| Matt Howarth | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Area | Cartoonist, Writer, Artist |
Notable works | Those Annoying Post Bros Savage Henry Star Crossed Bugtown |
| http://www.matthowarth.com | |
Matt Howarth is an American comic book writer/artist known for such series asThose Annoying Post Bros,Savage Henry,Star Crossed, andBugtown.
Howarth's influences include writersPhilip K. Dick andH. P. Lovecraft, comics artistsSteve Ditko,Bernie Wrightson,Moebius, andPhilippe Druillet, andprogressive music. He was active in the field offanzines from 1969, when he also co-foundedHowski Studios.[1]
Howarth, via Howski Studios, published a number of graphic novels and comics in the years 1976–1985.
Howarth's first ongoing series wasThose Annoying Post Bros., about two fun-loving bad boys from the fictional Bugtown. In the early 1980sHeavy Metal introducedPost Bros as a continuing story, but they did not have their own comic book untilVortex Comics began publishingThose Annoying Post Bros. in 1985. It ran for 18 issues until 1990. In 1991, the title was taken over byRip Off Press, which published an additional 20 issues until 1994.[2]MU Press picked up the title from 1994–1998, publishing 25 more issues, for a total of 63 issues.
While continuing to produceThose Annoying Post Bros. Howarth wrote and drew the six-issue limited seriesParticle Dreams forFantagraphics in 1986–1987. In 1988, Fantagraphics also published Howarth's six-issue seriesKeif Llama: Xeno-Tech.
From 1987 to 1994, Howarth did the comic book seriesSavage Henry for Rip Off Press, about the adventures of a guitarist from analternate reality. He is the lead guitarist for a fictional insect band called The Bulldaggers. Most issues of this series featured authorized guest appearances by real musicians, includingThe Residents,Hawkwind,Moby,Ash Ra Tempel,Klaus Schulze,Nash the Slash,Foetus,Yello,Wire,Steve Roach,Richard Pinhas,Ron Geesin, andDavid Borden.Conrad Schnitzler (an original member ofTangerine Dream andKluster) was a regular guest in this series and several graphic novels. Howarth created album cover artwork for several releases on the Birdo'Pray record label. He also provided the illustrations forDr. Adder byK. W. Jeter.
James Wallis ofHogshead Publishing designed a roleplaying game based on Howarth'sBugtown comics.[3]: 304 Wallis brought hisBugtown game toPhage Press in 1992 to be produced, butErick Wujcik had creative differences with Wallis so he pulled the deal from Phage in 1994.[3]: 269 Wallis brought hisBugtown game toWizards of the Coast, but was not successful there either, as Howarth was unable to come to an agreement with Wizards on royalties.[3]: 304 In 1996, Wujcik was able to talk Howarth into licensing theBugtown rights to him again, although Wujcik never actually published a game based on the comic.[3]: 269 Howarth did write and draw a crossover betweenBugtown andAmber titled "Amber Raves of Pain" which was published inAmberzine from issue #6 (February 1994) through #9 (January 1997).[3]: 269
In 1994–1995,Antarctic Press published Howarth's four-issue seriesKonny and Czu. TheMU Press imprintAeon Press published Howarth's six-issue limited seriesComix of Two Cities in 1996. TheDC Comics imprintHelix released Howarth's three-issue limited seriesStar Crossed in 1997.
In the 2000s, Howarth published the six-issue seriesBugtown and the second-volume ofKeif Llama: Xeno-Tech (also six issues), both with MU Press.
Since 2008 Howarth has published a number of prose novels and short story collections through a print on demand service.
In 2012, Sonoluxe Records released Howarth's 110 page graphic novelThe Last of the Neon Cynics as a PDF File on an Enhanced CD also featuring nine pieces composed by musicianBill Nelson as a soundtrack. Set in the 23rd century, the Science-Fiction Western features an intergalactic cowboy called Cassidy. The same year, Howarth contributed a comic to accompanyArthur Brown's CDThe Magic Hat.
