Comments on: Identity Crisis #7: A Medical Review (with some legal questions thrown in for free)

By: M

Sat, 22 Jan 2005 02:51:57 +0000

I always thought the psionic-or-their-victim bleeding through eyes ears nose and mouth thing was strange. Yeah, nose-bleed due to strain I get, but mostly it’s just an incredibly overused sci-fi cliche. Note to authors/artists: eyes and ears no, nose only if there’s physical strain. Otherwise a look of concentration maybe a furrowed brow.

By: Jeff R.

Jeff R. — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:52:39 +0000

Arkham is, and will always be, an extraordinarily pre-reform-era mental asylum. We see now that this extends not only the the horrible conditions and utterly ineffective treatment, but also to it’s usefulness by connected people to ‘disappear’ inconvenient wimminfolk.

The ear bleed is indeed very strange. It also shows up only in the sepia-toned “Jean’s version” of the events, not the natural-colored “presumably real version” from the first issue…

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:12:21 +0000

That’s pretty much of my understanding of the situation as well, Matt. I think the series shows that Jean knew what she was doing was wrong (for reasons I outlined in the post) so that’s why I question whether she is insane (legally, at least).

By: matthew rossi

matthew rossi — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 22:03:39 +0000

IANAL, of course, but as far as I recall in most states to be ‘legally insane’ you have to be unable to determine why your actions were criminal or wrong. In other words, if Jean knew what she was doing was wrong but did it anyway, she’s not legally insane. If she thought it was morally right, or indeed was unable to make that determination one way or the other, then she is.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:23:08 +0000

I’d agree with Narcisisstic and Anti-Social, but I’m not sure she’s displayed any dissociation. Maybe a little Borderline thrown in as well.
Can personality disorders get someone legally declared insane?

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 20:49:17 +0000

And just a note – “insane” isn’t a psychological/psychiatric diagnosis, it’s a legal definition.

There are probably several disorders that Jean could be diagnosed with: Dissociative Disorder, Narcisisstic/Antisocial Personality Disorder, et al – things that might not be treatable with medications.

Again – I chalk it up to “sloppy writing”, but I could be wrong.

By: Jer

Jer — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:16:43 +0000

Scott,

Nice analysis! I took the “Jean-goes-to-Arkham” thing as a bit of “string-pulling” being done by Ray so that there wouldn’t have to be a trial. If there was supposed to be a trial in there, Metzler dropped the ball even more than I thought when I read it.

Ludicrous, yes. But the type of ending that soap operas aspire to weekly. And since the whole exercise seemed to boil down to “soap opera with capes,” about what could be expected.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:10:41 +0000

Not a bad idea, Gordon. Eardrums don’t have a lot of blood, so while it might bleed a little, it shouldn’t gush.

Looking at the picture again, I think it’s the ear…but could it be the mouth? THe next panel shows a dead Sus with some blood around her lips. Of course, that makes even less sense anatomically…

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:57:28 +0000

Scott,

First, this may be a dumb question on the ear bleeding – could the “scientific” explanation be that Jean went through the phone and grew so fast that she became a projectile and punctured Sue’s eardrum? (I’m not a medical expert, so take this with a huge grain of salt.

And if Jean were smart enough to get a good lawyer, they could probably plead down to a lesser charge and/or make a decent insanity defense, and a trial might be waived in lieu of “psychiatric help.” Of course, it would probably be more of a psychiatric ward in a hospital and/or therapy, rather than Arkham Asylum. (Yes, I am Counselor Boy).

Personally, I choose to just explain it as “sloppy writing on Meltzer’s part”

By: Brian Cronin

Brian Cronin — Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:42:15 +0000

Good stuff, Scott.

As to the answers to these questions…I do not know. I just do not know.