Larry Welz

Larry Welz, born Lawrence Edward Welz on November 21, 1948, is an American cartoonist best known as the creator of the long-running adult comic series *Cherry Poptart* (later simply *Cherry*). A native of Bakersfield, California, he graduated from Bakersfield High School before moving to the San Francisco area, where he became an early participant in the underground comix scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Welz’s work is characterized by a bawdy, freewheeling humor and a distinctive, energetic line, often blending sex comedy with surreal satire. He served as artist, writer, inker, letterer, and colorist on his own creations. His most credited titles include *Cherry*, *Cherry's Jubilee*, *Captain Guts*, and the Swedish-language *Kaninpocket*. Over a career spanning from 1969 to 2024, he contributed to 64 catalogued issues, with *Cherry* remaining his signature and most enduring co-creation. Welz’s later life saw him continue to produce new *Cherry* material and compile collections such as *The Cherry Collection*, maintaining a dedicated readership. While not a frequent recipient of mainstream awards, his work is recognized as a notable example of the boundary-pushing spirit of American underground comix.