Fission Chicken
Encyclopedia
Fission Chicken is a comic book
and webcomic
character created by J.P. Morgan (1957-2010). Fission Chicken is a short-tempered superhero
chicken
who can fly, is extremely strong
, bulletproof
, and can project power bolts from his hands.
Starting in 1987, Fission Chicken appeared in numerous stories published in the comic book Critters
(Fantagraphics Books
), as well as his own series from the same publisher. Other appearances over the years include Plan Nine from Vortox (MU Press
), appearances in Furrlough (Radio Comix), Valiant Varmints and SFA Spotlight #14 (Shanda Fantasy Arts). Pages by J.P. Morgan can also be read on the Fission Chicken website.
Fission Chicken ("Fish" for short) fights a continuing battle against weird monsters and cultural brain death. Notably, he has battled the mind control attempts of Vortoxians (a malevolent race of alien marketing
experts), the Ditsy entertainment empire (a parody of The Walt Disney Company
), and Video Zombies. Some unusual opponents he has fought include the Ether Bunny (a rabbit bank-robber who uses airborne incapacitating agents on his victims), Percival Ulmer "P.U." Evolcraft (a somewhat deranged occultist and a satire on H. P. Lovecraft
), ambulatory living toilets, the movie monster Ferdie Cruller (a pun on Freddy Kruger), the Dero
(a subterranean race), and his own evil duplicate. Other characters in the series include Monica Fether (his beautiful girlfriend—who can also fire energy bolts), Skip Squirrelhard (his P.I.
friend, who aspires to be a children's book author), Dr. Lawrence Livergut and Crouton (a scientist and his assistant who often inadvertently create extra problems for our hero), and Norman Gnu (AKA Normannu the Gnostic
Gnu, a free-spirited mystic who travels through time).
Unlike most superhero characters, Fission Chicken does not use an alias to hide his identity, and simply goes by the name "Fission Chicken". Several episodes reveal that his base of operations is an apartment in an unnamed city in New Jersey, and his friend Skip Squirrelhard is his upstairs neighbor.
"Fission Chicken" creator John Patrick Morgan died December 30, 2010. He was 53 years old. His final online strip had appeared on Christmas Eve.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
and webcomic
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
character created by J.P. Morgan (1957-2010). Fission Chicken is a short-tempered superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
who can fly, is extremely strong
Strong
-People:*Strong *Strong Vincent , Union Army officer who played a major role in the Battle of Gettsyburg-Fictional characters :* Tom Strong, in comic book series* Captain Strong, in Superman comics series* Mr. Strong, in Mr...
, bulletproof
Bulletproof
Bulletproofing is the process of making something capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles e.g. shrapnel. The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials provide complete protection against all types of bullets, or multiple hits in the...
, and can project power bolts from his hands.
Starting in 1987, Fission Chicken appeared in numerous stories published in the comic book Critters
Critters
Critters was an animal anthology comic book published by Fantagraphics Books from 1985 to 1990 under the editorship of Kim Thompson.Prior to Furrlough and Genus, this was the longest running funny animal anthology comic book series. The title lasted for 50 issues...
(Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
), as well as his own series from the same publisher. Other appearances over the years include Plan Nine from Vortox (MU Press
MU Press
MU Press was an independent comic book publisher based in Seattle, Washington, which operated from 1990–c. 2006. MU Press was one of the industry's most prolific "furry" comic publishers, while its mid-90s imprint Aeon Publications specialized in alternative fare. MU Press was founded by...
), appearances in Furrlough (Radio Comix), Valiant Varmints and SFA Spotlight #14 (Shanda Fantasy Arts). Pages by J.P. Morgan can also be read on the Fission Chicken website.
Fission Chicken ("Fish" for short) fights a continuing battle against weird monsters and cultural brain death. Notably, he has battled the mind control attempts of Vortoxians (a malevolent race of alien marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
experts), the Ditsy entertainment empire (a parody of The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
), and Video Zombies. Some unusual opponents he has fought include the Ether Bunny (a rabbit bank-robber who uses airborne incapacitating agents on his victims), Percival Ulmer "P.U." Evolcraft (a somewhat deranged occultist and a satire on H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
), ambulatory living toilets, the movie monster Ferdie Cruller (a pun on Freddy Kruger), the Dero
Richard Sharpe Shaver
Richard Sharpe Shaver was an American writer and artist.He achieved notoriety in the years following World War II as the author of controversial stories which were printed in science fiction magazines , in which he claimed that he had personal experience of a sinister, ancient...
(a subterranean race), and his own evil duplicate. Other characters in the series include Monica Fether (his beautiful girlfriend—who can also fire energy bolts), Skip Squirrelhard (his P.I.
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
friend, who aspires to be a children's book author), Dr. Lawrence Livergut and Crouton (a scientist and his assistant who often inadvertently create extra problems for our hero), and Norman Gnu (AKA Normannu the Gnostic
Gnosticism
Gnosticism is a scholarly term for a set of religious beliefs and spiritual practices common to early Christianity, Hellenistic Judaism, Greco-Roman mystery religions, Zoroastrianism , and Neoplatonism.A common characteristic of some of these groups was the teaching that the realisation of Gnosis...
Gnu, a free-spirited mystic who travels through time).
Unlike most superhero characters, Fission Chicken does not use an alias to hide his identity, and simply goes by the name "Fission Chicken". Several episodes reveal that his base of operations is an apartment in an unnamed city in New Jersey, and his friend Skip Squirrelhard is his upstairs neighbor.
"Fission Chicken" creator John Patrick Morgan died December 30, 2010. He was 53 years old. His final online strip had appeared on Christmas Eve.
External links
- Webcomic: http://www.fissionchicken.com
- http://www.home.earthlink.net/~johnpmorgan/FCindex.htm
- http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/f/fissionchicken.htm
- Overview of FC art (with some animation) on YouTube
- Obituary for John P Morgan