Let's jump way back 80 years ago to 1937, back when Will Eisner was still calling himself William. In the dawning days of the comic book when they were still trying to figure out what to call these new critters, we find Eisner working on Funny Picture Stories.
I love some of those other titles - Rocky Baird (Adventurer and World Tramp), The Swamp Rat, Battling Beau Brummel, Camera Of Crime.... 7-11 Gang? Huh?
What the frell is that? 7-11 was still known as Tote'm Stores for another 9 years after this was published. So what's the 7-11 reference? Hmm... we'll have to come back to that. But first - you know i can't pass up a good 3, so...
You may have noticed that Eisner was also credited for Silver Speed in the TOC. That's not a story, just a two page spread:
They had hockey outside of Canada 80 years ago? Hnh.
Meanwhile, back at The 7-11 Gang...
I went back and read it. The name is referenced 3 times:
That's all we get for an explanation of the name. So, either someone (Tony Basso? The editor?) just thought it sounded good, or they were an ongoing feature whose name was explained previously, or there's a forgotten cultural reference eluding me here.
Hmm....
Eisner gets top billing on the table of contents, even in those early days:
What the frell is that? 7-11 was still known as Tote'm Stores for another 9 years after this was published. So what's the 7-11 reference? Hmm... we'll have to come back to that. But first - you know i can't pass up a good 3, so...
You may have noticed that Eisner was also credited for Silver Speed in the TOC. That's not a story, just a two page spread:
They had hockey outside of Canada 80 years ago? Hnh.
Meanwhile, back at The 7-11 Gang...
I went back and read it. The name is referenced 3 times:
Hmm....
The Brothers 3 by Will(iam) Eisner for Funny Picture Stories #4 (1937)
My guess is that 7-11 is a cultural reference of some kind that is now lost to us, mostly. Quality Comics also had a hero named 711, who was a wrongly convicted prisoner who would regularly break out of prison to fight crime, and then return before the guards knew he was gone. Maybe 711 was some sort of Police call sign or code number? After all, 10-4 was everywhere back in the 1970s & 80s, and almost forgotten now, and who knows how long the current 911 and 411 will remain in the public lexicon?
ReplyDelete-Mindbender
Upon reflection, i suspect it comes from Craps. 7 & 11 are natural wins on the first roll. Probably a reference to the gang's luck?
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me--can't believe it didn't occur to me!
ReplyDelete-Mindbender