In Search of Rex Morgan, MD: Marijuana

Sunday, October 21, 2012

1979 Comic Strips: A Summary

Source*: Curtis, Dal. Rex Morgan, MD. 1 Jan - 31 Dec 1979, Field Newspaper Syndicate (Chicago, IL).

*p. 730-780 on disk from King Features Syndicate.

All comic strips are posted online by special permission of King Features Syndicate, Inc.

January 1 - February 14: Dr. Rita Carson & Sylvia, epilepsy (see 1978)
February 13 - October 4: Kay & Roy Jason

Keith proposes to Dr. Carson - she says yes but wants to wait
We're initially led to believe that Kay won't admit she had a drinking problem; Rex insists June goes to visit her at home since they are old friends
Turns out Kay's husband, Roy (an attorney) is seeing another [scantily clad, younger] woman - we know this because he slaps her across the face when she suggests he isn't giving her enough money (2/10/79)
He hits her again (4/6/79) as he threatens her not to see another man (Davey Palomar, a man whom he got off in court even though he was guilty)
Roy lies to everyone he knows that Kay has a drinking problem
Roy is plotting to destroy Kay in divorce; she gets pulled over for speeding because Roy has threatened to kill her and take the children
There is a strange panel that seems to come from nowhere - Roy says that Kay isn't "patriotic" because speeding means she's not conserving gas (5/9/1979)

Rex Morgan, MD - May 9, 1979 © King Features Syndicate

Rex makes a statement that makes this strip personal to more people: "wife-beating isn't confined to any occupation or profession!" (5/18/79)

Rex Morgan, MD - May 18, 1979 © King Features Syndicate

Strike 3 (literally): Roy hits Denise (the "other" woman) and this time he kills her (6/4/79)
Roy admits to Kay he killed Denise, then hits her when she says they need to go to the police (9/6/79)
Bingo! The teaching point strip: (9/22/79)

Rex Morgan, MD - September 22, 1979 © King Features Syndicate

Melissa comes in with fibrillation, requiring a cardiac intensive care unit admission

October 5 - December 31: Sara Laneer

Sara is the daughter of a very wealthy family, who presents to the emergency department awake but unresponsive; her mother refuses to allow psychiatric admission
Turns out she was on PCP
There's a new signature on the strips October 29, 1979 - in addition to the others: Frank Springer, who was the penciler for the strip from 1979-1981.
Victor Sebastian, some crude looking "family friend" wallops Sara in the face at the hospital, but she can't remember this episode
Sara has violent outbursts, Rex suspects a drug-related mental illness
Marijuana usage strip (12/18/1979)
Another Christmas strip, out of the story line
Story ends without finish due to missing strips

Rex Morgan, MD - December 25, 1979 © King Features Syndicate

Thursday, June 28, 2012

1968 Comic Strips: A Summary

Source*: Curtis, Dal. Rex Morgan, MD. 1 Jan - 31 Dec 1968, Publishers Syndicate (Chicago, IL).
*p. 310-361 on disk from King Features Syndicate.

All comic strips are posted online by special permission of King Features Syndicate, Inc.

February 26 - July 5: Senator Wesley "Wes" Parker Thorne...on steroids

Betsy Thorne meets Rex secretly to voice her concerns about her husband's health; she's found a pill in his pocket, Rex suspects it's steroids
Wesley is a presidential candidate-to-be, but has been irritable uncooperative lately, which is unlike his normal personality
Wes is increasingly delusional about his presidential nomination, making plans for his new cabinet before he's even nominated; he continues to be rude to his wife when she voices her concern about his health, 6/28/68 (see image below)

Rex Morgan, MD - June 28, 1968 © King Features Syndicate

In the very next strip, Wes admits something is wrong with him and agrees to begin admitted to the hospital, and declares he's going to withdraw from the presidential race (see image below)

Rex Morgan, MD - July 3, 1968 © King Features Syndicate

This story closes with Wes' father praising him for being courageous enough to make the announcement to the public; but we never learn what's actually wrong with Wes

July 5 - Nvember 15: Karl Lamon, serial killer

A long-distance phone call from Karl Lamon puts Ginny into a panic
Karl shows up after Keith Cavell (who's made yet another surprise visit - this time back from Vietnam) drops her off at the end of their date
He slaps her when she doesn't give up Keith's name, 8/5/68 (see image)

It appears Karl is a hitman, and has killed two guys who tried to date Ginny, as well as several other prominent businessmen (later we learn he's killed over 20 people)
Karl leaves town to visit his next "customer" - he checks into a hospital (instead of a hotel); kills another businessman
Keith roughs up Karl for hitting Ginny; threatens him to never see her again; Karl hits Keith
Keith finds Ginny just in time before Karl nearly kills her
Lamon is turned over to the police and confesses all his crimes, 11/14/68 (see image below)

November 15 - February 25, 1969: Julie Rockwell, marijuana hippie

Side story: Keith prepares to propose to Ginny, and shows his insecurity, given his reputation as a confirmed bachelor, 11/20/68 (see image)

Julie's father is concerned that her behavior has changed in the last few months; high strung and irritable, withdrawn from her friends, etc.
Julie's blowing her mother's inheritance on drugs
Rex gives Mr. Rockwell and education on psychotomimetics (see image)

Julie overdoses on marijuana and barbituates and is taken to the emergency room where Rex treats her
She calls her dealer, Vic, secretly, insisting that "the movement needs" her
When the hospital staff doesn't give her adequate pain medication for her headache, she escapes to Vic, who gives her more pills
Julie has a confirmed frontal lobe tumor, and has been taking morphine from Vic
This story ends with Julie's good prognosis, and that the she will be helping the police track down the other protesters that were giving her drugs