The funny papers have been populated for 45 years by the absurd adventures of Hagar, a Scandinavian Viking. Dik Browne created Hagar the Horrible Dog. It is less about raiding or pillaging than it is about Hagar and his domestic squabbles. You might be a fan of the red-bearded, savage, with a surprisingly gentle demeanour. Here are some facts about Hagar’s past, his status as a soda salesman, and his time as a college football team mascot.
HAGAR IS NAMED AFTER HIS hagar the horrible dogREATOR.
Richard Arthur Browne, also known as “Dik”, started his career drawing courtroom sketches in New York. He created a strip called Ginny Jeep for military servicemen when he joined the Army in 1942. After a stint in advertising where he designed the Chiquita Banana logo he was asked for art duties on the 1954 Beetle Bailey spinoff strip Hi and Lois. Browne recalled how his children used to call him “Hagar The Horrible Dog”, and how he would chase them around the house. He told People that he thought Viking “immediately” in 1978. Hagar quickly became the most popular strip in history and appeared in over 1000 newspapers.
HE COULD HAVE BULBAR THE BARBARIAN.
Browne had the opportunity to seek advice from an older colleague on Hagar while working on Hi and Lois (Beetle Bailey), as Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), was cartoonist. Walker said that he believed “Hagar” was too difficult to spell or pronounce and suggested that Browne use “Bulbar, the Barbarian”. Browne declined the suggestion and preferred his own alliterative title.
A HEART ATTACK CAN HAVE CHANGED HAGAR THE HORRIBLE DOG FATE.
Browne sent Hagar to a syndicate editor whom he had met through his work on Hi and Lois. Chris Browne says that Dik’s son, Chris Browne, was the eventual artist for Hagar. He had originally promised to review it when he returned from vacation. After reviewing the strip and agreeing to it, he changed his mind. The editor died from a heart attack a few days later while on ski vacation. Browne stated that Hagar might never have seen print if he hadn’t approved the strip before his death.
BROWNE WAS ABLE TO ELIMINATE VANDALS WITH THE STRIP.
Chris Browne said that Halloween was a time when children could show their father appreciation. The Browne residence was spared by trick-or-treaters who were busy spray painting nearby houses with paint or toilet paper. A spray-painted sign with the words “Mr. Browne, We Love Hagar
BROWNE’S DAUGHTER TOLD HIM OUT OF KIDNAPING PLOTS.
Vikings weren’t known for their advocacy for human rights. Despite his rather genteel appearance, Hagar still displayed some barbaric traits such as his tendency to run off with “maidens”, after plundering sessions. Browne, who spoke with the Associated Press 1983, admitted that he had reduced the lecherous side to Hagar after receiving complaints from his daughter. She told Browne that “Running off avec a maiden doesn’t make sense.” It’s a crime.
HAGAR, THE HORRIBLE DOG, ENDORSES SODA.
Hagar, despite his preference for alcohol, was also a sucker for sweets. King Features licensed a soda can line featuring the most famous comic strip characters in the 1970s. In the 1990s, Mug Root Beer was also sold by Viking.
HE WAS A COLLEGE MASCOT.
Cleveland State University students chose the name “Vikings,” in 1965 to represent their collegiate basketball team. The school adopted Hagar in 1980s after using Viktorious Vike as a mascot. Before being replaced by Vike, Hagar and Helga were seen at many school sporting events.
While Dik Browne was working at Hagar The Horrible the Viking was known to have a tendency to excessive drinking. Chris Browne made a conscious decision to limit Hagar’s drinking when he took over the strip. Brown explained to the Chicago Tribune that Hagar’s father used to do a lot of gags about Hagar getting drunk and then coming home Hagar The Horrible in a wheelbarrow. “That doesn’t seem funny anymore. “Almost everyone I know has been hurt by substance abuse or alcoholism.”
