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Summary  Colonel Friday and Quimper are plotting - Ragged Robin is apparently 30% Quimper now. King Mob is dreaming about the past, and remembers what happened when he and John A'Dreams went to the Philadelphia church. Having found the crucified toad, they go into a back room which is full of bodies merged with each other and with insect parts - the bodies are still alive. Waking up from his dream, he and Robin decide to go and look at the church. Boy, Fanny and Jack are playing in an amusement arcade, before Fanny gets a feeling that something is wrong for them - they decide to jump onto a plane and rescue them. Meanwhile at the church, Robin and King Mob start getting paranoid - they are convinced that someone is in there with them, stalking them. And while all this is going on, did Takashi really give the time machine to the enemy? Characters o Takashi o Colonel Friday o Quimper o The Blind Chessman o John A'Dreams o King Mob o Ragged Robin o Lord Fanny o Jack Frost o Boy Analysis o |
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Annotations The title refers to "The Philadelphia Experiment" depicted in the '85 movie - it is an urban legend (or conspiracy theory) of sorts, depending on how you look at it. It was mentioned in several UFO films of the seventies, and referenced in DC's WARLORD comic in the eighties, among other places. The story goes like this: In WWII, the U.S. is experimenting with a way to make ships invisible to radar by using high-powered magnetic fields. The ship used for the experiment is a destroyer, the USS Eldridge. When the magentic generators are turned on, the Eldridge disappears and reappears at another port (I can't remember where). The ship supposedly traveled thru space and time. The crew of the ship were either killed by the transit or went crazy. The Eldridge's logs were altered and the ship went on the have the highest suicide rate of any U.S. ship before it was decommisioned. There's information on this kooky story on the web. Look for "Philadelphia Experiment" or "Project Montauk." [TC] "The Philadelphia Experiment" was a 1985 US film written and executive produced by John Carpenter. The Psychotronic Video Guide has this to say: "An American battleship disappears in 1943, and a sailor goes through a timewarp to 1984. The whole world is threatened by a 'time tornado.'" [JB] o [page 2] The "perpetual warfare" comment makes me think: We know that the "war" that the Invisibles are fighting is ultimately fake in some way. If the agents of control require a perpetual state of warfare, perhaps the Invisibles themselves are instruments towards that end, created by the Enemy so that they would have someone to fight. [CM] o [page 3] [panel 1] We saw the original origami of the time machine burn in 2.05, so is this a new one, or can the origami itself move through time? [EW] panel 5: The liquid information - is this what Mason was talking about in 2.01? [EW] o [page 5] [panel 1] I think the "You were there. Violation." moment with Quimper and the Stranger was a reference to his having 'checked in on the ground crew'. That would mean the Stranger was observing their ferrying the cargo of 'magic matter/mirror/metal' via the Outer Church causeways; the Stranger's interest in the 'magic matter' since its 'fall' from another dimension is unknown. [JBA] Quimper: "You were there. Violation." The Stranger was there in Brazil at the rape of Fanny and Quimper, an efficient ritual that created two ideal agents to keep the duality game/conflict going. [JH] o [page 6] [panel 1] The pattern/symbol/window in the tower of the church reminds me of the famous Crowley sigil that was an image of a penis and testicles seen from above. Might not have been intended though. [SG] [panel 6] This is the first time we get confirmation, by way of his t-shirt, that the man with John is King Mob. When we first see this scene, in 1.09, his shirt is always obscured by his jacket. [EW] "I'll be a lot happier if we just find something I can shoot" - KM was on his path all the way back then. [SG] o [page 7-8] From Cosmic Trigger: Final Secret of the Illuminati [Robert Anton Wilson, And/Or Press, Berkeley, CA, 1977]: "Suddenly, in a "blinding flash" or at least a mini-Satori, I knew Crowley's secret. It was in Chapter 69 and deals with Tantric Sex. It will be explained, you may be sure, at the appropriate place in our narrative. The effect on me was that I entered a belief system in which the anti-Illuminati authors I had studied so extensively were no longer seen by me