Jef Mallett

Jef Mallett (born 1962) is an American cartoonist best known as the creator and artist of the nationally syndicated comic strip Frazz.

Jef Mallett
Born	(1962-02-28) February 28, 1962 (age 63) Lansing, Michigan
Nationality	American
Area(s)	artist, writer, triathlete
Notable works	Frazz, Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete
Awards	full list

Early and personal life

Mallett attended nursing school as well as EMT training before leaving to pursue his artistic interests.^[1] He has a longtime interest in bicycling and hanggliding and is an avid triathlete, having completed his first triathlon in 1981 (coming in 9th). He has twice completed the Ironman Triathlon.^[2] He is married to Patty^[3] and lives in Huntington Woods, Michigan, United States.^[4]

Career

While in high school, Mallett published his first comic strip for his local newspaper, the Big Rapids Pioneer.^[5] His first comic series was entitled "Birchbark", featuring a French-Canadian trapper.^[6] After becoming a graphic artist, he worked in that capacity for regional newspapers, the Grand Rapids Press and the Flint Journal.^[7][8] Afterwards, Mallett left the commercial world to concentrate on Frazz full-time.

Accomplishments

Books

• Dangerous Dan (children's book). Willowisp Press (1996) ISBN 978-0-87406-720-0^[9]
• Live at Bryson Elementary. Andrews McMeel Publishing (2005) 128 pages. Includes foreword by Gene Weingarten and introduction by Jef Mallett. ISBN 0-7407-5447-5
• 99% Perspiration. Andrews McMeel Publishing (2006) 128 pages. ISBN 0-7407-6043-2
• Frazz 3.1416. Andrews McMeel Publishing (20089) 128 pages. ISBN 0-7407-7739-4. Includes an introduction by Charles Solomon
• Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete VeloPress (2009) ISBN 978-1-934030-44-8^[10]

Illustrations

• Live Albom II by Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, Inc. (1990) ISBN 978-0-937247-19-8
• Mallett donated cover artwork for the Bob and Tom Show CD: Operation Radio which was distributed for free to US Servicemen, serving overseas, as part of the USO's Operation Care Package.^[11]
• Created the artwork for the Bob and Tom Show CD: Man Boobs (2006).^[12]
• Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer by Jamie Smith,^[13] published Spring 2008 by VeloPress.

Other

• He was 2005 commencement speaker at University of Michigan–Flint.^[14]
• Participated in Nevada Passage, which featured two-person teams competing in cycling, kayaking, and other outdoor events during a 2006 reality television program; his partner was adventure journalist Stefani Jackenthal, another all-American triathlete.^[15][16]

Awards

• 2003 annual Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council for "Excellence in Communicating Values and Ethics", for Frazz.