Gary Dumm
Encyclopedia
Gary Dumm is an Ohio-based comic book artist known particularly for his work illustrating the comics of Harvey Pekar
. From 1977
until Pekar's 2010 death, he worked on Pekar's autobiographical comic series, American Splendor
, where he appeared alongside such notable comics artists as Robert Crumb
, Joe Sacco
, and Gerry Shamray
. Much of Dumm's work on American Splendor was as an inker
, embellishing the pencils of Greg Budgett and Joe Zabel
. (Dumm has also inked Zabel in other venues, including Caliber's Dancing With Your Eyes Closed, Fantagraphics' Real Stuff, and Zabel's own title The Trespassers.) Dumm collaborated with Pekar as the primary artist on two full-length books, Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story, and Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History.
Dumm has also worked on such projects as Dennis McGee and The Miracle Squad. He contributes a regular strip (illustrated bios of blues
people) to the newsletter Music Makers Rag. His editorial cartoons have been published in Cleveland Scene
, Cleveland Free Times, and The Plain Dealer. A retrospective of his work was shown at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. Dumm says he feels "itchy" when he’s not drawing.
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
. From 1977
1977 in comics
- Year overall :* Wendy and Richard Pini establish WaRP Graphics.* Jan and Dean Mullaney establish Eclipse Comics.* The United Kingdom's Eagle Awards are established.* Bob Brown dies at age 62.* Ciao magazine is launched.-January:...
until Pekar's 2010 death, he worked on Pekar's autobiographical comic series, American Splendor
American Splendor
American Splendor is a series of autobiographical comic books written by the late Harvey Pekar and drawn by a variety of artists. The first issue was published in 1976 and the most recent in September 2008, with publication occurring at irregular intervals...
, where he appeared alongside such notable comics artists as Robert Crumb
Robert Crumb
Robert Dennis Crumb —known as Robert Crumb and R. Crumb—is an American artist, illustrator, and musician recognized for the distinctive style of his drawings and his critical, satirical, subversive view of the American mainstream.Crumb was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded...
, Joe Sacco
Joe Sacco
Joe Sacco is a Maltese-American comics artist and journalist. He achieved international fame through the 1996 American Book Award-winning Palestine, and his graphic novel on the Bosnian War, Safe Area Goražde.- Biography :...
, and Gerry Shamray
Gerry Shamray
Gerry Shamray has illustrated many issues of American Splendor, Harvey Pekar's autobiographical comics. In an introduction to a compilation of Pekar's work, R. Crumb stated that Shamray "went all the way, taking hundreds of photos of Pekar, his wife, his apartment, the streets of his neighborhood,...
. Much of Dumm's work on American Splendor was as an inker
Inker
The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional comic book or graphic novel. After a pencilled drawing is given to the inker, the inker uses black ink to produce refined outlines over the pencil lines...
, embellishing the pencils of Greg Budgett and Joe Zabel
Joe Zabel
Joe Zabel is a comic book artist living in Cleveland Heights. He is best known for his work illustrating American Splendor, by fellow Clevelander Harvey Pekar...
. (Dumm has also inked Zabel in other venues, including Caliber's Dancing With Your Eyes Closed, Fantagraphics' Real Stuff, and Zabel's own title The Trespassers.) Dumm collaborated with Pekar as the primary artist on two full-length books, Ego & Hubris: The Michael Malice Story, and Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History.
Dumm has also worked on such projects as Dennis McGee and The Miracle Squad. He contributes a regular strip (illustrated bios of blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
people) to the newsletter Music Makers Rag. His editorial cartoons have been published in Cleveland Scene
Cleveland Scene
The Cleveland Scene is an alternative weekly newspaper based in Cleveland, Ohio. The newspaper includes highlights of Cleveland-area arts, music, dining, and films, as well as classified advertising...
, Cleveland Free Times, and The Plain Dealer. A retrospective of his work was shown at the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve in Cleveland. Dumm says he feels "itchy" when he’s not drawing.