Ivan Jelical
Encyclopedia
Ivan Jelical is a fictional Christian
Fundamentalist who appears in the cult comic, Viz
. As his name punningly suggests, he is an evangelical
Christian who is committed to spreading the Gospel
. Unfortunately for him, his pleas fall on deaf ears. People respond saying that they are busy, don't like being dictated to, already agree with him, or even resorting to hiding behind the sofa.
One strip has Ivan going out to spread the "good news", when he comes across a recently widowed woman. In one frame she is ringing The Samaritans, saying that she's going mad out of loneliness. The doorbell rings, only to reveal it is Ivan. She hides behind the sofa when she sees he is a "God botherer" after looking out of the window. The irony suggests that the strip is a satire about religious hypocrisy
and prejudice on both sides, because in refusing to speak with Ivan, she refuses all social contact that she desires. On the other hand, Ivan (in another strip) is proselytising in a hospital when he comes across another widow, whose husband has died on the operating table. He asks if he can offer any comfort to her, only to tell her that her husband's in Hell
after she asks if he's gone to "a better place
". He then callously extends this into boasting about how pure he is and how much her husband was a sinner, with almost theatrical hyperbole.
Aside from pious hypocrisy, a common theme that the strip explores is stereotyping. Ivan is portrayed as a somewhat unattractive nerd with a pudding basin haircut
, trousers that are too short, shirt, tie, an anorak
and glasses that seem to magnify a spiral pattern in his eyes. This spiral pattern traditionally suggests someone who is deluded, delirious, or even brainwashed
, as it is commonly used in hypnosis
. He has a personality that can be somewhat dull or annoying at best, which can sometimes also be aggressively overbearing and intimidating (even monomaniacal) at worst. Aside from his religion, he has no other interests. This is very much in keeping with a traditional media stereotype of the obsessive loner and can, by extension, have echoes of stereotypes of Asperger syndrome
. However, Ivan is stereotyped (in many respects) in a manner very similar to the trainspotter
and other "nerd
ish" characters.
Invariably, the strip often ends in violence, an accident or anything that causes Ivan's death. It occasionally has him being ignored in heaven
as on earth (for being annoying) or condemned to Hellfire for some minor technicality. For instance, he receives a fatal rollocking after insulting someone's daughter, who offers him a 'Christian kiss' - which is basically a kick in the crotch, or the equivalent! This causes a heart attack and his demise. He meets Saint Peter
, who tells him, consulting Deuteronomy
23:1:
Thus rebutted, Ivan ends up in Hell
on Christmas Day. Another time he dies, Ivan is ignored by God
and Saint Peter
, who (in a joke on The Lord's Prayer: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven".) hide behind the sofa.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Fundamentalist who appears in the cult comic, Viz
Viz (comic)
Viz is a popular British comic magazine which has been running since 1979.The comic's style parodies British comics of the post-war period, notably The Beano and The Dandy, but with incongruous language, crude toilet humour, black comedy, surreal humour and either sexual or violent storylines...
. As his name punningly suggests, he is an evangelical
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
Christian who is committed to spreading the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. Unfortunately for him, his pleas fall on deaf ears. People respond saying that they are busy, don't like being dictated to, already agree with him, or even resorting to hiding behind the sofa.
One strip has Ivan going out to spread the "good news", when he comes across a recently widowed woman. In one frame she is ringing The Samaritans, saying that she's going mad out of loneliness. The doorbell rings, only to reveal it is Ivan. She hides behind the sofa when she sees he is a "God botherer" after looking out of the window. The irony suggests that the strip is a satire about religious hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is the state of pretending to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie....
and prejudice on both sides, because in refusing to speak with Ivan, she refuses all social contact that she desires. On the other hand, Ivan (in another strip) is proselytising in a hospital when he comes across another widow, whose husband has died on the operating table. He asks if he can offer any comfort to her, only to tell her that her husband's in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
after she asks if he's gone to "a better place
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
". He then callously extends this into boasting about how pure he is and how much her husband was a sinner, with almost theatrical hyperbole.
Aside from pious hypocrisy, a common theme that the strip explores is stereotyping. Ivan is portrayed as a somewhat unattractive nerd with a pudding basin haircut
Bowl cut
A bowl cut, also known as a pot haircut, or a mushroom cut, is a haircut where the hair is cut short on the sides and back and looking as though someone put a bowl on the head and cut off all the visible hair....
, trousers that are too short, shirt, tie, an anorak
Anorak
An anorak or parka is a type of heavy jacket with a hood, often lined with fur or fake fur, so as to protect the face from a combination of freezing temperatures and wind...
and glasses that seem to magnify a spiral pattern in his eyes. This spiral pattern traditionally suggests someone who is deluded, delirious, or even brainwashed
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
, as it is commonly used in hypnosis
Hypnosis
Hypnosis is "a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination."It is a mental state or imaginative role-enactment . It is usually induced by a procedure known as a hypnotic induction, which is commonly composed of a long series of preliminary...
. He has a personality that can be somewhat dull or annoying at best, which can sometimes also be aggressively overbearing and intimidating (even monomaniacal) at worst. Aside from his religion, he has no other interests. This is very much in keeping with a traditional media stereotype of the obsessive loner and can, by extension, have echoes of stereotypes of Asperger syndrome
Asperger syndrome
Asperger's syndrome that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development...
. However, Ivan is stereotyped (in many respects) in a manner very similar to the trainspotter
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
and other "nerd
Nerd
Nerd is a derogatory slang term for an intelligent but socially awkward and obsessive person who spends time on unpopular or obscure pursuits, to the exclusion of more mainstream activities. Nerds are considered to be awkward, shy, and unattractive...
ish" characters.
Invariably, the strip often ends in violence, an accident or anything that causes Ivan's death. It occasionally has him being ignored in heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
as on earth (for being annoying) or condemned to Hellfire for some minor technicality. For instance, he receives a fatal rollocking after insulting someone's daughter, who offers him a 'Christian kiss' - which is basically a kick in the crotch, or the equivalent! This causes a heart attack and his demise. He meets Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, who tells him, consulting Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
23:1:
He that is wounded in the stones [...] shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
Thus rebutted, Ivan ends up in Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
on Christmas Day. Another time he dies, Ivan is ignored by God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, who (in a joke on The Lord's Prayer: "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven".) hide behind the sofa.