Johnny Canuck was a Canadian cartoon hero and superhero who was created as a political cartoon in 1869 and then was re-invented in 1942 and 1975.

Canadians, while not noted for undue displays of patriotism, have nevertheless had national heros and superheroes. One such character, Johnny Canuck, personified Canada in early political cartoons. He first appeared in 1869 as a younger cousin of the United States' Uncle Sam and Britain's John Bull. Depicted as a wholesome, if simpleminded, fellow in the garb of a habitant , farmer, logger, rancher or soldier, he often resisted the bullying of John Bull or Uncle Sam. For thirty years, he was a staple of editorial cartoonists, then, in the early twentieth century, faded from view.

Johnny Canuck re-emerged during World War II in the February 1942 issue of Bell's Dime Comics No.1. Cartoonist Leo Bachle created the character as a teenager, apparently on a challenge from a Bell executive. Initially, Johnny Canuck had no superpowers. Bachle explained:

I drew Johnny Canuck and he had my face, and everybody at my school (Danforth Tech) read it, and I was popular. I drew the teachers, and all the kids read the books to see whose name I was going to mention.

Johnny Canuck's cartoon exploits helped Canada fight against Nazism. Like Captain America, he met Adolf Hitler and almost single-handedly ended the war. As Bachle was a strong Mormon the character was also a passionate Christian.

The use of such stock figures fell off after World War II. However, in 1975, a new comic book character, Captain Canuck, emerged. A superhero rather than just a hero, he wore red tights, "electro-thermic underwear" and had a red maple leaf emblazoned on his forehead.

In 1995, Canada Post issued a series of Canadian postage stamps celebrating Canada’s comic-book superheroes.1 Johnny Canuck is depicted as he had appeared in the comic books, dressed in flight jacket, goggles, leather headgear and boots. Johnny Canuck is linked to a tradition of stalwart, honest, upstanding Canadian heroes.

External links

• Canadian Encyclopedia "Johnny Canuck."
• Canadian Heros in Fact and Fiction
• We Stand on Guard for Thee
• Johnny Canuck