Kerry G. Johnson

Kerry G. Johnson is an African-American cartoonist, graphic designer, caricaturist and children's book illustrator.

He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on September 30, 1966. He attended Hillsboro Comprehensive High School, Columbus College of Art and Design and The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

He specializes in caricatures but has created cartoons, illustrations and news graphic work (maps, information graphics, feature page design) in his career in newspaper and publication design. In 2005, he illustrated a coloring book for the American Physical Society about famous physicists. In 2005, he designed the official logo for the American Physical Society. In 2012, he worked with author Nicolle Brazil and illustrated the book "You Can't Move an Elephant in One Day."

He is the co-creator of the science based teen superhero SPECTRA. In 2011, Johnson worked with writer Rebecca Thompson and published their third comic book. Spectra, The Original Laserfest Superhero comic book for the PhysicsCentral.com web site. Spectra, the main character, is also the mascot for Laserfest 2010, a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the laser.

In May 2008, he debuted his webcomic, Harambee Hills. Harambee Hills is a diverse webcomic that follows the life observations of Gerard and those of his modern African-American family, co-workers and wacky neighbors of Harambee Hills, a fictional suburban neighborhood outside Washington, D.C. The webcomic’s characters often provide commentary on pop culture, entertainment, sports and top news stories.

He currently resides in Columbia, Maryland with his wife, Tawanda W. Johnson, a press secretary, media specialist and co-writer of Harambee Hills, along with their daughter and son.

His cartoons, illustrations and information graphics have appeared in these newspapers:

• The Nashville Banner (defunct newspaper)
• Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
• North Hills News Record (Warrendale, PA)
• Valley News Dispatch (Tarentum, PA)
• New Pittsburgh Courier
• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
• Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
• Greensburg Tribune-Review
• The Baltimore Sun
• The Baltimore Examiner
• The Los Angeles Times
• Chicago Tribune
• N.Y. Newsday
• APS News American Physical Society
• The Muskegon Tribune (Michigan)

Additionally, his work has appeared in magazines, web sites and other national media outlets including 60 Minutes, USA Today, KRT (Knight-Ridder Tribune Graphics) and Gannett News Service.