Randall Munroe

Randall Munroe is the creator, writer and artist of xkcd. He has a degree in physics from the Christopher Newport University and prior to his career as a professional webcomic artist, Randall was a roboticist independently contracted with NASA. Since his contract was not renewed in 2006, Randall has supported himself primarily through xkcd, selling books and merchandise among other income streams. Randall also blogs (on the Blag) through the xkcd website.

Randall Munroe
Our Savior speaks at MIT 2007-05-14. (from Wikimedia Commons)
First appearance	120: Dating Service
Known appearances	21

I'm just this guy, you know? I'm a CNU graduate with a degree in physics. Before starting xkcd, I worked on robots at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia. As of June 2007 I live in Massachusetts. In my spare time I climb things, open strange doors, and go to goth clubs dressed as a frat guy so I can stand around and look terribly uncomfortable. At frat parties I do the same thing, but the other way around.

—Randall Munroe, Source

Randall Munroe's signature, with the stick figure

Randall has drawn upon his experience at NASA and his physics background for many xkcd strips. Randall also began writing a weekly webcolumn called what if? responding to theoretical questions (many of which are physics-based, but some of which simply cater to his skills in research, and general scientific and mathematical knowledge and logic). In March 2014, Randall announced that he was writing a book based on his what if? column. The book was released September 2, 2014. Later, on February 5, 2019, he announced he was writing an additional book, titled How To. It was released September 3, 2019.

The content of xkcd tends to stem from Randall's thoughts and experiences. Often strips are based on his frustrations or things he finds ridiculous. He often writes strips in the first-person and even uses the Cueball character on occasion to represent himself (such as in 541: TED Talk). That said it is likely that many of these strips are not factually based on Randall's real life; for example, the My Hobby series appears to be written about Randall's own hobbies, although it is likely that few if any are things Randall has ever done himself.

Randall announced in June 2011 that his then-fiancée had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. They married in September of that year. As with other elements of his real life, the cancer diagnosis was the subject of a number of xkcd comics in 2011 and beyond.