Crock

Crock was created in 1975 by Bill Rechin, Don Wilder and Brant Parker, and remains the greatest and longest-running parody of the Foreign Legion classic, “Beau Geste.” The genius of the off-the-wall strip is that it manages to turn the established conventions of the Foreign Legion melodrama, as well as our own social norms, upside down. A group of luckless legionnaires reside in a fort in the middle of the barren desert under Commandant Vermin P. Crock, a tyrannical leader who is known to “hang people by their thumbs for the silliest mistakes.”

Crock chronicles the adventures of Commandant Crock and the assortment of hilarious characters stationed at this grim, desolate outpost, including the cowardly Captain Poulet, the simple-minded Maggot, camp follower Grossie and the ever-astray Lost Patrol.

Crock is highlighted as part of Universal Studios’ theme park, Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Fla. Crock’s fort is one of the anchors for the park’s “Toon Lagoon” attraction, joining other nationally syndicated comics in larger-than-life three-dimensional displays.

Crock is distributed worldwide by King Features Syndicate to more than 200 newspapers.

Awards and Distinctions:

Among the 10 titles published internationally are: “Crock: I Hate Mondays”; “Crock: You’ll Pay For This… All of You”; “Crock: Are Those Your Good Pants?”; “Crock: There’s No Escape from the Legion…or this Book”; “Crock: Here’s Sand in Your Nose.”

Crock was honored during a White House Rose Garden press conference by President Ronald Reagan where he paid tribute to the strip for Rechin’s and Wilder’s efforts to promote automobile safety.

Bill Rechin was twice honored by No Greater Love for his contributions to the White House-commissioned nonprofit organization honoring fallen American servicemen.