Fred Hembeck
Encyclopedia
Fred Hembeck is an American cartoonist
best known for his parodies of characters from major American comic book
publishers. His work has frequently been published by the firms whose characters he spoofs. His characters are always drawn with curlicue
s at the elbows and knees. He often portrays himself as a character in his own work, in the role of "interviewer" of various comic book characters. Interviewer Daniel Best has said of his work:
" style based on the version of himself he used to write illustrated letters to his college friends. Hembeck used this character to conduct comedic "interviews" with Spider-Man and the Flash, and sent them off to the leading fan publication of the day, The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom (now known as the Comics Buyers Guide). Much to his surprise, the submissions were published, and Hembeck's strip, called "Dateline: @!!?#" became a popular feature. The "best" of these strips were published in Hembeck: The Best of Dateline: @!!?#, put out by Eclipse Comics
in 1979, and reprinted by FantaCo Enterprises
in 1980.
From 1979–1981, Hembeck wrote and drew a 3-panel comic strip that appeared in the Daily Planet
page of DC comic books
. (The Daily Planet featured news on current and upcoming DC comics and answers to reader questions.)
From 1980 to 1983, FantaCo produced a series of black-and-white magazine-format books featuring Hembeck's stories and strips. Hembeck also contributed humor pieces to other FantaCo titles, including Smilin’ Ed, the Chronicles series, Gates of Eden, and Alien Encounters.
, a Marvel Comics
information magazine. Because Hembeck has a particular fascination with the minor Marvel Comics character Brother Voodoo
, he regularly featured the character in the cartoons he drew each month in Marvel Age, generally depicting him as a lame character constantly trying (and failing) to get his own series. Hembeck even introduced Brother Voodoo's "wife" and "child," Sister Voodoo and Voodoo Chile.
When Brother Voodoo finally got his own solo story in Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 3 #1, Hembeck drew it, in a serious art style very different from his normal cartooning look.
In his cartoon in the final issue of Marvel Age Hembeck claimed he had only begun mocking Brother Voodoo because he had the character confused with an "even lamer" Silver Age
character, DC's Brother Power the Geek
.
, Krause Publications
, Fantagraphics Books
, Topps Comics
, TwoMorrows Publishing
, and Archie Comics
.
Many of Hembeck's past strips are available through his website.
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
best known for his parodies of characters from major American comic book
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...
publishers. His work has frequently been published by the firms whose characters he spoofs. His characters are always drawn with curlicue
Curlicue
A curlicue, or alternatively curlycue, in the visual arts, is a fancy twist, or curl, composed usually from a series of concentric circles...
s at the elbows and knees. He often portrays himself as a character in his own work, in the role of "interviewer" of various comic book characters. Interviewer Daniel Best has said of his work:
Career
Fresh out of college, and failing to get work as a traditional comic book artist, Hembeck hit upon a "bigfootBigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
" style based on the version of himself he used to write illustrated letters to his college friends. Hembeck used this character to conduct comedic "interviews" with Spider-Man and the Flash, and sent them off to the leading fan publication of the day, The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom (now known as the Comics Buyers Guide). Much to his surprise, the submissions were published, and Hembeck's strip, called "Dateline: @!!?#" became a popular feature. The "best" of these strips were published in Hembeck: The Best of Dateline: @!!?#, put out by Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
in 1979, and reprinted by FantaCo Enterprises
FantaCo Enterprises
FantaCo Enterprises was an American comic book store and publishing company founded by Thomas Skulan and based in Albany, New York. As a publisher, FantaCo was known for its idiosyncratic line-up of mostly black-and-white titles, including the humorous Hembeck Series and the horror title Gore Shriek...
in 1980.
From 1979–1981, Hembeck wrote and drew a 3-panel comic strip that appeared in the Daily Planet
Daily Planet (DC Comics house advertisement)
Daily Planet was a promotional page appearing in DC Comics publications from 1976–1981. The Daily Planet contained previews of upcoming stories, as well as recurring features like "The Answer Man", where DC writer/editor Bob Rozakis would answer questions sent in by readers, and a comic strip by...
page of DC comic books
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. (The Daily Planet featured news on current and upcoming DC comics and answers to reader questions.)
