E. Normus Johnson
Encyclopedia
E. Normus Johnson is fictional character who is the subject (and thus the voice) of Big Johnson
T-shirt
s. Each shirt has a caption and image that plays on the phallic slang meaning of the term Johnson using double entendre
s. E. Normus is always the main character of the image and is a popular part of American counterculture
.
E. Normus Johnson is depicted as a scrawny, freckle-faced, bespectacled, red-haired geek
. He is described as "a geekier version of MAD magazine' s Alfred E. Neuman
" by brandchannel
. He is known for his nerdiness and his unconfirmed claims of gargantuan physical endowment. Created in 1988 or 1989, depending on the source, he had appeared in 120 cartoon depictions by novelty t-shirt designers Maryland Screenprinters in their primary business line
of Big Johnson T-shirts by 1995. In 2009, MBM celebrated 20 years of Big Johnson apparel. The cartoons are all juvenile humor that allude to male genitalia without ever mentioning it by using the double entendre of the Big Johnson name. Using no nudity most t-shirts depict the mascot with a caption
containing a clever pun
. Most of the comic art includes buxom adoring women accompanying E. Normus. Examples of the puns accompanying artistic depictions of E.Normus are "Big Johnson Fire Department: Break out your hose and pumper", "Big Johnson Fishing Gear: She’ll be ready to bite as soon as your fly drops", "Big Johnson Bar and Casino: Liquor up front. Poker in the rear", and "Big Johnson Tattoo Parlor: You’re going to feel more than a little prick". Johnson is the work of Maryland Screenprinters' artist Al Via. The common themes of the captions depict the target market
as firefighters, NASCAR fanatics, hunters, anglers, car buffs and, apparently, Southerners.
Big Johnson
Big Johnson is a brand that is marketed by Maryland Brand Management, Inc. , known for its T-shirts featuring E. Normus Johnson depicted in comic art featuring humorous sexual innuendos. MBM is the successor company to Maryland Screen Printers Inc. and G & C Sales, Inc...
T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s. Each shirt has a caption and image that plays on the phallic slang meaning of the term Johnson using double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
s. E. Normus is always the main character of the image and is a popular part of American counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
.
E. Normus Johnson is depicted as a scrawny, freckle-faced, bespectacled, red-haired geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
. He is described as "a geekier version of MAD magazine
Alfred E. Neuman
Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot and cover boy of Mad magazine. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed and named by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman...
" by brandchannel
Brandchannel
Brandchannel is a website about branding launched in 2001, with the goal of offering a global perspective on brands. Brandchannel is committed to providing readers with an accessible exploration and analysis of brands...
. He is known for his nerdiness and his unconfirmed claims of gargantuan physical endowment. Created in 1988 or 1989, depending on the source, he had appeared in 120 cartoon depictions by novelty t-shirt designers Maryland Screenprinters in their primary business line
Business line
Business Line or The Hindu Business Line is an Indian business newspaper published by Kasturi & Sons, the publishers of the newspaper The Hindu located in Chennai, India.-History:...
of Big Johnson T-shirts by 1995. In 2009, MBM celebrated 20 years of Big Johnson apparel. The cartoons are all juvenile humor that allude to male genitalia without ever mentioning it by using the double entendre of the Big Johnson name. Using no nudity most t-shirts depict the mascot with a caption
Caption
Caption may refer to:*Caption , a small press and independent comic convention held annually in Oxford, England*Closed captioning, used to provide the text of a show's audio portion to those who may have trouble hearing it...
containing a clever pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
. Most of the comic art includes buxom adoring women accompanying E. Normus. Examples of the puns accompanying artistic depictions of E.Normus are "Big Johnson Fire Department: Break out your hose and pumper", "Big Johnson Fishing Gear: She’ll be ready to bite as soon as your fly drops", "Big Johnson Bar and Casino: Liquor up front. Poker in the rear", and "Big Johnson Tattoo Parlor: You’re going to feel more than a little prick". Johnson is the work of Maryland Screenprinters' artist Al Via. The common themes of the captions depict the target market
Target market
A target market is a group of customers that the business has decided to aim its marketing efforts and ultimately its merchandise. A well-defined target market is the first element to a marketing strategy...
as firefighters, NASCAR fanatics, hunters, anglers, car buffs and, apparently, Southerners.
External links
- Big Johnson's Official Site - Warning: contains seminudity
- Big Johnson TV
- Big Johnson t-shirt archive at Baltimore Sun
- Big Johnson 2010 catalog - Warning: contains seminudity
- http://www.gallerywrapp.com/Big_Johnson.html - Big Johnson App for iPhone, iPad