Button 031: Famous Cartoonist Jim Mitchell (Smile, Bugle)

Famous Cartoonist Button 31

Jim Mitchell created "Smile," a cute and upbeat strip in the otherwise largely cynical and dark world of underground comix. His strips (and covers) appeared in The Bugle, three issues of Smile and other comix. Mitchell's promising comics career was cut short by a lengthy prison term in a Mexican jail, reflected in this sorrowful self-portrait done as a mug shot. Two of the his "Smile" characters peek over his shoulder with uncommon frowns.

Pinback Jack issued this "Famous Cartoonist Series" of self-portrait buttons back in 1975. All of the participating cartoonists were alive and created self-portraits specifically for this button set. With very few exceptions, the images have not appeared elsewhere in print. The buttons were distributed by Krupp Comic Works and Phil Seuling. This set was originally announced as 52 buttons, and the alphabetical numbering reflects that. However, two artists (Neal Adams and Rick Meyerowitz) turned in their self-portraits late, after the first 52 had already been designed. They were included in the set, but numbered 53 and 54 respectively, out of alphabetical sequence. Steve Krupp's Curio Shoppe is now the exclusive source of the remaining limited inventory.

All the color buttons in this set are metal with clear celluloid covers, are 2.25 inches in diameter, and have "safety" pinbacks. This button is listed for sale as an individual, but we do offer the complete set as well.