The OverDrone

February Ninth Nineteen Hundred and Thirty Four. What occurred on that day that would make our Sino-Soothsayer speak and act as he does above?

Let’s begin by parsing his quote; Think Twice, say nothing. An abbreviation of Frederick Sawyer’s, “A diplomat is a man who thinks twice before he says nothing.”1

Frederick Adolphus Sawyer(December 12, 1822 – July 31, 1891) was a United States Senator from North Carolina. Born in Massachusetts,  he returned to the North during the Civil War and was active in the Reconstruction. Sawyer witnessed Lincoln’s execution at Ford’s Theatre.

Now we must examine Ching Chow himself. He is shooting over his left shoulder while holding a hand mirror for the purpose of aiming.[1.  The target like concentric circles through me for a loop at first. This is the first panel in which they are seen. I thought that perhaps there was a Rube Goldberg contraption offstage which reversed the trajectory of his bullet and that he was attempting a daring act of gunpowder acupuncture but no, it is just a bit of embroidery. Later this symbol would be appropriated by the Marvel Villain Bullseye.] Such an act reduces aiming to it’s most random. Clearly Ching Chow means to illustrate the erratic, nearly random nature of Southern justice as evidenced by the death by electrocution of nine negro men in a single day. Three in Huntsville Alabama, Five in Montgomery and just one in Arkansas.

Being of Chinese descent and appearance Ching Chow knows the American legal system will gladly substitute one person of color for another if it gets the unsolved murder count down.

Bao, Uncorruptible Judge

In the pantomime above we see Ching Chow take on the character of Judge Bao, celebrated in Chinese culture for his unflinching fairness and stern demeanor. Ching Chow’s smile and imprecise method of execution paired with the reversed gaze of the hand mirror suggest a happily corrupt and and soulless bureaucracy, an injustice system.

Having thought twice about these events, Ching Chow decides to say nothing for he knows that the only reaction to such a morbid day is action.

Ask not for whom Ching Chow aims, he aims for thee … Only one reference for this attribution. outside confirmation is welcome. ↩