#kyman analysis

I’m only gonna talk about the faces because they’re the only bit I genuinely thought a bit about when designing these goobers. Why does Kyle have no eyes and why does Cartman have no mouth? Their faces slightly reflect their personality or some aspects of their character. For example, Kyle’s character is extremely vocal about the things he hates, complaining or yelling at Cartman, whereas Cartman usually internalizes paranoia inward. It’s more that people usually listen to what Kyle says, and see more of what Cartman does. (Ignorance of action and attention to speech vs. Ignorance of speech and attention to action)

Cartman and Kyle, in my personal preferred dynamic, are two halves of the same whole. They both need each other (or at least, have a crazed belief they need each other which also justifies their obsession while also making it worse)

Cartman has the eyes, but misses the mouth. Kyle has a mouth, but no eyes. They have parts that complete the other. You might notice that in some instances they both gain those parts, like in my first comic featuring the designs

I just feel like I have to be very clear I DO NOT SHIP KYMAN, at least in the I think they should get together/would work in a relationship sense. I think that kyman is moreso like the joker and batman, in which it's not necessarily "love" but obsession that takes some roots in deep-seated, homoerotic(?) feelings. I do not think they work as a couple or that it could ever be a healthy relationship, but the dynamic they have of current is just suspicious, especially for two people who supposedly "hate" each other. I feel like it's no secret that Cartman has an unhealthy obsession with Kyle, but many people disagree that Kyle has an obsession with cartman.

Kyle obviously has some form of unhealthy obsession with cartman, if he didn't then he would just stay away from Cartman as much as possible, similar to how Wendy stays away from Cartman unless absolutely necessary. For someone who is supposed to hate Cartman, he sure spends a lot of time with him and definitely enjoys being around him(assburgers as a good example). I feel like Kyle having some strange obsession with cartman or being the "saviour" to fix him and/or rid the town of Cartman and his evil. Kyle needs to feel superior to Cartman, and needs to prove that to everyone. I think the reason for this is that Kyle knows, when it comes down to it, he would also murder, kidnap, or do whatever else it takes to achieve his goal. Often, this goal is to beat Cartman, when he's not helping Cartman, that is. I feel like deep down Kyle knows that he needs Cartman to feel superior, to prove that he is better. Kyle will never admit this though, he will never admit that he needs Cartman because that would prove that he doesn't do good thing because he is a good person, rather he wants to be a hero or a saviour. Admitting this would also prove that he is not superior to Cartman on some moral level (obviously I'm not saying Kyle is as bad as Cartman)

Kyle and Cartman have a very weird obsessive symbiotic relationship. I do not think they "love" each other in the sense most people think of love, it is an obsessive, cruel, necessity type of love, that is buried deep behind the layers of "hatred".

Kyman has been paralleled to the joker and batman, the joker is canonically in love with batman, which, if Cartman is the joker in this parallel shows one side kyman. If that's the farthest you look, but if you really look into the lore, batman also has the same obsessive tendencies towards the joker that the joker shows towards him. Which might not prove that they(the joker and batman) are both in "love" with each other it shows that they BOTH obsess over each other in a strange symbiotic way. Which, can be applied to kyman, as both Cartman and Kyle show obsessive behavior over each other and a constant need to get something from the other.

I think that in Cartmans case, he wants a reaction, but a type of reaction only Kyle can give him.

For Kyle, I think that he wants to be a saviour, by standing up to the evil racist bully, but is only satisfied when triumphant over Cartman.

Despite needing each other, in a strange way, neither one of them will admit this symbiotic relationship exists, ESPECIALLY KYLE.

So I guess here is my analysis that no one asked for, nor will anyone read. Please remember this is all my opinion and be respectful if you do read.

27 - what is your take on their dynamic in canon?

Really close to my headcanon one, that's for sure! Cartman loves making Kyle's life hell; Kyle feels obligated to stop whatever bullshit agenda he's got going while secretly getting a little kick from it.

It's also interesting to point out that?? Kyle empathizes more with Cartman than Stan??? When Stan becomes semi depressed after being dumped, Kyle ditches him. When Stan becomes actually depressed after 'growing up', Kyle ditches him for Cartman. Like...

Stan: *goes through period of depression*

Kyle: LMAO... I DONT NEED THAT KIND OF TOXICITY IN MY LIFE....... BYE

Kyle: *goes to hang around Cartman, local Nazi, part time schemer and fulltime asshole*

???? Something ain't adding up here, buddy.

Meanwhile when Cartman is bummed out about something, Kyle gets it. He just... fucking gets it. And while I ship Style (a lot), I dunno if they'd ever be able to overcome these empathetic differences they've got and grow as a couple.

Anyway. Back to Kyman.

Generally I feel like they've got a pretty toxic symbiotic relationship going for them. Cartman needs Kyle so he can torment someone while also staying in line, Kyle needs Cartman so he can exercise his twisted martyr complex on someone.

29 - do you think that canonically, cartman really IS in love w/ kyle, as speculated?

Uhh... define love.

I don't think he wants to cuddle with Kyle on the couch, eating chocolates and smooching under the sunset, but I do think he has some kinda fucked up longing for him. Like a sort of 'he's mine' mentality that he subconsciously (or consciously) projects both onto him and the people around him so they know to fuck off. That projection is also probably why Kyle's the only kid to have never had a real girlfriend agdjhsjs

Idk how to explain it for sure but... yeah.

I definitely think there's something there, but I don't think I'd call it love.

30 - does kyle really care for cartman, or is he just doing “the right thing”, any time he helps/rescues him?

OH BOY.... CONTROVERSY IN AN ALREADY CONTROVERSIAL SIDE OF THE FANDOM....... HNNNGH.....

Okay, so... I'll try to split this out as evenly as I can.

On one hand you've got Kyle The Martyr. Kyle The Brave. Kyle The Only One Willing To Tempt Fate And Stand Up Against Eric Cartman.

And look, Kyle is a good kid, and he is trying to do the right thing-- but I don't think it's just for the sake of doing the right thing. He wants to be held on a pedestal or some shit because of it. He feels guilty over things because he knows he's supposed to, and then he tries to make amends until a better option comes along.

Like in that one episode about TPing someone's house that I don't really remember that well whoops-- Kyle was all "oh no We Must Confess!" up until he found out someone else had taken the blame. And then at the end, instead of just having his conscience cleared by confessing like he claims he wanted all along, he actually rants at Cartman for stealing his spotlight.

Like wow. Real nice morality checks you've got there, kiddo.

You sure confessing was the only thing on your mind??

Anyway what I'm tryna get at with all this is that we could just as easily apply all this to Cartman and say that Kyle hangs around/helps/stops him just so he can get a little kick to his morality's ego. Make him out to be the Good Guy, someone to be congratulated.

Or... we could take the other route, and say he actually cares about Cartman and that's why he hangs around/helps/stops him. Which I can believe, to an extent.

But honestly in the end I think it's somewhere in the middle. Because Kyle needs some way to let himself be hailed as a martyr, and when that way is another person, well-- you kind of end up growing at least somewhat fond of them, no?

31 - how do you think, in canon, kyle and cartman REALLY feel about each other?

Ack, at this point I just feel like I'm repeating myself but: Toxic symbiotic relationship.

"I torment you because it's fun and you give the best reactions while also letting you keep me in line" vs "I keep you in line and stand your tormenting because that makes me a good guy and I really wanna be the good guy."