Mudmen

The Mudmen (or Mud-Men) are enemy creatures that made their debut in Dragon's Lair. In the original game, they are encountered by Dirk the Daring in subterranean caves below Singe's castle. They have the ability to assimilate their prey into their ranks by transforming them into mud creatures and generally attack in groups, attempting to block any escape routes.

Dragon's Lair (TV series)

The Mudmen appear as recurring enemies in the Ruby-Spears animated series, usually attacking the heroes in groups and sometimes supported by a group of Giddy Goons. Unlike the game, the Mudmen may appear anywhere, and they are not confined to subterranean caves nor are they required to be in close proximity to mud pits.

The episode “The Song of the Chimes” feature the Lava Men, a similar but distinct race of enemy creatures.

Dragon's Lair (comics)

The Mudmen prominently feature in the fourth issue of the MVCreations comic book series as enemies Dirk must evade as he journeys toward Singe’s Castle. The Mudmen reside amongst the “boiling lava, gouts of fire, and geysers of goo” of the “Sands of Fire”, which Dirk decides to cross as a shortcut to the castle after instructing Bertram to find a safer path around. The Mudmen emerge to ambush Dirk, never speaking but surprising the knight with their running speed. Dirk escapes by leaping off a cliff into the rapids and whirlpools.

Trivia

• Although Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp features a pre-historic stage distinguished by lots of boiling mud, the Mudmen do not appear.
• In the 1984 Marvel Coloring/Activity book Dirk the Daring Battles the Black Knight, the Mudmen are referred to as "Molten Mugs" and described as monsters from "strange lava pits." In Dirk the Daring Battles the Crypt Creeps, another book in the series, creatures similar to the Mudmen are described as "Lava Monsters".
• “THE MUDMEN” features as the #38 card in Cardsmiths' Dragon's Lair trading card series, with the description: "These muddy buddies are lookin to mess up Dirk's day something fierce. But they're far too strong to be fought, so Dirk will need to avoid them."

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