DNA testing might not prove 100% who he was, but it could link him to a family, provided the right people are tested.

As for being dead I was watching a thing on PBS about DNA testing of Tutankhamun's children & the scientists were surprised how well the DNA has stood up after all this time.

I guess too many years of watching & reading badly written conspiracies in fiction has led me to mostly ignore the obvious nits in them.
"Bad Nitpicker! Bad Nitpicker!" *swats self with a rolled up newspaper*

I figured it was unlikely for XIII to be Sheridan, I just thought it would be funny. (Warped sense of humor.)

constanze - his magnetism with wich he avoids deadly bullets.
More like anti-magnetism. ;-)

And since the arrests were of members of congress, the govt., army, justice and finance, it has been kept a state secret and nobody knows about it
Say what? Members of Congress & the government are arrested and it isn't front page news? Not in the USA I know.

Interesting that, although the evidence is clearly stacked against XIII in the murder case in the Rowland household (album 2), the supreme court
intervenes
Why? To the best of my knowledge the Supreme Court only gets involved after a verdict has been reached & only after it has gone through all lower courts on appeal.

The ski trip XIII and Judith take makes me once again wonder at the kind of training americans get
An American written & drawn by non-Americans. ;-)
Not being a skier I couldn't tell you what kind of training American skiers get, but the nits in that scene could be because the writer and/or artist were not skiers or not good ones.

I always though Colonel was quite low - must've confused it with some other rank.
Perhaps Radar's "Corporel Colonel" rank in an episode of M*A*S*H*? ;-)

KAM,

DNA testing might not prove 100% who he was, but it could link him to a family, provided the right people are tested. ...

Well yes, that's the problem. In the greenfalls story, Jonathan Mac Lane has been dead for almost 20 years - and not in a special tomb like Tutenkamun, whose body was specially preserved!, but in an ordinary grave. I don't think DNA testing would work there.
Jasons mother died at birth, and he has no siblings.
Finding people related to Mac Lane isn't easy if they hid as Jonathan did under wrong names.

Say what? Members of Congress & the government are arrested and it isn't front page news? Not in the USA I know.

That's what it says in the text insert."The confession of General Bill "Butcher" Standwell, Nr. III of the conspiracy, lead to 52 arrests. The accused, which stood trial under exclusion of the public, were all given the highest sentence. Because they were members of Congress, the govt., the army, justice and the world of finance, the case was classified as "state secret" and treated with utmost discretion. "
I guess they didn't arrest the conspiracy members with blazing lights and cameras - they wouldn't want to tip anybody off to go into hiding - but rather with the old trick "Can you come over here to the adress... for one minute, I need to talk to you?", when said by the Pres. Galbrain, they would come and could be arrested quietly without the public knowing of it. (Maybe the press was told they had some illness which required 20 years of treatment without outside contact? Bad case of flu? )

Why? To the best of my knowledge the Supreme Court only gets involved after a verdict has been reached & only after it has gone through all lower courts on appeal.

I guess because this time, the president and senator sheridan are exerting influence on the supreme court to revise the case. There's no mention of appeal on lower courts. Maybe the supreme court was "convinced" it was a serious mistrial? Like I said in album 2, the evidence is stacked heavily against XIII, and the only way for him to become cleared is if Felicity gives a full confession, which I consider highley unlikely, since that would implicate herself (Matt, the uncle, shot Jeremy, then Felicity called XIII to the room. Matt struck him unconciousness with a statue and put his fingerprints on the gun. Then Felicity shot Matt and inflicted a glancing wound on herself. Since XIII was out cold, he can't even put his words against her, he is no witness for himself!)

The ski trip XIII and Judith take makes me once again wonder at the kind of training americans get
An American written & drawn by non-Americans. ;-)
Not being a skier I couldn't tell you what kind of training American skiers get, but the nits in that scene could be because the writer and/or artist were not skiers or not good ones.

I meant that the behaviour they show is consistent with behaviour seen on american-produced TV-shows (MacGyver had an avalanche once) or in American novels, even from observing people coming to ski in Colorado without any training, confident they could learn it themselves on the beginners slope.
And I don't think the writers didn't know how to ski themselves - the awareness of mountains and training is different over here, and I think Belgium/France has enough ski resorts that people know about skiing even if they don't do it themselves. People know that mountains are dangerous, and to take precautions; and they know you can't learn a new sport in a matter of hours, but that you should take some training. Its emphasized every winter by the mountain rescue organisations, and reports on TV tell of the dangers skiing presents to unskilled people.

Perhaps Radar's "Corporel Colonel" rank in an episode of M*A*S*H*? ;-)

Corporel - that might be the rank.

DNA testing might not prove 100% who he was, but it could link him to a family, provided the right people are tested.

The other problem is finding the right people. In another situation, XIII would put an ad in the paper or go to a TV show, and ask every Mac Lane to be tested. (Although there would still be the problem of who would pay for these tests - IIRC, they were horribly expensive in the 90s.)

But XIII is no normal guy. In album 8, he manages to royally pi-ss off a very important person, and once again he has to go into hiding. His friends, most notably Carrington and Amos, who have some influence and could swing a search for him, get likewise into trouble because they are his friends and know what he's told them (XIII is an unlucky number for people around him ). By album 12, the group around XIII will be in a similar trouble to the first arc.

The next time XIII meets a possible relation is in middle america, and under circumstances where he is told an alternative history, but a quick DNA test - or even a quick blood group test - isn't possible.

It may also be that XIII hasn't enough scientific knowledge to think of DNA tests, and during all the action, none of his friends have the time or opportunity to tell him "You know, why don't you and the guy over there go to the next hospital and make a DNA scan?".

Well yes, that's the problem. In the greenfalls story, Jonathan Mac Lane has been dead for almost 20 years - and not in a special tomb like Tutenkamun, whose body was specially preserved!, but in an ordinary grave. I don't think DNA testing would work there. - constanze

Haven't DNA tests been done on Thomas Jefferson to prove whether certain African-Americans may be descended from the Founding Father?

It may also be that XIII hasn't enough scientific knowledge to think of DNA tests, and during all the action, none of his friends have the time or opportunity to tell him "You know, why don't you and the guy over there go to the next hospital and make a DNA scan?". - constanze

I don't either. But I bet that if I were in a similar situation, I'd think of it. It's a matter of how much exposure the procedure has been given in the media. (And here, that's quite a bit.)

Excelsior!

constanze - Interesting that there are far more good-looking women in the comics than handsome men.
You don't think that could be because more males than females read comics do you? Nah. Must be a coincidence. ;-)

KAM,

You don't think that could be because more males than females read comics do you?

Well, I haven't thought of that angle, because I (seriously) don't know whether the european comics have more male or female readers.
I thought it was because the authors are mostly male, and just like drawing pretty women ...

Benn,

...But I bet that if I were in a similar situation, I'd think of it. It's a matter of how much exposure the procedure has been given in the media. (And here, that's quite a bit.)

Already in the early 90s? Were DNA tests that available or quick at that time?

Now that I've given back Albums 1-7, I realize I haven't looked up half of the things I wanted to comment on. Oh well...

Sometime during their adventure in Greenfalls, XIII tells Jones "When all this is over, we will have a nice vacation in the Bahamas." At the end of album 7, he hasn't had that vacation yet. In album 12, after a lot of action in between, XIII and Jones fly to the Bahamas - but not for vacation, on a dangerous mission. Poor Jones. Never a fortnight of peace and quiet in romantic setting so XIII could really fall in love with her for good; always its breathtaking, non-stop action.

Timeline so far (Using S-0 as the year of the first album)

S-0, summer: Black Sun happens, Steve Rowland is shot, Heidegger finds Jason Mac Lane /Fly, he is operated on.
Shortly before startdate (late summer/early autumn): XIII is betrayed and shot, drifts in the water and is found by the Smiths.
2 Months after startdate /Autumn S-0: XIII travels to Easttown, events of Album 1.
Winter S-0, 3 months after startdate: XIII travels to the army base and meets Jones; events of album 2 (Southbourg murders).
Spring S+1: events of album 3 (Escape from Plains Rock).
Sommer S+1: events of album 4 (SPADS camp)
Early Autumn S+1; 14 months after Black Sun; year of presidental election (1992? 1988? 1996?): events of album 5 (stopping the coup d'etat)
Late Autumn & Winter S+1; 19yrs.6 mth. after Jonathan Flys death on Aug. 3rd: events of Album 6 (XIII visits Greenfalls)
Winter & Spring S+2: events of Album 7 (Greenfalls, part 2)


So when Jones is saying to Judith in Greenfalls that she's been asking herself for two years about why she's fallen for XIII, she is exaggerting or rounding; she has known him for a year or 18 months at most.

In album 7, Mangouste tells XIII that I has ordered to kill him because he knows who he is, despite the fact that XIII has complete amnesia and so far not rembered anything.

