HERBIE

                                  William “Bing” Coughlin. The Maple Leaf Forever, 1987: 45

                                                J. Douglas MacFarlane. Editor. The Maple Leaf Forever, 1987: 16.

“If the troops like the cartoons, I can thank my army experience more than any other one thing. Because no matter how well you can draw, you can’t get that feeling of live humour into an army cartoon unless you’ve experienced the things you’re trying to put into black and white. You’ve got to live it first.”                        William “Bing” Coughlin. This Army Maple Leaf Album No. 1: 63.

“Herbie was thoroughly enjoyed because he caught the utter madness of what the fighting man was involved in – the hardships, the lack of logic – all wrapped up in a pixie humour that relieved the tension. Herbie was a tonic.”                        Jack Donoghue. Maple Leaf staff. Herbie: 23.

 

“What I want to most git out of this war …is me!”                                                           A caption from a “Herbie”cartoon. Canada’s Newspaper Legend, 94.

Sergeant William Garnet “Bing” Coughlin, the creator of “Herbie” enlisted as a trooper in the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards at Ottawa in 1941. He took part in the invasion of Sicily and served four months in the Italian campaign all the while sketching cartoons for his own amusement and that of his fellow soldiers. Captain J. Douglas MacFarlane who was editor of The Maple Leaf, the Canadian Army newspaper in Italy, was advertising for cartoonists and “Bing” sent him some samples. MacFarlane liked them and had Coughlin transferred in January 1944 to the 2 Canadian Public Relations in Naples Italy where he became a cartoonist for the newspaper:

He began with a panel called “This Army” which first appeared February 19 1944. The cartoon featured generic Canadian soldiers much like you see in “Johnny and Monty”. J. Douglas entered with some editorial advice. According to his son Richard, McFarlane, he suggested that Bing needed to create a Canadian soldier who tended to have a more specific character with whom the soldiers could identify. He suggested a name “Herbie”. In some of the first cartoons there had appeared a chinless little guy observing the action taking place in the cartoon. This observer took over the action and became “Herbie”.

Although, Bing based his cartoons on his own experiences in the Italian campaign and later by taking periodic trips to the front lines to visit with the troops, “Herbie” was inspired by an actual person, Norman Pallister Smith, not physically but in behaviour. Like “Bing” he was born in Ottawa, enlisted in the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, and wound up on the Maple Leaf staff. As J. Douglas described him.

“He brought to the army a rare sense of the humourous, a peculiar facility for getting himself in and out of trouble, a happy facility for keeping his fellow gentlemen of the military entertained.”                                                                                                          Herbie, no date: 22.

“Herbie” instantly became popular with the soldiers in Italy who voted him, “Canada’s Man Of The Year for 1944. As time passed, “Herbie” began appearing in a comic strip titled “Herbie” as well as continuing in the panels called “This Army”.

This character entered army life in other ways. After a while a ubiquitous sign “Don’t Be A Herbie” began appearing along the front lines. It was short hand for: don’t goof up, don’t make a wrong turn, don’t do the wrong thing. It entered the field of the editorial cartoon as well. Another example was when “Herbie” was used to comment about the failures in the system to repatriate Canadian soldiers to Canada after Germany was defeated. Bing’s cartoons were collected into two books: This Army & This Army vol. 2, both published by the army’s Canadian Public Relations Group. Coughlin was awarded an MBE for his work.

“Herbie” cartoons entered Canadian civilian life. Offered by the Canadian Public Relations Group, they appeared in thirty-five Canadian newspapers, including the Evening Telegram, under the title “Active Service” and the British Columbian under “This Army”.

Bing added another character called Beannie” a toque wearing, mustachioed somewhat more sophisticated version of “Herbie”, but this character didn’t catch on.

According to Roy Beamish with the conclusion of the war in sight, Coughlin was planning a postwar career as a cartoonist and appears to have been preparing “Herbie” for a post war life. Unfortunately, “Herbie” didn’t make the transition. Like other characters created for the specific conditions of war, Ted McCall’s “Freelance” comes to mind the post war world was too different for them to find a place in it.

