Doug Allen (born February 22, 1956) is an American

underground Underground most commonly refers to: * Subterranea (geography), the regions beneath the surface of the Earth Underground may also refer to: Places * The Underground (Boston), a music club in the Allston neighborhood of Boston * The Underground (S ...

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 ...

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

, and

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

. Best known for his long-running comic strip ''

Steven Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

'', Allen has over the years collaborated with long-time friend Gary Leib on music, animation, fine art, and comics, including the two-man Fantagraphics anthology ''

Idiotland ''Idiotland'' is a surrealistic comic book by Doug Allen and Gary Leib published by Fantagraphics in 1993–1994. It is noticeably more surreal and Dada-esque that Allen's more-famous work, the ''Steven'' comic strip and its compilations. ''Idi ...

''.

Work

After attending

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

for a time, Allen graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) 1978 with an illustration degree.Allen bio
Lambiek.net's Comiclopedia. He met Gary Leib at RISD. In addition to the weekly feature ''Steven'', which ran in college and alternative newspapers from 1977 to 1994,Allen entry
, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999. Allen's comics, gag cartoons, and illustrations have appeared in '' The New Yorker'', '' BLAB!'', '' Zero Zero'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Pictopia'', and ''

Duplex Planet Illustrated ''The Duplex Planet'' is a zine edited and published by David Greenberger since 1979. It contains transcriptions of his interviews with elderly residents of senior centers and "meal sites" in the Massachusetts area. For many years, the zine focus ...

''. In addition to ''Idiotland'', Allen and Leib collaborated on a number of stories in the fund-raising anthology comic ''

Legal Action Comics ''Legal Action Comics'' is a series of comics anthologies edited by illustrator Danny Hellman which features work from many alternative comics artists. The first volume in the series was published in 2001,Hellman, Danny, editor. (2001). ''Legal Ac ...

'' volume 1, published in 2001. Allen's non-comics work includes Plexiglas paintings based on pinball machine art, most of which he produced in the late 1970s; and a more recent series of "fake"

marine art Marine art or maritime art is a form of figurative art (that is, painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture) that portrays or draws its main Sea in culture, inspiration from the sea. Maritime painting is a genre that depicts ships and the sea� ...

paintings, which he sells on his website. Along with Leib, Allen was a founding member of the

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

-nominated band

Rubber Rodeo Rubber Rodeo was an American, Rhode Island-based band active in the 1980s. The band fused Roxy Music-influenced new wave music with country and western influences, and dressed in 1950's-vintage country & western clothing. Their 1984 release "Any ...

from 1978 to 1982. Allen has played

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

for many other bands as well. Allen and his wife and two children live in Rockland County, New York.

Awards

* Harvey Award nominee 1994 ** Best New Series (''Idiotland'') ** Best Syndicated Strip (''Steven'')

Bibliography

* ''Steven'' (8 issues, Kitchen Sink Press, 1989–1996); followed by ''The Best of "Steven"'' (Kitchen Sink Press, 1998) * ''

'' (7 issues, Fantagraphics, 1993–1994)

Notes

References

* * Kelly, John. "Idiot of the Savant-Garde: Doug Allen," ''The Comics Journal'' #156 (February 1993), pp. 78–88.

External links

*
Allen original art at Comic Art Collective
American illustrators American rock musicians Living people Rhode Island School of Design alumni Underground cartoonists 1956 births Rhode Island School of Design alumni in music {{US-cartoonist-stub