Issue 182 - Ventriloquist

This episode, we focus on one of Gatman's most gafflingly grazen gad guys, the Ventriloquist (and Scarface!) Who's really pulling the strings? Listen now to find out!

• Intro

• Reminder of PuchiCon appearance

• Background (3:00)

  • Important to note that in this version, the dummy was made from wood used in Blackgate’s old gallows, and there are conflicting reports whether the dummy is possessed or not

• Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) created by John Wagner, Alan Grant, and Norm Breyfogle in Detective Comics #583 (Feb. 1988)

• Arnold Wesker is a meek man from a mafia family – originally developed DID after witnessing his mother’s murder

• His origin was later retconned – imprisoned in Blackgate prison, he begins hearing voices from a dummy named Woody, and the voices convince him to murder his cellmate – during the fight, Woody is damaged, and takes on the name Scarface

• In either version, Scarface becomes the controlling force, and Wesker is his “puppet” - to the point that Scarface becomes enraged if people insist on speaking to Wesker and not him

• One telltale sign is that Wesker/Scarface is unable to pronounce the letter B, replacing it with G - Batman becomes Gatman, bullets become gullets, etc.

• At one point Wesker was committed to Arkham Asylum, and upon escaping used a sock puppet named Socko - when Scarface learned he had been replaced, he and Socko had a gunfight, resulting in damage to Wesker’s hands #BecauseComics

• After an earthquake nearly destroys Gotham, a new villain called the Quakemaster shows up demanding a ransom to prevent further earthquakes - Tim Drake is able to deduce it’s Scarface because Quakemaster refuses to pronounce words with the letter B

• Has an on-again/off-again partnership with the Penguin, where they often break each other out of prison and work together on criminal enterprises

• Murdered by Tally Man in an effort to frame Harvey Dent

• Later resurrected during Blackest Night as a member of the Black Lantern Corps, and creates a construct of Scarface with his ring

• New 52 - he was never killed, and was hospitalized for treatment of his DID

• Briefly controlled by the Venom serum, but was taken down by Nightwing and Damian Wayne

• Succeeded as Ventriloquist by a woman named Shauna Belzer, who had her own puppet Ferdie

• He helped Batman defeat Psycho-Pirate, because his DID was able to override Pirate’s emotion control powers since Scarface was really in charge

• Issues - the pawn who would be king (7:03)

• Dissociation, Depersonalization, and Derealization

• Subordination (14:03)

• Masochism (21:04)

• Break (26:01)

• Plugs for Popcorn Psychology, Ocho Duro Parlay Hour, and Phillip Kennedy Johnson

• Treatment (26:56)

• In-universe - introduce ways to take Scarface out of commission

• Out of universe - work on scaling down and away from coping mechanism (30:10)

• Skit (34:06)

• DOC: Hello Mr. Wesker, I’m Dr. Issues.

• SCARFACE: Nope, you’re talking to ME, doc. Leave the dummy outta this.

• WESKER: W-w-well at least l-l-let me say h-h-hello f-first.

• SCARFACE: Shut yer yap and lemme do the talking. The less you talk, the faster we can greak outta here and get gack to gusiness.

• DOC: I love Vaudeville as much as anybody, but

• SCARFACE: *interrupting* that explains your practice

• DOC: Hey! This is a serious establishment. Are you going to talk to me or not?

• WESKER: I-I-I

• SCARFACE: Aye Aye Aye is right! Sheesh! You gonna take the hint, shrinkydink? This mug is useless without me. I’m the grains of this operation. That’s how I keep making gread.

• DOC: *flustered* Fine. Tell me, what can I do for you?

• SCARFACE: Can you crack safes?

• DOC: No

• SCARFACE: Can you crack heads?

• DOC: NO!

• SCARFACE: Knockaround guy? Gagman?

• DOC: No and No

• SCARFACE: Is your office a good place to do laundry, if ya catch my drift?

• DOC: I’m not doing anything illegal for you!

• SCARFACE: Then you’re a waste of space like this guy over here!

• DOC: He is the reason you can talk at all!

• SCARFACE: waaaaatch your mouth, you’re on thin ice, capiche?

• DOC: Mr. Wesker, are you going to stand for this?

• SCARFACE: He doesn’t have to, that’s why he’s sittin down. And you’re gonna be layin down for a dirt nap if you don’t keep your eyes on me!

• DOC: You don’t have any weapons. That tommy gun is a toy. I’m not stupid.

• SCARFACE: My noggin is like taking a Louisville slugger to the jaw if you’re unprepared.

• DOC: If you’re so bright,have you figured out a way to resolve your anger without resorting to violence?

• SCARFACE: Resort? You darn right I resort. A hideout full of moola and the screams of my enemies make crime a vacation. 

• DOC: Is that what Wesker wants?

• SCARFACE: Who cares what he wants? 

• DOC: I do. And if this is you, Arnold, then I’m willing to work with you in this…unique arrangement.

• SCARFACE: I’m confused. Are you talking to me or to him?

• DOC: Yes.

• SCARFACE: *pause* Ooooh, you’re a slick one, aintcha? Gut there’s no one else you need to talk to. 

• DOC: Thank goodness. So, I’ll make sure I only direct my questions to you, and you’ll answer, and I’ll make sure it’s documented in your chart, under your name. Just spell it for me so I get it right.

• SCARFACE: S-C-A

• DOC: A-R-N

• SCARFACE: *screaming* THIS AIN’T A JOKE! 

• DOC: I’m not laughing. I’m talking to you. I’m looking at you. I know you run the show, and I’m giving you the attention you deserve. If the other part is not important according to you, fine. But I won’t let your reality get in the way of mine.

• SCARFACE: YOU SICKO! Don’t toy with my emotions.

• DOC: Don’t use your emotions as toys

• WESKER: Please stop fighting

• DOC: who said that?

• SCARFACE: NOBODY! DUMMY, SHUT UP! 

• WESKER: yes sir

• DOC: You seem to have an issue with a part of you that is intimidated. What do you plan to do to strengthen it? 

• SCARFACE: I’m not weak; that loser

• DOC:*interrupting* You’re a loser; got it.

• SCARFACE: I’m not here to be insulted!

• WESKER: You usually leave that to me

• DOC: Progress! Now if you could only get him to stop shoving his hand inside you to compensate, you wouldn’t be so uptight

• SCARFACE: *pause* wait…are you actually trying to treat me here?

• DOC: It wasn’t my first idea but if it’s the only way I can ultimately give you some peace and have fewer people hurt, I’ll make it work.

• SCARFACE: *exaggerated wistful sigh* Maybe I can finally get a world without Dummy. A mafioso can dream.

• DOC: Um…erm…something like that. Anyway, I noticed that I didn’t get my usual fee before the session, so I’m going to have to bill you for the balance.

• SCARFACE: *deadpan* Oh…Dummy takes care of that 

• WESKER: I DO NOT

• DOC: WHAT?

• SCARFACE: I MEANT THE CHECK’S IN THE MAIL. Now get me outta here before he makes me talk about my mother. *fake sob* I really miss her.

• DOC: Pining?

• SCARFACE: No, oak.

• Ending (38:54)

• Recommended reading: Batman: Broken City by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso

• Next episodes: Bigby Wolf, Eobard Thawne, Speedball

• Plugs for social & GonnaGeek Network

References:

• Penguin episode - Anthony (5:14)

• All the Smoke podcast - Doc (15:00)

Apple Podcasts: here

Google Play: here

Stitcher: here

TuneIn: here

iHeartRadio: here

Twitter

Facebook

TikTok 

Patreon

TeePublic

Discord