Harvey Pekar 1939-2010
The Cleveland Plains Dealer is reporting that underground comics legend Harvey Pekar died last night. Pekar's wife, Joyce Brabner found him dead at about 1 am. Pekar had battled lymphoma previously, as chronicled in Our Cancer Year, but the cause of death is awaiting an autopsy. Pekar was best known as author of American Splendor, an autobiographical comic that adapted Pekar's lowly life as a filing clerk at the Cleveland VA into a journey of humor, drama and insight as memorable as any fictional hero, hiring artist friends such as R. Crumb, Gary Dumm, Frank Stack and others to illustrate his stories. American Splendor was an early self-publishing success story of sorts -- while its acclaim gained Pekar enough notoriety for him to become a semi-regular on the David Letterman Show (until erratic on-air behavior got him banned) he still had to work at the VA to rely on getting a pension and continuing to make a living -- indie comics was not a cash cow.
Continue ReadingAl Williamson: 1931-2010
Although there has been no official confirmation, close family friends have reported that EC artist Al WIlliamson has passed away. The youngest of the EC artists, Williamson joined the legendary crew at the age of 20, finding kindred spirits in Frank Frazetta, Roy Krenkel and Angelo Torres, the group known as the "Fleagle Gang." All shared a love of classic illustration -- influenced by Alex Raymond and Hal Foster -- which found expression in a lush, romantic style based in classical drawing.
Continue ReadingLinda Gold: 1949-2010
Linda Gold, wife of longtime industry figure Mike Gold and mother of Adriane Nash died yesterday morning of a heart attack., as reported by Glenn Hauman. Gold was a familiar figure at shows and a frequent message board commenter and her loss is felt in many places today.
Continue ReadingBEAT MAY GIVEAWAY #8: Baker, Hernandez, Darcy
Share this link on Facebook!TweetOkay we’re wrapping up our Beat Giveaway Frenzy with a special THREE BOOK DEAL. First up:SPECIAL FORCES by Kyle Baker, a dark parody of war set in Iraq about a mentally disabled teen-aged recruit and a tough girl from the wrong side of the tracks who have to fight their way [...]
Continue ReadingRIP Howard Post
Share this link on Facebook!TweetOn Monday Mark Evanier reported the death of cartooning vet Howard Post. Post had worked as a writer and artist on just about every funny comic book character from the ’40s on, including Harvey (he probably created Spooky and Little Hot Stuff), DC (Bob Hope, Martin and Lewis, and creating Anthro), [...]
Continue ReadingThe Frazetta Legacy
In regard to embodying his own dynamic artistic sensibilities, perhaps the only pop culture artist who could give Frank Frazetta a run for his money was Jack Kirby. These two poets of force and motion so intuitively understood the fantasies they were drawing that each established the style that would forever define their respective genres: the superhero in action for Kirby, the barbarian in action for Frazetta.
Continue ReadingRIP: Alan Coil
I was saddened to learn this morning that frequent Beat poster Lewis "Alan" Coil died of a heart attack on Friday. He was 55. I never met Alan in real life, and certainly he had his disagreements with many people on the internet, but he was a constant presence here and at many other sites, and obviously passionate about comics and participating in the discussion. Alan was a ubiquitous internet presence in the tradition of the great letterhacks. On Peter David's site, Alan's friend Paul Shiple wrote:
Continue ReadingRIP: Carl Macek (1951-2010) | Cartoon Brew: Leading the Animation Conversation
Share this link on Facebook!Tweet Carl Macek, a pioneer of bringing anime to America, died of a heart attack on Saturday, April 17th. He was 58. Jerry Beck, who founded Streamline Pictures with Macek in 1988, has his thoughts here, and the conversation is ongoing in the comments. It was Macek who put together three [...]
Continue ReadingRIP: Henry Scarpelli
Share this link on Facebook!Tweet Longtime Archie artist Henry Scarpelli has died, according to an announcement sent out by Archie Comics: It is with deep regret and sorrow that Archie Comics acknowledges the loss of longtime artist, Henry Scarpelli, of Grasmere, Staten Island who passed away on Sunday, April 4 after a long illness. He was 79. “Henry [...]
Continue ReadingRIP: Dick Giordano 1932-2010
Comics lost a giant with the passing this morning of Dick Giordano, a former Executive Editor at DC and an influential inker who helped shape the look of Bronze Age comics and usher in a new era of talent. Giordano's career included work at Charlton, Dc and Continuity Associates, the studio run by Neal Adams. As Adam's inker on such much admired works as Batman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow, Giordano's techniques influenced a generation of inkers, including Terry Austin, Bob Layton, Al Milgrom, Joe Rubinstein, and Bob Wiacek, essentially setting the tone for the entire Bronze Age of comics.
Continue ReadingRIP: Robert Culp
Share this link on Facebook!Tweet Robert Culp, co-star of snazzy ’60s spy show I Spy and ’80s superhero spoof The Greatest American Hero, passed away Wednesday. He was 79. Culp was also known for co-starring in BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE, as well as being one of the great recurring villains (also with Beat favorite [...]
Continue ReadingKibbles ‘n’ Bits — 3-12-10
Share this link on Facebook!Tweet§ Trina Robbins notes the passing of Valerie Barclay, a Golden Age artist and inker. § Jason Miles interviews Dylan WIlliams and provides a nice counterpoint to the Keiron Gillen interview in that Williams embraces the poverty and suffering that comes with comics — call it the Porgy Outlook. I still get [...]
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RIP Creig Flessel
Share this link on Facebook!TweetMark Evanier reports the death of comics pioneer Creig Flessel at age 96, following a stroke. Flessel worked in comics from the dawn of the golden age on through Playboy and beyond. Tom Spurgeon has a lengthy obit with much information: Flessel was born on Long Island, New York in the town of [...]
Continue ReadingRIP Muriel Kubert
Share this link on Facebook!TweetMike Gold passes along the sad news that Muriel Kubert died Tuesday from breast cancer. Kubert was wife to Joe, mother to Adam and Andy and the co-founder of the Kubert School of Cartoon Art. Our condolences to the Kubert family on this loss. UPDATE: A fuller obituary: Muriel Isabel Kubert 77, co-owner of [...]
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