This could not be sadder news. Cartoonists/animator Ian McGinty has died at age 38, it was confirmed by his family. No cause of death has been reported but word spread rapidly on social media last night, bringing a flood of reminiscences of a man who was kind, funny, talented, and much loved by the community.
McGinty was a graduate of SCAD where he made many friends, and a frequent fixture at conventions. His comics included his creation Welcome to Showside from Z2, and a host of comics work on Adventure Time, Bee and PuppyCat, Bravest Warrior, and Invader Zim. His other work included a multitude of covers and pin-ups, teams-up and more, all in an energetic cartoony style that hit straight at the zeitgeist of what you might call “The Adventure Time Era.”
A pilot for an animated Welcome to Showside, with McGinty doing some of the voices, was produced, which you can watch below.
McGinty’s final tweet would serve as a fitting epitaph for someone who loved comics, loved the community, and was so positive in helping others.
I JUST WANNA MAKE COMICS WITH EVERYONE
— Ian McGinty (@ianmcginty) June 5, 2023
It would be impossible to find all the social media tributes to McGinty…just a taste of the outpourings of sadness from classmates, collaborators, publishers and friends…al mourning someone who died far too young.
https://twitter.com/DaveScheidt/status/1667294015249698816
I am reeling right now. I can’t even comprehend the loss fully. Ian McGinty was such a delight to work with. So devastating it’s hard to even move.
— Adrian F. Wassel (@afwassel) June 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/jeremywins/status/1667330965167800320
We're very sorry to hear about the passing of @ianmcginty. He was not just a fantastic artist, but a great guy. He'll be sorely missed. His take on Munchkin has become a mainstay for many gamers around the world. -HS pic.twitter.com/M2Qqp4uJE5
— Steve Jackson Games (@SJGames) June 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/WhitLeopard/status/1667371107132018762
Rest in peace Ian McGinty pic.twitter.com/DnE9ZRYXcx
— Z2 Comics (@Z2comics) June 10, 2023
I dearly loved Ian McGinty. We got to table together a couple of times and they were some of the best, funnest days of my life. He was so incredibly talented and passionate and kind and overworked. rest in peace, king.
— Casey Nowak (@IgnatzHaderach) June 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/JhonenV/status/1667336634885349379
https://twitter.com/ibrill/status/1667355017614090241
https://twitter.com/PatShand/status/1667316103393976321
https://twitter.com/TheJenya/status/1667337166907744257
https://twitter.com/DaveScheidt/status/1667296530464747525
Here’s an interview with McGinty covering his work on a Paul Oakenfold graphic novel, that was published by Z2.
In his final FB post, McGinty complained about feeling ill, but it’s not known if this was related to the cause of death. That said, we’ve lost a lot of cartoonists (Steve Dillon) who didn’t get medical help when it was needed. If you are feeling sick and not improving….get it checked out.
“if youre sick, get checked out” what a callous, patronizing response considering how underpaid and over worked comic artists are! no mention at all in this coverage about the reckoning of how criminally underpaid comic artists are and how that itself may have contributed to someones death?
for the record its an open secret that z2 does not pay its creatives, or tries very hard to ghost them into giving up on ever being correctly compensated. but god forbid this coverage actually give a platform for these ugly truths.
There are various avenues available for getting medical treatment, even without medical insurance. Cautioning people not to wait is sound advice and is hardly patronizing. It has nothing to do with Z2’s business practices. Minimum wage workers are also underpaid and yet still manage to seek medical treatment when they feel ill.
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