But Mangouste knows the identity of I, too - since he takes orders from him. Why hasn't I killed Mangouste first and - since he has an influential position - ordered another killer or a secret agency to kill XIII? Heck, just arrest him on a trumped-up charge, and arrange some accident. (In album 12, we see that I really tries to kill Mangouste.)

Benn,

I meant that XIII may not think of or even be aware of DNA tests. I wondered why not even blood tests are mentioned - they would give a first impression. An AB parent can't have an 0 child, or vice versa; two A parents can't have a B child, or vice versa.
And although XIII has retained his combat-training and some collective memory like reading, writing, social behaviour, car driving, he also has forgotten many other things - he doesn't know what Black Sun is before Amos shows him the movie in album 1; in Album 7, David Rigby is astonished that XIII doesn't know who the Montroses and Jonathan Mac Lane were, etc. And XIII hasn't had the time to read newspapers on "how to prove identity with the new DNA tests" - he was a little busy, saving the country and all that

I thought it was because the authors are mostly male, and just like drawing pretty women ...
Well, there is that too... although there are artists who will draw beefcake as well as cheesecake.

although there are artists who will draw beefcake as well as cheesecake.

Huh? What's that again?

Album 8, XIII contre I, 1990 (XIII against I, Transl. A.G.)

Mangouste breaks out of the high-security prison. Wally Sheridan, the new president, asks XIII to work for him as his right hand, and asks him to find Nr. I. He gives him an Alpha pass (access for all offical places), money, and Secret Service agent Ned Bancroft. XIII however, wants to try to find Kim Rowland for Carrington. Jones is a little bit angry about that and leaves for Wyoming - however, she is really also searching for Kim. Together, they follow a trail to Northshore, near the Canadian border. Kim and Wally had a relationship 10 years ago, and Kim got pregnant with a son. Wally has used this son as lever to make Kim work for him as triple agent. This explains why XIII was uncovered so quickly.
Jones and XIII travel to an island near the coast where they suspect Kim is being held. But as XIII is carrying her away, Mangouste appears and takes them prisoner. He puts the three on Wallys jacht, sedates them, and blows it up. XIII manages to escape with Jones, but not Kim, which means he has no witness that Wally was Nr. I. He gives back his Alpha pass and the money, and declines Wallys job offer with a punch to the jaw, which makes Wally say "I'm the mightiest man of the world! As soon as you leave this room, and no matter wherever you hide, you are as good as dead, Mac Lane!" (XIIIs cool reply: "We all must die, even you. Good evening, Nr. I".)

Hits & misses: A nurse (which we later learn is Irina Svetlanova, a killer working for mangouste), shoots at XIII on p. 26, but misses (of course...)
Mangouste himself shoots at XIII and Amos with a machine gun from a flyer on p. 31, but misses him (Amos is hit, but not deadly.)
One of mangoustes people whacks him on the head - at the back this time - on p. 40 with a machine gun.
On p. 42, XIII isn't stabbed in the eye with a needle by Irina - Mangouste intervenes with an extremly flimsy excuse.
On p. 44, XIII stabs himself with a knife in his left hand to stay awake - its still bandaged on p.48.
He once again doesn't drown. (His ego is inflated? )

Mangouste escapes with the help of a warder, which he then shoots instead of paying (remember Album 3, when Dr. Berger wanted to kill XIII for 10.000 $ in Plain Rock, and XIII told him he would never get the money, it would be too dangerous to leave him alive as witness? Well, he was right.)

On p. 14, we see a map of the area - peacock Bay, Maine - where XIII was washed ashore, and we finally learn that startdate was Nov. 9th, 2 years ago.
This album takes place in the summer, year S+2.

Was Kim really in love with Wally, that she got pregnant? Why didn't she take the pill? (Even if he didn't want to use a condom, which he should have done if he was already looking at the political career - illegal children can be damaging in the US, I thought. Or had he planned to use the child all along and lied to her?)

On p. 22, XIII decides to check into the Washboune Hospital, which treated Wally after he was shot at his fathers funeral (album 5). Irina, posing as nurse, is already stationed there. Now, how in the world did mangouste know XIII would go after Wallys patient file? And how did he place a killer as nurse? Isn't some kind of reference required? No background check when hiring people who care for patients???

On p. 26, Irina shoots at XIII, but only blows out the glass wall behind him. Before she can finish him off, he grabs a glass splinter and throws it at her face. It breaks the lens of her glasses over the right eye, so she is hurt. Now, I wear glasses myself, and while I haven't tried this, I doubt that a glass splinter would break the lens and penetrate into the eyeball.
Also, on the 2nd panel, pages of the file are flying everywhere when XIII ducks out of the way of the shot, but on the last panel, he has the whole file in his hand. So, before leaving the wounded Irina, he gathered up all evidenc. He is a very cool customer.

On p. 29, XIII tells Amos that the operation on Wally after the murder attempt was on the left shoulder, and required skin transplantation. He says he inquired around and a skin transplantation would be the only way to completly remove a tatoo like his. (Because it isn't a tatoo, but a branding. A tatoo with ink is removed with laser today, AFAIK).

I wonder why XIII himself never thinks of getting rid of his mark this way.

On p. 30, we see the Vietnam Wall memorial. In the 3rd panel, we see close enough to read several names. I wonder if these are real or invented.

On p.12, when XIII asked Jones help ("Again? What else shall I do for you?") in finding Kim, she gets angry - "You have to look for somebody else to help you find your little girl-friend" and splashes her drink over him. (Although I wonder if this wasn't merely a decoy for observers, since she starts immediately with her visit to the ranch of Carringtons sister Amalia, who raised Kim.) She claims on p.34ff that she did this only for Carrington. But XIII insists that whatever happened between Kim and him on Lake Kellownee after his operation and before his betrayal, was before - he doesn't remember it. He also claims to be interested in her because Kim is the only witness to prove Wally is nr. I.

On p. 36, a "real" location for the island is given: 44 ° 59' North, 67° 18' West, 1 mile from Canadian waters. It belongs to Janet B. Fitzsimmons, the First Lady. (Does an island exist at this place for real? Who does it belong to in real life?)

Well, whatever happened between XIII and Kim, Kim hasn't forgotten it. On p. 38 - though still calling him Jake for some reason - she embraces him closely. (The list of all the women who've fallen for XIII is getting longer and longer )

On p.40, mangouste blows up the boat with which Jones and XIII arrived, and XIII thinks Jones is still on board (which makes him quite angry.) On p. 41, we see that mangoustes people overpowered Jones and that she didn't blow up with the boat, but is on board the yacht, so XIII "can drown with the two women he loves". Okay, but why would a cold-hearted killer like Mangouste do that? Why not leave Jones on the boat to blow up? And why blow up the boat at all, if the yacht is sunk so it looks like an accident?
Even worse, on p. 42, Mangouste tell Irina not to stab XIII in the eye because "our friends need to be found unharmed, drowned, but unharmed." Yet on p. 43, XIII's hands are still bound with ropes. That's not unharmed and accidental death by drowning. And AFAIK, injuries of the eyeballs wouldn't be visible , since the eyeball closes up quickly again, leaving no trace of entry with a needle.

Once again, on p.44, somebody is stabbed through the hand with a knife (the other time it was Clive in album 2), and seems to have no lasting damage. I thought that the human hand is an extremly delicate construction, and slicing through all these tendons could cause lasting damage very easily.

The big question, of course, is: why does XIII save Jones and not Kim, or not both? (I expected him to save both, even if he's drugged - he's a hero, after all, and heroes do the impossible!) He doesn't seem to carry a grudge against Kim for her betrayal - he can't remember it, and he likes Carrington, whose daughter she is. The only explanation I have is that XIII is a lot more in love with Jones than he wants to admit, although it doesn't prevent him from being "nice to" (aka sleeping with) other women he meets !

Sadly, since Jones was unconcious the whole time, she doesn't know the price he paid for saving her. (And I don't think XIII is the type to tell her or brag about it.)

Wally wonders the same on p.47 - he expected XIII to save Kim because she was a witness, not the "black harlot(?)". XIIIs answer " That's one of these things a pig like you will never understand, sheridan." I think this means that XIII wasn't calculating, but going by his love, and he doesn't want policital intrigue.

This seems also to be the reason he refused an offer from Frank Giordino, who's Heideggers successor as head for counterespionage, to work for him. This is interesting, because it shows how much he has changed since his "rebirth" due to amnesia. He even doesn't think its a tactical unwise move to offend the president of the US by punching him - even if XIII doesn't care for his own life, he should think of his friends, like Jones, Amos and Carrington.

On p. 44, Jones is wearing a brown shirt, but on p. 45, she suddenly wears a white, torn top or similar.

although there are artists who will draw beefcake as well as cheesecake.

Huh? What's that again?

