Ms. Tree
Encyclopedia
Ms. Tree was the best-known comic book
creation of author
Max Allan Collins
prior to his graphic novel
, Road to Perdition
. Terry Beatty
was the series' artist.
family.
Ms. Tree's dead husband was named Michael Tree, the joke being that after the marriage they had the same name. Series creator/writer Max Allan Collins makes no secret of the fact that Ms. Tree was inspired by Velda, Mike Hammer's
secretary, a stacked, gun carrying, six-foot tall brunette and Mike's lover, who was almost as tough as he was. The basic premise of Ms. Tree was, "What if Velda and Mike Hammer eventually got married, and on their honeymoon he was murdered?"
Throughout the series, in addition to isolated cases, Ms. Tree's vendetta against the Muerta family is a major plot thread. Her methods often include deadly violence which she uses with little hesitation. In contrast to genre conventions, she faces serious consequences throughout the series for these violent actions including arrest, imprisonment, commitment to a mental hospital, and involuntary medication.
In another genre divergence, the male Michael Tree's son, Mike (of course), inadvertently falls in love with the daughter of the Muerta matron. The female Michael disapproves of this arrangement but respects her stepson's decision. To her shock, when their relationship grows enough to make marriage probable, the Muerta family decides Mike's stepmother is now family and initiates a reconciliation with her while going legit.
In addition, Michael is impregnated by an old flame who is manipulating her to kill his wife. She decides to keep the baby, creating a unique series of adventures of this homicidal PI fighting off criminals even while dealing with a full term pregnancy while the mob family she hates moves to protect her in their own way.
published Deadly Beloved, the first novel about Ms. Tree. The book was written by Max Allan Collins, with a painted cover by Ms. Tree co-creator Terry Beatty. The character's first appearance in 14 years, Deadly Beloved has received generally positive reviews.
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim
/Renegade Press
co-publishers
Renegade Press
DC Comics
Hard Case Crime
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
creation of author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Max Allan Collins
Max Allan Collins
Max Allan Collins is an American mystery writer. He has written novels, screenplays, comic books, comic strips, trading cards, short stories, movie novelizations and historical fiction. He wrote the graphic novel Road to Perdition , created the comic book private eye Ms...
prior to his graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, Road to Perdition
Road to Perdition (comics)
Road to Perdition is a series of fictional works written by Max Allan Collins.The comic book of the original series, with art by Richard Piers Rayner, was published by DC Comics' imprint, Paradox Press...
. Terry Beatty
Terry Beatty
Terry Beatty is an artist who has worked as a penciler and inker in the comic book industry.-Career:Beatty is the artist and co-creator of the long-running private eye series, Ms. Tree...
was the series' artist.
Character Biography and Synopsis
The title character is Michael Tree, a female private detective who takes over her husband's investigation business when he is murdered. In her first case, she captures the murderer and discovers his link to the Muerta organized crimeOrganized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
family.
Ms. Tree's dead husband was named Michael Tree, the joke being that after the marriage they had the same name. Series creator/writer Max Allan Collins makes no secret of the fact that Ms. Tree was inspired by Velda, Mike Hammer's
Mike Hammer
Michael "Mike" Hammer is a fictional detective created by the American author Mickey Spillane in the 1947 book I, the Jury .-Description:...
secretary, a stacked, gun carrying, six-foot tall brunette and Mike's lover, who was almost as tough as he was. The basic premise of Ms. Tree was, "What if Velda and Mike Hammer eventually got married, and on their honeymoon he was murdered?"
Throughout the series, in addition to isolated cases, Ms. Tree's vendetta against the Muerta family is a major plot thread. Her methods often include deadly violence which she uses with little hesitation. In contrast to genre conventions, she faces serious consequences throughout the series for these violent actions including arrest, imprisonment, commitment to a mental hospital, and involuntary medication.
In another genre divergence, the male Michael Tree's son, Mike (of course), inadvertently falls in love with the daughter of the Muerta matron. The female Michael disapproves of this arrangement but respects her stepson's decision. To her shock, when their relationship grows enough to make marriage probable, the Muerta family decides Mike's stepmother is now family and initiates a reconciliation with her while going legit.
In addition, Michael is impregnated by an old flame who is manipulating her to kill his wife. She decides to keep the baby, creating a unique series of adventures of this homicidal PI fighting off criminals even while dealing with a full term pregnancy while the mob family she hates moves to protect her in their own way.
