I've heard some Alaskans refer to the rest of the U.S. (minus Hawaii) as "the lower 48," so I guess it would make sense for Tom to say "the States".

Well, I had an uncle that lived in Alaska for a time, and he would occasionally use the term "coming down to the States" when he was coming for a visit. Couldn't tell you if it was an Alaskan thing or if it was just my uncle being my uncle, but it's not unheard of.

Ok...finding info on Pieface I found that his first appearance was in 1960, 2 years AFTER Alaska became a state. But maybe he just wasn't used to Alaska being a state???

As for his reasons for coming?

"Years ago, Thomas Kalmaku's father and a trapper named Jimmy Dawes discovered a gold mine in the far north. The two became partners and made a map of the area, which they split between them as a token of their partnership. Dawes returned to the United States to raise money to work the mine. The elder Kalmaku fell sick and died soon after, but not before passing the map to his son Thomas. Jimmy Dawes never returned.

Kalmaku's Inuit Alaskan tribe was poor and needed the revenue that could be generated from the mine to survive. Tom went to Coast City, California to search for Dawes and took a mechanic's job at Ferris Aircraft Corporation to support himself and the tribe. While at Ferris, Tom picked up the nickname "Pieface" and worked closely with test pilot Hal Jordan. Tom and Hal would become the best of friends.

Apparently, others knew of Tom's map, as his half was soon stolen. Jordan changed into his Green Lantern identity to help find both parts of the map. After the map-stealers were defeated, Tom donated the mine to his tribe.

During a fist-fight Green Lantern had had with the map thieves, Tom noticed the similarity of Hal and the emerald warrior's right hook. Having inadvertantly discovered Jordan's secret identity as Green Lantern, he offered to have his memory erased by the power ring. Jordan declined, and trusted Tom with the knowledge."

That's right...he came to the states to get a map!
http://glcorps.dcuguide.com/profile.php?name=to...

Tom might not be from Alaska, you know. He could be Canadian.

Better MIG's than Stealth's I always say. Easier to spot.
Must Hall say"Pieface" in every word balloon? Kinda repetitive, don't you think?

OMG! Typolad is a Partisan Elitist! Kalmaku can field dress a moose! AND he's able to see Russia from the Alaskan shore! When the KGBeast rears his head over Alaskan airspace, then you'll wish you had Thomas in the whitehouse.

Sorry. I should never type while drinking.
Please overlook the first "my" from my reply.

Pieface says, "I never told you why I came down to the states, Hal! I guess I'd better explain now...."

He then continues, "You see, Hal. I got my knocked up my girlfriend. And when I found out, I split. But then her mom, who is the governor, got picked to be the Vice-Presidential nominee. So, now I have to go back and marry her daughter so that she can placate her right-wing supporters."

Yeah, but when Thomas first appeared, it was clear that he was an experienced mechanic with a good rep -- so he probably came down at LEAST a year or two before Alaska became a state.

Hal's first appearance was Showcase #22, October 1959. Alaska was a state by then. Maybe John Broome wasn't up on current events.

"I came to the States to bang Carol Ferris. Man, she'll do anyone! I can't imagine how repugnant a guy would have to be for her to blow him off instead of just blowing him."

States? What issue is this? What month and year? Alaska has been a state since January 3, 1959. This from '58? Maybe Thomas was use to saying the states before Alaska was a state and it just slipped out of habit?

Martian Spy running for Vice Presidency, I knew it !!!

That coment about "The States" also startled me a bit. When you guys refer to "The States" you're talking only about Continental US, or the whole country? I always though "The States" = USA, not only the continental part (Alaska is in the same Continent, of course, but you know what I mean...).

Cheers.

That panel right there ages the comic totaly. "I never told you why I came down here to the states..." and why did he come to the states?? Russian Spy perhaps??

Hals response

"Man, Ollie is NOT going to like this!"

It's only unfunny in that I believe he'd have run a far better campaign than that.

Also, I'd never have guessed he was a Republican.

Heh. Not too bad, compared to the rest of the jokes we make.

Happy New Year, by the way.