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My name is Brian Brooks.
I was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where I began cartooning as a hobby in 1980 at the age of 10.
I live in Oakland, California, where I reached peak artist in 4Q, 2021 at the age of 49.
In 1997, at the age of 25, I created a small quarter-page zine called The Residents Coloring Book.
The Residents are mysterious art collective from San Francisco.
I sent them several copies and a week later I received a phone call from Molly from the Cryptic Corporation informing me that they would like to purchase 100 copies for them to offer for sale.
Renaissance Faire Internet Special
Screenshot from The Residents RALPH AMERICA BUY or DIE! CATALOG website July 10, 1997
In 1998 I created another coloring book zine for XTC, as Andy Partridge was doing an in-store signing and I thought it would be fun to have something to give him.
XTC Colouring Book by John Ralph; March 4, 1999
Based on the online review of my XTC booklet I caught the attention of a writer for SF Weekly who wrote a little article about me.
Riff Raff Morrissey Gets Colored Black on the Outside, Because Black is How He Feels On The Inside by Mark Athitakis; SF Weekly, October 13, 1999
In 2001 based on the success of Emily Strange and my “valley connections”, The Arizona Republic ran a story on the company.
The It Girl As Emily Flourishes, Millions Turn and Face The Strange by Eric Searleman; Arizona Republic, March 29 2001
Zine Buddha Local artist Brian Brooks watches his work go from sticky barroom floors to flying off international clothing racks by Brian Smith Phoenix New Times Link, May 10 2001
Oops, they went goth! My daughter and her friends are suddenly wearing plaid miniskirts and carting around Living Dead Dolls. What do black lipstick and snap-on dog collars mean to a 10-year-old? by Sean Elder Salon.com Link, APRIL 13, 2004
Oakland: Goth Child Keeps Her Creator In The Black Goth icon Emily keeps her creator in the black by The Chronicle Link,
“With its casual atmosphere, Cosmic Debris has had little trouble attracting talented workers like Art Director Brian Brooks, a six-year veteran. A former grad school [sic] chum of Reger’s, he signs off on all Emily products before they’re shipped to stores worldwide. “I sit in the back and make sure all the art’s done so Rob can go gallivanting around,” says Brooks with a sly smile.
He says working at the company isn’t just a way to pay the rent, it fits in with his artistic principles. “Being able to pass on a lot of the concepts that we grew up with, what we hold true, to be yourself and to do your own thing — that we can pass it on to the younger people is great because it was passed onto to us by our idols and rock stars,” said Brooks.”
The Strange Drawings of Brian Brooks The artist behind Emily the Strange attempts to exorcise his creation from his art by Kelly Virella Eastbay Express Link, October 31, 2007
Radically Sharing Temescal
A group of artists, hackers, and other creative people have launched Omni Commons, a new community resource center in North Oakland that they hope will be an antidote to gentrification.
Renaissance Faire Internet Special The Residents RALPH AMERICA BUY or DIE! CATALOG July 10, 1997
XTC Colouring Book on Chalkhills XTC fansite by John Relph; Link March 4, 1999
Riff Raff Morrissey Gets Colored Black on the Outside, Because Black is How He Feels On The Inside by Mark Athitakis; SF Weekly, OfOctober 13, 1999
The It Girl As Emily Flourishes, Millions Turn and Face The Strange by Eric Searleman; Arizona Republic, March 29 2001
Zine Buddha Local artist Brian Brooks watches his work go from sticky barroom floors to flying off international clothing racks by Brian Smith Phoenix New Times Link, May 10 2001
Oops, they went goth! My daughter and her friends are suddenly wearing plaid miniskirts and carting around Living Dead Dolls. What do black lipstick and snap-on dog collars mean to a 10-year-old? by Sean Elder Salon.com Link, APRIL 13, 2004
Oakland: Goth Child Keeps Her Creator In The Black Goth icon Emily keeps her creator in the black by The Chronicle Link,
The Strange Drawings of Brian Brooks The artist behind Emily the Strange attempts to exorcise his creation from his art by Kelly Virella Eastbay Express Link, October 31, 2007
Radically Sharing Temescal A group of artists, hackers, and other creative people have launched Omni Commons, a new community resource center in North Oakland that they hope will be an antidote to gentrification. By Julian Mark East Bay Express Jan 21, 2015