Hagar the Horrible's Very Nearly Complete Viking Handbook

by Dik Browne

Featuring Dik Browne's lovable Viking Hagar the Horrible, here is an indispensable manual filled with hands-on advice for anyone who would enter the Viking business. For the first time anywhere, the entire range of Viking life, lore, and wisdom is presented.

Illustrated with 150 full-color drawings, this guide explains how anyone can be Norwegian, conduct a smash-and-grab, and take home the fruits of victory even when closet space is tight. Hagar's beloved Helga, Honi, and Hamlet are all present; there's a long-running party at the Glog factory; and a special section rates the 10 Most Sackable Cities in Europe. For all who quest for the Golden horn, assault castles, or wield the broad axe, this is the definitive treatise.

Genres: Humor, Comics, Comic Strips, Fiction

95 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1985

About the author

Dik Browne was born Richard Arthur Allan Browne in New York City. He was a popular cartoonist, best known for writing and drawing Hägar the Horrible and for drawing Hi and Lois.

In the 1940s he worked as an illustrator for Newsweek as well as for an advertising company, where he created the trademark logo for Chiquita.

In 1954 Browne and cartoonist Mort Walker co-created the comic strip Hi and Lois, a spin-off of Walker's popular Beetle Bailey strip, featuring Beetle's sister, brother-in-law, and their family. Walker wrote the strip, which Browne illustrated until his death. The series is now drawn by his son Chance and written by Walker's sons. In 1973 Browne created Hägar the Horrible about an ill-mannered red-bearded medieval viking. The comic is now produced by his son Chris. Both strips have been very successful, appearing in hundreds of newspapers each for decades.

He was recognized for his work by the National Cartoonist Society with their Humor Comics Strip Award in 1959, 1960, 1972, and 1977 for Hi and Lois, and again in 1984 and 1986 for Hägar the Horrible. He also received their Reuben Award for Hi and Lois in 1962, for Hägar the Horrible in 1973, and their Elzie Segar Award in 1973. He died in Sarasota, Florida.

Reviews

[Susanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4½*

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book again when I was looking through boxes of books, trying to figure out what to keep and what to try and sell. This book was getting the boot, but I've never really been that into vikings or bad comic strips so I don't remember why I bought it in the first place, probably when I was in middle school or high school.

Unlike the strip in the newspaper this was actually kind of clever, with silly jokes and decent puns. The stuff in the newspaper seems like all the life and joy has been sucked out of the author, but this felt like it was fun for the guy to write and draw despite having to this for decades.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually very factual! If you are Scandinavian, you should find this book filled with humor that actually dates back thousands of years. This little book is a treasure and is hard to find. I read often when I am feeling down and I alwaaaaaays get a laugh out of it.

[Oritje Sepmarama · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first English Strips. And wold really appreciate those who can connect me back to the Horrible Viking leader and his funny adventures

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

In books of comic strips, I really prefer the ones with the daily strips. This is more of a theme book describing Vikings and their exploits. Too much truth, nit enough pure old fun.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to be a Viking...hilarious.