Four days and twelve years ago, at 77 years old, Charles M. Schulz, known as "Sparky" to friends and family, breathed his last and went on to a better place. The next day, the last comic featuring two of the funny pages most iconic and recognizable characters, Charlie Brown and Snoopy, appeared in Sunday papers across America. In that comic, Schulz gave what can be attributed to a written farewell speech, in which he announces his retirement, and the retirement of the strip. He closes the letter with these words, "Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy...how can I ever forget them...". Fast forward 12 years later, and Peanuts is still being published as reruns in papers across America, being read and watched each day, by a new generation of Peanuts fans.
But at the same time that I was toasting the memory of "Sparky", something hit me, that we should also celebrate the lives of other comic artists. Not just newspaper or comic book artists specifically, but all these men of ink. I am talking about Bob Kane, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Jack Kirby, Julius Schwartz, Will Eisner, Jerry Robinson, Carl Barks, Chester Gould, all the ones that helped make their mark on the world of comic art.
Now I feel there are one of two approaches to this celebration of, either A. By toasting their memory with drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, it's your preference readers) or do what I am planning on doing, make visits to their grave sites (if they can be found in public record) and say a few words, as if they were still alive and you were having a conversation with them. That may seem a bit extreme to some people, but to me, it's no different than a person visiting the grave of one of the Presidents, or a celebrity or a war hero or friend or loved one and talking to their grave, maybe leaving some flowers there.
It is a long term goal, though one I will accomplish, no matter what amount of time it takes. I feel that these trips will be a great experience for me, even humbling, to pay my respects to the great men who helped shape comics into the glorious culture they are today. Nuff' said.
But at the same time that I was toasting the memory of "Sparky", something hit me, that we should also celebrate the lives of other comic artists. Not just newspaper or comic book artists specifically, but all these men of ink. I am talking about Bob Kane, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Jack Kirby, Julius Schwartz, Will Eisner, Jerry Robinson, Carl Barks, Chester Gould, all the ones that helped make their mark on the world of comic art.
Now I feel there are one of two approaches to this celebration of, either A. By toasting their memory with drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic, it's your preference readers) or do what I am planning on doing, make visits to their grave sites (if they can be found in public record) and say a few words, as if they were still alive and you were having a conversation with them. That may seem a bit extreme to some people, but to me, it's no different than a person visiting the grave of one of the Presidents, or a celebrity or a war hero or friend or loved one and talking to their grave, maybe leaving some flowers there.
It is a long term goal, though one I will accomplish, no matter what amount of time it takes. I feel that these trips will be a great experience for me, even humbling, to pay my respects to the great men who helped shape comics into the glorious culture they are today. Nuff' said.
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