View source for Jim Rugg

{{Short description|American cartoonist and illustrator}}
{{BLP sources|date=January 2012}}
{{Infobox comics creator

| image         = Jim Rugg (cropped).jpg
| caption       =Rugg in 2019 
| alt = Rugg holding books in a library
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1977|2|1}}
| birth_place   = 
| nationality   = [[United States|American]]
| cartoonist    = y
| write         = y
| pencil        = y
| ink           = y
| letter        = y
| color         = y
| edit          = 
| notable works = ''[[Street Angel (comics)|Street Angel]]''<br />''[[Afrodisiac (comics)|Afrodisiac]]''
| awards        = 
| website       = {{URL|jimrugg.com}}
}}
'''Jim Rugg''' (born February 1, 1977) is an American cartoonist and illustrator from [[Pittsburgh]] known for his tongue-in-cheek evocation of 1970s-era [[comics]] and [[popular culture|pop culture]]. His graphic novels and comics collections include ''[[Street Angel (comics)|Street Angel]]'', ''[[Afrodisiac (comics)|Afrodisiac]]'', ''[[The P.L.A.I.N. Janes]]'' and ''Janes in Love'', ''[[One Model Nation]]'', and ''[[The Guild (web series)#Comic books|The Guild]]''.

Rugg has also produced short comics for [[VH1]], ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine, ''True Porn'', ''Meathaus'', ''[[Cinema Sewer]]'', ''[[Strange Tales]]'', the [[Small Press Expo|SPX Annual]], ''[[Project Superior|Project: Superior]]'', ''[[Dark Horse Presents]]'', and the ''[[Next Issue Project]]''.

Rugg also co-hosted the [[YouTube]] channel ''Cartoonist Kayfabe'' with fellow Pittsburgh native cartoonist [[Ed Piskor]]. 

== Biography ==
[[File:Jim Rugg Gen 13 drawing.webm|thumb|right|A [[time lapse]] drawing by Rugg of [[Gen13]], from 2011]]
Rugg was born in the town of [[Connellsville, Pennsylvania]] and moved to [[Pittsburgh]].<ref name="tcj">{{Cite journal |language=en-US |url=https://www.tcj.com/the-jim-rugg-interview/ |title=The Jim Rugg Interview |journal=[[The Comics Journal]] |date=2011-08-10 |accessdate=2024-06-08 |first=Kristy |last=Valenti |issn=0194-7869}}</ref> His art influences include [[Frank Miller (comics)|Frank Miller]], [[Erik Larsen]], [[David Lapham]], [[Jack Kirby]], [[David Mazzuchelli]], [[Mike Mignola]], the [[Hernandez brothers]], [[Robert Crumb]], [[Dan Clowes]], [[Chris Ware]], and [[Julie Doucet]].<ref name="White">White, Adam. [http://www.comiccritique.com/interview_jim_rugg.html "The Jim Rugg Experience,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719060542/http://www.comiccritique.com/interview_jim_rugg.html |date=2011-07-19 }} ComicCritique.com (2005).</ref> Rugg is also inspired by television shows like ''[[The Office]]'' and ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]'', the films of [[Wes Anderson]], [[Kōbō Abe]]’s writing, [[Todd Hido]]’s photography, and [[Toba Khedoori]]'s drawings and paintings.<ref name="White" /> He has a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]] in graphic design and painting from a small liberal arts college.<ref name="White" />

While working as a graphic designer, Rugg met and began working with writer [[Brian Maruca]]. The result, ''[[Street Angel (comics)|Street Angel]]'', was self-published as a [[mini-comic]], where it eventually found its way to the publisher [[Slave Labor Graphics]].<ref name="White" /> The first five issues of ''Street Angel'' were collected as a trade paperback by SLG Publishing in 2005.

After the cancellation of a [[video game]] project and ''The P.L.A.I.N. Janes'' series in 2008, Rugg considered leaving the comics business.<ref name="Smith">Smith, Zack. [http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/jim-rugg-discusses-afrodisiac/Content?oid=1300087 "Soul comics: Jim Rugg discusses ''Afrodisiac'',"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617030941/http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/jim-rugg-discusses-afrodisiac/Content?oid=1300087 |date=2011-06-17 }} IndyWeek.com (Feb. 3, 2010).</ref> His fortunes began turning around in 2009, when he began working on [[Image Comics]]' ''[[One Model Nation]]'' and [[Dark Horse Comics]]' ''[[The Guild (web series)#Comic books|The Guild]]''.

