J. J. (Doonesbury)

J.J. is a character in the comic strip Doonesbury.

She is the daughter of Joanie Caucus, estranged from her mother for seven years after the latter left her family over differences with her husband over feminism. J.J. first appeared in the strip in 1973 while Joanie and Clinton were filing for divorce. They were reunited when she arrived at Joanie's house before attending college. In college J.J. was roommates with Honey Huan at Georgetown. J.J.'s first name, like her mother's, is Joan, although she seldom uses it. J.J. was originally a nickname for "Joan Junior".

J.J. was initially engaged to Zeke Brenner, but Joanie soon set her up with Mike Doonesbury, and the two were married during the strip's hiatus. It wasn't long before the two of them began to have marital strife. J.J. had become increasingly obsessed with modern art, and seemed to think of her own husband as an accessory of her career, changing his hair and clothing to fit her artistic ideals. She also got into surreal performance art, and became increasingly detached from the real world.

J.J. designed bathrooms for a local club, and this got her a commission to design them for Donald Trump's cruise ship as well.

She and Mike grew increasingly distant, and he was almost tempted into an affair with Nicole, until J.J. revealed she was pregnant. She gave birth to Alex Doonesbury in 1988, live on cable television (she insisted that even her labor be a performance).

In the end, it was J.J. who was disloyal instead of Mike. She met Zeke again in 1994 and was soon tempted into running away with him, in a storyline which spoofed the novel The Bridges of Madison County. She and Mike were formally divorced in 1996. Zeke and J.J. lived together until 2003, when (despite protests by Alex and Joanie, both of whom can't stand Zeke) they were finally married over the Internet. They live in a loft apartment, where J.J. is now a sculptor with occasional success. She won a Macarthur Grant, which she views as a confirmation of her artistic ability (although, unknown to her, Mike is the one who nominated her simply because he was sick of paying alimony).