The Checkered Demon
| The Checkered Demon | |
|---|---|
|
The Checkered Demon, as illustrated by S. Clay Wilson | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher |
Print Mint Last Gasp |
| First comic appearance | Zap Comix #2 (Print Mint, Aug. 1968) |
| Created by | S. Clay Wilson |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego |
|
| Species | Demon |
| Partnerships | Star-Eyed Stella, Ruby the Dyke, Lady Coozette |
| Abilities | Unbeatable in combat |
The Checkered Demon is a fictional character created by S. Clay Wilson, one of the leading underground comix artists of the 1960s and a contemporary of Robert Crumb. The Demon debuted in Zap Comix #2, in 1968.[1]
Fictional character history
A portly, shirtless being generally seen wearing checkered pants, the Demon is Wilson's hero (sometimes anti-hero), and is frequently called upon to kill the various demented bikers, pirates, and rapists who populate Wilson's universe. The Demon is unbeatable in combat, but prefers to copulate with rapacious women—such as Star-Eyed Stella, Ruby the Dyke, or Lady Coozette—or to sit around drinking Tree Frog beer. He has no concern for human life. Although the Demon is generally shown as having red skin and black and white checkered pants in color illustrations, Wilson has claimed that the character can actually make himself any color. He generally turns green on Saint Patrick's Day.[2]
After the run of Zap, the Demon frequently appeared in Crumb's Weirdo magazine, as well as in Wilson's own comics, such as Pork, and the Demon's own title, of which three issues were published in the late 1970s.
A large number of Checkered Demon stories were collected in the book The Collected Checkered Demon: Volume One, published by Last Gasp. He also frequently appears in The Art of S. Clay Wilson, published by Ten Speed Press. It is rumored that Wilson's inspiration for the Checkered Demon was artist and friend Alfredo Arreguin.
He appears as a signature on the cover of Wilson's Grimm.
List of appearances (selected)
- "The Hog Ridin' Fools," Zap Comix #2 (Print Mint, 1968)
- “The Fat Demon sitting in the broken throne was chatting with the recently captured female pirate," Zap Comix #4 (Print Mint, 1969)
- "Thumb and Tongue Tales," parts I and II, Bent (Print Mint, 1971)
- "The Unsolicited Brochure with Dumpy & the Grenade Hearted Broccoli," Zam-Zap Jam (Print Mint, 1974)
- "The Swap," Zap Comix #8 (Print Mint, 1975)
- The Checkered Demon (3 issues, Last Gasp, 1977–1979)
- Zap Comix #12 (Last Gasp, 1989)
- "The Girl"
- "Picnic in Hell / Devil's Table Top Model #666"
- "Bus Stop! #666," Zap Comix #13 (Last Gasp, 1994)
- "Ruby the Dyke Enters Rotting Zombiesville," Zap Comix #14 (Last Gasp, 1998)
- The Collected Checkered Demon (Last Gasp, 1998)
References
- ↑ Drake, Temple; David Kerekes (2004). Headpress Guide to the Counter Culture: A Sourcebook for Modern Readers. Headpress. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-900486-35-4. Retrieved 2009-03-06.
- ↑ The Art of S. Clay Wilson, Ten Speed Press, 2006