Twenty questions: sesquicentennial anniversary?

[Jamiet99uk]

Is he presented as futuristic?

[Spartaculous]

Is he presented as futuristic?

No.

[Spartaculous]

1, 2, 5. Fictional male human.
3, 8, 11, 12, 16. Did not initially appear in a novel, a TV series, a comic book, a comic strip, a children's book, or a movie.
4, 17. Spends most of his time on real-world earth, and is not presented as futuristic.
6, 15. First appeared in the twentieth century, but did not first appear in a fictional work released later than the end of 1966.
7. Was not written by the author into more than one distinctly published work (in the question master's judgment).
9. A hand-drawn/painted representation of him was included as part of his first appearance.
10. Not created by an American.
13, 14: Has appeared in advertisements, but was not initially created for that purpose.

If you are feeling at the end of your rope, I will offer this clue as encouragement: If you can figure out what type of "thing" he initially appeared in, I think you are very likely to guess his identity very quickly.

[Hominidae]

First appeared in a magazine or newspaper?

[Spartaculous]

First appeared in a magazine or newspaper?

No.

[damo666]

Can't be Action Man/GI Joe or Ken (Barbie). Anything similar anyone can think of?

[Spartaculous]

Can't be Action Man/GI Joe or Ken (Barbie). Anything similar anyone can think of?

I'm not counting this as a question, but yes, not a doll.

That was a free clue; do you want another?

[cdngooner]

Hard to imagine what character could be hand-drawn in his first appearance, but not in a comic strip, magazine, TV show or movie.

[cdngooner]

For my free guess, I'll go with Alfred E. Neuman. Usually thought of as American from the comic strip Mad, but his origins are so murky he could fit the bill.

[Spartaculous]

For my free guess, I'll go with Alfred E. Neuman. Usually thought of as American from the comic strip Mad, but his origins are so murky he could fit the bill.

No.

[damo666]

Can't be Action Man/GI Joe or Ken (Barbie). Anything similar anyone can think of?

I'm not counting this as a question, but yes, not a doll.

That was a free clue; do you want another?

Yes please

[Jamiet99uk]

Is he associated with a sports team?

(Like a mascot).

[Spartaculous]

Is he associated with a sports team?

(Like a mascot).

No.

Can't be Action Man/GI Joe or Ken (Barbie). Anything similar anyone can think of?

I'm not counting this as a question, but yes, not a doll.

That was a free clue; do you want another?

Yes please

GI Joe and Ken are actually not bad guesses, in the sense that you could probably purchase them at the same store you could buy the thing associated with the character in question.

ONE QUESTION REMAINING.

[cdngooner]

So its a toy, but not a doll. But somehow definitively male.

A hand drawn character, but not in a novel, comic book, children's book, magazine or newspaper.

I realize this is our last question, so I'll have to go for it. I think he must from the game Clue / Cluedo. If so there is a one-in-three chance, so I'll throw a dart and guess:

Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Candlestick.

[Spartaculous]

So its a toy, but not a doll. But somehow definitively male.

A hand drawn character, but not in a novel, comic book, children's book, magazine or newspaper.

I realize this is our last question, so I'll have to go for it. I think he must from the game Clue / Cluedo. If so there is a one-in-three chance, so I'll throw a dart and guess:

Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Candlestick.

Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Candlestick is the exact phrasing I was going to use to when I congratulated the winner. Good job!

[cdngooner]

PHEW! Really pulled that one out of the fire.

Thanks for that game, Spartaculous. Very entertaining!

[DougJoe]

So its a toy, but not a doll. But somehow definitively male.

A hand drawn character, but not in a novel, comic book, children's book, magazine or newspaper.

I realize this is our last question, so I'll have to go for it. I think he must from the game Clue / Cluedo. If so there is a one-in-three chance, so I'll throw a dart and guess:

Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Candlestick.

Colonel Mustard, in the Library, with the Candlestick is the exact phrasing I was going to use to when I congratulated the winner. Good job!

Did you mean the Study?

https://youtu.be/8w9YrvJ8368

[Hominidae]

Nice! That wasn't where my mind was going at all.

For my free guess, I'll go with Alfred E. Neuman. Usually thought of as American from the comic strip Mad, but his origins are so murky he could fit the bill.

I actually almost guessed this, but I kept getting stuck on the non-American thing.

[Jamiet99uk]

Very well done both to the question master, and to the winner.

[Spartaculous]

Very well done both to the question master, and to the winner.

Thank you very much. Not sure if anyone picked up on the awkward phrasings of

If you are feeling at the end of your rope, I will offer this clue as encouragement...

(I consistently used "clue" in place of "hint" all throughout the round) and

That was a free clue; do you want another?

.