However, the story of “Herbie” had one more chapter. MacFarlane insisted that he and Coughlin partner to do a collection of “Herbie” cartoons. The result which appeared in 1946 was a best seller resulting in two printings. The 1959 printing was a 20^th anniversary edition commemorating the beginning of World War Two. “Herbie” has appeared in other books down to this day, but this book should be considered the definitive version of this remarkable wartime character..

Bing Coughlin’s “Herbie” in cartoon portrayed the everyman slightly naïve Canadian soldier the way Earl Birney in his novel Turvey portrayed the same type character in words. Both works were very successful in touching the hearts of the Canadians.

MEDIUM:

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content panel cartoon & Cover book front & back:

This Army Maple Leaf Album. Car., Bing Coughlin. No. 2 Canadian Public Relations Group, 1944.

This Army Maple Leaf Album No. 1. No. 2 Canadian Public Relations Group, Fourth printing January 1945. A reprint of This Army Maple Leaf Album.

This Army Vol. 2, Another Maple Leaf Album. Car., Bing Coughlin. No. 2 Canadian Public Relations Group, 1945.

Content panel cartoon & Cover dust jacket front:

Herbie. Ed., & Writ., Doug MacFarlane. Car., Bing Coughlin. Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd., no date. MacFarlane provided the accompanying text.

Content panel & strip & Cover book front & back:

Herbie and Friends: Cartoons in Wartime, Ed., Barry Browland. Natural Heritage/ Natural History Inc., 1990.

BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

The Maple Leaf Forever. Eds., & Memorialists, Barry D Rowland & J. Douglas MacFarlane. Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc., 1987.

The Maple Leaf Scrapbook: Souvenir Book printed in Belgium at cost price to forces overseas. No editor. No date: No. 3 Canadian P.R. Group, no date: Herbie cartoons 12-16.

NEWSPAPER:

Content full page cartoon:

The Maple Leaf, 3-39, 9 May 1945 Special Victory Edition: “WHERE ISH TH’ SARGINT MAJOR –HIC!”: Back page. A full page cartoon panel (387 mm h X 254 mm w)

SOURCE:

Book:

Canada’s Newspaper Legend: The Story of J. Douglas MacFarlane. Writ., Richard MacFarlane. ECW Press, 2000: 48, 50, 94.

The Maple Leaf Forever: The Story Of Canada’s Foremost Armed Forces Newspaper. Writ. & Ed., Barry D. Rowland & J. Douglas MacFarlane. Natural Heritage/Natural History Inc. 1987.

Article book:

The Maple Leaf Scrapbook: Souvenir Book printed in Belgium at cost price to forces  Overseas. Belgique: No. 3 Canadian P.R. Group, no date: “Bing Coughlin”: 12 -16.

This Army; Maple Leaf Album. Car., Bing Coughlin. No. 2 Canadian Public Relations Group, 1944: It was later renamed This Army; Maple Leaf Album No. 1.                                    “Forward.” Writ., Lt. Gen. E.L.M. Burns: 3. Writ., Lt. Gen. C. Foulkes in reprints.              “You Asked For It.” Writ., Lt.-Col. C.W. Gilchrist: 7-8.                                                        “A Word From the Managing Editor.” Capt. J. D. MacFarlane: 9.                                        “You’ve Got To Live It First.” Writ., Major R.E. Beamish:61-63.

This Army; Maple Leaf Album, no. 2. No. 2 Canadian Public Relations Group, 1944: “Ancora!” Writ., Lt.-Col. C.W. Gilchrist: 7 – 8..

Article periodical:

Maclean’s,  1 June 1945: “Battle-Front Humourist” Writ., Royd E. Beamish.. 10+.

