Button 022: Famous Cartoonist Bill Griffith (Zippy the Pinhead)

Famous Cartoonist Button 22

Bill Griffith. He broke into underground comix with Mr. Toad but "Griffy" found his calling with that master of non sequiturs, Zippy the Pinhead. Both characters pose beside the artist on this 1975 button. "Zippy" now appears as a daily strip in newspapers across the country. Griffith also co-founded the anthologies Arcade and Young Lust. Griffith's wife Diane Noomin is also a cartoonist (Didi Glitz and Twisted Sisters).

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.