Button 002: Famous Cartoonist Bob Armstrong (Couch Potatoes, Mickey Rat)

Famous Cartoonist Button 02

Bob Armstrong. In underground comix circles, Armstrong is best known for his Mickey Rat series and smart contributions to Snarf, Comix Book and Arcade. Also a versatile and accomplished musician, Armstrong was a member of R. Crumb's Keep-On-Truckin' Orchestra and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. His uncredited haunting musical saw solo can be heard at the beginning and end of the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo Nest. But Armstrong's most famous creation came after this button set and has nothing to do with either comix or music: he invented and trademarked the now ubiquitous TV watching phrase "Couch Potato." This multi-faceted career may help explain his cubist self-portrait.

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.