Marvel Age and Brother Voodoo
Hembeck was especially visible in the 1980s when his strips appeared regularly in Marvel AgeMarvel Age
Marvel Adventures is an imprint of Marvel Comics intended for younger audiences, including small children. Unlike the standard comics published by Marvel, which often take place in story arcs spanning several issues, each Marvel Adventures comic tells a standalone story.The idea was initially...
, a Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
information magazine. Because Hembeck has a particular fascination with the minor Marvel Comics character Brother Voodoo
Brother Voodoo
Brother Voodoo is a fictional character, a supernatural superhero in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Gene Colan, he first appears in Strange Tales #169...
, he regularly featured the character in the cartoons he drew each month in Marvel Age, generally depicting him as a lame character constantly trying (and failing) to get his own series. Hembeck even introduced Brother Voodoo's "wife" and "child," Sister Voodoo and Voodoo Chile.
When Brother Voodoo finally got his own solo story in Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 3 #1, Hembeck drew it, in a serious art style very different from his normal cartooning look.
In his cartoon in the final issue of Marvel Age Hembeck claimed he had only begun mocking Brother Voodoo because he had the character confused with an "even lamer" Silver Age
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
character, DC's Brother Power the Geek
Brother Power the Geek
Brother Power the Geek is a comic book character created in the late 1960s for DC Comics by Joe Simon. He first appeared in Brother Power the Geek #1 ....
.
Other publications
Hembeck has also been published by First ComicsFirst Comics
First Comics was an American comic-book publisher that was active from 1983–1991, known for titles like American Flagg!, Grimjack, Nexus, Badger, Dreadstar, and Jon Sable...
, Krause Publications
Krause Publications
Krause Publications is a publisher of leisure-time & enthusiast magazines and books. Best known for its Standard Catalog of World Coins, a series of numismatic catalogs commonly referred to as Krause-Mishler catalogues or simply Krause catalogues. They provide information, pricing, and...
, Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
, Topps Comics
Topps Comics
Topps Comics is a division of the American trading card publisher and gum/candy distributor the Topps Company, Inc. that published comic books from 1993–1998, beginning its existence during a short comics-industry boom that attracted many investors and new companies...
, TwoMorrows Publishing
TwoMorrows Publishing
TwoMorrows Publishing is a publisher of magazines about comic books, founded in 1994 by John and Pam Morrow out of their small advertising agency in Raleigh, North Carolina...
, and Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
.
Many of Hembeck's past strips are available through his website.
Parody
Although most of Hembeck's work is itself parody, Hembeck and his drawing style have also been the subject of parody:- In issue #3 of the first Omega MenOmega MenThe Omega Men are a fictional team of extraterrestrial superheroes who have appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. They first appeared in Green Lantern #141 , and were created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton....
series (drawn by Keith GiffenKeith GiffenKeith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
), a team member named "Humbek" appears, drawn in a style approximating that of Hembeck (as opposed to the more representational art of the rest of the issue). His thoughts reveal him to be an underground cartoonist exiled from his homeworld. Seconds later, he is killed by Lobo. - In a later issue of Legion of Super-HeroesLegion of Super-HeroesThe Legion of Super-Heroes is a fictional superhero team in the 30th and 31st centuries of the . The team first appears in Adventure Comics #247 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino....
(also drawn by Giffen), the words "I killed Fred Humbeck" appear in the filigree of a panel border. - Fred also has an affection towards The Beatles and dinosaur toys.
FantaCo Hembeck series
- #1 — Hembeck: The Best of Dateline: @!!?# (1980)
- #2 — Hembeck 1980 (1980)
- #3 — Abbott and Costello Meet the Bride of Hembeck (1980)
- #4 — Bah, Hembeck! (1980)
- #5 — The Hembeck File (1981)
- #6 — Jimmy Olsen's Pal, Fred Hembeck (1981)
- #7 — Dial H for Hembeck (1983)
Marvel
- Fantastic Four Roast (1982)
- Spectacular Spider Man #86 (1984)
- Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe (1989)
- Fred Hembeck Sells the Marvel Universe (1990)
- Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 3 #1 (1990)
Image Comics
- The Nearly Complete Essential Hembeck Archives Omnibus (2008) — 900+-page compilation of previously published strips and comics not owned by other companies, including all of the books published by FantaCo. Introduction by Stan LeeStan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
. ISBN 978-1582408729
External links
- Hembeck's weekly blog, Fred Sez
- Hembeck's MySpace page
- The Hembeck Files — digitally recolored archive of Hembeck's Daily Planet strips