We’ve lost yet another legendary cartoonist, underground pioneers Skip Williamson, 73, whose Snappy Sammy Smoot was the best known of his creations. Patrick Rozenkrantz, the Boswell of the underground movement has the detailed obituary and appreciation:: Williamson’s underground style, steeped in Art Deco flatness and crammed with calculatedly unhip scatology (“Holy cow! Some elephant doody!”), […]
RIP Dan Spiegle
Mark Evanier reports on the death at age 96 of artist Dan Spiegle. The two were collaborators on Crossfire, a delightful Superhero meets Hollywood Babylon series from the 80s, but Spiegle was a prolific artist on Blackhawk, Star Trek, Scooby Doo and about a million other comics. He could and did draw anything with a solid, lively style.
RIP Jimmy Snuka
Wrestling legend Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka died at age 73 after suffering from stomach cancer. He had a controversial life – which may or may not have included killing his girlfriend – but he was great in the ring. And now both the participants in this classic wrestling moment have left us.
RIP Richard Kyle, inventor of the term “graphic novel”
Alan Brennert reports on FB that comics retail founding father Richard Kyle has passed away at age 87. Kyle had been in ill-health for a long time. As the owner of Richard Kyle Books (and the earlier) Graphic Story Bookshop in Long Beach, Kyle was not only a pioneer in selling comics, but the inventor […]
RIP religious tract cartoonist Jack T. Chick
Jack T. Chick, whose religious tract comics inspired revulsion and mirth– along with some faith, I’m sure — passed away over the wekeend at age 92, as his company FB page revealed: Many might have been surprised to find out the reclusive artist was still alive. As noted by Steve Bissette, Chick may have been […]
RIP Preacher co-creator Steve Dillon
Sad to confirm the death of Steve, my big brother and my hero. He passed away in the city he loved (NYC). He will be sorely missed. Cheers x — glyn dillon (@glyn_dillon) October 22, 2016 I’ve never been so devastated to write a post here at The Beat. Confirmed by his brother, artist Steve […]
RIP: Caliber Comics publisher Gary Reed
As seen on Facebook this morning, and confirmed by Newsarama, former Caliber publisher Gary Reed has passed away suddenly after suffering a heart attack. As recently as this weekend, Reed attended the Monroe Comic Con and posted about it happily. Reed was one of the foundational publishers of indie comics, with Caliber, launched in 1989, […]
RIP Gaspar Saladino, lettering legend
Gaspar Saladino, one of the greatest comic book letterers of all time, died yesterday at age 89, a few days short of his 90th birthday. Saladino was a mainstay of the Silver Age at DC, where he designed some of the best known logos ever, and at Bronze Age Marvel where his little stylized “G” […]
RIP Jack Davis
And just to make this day even more sorrowful in comics circles, legendary MAD cartoonist Jack Davis has passed away at age 91. Davis created some of the most memorable horror comics at EC, but then basically invented an entire style of caricature that was endlessly imitated throughout the 60s and 70s.
RIP Richard Thompson
Cartoonist Richard Thompson, the artist behind Poor Richard’s Almanack, Cul-de-Sac and many other wonderful comics, has passed away from the effects on his battle with Parkinson’s disease. A more talented, kind and wonderful person could not be imagined. Thompson won the Rueben Award for his work, and was diagnosed in 2009, and continued to work […]
