Suburban Satanists
Encyclopedia
The Suburban Satanists is a comic strip that appears in Herman Hedning
, a comic published eight times a year in Sweden and Norway. The strip began in 1997 in the comic Geek
before restarting in 1999 in its current home. It is created, written and drawn by British cartoonist Lew Stringer
. The Suburban Satanists are the DeVille family (the name is a spoof of the Devil
), led by the father Stan DeVille, his wife Mavis, and including their grown up children Derek and Sharon. This mini-cult is rounded off with the inclusion of Sharon's son Damien (product of a tryst between Sharon and Satan
) and the house lodger Benny.
The local Vicar (as yet un-named) is a regular supporting character, as is Satan
himself, who is often depicted as a pompous and flawed buffoon.
The strip doesn't promote Satanism
, but rather sets it up for satire, along with Christianity
(so as not to favour either side). A typical strip might begin with a dramatic ritual, summoning forth Satan
, only for him to be asked to change a light bulb or lend the family a cup of sugar. In another story Mavis is made Queen of Hell
while Satan takes a Mediterranean holiday, but when he returns he finds she's converted his domain into a Nail Bar
. The humour is light-hearted and mostly inoffensive, although slight criticism has actually been received by both Christians and Satanists.
Herman Hedning
Herman Hedning is a humorous comic strip from Sweden drawn and written by Jonas Darnell.-The story:...
, a comic published eight times a year in Sweden and Norway. The strip began in 1997 in the comic Geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
before restarting in 1999 in its current home. It is created, written and drawn by British cartoonist Lew Stringer
Lew Stringer
-Biography:Stringer began his career from the late 1970s with a series of fanzines, many featuring his popular Brickman character; these were read by several pro creators who encouraged Stringer to try comics as a profession and Stringer recalls that "Alan Moore actually introduced me to one of...
. The Suburban Satanists are the DeVille family (the name is a spoof of the Devil
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
), led by the father Stan DeVille, his wife Mavis, and including their grown up children Derek and Sharon. This mini-cult is rounded off with the inclusion of Sharon's son Damien (product of a tryst between Sharon and Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
) and the house lodger Benny.
The local Vicar (as yet un-named) is a regular supporting character, as is Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
himself, who is often depicted as a pompous and flawed buffoon.
The strip doesn't promote Satanism
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
, but rather sets it up for satire, along with Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
(so as not to favour either side). A typical strip might begin with a dramatic ritual, summoning forth Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
, only for him to be asked to change a light bulb or lend the family a cup of sugar. In another story Mavis is made Queen of Hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
while Satan takes a Mediterranean holiday, but when he returns he finds she's converted his domain into a Nail Bar
Nail salon
A nail salon or nail bar is a beauty services establishment that primarily offers nail care services such as manicures, pedicures, and nail enhancements. Often, nail salons also offer skin care services. There are approximately 9,900 nail salons in the U.S., up 23% from 2007 according to the ....
. The humour is light-hearted and mostly inoffensive, although slight criticism has actually been received by both Christians and Satanists.