It's Not Easy Being Green

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It's Not Easy Being Green - the FAQ

Q: Why did you come up with the idea for this website?

A: It began somewhere around 2002. Here I was, an obsessive fan of Garfield "Gar" Logan, aka Beast Boy (and fornerly known as Changeling), constantly scouring the internet for anything related to Gar. Many a long night was spent searching the web for halfway decent fan-art of Gar.

In my hunting I came across general Titans and Doom Patrol sites, fan pages dedicated to Nightwing, Flash, Wonder Girl/Troia, Starfire... but nothing for Gar. Mind you, this was before the cartoon was even close to going into production.

Even without finding Gar web pages, I still only found a handful of halfway decent pictures. Most of what I found were group pictures with Gar in the background, group pictures with him morphed into an animal, and pictures of him ogling his female teammates. Not exactly the selection a Gar worshipper (like myself) would want. Fanfiction featuring Gar as the main character was almost impossible to find.

I finally decided that it was time to create a site where true Gar fans could come and find what they wanted in one neat little place.

Now there are a few fan shrines popping up here and there, but still nothing like this site. Currently we have the biggest selection of Beast Boy wallpaper, avatars, fan art and comic scans available on the web.

Mini shrines have come and gone, but this site remains.

Q: Why did you name the site "It's Not Easy Being Green"?

A: Because when you look at Gar's history, it really isn't easy being green. Most fans don't realize everything that Gar's been through. Plus, if you read the lyrics to the song (yes, it's the title of a song sung by Kermit the Frog of the Muppets), they really fit Gar.

Q: What are the lyrics?

It's Not Easy Bein' Green, written by Joe Raposo

It's not that easy bein' green
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red,
Or yellow or gold-
Or something much more colorful like that.

It's not easy bein' green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over
'Cause you're not standing out
Like flashy sparklers in the water or stars in the sky.

But green's the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean,
Or important like a mountain,
Or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why,
But why wonder, why wonder?
I am green and it'll do fine,
It's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.

Q: Why is Beast Boy named "Garfield"?

A: Because that's what his parents named him. Seriously. He was named Garfield by his creator, Arnold Drake, 15 years before "Garfield the Cat" ever came around. Most people just call him "Gar".

Q: Why did he change from "Beast Boy" to "Changeling" back to "Beast Boy"?

A: Why he changed from "Beast Boy" to "Changeling" was a decision on the part of Marv Wolfman and George Perez. For the record, Marvel comics had a character named "Changeling" - also a shapeshifter. However, their Changeling had been dead several years. When Marvel decided to revive their "Changeling", DC's New Teen Titans had become very popular - as had Gar. Therefore Marvel renamed their character "Morph.".

At one point, though, Gar had gone into "comic book limbo." This is where I doubt we'll ever get the "true story." Many people believe Gar was returned back to "Beast Boy" because of the cartoon. Again, Gar was returned to "Beast Boy" a few years before the cartoon concept came about. My personal suspicion is that we had a return of what happened with Gar's name before. In the time Gar was in limbo, an RPG company had come out with a game called "Changeling: the Dreaming" that had some measure of popularity in RPG circles. Instead of going into a legal battle over the name, the powers that be must have decided it was easier to return Gar to his original name of "Beast Boy."

And yes, there are fans who don't like the change.

Q: Will Beast Boy become "Animal Man"?

A: That depends on what happens to the current Animal Man (Buddy Baker) by the end of 52.

Q: Why is there no "shipping" (romantic couple discussion) at this site?

A: Several reasons.
1. This is a site devoted to Beast Boy. Garfield Logan. Changeling. All versions of him (including his Amalgam "Beastling" and his alternate futures "Menagerie" and "Animal Man"). This means any fan of Beast Boy's can enjoy the site without having to endure some sort of "romantic discussion". There are plenty of message boards where you can discuss Gar's romantic potential. But whether you support Beast Boy/Raven, Beast Boy/Terra, Beast Boy/Flamebird, Beast Boy/Jillian, or Beast Boy/Cyborg (yes, there are supporters for this), you can still enjoy this site.
2. This site is for information and entertainment. Not every fan finds the romantic aspects "enjoyable". Beast Boy fans can come here to enjoy him without having to worry about a romantic couple they find distasteful.
3. If I allowed one "ship", I would have to allow them all to give all of them fair and equal time (even Beast Boy/Cyborg).
4. Extensive discussions of shipping still gives me the shakes and nightmares. I used to run "The Digimon Couples Board." To this day, I still have bad flashbacks. It's safer for my sanity to avoid shipping discussions.

Q: What is the "Warning - Fangirlishness Ahead" section for?

A: That's my one indulgence into Mary Sue-ism. My personal "avatar" character - that character that I would love to see show up in a comic book with Gar one day. If you can't handle Mary Sues, you'd probably want to avoid this section. Again, this is more "bio" and "design" for this character - I don't get into writing stories about her and Gar or discussing her openly. And come on... as much as people won't admit it, everyone has that "superhero they want to be so they can hook up with [insert character here]". This is mine.

Anyhow, that's it for now. If you have a question, send it to me at one of the links on the contact page or catch me at The Beast Boy Shrine or another message board.

- Lady Timedramon, Garfield Logan fangirl for 25+ years and proud of it!

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