Korporaal Achilles

Johannes Franciscus Nuijens, who used the pseudonym Korporaal Achilles, was a catholic drawing teacher. He was one of the pioneers in Dutch comics, who made a number of albums containing satirical picture stories. In 1890, his 'Het Rapport der Defensiecommissie' was published, a satirical comment on the new army law. Three years later, in 'Klacht van een Onderwijzer', he depicted the struggles of teachers having to do a new exam. In 'De Toekomststaat' (1891) he reflected on the future implications of a state run by socialist Domela Nieuwenhuis (whom he called Nieuwela Domenhuis). Probably his most impressive comic work is 'Aanleiding tot den Engelsch-Transvaalschen Oorlog', published in 1900, in which he criticized the Boer War.