Tag Archives: memorial

Harvey Pekar Has Passed Away

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Harvey PekarHarvey Pekar opened his life to all of us through comic books.  He was one of two comic book legends to come from the “mistake by the lake,” the other being Superman.  His autobiographical comic book series American Splendor chronicled his life, warts and all.  Pekar passed away earlier this morning.

Pekar, 70, was found dead shortly before 1 a.m. today by his wife, Joyce Brabner, in their Cleveland Heights home, said Powell Caesar, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Coroner Frank Miller. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

A Cleveland institution, Pekar began his comics career after being inspired by R. Crumb in 1972 and began to publish annually in 1976.  Crumb described Pekar as “the soul of Cleveland.”

He won the American Book Award in 1987 for American Splendor and was a regular guest on the David Letterman show.  Pekar also won a Peabody Award and saw his life on the big screen in a film adaptation of American Splendor which won the Grand Jury Prize for dramatic films at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

Cleveland.com has further coverage of the life and times of Harvey Pekar, a true original.

Pekar in a Letterman appearance from July 31, 1987.

Comics Legend Al Williamson Passes

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Word spread throughout the comic community today of the passing of comic book legend Al Williamson at the age of 79.  His career spanned five decades and might be best known for his work on Star Wars comics during the 80’s, having been personally chosen George Lucas due to Williamson’s work on Flash Gordon.

In the 1950’s Williamson illustrated comics for Marvel’s predecessor Timely Comics for series such as Kid Colt and The Ringo Kid.  He also worked for EC on various horror, crime and sci-fi stories.

His last profile comic was in honor of the Sub-Mariner’s 70th anniversary and most recent work included Spider-Girl, Spider-Man 2099, Daredevil and Atomic Age which won him seven Harveys and three Eisners.

Comic Strip Artist Tony DiPreta Has Passed

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Tony DiPreta best known for Joe Palooka and Rex Morgan, M.D., passed away this past Wednesday at the age of 88.  DiPreta died of respiratory and cardiac arrest, according to his son, Richard DiPreta, a Greenwich, CT. attorney.

In a 2007 interview DiPreta said he got into cartooning after reading in The Advocate of Stamford that a cartoonist named Webster made $50,000 a year.  He began his career after high school by working for Quality Comics as a colorist.  He the went on to letter for cartoonist Lyman Young while Young went out to play golf.

He then moved to New York City where he met Stan Lee who then had him ink Porky Pig. From 1945 to 1955 DiPreta worked on Mickey Finn.  In 1959 he began to work on Joe Palooka and eventually Rex Morgan, M.D.

DiPreta is predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Frances DiPreta, who died Sept. 26, 2009. In addition to his son Richard DiPreta, he is survived by brothers Joe DiPreta of North Kingston, R.I., and Leonard DiPreta of Stamford; daughter Janet DiPreta, of Anchorage, Alaska; son Edward DiPreta of St. Simons, Ga.; and grandson Christopher DiPreta.

Frank Frazetta

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Today saw the passing of the great Frank Frazetta at the age of 82 from a stroke.  According to one of his business managers, Rob Pistella, Frazetta fell ill after a Mother’s Day dinner.  Emergency medical services were called and Mr. Frazetta was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

Frazetta broke into the industry draw for comic strips like Al Capp’s Lil’ Abner and comic books like Famous Funnies in the 1940’s and 50’s.  He famously contributed a series of covers depicting Buck Rogers.  In 1952 and 53 he produced his own newspaper strip called Johnny Comet.  In 1964 he drew the poster for the movie What’s New Pussycat? and then went on to depict such characters as Conan and Death Dealer.

His style was unmistakable and there’s many a vans that depict his style on their sides.  His painted covers reach to such heavy metal albums like Molly Hatchet’s Flirtin’ With Disaster and Nazareth’s Expect No Mercy.

Most recently his family was in a dispute over his art legacy and November the cover artwork for Conan the Conqueror went to an unnamed collector for $1 million.

His impact was huge and many of today’s artists were inspired by him.  There was only one Frank Frazetta and he will be missed.

Frazetta Trends

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Earlier today news broke that legendary artist Frank Frazetta passed away today.  A flooding of thoughts hit Twitter as people reflected on how much he impacted them or they enjoyed his work.  The news hit enough of a mass that Frank Frazetta became a trending topic for the site.

