The Adventures of Peter Wheat is a Comic Book by Walt Kelly, created at the behest of Baker Associates to promote Peter Wheat Bread.
At the edge of a wheat field likes a tiny kingdom ruled over by a tiny woman. Her son is a brave boy by the name of Peter Wheat, who spends his days adventuring with his friends and defending the kingdom from the evil Hornet Queen Dragonel, or her father the Grand Wizard. Each comic would end with an ad promoting Krug's Peter Wheat Bread, it being the reason the comic was made, after all.
The comic was published in April of 1948, and ran for 35 issues until ended in 1956.
Peter Wheat contains examples of:
- Accessory-Wearing Cartoon Animal: Some denizens of the kingdom are bugs who only wear one article of clothing, like Beetle and his hat.
- Alliterative Name: One of Peter Wheats small human friends is Sammy Sweet.
- Badass Adorable: Peter Wheat is a cute little kid who isn't afraid to charge into battle.
- Beard of Evil: The Grand Wizard of the Hornet Kingdom has a black beard, and tries to help his daughter, the Hornet Queen, destroy the wheat kingdom.
- Big Ol' Eyebrows: The Grand Wizard and Dragonel have eyebrows that extend out past thee sides of their heads quite a bit. It probably represents their antennae.
- Cranial Eruption: In Issue #5, after the Grand Wizard and Dragonel knock out a beetle and steal his boat, he's shown to have a lump on his head when Peter's inspecting him.
- A Dog Named "Dog": One of Peter's friends is a Beetle named... Beetle.
- Horse of a Different Color: Being Lilliputians and bug people, Peter Wheat and his friends use mice as their steeds.
- Lilliputians: Peter and his mom are humans no bigger than bugs.
- Magical Incantation: The Grand Wizard uses these to cast his spells.
- In Issue #6, he transforms himself into a snake with the incantation "Akra bakra go dakra".
- Mouse World: The comic is set in a forest/wheat field where a kingdom of bugs and tiny humans rule.
- Noble Demon: Although Dragonel is an enemy to Peter Wheat, she is an honorable person who has intervened to save his life on at least one occasion and apparently wishes to capture him rather than kill him.
- Robe and Wizard Hat: The Grand Wizard's outfit is a blue robe and a red conical hat with stars and moons all over it.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Peter Wheat is the prince of the wheat fields, and regularly defends them from the hornets.
- Talking Animal: The animals in the comic can talk, allowing Peter and other Lilliputians to communicate with them.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: The Hornets are warring with the people of the wheat fields because they believe said fields will drive them from their home in the wild woods, though Peter insists that there's room for everyone.
- Winged Humanoid: The Hornets have very bipedal forms, as well as wings. This applies especially to Dragonel, who looks the most humanoid of them.
- Worthy Opponent: Dragonel and Peter see each other this way.
- SMART way to BUYBecause the PETER WHEAT bread man bringsto your door a fresher, tastier loafBecause you like the friendly, courteous service.Because you can select the service to suityour needs best-bread only or backet service.KRUG'SPETER WHEAT BREAD
