Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

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Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Col_Fury »

OBNOXIO THE CLOWN #1 (April 1983)
By Alan Kupperberg

APPEARANCES:
EARTH-616: X-Men: Angel, Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Professor X, Sprite, Storm, Wolverine; Eye-Scream (villain who turns into ice cream)
EARTH-80360: Obnoxio the Clown

SYNOPSIS:
Professor X has hired Obnoxio the Clown to entertain at Sprite’s surprise birthday party. When Obnoxio arrives at the Xavier school, Cerebro sounds an alarm and the X-Men assume its Obnoxio; however, it’s actually the villainous Eye-Scream, who wants to destroy the X-Men because he’s jealous of their “better” powers. The X-Men fight and capture Obnoxio, but Professor X reveals he’s captured the real villain. Obnoxio gets fed up and leaves without getting paid.

NOTE:
The cover says "Obnoxio the Clown vs. the X-Men," but the indicia just says "Obnoxio the Clown."

The recent Secret Wars handbook clarified that the Obnoxio the Clown appearing here is the same one from Crazy Magazine, and that he travelled to Earth-616 for this adventure. Obnoxio is noted as Kitty’s “favorite clown from Crazy Magazine” here; Professor X likely thought he was an impersonator, I’m sure. Anyway, Obnoxio must have been on Earth-616 long enough to put an ad out, so Professor X knew how to get ahold of him.

This was published the same month as UX 168. Sprite is with the X-Men here, but she was demoted to the New Mutants in UX 167. She was promoted back to the X-Men in UX 168, but by then Wolverine was already on vacation. Before UX 167 is out because Xavier had that Brood egg inside him since UX 157. The X-Mansion is intact here, and it was destroyed in UX 154, so UX 154-167 is a big block where this thing can’t happen. After UX 168 is out because Wolverine’s on vacation, but other things have necessitated a break in that: Wolverine currently has M/GN 5, X&AF2 1-2, XV.H & M/TU 135 placed during W 1 (his vacation). In theory, this could be placed in that gap (after M/GN 5, if only because of publication order). Much further after that (after UX 170) is no good, because Sprite started going by Ariel by that time.

Technically, this would be during UX 168, but this only affects Cyclops.

2nd Story:
By Alan Kupperberg

APPEARANCES:
Obnoxio the Clown

SYNOPSIS:
Obnoxio goes through reader mail for Crazy Magazine.

NOTE:
This presumably takes place on EARTH-80360, since Obnoxio is doing one of his job duties as Crazy Magazine mascot.

3rd Story:
By Alan Kupperberg

APPEARANCES:
EARTH-616: Ed Koch
EARTH-80360: Obnoxio the Clown

SYNOPSIS:
Obnoxio goes home after his adventure with the X-Men and finds out he has to report for jury duty. After some shenanigans he gets the mayor to excuse him from jury duty.

NOTE:
Still on EARTH-616, so right after the first story.

Other names are called for jury duty, such as Moe Howard and some other real-world people. Of course, Moe Howard had already been dead for eight years by the time this thing was published, and we don’t know if any of those people were actually there or not. Their names were called, but that’s all we know.

4th Story:

APPEARANCES:
EARTH-616: Jim Shooter, Stan Lee, Alan Kupperberg, Larry Jones, Jim Smith (all Marvel folk)
EARTH-80360: Obnoxio the Clown

SYNOPSIS:
Obnoxio goes through reader mail, but this time for Marvel Comics. He’s caught by the editorial staff and kicked out.

NOTE:
Obnoxio mentions that Crazy Magazine has been cancelled, and he assumed that meant he could just move over and start working for Marvel. He was wrong.

WHAT THE--?! #13 (July 1991)
3rd Story:
By Alan Kupperberg

APPEARANCES:
EARTH-665: Big Al Bondigas, “Arms” Akimbo, Mogsey, Fat Boy (mobsters), Pulverizer (Punisher parody)
EARTH-80360: Obnoxio the Clown

SYNOPSIS:
Obnoxio has set up a new amusement park, but local mobsters try to extort weekly payments from him. At the park’s grand opening, the Pulverizer attacks and kills the mobsters, but destroys the park in the process.

