Howard Cruse

Howard Cruse was born on May 2, 1944, and died on November 26, 2019. An American alternative cartoonist, he is best remembered for bringing gay themes to comics with warmth and nuance. He first gained notice in the 1970s underground comix scene with his early creation *Barefootz*, a whimsical strip featuring a big-footed innocent. In 1980, Cruse became the founding editor of *Gay Comix*, a landmark anthology for LGBTQ+ cartoonists. During the 1980s, he wrote and drew *Wendel*, a syndicated strip that followed the romantic and domestic life of a gay couple. His most celebrated work arrived in 1995, when DC Comics’ imprint published his graphic novel *Stuck Rubber Baby*, a deeply personal story about coming of age in the racially charged American South of the 1960s. Cruse’s style blended expressive, rounded linework with a keen eye for character and social observation. He collaborated with figures like Denis Kitchen and was a key influence on a generation of queer cartoonists. His later years saw continued acclaim for his body of work, which earned him multiple awards, including the Inkpot Award and recognition from the Eisner and Harvey Awards. Cruse’s legacy endures as a pioneer who expanded comics’ capacity for honest, human storytelling.