Hägar the Horrible

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Hägar the Horrible
Hägar the Horrible
Author(s)	Dik Browne Chris Browne
Current status	Running
Syndicate(s)	King Features Syndicate
Launch date	February 4, 1973
Genre(s)	Humor

Hägar the Horrible is the title and the name of the main character of a syndicated comic strip by Dik Browne, first seen in February 1973 and distributed to 1,900 newspapers in 58 countries, in 13 languages.

Hägar is an overweight Viking warrior who regularly goes off to invade England. The humor of the comic strip comes from his interactions with his longship crew (whose first mate, contrary to depictions of Vikings as big muscled warriors, is a short naïve fellow named Lucky Eddie) and his family (his wife Helga, his son Hamlet, his daughter Honi, his duck Kvack, and his dog Snert).

For a brief time, the strip had its own brand of sponsored soda, which was unfortunately named "Hagar the Horrible Cola." It is generally recalled as one of the funnier flops of the marketing industry.

In the UK, Hagar the Horrible and other characters from the strip were used in the late 1980s to advertise the beer, Skol Lager, produced in the UK by Danish brewers, Carlsberg, in a series of popular television commercials. The commercials were animated and were mainly in black and white, like the daily newspaper comic strip itself, the only thing that appeared in color being the actual beer.

Since Dik's retirement in 1988 (and subsequent death), his son, Chris, has continued the comic himself.

The strip is popular enough to warrant a book, Hägar the Horrible's Viking Handbook, which advises how to loot, where to loot, and how to be a good Viking. It includes a list of the Top Ten Most Sackable Cities (of 10th century Europe): London, Paris, Venice, Madrid, Novgorod, Minsk, Cologne, Geneva, Dublin, and Byzantium.

[edit] Characters

Hagar

Hagar

He may look like a fierce warrior, but once you get past the sword and shield, Hagar is illiterate, a loving husband, a devoted father, family man, and a reluctant taxpayer. While he has a voracious appetite for pillaging and plundering, they pale in comparison to his appetite for alcohol and Helga's home-cooked meals. Hagar also hates taking baths; once a year he can pushed into having on. Hagar's annual bath is the subject of much celebration in the local community !

Helga

Helga

Hagar's demanding wife. Dressed always in her horned helmet, she is a true Valkyrie, besting the beleaguered Hagar in battles on the home front. She always wants Hagar to take a bath, but he won't. While Hagar may instill terror in the outside world, it's Helga who "wears the skins" in the family. Although she is more than a match for her sword-bearing ruffian husband, she also has a tender side. Helga is a devoted wife and mother, often doing what's best for her family whether they want it or not.

Honi

Honi

Hagar and Helga's beautiful daughter — an old maid of 16. Not overly bright, she nonetheless is enduringly sweet. Her metallic blouse would ward off most suitors, but her love for Lute continues unabated.

Lute

Lute

A poet and troubadour who can neither rhyme nor sing. Fortunately, Honi is so much in love that she really can't tell the difference.

Hamlet

Hamlet

Hagar's brilliant son, and a mystery to his father. Industrious, clean and studious, Hamlet would rather read than pillage, or make a daisy chain than take up chain mail. Introspective and serious, Hamlet is plagued by Hernia, the local tomboy, who thinks he's dreamy.

Lucky Eddie

Lucky Eddie

He's everything a Viking shouldn't be — not too bright, but very gentle. Totally without chin or aggression, Lucky Eddie makes the perfect foil for Hagar. And he may be the only man in history to be knocked out by a slowly descending rainbow.

Kvack

Kvack

Kvack, the family duck, who, as his name implies, speaks with an accent. Also written Qvack

Snert

Snert

Hagar's dog, who's as rumpled and harassed as his owner.

