Button 014: Famous Cartoonist Howard Cruse (Wendell, Gay Comix)

Famous Cartoonist Button 14

Howard Cruse. A frequent contributor to the underground anthologies Snarf, Comix Book, Bizarre Sex and Dope Comix, Cruse also created two solo issues of Barefootz. The first openly gay cartoonist, Cruse edited and contributed to Gay Comix during its early years. His syndicated Wendel strip has been collected in comics and book formats. His magnum opus, Stuck Rubber Baby, was published by a divsion of DC Comics to critical acclaim.

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.