Dennis Worden is an American comic book writer and artist best known as the creator of the comic book ''Stickboy''. Worden's

alternative comics Alternative comics or independent comics cover a range of American comic book, American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alterna ...

caught the public's attention in the early 1980s, via

Robert Crumb Robert Dennis Crumb (; born August 30, 1943) is an American artist who often signs his work R. Crumb. His work displays a nostalgia for American folk culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and satire of contemporary American c ...

's '' Weirdo''

comics anthology A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication to co ...

, for which he was a frequent contributor throughout the magazine's run. During that same period, Worden was a regular contributor to the comics anthology '' Rip Off Comix''. Worden has the distinction of being the only male cartoonist to ever contribute to the all-female

underground comix Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books that are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, ...

anthology '' Tits & Clits Comix''."Meat Market Year 2050," ''Tits & Clits'' #7 (

Last Gasp (The) Last Gasp may refer to * Last Gasp (publisher) Last Gasp is a San Francisco–based book publisher with a lowbrow art and counterculture focus. Owned and operated by Ron Turner, for most of its existence Last Gasp was a publisher, dis ...

, Nov. 1987). He created the comic book ''Stickboy'', detailing the

existential Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and value ...

adventures of a stick figure. There were eight issues, published, successively by

Fantagraphics Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...

(issues #1–3, 1988–1990), Revolutionary Comics (issues #4–5, 1990–1992), Starhead Comix (issues #6–7, 1993–1995), and Carnal Comics (issue #8, 2005). Other comic books by Worden include ''Slur'' (self-published, 1982), ''Bongo Dick'' (self-published, 1986), ''Suburban Teens On Acid'' (self-published, 1986), ''Pedestrian Vulgarity'' (Fantagraphics, 1990), and ''Acidboy'' (Starhead Comix, 1996). He also did the character The Floating Skull, who appears in ''Heavy Metal Monsters'' (Revolutionary Comics, 1992), one story of which the Floating Skull appears on the

David Letterman David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer, and auto racing team owner. He hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of ''Late N ...

show. In 1993, Worden shot a ''Stickboy''

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

with two songs by the English punk bank Rancid Hell Spawn. Worden appears in 2005 documentary film ''Unauthorized and Proud Of It'' — a.k.a. ''The Story of Rock 'N' Roll Comics'' — alongside

Alice Cooper Vincent Damon Furnier (born February 4, 1948), known by his stage name Alice Cooper, is an American rock singer and songwriter whose career spans sixty years. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusion ...

, Mojo Nixon,

Gene Simmons Gene Simmons (born Chaim Witz; ; born August 25, 1949) also known by his stage persona "The Demon", is an Israeli-born American musician. He was the bassist and co-lead singer of the hard rock band Kiss (band), Kiss, which he co-founded wit ...

, painter

Robert Williams Robert, Rob, Robbie, Bob or Bobby Williams may refer to: Architecture * Train %26 Williams#Robert Edmund Williams, Robert Edmund Williams (1874–1960), Canadian-American architect * Robert Williams (architect) (1848–1918), Welsh architect a ...

, publishers

Denis Kitchen Denis Kitchen (born August 27, 1946) is an American underground cartoonist, publisher, author, agent, and the founder of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Early life Kitchen grew up in Wisconsin, attending William Horlick High School, Raci ...

and

Gary Groth Gary Groth (born September 18, 1954) is an American comic book editor, publisher and critic. He is editor-in-chief of ''The Comics Journal'', a co-founder of Fantagraphics Books, and founder of the Harvey Awards. Early life Groth is the son ...

, cartoonists Mary Fleener,

Cynthia Plaster Caster Cynthia Dorothy Albritton (May 24, 1947 – April 21, 2022), better known by the pseudonym Cynthia Plaster Caster, was an American visual artist and self-described "recovering groupie" who gained fame for creating plaster casts of celebrities' ...

, and others. The film, featuring a soundtrack by

Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, author and television host. According to ''Rolling Stone'', Costello "reinvigorated the literate, lyrical ...

(among others), was released on DVD in 2012.

References

External links

Official website (2005-2015)
via

Wayback Machine The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web founded by Internet Archive, an American nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. Launched for public access in 2001, the service allows users to go "back in ...

Comic Art Collective page for Dennis Worden
* American humorists American comics artists American comics writers Alternative cartoonists American music video directors Living people Year of birth missing (living people) {{US-comics-artist-stub