A Nazi circus! Enemy Ace AND the Viking Commando! Geez, how you gonna top this? Next issue you'll have to shoot Hitler in the face or something.

I don't know if this was intended as a breather before next month's final issue, or if they wanted to burn off these stories before DC's war titles wrapped, or if this is just what they would've done anyway. From 1982, Unknown Soldier #267, featuring "Kid Stuff!" Written by Bob Haney, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Gerry Talaoc; "War's Last Weapon!" Created and written by Robert Kanigher, art by George Evans; and "A Very Private Hell, part three: Debt of Blood" Again created and written by Robert Kanigher, art by John Severin.

Sadly, the cover makes it seem like it's going to be a full-blown Nazi circus, but it's merely a couple creepy performers who pretend to be refugees, entertaining British kids in Scotland until they show their true colors and kidnap some for a propaganda victory. The Unknown Soldier was a friend of one kid's family, and during the rescue the kid does a pretty good job against a Nazi his own size. "War's Last Weapon!" was the conclusion of the Viking Commando's last story; although the DC wiki claims he appears in the last issue of Weird War Tales. With orderlies trying to have him committed and his valkyrie trying to get him killed so she can have him, Valoric still takes out a Nazi flying saucer and makes time with a pretty nurse. Good one for him to go out on!

I don't know if this would read better collected, because I think this story hit the same beats repeatedly: it's Enemy Ace vs. Balloon Buster, and while the Ace has been captured this time, the American officers seem to like him better than "poor white trash" Savage. Still owing him a fight, Savage tests Von Hammer's Fokker, then lets him free so they can face each other in the skies. Von Hammer gets the drop on him this time, but his guns jam before he can conclude the battle; so Savage gets him to continue on the ground, with a shootout! Savage gets shot there, but refuses to be taken to a doctor: he'll live or die in the sky. As he tries for his home airfield, Von Hammer notices his own fliers spying Savage, and breaks up their attack on him. He doesn't know if Savage made it back or not, and neither do we; although James Robinson would have at least one story with the Balloon Buster much later, as well as tying him into western hero Scalphunter. Read more!

I recently lucked into another copy of this one; but that's not the only reason I'm blogging it. I bought it back when it hit the racks, and it might not be my favorite of the series brief run--or the issues of it I found--I still like it. From 1986, Savage Tales #3, cover by Mitch O'Connell.

Chuck Dixon goes by Charles in his three stories this issue; two of them with John Severin: first 1920's war story "By Rail to Vladivostok," then closing the issue with historical western "The Canyon of the Three." There's a cowboy in the latter, that looks like how I picture Severin, which I don't think is accurate, but I still do. Dixon also writes a WW II story for Dick Ayers, "For the Fatherland," in which late in the war, a Nazi courier fights like hell to deliver his messages, then has to destroy them when he is wounded...and discovers what he was dying for. (No spoiler, but it's not a poignant ending.)

I really dig this page, honestly; and its use of "Teddy Bears' Picnic!" It's from another chapter of "The Skywarriors," Herb Trimpe's post-apocalypse plane-fighting serial. I really liked it, and he seemed to really be putting his all into it, but I'll warn you: I don't think it was ever finished! Ditto "Gutz," by Will Jungkuntz, who I believe died suddenly around the time this issue came out. The Doug Murray/Michael Golden "5th to the 1st" missed this issue, but would only appear in one more issue, since it would be spun off into its own title, the 'Nam. So, all the serial stories were phased out after the fourth issue. Which may not have helped, this incarnation of Savage Tales would only run to #8; although I wonder if that wasn't because Marvel wanted to go into a different direction. The Conan black-and-white magazines seemed to be going along swimmingly; I was thinking of Marvel's Nightmare on Elm Street magazines, which were successful but they were scared of pushback from anti-violence/parents' groups. Read more!

Who do we know with green hair? That doesn't exactly narrow it down.

I've often referred to this blog as a hedge against senility, but I thought I had just read this issue recently, with the Hulk saving a damsel-in-distress that's more afraid of him. (I may have been thinking of this one with the Defenders.) This time, the damsel in question has green hair...and it still took me a moment to recognize her! From 1972, The Incredible Hulk #150, "Cry Hulk! Cry Havok!" Written by Archie Goodwin, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by John Severin. You know, come to think of it, I may have read the Marvel Super-Heroes #99 reprint lately, that would explain that!

