Jenny Sparks #4: A Medical Review

January 11th, 2006

Filed under: Comics, Medicine

I’m re-reading the Ellis and Millar Stormwatch and Authority runs, so expect them to pop up from time to time here in the near future. Just like this.

Jenny SparksJenny Sparks: Secret History of the Authority #4 “Many Happy Returns”
Mark Millar, writer
John McCrea, penciler

The Scene:
Captured by the Nazis while attempting to rescue a stolen occult object, Jenny Sparks is held captive by Albert Speer. To keep her sedated, she is injected with large amounts of the drug Largactil.

The Reality:
Largactil is one of the brand names of the drug chlorpromazine. Readers from the United States may be more familiar with its other brand name: Thorazine.

Chlorpromazine was the first true anti-psychotic drug. Originally developed to treat nausea, it was quickly recognized for its ability to help people suffering from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Due to concerns about side effects — of both the temporary and permanent variety — the use of newer anti-psychotic drugs has supplanted the use of chlorpromazine in most parts of the world. (However, recent studies suggest these newer drugs may not be much better after all).

Chlorpromazine is a very sedating drug. In fact, another name for this class of drugs is “major tranquilizers.” 200 milligrams is a fairly high dose, particularly for someone who has never been on the drug before, so Jenny would be extremely sedated.

There is one major problem with Speer’s use of chlorpromazine: it wasn’t invented until 1950, well after the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II.

Must be those time traveling Nazis.

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5 Responses to “ Jenny Sparks #4: A Medical Review ”

  1. Jon H
    January 11th, 2006 at 7:07 pm

    “There is one major problem with Speer’s use of chlorpromazine: it wasn’t invented until 1950, well after the fall of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II.”

    Perhaps it was discovered in Nazi labs after the war, and not announced as a commercial product until 1950, to avoid the taint of Nazi association.

    Kinda like von Braun.

  2. Ryan
    January 11th, 2006 at 10:15 pm

    Another problem is that Albert Speer was an architect, not a doctor, and was the Minister for Armaments involved in running the war economy. He wasn’t directly part of the SS/concentration camp system. Looks like the writers of the Authority picked a random Nazi to fill the Mengele role instead of doing a little research.

  3. Scott
    January 12th, 2006 at 11:23 am
    Official Comment

    Ryan,
    I was also wondering why Speer was introduced as “Doctor” since he wasn’t one, though I didn’t scan that page in.

    Maybe he earned his medical degree when he traveled in time to get the Largactil.

  4. Meagen
    January 13th, 2006 at 6:21 am

    Goddamn time-travelling Nazis!

  5. Nala
    January 13th, 2006 at 7:37 am

    Nazis, especially time-travelling Nazis, will always be my favorite comic book villains.

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