I remember the first time
Broom-Hilda appeared in our daily newspaper’s comic section (it was The San
Antonio Light, since defunct). Perhaps it was the first Broom-Hilda strip
ever (which premiered on April 19, 1970). Though I don’t think I was
particularly adept at reading at the time, I still studied the comics intently.
But it didn’t take any great skill to appreciate the strip. If I recall
correctly, it was just Broom-Hilda flying along puffing her cigar, taking a sip
of beer, hiccupping, and falling off her broom.
In time, the Russell Meyer strip
became one of our favorites. The 1,500-year-old witch was a boozy old broad who
had chased men over the ages and who still tried to keep up a veneer of
femininity despite her rather caustic characteristics. The naïve troll Irwin,
the intellectual buzzard Gaylord (something of a culture vulture), and the
sarcastic ‘Master of Insults’ Grelber (who remained unseen except for eyes and
a mouth inside his hollow log) rounded out the usual cast, later joined by
Nerwin, Irwin’s bratty nephew.
Gaylord somehow became a prominent
member of the cast of make-believe characters (including Ghosty Ghost and a
hundred imaginary mice) who had a cycle of adventures all around the Babel
house and its environs.
Eventually, Broom-Hilda was
purged of her grittier habits (there was a whole cycle dedicated to her giving
up cigars). She briefly starred in two cartoon series (Archie’s TV Funnies
1971 and Fabulous Funnies 1978) and appeared in a special, The
Fantastic Funnies (1980). June Foray voiced the witch in the 1978 and 1980
animation. Although Meyer continues to draw the strip himself (something of a
record at 57 years long), they stopped putting out books in 1987. There are 25
volumes, of which I only have this sampling in my possession.
I Love You, Broom-Hilda
Boo! Broom-Hilda
Open at Your Own Risk!!
Sneaky Volcanoes
Lookin’ Good!
(Comic) Strip Tease
Ugly Is as Ugly Does
Broom-Hilda Rides Again!
Life Begins at 1500
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