Some time early in the 20th Century in America the word "cheesecake" was attached to glamour photographs, such as the pin-ups of World war II. Later the word broadened to include any picture in any medium in which the the main focus was a beautiful woman. Despite the broadening, however, it is still overwhelmingly (though not exclusively)used of pin-ups (and their successors, centerfolds and posters), and usually of either glamour poses or soft-core pornography. "Beefcake" refers to an equivalent picture of a male model.

TomM,

Aha. Thanks for the info.

Big major nit for the series premise, if Startdate is Nov. 9th, and place is chesapeke Bay: Drifting for close to 12 hours (or more) in the atlantic in November, near the St. Lorzen stream, unconscious, with a head wound, and ordinary clothes (no special suit) would KILL THROUGH EXPOSURE!!!

Several years ago, during a NATO navy exercise in the North Sea, several sailors fell overboard, not wearing the special suits. Although they were pulled out as quickly as possilbe, some died, and for the others it was touch-and-go after a chopper had taken them ASAP to a specialized hospital. The newspapers said that in the atlantic, with a temp. of 4° C at that time of the year, unprotected people have a time limit of about 5 minutes before they die of exposure. (And even the special suits worn by pilots who might be shot down wouldn't prevent exposure for such a long time, AFAIK).

It's true that some people - mostly children - have fallen into ice-cold water in winter and have been successfully reanimated after 45 or 50 minutes without severe damage, because the cold water triggered a special reflex, and the body went into a coma-like state, with low respiration and heartbeat. But these cases were flown to special hospitals which knew the procedures to reanimate them correctly. I haven't heard of a 12-hour case so far.

And XIII isn't taken to a special hospital, he's laid on the couch in the living room, and Martha operates the bullet out, at which point the Smiths and Martha decide not to tell the police about XIII.

KAM

I figured it was unlikely for XIII to be Sheridan, I just thought it would be funny. (Warped sense of humor.)

Well, your warped sense of humor was in the right direction insofar since Wally Sheridan was Nr. I and behind the murder of his brother William. (Like a soap opera )

Benn,

Haven't DNA tests been done on Thomas Jefferson to prove whether certain African-Americans may be descended from the Founding Father?

I don't know, can you tell me more? (Maybe the authors didn't know about it, either?)


Is there a special significance to Nov. 9th, or did the authors choose the date randomly?

This also creates some other problems for the timeline: most of album I happens two months after startdate in north-east US, so its january. Yet all the weather does is raining and looking gloomy. Wouldn't there be snow and really cold temperature at this time of the year?

Likewise, when XIII travels to Hualpa(?) base in album 2, we see snow lying around everywhere. Its supposed to be February. Yet we later learn this base is in arizona. Would there be snow on the ground in arizona in february?

Also, Black Sun was about one month before startdate (according to amos), yet the next presidental election takes place 14 months after black sun. I thought the elections are always in november? (And the movie from Black Sun in album 1 looked like summer, not October. Maybe because it was in a town in the south?)

Likewise, when XIII travels to Hualpa(?) base in album 2, we see snow lying around everywhere. Its supposed to be February. Yet we later learn this base is in arizona. Would there be snow on the ground in arizona in february? - constanze

Is there ever snow in Arizona? It's mostly a desert state, IIRC, so I would imagine snow would be rare.

Haven't DNA tests been done on Thomas Jefferson to prove whether certain African-Americans may be descended from the Founding Father? - me

I don't know, can you tell me more? (Maybe the authors didn't know about it, either?) - constanze

I'm surprised no one corrected me on this. It's been awhile since I've read about it, but as you can tell from here, all the DNA tests were done on either descendants of Sally Hemings or descendents of Thomas Jefferson's relatives. Still, it seems to me that DNA testing has been done on unpreserved bodies. Right now, I'm thinking something along the lines of fossils or something similar. I'm probably wrong.

Excelsior!

...Right now, I'm thinking something along the lines of fossils or something similar. ...

Well, I've heard that they did DNA tests on Dinosaur bones - maybe I read it in the "Jurassic park" novel? But that would be a scan by scientists in a lab, which would take quite some time and a lot of expensive equipment, and working with more than one sample, i.e. more than one bone, wereas XIII has only one sample, that is, the body of Jonathan fly.
Anyway, as of album 15, nobody has ever mentioned the possibility of a DNA scan on Jonathan fly's body. Looking at the various messes XIII got himself and his friends into, and that he spends most of his time hurrying from action to action or hiding out, he hasn't had quite the opportunity to think of it.

Album 9, Pour Maria, 1992 (For Maria, Transl. A.G.)

The first three pages (its gettting longer ) recap XIIIs history so far. XIII and Jones have left the US (since Wally was a little peeved at XIII) and spend the time at the presaus ranch in San Miguel (This seems to be a city with plantantion around, but no state on a map. Funny ), when XIII gets a phone call to come to a bar if he wants to learn about his wife. Of course, he goes, with Jones grousing at him.
He meets Padre Jacinto, who tells him he was the "Cascador" 6 years ago, married to the daughter of the murdered president of Costa Verde (another country on no map. Did CNN move it, too? ) The secret police of current Costa-Verde dictator Ortiz, the PSP, appears shooting, so XIII has to flee. He and Jones go to the airport, where XIII urges Jones to escape to the States and stay somewhere safe, until he comes for her, while he wants to go to Costa Verde in disguise. For some reason, Jones accepts this and doesn't accompany him this time (although would the States be really safe for his girl-friend??), but she is arrested by the local police because of the shooting at the bar.
In the plane, XIII meets prof. Simmel, who tells him he teaches history. At the airrport, XIII is collected by Capitan Garcia and taken to Ortiz palace. At the party taking place, he sees Felicity (album 2) and learns what a charming country and explosive situation he's gotten himself into again. Escaping in a car from the palace, he is kidnapped so he can talk with the revolutionary leader "Angel", who doesn't quite trust him. Nevertheless, he orders XIII to kidnap Felictiy, since she is the mistress of dictator Ortiz, and can be used as bargain against Maria, who's been captured and is being held in Roca Negra, a prison island, scheduled for execution. XIII makes it back to palace, has a dinner date with Felicity, manages to take her away, only to learn at the getaway boat that he has been betrayed (again), and to be arrested by Col. Peralta, head of PSP.
Meanwhile Jones has escaped the San Miguel police and flies with the Presaus to their Costa Verde plantation/Hazienda. There she meets the Padre, and Sean Mullway, who smuggles weapons to the revolution.
On the last page, the mysterious people who reviewed XIIIs history give up on him, because he's been brought to Roca Negre.

Hits& Misses: On p. 15, XIII escapes all bullets, but Padre Jacinto is hit in the shoulder.
on p. 18, the car he and Jones are in is shot at, but only glass breaks, no wounds.
on p. 34, he is hit with a rifle on his head (right side, this time) and knocked out cold for undeterminate time.
on p. 44, he fights a little with Capitan Garcia, and manages to not get shot by Felicity (well, the gun wasn't loaded anyway, but he has learned one thing from his last encounter with her.)

Time: this takes place after album 8, but since all action is in middle america, where seasons aren't easily visible, I can't date it.

Who the people who have all this info on XIII are will be revealed in album 10. But its strange that they have that much top-secret info, since they aren't a secret agency. (Hmmm. Almost as if they read the last comic albums. )

On p. 2, The woman calls "Mac Lane a kind of super agent", to which the guy telling the story replies "Something like that, but he doesn't work for any known agency and even declined Pres. Sheridans offer to work as right hand for him. He is a loner." Well. I have the impression that XIII doesn't work for an agency because after his amnesia he doesn't have the taste for it - he will save his friends, the country or beautiful woman, but not fight for dirty politics. (And he cares about his new friends and Jones a lot.)
On p. 5, 6th panel, we see the photo of a dead guy liying in a field, and the narrator says this picture appeared "everyhwere in the press 3 years ago" (which would be not too long before start date, depending what month is meant). He then notes "Same height, same build, even the same age." (as XIII). Well, since XIII has a normal height and build and is 31 years old, there are hundreds of thousands of people like him out there. Carrington turned up a list of 30 people with Rowlands facial characteristics in album 3, and that was only people with special training by the Military. If the Cascador trained in Cuba, the number is higher. And in the picture, the face can't be seen at all. (So far, neither the readers nor XIII himself has seen a clear picture of what his face might have looked like before the operation - Jason Flys pictures have been destroyed by Heidegger, all documents related to Cascador and Maria were destroyed when the camp was raided... Even in later albums, there is never a clear picture of possible previous faces.)

On p. 7, Karl Meredith is killed by the revolutionaries - we later learn he is an arms dealer who supplied Saddam Hussein with nerve gas, and similar, and wants to supply Ortiz with dirty weapons to wipe out the rebels. Also, XIII needs to enter Costa Verde under his ID. Padre Jacinto says "Put him in the R4. We won't sacrifice a mercedes for this bastard." Well, why put him into a car at all? There are enough rocks around to throw him into the water with one. And bound onto the seat, it won't look like a roadside accident if the body is found, either. (BILC?)

