Editing Mewtwo (section)

==Promotion and reception==
Mewtwo's image is utilized for merchandise related to the ''Pokémon'' franchise, which includes toys, children's toothbrushes,<ref>{{cite journal|date=10 February 2001|title=You'll want to try them all..|journal=[[British Dental Journal]]|volume=190|issue=3|page=158|doi=10.1038/sj.bdj.4800911|doi-access=free}}</ref> and a playing piece for a ''Pokémon''-themed version of ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Tips & Tricks]] |publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications]] |date=December 1999 |page=111 |title=Pokémon Report |last=Chen |first=Charlotte}}</ref> Several [[action figure]]s have been made, such as a posable figure by [[Hasbro]] in 2006 that included accessories to recreate its "Hyper Beam" and "Light Screen" attacks, and a six-inch-tall "talking" figurine by [[Jakks Pacific]] as part of a series to commemorate the anime's ''[[List of Pokémon: Battle Frontier episodes|Battle Frontier]]'' [[story arc]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmdstore.com/pokemon-battle-frontier-action-figures-deluxe-electronic-series-2-mewtwo.html |title=Pokémon Battle Frontier Action Figures Deluxe Electronic Series 2: Mewtwo |publisher=CmdStore |access-date=2008-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508234951/http://www.cmdstore.com/pokemon-battle-frontier-action-figures-deluxe-electronic-series-2-mewtwo.html |archive-date=2008-05-08 }}</ref> Items marketed for adults featuring Mewtwo have also been sold and distributed by Nintendo, such as T-shirts.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Staff|date=August 2008|title=Ultra geek|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-oDAAAAMBAJ|journal=GameAxis Unwired|issue=59|page=83|issn=0219-872X|via=[[Google Books]]|access-date=2020-06-02|archive-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128163329/https://books.google.com/books?id=t-oDAAAAMBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The island nation of [[Niue]] released a one-dollar coin featuring the character as part of a commemorative promotion for the ''Pokémon'' franchise, with Mewtwo on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.<ref>{{cite book |title=2004 Standard Catalog of World Coins: 1901–present |url=https://archive.org/details/cliffordmishlers00krau |url-access=limited |last1=Krause |first1=Chester L. |first2=Clifford |last2=Mishler |author3=Colin R Bruce II  |year=2003 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=978-0-87349-593-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cliffordmishlers00krau/page/n1583 1537]–1539 }}</ref> Mewtwo also appears on the port side of [[All Nippon Airways]]'s Pocket Monsters [[Boeing 747]] jumbo jet, alongside Mew.<ref>{{cite book |author=Spicer, Stuart |year=2001 |title=Dream Schemes II: Exotic Airliner Art |publisher=Zenith Imprint |page=21 |isbn=978-0-7603-1196-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author=Staff | title=Design | url=https://www.ana.co.jp/eng/flights/pokemonjet/design.html | language=ja | publisher=All Nippon Airways | access-date=2009-05-13 | archive-date=2009-02-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207185035/http://www.ana.co.jp/eng/flights/pokemonjet/design.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

In the games, Mewtwo is consistently noted as being one of the strongest opponents, and has been described in ''Pokémon Red'' and ''Blue'' as being "the best Pokémon in the game",<ref name="IGNMewtwo">{{cite web |url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/16708/page_96.html |title=Pokémon Blue and Red Guide: #150 Mewtwo |author=Staff |publisher=IGN Entertainment |work=IGN |access-date=2008-06-11 |archive-date=2012-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413200700/http://guides.ign.com/guides/16708/page_96.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Loe, Casey |year=1999 |title=Pokemon Perfect Guide Includes Red-Yellow-Blue |publisher=Versus Books |isbn=978-1-930206-15-1 |page=67}}</ref> as well as "one of the rarest — and hardest to catch".