In 2010 Rugg (along with co-writer Maruca) released ''[[Afrodisiac (comics)|Afrodisiac]]'', collecting stories previously published in anthologies along with new material. (The character first appeared in the pages of ''Street Angel'').<ref name="Smith" /> The book is a detailed pastiche of 1970s "trash" culture, especially the [[blaxploitation]] heroic archetype. The titular hero is an over-the-top '70s-era, [[kung fu]]-fighting [[pimp]] character depicted in adventures that cross multiple comics styles, from space aliens and flying saucers to dinosaurs to [[Richard Nixon]] to Hercules to giant monsters to Dracula. Afrodisiac's production design faithfully evokes the visual style of old comic books, down to faded color schemes and wrinkled, creased covers.<ref name="Smith" />

On March 30, 2024, Rugg announced that he had decided to end his professional relationship, such as ''Cartoonist Kayfabe'', with [[Ed Piskor]] as a result of allegations against Piskor. Because of a number of factors, Piskor committed suicide two days later.<ref name="TheWrap">{{cite web |last=Roe |first=Mike |date=April 1, 2024 |title=Ed Piskor, 'Hip Hop Family Tree' Comic Book Artist, Dies at 41 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/ed-piskor-dies-suicide-hip-hop-family-tree-artist/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401225211/https://www.thewrap.com/ed-piskor-dies-suicide-hip-hop-family-tree-artist/ |archive-date=Apr 1, 2024 |access-date=April 1, 2024 |website=[[TheWrap]]}}</ref>

Rugg currently teaches in the MFA Visual Narrative program at the [[School of Visual Arts]].

== Cartoonist Kayfabe and comic historian ==
[[File:SPX 2019 Panel - Cartoonist Kayfabe Live!.webm|thumb|right|[[Ed Piskor]] and Rugg discussing ''Cartoonist Kayfabe'' in 2019]]
The Cartoonist Kayfabe series created by [[Ed Piskor]] and Jim Rugg, significantly impacted the comic book community by revisiting classic comic books, discussing the processes and stories behind them, and featuring notable figures from the industry. The YouTube show has garnered over 1,800+ videos in its library since its creation. One of the achievements of the series was bringing together [[Kevin Eastman]] and [[Peter Laird]] for commentaries<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popkin |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Peter Laird does a once-in-a-lifetime interview about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the Cartoonist Kayfabe youtube channel |url=https://boingboing.net/2023/01/26/peter-laird-does-a-once-in-a-lifetime-interview-about-teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-on-the-cartoonist-kayfabe-youtube-channel.html |website=Boing Boing}}</ref> on their ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' comics. Eastman and Laird, who had not collaborated in years, were invited to discuss their original TMNT comics, providing insights into their creation and evolution of the series. This reunion was particularly special for fans and scholars of comics, as it not only highlighted the creative synergy between the two but also explored the cultural impact of TMNT. The episodes served as a deep dive into the artistic and narrative choices that shaped the TMNT universe, offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of a franchise that has remained popular across decades.

== Awards ==
Rugg was nominated for a 2010 [[Ignatz Award]] for Outstanding Minicomic for ''[[Rambo (film series)|Rambo]]'' 3.5. In 2011, ''Afrodisiac'' was nominated for an Eisner Award in the humor category, and in 2015, Rugg won the Eisner for best publication design for ''Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/books/2015/07/13/Pittsburgh-cartoonists-Ed-Piskor-Jim-Rugg-win-Eisner-Awards/stories/201507130112|title=Pittsburgh cartoonists Ed Piskor, Jim Rugg win Eisner Awards|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref>

He served on the Ignatz Award jury in 2006.

== Bibliography ==
* ''[[Street Angel (comics)|Street Angel]]'' (SLG Publishing, 2005) {{ISBN|1-59362-012-8}} – co-written with [[Brian Maruca]]
* ''[[The P.L.A.I.N. Janes]]'' (DC Comics/[[Minx (comics)|Minx]], 2007) – written by [[Cecil Castellucci]]
* ''Janes in Love'' (DC/Minx, 2008) – written by Cecil Castellucci
* ''[[Afrodisiac (comics)|Afrodisiac]]'' (Adhouse Books, 2010) {{ISBN|1-935233-06-8}} – co-written with Brian Maruca
* ''[[One Model Nation]]'' (Image Comics, 2010) – written by Courtney Taylor
* ''The Guild'' (3-issue limited series, Dark Horse Comics, 2010) – written by [[Felicia Day]]
* ''[[Hulk]]: Grand Design'' (2 issues, Marvel Comics, May–June 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hulk Grand Design Monster #1 (Jan220934) |url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JAN220934 |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=www.previewsworld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hulk Grand Design Madness #1 (Feb220882) |url=https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/FEB220882 |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=www.previewsworld.com |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
*{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=4187|name=Jim Rugg}}
* Manning, Shaun. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23475 "Rugg Raps About ''Afrodisiac'',"] Comic Book Resource (October 27, 2009).

== External links ==
{{sister project links|d=Q6197904|c=Category:Jim Rugg|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|species=no|wikt=no|q=no}}
*{{official website}}
* {{Blogspot|jimrugg|Official page}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rugg, Jim}}
[[Category:Alternative cartoonists]]
[[Category:Artists from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American artists]]
[[Category:Writers from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:American comics writers]]
[[Category:American comics artists]]
[[Category:Comics colorists]]
[[Category:Comic book letterers]]
[[Category:American book podcasters]]
[[Category:People from Connellsville, Pennsylvania]]