Ms. Tree

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Ms. Tree


Ms. Tree
Publisher DC Comics now, Eclipse Comics, Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press
First appearance Eclipse Comics
Created by Max Allan Collins
Terry Beatty
Characteristics
Alter ego Michael Tree
Affiliations Tree Investigations Inc.
Notable aliases Michael Friday
Michelle Friday

Ms. Tree was the most well known comic book creation of author Max Allan Collins prior to his graphic novel, Road to Perdition. Terry Beatty was the series' artist.

Contents

[edit] Character Biography and Synopsis

[edit] Eclipse Comics

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The title character is Michael Tree, a female private detective who takes over her husband's investigation business when he is murdered on their honeymoon. In her first case, she captures the murderer and discovers his link to the Muerta organized crime family.

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 often uses with little hesitation. In contrast to the genre conventions, she faces serious consequences through the series for these violent actions including arrest, imprisonment, commitment to a mental hospital, and involuntary medication.

In another genre divergence, her son, Mike, inadvertently falls in love with the daughter of the Muerta matron. Michael disapproves of this arrangement, but respects her son's decision. To her shock, when their relationship grew enough to make marriage probable, the Muerta family decided Mike's mother is now family and initiates a reconciliation with her while going legit.

[edit] DC Comics

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.

[edit] Trivia and Publishing of character

  • One of the series' conceits, often alluded to in the narrative but never acknowledged explicitly, is that its title character is the daughter of Dragnet protagonist Joe Friday.
  • Michael Tree hates being called Michelle.

[edit] Ms. Tree publishing history

Ms. Tree
Publisher DC Comics now, Eclipse Comics, Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press
Schedule monthly
Format ongoing
Publication dates Eclipse Comics, Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press 1982-1989
DC Comics 1990-1993
Number of issues Eclipse Comics, Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press 50
DC Comics 10
Main character(s) Ms. Tree
Creative team
Creator(s) Max Allan Collins
Terry Beatty

Eclipse Comics Ms. Tree

  • "Death Do Us Part" (1982, Ms. Tree #1-3)
  • "The Cold Dish" (1983, Ms. Tree #4-8)
  • "Murder at Mohawk" (1984, Ms. Tree #9)

Aardvark-Vanaheim Ms. Tree

  • "Deadline" (1984, Ms. Tree #10-13)
  • "Skin Deep" (1984, Ms. Tree #14-15)

Aardvark-Vanaheim/Renegade Press co-published Ms. Tree

  • "Runaway" (1985, Ms. Tree #16-17)

Renegade Press Ms. Tree (with issue #19 on)

  • "Muerta Means Death" (1985, Ms. Tree #18-21)
  • "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)
  • Ms. Tree Summer Special

Ms. Tree Quarterly (DC Comics)

  • "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)

[edit] Collections

  • The Files of Ms. Tree (1984)
  • The Cold Dish: The Files of Ms. Tree, Volume 2 (1985)
  • The Mike Mist Casebook: The Files of Ms. Tree, Volume 3 (1986)
  • Ms. Tree (1988, small paperback collection, reprints issues #16-23)

[edit] External links

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