So I've always beem fascinated by Thomas Keene, the aging prospector who discovered an alien mineral which restored his youth during the first Starfinger story. I wonder what happened to him? When he first appears, he becomes a sensation because it seems like the mineral he discovered, rejuvium, is going to revolutionize 30th century society by ending aging. The other major reference to rejuvium is in the later Levitz issues, when Shady is searching for a way to heal Mon, and is headed to a planet where rejuvium treatments are available. I believe that it's described as "forbidden" or at least implied that it's not readily accessible in the U.P. Why?
Could it be there were unexpected side effects of the rejuvium that Keene ingested? Could it be that it was not able to be synthesized without problems? Other reasons?
Posted by Invisible Brainiac on :
Perhaps you need to take it on a regular basis for the effects to last, and it is also addictive? A 30th century version of marijuana. Seems to me that there are a great many possibilities, but the ones you suggested are pretty good.
Posted by STU on :
I thought this was a reference to a different Ke(a)ne, from which I have gleamed numerous bits of wisdom, including this:
If something bad happens, it's usually the fault of lil' phantoms named "Ida Know" and "Not Me."
"Hey, who's behind this invasion of Earth?"
"'Ida Know'! 'Not Me'!"
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Possibly just like in our time - objections of religious groups (those with enough political clout) or supression by some powerful professional lobby group, such as the AMA. If people stay eternally (or very long) young, not much call for many branches of medecine.
There does seem to be some ethical resistance today to the idea of people extending their lives far beyond the natural limits - usually along the lines of "there's too many people already" and "you have to make room for young people". However, it's hard to imagine that being a problem in a future which spans galaxies.
It would be a great story to follow up on. R.J. Brande has been looking like he could use some rejuvium...
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Hmm... I wonder what role a re-imagined Thomas Keene would play in the current Legion series?
Posted by MLLASH on :
And will it include a Super-Family Circle... of Space?
Posted by Arachne on :
And here I thought this was going to be a Katey Keane meets the Legion thread.
Posted by Kent Shakespeare on :
Tom Keene?
Didn't he serve as governor of New Jersey in the 80s?
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
Maybe there's something in that New Jersey water that makes you live 1000 years!
Posted by Kent Shakespeare on :
Carbon-14, perhaps?
Posted by Pov of Nine on :
Used by dating services everywhere! Posted by PolarBoy on :
pull my finger
Posted by Pov of Nine on :
Posted by jimgallagher on :
Obviously, because it causes cancer in space rats.
Posted by Kent Shakespeare on :
But it adds such flavor to Silverale!
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
My latest theory is that Thomas Keene is the "man at the center" of Nura's dream.
Posted by Fat Cramer on :
You could have the solution. Certainly rejuvium would have interstellar war-generating potential in a society battling its youth.
Posted by Eryk Davis Ester on :
Little known fact:
Aged prospector Thomas Keene was named for B-Western star Tom Keene, most remembered these days for his appearance in Plan 9 From Outer Space, and who had died a year or so before his appearance in the comic!
<Note: I have no idea if this is true or not, but it actually sounds kind of plausible!>
Posted by jimgallagher on :
I first thought of Carolyn Keene, author of the Nancy Drew series when I read the title of this thread. Nancy Drew meets the Legion! It could happen! I'm sure Saturn Girl was modeled after the flaxen-haired girl detective.
What did they use to make Ma and Pa Kent young back in the day? Maybe Superboy smuggled some rejuvium back home with him in the pocket of his cape.
What did they use in that [atrocious] Grell era story that required Superboy to be brainwashed so he wouldn't get his hands on it to make his parents young [again]?
Posted by Sketch Lad on :
Hey, remember I used to do Holo Model competitions over at Bits alla time? Keene was in one of 'em!
Hmmm.... where'd I put that link?
Posted by Sketch Lad on :
He's hanging out with powerhouses Glorith, Emerald Empress and Dream Girl. I guess he has a product they're all interesed in!
Posted by Blockade Boy on :
quote:Originally posted by jimgallagher: I first thought of Carolyn Keene, author of the Nancy Drew series when I read the title of this thread.
Carolyn Keene = Mildred Wirt Benson, famous Toledoan. Posted by jimgallagher on :
Yeah, I knew Carolyn Keene was a pen name, but had no idea what her real name was.
Actually I just looked on Wikipedia and it says she was only one (but the most prolific) of many ghost writers who wrote Nancy Drew under that pen name. I always thought the Nancy Drew characters and plots were remarkably similar to the Hardy Boys mysteries and always wondered as a kid if they were written by the same author using different pen names and different sexes in order for the characters to appeal to both boys and girls. Now I know why they were so similar. According to Wikipedia, both series were "created and outlined in detail ... by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate"
There's a great book series spoofing both of them called Nancy Clue and the Hardly Boys, where Nancy and the boys are all gay. Never read it but it sounds hilarious:
"With their fearless crime-fighting, good manners, and manly fashion sense, the Hardly boys are the pride of Feyport, Illinois. In A Ghost in the Closet, dark-haired, muscular Frank and his lovable kid brother Joe return... "
I wonder if the Straightmeyer Syndicate are their arch enemies! Posted by MLLASH on :
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[X-Bomb Betty]](graemlins/XBombBetty.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)