Flaming Carrot

Flaming Carrot
The Flaming Carrot, from Flaming Carrot vol. 2, #4 (Image Comics, 2006). Art by Bob Burden.
Publication information
Publisher	Aardvark-Vanaheim (1984–1985) Renegade Press (1985–1987) Dark Horse Comics (1988–2002) Image Comics (2004–2006)
First appearance	Visions #1 (Atlanta Fantasy Fair, 1979)
Created by	Bob Burden
In-story information
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Mystery Men
Abilities	Ability to induce himself in a state of "Zen Stupidity" Use of nuclear powered pogo stick and a semi-automatic pistol Wears a utility belt
Flaming Carrot Comics
Series publication information
Schedule	Irregular
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Independent
Publication date	(Aardvark-Vanaheim) May 1984 – Jan. 1985 (Renegade Press) Mar. 1985 – July 1987 (Dark Horse Comics) June 1988 – Dec. 2002 (Image Comics/Desperado Publishing) Dec. 2004 – Mar. 2006
Number of issues	37
Main character(s)	Flaming Carrot
Creative team
Writer(s)	Bob Burden
Artist(s)	Bob Burden

Flaming Carrot Comics is a comic book series by cartoonist Bob Burden. The title character first appeared in Visions #1, a magazine published by the Atlanta Fantasy Fair in 1979. Flaming Carrot can be seen as a parody of various aspects of the superhero genre (though his origin story is much the same as that of Don Quixote). He is often noted for his distinctive exclamation "Ut!" Flaming Carrot adventures have been published by Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press, Dark Horse Comics, and Image Comics, among others. He has guest-starred and made cameos in comics published by Fantagraphics, Mirage Studios, Atomeka Press, and others.

The Flaming Carrot was in part inspired by the obscure Golden Age character The Fin. Burden recounted that "I took this particular idea and scratched it down one night when I came home about three o'clock in the morning. I'd been out on the town all night, and it was one of those nights when I came home tired, and fell asleep with my clothes on." Asked to explain the meaning of "Ut!", he stated,

I'll tell you who said it. At Shea Stadium, when the Beatles were all up there, and the fans were trying to rush the stage, and the police were trying to keep them behind the barricades, George Harrison points to one that gets through, and says, "Ut!" It's like oops! It's just a goofy thing that's kind of childlike and fun.

The Flaming Carrot first appeared in Visions #1 (1979), a direct-market magazine published as the program booklet of the Atlanta Fantasy Fair. Flaming Carrot stories went on to appear in each yearly edition of the magazine through 1987. Bob Burden worked as illustrator and writer with Roxanne Starr working as letterer.