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!