Editing Cherry (comics)

{{short description|Erotic comic series by Larry Welz}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{distinguish|The Name of the Game (comic book)#Cherry}}
{{infobox comic book title
 | alt        = Logotype of the series using purple bubble letters with swashes
 | artists    =
 | caption    = logotype
 | colorists  =
 | creators   = [[Larry Welz]]
 | date       = 1982–2000; 2019
 | genre      = [[Erotic comics|Erotic]]
 | format     =
 | image      = Cherry wordmark.svg
 | image_size = <!-- default 250 -->
 | inkers     =
 | issues     = 23
 | ongoing    = y
 | pencillers =
 | publisher  = [[Last Gasp (publisher)|Last Gasp]]<br />[[Cherry Comics]]
 | schedule   = Irregular
 | sort       = Cherry (comics)
 | subcat     = Last Gasp
 | title      = Cherry
 | writers    =
}}
'''''Cherry''''' (originally '''''Cherry Poptart''''') is an [[erotic comic book]] about a sexually adventurous 18-year-old woman and her friends, written and drawn by [[Larry Welz]].

== Creation ==
[[File:CherryPoptartComicNo1.jpg|thumb|Cover of the first issue]]
Welz created Cherry Poptart, first appearing in [[underground comic]] ''Funnybook'' #1, in 1971. Though the character and subsequent self-titled comic is largely known as an [[erotic]] or [[pornographic]] book, it does garner critical merit for its humor and occasional political commentary.<ref name="auto3">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tFIuyrWnjGYC | isbn=9781429961783 | title=Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman | date=28 October 2008 | publisher=St. Martin's Publishing }}</ref> The Cherry character has also appeared in several [[free speech]]/[[censorship]] awareness campaigns.<ref>[[David, Peter]] (April 27, 2001). [http://www.peterdavid.net/2014/08/22/the-cbldf-perception-vs-reality/ "The CBLDF: Perception vs. reality"]. ''[[The Comics Buyer's Guide]]'' #1432. Archived at peterdavid.net.</ref> 

Contrasting the subject matter with more "innocent" connotations, Welz draws the comic in a simple style reminiscent of [[Dan DeCarlo]], whose style was also the basis for the [[Archie Comics|''Archie'' comic book series]].<ref name="auto">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nvFGlkTMAccC | isbn=9780952328803 | title=Critical Vision: Random Essays & Tracts Concerning Sex, Religion, Death | year=1995 | publisher=Critical Vision }}</ref><ref name="auto3"/> The strip so closely followed the "Happy Teenager" genre typified by ''Archie'' that lawsuits were threatened, but these failed to stop Welz.<ref name="auto"/> The series frequently parodied other pop culture material and current events.<ref name=AH157C>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1989|title=Cherry|author=Edd Vick|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=157/Preview Special}}</ref>

== Publication history<!--'Cherry Comics' redirects here--> ==
The series was first published in 1982<ref name="auto5">{{cite web | url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/cherry-poptart-returns-in-vault-comics-crossover/ | title=Cherry Poptart Returns in Vault Comics Crossover | date=23 March 2023 }}</ref> by small press company [[Last Gasp (publisher)|Last Gasp]]<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=http://www.toonopedia.com/cpoptart.htm | title=Don Markstein's Toonopedia: Cherry Poptart }}</ref> as ''Cherry Poptart''. The first issue was an [[anthology]], featuring three ''Cherry Poptart'' stories, one featuring another Welz character called Trina Tron, and two strips featuring similarly-themed strips from other underground cartoonists – [[Larry Todd]]'s ''Vamperotica'' and [[Jay Kinney]]'s ''The Wholesome Twins''. This format was dropped for later issues, which largely revolved around Cherry and her friends, though each issue usually featured multiple shorter stories. The Todd and Kinney stories were also dropped from subsequent reprints of the series.<ref name="auto4">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xSTdwAEACAAJ | isbn=9780914171645 | title=A History of Underground Comics | year=1993 | publisher=Ronin }}</ref> From the third issue the book was retitled ''Cherry''; Welz has stated this was in response to threats of legal action by [[Kellogg's]] over its [[Pop-Tarts]] [[trademark]].<ref name="auto4"/> Inside the comic the name was still occasionally used for the character, but generally the character was simply referred to as 'Cherry'.

