| Larry Welz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Lawrence Welz 1948 (age 63–64) Bakersfield, CA, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Cartoonist, writer, editor |
| Notable works | Cherry (comics), Captain Guts |
| Official website | |
Larry Welz (born 1948) is an American cartoonist and commercial artist, and the creator of Cherry Poptart (now known simply as Cherry). He is a noteworthy early contributor to the underground comics movement based in the San Francisco area in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[1]
In 1969 his work was published in Yellow Dog, a tabloid comic paper put out by the Print Mint in Berkeley, California.[2] A partial list of additional comic books from the era featuring his work includes San Francisco Comic Book, Captain Guts, Funnybook, Bakersfield Kountry Komics, and American Flyer Funnies.[3]
Evolving out of early prototype stories in Funnybook and Bakersfield Kountry Komics, Welz created Cherry in the early 1980s. Cherry quickly became his most successful and well-known comic book character and series, with 22 issues to date and a variety of collections, posters, stickers, and even tattoos following.[4]
Welz has collaborated with a variety of other well-known artists and authors on comic books and other projects over the years, including Mark Bode,[5] Neil Gaiman,[6] and Larry Todd.[7]
After many years in the San Francisco Bay Area, Welz and his wife Sharon moved to Roswell, New Mexico,[8] where he continues his involvement in both comics and commercial artwork.
In 2006, Welz drew the cover for Jeff Walker's album Welcome to Carcass Cuntry.[9]