<ref>{{cite news|title=Pokémon power - Cartoon and video game from Japan evolve into a hot new toy for U.S. kids |last=Churnin|first=Nancy|date=April 3, 1999 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|page=1C}}</ref> Because of the character's multiple strengths and few weaknesses, it changes how players approach playing against each other, causing players to either develop strategies solely to defeat an opposing Mewtwo,<ref>{{cite book |author=Loe, Casey |year=1999 |title=Pokémon Perfect Guide Includes Red-Yellow-Blue |publisher=Versus Books |isbn=978-1-930206-15-1 |pages=136–137}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/16708/page_115.html |title=Pokémon Blue and Red Guide: #115 Parasect |publisher=IGN Entertainment |work=IGN |author=Staff |access-date=2008-06-11 |archive-date=2012-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214161204/http://guides.ign.com/guides/16708/page_115.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/16708/page_96.html |author=Staff |title=Pokémon Blue and Red Guide: #150 Mewtwo |publisher=IGN Entertainment |work=IGN |access-date=2009-01-31 |archive-date=2012-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413200700/http://guides.ign.com/guides/16708/page_96.html |url-status=live }}</ref> or to prohibit its use when battling other players.<ref name="Surman"/> Kevin Slackie of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' described Mewtwo as one of the series' best Pokemon, noting its presence as the penultimate boss in the original games and also several subsequent appearances, and how despite not having the same exposure as [[Pikachu]] it managed to remain relevant for over twenty years, "which itself is a testament to its amazing staying power as one of the most powerful Pokémon."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/pok-mon/the-top-100-pokemon-of-all-time/|title=The 100 Best Pokémon|date=February 27, 2017|website=pastemagazine.com|access-date=July 6, 2021|archive-date=December 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218143039/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/pok-mon/the-top-100-pokemon-of-all-time/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gavin Jasper of ''[[Den of Geek]]'' compared Mewtwo to ''[[Street Fighter]]'' series character [[Akuma (Street Fighter)|Akuma]], and praised it for having a backstory, personality and motivation unlike many pokémon in the franchise, stating " Genetic engineering in a world of wacky creatures is just asking for trouble and Mewtwo is the payoff."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/super-smash-bros-characters-ranked/|title=Super Smash Bros. Characters Ranked|date=March 7, 2019|website=Den of Geek|access-date=June 28, 2021|archive-date=June 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610234650/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/super-smash-bros-characters-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref> Dale Bishir of ''[[IGN]]'' described him as an icon, and the "go-to 'villain' Pokemon", noting its frequent presence in media for the series, including its starring role in two of the feature films.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://sea.ign.com/pokemon/169418/news/the-25-most-important-pokemon-that-impacted-the-franchises-history|title = The 25 Most Important Pokemon That Impacted the Franchise's History|date = 4 March 2021|access-date = 10 July 2021|archive-date = 21 September 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220921200318/https://sea.ign.com/pokemon/169418/news/the-25-most-important-pokemon-that-impacted-the-franchises-history|url-status = live}}</ref>

In reception to extended media for the ''Pokémon'' franchise, Mewtwo was well received, and was described by ''[[Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces]]'' as the best villain of the ''Pokémon'' film series, and one of ''Mewtwo Strikes Back''{{'}}s strongest elements.<ref>{{cite book |title=Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces |page=[https://archive.org/details/animeclassicszet0000camp/page/283 283] |publisher=Stone Bridge Press |date=May 2007 |author=Camp, Brian |first2=Julie |last2=Davis |isbn=978-1-933330-22-8 |title-link=Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces }}</ref> His portrayal has also been likened to [[Frankenstein's monster]] as a being born from artificial means and discontent with the fact.