Obituaries

Hall of Fame artist John Severin, one of the last of the legendary EC artists, has died at age 90. Severin—whose sister Marie was also a famed artist and colorist for Marvel—was among the greatest draftsmen of the EC crew. He was especially well known for his Western comics, which were meticulously researched and elegant in their line. In recent years he had continued to work, notably on THE RAWHIDE KID in 2003, a controversial gay western; he also worked on THE PUNISHER and B.P.R.D.

Richard Alf, one of the co-founders of the San Diego Comic-Con and a busy comics dealer of the early 70s, has died of pancreatic cancer at age 59, it is being reported. While only a teenager, Alf provided financing and transportation for early con founders, as well as inspiring Shel Dorf with their shared love of comics.

Ronald Searle, creator of St. Trinians and Molesworth and one of the great cartoonists of his generation, died December 30th at age 91, it's being reported. Searle lived a dramatic early life:

His long-time collaborator Beau Smith remembers Eduardo Barreto, who passed away a few weeks ago -- a remembrance accompanied by some stunning art.

Although we can find no official confirmation, it is being widely reported that Eduardo Barreto has died, presumably of complications from the illness he has been fighting since 2010. He was 57. The Uruguayan artist was a staple of '80s comics with work on NEW TEEN TITANS, ATARI FORCE, The Shadow, Batman, and many other comics. He also worked extensively for Claypool Comics. In 2006 he started drawing the comics strip JUDGE PARKER but was forced to give it up in 2010 when he became ill with meningitis. He has some work in an upcoming issue of DARK HORSE PRESENTS.

Joe Simon, legendary Golden Age co-creator of such characters as Captain America, the Sandman and hundreds more, has died at age 98, according to his son's posting on Facebook. Together with his partner Jack Kirby, Simon revolutionized the superhero, horror and romance genres -- there pretty much wouldn't be comics as we know them without the work of these two.

Batman artist, creator rights activist and creator of the Joker Jerry Robinson passed away in his sleep last night. He was 89. Like many Golden Agers, Robinson started young: At age 17 he became an assistant in Bob Kane's Batman shop where he co-created Robin. He also provided the majority of visuals and background for The Joker. Eventually moving into editorial cartooning, Robinson had a long, distinguished career as an artist and educator. In the 70s he helped spearhead the movement to get Siegel and Shuster compensation for creating Superman; he also traveled to Uruguay and the Soviet Union to help free jailed cartoonists. He was President of both the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) and the National Cartoonists Society (NCS).

First woman to win a Hugo Award (1968, for “Weyr Search”)
First woman to win a Nebula Award (1969, for “Dragonrider”)
First with a science fiction title on the New York Times Bestseller List (1978, The White Dragon)
Named Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America (2005)
Joined Science Fiction Hall of Fame (June 2006)

As you have probably heard by now, cartoonists Tom Hart and Leela Corman have experienced the unimaginable tragedy of losing their young daughter, Rosalie Lightning, at the age of two. The couple had recently moved to Gainesville, FL to start a new life and open a school for cartoonists. Tom and Leela are two of the best people in this comics world, and to know they must endure this is heartbreaking.

As usual, Mark Evanier has word of the passing of writer Alvin Schwartz at age 95, a prolific writer for DC in the '40s and '50s who invented many elements of the Superman canon:

Marvelman creator Mick Anglo died last week at age 96, Bleeding Cool reports. Although best known as the actual creator of Marvelman-- later Miracleman-- whose resurrection by Alan Moore and Garry Leach led to one of the most bizarre rights battles in comics history, Anglo had a long career as a writer (sometimes under the name Jonny Dekker) and artist, from 1940 onwards. Although involved in at least one legal wrangle for his character in recent years, Anglo settled up his end of things, and Marvel has recently been reprinting his early Marvelman/Miracleman adventures.

Via Jeff Keane's Facebook page, word has come that Bil Keane, creator of the iconic Family Circus comic strip, has died. He was 89.