Article newspaper:

“Canadian Is Creator Of Popular Character.” Writ., Douglas Amaron with Canadian Corps in Italy. Canadian Press, 4 June 1944.

GALLERY:

The Maple Leaf, 13 May 1944

I told ya so! No matter how much air ya put in the tires she still sinks.                    The Maple Leaf Scrap Book:16.

 Coughlin’s cartoons appeared under the title “This Army” in many daily newspapers.

 The Maple Leaf Forever, 1987

 Herbie and Friends: Cartoons in Wartime. 1990: 30.

A 1947 effort by Bing to create a post war “Herbie” reproduced in Legion, Oct. 1991: 34.

 Maple Leaf Reunion, 1969. The Maple Leaf Forever, 1987:

HEPBURN Scott

WORK:

ILLUSTRATOR:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Content serial:

Captain Canuck, 3, July 2015: “Captain Canuck: Armed & Dangerous pt. 1.” Writ. & Let., Ed Brisson. Col., Irma Kniivila.

CO-ILLUSTRATOR:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Cover front:

Captain Canuck, 4, Sept. 2015: Cover B: Co-illus., Paris Alleyene.

HENLEY Patrick

Uses pseudonyms Henriette Valium & Laure Phelin.

“There is no question that Valium’s work has greatly contributed to the evolution of comics in Québec and elsewhere. Its impact in the fields of comics and graphic arts has echoed well beyond Québec’s borders.”                                                      Mickey Zëdka. Trans., Rupert Bottenberg. BDQ: Essays & Interviews On Quebec Comics: 108.

Born: 4 May 1959 in Montréal, he began cartooning in the early 1980’s basing his stories on Montréal and his own life.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

Content story & Cover book:

The Palace Of Champions. Trans., Peter Dubé. Conundrum Press, 2016. Previously published as Le Palais de Champions.

PERIODICAL TEXT:

Content: story graphic:

Descant, 164, Spring 2014: “Lâcher des Chiens”: 127-136.

SOURCE:

Article book:

BDQ: Essays & Interviews On Quebec Comics. Ed., Andy Brown. BDang/Conundrum, 2017: “Henriette Valium.” Interview, Mickey Zëdka. Trans., Rupert Bottenberg: 122-131.            “Valium: The Underground Comix Superhero.” Writ., Mickey Zëdka. Trans.,                                    Rupert Bottenberg: 108-121.                                                                                 Both essays first appeared in Trip 9, 2016.

The Palace Of Champions. Conundrum Press, 2016 “An Interview with Henriette Valium.” Interviewer, Mathieu Beauéjour. Trans., Peter Dubé.

Periodical text:

Descant, 164, Spring 2014: 255.

HENDRIKS Nick

WORK:

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Toronto Comics Anthology, Ed., with Steven Andrews. et al. Toronto Comics Anthology, 2014: “The Perfect Gold Heist of 1952.” Writ., Christopher Bird: 11-22.

HENDERSON Scott B.

                            7 Generations, Bk., 1: Stone. 2010: Back cover.

This illustrator from Manitoba has worked as an illustrator in cartooning, portraiture and advertising. He has cartooned the sci/fi/fantasy The Chronicles of Era, and two stories for the Canadian Air Force’s Valour series, and has illustrated the “7 Generations” series written by David R. Robertson. His work has appeared in Tales From The Big Spirit.

WORK:

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK GRAPHIC:                                                                                                              ( All written by David A. Robertson & published by HighWater Press/Portage & Main Press.)

Content & Cover book front:

History:

Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story. 2011.

Journalism:

Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story. 2015.

Novel:

7 Generations:…. Colour cover, black & white interior.
Bk., 1: Stone. 2010. Bk., 2: Scars. 2010.	Bk.,3: Ends/Begins. 2010. Bk., 4:The Pact. 2011.

7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga. 2012. The 4 books collected. Colour cover & colour interior.

BOOK GRAPHIC:                                                                                                            (Other)

Cover story & Content book front:

A Blanket of Butterflies. Writ., Richard Van Camp. HighWater Press/Portage & Main Press, 2015.

