J. R. Williams (born 1957) is an American

cartoonist A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comic book illustrators in that they produce both the literary and ...

, animator, and fine artist best known for his late 1980s/early 1990s work in alternative comics. Known for his manic, exaggerated cartooning style, Williams brought an underground comix edge to his work during this period. Williams' characters Skinboy and the Bad Boys made recurring appearances in many of his stories.

Biography

Williams grew up in Oregon during the 1960s, and in the 1970s studied fine art at the

Oregon College of Education Western Oregon University (WOU) is a public university in Monmouth, Oregon. It was originally established in 1856 by Disciples of Christ pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names included Oregon State Normal School, Oregon College of Ed ...

(now known as

Western Oregon University Western Oregon University (WOU) is a public university in Monmouth, Oregon. It was originally established in 1856 by Disciples of Christ pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names included Oregon State Normal School, Oregon College of ...

).J. R. Williams LinkedIn profile
Accessed Oct. 28, 2015. Comics influences included Dr. Seuss, Don Martin, and Basil Wolverton. Williams' first professional comics work was in the Last Gasp anthology ''

Weirdo Weirdo may refer to: * An eccentric * ''Weirdo'' (comics), an alternative comics anthology published by Last Gasp * "Weirdo" (song), a single by the Charlatans UK off their album ''Between 10th and 11th'' * ''Weirdos'' (film), a 2016 Canadian d ...

'' in the mid-1980s, during the period it was edited by Peter Bagge. He soon was also contributing to the

Fantagraphics Books Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and the erotic Eros Comix imprint. History Founding Fantagraphics was found ...

anthologies ''Centrifugal Bumble-Puppy'' (edited by Joe Sacco) and '' Honk!''. From 1990 to 1995, Williams released a string of solo one-shot comics — with titles like ''Bad Comics'', ''Bummer'', ''Completely Bad Boys'', ''Damnation'', and ''Fun House'' — released by such publishers as Fantagraphics, Cat-Head Comics, and Starhead Comix. Williams' solo title ''Crap'' ran seven issues with Fantagraphics from 1993 to 1995. Williams lived in Seattle from 1992–1995 (for a short time staying with Peter Bagge and his wife), before returning to

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

. In 1995, after writing the three-issue comic book adaptation of '' The Little Shop of Horrors'' for Roger Corman's short-lived comics imprint Roger Corman's Cosmic Comics, Williams mostly disappeared from the comics scene. He worked as an animator, designer, and storyboard artist for

Will Vinton Studios William Gale Vinton (November 17, 1947 – October 4, 2018) was an American animator and filmmaker. Vinton was best known for his Claymation work, alongside creating iconic characters such as The California Raisins. He won an Oscar for his work ...

from 1988 to 2001, contributing to such series as '' The PJs'', '' Gary & Mike'', '' The California Raisins'', and '' Adventures in Wonderland''. From 1995 to 2000, Williams contributed artwork and some writing to ''Cool and Strange Music'' magazine. In the 2000s, Williams returned to his fine arts roots, painting multiple series of abstract, geometric paintings. In the late 2000s, his fine art returned to figurative work, combining elements of 1960s comics with painting techniques. Williams lives in Portland, Oregon.Mullins, Richard
Williams interview
Blah Blah Gallery blog (Dec. 1, 2008).

Bibliography

Solo titles

* ''Bad Comics'' ( Cat-Head Comics, 1990) * ''Bummer'' (Cat-Head Comics, 1992;

, 1995) * ''Completely Bad Boys'' (Fantagraphics Books, 1992) * ''Crap'' (7 issues, Fantagraphics, 1993–1995) * ''Damnation'' (Fantagraphics, May 1994) * ''Fun House'' ( Starhead Comix, 1993)

References

External links

J. R. Williams' blog
* *

J. R. Williams' comics-inspired paintings

J. R. Williams abstract art gallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, J. R. (comics) 1957 births Living people Western Oregon University alumni Alternative cartoonists Underground cartoonists Artists from Portland, Oregon American storyboard artists