Mr. Jack
Encyclopedia
Mr. Jack was a "funny animal
" comic strip
by Jimmy Swinnerton which ran in William Randolph Hearst
newspapers from about 1903 until 1935.
When Jimmy Swinnerton moved from the San Francisco Examiner to the New York Journal in 1896, he changed his The Little Bears
to The Little Tigers. At first nameless, some of the tiger characters started to appear regularly, until one of them, Mr. Jack got his own Sunday strip
from November 1, 1903 on.
Mr. Jack appeared irregularly, although in 1912 The Escapades of Mr. Jack began, a daily but also sporadically appearing strip which ran to at least 1920. Finally, in 1926, Mr. Jack became the topper
for the more popular Sunday strip Little Jimmy
, where he appeared until 1935, when Mr. Jack was discontinued.
The real main character is Mr. Jack's long suffering spouse, whose loyalties are never rightly placed with the flirtatious Mr. Jack. His misbehavior often leads her to beg for forgiveness on his behalf and then beat Mr. Jack senseless with whatever is closest.
Mr. Jack is an incorrigible philanderer who may flirt with nearly any nearby lady, with the exception of Mrs. Jack, and often harass and be moved to take flirting to unacceptable levels by modern standards. His shameless behaviour is usually punished, either by his wife or his victims' boyfriends, but Mr. Jack later concludes that it was worthwhile nonetheless. On a whole, a very popular figure among less conservative characters in his universe, Mr. Jack is often seen as the jovial life of the party, charming to women and admired by men.
, the second author of the Katzenjammer Kids
.
Funny animal
Funny animal is a cartooning term for the genre of comics and animated cartoons in which the main characters are humanoid or talking animals, with anthropomorphic personality traits. The characters themselves may also be called funny animals...
" 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....
by Jimmy Swinnerton which ran in William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
newspapers from about 1903 until 1935.
When Jimmy Swinnerton moved from the San Francisco Examiner to the New York Journal in 1896, he changed his The Little Bears
The Little Bears
The Little Bears may have been the first American comic strip. Drawn by Jimmy Swinnerton, it began its run in 1893 in the San Francisco Examiner, one of William Randolph Hearst's newspapers....
to The Little Tigers. At first nameless, some of the tiger characters started to appear regularly, until one of them, Mr. Jack got his own Sunday strip
Sunday strip
A Sunday strip is a newspaper comic strip format, where comic strips are printed in the Sunday newspaper, usually in a special section called the Sunday comics, and virtually always in color. Some readers called these sections the Sunday funnies...
from November 1, 1903 on.
Characters and story
Mr. Jack, a married but philandering tiger, became the star from what has been called "the first fully-realized funny animal", as he was clothed, moved on his hind legs, had hands and talked. Since his womanizing behaviour was considered a poor example for children, the comic was moved to the sports section after 1904.Mr. Jack appeared irregularly, although in 1912 The Escapades of Mr. Jack began, a daily but also sporadically appearing strip which ran to at least 1920. Finally, in 1926, Mr. Jack became the topper
Topper (comic strip)
A topper in comic strip parlance is a small secondary strip seen along with a larger Sunday strip. In the 1920s and 1930s, leading cartoonists were given full pages in the Sunday comics sections, allowing them to add smaller strips and single-panel cartoons to their page.Toppers usually were drawn...
for the more popular Sunday strip Little Jimmy
Little Jimmy
Little Jimmy, originally titled Jimmy, was a newspaper comic strip created by Jimmy Swinnerton. With a publication history from February 14, 1904 to 1958, it was one of the first continuing features and one of the longest running....
, where he appeared until 1935, when Mr. Jack was discontinued.
The real main character is Mr. Jack's long suffering spouse, whose loyalties are never rightly placed with the flirtatious Mr. Jack. His misbehavior often leads her to beg for forgiveness on his behalf and then beat Mr. Jack senseless with whatever is closest.
Mr. Jack is an incorrigible philanderer who may flirt with nearly any nearby lady, with the exception of Mrs. Jack, and often harass and be moved to take flirting to unacceptable levels by modern standards. His shameless behaviour is usually punished, either by his wife or his victims' boyfriends, but Mr. Jack later concludes that it was worthwhile nonetheless. On a whole, a very popular figure among less conservative characters in his universe, Mr. Jack is often seen as the jovial life of the party, charming to women and admired by men.
Influence
Mr. Jack, while never as popular as Little Jimmy, probably also because of its erratic appearances, still had a considerable influence. One clear derivative was Mr. George by Harold KnerrHarold Knerr
Harold Hering Knerr was an American comic strip creator, who signed his work H. H. Knerr. He was best known as the writer-artist of The Katzenjammer Kids for 35 years....
, the second author of the Katzenjammer Kids
Katzenjammer Kids
The Katzenjammer Kids is an American comic strip created by the German immigrant Rudolph Dirks and drawn by Harold H. Knerr for 37 years...
.