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 May 14-20, 2021…

190 years ago May 18, 1831 Edo period Japanese political caricaturist Kawanabe Kyosai is born.

110 years ago May 20, 1911 Pulp magazine and comic book writer Gardner Fox is born. He creates and co-creates many superheroes including the Golden Age Sandman, Flash, Doctor Fate, Hawkman, and The Justice Society of America and the Silver Age Justice League of America.

100 years ago May 19, 1921 Award-winning Dutch writer-artist Gerrit Stapel is born. The creator of Huon de Neveling is known for work for the Toonder Studios and many others.

100 years ago May 20, 1921 John Millar Watt’s Pop begins as Reggie Breaks It Gently.

95 years ago May 16, 1926 Billy DeBeck’s Parlor, Bedroom and Sink begins (later changing its name to Bunky).

90 years ago May 17, 1931 Award-winning Serbian writer-artist Lazar Stanojević is born.

90 years ago May 18, 1931 Award-winning Don Martin is born. “Mad’s Maddest Artist” also becomes “Cracked’s Crackedest Artist.”

90 years ago May 19, 1931 Artist Ralph Barton shoots himself at age 39. The New Yorker advisory editor was known for his caricatures.

80 years ago May 15, 1941 Underground comix creator Jack Jackson is born. He creates God Nose.

65 years ago May 17, 1956 Award-winning writer, artist, letterer, and publisher Dave Sim is born. He’s especially known for his creation of the monumental Cerebus project and for his advocacy for creators’ rights.

65 years ago May 20, 1956 British writer-artist Max Beerbohm dies at age 83.

60 years ago May 15, 1961 Artist and game designer Jeff Dee is born. He co-creates (with Jack Herman) the superhero game Villains and Vigilantes.

60 years ago May 16, 1961 Writer-artist Rick Altergott is born. He’s especially known for Doofus.

35 years ago May 15, 1986 Artist Virginia Krausmann dies at age 73. The NEA artist was known for work on Annibelle and Marianne.

30 years ago May 14, 1991 British writer-animator and film director Joy Batchelor dies at age 77. She co-founded the Halas and Batchelor cartooning company with her husband, John Halas.

30 years ago May 20, 1991 Award-winning Slovene writer-artist Milko Bambič dies at age 86. He also worked as Cvetanov and Banetov.

25 years ago May 14, 1996 More than six years after Sylvester McCoy’s “Survival” wrapped up the Doctor Who BBC series after more than a quarter of a century of broadcasts, Fox Tuesday Night Movie airs a continuation. Doctor Who stars Paul McGann and is written by co-producer Matthew Jacobs. Though not enough of a success to bring back the series, it is considered to be in continuity.

25 years ago May 20, 1996 Jon Pertwee dies of a heart attack at age 76. He was the third to play the role of The Doctor on the BBC Doctor Who series. His likeness appeared in a number of comics stories based on the role.

20 years ago May 14, 2001 British artist Eric Bradbury dies at age 80.

20 years ago May 18, 2001 Maurice Noble dies at age 90. He was an animation artist, designer, and director and worked for Disney, Warner Bros., and MGM.

15 years ago May 14, 2006 Writer-artist Bob Laughlin dies at age 80. He created Kitz ’n’ Katz.

10 years ago May 19, 2011 Influential writer-artist Jeffrey Catherine Jones, creator of Idyl, dies at age 67.

5 years ago May 14, 2016 Award-winning Canadian animator and writer-artist Darwyn Cooke dies of cancer at age 53. He adapted Donald E. Westlake’s Parker novels to comics form and wrote and drew the DC: The New Frontier miniseries, among much other well-regarded work.