The Stop Button

The Dolans—both Commissioner and Ellen—are back this strip after a few weeks off. The Commissioner’s sick of Ellen just going to teas or dances; it’s high time she settles down with a husband or gets herself a job. Ellen’s already ahead of Dolan (a theme this strip)—she’s got a new job as a boxer’s manager. She’s found a poet palooka named Winthrop Boombershlag (because Eisner was in a fun mood). The Commissioner doesn’t approve but is interrupted by the Spirit’s call.

Spirit’s calling to report information about a plot to kill Winthrop Boombershlag in the ring. The reader already knows about it because the opening scene features the bad guys (including the evil scientist, who appears to be a racial caricature of some kind, but they lost their nerve to put the finishing touches on). Then the reader knows about the danger in the second scene with Ellen and the Commissioner, and goes into the Spirit’s briefing scene knowing more than anyone. Except Ebony, who’s overheard the bad guys (presumably some time after the opening scene).

Commissioner Dolan’s not interested—and Ebony doesn’t have information about the other boxer, though the reader knows the mad scientist has deadened all Dipsy Dooble’s nerves to make him a more lethal opponent–so it’s a good thing Spirit pisses off Winthrop. Without the delightful page of Winthrop’s feats of strength and their eventual payoff, Commissioner Dolan may never have listened to Spirit’s plan, which would have narrative repercussions.

The resolution’s a lot of fun, with Eisner and studio keeping things moving once we’re in the ring, but Ellen and Spirit don’t get to catch up at all. It’s an interesting narrative actuality of the comic strip—sometimes you’ve got characters to use without much reason to use them, so they fit another function. Here, it’s Ellen’s boxing manager career, which gets no resolution. Her character development had veered towards romance with Spirit, but she’s all business—especially since her star (and only) client Winthrop Boombershlag is very protective.

The result’s a good strip, but not one with anything particularly standout. They’ve never really done a character like Winthrop as comic relief, and it’s interesting to see Eisner lean heavier on comedy beats. The finale’s got some excellent visuals, the fights have some excellent visuals. It’s all very well-executed comics.

Commissioner Dolan and the Spirit doing bickering bits, however, need a little more work. They get into it over Ebony’s reliability as a witness, and it gets personal for both of them rather quickly. It resolves on a comedy beat, and they do get to bond a little at the very end, but the strip’s seemingly satisfied with contriving whatever type of friendship they need (or don’t need) for the plot.