Paige Braddock is an Americancartoonist best known for her Eisner-nominated comic strip,Jane's World, the first gay-themed comic work to receive online distribution by a national media syndicate in the U.S.[1] Braddock concluded the comic strip after completing its 20-year run in 2018.[2]
Braddock was born inBakersfield, California. She spent most of her childhood years inMississippi. Due to her father's job as aforester, Braddock and her family moved frequently across the country. By the time she reached high school inBrevard, North Carolina, they had moved 17 times.[3]
Braddock decided at the age of 7 that she wanted to be acartoonist.[4] She published her first cartoon, "Bart Winkle," in her junior year of high school in the local newspaper,The Transylvania Times. Cartoonist Dave Graue of the comic strip "Alley Oop" lived in the area and served as her mentor.[5]
Braddock began crafting her long-standing comic,Jane's World, in 1991.[8] In 2006, she received anEisner Award nomination for best humor book for her work on the comic.[9] Braddock published the first novel inspired by the comic series,Jane's World: The Case of the Mail Order Bride, in June 2016 with LGBTQ publisherBold Strokes Books.[10] An anthology spanning 20 years of the comic,Love Letters to Jane's World, was released byLion Forge Comics in August 2018.[11] In 2019 it was selected as aLambda Literary finalist for best LGBTQ graphic novel. Installments of the comic strip can continue to be found atGoComics.[12]
In 1999, Braddock became the Creative Director atCharles M. Schulz Creative Associates, Schulz's studio in Northern California. In 2018, Braddock assumed the position of Chief Creative Officer and in this role is charged with overseeing the visual and editorial direction for all Peanuts licensed products worldwide. The Schulz studio works in tandem with the licensing office in New York, Peanuts Worldwide.[13] As a professional cartoonist, she has illustrated severalPeanuts children's books. The Snoopy U.S. postage stamp issued in April 2001 was designed by Braddock.[14] In 2022, she delivered the dedication of the commemorative centennial Schulz stamp at the issuance ceremony.[15] She also won a Children's & Family Emmy Award for her work on the Apple documentary, "Who Are You, Charlie Brown?" which won for outstanding nonfiction program that same year.[16] After more than 25 years of leadership, Braddock became Creative Director Emeritus in 2025. She was also awarded theSparky Award by theCartoon Art Museum and theCharles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center at a cartoon-a-thon celebrating her career in comics that same year.[17]
Throughout Braddock's career as a cartoonist, she has published a diverse collection of comic works. In 2008, Braddock co-created the science fictiongraphic novel seriesThe Martian Confederacy with writer Jason McNamara.[18] In 2015, she began publishing a line of graphic novels for children withAndrews McMeel Publishing. There are currently three books in theStinky Cecil series.[19] Her other graphic novels for children include the series,Peanut, Butter, & Crackers withPenguin Kids. New editions of the Peanut, Butter, & Crackers series are now available in the UK, Italy, Greece, and in Arabic by publisherNosy Crow.
In 2023, Braddock served as the commencement speaker forMontserrat College of Art and received an honorary doctorate in fine arts from the college.[20]
PB9 Comics serves as the hub for all of Paige Braddock's independent comics. In 2001, Braddock launched her own publishing company, Girl Twirl Comics, to makeJane's World available in comic shops and bookstores.[8] In 2008, Girl Twirl Comics published Volume 1 ofThe Martian Confederacy graphic novel series. Volume 2 in the series was published in 2011.
In 2015, Paige Braddock began writing lesbian romance novels with publisherBold Strokes Books under the pen name, Missouri Vaun.[21]
Vaun won twoGolden Crown Literary Society awards in 2019.[22]Love at Cooper's Creek won a contemporary romance award andProxima Five won an award in the science-fiction category.
Media related toPaige Braddock at Wikimedia Commons