Jonni Future

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jonni Future

Jonni Future, as realized by Art Adams.
Publication information
Publisher America's Best Comics
First appearance Tom Strong's Terrific Tales #1
Created by Steve Moore
Art Adams
In story information
Alter ego Jonni Ray
Abilities None, but is smart and capable. Possesses a universal translator helmet, a fish-shaped spaceship and a ray gun along with other 'pulp style' equipment.

Jonni Future is a fictional comic book heroine, who appeared in the pages of Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, a series published under writer Alan Moore's America's Best Comics universe. All stories were written by Steve Moore (no relation) and most of them were illustrated by Art Adams.

Jonni Future's character and stories are an amalgamation of John Carter of Mars, Captain Future, Adam Strange, Buck Rogers and Barbarella, the major thematic change being her gender compared to the stereotypical male hero.

The plots are deliberate homages to pulp science fiction pulp magazines, due to the plot point that her uncle Johnny Future often returned to 20th century Earth and wrote up his adventures as pulp fiction in a magazine named Startling Stories, a reference to the real-life magazine Amazing Stories. The result is that many of the characters and situations that are considered outlandish and silly by the heroine (and readers) are actually reality in the stories.

The plots usually involve binary opposition. Jonni Future often becomes a barely-clothed damsel in distress despite being a strong female character and eventually winning by her own efforts. Specific examples in the stories include a group of 16th century Christian witch-hunters being transposed into the future, the literal "end of the world", and their reaction to technology and customs that brings them to believe Jonni Future to be a witch. A continuing theme is Jermaal's unrequited lust for Jonni Future.

[edit] Origin

Jonni travels between this far future reality and one which resembles our own. Her entry into the life of a costumed pulp adventuress comes when she inherits her uncle's spooky old mansion, on the condition it cannot be sold. On spending the night, she finds her uncle's old magazines and starts reading about his fanciful exploits.

Jonni is disturbed and encounters the paraman Jermaal Van Pavane, an anthropomorphic (furry) cheetah, who crossed from the pulp universe via a dimensional bridge in the attic. He brings her back, shows her the ropes and becomes her sidekick (and ardent admirer) in the campy action, explaining that her uncle wished her to take up his mantle as a hero and protector of the Grand Array, the fantastic universe he lost his life defending. His legacy to Jonni includes trappings like the fish-shaped spaceship Coelacanth, a war suit and a "universal translator" helmet that enable the adventures to take place.

[edit] Issues

Tomorrow Stories 64-Page Specials

  • Special #1 (26 October 2005)
  • Special #2 (8 March 2006)
Languages