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| format = Multiple one-shots, limited series, strips, graphic novel
| format = Multiple one-shots, limited series, strips, graphic novel
| publisher=Oni Press (1999-2003)<br />Dark Horse (2004-2006)<br />Top Cow (2008-2014)<br />IDW (2016- )
| publisher=Oni Press (1999-2003)<br />Dark Horse (2004-2006)<br />Top Cow (2008-2014)<br />IDW (2016- )
| date = 2000-
| date = 1999-
| issues = 15 + graphic novel, strips and short stories
| issues = 15 + graphic novel, strips and short stories
| genre = Humor
| genre = Humor

Revision as of 21:31, 17 December 2016

Jingle Belle
Jingle Belle: Gift Wrapped (Dec. 2011). Cover art by Stephanie Gladden
Publication information
PublisherOni Press (1999-2003)
Dark Horse (2004-2006)
Top Cow (2008-2014)
IDW (2016- )
ScheduleSporadic
FormatMultiple one-shots, limited series, strips, graphic novel
GenreHumor
Publication date1999-
No. of issues15 + graphic novel, strips and short stories
Main character(s)Jingle Belle
Santa Claus
Tashi Ounce
Polly Green
Ida Red
Creative team
Created byPaul Dini
Written byPaul Dini
Artist(s)Stephen DeStefano, Jose Garibaldi, Bill Morrison, Stepahine Gladden, et al
Collected editions
Jingle Belle: The Whole Package!ISBN 978-1-63140-703-1

Jingle Belle is a comics character created by Paul Dini. She's Santa Claus's spoiled teenage daughter. The stories depict Jingle's usually contentious relationship with her famous father. Most of the stories center around Jing's rebellion against her father's authority and her family responsibilities, which include making toys and preparing for and helping with Santa's Christmas Eve journey each year. She is usually motivated by her feeling unappreciated or being jealous of the attention her father pays to all the children of the world.

Jingle Belle has appeared in a number of creator-owned comic books, short stories, strips, and a graphic novel, most written by Dini and illustrated by variety of artists, including Stephen DeStefano, Jose Garibaldi, Bill Morrison, J. Bone, Sergio Aragonés, Kyle Baker and Stephanie Gladden.

Origins and Influences

The idea for Jingle Belle's story came to Paul Dini after he received a Christmas card from film director Steven Spielberg and his family. This caused Dini to wonder how world-famous celebrities were perceived by their own children, and whether they might feel some resentment at having to share their famous fathers with the world.[1]

Dini has stated that Jingle Belle "spins out of my love for just sitting down and reading a good, fun Sunday morning comic strip panel... They're like a Sunday page, back when they could really take some room and play with the Sunday page format a little bit."[2] She also represents the idea of the innocence of children's Christmas television specials, as seen by older children who have outgrown their childhood innocence and become more jaded.[3]

Publication history

In 1998, Paul Dini was offered the opportunity to develop two humor series for comics publisher Oni Press. One of these was "Honor Rollers," a series about students at a prep school, which did not go forward. The other was Jingle Belle.[4] The original character designs were done by animation artist Lynne Naylor based on Dini's sketches. The first Jingle Belle story, "Sanity Clauses," appeared in Oni Double Feature #13 in the summer of 1999, illustrated by Stephen DiStefano. This was followed in winter 1999 by a two-issue miniseries also illustrated by DiStefano: "Miserable on 34th Street"/"Santa's Little Hellion."[5][6]

In October 2000, these stories formed the basis of the first Jingle Belle trade paperback collection, Naughty and Nice, with the addition of some short stories and pinups.[7]

The years 2000 and 2001 continued the schedule of releasing one Jingle Belle story during the summer and one during the winter, around the Christmas season. A short story, "Belle of the Brawl," appeared in Oni Press Summer Vacation Supercolor Fun Special (summer 2000), followed by Jingle Belle's All-Star Holiday Hullabaloo (winter)[8], a collection of short stories. 2001 brough the one-shots "The Mighty Elves" (summer)[9] and "Jubilee" (winter)[10]. "The Mighty Elves" was nominated for a 2002 Eisner Award in the category of "Best Humor Publication," losing to the Simpsons comic "Radioactive Man."[11]

