Cartoonist Chris Browne, the comic genius behind the popular comic strip “Hagar the Horrible for the past 34 years, has passed away of natural causes at the age of 70.
Browne took over the cartoon when his father, Hagar creator Dik Browne died. King Features Syndicate has not yet announced whether the Viking sitcom cartoon will be continued under another artist, possibly Chris Browne’s brother Chance Browne, who currently draws Hi and Lois, or artist Gary Hallgren, or allowed to lapse.
Until recenty, Chris Browne wrote the “Hägar the Horrible” strip with the assistance of artist Gary Hallgren.
“Hägar the Horrible” is translated into thirteen languages and appears in forty-five countries. “Hagar the Horrible” was created by Dik Browne in 1973. He wrote and drew the cartoon strip from 1973 until 1988, After his retirement, his son Chris took over “Hagar the Horrible” and his older son Chance took over his other comic strip, Hi and Lois. Hägar the Horrible owes more to The Honeymooners,” The Flintstones, or The Jetsons than it does The Elder Eddas. The comic strip is a sitcom about “Hägar, the captain of a Viking longship, his nagging wife Helga, his bookish son Hamlet, and his husband-hungry teenaged daughter Honi. The jokes are more about visiting in-laws outstaying their welcome and parent-child squabbles than exploring the New World or pillaging villages. It first appeared February 4, 1973, celebrating its fiftieth anniversary only a week ago.
Chris Browne was involved in assisting his father with Hägar the Horrible since before it saw print. Chris and Dik Browne co-authored Hägar the Horrible’s Very Nearly Complete Viking Handbook, which provides a humorous and slightly more accurate guide to Viking life. Chris Browne also assisted his father on Hi and Lois and wrote two comic strips of his own: Chris Browne’s Own Comic Strip and Raising Duncan. He also illustrated children’s books.
The National Cartoonists Society wrote about Brown’s death, adding: “We are sad to announce the passing of one of our longtime valued members of the NCS community, Chris Browne. Hagar had only just celebrated his 50th anniversary the day before…We will miss his talent and his gentle and kind soul.”
Christopher Kelly Browne was born May 16, 1952 in South Orange, New Jersey. He died February 5, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is survived by his wife Carroll, his brother Chance, and his sister Tsuiwen Browne-Boeras.
His sister Tsuiwen Browne-Boeras accurately predicted, “He will be very much missed by his family and friends as well as his fans throughout the world.”
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
