Finishing up my medical review of the first storyline from Mockingbird. The review of issue one can be found here, and the review of issues two and three is located here.
Mockingbird #4
Chelsea Cain, writer
Kate Niemczyk, artist
Number of times we’re reminded Bobbi is a scientist: 0 (though she uses a lot of big words this issue)
Back to the Antelopes
In 2015, a majority of the antelopes — including almost all the breeding females — in a large population of Saiga anteolopes in Kazakhstan suddenly dropped dead.
After months of research and hair pulling (not necessarily in that order), scientists ultimately determined that these antelope had all died of an infection of Pasturella multocida, a bacteria that is normally harmless1. Researchers are still trying to figure out why this bacteria suddenly turned deadly — one suspicion is that environmental effects (such as overcrowding and loss of habitat) played a significant role.
Clint’s Autopsy
Bobbi is correct that autopsies are traditionally started with a scalpel, not a bone saw.
However, two things to bear in mind:
1. The scientists of TIM don’t care what condition Clint’s body is in when they finish, and they may primarily be interested in the brain, so it’s likely a bone saw is their best way to start.
2. When Bobbi was performing an autopsy herself — on her former mentor, no less — she chose to start with a bone saw2.
In my favorite sight gag of the first storyline, one of the scientists observing the autopsy is holding a reproduction of a famous painting — The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulip, by Rembrandt. I guarantee a print of this painting can be found in every medical school somewhere in the Anatomy Department.
It’s A Virus Now?
The scientists of TIM were studying a mysterious massive fish kill. Hawkeye was on an official mission to investigate them, and Bobbi was there on her own mission. Note that this time the germ macguffin is described as a virus, and not the bacteria it was just a few pages before.
In Case There’s Any Doubt
Let me just go on the record as being against the casual use of neurotoxins, even in the scenario of marriage counseling.
Mockingbird #5
Chelsea Cain, writer
Ibrahim Moustafa, artist
Number of times we’re reminded Bobbi is a scientist: 1
Virus or Bacteria?
This issue, the germ macguffin is described almost exclusively as viral (though Howard the Duck does wash his hands with handwash explicitly marked “antibacterial” before fighting the infected zombies).
No Such Law
Sorry, there is no actual “Patient’s Rights Act” in the United States. Even if there were, is there any doubt SHIELD would take liberties with it?
Do Not Google “Rice Breast”
Rice breast disease (sarcocystis) is a parasitic infection found in certain birds, particularly waterfowl. Despite what Howard implies, rice breast is not contagious from one bird to another, but is acquired through exposure to contaminated water.
Get Your Shots
Spider-Man (the Milo Morales one) is being seen by the SHIELD medical team for chicken pox. This lends credence to my theory that the Cage-Jones family were being seen for chicken pox way back in the first issue. It makes me wonder why there is so much chicken pox in the New York super-hero community. Does no one get their routine immunizations there?
Annotations for the Annotations
1. Harmless to animals, that is. When you get bit by a dog or cat and come to see me, the nasty infection I’m trying to prevent is courtesy of Pasteurella multocida.
2. In the Mockingbird: SHIELD 50th Anniversary comic, also written by Chelsea Cain.
