Comic Twist

Before dismissing former St. Louis Blues enforcer Tony Twist's lawsuit against Spawn comic book creator Todd McFarlane as frivolous, and before pillorying the St. Louis jury that on July 5 awarded Twist (left) $24.5 million in finding that McFarlane had used Twist's name for the Spawn character Antonio Twistelli without Twist's permission, please consider the driving force behind Twist's legal action: his mom.

Yes, it was Twist's mother who called him, crying, about the trading card she had seen featuring Twistelli, Spawn's murderous Mafia kingpin (right). Twist was so angry that he sued, claiming his good name had been sullied (his 10-year career as a celebrated goon notwithstanding) and his endorsement potential (such as it is) damaged. McFarlane, who in addition to his comic-book work dabbles in hockey as part-owner of the Edmonton Oilers, says he didn't purposefully use Twist as inspiration for his mobster, adding that he would have named the character Wayneatelli Gretzkyello if he wanted to exploit someone's star power. He plans to appeal.

After the verdict, a relieved Mother Twist said, "I'm happy the public knows Tony had nothing to do with this character."