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)

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