We learn that Jones can't ride horses - she already declined at the Wyoming ranch in album 8 - and isn't eager to learn it after falling down. (XIII is either a bad trainer or not nice at that point: if Jones has never sat on a horse, he shouldn't take her out into the plantation without a helmet, he should give her riding lessons in a corral close to the house, and when she's learned the three speeds and sits firm, then they can take a ride out. But that wouldn't be as funny, I guess.)
XIII rides easily; this may be evidence that he was a rebel in middle america, where horses might still be useful over jeeps. Or he might have learned horseriding someplace entirely different, and we haven't been told.

On p. 10, while driving to the rendezvous, Jones complains that XIII is rushing heedless into a trap because he might learn sth. about his past. His defense is that 6 years are still missing, where he learned spanish and got his special training, and he wants to know. Then he complains that the bananas of the preseaus are getting on his nerves. Obviously he isn't cut out to settle down for a quiet life! One would expect him to savour a little peace and quiet after all the action. (Has he gotten so used to being shot at that he misses it? )
Then he asks what they are risking, so Jones reminds him that the US pres. is angry at them. XIIIs only defense: "If dear Wally wanted our death, he could have done that long ago. With his possiblities he surely could have found us and sent a few snipers. .. But he knows that at the moment we can't act against him, and it would be unwise for him to risk an investigation. As long as he is president and we stay quiet, he will leave us alone." Jones: "That's what you think!"
It does seem odd that Wally hasn't removed this threat -what if XIII went to the press? Evidence is important for court of law, but isn't there a thing like a scandal?
And what investitation would the US president risk when a couple of people are killed on a middle american plantantion? (Maybe Wally has given up on trying to kill XIII, since that hasn't worked so far at all, and he is getting sick of failed attempts and superstititious about XIIIs luck?)
In album 12, Wally will regret his lax attitude.

On p. 13, the padre muses "Hm... strange. Maybe it's the eyes....". This harks back to what Kim? said about XIII after the operation "The only thing that were different from Steve Rowland were his eyes" which I presume meant his expression. XIII seems to be a much kinder and more idealistic man than Steve Rowland - or he got a new persona during recovery and amnesia. He certainly rejects violently any "bad" history, where he might have done bad things.

On p. 14, 5th panel, the padre says "Somebody we thought dead for three years. Only a short time ago we learned that you still were alive ... and had changed your identity. Now all this starts again!" On 6th panel, Jason is sitting down, exasperated, "I have enough of it! Enough!" I think the last sentence in the 5th panel is said by Jason. (A new identity, another history starts again. And he still doesn't remember anything.)

Interesting: San Miguel seems to have no dictator (since he isn't mentioned) and on p. 11, we see that although the Rosa de oro is in a run-down, low-income part of the town, the people look well-fed and happy enough. Compare that to the picture that XIII sees when entering Costa Verde on his way from airport to palace, p. 23, next-to-last panel: starved children in rags. (Right away you see this dictator isn't good for his people, throwing an elaborate party right at p. 25)

On p. 32, when talking to Angel, XIII says "This isn't the first time somebody tried to force onto me the identity of a dead man, but this time I have a hard time believing it." He has no trouble with the next history he's being told in album 10/11. Maybe he resents when he feels being used, but if a personal account is told to him, he immediately believes it, without even trying to do basic fact-checking.

On p. 34, we learn that Moreno means Brown (Felicity's new name). Unfortunatley, Cascador is never translated. I don't speak Spanish - does it mean a "Cascadeur", as it sounds similar (somebody who takes high risks), or is there a special meaning to it in spanish?

On p. 37, XIII comes to an amazing conclusion how the story of the Cascadeur and the picture of the dead guy would work "Unless Admiral Heidegger paid the price for my life, when he was looking for me to play the role of Steve Rowland?" Astonishingly enough, this idea is later backed up. Why would Heidegger spend money to buy a rebel sentenced to death in middle america? Was nobody else available, or was XIII even at that time "the best of the best of the best"? (with his anti-bullet-magnetism and his surefire charm on woman, he certainly has valuable assets no training can give! )

Althought Angel mistrusts XIII, and he can't remember Maria at all, he declines Felicity's offer of fleeing to the States together with Ortiz money. (Again he is too blunt and offends people who can cause him damage. Smart or diplomatically, he ain't.)

Pour Maria
My first thought was that this read Poor Maria. My second was of the English pour which would mean Maria had been run through a blender.

we later learn he is an arms dealer who supplied Saddam Hussein with nerve gas
So this is were the information about Weapons of Mass Destruction came from! ;-)

Has he gotten so used to being shot at that he misses it?
"You have not lived until you have almost died. To those who fight for it life has a flavor the protected will never know." (A badly remembered quote from Mike Grell's The Warlord comic book.)

Maybe it's the eyes....". This harks back to what Kim? said about XIII after the operation "The only thing that were different from Steve Rowland were his eyes" which I presume meant his expression.
Possibly, then again eyes tend to be one of the first things that we sometimes recognize a person by (voice & movement being some other things).

My first thought was that this read Poor Maria. My second was of the English pour which would mean Maria had been run through a blender.

Being run through a blender would make her a poor pour Maria
But she's certainly a poor Maria, as well: 3 years ago, she lost her husband, the Cascador, because Ortiz had him executed, and now she's scheduled for execution herself. When she meets XIII, who may be her husband, he doesn't recognize her!

"You have not lived until you have almost died. To those who fight for it life has a flavor the protected will never know."

Well, XIII has "almost died" often enough by now, I'd say There are certain people who'll get addicted to danger, but XIII hasn't been presented like that, just desperate about finding his past. (Which is not a smart thing, because every history he learns is painful. Of course, there would also be no story to tell, if he settled down to quiet life and started anew... )

Possibly, then again eyes tend to be one of the first things that we sometimes recognize a person by ...

Eyes also express a lot about a person's soul. The "person" behind XIIIs eyes is a different person than the Cascador 3 years ago because of his amnesia (assuming he really is the cascador). And XIII had different eyes from Steve Rowland because Steve Rowland was not a nice person.

Album 10, El Cascador, 1994 (Transl. A.G.)

On the first page, we learn that the shadow people from album 9 belong to the company minerco, and have invested 20 mil. $ in the revolution. The rebels are about to attack Roca Negra (where XIII and Maria are held).
Jones and the Preseaus visit Roca Negra, pretending to be Red Cross, and cause a diversion for the rebel attack. Maria is taken as hostage by Peralta, XIII goes after her. After some hiking through the swamps, they are rescued by Angel, who then arrests XIII for being a spy and traitor. XIII is surprised to see Jones and Preseau are prisoners in Mulligans wine cellar. They tell him the story of the revolution and the Cascador (and Jones is jealous with XIII for following Maria).
XIII is offered a deal by Prof. Simmel, who is an "advisor" of the new President Angel (revolution was successful): he signs a confession of having betrayed the rebels 3 years ago as Kelly Brian, in return he and his friends can leave the country. XIII agrees, but jumps out of the jet before take-off to find out more. (He just won't get smart.) He meets Maria, who thinks he is the Cascador, and demands a public process.
Mulligan returns with a diplomatic pass and law degree to defend XIII and reveals that when Kuba ran out of money to help other revolutions, Angel struck a deal with the Minerco for money and weapons in return for the digging rights to the costa verde mines, which contain zinc mixed with rare-earth-element Germanium, which is important for satellites.
When the other rebels, esp. the Cascador, learned of Angels deal, they disagreed. Angel, afraid of a split in the group and an exposure of his plans, betrayed the cascador to Ortiz.
When the truth is revealed, Angel shoots himself.
The Minerco executives are poisoned by the company president, who then jumps from the window, to avoid an investigation for forbidden help to socialistic revolution.
Mulligan tells XIII that Jason Mac Lane was really his son, and went to Kuba under the name of Kelly Brian, and starts the story of three Irish lads, leaving Ireland for America in 1898.

Hits & Misses: On p. 4+5, XIII is beaten up by the nice guards and Peralta, but suffers no ill effects when he starts fighting and walking through swamps. Not even a black eye or missing teeth. (Nice torturers. Must be his incredible charm that nobody harms him seriously.)
On p. 7, a guard hits him on the side of the head (left) with a machine gun (again....)
On p. 16, Peralta shoots at him, but misses (of course...)
On p. 18, Maria knocks Peraltas aim of, so XIII isn't shot. Maria and XIII escape a chopper crash.
While walking through the swamps, they are both bitten by leeches.
On p. 24-25, Maria and XIII aren't eaten by crocodiles (although Maria said they belong to the peaceful variant, I wouldn't want to try!), and aren't hit by the bullets flying between PSP and the rebels.

Given XIIIs violent reactions to previous offers, I'm very surprised he thinks clearly for once and signs the confession on p.33. (I expected him to throw the bottle at Prof. Simmel, or similar.)