The Hulk's usual, and ongoing, fight against the army, goes a little differently than usual. First up, Hulk is smart enough to pick up a soldier's dropped gas mask, to protect himself from the "funny smoke that makes Hulk sleep!" Next, while Thunderbolt Ross is at least trying to not use lethal force, he gets called off mission, as "all Hulkbuster activities are to be suspended--pending Congressional hearing!" There's a brief bit of back-and-forth between a tenured senator and a first-term representative--why would they even be talking to each other, that's not how the House and Senate work, right? The senator is an anti-Hulk hawk, while the rep argues a lot of money has been wasted trying to waste the Hulk: there is probably a ton of story material in that. Government contractors trying to build bigger and bigger weapons for the Hulkbusters and that green: money, in that case. States fighting over Hulk-related FEMA cash. Hulk related budget pork and padding: "Um, yeah, the Hulk totally destroyed that bridge. It didn't just fall down by itself..." I don't think they went deep on that, but they could.

Major Talbot had been driving Betty around to try to get to Bruce, and lamenting that she would never love him as much as Banner. Talbot considers tattling about Jarella, but to his credit keeps quiet. Meanwhile, the Hulk takes off after a girl that reminds him of his microscopic love; a girl with green hair, on the run from a gang of bikers! But she's not overly concerned: she's Lorna Dane, Polaris! And she's there to see Alex Summers, Havok! Alex had bagged out of the X-Men, after nearly killing Iceman while fighting over Lorna. Lorna explains Iceman wasn't really hurt, and Alex should come back; but he wants no part of that; which makes her think he doesn't want her, either. Then the Hulk shows up to defend Lorna, forcing Havok to suit up again.

Hulk is confused, and thus angry, when he realizes Lorna wasn't Jarella, and thinks he's been tricked. In the ensuing fight, Hulk picks up a massive chunk of cliff-face, with Lorna on top of it: Havok is forced to gut-check, and zap the Hulk with a long, focused beam between the eyes, knocking him out! (He also uses "a force beam to counteract the pull of gravity!" which I'm not sure he ever would again...) As Alex and Lorna head back to the X-Men, Talbot and Betty find Bruce, who, barely conscious...calls out for Jarella! Awkward.

I like Lorna and Alex, but I swear every third story with them they're quitting, or have to be talked out of quitting, or are coming back after quitting. Seriously, count it out yourself, the numbers don't lie...
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Every time I see this cover...

...I can't help but think of this.

From 1981, Marvel Super-Heroes #101, reprinting 1972's Incredible Hulk #153, "The World, My Jury!" Written by Gary Friedrich, with extra dialogue by Roy Thomas, pencils by Dick Ayers and Herb Trimpe, inks by John Severin.

Recently captured by the Fantastic Four (with help from Spider-Man and Daredevil) the Hulk is facing trial, charged with "conspiracy against the well-being of every citizen of these United States." That's a bit much: I'd have to admit the Hulk's probably smashed up a chunk of Nevada or New Mexico, but he's never done anything to Montana or Maine...Matt Murdock comes in for the defense, feeling that the Hulk was "as much sinned against as sinning," but the deck may be stacked against him. The court date is rushed forward, possibly because the government doesn't want to give the Hulk the chance to escape, but leaving Matt little time for a defense strategy. But it feels like a show trial: with the Hulk gagged and bound during jury selection, Matt's pretty sure he's not going to get an impartial jury. (To say nothing of finding the Hulk's peers!)

While there are some protesters on the Hulk's side, the man is coming down hard on him, with General 'Thunderbolt' Ross up first to testify...which we don't actually see, at all. Instead, there's a cutaway to the Baxter Building, where current D.A. Foggy Nelson meets with Mr. Fantastic, who is fretting over the "Nega-Gamma" weapon he used to capture the Hulk: it should've turned him back into Banner, but didn't. Meanwhile, the Avengers show up in court as witnesses for the defense, but are blocked from offering any opinions. Matt is left no choice but to have the Hulk testify, but his ranting indicates he's not really competent for that. Still, the judge pushes on, until Mr. Fantastic enters the courtroom...through an airvent! He thought his Nega-Gamma might be able to cure the Hulk, which the Hulk wasn't really keen about.

