Cheech Wizard

Cheech Wizard was a cartoon character created by artist Vaughn Bodé and appearing in various works, including the National Lampoon, from 1967 until Bodé's death in 1975. Though the character was, according to Bodé, created in 1957, Cheech didn't see print until 1967 when he appeared in various publications being produced by the counterculture developing around the Syracuse University campus.

Characteristically, this panel features discussion on the search for God.

The Wizard wears a very large yellow wizard's hat, with his legs, clad in what appear to be red tights, visible underneath. His appearance and species have never been revealed. He speaks in an ungrammatical sort of urban dialect. He was generally accompanied by his lizard apprentice Razzberry, until that character was killed off. Cheech was depicted as foul mouthed, often drunk or high, and constantly on the make. His attitude towards his fellow residents of the magic forest in which he lived (generally talking male animals and human females, the latter invariably under-dressed) was usually one of contempt. Curiously, he was referred to (often by himself) as the Cartoon Messiah, which suggested Bodé's long-standing interest in mysticism. But his general reaction to anyone who annoyed him (and the list there is quite long) was to deliver a swift kick to the groin.

The Cheech Wizard comics were collected and reprinted in two volumes by Fantagraphics Books.

Pop Culture References

• Kid Robot Custom toy makers first toy was a Cheech Wizard.

• Puma released a limited special edition shoe and matching hoodie inspired by Cheech Wizard.

• The Beastie Boys songs "The Sounds of Science" from their 1989 album Paul's Boutique and "Sure Shot" from their 1994 album Ill Communication reference Cheech Wizard.

• The cable TV show, "Burn Notice", had an 8-foot-tall (2.4 m) Cheech Wizard graffiti in the background of one scene.

• The Cheech Wizard is often drawn in graffiti murals and street art.

• Aesop Rock references Bode's Cheech Wizard in his song "Fast Cars" off of the album "Fast Cars, Danger, Fire And Knives". He raps, "it's A-E-S-O-P-R-O-C-K, the peak twister. Defender of the son of Vaughn Bode's Cheech Wizard."

External links

• Toonopedia's entry on Cheech Wizard
• 'The Official Bode Site' featuring the work of Vaughn Bodé's son Mark