This is the latest in a series giving you the cultural context behind certain comic book characters/behaviors. You know, the sort of then-topical references that have faded into the "foggy ruins of time." To wit, twenty years from now, a college senior watching episodes of Seinfeld will likely miss a lot of the then-topical pop culture humor (like the very specific references in "The Understudy" to the Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding scandal). Here is an archive of all the Foggy Ruins of Time installments so far.

Today, based on a suggestion by David M., we look at the notable Marvel Silver Age supervillain invented by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby whose name is a reference to a dirty limerick!

In 1962's Strange Tales #104 (by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers), the Human Torch runs afoul of a new villain named Paste Post Pete...

David wrote in to ask if this character was named after a character from a dirty limerick, and I think the odds are roughly 99.9% that yes, he IS, indeed, named after Piss Pot Pete from one of the most famous dirty limericks there is, "Lil the Whore."

Read on for the text of the limerick (there are lots of variations of the same basic text, I've chosen the least dirty one, "Diddlin' Nellie"- it's still pretty dirty). Stop reading if you don't want to see a dirty limerick! I'll even put it on a separate page so you don't have to see it if you don't want to. If you DO want to see it, go to the next page...

Nell was a schoolteacher way out west

But she gave up teaching. She like diddlin' best

Now it was a standing bet in our home town

There were no two men black or brown

That could frog old Nell and hold her down

'Til one day there strode into the bar

Wild and wooly Piss Pot Pete

Fresh off the range from diddlin' sheep

Pisspot laid his John upon the bar

The old folks say that it reached from thar to thar.

Pete yelled for a bottle then turned as he spoke

Spent a year on the range with a rusty load in my poke

I've palmed a few batches on the hill where I sat

Changed hands and gained a stroke -- caught it in my hat

On a cold winter's nights, I go to bed with the sheep

Then leave my John soak til the shit is knee deap.

Now I want a gal, no two bit whore

She must be a good one who knows all the score

There's only one woman any good I hear tell

She's a hustling chippy a bitch called Nell

Now just the sound of that name brought a hush over those walls

The only noise in the room was Pete scratching his balls

So you want old Nell, said a voice from the door.

Well that's what I'm called. I'm that old whore

I hear you are here bragging. I know your sort

There won't be any price. We'll do it for sport

But I'll take a bet -- anything you can name --

Mine against your and only one winner in the game

It's a deal said Pete and the croud gave a hollar

Then the betting begain. No odds. Dollar for Dollar.

They all shook hands and the bets were made

For Pete and Nell to screw and spar

Up on the hill behind the bar

When the day arrived thousands fought for a seat

Just to see that half-bread hide his meat

A shout arrose when the half-breed came

Dressed and ready for that deadly game

Nell came out and the croud gave a cheer

For on Nells face there was a snear

For this little old shriveled man

That dared to brag he could frog her can

They turned and sparred twisted and sweezed

First one then the other upon their knees

Fought and fought for hours and hours

Tore down trees, grass and flowers

The sneer was gone from old Nell's pan

All her thoughts were on her can

Neither smiled; neither spoke

Suddenly Nell missed a stroke

And Pisspot nailed her as she broke

The ground was torn for miles around

where poor Nell's ass had drug the ground

Nell died that day all broken and tore

They hung her pants on the craphouse door.

Poor, poor Nell

In Fantastic Four #38, Pete took on a new villain name, the Trapster!

Thanks for the suggestion, David! If anyone else has a suggestion for a future Foggy Ruins of Time, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com!