"The Blot's Double Mystery"

JEEZ. Sorry for the lack of posts in May; I was on vacation for half the month (I saw hella wild orangutans, but unfortunately, I forgot about the "reading Disney comics while ignoring the wildlife" photo tradition--alas!), and otherwise I was preoccupied with this and that.

Let us now speak of the Phantom Blot! Why? Difficult to say, really. It's kind of interesting and it seems like something to do, I guess. I know I've done plenty of inveighing in the past about how the Blot as a recurring villain inevitably betrays his original conception, but I also know that that argument was lost well before I was even born, so let's just go with what we've got. "Mickey Mouse Outwits the Phantom Blot" appeared in 1939. After that, aside from the WDC remake of the original story, nothing more was heard of the character for quite some time. No big surprise there; pretty much the only recurring baddies at the time were Pete, the Beagle Boys, and--if you want to count them--generic pig-faced villains. But fast forward to 1955, and BOOM, this Romano Scarpa/Guido Martina story appeared. Regardless of what I think of the results, bringing back a classic Gottfredson villain was definitely a clever idea (Martina tried this trick again years later when he wrote the first-ever repeat appearance of Professors Ecks, Doublex, and Triplex; those characters never caught on in the same way, though). A bunch of other Italians quickly started copying the idea, and the rest is history.

That was Italy, however. Western comics remained, as far as I can tell, free of European influence (actually, I would love to know if anyone at Western was even aware of the existence of home-grown foreign comics), so the Phantom Blot would remain absent therein. Until 1964, that is, when Paul Murry's "Return of the Phantom Blot" was serialized in four issues of WDC. It just goes to show how highly-regarded Gottfredson's story is that the Italians and Americans would both independently (I assume) hit on the idea of bringing back the character. The American reintroduction is a bit tentative however--SPOILERS for "Return of the Phantom Blot" forthcoming!--in that it turns out the Blot isn't even involved; it's just a self-hypnotized Goofy. I don't love the story, but Joe Torcivia is a big fan.

This Blot revival was clearly not just the work of a single writer, but something that was planned in advance: while the "Return" serialization was still ongoing, Western inaugurated their short-lived Phantom Blot comic line. It seems strange that they would assume that people would know who this long-neglected character even was, but maybe old Gottfredson stories had more cultural cachet than I know. Interestingly enough, the first story published therein, "The Phantom Blot Meets the Mysterious Mr. X," uses the same general concept as its predecessor: the actual Blot never even appears; it's all Hypnotized Goofy. The actual Blot didn't appear until the next story, "The Phantom Blot Meets Super Goof; then onward to the bizarrely-revised "Phantom Blot Meets the Beagle Boys," and the rest is, again, history, albeit insignificant and tedious history.

I haven't read any of the Italian stories that followed quickly after "Double Mystery;" they aren't widely reprinted outside Italy. Maybe I shouldn't generalize, then, but the impression I get is that the Italians depict the character as more competent than the Americans do--the character in the Phantom Blot comic is bumbling and wholly unthreatening. Here's what your Americans think of the Phantom Blot:

Yeah...I think they were more enamored of the fact that the character was in a POPULAR STORY than anything specific about the guy himself. Pretty lousy.

Fortunately, it's also an evolutionary dead-end, as far as I can tell, with the end of Western Publishing. In fairness, I must allow that some of it may have entered into foreign comics from reprints of the American stories; it's also possible that some of the Americans who write for Egmont may have been familiar with it. BUT, I think more likely we can say: goodbye and good riddance.

Wow, that was longer than expected. SO HOW BOUT THIS HERE DOUBLE MYSTERY, THEN? Well, it seems to have had an explosive impact on first publication, and if I recall correctly, for a long time it was the highest-ranked non-Barks story in the Inducks Top 100. It's gone down some, but it's still, as of this writing, ranked at number fifty-seven (of course, long-time readers will be aware that I am frequently baffled by the high marks given to Scarpa stories, so that doesn't prove much). I will say, though, if you look at the reader comments you'll see a fair bit of criticism amongst the usual best-story-ever stuff. What I think...well, we'll see. Another fun fact about this story: it was the first-ever time that Scarpa was published in the US (though of course, art-only). Amazing to look back and realize that such a pivotal Italian creator was unknown here until 1988. Well, maybe not "fun" or "amazing" per se. But it's definitely a fact!

