ear. When he does the wah intro, SRV just _kills_… ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/9 "2013-11-05T01:35:09Z")
I liked the Harry Potter series, but I’m currently loving _Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality_. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/10 "2013-11-05T01:56:17Z")
I like Rob Zombie’s (2007) “Halloween” a hundred times better than any of the originals. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/11 "2013-11-05T01:59:54Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > I liked the Harry Potter series, but I’m currently loving _Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality_. I concur. That is the single best piece of fan fiction that I have ever encountered online. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/12 "2013-11-05T02:03:11Z")
Marvel Comics’ “The Punisher” is better than Don Pendleton’s “The Executioner.” Robert W. Chambers’ “The Hidden Children” covers much of the same territory as James Fennimore Cooper’s “The Last of the Mohicans” – including a few of the same characters! – but is much, much, much, much better. (Mark Twain had Cooper’s number.) ETA: Walter Jon Williams’ “Drake Maijstral” novels are better than Alexei Panshin’s “Anthony Villiers” novels – but both are so very, very good, you should read both series – and re-read them a year later. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/13 "2013-11-05T02:38:57Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I believe he is saying that he disagrees with all your choices. that depends. according to that thread, that might very well mean Madonna eats Lady Gaga for breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/14 "2013-11-05T02:48:08Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > ETA: Walter Jon Williams’ “Drake Maijstral” novels are better than Alexei Panshin’s “Anthony Villiers” novels – but both are so very, very good, you should read both series – and re-read them a year later. I’ve never read the latter, but I agree that William’s Drake Maijstral novels are excellent. And hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/15 "2013-11-05T03:00:39Z")
I like _The Lion King_ better than _The Jungle Emperor_. I like _Antz_ better than _A Bug’s Life_. And I like both better than _Hoppity Goes to Town_. I like the X-Men better than the Doom Patrol. I like _Flashman_ better than _Tom Brown’s School Days_. I like the 1977 version of _The Four Feathers_ better than the 1939 version. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/16 "2013-11-05T03:02:37Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > that depends. according to that thread, that might very well mean Madonna eats Lady Gaga for breakfast. Sure, just go ahead and spoil the opening act of this year’s VMA Awards show. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/17 "2013-11-05T03:29:36Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’ve never read the latter, but I agree that William’s Drake Maijstral novels are excellent. And hysterical. Panshin’s “Villiers” novels are lighter and looser, but have a goofy kind of charm that I absolutely adore. If you like Maijstral, you’ll likely admire Villiers. (Plug plug plug!) I’ve talked to Williams, and he acknowledges the debt to Panshin…and also accepts the opinion that his books are better. He said, alas, that they didn’t make much money for him; they’re among his worst-selling books. In fact, the poor sales helped bring down sales of some of his other books! And he said they were harder to write than any other of his books: comedy is tough! ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/18 "2013-11-05T03:32:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I like _The Lion King_ better than _The Jungle Emperor_. . . . The whole Kimba series, or just the movie version? If you take in the whole Kimba series, does your opinion shift in its favor? In my opinion, The Lion King loses out because of its lack of dignity. (Not to say that Kimba doesn’t have undignified moments!) Simba doesn’t seem to use his brains, and certainly not his heart. He’s just a Li’l Abner buffoon who wins because he grew up big and strong. All that was missing was the can of spinach. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/19 "2013-11-05T03:42:06Z")
Janis Joplin’s version of “Me and Bobby McGee” is better than Kris Kristofferson’s. _Them_’s version of “Richard Corrie” is better than \*Simon and Garfunkel’\*s. _Three’s Company_ is better than _Man About the House_. (I think almost uniquely for American copies of British sitcoms, and almost entirely due to John Ritter’s talents as a farceur. Apart from him, _Man About the House_ was better, and even had cuter babes, almost uniquely for British sitcom as compared to an American one.) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100/20 "2013-11-05T03:54:15Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I like the early English heavy metal bands (Zeppelin, Beck, Cream, et al) a LOT more than the American bluesmen they thought they were imitating. > > I like Dylan a lot more than Woody Guthrie. > . While I admit I do like a lot of the old music, I will agree that I like the heavy metal bands a touch more. Dylan can write a hell of a song but his rur rur rur singing pattern drives me nuts - and Guthrie can also write a hell of a song, but I tend to prefer the modern covers. [I actually have a serious amount of Moe Asche’s Folkways music on my computer, I picked up much of it from emusic subscription. I bought some from the Smithsonian as they have the copyrights and own the label as well. Please consider purchasing your folkways directly from the Smithsonian, they are well worth supporting.] [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-the-imitation-is-better-than-the-original/673100.md?page=2)