THEM! (comics)
Encyclopedia
THEM! is a fictional gang of hippies who terrorized the streets of New York and battled Wonder Woman
. The main members of the gang consisted of Top Hat, Moose Momma and Pinto. They first appeared in Wonder Woman
(Vol. 1) #185, (November 1969), and were created by Mike Sekowsky
and Dick Giordano
.
returned to her boutique one night to find a young blonde girl, Cathy Perkins, who screams "Oh, dear GOD -- I thought you were THEM!"
The three hippies find Cathy hiding in Diana's shop, and Top Hat (the leader) throws a dog collar
across the floor and orders Cathy to put it on. Diana demands the hippies leave the store, and asks Cathy to explain herself.
While Cathy bathes, she explains that her parents did not understand her and she had begun to feel stifled at home. She had decided to run away to the city to find freedom and space to think for herself. Diana asks her if she had found what she was looking for and Cathy shakes her head, replying that all she had found was THEM!
She had arrived in the city and had begun to look for a place to live. She had then met the three hippies who had offered her a room in their apartment. Things seemed fine for a few days. Then her clothes and money began to disappear. The gang told her she could still stay with them but a few days later changed their minds and said that Cathy would have to work for her room. They made her do everything (cook, clean, wash the clothes, etc.) First though, Top Hat would put the dog collar on her and beat her (the scars on her back were noticed by Diana when she was dressing). Top Hat had told Cathy that a dog beaten regularly knows its place and becomes a good dog.
The three hippies never let her alone. But one day, when she was alone with just Moose Momma, the hippie had taken some pills and fallen asleep. Seeing her chance, Cathy had removed her collar and made her escape, running and running until she eventually found an open back window into Diana's Boutique.
The gang continued to try to reclaim Cathy on several occasions, and vandalized Diana's store and merchandise. They did appear to seem intimidated by Tony Petrucci, a local man.
One night as Diana was contacting the Missing Persons Bureau (hoping to reunite Cathy with her parents), they set fire to Diana's boutique, and Diana and Cathy escaped. Diana and Cathy stayed with Tony and his mother that night, but in the morning Diana discovered Cathy (who felt guilt over the fire) returned to the gang. Diana prepared to confront the gang, and Top Hat demanded Diana put on the collar. Suddenly, Tony and several men attack the gang, and Diana demands that Top Hat is hers. She attacks Top Hat, and smashes her head first into a nearby wall. Diamonds and jewelry spill out of her broken hat, and she and the rest of the gang are soon arrested.
Cathy is reunited with her parents, and becomes Diana's assistant. The gang does not appear again.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
. The main members of the gang consisted of Top Hat, Moose Momma and Pinto. They first appeared in Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
(Vol. 1) #185, (November 1969), and were created by Mike Sekowsky
Mike Sekowsky
Michael Sekowsky was a Jewish American comic book artist best known as the exclusive penciler for DC Comics' Justice League of America during most of the 1960s, and as the regular writer and artist on Wonder Woman during the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Early life and career:Mike Sekowsky began...
and Dick Giordano
Dick Giordano
Richard Joseph "Dick" Giordano was an American comic book artist and editor best known for introducing Charlton Comics' "Action Heroes" stable of superheroes, and serving as executive editor of then–industry leader DC Comics...
.
History
Diana PrinceWonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
returned to her boutique one night to find a young blonde girl, Cathy Perkins, who screams "Oh, dear GOD -- I thought you were THEM!"
The three hippies find Cathy hiding in Diana's shop, and Top Hat (the leader) throws a dog collar
Dog collar
A dog collar is a is a piece of material put around the neck of a dog. A collar might be used for control, identification, fashion, or other purposes. Identification tags and medical information is often placed on dog collars. Collars are also useful for controlling a dog manually, as they provide...
across the floor and orders Cathy to put it on. Diana demands the hippies leave the store, and asks Cathy to explain herself.
While Cathy bathes, she explains that her parents did not understand her and she had begun to feel stifled at home. She had decided to run away to the city to find freedom and space to think for herself. Diana asks her if she had found what she was looking for and Cathy shakes her head, replying that all she had found was THEM!
She had arrived in the city and had begun to look for a place to live. She had then met the three hippies who had offered her a room in their apartment. Things seemed fine for a few days. Then her clothes and money began to disappear. The gang told her she could still stay with them but a few days later changed their minds and said that Cathy would have to work for her room. They made her do everything (cook, clean, wash the clothes, etc.) First though, Top Hat would put the dog collar on her and beat her (the scars on her back were noticed by Diana when she was dressing). Top Hat had told Cathy that a dog beaten regularly knows its place and becomes a good dog.
The three hippies never let her alone. But one day, when she was alone with just Moose Momma, the hippie had taken some pills and fallen asleep. Seeing her chance, Cathy had removed her collar and made her escape, running and running until she eventually found an open back window into Diana's Boutique.
The gang continued to try to reclaim Cathy on several occasions, and vandalized Diana's store and merchandise. They did appear to seem intimidated by Tony Petrucci, a local man.
One night as Diana was contacting the Missing Persons Bureau (hoping to reunite Cathy with her parents), they set fire to Diana's boutique, and Diana and Cathy escaped. Diana and Cathy stayed with Tony and his mother that night, but in the morning Diana discovered Cathy (who felt guilt over the fire) returned to the gang. Diana prepared to confront the gang, and Top Hat demanded Diana put on the collar. Suddenly, Tony and several men attack the gang, and Diana demands that Top Hat is hers. She attacks Top Hat, and smashes her head first into a nearby wall. Diamonds and jewelry spill out of her broken hat, and she and the rest of the gang are soon arrested.
Cathy is reunited with her parents, and becomes Diana's assistant. The gang does not appear again.
Members
- Top Hat - The leader of the gang wears a costume that’s a cross between a pimpPimpA pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
, circus ringleader and Victorian opera goer (a green suit paired with a frilly yellow top and contrasted by a purple cape and top hat). She runs the gang and traps her slaves in collars.
- Moose Momma - The muscle of the gang is a large woman who wears biker’s clothing accented with gold costume jewelry.
- Pinto - The third main member of the gang dresses like a cowboy from the Old West.
- The gang has other various unnamed members throughout their territory, as well as a male ally named Mingo who attacks Diana and Cathy on the streets.
Creation
- Wonder Woman editor/writer/penciler Mike SekowskyMike SekowskyMichael Sekowsky was a Jewish American comic book artist best known as the exclusive penciler for DC Comics' Justice League of America during most of the 1960s, and as the regular writer and artist on Wonder Woman during the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Early life and career:Mike Sekowsky began...
once stated that he fully intended for these characters to be perceived as disturbingly kinky homosexual women. He also revealed that he came up with this lesbian-less cover design to avoid attracting the undue attention of the Comics Code Authority.