Johnny Ryan
Encyclopedia
John F. Ryan IV (born November 30, 1970, in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American alternative comics
creator. He is best known for Angry Youth Comix, a comic book
published by Fantagraphics, and for "Blecky Yuckerella", a comic strip
which originated in the alternative newspaper the Portland Mercury and now appears on Ryan's website. In a throwback to the days of underground comix
, Ryan's oeuvre is generally an attempt to be as shocking and politically incorrect
as possible.
.
Ryan originally self-published Angry Youth Comix, producing eleven mini-comic issues from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he began showing his work to Peter Bagge
, creator of Hate comics, who introduced the material to Eric Reynolds of Fantagraphics. In 2001, Fantagraphics began publishing volume 2 of the series.
Collaborating with Dave Cooper
under the pen name "Hector Mumbly", Ryan's comics appeared in nearly every issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. Cooper and Ryan also collaborated on a "Wonder Woman
vs. Supergirl
" story for the DC Comics
anthology Bizarro. Ryan collaborated with Peter Bagge in both Angry Youth Comix and Bagge's Hate Annual, in addition to penciling and inking two stories for Bagge's DC series Sweatshop. In 2006, Ryan guest-edited a special comics issue of Vice
magazine, which included contributions from over thirty of Ryan's comics contemporaries.
Ryan's illustrations have appeared in MAD
, LA Weekly
, National Geographic Kids
, Hustler Magazine, The Stranger
, and elsewhere. Ryan has also done work for clients such as Nobleworks
greetings cards, Rhino Records, and Fox TV
.
His comics have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese.
Ryan lives in Los Angeles
with his wife.
. It has since been nominated for multiple Harvey
and Eisner Award
s.
"Prison Pit" won an award for "Best Lettering" at the Stumptown small press festival in Portland, OR in April 2011.
Alternative comics
Alternative comics defines a range of American comics that have appeared since the 1980s, following the underground comix movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Alternative comics present an alternative to "mainstream" superhero comics which in the past have dominated the US comic book industry...
creator. He is best known for Angry Youth Comix, a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
published by Fantagraphics, and for "Blecky Yuckerella", a comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
which originated in the alternative newspaper the Portland Mercury and now appears on Ryan's website. In a throwback to the days of underground comix
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which 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, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
, Ryan's oeuvre is generally an attempt to be as shocking and politically incorrect
Politically incorrect
The phrase "politically incorrect" may refer to:* Someone or something which does not meet a standard of political correctness* Politically Incorrect, a late-night U.S. political talk show* Politically Incorrect, a German political blog...
as possible.
Biography
Growing up in Boston, Ryan studied English Literature at the University of Massachusetts AmherstUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
.
Ryan originally self-published Angry Youth Comix, producing eleven mini-comic issues from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, he began showing his work to Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge is an American cartoonist. He is the creator of Buddy Bradley, Hate, Neat Stuff, Martini Baton, and Sweatshop, Apocalypse Nerd and Other Lives. His stories often use black humor and exaggerated cartooning to dramatize the reduced expectations of middle-class American youth...
, creator of Hate comics, who introduced the material to Eric Reynolds of Fantagraphics. In 2001, Fantagraphics began publishing volume 2 of the series.
Collaborating with Dave Cooper
Dave Cooper
David Charles Cooper is a cartoonist, commercial illustrator and a graphic designer who lives in Ottawa, Canada. In addition to comics, Cooper has worked extensively as a designer, producer, and creator in the field of animation...
under the pen name "Hector Mumbly", Ryan's comics appeared in nearly every issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. Cooper and Ryan also collaborated on a "Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
vs. Supergirl
Supergirl
Supergirl is a female counterpart to the DC Comics Superman. As his cousin, she shares his super powers and vulnerability to Kryptonite. She was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino in 1959. She first appeared in the Action Comics comic book series and later branched out...
" story for the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
anthology Bizarro. Ryan collaborated with Peter Bagge in both Angry Youth Comix and Bagge's Hate Annual, in addition to penciling and inking two stories for Bagge's DC series Sweatshop. In 2006, Ryan guest-edited a special comics issue of Vice
Vice (magazine)
VICE is a free magazine and media conglomerate founded in Montreal, Quebec and currently based in New York City.Vice is available in 27 countries...
magazine, which included contributions from over thirty of Ryan's comics contemporaries.
Ryan's illustrations have appeared in MAD
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
, LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
, National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids is a children's magazine published by the National Geographic Society. Its first issue was printed in September 1975 under the original title: National Geographic World .The magazine was published for twenty-six...
, Hustler Magazine, The Stranger
The Stranger (newspaper)
The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
, and elsewhere. Ryan has also done work for clients such as Nobleworks
Nobleworks
NobleWorks Inc. is a publisher of humorous greeting cards. The company is located in Hoboken, New Jersey and publishes and sells paper greeting cards, cards with detachable magnets, lapel-button cards, gift cards, free on-line electronic greeting cards, magnetic memo pads, and note pads...
greetings cards, Rhino Records, and Fox TV
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
.
His comics have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese.
Ryan lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with his wife.
Awards
Angry Youth Comix was nominated for a Best Mini Ignatz Award at the 2000 Small Press ExpoSmall Press Expo
The Small Press Expo is an alternative comics convention that takes place every September or October in Bethesda, Maryland. It rivals the Alternative Press Expo as the premiere convention for alternative comics creators and fans. SPX is the home of the Ignatz Awards, which have been presented...
. It has since been nominated for multiple Harvey
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
and Eisner Award
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
s.
"Prison Pit" won an award for "Best Lettering" at the Stumptown small press festival in Portland, OR in April 2011.
External links
- Review of Prison Pit Book One at The Faster TimesThe Faster TimesThe Faster Times is an online newspaper launched by Sam Apple on July 9, 2009. Many print newspapers were going out of business and reporters were losing their jobs. The New York Times reported that in this climate, Apple was able to recruit professional writers guaranteeing them 75% of revenue...