The Latest Comic Strips From The Creators Syndicate (6/19)
Free Range
About Bill Whitehead – Bill Whitehead began cartooning in fifth grade, later developing his own style and creating humorous worlds for his characters. His work has appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, Advertising Age, The Wall Street Journal, and King Features. He syndicated the sports cartoon Sidelines in the 1980s and spent 20 years writing humor cards for Hallmark, earning multiple awards. Bill also created editorial cartoons for the Kansas City Business Journal for two decades. When not cartooning, he plays guitar and piano with his rhythm and blues band, fully supported by his wife and their three children.
Speed Bump
About Dave Coverly – Dave Coverly, creator of the syndicated cartoon Speed Bump, captures life’s humorous “outtakes” in over 400 newspapers worldwide, including The Washington Post and Chicago Tribune. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University and Indiana University, Coverly’s award-winning work has appeared in The New Yorker, Parade Magazine, and various textbooks, greeting cards, and merchandise. Honored with the National Cartoonists Society’s Reuben Award in 2009, Coverly’s art is exhibited internationally and cherished by luminaries like Anderson Cooper. He resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife, Chris, and their daughters, Alayna and Simone, creating cartoons from his attic studio.
B.C.
About Mason Mastroianni – Mason Mastroianni, an Emmy-winning artist, developed his talent from a young age, studying at the Rhode Island School of Design and The DAVE School. After working as a CG animator in Minneapolis, he joined his brother, Mick, to illustrate Dogs of C-Kennel. He is also the cartoonist for B.C. and illustrator of Wizard of Id. Based in Madison, Mississippi, Mason supports troops through the USO and National Cartoonists Society tours.
Strange Brew
About John Deering – John Deering is the chief editorial cartoonist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, delivering impactful cartoons five times a week. A recipient of the 1997 Berryman Award and the 1994 John Fischetti Cartoon Competition honor, he has also won the Arkansas Press Association’s Best Editorial Cartoonist award seven times. Deering has published two books and is a longtime member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists. He also creates the comic panels Too Much Coffee, Zack Hill, and Strange Brew. Deering lives in Little Rock with his wife, Kathy, and their three children.
Wizard of Id
About Mick Mastroianni – Mick Mastroianni, a passionate cartoonist and dog lover, created Dogs of C-Kennel in 2007, mentored by his grandfather, Johnny Hart. He writes for Wizard of Id, contributes to B.C., and resides in Binghamton, NY, where he is also an award-winning painter and sculptor.
Rubes
About Leigh Rubin – Leigh Rubin, creator of the popular single-panel cartoon Rubes, has been making audiences laugh since 1984. Distributed by Creators Syndicate to over 400 newspapers worldwide, Rubes also graces greeting cards, mugs, and T-shirts. Inspired in 1978 by a visit to a pharmacy’s card aisle, Rubin launched Rubes Publications in 1979 and has since published several cartoon collections, including The Wild Life of… series. Known for his engaging workshops and presentations, Rubin shares his humor and creativity with schools and organizations nationwide. He lives with his wife and three sons, finding daily inspiration in a blank sheet of paper.
Spectickles
About Bill Abbott – After diverse careers as a Wall Street stockbroker, elite military unit member, and special agent in law enforcement, Bill Abbott transitioned to professional cartooning. His work has been featured in publications such as Reader’s Digest, The Saturday Evening Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. His syndicated cartoon, Spectickles, humorously explores the communication challenges of a married couple, drawing inspiration from figures like Walter Matthau and Ethel Merman. Spectickles has been licensed for various products, including figurines, cocktail napkins, and greeting cards.
Archie
About Craig Boldman – Craig Boldman has been a professional cartoonist since 1978, creating over 10,000 greeting cards for Hallmark, American Greetings, and others. He wrote Superman comics for DC in 1985 and later penned stories for Big Boy, Bazooka Joe, and Disney’s Doug and Recess. Boldman currently writes the Jughead comic book and has written the Archie newspaper strip since 1992. He co-authored the humor book Every Excuse in the Book. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Boldman continues to entertain readers with his timeless humor.
One Big Happy
About Rick Detorie – Rick Detorie is the creator of the syndicated comic strip One Big Happy, launched in 1988. A Baltimore native, he earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art before moving to Southern California to work in advertising. His freelance cartoons have appeared in National Lampoon, TV Guide, and Saturday Evening Post. Detorie also designed merchandise for Alvin and the Chipmunks during their 1980s popularity. He has authored multiple books, including The Accidental Genius of Weasel High. Detorie lives in Venice Beach, California, in a home funded by his Chipmunk work.
The Other Coast
About Adrian Raeside – Born in 1957 in Dunedin, New Zealand, Adrian Raeside began cartooning as a child and later became the editorial cartoonist for the Victoria Times Colonist for over 27 years. His work appears in over 250 publications worldwide. In 1988, he founded an animation company, producing shows for CBS, Turner Broadcasting, and Children’s Television Workshop. Raeside has authored 12 books, including the Dennis the Dragon series and There Goes the Neighborhood. His comic strip The Other Coast, syndicated since 2001, appears in over 200 newspapers. Raeside lives in Whistler, British Columbia.
Rugrats
About Nickelodeon - Nickelodeon is considered a major player in television programming for children 8-17 years old. Nickelodeon created numerous channels to target the different sides of their audience and shared their channel space with Nick at Nite, Nicktoons, Nick JR. and more. In 1991, Rugrats was aired following Tommy Pickles, his friends and family. Rugrats is now made available as a daily comic strip.