November 2002 saw publication of the second trade paperback, Jingle Belle's Cool Yule, collecting all the material from 2000 and 2001.[12]

In winter 2002 the final Jingle Belle one-shot published by Oni Press appeared, "Winter Wingding."[13] At this time Paul Dini and Jose Garibaldi worked on the first full-length Jingle Belle graphic novel, entitled Dash Away All. The project fell behind schedule, however, and the decision was made to publish the uninked pencils rather than delay the book until the following year.[14] The graphic novel appeared in digest format in December 2003, along with a few short stories including one about Hanukkah co-written with David Mandel.[15]

After Dash Away All, publication of Jingle Belle stories moved to Dark Horse Comics. In November 2004, Dark Horse began publishing a 4-issue, full-color miniseries illustrated by Jose Garibaldi. The first issue, "A Very Special Jingle Belle Special" (November 2004)[16] and the second, "Belle's Beaus" (December 2004)[17] were stand-alone stories, followed in February and April 2005 by the two-part "Ring-a-Ding Jing."[18][19]

In September 2005, these issues were collected into a trade paperback, entitled Jingle Belle.[20]

December 2005 saw the appearance of the one-shot "The Fight Before Christmas," illustrated by Stephanie Gladden.[21]

In December 2006 came "The Bakers Meet Jingle Belle," a one-shot illustrated by Kyle Baker in which Jing has a Christmas Eve encounter with the artist and his family.

In 2007, Paul Dini debuted his creator-owned character Madame Mirage at Top Cow Productions. Having a good relationship with the company, he decided to move his other creator-owned characters, including Jingle Belle, over to Top Cow. A new imprint, DiniCartoons, was launched in order to publish them. The intent was also to develop stories around Jing's supporting characters Polly Green, the Halloween witch; Tashi Ounce, the Tibetan snow leopard; and Sheriff Ida Red, who had already starred in her own miniseries and trade paperback (Mutant, Texas) in the Oni Press days. New characters, such as Little Rashy and Superrica the sock monkeys, and Hyper Hyena, were also planned for development.[22][23]

The first one-shot for Top Cow, "Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein," appeared in December 2008, with Stephanie Gladden returning on art.[24]

In 2010, Top Cow solicited a new Jingle Belle trade paperback collection, Stocking Stuffers, which would have included "Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein," a new one-shot entitled "Grounded," a story co-starring Polly Green called "Slaybelle," and some short stories. However, this volume was removed from the publication schedule. Instead, all of its contents (except "Slaybelle") were combined with the Top Cow Holiday Special and published in flipbook format.[25] A year later in December 2011, the Jingle Belle portion of the flipbook was reprinted as a stand-alone comic called "Gift Wrapped."[26] To date, these have been the last new published Jingle Belle stories.

In October 2016, IDW Publishing released The Whole Package!, a 432-page compendium containing almost all of the published Jingle Belle stories,[27][28] with the notable excepti Away All graphic novel and the short stories that accompanied it.[29]

In Other Media

In 1999, it was announced that Jingle Belle would be adapted as a live-action feature film by Revolution Studios, scripted by Gina Wendkos (Jersey Girl, Coyote Ugly, The Princess Diaries). However, this project did not move forward.

Four short Flash-animated cartoons appeared on the JingleBelle.com website in 2000.[30]

Paul Dini has stated that he would like to see Jingle Belle star in an animated Christmas TV special. He has received proposals to do film adaptations, but does not want to give up ownership or control of the character.[31]

Several Jingle Belle merchandise items have been marketed over the years, including a statuette by Dynamic Forces and another by Electric Tiki; a bobblehead doll by Funko; a Christmas tree ornament depicting the Jose Garibaldi design of Jing; a lunch box; holiday notecards, and a t-shirt.

Characters

Jingle Belle Kringle - The rebellious and mischievous, but ultimately good-hearted daughter of Santa Claus and his wife, Queen Mirabelle. In "Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein" she gives her age as 151 ("that's sixteen in elf years"). She appears to be an attractive teenage girl with pointed ears, blonde hair and blue eyes. Her typical costume consists of green shortalls over a white cardigan sweater, red and white striped stockings, black boots, and sometimes a green "elf hat" with a red feather. According to Paul Dini, "she's just a fun personality who rebels against an established structure. That structure just happens to be her father and all the Christmas stuff."[32] Jing's troublemaking often stems either from her desire to avoid her family Christmas duties, or to express her opinion that her father doesn't appreciate her and is too hard on her. Sometimes, however, the trouble she gets into results from attempts to help people, especially those she feels are being taken advantage of. Jingle Belle is a good athlete, although she tends to be violently hyper-competitive, and is the captain of the North Pole Elves hockey team.

