"Someone's trying to make the SWAT Kats look bad."
~Lt. Felina Feral

It's about time I wrote this, and I sincerely think that I'm going to have a lot of angry fanfiction writers after me by the time they finish reading it. Your honor, let the records state that these are the words coming from a  tired and fed up SWAT Kats fan that's decided to voice her opinion on the material found on a rather large amount of fanfiction theories that were never found on the show itself.  Flames can be tossed towards this fireplace. 

Warning
This rant contains an incredibly biased point of view, so if you feel that you're going to get torn to bits by what I'm about to say, then you can exit this page at any time. However,  all the material found doesn't go beyond the PG level, so it should be suitable for younger readers. And, if you feel that I'm wrong, go ahead and tell me. However, don't expect me to change my opinion to your liking, and I will really appreciate it if you don't come to terms of bringing up the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, because I'll most likely backfire with the same argument. You've been warned.  

The Rise and Fall

Since their debut on Cartoon Network (that's the first time I caught them) back in 1994, I always thought that the friendship between both Chance "T-Bone" Furlong and Jake "Razor" Clawson from SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron was something that made the show worth seeing. It was enjoyable due to the fact that they were there for each other, made sure they were guarding each other's backs at all times, especially on the most dangerous missions found. From 1993-1995, SWAT Kats caught a lot of attention from a rather dedicated audience both young and old. Being a college student myself, I am one of those from the dedicated audience (even if my site is based on a complete show spin-off).

The show was cancelled after two to three years of non-stop action and entertainment for reasons unknown. Even though all fingers point towards public figure Ted Turner for the show's crushing beneath the off-the-air mallet of television due to "too much violent content" or "lack of merchandise," there really isn't anybody to blame, unless you want to storm towards Hanna-Barbera studios with "Katsfans On Strike" signs demanding for an answer.

The Hot-Shot  vs. The Inventor

Sincerely, this is the area that has me venting at the most. Why? Because of the pathetic display of 'friendship' shown between "the Boys" in about forty-five percent of the fanfics I've read over the past few years since I discovered the Internet. I'm a fic writer myself, and I'll be as clear as possible without being a hypocrite because I know I'll be nailed with any random spot in my fanfiction sooner or later.
What is it that's irritating? It's the fact that somehow some of these fanfics tie to a whole bunch of character worshipping rather than focusing on the actual idea of the show itself. Yes, you've read them. The infamous Mary Sues (and Stu's). Let's start with the basics.

The Bashing of Chance "T-Bone" Furlong
I'm sure Christian and Yvon Tremblay, the creators of the show, must feel the love in the air towards one of their main characters.  Thus far, most of the fanfiction I've read has anything but sweet words to describe Chance "T-Bone" Furlong. He's been viewed as the following (not in that order) -- egotistical, stupid, degrading, a woman-chaser, fat, and a violent, non-caring character. 

Cease fire!!!! What is it with fiction writers tying to the fact that Chance is stupid?! How do you suppose he made it through the Enforcer Academy to become a  pilot? Through dumb luck?! To become a pilot, you need to go through extensive training and testing to know how to handle an F-14 Tomcat or any other aircraft. Personally, I highly doubt Chance would be stubborn enough to cheat his way through the Enforcer Academy. 

"My Dad is a pilot," states SK Fan, Writer and Role-Player Jessie Clawson. "He says you need math... lots of math." 

You'd want to go back and rewrite some of your Chance Furlong bashing fanfiction, Razor fans, because this is not the case. Try working your way up through high school and later enrolling into an academy that requires the hardship of boot camp and drill sergeants, plus testing. All of a sudden you're part of the elite fighter squadron in the Enforcers, top gun as a pilot. Your dreams are abruptly drained as you chase after a nefarious villain into an area where an accident that just isn't your fault turns out to be the biggest down fall of your life. Thus, you're sent to a salvage yard to pay back for damages for the next goodness knows how many years.

Now... answer me this. I'm befuddled, and I'm sure you Chance bashers must know the answer because I sure don't. Where exactly does the 'stupidity' slide in? And, where did lazy come in? What's with the claims that Chance sits on his duff all day while Jake repairs the Turbokat and the cars? Above all, since when was Jake the only one that built the Turbokat by himself? I sincerely think that you need to go back and watch all your SWAT Kats episodes before coming up with faux ideas that Chance is all the aforementioned adjectives.

