Hi, I’m Chuck Whelon, a cartoonist, illustrator, and author. Planet Urf Entertainment® is my publishing imprint, where you can find books, games, and comics for all ages. I also manage a cartoon band, Astrokitty & the Urfspace 5 with songs you can stream everywhere.
I am probably best known as the creator of the webcomic “Pewfell”, a semi-autobiographical, epic-fantasy, action-adventure, romantic comedy that has spanned several graphic novels and over two decades of publishing, appearing as a charter strip on the trailblazing ModernTales.com. I’m also the brains behind Urfspace: Cartoons of the Future and the glam-punk art/music universe of Astrokitty, which blends fashion, comics, music, and sci-fi into a vibrant visual narrative.
As an illustrator, I have authored dozens of internationally published puzzle and activity titles for Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Dover Publications. My titles include Where’s the Mermaid?, Where’s the Bunny?, Wizard Pickles, and the What to Doodle? series. My puzzle book illustrations have appeared in everything from Highlights Magazine to Britain’s The Daily Mail newspaper.
In the world of tabletop games, I am the creator of Legitimacy: The Game of Royal Bastards, and have illustrated numerous titles for Minion Games, including Those Pesky Humans, Nile, and Battle Merchants. For over two decades, I have been a regular contributor to Dungeon Crawl Classics from Goodman Games, providing maps, cartoons, and covers.
Originally from Basingstoke, England, I now live in San Francisco’s Excelsior District with my wife and son. I also live with Spina Bifida Occulta, a hidden disability that has become more visible with age. This experience informs my passion for diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in my work. My art champions imagination, education, science, and compassion for people, plants, and animals alike.
I livestream my art via the Urfspace YouTube channel. I’m also a member of the National Cartoonists Society, and am represented for freelance work by Beehive Illustration Agency.
Order print and PDF eBooks and books direct from the PlanetUrf.com online shop. Original artwork is also available, mail: artist@urfspace.com. Stickers, T-shirts, & prints can be ordered on Redbubble.com. Booksellers may place wholesale orders through Ingram—contact me for a catalog and complete list of titles.
To join my mailing list, use the form at the bottom of this page.
Photos of artist Chuck Whelon:
At Comic-Con International in San Diego c2002
Working in advertising for Ogilvy & Mather.
With the Urfspace Case at the San Francisco Underground Comics Festival, 2024.
Working Fan Expo SF
At San Francisco Open Studios
Urfspace Roadshow at Fan Expo SF
Pewfell inspection
Meeting The Rumkicks
Meeting educator Greg McCrary
With superfriend, Resilience
Popup show at Live Worms Gallery in San Francisco’s North Beach.
“Cartoonist in Real Life” at San Franciso’s Cartoon Art Museum, with Tina Whelon.
On stage at Art Battle SF
With Future Sounds of Urfspace bands, Charm World, Supersonic Symbiotic, Chris Porro of the Citrus Kids, and KXSF DJ Dynamatt Holdaway.
With the puppet of Barnaby, designed by the artist for Woander’s Wydling Woods experience.