On occasion Welz would search for other artists to help on the title in the hope of moving it to a [[quarterly]] schedule, though generally he continued the title as a solo effort.<ref name=AH170>{{cite magazine|date=August 1, 1989|title=Cherry|author=Edd Vick|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=170/Preview Special 9}}</ref> In issue #8 Ellie is prominently featured in an ''[[The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)|Oz]]'' mockery called "Ellie Dee in the Land of Woz"; this was originally planned as a spin-off title (tentatively called ''Cherry's Pal Ellie Dee in the Land of Woz'') but instead ran in the pages of ''Cherry''. The name was also a pun on [[Apple Computer]] co-founder [[Steve Wozniak]].<ref name=AH157CPED>{{cite magazine|date=January 15, 1989|title=Cherry's Pal Ellie Dee in the Land of Woz|author=Edd Vick|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=157/Preview Special}}</ref>

[[Tundra Publishing]] also published a spinoff series called ''Cherry's Jubilee'' for stories from other creators,<ref name="auto2">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nzYosFUS4UoC | isbn=9781843401865 | title=Comix: The Underground Revolution | date=29 April 2004 | publisher=Pavilion Books }}</ref> ranging from [[underground comix]] figures such as [[Grass Green]] to mainstream figures like [[Marv Wolfman]].<ref name="auto5"/> In 1993, [[Kitchen Sink Press]] took over from Last Gasp as the series' publisher for ''Cherry'' #14 through #19, also reprinting the first 13 issues and taking over ''Cherry's Jubilee''.<ref name="auto2"/> In 1998, Welz formed his own '''Cherry Comics'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA-->, which issued ''Cherry Deluxe'', a planned anthology similar to ''Cherry's Jubilee''; the first issue featured a story by [[Neil Gaiman]].<ref name="auto3"/> No further issues of ''Cherry Deluxe'' followed but Cherry Comics took over publication of the regular series from #20 onwards, again issuing fresh reprints of the previous issues.

The series is among the largest-selling of the [[underground comics]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yOujDwAAQBAJ | isbn=9781628469998 | title=Of Comics and Men: A Cultural History of American Comic Books | date=25 March 2013 | publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi }}</ref> and is among those titles credited with reviving that genre.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xCy3qeH67vIC&dq=Cherry+Poptart&pg=PA308|title=#810 HCA New York Comic and Comic Art|first=Ivy|last=Press|date=May 8, 2004|publisher=Heritage Capital Corporation|isbn=9780965104180 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> As of {{CURRENT YEAR}} no new issues have been released for {{Years ago|2019}} years.

== Characters ==
* '''Cherry:''' the main character. Cherry Poptart is blonde, liberal, upbeat, promiscuous and insatiable – she will have sexual intercourse with anyone of either sex (including her mother, and any of her female friends) and anything. Cherry does not age, but perpetually has "just turned 18".<ref name="auto1"/> She is generally a [[high school]] student, though this will change without warning to fit in with a story, and rarely keeps a boyfriend outside a single strip.<ref name="auto2"/>
* '''Cherry's mom:''' Pepper Poptart looks and acts much the same as her daughter, though when Cherry travels back in time she finds her mother was originally a straight-laced and prudish young lady. Cherry soon trained her in dressing provocatively, masturbation and lesbian sex before helping get her impregnated by one of [[George Washington]], [[Davy Crockett]], [[Jesse James]] or [[James Dean]] during a group sex session.
* '''Ellie Dee:''' Cherry's best friend, a dark-haired computer expert. Her appearances usually end up with Ellie and/or Cherry having adventures involving technology; in keeping with her stories' themes, her name is a [[homonym]] for [[light-emitting diode|LED]]. Despite her nerdish trappings, Ellie is every bit as sexually active as Cherry.
* '''Lola Palooza:''' a rich, stuck-up mobster's daughter into [[bondage (BDSM)|bondage]] and [[Sexual domination|domination]]. She is sometimes an antagonist of Cherry and sometimes her friend.
* '''Patty Melt:''' another of Cherry's friends, Patty is short, buxom, and freckled, and once again has a voracious sexual appetite.
The series also featured occasional cameos by another Welz creation, Captain Guts.<ref name="auto"/>

