Monday, April 23, 2012

Image du Jour: Funnies Business

Ten questions this arresting image provokes:

1.  Who would have thought that Jimmy Olsen would so closely resemble Anne Baxter?

2.  Wouldn't you love to see the rest of the outfit?  Based on the blouse, I'm guessing knee-length navy pencil skirt with rear kick-pleat and coordinating sensible pumps.  Alternate scenarios welcome.

3.  Did he borrow the outfit from Lois, or was it a fresh purchase?  Spend a moment thinking of Jimmy Olsen shopping in the Career Gal section of Gimbels.*

* I just looked this up.  Turns out the department store in Metropolis is Lacey's.  I suppose that means their competition is Mimbels, Kanamakers, or Ultmans.  Fancy metropolites must shop at Pergdorf Doogman.

4. Is it a coincidence that the wig so closely resemble's Ed Woods's in Glen or Glenda?

5.  If so, why isn't there more angora involved?  If not, why not?

6. Haven't we all had a night or two like this?

7.  If your answer to (6) was "no," was the overriding reason: (a) the drag? (b) the armed, J. Edgar-ische heavy? or (c) the bat-toting chimp?

8.  Do you suppose that 7(c) marks the first appearance in English of the phrase "bat-toting chimp"?

9.  In this case, is a cigar just a cigar?

10.  If this is panel No. 8, do you suppose panels 9 through 12 hinged more heavily on the pistol or the baseball bat?  Please submit your concepts, with special points given for (a) the intervention of aliens; (b) the appearance in a pivotal role of Thelma Ritter as Birdie Coogan; or (c) a sex scene not involving the chimp.

6 comments:

  1. and remember jack larson, that queen, who played jimmy on tv.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Bat-toting chimp" - rolls off the tongue, doesn't it? Jx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I say the goon is actually vice, come to break up the shenanigans between Miss Jimmy and Koko the Dog Faced Boy, which would also explain why Jimmy is not wearing anything except the blouse and the wig. In panel 12, Superman busts in to save the day and thinks "Christ, not again. Fucking freak." Then he notices how big the dildo Koko is toting and gets all tingly. Then Thelma Ritter enters stage right "Everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end...."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Birdie is beamed down, carried on a litter by James Doohan and George Takei. She clobbers J Edgar with the bat, brushes and sets Jimmy's wig, irons his pencil skirt, wipes away his tears, and drives the chimp away with the threat of forcing it to fellate George Reeves. She exits saying, "Next to a wardrobe woman, a tenor, and a boy reporter in drag, a bat toting chimp is the touchiest thing in journalism."

    ReplyDelete
  5. It does seem you've totally commandeered the phrase "Bat-toting chimp". Professor Google suggests Cafe Muscato as the only place to go, if that's what you're looking for.

    ReplyDelete