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A complete, restored issue of Judge from 1889-07-13 — all 16 pages of color political cartoons and topical humor, free to page through at comicbooks.com.

On the cover: # Analysis of "John Bull Backs Out" This cartoon depicts **John Bull** (left), the personified British Empire, cowering before a tall, elaborately dressed figure (right) representing **Uncle Sam** (America), who holds a small boat labeled "VENEZUELA." The caption—"I think that you can whip me, so I'm not a-going to play"—shows Britain retreating from confrontation. This likely references the **1895 Venezuelan border dispute**, when the U.S. invoked the Monroe Doctrine against British interests in Venezuela's territorial claims. The cartoon satirizes Britain's diplomatic capitulation to American pressure, portraying the traditional imperial power as now intimidated by the assertive young American nation. The ribbons on Uncle Sam's coat likely represent American interests or states.

🖼️ Every page has a plain-English note on what you’re looking at — the figures, the references, the point of the satire.

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A complete issue · 16 pages · 1889

Judge — July 13, 1889

1889-07-13 · Free to read

Judge — July 13, 1889 — page 1
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# Analysis of "John Bull Backs Out" This cartoon depicts **John Bull** (left), the personified British Empire, cowering before a tall, elaborately dressed figure (right) representing **Uncle Sam** (America), who holds a small boat labeled "VENEZUELA." The caption—"I think that you can whip me, so I'm not a-going to play"—shows Britain retreating from confrontation. This likely references the **1895 Venezuelan border dispute**, when the U.S. invoked the Monroe Doctrine against British interests in Venezuela's territorial claims. The cartoon satirizes Britain's diplomatic capitulation to American pressure, portraying the traditional imperial power as now intimidated by the assertive young American nation. The ribbons on Uncle Sam's coat likely represent American interests or states.

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