Fred the Clown #[nn]

Fred the Clown brings his ventriloquist dummy to Mugwhump’s Theatre for a job interview, only to find the dummy leaving sarcastic notes along the way. Heartbroken and frustrated, Fred abandons it mid-journey—only to double back when he realizes he can’t face the audition without it.

In "Scared Witless," Fred the Clown stumbles into a haunted house only to accidentally free the vengeful spirit of Katy Kadaver—only to find himself trapped in a marriage to her. What starts as a spooky escape turns into a hilariously dysfunctional union, as Fred’s usual antics clash with Katy’s sharp tongue and supernatural flair.

Fred the Clown’s misadventure takes a sharp turn when a beachside insult sends him hunting for wit—literally. Armed with Oscar Wilde’s collected barbs, he tries to out-sharp the bully, only to find himself on the receiving end of a very literal punchline.

In this brief, darkly comedic tale from *Fred the Clown* #nn, Fred’s romantic moment on a boat takes a sudden, fiery turn when a group of hobos interrupts his charm—leading to a chaotic and unexpectedly satisfying blaze of misbehavior. The story’s sharp wit and absurd escalation make it a standout in the series’ quirky, offbeat humor.

In "Rocket Science," Fred the Clown blasts off to the moon, defeats a band of alien overlords with nothing but a kazoo and sheer charm, and returns to Earth with a literal piece of the moon as a romantic gesture—only to find the cheese shop owner he’s been pining for has lost faith in his return. Written by Fred the Clown and illustrated by the same, this six-page sci-fi romp blends absurdity and heart, turning interstellar conquest into a surprisingly tender tale of love and missed connections.

In "So Near and Yet So Far," Fred the Clown dashes to a diner for milk to go with his tea, only to find the last carton gone—just as a lady clown arrives moments later, discovering her coffee sugar is also out. The two miss each other by seconds in a quiet, accidental collision of routines, their paths crossing in the most ordinary of places.

Fred the Clown finds himself smitten with a pig, but when she leaves him with nothing but a cryptic note—“oink oink oink oink”—his heart is left in the sty. In a moment of melancholy, he comforts himself with a bacon sandwich.

Fred the Clown finds himself stranded on a bizarre island where he battles absurd monsters and rescues a wealthy heiress whose fortune lies in spoons. In a twist both ridiculous and oddly satisfying, the family’s gratitude comes in the form of a dump truck piled high with the silverware.

In "Fredbelly Sings the Blues," Fred, ever the tragicomic clown, belts out a mournful tune about the time a wild night of drinking cost him a decade—and when he finally came back, his lover was gone, eaten by ants. It’s a short, absurd lament wrapped in a bluesy melody, delivered with that signature mix of pathos and pratfall that defines the series.

In "One Good Turn," Fred the Clown’s simple act of setting a butterfly free sparks a whimsical chain of events—leading to a woman narrowly escaping danger on the tracks and a newsboy delivering a swift kick to Fred’s shins. Written by Fred the Clown and illustrated by Fred the Clown, the story captures a moment of accidental chaos with a touch of gentle humor.

In "He Dreams of Custard Pies," Fred the Clown finds himself trapped in a surreal nightmare where he's accused of tormenting the Bearded Lady—only to be met with a mob wielding custard pies and a court that absolves the attackers. Written with a delightfully twisted wit, this two-page tale from Fred the Clown #nn (2004) leans into the absurd with a dream logic that’s equal parts unsettling and laugh-out-loud funny.

In "The Last Fred Story," Fred the Clown finds himself evicted by his only friends and moves into the eerily fitting Motel Fred. One quiet evening, as he eats dinner alone, he looks up—and there she is, the lady clown he’s always loved, standing in the doorway.