Flaming Carrot Comics
Encyclopedia
Flaming Carrot Comics is a surrealist comic book
series
by cartoonist Bob Burden
. The character first appeared in Visions #1, a magazine published by the Atlanta Fantasy Fair in 1979. Flaming Carrot can be seen as a parody
of various aspects of the superhero
genre (though his origin story is much the same as that of Don Quixote). Flaming Carrot adventures have been published by Aardvark-Vanaheim
, Renegade Press
, Dark Horse Comics
, and Image Comics
, among others. He has guest-starred, and made cameos in, comics published by Fantagraphics, Mirage Studios
, Atomeka Press
, and others.
The Flaming Carrot is portrayed as a womanizing, hard drinking, two-fisted, mentally unbalanced individual (calling to mind the gritty anti-hero
es of the 1980s), whilst at the same time almost inexorably being on the side of The Establishment
, with at least one instance of telling the audience to "avoid between meal snacks and brush after every meal" similar to the very clean cut, all-American comic characters. However, the series contains more depth than a superhero parody.
Most of his dialogue is disjointed, but sometimes thought-provoking in a Zen
Koan fashion. Odd pop culture references and random non-sequiturs
abound throughout the stories. Reflections on philosophy, the absence of meaning in modern life, why someone would choose the life of a superhero, and the effects of waking up from a night of heavy drinking with a speaker surgically implanted in one's chest abound.
The Carrot lives in Palookaville, a neighborhood of Iron City (a working-stiff sort of town like Akron
, Ohio
or Pittsburgh).
In 1981 Burden self-published (under the company name Killian Barracks Press) Flaming Carrot Comics #1 (oversize), a one-off special.
A four-page, apocryphal Flaming Carrot history in Visions #4 (1982) convinced Dave Sim
of Aardvark-Vanaheim
to publish Flaming Carrot as a regular comic, though he first wrote the Carrot into the pages of Cerebus
. The first Aardvark-Vanaheim issue was published in May 1984; it ran five issues until January 1985. The company published a 3-D
special in 1984.
The series was picked up by Renegade Press
for 12 more issues from March 1985 - July 1987. During this time, the Flaming Carrot appeared in the first issue of the Fantagraphics anthology Anything Goes! in October 1986.
In 1988, Burden began a relationship with Dark Horse Comics
that lasted for 14 years. From June 1988 - October 1994, Dark Horse published 14 more issues of the ongoing Flaming Carrot series, ending with issue #31. (It also published Carrot stories in its anthology Dark Horse Presents
, and the annual anthology San Diego Comic Con Comics #1.)
In the winter of 1994, Dark Horse published Flaming Carrot Stories No. 1, referred to on the cover as a "Text Version of Future Issue", although a standard pictorial comic version of the story has yet to appear. From 1997-1998, the company published four volumes of the Flaming Carrot Comics Collected Album, which was the first time series had been reprinted, and the 64-page "Flaming Carrot Comics Annual No.1" featuring a new story. In 1999 Dark Horse Comics published 4 issues of the spin-off series "Bob Burden's Original Mysterymen Comics", although it did not feature The Flaming Carrot. In 2002, Dark Horse published the crossover
special Flaming Carrot & Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman (listed as Flaming Carrot Comics #32 in the indicia).
During this period, in 1989–1990, the British publisher Atomeka
printed Flaming Carrot stories in their anthology A1, issues #1–2. In 1993–1994, Mirage Studios
published the four-issue series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
/ Flaming Carrot Crossover.
Flaming Carrot was relaunched in 2004 with Image Comics
and Desperado Publishing
with a dual numbering system for four issues. A Photo Comic Special #1 (issue #37 in the regular series) was published in March 2006, featuring digitally edited photographs instead of artwork.
At times, entire Flaming Carrot storylines would simply be abandoned, and numerous projects and spin-offs promised in the series various letter pages and "Bob Speaks" columns never came to fruition.
of the Doors
or Frankie Laine
.