[edit] Books

Note: In alphabetical, not chronological order

A Turn for the Worse (Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible) by Chris Browne
Animal Haus (Hagar the Horrible, No 11) by Dik Browne
Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - January 1993)
Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible: Funny Bunnies by Chris Browne
Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible: Hagar the Huggable by Chris Browne
Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible: Plunder Blunder by Chris Browne
Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible: That Dreaded...Bed Head by Chris Browne
Excuse Me (Hagar the Horrible No. 16) by Dik Browne (Paperback - December 1984)
Feeling "Fortune"-Ate? (Dik Browne's Hagar the Horrible) by Chris Browne
Gangway (Hagar the Horrible) by Dik Browne (Mass Market Paperback - August 1989)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - February 1986)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - April 1986)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - May 1987)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - November 1987)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - April 1991)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - October 1991)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - November 1991)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - August 1992)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - February 1993)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - March 1993)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - April 1993)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - August 1993)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - November 1993)
Hagar the Horrible (Paperback - July 1994)
Hagar the Horrible and the Golden Maiden by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible and the Golden Maiden: Volume III of the Best of Hagar the Horrible by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible Cartoons by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible Excuse Me! (Paperback - August 1991)
Hagar the Horrible Norse Code (Paperback - April 1992)
Hagar the Horrible on the Loose (Paperback - January 1992)
Hagar the Horrible on the Rack (Paperback - October 1992)
Hagar the Horrible Puzzles by Dik Browne (Paperback - December 1984)
Hagar the Horrible Spring Cleaning by Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1988)
Hagar the Horrible, No 2 (Paperback - January 1990)
Hagar the Horrible, No. 1 by Dik Brown (Paperback - April 1986)
Hagar the Horrible: A Piece of the Pie by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Again & Again by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: All the World Loves a Lover O 8 by Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1998)
Hagar the Horrible: Another Fish Story by Dik Browne, Chris Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Born Leader by Dik Browne (Paperback - February 1986)
Hagar the Horrible: Brings 'Em Back Alive! by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Face-Stuffer's Anonymous (Hagar the Horrible, No 9) by Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1998)
Hagar the Horrible: Hagar's Knight Out by Dik Browne (Paperback - April 1986)
Hagar the Horrible: Happy Hour by Dik Browne (Paperback - February 1987)
Hagar the Horrible: Have You Been Uptight Lately? by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Hear No Evil (Do No Work) by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Helga's Revenge by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Hi Dear, Your Hair Looks Great by Dik Browne (Mass Market Paperback - June 1988)
Hagar the Horrible: Horns of Plenty by Dik Browne (Hardcover - January 1985)
Hagar the Horrible: I Dream of Genie? by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Look Sharp! by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Midnight Munchies by Dik Browne, Mort Walker
Hagar the Horrible: Motley Crew by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: My Feet Are Drunk by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: My Feet Are Really Killing Me by Dik Browne (Paperback - February 1983)
Hagar the Horrible: On the Rack by Dik Browne (Paperback - February 1983)
Hagar the Horrible: Out on a Limb by Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1998)
Hagar the Horrible: Pillage Idiot No. 11 by Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1998)
Hagar the Horrible: Roman Holiday by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Room for One More (Hagar Series, No 6) by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Sack Time by Dik Browne (Paperback - October 1986)
Hagar the Horrible: Sacking Paris on a Budget by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Silly Sailing by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Smotherly Love by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Special Delivery by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Start the Invasion Without Me by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Strapped for Cash by Dik Browne (Paperback - May 1987)
Hagar the Horrible: The British Are Coming by Dik Browne (Paperback - July 1986)
Hagar the Horrible: The Brutish Are Coming by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: The Nord Star by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: The Simple Life by Dik Browne (Paperback - June 1987)
Hagar the Horrible: Things That Go Bump by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible: Vikings Are Fun by Dik Browne (Mass Market Paperback - April 1989)
Hagar the Horrible: We're Doing Lunch by Dik Browne
Hagar the Horrible's Very Nearly Complete Viking Handbook by Dik Browne, Christopher Browne
Hagar: The Horrible Fish Fly by Dik Browne (Mass Market Paperback - November 1991)
Handyman Special (Hagar the Horrible) by Dik Browne
Happy Hour (Hagar the Horrible Series, No 13) by Dik Browne (Paperback - September 1984)
Have You Been Uptight Lately (Hagar the Horrible, No 17) by Dik Browne (Paperback - February 1986)
Hear No Evil (Hagar the Horrible Series) by Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1998)
Midnight Munchies (Hagar the Horrible Series, No 12) by D. Browne (Paperback - February 1982)
On the Loose (Hagar the Horrible Series, No 3) by Dik Browne (Paperback - September 1983)
Roman Holiday (Hagar the Horrible, No 20) by Dik Browne (Paperback - November 1986)
The Best of Hagar the Horrible by Dik Browne, Brian Walker (Photographer)
The Horrible Tall Tales (Hagar Series, No. 4) by Dirk Browne, Dik Browne (Paperback - March 1998)
The Simple Life (Hagar the Horrible Series, No 17) by Dik Browne (Paperback - April 1984)
The Very Best of Hagar the Horrible by Dik Browne
The Wit and Wisdom of Hagar the Horrible by Dik. Browne