Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for April 10-16, 2026…

165 years ago April 14, 1861 Japanese artist Kuniyoshi Utagawa dies at age 63.

160 years ago April 16, 1866 French artist Gustave-Henri Jossot is born.

120 years ago April 11, 1906 Writer-artist Dale Messick is born. She creates the Brenda Starr comic strip.

115 years ago April 11, 1911 Animator and comic book artist Harry Holt is born.

115 years ago April 16, 1911 The Bad Dream That Made Bill a Better Boy by William Steinigans ends. So does his Pups.

110 years ago April 11, 1916 Artist Irv Novick is born. He co-creates the original Shield for MLJ, and Roy Lichtenstein swipes some of his DC art panels to sell as paintings.

110 years ago April 15, 1916 British writer-artist Ian Gammidge is born.

100 years ago April 15, 1926 Artist Jerry Grandenetti is born. Especially known for his work on The Spirit and on DC war comics, he co-creates Prez with Joe Simon and, like Irv Novick, originates images later copied (without credit) by Roy Lichtenstein.

95 years ago April 10, 1931 Award-winning Belgian artist René Follet is born.

95 years ago April 10, 1931 Gérald Forton is born. The artist works for DC, Eclipse, and First – and as an animation artist on such releases as Filmation’s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (which he also draws as a newspaper strip) and Pixar’s Toy Story.

95 years ago April 13, 1931 Frank B. Johnson is born. The Mort Walker assistant is known for work on Boner’s Ark and Miss Caroline.

95 years ago April 14, 1931 French artist Rémy Bordelet is born.

90 years ago April 12, 1936 Carlos Roque is born. The Portuguese artist works for Spirou.

85 years ago April 11, 1941 Having received 431,275 entries in its “Name the Baby Contest,” King Features announces the name of Blondie’s baby. It’s Cookie!

85 years ago April 13, 1941 French writer-artist Jean-Marc Reiser is born.

85 years ago April 13, 1941 Writer-artist James Childress is born. He creates the Conchy newspaper strip.

80 years ago April 15, 1946 The outdoor adventure strip Mark Trail begins from Post-Hall Syndicate, written and drawn by Ed Dodd.

75 years ago April 13, 1951 Peter Davison is born. The fifth of the actors to play The Doctor in the BBC’s Doctor Who series provides the new face for resultant comics stories.

75 years ago April 16, 1951 Cartoonist and teacher Leonard Rifas is born. He founds Educomics.

75 years ago April 16, 1951 Pom’s Piet Pienter en Bert Bibber begins in Het Zondagsblad.

70 years ago April 12, 1956 Writer-artist Gary Martin is born. He is author of The Art of Comic Book Inking.

70 years ago April 14, 1956 Gene Deitch’s Terr’ble Thompson ends.

65 years ago April 14, 1961 Award-winning writer-artist Daniel Clowes is born. His creations include Eightball, Ghost World, Art School Confidential, and Patience.

65 years ago April 15, 1961 Writer Mike Kanterovich is born. He’s known for his work for Marvel and Archie.

60 years ago April 16, 1966 Little Annie Rooney ends.

50 years ago April 11, 1976 Artist Frank Roberge dies at age 59. He drew Mrs. Fitz’s Flats and comic books for Comic Media and Charlton.

40 years ago April 16, 1986 Artist, editorial cartoonist, and historian John Churchill Chase dies at age 80.

30 years ago April 12, 1996 Artist Bob Zschiesche dies of an aneurysm at age 67. The editorial cartoonist worked as an assistant on Gasoline Alley and Snuffy Smith newspaper strips.

30 years ago April 14, 1996 Dutch animator and artist Mary Oosterdijk dies at age 82. She worked for the Toonder Studios.

25 years ago April 12, 2001 Harvey Ball dies at age 79. He designed the “Smiley Face.”

25 years ago April 16, 2001 Belgian writer-artist Jean Mariette (who worked as “Hao” and as “Mittéï”) dies at age 68. He drew cartoons for Studio Greg and created Bonaventure.