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 January 3-9, 2025…

150 years ago January 5, 1875 Animator and motion picture pioneer James Stuart Blackton is born. The silent era film producer co-founds Vitagraph Studios and may be the first cartoon film animator; he uses stop-motion and drawn animation and plays Happy Hooligan in Vitagraph shorts.

145 years ago January 3, 1880 The French satirical comics and cartoon magazine La Caricature begins, founded by the artist Robida.

145 years ago January 6, 1880 Western megastar Tom Mix is born. His cowboy roles lead to licensing his name and image in Fawcett comics.

140 years ago January 9, 1885 Japanese manga artist and teacher Henry Yoshikata Kiyama is born. He creates the Four Immigrants manga.

130 years ago January 8, 1895 Belgian writer-artist Blanche Dumoulin (who works as “Davine”) is born. She marries Spirou creator Robert Velter.

125 years ago January 7, 1900 Foxy Grandpa by Carl E. Schultze begins.

120 years ago January 5, 1905 Creator of the pantomime Bozo strip, artist Foxo Reardon is born.

120 years ago January 8, 1905 The Story of Hungry Henrietta by Winsor McCay begins.

110 years ago January 9, 1915 Comics creator Dick Briefer is born. He begins comics work as a member of Jerry Iger’s studio and goes on to adapt Frankenstein’s monster in new stories.

110 years ago January 9, 1915 Danish comics artist Henning Dahl Mikkelsen (who works as “Mik”) is born.

105 years ago January 4, 1920 The Belgian Dutch-language children’s magazine Zonneland and the French version Petits Belges begin and will feature many children’s comics.

100 years ago January 5, 1925 Richard Thomas “Sparky” Moore is born. He works on many Western Publishing comic books (many of them with Disney characters) and on Disney newspaper strips.

100 years ago January 9, 1925 The final episode of George Herriman’s Stumble Inn is published.

95 years ago January 3, 1930 Comic strip pioneer Clare Briggs dies of pneumonia at age 54. He created A. Piker Clerk, When a Feller Needs a Friend, and Mr. and Mrs.

90 years ago January 4, 1935 Pioneering Dutch artist Daniël Hoeksema dies at age 55.

85 years ago January 5, 1940 Writer-publisher Michael O’Donoghue is born.

85 years ago January 7, 1940 Dutch writer-artist and political cartoonist Willem van Malsen is born.

80 years ago January 3, 1945 French artist and teacher Georges Colomb dies at age 88. The French comics pioneer signed his work “Christophe.”

80 years ago January 7, 1945 Teacher, writer-artist, editor, and underground comix pioneer Jay Lynch is born. The children’s books creator also produces stories for such comix as Bijou Funnies and Phoebe and the Pigeon People. The Nard n’ Pat creator is one of the producers of Topps’ trading cards for Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids.

75 years ago January 8, 1950 Belgian artist Jacques Géron is born.

75 years ago January 8, 1950 Dutch writer-artist Guus van Cleef is born.

70 years ago January 7, 1955 Artist Ed Payne dies at age 84. He was especially known for Billy the Boy Artist, one of the longest running series by one creator (56 years).

70 years ago January 8, 1955 Writer-artist and teacher Ken Steacy is born. The head of Ken Steacy Publishing is especially known for his Astro Boy and Jonny Quest comics.

70 years ago January 9, 1955 J.K. Simmons is born. The actor’s roles include J. Jonah Jameson and Commissioner Gordon – and Santa (who, as we know, has appeared in a variety of comics).

65 years ago January 8, 1960 Czech Jan Fischer dies at age 52. He co-created the series Rychle Sipy with Jaroslav Foglar.

60 years ago January 9, 1965 Writer-editor Fred Burke is born. In addition to other projects, he writes two books on creator Clive Barker.

55 years ago January 5, 1970 The first installment of Love Is… by Kim Casali appears.

50 years ago January 4, 1975 Writer-artist Bob Montana dies of a heart attack at age 54. His creations for the Archie Andrews world (in comics and strips) were fundamental.

50 years ago January 7, 1975 Paul H. Sampliner dies at age 76. He was president of the Eastern Distribution Corp. from 1924 to 1932 and secretary of National Comics starting in 1939.

40 years ago January 4, 1985 Dutch writer-artist Otto Milo dies at age 62. The film critic and cartoonist was one of the founders of the Dutch Laurel & Hardy Society.

35 years ago January 7, 1990 Baby Blues by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott begins from King Features.

35 years ago January 7, 1990 Portuguese artist Thomaz de Mello dies four days before his 84th birthday. He worked as “Tom.”

35 years ago January 8, 1990 Teacher and artist Bernie Krigstein dies at age 70. He received Hall of Fame recognition for his innovative work for EC.

30 years ago January 5, 1995 Writer James S. Burnett dies at age 73. He scripted Nubbin and Winston.

25 years ago January 1, 2000 Award-winning magazine gag cartoonist Chon Day dies at age 92. He created the “Brother Sebastian” panel for Look magazine.

25 years ago January 3, 2000 The last daily of Charles Schulz’ Peanuts appears; the Sunday strip lasts one more month.

25 years ago January 4, 2000 The British comics magazine Buster ends.

25 years ago January 5, 2000 Manga artist Goseki Kojima dies at age 71. He’s best known in America for the co-creation (with Kazuo Koike) of Lone Wolf and Cub.

25 years ago January 6, 2000 Influential writer-artist Don Martin dies of cancer at age 68. The award-winning “Mad’s Maddest Artist” also became “Cracked’s Crackedest Artist.”

25 years ago January 7, 2000 Voice artist Bob McFadden dies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at age 76. Characters he played included Milton the Monster.

20 years ago January 3, 2005 Writer, artist, and entrepreneur Will Eisner dies at age 87 of complications of bypass surgery performed December 22, 2004. His classic projects included The Spirit and The Dreamer, and his importance to comics was such that Comic-Con International’s annual professional awards were named for him years before his death.

20 years ago January 5, 2005 Artist John Klamik (who worked as “Sean,” “Shawn,” and “Buckshot”) dies of lung cancer at age 69.

15 years ago January 2, 2010 Teacher and artist Marion Hull Hammel dies at age 87. She drew the “Goofus and Gallant” feature for Highlights.

15 years ago January 2, 2010 French artist Gilbert Gascard (known as “Tibet”) dies at age 78. He created “Chick Bill” and “Ric Hochet.”

15 years ago January 3, 2010 Writer-artist and publisher Barry Lawrence Blair dies of a brain aneurysm at age 55. He was known for Elflord and Samurai and for founding Aircel Comics.

15 years ago January 4, 2010 Dustin by Steve Kelley and Jeff Parker begins.

15 years ago January 8, 2010 Art Clokey dies of infections at age 88. Born Arthur Farrington, he created Gumby and Davey and Goliath.

10 years ago January 7, 2015 Terrorists invade Charlie Hebdo offices, murder 12 people, and injure 11 others. Among those who die are: French cartoonist and Charlie Hebdo editor in chief Stéphane Charbonnier (who signed his work as “Charb”), age 47; his characters included “Maurice et Patapon.” French cartoonist Jean Cabut (also known as “Cabu”), age 76; he was known for his character “Duduche.” French staff cartoonist Philippe Honoré, age 73. French cartoonist Bernard Verlhac (known as “Tignous”), age 57. Georges Wolinski, age 80; the writer-artist-editor co-founded L’Enragé with Jean-Jacques Pauvert and Siné.

5 years ago January 7, 2020 Dutch artist Tobias Tak dies at age 65. Much of his work was published in the US, and Top Shelf collected some of his stories in Upside Down.