JACKMAN Ted

Born 1947, in Paris Ontario.

He studied at Queen’s University in Kingston. In 1972, he began drawing editorial cartoons freelance for the Globe and Mail. He was then involved with Mike Constable in Union Art Service  a co-operative founded in 1976 that provided labour publications with cartoons and graphics. He was also involved with GLP Services, also founded in the late 1970’s. For this service he produced the strips, “Old Hat”, Snake Oil, and “Wonder Valley”. Whether any of these were published is not known.

CARTOONIST:

PERIODICAL TEXT ANTHOLOGY:

Content panels & strips cartoon:

The Canadian Forum, February 1977: 17, 47, 49.

SOURCE:

Article book:

The Hecklers. Writ. & Ed.., Peter Desbarates & Terry Mosher. McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 1979: 239.

GALLERY:

The Canadian Forum, February 1977:49.

 Original for G.L.P. Features Syndicate.

 Original for G.L.P. Features Syndicate.

JACK CANUCK

“Jack Canuck” and “Johnny Canuck” owe their origins to the editorial cartoonists of the Confederation period who in their cartoons revealed a fierce nationalism and intense antagonism to any suggestion of annexation to the United States. They personified Britain as “John Bull” or “Mrs. Britannia”, and the United States initially as “Brother or Cousin Jonathon” and “later as “Uncle Sam”. In the beginning Canada was represented either as a demur “Miss Canada” fending off the advances of the unsavory “Jonathon” or as a strapping upright youth called “Young Canada”. The latter evolved into either “Jack Canuck” or “Johnny or John Canuck”. Cartoonists altered between the two names but “Jack Canuck” was probably the first used in order to more sharply differentiate him from the sleazy “Brother or Cousin Jonathon”. As “Jonathon” gave way to “Uncle Sam” “Johnny or John Canuck” became more prominent. Although as late as 1946 (the cartoons see below) his editorial function was still in use.

The name varied but the character was essentially the same, an average straight talking, independent mustachioed Canadian wearing a Stetson hat and working clothes. Some have described him as naïve, a bit of a boy scout, but that seems an inaccurate description given the sharp editorial comment that accompanied his image. In the cartoons below, he has no illusions about the intentions of “Brother Jonathon” or that Britain is an unreliable defender of Canadian interests.

Although “Jack Canuck’s” primarily appeared on the international stage he was by no means restricted to it. In the early decades of the twentieth century, Charles Jefferys used “Jack Canuck” to comment on the growing strength of Western Canada. Lou Skuce used “Jack Canuck”, as the spirit of Canada making comments about domestic politics

The another version of “Jack Canuck” emerged during World War Two when George Rae’s “Canada Jack” appeared in Canadian Heroes Comics. Here he was converted from a persona of editorial criticism to a patriotic hero. The Stetson hat and work clothes were replaced by a gymnastic outfit. Unlike so many other Canadian wartime heroes who fought in Europe “Canada Jack” like his ancestor remained firmly on Canadian soil defending national interests against enemy intruders.

In 2013, Bevan Thomas and the Cloudscape Comics Society of Vancouver continued the “Jack” name creating “Canada Jacques” or “Jacques de Canada” a homosexual hero. In the “Canada Jacques” story, they also created their own version of Rae’s “Canada Jack” figure.

Another modern day incarnation, of the “Jack” name “Dominion Jack” was created by Jack Briglio and Ron Salas also in 2013.

SOURCE:

Article book:

Guardians of the North: The National Superhero in Canadian Comic-Book Art. Writ., John Bell. National Archives of Canada, 1992: 10-17. A catalogue for the exhibit of the same name.

The Hecklers. Writ. & Ed.., Peter Desbarates & Terry Mosher. McClelland and Stewart Ltd.,1979: 43, 58, 93.

GALLERY:

 “Merchants of Mirth and Malice.” Writ., Robert Crew. Toronto Star, 11 Jan.1992: D5.       Perhaps drawn during the dispute over the Alaskan panhandle 1902.

Car., Lou Skuce. Private Post Card, circa 1910.

Here is a different series of cartoons, post cards featuring a triumphal Jack or Johnny Canuck, a benevolent John Bull and Uncle Sam and a rather envious Uncle Sam. These were produced in the first decade of the 1900’s when Canada was experiencing a boom and great prosperity.

