Tumbleweeds
Encyclopedia
Tumbleweeds was a popular long-run comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....

 which offered a skewed perspective on life in the Old West. Writer-artist Tom K. Ryan (1926 - ) (who signed the strip "T.K. Ryan") was very familiar with conventions of the Western genre he satirized. Launched September 1965, the strip was distributed for decades by King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers worldwide...

.

Jim Davis
Jim Davis (cartoonist)
James Robert Davis is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the comic strip Garfield, which he signs as Jim Davis. He has also worked on other strips: Tumbleweeds, Gnorm Gnat, U.S. Acres and a strip about Mr...

, who created Garfield
Garfield
Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis. Published since June 19, 1978, it chronicles the life of the title character, the cat Garfield ; his owner, Jon Arbuckle; and Arbuckle's dog, Odie...

, was Ryan's assistant (from 1969 to 1978) while developing another strip, Gnorm Gnat
Gnorm Gnat
Gnorm Gnat was a comic strip by Jim Davis based on fictional insects, especially a gnat named Gnorm. The strip appeared in The Pendleton Times in Pendleton, Indiana in the 1970s, but failures to take the character to more mainstream success led Davis to instead create the popular comic strip Garfield...

.

After a 42-year run, Ryan retired and brought Tumbleweeds to a conclusion on December 30, 2007.

Characters and story

Tumbleweeds is set in and around the town of Grimy Gulch, whose population was stated at 49 (later it was marked out and added to 50), in an unspecified Western territory. Other locations include the nearby village of the Poohawk tribe of Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

s, and the US Army outpost
Outpost (military)
An Outpost in military terminology essentially means a detachment of troops stationed at a distance from the main force or formation, usually at a station in a remote or sparsely populated location, positioned to stand guard against unauthorized intrusions and surprise attacks; and the station...

 Fort Ridiculous, manned by the 6 7/8 Cavalry.

Grimy Gulch

  • Tumbleweeds, a laconic cowpoke
    Cowboy
    A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...

     who would rather be anywhere else but has no real ambition to do anything. Like his namesake, he's content to tumble wherever human foibles may carry him. (His worst nightmare is to be caught by and married to Hildegarde Hamhocker.)
  • Epic, Tumbleweed's toothless, alcoholic, plug-chewing, sway-backed horse; once a U.S. cavalry horse but drummed out of the service for spitting tobacco juice on a superior.
  • Ace, a professional gambler, Tumbleweed's best pal and a real smooth operator.
  • Judge Horatio Curmudgeon Frump, magistrate of Grimy Gulch. A pompous windbag.
  • The Sheriff, with a ridiculous handlebar moustache
    Moustache
    A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...

    , the short-handed "long arm of the law"
  • Deputy Knuckles (comic relief
    Comic relief
    Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...

     parody of "Dopey Deputy") The reason the Sheriff is so short-handed.
  • Quiet Burp, diminutive lawman from Texas—only slightly bigger than "Screaming Flea" (a play on Wyatt Earp
    Wyatt Earp
    Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer who served in several Western frontier towns. He was also at different times a farmer, teamster, bouncer, saloon-keeper, miner and boxing referee. However, he was never a drover or cowboy. He is most well known...

    , and a character name also used in the comic strip Rick O'Shay
    Rick O'Shay
    Rick O'Shay is a Western comic strip created by Stan Lynde in 1958. It was distributed worldwide through the Chicago Tribune Syndicate until publication ended in 1981.-Characters and story:...

    ).
  • Hildegarde Hamhocker, the town's only woman, drawn as a stereotypical homely old maid, trying to snag Tumbleweeds as a husband. She tries to persuade him that they could live in "connubial bliss," and he responds that he likes it just fine living in Grimy Gulch.
  • Echo, an orphan girl. Cute and precocious, and she knows how to use those qualities when necessary. Hildegarde's adopted niece.
  • Pajamas, the world's laziest dog. Echo's pet
  • Claude Clay, the town's undertaker, whose motto is "You plug 'em, I plant 'em."
  • Wart Wimble, a gravedigger who works for Clay. "With Wart at the spade, you've got it made; rest assured, you're well interred."
  • Blackie, Grimy Gulch's saloon keeper.
  • Soppy Sopwell, the town drunk.
  • Grover Galley, crack-brained editor (got hit with a printing press' composing stick which "scattered his type") of the Desert Denouncer newspaper.
  • Percy, sardonic newsboy and copyboy for the Denouncer.
  • Dusty Dewlap, local cattle rancher. Only hires Tumbleweeds when he's desperate.
  • Snake-Eye McFoul, an outlaw
    Outlaw
    In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...

    .
  • Snookie, Snake-Eye's little brother. He's only 12, but due to an overactive pituitary gland, he looks like he's in his thirties—including an unshaven "eight-o'clock shadow", mustache and cigarette. Dresses in "Little Lord Fauntleroy
    Little Lord Fauntleroy
    Little Lord Fauntleroy is the first children's novel written by English playwright and author Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was originally published as a serial in the St. Nicholas Magazine between November 1885 and October 1886, then as a book by Scribner's in 1886...

    " type outfits.
  • Ham and Beans, the mule skinners. Ham is short and loud. He screams at the big, gentle Beans for pampering the mules to the point of carrying them around like infants.
  • Slats, a cowboy who is always leaning on the fence.
  • Hogarth Hemp, the hangman (ropes typically being made of his surname).
  • Clodwell Gunkley, who apparently wandered into the wrong strip, according to whoever he encounters. An semi-effeminate bulk of a man who talks kind of like Ed Wynn
    Ed Wynn
    Ed Wynn was a popular American comedian and actor noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor....

     and has a passion for marshmallows.

