The Beginnings of the History of Hungarian Humor Magazines and the Significance of ’A Nagy Tükör’ in this Process

Abstract

The best known and longest running humor magazine edited by Mór Jókai was the ’Üstökös’ [Comet] but prior to its success, the author published another humor magazine titled ’A Nagy Tükör’ [The Big Mirror]. There has not been much discussion about this periodical either in literary or in press history so far, its significance among Hungarian humour magazines has not been examined yet. In my paper I discuss topics as follows: is the A Nagy Tükör different from other Hungarian humor magazines (prior and subsequent ones as well), and if yes, in which aspects? What kind of texts are published in it? Which pseudonyms did Jókai use, and how? How did he create and establish the character and role of his alter ego Kakas Márton who was „born” in the paper Vasárnapi Ujság [Sunday Paper]? The graphics and illustrations of the magazine are especially worth attention because they are overstepping the category of caricature and some of them are approaching the category of comics. The magazine has a recurring character, the innocent, simple rustic coming from the countryside, baffled by the urban experience, and assessing it with fresh eyes. On the one hand, the figure’s remarks can serve as a sort of travel guide for the readers from the countryside, and on the other hand, they show a mocking glass to the less educated and to the educated readers as well. The fate of the magazine was influenced by both the „formal reception” (critics from daily newspapers and weekly periodicals) and by the actions of the readers. Jókai reacted to the journalists’ opinion by satires, and the assistance of the readers (which meant that they sent anecdotes to the editorial staff) not only helped to maintain publishing the magazine but inspired Jókai to start the new weekly ’Üstökös’. I attempt to answer the question: how did A Nagy Tükör (which was running for two years) convince Jókai that ’Üstökös’ can be a successful venture?