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 December 8-14, 2017…
120 years ago December 12, 1897 The Katzenjammer Kids begins, created by Rudolph Dirks for Hearst Editor Rudolph Block, who names the strip.
100 years ago December 10, 1917 Artist Bill Crooks is born. The Les Turner assistant takes over the daily and Sunday Captain Easy feature in 1969.
90 years ago December 11, 1927 John Buscema is born. The award-winning artist is especially known for his Marvel work on stories featuring The Avengers, Silver Surfer, The Fantastic Four, Thor, and Conan.
65 years ago December 10, 1952 Hot Stuf’ publisher Sal Quartuccio is born.
65 years ago December 14, 1952 Defiant editor and El Capitan copy editor Deborah Purcell is born.
60 years ago December 11, 1957 Satiric cartoonist Peter Bagge is born. He’s especially known for his work on Hate.
55 years ago December 8, 1962 Erik Larsen is born. The writer-artist-publisher and Image co-founder is best known for his creation of Savage Dragon.
55 years ago December 8, 1962 Comics and game designer Mike Mulvihill is born.
50 years ago December 12, 1967 Mac Raboy dies at age 53. The Golden Age artist was best known for his work on Captain Marvel Jr. and Green Lama comics and the Flash Gordon comic strip.
30 years ago December 13, 1987 Artist George Wunder dies of a heart attack at age 75. He replaced Milton Caniff on Terry and the Pirates.
20 years ago December 8, 1997 Italian comics artist Walter Molino dies at age 82. He co-created [with Federico Pedrocchi] Capitan l’Audace and drew many cineromanzi.
10 years ago December 9, 2007 Writer-artist Wayne Howard dies at age 58. He was especially known for creating Charlton’s Midnight Tales.
10 years ago December 14, 2007 Golden and Silver Age artist Dave Gantz dies at age 85. He created the Gantz Glances panel cartoon.
