John Geering
Encyclopedia
John Keith Geering was a British
cartoonist
with a distinctive, occasionally flamboyant style, most famous for his work for DC Thomson
comic
s including Sparky
, The Topper
, Cracker
, Plug
, Nutty
, The Beano
and The Dandy
.
Geerings strips included:
Geering's last new strip was Dean's Dino, which he drew for The Beano shortly before his death. He also produced topical and political satire cartoons for British newspapers.
He had lived in the village of Comberbach
with his wife for many years before his death.
He died in Warrington
, aged 58.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
with a distinctive, occasionally flamboyant style, most famous for his work for DC Thomson
D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd
D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, is a publishing company based in Dundee, Scotland, best known for producing The Dundee Courier, The Evening Telegraph, The Sunday Post, Oor Wullie, The Broons, The Beano, The Dandy and Commando comics...
comic
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s including Sparky
Sparky (comic)
Sparky was a British comic published weekly by DC Thomson, that ran from 23 January 1965 to 9 July 1977 when it merged with The Topper after 652 issues. From 1965-1980 the comic published an annual entitled The Sparky Book...
, The Topper
Topper (comic book)
The Topper was a UK comic published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd that ran from 7 February 1953 to 15 September 1990, when it merged with The Beezer....
, Cracker
Cracker (comic)
Cracker was a British comic printed by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd that ran from the issues dated 18 January 1975 to 11 September 1976 , when it merged with The Beezer...
, Plug
Plug (comic)
Plug was a British comic that ran for 76 issues from 14 September 1977 until 4 February 1979, when it merged with The Beezer.A spin-off from The Bash Street Kids comic strip in The Beano, the comic was based around the character Plug who was a distinctive character in the Bash Street Kids strip...
, Nutty
Nutty
Nutty was a British comic that ran for 292 issues from 16 February 1980 to 14 September 1985, when it merged with The Dandy. Published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd, Nutty was an attempt to create a more lively and chaotic comic compared to many on sale at the time. Its strips included:* Bananaman as...
, The Beano
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
and The Dandy
The Dandy
The Dandy is a long running children's comic published in the United Kingdom by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. The first issue was printed in 1937 and it is the world's third longest running comic, after Detective Comics and Il Giornalino...
.
Geerings strips included:
- Puss 'n' Boots (Sparky/Topper/Dandy), a more anarchic, surreal take on the traditional cat-and-dog strips, complete with bizarre dialogue and situations - Boots, for example, having taken a gardening job, boasts that the perks include "all the grass I can eat", whilst Puss can be found selling ice cream at the North Pole.
- SmudgeSmudge (comics)Smudge was a comic strip appearing in the British comic The Beano, drawn by John Geering. The title character described himself as 'the scruffiest boy in town and proud of it', relishing any opportunity to get filthy. His main rival was the snooty Percival Primm...
(Beano), correctly billed as the world's dirtiest schoolboy, relishing any opportunity to get covered in grime and filth that presents itself.
- BananamanBananamanBananaman is a British comic book fictional character. He originally appeared in Nutty as the backpage strip in Issue 1, dated 16 February 1980 drawn by John Geering.-Original strip:...
(Nutty/Dandy), a bungling superhero whose alter-ego is a stubble-headed schoolboy. This character proved particularly popular during its run in Nutty, and spawned an animated television series voiced by Bill OddieBill OddieWilliam "Bill" Edgar Oddie OBE is an English author, actor, comedian, artist, naturalist and musician, who became famous as one of The Goodies....
, Tim Brooke-TaylorTim Brooke-TaylorTimothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
and Graeme GardenGraeme GardenDavid Graeme Garden OBE is a Scottish author, actor, comedian, artist and television presenter, who first became known as a member of The Goodies.-Early life and beginnings in comedy:...
. The strip continues today in The Dandy, drawn by Wayne Thompson.
Geering's last new strip was Dean's Dino, which he drew for The Beano shortly before his death. He also produced topical and political satire cartoons for British newspapers.
He had lived in the village of Comberbach
Comberbach
Comberbach is a civil parish and small village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, located between Northwich and Warrington. The village sports a new Memorial Hall , a Bowling Club, two pubs - the Spinner and Burgamot, and the Drum...
with his wife for many years before his death.
He died in Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, aged 58.