Sam and Twitch
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Max "Twitch" Williams and Sam Burke are two fictional NYPD homicide Detectives, created by Todd McFarlane. Sam and Twitch were originally featured in McFarlane's hit comic series Spawn. Due to their popularity, they were later given their own title in 1999, called Sam and Twitch. In their self-titled series, the duo were the main protagonists in a dark and gritty New York City, similar in feel to NYPD Blue and possibly served as a precursor to DC Comic's Gotham Central. The fictional universe of Sam and Twitch is somewhat based on the real world, where violent crimes are a norm and costumed heroes, though they exist, are not.
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[edit] Sam Burke
Sam is often interpreted as the brawn of the group. Sam is a large, headstrong man with a pentient for foul language and gruff behavior. Sam is usually the one to take "action" against any type of villain they encounter. Though Sam has often been accused of police brutality, the charges have never stuck. In fact, Sam takes great pride in being one of the few honest cops in a precinct he sees as infested with corruption and scandal. The duo's refusal to play by a broken set of rules eventually resulted in their removal from the police force.
[edit] Twitch Wiliams
Full Name: Maximillion Steven Percival "Twitch" Williams III
In this duo of detectives Twitch is mainly seen as the "brains" of the group. He is the one who usually solves or puts the pieces together in the rare crimes the detectives encounter. A brilliant mathematician who excelled at trigonometry, he has used his knowledge of angles to become an excellent marksman. He earned the nickname "Twitch," as Sam once said, "because he doesn't, ever!" He refers to Sam Burke as "sir," as throughout the years Sam has time and time again earned his trust and respect. At the beginning of their story/comic book we find the two employed as a private investigation firm known as "Burke and Williams" however this does not last since the two are called back into duty by their old captain.
Besides being extremely popular comic characters, they are two notoriously hard to find action figures.
Twitch used to be married and has several children, but due his busy schedule with crime cases, his wife eventually divorced him and denies him custody of his kids. This takes a great emotional impact on Twitch, but seemingly does not hinder him from his work.
Twitch has also battled against many super-human foes in his past. Of particular note is OvertKill, a monstrous, mafia-hired cyborg from the Spawn comic series. Despite OvertKill's seemingly bulletproof exterior, Twitch was able to defeat him with a single, well-aimed bullet through OvertKill's ear canal.
[edit] Publication history
[edit] Spawn Spoilers
Sam and Twitch were originally introduced in the comic book series Spawn as tertiary characters to the larger storyline of Al Simmons. As of issue Spawn #161, Sam and Twitch, along with the rest of humanity, are seen dying at the hands of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
[edit] Spawn Spoilers End
[edit] Sam and Twitch
Due to issues with publishing, Sam and Twitch was not always released in a timely manner. This affected sales and its reader base, leaving it with only a few die hard fans. The series was subsequently cancelled in 2003 with only 26 issues after a four year run. The last story arc finished with as high as four months in between issues.
The character Spawn makes a small cameo appearance in Sam and Twitch and requests the duo's help. Sam and Twitch say that they are preoccupied and brush him off.
Among the early writers of Sam and Twitch was Brian Michael Bendis.
The series has been collected as these graphic novels:
- Sam and Twitch Book One: Udaku TPB - collects #1-8 in black & white (Image Comics, 2000, 192 pages, ISBN 1-58240-176-4)
- Sam and Twitch: The Brian Michael Bendis Collection Volume 1 TPB - collects #1-9 (Image Comics, 2006, 224 pages, ISBN 1582405832)
[edit] Case Files: Sam & Twitch
The first issue of Case Files was released in June 2003, a few months before the November cancellation of the original Sam and Twitch series. Whereas the original series was concurrent with the duo's appearances in Spawn, the continuity of Case Files starts much later in their lives and revisits one of their old nemesis.
[edit] Other notable characters
Dr. K.C. McRory: Dubbed "Dr. Death" by the detectives, Dr. McRory is in charge of the crime scene investigation department at the precinct. McRory is seen as a sharp-tongued and strong female character throughout the series. Becomes easily irate at Sam for his sloppy manners and messy personality but seems to get along quite well with Twitch.
[edit] Appearances in other media
- In the HBO miniseries Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Sam was voiced by James Keane and Twitch was voiced by Michael McShane.
- In the 1997 live-action film, two detectives resembling Sam and Twitch arrest Jason Wynn towards the end of the film.fr:Sam & Twitch