== Legal issues ==
Wary of accusations of creating [[child pornography]], Welz included a disclaimer from ''Cherry Poptart'' #2 stating that all the characters were 18 or older.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZUxHEAAAQBAJ | isbn=9781647001100 | title=Dirty Pictures: How an Underground Network of Nerds, Feminists, Misfits, Geniuses, Bikers, Potheads, Printers, Intellectuals, and Art School Rebels Revolutionized Art and Invented Comix | date=14 June 2022 | publisher=Abrams }}</ref> The same issue featured a 
single-page gag story in which Cherry's underage sister Cinnamon was indignant about not being allowed to perform any [[sex acts]] in the comic, due to being [[underage]]. Welz explained in ''The Gauntlet'' in 1992 that the issue and the character were intended to address the serious concern raised by his publisher that if Cherry was depicted as being under 18, the strip could be classified as [[child pornography]]. The strip remains the sole appearance of Cinnamon.<ref name="auto"/>

On August 30, 1990, Winsor Parker, the owner of Xeno's comic store in [[Jacksonville, Florida]], was arrested after an undercover police officer purchased a copy of ''Cherry Anthology'' #1 from the store; the comic was ruled obscene by the judge under the same statute which had befallen recordings by [[2 Live Crew]].<ref name=AH184NL>{{cite magazine|date=October 1990|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=184}}</ref> Parker pled not guilty, claiming he was unaware the material had been ruled obscene in [[Florida]].<ref name=AH185NL>{{cite magazine|date=November 1990|title=Newsline|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=184}}</ref> Copies of ''Cherry'' were seized by [[Canada|Canadian]] police from [[Toronto]] store Dragon Lady comics in February 1991, along with issues of ''[["Omaha" the Cat Dancer]]'', works by [[Milo Manara]] and titles produced by [[Eros Comics]]. This and other busts in Canada led to the [[Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund]] creating the anthology comic ''The True North'' to raise funds for store owners facing legal charges.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=October 1991|title=Perspective – ''The True North'' Fights Against Censorship|last=Socks|first=Jason|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=195}}</ref>

Cherry is sometimes featured as a "spokesmodel" for the [[Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]]; since the body's formation it has been promoted in turn in the pages of ''Cherry''.<ref name="auto5"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.peterdavid.net/2014/08/22/the-cbldf-perception-vs-reality/ | title=The CBLDF: Perception vs. Reality &#124; Peter David.net }}</ref>