The 6 7/8 Cavalry

  • Colonel
    Colonel
    Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...

     G. Armageddon Fluster
    , commander of the 6 7/8 Cavalry and Fort Ridiculous; a parody of George Armstrong Custer
    George Armstrong Custer
    George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...

    . He is referred to as "Goldilocks" and "Poopsie" by the Poohawk Chief. In a typical episode, Fluster attempted to flatter his superior "The General" with the "help" of the Poohawk Chief, which only resulted in Fluster being "promoted" to the "lead horse" on the General's stagecoach.
  • 6 7/8 Cavalry, A major and troopers under Fluster's command. In a typical episode, they were defeated in their own Fort Ridiculous by the Poohawks.
  • The General, Fluster's superior.
  • "Mole Eye", a scout from Fort Ridiculous (almost always shown coming in from the desert with a couple of arrows sticking out of his back); wears buckskin with word "Scout" on his hat.

The Poohawks

  • The Poohawk Chief, forever lamenting his tribe's pathetic standing.
  • Little Pigeon, the Poohawk chief's daughter: A flower among the weeds.
  • Limpid Lizard, a klutzy Poohawk (Indiandom's answer to Daffy Duck
    Daffy Duck
    Daffy Duck is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, often running the gamut between being the best friend and sometimes arch-rival of Bugs Bunny...

    ) and suitor to Little Pigeon. Butchers the English language.
  • Green Gills, a Poohawk injun and early suitor to Little Pigeon.
  • Lotsa Luck, a very rich Poohawk (depicted for years as mute
    Muteness
    Muteness or mutism is an inability to speak caused by a speech disorder. The term originates from the Latin word mutus, meaning "silent".-Causes:...

     and communicating by writing notes) soon started using a very posh voice when he had vocal cords cloned from William F. Buckley Jr. surgically inplanted. Often did revert back to notes during strip's run.
  • Drudgeworth, a chauffeur employed by "Lotsa Luck" to "drive" his horse!
  • The Poohawk medicine man
    Medicine man
    "Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...

    .
  • Screaming Flea, the smallest Poohawk (formally speaking in ornate word balloons);Very sensitive about the size of his nose, which is enormous. (and the Chief can't resist making fun of)
  • Bucolic Buffalo, the biggest, strongest Poohawk (but not very smart); a running joke is anyone who makes him mad is sent "south" (into the ground) by Bucolic Buffalo, often Lotsa Luck or the Poohawk Chief. He once found a pair of discarded boxing gloves
    Boxing gloves
    Boxing gloves are cushioned gloves that fighters wear on their hands during boxing matches. The term also refers to gloves used in training, though these often differ from competition gloves...

     out on the desert–and ate them!
  • Hulking Hawk, maybe not quite as big as Bucolic Buffalo, but fearsome nonetheless and a more suitable suitor to Little Pigeon than Limpid Lizard, according to the Poohawk Chief.
  • Purple Polecat, operates the trading post.

Appearances in other media

Tumbleweeds was to be one of the strips animated in Filmation's
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...

 1978 series The Fabulous Funnies
Fabulous Funnies
Fabulous Funnies was a Filmation cartoon series on NBC that ran for one season in 1978; it featured animated versions of newspaper comic strips and attempted to teach moral lessons to children.-Overview:...

(along with Broom-Hilda
Broom-Hilda
Broom-Hilda is an American newspaper comic strip created by cartoonist Russell Myers. Distributed by the Tribune Media Services, it depicts the misadventures of a man-crazy, cigar-smoking, beer-guzzling, 1,500-year-old witch and her motley crew of friends....

, Nancy
Nancy (comic strip)
Nancy is an American daily and Sunday comic strip, originally written and drawn by Ernie Bushmiller and distributed by United Feature Syndicate....

, Alley Oop
Alley Oop
Alley Oop is a syndicated comic strip, created in 1932 by American cartoonist V. T. Hamlin, who wrote and drew the popular and influential strip through four decades for Newspaper Enterprise Association...

and others) and was included in the series' premiere episode with Alan Oppenheimer
Alan Oppenheimer
Alan Oppenheimer is an American character actor and voice actor. He has performed numerous roles on live-action television since the 1960s, and has had an active career doing voice work in cartoons since the 1970s.-Early life:...

 doing the voice of the title character. However, after the first episode aired, it was learned that Filmation lacked the rights to use the property, and the segment was removed from future episodes.

Tumbleweeds Gulch became an MGM theme park attraction, and the strip also was the basis for a Las Vegas stage show. In 1983, Tumbleweeds was adapted into a musical comedy for high school productions by the same company that adapted the strip Luann
Luann (comic strip)
Luann is a syndicated newspaper comic strip distributed by United Features Syndicate since 17 March 1985. Luann is written and drawn by Greg Evans, who won the 2003 Reuben Award as Cartoonist of the Year....

.

Book collections included Presenting the Best of Tumbleweeds: An, Uh, Unusual Saga of the Old West (Cool Hand Communications, 1994), plus numerous mass-market paperbacks published by Fawcett.

Sources

  • Strickler, Dave
    Dave Strickler
    Dave Strickler is a reference librarian noted for his compilation of Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924–1995: The Complete Index, regarded as a major reference work by researchers and historians of newspaper comic strips....

    . Syndicated Comic Strips and Artists, 1924-1995: The Complete Index. Cambria, California: Comics Access, 1995. ISBN 0-9700077-0-1

External links

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