Important clue: On p. 22, XIII finds some edible roots in the swamp, and Maria remarks "Hm.. you know at least that this root is edible... in all of middle america, this root grows only here [costa verde]". This means that XIII was in costa verde previously, and long enough to learn roots. (I don't think he learned it from a book.) This seems to strengthen the cascador-story. (Or was he a botanist? There's still no objective proof for his ID as Jason Mac Lane, its just accepted as possible so far.)

On p. 31, Jones gets really angry with XIII. XIII speculates that he may really be the Cascador. Mullway "An interesting hypothesis, which raises many questions. How did you think of that?"
XIII:" For the second time, somebody forced a foreign identity on me for 'profile reasons'. Once too often. And then there are certain indices..."
Jones "We know them... - You don't happen to mean black hair, tight arse, a seductive look and a kiss mouth? [Maria]"
XIII "Don't get vulgar, Major Jones"
Jones" I, vulgar? Go to he-ll, XIII! Because of you, I had to leave the army and flee my country. I am risking my skin continously for you, have been arrested in San Miguel, rescue you from prison in a barbaric country, and you dare to call me VULGAR? - Do you know what you are with your hole in the head, you small problem of existence and your tatoo? A dam-ned egoist! You are just a whiner, where everything is revolving around his own ridicolus person."
XIII feebly tries "Listen, Jones, I didn't want to... "
Jones "Go to he-ll, XIII. I only want one thing: get out of my life once and for all. End of message! Roger, out!"
I guess she doesn't mean all this - for one, XIII didn't force her to leave the army or the States, she left of her own free will - although after they pi-ssed Wally off, it was a sensible move of caution. And she certainly doesn't want XIII to leave her - she wants him to come back to her instead of Maria.
On p. 35, he asks Jones to stop the jet for 2 sec., so he can jump out unnoticed. Jones "YOU ... YOU WANT TO STAY? ARE YOU CRAZY?" (No, just stu-pid, as always.) XIII shushes her, and Jones continues "You s.o.b.! Its because of her, right?"
XIII "No, because of me. You were right, I'm just a whiner, who's fixated on his ridiculos person. - But I don't want to fight against the ghosts inside me. I want to know everything, even if it costs my life. [...]"
Jones, crying "I ... I'm sorry what I said. But please, don't - do it!" Too late, he's gone.

On p. 36, Maria uses an interesting method of finding out if he's her husband: undressing, XIII asks her what she's doing,
Maria " I don't have amnesia, I remember the embraces of the man whom I loved so much." Poor Jones. He isn't steady at all.

On p. 48, Mullway remarks "Did you know, that in greek myths the young Jason, son of the King of Thessalia, was brought to the wise centaur Chiron in safety, when the enemies of his father..." XIII interrupts with "ENOUGH!" and wants to hear his history, not Greek stories.
This is interesting because Iason is famous most in Greek story for his journey with a bunch of Greek heroes in the Argo, to get the golden fleece.

The reaction of the Minerco company execs really surprises me: First, they plan long-term enough to finance a revolution over several years - at least three.
Then, when they have to face a congress commission hearing, the head jumps out of a window and poisons the other three. Would they really receive any drastic punishment? ? So far, watching real company scandals, I haven't had the impression the CEOs suffered a lot.

Timeline problem: On p. 28ff, the story of the revolution is told by Mullway (this is either autum/winter S+2 or already spring S+3, since everybody says "3 years ago".):
"10 years ago, Präsident Santos is overthrown by Gen. Ortiz, with help of CIA (like Allende in Chile) and murdererd. His children Jorge and Maria escape to Kuba, where they meet Kelly Brian, an irish revolutionary, called El Cascador. - Jorge, Maria, Cascador come back secretly to Costa Verde - With the help of the Kubans, Jorge under the name of Angels, joins forces with Padre Jacinto, "Padre loco", the defender of the farmers and organizes the resistance - despite spectatular deeds, the revolution doesn't achieve success and is another mountain guerilla group. - The Cascador is caught and executed, the secret camp of the santosists is raided and most are killed. Jorge is looking for help from outside, but Kuba is poor without the aid of the USSR - Suddenly, Jorge returns, the pockets full of money".
Mulligan then reveals that Minerco is sponsoring Angel.
So, 6 years between Jason Fly leaving college and turning up for Adm. Heidegger are missing (presumably this means S-6 till startdate). The revolution was 10 years ago (S-8 or S-7, since its now year S+2 or S+3). So how could Kelly Brian be already in Kuba? (Maybe everybody is speaking figuratevily rather than mathematically. People often say 10 years ago, when its really 9 years and 2 months, or the like.)

On p.45, Mullway accuses Jorge "to have not only betrayed the revolution out of self-interest, but also your friend Kelly Brian, because he had too much influence on your men. I also accuse you, to have betrayed your own camp to ortiz' troops, to get rid of everybody who had learned of your plans and wanted to resist." (Its been said earlier that Jacinto and Cascador where the charismatic figures of the rebellion).
Now, why would the Cascador care or resist if Jorge got money from an american company? Just because they were fighting for a socialist system? Because they had trained in Kuba? Because they were too idealistic, that they rather would have given up the rebellion that take capitalistic money?
And how would Minerco have made sure that once Jorge's rebellion succeeded, he didn't declare the whole deal invalid and forget about it, opening the bidding of the mines to the best of his country?

I'll interrupt the regular discussion at this moment for a little bit of private musing. The story for XIII - so far as we know; there'll be different spins on it later - is that
Jason Mac Lane lost his father at age 11. That left an emotional scar, and I think a feeling of betrayal; he was all alone in the world and had to go to an orphanage.
In college, he had no friends save Kelly Brian (we learn that later). He was a loner; approached by the FBI for training, but for some reason decided to go to Kuba under the name of Kelly Brian (we'll hear other versions of this story later). We don't know at this point - for some reason neither XIII nor Carrington seems to have asked the FBI - if Jason was told about the Fly/Mac Lane story, or if something else happened that caused him to go to Kuba. (Maybe it will be explained in a later album? Or shrouded in the mists forever?)
In Kuba he met, fell in love with and later married Maria Santos. But after several years of rebellion, he learned about the minerco/Angel deal and was betrayed by Angel to Ortiz, tortured and sold to Heidegger like a piece of meat. (We don't know if he felt betrayed about Angel making the deal, or if he didn't mind, and Angel was simply paranoid/envious of his charisma as Cascador.)
Then, after the surgery and living with Kim on Kellownee lake - maybe falling in love with her, if he consideres Maria part of a past he can never go back to, and determined to start a new life, since he has to relearn everything as Steve Rowland anyway.
And then Kim betrays him, too. Mangouste, when retelling this in album 8, says "Don't you remember anything? The sweet Kim lead you directly to this yacht. How did you feel when you realized that the woman you loved had betrayed you? Because you did love her, even if you forgot her."

If this story is the true story for XIII, he has been betrayed several times - mostly for political reasons. Maybe he subconciously decided to forget everything, because he didn't want to work for Heidegger in this dirty game of pretending to be another man and being betrayed and shot at; to forget all the hurt and pain and therefore all his friends and connections, and start a new life.
This would also explain why he is so averse to political intrigue now.

Does this sound plausible, or is too much pop psychology?

we later learn he is an arms dealer who supplied Saddam Hussein with nerve gas
So this is were the information about Weapons of Mass Destruction came from! ;-)

I expressed myself incorrectly. When XIII inquires about Karl Meredith on p. 33, album 9, Angel answers "[He is] a scum. A former instructor of Saddam Hussein, specalist for biological weapons and drug dealer. He was supposed to come here [Costa Verde] to sell rockets to Ortiz, to destroy the forests of Costa Verde and those which hide in them." (XIIIs dry remark "Charming.")
Opening Merediths suitcase on p. 38, XIII finds flyers for "rocket explosive heads, chlorine rocket missiles, deforestation bombs, cyanide hydrogen gas, hand grenades".

XIII cares a lot about Major Jones. On p. 19, when driving to the airport, XIII says "You'll take the first plane to the USA and I to Costa Verde."
Jones "Costa Verde? What do you want there?"
XIII "No idea, Major. I just know that I can't drag you into this story."
Jones "And I thought we are sitting in the same boat. Is she at least good-looking?"
XIII "For a mother of six children not bad [previous joke]. Stop here. Its better if we go seperately into the airport."
Jones "Sometimes I could hate you, XIII! Where and when will we meet again?"
XIII "I can't say, Jones. But I'll find you. Search for a quiet place and stay there. I'm entreating you!"
On the next page, Jones is arrested while waiting to board - only 20 min., and she would have been away!, while XIII, in the toilet disguising himself, escapes.
However, after Jones escapes the police and turns up at the Preseaus again, they all fly to Costa Verde with their private jet. XIII didn't drage Jones with her, she was going herself. She could have flown into the US just as easily (if she would have been save there is another question.)
And the rescue operation together with the rebels in album 10 - I still wonder why the preseaus and Jones joined the rebels. Must be that incredible charm of XIII despite his behaviour.

