Jack, Jacky and the Juniors

Jack, Jacky & the Juniors (Jan Jans en de Kinderen) is a Dutch comic strip by Jan Kruis chronicling the events of an average family. It debuted in 1970 and is still in production today. ^[1] In 1999 he handed over his creations to Studio Kruis.

History

1970s; early developments

In September 1970, Jan Kruis was approached by women's weekly magazine Libelle ^[2] to draw a one-page comic strip to replace longtime fixture Bessie Bunter. Putting names and faces to a previously unused title, Kruis modelled the female part of the family after his wife Els (Jacky) and his daughters Leonie (Karlijn; English name unknown) and Andrea (Catootje; English name unknown). ^[3] Jack resembled a previously designed character. There were also a dog called Lotje (a male character with a feminine name) and a red cat who was initially referred to as Edgar Allan Poes (poes being the Dutch word for a female cat). Problem though was that Kruis also worked for rival magazine Margriet; thus his early efforts were credited to Andries. ^[4]

The comic strip started out as a traditional family with Jack being a nine-to-five worker and Jacky a housewife serving dinner at six, but from gag 2 onwards it was clear that a change was gonna come. Inspired by a life-changing magazine-article (apparently taken from Libelle) Jacky decides to break out of her daily routine and become a social worker; however, she backs down when she sees the others cry (pets included).

A year later Jacky gives it another try and takes a job at a major international bank; in the succeeding gag it transpires that there's more money lost than made, with only 7 cents profit. Kruis' colleague Martin Lodewijk and his James Bond-spoof Agent 327, are both given a cameo in the frame where Jacky leaves for the tube-station (Kruis was originally asked to draw the comic that would become Agent 327 but passed on the offer to Lodewijk). Jack and the Juniors can't cope with her daytime-absence and trick Jacky into resigning by staging a prank-call suggesting that the girl from across the road is around expressing an overwhelming interest in Jack.

Kruis makes regular Hitchcock-style appearances; in 1972 he features in gags 67 and 68 as a struggling artist embroiled in a war with the taxmen. Having lost all his possessions he's now forced to sell his treasured Mary Ginger (Dutch: Rooie Marietje) as well because he can no longer support her. JJJ take over the 21-year-old Austin MG, which has since become another trademark (apart from a 1978 flirt with the Talbot Horizon).

Previously, in gag 37, Jack bought a cast-off from a candy manufacturer which appeared to be designed for a carnival parade, and therefore a cut-price item. The Juniors loved it, but Jacky was hugely embarrassed and threatened to "file for divorce" if Jack dared "to park that monster in front of (our) doorstep".

In gag 81, Catootje introduces her jocular classmate Joe (Dutch name: Jeroen) who rhymes almost anything with "Shit on your...". Catootje likes to refer to Joe as her fiance and insists that they're going to get married. ^[5]

Health food is another recurring subject; in gag 18 Jacky fears that she's going fat and puts Jack in his tracksuit after confessing that he's getting overweight himself. Two gags later Jacky is given ten days to fit back in her best dress (she appears to have lost too much weight) because she's invited for a party at Jack's parent company Shelvron. In 1973, in gag 125, Jacky launches the first of several attempts to turn the family to vegan and bio-organic food. Jack refuses to settle for two pieces of radish and jogs his way to the chip stall to eat himself a stomache ache. The doctor accuses Jacky of being ignorant.

Mid to late 1970s

Three years down the line, Kruis decided to freeze the characters' ages; Jack and Jacky are in their late 30s, Karlijn is 14 while Catootje and Joe are 10-year-olds (or 8-year-olds) for life.

Back in 1971, Lotje was the first pet to be given a solo-spot (gag 34). Edgar got his three years later (gag 166); he appears to have never recovered from his castration and will later refer to himself as a "You-know cat" (Dutch: "Je-weet-wel kater").^[6] Edgar already appeared to be a pacifist who refuses to kill mice (as previously seen in gag 62 when he retaliated against his derogatory nickname tea-cosy by staging a charade). However, his sudden loss of sex-power is compensated with the gift to philosophise on the deepest of issues.

In gag 185 an ageing Siamese cat joins the pets; the women love her, but Edgar, Lotje and Jack view on her as an intruder. Still, the latter is chosen as the place to lay her head. Two gags later it is found out by coincidence that her name is Loeder, which closely translates as bitch. And a bitch she is; in gag 193 she has Edgar and Lotje framed for plundering the fridge. No food is their punishment. In early 1976 Edgar was punished again, but this time he only had himself to blame as the so-called vegetarian chose to steal 1.5 kilograms worth of cod for an eat-to-regret-experience (a punishment in itself).

Meanwhile, Loedertje gave birth to six kittens (the results of her wild nights out) on Jack's side of the bed; finding herself unfit to be a mother she upped and left for almost a year. Edgar kindly stepped up as a foster-parent but six weeks down the line Jack decided to sell the lot. Much to Edgar's distaste (and Catootje's), Jack insisted that the newspaper-advert would state the kittens' non-existing fondness for cheap cat food. Catootje had the advert quickly amended to "they only like coffee-cake, liquorice, bills and wool".

Meanwhile, Karlijn began dating boys, starting off with Mike: tall, handsome and black. Catootje, keen on the idea of becoming an aunt to black kids, took him to heart as a friendly ear while Joe dug him for his football-skills. Done with the exchange of deeper thoughts on life, Karlijn moved on to the martial-arts, practising Ho-Wang.