== Stories ==
=== ''Cherry Poptart'' / ''Cherry'' ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed width="75%"
! Issue !! Date !! Contents !! Notes
|-
| ''Cherry Poptart'' #1
| 1982
|
* '''"Hot Rod Boogie":''' Cherry will do ''anything'' to drive Ronnie's [[hot rod]] car.
* '''"Vamperonica":''' wealthy Veronica Towers tries to get back stage to get her false teeth into rock star [[Mick Jagger|Mick Jugular]]. A 1979 strip by [[Larry Todd]].
* '''"The Wholesome Twins":''' twin sisters Julie and Sue argue over Sue's new job as a typist with the CIA. A 1975 strip by [[Jay Kinney]].
* '''"The Invitation":''' Cherry and Ellie get distracted getting ready for a party. A 1977 strip.
* '''"'s Cool Daze":''' well-endowed teacher Mr. Feeney helps Cherry learn. A 1977 strip.
* '''"The Psylicone Psyrcus":''' Trina Tron takes a stimu-pill. A 1977 strip. 
| "Vamperonica" and "The Wholesome Twins" were omitted from later print runs.
|-
| ''Cherry Poptart'' #2
| 1985
|
* '''"Pool Cue":''' Cherry and her mom keep the pool guy sweet.
* '''"Best Friends":''' Cherry placates her BDSM-enthusiast friend Monica after sleeping with her boyfriend.
* '''"Le's Party!":''' Cherry throws a house-party, but her mom ends up the centre of attention.
* '''"Down & Dirty":''' Cherry Coptart helps Captain Guts in a [[vice]] sting.
* '''"A Personal Message from Cherry":''' Cherry breaks the [[fourth wall]] to announce her creed to readers.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #3
| 1986
|
* '''"Good Morning":''' Cherry wakes and recalls a dream about [[Don Johnson|John Donson]].
* '''"Saturday the 8th Part 5 – The Beginning":''' a [[Jason Voorhees|masked killer]] is no match for Cherry and her well-armed friends.
* '''"Cherry Meets Rambone – Second Blood, Part Three":''' Cherry journeys into the [[Vietnam]]ese jungle to find [[John Rambo|John Rambone]].
* '''"Vini, Vidi, Visa!":''' Cherry and Lola take a trip to the mall, causing chaos with their antics.
* '''"Oklahoma Smith and the Lost Temple of the Doomed Raiders":''' Cherry helps [[Indiana Jones (character)|Oklahoma Smith]] retrieve the Golden Idol.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #4
| 1987
|
* '''"The Babysitter":''' Cherry keeps numerous couples happy with her promiscuous babysitting.
* '''"Cherry the Barbarian Chapter 73":''' Cherry finds a better way to defeat the guardian of a bridge.
* '''"Good Ol' Mom":''' after nearly getting caught out double-dating, Cherry enlists her mom's help to keep both her visitors happy.
* '''"Ellie Dee in Digitaland":''' a hacking attempt sees Ellie sucked into [[Tron|a computer world]].
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #5
| 1987
|
* '''"The Love Channel":''' Cherry catches up on the [[Soap opera|soap]]s.
* '''"The Job Interview":''' Cherry's experience as a secretary for [[Oliver North|Wally Norse]] and [[John Wesley Hardin|John Wesley Hardon]] helps her land a job.
* '''"The Clan of the Care Bear":''' after falling out of a car as a baby, Chayree [[The Clan of the Cave Bear (film)|grows up with]] a [[Neanderthal]] tribe.
* '''"One in Wins Choice":''' Cherry earns a stuffed bear at the fair.
* '''"Ellie Dee in Deep Shit":''' Ellie comes up with a device to help her interface with her computer.
| The issue is dedicated to the memory of murder victim Sandy Patton.
|-
| ''Cherry'' #6
| 1988
|
* '''"Cherry's Mom Scores Again":''' Cherry tries to help her mom warm up a date but the pair get distracted by each other.
* '''"Fuckin' Beach Party, Man!":''' Cherry, Lola and Patty have fun at a beach house.
* '''"Bimbos from Hell":''' a computer genius summons Cherry, Ellie, Lola and Patty from Hell to fulfil his wishes.
* '''"The Artist in Torment":''' Cherry helps a [[Larry Welz|frustrated cartoonist]] to steer clear of thoughtful narrative.
* '''"Dori Seda's Mudwrestling Story":''' Larry Welz unsuccessfully attempts to get [[Dori Seda]] to draw a [[mud wrestling]] strip for the issue.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #7
| 1988
|
* '''"Girl Talk":''' Cherry, Lola and Patty eye up a new science teacher – who falls for Ellie instead.
* '''"Space Cookie":''' Cherry is 'Social Director' onboard the space cruiser [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)|Cher]] when it is boarded by [[Darth Vader|Dork Vulgar]].
* '''"Hooligan's Island":''' Cherry visits [[Gilligan's Island|an island]] with some eclectic residents.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #8
| 1989
|
* '''"Ellie Dee in the Land of Woz":''' Ellie's computer transports her to the [[Land of Oz|land of Woz]]. 
* '''"Nurse's Aid":''' Cherry's attempts to help an elderly patient backfire.
* '''"Spaghetti-O Western":''' Cherry brings in outlaw Kitty Starr.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #9
| 1990
|
* '''"The Phantom Hitchhiker":''' a trucker has an encounter with Cherry.
* '''"Mom's Closet":''' Cherry gets inspired by her mom's old clothes.
* '''"Mad Maxine – The Road Whorrior":''' [[Max Rockatansky|Madeline Maxine]] signs on to escort a convoy.
* '''"Grownies (Just Don't Understand)":''' Cherry gets a lecture from hypocritical school counsellor Ms. Priss.
* '''"Cherry Does Zara Tungi":''' Cherry meets ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]'' Hot Talk mascot Zara Tungi. By [[Mark Bodé]].
* '''"Ellie Dee in Cyberland":''' Ellie's computer transports her to an underground vault in the [[Vatican City]]. 
