Name/Title
Howard Cruse (American, 1944–2019) WendelDescription
Howard Cruse (American, 1944–2019)
Wendel
Undated (c. late 1980s–1990s)
Ink on paper
Wendel is the long-running comic strip created by Howard Cruse and published in LGBTQ+ newspapers and alternative presses beginning in 1983. Set primarily in San Francisco’s Castro district, the strip chronicled the social, political, and interpersonal dynamics of gay life in the United States during the late twentieth century. Through serialized storytelling, Wendel addressed issues of community politics, activism, identity, and everyday experience.
Rendered in ink with dense line work and multi-panel composition, the strip reflects Cruse’s distinctive balance of humor, satire, and social commentary. Howard Cruse was a pioneering figure in LGBTQ+ comics and alternative cartooning. In addition to Wendel, he is best known for the graphic novel Stuck Rubber Baby (1995), a landmark work addressing sexuality and civil rights in the American South. His work is widely recognized for expanding the scope of comics as a medium for sustained social and political storytelling.Create Date
August 20, 2025Update Date
December 21, 2025