Broom Hilda (left), Gaylord Buzzard (center), Irwin Troll (right)
Broom Hilda is a newspaper comic strip created and drawn by Russell Meyers. Debuting on April 19, 1970, it is distributed by Tribune Media Services.
Following a gag-per-day format, the strip focuses on the title character, a witch named Broom Hilda getting into funny hijinks, chasing after men and using her magic.
Other characters include:
- Gaylord Buzzard, an intellectual bird with glasses. Despite trying to be a voice of reason, he can be sarcastical and loves playing pratical jokes
- Irwin Troll, a shaggy haired simpleton who is naive but kind - the exact opposite of Broom Hilda.
- Nerwin Troll, Irwin's nephew, wearing a propeller beanie
- Grelber, an unseen figure with only his eyes and smirking mouth visible from inside his home, a log; he dispenses "Free Insults" as a sign on his log reads.
This character has nothing to do with Brawn Hilda.
This comic strip has examples of the following tropes:
- Accessory-Wearing Cartoon Animal: Gaylord Buzzard wears thick, horn-rimmed glasses, spats and (sometimes) a fez for reading.
- Adjective Animal Alehouse: The Snail & Quail Club from the Fabulous Funnies episode "Flying High".
- Animated Adaptation: Not one but three!
- The first was Archie's TV Funnies where Broom Hilda was voiced by Jane Webb.
- The second was another Filmation production Fabulous Funnies (1978). Broom Hilda was voiced by June Foray; Gaylord by Bob Holt; and Irwin and Grelber by Alan Oppenheimer.
- The third was a brief appearance in the 1980 TV Special The Fantastic Funnies. June Foray reprised her role as Broom Hilda.
- By the Lights of Their Eyes: Grelber's eyes are only seen from his shadowy log home.
- The Gadfly: Grelber, who regularly dispenses vicious insults and pulls pranks too if he is in a really bad mood.
- Lighter and Softer: For Broom Hilda herself at least; at the strip's launch, she smoked cigars and chugged beer. She eventually dropped those bad habits.
- Mind Screw: The backgrounds of the strips can be like this. Similar to Krazy Kat, the details of backgrounds can change while the characters remain stationary.
- Nerd Glasses: Gaylord is never seen without his thick glasses.
- Print Long-Runners: Since 1970!
- Really 700 Years Old: Broom Hilda is 1500 years old and was once married to Attila the Hun.
- Talking Down the Suicidal: During a Sunday strip, Hilda sees a man on a ledge about to jump, listing all the recent horrible things he's had. Hilda tells him of the even worse things in her life and the man decides that his life isn't so bad and decides not to jump. Upon now realizing how bad her own life is, she takes a plunge instead.
- Time Travel: Broom Hilda can do this with her magic, usually going back to visit comical versions of historical figures.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Gaylord really loves eating popcorn.
- A Very Special Episode: Downplayed with the kid-friendly animated Broom Hilda episode "Flying High" on the Fabulous Funnies. The episode deals with Broom Hilda addicted to alcohol and her friends intervene. After seeing damage done to herself and Irwin Troll from drinking, Broom Hilda renounces alcohol...only to get arrested by the police for her Alcohol-Induced Idiocy from the night before. But she is out free by the next episode.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Grelber faded from the strip and hasn't been seen for years.
- Wild Hair: Both Irwin and Nerwin have this. Their whole bodies are covered in hair with their faces and feet visible. Arms and hands can be seen sometimes.
- Witch Classic: Broom Hilda full stop. She wears a pointed hat, flies on a broom and uses plenty of magic.
