Wizard of Id
The Wizard of Id is a wonderful comic strip created by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart in 1964 and currently appears in over 1000 newspapers worldwide. It is currently written by Brant Parker's son Jeff and Johnny Hart.
The Wizard of Id story revolves around the mythical kingdom of Id, which is ruled over by an arrogant small king who is definitely suffering from small-man syndrome. He is attended by a smart and sarcastic Wizard, a chicken of a knight in Sir Rodney and a drunken alcoholic court jester called Bung. The kings subjects are often referred to as "Idiots" by their autocratic ruler
The name of the strip is derived from The Wizard of Oz and the Freudian psychological term Id, which represents the instinctive and primal part of the human psyche.
The Characters in Wizard of Id
- The King - is the greediest, most arrogant man in the kingdom. As he is only about 3 feet tall constant humour is poked at his height. He dishes out punishments which normally involve the perpetrator being chained to the dungeon wall at will but is easily swayed if he thinks there are votes in it. He hated by most of his subjects who hold him in utter contempt but are obviously too afraid to do anything other than shout out "The King is a Fink" due to his absolute power
- The Wizard - or simply Wiz is a smart and sarcastic sorcerer who is hen-pecked by his big blousy wife Blanch. Most of his spells are carried out in his cellar over a steaming vat, these can be powerful but often backfire.
- Sir Rodney - the Chicken-hearted is the kings chief knight and leader of the army. He is tall and lanky and dopey, he is hopeless as a knight and is scared of anything even slightly dangerous. He claims to be a dragon-slayer but in actual fact he ended up befriending one. His chief claim to fame is that he is an inveterate social climber and is constantly trying to get into the Kings good books, by acting as a spy (which usually involves him dressing up as a tree with his large nose sticking out)
- Bung - is the court jester. He is a complete alcoholic and avoids doing any actual jestering and is usually foun staggering around the bars with a bottle in his hands.
- Spook - is the constant inhabitant of the dungeon. He is covered completely in hair. He has been sentenced to serve a lifetime in the dungeon for a reason that has been lost in time but has been variously described as because he beat the king at croquet or for calling the king a fink.He seems to survive quite well in he dungeon eating "Swill" and half-heartedly attempting to escape. He is also good friends with his guard Turnkey. It was mentioned that his
full name is Wellington J. Farnsworth Spookingdorf the Third in an early strip.
- Turnkey - the guard who spends most of his time sitting outside Spooks cell door
- Blanch - is the Wizards domineering wife, she is extremely ugly and a constant Nag.
- Larsen E. Pettifogger - is the Attorney-at-law in the kingdom of Id. He is incompetent and closely resembles WC Fields with his big bulbous nose and stovepipe hat, and like any lawyer he lies and cheats to protect criminals and he doesn't mind imbibing alcohol at his clients' expense. Throughout the Wizard of Id series he never wins a case but occasionally his clients have been acquitted completely by chance. Of course the name Larsen E is a play on words of larceny.
The Best of Wizard of Id
This is a wonderful collection of Wizard of Id comic strips, specially selected by the family of the late, great Reuben Award winning, Johnny Hart taken from 25 years worth of best newspaper strips of the 20th century.
This collection was only recently published and has over 240 pages of classic strips from the 70's, 80's and 90's. Favourites are when a peasant just before he is about to hang, asks, "I suppose community service is out of the question?". Or the lackey who brings the king a bunch of hate mail containing bomb threats. The king sighs, "Nothing from my sweet old granny?" The lackey answers, "They're all from your sweet old granny."
The Best of Wizard of Id on Amazon
1. The King is a Fink
Number one in the Series
Originally published in 1964.
The starter for many people being called Finks even to this day.
2. The Wondrous Wizard of Id
The Second in the Series
Originally published in 1965.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below.
3. The Peasants are Revolting!
Third in the Series
Originally published in 1966 and then published in 1972 by Coronet.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below.
4. Remember the Golden Rule
4th in the Series
Published in 1971
Famous for the quote - "Remember the Golden Rule - Whoever has the Gold Rules!"
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
Remember the Golden Rule on Amazon
5. There's A Fly In My Swill!
Fifth in the Series
Originally published in 1967, but published by Coronet in 1973
This collection has a heavy emphasis on strips featuring Spook and Turnkey.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
There's a Fly in My Swill books available on Ebay
6. The Wizard's Back
Sixth in the Series
Published in 1973.
Oh yes the Wizard's Back.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below.
7. Yield
Seventh in the Series
Published in 1976.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
Wizard of Id Yield on Amazon
14. Help Stamp Out Grapes
Published in 1973.
The 14th in the series.
Again a superb pun of a title this time really nailing Bungs character. And who wouldn't want to stamp out grapes?
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below.
7. Long Live The King!
The 7th Collection in the Series
Originally published in 1970 and then published in 1975 by Coronet.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below.
9. Frammin At The Jim-Jam, Frippin In The Krotz
The 9th collection in the Series
Originally published in 1969 but published in 1974 by Coronet.
Not too sure exactly what the title means but it sure sounds good.
Let There Be Reign
Published in 1977.
Another wonderful pun of a title from Parker and Hart.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
Let There Be Reign available on Amazon
15. Charge!
Fifteenth in the Series
Published in 1978.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below.
Every man is innocent until proven broke
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
Every man is innocent until proven broke available on Amazon
I Dig Freedom
Published in 1985 by Ballantine Books
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
I Dig Freedom available on Amazon
I'm Off to See the Wizard
Published in 1976.
These books are still often available on Ebay and can be bought by following the link below. Alternatively it can be purchased from Amazon by following the Amazon link below.
I'm Off to See the Wizard on Amazon
Other Wizard of Id Books
We’ve got to stop meeting like this
Ala Kazot
Strike The Sot
The Spell is Cast
Or see this blog http://wizardofidblog.blogspot.com/
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