Get The Freebies Episode 1 The Comic Strips Debut

Get the Freebies was a comic strip created by Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of Gorillaz, and writer Mat Wakeham, featured in The Face magazine, a British publication focused on fashion, music, and popular culture. The strip ran for twelve episodes between July 1996 and July 1997. Episode 1, released in July 1996, introduces the central premise and characters that would define this cult British comic series. This article examines the debut episode of Get the Freebies, exploring its narrative structure, character introductions, and cultural context within 1990s British pop culture.

The Origin of Get the Freebies

Get the Freebies emerged during a significant period in Jamie Hewlett's career, as he was transitioning from his work on Tank Girl to co-creating the virtual band Gorillaz. The comic strip was specifically designed for The Face magazine, which was known for its focus on British pop culture at the time. According to the source material, Hewlett created Get the Freebies as an opportunity to explore "the anarchy of Tank Girl" while attempting to "corral it into something with a bit more control and still stay wired."

The comic strip represented Hewlett's enthusiastic engagement with 1990s British pop culture, featuring numerous references and satirical takes on contemporary celebrities and cultural figures. This approach differed from his earlier work on Tank Girl, which had a more post-apocalyptic setting. Get the Freebies was set in contemporary London and focused on superhero characters and their interactions with pop culture.

Episode 1: The TV Pitch

Episode 1 of Get the Freebies begins with Jamie Hewlett himself attempting to pitch his idea for a 'Get the Freebies' TV show to a pair of television producers. This meta-narrative approach places the creator directly within the story, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. During the pitch, Hewlett describes the Freebies - a trio of mutant criminals who serve as the antagonists of the series.

The Freebies consist of: - Burk, described as "a big stupid gorilla" - Marlon, characterized as "small and effeminate" - Jimmy, the leader who "has a basketball for a head"

Initially, Hewlett tells the producers that the Freebies get paroled from their fifteen-year prison sentence. However, after receiving a logistical critique from the producers about this premise, Hewlett quickly backtracks and revises the story, explaining that the Freebies instead escape via a dynamite explosion. This exchange reveals the improvisational nature of the creative process and the practical considerations involved in developing a television concept.

Following this description of the antagonists, Hewlett proceeds to outline the show's protagonists: Whitey Action and Terry Phoo. The focus of the pitch shifts to these characters, particularly emphasizing Whitey's drug addictions and various bad habits. This introduction establishes the central dynamic of the series - the contrast between the morally ambiguous Whitey and his more disciplined partner Terry.

Characters Introduced in Episode 1

Episode 1 introduces several key characters who would become central to the Get the Freebies universe:

The Freebies

The trio of mutant criminals serves as the primary antagonists of the series. Their unusual physical characteristics - including a gorilla, an effeminate small character, and a leader with a basketball for a head - establish the comic's exaggerated, cartoonish visual style. Their fifteen-year prison sentence and eventual escape (via dynamite) set up the criminal activities that would drive many of the comic's storylines.

Whitey Action

Described as a "pale, disaffected, self-medicating teenage" heroine, Whitey Action serves as one of the protagonists and the narrator of many stories. In the pitch scene, Whitey is characterized by his drug addictions and "bad habits," establishing his morally ambiguous nature. Whitey is portrayed as an "effortlessly cool chain-smoking Brit Pop teenager with great bangs" whose "pulse never seems to break 61." This description highlights the character's connection to 1990s Brit Pop culture and his countercultural aesthetic.

Terry Phoo

The second protagonist is Terry Phoo, described as a "gay martial arts expert and superhero" from Hong Kong who wears "Bruce Lee's jumpsuit." Terry serves as Whitey's sidekick and provides a contrast to Whitey's chaotic lifestyle. The source material notes that Terry "plays for the other team," confirming his sexual orientation. As a martial arts expert, Terry likely serves as the more disciplined and capable member of the duo, balancing Whitey's impulsiveness.

Cultural Context and Reception

Get the Freebies emerged during a vibrant period in British pop culture, heavily influenced by the Brit Pop movement of the mid-1990s. The comic strip was deeply embedded in this cultural moment, featuring numerous references to contemporary celebrities and cultural figures. According to the source material, the comic "chews huge mouthfuls of 1990s British pop culture," which might make certain references "incomprehensible to foreigners" who wouldn't understand the significance of figures like BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Lamacq.

The strip's explicit content - including "explicit language, violence, nudity, and drug usage" - reflected the edgy, countercultural approach that characterized much of The Face magazine's content during this period. This mature content distinguished Get the Freebies from more conventional superhero comics and positioned it within the alternative comics tradition.

Despite its cult following, Get the Freebies had a relatively limited impact during its original run. After completing the twelve episodes in The Face magazine, there were plans for a sequel series titled Phoo Action, which would have been co-written by Jamie Hewlett and Mat Wakeham. However, this sequel was never published, with only one episode fully drawn and none actually released. The characters and concept subsequently entered "a flickering half-life," gaining more recognition over time through retrospectives and reprints.

Publication Details

Episode 1 of Get the Freebies was first published in The Face magazine in July 1996. The comic strip ran monthly, with each episode appearing in successive issues of the magazine. The complete series consisted of twelve episodes, concluding in July 1997. Each episode was written and drawn by Jamie Hewlett during his initial run on the series, with coloring predominantly done using magic markers.

In 2024, the complete series was compiled and re-released as part of "Phoo Action: Silver Jubilee," a graphic novel celebrating the 25-year history of the Phoo Action series. This deluxe edition includes all twelve episodes of Get the Freebies along with additional content such as concept art, production stills from an unaired BBC pilot, the pilot's script, parts of the unfinished sequel comic, and additional commentary from the creators.

The source material also indicates that some episodes of Get the Freebies have been made available online through digital platforms, with links provided to access the full issues. These digital reproductions allow contemporary audiences to experience the comic strip that was originally published in a physical magazine format.

Legacy and Influence

Get the Freebies represents an important transitional work in Jamie Hewlett's career, bridging his earlier work on Tank Girl with his later co-creation of Gorillaz. The strip showcases his distinctive visual style and satirical approach to pop culture, which would become hallmarks of his subsequent work.

Although the series was relatively short-lived and had limited commercial success during its original run, Get the Freebies has gained retrospective significance as part of Hewlett's body of work. The characters and concepts introduced in Episode 1 continued to resonate with fans, leading to the publication of "Phoo Action: Silver Jubilee" nearly three decades after the original series concluded.

The comic strip's exploration of alternative superheroes, its satirical take on popular culture, and its explicit content have positioned it as a cult favorite within British comics. Its re-release in 2024 has introduced the series to a new generation of readers who may not have been familiar with its original publication in The Face magazine.

Conclusion

Episode 1 of Get the Freebies establishes the core premise and characters of this cult British comic strip through a meta-narrative approach that features Jamie Hewlett pitching the series to television producers. The episode introduces the Freebies trio of mutant criminals and protagonists Whitey Action and Terry Phoo, setting up the dynamic that would drive the series. Rooted in 1990s British pop culture and featuring explicit content, the strip represents a transitional work in Jamie Hewlett's career between Tank Girl and Gorillaz. Although originally published for just twelve issues in The Face magazine, Get the Freebies has gained retrospective significance through reprints and the publication of "Phoo Action: Silver Jubilee" in 2024, ensuring its legacy for new generations of readers.

Sources

1. Get the Freebies Wiki
2. Ashes for Dayz - Get the Freebies
3. Phoo Action: Tasty Taster
4. Megan Cutler - My Little Domerin
5. The Comics Journal - Phoo Action: Silver Jubilee Review