To date, Flaming Carrot has staved off at least three alien invasion
s, a Communist take over of Iron City, flying dead dogs, the Man in the Moon
, Death
itself, and a cloned horde of evil marching Hitler
's boots. Possessing no real super powers, the Carrot wins the day through sheer grit, raw determination, blinding stupidity, and bizarre luck.
Flaming Carrot was also a founding member of a blue collar
superhero group called The Mystery Men
, introduced in a flashback/dream sequence in Flaming Carrot Comics #16. The story of this group was later made into a movie, and a short-lived spin-off comic book series. Flaming Carrot himself does not appear in the film, although a handful of characters like Mr. Furious, the Shoveler, and Dr. Heller do.
. (The mask and the pogo stick were invented by Dr. Heller of the Mystery Men
.) Flaming Carrot also wears a crime fighting utility belt, but unlike that of the Batman
, his is filled with Silly Putty
, rubber band
s, random playing cards, sneezing powder
, and other similarly useless items (which nonetheless can become lethal weapons in his hands). The Flaming Carrot also relies heavily on his 9mm Radom pistol to kill his enemies without hesitation.
Flaming Carrot is able to go into a self-induced state of "Zen stupidity" in order to face danger and evil boldly and without trepidation.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
by cartoonist Bob Burden
Bob Burden
Bob Burden is an American comic book artist and writer, best known as the creator of Flaming Carrot Comics and the Mystery Men.-Early life:Burden grew up in the industrial rust belt of the Northeast United States...
. The character first appeared in Visions #1, a magazine published by the Atlanta Fantasy Fair in 1979. Flaming Carrot can be seen as a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of various aspects of the superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
genre (though his origin story is much the same as that of Don Quixote). Flaming Carrot adventures have been published by Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim is a Canadian independent comic book publisher founded in 1977 by Dave Sim and Deni Loubert. It is best known for publishing Sim's Cerebus....
, Renegade Press
Renegade Press
Renegade Press was an American comic book company, founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. Notable titles published by Renegade include Flaming Carrot, Ms...
, Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, and Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
, among others. He has guest-starred, and made cameos in, comics published by Fantagraphics, Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios is an independent American comic book company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, based in Northampton, Massachusetts and best known for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series.-History:...
, Atomeka Press
Atomeka Press
Atomeka Press was a British publisher of comic books set up in 1988 by Dave Elliott and Garry Leach. Atomeka ceased publishing in 1997 and was then revived in 2004, but its future seems uncertain, as it has not published any new material since 2005.-History:...
, and others.
The Flaming Carrot is portrayed as a womanizing, hard drinking, two-fisted, mentally unbalanced individual (calling to mind the gritty anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
es of the 1980s), whilst at the same time almost inexorably being on the side of The Establishment
The Establishment
The Establishment is a term used to refer to a visible dominant group or elite that holds power or authority in a nation. The term suggests a closed social group which selects its own members...
, with at least one instance of telling the audience to "avoid between meal snacks and brush after every meal" similar to the very clean cut, all-American comic characters. However, the series contains more depth than a superhero parody.
Most of his dialogue is disjointed, but sometimes thought-provoking in a Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Koan fashion. Odd pop culture references and random non-sequiturs
Non sequitur (absurdism)
A non sequitur is a conversational and literary device, often used for comedic purposes. It is a comment that, because of its apparent lack of meaning relative to what it follows, seems absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing....
abound throughout the stories. Reflections on philosophy, the absence of meaning in modern life, why someone would choose the life of a superhero, and the effects of waking up from a night of heavy drinking with a speaker surgically implanted in one's chest abound.
The Carrot lives in Palookaville, a neighborhood of Iron City (a working-stiff sort of town like Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
or Pittsburgh).
Publication history
The Flaming Carrot first appeared in Visions #1, the first in a series of magazines produced as part of the Atlanta Fantasy Fair in 1979. Flaming Carrot stories went on to appear in each yearly edition of the magazine through 1987.In 1981 Burden self-published (under the company name Killian Barracks Press) Flaming Carrot Comics #1 (oversize), a one-off special.