The opening's kind of ominous and spooky. What's the Phantom Blot up to?!? I don't know. But I feel fairly confident saying that whatever it is...it's no good.

You remember--that magazine article? About hypnotism? Spirals, dontchaknow? Let's hope this doesn't spiral (haha) into some Uzumaki shit. Actually, let's hope it does. That might validate the inducks review that declares this "perhaps the darkest, most gruesome ever told by a Disney artist." Otherwise...mmmm.

It compels Mickey to do...something. This is this, but I'm not going to try to cover the entire plot here; it would drive me mad. How mad? Funny you should ask...

THIS MAD.

Yup...the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland is a character in this story, and yes, this seems odd as hell from an American perspective. Of course, we saw our fair share of silly movie/comic crossovers from Western, but generally in those cases, the gimmick was the whole point of the story. Whereas here, no one really makes much of this. It's just...oh. The Mad Hatter. Of course! Why wouldn't you expect such a thing? It has little meaning here, but I kind of like it, to be honest, and at any rate, it paved the way for Martina's best story.

Well, I think it's a reasonably decent joke. What can I say?

I also like the Hatter's last comment there. The art and dialogue work well together. Please take note of this hat thing, as it will be relevant.

So there's this whole confusing business with stolen taxis and things, one of which is driven by Goofy. It's not super-coherent, and I REALLY don't see why someone (is this Martina or localizer Dwight Decker?) decided that it would be a good idea to give it the license number of 1313. As we know, Donald's license plate number is 313, and his address number is 1313. WHY IS THIS WHOLLY NON-DUCK STORY ATTEMPTING TO EVOKE DONALD??? It is pointless and distracting and dumb.

The idea, as we'll later see, is that Goofy didn't even bother taking it to the station; he just decided to take it back to the taxi company 'cause criminal evidence? Pfft, whatever! But this little mystery plays no role in anything.

Oh, you've got that feeling, do you? Listen, Guido: if you're going to try to create this paranoid, trust-no-one atmosphere, you have to actually do something to earn it. You can't just have Mickey say this and then include absolutely nothing else to validate his opinion. It just makes the character look crazy for no reason. BAH.

Ya GOTTA love this. Apparently, the Blot was at some sort of convenient vantage point with a pen and paper, patiently waiting for someone to say something that would allow him to respond with a snappy rebuttal. Lucky he got the opportunity he did; I think the far more likely situation would be that he takes too long to think of it and so by the time he flings the knife Mickey and O'Hara don't know what he's responding to and it's just confusing.

I will take this opportunity to note that the whole hat thing is a massive, pointless distraction. This is a spoiler, I suppose, but if you haven't read this sixty-year-old story, I can't help you: the hat itself is meaningless; the Blot's just bluffing, using it as the extortion device. And so the question remains: why the fuck do you need the damn hat in the first place? If they're so willing to believe that you have the means to do what you're threatening, there's no reason that this dumb hat would make them more likely to believe. Dammit, Martina, just because Scarpa's drawing this story doesn't mean you have to channel his narrative sensibilities.

This whittling thing is just meant as a throwaway joke, but in a story this needlessly convoluted, it can't help but look like it has some significance. It's not...great.

Okay, everyone, that's all for today! Check back in July!

No...probably not. So, summing up so far: am I a fan of this story? Well...not really. It occasionally succeeds in seeming ominous and atmospheric, but only very occasionally, and it's too pointlessly complicated for its own good. If a story's going to be difficult to follow, I want there to be some payoff for making the effort. We don't really get that here. Still, let's see what's next!

HERE'S THE PLOT SO FAR PLEASE ENJOY IT. As I said: pointlessly complicated. One of those things where you kind of feel like you're losing your mind when you read it. AND FOR WHAT?

Well, YES, Eega Beeva. Given that his appearance a bit later is a big surprise, do you REALLY think it was a great idea to spoil it in this splash panel? Evidently so! Well done, everyone! Let's break for coffee and scones!

Why does the Blot have a castle? Difficult to say. But at least it gives us some much-needed gothic atmosphere!

I do like the PS. This section isn't bad. Well, this brief section; let's not get carried away.

The idea being that after Goofy ate the food, they're willing to have a go, and don't ya just love O'Hara's touching concern for their friend's well-being?