as simple paranoids. They were looking at something quite real, I now felt, and were only misinterpreting it a little bit. They were those without the pentacle of valor who stand in terror outside the door of Chapel Perilous, trembling and warning all who would enter that the Chapel is really an Insect Horror Machine programmed by Death Demons and dripping fetidly with Green Goo." I'd bet RAW and Morrison independently lifted the image from Burroughs. Burroughs, however, drew on pulp SF, back to Lovecraft; and HPL was the most conscious fantasist of the Paranoid Universe. Many conclusions may be jumped to; my relatively tame one is that this church is defending its secrets with industrial-strength xenophobia in '92. [JOB] [page 8] [panel 3] This reminds me of what ants do, when they bring organic matter into their nests, and let it grow fungus for them to feed on. [EW] This insect-human combination is similar to the "zombies" we saw inside the "House of Fun" -- see [1.23] [page 6] for example. [JB] [panel 3] "I don't fancy yours much" is one of the great lines of English pub culture. Two men, looking at two women in a pub or club prior to going over to talk to them, first decide who will attempt to seduce which. "I don't fancy yours much" is a common opening gambit, as if the other fellow responds by asking which one is his, you have him. Almost never used without irony. [Tann] These scenes made me think (I'm completely top-of-my-heading here since we don't know much about John yet) that John may have gotten into magick/Invisibles through a youthful fascination with Lovecraft and the implications of his writings. His name, in that context, makes me think of Randolph Carter, Lovecraft's dreamland character (who didn't have too happy of a fate either). Also, his walking into the void may have been a bit of hubris on his part - "now that I'm finally facing a "crawling horror", I want to see if I can beat it and not go mad!" [SG] o [page 9] [panel 1] Over the headboard is the same shirt King Mob was wearing in his dream sequence in [2.14]. Later this issue, we see that KM and Robin are both wearing the same clothes as in that dream sequence. [EW] I thought that sequence in [2.14] was more drug-induced time distortions a la [2.02]'s scene on the mesa. It doesn't seem to have dreamworld trappings like the opening scene with Sir Miles. [JW] What exactly did KM and Robin get up to last night? But if the graffiti was in red, what would we infer from the stain on the left hand side of the picture? [L] Of course this isn't the same hotel room as in the last issue, they're in Philadelphia now, they were in New Orleans in [2.14]. Presumably they lifted the car we see a bit later and drove it up. And unless massive art errors abound, it's supposed to be a different sleek black car. [CE & DK] o [page 11] [panel 1] Looks like the same car that KM stole in [1.14]. Maybe KM has a fondness for the sleek black things. [EW] ANU-9 = Anubis and 9 (Lennon's/Ganesha's number, "opener of the way"). [SG] [panel 2] "Nice car. Wanna show me what it can do ?": This is a line from a famous Pergeot 603 advert in which a man is seen to pick up a strange woman in car park and shag her on a beach before returning home to his wife and kids. Just before the viewer can throw something at the screen and say, "Well, I certainly won't be buying any of *their* filthy home-breaking cars", then the camera pans up to reveal that... the strange woman was his wife all along. Kind of fits with the sexual role-playing that KM and Robin have just got into. [RJ] o [page 12] [panel 3] Robin is eating a cracker here, and KM has one on page 16, just before they enter the church. Is this some sort of sacrament? [EW] NO!! Of course that's the same car from Volume 1 and those "cracker"s are the "biscuits" (cookies) that KM gets from that wandering hippie (St. Germaine?) who had the theory of the space-ship mind-control that injected advertising directly into your subconcious via manufactured dreams, remember? It was around Volume 1, ish 13 or 14, during Fanny's Sheman story arc, and I distinctly remember KM, after having taken all this in about the UFO/adverts, saying something to the effect of, "Here, hand us one over, there's nothing like a biscuit to bring you back down to Earth." or something. Robin and KM eat cookies/biscuits in the car, just like KM and the hitchhiker did. Hey, was the hitchhiker maybe not the Chess Player guy, but John instead? If his "thing" was being able to go completely unrecognized then maybe he could have fooled KM back then. [SG] o [page 13] [panel 