Button 043: Famous Cartoonist Gilbert Shelton (Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers)

Famous Cartoonist Button 43

Gilbert Shelton started drawing "Wonder Wart Hog" for his college satire magazine in Austin TX, but his big break came when Harvey Kurtzman placed the Hog of Steel in Help! magazine in the early '60s. Shelton then moved to San Francisco and created the most popular of all underground comic characters, the "Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers." Shelton's work has also appeared in Rip Off Comics, Playboy, and Zap.

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.