<ref name="hokeymon">{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Klein |title=Hokeymon |work=[[Phoenix New Times]] |date=December 2, 1999 |access-date=2009-08-03 |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-02/film/hokeymon/print |archive-date=2009-01-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114072916/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-12-02/film/hokeymon/print }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=They're alive! – Monsters, Pinocchio, robots – we keep trying to bring creatures to life|last=Churnin|first=Nancy|date=2003-10-29|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|page=1E}}</ref> Theology Secretary for the [[Church of England]] Anne Richards described Mewtwo as representing a "parable about the pointlessness of force", and praised the character for displaying the [[Christian values|Christian value]] of [[Salvation#Redemption|redemption]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Tobin, Joseph Jay |year=2004 |title=Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon |publisher=Duke University Press |page=126 |isbn=978-0-8223-3287-9}}</ref> Other reactions have been mixed. While it has been cited as a "complex and compelling villain" by some critics,<ref>{{cite news |first=Nancy |last=Churnin |title=Pokemon Peters Out |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=July 21, 2000 |access-date=2009-08-03 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED8232CF49DAD87&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=2018-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203224833/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED8232CF49DAD87&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=live }}</ref> its goal of world domination was received as a trait shared by "…every ''anime'' villain…",<ref name="hokeymon" /> and likened to a [[James Bond]] villain by ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Siobhan |last=Sinnot |title=Poke in the Eye |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |date=April 14, 2000}}</ref> However, ''[[Animerica]]'' praised Mewtwo as a character with "philosophical depth" as well as for serving as "an adversary of almost infinite power and genuine malice" that the anime series had been lacking.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Staff |date=August 2000 |title=Mewtwo Strikes Back |journal=[[Animerica]] |publisher=Viz Media |issue=93}}</ref> Ken Hollings of ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' described Mewtwo as "brooding, articulate and vengeful where the other Pokémon remain bright blobs of wordless energy", and "Like a troubled elder brother, Mewtwo represents an older order of experience."<ref>{{cite journal |author=Hollings, Ken |date=June 2000 |title=Mewtwo Strikes Back |journal=[[Sight & Sound]] |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/473 |access-date=2009-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113150542/http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/473 |archive-date=2009-11-13 }}</ref> 

Mewtwo's character and design have also been analyzed in academic study. The book ''Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon'' noted Mewtwo as popular with older male children who tend to be drawn to "tough or scary" characters; Mew in contrast was described as a polar opposite, a character popular with young girls who tend to be drawn to "cute" characters.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tobin|first=Joseph Jay|year=2004|title=Pikachu's Global Adventure: The Rise and Fall of Pokémon|publisher=Duke University Press|pages=180, 283|isbn=978-0-8223-3287-9}}</ref> Others books, such as ''Media and the Make-believe Worlds of Children'', have noted a similar comparison, citing Mewtwo as "more aggressive-looking" compared to Mew and emphasizing the importance of the contrast for children.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Götz |first1=Maya |first2=Dafna |last2=Lemish |author3=International Communication Association Conference |first4=Amy |last4=Aidman |first5=Hyesung  |last5=Moon  |year=2005 |title=Media and the Make-believe Worlds of Children: When Harry Potter Meets Pokémon in Disneyland |publisher=Routledge |page=105 |isbn=978-0-8058-5191-5}}</ref> The book ''Gaming Cultures and Place in Asia-Pacific'' compares Sugimori's design of Mewtwo to that of Japanese [[tokusatsu]] films, namely monster films like the 1954 ''[[Godzilla (1954 film)|Godzilla]]'' in creating "monstrous yet familiar silhouettes from the past renewed agency in the form of eyes and expressions which cut through the viewer".<ref name="Surman">{{cite book|last1=Hjorth|first1=Larissa|title=Gaming Cultures and Place in Asia-Pacific|first2=David|last2=Surman|publisher=Taylor and Francis|year=2009|isbn=978-0-415-99627-3|chapter=9|access-date=2009-06-06|chapter-url=https://newport.academia.edu/documents/0009/2577/MERGEDPOKEMON.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620001743/http://newport.academia.edu/documents/0009/2577/MERGEDPOKEMON.pdf|archive-date=2010-06-20}}</ref>