Bulleteer 4
From Barbelith
"Bad Girls"
Barbelith thread: I'm In Charge! (http://www.barbelith.com/topic/22290/from/315)
| Table of contents |
Background and General Commentary
Synopsis:
Sara Smart was simply a cheerful, slightly naive, teenaged superheroine who wanted to uphold the law and make the world a better place. But the world can be an unfriendly place to little girls who can never grow up, filled with those who would see eternal youth and beauty as something to be exploited. Unfortunately for Alix, 75 years of bad experiences have turned that little girl into the twisted super-vixen Sally Sonic, who seems determined to take out her troubles on the Bulleteer's head. After a long day of dealing with psychologically-disturbed super-humans and other people's problems, Alix has had enough. So when the Vigilante comes knocking with news of a Special Destiny just for her, Alix turns in her notice: The Bulleteer has quit. The World can save itself.
Annotations
| Featured Characters | Featured Locations |
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Page 2
The two crooks in stripey shirts in PANEL 2 may be Dennis (a.k.a. Vita-Man) and his brother Chris, based on what we learn later in this issue.
Page 10
PANEL 1: "Into the Wardrobe of Solitude with it!"
Papers Brannigan - "Sidenote: Sally is locked up in a wardrobe, and then disappears out the back. Superland as Narnia"
Cassandra - "Ha! I went straight to Captain 7 from Nowhere Street."
Page 13
PANEL 3: "I'm too knackered at nights to go on patrol as Vitaman and do the thing I love most..."
Some speculation on the history of the name Vitaman and its use in the promotion of breakfast cereal and men's health products:
"Some possible definitions for Vitaman: VitaMan Natural Grooming for Men VitaMan (http://www.vitaman.com.au/) stands apart from other men's products due to our commitment to offering the highest quality and most effective ingredients available. Our shaving, skincare and haircare ranges are formulated utilising unique Australian Native Plant, Herb and Fruit Extracts, which have been used by Indigenous Australians for over 30,000 years, and which have been scientifically proven in their effectiveness in treating a wide range of male skin conditions such as dry, dehydrated skin, ageing, sun-damaged skin, shave rash, problem skin, dull brittle, thinning hair and itchy flaky scalp conditions. Developed by co-owners Glenn Kiddell (Naturopath/Herbalist) and Clare Matthews (Beauty Therapist & International Skincare Lecturer) along with Vic Cherikoff (Australia's leading Scientific Researcher & Author on Australian Native Medicine and Bush Food). King Vitaman Quaker Oats (http://www.quakeroats.com/) King Vitaman New King Vitaman 1970 2000 These Jay Ward Studio characters included King Vitaman, and his knights: Sir Laffitup, and Sir Cravenleigh, plus foes Blue Baron and Not-So-Bright Knight. Originally, King Vitaman was a straight man to his supporting characters. When he mentioned his name, the others didn't know whether he meant himself or the cereal. For example, he would command someone to pour milk on King Vitaman and they'd spill it on him to which he'd yell "Not me! The cereal!" (Not pictured is the second version in which King Vitaman was a sillier character who thwtated his villians by himself). The cereal itself was very much like Cap'n Crunch in that it tore up the roof of your mouth. The animated characters lasted only one year (1970) before they were replaced by a human king (George Mann) with a crown of spoons and a red and white checkered tablecloth robe. King Vitaman Cereal was touted as "the 100% vitamin and iron cereal (http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c20Or.html)" with "sugary sweet tasty little crowns...kids love'em!" In 2000, Quaker Oats replaced the human king with a new animated king. Vita-Ray The ray used with Erskine's formula in order to make Captain America. It was also used for a British Superhero known as the Destroyer in order to give him super strength." -- aryancheta
King Vitaman has two fan-sites erected to his awesomeness by loyal and adoring subjects:
The Kingdom of King Vitaman (http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/kingvitaman/)
We Are The Vitamen (http://www.lasalle.edu/~demizim1/)
Page 14
PANEL 5: "As the Kingpins of England's Criminal Underworld, I'm sure you'll understand the value of what I'm offering."
Notice that there are seven Kingpins of England's Criminal Underworld, ...provided that you count the twins separately and you don't count the puppets or Dennis.
Page 16
PANEL 1: "...And all that remained was for yours truly to introduce sweet, law-abiding Sally Sonic to the delights of Doctor Hyde's Evil Serum."
Mario - "One could assume Mr. Hyde's serum is related to a certain Henry Jekyll..."
Page 19
"FREFON"
What is the significance of the word FREFON on the side of the engine block Alix uses to clobber Sally Sonic, you ask? Is it a plug for French cartoonist Frédérick Fontaine, whose website can be found at http://www.frefon.com/ (http://www.frefon.com/)? Could be.
"Ring Ring. Ring Ring."
Alix's cell phone is ringing. On the next page, she's talking to someone on the other end of the line, but who? The simplest explanation is that it's a very overworked and unhelpful ambulance dispatcher at the hospital. But then why would her phone ring? You have to call for an ambulance; they don't call you.
Anybody got a better explanation?
It's probably the ragtag team she formed last issue, busy with something or other.
Page 20
PANEL 1: "...You're The Seventh Soldier. The Spear that Never was Thrown. You're the key to victory over the other side."
In Manhattan Guardian #4, Gloriana Tenebrae's magic mirror prophesied that "Seven will come by roads unseen, unknown. And end the Queen of Terror's reign with a Spear that Never was Thrown."
A Spear was also mentioned in the phophetic ramblings of Oracle, the Homeless God in Mister Miracle #4.
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