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 September 23-29, 2016…
90 years ago September 29, 1926 Will Eisner Hall of Fame artist Russ Heath is born. He’s known for years of comic book art and for his work with Harvey Kurtzman on Little Annie Fanny.
85 years ago September 23, 1931 Writer-artist Stan Lynde is born. He creates the comic strips Rick O’Shay and Latigo.
85 years ago September 27, 1931 The first Sunday Tarzan comic strip is published.
80 years ago September 24, 1936 Muppets creator Jim Henson is born.
70 years ago September 26, 1946 Writer-editor Louise Simonson is born. Born Mary Louise Alexander, she works for Warren and Marvel, writes Red Sonja, and creates Power Pack.
70 years ago September 26, 1946 Le Journal de Tintin begins. The issue introduces Blake and Mortimer by Edgar P. Jacobs and continues Hergé’s Adventures of Tintin (which was interrupted by World War II).
65 years ago September 25, 1951 Cartoonist Howard Bender is born.
65 years ago September 27, 1951 Writer-artist-editor Jim Shooter is born. His first professional script is accepted when he is 14, and he is editor in chief at Marvel, Valiant Comics, Defiant Comics, and Broadway Comics.
60 years ago September 23, 1956 Award-winning “Writer of Stuff” Peter David is born. The novelist, columnist, and comics, TV, movie, and videogame writer is especially known for his work on Incredible Hulk and Star Trek and his co-creation (with Bill Mumy) of Space Cases.
60 years ago September 23, 1956 Artist Dan Day is born. He’s known for work on such titles as Aztec Ace, Batman, and Swamp Thing.
60 years ago September 25, 1956 Fantagraphics vice president and co-publisher Kim Thompson is born. He edits and translates a wide variety of comics reprints.
55 years ago September 26, 1961 Writer Tom Veitch is born. Beginning with work on underground comix, he co-creates (with Cam Kennedy) The Light and Darkness War, (with Bryan Talbot) The Nazz, (with Adam Kubert) Clash, and (with John Ridgway) My Name Is Chaos. He’s also known for his work on Star Wars comics.
50 years ago September 26, 1966 Gus Edson dies of heart failure at age 65. He took over The Gumps at the death of Sidney Smith and co-created Dondi with Irwin Hasen.
40 years ago September 27, 1976 Mary Worth initiates the subject of teen pregnancy in comic strips when Karen Cooper announces her intent to drop out of school to have a baby. The story is written by Allen Saunders and drawn by Ken Ernst.
30 years ago September 27, 1986 Warlord merges with Victor from D.C. Thomson with #627.
25 years ago September 24, 1991 Theodor Seuss Geisel, the cartoonist-writer known as “Dr. Seuss,” dies at age 87 following cancer and a jaw infection. He produced 46 children’s books in addition to many magazine and book cartoons, including the “Quick, Henry, the Flit!” ad campaign and political cartoons for PM.
20 years ago September 26, 1996 Golden Age comic book artist Alex Kotzky dies of kidney disease at age 73. He ghosted several comic strips and was best known for his work on Apartment 3-G.
