'Mazing Man
Encyclopedia
'Mazing Man is the title character of a comic book
series created by Bob Rozakis
and Stephen DeStefano and published by DC Comics
. The series ran for twelve issues in 1986, with additional special issues in 1987, 1988, and 1990. In addition, 'Mazing Man had an origin story in Secret Origins
#16, and an original one-page story that appeared in an ad in Comic Buyer's Guide.
' Mazing Man series depicts the misadventures of Sigfried Horatio Hunch III, a benignly deranged little man in Queens, New York City
, New York
who dresses in a homemade costume and performs deeds like unclogging drains and watching out for local children. Viewed as a harmless kook by his neighbors, he saves a child from being hit by a truck in the first issue, earning him some respect and notoriety, not to mention a steady stream of appreciation (and food) from the mother in subsequent issues.
"'Maze" tends to sing Simon and Garfunkel
songs when struck on the head. His best friend is Denton Fixx, a writer for BC Comics [an obvious parody of DC Comics] who looks like a beagle
. Hunch is a millionaire, having won first place in a magazine subscription company's sweepstakes
. After winning the prize, he felt obligated to subscribe to all of the company's magazines. As a result, he receives a staggering load of publications daily, including the pornographic magazine
s that he genuinely reads only for the articles. He does not keep his wealth a secret per se; he simply does not mention it and does not live an opulent lifestyle. His friends are unaware of his financial success.
The original series, although highly acclaimed, was short-lived. However, comics artist Frank Miller
admired the series. Eager to help the property survive, Miller contributed a cover with the lead characters of the extremely popular mini-series, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
for the last issue. The resulting exposure created enough interest for subsequent one-shot issues.
A back-up feature, Zoot Sputnik, appeared for several issues, drawn by Fred Hembeck
and (ostensibly) written by Denton Fixx; it was supposed to be the book Fixx wrote for BC Comics. It was a parody of the Golden Age
narrative style where stories had no between-issue continuity — Zoot and his team were space adventurers in one issue and cowboys in the next. The team's dog received a shock of energy and gained the ability to remember their disparate adventures. This was Denton's attempt to introduce continuity to the book, but it was met with disapproval by his editor.
' Mazing Man is one of a handful of DC titles to publish an issue not featuring the Comics Code Authority
stamp of approval. In the issue "Writer's Block", Denton is stuck for a story, and all his friends give their ideas. One of them dealt with an army of zombie
s. Although there was no gore or violence, any mention of the living dead (specifically the use of the word "zombie") is forbidden by the Comics Code. The issue was released without the stamp, with no publicity, positive or negative.
Much later, in the Ambush Bug: Year None
miniseries, 'Mazing Man (in the same nonsensical way of the series) is revealed to be on death row
.
.
Brenda Valentine : a rising star at a local advertising agency. She is married to Eddie Valentine. The characters of Brenda and Eddie are arguably based on similarly named characters in the song "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
" by Billy Joel
.
Eddie Valentine : Assistant to the Assistant Manager at the South Richmond Bank. (Promoted to Assistant Manager in issue #9, September 1986, "The Bank Job, or 'By Hook Or By Crook
) Married to Brenda. Baseball player and Gold Glove winner at John Quincy High School.
K.P. Watson : Denton's human-looking half sister.
Guido Garibaldi : The jock simpleton who lives in the same building as Denton, 'Maze, Eddie and Brenda. He works in three shoe stores and spends most of his time wondering which one he's called in sick at, drinking beer and hopelessly pursuing women.
Sgt. Muldavey : a local police officer who is plagued by 'Maze's "heroics".
Mrs. Costinas : Landlady of Maze, Denton and K.P. Most often seen sweeping the front steps of their building. Never smiles and usually grunts at all passersby.
Helenita Trialdo : a baby whose appearances revolve around her lack of hair.
Senora Tiraldo : Helenita's mother.
Walter Vanderplatz : Eddie's supervisor at the South Richmond Bank. More than a bit of a stuffed shirt.
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 created by Bob Rozakis
Bob Rozakis
Robert "Bob" Rozakis is a comic book writer and editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics, as the writer of Mazing Man and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".-Biography:...
and Stephen DeStefano and published by DC Comics
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 series ran for twelve issues in 1986, with additional special issues in 1987, 1988, and 1990. In addition, 'Mazing Man had an origin story in Secret Origins
Secret Origins
Secret Origins is the title of three American comic book series published by DC Comics.The title began in 1961 and for one issue, all reprints. The title Secret Origins of Super Heroes went onto a second series, also reprints, which ran for seven issues from 1973-1974...
#16, and an original one-page story that appeared in an ad in Comic Buyer's Guide.
Series overview
TheNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
who dresses in a homemade costume and performs deeds like unclogging drains and watching out for local children. Viewed as a harmless kook by his neighbors, he saves a child from being hit by a truck in the first issue, earning him some respect and notoriety, not to mention a steady stream of appreciation (and food) from the mother in subsequent issues.