OKAY YOU WANTED IT BUT HOW COULD YOU HAVE POSSIBLY KNOWN YOU'D GET IT? Urgh.

Okay, hypnotizing Mickey into attempting to murder O'Hara? Pretty hardcore. I'll admit it.

Goofy has installed a WHAT now? Using the rope and hooks that he brought with him? Without Mickey noticing? Blargh? And, again: HOW COULD THE BLOT POSSIBLY HAVE PREDICTED THIS?!? We could be generous and say, oh, he didn't NEED to predict it; he already had plenty of evidence; this is just a bonus. But in that case, why would he care about the logistics of the sleeping arrangements? Blerk. It's really, really feeling as if Scarpa had written this dang thing himself.

This bit from O'Hara is just stuck in so casually that you could skim right by it, but WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU GOT AN "ANONYMOUS TIP?!?" DID IT NEVER OCCUR TO YOU TO WONDER WHO IT WAS FROM, YOU ABSOLUTE MADMAN?!?  WHO WOULD POSSIBLY BE WANDERING AROUND THIS CASTLE GIVING OUT TIPS OTHER THAN THE BLOT?!?  ARGH, I can't even joke about this. It's just so shamelessly nonsensical. Surely even as Martina was writing it, he must have realized on some level that it made zero sense. And yet...he kept at it. And THAT is how Guido Marina Amalgamated Enterprises Ltd became what it is today. Let it be a lesson to all of us.

Yeah...it's a bit silly, but this is one part where I can't actually complain too much; the law instantly turning on Mickey after he's been framed is such a common plot device that you've gotta just roll with it. Still...it IS noticeable that O'Hara doesn't even seem to care about the question of possible motive. Does he assume Mickey's just had a sudden psychotic break, or what? In which case, I think it's fair to say that this boy don't need a judge he needs an analyst's care. WHATEVER.

Didn't you know? If you commit a crime and escape, the police are free to beat a confession out of your unrelated friends. I guess I shouldn't joke about that, though. Not with Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III as my country's top law enforcement officer. Sorry to bring you down by alluding to US politics.

If nothing else, this depiction of the Blot is to my mind preferable to the later ones of him as a generic megalomaniac. Here he's all about the revenge and nothing but, which seems to me to be a better fit with his original appearance.

Um...yes. So...this happens. And although convenient coincidences are far from uncommon in Disney comics, I do not believe I have e'er seen so egregious a deus ex machina. Even fans of the story tend to agree that it's downhill after Eega Beeva's appearance. I don't have anything against the character (other than finding those endless p's grating as heck), but insofar as the story has a tone, he is off of it. Really, with him around we might as well sum up the remainder as "and then some magic stuff happened."

I mean...yes, if there's darkness behind a window it'll reflect, but there's no danger that anyone's going to mistake it for a mirror. Well...I suppose that's the least of our problems here. So let's barrel onward on to part three.

AND ENJOY BEING BOMBARDED WITH EVEN MORE GIGANTIC REAMS OF TEXT! GAH!

Also, not to belabor the point, but "O'Hara is warned to hide..." STOP USING THE PASSIVE VOICE TO ELIDE AGENCY YOU USELESS MOTHERFUCKER! GAH!

Yeah...back to the dumb hat, which anyone would be forgiven for having forgotten about by now. And let it sink in how truly useless this plot point really was. Aaaaahhh...

I mean, I guess this whole thing with Mickey being hypnotized whenever the Blot gets close is all right. It has potential. If only it were connected to a better story.

Eega's enhanced interrogation techniques are amusing.

...and that's all I have to say about that.  I like the Blot's look of horror in the second panel.  Though again, you would be forgiven for not finding any kind of humor that brings torture to mind funny in this day and age.

As I said, if nothing else, I do appreciate the Blot's single-minded fixation on revenge. Guy knows what he wants, and it's a bit less silly than what he wants in future stories. Whee.

So that about covers it. I dunno; I've certainly read worse, but for such an influential story, this is really pretty bad. The Blot has been used to better effect, that's for sure. STILL, given its historical importance, you have no choice but to read it, and I'll still rank it above "Return of the Phantom Blot." So...please enjoy.

Also, in proofreading this (probably not wholly effectively), I was struck by just how many damned...ellipses I tend to use in these posts. Is that a problem? Well...it is what it is!