NOTE:
Thanks to the recent Secret Wars handbook again, we know that Obnoxio has now travelled to EARTH-665. Fun!

At the park’s grand opening, Obnoxio has in attendance, as, part of the ceremony, the pope, Frank Sinatra, Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley and Mikhail Gorbachev. I’m assuming these are impersonators.

WHAT THE--?! #24 (December 1992)
4th Story:
By Alan Kupperberg

APPEARANCES:
EARTH-665: Pup-Pest Mister, Doctor Dumb
EARTH-80360: Obnoxio the Clown

SYNOPSIS:
Obnoxio the Clown survives an assassination attempt by the mob, then prepares to open his museum of super heroes in Lecks Loothor’s old headquarters; however, he’s doesn’t realize Pup-Pest Mister and Doctor Dumb have also moved in to other parts of the building, and they both have plans for Obnoxio’s super hero mannequins. After the mannequins are animated by the villains, they beat each other up. Upset, Pup-Pest Mister and Doctor Dumb prepare to attack Obnoxio…

PLACEMENT SUGGESTIONS:

A-Z pages:

ANGEL III/WARREN KENNETH WORTHINGTON III
……
IH2 279
*OBNOXIO
DAZZ 27
DAZZ 28
UX 347-FB
UX 169
……

COLOSSUS III/PIOTR NIKOLAIEVITCH "PETER" RASPUTIN
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

CYCLOPS II/SCOTT SUMMERS
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

EYE-SCREAM
OBNOXIO

JONES, LARRY
OBNOXIO /4

KOCH, ED
……
IH2 279
*OBNOXIO /3
FAL 4
……

KUPPERBERG, ALAN
OBNOXIO /4

LEE, STAN/STANLEY LIEBER
……
M/TU 74
*OBNOXIO /4
X@ 7-BTS
……

NIGHTCRAWLER/KURT WAGNER
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

PROFESSOR X/CHARLES FRANCIS XAVIER
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

SHOOTER, JIM
IM 85
IM 123
M-T2 11
*OBNOXIO /4
X@ 7
M/TU 137

SMITH, JIM
OBNOXIO /4

SPRITE II/KATHERINE "KITTY" PRYDE
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

STORM/ORORO MUNROE
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

WOLVERINE/"LOGAN"/JAMES HOWLETT
……
M/GN 5
*OBNOXIO
X&AF2 1
……

Alternate realities page:

EARTH-665

DOCTOR DUMB | EARTH-665
WT? 24/4

PULVERIZER | EARTH-665
WT? 13/3

PUP-PEST MISTER | EARTH-665
WT? 24/4

EARTH-80360

OBNOXIO THE CLOWN | EARTH-80360
……
CRAZY3 94/8
*OBNOXIO /2
*OBNOXIO /4
*OBNOXIO
*OBNOXIO /3
*WT? 13/3
*WT? 24/4
-Daron Jensen
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Jason Doty »

KItty celebrates her birthday in Special Edition X-Men #1/2 (around UX 167)

I would actually make the Obnoxio story, the year before and place it after Cyclops returns around UX 150 but before the mansion is destroyed in UX 154, plus it makes more sense, because of who is at the party. I doubt they would hold her 2 surprise parties.

For the most time to pass between birthdays. You would need to place it between UX 150 and UX 151, but an argument could be made for between UX 152 and UX 153, or between UX 153 and UX 154.

UX 150 (Cyclops returns after his long absence between UX 138 and being reunited in UX 150)

UX 151 and UX 152 (2 part story, Kitty sent to Massachussetts Academy)

UX 153 (Kitty's Fairy Tale)

UX 154 (Mansion destroyed)
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by ShadZ »

It's been a while since I read it, but the birthday party in Special Edition X-Men #1/2 isn't actually on Kitty's birthday, is it? IIRC, the party is to make up for not being able to have a party on her actual birthday (so it's some unspecified time afterward).

