Frumpy the Clown, Volume 1: Freaking Out the Neighbors

by Judd Winick

Before Road Trip, before Barry Ween, there was Frumpy the Clown! When Frumpy enters the home of a typical American family, the children, Brad and Kim, are ecstatic. Their parents, neighbors, and local law enforcement, on the other hand, wish he would go away.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Fiction, Comic Strips

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Judd Winick is an American cartoonist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and former reality television personality known for his diverse contributions to storytelling across multiple media. He first entered the public eye in 1994 as a cast member on The Real World: San Francisco, where he formed a close friendship with AIDS educator Pedro Zamora, an experience that deeply influenced his later work. Winick memorialized their bond in Pedro and Me, a critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel that earned several literary awards and became a staple in school curricula.

Winick's career in comics took off with The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius and continued with major runs at DC Comics, including Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Batman. His stories often explored socially relevant themes, such as HIV, homophobia, and identity. He was recognized for introducing gay characters and tackling difficult subjects with empathy and clarity. His work on Batman notably included resurrecting the character Jason Todd as the Red Hood, a storyline later adapted into the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, for which Winick wrote the screenplay.

Beyond comics, he created The Life and Times of Juniper Lee for Cartoon Network and served as head writer for Hulu's The Awesomes. In 2015, he launched the Hilo series, an all-ages sci-fi adventure inspired by his own children. The bestselling series has been widely praised and is expected to reach its eleventh volume in 2025.

Winick lives in San Francisco with his wife, Pam Ling, also a Real World alum, and their two children. He continues to create heartfelt and imaginative stories for audiences of all ages.

Reviews

[Peter Derk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geez, I miss reading comic strips in newspapers.

I'd like to suggest we start a newspaper company that does nothing but comics. And they can be for whatever age, whatever content.

Except maybe Doonesbury. That's when you knew you were desperate as a kid.

[S. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first volume of the collected comic strip by Judd Winick, Frumpy the Clown is kind of like Calvin & Hobbes, if you replace the stuffed tiger with a six foot tall clown and dial down the sentimentalism by about 50%. Winick has created an endearing family dynamic with Frumpy and his adoptive family, and both volumes in this collection capture that entire two year run. Frumpy the Clown deserves to be recognized in the company of Bloom County and yes, even the kid with his stuffed tiger, and if you enjoy comic strips like that, Frumpy will fit right in.