Notable Christian Comics Series
The Jungle Doctor comics (and Polar Parables)

Jungle Doctor creator/writer
Dr. Paul White


"Jungle Doctor" titles [12]
"Polar Parable" titles
[3]



Jungle Doctor Comics

T he "Jungle Doctor" comics are a series of "jungle animal fables in cartoon form" with Gospel messages for children. Each comic contains a complete, original parable and ends with a page explaining the spiritual application. These comics were developed from the Christian storybooks of Dr. Paul White , a well-known Australian writer and medical missionary in Tanganyika.

Artist Graham Wade began to produce the illustrations for Dr. White's early "Jungle Doctor" books (the hospital series) in the mid 1940's. In the 1950s Wade drew "Jungle Doctor Meets a Lion" as a comic strip for a monthly children's mission publication. Later Dr. White asked Wade and other artists to turn some of his stories into comic books.


Jungle Doctor cartoonists
David Whittam and Graham Wade in 2006
Starting in 1975, twelve "Jungle Doctor" comics were published by Paul White Productions, a company founded in 1971 by Dr. White and his wife Ruth. Each comic book was 10 pages + cover, in black and white with colour covers. In addition to Wade , illustrators for the series included Harry Rogers and David Whittam. Colour overlays were prepared for the interiors in 1981 when a Hong Kong missionary press was found prepared to print large runs.

In March 2001, Ruth White reported this about the circulation of the series: "I looked back over our [Australian] sales since the 12 [color] titles were printed in 1981. (Prior to that we had published a number of titles in black and white with coloured covers - they sold well but I don't have figures.) As near as I can make it, [Australian] sales total 520,000 (1/2 million +). Doesn't include English in the UK and the US. They wouldn't have had equivalent sales. There have been multiple other languages where we have given permission on a royalty-free basis. All we saw was samples on the first printing. With translations of books, including comics, totalling 106 languages I have no way of knowing the true situation ... We wouldn't be exaggerating if we said over 1 million (comics) worldwide."

The "Jungle Doctor" comics have been used in every setting, from Scripture classes to beach missions. Some of the stories were reprinted in black-and-white in the French comic magazine Tournesol in the 1970s.


These comics are still available today through KOORONG in Australia. [Hint: Search the website for keyword "jungle doctor comic"]


Jungle Doctor Comic Series Titles

#1 - THE WISDOM OF DONKEYS
ISBN #1863060030
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
See what happens when Punda the donkey can't make up his mind.

#2 - THE MONKEYS WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IN CROCODILES
ISBN #1863060057
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
A moonlit night by the water and monkeys who don't believe that crocodiles exist... a very dangerous combination!

# 3 - MONKEY IN A LION SKIN
ISBN #1863060138
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
Monkey believes a lion skin can turn him into a lion until he meets the real thing!

#4 - MONKEY IN THE BOG
ISBN #1863060146
[Script by Paul White, art by David Whittam]
Toto the monkey and trouble go together again. This time he faces disaster as he sinks in the bog...

#5 - LITTLE LEOPARDS BECOME BIG LEOPARDS
ISBN #1863060049
[Script by Paul White, art by Harry Rogers]
Little leopard is cute and cuddly but the children find out what happens when he becomes a big leopard.

#6 - THE GOAT WHO WANTED TO BECOME A LION
ISBN #186306009X
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
Goat discovers that becoming a lion is more than copying lion behaviour.

#7 - THE STICKY END
ISBN #1863060103
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
Monkey loves honey but can't see how important it is for him to get away from forest fire.

#8 - SAFE AS POISON
ISBN #1863060111
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
Nzoka the snake thinks he is very clever when it comes to stealing eggs... but he is not as clever as he thinks.

#9 - OUT ON A LIMB
ISBN #186306012X
[Script by Paul White, art by David Whittam]
Before you cut off a limb it is important to look where you are standing... as monkey finds out.

#1O - KNOTS UNTIED
ISBN #1863060065
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
Rhino is proud of his strength but finds that one vine too many defeats him.

#11 - THE HELPFULNESS OF HIPPO
ISBN #1863060073
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
Hippo can tell antelope how not to fall into traps but can't help him out of one.

#12- THE GREAT WALL
ISBN #1863060081
[Script by Paul White, art by Graham Wade ]
A great wall appears in the jungle and there is no way through... or is there?





Polar Parables writer
Clifford Warne
Polar Parable Comic Books

"Polar Parables" was a series created and written in 1988 by Clifford Warne, modeled after the "Jungle Doctor" comics by Dr. Paul White. The three comics in this series were all drawn by "Jungle Doctor" artist Graham Wade . 10,000 of each of the 3 titles were printed, but they did not prove to be as popular as the "Jungle Doctor" series. The last of copies of these "Polar Parables" booklets were sold in 2005.

#1 - WHO'S A FRIEND OF THE BIG, BAD WOLF?
ISBN #1863060006
[Script by Clifford Warne, art by Graham Wade ]
#2 - RUNAWAY REINDEER
ISBN #1863060014
[Script by Clifford Warne, art by Graham Wade ]
#3 - LIFESAVER WANTED
ISBN #1863060022
[Script by Clifford Warne, art by Graham Wade ]