M. Wartella
Encyclopedia
Michael M. Wartella is an American underground
cartoonist
and animator
based in New York City
who generally publishes under the name "M. Wartella".
newspapers from 1998-2000. The nationally-syndicated version of the comic featured an unpronounceable title devoid of any alphabetic characters whatsoever, using instead graphic symbols of three hickory walnuts to represent its title. Commonly referred to as Nuts, the humor in many of the cartoons was controversial as exemplified in a 1999 comic about the Columbine High School Massacre
which prompted an outrage when it was published in Denver.
In 2007, Wartella's reportorial cartoons began appearing regularly in The Village Voice
.
Wartella's sequential comics work has appeared in Eisner
and Harvey Award
nominated anthologies from D.C. Comics and Fantagraphics Books
and in magazines including Andy Warhol
's Interview
and Spin
. His illustrations have primarily appeared in "underground" publications including Arthur (magazine)
, Pop Smear (magazine), and he was the creator of the infamously rare scratch-off cover of Vice Magazine.
Wartella contributed several titles and paintings to the "all-new" series of Wacky Packages
trading cards from Topps
, and created similar product parody spoofs for Nickelodeon Magazine in the 2000s.
Wartella is also a noted animator, profiled as a pioneer of online animation by The New York Times
in a 1998 article which described his early animated web short The Dinky Dog Archive as "the Steamboat Willie
of the internet". In the new millennium, Wartella has contributed to animated segments on MTV2
's cult hit Wonder Showzen
(2005–2006), Adult Swim
's series Superjail
(2008–2009) and Xavier: Renegade Angel
(2007–2009), in feature film The Ten
(2007), and in several music videos.
Underground comix
Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books which are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, including explicit drug use, sexuality and violence...
cartoonist
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
and animator
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
who generally publishes under the name "M. Wartella".
Career
While a student at The University of Virginia, Wartella created the absurdist art comic Ackxhpæz (1994–1996) which was later expanded and syndicated to alternative weeklyAlternative weekly
An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
newspapers from 1998-2000. The nationally-syndicated version of the comic featured an unpronounceable title devoid of any alphabetic characters whatsoever, using instead graphic symbols of three hickory walnuts to represent its title. Commonly referred to as Nuts, the humor in many of the cartoons was controversial as exemplified in a 1999 comic about the Columbine High School Massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
which prompted an outrage when it was published in Denver.
In 2007, Wartella's reportorial cartoons began appearing regularly in The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
.
Wartella's sequential comics work has appeared in Eisner
Eisner Award
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
and Harvey Award
Harvey Award
The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
nominated anthologies from D.C. Comics and Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books
Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, magazines, graphic novels, and the adult-oriented Eros Comix imprint...
and in magazines including Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
's Interview
Interview (magazine)
Interview is an American magazine which has the nickname The Crystal Ball Of Pop. It was founded in late 1969 by artist Andy Warhol. The magazine features intimate conversations between some of the world's biggest celebrities, artists, musicians, and creative thinkers...
and Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
. His illustrations have primarily appeared in "underground" publications including Arthur (magazine)
Arthur (magazine)
Arthur magazine, a free bi-monthly 50,000-copy periodical, was founded in October, 2002 by publisher Laris Kreslins and editor Jay Babcock. It has received favorable attention from other periodicals such as L.A. Weekly, Print, Punk Planet and Rolling Stone...
, Pop Smear (magazine), and he was the creator of the infamously rare scratch-off cover of Vice Magazine.
Wartella contributed several titles and paintings to the "all-new" series of Wacky Packages
Wacky Packages
Wacky Packages are a series of trading cards and stickers featuring parodies of North American consumer products. The cards were produced by the Topps Company beginning in 1967, usually in a sticker format. The original series sold for two years, and the concept proved popular enough that it has...
trading cards from Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
, and created similar product parody spoofs for Nickelodeon Magazine in the 2000s.
Wartella is also a noted animator, profiled as a pioneer of online animation by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in a 1998 article which described his early animated web short The Dinky Dog Archive as "the Steamboat Willie
Steamboat Willie
Steamboat Willie is a 1928 American animated short film directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. It was produced in black-and-white by The Walt Disney Studio and released by Celebrity Productions. The cartoon is considered the debut of Mickey Mouse, and as his girlfriend Minnie, but the characters...
of the internet". In the new millennium, Wartella has contributed to animated segments on MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
's cult hit Wonder Showzen
Wonder Showzen
Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR. The show is rated TV-MA....
(2005–2006), Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
's series Superjail
Superjail
Superjail! is an American animated television series produced by Augenblick Studios the first season and Titmouse, Inc. the second season. The series follows the events that take place in an unusual prison. The pilot episode aired on television on May 13, 2007, and its first season began on...
(2008–2009) and Xavier: Renegade Angel
Xavier: Renegade Angel
Xavier: Renegade Angel is an American CGI fantasy-comedy television series created by John Lee, Vernon Chatman, Jim Tozzi and Alyson Levy. Lee and Chatman are also the creators of Wonder Showzen. The show was produced by PFFR, with animation by Cinematico...
(2007–2009), in feature film The Ten
The Ten
The Ten is a 2007 American comedy film, directed by David Wain and cowritten by Wain and Ken Marino, released through ThinkFilm. The film was released on August 3, 2007...
(2007), and in several music videos.
Books
- Found: Requiem for a Paper Bag (cover) by Davy RothbartDavy RothbartDavy Rothbart is an author, filmmaker, contributor to This American Life, and the editor/publisher of Found Magazine.-Background:...
(FiresideFiresideAs a noun, fireside may refer to:* A fireside, the area near a domestic fireplace or a fire ring* A fireside , an evening meeting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints * an apple cultivar, see Fireside...
, 2009 ISBN 978-1416560548) - Chew On This (cover), by SchlosserEric SchlosserEric Schlosser is an American journalist and author known for investigative journalism, such as in his books Fast Food Nation, Reefer Madness and Chew On This.- Personal History :...
/Wilson (Houghton MifflinHoughton MifflinHoughton Mifflin Harcourt is an educational and trade publisher in the United States. Headquartered in Boston's Back Bay, it publishes textbooks, instructional technology materials, assessments, reference works, and fiction and non-fiction for both young readers and adults.-History:The company was...
, 2006) - Hotwire Comix & Capers, ed. by Glenn Head (Fantagraphics Books, 2006)
- Bizarro World, ed. by Joey CavalieriJoey CavalieriJoey Cavalieri is a writer who has also served as an editor in the comic book field.His writing credits for DC Comics include the Green Arrow back-up feature in Detective Comics; both the pre-Crisis version of the Huntress in a back-up feature in Wonder Woman and the post-Crisis version of the...
(D.C. Comics, 2005)