Leonard "Stinky" Brown

Peter Bagge's underground-inflected alt-comics landmark Hate gave us some of the most memorably abrasive personalities of the early '90s indie scene, and Leonard "Stinky" Brown is one of its most enduring fixtures. Debuting in 1990 and sticking around across sixteen years of Hate and Hate Annual issues, Stinky carved out a niche in Fantagraphics' signature world of slacker-era dysfunction, sharing pages with the likes of Buddy Bradley, Valerie Russo, and the broader cast of misfits that made the series a touchstone of Copper/Modern Age alternative comics. With 14 catalog appearances, he's not the most prolific character in the Fantagraphics canon, but anyone who's fallen for Bagge's sharp, rubbery brand of social comedy knows that even a supporting player in Hate carries more personality per panel than most leads. If you're exploring the rich tradition of '90s indie comics, Stinky Brown is exactly the kind of character who rewards the dig.