Car., unidentified. Canadian Private Post Card. Knowles & Co. London Ont. Circa 1907/09.

Car., unidentified. Canadian Private Post Card. Knowles & Co. London Ont. Circa 1907/09

Car., unidentified. Canadian Private Post Card. Knowles & Co. London Ont. Circa 1907/09

“Some of the fanciest brooding and doubting achieved anywhere goes on in Canada” Illus., W.A. Winter. Maclean’s 1 May 1946: 7. Jack Canuck still wearing the same hat continues his editorial function.

IZZY BRITE

It seems that newspaper artist Harry (Hy) B. Moyer, who also created “Nothing But The Truth” for the Evening Telegram [Toronto], created this feature exclusively for Bell Features and Publishing Ltd. Thus far it has not been seen in any other publications.

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                          Published by Bell Features & Publishing Co.

Content serial:

Active Comics … no date: “Izzy Brite” . Car., Hy Moyer : ….. Black & white.
24: 26-27	25: inside front cover.	26: 8, 49.	27: 16-17

Joke Comics, 23, no date: “Izzy Brite.” Car., Hy Moyer: back cover:

GALLERY:

 Active Comics, 25: Car., Hy Moyer: Inside front cover.

IWAASA Micah

He is a self-taught artist with interests in manga, anime, board and role playing games. His web series Comic Chunk is about making comics and appears on the Cloudscape website.

He created the character “Formline” whose regular name is Andja Tasker. This Haida artist is revisited by a childhood friend who turns out to be Luagat a Haida teaching spirit. It teaches her how to animate her formline drawings and turn them into weapons. She becomes a superhero vigilante with anger issues.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Epic Canadiana, v.2. Ed., Bevan Thomas. Cloudscape Comics Society, Oct. 2015: “Formline: Hunter/Hunted”: 83-94.

Mega Fauna. Cloudscape Comics, Oct. 2014: “Defensow”: 179- 188.

SOURCE:

Article book:

Epic Canadiana, v. 1. Ed., Bevan Thomas. Cloudscape Comics Society, 2013: “Formline”: 127.

Epic Canadiana, v.2. Ed., Bevan Thomas. Cloudscape Comics Society, Oct. 2015: “The Creators”: 235.

GALLERY:

        Epic Canadiana, v. 1: 127

IT HAPPENED IN CANADA

In Canada’s Centennial Year Gordon Johnston, who was an editorial cartoonist, created his most successful cartoon series, a panel named “It Happened in Canada”. At the height of its popularity, it appeared in 71 newspapers. It seems that initially the series was distributed by the Toronto Star Syndicate. Circa 1972, Ripley International sued Gordon and perhaps the Toronto Star Syndicate claiming, “It Happened In Canada” closely resembled their feature “Believe It Or Not”. The suit was dropped and Ripley became the syndicate distributing it. The panel continued until 1978 when Gordon suffered a heart attack. There was a pause for six months after which he resumed work. Ripley International ceased to syndicate it and Gordon distributed the feature himself. In 1981 ill health forced him to give it up. At the point he retired the panel was being carried in 65 papers. Five collections of these panels were published, one posthumously. C.B.C. used the material as well.

“It Happened In Canada” was a mixture of events, human interest stories and unusual and at times bizarre events and equally unusual and bizarre personalities. It continued a tradition begun by C. W. Jefferys, an earlier icon in Canadian historical illustration, who, among his other works, produced a remarkable three volume Picture Gallery of Canadian History. Johnston researched the material himself from old newspapers and from archives. He spent an average of 10 hours researching and drawing each panel. His daughter Lucinda remembered that he always had to be thrifty using both sides of any paper. He also recruited his daughters to ensure that the weekly proofs were sent to subscribing newspapers. This cartoonist had a remarkable devotion to his creation.

MEDIUM:

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content: panel cartoon history & Cover book front:

Johnston’s It Happened in Canada vol. 2. Car., Gordon Johnston. Star Reader Service, 1971.

It Happened in Canada. Car., Gordon Johnston. Scholastic-TAB Publications Ltd., 1973. (Adapted from It Happened In Canada, vol. 2.)

More It Happened In Canada. Car., Gordon Johnston. Scholastic-TAB Publications Ltd., 1976. (Adapted from It Happened In Canada, no. 1.)

