Calamity James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calamity James |
|
|---|---|
| Comic strip character(s) from The Beano | |
 |
|
| Publication information | |
| Stars in | Calamity James |
| Other contributors | Tom Paterson Steve Bright Bob Dewar John Geering Henry Davies Danny Pearson |
| Current/last artist | Leslie Stannage |
| First appearance | Issue 2311 (1 November 1986) |
| Last appearance | Originally 2007, returned 2012 |
| Also appeared in | The Beano Annual Minnie the Minx, The Bash Street Kids |
| Current status | Ongoing |
| Main Character | |
| Name | James |
| Alias(es) | Calamity James |
| Family | Mum |
| Friends | Alexander Lemming (pet) |
| Characters | |
| Regular characters | Little Squelchy Things |
Calamity James is a funny comic strip found in the UK comic The Beano. It's all about a boy named James who has really bad luck. His nickname, Calamity James, is a play on words, like "Calamity Jane," who was famous for causing trouble.
James first appeared in The Beano on 1 November 1986, in issue number 2311. His comic strip took the place of other popular characters, Biffo the Bear and Little Plum. James also has a loyal pet named Alexander Lemming. His pet's name is also a clever play on words, like the famous scientist Alexander Fleming.
Contents
Meet Calamity James: His Look and World
When artists first created Calamity James, they tried out different looks for him. They finally decided on his well-known appearance. James has black hair and wears black trousers. He also wears a red jumper with the number 13 on it.
He has big eyes and many buck teeth. But in earlier comics, he had smaller eyes and only two buck teeth. Sometimes, in older strips, a black rain cloud would follow him everywhere. This showed his constant bad luck.
James's Personality and Crushes
James is known for his terrible luck. He often finds himself in funny, unlucky situations. Despite his misfortunes, he keeps going.
Did you know James has a crush? According to a 2014 Beano issue, he really likes Minnie the Minx. He hopes to be her boyfriend one day!
Funny Background Details and Gags
The comic strip is full of funny and strange background details. One recurring theme is the "Little Squelchy Things." These are small, odd creatures that appear in many different forms. They are usually visual jokes, but sometimes James might even trip over one!
Another funny detail is how James always misses out on good fortune. You might see winning lottery tickets, notes with lots of money, diamonds, or gold bars scattered around. James walks right past them, never noticing his chance to get rich! Once, his pet Alexander Lemming tried to point out the money, but James thought he meant busking for money instead.
The comic also features bizarrely named buildings in the background. You might spot a "Lumpy Custard Factory" or "Knicker Elastic Testing Sheds." These strange names add to the comic's silly humor.
Who Created Calamity James?
Tom Paterson has been the main artist for the Calamity James comic strip. However, other talented artists have also drawn it. Steve Bright drew some strips, and Bob Dewar helped out in the 1980s.
Before James first appeared, John Geering and Henry Davies drew some early ideas for the character. Tom Paterson has also worked on other famous Beano strips. These include Minnie the Minx, The Numskulls, and Dennis the Menace. Because of his other work, James didn't always appear in the comic as often as some other characters.
Alexander Lemming: James's Best Friend
Alexander Lemming is James's pet and best friend. He is a lemming who often shares James's adventures. Luckily for Alexander, he usually doesn't have as much bad luck as James.
One of Alexander's favorite things to do is jump from high places. This hobby often helps James get out of tricky situations. Alexander also helps James when he gets hurt. He often puts balm or ointment on James's injuries.
In one comic, James gave his jumper to Alexander. On that day, Alexander had all the bad luck, and James had good luck! Alexander soon got tired of the jumper and gave it back. This made people think that the number 13 on James's jumper might be the cause of his bad luck. Alexander is a loyal friend, but he sometimes seems to enjoy watching James suffer a little! His name is a fun play on "Alexander Fleming", the famous scientist who discovered penicillin.
Calamity James: A Timeline
Here's a quick look at some important dates for Calamity James:
- 1 November 1986: Calamity James first appears in The Beano. This was in Issue No. 2311.
- 22 November 1986: James's pet, Alexander Lemming, makes his first appearance. This was in Issue No. 2314.
- 29 October 1988: The funny "Little Squelchy Things" are first seen in the comic. This was in Issue No. 2415.
- Around 1989: James's eyes were made bigger, and he was given more buck teeth.
- 1993: The comic strip starts to be drawn in full color.
- 1997: The strip gets a new look with brighter, shinier digital colors.
- 2001: Tom Paterson starts drawing Minnie the Minx. This means James appears less often.
- 2004: Steve Bright draws several Calamity James strips this year.
- 2007: The comic strip is stopped for a while. Tom Paterson begins drawing Dennis the Menace. James's last appearance was in Issue No. 3375.
- 31 October 2009: Calamity James makes a surprise return to The Beano! This was in Issue No. 3507.
- 7 November 2012: James's strip comes back permanently. This was in Issue No. 3660.