A four-page, apocryphal Flaming Carrot history in Visions #4 (1982) convinced Dave Sim
Dave Sim
David Victor Sim is an award-winning Canadian comic book writer and artist.A pioneer of self-published comics and creators' rights, Sim is best known as the creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book published from 1977 to 2004, which chronicles its main character in a 6,000-page self-contained...
of Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim
Aardvark-Vanaheim is a Canadian independent comic book publisher founded in 1977 by Dave Sim and Deni Loubert. It is best known for publishing Sim's Cerebus....
to publish Flaming Carrot as a regular comic, though he first wrote the Carrot into the pages of Cerebus
Cerebus (comics)
Cerebus is the first collected volume of Canadian cartoonist Dave Sim's Cerebus comic book series. It is made up of the first 25 issues of Cerebus, plus, as of the 11th edition, some strips that ran in Comics Buyer's Guide featuring Silverspoon, a parody of the comic strip Prince Valiant.While...
. The first Aardvark-Vanaheim issue was published in May 1984; it ran five issues until January 1985. The company published a 3-D
Stereoscopy
Stereoscopy refers to a technique for creating or enhancing the illusion of depth in an image by presenting two offset images separately to the left and right eye of the viewer. Both of these 2-D offset images are then combined in the brain to give the perception of 3-D depth...
special in 1984.
The series was picked up by Renegade Press
Renegade Press
Renegade Press was an American comic book company, founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. Notable titles published by Renegade include Flaming Carrot, Ms...
for 12 more issues from March 1985 - July 1987. During this time, the Flaming Carrot appeared in the first issue of the Fantagraphics anthology Anything Goes! in October 1986.
In 1988, Burden began a relationship with Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
that lasted for 14 years. From June 1988 - October 1994, Dark Horse published 14 more issues of the ongoing Flaming Carrot series, ending with issue #31. (It also published Carrot stories in its anthology Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents was the first comic book published by Dark Horse Comics in 1986 and was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007 until August 2010...
, and the annual anthology San Diego Comic Con Comics #1.)
In the winter of 1994, Dark Horse published Flaming Carrot Stories No. 1, referred to on the cover as a "Text Version of Future Issue", although a standard pictorial comic version of the story has yet to appear. From 1997-1998, the company published four volumes of the Flaming Carrot Comics Collected Album, which was the first time series had been reprinted, and the 64-page "Flaming Carrot Comics Annual No.1" featuring a new story. In 1999 Dark Horse Comics published 4 issues of the spin-off series "Bob Burden's Original Mysterymen Comics", although it did not feature The Flaming Carrot. In 2002, Dark Horse published the crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
special Flaming Carrot & Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman (listed as Flaming Carrot Comics #32 in the indicia).
During this period, in 1989–1990, the British publisher Atomeka
Atomeka Press
Atomeka Press was a British publisher of comic books set up in 1988 by Dave Elliott and Garry Leach. Atomeka ceased publishing in 1997 and was then revived in 2004, but its future seems uncertain, as it has not published any new material since 2005.-History:...
printed Flaming Carrot stories in their anthology A1, issues #1–2. In 1993–1994, Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios
Mirage Studios is an independent American comic book company founded in 1983 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, based in Northampton, Massachusetts and best known for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series.-History:...
published the four-issue series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
/ Flaming Carrot Crossover.
Flaming Carrot was relaunched in 2004 with Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
and Desperado Publishing
Desperado Publishing
Desperado Publishing is an American independent comic book publisher, established in 2004. Located in Norcross, Georgia, Desperado's president is Joe Pruett, its creative director is Stephan Nilson, and its director of business development is former Caliber Press publisher Gary Reed.-Overview:With...
with a dual numbering system for four issues. A Photo Comic Special #1 (issue #37 in the regular series) was published in March 2006, featuring digitally edited photographs instead of artwork.
At times, entire Flaming Carrot storylines would simply be abandoned, and numerous projects and spin-offs promised in the series various letter pages and "Bob Speaks" columns never came to fruition.
Fictional character biography
The Flaming Carrot origin states that "having read 5,000 comics in a single sitting to win a bet, this poor man suffered brain damage and appeared directly thereafter as — the Flaming Carrot!" Non sequiturs within the various issues have led some to speculate that the Flaming Carrot is, in fact, Jim MorrisonJim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
of the Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
or Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
.
