THE JAMMER (THE JAM)
Gordon Kirby whose costumed persona is “The Jammer” was created by Bernie Mireault and began as a loosely connected series of stories as a backup in New Triumph featuring Northguard published by Matrix Graphic Series. Other characters were Janet, Kirby’s life companion who wants him to stop the silliness with the costume; Harvey, Kirby’s pet dog and close companion; Jane Marble, tough detective who hires The Jammer for odd jobs and Satan.
These were collected into The Jam Special (1987) about the time Matrix ceased operations. From the advertisement in the back, it’s clear that Matrix Graphic Series intended to continue “The Jam” as a bimonthly periodical. Instead it was picked up in 1988 by Comico as a full length colour story in what appears to be a single publication The Jam: Super Cool Color Injected Turbo Adventure From Hell.
There was another pause until 1989 when Slave Labour Graphics in San Jose California. began a bimonthly periodical again with black and white interior This run persisted for five issues ending in January 1991.
After another hiatus, until January 1992 when Tundra Publishing picked up the title and printed a five issue series. It contained colourized versions the five Slave Labour interiors and added different covers. This series ended in May 1992. Again there was a lull then the title was picked up by Dark Horse Comics Inc. who began with issue 6, October 1993, although Dark Horse clearly states this is their first issue. It appears that Dark Horse was picking up where Slave Labour left off. Under Dark Horse the title returned to black & white interiors. This association lasted to issue 8, February 1995 at which time the title transferred to Caliber Comics who continued the numbering sequence beginning with issue 9, and continued to publish it till issue 14, 1997. Both issues 13 and 14 were written by Jeff Lang and only illustrated by Mireault. In issue 13 “The Jammer” seems to have only a supporting role and issue 14 has almost nothing to do with him. “The Jammer” returned to Dark Horse Comics Inc. for a two issue combination Madman/Jam July and August 1998.
A fourteen year hiatus followed until 2012 when Mireault brought out the novel To Get Her which focused on Gordon Kirby’s life and issues after he stopped being “The Jammer”. This book appears to wrap up the “Jammer” story.
John MacLeod as well looks at the theme of an ordinary guy imitating a comic book superhero in “Dishman” but he takes a different approach.
MEDIUM:
BOOK GRAPHIC:
Content novel black & white & Cover book front & back colour:
To Get Her. Car., Bernie Mireault. BEM Graphics Comic Art and Design, Jan. 2012. Limited. Edition 50/810.
Content story & panel colour & Cover book wraparound colour. Illus. Bernie Mireault:
The Jam Urban Adventure: Comico The Comic Company, 1, May 1988: Story: “Super Cool Color-injected Turbo Adventure From Hell.” Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-37. Panel: “The Jam.” Illus, Joe Matt: 38. “Gordie? … Taking A Squirt Babe.” Illus., Matt Wagner: 39.
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story black & white:
The Comic Eye. Ed., Mark Innes. Blind Bat Press: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 14.
BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:
Content serial black & white & Cover book front colour. Illustrator Bernie Mireault:
The Jam Special, 1-1, Car., Bernie Mireault. Matrix Graphic Series, 1987. The first four stories in this book are collected from New Triumph featuring Northguard. The last story is part of chapter 1 of a serial that was intended for The Jam 1 the first issue of a projected series to be published by Matrix Graphic Series. It did not happen. Instead it was later published by Slave Labour Graphics.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Matrix Graphic Series.
Content serial black & white:
New Triumph featuring Northguard …: “The Jam….” Car., Bernie Mireault: …. | |
1-2, 1985: “…”. …: 25-31.
1-3, 1985: “…Fight, Fight, Fight”. …: 28-35. |
1-4, 1986: “…”. …:27-35.
1-5, Summer 1986: “…”. …: 27-36. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Caliber Press.
Content story black & white:
Northguard: The ManDes. 3, 1990: Northguard meets The Jam and the gang at Matrix Graphic Series. Participants, Mark Shainblum, Gabriel Morrissette and Bernie Mireault. A Matrix production published by Caliber Press: 28-29.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Slave Labour Graphics. Colour cover. Black & white content.
Content serial & Cover front. Illus., Matt Wagner:
The Jam Urban Adventure 1, Nov. 1989: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-24. The last story in The Jam Special, 1-1, constitutes pages 1-13 in this issue. Pages 14 to 24 complete the chapter.
