H is for Hägar the Horrible - A Very Modern Viking
Among the most recognizable and widely syndicated comic strips of the late twentieth century is Hägar the Horrible, a daily gag strip centered on a bearded Viking warrior, his family, and his clan. Since its debut in 1973, Hägar the Horrible has become an international phenomenon, appearing in thousands of newspapers worldwide and translated into dozens of languages. Its success lies in its ability to combine historical parody with modern domestic humor, allowing readers to see their own anxieties about work, family, and society reflected through the lens of a fictional Viking Age.
Recommended Reading List for this episode:
Hägar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles by Dik Browne (1988)
Hägar the Horrible: Daily Strips 1973–1975 by Chris Browne (2010)
The History of the Comic Strip, Volume 2 by David Kunzle (1990)
The Funnies: 100 Years of American Comic Strips by Ron Goulart (1995)
Children of the Yellow Kid: The Evolution of the American Comic Strip by RC Harvey (1998)
COMICS A-Z is the podcast that showcases the history of sequential art: comic books, comic strips, the characters, their creators, one letter at a time. Each episode highlights an interesting aspect of the long history of comics, as a creative medium and a growing industry.
Hosted by Kevin Cleary, a former executive with First Comics, Classics Illustrated, and TV Comics. Kevin was an advisor to the Overstreet Price Guide, The Overstreet Premium Ring Guide and a columnist/feature writer for the Comic's Buyers Guide, Overstreet Monthly, and Wizard Magazine.
Kevin was also the Purchasing Director for Heroes World Distribution, the 3rd largest comic, card, and toy distributor in the country, and the founder of Quantum Licensing, a company that produced pins, rings, and other licensed comic related merchandise.
Kevin currently works in Hollywood as a literary manager and occasional producer.
This podcast is made by humans. Accept no substitutes.
© Kevin Cleary 2026
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