Hard Case Crime
In 2007, Hard Case CrimeHard Case Crime
Hard Case Crime is an American imprint of hardboiled crime novels founded in 2004 by Charles Ardai, also known as the founder of the Internet service Juno Online Services, and Max Phillips....
published Deadly Beloved, the first novel about Ms. Tree. The book was written by Max Allan Collins, with a painted cover by Ms. Tree co-creator Terry Beatty. The character's first appearance in 14 years, Deadly Beloved has received generally positive reviews.
Topicality
Ms. Tree was extraordinary in that it frequently dealt with controversial political and sexual issues, yet never used that as a venue to push a particular biased opinion. As Kevin Burton Smith, editor of the Thrilling Detective Web Site put it, "How many other P.I.s have...dealt with the topics of homophobia, abortion [and bombing of abortion clinics], devil worship, child pornography, date rape and incest? And not just dealt with them, but asked some pretty damn hard questions that aren't easily answered by either end of the political spectrum. And all this in a comic book! It's a shame how many readers will never know of the existence of this series (due to the medium) because Ms. Tree is one of the most thought-provoking, and entertaining, private eyes around."Trivia
- One of the series' conceits, often alluded to in the narrative but never acknowledged explicitly in the comic books, is that its title character is the daughter of Dragnet protagonist Joe FridayJoe FridayDetective Sergeant Joe Friday is a fictional detective of the LAPD.-Original Series:The Joe Friday character was created and played by American actor, television producer, and writer Jack Webb on Dragnet...
. In Deadly Beloved we finally see the character, pre-marriage, referred to as "Miss Friday".
- Throughout much of the series, Ms. Tree is armed with a Sterling .380 - a poor quality handgun. Eventually Collins reconsidered and had her carry a SIG P225 9mm, a far more serious choice.
- The character frequently uses her handbag as a weapon, bludgeon style swung on the end of its straps, which, weighted with her SIG, proves a 9mm can stop people in more ways than one.
- The main character's real first name is actually Michael; when friends want to irritate her they deliberately mispronounce it as "Michelle". Michael Tree hates being called Michelle.
- The comic book was published by different companies including Eclipse ComicsEclipse ComicsEclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
, Aardvark-VanaheimAardvark-VanaheimAardvark-Vanaheim is a Canadian independent comic book publisher founded in 1977 by Dave Sim and Deni Loubert. It is best known for publishing Sim's Cerebus....
, Renegade PressRenegade PressRenegade Press was an American comic book company, founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. Notable titles published by Renegade include Flaming Carrot, Ms...
and finally, DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
.
- Ms. Tree's introduction and first storyline appeared in the first six issues of Eclipse MagazineEclipse MagazineEclipse Magazine was a black and white comics anthology magazine published by Eclipse Comics from 1981 to 1983.-Overview:...
, a newsstand-magazine-sized, black-and-white anthology title. Almost all her other appearances were in standard-sized black-and-white comic books; most storylines were multi-issue affairs. A notable exception was DC Comics' Ms. Tree Quarterly (renamed Ms. Tree Special for its last two issues) which was comic-sized but much thicker than a typical comic book, with a much higher page count, and presented a full-color, complete Ms. Tree story in every issue.
- The first three issues of the Eclipse Comics comic book were titled Ms. Tree's Thrilling Detective Stories. This was shortened to Ms. Tree with issue #4.
- Ms. Tree has actually had her own one-issue 3-D comic, called, appropriately enough, Ms. Tree 3-D. Every issue of this throwback to the 1950s (in 1985!) came with its own pair of 3-D spectacles.
- First ComicsFirst ComicsFirst Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
published a three-issue limited seriesLimited seriesA limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
entitled The P.I.s, a cross-over story featuring Ms. Tree and Michael Mauser.
- Max Allan Collins has written four Ms. Tree prose short stories. "Red Light" (1984) and "The Little Woman" (1985) appeared in issues #1 and #2 of The Files of Ms. Tree. "Louise" (1992) and "Inconvenience Store" (1994) appeared in the prose anthologies Deadly Allies and Deadly Allies #2.
