Collective Unconscience of Odd Bodkins

by Hugh Daniel O'Neill

Dan O'Neill was the most eccentric of the underground comix. His Odd Bodkins strip can possibly be found in two Hear the sound of my feet walking drown the sound of my voice talking, and the collective unconscious of Odd Bodkins. It began as a "conventional" newspaper strip syndicated by the Universal Press Syndicate, but the adventures of Fred Bird (the only comic strip character ever declared persona non grata by Britain) and his pointy-headed intellectual friend Hugh were very strange from the beginning. They took part in the infamous Mickey Mouse Vs. the Air Pirates Funnies which was the subject of a successful lawsuit by Disney corporation. United Press dropped the strip in favor of the tamer Doonesbury.

Genres: Humor, Comics, Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1973

About the author

Dan O'Neill (born April 21, 1942) is an American underground cartoonist, creator of the syndicated comic strip Odd Bodkins and founder of the underground comics collective the Air Pirates.[1]

Reviews

[Marc Ratner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Dan O’Neill’s comix, and ‘Hear the Sound…” is one of my favorite books of all time. But ‘The Collective Unconscious of Odd Bodkins’ never came together for me. Perhaps it wasn’t intended to. I keep a copy by my bed and occasionally read a strip or two. It’s a collection of cartoons that were originally published in the SF Chronicle, some of which are highly insightful and inventive - certainly original.

These comix are very small, sometimes making them hard to read. Unlike ‘Hear the Sound…’ there is little or no narrative structure to help you enjoy the ride. So it’s a different sort of read. I much prefer ‘Hear the Sound’ but I’m glad I have this volume. There’s always more to discover there!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philosophical yet intensely funny. Nice loose drawing style.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odds Bodkins are the greatest. Too bad they went the way of all great comics.