In 1976, the family moved with from the big city to the countryside shortly after Joe did so. Catootje assumed that she'd get a pony upon arrival but faced a huge reality-check; slapped by an over exhausted Jacky for continuously nagging, and later told that costs didn't add up after the relocation. When Jack said that in his days he'd be "happy to settle for a handful of sweets and a box of crayons" for the December-festivities, Catootje accused him of being horse-phobic. Thanks to the neighbour she'd finally got what she wanted. Catootje was happy to look after Fury (Kobus) but she was also confronted with his stubborn nature (her 1979 horse-track debut being the worst moment). Later, on the eve of losing his impermissibly built stable, Fury admitted his dislike of horse-riding but added that he felt sorry for Catootje (should worst scenario come true).

Back in 1974 (gag 183), Karlijn had become a vegetarian; Catootje showed initial interest, but coming home for dinner after a waver-banning protest at the butcher she decided that she couldn't give up her meat-balls and pork chop. The teenage vegetarian that everyone remembers began in earnest late 1977, stating that she would only eat meat from well-treated animals (Fury for example) and attempting to spoil many a Christmas dinner by tackling subjects as world hunger and caged cattle. The others refuse to give in and while they have stuffed turkey, Karlijn settles for plain rice or an apple.

1980s

In 1980, two new characters were introduced; Jack's Conservative-minded Dad Gerrit and Jacky's lesbian feminist cousin Hanna.^[7]

They both stayed around at the same time; Hanna was in the final stage of her pregnancy and early 1981 she gave birth to a daughter whom she wanted to name Emmeline Germaine Hedy, after international key-figures in women's emancipation. Jack seemed to disregard her wishes by registering the baby as Sientje, after his grand-aunt; he then explained that she was a strong-minded woman to him because she always helped out those in need.

Grandad wasn't having any of that unmarried lesbian stuff and was quoted "In my days we used to call unmarried mothers fallen girls" (Dutch slang: gevallen meisjes), but in 1986 he grew closer to Hanna when the pair looked after the farmhouse while JJJ went on holiday.

Back in 1979, a special gag was published suggesting what the family will look like in 20 years time should they start growing older again; on the first day of the new millennium, a greying Jack and Jacky (now surrounded by bagpuss twins and Lotje's grandson) welcome the Juniors and their offspring. Karlijn has trained to be a nurse on the Netherlands Antilles and returned with her husband William; they have a son and a newborn daughter. Catootje and Joe live together at the old farmhouse (which Joe restores while looking for a school teacher job) raising twins who appear to be naughtier versions of their former selves.

Karlijn's son would've been called Harold; this name was given to the boy who made his debut in 1981 showing off his muscles and presents given to him by his divorced father. Joe is not impressed and sees his biggest fear confirmed; Catootje breaks up their relationship. Trying to win her back he gets a punk make-over, much to his parents' dismay. Adding to this, Jack ironically suggested to get himself a mohawk, Jacky a green Number One-cut and re-christening the family to "Punk, Punky and the Punkettes". Catootje responded by saying "That's not such a bad idea". Joe soon grew out of his new image and even made up with Harold to the extent that Catootje found herself excluded from events deemed unsuitable for girls.

In 1988, Jacky's emigre mother Stien came over from the States; she stayed for over a year and got very friendly with Grandad. Her American accent reminded Catootje of Dutch-based UK actor/dancer Barry Stevens.

Reading Karlijn's French history book Lotje started thinking that he's Napoleon and starts wearing a folded newspaper and addressing the cats as "humble folks". Interrupted by a 1990 Diego Maradona-phase, this lasted for six years.

1990s

After years of fulfilling a supporting role Jacky finally came to blossom; she developed a passing crush on piano-teacher Jean-Pierre (ten years her junior) who was soon exposed as a fraud, and after being sacked from the fashion boutique she took Jacks ironic advise to form a political party for women. Jacky dropped her bowler-cut and apart from VM '94 she also gave birth to a real child; Gertje. The latter's arrival was belatedly documented in 1999 for an anti-smoking advert. Grandad came to see his new namesake, but Jack insisted that he took the ever-present cigar out of his mouth. "It's your grandchild's future we're talking about". Gertje has since grown into a toddler.

At the same time Jan Kruis handed over JJJ to Studio Kruis who reinvented their characters; Jack and Jacky now alternate as working parents, Karlijn stepped away from vegetarianism (so did Edgar) and soapbox-politics while Catootje seemed to have lost one or two years in the process.

2000s

In 2002, JJJ was adapted into a Polish-made cartoon-series; two episodes were released on a DVD.

In 2003, Jacky had another make-over. Jack was kindly surprised and almost believed that he took a strange woman to see his place

In 2005, JJJ was adapted converted into a musical.

2006 saw the first in a row of theme-issues; fashion, parenthood, holidays, puberty, horse-riding and boys.

After years without a steady boyfriend, Karlijn dated Thomas for a while and had Jack shave his moustache because she didn't pierce her tongue. Her classmate and best female friend Germaine (another name-resurrection after Harold) was the topic of conversation in album 33. In 2009 Karlijn was given a 5-page solo-series in the Dutch girl's magazine Tina, which was followed by the spin-off series Karlijn, Catootje en de Ouders in the same magazine since 2011.

2010s

Since January 5, 2010 Edgar appears in his own series of triple-framers made for Metro-style newspaper Spits. The other pets play supporting roles.

On the eve of JJJ's 40th anniversary, Jacky stepped on the retro-bandwagon and readopted her bowler-cut.

Hanna, last seen helping out Jacky with the VM-party, returned from Germany as a single woman; she's now signed in at an online gay-dating agency.

In other media

In the mid-1980s a television adaptation was made by Han Peekel and Wouter Stips. ^[8]

Source

External links

• Janjans (Dutch)