The Jam Urban Adventure 2, Jan. 1990: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-24. Cover back: Illus., Chadwick.
The Jam Urban Adventure 3, Mar. 1990: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-26
The Jam Urban Adventure 4, May 1990: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-22. “The Mighty Jan.” Car., David Abu Bacha: 23-24, a dream sequence. “Science Fiction?!? Who’d Have Thunk It?!? Car., Ty Templeton: 25.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Tundra Comics. Colour cover & Content, colourized versions of the serial in Slave Labour Graphics.
Content serial & Cover front. Illus., Bernie Mireault:
The Jam Urban Adventure, 1 of 5, Jan. 1992: Serial: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-24. Panel. Illus. Bernie Mireault: 25. Cover back: Illus., Bernie Mireault.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 2 of 5, Feb. 1992: Serial: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-24. Panel, Illus. Bernie Mireault: 25.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 3 of 5, Mar. 1992: Serial: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-26. Panel, illus. Bernie Mireault: 27.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 4 of 5, Apr. 1992: Serial: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-22. Story: “The Mighty Jan”, Car., David Abu Bacha: 23-24. Story: “Fight! Fight! Fight!”- A dream sequence: 25-32, Colourized version of story that first appeared in New Triumph featuring Northguard, 1-3, 1985: 1-8. Cover back: Illus., Bernie Mireault:
The Jam Urban Adventure, 5 of 5, May 1992: Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-24.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Dark Horse Comics Inc, Colour cover. Black & white content. The numbering sequence continues from the Slave Labour Graphics series.
Content serial & Cover front Illus., Bernie Mireault:
The Jam Urban Adventure…: “Said The Mad Man ….” Car., Bernie Mireault. … | ||
6, Oct. 1993: “…Ch. 1”:1-27 | 7, March 1994: “Ch. 2.”: 1-21. | 8, Feb. 1995: “Ch. 3”: 1-22. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Publisher Caliber Press Colour cover. Black & white content. Continues from the Dark Horse series.
Content serial & Cover front. Illus., Bernie Mireault:
The Jam Urban Adventure, 9, 1995: Serial: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-15. Story: “Young Gordon: The Dog”. Car., Bernie: 27-28.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 10, 1995: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-17.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 11, 1995: “The Jam”. Car., Bernie Mireault: 1-27. In this issue “Gordon Kirby” aka “The Jammer” was no longer the central figure but rather a listener to three stories “Breakfast”. “Asphalt” and untitled told by different narrators.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 13, 1996: “The Jam.” Writ., Jeff Lang. Illus., Bernie Mireault: 1-23. Again “Gordon Kirby” occupies a passive role becoming acquainted to “The Kinetic. In preparation for the “real” story.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 14, 1997.: “The Jam: The Kinetic.” Creator. & Writ., Jeff Lang. Illus., Bernie Mireault: 1-30.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Dark Horse Comics Inc. Colour cover & content.
Content serial:
Madman/Jam. Dark Horse Comics…: “House of Escher.” Co-car., Bernie Mireault & Mike Allred. Col., Laura Allred. | |
1, July 1998:1-24. | 2, August 1998: 1-24. |
Cover:
Madman/Jam, 1of2, July 1989: Front: Co-illus.’ Mike Allred & Bernie Mireault. Back: Illus., Bernie Mireault.
Madman/Jam, 2 of 2, August 1998: Front & back: Co-illus., Mike Allred & Bernie Mireault.
SOURCE:
Article book:
BDQ Essays & Interviews On Quebec Comics.” Ed., Andy Brown. Conundrum Press, 2017: “Bernie Mireault: Well Worth Digging Into.” Writ., Mark Jetté: 60-65.
GALLERY:
“Fight! Fight! Fight!” Car., Bernie Mireault. The Jam Special, 1, 1987: 14.
Northguard: The ManDes. 3, 1990: Northguard meets The Jam and the gang at Matrix Graphic Series: 28.
Northguard: The ManDes. 3, 1990: Northguard meets The Jam and the gang at Matrix Graphic Series:29.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 1 of 5, January 1992: 25. “Gordon Kirby”. Illus., Bernie Mireault.
The Jam Urban Adventure, 5 of 5, May 1992: Front cover. Illus., Bernie Mireault.