It Happened in Canada. Car., Gordon Johnston. Methuen, 1983. Print. (A collection of the best of It Happened in Canada.)

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Today 10 Apr.1982: “You asked us: Only in Canada? Pity”: 5.

The University of Western Ontario Alumni Gazette, 29 June 2009: “Canadian comic artist Gordon Johnston found inspiration in historical facts.” Writ., Jeet Heer.

Article newspaper:

London Free Press, 2 August 1975: “It Happened In Canada result of sheer hard work.” Writ., Ralph Thompson: 47.

GALLERY:

1 July 1978.

Kitchener Waterloo Record, 22 Dec. 1979: 48.

Toronto Star, 30 Jan. 1980.

St Catherines Standard, 6 May 1980.

St Catherines Standard, 28 May 1980.

St Catherines Standard, 2 June 1980.

Unknown 28 November 1980.

Toronto Star, 27 June 1981.

ISN’T IT THE TRUTH

An advertising cartoon strip drawn by Ti-Jos for Labatts Brewing Co. Ltd. It appeared in the Toronto Evening Telegram.

 

ISHERWOOD Geoff

A Montreal artist illustrating various issues of Marvel Company’s Spiderman, Daredevil and Justice.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC:

Content story & portrait & Cover front:

Orion, 1-2, 1982: “White Thunder”: 21-26.                                                                                                      “Corbo – Try It”:43

ILLUSTRATOR:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Content portrait:

Heroes of the North, 1, Jan. 2012:11.

Content story & Cover wrap around:

Heroes of the North, 2, Sept. 2012:                                                                                              “Heroes of the North: ‘Acadia’ in Pretty Clear.” Writ., Michel & Yann Brouillette.                         Col. & Let., Keiren Smith. Ed., Christian Viel. 16-27.                                                 “Heroes of the North: ‘8 Ball’ & ‘Alpha 0’ in Blood Bath.” Writ., Yann Brouillette.                       Col., Aljosa Tomic. Let., Zen: 64-67.

CO-ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK GRAPHIC:

Content novel:

Necromantic. Writ., Lovern Kundzierski. Co-illus., David Ross. Col., Christopher Chuckry. Let., Taylor Esposito. Renegade Arts Entertainment, 2020.

SOURCE:

Article newspaper:

Toronto Star, 27 Feb.1987: “Here’s your guide to superheroes of Canadian comics”: D6.

ISFELD Jamie

Winnipeg cartoonist who created “Street Style Samurai, which debuted in King Of Pies/Street Style Samurai.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content story & Cover book front, half of: King Of Pies/Street Style Samurai.:

King Of Pies/Street Style Samurai. Bedside Press, 2018. The first half of this book contains “King Of Pies” by cartoonist Ryan Harby. The second half contains “Street Style Samurai”.

ISABELLE Jean “Jo”

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content editorial cartoon:

Caricature . Cartoons Canada. Ed., Terry Mosher. Linda Leith Publishing, 2012: 28.

 

IRON MAN

Appearing in Better Comics published by Maple Leaf Publishing, he was created by Vernon Miller. Iron Man, not to be confused with Marvel Comic’s Iron Man who appeared some 22 years later, was the lone survivor of an underwater civilization that had been destroyed by an earthquake. He lived alone in a palace in a bubble city but would come to the surface world when called by the Major and his two young companions Jean and Ted to fight Nazi. He possessed great strength and was indestructible.

MEDIUM:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content serial & Cover front Illus., Vernon Miller.:

Better Comics, 2-1, April/May 1942 “The Iron Man.” Car. Vernon Miller: 19-26.

Content serial:

Better Comics, 2-5, December/January1942: “The Iron Man.” Car. Vernon Miller: 29-34.

SOURCE:

Article booklet:

Guardians of the North: The National Superhero in Canadian Comic-Book Art. Writ., John Bell. National Archives of Canada, 1992: “Iron Man and Freelance”: 3 – 4. A catalogue for the exhibit of the same name.

Article newspaper:

Toronto Star, 1 Feb.1992: “The Great Canadian Superhero.” Writ., Henry Mietkiewicz.: J1+.

GALLERY:

 Illus., Vernon Miller. From Better Comics, 2-1, Apr.-May 1942: front cover.