Here’s the latest installment of Maggie Thompson’s ongoing look at important beginnings, middles, and ends, this time for February 22-28, 2019...
205 years ago February 26, 1814 Swedish artist Johan Tobias Sergel dies at age 73. The sculptor also created sequential picture stories.
105 years ago February 25, 1914 Artist John Tenniel dies, age 93. Especially known for his illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s “Alice” books, he was also a political cartoonist for Punch. He may have been the first cartoonist to be knighted.
105 years ago February 26, 1914 DC humor cartoonist and newspaper strip artist Henry Boltinoff is born. He’s the brother of DC editor Murray Boltinoff.
100 years ago February 22, 1919 Newspaper strip cartoonist Pete Hoffman is born. He ghosts Steve Roper for Elmer Woggon and creates Jeff Cobb and Why We Say.
95 years ago February 24, 1924 Freelance artist Sam Kweskin is born. He works for Atlas and Marvel.
90 years ago February 25, 1929 Prolific, award-winning cartoonist Arnold Roth is born. His work includes (but is by no means limited to) his Poor Arnold’s Almanac.
85 years ago February 27, 1934 Artist and animator John Terry dies at age 53. The creator of Scorchy Smith was brother of Terrytoons founder Paul Terry.
75 years ago February 27, 1944 Belgian artist Henri Cassiers dies at age 85.
65 years ago February 24, 1954 Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Jim Borgman is born. He co-creates Zits with Jerry Scott.
65 years ago February 24, 1954 Artist Greg LaRocque is born. He creates The Exiled and is especially known for his work on Legion of Super-Heroes and The Flash.
65 years ago February 27, 1954 The British comics magazine Jack and Jill begins publication.
55 years ago February 28, 1964 Norwegian artist and comics pioneer Jens R. Nilssen dies at age 83. He co-created the Smørbukk character with Andreas Haavoll.
50 years ago February 24, 1969 The first issue of the French comic book Pif Gadget is published.
50 years ago February 27, 1969 Aircel and Malibu editor and letterer Eiwin Mark is born.
45 years ago February 23, 1974 Writer-editor Valerie D’Orazio is born. She begins her comics career at Acclaim, moves to DC, and then provides ongoing commentaries on the comics industry.
45 years ago February 27, 1974 The Flemish weekly newspaper comics section Pats changes its name to Patskrant.
30 years ago February 25, 1989 Animator and artist Ken Champin dies at age 77. His work included many Dell funny animal comics.
30 years ago February 27, 1989 Dutch writer-artist Peter Age Veldheer dies at age 58. He drew for the Bell Studios.
20 years ago February 26, 1999 Archie Comics publisher, co-founder, and editor in chief John L. Goldwater dies, age 83.
15 years ago February 24, 2004 Jean-Marc Lelong dies, age 55. The French artist created Carmen Cru.
15 years ago February 25, 2004 Canadian cartoonist and illustrator Albert Chartier dies at age 91. He was known for such creations as Onésime andSéraphin.
15 years ago February 27, 2004 Artist Rudy Lapick dies, age 77. He was a staff inker at Timely and for Dan DeCarlo at Archie.
10 years ago February 25, 2009 Tower Comics fan and reviver John Carbonaro dies at age 58.
10 years ago February 26, 2009 San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum Executive Director Rod Gilchrist dies of brain cancer at age 58.