Instead of curing the Hulk, though, it gives him just enough strength to escape! The prosecution is pissed, but can't prove Reed didn't just make a mistake; but Matt is pretty sure. And in the south Bronx, the Hulk...is under a pile of rubble, since his full strength hadn't returned yet.

Also this issue: A Herb Trimpe "Star Hulk" pin-up! Why...just because.

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"The End" Week: What The--?! #26!

There were a couple last issues that I finally found this year...that almost immediately made me regret finding them, and realize why those titles were cancelled. Here's one of them: From 1993, What The--?! #26, featuring stories by Stan Lee, Barry Dutter, Dan Slott, and more, art by Aaron Lopresti, John Constanza, Marie Severin, and more.

What The--?! has had a tag on this blog for years: it was Marvel's in-house parody book from 1988 to this last "fall special!" in 1993. The title was always hit-and-miss, not just in the sense that not every joke lands, but some of the strips are polished and professional, while others are terrible and amateurish. And yeah, nowhere near every joke landed during the bulk of the series, but this issue is just dire.

Previous issues featured work from John Byrne, Mike Mignola, Kurt Busiek, Kyle Baker, Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio, and more: Stan Lee's the big name this issue, for a cornball "Silver Burper" origin. (With John Severin inks!) Later issues also featured some go-to creators like Aaron Lopresti and Rurik Tyler, who aren't their best this time. A disappointment, buy some older issues instead--I recommend the first eight, or any story with Hilary Barta art. While Marvel has done other comedy titles in recent years (and I'm not sure they were any good, either) What The--?! has yet to be relaunched, although the title would be used for a series of videos.

(I really wish I had all my What The--?! issues handy, but they're all over the place: I was looking all over for #8, for Kurt Busiek and James Fry's "The Son of Satan Censored!" and my copy was in Montana. There are a couple panels in #5's "Alien-ated Legion" that I still love, and a panel from #7's Avengers vs. JLA that I wanted for the year-end posts...)
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So, so close; but I'm pretty sure at least some of this would be retconned later:

From 1971, Hulk #141, reprinted in Marvel Super-Heroes #92, "His Name is...Samson!" Written by Roy Thomas, art by Herb Trimpe and John Severin.

Recently returned from Jarella's micro-world, the Hulk is mostly just wandering about confused; as Major Talbot and General Ross seek help for Ross's daughter Betty, who had been transformed into a crystal statue after a blood transfusion with the Sandman in Hulk #138. Should they seek the help of a biochemist like Henry Pym or Hank McCoy, or go all-out and get Reed Richards? No, let's go with a psychiatrist, Leonard Samson...really? Well, he does have a big plan, to cure Betty and Bruce Banner!

Samson's machinery drains the Hulk's "libidinal energy--his psychic force" and shoots it at Betty, curing her and Banner immediately! Still, curing Betty didn't take that much juice, so a notion occurs to Samson, to use the leftover power on himself, transforming him into a super-strong, green-haired he-man! Now feeling like the full package, Samson asks Betty out, before she can be reunited with Bruce, who feels like a 98-pound weakling again. It doesn't take long for the jealous Bruce to do the only thing he thinks he can, namely step up and tell Betty how he really feels about her re-dose himself with gamma rays and become the Hulk again! (Pfft, talk about your feelings? Lame!)

Samson actually had wanted to face the Hulk, who feels like he had "been away--locked in some deep, dark place." Samson thinks between his strength and intellect, he should be able to mop the floor with the Hulk, but forgets the Hulk gets stronger as he gets madder, and the Hulk floors him. Betty runs to his aid, though; and the Hulk only knows that he feels like he may have won the fight, but lost something else...

Again, I think it's been retconned later that even if the gamma energy is drained from the Hulk, it just builds back up in him again. Maybe? Still, Doc Samson is a good foil for the Hulk, and would be punched in the face many, many times over the years to come.
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From CBR and elsewhere, I was sad to see John Severin passed away at the age of 90.

I always thought of him as a Western artist, even though he did so much other stuff. In fact, he was still working, having recently done Witchfinder: Lost and Gone Forever just last year; along with some B.P.R.D. work. Awesome.


My condolences to Mr. Severin's family. He will be missed, but his work will still be enjoyed for years to come.
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If you don't want to see Sgt. Rock punch out Solomon Grundy, I don't think we can be friends.

We just looked at some misinformation from Nick Fury, but that one's going to seem clear as day next to this one: from 2002, Suicide Squad #10, "Time Passages," although the cover title is better: "The Rock that Time Forgot!"