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #10
| 1990
|
* '''"The New Guy":''' Johnny Fuckerfaster tries to get a job at Cherry International. 
* '''"Honor Farm Girls":''' Cherry dreams of being arrested by the Comics Police.
* '''"Rebel without a Hardon":''' Cherry and Zara go drag-racing. By [[Mark Bodé]].
* '''"Hole in One":''' Cherry and her mom play [[golf]]. Collaboration between Welz and [[Larry Todd]].
* '''"The Cherry Duke Show":''' Cherry and her near-identical cousin Terry get involved in [[The Patty Duke Show|a farce]]. Story by Dan Fogel, with art by Welz.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #11
| 1990
|
* '''"Threedy":''' Cherry extols the virtues of 3-D.
* '''"Good Ol' Mom":''' 3-D reprint of strip from ''Cherry'' #4.
* '''"Nurse's Aid":''' 3-D reprint of strip from ''Cherry'' #8.
* '''"Cherry Closely Encounters Captain Eeyon":''' Cherry and Ellie meet the genitally-challenged [[Captain EO|Captain Eeyon]].
* '''"The Love Channel":''' 3-D reprint of strip from ''Cherry'' #5.
* '''"I ♥ My Job":''' Cherry works the register at [[Burger King|Burger Tyrant]].
* '''"A Personal Message from Cherry":''' 3-D reprint of strip from ''Cherry'' #2.
| 3-D issue.
|-
| ''Cherry'' #12
| 1991
|
* '''"Cherry Gets It in the End":''' Cherry and her mom deal with the changing demands of the [[Sex industry|pornography industry]].
* '''"Sgt. Cherry and Her Squealing Commandos":''' Cherry, Lola, Patty and Ellie deploy in [[Iraq]]. Story by Dan Fogel, with art by Welz.
* '''"Slut du Jour":''' Patty throws a party.
* '''"Winehigh":''' Cherry goes on a hot air balloon. By [[Larry Todd]].
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #13
| 1992
|
* '''"Slumber Party from Hell":''' Cherry, Lola and Ellie experiment with a [[Ouija]] board.
* '''"The Curse of Lola":''' A jealous Lola attempts to use magic to get back at Cherry.
* '''"Cherry Popstar":''' Cherry gets ready for a gig with her band, the Bimbos from Hell.
* '''"Cherry Meets the Vampire Le Stud":''' Cherry and Ellie investigate a [[Lestat de Lioncourt|vampire]]'s mansion.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #14
| February 1993
|
* '''"Cherry Does the Time Warp":''' Cherry is sent back in time to make sure she is born and the future Church of Cherry will come into being. She meets her mother and turns her from a prude into a hedonist. She finds out her father might be one of Captain Guts, [[George Washington]], [[Davy Crockett]], [[Jesse James]] or [[James Dean]].
|First issue published by [[Kitchen Sink Press]].
|-
| ''Cherry'' #15
| November 1993
|
* '''"Out in the Woods":''' Cherry deals with bikers, survivalists, Big Foot and the White Male Elite.
* '''"Motorcycles & Dinosaurs":''' Ellie creates a time-travelling motorcycle that takes her and Cherry forward to the time of lizard men. Collaboration between Welz and [[Larry Todd]].
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #16
| November 1994
|
* '''"Cherry Meets the Renaissance Dude":''' Cherry encounters Luccan the magician.
* '''"Motorcycles & Dinosaurs":''' Ellie creates a time-travelling motorcycle that takes her and Cherry forward to the time of lizard men. Collaboration between Welz and [[Larry Todd]].
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #17
| April 1995
|
* '''"Young Genetically-Altered Samurai Lizards":''' [[April O'Neil|May O'Doul]] meets the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|Young Genetically-Altered Samurai Lizards]]. Collaboration between Welz and [[Mark Bodé]].
* '''"Cherry and the Surf Pirates":''' Another run-in with Luccan turns Cherry's surfing holiday into a pirate encounter.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #18
| October 1995
|
* '''"Cherry has an Anxiety Attack":''' Cherry fantasises about Mr. Le Mort in her World Lit class and helps school counsellor Ms. Renfrew relax. 
* '''"Cherry Dances with Dolphins":''' Cherry makes a breakthrough in human-dolphin communications.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #19
| November 1996
|
* '''"Party Girls, or Festive Women":''' Cherry and Lola are upstaged by the Boobsie Twins. 
* '''"Cherry Does Dick":''' Cherry has a disappointing encounter with star athlete Dick.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #20
| March 1999
|
* '''"The Champion":''' Cherry and Lola try to teach Monique there's more to life than working out.
* '''"Smells Like Team Spirit":''' Cherry and fellow cheerleaders Lola, Patty and congratulate the school football team for winning a game.
| First issue published by Cherry Comics.|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #21
| August 1999
|
* '''"The Businesswomen":''' Cherry's mom and Ellie's mom tell their daughters they are host a [[Tupperware|Tubberware™]] party with a twist. Story by John Nubbin.
* '''"She's So Excited":''' Monique helps Cherry get ready for a date. Story by [[C. J. Henderson (writer)|C. J. Henderson]].
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #22
| April 2000
|
* '''"Cherry Has Left the Planet":''' Cherry is abducted by aliens, and Ellie enlists the help of agents [[Fox Mulder|Muledeer]] and [[Dana Scully|Skuzzy]] to help find her.
|
|-
| ''Cherry'' #23
| November 2019
|
* '''"Cherrypocalypse":''' Cherry returns from outer space.
* '''"Attack of the 50 Ft. Cherry":''' Cherry grows to giant size. By [[Mark Bodé]].
|
|}

