Funny, but trouble is, the Prince wasn’t the Ripper. The guy who first proposed that theory was in the 1970s, I believe, and he was full of crap. He did almost no research, and as a result his book was riddled with errors.
Has the character of Holmes fallen into the Public Domain yet? I remember the hell that “Star Trek” went through in 1989 thinking Holmes was under public domain and Conan Doyle’s staff came down on them.
Has the character’s status changed in the past 22 years?
There was a novel, I think in the 70’s, in which it turned out Holmes WAS the Ripper. Sorry I don;t remember the name. Wish I could forget the book. Very sick.
A couple of things to address here:There was a Holmes-as-Ripper pastiche out there, but it was not “The 7% Solution”. That was about Holmes’ drug addiction which led him to accuse some poor mathematics professor named Moriarity of being “The Napoleon of Crime”. He was treated by an alienist by the name of Sigmund Freid. The Ripper didn’t figure into it. I can’t remember the title of the Holmes-as-Ripper novel, which I read, but that’s just as well.Also, “Spring-Heeled Jack” was not Jack the Ripper. He was a legendary figure that ran around in some curious coat, scratching at people’s faces and jumping over walls. Springheel tends to be mixed up with Jack the Ripper.As to who Jack the Ripper really was, I couldn’t even begin to speculate.
There is an interesting article from the BBC that Scotland Yard reopened “The Ripper” as a cold case; just to see what modern forensics could tell. Their conclusion was that the Ripper was an individual (unnamed) that lived about two blocks from the crime scenes…
Have not read extended comments but just started adding FC to my daily collection (for some reason was thinking they were reruns) and glad to see that “Jeffie” will continue them (perhaps “edgier” as Bills were when yougn-we all change with age). Thanks to Pab for the tribute from the sad news this week; it was good to hear that the family actually live nearby in AZ as also does the new fellow who does F-Minus.
Basqueian over 12 years ago
So, you are an advocate of the Prince as the Ripper theory?
pnorman1 over 12 years ago
Another Bil Keane homage. Kudos for the Alan Moore shout-out.
MaxNuclear over 12 years ago
Technically, Albert IS a ghost. Especially if he’s asking Alan Moore for an autograph. I see another graphic novel on the way.
The Old Wolf over 12 years ago
Perfect opportunity to re-run this tribute.
Motivemagus over 12 years ago
Funny, but trouble is, the Prince wasn’t the Ripper. The guy who first proposed that theory was in the 1970s, I believe, and he was full of crap. He did almost no research, and as a result his book was riddled with errors.
Pab Sungenis creator over 12 years ago
Has the character of Holmes fallen into the Public Domain yet? I remember the hell that “Star Trek” went through in 1989 thinking Holmes was under public domain and Conan Doyle’s staff came down on them.
Has the character’s status changed in the past 22 years?
kauri44 over 12 years ago
Actually, the very early Family Circus cartoons were edgier than what came later, and Bil Keane by all accounts was a very funny guy in person.
Stephen Gilberg over 12 years ago
But the kids would say his name (and occasionally “Ida Know”) while he snuck around. Nothing wrong with this picture.
underwriter over 12 years ago
There was a novel, I think in the 70’s, in which it turned out Holmes WAS the Ripper. Sorry I don;t remember the name. Wish I could forget the book. Very sick.
underwriter over 12 years ago
I just dredgef up the name … “The 7% Solution”
pauljmsn over 12 years ago
A couple of things to address here:There was a Holmes-as-Ripper pastiche out there, but it was not “The 7% Solution”. That was about Holmes’ drug addiction which led him to accuse some poor mathematics professor named Moriarity of being “The Napoleon of Crime”. He was treated by an alienist by the name of Sigmund Freid. The Ripper didn’t figure into it. I can’t remember the title of the Holmes-as-Ripper novel, which I read, but that’s just as well.Also, “Spring-Heeled Jack” was not Jack the Ripper. He was a legendary figure that ran around in some curious coat, scratching at people’s faces and jumping over walls. Springheel tends to be mixed up with Jack the Ripper.As to who Jack the Ripper really was, I couldn’t even begin to speculate.
pauljmsn over 12 years ago
My apologies, then. Interesting character, in any case.
Pab Sungenis creator over 12 years ago
Really astute people will also pick up the reference to Nick Meyer’s film “Time After Time” in today’s strip.
craigwestlake over 12 years ago
There is an interesting article from the BBC that Scotland Yard reopened “The Ripper” as a cold case; just to see what modern forensics could tell. Their conclusion was that the Ripper was an individual (unnamed) that lived about two blocks from the crime scenes…
vldazzle over 12 years ago
Have not read extended comments but just started adding FC to my daily collection (for some reason was thinking they were reruns) and glad to see that “Jeffie” will continue them (perhaps “edgier” as Bills were when yougn-we all change with age). Thanks to Pab for the tribute from the sad news this week; it was good to hear that the family actually live nearby in AZ as also does the new fellow who does F-Minus.