Julia Wertz
An American cartoonist who transforms the mundane absurdities of city life and personal history into sharply funny, autobiographical comics.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American cartoonist·Birthday: December 29·Millennials
Biography
Julia Wertz's comics feel like a late-night conversation with a brutally honest, hilarious friend. She first gained a cult following with her webcomic 'The Fart Party,' a raw and funny diary strip that evolved into published collections. Her work is firmly rooted in autobiography, exploring themes of moving, drinking, working terrible jobs, and navigating family dynamics with a distinctive, deceptively simple drawing style. Beyond the personal, she is a dedicated urban explorer, and this passion fuels much of her later work, where she documents the forgotten histories and decaying architecture of New York City. Wertz has carved a unique niche, blending memoir, humor, and urban archaeology to create comics that are both deeply personal and curiously observational.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Julia was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Julia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Julia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Published the acclaimed graphic memoir 'Drinking at the Movies,' chronicling her move to New York City.
- Created the long-running autobiographical webcomic 'The Fart Party,' which was collected into print volumes.
- Authored 'The Infinite Wait,' a graphic novel exploring her childhood, her brother's illness, and her own autoimmune disease diagnosis.
- Wrote and illustrated 'Tenements, Towers & Trash,' a non-fiction comic history of New York City's architecture and artifacts.
Did You Know?
She originally studied to be a forensic scientist before committing to cartooning.
Wertz is an avid urban explorer, often photographing and sketching in abandoned buildings.
Her comic 'The Fart Party' was initially rejected by a publisher for having 'fart' in the title.
She has a twin brother named Jacob.
“I like to draw things that are falling apart because they have more personality.”