And, since this was mentioned on board 1, Jones is called "Major, Jones, Major Jones" alternately by her friends. So if her first name is Major (former lieutant), then her friends aren't on a continuos first-name basis with her.

Album 11, Les trois Montres d'Argent, 1995 (3 silver watches, Transl. A.G.)

Mullway tells Jason his family history. It's pretty hard to sum this up, since it starts in 1900 in New York and covers three generations. The main points are:
three Irish guys, Mac Lane, Mullway and Callahan, married three daughters, whose Dad owned a store. They each had a child, then they got into trouble with the Mafia. After the Mafia laid a fire that killed the parents, the irish took revenge and had to flee the US for Mexico.
The widows struggled to get by, but eventually one of the daughters was married to one of the Mafia guys, Giordino, which produced Frank and Carla Giordino. People went to Wars, some come back, several died.
Sean Mullway fell in love with Carla Giordino, but Frank G. was mad about this. When Carla was highly pregnant, there was a struggle between Frank G. and Sean M., and Carla was accidentally shot. She managed to give birth to the son - which Sean claims is Jason. Sean had to flee, because he was blamed for the death of Carla, so he hid Jason with his cousin Jonathan Mac Lane, who pretened that Jason was his own son.
Earlier, Sean had received a letter that the three Irish guys at the beginning of the century had joined the Mexican revolution after fleeing the states, and had discovered a bunch of gold from Maximilian. Sean therefore set out to find the gold. The clues were hidden in the three silver watches the guys had been given on their wedding, and in the cover of each a part of the coordinates is sketched.

This story-telling is interrupted because Pres. Maria needs the help of the Cascador to blow up a bridge: Col. Peralta didn't die in the chopper crash, but has gathered the rest of the loyal army in the north and is getting ready to attack the capital. There is no outside help; the only way to stop them is to blow up the only bridge the tanks have to cross, since there's only one road. After some bitching, XIII agrees to go, Sean and Padre Jacinto accompany him, so Sean can finish his story.
XIII bungles a little, but is saved by Jones who flys a plane and shoots at Peraltas guys. They get away to the capital, only to be greeted by the US ambassador who urges them to come back to the US, everything will be forgotten, but Gen. Carrington has gone crazy.

Hits & Misses: On p. 48, XIII slips when crawling under the bridge, falls, and tangles in the security ropes, dislocating his left shoulder.
He isn't blown up with the bridge, because Jacinto doesn't want to. He isn't shot by Peralta, because Jones distracts him. He isn't hit by the rockets or explosions from Jones' plane. And he jumps of the bridge before Jones plane hits, which causes the explosion. He also survives the jump into the river, although the river doesn't look very deep. (And Jones exited her plane safely, too.)

The family tree Sean gives on p.5, panel 1, is extremly interesting, because it gives year of birth for everybody. Jason is born 1961. Since this is taking place either in year S+2 or already S+3, and in album 9, Jasons age was given as 31, this means its 1992. But this won't work out with the pres. elections mentioned in album 5.

On p. 20, XIII is arguing with Jacinto and Maria why he should go and blow up the bridge. The Cascador has been trained in explosives in Cuba, therefore he should go. XIIIs feeble argument that he doesn't remember doesn't impress Maria - she wants him "to finish the job started as Cascador - Thousands of lifes and the freedom of a people depend on it"
XIII "What can I say, then? If I'm being drafted, why not for a good cause?" Maria tells him he's not drafted, he's never been de-commissioned.
Before stomping off in a huff, Maria says "Kelly...." XIII , angrily "What is the last advice for the man you claimed to be your husband, before you let him die?" Maria "You are the only man I ever loved, but I have no choice. Only the cascador can be successful - Come back to me, my love... that is the last thing I'm aksing of you."
Once again, XIII only does things out of principle, not because he's hooked on action or likes to shoot.

When Sean Mullway, a red-haired, blue-eyed Irish with broad face, declares he's Jasons real father, it sounds hard to believe. But in the flashback story, Carla is black-haired and black-eyed, which would make XIIIs brown eyes and dark-brown hair possible.

Although Sean says he's ruined his life and drinks too much, XIII seems to believe the whole story, including the part about Frank Giordino, without doubting anything. (Or does he want to check things later, but just doesn't get the opportunity?)

To go with the US Ambassador because of the vague promise that everything will be forgiven and forgotten is ... well, beyond naive, almost willful st-upidity. (But important for the next development.) Strange only that Jones agrees to go, too. In album 9, she was warning XIII of rushing into a trap, and how dangerous Wally would be. (Probably she thinks she can't let him go alone, because so far he's always needed her to save his behind.)

Jones turns up at the right time, down to the split second. Must be that army training (cavallery to the rescue on time... )

Although Maria is pragmatic enough to send Cascador away, Jacinto isn't able to blow up the bridge with XIII on it - to sacrifice him for the good of the country. Strange that an old rebel would be that squeamish. (Must be that charm again. Or he knows XIII will be saved at the last split-second.) Jacinto, however, is shot by Peraltas men.

Before leaving, Jacinto once again says "Buena suerte, Cascador!" Is this spanish for "Good luck"?

Maria on p. 56 about XIII leaving "[I'm] not glad. Satisfied, yes. I will always love the man Kelly Brian. But the president of Los Santos doesn't think its good if the Cascador is her Prince husband. Even if the country is very thankful to you." XIII "I suppose this is about politics, and I guess I'm not suited for it..." Well, judging from his previous behaviour, he definetly isn't suited for politics! Nice of Maria, though, to reveal her tough, pragmatic nature, so XIII can once again return to Jones. (Although its another disappointment for XIII. Well, if he falls for so many women, he will be disappointed. )

On p. 41, we learn that 2 watches have been found. Their messages combined so far:

.AI.EA.TS.NN.SG
.RO.H2.T1.1I

This is where I really, really pity the translators (unless the authors have worked out the message in advance and told them!) This won't work out since the original message will be in french, but with only sentence fragments, the translator has no way of getting it right. (The third watch will be found in album 15! And no, the message didn't make sense to me, then. According to background in album 13, the message is coded and only the three original friends, who had lived through the different campaigns, would understand the place it referred to, so maybe the treasure will never be found, anyway.)

K Man,

shall I post the next description on this board, too, or is it time for a new one? (I can't see how big the board is.)

BTW, since Padre Jacinto was killed in album 11, Maria is now the lone president of Costa Verde. During the story-telling, the rebels put great stress on the fact that Pres. Santos had been the first democratic elected president, but because he tried to help the poor people, which involved socialistic reforms, the CIA backed Ortiz coup (I wonder if this is supposed to refer to the real-life Chile coup, or just modelled on it, since the CIA et al. often interfere covertly in other countries.).
Now Maria has gotten rid of Ortiz, but hasn't held elections or established democracy, and because both of her compatriots (Angel and Jacinto) are dead, she has the sole power. (And she is pragmatic and cold-hearted enough in her reasoning.) I wonder if she will manage to start democratic reforms and hold elections in a few years time (surely the collapse of USSR and the problems Cuba has have convinced the rebels that pure socialism isn't heaven on earth, but a sensible, midway approach must be taken?) - or will Maria succumb to the power and be corrupted in later albums?

Important note: on p. 51, album 11, Peralta and XIII talk:
Peralta: "Leave the pleasure to me! You don't often have the chance to kill your enemy a second time."
XIII "Why didn't you do it the first time?"
Peralta "Now I can tell you: because of 1 mill. $. This was the price your admiral Heidegger paid for your release. I don't know what he found so fascinating about you, but one mill. $ on an account on the bahamas satisfy me enough to ask no questions."

Again, 1 mill. $ (remember album 1, where it was the price for Black Sun.)
That's quite a lot, esp. since it was a counter-conspiracy, top-secret action, so the money couldn't be taken from the normal unaccounted black cash. (Or did the rich old lion Sheridan contribute it, to solve the murder of his son?)
And I still wonder - like Peralta - if nobody else with Steve Rowlands facial characteristics and training could'Ve been found cheaper. (Yes, Heidegger has a certain pressure on Kelly Brian because he bought his life,... but if Kelly was intent on escaping, and being pragmatic instead of idealistic, surely he could've hidden in the US without Heidegger being able to find him?)

Interesting point (because the comics are written by european authors for european readers):

In album 9, p. 3, Jasons history is summed up. 2nd panel "Was born 31 years ago in New York, as Son of Margareth Mullway, which died at his birth, and Jonathan Mac Lane, a left journalist, who was sentenced to 2 years of prison during the communist hunt. Although we couldn't find an entry about his birth in the official register. But then this is nothing unusual in the USA, so it has no big importance."

