Jonah (comics)
Encyclopedia
Jonah was a fictional character
in a comic strip
in the UK
comic
The Beano
, drawn by Ken Reid. It first appeared in issue 817, dated 15 March 1958. The title character- a sailor
and a skinny, gormless, chinless wonder
- was feared by all other mariners because he would (accidentally) sink every ship
he sailed on (and often all other vessels in the neighbourhood to boot). His name is a direct reference to the long established sailor's superstition (which is in turn based on the Biblical prophet Jonah
whose ship nearly sank in a storm). In one episode he started a war between the nations of Gorgonzolia
and Parafinalia and this resulted in the utter destruction of the combined fleets of both countries (a possible reference to the Cold War
). The strip ran until issue 1090, dated 8 June 1963, when he unintentionally flooded Sludgeport Museum. Punch and Jimmy took over Jonah's page as from the following week.
In the year the Jonah strip ended. A new strip entitled Jinx began this strip also drawn by Ken Reid featured Jonah's sister. This strip was similar to the Jonah strip with the main character being equally as clumsy but this new strip was less nautical. Jinx ended in 1964.
In the early 1980s Jonah also appeared in the short lived Buddy comic.
In the 1980s, Jonah appeared in several Beano Comic Libraries, meeting The Toppers Puss 'n' Boots
twice. Ironically, they also joined The Dandy in 1993!
A spinoff strip entitled Son of Jonah, drawn by Jerry Swaffield, appeared in the Beano in 1992 and lasted until 1993. Jerry Swaffield also drew a one-off Jonah strip entitled Jonah (The Boy who sank a 1000 ships) in 1988.
Jonah returned 30 years later in 1993, albeit this time in The Dandy
. Here he met the captain
of the Ragworm's Revenge, Timmy Fogg (nicknamed 'Thick' Fogg) and obtained a magic earring
, which if pulled would turn him into a monster
-like man. The strip continued in The Dandy for a few years afterwards. The revival was drawn by Keith Robson, Ken Reid having died by then.
Uncle Albert
from Only Fools and Horses
was sometimes referred to as 'Jonah' due to his less than distinguished naval
career.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in a comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
in the UK
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...
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...
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...
, drawn by Ken Reid. It first appeared in issue 817, dated 15 March 1958. The title character- a sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
and a skinny, gormless, chinless wonder
Chinless wonder
Chinless wonder is a derogatory term for an upper-class person, often a Brit, frequently one who gained his position via nepotism or other social connections, not through his own competence...
- was feared by all other mariners because he would (accidentally) sink every ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
he sailed on (and often all other vessels in the neighbourhood to boot). His name is a direct reference to the long established sailor's superstition (which is in turn based on the Biblical prophet Jonah
Jonah
Jonah is the name given in the Hebrew Bible to a prophet of the northern kingdom of Israel in about the 8th century BC, the eponymous central character in the Book of Jonah, famous for being swallowed by a fish or a whale, depending on translation...
whose ship nearly sank in a storm). In one episode he started a war between the nations of Gorgonzolia
Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola is a comune in the province of Milan, part of Lombardy, northern Italy. Once a rural community, and famous for the cheese which bears its name, today it forms part of the Milanese conurbation and has three stops on the Milan Metro.- History :...
and Parafinalia and this resulted in the utter destruction of the combined fleets of both countries (a possible reference to the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
). The strip ran until issue 1090, dated 8 June 1963, when he unintentionally flooded Sludgeport Museum. Punch and Jimmy took over Jonah's page as from the following week.
In the year the Jonah strip ended. A new strip entitled Jinx began this strip also drawn by Ken Reid featured Jonah's sister. This strip was similar to the Jonah strip with the main character being equally as clumsy but this new strip was less nautical. Jinx ended in 1964.
In the early 1980s Jonah also appeared in the short lived Buddy comic.
In the 1980s, Jonah appeared in several Beano Comic Libraries, meeting The Toppers Puss 'n' Boots
Puss 'n' Boots
Puss 'n' Boots were a character pair, cat and dog in the Sparky comic. Obviously inspired by Tom and Jerry and other madcap American cartoons, and drawn by John Geering of Bananaman fame, the occasional script was written by the later Dandy editor Morris Heggie...
twice. Ironically, they also joined The Dandy in 1993!
A spinoff strip entitled Son of Jonah, drawn by Jerry Swaffield, appeared in the Beano in 1992 and lasted until 1993. Jerry Swaffield also drew a one-off Jonah strip entitled Jonah (The Boy who sank a 1000 ships) in 1988.
Jonah returned 30 years later in 1993, albeit this time in 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...
. Here he met the captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
of the Ragworm's Revenge, Timmy Fogg (nicknamed 'Thick' Fogg) and obtained a magic earring
Earring
Common locations for piercings, other than the earlobe, include the rook, tragus, and across the helix . The simple term "ear piercing" usually refers to an earlobe piercing, whereas piercings in the upper part of the external ear are often referred to as "cartilage piercings"...
, which if pulled would turn him into a monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
-like man. The strip continued in The Dandy for a few years afterwards. The revival was drawn by Keith Robson, Ken Reid having died by then.
Uncle Albert
Uncle Albert
Albert Gladstone Trotter is a fictional character from the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was introduced during the fourth season as a replacement for the character of Grandad due to the death of actor Lennard Pearce...
from Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
was sometimes referred to as 'Jonah' due to his less than distinguished naval
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
career.