Black Pete

Black Pete (also known as Peg-Leg Pete and, simply, Pete) is a fictional character from the Walt Disney Company stables. He is an anthropomorphic cat (occasionally depicted with a pegleg), best known as the arch-nemesis of Mickey Mouse. Though he is usually associated with the Mickey Mouse universe, Pete actually appeared in cartoons long before Mickey, and is thus Disney's oldest continuing character.

Among younger fans, he was a relatively obscure character until appearing in the 1990s TV series Goof Troop. Oddly, Pete was portrayed as an anthropomorphic dog like the majority of other characters in that series, and later appearances in some Disney shows had some fans erroneously assume he was one.

Pete has made much more frequent appearances over the decades, however, in the various Mickey Mouse comic books and strips that have been produced.

Pete has used many aliases over the years. They include but are far from limited to Bootleg Pete, Louie the Leg, Mr. Sylvester Macaroni, Pegleg Pedro, Pierre the Trapper, Pistol Pete and Terrible Tom. His real name was apparently revealed in the story "Mickey's Strange Mission" (first published in February, 1961) by Carl Fallberg and Paul Murry. There Mickey acquires a photo of Pete at age 10 which identifies him as Percy P. Percival and depicts him dressed in a school uniform of the early 20th century. Pete feels that both the name and the picture could ruin his tough-guy reputation. Consequently Mickey uses them as blackmail material against his old enemy. He boxed semi-professionally under the very misleading sobriquet of "Peewee Pete." His boxing career came to an end when he was knocked out cold by an opponent whom he outweighed at least 20 to one: Donald Duck. The problem was that Pete has a glass jaw. In French, he is known as "Pat Hibulaire" ("Gallows Bird"). In Spanish, he is "Pedro el Malo" ("Peter the Bad One").

Ancestry and Family

Comic book stories have depicted Pete as being descended from a long line of villains, highwaymen and outlaws. Even historical figures such as Attila the Hun, Blackbeard, and Antonio López de Santa Anna have been included among his ancestors.

His mother is known only as Maw Pete and was mentioned in the story "Donald Duck Finds Pirate Gold" by Carl Barks and Jack Hannah (first published October, 1942) as a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Her first actual appearance however was in "The River Pirates" (first published September, 1968) by Carl Fallberg and Paul Murry. The same story introduced Li'l Pete, Black Pete's fraternal twin brother who seems to be afflicted with dwarfism.

In December, 1998, the Mickey Mouse comic strip introduced an older sister of Pete. Petula is the host of the cooking show Petula's Pantry. She finds time however to seek revenge against Mickey for condemning her "baby brother" to life imprisonment. She could theoretically be named after the British singer Petula Clark.

Better known and more enduring as characters in the comics are two cousins of Pete, created by Romano Scarpa. Trudy appeared first, and was introduced in "Topolino e la collana Chirikawa" ("Mickey Mouse and the Chirikawa Necklace", first published on March 10, 1960). This female version of Pete and (possibly distant) cousin was introduced as a childhood acquaintance of his. However, Trudy soon became his girlfriend, his partner-in-crime and roommate—whenever they hold residence out of prison that is. Their relationship seems to have evolved to a long-standing common-law marriage. This is occasionally used in contrast to Mickey's eternal engagement to Minnie Mouse and Goofy's determination to remain a bachelor.

The second cousin to be introduced was criminal mad scientist Plottigat. He first appeared in Topolino e il Pippo-lupo (" Mickey Mouse and Goofy the (were)wolf", first published on January 9, 1977). Plottigat is a firm believer in the saying "Knowledge is Power". He considers himself superior to most others in both intellect and education, therefore a rightful leader. However, Plottigat often finds himself employed by gangs under Pete or even Phantom Blot. Both of the latter are considered better connected within the Mouseton version of organized crime.

Career

Pete first appeared in the Walt Disney-produced 1920s "Alice Comedies" short subject series, in Alice Solves the Puzzle. Next, he appeared in the "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" series as Oswald's continuing adversary, then as Mickey's enemy beginning with Steamboat Willie.

In the comics Pete often teams up with Mickey Mouse enemies Sylvester Shyster, Eli Squinch, or Weasel. Sometimes, Pete also teams up with other bad guys in the Disney universe, such as Scrooge McDuck's enemies the Beagle Boys and Magica De Spell, Mad Madam Mim, Captain Hook, and the witch from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

In the early 1980s short film Mickey's Christmas Carol, an adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol featuring Disney characters, Pete was cast as the Ghost of Christmas Future.

On the TV show Goof Troop Pete has a family who includes his wife Peg and their two children PJ (short for Pete Junior) and Pistol, and their dog Chainsaw. They live next door to Goofy and his son Max. Pete owns a used-car dealership, and though no longer openly villainous, is still conniving (also abrasive,obnoxious and truculent) and often exploits his good-hearted and somewhat addled friend. Often his schemes backfire, or he feels guilty about his oafish behavior and works to set things right. In A Goofy Movie Pete is inexplicably working as a baby photographer, with no explanation of why he no longer has the dealership. Jim Cummings provided Pete's booming bass voice.

After Goof Troop, Pete reverted back to his evil ways on Mickey Mouse Works. In House of Mouse he plays the role of the evil landlord. Several episodes involved his attempts to close the club.

In the 2004 made-for-video animated remake of The Three Musketeers (with Mickey, Donald Duck, and Goofy playing the title roles), Pete again appeared under the name Peg-Leg Pete as a villain.

In the Kingdom Hearts video game series, Pete is one of the main villains Sora and gang have to deal with. So far (from the promos), he makes a deal with Hades and gains possession of Jafar's lamp.

External links

• Black Pete's entry in the Inducks (http://stp.ling.uu.se/~starback/dcml/chars/blackpete.html)

A thinly disguised version of Pete appears in the novel "Who P-P-P-Plugged Roger Rabbit" by Gary K. Wolfe. Here is something unusual, perhaps unique: a fictionalized version of a fictional character.fr:Pat Hibulaire