First, would the exec of an american company (minerco, based in minnesota) really talk to his colleagues like that?
Secondly, while its important info for the european reader, it also becomes important for the story told in album 11, since a different explanation for the missing entry is given.

The board is up to 89k (probably 90k after I post) so it should be okay to post your nits from Album 12 here.

I expressed myself incorrectly.
No, I was just making a joke.

then her friends aren't on a continuos first-name basis with her.
Or she just really hates her first name & her friends know that.
Also in high school my enemies would call me by my first name (so they could trick the teachers into thinking they were my friends), but my friends always called me by my last name. If I heard someone call out my first name I knew trouble was approaching.

This won't work out since the original message will be in french
The translators could have said that the message was written in French, but then they'd have to explain how 3 Irish-Americans in Mexico learned French.

First, would the exec of an american company really talk to his colleagues like that?
Well people talk in all sorts of ways, so I won't say it's impossible, but it does sound too much like an infodump for the readers.
(Also to be considered was the guy born & raised in the US or was he a successful immigrant? It's not unlikely for foreign born & raised people to become heads of US companies.)
Specific questionable parts would be
a left journalist
Leftist or Liberal would sound better. Depending on the speaker the terms Bleeding Heart, Pinko or Commie could also be substituted.
the communist hunt
Possible, but MacArthy era or years would seem more likely.
But then this is nothing unusual in the USA
Unless the speaker has been out of the country for a long time the "in the USA" is a nit.
Secondly I'd say it was very unusual for there to be no register of his birth. We are a beaurocratic society with lots of red tape & lots of records. Not being able to find a record of his birth should have been considered unusual.

KAM,

Or she just really hates her first name & her friends know that. ...

I meant that she has never given her "real" first name, so if "Major" is her first name for her friends, her friends aren't using it consistenly.
To compare to MacGyver, we never his first name except in one episode, but his friends call him "Mac" all the time, as opposed to the formal last name.

a left journalist
Leftist or Liberal would sound better. Depending on the speaker the terms Bleeding Heart, Pinko or Commie could also be substituted.

Yes, because the term "left" isn't as neutral in the US as in europe, I thought this was a european talking.

Well people talk in all sorts of ways, so I won't say it's impossible, but it does sound too much like an infodump for the readers. ...

What I meant mainly was the explanation about the birth register. Even if the exec himself was an immigrant, I don't think he would need to explain to his colleagues that birth registers aren't (or weren't?) that common in the US. (If the company had been european, this would've been believable. Since its never identified in album 9, I wonder if the authors intended for it to be an european secret agency or sth. and switched to an american mining company in album 10 for history reasons?)

Secondly I'd say it was very unusual for there to be no register of his birth. We are a beaurocratic society with lots of red tape & lots of records. Not being able to find a record of his birth should have been considered unusual.
In the 1960s already? I thought this register stuff started only recently?
And I wouldn't consider the US a bureaucratic society compared to Europe - you don't have to register each time you move to a different city, do you? Stories like "Fugitive" or David Banner from Hulk in the 70s, just picking names without any ID for it, wouldn't work well here in europe, because every citizen has an ID (not drivers license), needs to register when renting an apartment, needs to show his tax card and social health insurance nr. when taking a job, etc.
(There are illegal foreigners living in the cities without ID, but it's very difficult for them: they can only rent illegaly, so they are at the whim to pay exorbitant rents; they can only work illegaly, so they get lowest pay and appalling conditions; they can't get health care, unless they pay cash; if the police asks for ID, they are busted, etc.)

We may not be as bad as Europe yet, but we do have records. If the speaker was talking about some kind of central registry for all births, then I have no idea if such a thing exists or not, but when children are born in a hospital there is a record of their birth & even if kids back then were born at home there would be some kind of record eventually. If the family was on Welfare there would need to be a record, if the child was claimed for a tax deduction there would be a record, if the family was part of the Census there would be a record, if the child went to school, there would be a record, if the child went to the hospital, etc., etc.
I'm not sure when Social Security numbers started to be given to every child born. I'd guess the 1970s, but it could have been earlier.

you don't have to register each time you move to a different city, do you?
Well, the Post Office likes to know where they can send your mail & if you move to a new district you have to register so you can vote there. Drivers licenses & identity cards would probably have to be changed since they have your address on it.

Album 12, Le Jugement, 1997 (The Judgment, New Translator! Harald Sachse)

In a short flashback, we are shown that Gen. Carrington kidnapped Wally with a chopper, along with the black suitcase which would start the 3rd World War. He will only talk with Mac Lane and Jones, which is why they've been brought back from Costa Verde. Nobody knows at first what Carrington is up to, but they are afraid he's gone crazy and will start a war.
After some threats-and-bribe, Jones and XIII agree, take a plane to Lake superior and sink it (to hide their traces), travel by bus, train, car to Lake Kellownee and meet Amos, who tells them that Carrington wants to put Wally on trial for giving the order to kill his daughter Kim. Jones and XIII need to fly to the Bahams and get Mangouste as witness.
Meanwhile, the new Chief of Staff, Gen. Whittaker, has found a deserted base in nevada, which Carrington has had upgraded. The army goes there and finds it heavily defended.
Jones and XIII manage to drug Mangouste and his bodyguards, have some trouble with Irina, but fly back successfully. They enter the base and the trial begins. However, Frank Giordino has managed to slip Mangouste a revolver to kill Carrington; unknown is that the butt of the weapon is filled with explosives, so Giordino can dispose of mangouste, too, and keep everything secret and without proof.
The trial starts - broadcast over satellite to all of America - and Carrington reveals that Kim sent him a computer disk with info on how Wally kidnapped their child, forced her to work as triple agent etc. Because Carrington was in europe, the disk reached him too late to save Kim. Kims body was found by fishing man at the coast of canada, severly wounded and unconsioucs. Because she had been without oxygen for too long, she's brain damaged in a coma and will never recover.
Just before the big revelation, Mangouste pulls the hidden gun on Jones and orders the cameras off. Jones knocks the gun out, but the foursome leave. Wally has the gun, but doesn't shoot; when mangouste calls him a "gay pig" for that, he shoots mangouste (well, he's an important witness.) With his last dying breath, mangouste turns on the cameras again and confesses its the truth. Giordino and Whittaker watching it want to stop this revelation, so they press the sender for the explosives in the gun, unaware that Wally running from the base towards the soldiers, has the gun in his belt.
Carrington gives Kim a goodbye Kiss and turns of her life support. He and the others leave, but XIII stays, relying on the promise of the Vice President (he doesn't learn not to trust politicans - he must have suffered more brain damage than he thinks ), but is of course arrested for involvement in the death of the US pres. - Wally, this time.

Whew. A lot going on. Carrington and Amos seem to have been infected by XIIIs attitude of utter carelessness to conseuqences when pursuing what's right.

Hits & misses: for some reason, although this is supposed to happen quite quickly, XIII has no after-effects from his dislocated shoulder. At the end of album 11, it had been relocated by Mullway, but was still in a sling.
No injuries for any of XIIIs crowd.

Timeline: from the scenery in Washington, its either late spring or summer. Since Album 8 already took place in Summer S+2, I'll assume its Summer S+3 (not only because of what happened in albums 9, 10, 11, but also because Carrington would need time to prepare this whole operation after learning of Kims death.)

On p. 8, XIII says "All of this [the kidnapping] occured barely 4 hours ago. How did you manage to find us so quickly?" This can't have been 4 hours ago. The events on the bridge in Costa Verde took place in the early morning; when XIII says goodbye to Maria before leaving by plane, its night, and when they arrive in Washington, its daylight again (not early morning, either). So at least one day has passed.

The whole ceremonial described in detail on the first pages (as means of introduction), when Carrington is supposed to hand over his position as Chief of Staff of the Army to Whittaker (the first coloured in history for this position) before retiring - does this take place on a specific date, or just when a good date is available?

Cool show: On p. 10/11, Carrington sends a video with information - since Jones and XIII have arrived - and tells them to meet him "where the indian goes", but loose the tails. Then he says "End of message. You now all have 5 seconds time to get away from the screen. Five ... four ..two .. one" and there's an explosion. Just like those Mission Impossible things. (Jones remark "I'm starting to look forward to meeting again my most favourite General.")

p.9 ff: When the Vice President and other advisors tell XIII and Jones the kidnapping story, XIII of course refuses, since he doesn't care what happens to Wally. Frank Giordino then is 'nice' and tells them "Major Jones is labelled a deserter. And about you, we could stop the retrial of the affair Rowland. If you refuse to cooperate, both of you will onyl leave this room to go to prison, and for a very long time." XIII still refuses (without asking Jones if she wants to go to prison!). Whittaker then tells them about the black suitcase problem (warning them that if they tell anybody, he will have them shot, so XIII remarks "On one side prison, on the other execution. You know how to make the decision easy, gentleman!")
(This shows why they shouldn't have gone with the ambassador in the first place. But then, he would probably have threatend an embargo against Costa Verde, which Maria couldn't afford - as is done later).
This threat also indicates to me that the retrial was done by political pressure, not because of mistakes in proceedings or new evidence.

