Basil Wolverton
A cartoonist who warped reality with his pen, creating a universe of hilariously hideous faces that defined a strand of American weirdness.
1909–1978 (age 69)·American cartoonist·Birthday: July 9·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Basil Wolverton’s art emerged from the pulp pages and comic books of mid-century America, a visual shock to the system. He didn't just draw funny pictures; he engineered grotesques, contorting human features into landscapes of warts, wild hair, and exaggerated distress with a draftsman's precision. His self-proclaimed role as a 'Producer of Preposterous Pictures' found a perfect home in the early days of Mad magazine, where his 'Spy vs. Spy' and 'Melvin of the Apes' became signatures of its anarchic style. Before that, his work for comic publishers like Marvel (then Timely) included memorable, bizarre covers for titles like 'Powerhouse Pepper.' Wolverton’s style, often imitated but never duplicated, carved out a permanent niche in pop culture, influencing generations of underground and alternative cartoonists who saw beauty in the beautifully ugly.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Basil was born in 1909, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Basil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1909
Basil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1909Born
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1914Started school
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Became a teenager
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Could drive
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1927Could vote
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Turned 21
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1939Turned 30
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 40
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 50
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 60
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1978Died at 69
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
Key Achievements
- Created the enduringly strange 'Melvin of the Apes' comic for Mad magazine.
- Designed the original, intricately grotesque illustrations for Mad's 'Spy vs. Spy' feature.
- Produced a famous series of wildly distorted 'portraits' for a 1946 Li’l Abner comic strip contest.
- Illustrated the biblical 'The Story of the Bible' series for the Worldwide Church of God in a detailed, signature style.
Did You Know?
He won a national drawing contest at age 14 with a cartoon of a football player.
Wolverton was a devout follower of radio evangelist Herbert W. Armstrong and contributed art to his religious publications.
His son, Monte Wolverton, is also a cartoonist and carries on his father's satirical tradition.
He famously used a crow-quill pen and India ink to achieve his incredibly fine line work.
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