Dan Clowes

Guide Note

Dan Clowes is a comic book writer and artist. Clowes has successfully translated several of his graphic novels for the screen, including Ghost World and Art School Confidential.

Clowes studied art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and published his first comic book story Lloyd Llewellyn for Fantagraphic Books in 1985. In 1989, Fantagraphic began publishing Clowes' Eightball, an on-going anthology series which collects a wide array of self-contained narratives and serialized graphic novels. Ghost World was first seen on the pages of Eightball and was only later published as a stand-alone graphic novel.

Clowes has made a successful second career for himself as a screenwriter. His screenplay for Ghost World earned him an Academy Award nomination, and he is rumored to have several film projects in the work including a collaboration with director Michel Gondry and the adaptation of his single-issue Eightball story The Death Ray for Jack Black's production company.

Despite his Hollywood success, Clowes remains an active cartoonist, having created the limited-run Mr. Wonderful strip for Sunday's New York Times Magazine.

Fast Facts

1. Born: April 14, 1961
2. Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
3. Notable Work: Eightball, Ghost World, David Boring
4. Awards: Harvey Award for "Best Writer" (1997 & 2005), "Best Cartoonist" (2002), "Best Single Issue or Story" (1990, 1991, 1998 & 2005)
5. Screenwriter for Ghost World and Art School Confidential, films based on his graphic novel work