Drawing on belief

Cartoonist ROBERT DUNCAN talks about why he retold and illustrated Bible stories for a children’s book

Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

ONCE upon a time, cartoonist Robert Duncan embarked on a quest to retell a timeless story. Nearly 50 years ago, he illustrated the world’s bestselling book.

‘I’m primarily a cartoonist and have been since I was in school,’ he explains over the phone from his garden studio in Buckinghamshire. ‘I see everything from an illustrative perspective. If an architect saw a chair, he’d want to design it. If a carpenter saw a chair, he’d know exactly how to assemble it. If I see a chair, I imagine how I’d make an elephant sit on it.’

In 1976, as a young cartoonist, Robert looked around for a story that had been very successful and that he could imagine illustrating. He picked the most successful story of all time.

‘I settled on the Bible,’ says Robert. ‘It had the lot – exciting plots, goodies and baddies, adventures on land and sea, lots of magic, a wonderful garden, an ark full of animals, a coat of many colours, cities tumbling down at the toot of a trumpet, walking on water, changing water into wine and, well, everything. It has got such visual appeal.

‘I couldn’t find any book on the Bible which gave it “the silly cartoon treatment”. And that’s how Once Upon a World came to be.’

A new edition of the book has been published this year, after Robert happened

Turn to page 10 f

From page 9 upon some old drawings.

‘Back in the day, paperbacks were printed on rubber stereos,’ he explains. ‘It meant that the whole paperback was on one big drum. I went to see it being printed and it was fascinating, because it starts off as a drum with all the pages on it, then it thumps through and the finished books come out the other end.

‘But the pictures being on the stereo meant they were not just printed on to the page, they were sort of squelched on, so they lost a lot of their detail and vibrancy. Recently, I was clearing out a cupboard and I found a parcel that said “Once Upon a World illustrations 1976”. It was the original drawings. Having seen the paperback for so long, I was amazed at how sharp these pictures were, and that’s how this new edition started.’

When talking with the publishers, says Robert, they pointed out another change that should be made.

‘In 1976 nobody would have taken any notice of it, but there weren’t any stories from the female point of view, so that had to be corrected. I read some of the Bible again, and rewrote two new stories, about Ruth and Esther. I’m pleased with how they ended up.’

Robert reflects on when he first heard the Bible stories he went on to illustrate.

‘In school, I learnt all about the Gospels,’ he says. ‘Everything from Jesus being born, being outside the Temple giving everybody a hard time, and walking on water. I got excited about it illustratively. They are wonderful, exciting stories for children, with extraordinary things happening.’

When Robert was growing up, cartooning helped him.

‘I was a bit of a skinny little weakling with a great powder puff mass of golden hair on the top of my head. I was pretty wet and I was very wheezy, still am, and definitely not sporty, so humour was a good way round it. And I started drawing. From day one, I’ve always loved cartoons. I’m of a great age now and I still feel I’m improving in the way I draw. As long as I can keep my hand steady enough, I can draw.’

It’s a skill that Robert wants to use positively by providing humour through his cartoons and sharing good stories. In Once Upon a World, he begins at the beginning with Genesis, following the order of the Bible, and telling the story of how the world came to be.

‘I wrote it all in that order first, then illustrated it afterwards,’ he says.

The illustrations are in his particular cartoon style, which he says has changed over the years.

‘In those days, 47 years ago, I used a lot more black in my illustrations than I do now. And in Once Upon a World, all the people have got four fingers. But as I progressed in cartoonery, I realised that four fingers is too many, so nowadays everybody I draw has three fingers.’

While his style has changed, Robert agrees that the stories are timeless, noting that in this new edition, he didn’t have to make many changes.

‘Revisiting everything I drew 47 years ago, I’d expect to think, “Oh I wish I’d done that”, or “Can I put up with that?” But there’s nothing like that at all in these stories.’

Some of the character’s tales, such as the plight of Noah and his ark, are difficult for Robert to accept as being completely factually accurate. But he enjoys the narrative, and has written a separate story about it.

‘From a cartoonist point of view, the story of Noah makes you think, “OK, if a lion comes on board, he’s going to eat everything else anyway.” I wrote a book called Noah, the Animal Rescue King, which spells ark. And I took all sorts of liberties there. It has about 40 of my cartoons in it, in a modern style.’

Robert does consider himself to be ‘a believer’, and, when speaking of the Bible, he says: ‘I think you have to believe in elements of it. Jesus was an extraordinary person, and his life was just brilliant. The way he was treated and the way he ended up was the big force for good.

‘I’m not enormously religious, but I believe the whole thing is for good. This is my simple translation of it, for the sake of the children. Storytelling way back then was just as fresh and as exciting as it is now.

‘A child trying to read the Bible might get very bewildered quickly – now, more than ever, with phones and instant everything. They would give up. I think what we’re doing here is presenting the best stories in a light, friendly and readable way.’ l Once Upon a World is published by Lion Children’s

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jBecoming a Christian

There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God

Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen