When Hook Jaw Strikes -- You Only Scream Once!
January 21, 2014 12:04 PM Subscribe
Hook Jaw. Hook Jaw, a blatant "Jaws" rip off in which a murderous shark was the hero, was perhaps the most notorious comic strip in the short-lived (and parentally despised) Action Comics (complete history here). Action was a direct influence and precursor to the legendary 2000AD, and Hook Jaw reads like a first draft to the magnificent (and recently reissued) Shako, about a rampaging killer bear who happens to be the hero of the story.
More Hook Jaw links:
Hook Jaw is a Great White Shark and the hero of the series, even though he spends most of his time eating most of the human cast of characters.
Happy Birthday Hook Jaw!
What's not to like about a mindlessly gory comics series featuring a gigantic Great White shark as the protagonist?
The one serial that everybody remembers from Action, is of course, 'that really gory one about the shark', or to give it it's proper title: Hook Jaw!
For this post, I thought I'd take a quick look at one of the more involved lettering jobs I've been working on, the 'restoration' of classic 70s British comic strip Hook Jaw
More Shako links:
This is the perfect winter read
When these guys get eaten alive by a polar bear they give you a running commentary along the lines of “THE CLAWS!” , “HE’S GRRRRR-INDING MY SKULL!” or in the case of one Italian victim, “OH MAMA! PAPA! HE’S A-GOTTA ‘IS CLAWS IN MA BELLY!”
Joe gets into his love of Shako, the polar bear. And let me tell you: his love may sway you.
SHAKO! SHAKO! SHAKO!
More Hook Jaw links:
Hook Jaw is a Great White Shark and the hero of the series, even though he spends most of his time eating most of the human cast of characters.
Happy Birthday Hook Jaw!
What's not to like about a mindlessly gory comics series featuring a gigantic Great White shark as the protagonist?
The one serial that everybody remembers from Action, is of course, 'that really gory one about the shark', or to give it it's proper title: Hook Jaw!
For this post, I thought I'd take a quick look at one of the more involved lettering jobs I've been working on, the 'restoration' of classic 70s British comic strip Hook Jaw
More Shako links:
This is the perfect winter read
When these guys get eaten alive by a polar bear they give you a running commentary along the lines of “THE CLAWS!” , “HE’S GRRRRR-INDING MY SKULL!” or in the case of one Italian victim, “OH MAMA! PAPA! HE’S A-GOTTA ‘IS CLAWS IN MA BELLY!”
Joe gets into his love of Shako, the polar bear. And let me tell you: his love may sway you.
SHAKO! SHAKO! SHAKO!
The bear's pullin' off my pants! I - I don't believe it - this can't be happenin' to me...
This dialogue brought to you by the same culture that created the complete works of William Shakespeare.
posted by Curious Artificer at 12:13 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
This dialogue brought to you by the same culture that created the complete works of William Shakespeare.
posted by Curious Artificer at 12:13 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
It is exactly what the Bard of Avon meant when he wrote "Exit pursed by a bear."
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:14 PM on January 21, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:14 PM on January 21, 2014 [6 favorites]
Damn, only January and the best post of the year.
posted by marxchivist at 1:23 PM on January 21, 2014
posted by marxchivist at 1:23 PM on January 21, 2014
I bought a complete run of Action off ebay last year. It came with the free gift from issue 2. A iron-on transfer of hookjaw.
It's funny when Pat Mills gets all snooty about superheroes as Action is his baby and is crammed full of cheesy movie rip offs with mediocre art and cheesy dialogue. It's not like he really aimed much higher.
Love it though!
posted by gnuhavenpier at 1:25 PM on January 21, 2014
It's funny when Pat Mills gets all snooty about superheroes as Action is his baby and is crammed full of cheesy movie rip offs with mediocre art and cheesy dialogue. It's not like he really aimed much higher.
Love it though!
posted by gnuhavenpier at 1:25 PM on January 21, 2014
Yussss this looks so awesome. I was a little too young when this happened but I vaguely recall hearing about it. Definitely going to read it.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 1:26 PM on January 21, 2014
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 1:26 PM on January 21, 2014
It's funny when Pat Mills gets all snooty about superheroes as Action is his baby and is crammed full of cheesy movie rip offs with mediocre art and cheesy dialogue.
Hookjaw has an environmental message, you guys.
posted by Artw at 1:29 PM on January 21, 2014
Hookjaw has an environmental message, you guys.
posted by Artw at 1:29 PM on January 21, 2014
Ahem....
AIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!! THE JAWS! THE JAWS!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:35 PM on January 21, 2014
AIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!! THE JAWS! THE JAWS!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:35 PM on January 21, 2014
It is the quintessential 2000AD story boiled down to the bare bones though, isn't it?
posted by MartinWisse at 1:43 PM on January 21, 2014
posted by MartinWisse at 1:43 PM on January 21, 2014
Can't help but wonder what else is on the CIA Death List. I mean, sure, Shako is the only bear, but there's gotta be other animals on there, right? Hookjaw, some ornery honey badgers, maybe a gator or two.
Pretty sure most of the rest of the list is made up of cats.
posted by misha at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2014
Pretty sure most of the rest of the list is made up of cats.
posted by misha at 1:45 PM on January 21, 2014
CIA are a bunch of motherfuckers, so sure.
posted by Artw at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 1:51 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
I have news for you, in any story featuring a Giant Murder Animal, the Giant Murder Animal is always the hero.
posted by dortmunder at 1:52 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by dortmunder at 1:52 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
Well, usually they at least halfway pretend you should be rooting for some stupid hu-man., and waste a bunch of your time with that.
posted by Artw at 2:19 PM on January 21, 2014
posted by Artw at 2:19 PM on January 21, 2014
I have news for you, in any story featuring a Giant Murder Animal, the Giant Murder Animal is always the hero.
See also: Steve Bissette's Tyrant
posted by brand-gnu at 2:29 PM on January 21, 2014
See also: Steve Bissette's Tyrant
posted by brand-gnu at 2:29 PM on January 21, 2014
"Pursued by a bear"
As good an example as we are likely to find of the dramatic device known as Ursus Ex Machina.
posted by El Brendano at 2:32 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
As good an example as we are likely to find of the dramatic device known as Ursus Ex Machina.
posted by El Brendano at 2:32 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
For years ArtW had ruled the comics FPP but now the young Bunny sensed that he had become old and weak, he moved to claim his territory. There could only be one victor.
posted by biffa at 3:26 PM on January 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by biffa at 3:26 PM on January 21, 2014 [3 favorites]
"NO! Please let me drown BEFORE the GIANT SCORPIONS get me! "
posted by Artw at 3:57 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 3:57 PM on January 21, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cannot learn about Hook Jaw. Too busy falling in love with Shako.
posted by the bricabrac man at 6:33 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by the bricabrac man at 6:33 PM on January 21, 2014 [2 favorites]
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