Johnny Cuba

Evil-doer
Full Name	Johnny Cuba
Alias	Steamer Johnny Mr. Cuba
Origin	TUGS
Occupation	Gangster Smuggler
Powers / Skills	Charisma Speed Strength Intimidation Strong hull Manipulation
Goals	Make Zebedee work for him (succeeded at first, but later backfired). Gain profit for himself. Escape Bigg City Port (both failed).
Crimes	Attempted murder (possibly) Smuggling Blackmail Extortion Assault Coercion Death threats Trespassing
Type of Villain	Greedy Smuggler

“	I'll break your stack for this one! THEY CAN'T HOLD JOHNNY CUBA!	„
	~ Johnny threatening to wreck Zebedee for turning against him.

Johnny Cuba is a supporting antagonist from the short-lived British television series TUGS. He is a notorious and violent tramp steamer with gangster qualities. The character speaks with a strong Australian accent and dialect. He is the main antagonist of the episode, High Winds.

He was voiced by the late Mike O’ Malley in TUGS (who also voices Bluenose in the same series) and the late French Tickner in Salty's Lighthouse.

Biography

Prior to the events of High Winds, Johnny Cuba was a friend of Captain Zero. For unknown reasons however, something happened that ended their friendship and Captain Zero had since warned his tugs never to work with him ever again. Johnny had arrived at Bigg City Port to formulate plans with fellow criminal friends during a period of strong and troublesome tempest weather. He threatened Zebedee and manipulated him into helping him enter the port.

Johnny sent Zebedee on an errand to steal a barge of coal, and threatened to sink him if he landed either of them in trouble. Due to a feud between Johnny and Captain Zero that occurred in the past, Zebedee was placed in an awkward and dangerous situation, until Hercules discovered Johnny's hideout in an abandoned dock. He attempted to escape, but Zebedee stuck up courage to ram him against the quayside and then take him to the authorities. Despite Johnny's claim that "they can't hold Johnny Cuba!", they did.

Origins

Johnny Cuba's fictional origins are uncertain. The TUGS Board Game incorrectly states that Johnny Cuba is Cuban, despite his Australian speech in the actual show.

Trivia

• In Salty's Lighthouse, Johnny Cuba was a friendly character instead of a villain. He was renamed steamer and didn’t like being lonely.
• At one point, the Coast Guard tug threatens to board Johnny. It is unclear how this works given the complete absence of (visible) humans in the series.
• Johnny Cuba later appears faceless in the later episodes.
• Johnny Cuba also appears in some books, one where he rams into a naval submarine. It is unknown if he was attempting to kill it or not.
• Johnny Cuba's only appearance was in "High Winds", however his model was used frequently in other episodes, albeit without his face.
• In the Tugs Board Game, It states that Johnny Cuba is from Cuba, however his strong accent indicates that he is from Australia.
• Johnny Cuba has his name painted over on his bow. This is likely a ploy so he isn't recognised by port authorities.
• He was probably named after Cuba, an island country in North America.
• It's currently unknow where Johnny Cuba's model is, but his facemask is currently owned by Tugs: The Exhibition.