While Dick Grayson is attending Hudson University, another famous person has decided to get a college education, too: "Actor-singer-dancer-comedian" Davy King!!
I know what you're thinking...that life story sounds suspiciously like that of famed entertainer Danny Kaye. Well, you're right, it does...but don't worry, they explicitly acknowledge in the credits that they're doing this as a tribute to him:
Now, you might be asking, why turn the Robin back-up strip from Batman #252 (1973) into a vehicle for Danny Kaye? And I guess the only answer is...why not??Anyhoo, a series of accidents have plagued the campus since
And how did he do that?
Oh, man, this deserves a closer look:
Now, I have to admit that I'm not familiar enough with Danny Kaye's material to know if there was a real "famous routine" that this was based on, maybe where he pulled a Billy Joel or Michael Stipe on famous names of the time, or if Elliot S! Maggin was just freestylin' here. If anyone out there knows, drop a line or link in the comments section.But whatever the basis, we have Danny Kaye "racing through the names of super-heroes in rhythm," including several non-DC heroes!! And that's worth the quarter this comic cost me, and then some!!
Seriously, DC Borscht Belt comedians know of the Submariner and Human Torch? Maybe he wasn't from Earth-1...
UPDATE: Anonymous (bro, get a name...we're all friendly here!!) has found the bit that was doubtless the inspiration for Davy King's "famous routine":
3 comments:
The one that springs to mind is "Tschaikowsky (and Other Russians)," in which Kaye pattered through a series of Russian composers' names. The song's by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin.
There's a recording of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh-wOvuOHPE
You're probably right on there, Anon. The video is now amended to the main post.
Thanks for adding the clip. Who can hate Danny Kaye? It's nice to see some culture here on Slay Monstrobot. Happy holidays.
Post a Comment