Michael Kupperman

Michael Kupperman, born April 26, 1966, is an American cartoonist and illustrator whose work is defined by a brand of surreal, deadpan absurdity. He is best known for his comic strips *Up All Night* and *Found in the Street*, and for his long-running anthology series *Tales Designed to Thrizzle*, which became a cult favorite for its off-kilter humor and meticulous, retro-style art. Kupperman’s distinctive approach—treating the bizarre with utmost seriousness—has appeared in venues as varied as *The New Yorker*, *The New York Times*, *The Believer*, and *Heavy Metal*, as well as in alternative-comics staples like *Zero Zero* and *Snake Eyes*. He has also written scripts for DC Comics and contributed to numerous projects for McSweeney’s. Among his notable collaborations, he worked on *The Flintstones and the Jetsons* and the anthology *Hotwire*. Active in comics from 1997 to 2014, Kupperman’s legacy lies in his singular, unclassifiable voice—a blend of vintage illustration, pop-culture parody, and pure nonsense that influenced a generation of alt-cartoonists. He has not received major industry awards, but his work remains a touchstone for fans of literate, surrealist humor.