The Greatest Gamble (comic story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|image = The greatest gamble.jpg | |image = The greatest gamble.jpg | ||
| | |main character = [[Gaylord Lefevre]] | ||
|enemy = [[Celestial Toymaker]] | |||
|setting = [[Mississippi River|The Mississippi]], [[Old West]]<br>[[The Toyroom]] | |||
|enemy= [[Celestial Toymaker]] | |editor = [[Dez Skinn]] | ||
|setting= | |writer = John Peel | ||
|editor= [[Dez Skinn]] | |artist = [[Mike McMahon]] | ||
|writer= | |colourist = | ||
|artist= [[Mike McMahon]] | |letterer = | ||
|colourist= | |publication = [[DWM 56]] | ||
|letterer= | |reprint = DW84 20 | ||
|publication= | |genre = Science fiction | ||
|release date= | |release date = 13 August 1981 | ||
|publisher= Marvel Comics | |publisher = Marvel Comics | ||
|format= B&W 1 part / 4 pages | |format = B&W 1 part / 4 pages | ||
|prev= 4-D War (comic story) | |series = [[DWM backup comic stories]] | ||
|next= Black Sun Rising (comic story) | |prev = 4-D War (comic story) | ||
|next = Black Sun Rising (comic story) | |||
'''''The Greatest Gamble''''' was a comic | }} | ||
'''''The Greatest Gamble''''' was a [[DWM backup comic stories|backup comic strip]] published in [[DWM 56]] on [[13 August (releases)|13 August]] [[1981 (releases)|1981]]{{fact}} by [[Marvel Comics]] and written by [[John Peel]]. | |||
The comic strip marked the first appearance of the [[Celestial Toymaker]] since his debut in the [[1966 (releases)|1966]] ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'' serial ''[[The Celestial Toymaker (TV story)|The Celestial Toymaker]]'' as well as the debut of [[Gaylord Lefevre]], who would later return in the [[1996 (releases)|1996]] [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures|BBC ''Past Doctor Adventures'']] novel ''[[Divided Loyalties (novel)|Divided Loyalties]]''. | |||
[[ | |||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
''to | In the [[Old West]], [[Gaylord Lefevre]] — a professional [[gambler]] — is travelling [[Mississippi River|the Mississippi]] in [[Paddle steamer (The Greatest Gamble)|a paddle steamer]], playing [[playing card|a game of cards]] until he shoots a man whom he suspects of cheating. He encourages the remaining opponents to not allow the "unpleasant episode" to ruin the [[evening]] and to continue, but a man in robes — the [[Celestial Toymaker]] — approaches Gaylord, asking for a private game in his [[cabin]], which he eagerly accepts. | ||
However, Gaylord is not lead to a cabin, but, as the mysterious man confesses, to [[Celestial Toyroom|his Toyroom]]. They pass a group of frozen people, which the man merely claims are his toys, and enter into another room to sit down to play. Gaylord blindly enters the game of cards without caring what is at stake, although becomes uneasy as an audience appears around them, though his feelings are quickly overcome by the desire to best his opponent, to win. Before long, Gaylord's [[luck]] begins to turn bad despite still being ahead of the man, so after a few more [[hour]]s, they agree on a halt, and the Toymaker leaves the room. | |||
Gaylord attempts to mark the cards to provide himself with an advantage, but unbeknownst to him, the Toymaker is fully aware of his actions and alters the cards to disrupt his illegitimate tactics. Some further hours later, the duo resumes the game, but Gaylord's arrogance is immediately depleted when he discovers his hand contains four [[joker (playing card)|jokers]]. He draws his [[revolver]] on the Toymaker and fires, enraged that he had been cheated yet the [[bullet]] merely falls to the table; the Toymaker controls this domain — [[gravity]] included — and proclaims that the game is [[forfeit]] and Gaylord must pay. | |||
An unknown amount of time passes in the Toyroom. The Toymaker leads [[Roman soldier (The Greatest Gamble)|a Roman soldier]] towards a new game, passing Gaylord, now a toy among many. | |||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
* [[Celestial Toymaker]] | * [[Celestial Toymaker]] | ||
* [[Gaylord Lefevre]] | * [[Gaylord Lefevre]] | ||
* [[Roman]] | * [[Roman soldier (The Greatest Gamble)|Roman soldier]] | ||
== Worldbuilding == | == Worldbuilding == | ||
'' | === North America === | ||
* [[Mississippi River|The Mississippi]] is the longest [[river]] in [[North America]]. In the [[Old West]], travelling its length takes a long time, so people find ways to pass the time, such as [[romance|romancing]], [[fishing]], [[talking]], and [[gambling]]. | |||
=== Gambling === | |||
* Gaylord earns his living at the [[card table]]. | |||
* The Toymaker claims that he wants to try his [[fortune]] at a game of cards. | |||
* Gaylord and the Toymaker use [[gambling chips]] in their game. | |||
* [[Luck]] is fickle. | |||
* Gaylord means to "even the [[score]]" by using a [[sewing needle]] to mark the cards. | |||
* Before the Toymaker's alterations, Gaylord's hand contains [[3 (number)|three]] [[ace (playing card)|aces]] and his contains [[2 (number)|two]] [[queen (playing card)|queens]]. | |||
=== The Toymaker and the Toyroom === | |||
* Both Gaylord and the Roman soldier assume the Toymaker's toys are [[statue]]s. | |||