Ms. Tree Publication History
Eclipse ComicsEclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
- "I, for an Eye", Eclipse MagazineEclipse MagazineEclipse Magazine was a black and white comics anthology magazine published by Eclipse Comics from 1981 to 1983.-Overview:...
#1, May 1981 (first appearance of Ms. Tree) thru #6, July 1982 - "Death Do Us Part" (1982, Ms. Tree's Thrilling Detective Stories #1-3)
- "The Cold Dish" (1983, Ms. Tree #4-8)
- "Murder at Mohawk" (1984, Ms. Tree #9)
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim is a Canadian independent comic book publisher founded in 1977 by Dave Sim and Deni Loubert. It is best known for publishing Sim's Cerebus....
- "Deadline" (1984, Ms. Tree #10-13)
- "Skin Deep" (1984, Ms. Tree #14-15)
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim is a Canadian independent comic book publisher founded in 1977 by Dave Sim and Deni Loubert. It is best known for publishing Sim's Cerebus....
/Renegade Press
Renegade Press
Renegade Press was an American comic book company, founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. Notable titles published by Renegade include Flaming Carrot, Ms...
co-publishers
- "Runaway" (1985, Ms. Tree #16-17)
- "Muerta Means Death" Part 1 (1985, Ms. Tree #18)
Renegade Press
Renegade Press
Renegade Press was an American comic book company, founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. Notable titles published by Renegade include Flaming Carrot, Ms...
- "Muerta Means Death" Parts 2-4 (1985, Ms. Tree #19-21)
- "Right to Die" (1985, Ms. Tree #22-23)
- "Prisoner in Cell Block Hell" (1985, Ms. Tree #24-25)
- "Heroine Withdrawal" (1986, Ms. Tree #26-27)
- "Roger's Story" (1986, Ms. Tree #28)
- "The Other Cheek" (1986, Ms. Tree #29-31)
- "Runaway II" (1986, Ms. Tree #32-34)
- "New Year's Evil" (1986, Ms. Tree #35)
- "When Dynamite Explodes" (1987, Ms. Tree #36)
- "Like Father" (1987, Ms. Tree #37-40)
- "Coming of Rage" (1987, Ms. Tree #41-44)
- "Murder Cruise" (1988, Ms. Tree #45-48)
- "Fallen Tree" (1989, Ms. Tree #49-50)
- "Death, Danger and Diamonds" (1985, Ms. Tree 3-D)
- "Music to Murder By" (1986, Ms. Tree Rock & Roll Summer Special)
DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
- "Gift of Death" (1990, Ms. Tree Quarterly #1)
- "The Devil's Punchbowl" (1990, Ms. Tree Quarterly #2)
- "Skeleton in the Closet" (1990, Ms. Tree Quarterly #3)
- "Drop Dead Handsome" (1991, Ms. Tree Quarterly #4)
- "Cry Rape" (1991, Ms. Tree Quarterly #5)
- "Horror Hotel" (1991, Ms. Tree Quarterly #6)
- "The Family Way" (Spring 1992, Ms. Tree Quarterly #7)
- "Maternity Leave" (Summer 1992, Ms. Tree Quarterly #8)
- "One Mean Mother" (1992, Ms. Tree Special #9)
- "To Live and Die in Vietnam" (1993, Ms. Tree Special #10)
Hard Case Crime
Hard Case Crime
Hard Case Crime is an American imprint of hardboiled crime novels founded in 2004 by Charles Ardai, also known as the founder of the Internet service Juno Online Services, and Max Phillips....
- Deadly Beloved (Novel) (2007)
Collections
- The Files of Ms. Tree (1984) reprints “I, for an Eye” (Eclipse Magazine #1-6) and “Death Do Us Part” (Ms. Tree's Thrilling Detective Stories #1-3)
- The Cold Dish: The Files of Ms. Tree, Volume 2 (1985) reprints "The Cold Dish" (Ms. Tree #4-8)
- The Mike Mist Casebook: The Files of Ms. Tree, Volume 3 (1986) reprints "Murder at Mohawk" (Ms. Tree #9)
- Ms. Tree (1988, small paperback collection, reprints Ms. Tree #16-23)
External links
- Page on Ms. Michael Tree
- Ms. Tree at The Comic Book Database
- Ms. Tree Quarterly (1990) at The Comic Book Database
- Ms. Tree at Don Markstein's Toonopedia