Hello. New person with a question on my mind. There is a character of Mr King's that I have followed with some interest since, "The Stand", when Nick woke up in his cell and read the graffiti, "Bango Skank was here." The reference to this person is always as posted graffito and never seen or referred to otherwise. Jake once remarked after seeing Bango's mark as he escaped The Dixie Pig, "Man! This guy gets around!" Indeed, in Inworld, Midworld, Outworld and Endworld... Bango has been there. This person is in more places than Jermays the Crooked.Recently re-reading, "Song of Susannah", I realized something. Bango Skank is a woman. I base this supposition on the fact that when Susannah-Mio went into the stall in ladies room of the Park Plaza Hotel for their palaver, there was the graffiti, "BANGO SKANK AWAITS THE KING!" To my mind, it is unlikely that the PPH would at that time allow any man into their ladies room. Also, I doubt that the maintenance people of such an establishment would allow tagging to exist more than an hour. So she was there and just shortly before S-M entered. Who is she? What is her story and how will it go? I hope to hear this song Sir.
In regard to an unseen character.
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I remember The Stand reference but not the others. Huh...that's actually a really interesting observation. I'd love to know if King has an answer or other members have an opinion.
Thank you for your comment. I can't help but think (even if mistaken) that Bango is pursuing some quest above the scope of the Gunslinger. I remember one intimation that the Crimson King is possibly getting marching orders from above his pay grade. One Hella Story here, I'm thinking.
Peter Straub invented him. His first appearance was in 'The Buffalo Hunter'
He's been mentioned before. Type his name in the search option.
Thank you for that information. However, Roland was another persons character also and look what The Wordslinger did with him. I'll keep my hopes up.
But how do we know if the visitor is Bango Skank,or Bango Skank is a friend he or she is referring to? And NYC,heck,even back to sixties I am sure there were probably some guys walking around in dresses,using ladies rooms..and what if Bango Skank is a monster or some other thing?
We can't know any of those things for sure. But as for the tag in the stall? Most public toilets have illustrated that most "Killroy was Here." tags are first person. All of the others are second person, "For a good time call....." or third person, "Julio cooks socks!" Bango always seems to be referring to herself in first person. As for Trannies? Probably not in the Park Plaza. Not, "No." of course. But Probably not. As for being a monster? Well... That is what our Boy does, is it not?
From The Road to the Dark Tower:
Peter Straub originally created Bango Skank for The Talisman but never used him in that book. He does appear, though, in Straub’s short story “The Buffalo Hunters” in Houses Without Doors. In a personal communication, King said that Bango keeps popping up in his work like “a kind of graffiti boogeyman.”
Peter Straub originally created Bango Skank for The Talisman but never used him in that book. He does appear, though, in Straub’s short story “The Buffalo Hunters” in Houses Without Doors. In a personal communication, King said that Bango keeps popping up in his work like “a kind of graffiti boogeyman.”
That's so cool. Now that you and Champ have mentioned it, I need to find his short stories. I'm a fan of the novels.
Ha,sorry about that,but like certain of SK's characters,I am an agent of the Random,so I tend to muddy,muck up and mire threads..this is a good one~welcome to the SKMB,hope you enjoy it!
