Russell Myers

Russell Kommer Myers, born October 9, 1938, in Pittsburg, Kansas, is the American cartoonist behind the long-running newspaper comic strip *Broom-Hilda*. Raised in Oklahoma, where his father taught at the University of Tulsa, Myers showed an early interest in cartooning. After an initial syndication attempt failed, he took a job at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1960, illustrating greeting cards while continuing to develop comic strip concepts in his spare time.

Myers is best known for *Broom-Hilda*, a gag-a-day strip featuring a green-skinned, perpetually cranky witch. Over the decades, the strip became a staple in newspapers, and Myers handled the writing, art, and lettering himself. His style is clean and expressive, with a fondness for slapstick and wordplay. He also produced several *Broom-Hilda* collections and specials, including *Kvasthilda*, *Broom-Hilda Rides Again*, and *Lookin' Good! (Broom-Hilda)*, as well as the *Menomonee Falls Guardian*.

Myers’s work appeared in comics from 1973 through 1986, and his strip remains his enduring legacy. While major industry awards are not documented in available records, his consistent syndication and the strip’s longevity speak to his impact. Myers continues to be recognized as a creator who built a beloved character from a single, persistent idea.