Classic show of 'stupidity' with a taste of 'carelessness' and 'lazy.' 
In a scene in The Metallikats, we spy Chance watching "Scaredy Kat" while eating lunch. In the meantime, Jake
walks in with the newspaper. They've come back from putting out a fire at the Tuna Factory and as it appears they have no work to be done at the moment, they're both in a state of relaxation. Jake mentions the situation about Manx being in danger and two robots running amuck in the city and Chance seems to be begging to be given a few minutes of peace. 
In another scene in Metal Urgency, we spy Chance, once again, watching "Scaredy Kat." The only difference now is that Jake is *with* him watching the show. As it appears there's no work to be done, they're both taking it easy. 
Okay. You see this and you immediately figure that the tabby's one of those fat and lazy, egotistical galoots who doesn't seem to care about the outside world other than himself. Hold the train, people. Just because you see him in a couple of scenes not in the crime-fighting mood doesn't mean he's decided to stay on his tail and watch cartoons all day. 
In yet another scene in The Giant Bacteria, Chance is helping Jake repair Callie's car and  suggests they use turbo plugs.  Jake warns him it may not be a good idea, yet goes ahead and inserts the piece into Callie's engine. Chance states, "Jake, I'm a pilot... I know what an engine can handle" and it blows. Are mistakes a sin in this world all of a sudden?

"Hey, he's a guy," says SK Fan Artist, Writer and Role-Player Kristen Sharpe. "Guys think more power is always good. So Jake's a cautious guy and Chance is more typical."

Leaving the "careless" and "lazy" areas, even though "stupid" may have been focused on the above episode example, let's now turn "stupid" in the direction of Chance's fears. He's had two fears in the show -- swimming and bugs. However, let's not forget he overcame both fears through an incredibly dangerous situation. And, even if he didn't overcome them... 

"Well, a pathological fear is a pathological fear," says Sharpe.  "It has nothing to do with reason and no one who lacks one ought go pointing fingers at those who have them. I think the swimming was mainly because he didn't know how... And, however it happens, once you come to be an adult and can't do something simple like that, you just feel stupid asking for help with it. Lots of adults and even teenagers are like that. Like people who never learned to read. It's so basic they feel it's degrading to ask someone to teach them."

If people stop and think about it for a moment, the tabby's greatest fear is not something that's found in his past.  I believe SK Fanfic Writer Simon Leet gave an excellent example in his fanfiction T-Bone's Stakes.  To be certain, Chance's greatest fear is to be alone, and to lose his best friend and partner, Jake "Razor" Clawson.  For years, I had this belief that Chance felt that it was his sole duty to stand by his partner and protect him in any way he could. Losing Jake would be something that the tabby wouldn't be able to bear for years to come.

Now that we shove aside the fears, let's turn back to the point where it seems that Chance's "stupidity" seems to increase when it comes to repairs in the Turbokat or any other vehicle. I, however, am focusing solely on the Turbokat as other vehicles (cars!) don't require that much scientific knowledge to rotate a tire or pop a hood open. 

So Jake adds new equipment and designs to the Turbokat. Fine. However, put yourself in Chance's shoes. I dare you (unless you're a Science and Technology computer genius) to be Chance Furlong for one day and see if you can figure out what your partner is saying when science is not your strong point. This does not classify you as stupid. So even if Chance isn't interested in figuring out what in the world Jake's installed to the Turbokat this time, he's still interested if 1) will it work according to Jake's calculations 2) will it save lives and (3) if the gadget will be finished soon enough so the Turbokat can take off into the air once the next emergency comes up. So he's not to discover the secrets of the universe. He still makes sure the Turbokat is online on the mechanical side. While Jake upgrades the systems, Chance repairs whatever outer flaws the jet may have. And, even if Jake pitches in, he's still working. There is never a time that Chance does not put his part in keeping the Turbokat intact.  You want examples? Watch The Wrath of Dark Kat, When Strike Mutilor, and Volcanus Erupts for starters.

The Woman-Chaser
So he flirts with one

The "Fat Kat"

Degrading Jake "Razor" Clawson
Now, now, Chance fans. I'm not only out to defend the brawn of the team. If you think that Razor's got it made due to the numerous number of fans he's got out in the SWAT Kats world, think again. In more than enough fanfictions, I've seen Razor bashing to and fro on end. While he's seen as the brain of the SWAT Kats, he's also seen (not all in one) as the following - weak, fragile, and pathetic. And while he's not seen as the little china doll figure that could break into pieces by a gust of wind, he's suddenly shown to have a much darker side than what one could normally handle. This type of dark Jake is seen a bit more heartless and running around bars and doing drugs like there's no tomorrow. So dark that even his alternate self could be afraid. Let's narrow down the topics.
The Shy Guy
A Walk on the Dark Side?
Just where did this dark Jake come from anyway? Unless you want to stick to the theory that he and his dark alternate self switched places at one point, then tell me where in the world did you get this first-class jerk of a kat? And, I'm refering to the non-caring, alcohol/drug taking, violent tomkat Jake. While looking at this Jake, I'm convinced at one point that this is a pod kat. You know... One of those that replaced Jake on Earth when the original was kidnapped by some advanced alien race and left Chance to deal with the podkat. When a katsfan is used to seeing shy, innocent Jake in the show, s/he expects to see the same kat The Weakling

The Downfall of Fic Writing
Good Intentions, Sad Results
Character Worshipping: Mary Sue (and Stu), Don't Make Me Turn Blue!
Destroying a Friendship Through Faux Theories
Where The Line is Drawn