* The Celestial Toymaker is [[Immortality|immortal]], wily, and [[boredom|bored]]. | |||
* The Toymaker claims that he wasn't cheating, but following a new rule — that cheating was acceptable — that Gaylord had created. | |||
* [[Time]] has "little meaning" in the Toyroom, and [[day]]s, [[week]]s, or [[year]]s may have passed between the Toymaker's games with Gaylord and the Roman soldier. | |||
=== Rome === | |||
* The Roman soldier exclaims "[[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]]" upon entering the Toyroom, having come from some [[barracks]]. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
| Line 48: | Line 72: | ||
== Continuity == | == Continuity == | ||
* Gaylord Lefevre appears again in [[ | * Gaylord Lefevre appears again in [[1996 (releases)|1996]] novel ''[[Divided Loyalties (novel)|Divided Loyalties]]''. | ||
{{DWM backups}} | {{DWM backups}} | ||
{{ | {{Toymaker sources}} | ||
{{TitleSort}} | {{TitleSort}} | ||
| Line 57: | Line 81: | ||
[[Category:1981 comic stories]] | [[Category:1981 comic stories]] | ||
[[Category:One part comics]] | [[Category:One part comics]] | ||
[[Category:Stories set in the 19th century]] | |||
[[Category:Stories set in North America]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:19, 4 November 2024
The Greatest Gamble was a backup comic strip published in DWM 56 on 13 August 1981[source needed] by Marvel Comics and written by John Peel.
The comic strip marked the first appearance of the Celestial Toymaker since his debut in the 1966 Doctor Who serial The Celestial Toymaker as well as the debut of Gaylord Lefevre, who would later return in the 1996 BBC Past Doctor Adventures novel Divided Loyalties.
Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]
In the Old West, Gaylord Lefevre — a professional gambler — is travelling the Mississippi in a paddle steamer, playing a game of cards until he shoots a man whom he suspects of cheating. He encourages the remaining opponents to not allow the "unpleasant episode" to ruin the evening and to continue, but a man in robes — the Celestial Toymaker — approaches Gaylord, asking for a private game in his cabin, which he eagerly accepts.
However, Gaylord is not lead to a cabin, but, as the mysterious man confesses, to his Toyroom. They pass a group of frozen people, which the man merely claims are his toys, and enter into another room to sit down to play. Gaylord blindly enters the game of cards without caring what is at stake, although becomes uneasy as an audience appears around them, though his feelings are quickly overcome by the desire to best his opponent, to win. Before long, Gaylord's luck begins to turn bad despite still being ahead of the man, so after a few more hours, they agree on a halt, and the Toymaker leaves the room.
Gaylord attempts to mark the cards to provide himself with an advantage, but unbeknownst to him, the Toymaker is fully aware of his actions and alters the cards to disrupt his illegitimate tactics. Some further hours later, the duo resumes the game, but Gaylord's arrogance is immediately depleted when he discovers his hand contains four jokers. He draws his revolver on the Toymaker and fires, enraged that he had been cheated yet the bullet merely falls to the table; the Toymaker controls this domain — gravity included — and proclaims that the game is forfeit and Gaylord must pay.
An unknown amount of time passes in the Toyroom. The Toymaker leads a Roman soldier towards a new game, passing Gaylord, now a toy among many.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
North America[[edit] | [edit source]]
- The Mississippi is the longest river in North America. In the Old West, travelling its length takes a long time, so people find ways to pass the time, such as romancing, fishing, talking, and gambling.
Gambling[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Gaylord earns his living at the card table.
- The Toymaker claims that he wants to try his fortune at a game of cards.
- Gaylord and the Toymaker use gambling chips in their game.
- Luck is fickle.
- Gaylord means to "even the score" by using a sewing needle to mark the cards.
- Before the Toymaker's alterations, Gaylord's hand contains three aces and his contains two queens.
The Toymaker and the Toyroom[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Both Gaylord and the Roman soldier assume the Toymaker's toys are statues.
- The Celestial Toymaker is immortal, wily, and bored.
- The Toymaker claims that he wasn't cheating, but following a new rule — that cheating was acceptable — that Gaylord had created.
- Time has "little meaning" in the Toyroom, and days, weeks, or years may have passed between the Toymaker's games with Gaylord and the Roman soldier.
Rome[[edit] | [edit source]]
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
Original print details[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Publication with page count and closing captions
- DWM 56 (4) End
Reprints[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Coloured and reprinted by Marvel in DW84 20.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Gaylord Lefevre appears again in 1996 novel Divided Loyalties.
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