The death and life of Easy Company's Sgt. Rock is something of a debate: some people, including his creator Robert Kanigher, firmly take the position that Rock (and probably the rest of Easy) do not get out of World War II alive; dying in battle before the war ended. Others believe Rock survived, and went on to appear in Brave and the Bold, the Our Worlds at War crossover, and in this incarnation of the Suicide Squad. (Not unlike Hawkman's continuity, Crisis on Infinite Earths may not have helped here; Earth-1 and 2 versions of Rock may have made more sense.)

I don't have all the issues of this one, but accompanying Rock was his Easy Company compatriot, Bulldozer. Bulldozer was currently wheelchair-bound; but both he and Rock were in far better shape than eighty-year-old veterans should be. As a dinosaur movie (conveniently) plays in Bulldozer's apartment, he and Rock remember why...maybe.

In 1959, the ex-Sgt. Rock is receiving his third visit since his discharge from agencies trying to get him back to work. This time, although he never says his name, who he works for, or who's in charge, it appears to be King Faraday. Faraday comments on the comics and magazines on Rock's coffee table, noting that Rock doesn't care for super-heroes, and may have had either a minor scuffle or drag-out brawl with Wildcat. Rock claims that was blown out of proportion, but Faraday tells him, more than once: "You're a resource going to waste. You need purpose." Rock doesn't have much of an argument for that. I mean, can you see him joining a bowling league or something?

At Area 51, back in uniform, Rock catches up with an old friend:

Rock is unenthused that Bulldozer apparently threw his name around as a good prospect for the "Suicide Squad." Bulldozer apologizes, but he hadn't really expected them to drag Rock back in. Besides, Rock really is the best man for the job, as seen on the next page:

That "KERPLOP!" you just heard was the Rock-purists keeling over, but I would probably have read a book of Sgt. Rock fighting aliens, giant insects, and/or Solomon Grundy. (It isn't clear if these missions were before or after Rock signed back up. Possibly from during wartime, since Bulldozer's nose isn't broken, and it still is later this issue.)

Their next mission is to accompany Dr. Rip Hunter (apparently not calling himself Time Master as of yet) to the ever-popular Suicide Squad destination of Dinosaur Island. Hunter is going to try to close the temporal rift on the island; Rock and Bulldozer are there to keep him from being eaten by something straightaway.

By this point, Rock and Bulldozer have been shot at so many times and seen enough weird crap that they're less fazed about a time rip than that the doctor's name is Rip. Using the Time Sphere, they arrive in the late Jurassic era, where Bulldozer promptly throws up. In kind of a dick move that's probably right, Hunter makes Bulldozer clean up his puke, so it doesn't contaminate the timeline or something; and everyone knows raptors are like sharks for the smell of vomit, so...

Bulldozer ends up falling through the invisible time rift, and Rock goes in after him; which gets them back to the present the hard way, without any time spheres or protection or anything. Rip finds them when he returns, and takes the unconscious pair back to Area 51, where they eventually wake up. A visiting Faraday tells them nothing: are they OK? Was the rift closed? Without ever coming out and saying so, it's strongly implied, this incident kept Rock and Bulldozer from aging completely normally. Possibly.

This version of Suicide Squad would end with issue #12; with Bulldozer getting up from his wheelchair and walking away with Rock. Or, "Rock," as he unmasks, leaving behind a rubber face Mission: Impossible style. A caption reads, "Frank Rock died in 1945." But did he really, or is that the official version? Who was that masked man? Nemesis? Someone else? If Rock was Nemesis, who was Bulldozer? And if they weren't really Rock and Bulldozer, did that flashback really happen? And if it didn't, why make John Severin draw it?

Suicide Squad #10, written by Keith Giffen, art by John Severin (flashbacks) and Paco Medina and Joe Sanchez (present). The letters page implies Severin stepped in to help out; and I don't know if Giffen wrote the flashback specifically for Severin or not...I want to guess, not; since I would've gone all-out guns-a'blazing action then. Oh, and nice Mark Texeira cover as well.
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Good idea:

John Severin art on Enemy Ace...even if he's fighting his evil double.

Bad idea?

The Unknown Soldier and his girlfriend, Japanese pirate queen Lady Jade; killing a batallion or two of Nazis by donning magic costumes at a haunted French chateau. Uh-huh...

