Annotated 21-14
I like that the dialogue brings in links to prior scenes, with the mention of Bert followed by Byron reapplying the argument he made to E-Merl two pages earlier. (By the bye, the whole “You’re drinking FOR me” concept comes from Roger Ebert, who expressed similar sentiments in his later years, after operations for mouth cancer had removed his ability to eat and drink normally.)
And then, once we have everything nice, neat and linked up, we’re free to explode into fun violence.
Panel 4 was originally going to be a bit more Jack-Kirbyish, but Phil thought it might be too jarring to go straight from Bragga drinking up to Byron being thrown into a wall. I dunno, I think both of them work!
Poor Roger. I was able to attend a couple of film study classes that he held back in the 90s, one focused on John Huston and the other on great Japanese directors. I regret not attending more. I still miss him and Gene.
Are the characters in the background of panel 2 a Lord of the Rings reference? I know I might be stretching it but the green brooch on the cloak and the pipe on the wizard make me think Strider and Gandalf. I may be stretching it but Waltrip’s a sneaky one!
Yes they are! You just never know who you’re going to see at the Swiggin’ Fist.
Could be. The broach clip is definitely right, and it looks like Gandalf’s hat, as well as the pipe.
I definitely would not put it past John! He and Jason are both big LOTR fans. [Posted this before I saw John’s reply…]
I believe Roger Ebert was referencing General Sternwood in “The Big Sleep,” who tells Humphrey Bogart’s Philip Marlowe something similar in the opening scene when he gives him brandy and says he can smoke, even though the wheelchair-bound Sternwood can no longer do either.
Interesting! Never saw that one…