We’ll have an extended memorial piece running later today as well as a recap of some of what was said about him on Twitter.

Frank Frazetta Has Passed

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Reports are coming in that legendary artist Frank Frazetta has passed away at the age of 82.  He is mostly known for his amazing art including Conan and Death Dealer.  He most recently was in the news again due to a family dispute involving his art.  We’ll have expanded coverage as the official news pours in.

Update: It looks like it’s official. Frank Frazetta died at a hospital near his home in Boca Grande, Florida after suffering a stroke.  Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.  We will have an extended memorial post recapping his life later today.

Dick Giordano Passes

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Bob Layton passed on the news.

Dear Friends & Colleagues,
It is my sorrowful duty to announce that legendary artist/editor/entrepreneur Dick Giordano passed away today.
Few could ever hope to match what he accomplished in his chosen profession, or to excel while maintaining great humor, compassion for his peers and an unwavering love for the art form.
His unique vision changed the comic industry forever and all of those who work in the business continue to share in the benefits of his sizable contributions.
I have been honored to call him a business partner, mentor and dear friend throughout the majority of my lifetime.
We will not see his like again.

Regretfully,
Bob Layton

Giordano had many roles including editor-in-chief for Charlton oversaw the creation of the Charlton heroes, which he helped bring over to DC Comics when he joined the company.  He also was an inker lending his talents to Crisis On Infinite Earths and working with Neal Adams. He was 77.

Dick Giordano

Barry Blair, Founder of Aircel Comics Passes

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Barry Blair, founder of the comic book company passed away Sunday, January 3 from a brain aneurysm.  After complaining to his friends of an ear ache to his friends he was prescribed medication.  He eventually felt so ill he went to the hospital but it was too late.

Airecel was originally an insulation company and after losing a government contract Barry Blair prodded it into comic book publishing.  The company was known for such comics as Elflord, Samurai and after being a part of Malibu it would create Men in Black.  Blair also worked on numerous Elfquest titles.

Our condolences are with his friends and family.

San Diego Comic Con Founder Ken Krueger Passes Away

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18 days after Sheldon Dorf, another San Diego Comic-Con founder, passed away, one of his partner’s in crime Ken Krueger has passed away as well.  Krueger, co-founder of the show now known as San Diego Comic-Con International, died of a heart attack Saturday, November 21, in Lockport, N.Y. He was 83.

Ken KruegerSign On San Diego has a nice obituary detailing his life and accomplishments.

“Back then, as today, we consider ourselves very lucky to have had Ken serve as the first chairperson of our event,” David Glanzer, a Comic-Con spokesman, said in a statement issued yesterday. “He, along with Shel Dorf, may no longer be with us but the love they had for comic art lives on in the organization they helped to create.”

Krueger was from my child hood stomping grounds of Western New York.   He was a driving force in the formation of the convention that would today be known as the San Diego Comic-Con which attracts roughly 125,000 people annually.  In the 1960s and ’70s, Krueger’s Ocean Beach bookstore was a hangout for the Woodchucks, a band of teenage sci-fi fans. Dorf, who moved to San Diego in 1970, met Krueger there. Within weeks, the two men, the Woodchucks and a gang of young comic book dealers were planning the Golden State Comic-Con. Krueger, the 1970 event’s chairman, served on the board in various capacities for roughly a decade.

Ken Krueger moved back to the Buffalo region in 2002, but visited San Diego for this summer’s Comic-Con, where he was hailed as a founding father.

He is survived by eight children. There will be no funeral services.

Sheldon Dorf Founder of San Diego’s Comic-Con International Dead at the Age of 76

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The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that Sheldon Dorf, the founder of the San Diego Comic-Con died today at age 76 of complications from diabetes.

From it’s founding, Dorf spent 15 years as the head of the annual convention helping it grow from a small fan-fest into the powerhouse it is today.

“He was a completely generous person who was wholly devoted to furthering the comic arts, bringing the fans and the professionals together,” said J.M. “Mike” Towry, a computer programmer who was a young comics dealer at that first Con. “He never made a dime off Comic-Con.”

Dorf left running the convention in the mid-1980’s.  The Comic-Con International website was topped by a black-bordered photo of the founder as a memorial:

Shel Dorf’s love of comic books and their creators had no equal.  It was his appreciation of this art form and his keen foresight that helped to create what is Comic-Con.

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