Gavin Aung Than is a New York Times bestselling cartoonist and creator of Zen Pencils, a cartoon blog which adapts inspirational quotes into comic stories, the middle grade graphic novel series Super Sidekicks (Penguin Random House) and picture book series Baa Baa Black Belt (Scholastic Aus). His new middle grade graphic novel Creature Clinic, about a hospital for mythical creatures, was released in May 2025 by First Second/Macmillan (USA) and Figment/Hardie Grant (Aus).
After working in the corporate graphic design industry for 8 years he quit his unfulfilling job and sold his house to follow his true passion: drawing comics. Gavin launched Zen Pencils at the start of 2012, a cartoon blog which adapts inspirational quotes into comic stories, and hasn’t looked back since. Zen Pencils was featured by The Washington Post, National Geographic, Slate, Buzzfeed, Gawker, Brain Pickings, was named one of the Internet’s top 100 websites in 2013 by PCMag and has been collected into four books. Gavin also recently contributed illustrations to the latest book by #1 NYT bestselling author Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart.
He is currently working on his semi-autobiographical graphic novel, Scribble, due out in 2027 (First Second/Macmillan).
Gavin lives in Perth, Western Australia with his wife and two daughters.
He is represented by Chelsea Eberly at Greenhouse Literary Agency.
You can get in touch with Gavin here.
AWARDS
2025 Russell Prize for Humour Writing Shortlist (Baa Baa Black Belt)
West Australian Young Readers Book Awards, 2024 & 2025 Picture Book Shortlist (Baa Baa Black Belt, Baa Baa Black Belt: Fleece of Fury)
2020 Environmental Award for Children’s Literature FICTION CATEGORY (Super Sidekicks 2: Ocean’s Revenge)
2012 Top 100 websites - PCMag (zenpencils.com)
MEDIA
Zen Pencils: Gavin Aung Than becomes comic star after trading in job, house to pursue dreams – ABC 7.30 Report
Award-winning cartoonist fulfills biggest dream – Curtin University Alumni