Martin Prince
Martin Prince
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Character Information
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Contents
Profile
Martin Prince is an academically brilliant teacher's pet with the stereotypical geek enthusiasms for science fiction, not-so-great fashion sense, and has a IQ of 216. In other words, he is basically the class nerd and a perfect and easy target for ruthless bullying at Springfield Elementary School.
Personality
Given Martin's fawning behavior towards adults and condescension towards his peers (such as successfully extending the school day by 20 minutes), most of Springfield cheers on his tormentors. An example of this is when Mrs. Krabappel assigns a World War I paper. Martin asks if he can type his report and then if it can be ten pages (minimum). Martin disappears almost immediately and Nelson lets the not particularly concerned teacher know that "he's gone now".
Despite this sort of thing Martin tries to be friendly with Nelson.
There have been a few episodes where it is hinted that Nelson does not really want to be mean to Martin, and could even be potentially a friend, if it were not for the pressure of maintaining his bad-boy image at school. Martin is apparently obese, as he is sent to the weight loss section of the hellish Kamp Krusty in the episode of the same name. Although his father calls it "image enhancement camp", Martin sees right through this. "Spare me your euphemisms! It's fat camp for daddy's chubby little secret!"
Future
He attended Springfield High School and went to the prom with a robot. He most likely went to college and then returned to Springfield Elementary and became a teacher. There was a science fair explosion at Springfield Elementary. He was thought to have been killed, but he survived. He lived the rest of his life like the phantom of the opera under the school, playing music on an electric pipe organ.
Major Appearances
One of his more notable appearances is in an episode in which Bart challenges him for the class presidency (the side-story in Lisa's Substitute (season 2 episode 19). Martin, of course, has a comprehensive (though not particularly politically well-judged) platform which Bart, with the aid of Homer, picks apart with populist nonsense. In a debate, Martin begins to speak of the high level of asbestos in the classrooms. Bart interrupts and says "That's not enough! We want MORE ASBESTOS! MORE ASBESTOS!," leaving the entire class chanting this arrant nonsense. Nevertheless, Bart still loses the election as Martin and his running mate Wendell are the only ones in the class who bothered to vote on election day.
Relationships With Other Characters
Despite the natural animosity between Bart and Martin, the two have often joined forces. In fact, for most of the series they seem to be friends despite the occasional butting of heads. In one episode, Martin tutors Bart in exchange for lessons on being cool (although Martin betrays Bart at the end of their collaboration). In another, Martin and Bart work together on a soapbox racer. Bart, Martin, and Milhouse all pool their money to buy a copy of the first Radioactive Man comic. In another episode, Bart must wear corrective lenses and leg supports, and temporarily looks quite nerdy and becomes an even greater target for bullying. It is during this time that Martin and a group of geeks and nerds save him until he no longer has to wear his glasses or boots. When kids from Shelbyville steal Springfield's lemon tree, Martin joins Bart as part of the gang of raiders who seek to take the lemon tree back (Bart describes him as the gang's smart guy). Martin's closest friends are apparently Wendel, Database and the German exchange student Üter.
During one spring break, Martin accompanies Bart, Nelson, and Milhouse on a chaotic road trip to Knoxville, Tennessee. Bart is not very harsh on Martin (yet he mistakenly refers to him as "Milton" and is corrected by Milhouse) most of the time, but Martin can get out of control. Aside from being a bit snobbish in early seasons, Martin once became a bad boy even worse than Bart, once slapped Bart on the head when Bart was sad that Homer didn't support him, and once threateningly held a small Shelbyville kid up against a tree.
Many have noted that as the seasons have passed, Bart has become less and less hostile with Martin to the point of total neutrality; this has not stopped the Springfield Elementary bullies from continuing their traditional beating however. Martin also has become less condescending and more passive as the series has progressed. He is often depicted as too passive, since even Lisa Simpson can be a bit harsh to him, such as a scene in Das Bus in which Lisa is initially blamed by Sherri and Terri for being responsible for stranding the group of children on a deserted island because he helped set up the disastrous field trip. Lisa in turn states that Martin seconded the trip, and because of that it is his fault. Martin has been known to casually hang out with Bart's group from time to time as well, and is often seen with Bart and Milhouse in the background. He also occasionally is seen with Ralph Wiggum. Martin also sits directly in front of Bart in their fourth grade class. Although they often work together on various school projects and classwork, it is implied in many episodes that Martin and Lisa are also rivals of a sort, especially when it comes to the Science Fair.
Sexuality
As a recurring joke in The Simpsons he has been hinted to be gay, or at least bisexual. In many episodes he is seen dressed up as fairy and in Future-Drama he is seen dating a boy robot at the prom. In There's Something About Marrying Nelson states that there should be gay funerals starting with Martin being a joke to Martin's sexuality throughout the series but was use more as an insult rather than a joke. Also, in Bart of Darkness he claims that his pool will make him queen of summertime and then the pool installers look at him suspiciouslly and Martin corrects his statement saying king. In Grade School Confidential he is seen having a pink princess playhouse and in one episode he is in a tunnel of love with Ralph hinting he may be openly gay. However, since these episodes, he has denied that he is gay. It should also be noted that in Homer's Night Out, he showed attraction to the woman in Bart's photo.
Episode Appearances
Trivia
- Martin's IQ is 216, however, the highest IQ in real life is 205.
- His father works at the stock market.
Comic Appearances
