The Best of Wonder Wart-hog

Gilbert Shelton, born in Dallas in 1940. At university in Austin he became editor of the student magazine, The Texas Ranger. This was to prove Shelton’s last ‘real job’. For in 1967, after contributing to various underground comix with his earliest character, Wonder Wart-Hog, and designing posters for rock concerts, Shelton created The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. In 1969 he and some friends from Texas moved to San Francisco to set up Rip Off Press from where Freak Brothers strips were soon syndicated, borrowed (or stolen!) by a host of American underground newspapers and magazines. The first collection was published in 1971 and has since been joined by thirteen further Freak Brothers adventures. Fat Freddy’s Cat, the feline world’s number one cat, started out as a footnote strip to the Freak Brothers but has led an independent – and very successful – life since 1975. In 1993 Shelton introduced new characters, Not Quite Dead, the world’s least successful Rock Band who have since appeared in a series of comics of their own. Now 50 years later and unlike many cults from the sixties which have faded away, The Freak Brothers are still going from strength to strength. They are published in 15 languages and worldwide sales are now over 40 million copies plus millions of items of merchandise, T-shirts, postcards, badges, posters and more. Shelton currently lives in Paris, France with his wife and three cats.