Kris Kringle (a.k.a. Santa Claus, St. Nicholas) - Jing's father, the embodiment of Christmas cheer, generosity and goodwill. In the reality of the Jingle Belle comics, Santa is not a legend but a well-known real celebrity who delivers toys to the good children of the world in his flying sleigh on Christmas Eve. He often takes Jing along on these trips in an attempt to instill in her a sense of family responsibility... usually to his regret. Santa's well-intentioned attempts to discipline his daughter usually only serve to make her rebel more, although deep down they love each other and there have been moments when at least a temporary connection has been made.

Queen Mirabelle (a.k.a. Mrs. Santa Claus) - The Queen of the Northern Elves, Santa's wife and Jingle Belle's mother. Centuries ago, Mirabelle and her elves were enslaved by the evil Blizzard Wizard but were freed by Santa Claus, with help from many of the sentient animals who populate the North Pole region. Shortly thereafter, she and Santa married and had their only child, Jingle Belle. Although she is often dismayed by her daughter's antics, she is less harsh in her response, and Jing has a more positive relationship with her than with her father.

Polly Green - A teenaged witch from Autumn Falls, Massachusetts, and one of Jing's best friends. They met while both were on a television talk show with the theme "My kid is a holiday horror." Polly has powerful magical abilities, which her greedy family tries to exploit for their own benefit. She is fully capable of taking care of herself, however, and often offers her magical assistance in Jing's various schemes.[33] Polly usually wears a revealing costume similar to Jingle Belle's, but with a Halloween theme rather than a Christmas one.

Tashi Ounce - An anthropomorphic, female Tibetan snow leopard. Tashi is the captain of a hockey team (made up of other girl snow leopards like her) that is the arch-rival of Jingle Belle's Elves. Tashi is a sports enthusiast like Jing, and they met as competitors at the "All Arctic Winter Games" where they immediately demonstrated their sportsmanship by kneecapping each other, Tonya Harding style. Known for their fierce and incredibly violent rivalry on the ice, they are actually fairly friendly with each other outside of competitive events.

Sheriff Ida Red - Ida Red is a teenage girl with mutant powers who serves as the sheriff of the town of Mutant, Texas. She has the power to fire powerful energy bolts from her hands, thus precluding the need to carry a gun; she can also fly for a limited amount of time. She has a mutant jaguar companion named Cat. Ida Red met and befriended Jing when they teamed up to rescue Santa from a family of local criminals, the Kiyotes, who had "bushwhacked" and kidnapped him on his Christmas Eve journey.

Eddie - One of the senior elves at the North Pole, Eddie may be recognized by his sunglasses, cheap suit, and porkpie hat. He is known for his vast and varied collection of holiday music. Eddie was inspired by Paul Dini's friend, screenwriter Eddie Gorodetsky, who was also known for his large collection of Christmas records.[34]

Gretchen Sweetsong and Rosetta Rosedew - Two elf girls who are among Jing's best friends at the North Pole; they are frequently dragged along on her exploits, and get into trouble as a result.

Thrasher - Jingle Belle's giant musk ox "steed." Thrasher can fly, propelling himself by jet propulsion courtesy of his impressive flatulence. Like all North Pole animals, Thrasher has human intelligence and can speak, although he seldom does so.

The Blizzard Wizard - Santa's former arch-nemesis, the Blizzard Wizard can control the weather to create blizzards and ice storms. His minions are the Soft Servants, creatures made of rancid ice cream. Centuries ago, the Wizard enslaved the Northern Elves and their Queen, Mirabelle. Santa Claus launched an assault which freed them. The Wizard's power was then held in check by a magical snowball in Santa's possession, but he later freed himself through trickery. The Wizard resented the fact that Santa had displaced him as the popular embodiment of winter. As of Dash Away All, however, they have concluded a truce.

