The Wretch
Encyclopedia
The Wretch is a comic book
created by Phil Hester
and published by Slave Labor Graphics
. The series focuses on the creepy town of Glass City and its residents who are protected by a strange entity known only as the Wretch. Weird things can always be found in Glass City, such as aliens, black magic, and even psychotic clowns. But the Wretch is always there to stop these things. The Wretch originally appeared in Joe Pruett
's anthology title Negative Burn
, where he was called "The Creep." The Wretch then moved into his own four-issue series published by Caliber Comics
, which was followed by a six-issue series published by Slave Labor Graphics. The Caliber series was nominated for an Eisner award
for best new series.
that "The Wretch is inscrutable, he – if it is a 'he'– never speaks, appears mysteriously, uses his ill-defined powers to solve a problem in a funky way, then fades back into the night." The stories generally focused on the people in Glass City that the Wretch helped.
In the Wretch's early appearances he wore belts all over his body and had two large hoses which connected from his back to the front of his neck. The hoses were shown at different times to emit strange liquids and/or gases. Later the Wretch's look was tweaked. The hoses and much of the "armored" look was eliminated in favor of bandages which were wrapped around his arms and neck. In both costumes the Wretch is always seen in silhouette.
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...
created by Phil Hester
Phil Hester (comics)
Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
and published by Slave Labor Graphics
Slave Labor Graphics
Slave Labor Graphics is an independent American comic book publisher, well-known for publishing darkly humorous, offbeat comics.-Company history:...
. The series focuses on the creepy town of Glass City and its residents who are protected by a strange entity known only as the Wretch. Weird things can always be found in Glass City, such as aliens, black magic, and even psychotic clowns. But the Wretch is always there to stop these things. The Wretch originally appeared in Joe Pruett
Joe Pruett
Joe Pruett is an American comic book writer and occasional editor, and, most recently, a publisher.-Biography:Pruett broke into the industry in 1989 as Bob Burden's assistant on Flaming Carrot Comics, where he inked backgrounds, assisted on lettering, and transcribed scripts...
's anthology title Negative Burn
Negative Burn
Negative Burn is a black-and-white anthology comic book published beginning in 1993 by Caliber Press, and subsequently by Image Comics and Desperado Publishing...
, where he was called "The Creep." The Wretch then moved into his own four-issue series published by Caliber Comics
Caliber Comics
Caliber Comics or Caliber Press was an American comic book publisher founded in 1989 by Gary Reed. Featuring primarily creator-owned comics, in the next decade Caliber published over 1300 comics and ranked as one of the America's leading independent publishers...
, which was followed by a six-issue series published by Slave Labor Graphics. The Caliber series was nominated for an Eisner award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
for best new series.
The Character
Although he has appeared in many stories, little is known about the Wretch's history or powers. Phil Hester told NewsaramaNewsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry.-History:Newsarama began in Summer 1995 as a series of Internet forum postings on the Prodigy comic-book message boards by fan Mike Doran. In these short messages. Doran shared...
that "The Wretch is inscrutable, he – if it is a 'he'– never speaks, appears mysteriously, uses his ill-defined powers to solve a problem in a funky way, then fades back into the night." The stories generally focused on the people in Glass City that the Wretch helped.
In the Wretch's early appearances he wore belts all over his body and had two large hoses which connected from his back to the front of his neck. The hoses were shown at different times to emit strange liquids and/or gases. Later the Wretch's look was tweaked. The hoses and much of the "armored" look was eliminated in favor of bandages which were wrapped around his arms and neck. In both costumes the Wretch is always seen in silhouette.
Trivia
- Phil HesterPhil Hester (comics)Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
simplified the Wretch's costume after Alex TothAlex TothAlexander Toth was an American professional cartoonist active from the 1940s through the 1980s. Toth's work began in the American comic book industry, but is known for his animation designs for Hanna-Barbera throughout the 1960s and 1970s. His work included Super Friends, Space Ghost, The...
advised him to do so. - The Wretch logo was designed by Phil HesterPhil Hester (comics)Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
and Gary Peterson. - Hester says he's only about halfway done telling Wretch stories and still plans to do more when he finds the time to draw them.
- Other creators who have worked on The Wretch include Ande Parks, Gary Peterson, Jim Mahfood, Jim Woodyard, Bruce McCorkindale and Colin Wales.
Collections
- The Wretch Volume One: Everyday Doomsday (collects the SLG/Amaze Ink run) | SC: ISBN 978-0-9431-5168-7
- The Wretch Volume Two: Devil's Lullaby (collects the Caliber issues) | SC: ISBN 978-0-9431-5172-4
- The Wretch Volume Three: From Cradle to Grave (collects various shorts stories) | SC: ISBN 978-0-9431-5173-1