Both stories from Unknown Soldier #261, and both the main ("Hour of the Beast!" Written by Bob Haney, art by Dick Ayers and G. Talaoc.) and the backup ("I am my own Executioner" Written by Robert Kanigher, art by John Severin.) seem to stray pretty far afield of the usual formulas for either the Unknown Soldier or Enemy Ace. But the writing may have been on the wall for DC's stable of war books: Unknown Soldier would end with #268, and even Sgt. Rock wouldn't last much longer. Outside of the occasional reprint series or revival, none of them have been able to stage a comeback. A shame, since I still like it when DC gives a non-superhero book a shot; even if they haven't seemed to hit it big again yet...
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"Y'see, sometimes retirement isn't rewarded, it's forced."

From What The--?! #2.

I wasn't feeling too hot today: long, boring day at work, it's tried to snow on me a little twice today, Sugarpie's dug himself a nest in my mattress, and so on, etc. I was hoping to get started on pictures for the next batch of homemade comics, but I just wasn't up for it.

I did find this issue while I was digging up some Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe issues, though. Nick Fury and the Infinity Formula came up over at Pretty, Fizzy Paradise a couple of weeks back, and Kalinara had a pretty funny take on it. (I have the Jim Starlin/Howard Chaykin Marvel Premiere issue where Fury gets the Formula, but I don't see it right handy, so maybe we'll check that later.)

The point is, it's never really been addressed why Fury's friends, namely Gabe Jones and Dum Dum Dugan, aren't much, much older than they appear to be. Fury has the Infinity Formula (called the Eternity Formula in this spoof, which is no worse a name) to keep him more than a bit more spry than an eighty-plus-year-old should be.


"Furey" then runs afoul of the Hydra Ladies Auxiliary. Hilarity ensues. In the end, he offers to try and get Dum Dum a prescription for the Formula, mostly for his own benefit. Funny, but it would be pretty cool if Dum Dum and Gabe had found their own, unrelated methods of staying younger: I think Jimmy Woo did something like that in Agents of Atlas, which I really need to finish reading.

Speaking of finishing reading, this reminds me: I think I missed an issue of Severin's Bat Lash, I better track that down. Probably out for the week, so have fun, and stay warm! Read more!

As usual, I totally blame Brandon for this one.

Sonuva...we interrupt whatever the hell it was I was doing before. Bitching about Civil War or why Wolverine is a wee little girl compared to the increasingly senile Captain America will keep; but we've got important matters afoot.

Brandon over at Random Panels has been bringing Manly Tales of Manliness this week, and it's been some classic, and non-superhero, stuff. The link is to a John Severin-drawn story, and like pretty near everything he draws, the gawddamn manliness just about wafts off the pages. How to put this, because I know he could do superhero stuff; I seem to recall an old issue or two of Hulk from him: Severin is so good at the western, 'realistic' style, it's almost like he was typecast in it. I don't know much about him as a person, but I picture Severin like Sam Elliott. Or maybe Hank Hill.

To the point: Brandon's link reminded me of my favorite (John) Severin story, from an old issue of the 80's Savage Tales black-and-white magazine; one that would make, if not a full-length feature, a right fine short film. If you had the budget to blow up a locomotive towards the end. And don't even think about using 'special effects,' because computer graphics and westerns mix like peanut butter and malt scotch. But, it was a great little story about an aged cowboy out to avenge his murdered sons. Who were killed by a pre-WWI Kaiser German, who was leading a train robbery. Typing it out, it sounds a lot like "western Die Hard," except I know it predates that by at least a couple of years and probably wasn't a new idea then anyway.

Anyway, after a short look, I found Savage Tales #4, the last issue of that book I bought as a kid. (Oddly enough, it was on top of a box of mostly Captain America.) I don't know if I was spending my cash on something else, or if the features changed, or if maybe the distribution went south; but I don't remember why I didn't have more issues. And either #2 or #3 have the story I'm thinking of. Maybe. Gawddammit. So, today we've got a good chunk of "Pistolero," written by Chuck Dixon, art by John Severin, and I totally blame Brandon for me not being able to find that other one. Grr.





By the way, the rest of that issue? a pre-the 'Nam Doug Murray and Michael Golden "5th to the 1st" story, Herb Trimpe's Skywarriors serial, and a short piece pre-the Crow from James O'Barr. Not bad stuff if you can find it, and I bet a lot of the copies of this issue are read-to-pieces like mine and thus pretty cheap. Good hunting. Read more!

