Comic Book / Mendoza The Great

The legendary pugilist Daniel Mendoza after beating the snot out of his opponent.

Mendoza The Great is a limited comic book series published as part of The Victor comics line-up from #514 - #527 and #905 - #918 in 1970. The comics depict the life and career of real-life famous bare-knuckle boxer named Daniel Mendoza, who became the heavyweight champion of England from 1792–1795. His style of boxing, which consisted on the use of speed and mobility, became the first-known account of an "outboxer" style of boxing that famous modern boxers today still used like Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather Jr. As the legend grew of this small man being able to defeat larger and strong opponents, Daniel Mendoza would later became known as the "Father of Modern Boxing". His biggest contribution however, was how he became a symbol for the Jewish community at the time where rampant antisemitism and the view of the Jews as a weak race was prevalent.

The comic book became popular for its accurate portrayal of 17th century bare-knuckle fighting (aka Classical Pugilism), and the author and artist Ted Rawlings extensively researched various records such as Pugilistica and Boxiana to create the comics, although Creative Liberties such as the additional of new characters and opponents were added. The story follows the real-life exploits and bouts of Daniel Mendoza. The comic book would later inspire future comic book series, books and films that depicted Daniel Mendoza.

Mendoza The Great contains examples of:

• Anti-Villain: Mendoza's mentor, boss and later rival Richard Humphries was depicted as a scumbag who was jelous of his former pupil's rise to fame, and as such he tried to sabotage Mendoza's career many times (such as making him work many hours to make him drowsy and prevent him from training) in the comic. It was later revealed that he did this because he was falling out of favor from his patrons, as many flocked to Mendoza. This was detrimental because the more he lost his money, the more he will go back to the poverty that he grew up in.
• Bad Boss: Richard Humphries (see Anti-Villain section).
• Con Man: Cramer, who was hired by Humphries to trick the Royal Family into thinking Daniel Mendoza stole their jewelry.
• The Empire: The British Empire. Even Mendoza is proud to be doing his part as a civilian in making sure that the British people knew how physically strong they are when it comes to roughing it out with foreigners.
• Fight Clubbing: Since boxing was illegal at that time, a lot of boxing matches were done in secret such as a private farm or a secret field. Ironically, even rich nobles and members of the royal family also watch this supposed illegal activity.
• Good Old Fisticuffs: The comic featured this a lot. Although it also contains other moves that were not yet banned in boxing like today such as wrestling, submissions and kicking.
• Hereditary Republic: The British Royal Family, specifically the Prince of Wales (future King George IV) made an appearance. He personally congratulates Mendoza as one of the greatest athletes of his reign. In real life this was an actual occurrence, and Mendoza was the first Jew to ever meet a Royal Family.
• Punch-Clock Villain: Most of the villains in the comics are these. Lampshaded with characters such as Beau Brummy who was created just so Mendoza can kick the shit out of him.
• Sidekick: Daniel Mendoza's good friend and confidant Manny Morris. He always has Mendoza's back, from driving him to his matches or acting as a spy to gather information from those who want to sabotage Mendoza's career. He even gives Mendoza insight to his opponent's fighting style and background. While Morris is a fictional character specifically create for the comic, he was based around some of Mendoza's real-life batboys and chums.
• Spiritual Successor: The 2013 graphic novel Mendoza the Jew: Boxing, Manliness, and Nationalism, A Graphic History. It also featured a historical account of Daniel Mendoza's career, but with color and better historical accuracy. Author Ronald Schechter actually mentioned Mendoza The Great as an influence.
• Stage Magician: Lapmpsahded by Magique, a performance magician and friend of Mendoza who helped him get the stolen jewelry back using his stage magic.
• The Strongman: Beau Brummy, a wrestler who can twist a firepoker in a loop with his bare hands. He was written as a foil to Mendoza who used his speed, agility and wit against Brummy's size and strength, to show that cunning was superior to brute strength.
• The Cavalier Years: The story mainly takes place in the late 18th century to early 19th century, but the trope is slightly subverted here. While it featured many cultural depictions from the era like the wigs, tricorn hats, and stagecoaches, there is less emphasis on swashbuckling and more emphasis on bare-knuckle fighting. This is quite true in a sense, since British people at that time preferred to settle their disputes not in duels like in Continental Europe but in a fist-fight. Author Ronald Schechter even said:
  Ronald Schechter: Whereas their adversaries across the Channel reputedly settled private quarrels by dueling with swords or pistols—leaving widows and orphans in their wake—the British (according to supporters of boxing) tended to settle their disputes with their fists.