Chris Browne, the cartoonist behind the Hägar the Horrible comic strip (Olafo the Viking), has died at the age of 70 after a long illness, his family has reported through social networks.
The cartoonist took over the strip after the retirement and death of his father Dik Browne in 1989, which he wrote and drew with his brother Chance until 2023, more than half of the character's lifespan.
Hägar celebrated its 50th anniversary of publication earlier this week on February 4. Her sister Tsuiwen Browne-Boeras confirmed the news in a statement on Facebook.
"It is with great sadness that I am here to announce that my brother Christopher Browne passed away peacefully in Sioux Falls after a long illness. After our father passed away, he was the face of our family cartoon Hägar the Horrible. In addition to drawing At Hägar, Chris drew and illustrated children's books. He always had a sketchbook in hand and loved to draw for people. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends, as will his fans around the world."
Hägar the Horrible, which is actually a satire on life and not exclusively a Viking-themed comic strip, is still in circulation and hailed by King Features Syndicate as "the fastest growing comic strip ever."
When Browne's father, Dik, created the strip in 1972, he ended up basing many of his characters on friends and family. The comic continues to be distributed in thousands of newspapers every day, translated into 13 languages and published in 45 countries.
"We are sad to announce the passing of one of our valued members of the NCS community, Chris Browne. Hagar had just celebrated his 50th anniversary the day before," they lamented from the National Cartoonists Society.
