Jonah (comics)

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Jonah was a fictional character in a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano, drawn by Ken Reid. It first appeared in issue 817, dated 15 March 1958. The title character- a sailor and a skinny, gormless, chinless wonder- was feared by all other mariners owing to the fact that he would (accidentally) sink every ship he sailed on (and often all other vessels in the neighbourhood to boot). In one episode he started a war between the nations of Gorgonzolia and Parafinalia and this resulted in the utter destruction of the combined fleets of both countries (a possible reference to the Cold War). The strip ran until issue 1090, dated 8 June 1963, when he unintentionally flooded Sludgeport Museum. Punch and Jimmy took over Jonah's page as from the following week.

Jonah returned 30 years later in 1993, albeit this time in The Dandy. Here he met the captain of the Ragworm's Revenge, Timmy Fogg (nicknamed 'Thick' Fogg) and obtained a magic earring, which if pulled would turn him into a monster-like man. The strip continued in The Dandy for a few years afterwards. The revival was drawn by Keith Robson, Ken Reid having passed away by this point.

In the 1980s, Jonah appeared in several Beano Comic Libraries, meeting The Topper's Puss 'n' Boots twice. Ironically, they also joined The Dandy in 1993!

Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses was sometimes referred to as 'Jonah' due to his less than distinguished naval career.

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