I’m using the event of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing as an excuse to post a few pages from “Hair of the Dog,” a story that appeared in my old series Injury Comics. The comic is by Jeff Wilson and me and is a partially fictionalized telling of one of Jeff’s high school escapades that features a psychic cameo from the members of Black Sabbath.

Ozzy wasn’t my favorite member of Sabbath – that would be honorary St. Louisan, Geezer Butler. I like Ozzy’s stuff with Sabbath but, parenthetically (I tend to listen to the stuff they did with Dio more) (shh!). But that’s no disrespect to Ozzy – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” is surely one of the all time great metal songs. Plus bingeing The Osbournes got me thru an intense bout of shingles. AND it’s family tradition to watch the Slade in Residence Xmas Special every year. I guess it’s not ACTUALLY Ozzy but, in spirit, it is totally Ozzy. If you haven’t seen it, well, don’t watch it now, it’s JULY.
Anyway, his passing reminded me of this strip, and of making comics with Jeff, so I figured I’d share this chunk of comics. Rest in peace Ozzy. And Jeff.
Fun fact! This little tune the booted fairy is playing toward the end of the scene is the riff from Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf.” At least I think it is. I’m a cartoonist, not a musician!
