Herb and Jamaal

Herb and Jamaal is a comic strip by Stephen Bentley syndicated by Creators Syndicate. It is published daily and centers on the eponymous friends who run a diner together, inspired by the illustrator's experience at a high school reunion,[1] and a desire to provide increased representation for black people in comics. According to Bentley, "Some of the characters in 'Herb and Jamaal' partially come from myself and people that I know but the full story is just a fantasy..."[2]

Herb and Jamaal
Author(s)Stephen Bentley
Current status/schedulecurrent daily & Sunday strip
Launch date1989 (1989)
Syndicate(s)Creators Syndicate
Genre(s)Humor

Story and characters

The strip centers around the title characters and the diner they run together.

  • Herbert Johnson, a former quality control technician at the gas works, a schemer, but not underhanded.[2]
  • Jamaal J. Jamaal, a former NBA center for the Phazers[3] (a fictional team).
  • Sarah Johnson, Herb's wife.[4]
  • 'Uhuru Johnson, Herb and Sarah's daughter.
  • Ezekiel Johnson, Herb and Sarah's son.[5]
  • Eula, Sarah's mother.[6]
  • Yolanda, the object of Jamaal's fawning affection.[7] The feeling is only somewhat reciprocated.
  • Kim, a postal worker.[8]
  • Mr. C, a blond customer who often visits the diner.[9] Bentley said that Mr. C's name began as Charles to honor a childhood friend. However, some took it to be a derogatory reference ("Mister Charlie" was used within the African American community to refer to an imperious white man or a man in charge), so he shortened it. He now thinks of it as C for Common.[10]
  • Ed, a curly-haired diner patron.[11]
  • Reverend Croom[6]
  • Ernie, a taxi driver who also always wears sunglasses.[12]

References
  1. "About Stephen Bentley". Creators Syndicate. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
  2. Resler, Jerry (1989-08-07). "'Herb & Jamaal' added to comics". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
  3. Bentley, Stephen (September 9, 2013). "Herb and Jamaal". GoComics.com. Retrieved 2013-09-09.
  4. Bentley, September 23, 2012
  5. Bentley, September 30, 2013
  6. Bentley, October 20, 2013
  7. Bentley, September 17, 2012
  8. Bentley, August 29, 2013
  9. Bentley, September 23, 2013
  10. https://www.gocomics.com/herbandjamaal/2020/08/18?ct=v&cti=76520&comments=visible#comments -- See IDrawH&J's posts under Nailer's comment
  11. Bentley, October 6, 2013
  12. Bentley, September 12, 2013
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