Larry Fuller (comics)
Encyclopedia
Larry Fuller is an African American
underground comix
writer, publisher, and promoter. Along with other such notables as Richard "Grass" Green, Guy Colwell
, and Fuller's long-time partner and friend, Raye Horne, Fuller made sure that the voices of black comic book creators were heard in a time when their artistic efforts were largely ignored. Fuller mastered the art of delivering social commentary in humorous form.
, Fuller's first foray into underground comix world was Ebon, a superhero
parody he wrote and drew starring an African-American superhero, which Gary Arlington published in January 1970. (The back cover was a house ad for Arlington’s comic book shop, the San Francisco Comic Book Company, an epicenter of the underground comix movement). A bad fit with the largely white, adult audiences of underground comics, Ebon didn’t meet with much success. Shortly afterward, Fuller (in the guise of "Hairy" Larry Fuller) adapted H.P. Lovecraft's "The Ter'ble Old Man" for Last Gasp
's 1971 comic Laugh in the Dark #1.
- issue #2 cover, Nestor Redondo
- issue #3 cover, Dan O'Neill
, Ian Akin
and numerous others.
Later forming Fuller Inkwell, Fuller went on to periodically publish other sex-themed titles, such as Adults Only! (1979–1987) and HandJob Library (1991).
A peripheral member of the underground scene, aside from a page in Laugh In The Dark, the only anthology titles in which Fuller participated were ones he published.
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
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...
writer, publisher, and promoter. Along with other such notables as Richard "Grass" Green, Guy Colwell
Guy Colwell
Guy Colwell is an American political artist and underground cartoonist. Although not African-American himself, Colwell's comics often portray blacks in strong roles in stories of life on the streets....
, and Fuller's long-time partner and friend, Raye Horne, Fuller made sure that the voices of black comic book creators were heard in a time when their artistic efforts were largely ignored. Fuller mastered the art of delivering social commentary in humorous form.
Early career
Based in the San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, Fuller's first foray into underground comix world was Ebon, a superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
parody he wrote and drew starring an African-American superhero, which Gary Arlington published in January 1970. (The back cover was a house ad for Arlington’s comic book shop, the San Francisco Comic Book Company, an epicenter of the underground comix movement). A bad fit with the largely white, adult audiences of underground comics, Ebon didn’t meet with much success. Shortly afterward, Fuller (in the guise of "Hairy" Larry Fuller) adapted H.P. Lovecraft's "The Ter'ble Old Man" for Last Gasp
Last Gasp
Last Gasp is a book and underground comix publisher and distributor based in San Francisco, California.- History :Founded in 1970 by Ron Turner to publish the ecologically-themed comics magazine Slow Death Funnies, followed by the all-female anthology It Ain't Me Babe, Last Gasp soon became a major...
's 1971 comic Laugh in the Dark #1.
Ful-Horne Productions
In 1975, Fuller teamed up with Raye Horne to form Ful-Horne Productions (later known as Fulhorne), putting out the sex-themed comics White Whore Funnies and the then ground-breaking Gay Heartthrobs (also known as Gay Heart Throbs). White Whore Funnies was one of the few underground comics to also be distributed in porn shops. Fuller and Horne also published the anthology series The New Funny Book from 1975–1978, which featured contributions by artists such as Danny Bulanadi, Alex NiñoAlex Niño
Alex Niño is a Filipino comic book artist best known for his work for the American publishers DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Warren Publishing, and in Heavy Metal magazine.-Early life and career:...
- issue #2 cover, Nestor Redondo
Nestor Redondo
Nestor Redondo was a comic-book artist best known for his work for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and other American publishers in the 1970s and early 1980s.-Early life and career:...
- issue #3 cover, Dan O'Neill
Dan O'Neill
Dan O'Neill is an American underground cartoonist, creator of the syndicated comic strip Odd Bodkins and founder of the underground comics collective the Air Pirates.-Odd Bodkins:...
, Ian Akin
Ian Akin
Ian Akin is a comic book artist, known primarily for inking. Along with his inking partner, Brian Garvey, Akin worked on many superhero comics from 1982–1988.-Biography:...
and numerous others.
Later forming Fuller Inkwell, Fuller went on to periodically publish other sex-themed titles, such as Adults Only! (1979–1987) and HandJob Library (1991).
A peripheral member of the underground scene, aside from a page in Laugh In The Dark, the only anthology titles in which Fuller participated were ones he published.
Awards
In 2007, Fuller was the recipient of the Pioneer Award at the 2007 Glyph Comics AwardsGlyph Comics Awards
The Glyph Comics Awards recognize the best in comics made by, for, and about people of color from the preceding calendar year. While it is not exclusive to black creators, it does strive to honor those who have made the greatest contributions to the comics medium in terms of both critical and...
.