=== ''Cherry's Jubilee'' ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed width="75%"
! Issue !! Date !! Contents !! Notes
|-
| ''Cherry's Jubilee'' #1
| 1992
|
* '''"Consciousness Rising":''' Cherry attends an anti-porn seminar. Story by [[Gerard Jones]], art by Larry Welz.
* '''"Double Your Trouble":''' an accident splits Cherry in two – one brazen, one shy. Story by Jim Pitts, art by [[Chuck Austen]].
* '''"A Fistful of Cherry":''' Cherry stars in a [[Spaghetti Western]]. Story by Dan Fogel, art by Greg Espinoza.
* '''"Cherry Meets Roger Fnord":''' Cherry meets a sex-crazed time-traveller. By S. E. Mills.
|
|-
| ''Cherry's Jubilee'' #2
| 1992
|
* '''"Cherry Meets [[Octobriana|Octobяiaиa]]":''' A powerful, promiscuous Russian arrives to help downtrodden American workers. Story by Dan Fogel, art by Larry Welz.
* '''"Swede Chaser":''' Cherry takes part in a [[Speed Racer|futuristic car race]]. By Greg Espinoza.
* '''"Hip-Ocracy":''' Cherry has an affair with President [[Bill Clinton|Clit Billton]]. Story by Dan Fogel, art by Duke Roosevelt.
* '''"Weird Cherry":''' Commander Cherry Poptart, Science Officer Ellie Dee, First Officer Gar Hanson and Engineer Maple Handle pilot the USS ''Star-Tang'' into uncharted space. Story by Dan Fogel, art by Larry Welz.
| Includes a history of [[Octobriana]].
|-
| ''Cherry's Jubilee'' #3
| 1993
|
* '''"The Uncommon XXX-Men vs. The Testosterone Titans":''' Cherry transports her comic-obsessed boyfriend Ned Mylar into a comics universe in time for the arrival of [[Galactus|Orgasmus]]. Story by [[Marv Wolfman]], art by Larry Welz.
* '''"Tunnel of Luv":''' Dave takes Cherry to a tunnel of love. By {{interlanguage link|Leslie Sternbergh|ca}}.
* '''"Hobo Hal Meets Cherry":''' Cherry and Ellie try to cheer up Hobo Hal. By [[Grass Green]]
* '''"Pulp-Chritude":''' Cherry falls asleep while reading. Story by Dan Fogel, art by Duke Roosevelt.
* '''"A Typical Work Day for the Modern Girl":''' Cherrie in the world of work. By [[Molly Kiely]].
|
|-
| ''Cherry's Jubilee'' #4
| April 1994
|
* '''"Special Handling":''' Cherry's mom introduces her to the pleasures of home shopping. Story by [[Kate Worley]], art by Larry Welz.
* '''"Shu!":''' Cherry tries snake-charming. By Forg.
* '''"The Lil' Meremaid":''' the story of Cherriel. By [[Larry Todd]].
* '''"Vive la Ooh-la-la":''' Cherry's mom tells her about her Aunt Cheri, a [[French Resistance]] fighter in [[World War II]]. Story by Dan Fogel, art by Steven Crompton.
* '''"Cherry Does M*yb*rry":''' Cherry and her mom get arrested speeding through [[Mayberry]]. By Lee Terry and Lew Reid.
|
|}