To date, Flaming Carrot has staved off at least three alien invasion
Alien invasion
The alien invasion is a common theme in science fiction stories and film, in which extraterrestrial life invades Earth either to exterminate and supplant human life, enslave it under a colonial system, harvest humans for food, steal the planet's resources, or destroy the planet altogether.The...
s, a Communist take over of Iron City, flying dead dogs, the Man in the Moon
Man in the Moon
The Man in the Moon is an imaginary figure resembling a human face, head or body, that observers from some cultural backgrounds typically perceive in the bright disc of the full moon...
, Death
Death (personification)
The concept of death as a sentient entity has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, Death is often given the name Grim Reaper and, from the 15th century onwards, came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood...
itself, and a cloned horde of evil marching Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's boots. Possessing no real super powers, the Carrot wins the day through sheer grit, raw determination, blinding stupidity, and bizarre luck.
Flaming Carrot was also a founding member of a blue collar
Blue collar
Blue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
superhero group called The Mystery Men
Mystery Men
Mystery Men is a 1999 comedy film based on a Dark Horse comic book series feature in Flaming Carrot Comics by Bob Burden, directed by TV commercial director Kinka Usher. It stars William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, and Hank Azaria as a trio of lesser superheroes with fairly unimpressive superpowers who...
, introduced in a flashback/dream sequence in Flaming Carrot Comics #16. The story of this group was later made into a movie, and a short-lived spin-off comic book series. Flaming Carrot himself does not appear in the film, although a handful of characters like Mr. Furious, the Shoveler, and Dr. Heller do.
Powers and abilities
The Carrot wears a costume that consists of a giant carrot mask (which extends from above his head to below his crotch and is actually on fire at the top), a white shirt, red pants, and flippers on his feet (in case he has to swim). The mask has a continually burning flame at the top and a secret compartment containing a nuclear powered pogo stickPogo stick
A pogo stick is a device for jumping off the ground in a standing position with the aid of a spring, used as a toy or exercise equipment. It consists of a pole with a handle at the top and footrests near the bottom, and a spring located somewhere along the pole...
. (The mask and the pogo stick were invented by Dr. Heller of the Mystery Men
Mystery Men
Mystery Men is a 1999 comedy film based on a Dark Horse comic book series feature in Flaming Carrot Comics by Bob Burden, directed by TV commercial director Kinka Usher. It stars William H. Macy, Ben Stiller, and Hank Azaria as a trio of lesser superheroes with fairly unimpressive superpowers who...
.) Flaming Carrot also wears a crime fighting utility belt, but unlike that of the Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
, his is filled with Silly Putty
Silly Putty
Silly Putty , is the Crayola-owned trademark name for a class of silicone polymers. It is marketed today as a toy for children, but was originally created by accident during research into potential rubber substitutes for use by the United States in World War II...
, rubber band
Rubber band
A rubber band is a short length of rubber and latex formed in the shape of a loop and is commonly used to hold multiple objects together...
s, random playing cards, sneezing powder
Sneezing powder
Sneezing powder refers to a group of powders or powder-like substances that induce sneezing when someone is exposed to them. This is usually done as a practical joke or prank to an unsuspecting victim....
, and other similarly useless items (which nonetheless can become lethal weapons in his hands). The Flaming Carrot also relies heavily on his 9mm Radom pistol to kill his enemies without hesitation.
Flaming Carrot is able to go into a self-induced state of "Zen stupidity" in order to face danger and evil boldly and without trepidation.
Awards
- 1992:
- Nominated for "Best Continuing Series" Eisner AwardEisner AwardThe Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
- Nominated for "Best Humor Publication" Eisner Award
- Nominated for "Best Continuing Series" Eisner Award
- 2007: Won "Best Humor Publication" Eisner Award
External links
- "This Flame, This Carrot," Comics BulletinComics BulletinComics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.-History:...
- Instructions for making a Flaming Carrot costume
- Comic Vine