Scott Shaw!

"We were driven weirdoes and we all wound up having achieved our dreams."

Scott Shaw! can't remember a time when he wasn't reading comics. Born at the Navy Hospital in Queens, New York, he moved to San Diego when he was two years old. Scott was a voracious reader and knew he wanted to be a professional cartoonist at a young age. He started collecting comics early and usually had a job for the sake of being able to buy more comics. Scott was drawn to the funny animal comics and later to undergrounds. While attending Crawford High School in the late 60s, Scott, along with David Clark, Roger Freedman, John Pound, and Greg Bear, formed a science fiction and film fan group. In 1969, the group started meeting with Ken Krueger.

Their shared interest in comics and science fiction formalized a new fan organization known by many names, among them the Junior Woodchucks, based on the Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics. Scott helped organize the early Comic-Cons and his art is featured heavily in the program books. Scott is one of the Five String Mob, introduced by Jack Kirby in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #144. Scott is an award-winning writer, artist, and animator. Among his many comics are Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones, Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, Simpsons Comics, and Annoying Orange. He was also the first artist for the Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic.

Interviewed by Mark Habegger