Heidi Hoarfrost - The Blizzard Wizard's niece and assistant, she also has control over weather. She attempted to sabotage Jingle Belle's attempt to complete her father's Christmas Eve rounds when Santa was ill with pneumonia. Like her uncle, she now observes an uneasy truce with the North Pole crew.

Krampus - Peter Krampus is a demonic-looking fellow who, in centuries past, accompanied Santa on his rounds in order to frighten bad children. In the modern era of more lax discipline, however, his services have not been requested, which has caused him to feel neglected and somewhat bitter.

Collected editions

Title Date Publisher ISBN Contents
Jingle Belle: Naughty and Nice October 2000 Oni Press 1-929998-08-2 The 2-issue miniseries, the short story from Oni Double Feature #13, a one-pager and a new color story
Jingle Belle's Cool Yule November 2002 Oni Press 1-929998-36-8 Jingle Belle's All-Star Holiday Hullabaloo, The Mighty Elves and Jubilee
Jingle Belle: Dash Away All December 2003 Oni Press 1-929998-61-9 Original graphic novel plus a few short stories, including "Oy, Chanukah!" co-written with David Mandel
Jingle Belle September 2005 Dark Horse Comics 1-59307-382-8 The four-issue Dark Horse miniseries
Jingle Belle: The Whole Package! November 2016 IDW Publishing 978-1-63140-703-1 All Jingle Belle comics published to date, except Dash Away All

Key Stories

Sanity Clauses - The Claus family visits a therapist to work through their problems. Jingle Belle feels unappreciated by her father, as he gives her only lumps of coal as Christmas presents. Santa recounts some highlights of Jing's naughtiness, including beating up her cousin Rusty and allowing Santa's sleigh to be stolen by thieves while making the Christmas Eve rounds. Jing resolves to be good... at least long enough to earn the new snowboard she wants for Christmas.

Miserable on 34th Street/Santa's Little Hellion - Jingle Belle tries to prove herself by taking over her father's "department store Santa" gig, with un-jolly results. She also accidentally allows her father's old arch-enemy, the Blizzard Wizzard, to break free of his captivity and once more enslave the North Pole. Jing and her friends need to rally all of Santa's old allies in order to save Christmas.

A Carol's Christmas - Jing tries to make amends for a cruel trick she played on her father's favorite assistant decades ago.

Belle's Belles - Jingle Belle hits upon the idea to increase the Christmas charity haul by replacing unkempt streetcorner Santas with beautiful young girls.

The Mighty Elves - As punishment for causing havoc at a nearby Air Force base, Jingle Belle is made to join the North Pole hockey team, coached by her father. Her incredibly violent but effective role as the team's enforcer brings them from last place to the championship game. However, Santa's arch-enemy the Blizzard Wizard bribes most of the league coaches to let his own team cheat its way to the title. Fortunately Tashi Ounce -- the only team leader to refuse the Wizard's offer -- arrives in time to alert Jing and save the game.

Jubilee - Jing sneaks out of her Christmas duties in order to have a slumber party with her friends Polly Green, Ida Red, and Tashi Ounce. She tells the stories of how she first met each of them.

Winter Wingding - While writing the Kringle family's annual Christmas card letter (and getting drunk on bourbon balls), Queen Mirabelle recounts some of Jingle Belle's exploits from the previous year. These include signing the family up for an Osbournes-like reality show ("The Clausebornes") and forming a rock band with her friends Ida Red, Polly and Tashi despite the fact that none of them can play any instruments.

Dash Away All - Following an attack by the Blizzard Wizard and his niece Heidi Hoarfrost just before Christmas, Santa Claus and all his reindeer come down with pneumonia. Jingle Belle has to make the Christmas Eve rounds herself, in a sleigh pulled by a motley group of North Pole animals she's rounded up... one of whom is a saboteur planted by Heidi Hoarfrost to put an end to the Kringles.

A Very Special Jingle Belle Special - Unhappy at her lack of representation in Christmas pop culture, Jingle Belle resolves to make an animated holiday special starring herself. She soon finds that the Hollywood machine is not necessarily on board with her creative vision, however.

Belle's Beaus - A man who met Jingle Belle as a child works to track down any information he can find about her. He meets a group of veterans who had a life-saving encounter with her during World War II.

