
THE GOOD TOWNSFOLK
Being the Village Idiot, Boomberlik has the pleasure of dealing with many of the good townsfolk of Strudelhauffen on a regular basis. Some of these townsfolk have embraced Boomberlik and his peculiar ways. Others, well, let’s just say that it’s best not to mention the dummkopf’s name in their presence…
GUNTHER
Gunther is Boomberlik’s best friend. Boomberlik believes everything Gunther tells him, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. Boomberlik will do anything for Gunther, even if he has a remote idea that the consequences will get him into trouble.
Gunther is the youngest of all of the kid’s. He’s also the smartest, wittiest, and most sarcastic. He has a very dry sense of humor.
Gunther is a loafer. He has hundreds of brilliant excuses to avoid work or to explain why his chores are never done. These usually involve shifting the blame to Boomberlik.
Gunther is always getting Boomberlik into trouble, or manipulating Boomberlik into doing things that Boomberlik would not normally do. In spite of his selfish intentions, Gunther will defend Boomberlik if the occasion demands it.
Gunther shares Boomberlik’s obsession with food. Especially sweets.
Gunther invented Hukkleweisen, a Bavarian root beer made from berries and lots and lots of sugar. Gunther ‘borrows’ the sugar from his father’s bakery.
HANZ
Hanz follows the simple rules of personality algebra: Handsome + Athletic + Strong + Popular = A conceited, arrogant, self-centered bully.
Compared to Hanz, the French seem pleasant.
Hanz has made it his personal goal to ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass Boomberlik. It hasn’t occurred to him that Boomberlik does a pretty good job of it himself.
Hanz is betrothed to Gretchen. She makes him insanely jealous.
Hanz holds a grudge.
Hanz is not very bright, but he is very cunning.
GRETCHEN
She is the Mayor’s daughter. She is very used to getting her own way.
Gretchen uses her good looks and stature to manipulate the other townsfolk.
Hanz will do anything for Gretchen. After all, they are betrothed.
Boomberlik will do anything for Gretchen. After all, he is an idiot. Boomberlik has a huge crush on Gretchen. Unfortunately, he is too shy and embarrassed to tell her. He often does things to try and impress her. Like pick his nose with a pitch fork.
Gretchen and Gunther are mortal enemies.
GUSTAFF
Gunther’s father.
Gustaff owns and runs the town bakery.
He is very sturdy and stern. Spends most of the day scowling and complaining about that lazy, good-for-nothing, shiftless son of his.
Screaming at the top of his lungs is his favorite method of communication.
He is easily flattered by praise of his baking. Boomberlik is his biggest fan.
HELGA
Gunther’s mom.
Helga runs The Hukklehaus, Strudelhauffen’s only inn.
Helga shares her husband’s views of their son, but she is much more lenient with Gunther. Deep down, she knows Gunther is a good boy, he just hangs around with that idiot, Boomberlik, who causes her son to misbehave, act foolishly, shirk his responsibilities, and show a lack of respect! She can’t stand him, and if she had her way, she would chase that dummkopf clear out of town and out of the country!
Boomberlik thinks of Helga as the mother he never had.
Helga’s weapon of choice is the rolling pin. Boomberlik must often defend himself from Helga’s attacks with his Pretzel.
Gunther charges admission to these events.
FRANKIE
Frankie is the blacksmith’s apprentice. He’s very proud of his shoes.
Frankie is obsessed with American Culture. Unfortunately, being so secluded, the only culture he knows is ‘slightly’ dated.
He talks in an American accent and uses lingo that was hip in 1957.
He likes to pose.
Frankie knows the ‘latest’ dance steps, like the Twist and the Watusi.
He’s always working on his scooter. He treats it like a Harley.
KAISER
Kaiser owns and runs Strudelhauffen’s deli.
Boomberlik is a never-ending source of entertainment. Kaiser will let him do odd-jobs around the shop, just for a good laugh.
Kaiser is sort of like the Bavarian equivalent of Ed McMahon.
Kaiser often pines about the ‘good ole’ days’. Considering that nothing has really changed in Strudelhauffen for centuries, nobody really knows what the hell he is talking about.
Kaiser makes great sausages. Being a pig, we don’t really know what he puts in them.
YURI
Yuri tends the family farm.
Yuri has the strength of an ox.
That’s because he is an ox.There isn’t a problem that can’t be solved with a couple of hours of back-breaking work.
Yuri is very handy. He can fix just about anything.
Yuri always has good advice. "You can’t reap the parsnip when you lie down with locusts," is a favorite.
He is very superstitious. He sleeps with a jar of limburger under his pillow.
Yuri has a Master’s Degree in Pitchforking.
THE
MAYOR
Aristocratic and rich, he is always looking for new ways to bring the town (and him) money.
Comes from ‘good stock’.
The Mayor pays Boomberlik a small salary for blowing the Alpenhorn every morning.
The Mayor is involved in some ‘shady’ deals. We never really know what these deals are, only that he goes to great lengths to keep them secret.
In spite of the trouble Boomberlik causes, the Mayor is the first to defend him. He calls Boomberlik a ‘tourist attraction’.
There are no tourists in Strudelhauffen.
NEXT PAGE / BACK TO BOOMBERLIK
All text and images are © 2000 Duck, You Sucker! Productions unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.