=== ''Cherry Deluxe'' ===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed width="75%"
! Issue !! Date !! Contents !! Notes
|-
| ''Cherry Deluxe'' #1
| August 1998
|
* '''"The Inkeeper's Soul":''' An angelic Cherry and demonic Lola compete for a villager's soul. Story by [[Neil Gaiman]], art by Larry Welz.
* '''"Talk Radio":''' Cherry and her mom set out to cheer up a conservative radio host. Story by Kate Murray, art by Larry Welz.
| Also includes ''Tug & Buster'' stories by [[Marc Hempel]].
|}

== Reception ==
''[[Amazing Heroes]]'' reviewer R.A. Jones listed ''Cherry'' as one of the ten best titles of 1986, calling it "depraved, disgusting, pornographic, infantile and utterly lacking in any redeeming value", stating "We all need to be offended once in a while" and praising its lampooning of the "saccharine" ''Archie'' comics.<ref name=AH115T10>{{cite magazine|date=April 15, 1987|title=Comics in Review|author=R.A. Jones|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=115}}</ref> However, [[Adam-Troy Castro]] disagreed in a later issue, feeling that the satirical content was the singular joke of the art's resemblance to Archie material.<ref name=AH191>{{cite magazine|date=June 1991|title=Infernal Gall|author=[[Adam-Troy Castro]]|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=192}}</ref>
She was ranked 82nd in ''[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]'s'' "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.<ref>{{cite book| last = Frankenhoff| first = Brent| author-link = Brent Frankenhoff| title = Comics Buyer's Guide Presents: 100 Sexiest Women in Comics| publisher = [[Krause Publications]] | year = 2011| page = 52| isbn = 978-1-4402-2988-6}}</ref>

== In other media ==
=== Unmade film adaptations ===
During the late 1980s, Welz made a couple of attempts to make a film version of the series. Initially it was planned as a low-budget [[pornographic film]] starring Tammy Monroe as Cherry, but Welz withdrew his co-operation after realising the production was a generic porno. Instead, [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]]-based company Magic Lightning Productions planned a ''Cherry Poptart'' film in 1990, co-produced by Welz and Charles Webb. This was intended to be [[R rating (Motion Picture Association)|R-Rated]], and reportedly attracted interest from [[Columbia Pictures]] and [[New Line Cinema]]. Welz also entered negotiations with an animation studio to make direct-to-video ''Cherry'' cartoons.<ref name=AH179>{{cite magazine|date=May 1990|title=Andy Mangels Backstage|author=[[Andy Mangels]]|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|number=179}}</ref> However, none of these versions made it into production.

=== Merchandise ===
Welz has produced t-shirts, posters and cigarette lighters featuring Cherry. In 2022, he linked up with Discordia Merchandising to make a resin figure of Cherry.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.comiccrusaders.com/first-ever-cherry-action-figures-by-larry-welz/ | title=FIRST EVER Cherry Action Figures by Larry Welz | date=4 January 2022 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{official URL}} — Cherry Comics official online store

{{underground comix}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cherry (Comics)}}

[[Category:1982 comics debuts]]
[[Category:American comics characters]]
[[Category:Bisexual fiction]]
[[Category:Female characters in comics]]
[[Category:Comics about women]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:Erotic comics]]
[[Category:Kitchen Sink Press titles]]
[[Category:LGBTQ characters in comics]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related comics]]
[[Category:Lesbian-related comics]]
[[Category:Underground comix]]
[[Category:Obscenity controversies in comics]]