{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Issue 182 - Ventriloquist","description":"This episode, we focus on one of Gatman's most gafflingly grazen gad guys, the Ventriloquist (and Scarface!) Who's really pulling the strings? Listen now to find out! Intro Reminder of PuchiCon appearance Background (3:00) Important to note that in this version, the dummy was made from wood used in Blackgate\u2019s old gallows, and there are conflicting reports whether the dummy is possessed or not Ventriloquist (Arnold Wesker) created by John Wagner, Alan Grant, and Norm Breyfogle in Detective Comics #583 (Feb. 1988) Arnold Wesker is a meek man from a mafia family \u2013 originally developed DID after witnessing his mother\u2019s murder His origin was later retconned \u2013 imprisoned in Blackgate prison, he begins hearing voices from a dummy named Woody, and the voices convince him to murder his cellmate \u2013 during the fight, Woody is damaged, and takes on the name Scarface In either version, Scarface becomes the controlling force, and Wesker is his \u201cpuppet\u201d - to the point that Scarface becomes enraged if people insist on speaking to Wesker and not him One telltale sign is that Wesker\/Scarface is unable to pronounce the letter B, replacing it with G - Batman becomes Gatman, bullets become gullets, etc. At one point Wesker was committed to Arkham Asylum, and upon escaping used a sock puppet named Socko - when Scarface learned he had been replaced, he and Socko had a gunfight, resulting in damage to Wesker\u2019s hands #BecauseComics After an earthquake nearly destroys Gotham, a new villain called the Quakemaster shows up demanding a ransom to prevent further earthquakes - Tim Drake is able to deduce it\u2019s Scarface because Quakemaster refuses to pronounce words with the letter B Has an on-again\/off-again partnership with the Penguin, where they often break each other out of prison and work together on criminal enterprises Murdered by Tally Man in an effort to frame Harvey Dent Later resurrected during Blackest Night as a member of the Black Lantern Corps, and creates a construct of Scarface with his ring New 52 - he was never killed, and was hospitalized for treatment of his DID Briefly controlled by the Venom serum, but was taken down by Nightwing and Damian Wayne Succeeded as Ventriloquist by a woman named Shauna Belzer, who had her own puppet Ferdie He helped Batman defeat Psycho-Pirate, because his DID was able to override Pirate\u2019s emotion control powers since Scarface was really in charge Issues - the pawn who would be king (7:03) Dissociation, Depersonalization, and Derealization Subordination (14:03) Masochism (21:04) Break (26:01) Plugs for Popcorn Psychology, Ocho Duro Parlay Hour, and Phillip Kennedy Johnson Treatment (26:56) In-universe - introduce ways to take Scarface out of commission Out of universe - work on scaling down and away from coping mechanism (30:10) Skit (34:06) DOC: Hello Mr. Wesker, I\u2019m Dr. Issues. SCARFACE: Nope, you\u2019re talking to ME, doc. Leave the dummy outta this. WESKER: W-w-well at least l-l-let me say h-h-hello f-first. SCARFACE: Shut yer yap and lemme do the talking. The less you talk, the faster we can greak outta here and get gack to gusiness. DOC: I love Vaudeville as much as anybody, but SCARFACE: *interrupting* that explains your practice DOC: Hey! This is a serious establishment. Are you going to talk to me or not? WESKER: I-I-I SCARFACE: Aye Aye Aye is right! Sheesh! You gonna take the hint, shrinkydink? This mug is useless without me. I\u2019m the grains of this operation. That\u2019s how I keep making gread. DOC: *flustered* Fine. Tell me, what can I do for you? SCARFACE: Can you crack safes? DOC: No SCARFACE: Can you crack heads? DOC: NO! SCARFACE: Knockaround