SISTER AXED

SISTER ACT (1992)
dir: Emile Ardolino

SISTER AXED
MAD #316, January 1993
w: Stan Hart
a: Mort Drucker

Deloris Van Cartier (Whoopi Goldberg) is a lounge singer in Reno, Nevada put in protection so she can testify agains Vinnie La Rocca (Harvey Keitel), a gangster who's a drug dealer and murderer, and also happens to be her boyfriend. She's placed in a church is San Francisco by Lt. Eddie Souther (Bill Nunn), posing as a nun. She doesn't get off to a good start with the Reverend Mother (Maggie Smith).

Vinnie won't leave his wife for Deloris, when she goes to break up with him, she witnesses him and his men (Robert Miranda, Richard Portnow) committing a murder and runs away. That's when she's put in the convent under protection.

The background of the splash panel has Sally Field as The Flying Nun

Deloris' new name is Mary Clarence and she's introduced to the other nuns. She doesn't like the new restrictions like having to sleep and wake up early or the meals she has to eat.

Caricatures galore on this page. Bing Crosby in Going My Way, Danny DeVito from Batman Returns, Don Novello as Father Guido Sarducci, Ingrid Bergman from The Belles of St. Mary, Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane in Nuns on the Run. Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci are have been in several movies together, always playing Italian Catholics.

Mary Clarence goes to a biker bar across the street, and would be able to handle herself if not followed by other nuns (Kathy Najimy and Wendy Makkena are not drawn). She's caught and given the task of teaching the choir. She teaches them to sing pop songs, but changes the lyrics so they're about God, and they become a big sensation, drawing large crowds and attracting the Pope. The trial against the mob boss has meen moved up and she can leave, but now she doesn't want to since she has a good thing going. The Reverend Mother is going to quit, though.

Vinnie's goons have found out about her and are ready to take her back to Reno and kill her. The nuns all come and rescue her. Vinnie's hitmen can't bring themselves to shoot a nun but he will. He's shot be Eddie before he can and is taken into custody. The nuns all realize they'll have to do their show for the Pope with Deloris going back to her life but Deloris/Mary realizes the church is where she belongs.