3] Quimper seems to have a physical presense, and isn't just a 'bad fairy' but if that is his skull that we can see it doesn't look like his only injuries were burns as he told Mister Six in [1.25] [L] "When I die, that part of me that lives will live in her." Another limitation on Quimper: is he/she dying? Or just has a limited lifespan like human beings? [SG] [panel 4] Quimper has just been scanned in X-ray, but what is this? [EW] This seems to be some sort of aura scan. Perhaps like the Kirillian (sp?) effect? [CG] o [page 14] [panels 4-5] Back to the theme of good vs. evil being a mere illusion. [CG] The "Cop-Out" video game: even though they say they're shooting at "terrorists", the third panel makes it look like they're shooting at cops! Of course, it could be one of those "decoy" moments in shooting games when a non-target stumbles into view. Or it could be a game where you shoot everybody! [SG] [panel 5] "I just thought that fucker with the Balaclava looked like he might be a good laugh if you got to know him" - Dane being the Buddha again and recognizing everyone's humanity. Also, he's mirroring KM's comment about John A Dreams on [page 10]. [SG] o [page 15] [panel 5] Maybe this is stretching it a bit, but Fanny's room number seems very R.A. Wilson. 235, or 23 and 5. [CG] o [page 16] [panel 1] The Church - okay, in the first panel that window on top looks like a big octopus eye. Now, here comes the odd thing. I don't know if there's any chance Morrison would even know this but there's a skyscraper that you can see as you drive over the bridge into Philadelphia. The top of it is very odd looking - in fact, it looks like a weird mythological temple. Its not just an impression I have, the building supposedly inspired the "Babylonian building" in Ghostbusters, the gods of which Dan Akroyd has constantly referred to as being Lovecraftian. [SG] "Spooky girl with big dresses": Makes me remember the Robin/Crazy Jane comparisons from the first volume. [SG] [panel 3] "It (the Hand of Glory) vanished in 1959" - under what circumstances, I wonder? Any noteworthy fortean event that year? [SG] [panel 4] "I supose they were a cult. That's what everybody called them. That was what we heard.": This line, and the fact that they are in Philly, resonated with the MOVE bombing to me. The MOVE incident was something like a proto-Waco that occurred in the early 1980's. A militant African-American (separatist?) group, which was headquartered in a block of rowhouses in Philly, had continual run-ins with the locals and police (that's not necessarily a slam against them. From what I understand, MOVE members tended to be pretty obnoxious to deal with but I also consider the Philly -- and NYC for that matter -- police forces hopelessly corrupt and racist so who's to say?). Eventually, there was a siege/standoff situation and the police decided to resolve it by dropping a fucking fire-bomb on the building! Many died (including, like Waco, children of the group). Afterwards, many sought to disregard blame for the carnage by claiming MOVE was a cult. I have no opinion either way, I just thought I'd mention it. [SG] o [page 17] [panel 2] and [page 18] [panel 1] May I suggest that those looking for more information on H.P. Lovecraft go to http://www.hplovecraft.com/ at their earliest convenience? [CG] panel 3: Jim Crow is another member of the Invisibles. See 1.10 for more info. [CG] o [page 18] I really liked Fanny's mocking tone about "Universe B" being the "bad" universe and how she doesn't accept the hologram theory. KM's response ("We have enough evidence. Its not just a theory") sounds defensive but also notes something I found a little off-putting when I went and reread the first volume (specifically, the time travel arc): This concept of "we". I like reading the book and seeing the cells as rag-tag, anarchic groups that trade information, etc. But things like "time travel codes" and the "mission" to get the Marquis De Sade, and the "we" above - seem to imply some organizationiol level that we haven't seen yet. I don't think it is the Invisible College, for some reason (maybe I see the Invisible College as a power source, not a meeting place), but maybe it is! Anyone have opinions? Who sends them on missions? Who has "evidence"? [SG] Although this is complete and utter speculation, and probably is so far off from the truth it's not even funny, perhaps the Invisibles' cells ARE the ragtag groups they seem to be (cell 23....euch). Perhaps their missions come from a collective unconcious, a hidden mental urge on the part of humanity to