Tale of the Crypt

Jack Davis, who found a creative outlet for his foot fetish, has died at the age of 91 of complications from a stroke. Best known for his illustrations of celebrities and politicians in Mad magazine, Davis’ caricatures were typified by Mardi Gras parade-sized heads, super model legs and Bob Lanier shoes. Davis started inking the tedious Mark Trail comic strip, then found work as an illustrator at EC Comics, where he revamped the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt. When EC started drawing criticism for its violent comics like The Vault of Horror and the effect they could have on children, Davis was a charter member of the Usual Gang of Idiots, the creative team that would launch Mad magazine, and would never upset any parents. Davis also was well known for his illustrations for movie posters, such as It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and The Long Goodbye; record album covers, including Johnny Cash’s Everybody Loves a Nut; 23 TV Guide covers; character designs for the Rankin-Bass productions Mad Monster Party and The King Kong Show, the cartoon series The Jackson 5ive, and the bugs in the Raid insecticide commercials. The National Cartoonists Society honored him with a lifetime achievement award in 1996, he was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame in 2003. 

Rogers, Over and Out

Or
With Your Shield-- or On It
Joe Simon, creator of the only comic book character who could make Superman look cool, has died at the age of 98. With partner Jack Kirby, the Comic Book Hall of Famer is best known for creating Captain America, the sturdy, stolid, boring supersoldier created from 98-pound weakling Steve Rogers. The pair later pioneered romance comics, for those who consider romance novels too sophisticated, and horror comics, which makes him a godfather to the Cryptkeeper.

Spirit in the Sky

The wrong Eisner died, as Monty observed, as comic pioneer Will Eisner fulfilled his contract with God, passing away at the age of 87. Best known for creating the Spirit, a comic book cousin of Batman as a hero without superpowers, he also released the first modern graphic novel, "A Contract With God." First appearing as syndicated comic in 1940, The Spirit was called "The Citizen Kane" of comics for its innovation, its seriousness and its influence.

Gone in a Flash

Harry Lampert, the creator of the superhero Flash for DC Comics, died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 88. Lampert conned an atomic age-obsessed America into believing that fumes from heavy water experiments could turn college student Jay Garrick into the fastest man alive. Lampert’s reward: $150 and getting fired after just 2 issues.

He Met His Last Deadline

The man who used a resurgence in superhero titles to help revive DC Comics in the 1950s succumbed to the failings of mortal men. Julius Schwartz, remaker of supermen like the Flash, Green Lantern and Batman, has died at 88. He pulled the heroes together to former the Justice League of America - an idea copied by archrival Marvel in the form of the Fantastic Four. He later joked that in one bold stroke he saved both comic companies.

(Props to Schwartz himself, who penned his own epitaph in his memoir.)

Warren, the Forgotten Ghost

Just reported this week, Warren Kremer, a cartoonist for Harvey Comics who created Richie Rich and transformed Casper into the Friendly Ghost, died July 24 at the age of 82. That Kremer's passing went unnoticed for so long is hardly surprising, given his 35 years of toil for lowly Harvey Comics, which in the world of comic books is the Fredo to Marvel and DC's Michael and Sonny. Kremer also created the Hot Stuff baby devil icon, so popular at the Shore Mall Tattoo Parlor.