A Girl Called Echo: v….. Writ., Katherena Vermette. Col., Donovan Yaciuk. HighWater Press, ….
1: Pemmican Wars. 2017.	2: Red River Resistance. 2018.	3: Northwest Resistance. 2020.

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Gothic Tales of Haunted Love. Ed., H. Nicholson & S.M. Beiko. Bedside Press , 2018: “The Return.” Writ., David A. Robertson: 68-78.

Moonshot: the Indigenous Comics Collection, v. 2: Ed., Hope Nicholson. 2017: “The Magic Of Wolverines.” Writ., Richard Van Camp. 78-81.

SOURCE:

Article book:

7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga. HighWater Press/Portage & Main Press, 2012: “About the illustrator”:130.

Canadian Alternatives: Cartoonists Comics & Graphic Novels. Ed., Dominick Grace & Eric Hoffman. University Press of Mississippi, 2018: “Once Upon A Time The Was A True Story: Indigenous People’s Graphic Novels and Orature.” Writ., Jessica Lanston: 113-126.

Gothic Tales of Haunted Love. Ed., H. Nicholson & S.M. Beiko. Bedside Press, 2018: “Creators: Scott B. Henderson”: 217.

Moonshot: the Indigenous Comics Collection, vol. 2. Alternate History Comics Inc., 2017: “Biographies”: 153.

GALLERY:

7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga: Front cover.

The Betty Osborne Story: Front cover.

A Girl Called Echo: v.1, Front cover.

A Girl Called Echo: v.2, Front cover.

A Girl Called Echo: v.3, Front cover.

HENDERSON George

In his early life he was in the military as a parachutist. In his later life he was part of a group that included Peter Harris, Don Hutchison, George Flie and others, who were students of North American popular culture.

In 1967, George opened the retail outlet “Memory Lane” on Markham Street just south of Bloor in what was called Mirvish Village. In 1968/1969 he opened a short lived cartoon gallery on Markham Street about 2 doors down and across the street from “Memory Lane”. He also organized Memory Lane Publications which published reprints and articles under the Vast Whizbang Organization moniker. He bridged the generations writing stories for James Waley’s Orb magazine and Ron Van Leeuwen’s Andromeda Publications.

WORK:

WRITER:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content story:

Andromeda 2-2, June 1978: “Shawn of the Ruins.” Lay., Gene Day. Pen., & In., Jim Beveridge. Let., Bill Payne: 21-29. Andromeda Publications. Black & white.

Orb Magazine…: “…” …. Orb Productions. Black & white unless otherwise noted.

1-4, Nov./Dec. 1975: “Gothic Glitter.” Illus., Peter Hsu. Let., Mike Cherkas. 18-24. 1-5, Jan./Feb. 1976. “Man ‘O Dreams.” Illus. & Col., Don Marshall.. Let., M. Cherkas: 26-33. Colour. 1- 6, March/April 1976: “The Flame Of El-Hamman” Illus., Bill Payne: 50-57. “Woof Woof.” Illus., Matt Rust. Let., Michael Cherkas: 6-22.

CO-WRITER:

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content serial:

Orb … “…” Co-writ., James Waley. Illus., Jim Craig. Let., M. Cherkas: … Black & white.

1-4, Nov./Dec.1975: “Northern Light: The Origin of Northern Light Pt 1: To You …Déjà vu”: 46-55. 1-5, Jan./Feb.1976: “The Origin of Northern Light Pt 2: Dénouement”: 35-44.

SOURCE:

Article periodical:

Orb Magazine 1-5, Jan./Feb. 1976: “George Henderson”: 34.

Interview:

Taken from an interview with George Flie November 12, 2011 in Toronto.

