History:
LESTER THE LION
Real Name: Lester T. Lion
Identity/Class: Lion (World
War II Era)
Occupation: Philanthropist, head of the Lester Zoo
Foundation Home; former zoo exhibit
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Winnie the Weasel
Enemies: Nazi spies
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Waldorf Hotel, Manhattan, New York, USA
First Appearance: Joker Comics I#1 (April, 1942)
Powers/Abilities: Lester had all the physical attributes of any typical male lion, including claws in each of his four paws. His intelligence was that of a normal human and he could speak, read and write in English. He learned how to maintain a bipedal stance and wear human clothing.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 4' on all fours; 6'9" in bipedal stance)
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 500 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Light orange-brown fur
History:
(Joker Comics I#1/4) - Lester was an African lion who was kept in a New York zoo. Winnie the Weasel occupied the cage next to his and in time love blossomed between the two very different creatures. When some visitors to the zoo saw Winnie kissing Lester, Lester was embarrassed, thinking it would harm his reputation as king of the beasts. A little boy casually threw away his book 'How to Read, Write and Speak, English,' which landed in Lester's cage, hitting him in the face. Lester was intrigued by the book and as time went on he studied its pages. In time, Lester mastered the ability of human speech.
One day when a zookeeper brought food into his cage, Lester remarked how wanted more food and was considering organizing the zoo into a union. When the zookeeper realized Lester could speak he fled the cage, leaving the door open. Lester decided to leave his cage and explore the world outside.
Lester chanced upon two hold-up men robbing a man. Lester roared at the robbers, driving them away, but the victim was also terrified and fled as well, leaving behind a giant sack of money. Lester decided the victim must have given him the money, so went to an exclusive men's shop to buy a suit. The tailor at the shop wasn't at all disturbed to be serving a lion and fitted him into a new suit with tails, a top hat and a cane. Lester took a room at the Waldorf Hotel and set out to enjoy the city.
Meanwhile, Winnie had come in search of Lester and was snagged by a Nazi spy, posing as a street corner rabble rouser. The Nazi tried to crush Winnie but Lester happened upon the scene and rescued Winnie, sitting on the Nazi and warning him to never go out alone again.
Lester decided to use his fortune to form the Lester Zoo Foundation and fill a zoo full of "queer human beings." He decided the Nazi would be the first inhabitant of his zoo and shipped him off. Lester planted an ad in a newspaper for his Lester Zoo Foundation, giving his name as "Lester T. Lion."
Lester's ad brought in attention from journalists who visited him at the Waldorf. One of them asked if he'd heard about a lion escaping from the zoo, but Lester claimed he knew nothing about it.
Comments: Created by an unidentified writer and unidentified artist.
There's a different Lester the Lion who appeared in his own story in Comedy Comics I#12; unlike the first Lester the Lion, who was an animal living in human society, the second Lester the Lion (which was signed by Ernie Hart) was an anthropomorphic lion who lived in a world of anthropomorphic animal people.
Lester the Lion was definitely an idea with promise, considering that 5 years lafter Fawcett used a similar idea with Tawky Tawny, the Talking Tiger.
This profile was completed on 03/10/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Lester the Lion should not be confused with:
Winnie the Weasel shared the cage next to Lester's at the zoo. Winnie fell in love with Lester and would often kiss him. When Lester gained mastery of English and left the zoo to pursue his options, Winnie chased after him. Winnie was found by a Nazi spy who mistook her for a rat and tried to crush her in his hand but Lester saved Winnie. Winnie went to live with Lester at the Waldorf Hotel as he established his Lester Zoo Foundation Home.
--Joker Comics I#1/4
images: (without ads)
Joker Comics I#1/4, page 4, panel 6 (main)
Joker Comics I#1/4, page 4, panel 1 (body)
Joker Comics I#1/4, page 5, panel 9 (Winnie)
Appearances:
Joker Comics I#1/4 (April, 1942) - unidentified writer, unidentified
artist, unidentified editor
First posted: 09/22/2026
Last updated:
03/10/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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