When it comes to first impressions John comes across as absolutely harmless. He dresses in fluffy woolly jumpers and has a round, friendly face, a gentle doctor's touch and looks all around unassuming. Those who don't know him very well have a difficult time reconciling their perception of John with his daemon, the large and scarred lioness that shadows him everywhere.

(I haven't even read the books/watched the movie(s?). I just love the concept of daemons (and having John's be a really large predator (which makes people go "...wat?"), so if anon thinks of something better than a lioness, go right ahead)).