Welcome to the first installment of the fourth chapter of The Hero’s Journey–which I am sure you have all purchased! (I don’t even have to guess: the fact that I am draped in ermine and eat caviar with every meal confirms it!).

This story is my adaptation of KISS’s most epic and important album ever, Music From the Elder, the tale of a young boy’s journey into manhood as he embarks on a heroic quest to, um–do something? Stop a bad guy? I think? (There’s a reason the album’s tale is not considered one of the more enduring modern legends.)

I conceived this story perhaps ten years ago during a 24-Hour Comic Day event. Then it was just a parody of Tolkien-esque high fantasy that happened to feature Beepo, Roadkill and Squints. But I wanted to give the story some flair, which gave me the notion to base Fodder’s (née Beepo’s) quest off of whatever was considered the worst entry in the  prog rock/concept album genre as defined by Rush, The Who, Pink Floyd, etc. A friend recommended Music from the Elder, and suffice it to say, only the absurd greatness of Zardoz has touched my soul in the same way.

This strip will update Mondays and Fridays for the next month. I urge you all to purchase or pirate Music From the Elder using your favorite method for acquiring such things (though you can listen to the first few tracks here). It will greatly enrich your experience of the Idiodyssey, I assure you!

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