HENDERSHOT Rae

WORK:

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content:

Poetry:

Canadian Children’s Annual, 1978. Ed., Robert F. Neilson. Art Dir., Mary Tach. Potlatch Publ. 1977. “Painted Skates.” Writ., Carol Ellis: 73-78

Story:

Canadian Children’s Annual, 1979. Ed., Robert F. Neilson. Art Dir., Mary Tach. Potlatch Publ. 1978. “Summer Surprise.” Writ., Barbara Wilson: 7-9.

HEMING Arthur

 Arthur Heming: Chronicler Of The North/ Chroniqueur Du Nord. 2013: 10.

“It was in childhood that the primitive spirit first came whispering to me. It was  then I had my first day-dreams of the Northland – of it forests, its rivers, its  lakes, its hunters, and trappers and traders, its fur runners and mounted police, its voyageurs and packeteers, its missionaries and Indians and prospectors, its  animals, its birds, and its fishes, its trees its flowers and its seasons. Even in childhood I was forever wondering – what is daily going on in the Great Northern Forest …. With the years this ever-present wonder grew until it possessed me.                                                                                                              MacLean’s 14-19, 1921 Nov. 1: “Arthur Heming Dramatist of the Forest.” Writ., & Interviewer, Charles C. Jenkins: 20.

Born in Paris Ontario, he received his early training at the Hamilton Art School the continued his studies at the Art Student’s League in New York and then in London England. He was employed as an illustrator on the staff of the Dominion Illustrated and then became a freelancer. He was sent to the barrens by Harper to accompany Casper Whitney as an illustrator. He also patrolled with the Royal North-West Mounted Police and travelled by pack train through the Rocky Mountains. Using the materials of his travels he published articles and illustrations in leading Canadian, English, French, German and American publications. He was the author of novels Spirit Lake and The Drama of the Forests.

WORK:

ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT:

Cover dust jacket front:

The Nor’Westers. Writ., Marjorie Wilkins Campbell. Macmillan Co. of Canada, 1954

WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR:

BOOK TEXT & GRAPHIC:

Content memoir & Cover dust jacket front:

The Drama of the Forests. Doubleday Page & Co., 1924.

SOURCE:

Book:

Arthur Heming: Chronicler Of The North/ Chroniqueur Du Nord. Curator Cassandra Getty. Museum London: 2013.

Article periodical:

Canadian Bookman, Apr.1919: “Some Canadian Illustrators.” Writ., St. George Burgoyne. 29.

GALLERY:

 Arthur Heming: Chronicler Of The North/ Chroniqueur Du Nord. 2013: 8

Arthur Heming: Chronicler Of The North/ Chroniqueur Du Nord. 2013: 20

Arthur Heming: Chronicler Of The North/ Chroniqueur Du Nord. 2013: 24.

Arthur Heming: Chronicler Of The North/ Chroniqueur Du Nord. 2013: 59.

HELLRAZOR

A semi-pornographic, fantasy graphic serial created by Peter Hsu, reportedly written by Tara Balance and illustrated by Hsu. It was featured in Quadrant or Peter Hsu’s Quadrant.

MEDIUM:

BOOK GRAPHIC:

Content novel & Cover dust jacket front:

Hellrazor. Writ., Tara Balance. Illus., Peter Hsu. Quadrant Publications, 1983.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Content serial & Cover front:

Peter Hsu’s Quadrant… no date: “Hellrazor.” Writ., Tara Balance. Illus., Peter Hsu. Let., Ron Kasman..
1-1, 1983: 3- 26.	1-2.	1-3.	1-4.	1-5.	1-6.	1-7.

GALLERY:

 Peter Hsu’s Quadrant, 1-4, Front cover. Illus., Peter Hsu.

HELLMAN Michel

SOURCE:

Article book:

BDQ: Essays & Interviews On Quebec Comics. Ed., Andy Brown. Dang/Conundrum,2017: “The Bear-Headed Man or How To Become A Storyteller.” Writ., Eric Bouchard. Trans., Helge Dascher: 215-221. First appeared in Trip, 8, 2014.