The Snoid, occasionally referred to as Mr. Snoid, is an American underground comix character created by Robert Crumb in the mid-1960s. A diminutive sex fiend and irritating presence, the Snoid often appears with other Crumb characters, particularly Angelfood McSpade, Mr. Natural, and Crumb's own self-caricature.
Publication history
Crumb created the Snoid in his sketchbook in the winter of 1965/1966; the character first appeared in print in the Philadelphia underground newspaperYarrowstalks #2. After more strips published in underground papers the East Village Other and the Chicago Seed, the Snoid's first true comics appearance was in Snatch Comics #2, and from 1969 until 1973 he appeared in many Crumb comics, including Zap Comix, Motor City Comics, Home Grown Funnies, Your Hytone Comics, Big Ass Comics, Mr. Natural, and Black and White Comics. The character was satirized by cartoonist Daniel Clyne as "Doctor Frigmund Snoid" in Bijou Funnies #4, in the story "Dr. Lum Bago". The character finally appeared in his own title in Snoid Comics, which featured six new stories; it was also his last major appearance. Many of the Snoid's adventures were collected in April 1998 in The Complete Crumb Comics #13 - "The Season of the Snoid," published by Fantagraphics. His stories have been translated into German, French, Dutch, and Swedish.
Characterization
According to an early strip, the Snoid is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Other stories portray multiple Snoids in existence. In one story, a "certain mountain" in Tibet is filled with numerous Snoids who sexually assault "Horny Harriet Hotpants"; she later ends up marrying Jesus. Another story portrays Mr. Snoid happily living inside a woman's rectum, but ends with a plea to help the other Snoids "walking the streets, cold and lonely." In a story that appeared in Mr. Natural #2, Mr. Snoid has inspired a cult called The Snoidians, who cart him around on the shoulders of the "Giant Daughter of the Snoidvoid." The Snoidians battle with the "Mr. Naturalists," destroying the Snoid's conveyance and forcing him and Mr. Natural to escape the violence together. Underground comix authority M. Steven Fox wrote about the Snoid...
"Hey Boparee Bop," Yarrowstalks #2 — with Gar, Jesus Christ, Mr. Natural, and Angelfood McSpade
"The Old Pooperoo Pauses to Ponder / I Wanna Go Home! / You're Gonna Get There Anyway!", in East Village Other vol. 3, #2 — with The Old Pooperoo, Flakey Foont, Mr. Natural, Goofy, Speed Freak, and Angelfood McSpade
"All Asshole Comics," Chicago Seed vol. 3 #1 — with Angelfood McSpade
"Zap Comics Tells It Like It Is!!", Zap Comix #2 — with Biceps Bunny
"Everyday Funnies with 'The Snoid from Sheboygan'," East Village Other vol. 3, #43
untitled , East Village Other vol. 3, #47 — with Mr. Natural
"Look Out Girls!! The Grabbies are Coming!!", Snatch Comics #2
Zap Comix #0
* "Freak Out Funnies" — co-starring Spacemen
* untitled — with Angelfood McSpade
untitled , Jiz Comics
"Night of Terror," Motor City Comics #2 — with Shuman the Human
"Backwater Blues,"' Home Grown Funnies #1 — with Angelfood McDevilsfood
Your Hytone Comics
* "Horny Harriet Hotpants" — with Horny Harriet Hotpants, Orra Lee, Recta Lee, and Jesus
* "Pete the Plumber" — intro only
Big Ass Comics #2
* "Anal Antics" — with the Landlady
* "And Now, A Word to You Feminist Women" — cameo alongside Robert Crumb