Ring-a-Ding Jing - Jing tries to save a failing Christmas-themed amusement park by expanding it into a glitzy casino. But she runs afoul of a local mobster who wants a cut of the action, and the park's owner, who just wants his family-friendly place back.

Jingle Belle Meets the Bakers - Sneaking away from her Christmas Eve duties, Jingle Belle finds herself hired as a babysitter by cartoonist Kyle Baker while he and his wife do some last-minute Christmas shopping. Jing steals her father's sleigh and takes the Baker children on a whirlwind tour of the North Pole.

The Fight Before Christmas - During a hockey match between Jing's North Pole hockey team and Tashi Ounce's Tibet Snow Leopards, the two team captains alternate between pounding each other on the ice and gossiping in the penalty box.

Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein - A social activist tries to turn the world against Santa Claus in order to gain publicity for herself. Meanwhile, Jingle Belle finds Frankenstein's Monster frozen in the North Pole ice and thaws him out. "Frank" takes a job in Santa's Workshop and helps his new boss solve his PR problem.

Grounded - Santa and Jing become locked in a particularly nasty argument. Santa is angry that Jing built a robot double of herself so she could sneak away from her Christmas season duties, and Jing is upset because Santa marketed a popular doll that she created without giving her credit. Santa's disgruntled former associate, Krampus, is called upon to mediate the argument... and declares that both Santa and Jing are grounded, just before the Christmas holiday.

References

  1. ^ "One on One with Paul Dini | HoboTrashcan". www.hobotrashcan.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  2. ^ "PAUL DINI Talks JINGLE BELLE, Animation & Return to Comics". Newsarama. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  3. ^ "Paul Dini - Launching Dinitoons at Top Cow". Newsarama. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  4. ^ "FOG! Chats With The Inimitable Paul Dini About 'Jingle Belle: The Whole Package'". Forces of Geek. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  5. ^ "Jingle Belle (1999) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  6. ^ "Jingle Belle (1999) #2 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  7. ^ "Jingle Belle: Naughty & Nice (2000) TPB - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  8. ^ "Jingle Belle's All Star Holiday Hullabaloo (2000) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  9. ^ "Jingle Belle: The Mighty Elves (2001) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  10. ^ "Jingle Belle: Jubilee (2001) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  11. ^ "2002 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards". www.hahnlibrary.net. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  12. ^ "Jingle Belle's Cool Yule (2002) TPB - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  13. ^ "Jingle Belle: Winter Wingding (2002) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  14. ^ "FOG! Chats With The Inimitable Paul Dini About 'Jingle Belle: The Whole Package'". Forces of Geek. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  15. ^ "Jingle Belle: Dash Away All! (2003) OGN SC - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  16. ^ "Jingle Belle (2004) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  17. ^ "Jingle Belle (2004) #2 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  18. ^ "Jingle Belle (2004) #3 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  19. ^ "Jingle Belle (2004) #4 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  20. ^ "Jingle Belle (2004) TPB - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  21. ^ "Jingle Belle: The Fight Before Christmas (2005) One-Shot - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  22. ^ "Comic Related - Dinicartoons Joins Top Cow". www.comicrelated.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  23. ^ "REFLECTIONS: Paul Dini, Part I". CBR.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  24. ^ "Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein (2008) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  25. ^ "Top Cow Holiday Special (2010) #1 - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  26. ^ "Jingle Belle: Gift-Wrapped (2011) One-Shot - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  27. ^ "Jingle Belle: The Whole Package (2016) TPB - Comic Book DB". www.comicbookdb.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  28. ^ "INTERVIEW: Paul Dini on Steven Spielberg's Influence & Redefining Mr. Freeze". CBR.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  29. ^ "FOG! Chats With The Inimitable Paul Dini About 'Jingle Belle: The Whole Package'". Forces of Geek. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  30. ^ "Jingle Belle Toons". jinglebelle.com. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  31. ^ "PAUL DINI Talks JINGLE BELLE, Animation & Return to Comics". Newsarama. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  32. ^ "PAUL DINI Talks JINGLE BELLE, Animation & Return to Comics". Newsarama. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  33. ^ "The Stars of Dinicartoons: Polly Green". Newsarama. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
  34. ^ Gorodetsky, Eddie (2000). Naughty and Nice. Portland, OR: Oni Press. pp. Introduction. ISBN 1-929998-08-2.
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