Like we talked about a few weeks ago, comedic fantasy is a subgenre that can be combined with other subgenres. It defines the tone, not the setting, location, etc. You can have comedic epic fantasy, comedic urban fantasy, or even comedic fantasy romance.
The biggest defining trait of comedic fantasy is that its intent is to be funny. It may be a direct parody of a well-known fantasy book or may be an original word that’s meant to make you laugh as much as to tell a story.
Examples of well-known (and loved) comedic fantasy includes Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels, Terry Pratchett’s Discword books, and Robert Asprin’s MythAdventures series. You can also find examples in visual media, such as the webcomic the Order of the Stick, Monty Python’s Holy Grail, and even the TV show I Dream of Jeannie.
Again, intent is important here. Many books/movies/etc. will have funny moments without being comedic fantasy. If the creator’s intent is to be funny at a good majority of times, then it counts. Otherwise, not so much. I guess someone could be unintentionally hilarious, but that’s a whole other problem.
How do you feel about Comedic Fantasy? Does it tickle your funny bone, or do you prefer more serious tomes? Any recommendations?
