The beloved Scottish comedy duo, Jack Jarvis and Victor McDade from Still Game, have now made their way into the world of comic books with the release of “He Who Hingeth Aboot Getteth Hee Haw.” This exciting new venture brings the iconic characters to life in cartoon form, along with other fan-favorite residents of Craiglang. The comic book will showcase illustrations of classic episodes from the hit series that aired for nine successful seasons from 2002 to 2019.
Renowned artists such as Dean Rankine, known for his work on popular comics like The Simpsons, Futurama, and Rick & Morty, as well as Jamie Buchanan, who has credits with Disney and Nick Jr., have lent their talents to this project. Additionally, Gary Welsh, based in Motherwell and known for his work on ‘Faimly’ and ‘Scones’, has contributed to Judge Dredd Magazine, The Broons, and Oor Wullie. The cover artist and main character designer, Steve Bright, co-creator of Bananaman and a prolific contributor to The Beano and The Dandy, has brought his expertise to the creation of this comic book.
Co-star Mr. Kiernan, who portrayed Jack in Still Game, expressed his excitement about the comic book adaptation, stating, “Greg and I are huge fans of things like Oor Wullie. Greg has a Marvel connection and has always collected comics. Gordon has taken our idea to see Jack and Victor and all the Still Game gang in comic book form, and turned it into something wonderful.” He further added, “We have a long history in Scotland of waiting for Christmas to get an annual, then spending an hour on Christmas Day in a corner reading it. It’s an old fashioned idea in that respect, back to roots, and I love that about it.”
Mr. Hemphill, the other half of the Still Game duo, shared his thoughts on the comic book adaptation, highlighting the creative liberties taken by the artists. He said, “The comic version of Still Game has its own flights of fancy. There are things in the comics which the cartoonists have put in which didn’t exist either in our head or in the TV show. So there are loads of Easter eggs in there for readers.” Working closely with Gordon and his team on the comics allowed them to see Still Game from a fresh perspective and witness the characters in a new light.
Gordon Tait, former DC Thomson Heritage Editor with a rich background in iconic comic book titles like Dennis & Gnasher, Oor Wullie, and The Broons, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. He mentioned, “Not every TV show will lend itself to the comic book treatment, but Still Game has been perfect.” Tait described the project as his most ambitious and creatively rewarding one to date, with plans already underway for a second book in the series.
Beyond the world of television, Jack and Victor have ventured into various other ventures, including the release of a Still Game blended whisky in 2021, followed by Still Gin the following year. Despite facing opposition from American bourbon giant Jack Daniel’s over the trademark for Jack and Victor Blended Whisky, the UK Intellectual Property Office ruled in favor of Mr. Kiernan and Mr. Hemphill. Additionally, fans can enjoy a Jack and Victor chilli and garlic sauce, and the characters have graced the stage in a series of highly successful live shows, entertaining a total of 500,000 people across fifty performances from 2014 to 2019.
All episodes of Still Game were written by its stars, with Gavin Mitchell as Boaby the Barman, Paul Riley as Winston Ingram, Mark Cox as Tam Mullen, Sanjeev Kohli as Navid Harrid, and Jane McCarry as Isa Drennan bringing the colorful residents of Craiglang to life. The show concluded in 2019 with an emotional final episode that envisioned the eventual passing of the main characters, leaving fans with a bittersweet conclusion to the beloved series.
The comic book adaptation of Still Game offers a fresh and exciting way for fans to engage with the iconic characters and their adventures in Craiglang. With a talented team of artists and creators bringing the beloved duo of Jack and Victor to life in comic form, this new venture promises to delight fans of the hit series and introduce a new generation to the timeless humor and charm of Still Game. Pre-orders for the comic book are now available, offering fans the opportunity to delve into the world of Craiglang in a whole new way.