TURNING POINTS by Maggie Thompson
Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for April 24-30, 2020…
180 years ago April 28, 1840 Writer-artist Palmer Cox is born. He creates The Brownies, which is among the first comics feature to enjoy pop culture commercialization.
135 years ago April 29, 1885 Wilford Fawcett is born. He founds Fawcett Publications (which eventually adds a comics-publishing department) in 1919.
115 years ago April 26, 1905 Joseph Hughes Newton is born. He creates the Biblical comic strip Tullus.
105 years ago April 25, 1915 Pioneering science fiction fan and agent Mort Weisinger is born. The magazine and comic book editor co-creates such characters as Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Johnny Quick and is best known for his work on DC’s Superman titles.
90 years ago April 24, 1930 Howie Schneider is born. He’s an award-winning cartoonist, editorial cartoonist, children’s book author, and sculptor. He writes and draws newspaper features Eek & Meek and The Sunshine Club.
80 years ago April 29, 1940 Sparky Watts begins as a newspaper comic strip superhero satire by Boody Rogers.
75 years ago April 25, 1945 Artist Jack Wilhelm dies at age 41. He worked on strips for the McClure Syndicate and the Central Press Association.
75 years ago April 30, 1945 At age 60, German artist and editor Erich Schilling commits suicide at the end of the Third Reich.
65 years ago April 24, 1955 Prolific inker Al Vey is born.
65 years ago April 26, 1955 Award-winning writer-artist and publisher Brad Foster is born. He founds Jabberwocky Graphix.
60 years ago April 24, 1960 Editor-writer Ralph Griffith is born.
60 years ago April 25, 1960 Writer-artist Brian Thomas is born.
55 years ago April 24, 1965 Writer Randy Carpenter is born.
55 years ago April 25, 1965 Artist Thomas A. Tenny is born.
55 years ago April 30, 1965 Writer Nat Gertler is born. The historian establishes the 24-hour, 24-page comic book challenge as well as About Comics.
50 years ago April 30, 1970 Editorial cartoonist Sam Milai dies at age 62. He creates the Don Powers strip and draws Facts about the Negro.
30 years ago April 24, 1990 Belgian writer-editor André Fernez dies at age 72. He edits the weekly Tintin comic book.
30 years ago April 28, 1990 Cap Stubbs and Tippie creator Edwina Dumm dies at age 96. She may have been the first female U.S. full-time editorial cartoonist.
25 years ago April 29, 1995 Swedish writer-artist Ingrid Wallerström dies at age 102.
25 years ago April 30, 1995 Following Marvel’s buying and making Heroes World its exclusive distributor, DC announces an exclusive distribution deal with Diamond Comic Distributors. (In July, Image and Dark Horse announce similar arrangements, and others quickly follow the move to Diamond.)
15 years ago April 25, 2005 Award-winning artist Ko Woo-young dies of colon cancer at age 66. He was one of the major South Korean manhwa artists.
15 years ago April 28, 2005 Artist Zeke Zekley dies at age 90. The longtime Bringing up Father assistant created the Sponsored Comics company to produce commercial comics.
15 years ago April 28, 2005 Paramount agrees with Marvel Enterprises to distribute up to 10 Marvel-produced films in eight years, and Marvel announces settlement with Stan Lee over claims for participation in profits.
10 years ago April 27, 2010 Dutch store owner, publisher, writer, and Lambiek and Comiclopedia founder Kees Kousemaker dies of cancer at age 68.
