Who is this computer comic strip cartoonist from the 1980s?

An artist named "Bush" drew some adorable computer comic strips in the 80s. But who was "Bush"?

Throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s, in the Seattle area, there was a monthly magazine — really, it was a newspaper — devoted to all things “computer-y”: The Puget Sound Computer User.

The “Computer User” was a core part of the computer nerd community for the entire region (which included Microsoft headquarters, in Redmond, Washington). Local computer ads, job postings, community events, BBS phone numbers, and articles on everything from programming to desktop publishing.

And, like all good newspapers, this one included comic strips.

Most of them, at least from this time period, seem to have been drawn by someone who signs their name as “Bush”.

Here’s one example from the May, 1987 issue:

But who, exactly, is “Bush”?

Searching the Internet for a cartoonist named “Bush” tends to result in comic strips about former US Presidents. And scouring through the pages of issues of The Puget Sound Computer User have, likewise, yielded no good info thus far.

Some of those Bush computer comic strips are pretty funny!

Some of the comics, in the same issue, don’t have a signature on them… but, based on art style, I’m guessing they are by the same “Bush” as created the others…

These cartoons are so much a product of their time. And I love them for it.

Lots of robots. Lots of floppy drives and CRT monitors. References to playing vinyl records backwards, and the sounds that computers make. All stitched together with some serious Dad-quality jokes.

Just fantastic.

But who is “Bush”? I am determined to find the identity of this cartoonist — and collect more of his works. (Or maybe Bush is a “her”? … I guess I assume Bush is a man due to the Dad-joke nature of some of the comics.)

Have you seen “Bush” comic strips about computers? Do you happen to know who the artist is? I would love to hear from you. Together, we can get to the bottom of this mystery.

Add a comment here (or on Locals) or email me at bryan@lunduke.com.

---

Share this. Share it far and wide. Someone out there knows who Bush is.