Typically I consider myself generally well informed and aware of the history and names in the comics industry. But I was reminded I will always have a great deal to learn when news spread on the passing of Will Elder. I’m ashamed to admit I found myself asking “Who is he?”. In educating myself on Elder, I decided to make quotes about him the majority of this week’s focus. That being said, I also felt the need to post one or two positive quotes related to Gene Colan.
“I often think of Elder’s work when I am laying out parodies or other cartoon art for MAD and other clients. I try to bring the multiple ‘Chicken Fat’ layers of humor especially to my MAD work, but I also try and make my individual illustrations stand on their own in the funny department. If the image itself is funny, then it only makes the humor of the writing and story that much more effective. Elder wrote the book on that, and if I can one day be considered a pale shadow of his skill in cartooning, I will consider myself successful beyond measure.”
- Tom Richmond, considering the influence Elder has on his own approach to humor
“I consider him one of the all-time greats, and his influence on my work is substantial. I am in awe of his work, the effort he put into his drawings, the dynamic style, the seemingly effortless aping of other artist’s signature styles, his pen work, his sense of humor, his playfulness on the page, his insane background gags, and just how much he loaded into a standard page of comic art. If God is in the details, Will Elder channeled God.”
- Evan Dorkin, detailing the finesse in Elder’s drawings
“If comics artists are the actors of this medium, Will Elder is its comic genius, the Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin of the comics story.”
- Charley Parker, (in a post from two years ago) placing Elder in fine comedic company
“There were occasions when we were working on deadline and the two of them would come and hole up in the Chicago mansion for long weekends to finish the work on ‘Little Annie Fanny’. It was a close collaborative relationship, and I loved the guys.”
- Hugh Hefner, sharing his love for the collaborative work of Elder and Harvey Kurtzman
“Elder’s art is so life affirming, even with the sinister undercurrents/mood in his MAD work, it’s still so vital and obviously made by someone who loved life, and dearly loved to laugh. I can’t think of a single artist in the history of sequential art/comics/cartooning for whom that love of laughter radiates off of every page as it does for so much of Elders work.”
- Derek Wisdom, finding a love of life in Elder’s pages
“I am delighted beyond delighted to announce that Marvel Entertainment has made clear its intentions to help Gene and Adrienne Colan.”
- Clifford Meth, declaring his delight at Marvel’s commitment to help Gene Colan. (Be sure to visit Meth’s site to find out any number of ways you can support Colan.)
“First off - he isn’t in hospital, nearly dead. He’s resting at home with his family. He’s still in a bad way, but the reports of his death, and near death, are very much exaggerated. If anyone wants to contribute a tribute to Gene then email or post a comment. Gene is seeing them all and they’ve really lifted his spirits.”
- Daniel Best, relaying an update on Colan and reminding folks of the beneficial power of tributes to the very much living legend
“Draw her as a horse?
I suppose I could do that.
Fifty dollars please.”
- a sample of the myriad haikus that the folks at Periscope Studio concocted to uniquely capture the flavor of last weekend’s Emerald City Comicon
