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Jim Rugg (born February 1, 1977) is an American cartoonist and illustrator from Pittsburgh, renowned for his playful, retro-inspired exploration of 1970s comics and pop culture. His graphic novels and comics collections include Street Angel, Afrodisiac, The P.L.A.I.N. Janes, Janes in Love, One Model Nation, and The Guild. Rugg has also contributed short comics to various publications, including VH1, New York Magazine, True Porn, Meathaus, Cinema Sewer, Strange Tales, the SPX Annual, Project: Superior, Dark Horse Presents, and the Next Issue Project.
Rugg co-hosted the popular YouTube channel Cartoonist Kayfabe with fellow Pittsburgh-based cartoonist Ed Piskor, where they explored the history of comics and examined classic comic book processes, often featuring interviews with notable industry figures.
Early Life and Career
Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and later moving to Pittsburgh, Jim Rugg was influenced by a wide range of artists and media, including Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, Robert Crumb, and David Mazzucchelli, as well as TV shows like The Office and Arrested Development. Rugg holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design and painting from a small liberal arts college.
While working as a graphic designer, Rugg collaborated with writer Brian Maruca on Street Angel, a self-published mini-comic that eventually found a home with Slave Labor Graphics. The first five issues of Street Angel were collected into a trade paperback by SLG Publishing in 2005. After a difficult period in 2008, which saw the cancellation of a video game project and the end of The P.L.A.I.N. Janes series, Rugg considered leaving the comics industry. However, his career gained momentum in 2009 when he began working on One Model Nation (Image Comics) and The Guild (Dark Horse Comics).
Major Works
In 2010, Rugg, alongside co-writer Maruca, released Afrodisiac, a graphic novel that is a vibrant homage to 1970s “trash” culture, especially the blaxploitation genre. The titular character, Afrodisiac, is a larger-than-life, kung-fu-fighting antihero who embarks on absurd, genre-bending adventures. The book mimics the look of old comic books, using faded colors and weathered pages to evoke the feel of vintage comics.
Cartoonist Kayfabe and Comic History
The Cartoonist Kayfabe series, created by Rugg and Piskor, made a significant impact on the comic book community by revisiting classic comics, discussing their historical context, and featuring deep dives into the creative processes behind them. The channel boasts over 1,800 videos, including a landmark episode featuring a reunion of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, who had not collaborated in years. This special episode provided fans with an in-depth look at the creation and lasting influence of the TMNT series.
Recent Developments
In March 2024, Rugg announced that he had ended his professional relationship with Ed Piskor due to serious allegations against Piskor. Sadly, Piskor passed away shortly thereafter.
Awards and Recognition
Rugg has been recognized for his contributions to the comic industry. He was nominated for a 2010 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Minicomic for Rambo 3.5, and his work on Afrodisiac was nominated for an Eisner Award in 2011 in the humor category. In 2015, Rugg won an Eisner Award for Best Publication Design for his work on Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream. He also served on the Ignatz Award jury in 2006.
Bibliography
- Street Angel (SLG Publishing, 2005) – co-written with Brian Maruca
- The P.L.A.I.N. Janes (DC Comics/Minx, 2007) – written by Cecil Castellucci
- Janes in Love (DC/Minx, 2008) – written by Cecil Castellucci
- Afrodisiac (Adhouse Books, 2010) – 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 (Marvel Comics, 2022) – 2 issues
Teaching
Jim Rugg currently teaches in the MFA Visual Narrative program at the School of Visual Arts, where he shares his knowledge and passion for comics with the next generation of creators.