…they began to operate what they called “The Operation”… They would select a victim and then threaten to beat him up if he paid the so-called protection money. Four months later they started another operation which the called “The Other Operation”. In this racket they selected another victim and threatened not to beat him up if he didn’t pay them. One month later they hit upon “The Other Other Operation”. In this the victim was threatened that if he didn’t pay them, they would beat him up. This for the Piranha brothers was the turning point. (Monty Python)
Is this “Topper” a reference to the 40’s films about a middle aged banker dealing with ghosts? The drawing is similar to the character that played Cosmo Topper, Roland Young, I believe. That was a great movie, with Cary Grant and Constance Bennet with a very loopy Billie Burke as the dithery wife.
Topper does bear some resemblence to the Russian revolutionary leader Trotsky. Maybe he faked his assassination in Mexico & resurfaced as an American gangster.
Bland, brown Topper leaves me in a smokey haze. I prefer the more colorful, exuberant Comics Kingdom version!
A new wrinkle on the old protection racket? I’ll have to see that for myself [some may think me a Doubting Thomas]. I know a bit about the old protection racket (a relative’s well-known restaurant was bombed out of business in Chicago, and a late uncle was reputedly in his younger days one of the drivers for Capone’s Prohibition racket). But Ray Toler’s question above seems pertinent: what if the Apparatus takes Topper’s idea but not Topper?
Neil Wick over 6 years ago
Good morning™, Topper audience!
AnyFace over 6 years ago
Rod Gonzalez over 6 years ago
It wouldn’t be . . . “Oops Insurance”?
Arms Akimbo has THAT sewn up.
tripwire45 over 6 years ago
How does anyone breathe in there?
avenger09 over 6 years ago
ZZZZZZzzzzzzzz,,,,,, Wake me up when the smoke clears!
jrankin1959 over 6 years ago
…they began to operate what they called “The Operation”… They would select a victim and then threaten to beat him up if he paid the so-called protection money. Four months later they started another operation which the called “The Other Operation”. In this racket they selected another victim and threatened not to beat him up if he didn’t pay them. One month later they hit upon “The Other Other Operation”. In this the victim was threatened that if he didn’t pay them, they would beat him up. This for the Piranha brothers was the turning point. (Monty Python)
stealth694 over 6 years ago
Why am I thinking a Computer Malware scam??
Don Bagert Premium Member over 6 years ago
So there was no monocle in the pictures of Topper…
Caerin Premium Member over 6 years ago
Is this “Topper” a reference to the 40’s films about a middle aged banker dealing with ghosts? The drawing is similar to the character that played Cosmo Topper, Roland Young, I believe. That was a great movie, with Cary Grant and Constance Bennet with a very loopy Billie Burke as the dithery wife.
Ray Toler over 6 years ago
Topper is taking a chance explaining his scheme to the Apparatus members. What if they take his scheme and squeeze him out of the picture?
Blot over 6 years ago
The old TOPPER tv series was good. 1953-55. Leo G. Carroll played Topper. Loved the alcoholic St. Bernard! (Neil) I believe.
corpcasselbury over 6 years ago
Is anyone else here picturing Topper with a British accent?
BreathlessMahoney77 over 6 years ago
Topper does bear some resemblence to the Russian revolutionary leader Trotsky. Maybe he faked his assassination in Mexico & resurfaced as an American gangster.
Sisyphos over 6 years ago
Bland, brown Topper leaves me in a smokey haze. I prefer the more colorful, exuberant Comics Kingdom version!
A new wrinkle on the old protection racket? I’ll have to see that for myself [some may think me a Doubting Thomas]. I know a bit about the old protection racket (a relative’s well-known restaurant was bombed out of business in Chicago, and a late uncle was reputedly in his younger days one of the drivers for Capone’s Prohibition racket). But Ray Toler’s question above seems pertinent: what if the Apparatus takes Topper’s idea but not Topper?