"One Flew Over The Pooka's Nest"

 

Issue#84: "One Flew Over The Pooka's Nest"

Feigenbaum attends therapy...  

Notes and References:

The title of this issue, The Header image and the general plot is a reference to "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", A 1962 novel written by Ken Kesey. The novel is set in an Oregon psychiatric hospital and details the lives of the patients in the hospital particularly Randle Patrick McMurphy, who has faked his insanity to avoid going to prison for battery and gambling. The novel deals with the power struggles within the hospital and speaks about the level of control that surrounds everyone on a daily basis.

A film adaptation of the novel was made in 1975 starring Jack Nicholson.

Feigenbaum mentions the usual main characters that can see him during his therapy session- Loaker, Barnaby, Emily Hair and Beauregarde.

The decision to attend therapy sessions is due to Marlo Feigenbaum's comments to his brother in issue#73: "The Family Feigenbaum".

Feigenbaum mentions that he has a bowling team and that the school teacher Mr. Alighieri who last appeared in Barnaby's zombie nightmare (issue#68- 72) can see him. He also mentions Bartleby, Barnaby's evil doppelganger, who could see him and briefly caused Feigenbaum to disappear in issue#46: "The Unimagining of Feigenbaum".

Feigenbaum's therapist is called Bromden, Although this is never mentioned in the strip. The character is named after the narrator of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". Bromden is the third Pooka to have facial hair. The other two pookas with facial hair are- Marlo Feigenbaum and Libchaber.

Bromden's appearance is slightly based on Sigmund Freud. He is also the first pooka to appear fully dressed in the comic.