Casper Versus Capitalism--IN SPACE!!

Well, since my pal Siskoid was so enamored of a catch phrase from yesterday's post, it's only fair that we take a closer look at the main story from Casper In Space #7 (1973).

The funny thing is, it is a story that is absolutely nuts, and plays like nothing so much as a Doctor Who New Adventures novel, albeit with Casper in the role of The Doctor.

We start as Casper and his pals are kidnapped by a pink energy beam from space, and met by an Ambush Bug-looking dude:



And what is the yellow?





Ah, but what happens when they switch to green?


Hmmm, an entire planet that seems dedicated to serving consumer desires (and perhaps creating them). What could possibly go wrong?


Oh, dear.

Well, Casper gets away and does some snooping:



Purple ray? Oh, no...

Fortunately, Casper gets away, and encounters some of the actual denizens of this culture, who complain about the policy of their leader:


And how does he make an ennui-filled populace buy things?

Ahhh....

Sadly, the purple ray catches up to Casper...


But, fortunately, Casper's friends come to the rescue!


Robots???

Well, after a robust battle...


So, let me see if I have this straight. This culture somehow got taken over by robots who produce mass amounts of consumer goods. When the people can't afford the goods, the robots extend them easy credit. When consumers don't want anymore, the robots introduce "rays" that make then buy uncontrollably. And when, even then, the market is saturated, the start shanghaiing people from other galaxies so they can sell stuff to them??

You know, I really didn't expect that much allegory in a Harvey story...

Anyway, we get a real Doctor Who ending:


Yay!! The Doctor Casper has freed the people from an alien rule that is in no way an exaggerated metaphor for anything here on earth, and leaves them to run their own lives. (Yeah, it's also a Kirk ending, too, given the robots in control...)

[Please don't ask an inconvenient questions about who built the robots, or what happened to them, or how the whole culture fell under their sway. There is no explanation.]

BONUS IRONY: This odd anti-capitalist screed (odd for a Harvey book in 1973, at least) appears in an issue chock full of ads for Casper bed sheets, Casper (and other Harvey characters) record albums, and other assorted merchandise. I'm just sayin.'