On p. 12, reviewing their equipment, XIII tells Jones "two 38 colts, a UHF-radio, two credit cards, an Alpha pass, 20.000 $ cash." Jones advises him to take the cash only and leave the rest because "in microelectronics wonders are being worked today". If this is still S+3, this means its early to middle 90s. Was microelectronics really advanced enough to prepare a pass or credit card? (I guess they kept the cash - they will need it not only for their Bahamas assignment, but for their flight later.)

p.12: When Jones talks about mistrusting Giordino of the NSA, XIII remarks "I agree completly, Jones. One day I'll tell you what I know about this charming guy", a footnote refering to album 11. So he believes without further backup that Frank is a member of a mafia family and killed his real mother? (And is this story true as canon? After all, just because the authors tell us, doesn't mean it won't be contradicted - the Steve Rowland story in album 2 was presented as true until the contradiction in later albums.)

p.13: After setting the plan down on Lake Superior (XIII complains that thunderstorms are not only bad for radar but also for the stomach, Jones only says "Stop complaining! I'm setting down on the water - Now!" XIII "If it has to be.. But I know funnier methods to waste the taxpayers money." Well, I guess an Cessna A37 Dragonfly does come expensive.

p. 14: Jones complains after getting on land "Brrr ... quite cold for this time of the year! I prefer southern oceans." (Is she still thinking of that promised Bahamas vacation?) (And what time of the year is it?)

p.14: XIIIs remark "We'll travel seperately. A white man and a coloured woman together is too extraordinary." Jones reply "If you think so, you racist! But you carry the bag!"
Would this really be extraordinary in the 90s? Or is this cosmicverse? (And XIII isn't a racist - he has not shown any difference in treating Jones on how he treated other women. He only loves Jones more. But its interesting that he knows or noticed that it would be unusal.)

p. 16: When talking to Amos, XIII wonders who told Carrington that Wally ordered Kim's murder, since only he, Jones and Amos know Wally was Nr. I. XIII then asks: "Da-mn, Colonel, what does Carrington want? Is he going to sell the President of the United States to the Iranians as revenge for Kims death? And what are we supposed to do in this thing?" Amos then reminds him that they need to save their skin, because Wally would've never left them alone. Then "We will put him on trial, Major. A public trial. And in front of 200 million americans he will confess that he is responsible for the murder of President William Sheridan. His own brother." I thought the US had about 270 or 280 million inhabitants? Did they loose that many in the "Asian War"? Less population growth? Or do only 200 million own a TV?

p.17. Talking about Colin, Kims son, Jones asks Amos "Do you know where it is [the child]?" Amos: "Wally told Carrington. After two days of ... inquiry. But this child is only part of the puzzle." So Carrington had no other friends besides the three who he could send on a commando mission to get Colin once Wally had revealed his location? (Or it happened offscreen, and we haven't been told yet?)

On p. 21, we learn that the base in nevada has "land mines, ground-ground and ground-air-missiles, heavy artillery and electronic guided tank defence guns. " plus an electromagnetic barrier.
Yet, on p.46, after the president is outside the underground part, the soldiers move in quickly. Did Carrington turn off the defense because it doesn't matter anymore and he didn't want to kill his own soldiers? How do the soldiers know the defense has really been disabled? (And how were the landmines disabled? Or was it mostly bluff?)

p. 47: When the four leave the base in an underground river, XIII says "I'm not coming, General." Carrington "Are you crazy, my boy! They will shoot you! Don't forget we are outlaws!" XIII "The vice president gave me his word, General. And I still have an unsettled score. - A personal score. I stay." Carrington "There's no time for discussions now, Mac Lane. But you will be sorry. Adieu!" Does he inted to settle the "personal score" with Frank Giordino, head of the NSA, member of a Mafia family, based on a story by one Irish??? (XIII is a little unsound of mind. When will he learn?)

Another stupIDity: on p.42, Jones chops the gun from Mangoustes hand and throws him onto the floor. XIII goes for the gun, but Wally is quicker. On p. 43, Wally says "Don't move... !" XIII "Come, Jones. He won't shoot - Wally Sheridan LETS kill.", all four are turning their back on an armed man. I call that either stupID or arrogance, believing his assessment of the other person to be right or his charm to stop the other person from shooting. (And since XIII does get away with it, he does it again in album 15!)

p.37: Carrington says on the TV: "The place of the accuser (?) is taken by Colonel Amos [...] Major Jones of the US Army will be assistant, I will be head of court (?)... - and you, the citizens of the free America, will be the Jury."
No defending attorney? And how would a Jury of 200 million people in front of the TV work?

When on p. 41, Mangouste grabs Jones to order the cage to be opened, its the fault of all four that they didn't search him for weapons.

Important quote: on p. 28, when invading Mangoustes private villa with 6 bodyguards and Irina, Jones suggests "You know what we should do once our package is on board? - Burn this hut down with everything that's inside. That would be an act of public hygiene." XIII replies "We are not the punisher, Jones. Let's be satisfied to do what Amos wants of us. That's enough." (The punisher is explained in a footnote as "American comic hero with very radical methods."
Considering that both have been hunted repeatedly by killers, and XIII grieved over the innocents being killed by them (Martha, the Smiths, etc.) and punched Mangouste madly in album 7, its remarkable that he won't kill in cold blood, not even killers. A far step from a former rebel (or IRA terrorist, as he will be called later).
On p. 31, Jones asks him again "... You are sure you don't want to blow up this gangsters nest?" XIII "To alarm the whole coast guard of the bahamas? No, we load Mangouste and leave!" XIII often enough acted without considering the conseuqences, so I don't think that's the real reason. But he will be sorry later for leaving without checking on Irina.

p. 28, next-to-last panel: Jones is shot 3 times by Irina. My first thought was "Why the he-ck was she too stupID to wear a bulletproof west? They knew they were taking a risk going in!"
Then, on p.31, Jones says "Good idea to wear a bulletproof west, but I feel better without.." (probably too hot in the bahamas). Looking at Jones nice figure on p.28, I don't believe she's wearing a bulky vest! (This is middle 90s, when technology wasn't that advanced).

On p. 12, Jones says "I could have become 'full' colonel, if I had wanted. The military was ready to do everything so we would play their little game. Why didn't you use this? You could have become minister." XIII could have become minister in Costa Verde. But he's evidently not suited to politics. And does Jones like the title of Major better? Is she too used to it? Does she prefer to be promoted the normal way, on her deeds alone?

On p. 49, Giordino says to XIII "The vice president gave his word to Jason Mac Lane, but you aren't Jason Mac Lane, you are Kelly Brian, IRA-terrorist working for Cuba. - That's what you will be accused of and sentenced for, Brian! As enemy agent, who infilitrated us to achieve the kidnapping and murder of a president of the United States. Amusing, isn't it? But that's life. Everything starts from the beginning again."

It's interesting that so far XIII has only been accused in court of crimes he committed after start date, not before. How would the juristic question be (paging Gordon Lawyer or another Lawyer, please) of somebody who's proven to have amnesia - would he still be held responsible and punished for crimes he committed before?

For some reason, the Vice President is never mentioned by name. He's just a silver-haired guy in a dark suit.
And they are certainly changing presidents quickly in comicverse - if they keep this up, they'll be at Nr. 50 when they reach year S+5!

KAM,

If the speaker was talking about some kind of central registry for all births, then I have no idea if such a thing exists or not, but when children are born in a hospital there is a record of their birth & even if kids back then were born at home there would be some kind of record eventually. If the family was on Welfare there would need to be a record, if the child was claimed for a tax deduction there would be a record, if the family was part of the Census there would be a record, if the child went to school, there would be a record, if the child went to the hospital, etc., etc.

The birth in question was at home. The family wasn't on welfare, and Jonathan Mac Lane moved away 3 years later under a different name.
But I don't think you are required to report a birth, are you? If you mention a child on tax deduction or at school, would they ask for a birth certificate to prove that the child was registered? (In Germany, its registered at the city Standesamt - licence register where it's born. Without birth certificate, you can't get the other papers proving you exist.)
So there will be records of Jason Mac Lanes later life as Jason Fly, that there is no record of his birth is unusual for europeans.


Well, the Post Office likes to know where they can send your mail & if you move to a new district you have to register so you can vote there. Drivers licenses & identity cards would probably have to be changed since they have your address on it.

Here in Germany, you have to register with the Einwohnermeldeamt - citizens register 14 days after you've rented your apartment. Otherwise you will get in trouble. You get a copy of the register form to give to your landlord (?). If you don't, he will get on your neck, because if the police finds a landlord who rents to unregistered illegals, he will be punished, too.

I don't know how its handled in Belgium/France, but I guess at least the birth registering duty is similar.

On to Board 3.