Strong Bad is a primary character in the fictional world of Flash animated cartoon series Homestar Runner. He is best known for his "Strong Bad Emails", or "SBEmails", in which he is shown typing answers to questions written by visitors to the site on his personal computer. Modelled after a Mexican wrestler character featured in Nintendo's "Tag Team Wrestling," he is shirtless with boxing gloves for hands (though a running gag on the website claims that he originally had oven mitts) and a luchador's wrestling mask for a face. Though originally presented as a villain, Strong Bad has been favorably embraced by pop-culture for his quick-witted sarcasm and infectiously abrasive voice. He is usually seen as the most popular character, although some fans object to the frequency with which he appears in comparison to other characters. His voice has changed over time from a distinctly Mexican accent to a more American one, while still retaining its "rough" quality. His eyes have also become steadily smaller.
Origin
The "Strong Bad Emails" were originally a small feature introduced in 2001, in which Strong Bad would mock the spelling and grammar of those who wrote to him, usually using an outdated computer. Although the animations were initially brief, the responses gradually grew to establish numerous catchphrases and running gags, as well as spin-offs like Trogdor the Burninator and Teen Girl Squad. A typical Strong Bad email will also include numerous Easter eggs and other hidden material. An example of a Strong Bad Email reply is his take on techno, where he creates the techno song "The System Is Down."
Along with his physically intimidating but mentally limited big brother Strong Mad and his lackey animal-of-questionable-species The Cheat ( who is a member of species called "The Cheats"), Strong Bad represents the self-proclaimed criminal element in the series. Strong Bad is undoubtedly the most popular member despite, or perhaps because of, his mischievous nature. Many shorts concern the various practical jokes and scams that they perpetrate. Although these "crimes" are usually only slightly malevolent, Strong Bad still acts as if he is a villainous mastermind, and is highly prone to exaggerating his alluring qualities — especially with regards to women and "cold ones" (which are apparently the equivalent of beer in Free Country, USA, the land in which the Homestar Runner series takes place). In one email, it was revealed he had the ability to remove caps by making the jewel in his mask glow with intense concentration. He demonstrated this ability by removing the cap from a cold one, and by repeatedly removing Homestar's cap.
Alternate versions
1936
The 1936 form of Strong Bad is sometimes referred to as The Strong Bad, and Sir Strong Bad. He appears in black and white and has hair and a handlebar moustache. His mask is less detailed and he has no visible mouth. He is widely thought to have an English accent, but it is actually an early 1900s American accent, rather than the modern american accent that present-day Strong Bad has. He is accompanied by The Cheat's 1936 form, known as The Sneak and resembling a rodent or rat-like animal. Also, as time has passed, the 1936 animations have begun to have sound, originally having none.
20X6 - Stinkoman
Stinkoman, a futuristic anime-style Strong Bad, has no thumbs, big robot boots, a mouth that is tiny when closed, but "ridiculously huge" when open, blue hair, and big green eyes. The "real" Strong Bad designed this character in the e-mail "Japanese Cartoon", when someone asked what he would look like as a Japanese cartoon. The name "Stinkoman" comes from an earlier email (number 52, "Island"), where Strong Bad was called that name by Homestar Runner. His primary interests are "Challenge and fighting and fighting that challenge." He has his own game. This version of Strong Bad was clearly modeled after Mega Man (aka Rockman in Japan) and Astroboy.
The use of the year 20X6 (pronounced "twenty ex-tee six, or twenty ex-dee six") is also a reference to the Mega Man games that were often set in the year 20XX or Metroid which took place in 20X5, and maybe also to the cartoon series Thunderbirds 2086. The Stinkoman K theme music is a MIDI theme borrowed from the Nintendo Entertainment System video game "Rad Racer."
Senor Cardgage
Senor Cardgage is what Strong Bad said he would look like if he was an ugly, dumpy old guy with a beer belly and a comb-over, instead of the stylish, buff, handsome man in a wrestling mask he is. He is fat, wears gold rimmed glasses, and he wanders around mumbling things and standing too close to people. He also tends to refer to people with female names, regardless of their gender. Strong Bad claims he is "so cool, you don't even know he's cool." Senor Cardgage became an individual character rather than an alter-ego after his debut appearance.
Strong Badia
Strong Badia is a "kingdom" that Strong Bad claims to rule over. It consists of a barren field, a fence, a tire, and a stop sign saying Pop Tire (Pop meaning population) leaning against a cinder block. Strong Bad said he bought the property from Bubs in one email, altough he originally said he ruled it since "diaper school." It was once haunted by the ghost of the "Tandy 400."
Computers
Strong Bad has owned several computers and while each is superior to the last, they remain horribly dated in contrast to current technology. His first computer, the "Tandy 400", featured the classic "green-and-black" monochrome monitor and displayed little to no graphics. It eventually exploded in Strong Bad's face, at which point he borrowed $900 from Strong Sad to fix it, even though he could get a better one for $15 at a garage sale (according to Strong Sad). He managed to duct tape the computer back together, but after it malfunctioned and deleted an e-mail from a girl who seemed to be genuinely interested in him, the Tandy was unceremoniously dumped a few weeks later. It was bought by The King of Town, who complained that this was the last time he would buy a used computer from Bubs. The ghost of this computer at one point comes back to haunt him.
His next computer, "Compy 386", boasted improved graphics and sound but remained behind the times. The Compy later proved to be overloaded with computer viruses - indeed when Strong Bad runs his virus scan (after it informs him "Last scan was NEVER ago"), it turns out to be infected with 423,827 viruses, which leaked from the computer and began altering The Sites's Flash-animated reality. Bubs managed to restore a semblance of normalcy to the Homestar Runner Universe by shooting the Compy with a shotgun, much to the distress of Strong Bad, who had apparently grown quite attached to the Compy. In an older version of the Strong Bad Email menu, Bubs sells the "LIKE USED", "SLIGHTLY SHOTGUNNED" computer to Homestar Runner, though he appears to think it is a low cost automobile.
Strong Bad eventually moved on, and picked up another new computer, this one a bulky, old-fashioned laptop called the "Lappy 486". Trumping both previous computers in processing power, the Lappy still runs without the aid of a graphical user interface, weighs 42 lbs., and has only a 5 minute battery life. As of August 2006, this is his current computer.
However, in one episode, he has to use the Cheat's computer, which was up-to-date at the time (for it is [or seems to be] an iMac). Strong Bad complains that it "has too much computer in it and not enough typewriter", because his computer forces him to type all of the time, instead of clicking.
Also, in one episode, "the bird," Strong Bad asks Pom Pom if he can use his Palm Pilot to check an e-mail while they are at the stick.
In one of the latest SBEmails (Strong Bad Emails) The Cheat has a different computer (but it is still a Mac), which Strong Bad claims is worthless because the back is chopped off (Flat Screen Monitor) and the mouse is nothing but a "plastic bar of soap" (wireless, one-button mouse).