North Bay teen pens comic book about fictional rescue mission in Nazi-occupied Europe
Fourteen-year-old Theo Behe never imagined that what started out as a school project on his Second World War relative would turn into his first published book.
Theo, who is from North Bay but currently studies in London, England, created a comic strip based on his great uncle Bert Houle as part of a school project. Houle was an ace pilot from Massey, Ont. During the war, he shot down over a dozen enemy fighters. Theo is thankful for his great uncle’s service.
Thomas Behe supplied photo of Bert Houle
"He was the main influence," Theo explained. "My family published a book on him so the research I got really helped."
The comic book is called “Johnny Recruit”. Set in 1941, 14-year-old Big Johnny grows up learning how to hunt and fly bush planes. When he learns his uncle has been taken prisoner by the Germans, he believes he is the only person who can rescue him. Big Johnny lies about being 18 years old and sneaks into the war to try and find his captured uncle.
"It represents Canadian heroics in the war," said Theo. "It shows how we were a big part in winning it."
Artist Tom Muzzell comic cover
With the help of Canadian artist Tom Muzzell, Theo turned the project into his first published book. Theo's father Thomas Behe helped him organize his ideas for the story and got in contact with Muzzell to pitch the idea. The layout of the book matches the style of 1940s era propaganda posters.
"It takes a person about 15-18 minutes to read the comic but it took him about 18 months of work gradually putting it together," said Thomas. "I’m very proud of his dedication."
Big Johnny’s rescue mission begins during the Dieppe Raid in Dieppe, France in 1942. It was one of WW II’s most brutal battles. 900 Canadian troops were killed, 2,500 were wounded and nearly 2,000 were taken prisoner.
Theo visited the Dieppe Memorial 18 months ago and said it was a surreal moment.
"I also went onto Juno Beach and you could see where the gunners were and the paths in and out," he explained.
Johnny Recruit will be hitting bookshelves in May. Theo hopes the story will remind readers of the Canadian influence and sacrifice during dark times.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.