guy? Gagman? DOC: No and No SCARFACE: Is your office a good place to do laundry, if ya catch my drift? DOC: I\u2019m not doing anything illegal for you! SCARFACE: Then you\u2019re a waste of space like this guy over here! DOC: He is the reason you can talk at all! SCARFACE: waaaaatch your mouth, you\u2019re on thin ice, capiche? DOC: Mr. Wesker, are you going to stand for this? SCARFACE: He doesn\u2019t have to, that\u2019s why he\u2019s sittin down. And you\u2019re gonna be layin down for a dirt nap if you don\u2019t keep your eyes on me! DOC: You don\u2019t have any weapons. That tommy gun is a toy. I\u2019m not stupid. SCARFACE: My noggin is like taking a Louisville slugger to the jaw if you\u2019re unprepared. DOC: If you\u2019re so bright,have you figured out a way to resolve your anger without resorting to violence? SCARFACE: Resort? You darn right I resort. A hideout full of moola and the screams of my enemies make crime a vacation.  DOC: Is that what Wesker wants? SCARFACE: Who cares what he wants?  DOC: I do. And if this is you, Arnold, then I\u2019m willing to work with you in this\u2026unique arrangement. SCARFACE: I\u2019m confused. Are you talking to me or to him? DOC: Yes. SCARFACE: *pause* Ooooh, you\u2019re a slick one, aintcha? Gut there\u2019s no one else you need to talk to.  DOC: Thank goodness. So, I\u2019ll make sure I only direct my questions to you, and you\u2019ll answer, and I\u2019ll make sure it\u2019s documented in your chart, under your name. Just spell it for me so I get it right. SCARFACE: S-C-A DOC: A-R-N SCARFACE: *screaming* THIS AIN\u2019T A JOKE!  DOC: I\u2019m not laughing. I\u2019m talking to you. I\u2019m looking at you. I know you run the show, and I\u2019m giving you the attention you deserve. If the other part is not important according to you, fine. But I won\u2019t let your reality get in the way of mine. SCARFACE: YOU SICKO! Don\u2019t toy with my emotions. DOC: Don\u2019t use your emotions as toys WESKER: Please stop fighting DOC: who said that? SCARFACE: NOBODY! DUMMY, SHUT UP!  WESKER: yes sir DOC: You seem to have an issue with a part of you that is intimidated. What do you plan to do to strengthen it?  SCARFACE: I\u2019m not weak; that loser DOC:*interrupting* You\u2019re a loser; got it. SCARFACE: I\u2019m not here to be insulted! WESKER: You usually leave that to me DOC: Progress! Now if you could only get him to stop shoving his hand inside you to compensate, you wouldn\u2019t be so uptight SCARFACE: *pause* wait\u2026are you actually trying to treat me here? DOC: It wasn\u2019t my first idea but if it\u2019s the only way I can ultimately give you some peace and have fewer people hurt, I\u2019ll make it work. SCARFACE: *exaggerated wistful sigh* Maybe I can finally get a world without Dummy. A mafioso can dream. DOC: Um\u2026erm\u2026something like that. Anyway, I noticed that I didn\u2019t get my usual fee before the session, so I\u2019m going to have to bill you for the balance. SCARFACE: *deadpan* Oh\u2026Dummy takes care of that  WESKER: I DO NOT DOC: WHAT? SCARFACE: I MEANT THE CHECK\u2019S IN THE MAIL. Now get me outta here before he makes me talk about my mother. *fake sob* I really miss her. DOC: Pining? SCARFACE: No, oak. Ending (38:54) Recommended reading: Batman: Broken City by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso Next episodes: Bigby Wolf, Eobard Thawne, Speedball Plugs for social & GonnaGeek Network References: Penguin episode - Anthony (5:14) All the Smoke podcast - Doc (15:00) Apple Podcasts: here Google Play: here Stitcher: here TuneIn: here iHeartRadio: here Twitter Facebook TikTok  Patreon TeePublic Discord   ","author_name":"Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling","author_url":"https:\/\/www.capesonthecouch.com","html":"