Bennie Manikin

Bennie Manikin has what is undoubtably the coolest job in the world; an actor in Inspector Query shows!! Sometimes the flavor of the week villains, sometimes just background characters, even occasionally fellow Detectives or good-doers... I am insanely jealous! Recently Bennie made the switch from television acting to stage acting, following the stage show around the country, generally playing the masked villains while another coworker provides the voices off stage, seeing as Bennie is also mute.

She was working the latest show here in Neo Oldesville as some newer, less known villain when unfortunately for her the sneak Kringled Kaper decided he wanted some time in the spot light and took her place on stage. By that I mean he took her leg and snapped it! Thankfully she felt no pain from the action but she was unable to flag for help, trapped inside her costume's body suit while Kaper took just the mask. Other than the snapped leg she was uninjured at least and eventually managed to wiggle her way out of the costume and onto stage, alerting both Query and myself to how dire the situation was with Kaper. We had been playing along for the most part with him, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be on stage but that he wasn't exactly a dangerous foe, but her crippled appearance set us quickly both in motion.

But not quickly enough! As before either Query or I could help Bennie, Columbo sprung onto stage and used his own stretchy, formable limbs to not only give her a leg up [literally], but a whole new jester themed costume to help join in the fight against Kaper. The two made quite a pair and the audience ate it up - as did they especially after Inspector Query nicknamed them "The Jester's Justice". Thankfully the four of us were able to take down the Kringled Kaper before he set off any of his blasted smoke bombs and the audience thought it was all apart of the show. Since that day, Bennie and Columbo have started dating and frankly, still make a great pair. They work off of each others strengths and weaknesses amazingly and seem to be extremely happy with each other. It probably helps that they're both giant Inspector Query nerds too...

As of right now Bennie has taken a leave of absence from working on the stage shows, just until she can get her leg properly repaired and get used to using it again, or at least that's what she told the studios. In truth, she and Columbo enjoyed playing "The Jester's Justice" SO much, that I've caught the two running around town in costume, actively playing the part of a vigilante hero. They're both naïve, and mean well, but if they aren't careful and don't back off they could get seriously hurt out there...

-Flint