In my head canon, formed back when the comics were new, I saw the party in Obnoxio #1 as being the first attempt at a make-up party for Kitty, and when it was such a failure the party in Special Edition X-Men #1/2 was organized (much more successfully).
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Col_Fury »

UX 165 reveals that Sprite's birthday had passed while the X-Men were in space. UX 169's letter page says the birthday party seen in Special Edition X-Men is a belated party to make up for missing it while in space.

So yes, you're right! :)

To be fair, the party doesn't actually happen in Obnoxio the Clown #1. It's planned, sure, but nothing comes of it.

Why would Sprite be surprised twice by a birthday party? She wasn't expecting the first one, and then wasn't expecting a follow-up party, that's why!

Placing this right before SEX /2 would mean this is during the time when Sprite wasn't actually on the X-Men. I guess that's fine; Angel appears here too, and it's not like he was super active with the team at this point. Kitty does mention she's been training a lot lately in Obnoxio the Clown #1, but then she would be as part of the New Mutants.

I'll take a look at chronology placements before SEX /2 when I get the chance.

Thanks folks!
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Jason Doty »

In Obnoxio, Kitty forgot it was her birthday. So this issue happens on her birthday.

The belated party in Special Edition X-Men is to make up for the one while she was in space.

The story and placement should dictate placement, not release date in this case.

and if Angel's visiting the mansion since he quit the X-Men is a problem , All the characters in Obnoxio are reunited and together after M/Fan #4
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Russ Chappell »

Col_Fury wrote:OBNOXIO THE CLOWN #1 (April 1983)

The recent Secret Wars handbook clarified that the Obnoxio the Clown appearing here is the same one from Crazy Magazine, and that he travelled to Earth-616 for this adventure.
Is this different from the handbook saying the Hostess ads were 616?
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Col_Fury »

According to Paul B.’s Avengers year-by-year calendar (based on George Olshevsky’s Index), UX 161-167 (when the X-Men are in space) spans April-June of year 9, so a year before that would (obviously) be April-June of year 8. M/TU 100/2 happens in April (Storm appears), UX 145 is in May and UX 150 (where Cyclops returns) is in June. So we’re looking at some point between UX 144-150, roughly.

The X-Men return to Earth at the end of UX 161-167, so in theory, Kitty’s birthday is likely in May. But if we fudge things a bit, it MIGHT be in June. UX 167 happens in early June, while UX 150 happens in late June. But again, it might be close enough…

Either way, you’d have to squint at something to make this fit. Juggle around Olshevsky’s calendar (to fit after UX 150), or look at SEX /2 at a second, proper attempt at throwing Kitty a birthday party.

ANGEL III/WARREN KENNETH WORTHINGTON III
……
UX 148
*OBNOXIO (here?)
A 211
……
IH2 279
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
DAZZ 27
DAZZ 28
UX 347-FB
UX 169
……

COLOSSUS III/PIOTR NIKOLAIEVITCH "PETER" RASPUTIN
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
X@ 5
……
M/TIO 96
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

CYCLOPS II/SCOTT SUMMERS
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
X@ 5
……
M/TIO 96
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

NIGHTCRAWLER/KURT WAGNER
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
X@ 5
……
M/TIO 96
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

PROFESSOR X/CHARLES FRANCIS XAVIER
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
CW:C 1 (8:4 - 8:5)-FB
X@ 5
……
M/TIO@ 7
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

SPRITE II/KATHERINE "KITTY" PRYDE
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
X@ 5
……
M/TIO 96
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

STORM/ORORO MUNROE
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
X@ 5
……
M/TIO 96
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

WOLVERINE/"LOGAN"/JAMES HOWLETT
……
UX 150
*OBNOXIO (here?)
X@ 5
……
M/TIO 96
*OBNOXIO (or here?)
SEX /2
……

And there it is!
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Re: Obnoxio the Clown #1 & misc.

Post by Jason Doty »

Very cool Fury, thanks for considering my placement, between UX 150 and UX 154. Out of the 2 suggested placements, I believe that the best fit would be right after UX 150. It leads to less confusion by separating the 2 parties and stays clear of the mansion destruction and rebuilding. It also keeps it out of an area where there is a large transition between costumes, code names, and more residents of the school.
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