Bio: Howard Cruse is the creator of Wendel, the 1980s comic strip about a circle of gay friends that was collected in its entirety in 2001 in a book called Wendel All Together. His 1995 graphic novel, Stuck Rubber Baby, won both Eisner and Harvey Awards in 1996, and has since won awards in England and Germany. An Italian translation of SRB has also been published and Spanish translations of both SRB and Wendel All Together are now in production. Stuck Rubber Baby's French edition won the Prix de la critique at the Angouleme comics festival in 2002. Many of Howard's underground comix were compiled more than a decade ago in the books Early Barefootz and Dancin' Nekkid With the Angels.

The Swimmer With a Rope in His Teeth, Howard's illustrated adaptation of a fable by Jeanne Shaffer, was published by Prometheus Press in April of 2004. Many of his comic strips, both old and recently drawn, are archived on his extensive website, Howard Cruse Central. Recently completed projects are new comics created for inclusion in future edition's of Jennifer Camper's Juicy Mother series and the second Robert Kirby-David Kelly Boy Trouble book collection plus a five-page gay webcomic drawn for Tim Fish's Young Bottoms In Love. Howard's newest book, From Headrack to Claude, is a compilation of Howard's gay-themed comix covering, with the exception of the Wendel series and Stuck Rubber Baby, the 33-year span between 1976 and 2008. Like his recently repackaged 1983 satirical fable Felix's Friends (subtitled "A Story for Grown-Ups and Unpleasant Children"), Howard is self-publishing From Headrack to Claude on a print-on-demand basis Lulu.com.

An array of Howard's drawings are decorating tee-shirts, mugs, mouse pads and other cool merchandise at his online merchandise shop, Cruse Goodies at CafePress. And for regular bulletins from Howard's life and ruminatory processes, link up to Loose Cruse: The Blog and see what's happening in Cruseland.

BUY BOOKS AT AMAZON.COM

Dancin' Nekkid With the Angels
Early Barefootz
Stuck Rubber Baby
The Swimmer With a Rope in His Teeth
Wendel All Together

RECENT PRISM COMICS FEATURES

BID ON EXCLUSIVE HOWARD CRUSE ITEMS TO BENEFIT DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS! AUCTION ENDS JANUARY 24TH!
[News, Posted 1/20/10]
In the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake, pioneering cartoonist Howard Cruse is participating in an Ebay auction with 100% of its proceeds donated to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins San Frontieres.

STAN'S SOAPBOX: HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!
[Queer Eye on Comics, Posted 11/8/09]
Stan’s Soapbox Hey True Believers! It’s David “Stan”-ley here, you ever lovin’ Editor-In-Chief of “Queer Eye on Comics” with the first Spectacular LGBT Comics Holiday Gift-Giving Guide ever to come out of Prism's House of Ideas with only the latest and greatest recommendations from Yours Truly! What, you say? You have it all and besides, only Irving Forbush shops this early? Bah-Humbug! In the past year, we’ve been clobbered with lotsa new product you haveta get! Roberto…

PRISM ANNOUNCES COMIC-CON 2009 PLANS! PARTY, PANELS, SIGNINGS, PORTFOLIO REVIEWS, AND BATWOMAN!
[News, Posted 7/14/09]
San Diego, CA - Prism Comics, which supports LGBT comics, creators, issues and readers is excited to announce its biggest slate of programming ever at this year's San Diego Comic-Con International (July 22-26, 2009), featuring four panels, a mixer and silent auction, creator signings, portfolio review, “Young Heroes” party, and the debut of the new Prism Guide! "San Diego Comic-Con continues to be the best way for Prism to reach the LGBT comics audience,” said Ted Abenheim, Event Chair of…

PRISM COMICS LAUNCHES BIGGEST YEAR YET THIS WEEKEND AT SF’S WONDERCON 2009! PRISM SALUTES THE FOUNDERS OF GAY COMIX AND ANNOUNCES THE QUEER PRESS GRANT WINNER! PLUS PANELS, CREATOR SIGNINGS AND MORE!
[News, Posted 2/23/09]
Prism Comics, an all-volunteer, non-profit organization supporting LGBT comics creators and fans, unveils an exciting slate of events for WonderCon, the Bay Area's pre-eminent comics and pop-culture consumer convention. Prism will be hosting booth appearances and talent signings, announcing the winner of the 2009 Queer Press Grant, and holding three panel discussions featuring the most prominent and talented LGBT creators in comics today and in San Francisco’s rich history of…

"MOM, I'M PREGNANT."
[Color Commentary, Posted 1/15/09]
No, wait. "I'm in trouble." That's the expression! "I'm. In. Trouble." A boy in trouble. It might be a terrible joke, but don't let that stop you from clicking on the link above and reading about a gay comics anthology you'll want to own!

RECENT OFFSITE FEATURES

FROM HEADRACK TO CLAUDE: COLLECTED GAY COMICS BY HOWARD CRUSE
[Source: Out in Print, Added: 1/7/10]
Howard Cruse didn’t invent gay comics, but it’s hard to imagine gay comics—or underground comics, period—without him. Since the mid-‘70s Cruse has been creating stories that are textually...

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR TIM PILCHER: THAT COMIC BOOK'S NOT DIRTY... IT'S EROTIC!
[Source: Blog Critics, Added: 10/22/09]
Fully illustrated with rare art by Howard Cruse, Gengoroh Tagame, Melinda Gebbie, Hunt Emerson, Howard Chaykin, Giovanna Casotto (whose work graces the cover), Tom of Finland, Milo Manara, Junko...

GAY PREVIEWS FOR DECEMBER 2009
[Source: Gay League, Added: 10/19/09]
A monthly list that highlights the work of LGBT and gay friendly creators, primarily taken from each month’s PREVIEWS catalog.

GAY CARTOONIST AND UNDERGROUND COMIX LEGEND HOWARD CRUSE REFLECTS ON A LIFE IN AND OUT OF THE CLOSET
[Source: Blog Critics, Added: 10/18/09]
Bob Andelman strikes up a conversation with LGBT comics pioneer Howard Cruse.

MORE CENTRAL THAN CHRISTOPHER STREET
[Source: Doric Wilson, Added: 8/30/09]
I do not remember not knowing Howard Cruse. He has always seemed more central to queer life in NYC than Christopher Street.