The Devil's Bargain, operators standing by.


As a general rule of thumb for horror comics: DC Comics ok, EC Comics great, Marvel/Timely Comics full of giant monsters in giant color-coordinated underpants. Strangely, while I've read a lot of each, I think I've barely scratched the surface of DC's scary-time comics, like House of Mystery, Ghosts, or House of Secrets. Even more strangely, I've read a lot of Plop!

Wow, what a dumb buildup to talk about an old Marvel horror reprint comic: Dead of Night #3, circa 1974. Although there is a "Stan Lee presents" at the top, there are no writer credits anywhere in the issue.

The first story, "The Hidden Graveyard" has art by Bob Forgione. Standard monstery twist ending number. Pretty straightforward.

"Waitin' for Satan" has art from longtime Iron Man artist George Tuska, and features the ever-popular deal with the devil. William Burroughs said, and I may paraphrase since I'm going from memory here: "Now, you may encounter the Devil's bargain, if you get far enough. Every soul is worth saving, least to a priest, but not every soul is worth buying. So you can take the offer as a compliment."

Not in this one, though: a down and out sailor declares that he would bargain with the devil for a chance, a break to make it big. The devil offers him that chance, but the first mistake the sailor makes, he'll lose his soul. The sailor counters, if the devil comes for him when he really hasn't made a mistake, he keeps his soul. The devil agrees and gives the sailor a thousand dollars to start.

I'm really not sure what exactly the devil did for him here, actually, except the seed money. Being a shifty bastard, the sailor buys cheap goods to trade to dumb natives to print fake lottery tickets for drunken sailors, a triangle trade of grifting. Eventually the sailor has built up a fortune and won the woman he wanted, who turns out to be a hateful shrew. His business is so big, he worries one little mistake will doom him, so he buys his wife the fur she wanted, for $1500. She says its shoddy and only worth $500, so Satan appears.

But, the sailor points out he hasn't lost $1000, he lost the thousand the devil gave him, not his own money, so he's free. The devil admits defeat, but points out that since he's lied, cheated, and stolen; he's doomed to damnation anyway. And he's in a hellish marriage for the time being to boot. I notice his wife doesn't seem especially surprised to see Satan in the last panel.

I know the 'sell your soul' story is an old standard, a chestnut of all kinds of fiction. My suspension of disbelief snags on one little thing, though: if Satan appeared right now and offered me world domination for my soul, well, then I'd know my little soul was worth the world. Which would make me a little less likely to part with it, despite all my smartass atheism. In fact, while Satan's offer wouldn't prove there was a 'God' or any good in the universe, it would prove there was a 'big bad' to fight against. Huh, now I'm sad I haven't been asked...

Next story was ostensibly the cover story, "While the City Slumbers!" Art by Paul Reinman. The cover, a John Severin number, is way cooler:

Yeah, I pretty much just wanted to scan that cover. I could probably get the price tag off it, but why?

Lastly is "Only a Rose" with art by John Forte, in a very EC-style story, about a wife furious that her husband's being going out nights and refuses to tell her where he's going. Outright refusal, which is refreshingly bold: you know damn well everyone today would make up some halfassed lie about 'out with the guys' or 'working late'or 'vigilante group.' She follows him to a flower shop, where he takes a huge bouquet to a young lady's house. Instead of just stabbing his cheating ass with a potato peeler, she mails the lady a poisoned box of chocolates.

The next day, the husband is unfazed by the death in the headlines, and goes out again that night. The wife sees him pick up more flowers, so another poisoned box goes out. The wife keeps following the husband, and keeps poisoning women, until she receives a knock at the door, and figures the police have finally found her. Instead, it's her husband, with flowers, chocolates, and a watch: he had been working late to make money to buy her the watch.

As the wife starts to feel a slight twinge of remorse for several innocent poisonings, the husband makes his own confession: the flowers and candy are from work, sent back by a lady who fought with her boyfriend...that must be some poison, as the wife ate it on the second panel and is clutching her stomach in fright and panic by the sixth. "Induce vomiting" would probably be your first instinct, but then she'd have to explain why to her husband, then the police, blah blah blah. Better off just sucking it up, and hoping the cops pin it on that tightlipped jackass husband... Read more!