Nance - abbreviation of 'Nancy Boy.'
Correct! meaning a "faggot", or effeminate man. But I have never once seen it spelled: "nanSe". "Nance" is a British term, also well-known in Australia. But, I have only ever seen it spelled with a "c". Can we be sure, based on the context of the gag, that it was simply a misspelling? Is "nanse" an obscure word with a different meaning? Could it be that the joke DOES use the numerology definition of "nanse", meaning "nothing"? So that the Sheriff is a "nothing", rather opposite from the courageous "Beau Geste"?
To me, the entire gag makes no sense. I guess he is supposed to be a "sissy" Sheriff, and the "Beau Nanse" name is supposed to be a parody of "Beau Geste" , played by film "He-Man", Gary Cooper, in the famous 1939 film. And the female impersonator's flap pin punctures Nanse's balloon, and his expanded chest area deflates, revealing him to be thin, and "much less muscular" (in a cartoony sense -so to speak).
But, I still don't think it is funny, and still cannot really see what the joke exactly is. The artwork, reminiscent of Milt Gross' one page gags, is terrific, and looks quite humorous. But, it would be a LOT more effective, if the joke that drives the gag would be funny, as well.
