Lawrence Edward Welz (born November 21, 1948) is an American cartoonist who created Cherry Poptart (now known simply as Cherry). He was an early contributor to the underground comix movement in the San Francisco area during the late 1960s and early 1970s.Rebel Visions:The Underground Comix Revolution, 1963 - 1975 He graduated from Bakersfield High School.
Work
From 1969 to 1970, his work appeared regularly in Yellow Dog, a comics anthology published by the Print Mint in Berkeley, California.Larry Welz Biography He also contributed to San Francisco Comic Book, Captain Guts, Funnybook, Bakersfield Kountry Komics, American Flyer Funnies, and Good Eatin' Comix.A History of Underground Comics, p. 211
In the early 1980s, Welz created Cherry Poptart, a character who evolved from stories in Funnybook and Bakersfield Kountry Komics. Cherry quickly became his most successful and well-known comic book series, with 24 issues and a variety of collections, posters, stickers and tattoos.Comix: The Underground Revolution, pp. 71 - 73
Welz has collaborated with several other well-known artists and authors on comic books and other projects over the years, including Mark Bodé,Interview with artist Mark Bodé Neil Gaiman,Neil Gaiman: The Innkeeper's Soul and Larry Todd.The Common Sense Guide to Good Sex, Larry Todd Biography
After many years in the San Francisco Bay Area, Welz and his wife Sharon moved to Roswell, New Mexico,USA Today: UFO enthusiasts converge on Roswell and then to Albuquerque, where he continues his involvement in both comics and commercial artwork. In 2006, he drew the cover for Jeff Walker's album Welcome to Carcass Cuntry. In 2016, he drew the front and back covers for Marvin Gardens' album 1968, and contributed an original cartoon to the liner notes.
References
External links
Cherry Comix official online store
Larry Welz art on ComicArtFans.com Larry Welz on Lambiek.net Larry Welz comic books on Comicbookdb.com