be free, an immune system reaction to the city virus. The Invisibles, most of them showing some sort of psychic talent anyways (Excluding Boy) are hardwired into this collective unconcious. The "we" with enough evidence is the collective unconcious, the "mission" came from the same, and same with the time travel codes. Sort of a way that that the individual cells have freedom to act pretty much as they may, and making sure that other Cells don't step on each other's toes, and might be available for a friendly helping hand. [PL] In reference to the Invisibles organizational structure, it has been alluded to that there exists some hierarchy of teachers. Remember in the "Black Science" arc. Jolly Roger has been brainwashed to betray the team. After infiltrating the Dulce facility, Roger puts a gun to KM's head, apparently under the influence if Quimper. In a John Woo/Mexican standoff between Robin, Roger, Boy, KM and the menage of Delta Force, King Mob gets Roger to remember the 'White Flame' meditation they learned in 'training', which we are then shown in a flashback sequence that allows Roger to break from trance. Roger also seems to have more contact with the hierarchy than KM. For any of the implied hierarchy, it still appears that the Invisibles operate in a networking fashion. One that exists as a 'progressive' structure, therfore making the hierarchy based "purely" on experience. I consider this speculation, but it seems to work until upcoming available information might indicate otherwise. Think of each of the Invisibles 'cells' using web-sites as a model. Mission status might exist on an invitaion and volunteer basis, with cells competing for the same assignment defaulting to a 'lottery' to see who gets to go. [IAO] o [page 19] "You didn't see any of this stuff in London or Dulce." She didn't? This seemed really odd, almost like it was stated to make a point that will return later but it seems highly unlikely. I mean, Robin has seen the Cyphermen, right? Granted, they're not on the level of a Miss Dwyer or King Of All Tears but one can extrapolate, right? [SG] o [page 20] [panel 2] This goes back to the "Sheman" arc (the 2nd issue of it, I believe). Said masks also appeared when Division X visited the House of Fun in 1.25. [CG] Putting together Fanny's comments here and Quimper's reference earlier in this issue to a "violation" leads to some speculation. Did the people involved in the raping Fanny and Quimper know the extent of what they were doing, or were they just partying? If we are to assume that they knew what effect their actions would have on Quimper (i.e. manufacturing an agent of the enemy - pure speculation on my part, but I think I have enough to back it up) then could they possibly have known that they would have a profound effect on Fanny as well? Maybe Fanny was recruited by the enemy before the Invisibles found her...she just doesn't realize it. This is in keeping with the theme of illusory distinction between the two sides. [DK] panel 3: I think the the sqiggly lines Fanny speaks in 2.14 in the bar scene denoted a spell. I think he was bewitching the club guy. Notice his eyes rarely look up in the panels. He looks out of it, a strange not-there look that one ususally doesn't see in a dance bar. My experiences are that senses are heightened. not dulled by the mood. Also he doens't say anything and fanny emntions near the back of the issue that he can't understand him. Here, Fanny tells Boy and Jack about hir theory of Quimper. Maybe the spell on the club-goer was a means of discirning this information. He has used sex for spells before. This may be an invalid speculation because the guy wore (or at least brandished) a condom. With the liquid information theme in the issues, if no fluid was exchanged in their sex, it would probably cancel out a spell. [Pocketwatch] o [page 21] [panel 1] KM is holding his gun sideways, Yakuza-movie style, plus the flight of pigeons: is this an homage of sorts to John Woo? [EW] panel 4: Another Britishism: "public school" means what private school does in the U.S., so KM is calling John-a-Dreams a rich kid. [EB] o [page 23] I note the motif of the Dropped Flame; first when Poor Tom departs the world; now when John returns to it. [JOB] The falling star line makes for an interesting comparison between Lucifer the Fallen and John O'Dreams, who has also fallen from grace. o [page 24] The Army guy looks familiar, like some actor but I can't place it. Actually, the lab-coat guy looks pretty familiar also. Strange. [SG] |
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