Zap Zodiac
Encyclopedia
Zap Zodiac was a fictional character
in a comic strip
in the UK
comic
The Beano
. Drawn by Steve Horrocks, it first appeared in issue 3259, dated 1 January 2005, as part of Comic Idol- a selection of three comic strips to be voted in by Beano readers (the other two being Hugh Dunnit
and Christmas Carole
). Appearing in the comic throughout January, Zap was revealed to be the winner in issue 3268, dated 5 March 2005.
Zap (real name Frrtohrhron), a miniature alien
from Pluto
, flew down to Earth in order to study our "strange ways" and then to fly back to his planet. However, hit by one of the peas from Dennis the Menace
's pea shooter
, he is forced to make a crash landing in Beanotown
, specifically Dennis' home.
Soon after the strip started, Zap gained a robot
sidekick called Zoink. In the final installment (issue 3280, dated 28 May 2005), set in the playground
of Bash Street School, Zap and Zoink set up a catapult
connected to a mechanical arm, with the intention of using it to throw their spaceship (with them inside) back out into space, and towards their home planet. To test it they use a tub of semolina
, which works, so they get in their spaceship and are propelled into space by the contraption. However, on the way back to their home planet, they are hit by the semolina tub, and are propelled back to Earth. A similar strip, Home Invasion
, was one of the three strips up for the a permanent place in The Beano
in June 2010, along with Meebo & Zuky drawn by Laura Howell
, about a fighting cat and dog duo, and Uh, Oh, Si Co!, about a boy who'd get angry at the slightest annoyance. In the end, Meebo & Zuky won the vote and were launched properly in The Beano
. It still continues in The Beano today.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in a comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comic
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...
The Beano
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
. Drawn by Steve Horrocks, it first appeared in issue 3259, dated 1 January 2005, as part of Comic Idol- a selection of three comic strips to be voted in by Beano readers (the other two being Hugh Dunnit
Hugh Dunnit
Hugh Dunnit was a fictional character in a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano. It first appeared in issue 3259, dated 1 January 2005, as part of Comic Idol- a selection of three comic strips to be voted in by Beano readers...
and Christmas Carole
Christmas Carole
Christmas Carole was a fictional character in a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano, and previously The Beezer Annuals when the Beezer Comic became defunct...
). Appearing in the comic throughout January, Zap was revealed to be the winner in issue 3268, dated 5 March 2005.
Zap (real name Frrtohrhron), a miniature alien
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
from Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
, flew down to Earth in order to study our "strange ways" and then to fly back to his planet. However, hit by one of the peas from Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (UK)
Dennis the Menace, later called Dennis the Menace and Gnasher and now Dennis and Gnasher, is a long-running comic strip in the British children's comic The Beano, published by D. C...
's pea shooter
Pea shooter
Pea shooter can refer to:*Pea shooter , a toy consisting of a long tube that the user can blow through to shoot dried peas or small bits of paper*P-26 Peashooter, the first production all-metal monoplane fighter aircraft...
, he is forced to make a crash landing in Beanotown
Beanotown
Beanotown is a fictional town somewhere in the United Kingdom which is the setting for the majority of the strips in the popular children's comic, The Beano as well as the hometown of most of its characters...
, specifically Dennis' home.
Soon after the strip started, Zap gained a robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
sidekick called Zoink. In the final installment (issue 3280, dated 28 May 2005), set in the playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
of Bash Street School, Zap and Zoink set up a catapult
Slingshot
A slingshot, shanghai, flip, bean shooter or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame held in the off hand, with two rubber strips attached to the uprights. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket which holds the projectile...
connected to a mechanical arm, with the intention of using it to throw their spaceship (with them inside) back out into space, and towards their home planet. To test it they use a tub of semolina
Semolina
Semolina is the coarse, purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used in making pasta, and also used for breakfast cereals and puddings. Semolina is also used to designate coarse middlings from other varieties of wheat, and from other grains such as rice and corn.-Name:The term semolina derives from...
, which works, so they get in their spaceship and are propelled into space by the contraption. However, on the way back to their home planet, they are hit by the semolina tub, and are propelled back to Earth. A similar strip, Home Invasion
Home Invasion
Home Invasion is the fifth solo album by Ice-T. Released in 1993, the album Home Invasion is the fifth solo album by Ice-T. Released in 1993, the album Home Invasion is the fifth solo album by Ice-T. Released in 1993, the album (which was originally set to be released in 1992 under the deal with...
, was one of the three strips up for the a permanent place in The Beano
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
in June 2010, along with Meebo & Zuky drawn by Laura Howell
Laura Howell
Laura Howell is a British-born comic strip artist. She is the first female artist in the history of The Beano comic, and responsible for "Johnny Bean from Happy Bunny Green", "Les Pretend" and Beano Manga. She also drew Billy the Cat in the Special 70 Years Beano, and two Minnie the Minx strips...
, about a fighting cat and dog duo, and Uh, Oh, Si Co!, about a boy who'd get angry at the slightest annoyance. In the end, Meebo & Zuky won the vote and were launched properly in The Beano
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
. It still continues in The Beano today.