Dogs of C-Kennel
About Mason Mastroianni – Mason Mastroianni, an Emmy-winning artist, developed his talent from a young age, studying at the Rhode Island School of Design and The DAVE School. After working as a CG animator in Minneapolis, he joined his brother, Mick, to illustrate Dogs of C-Kennel. He is also the cartoonist for B.C. and illustrator of Wizard of Id. Based in Madison, Mississippi, Mason supports troops through the USO and National Cartoonists Society tours.
Scary Gary
About Mark Buford – Mark Buford, creator of the comic strip Scary Gary, discovered his passion for cartooning at age 10. Despite early “recognition” in the form of school discipline, he pursued his talent, earning a psychology degree from the University of West Georgia before studying graphic design. Mark freelanced successfully, submitting comics to magazines and alternative newspapers, and landed his first syndication deal in 1997 with Meatloaf Night. Teaming up with Creators Syndicate, he debuted Scary Gary in 2008. Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Mark now resides in Atlanta with his cat, Lisa, where he continues creating his unique brand of humor.
Diamond Lil
About Brett Koth - Koth is a graduate of California Institute of the Arts, with a BFA in Character Animation. In a previous life, he worked at studios including Disney, Marvel and Don Bluth, doing character animation for video games, feature films and television shows. He has also worked extensively in the licensing field for Disney, Warner Bros., Pillsbury, Western Publishing, Pizza Hut, National Geographic Kids and many other companies featuring licensed characters. Since 1986, he has collaborated with Jim Davis on the writing and art for the Garfield comic strip, along with licensing for the cat, which has included design and art for projects as diverse as a petting zoo, a planetarium show, a Rose Parade float and elementary-level English reading textbooks for schools in China. Koth lives in a log cabin on a pond in Virginia with his wife, Mona, his son, Henry, his English bulldog, Bob, and around five dozen Canada geese, whose names he can't remember.
Daddy’s Home
About Anthony Rubino Jr. – Anthony Rubino Jr. began cartooning in junior high and later gained national recognition with his syndicated comic Colorblind. His work has appeared in MAD Magazine, National Lampoon, and on products sold at Bloomingdale’s, Wal-Mart, and Spencer’s Gifts. He’s authored seven books, including Life Lessons from Elvis and The Get Into Heaven Deck. Currently, he co-creates the comic strip Daddy’s Home with Gary Markstein, humorously exploring stay-at-home fatherhood. Based in New York City, Tony also works as a creative and art director—and proudly does all his own stunts.
Flo & Friends
About Jenny Campbell – Jenny Campbell, a sixth-generation journalist, discovered her passion for cartooning after years as a writer and illustrator. Starting her career in journalism, she worked at The Arizona Republic, Pasadena Star-News, and The Orange County Register. Transitioning to cartooning in her 30s, she became a successful children’s book illustrator with 12 books to her credit and contributions to Highlights for Children. Jenny runs her cartooning business from an 1880s farmhouse in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where she draws Flo & Friends. Inspired by her late father, she balances her creative life with cycling, tennis, and caring for her pets.
Agnes
About Tony Cochran – Tony Cochran’s artistic journey began with a 15-year career in auto-body repair, sketching even on car fenders. His comic strip Agnes, launched in 1999, offers a humorous, touching glimpse into the life of a dream-filled girl navigating challenges with her realist best friend, Trout. Syndicated worldwide, Agnes has inspired books and recognition, including NPR appearances and awards for contributions to humor and advocacy. Cochran, known for supporting philanthropic causes, lives with his wife, Vickie, in Columbus, Ohio, creating art that resonates with anyone striving to find their place in the world.
Herb and Jamaal
About Stephen Bentley - Born in Southern California in 1954, Stephen grew up in the South Central area of Los Angeles. In the late '60s, his family moved to Pasadena, where Stephen attended and graduated from John Muir High School in 1972. After high school, Stephen spent a short stint in the U.S. Navy, lending his artistic talents to the base newspapers where he was stationed.College was the next logical step to hone Stephen's artistic abilities. He attended Pasadena City College and, later, Rio Hondo College, majoring in Art, English and Fire Sciences. After attending a high-school reunion and re-establishing an old friendship in 1998, Stephen was inspired to create the comic strip Herb and Jamaal -- as a tribute to lasting friendships and a reflection on a life well lived.
Zack Hill
About John Deering – John Deering is the chief editorial cartoonist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, creating insightful and award-winning cartoons since 1988. His work has earned accolades such as the Berryman Award and multiple honors from the Arkansas Press Association. Deering is also the co-creator of the syndicated comic strips Zack Hill and Strange Brew. In addition to editorial work, he has published books and continues to explore his childhood passions for science fiction and dinosaurs. Based in Little Rock with his wife, Kathy, and their three children, Deering blends art and commentary to engage readers nationwide.
Shrimp And Grits
About Andy Marlette - Born and raised by underpaid public school teachers in Sanford, Fla., Andy Marlette graduated from the University of Florida and became staff editorial cartoonist at the Pensacola News Journal in 2007. Marlette received a priceless editorial cartoon education while living with his uncle and Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug Marlette in Hillsborough, N.C. Doug's tragic death in July of 2007 made evermore poignant the elder Marlette’s fierce and faithful devotion to the art form of editorial cartooning as a cornerstone of American free speech. With this in mind, Andy works daily to learn and uphold the disciplines and values passed on to him by his late uncle.
