Tom Puss
Encyclopedia
Tom Puss is a fictional anthropomorphic
cat
and one of the two main characters, the other being Oliver B. Bumble
(Olivier B. Bommel in Dutch), of an originally Dutch series of comic book
s bearing the name of either one main characters in their name, written by Marten Toonder
.
The first "Tom Puss" story, called Het geheim der blauwe aarde (The secret of the blue earth), appeared in daily installments in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
as a replacement for the Mickey Mouse comic in 1941. The earliest stories in the series were comics. Later on, the books became more like an illustrated novel, with three comic drawings on every page and captions below. These stories are considered by some to be literature
.
First they only featured Tom Puss. He is portrayed as noble, courageous, and heroic. Oliver B. Bumble was added as a recurring character in the third story but gradually became the main character because most stories depended on the more flawed Mr. Bumble to initiate the events of the stories.
His original Dutch name Tom Poes, is a word play
on the Dutch pastry
tompouce, which sounds the same but for a difference in stress. The spelling is the same except for the space
.
The catchphrases used by Sir Bumble have become household expressions in Dutch and have gained much mainstream support, such as: "like my dear father always said", and "if you know what I mean". The most favourite catchphrase of Tom Puss is "Hm".
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
and one of the two main characters, the other being Oliver B. Bumble
Oliver B. Bumble
Oliver B. Bumble is a fictional anthropomorphic bear and one of the , the other being Tom Puss in an originally Dutch series of comic books bearing the name of either one main characters in their name, written by Marten Toonder.-Publication history:The first Tom Puss stories were told as...
(Olivier B. Bommel in Dutch), of an originally Dutch series of comic book
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 bearing the name of either one main characters in their name, written by Marten Toonder
Marten Toonder
Marten Toonder was a Dutch comic creator, born in Rotterdam. He was probably the most successful comic artist in the Netherlands and had a great influence in the Dutch language by introducing new words and expressions....
.
The first "Tom Puss" story, called Het geheim der blauwe aarde (The secret of the blue earth), appeared in daily installments in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf
De Telegraaf
De Telegraaf is the largest Dutch daily morning newspaper, with a daily circulation of approximately . De Telegraaf is based in Amsterdam...
as a replacement for the Mickey Mouse comic in 1941. The earliest stories in the series were comics. Later on, the books became more like an illustrated novel, with three comic drawings on every page and captions below. These stories are considered by some to be literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
.
First they only featured Tom Puss. He is portrayed as noble, courageous, and heroic. Oliver B. Bumble was added as a recurring character in the third story but gradually became the main character because most stories depended on the more flawed Mr. Bumble to initiate the events of the stories.
His original Dutch name Tom Poes, is a word play
Word play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement...
on the Dutch pastry
Pastry
Pastry is the name given to various kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder and/or eggs. Small cakes, tarts and other sweet baked products are called "pastries."...
tompouce, which sounds the same but for a difference in stress. The spelling is the same except for the space
White space (visual arts)
In page layout, illustration and sculpture, white space is often referred to as negative space. It is that portion of a page left unmarked: the space between graphics, margins, gutters, space between columns, space between lines of type or figures and objects drawn or depicted...
.
The catchphrases used by Sir Bumble have become household expressions in Dutch and have gained much mainstream support, such as: "like my dear father always said", and "if you know what I mean". The most favourite catchphrase of Tom Puss is "Hm".
External links
- Toondertijd A Dutch site for collectors of Tom Puss storys (and other by Marten ToonderMarten ToonderMarten Toonder was a Dutch comic creator, born in Rotterdam. He was probably the most successful comic artist in the Netherlands and had a great influence in the Dutch language by introducing new words and expressions....
)