| Writing Non-Fiction posted October 30, 2023 | Chapters: |
...9 10 -11- 12... 
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A Short Biography Of Writer Jerry Scott
A chapter in the book Funny Pages
Zits - Part Two: Strip Writer
by Brett Matthew West
One of only four cartoonists to have multiple comic strips appearing in over a thousand newspapers worldwide, Jerry Scott is an American cartoonist and writer. He co-created the comic strips "Baby Blues" and "Zits". Scott has been a professional cartoonist since the middle of the 1970s, when he submitted cartoons to various magazines, and sold one to the Saturday Evening Post.
In 1983, Scott was chosen to succeed the deceased Mark Lasky, who wrote the comic strip "Nancy" between 1982 and 1983. Lasky died at the ripe old age of 29 from cancer. Scott modernized "Nancy" to his own liking, then passed the strip off to Guy Gilchrist in 1995.
On January 7, 1990, Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman co-created "Baby Blues," a comic strip based on American family life with young children. Thirty-nine Scrapbooks have been compiled from "Baby Blues," so have 8 Treasuries, 2 Compilations, 3 Gift Books, and a television adaptation. "Baby Blues" appears in 1,200 newspapers, in 28 countries, and in 13 languages worldwide. A total of 43 "Baby Blues" collections are still in print.
In March of 1997, Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman co-created "Zits" during a trip to Sedona, Arizona, where Scott pitched his Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper acquaintance his idea.
In his previously detailed October 8, 2023 interview (see Part One of this series on "Zits"), Borgman explained their conversation, "He [Scott] said 'I've been thinking about a comic strip about teenagers. Here's what I've got so far.'"
Scott had drawn his sketches in a style similar to the "Peanuts" characters. Big heads on little bodies. Upon seeing them, Borgman redrew the teens of "Zits" as lanky individuals taking up space. The comic strip follows the family life of 17-year-old Jeremy Duncan.
About Scott seeing his drawings, Borgman remarked, "Scott said that was the way the strip should look."
Widely circulated today, "Zits" debuted in July of 1997 in more than 200 newspapers.
Borgman stated, "The newspaper industry was changing so much. I feel like we slipped in the door right as it was closing. It's been a really magical ride."
"Zits" now appears in 1,700 newspapers, in 45 countries, and in 18 languages. A total of 37 "Zits" collections are still in print.
Scott has been awarded the National Cartoonists Society's Silver Reuben Award for Best Comic Strip of the Year in 1995, 1998, and 1999. He also received that organization's Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year for 2001.
(Next Time" "Zits")
Coming Attraction: "Baby Blues"
One of only four cartoonists to have multiple comic strips appearing in over a thousand newspapers worldwide, Jerry Scott is an American cartoonist and writer. He co-created the comic strips "Baby Blues" and "Zits". Scott has been a professional cartoonist since the middle of the 1970s, when he submitted cartoons to various magazines, and sold one to the Saturday Evening Post.
In 1983, Scott was chosen to succeed the deceased Mark Lasky, who wrote the comic strip "Nancy" between 1982 and 1983. Lasky died at the ripe old age of 29 from cancer. Scott modernized "Nancy" to his own liking, then passed the strip off to Guy Gilchrist in 1995.
On January 7, 1990, Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman co-created "Baby Blues," a comic strip based on American family life with young children. Thirty-nine Scrapbooks have been compiled from "Baby Blues," so have 8 Treasuries, 2 Compilations, 3 Gift Books, and a television adaptation. "Baby Blues" appears in 1,200 newspapers, in 28 countries, and in 13 languages worldwide. A total of 43 "Baby Blues" collections are still in print.
In March of 1997, Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman co-created "Zits" during a trip to Sedona, Arizona, where Scott pitched his Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper acquaintance his idea.
In his previously detailed October 8, 2023 interview (see Part One of this series on "Zits"), Borgman explained their conversation, "He [Scott] said 'I've been thinking about a comic strip about teenagers. Here's what I've got so far.'"
Scott had drawn his sketches in a style similar to the "Peanuts" characters. Big heads on little bodies. Upon seeing them, Borgman redrew the teens of "Zits" as lanky individuals taking up space. The comic strip follows the family life of 17-year-old Jeremy Duncan.
About Scott seeing his drawings, Borgman remarked, "Scott said that was the way the strip should look."
Widely circulated today, "Zits" debuted in July of 1997 in more than 200 newspapers.
Borgman stated, "The newspaper industry was changing so much. I feel like we slipped in the door right as it was closing. It's been a really magical ride."
"Zits" now appears in 1,700 newspapers, in 45 countries, and in 18 languages. A total of 37 "Zits" collections are still in print.
Scott has been awarded the National Cartoonists Society's Silver Reuben Award for Best Comic Strip of the Year in 1995, 1998, and 1999. He also received that organization's Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year for 2001.
(Next Time" "Zits")
Coming Attraction: "Baby Blues"
In 1983, Scott was chosen to succeed the deceased Mark Lasky, who wrote the comic strip "Nancy" between 1982 and 1983. Lasky died at the ripe old age of 29 from cancer. Scott modernized "Nancy" to his own liking, then passed the strip off to Guy Gilchrist in 1995.
On January 7, 1990, Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman co-created "Baby Blues," a comic strip based on American family life with young children. Thirty-nine Scrapbooks have been compiled from "Baby Blues," so have 8 Treasuries, 2 Compilations, 3 Gift Books, and a television adaptation. "Baby Blues" appears in 1,200 newspapers, in 28 countries, and in 13 languages worldwide. A total of 43 "Baby Blues" collections are still in print.
In March of 1997, Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman co-created "Zits" during a trip to Sedona, Arizona, where Scott pitched his Cincinnati Enquirer newspaper acquaintance his idea.
In his previously detailed October 8, 2023 interview (see Part One of this series on "Zits"), Borgman explained their conversation, "He [Scott] said 'I've been thinking about a comic strip about teenagers. Here's what I've got so far.'"
Scott had drawn his sketches in a style similar to the "Peanuts" characters. Big heads on little bodies. Upon seeing them, Borgman redrew the teens of "Zits" as lanky individuals taking up space. The comic strip follows the family life of 17-year-old Jeremy Duncan.
About Scott seeing his drawings, Borgman remarked, "Scott said that was the way the strip should look."
Widely circulated today, "Zits" debuted in July of 1997 in more than 200 newspapers.
Borgman stated, "The newspaper industry was changing so much. I feel like we slipped in the door right as it was closing. It's been a really magical ride."
"Zits" now appears in 1,700 newspapers, in 45 countries, and in 18 languages. A total of 37 "Zits" collections are still in print.
Scott has been awarded the National Cartoonists Society's Silver Reuben Award for Best Comic Strip of the Year in 1995, 1998, and 1999. He also received that organization's Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year for 2001.
(Next Time" "Zits")
Coming Attraction: "Baby Blues"
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