"'Maze" tends to sing Simon and Garfunkel
Simon and Garfunkel
Simon & Garfunkel are an American duo consisting of singer-songwriter Paul Simon and singer Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the...
songs when struck on the head. His best friend is Denton Fixx, a writer for BC Comics [an obvious parody of DC Comics] who looks like a beagle
Beagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
. Hunch is a millionaire, having won first place in a magazine subscription company's sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
. After winning the prize, he felt obligated to subscribe to all of the company's magazines. As a result, he receives a staggering load of publications daily, including the pornographic magazine
Pornographic magazine
Pornographic magazines, sometimes known as adult magazines, sex magazines or top-shelf magazines are pornographic magazines that contain content of a sexual nature. Adult magazines are mainly aimed towards men, and in some parts of the world, many men's first sight of a naked woman has been in an...
s that he genuinely reads only for the articles. He does not keep his wealth a secret per se; he simply does not mention it and does not live an opulent lifestyle. His friends are unaware of his financial success.
The original series, although highly acclaimed, was short-lived. However, comics artist Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
admired the series. Eager to help the property survive, Miller contributed a cover with the lead characters of the extremely popular mini-series, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is a four-issue comic book limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller, originally published by DC Comics under the title Batman: The Dark Knight in 1986. When the issues were released in a collected edition later that year, the story title for the first issue...
for the last issue. The resulting exposure created enough interest for subsequent one-shot issues.
A back-up feature, Zoot Sputnik, appeared for several issues, drawn by Fred Hembeck
Fred Hembeck
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 curlicues at the elbows and knees...
and (ostensibly) written by Denton Fixx; it was supposed to be the book Fixx wrote for BC Comics. It was a parody of the Golden Age
Golden Age of Comic Books
The Golden Age of Comic Books was a period in the history of American comic books, generally thought of as lasting from the late 1930s until the late 1940s or early 1950s...
narrative style where stories had no between-issue continuity — Zoot and his team were space adventurers in one issue and cowboys in the next. The team's dog received a shock of energy and gained the ability to remember their disparate adventures. This was Denton's attempt to introduce continuity to the book, but it was met with disapproval by his editor.
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
stamp of approval. In the issue "Writer's Block", Denton is stuck for a story, and all his friends give their ideas. One of them dealt with an army of zombie
Zombie
Zombie is a term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means such as witchcraft. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli...
s. Although there was no gore or violence, any mention of the living dead (specifically the use of the word "zombie") is forbidden by the Comics Code. The issue was released without the stamp, with no publicity, positive or negative.
Much later, in the Ambush Bug: Year None
Ambush Bug: Year None
Ambush Bug: Year None is a six-issue comic book limited series written Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming, and illustrated by Keith Giffen and Al Milgrom. The first issue, "Hey, You Sank My Battle-Ax!", was published on July 23, 2008. DC Comics announced that instead of releasing a sixth issue,...
miniseries, 'Mazing Man (in the same nonsensical way of the series) is revealed to be on death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
.
Other characters
Denton Fixx : 'Maze's best friend. Writer for BC Comics. Looks like a beagleBeagle
The Beagle is a breed of small to medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group, it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound, but smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other game...
.
Brenda Valentine : a rising star at a local advertising agency. She is married to Eddie Valentine. The characters of Brenda and Eddie are arguably based on similarly named characters in the song "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
"Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" is a song from Billy Joel's 1977 album The Stranger.Although never released as a single, it has become one of Joel's most celebrated compositions among fans, appearing on most of his compilation albums. The song is effectively a medley of three individual songs...
" by Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
.
Eddie Valentine : Assistant to the Assistant Manager at the South Richmond Bank. (Promoted to Assistant Manager in issue #9, September 1986, "The Bank Job, or 'By Hook Or By Crook
By hook or by crook
"By hook or by crook" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary", suggesting that one need not be concerned with morality or other considerations when accomplishing some goal....
) Married to Brenda. Baseball player and Gold Glove winner at John Quincy High School.
K.P. Watson : Denton's human-looking half sister.
Guido Garibaldi : The jock simpleton who lives in the same building as Denton, 'Maze, Eddie and Brenda. He works in three shoe stores and spends most of his time wondering which one he's called in sick at, drinking beer and hopelessly pursuing women.
Sgt. Muldavey : a local police officer who is plagued by 'Maze's "heroics".
Mrs. Costinas : Landlady of Maze, Denton and K.P. Most often seen sweeping the front steps of their building. Never smiles and usually grunts at all passersby.
Helenita Trialdo : a baby whose appearances revolve around her lack of hair.
Senora Tiraldo : Helenita's mother.
Walter Vanderplatz : Eddie's supervisor at the South Richmond Bank. More than a bit of a stuffed shirt.
Television
- 'Mazing Man appears in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the BoldBatman: The Brave and the Bold is an American animated television series based in part on the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold which features two or more super heroes coming together to solve a crime or foil a super villain...
episode "Four Star Spectacular!" voiced by Tom KennyTom KennyThomas James "Tom" Kenny is an American actor, voice actor and comedian. He is especially known for his long-running-role as SpongeBob SquarePants in the television series of the same name, as well as the live-action character Patchy the Pirate, Gary the Snail and the French narrator based on...
. In the "Kitty Catastrophe" segment, he is the accident-prone catsitter for a couple named Owen and Fiona. It is apparent that BatmanBatmanBatman 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...
is his favorite superhero and the inspiration for his costume.
External links
- 'Mazing Man at Toonopedia.com
- The lost 'Mazing Man story