Classic EC and MAD cartoonist Will Elder has passed away.
Details here: http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/
One of my all-time favorite cartoonists....
From Mark Evanier's blog.
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_05_15.html#015229
One of the greatest cartoonist I've ever seen. Man, his stuff was just great!
Mike
MAD magazine would not have been the same without him. His comics always took the longest to read because you were constantly distracted by all the wonderful incidental stuff going on in and around the panels. His outstanding parodies of Dragnet, Sherlock Holmes, Mickey Rodent, Frankenstein and HEAP! [to name just a few] had such an impact on me, that i still read them from time to time today. [thanks to the terrific Russ Cochran boxed MAD hardcover collection] So sad to think the world is now bereft of such an extremely rare and magical talent. Gone, but certainly NEVER forgotten....
Mike G
Quote from: Gasport on May 15, 2008, 10:08:15 PM
MAD magazine would not have been the same without him. His comics always took the longest to read because you were constantly distracted by all the wonderful incidental stuff going on in and around the panels. His outstanding parodies of Dragnet, Sherlock Holmes, Mickey Rodent, Frankenstein and HEAP! [to name just a few] had such an impact on me, that i still read them from time to time today. [thanks to the terrific Russ Cochran boxed MAD hardcover collection] So sad to think the world is now bereft of such an extremely rare and magical talent. Gone, but certainly NEVER forgotten....
Mike G
Where did his Frankenstein appear? I don't believe I've ever seen it? Sounds awesome.
Mike
Quote from: Illoman on May 16, 2008, 12:30:49 PM
Where did his Frankenstein appear? I don't believe I've ever seen it? Sounds awesome.
There was a 4-page version in Humbug (which is being reprinted soon)
In response to when Will's Frankenstein parody first appeared...my first exposure was in one of the early MAD paperback compilations from the 1960's, titled Utterly MAD. The story title was actually "Frank N. Stein". They came out with special anniversary re-releases of all the early MAD paperbacks [the above mentioned one plus The Mad Reader, MAD Strikes Back, Inside MAD, Bedside MAD, etc...] not long ago and usually go cheap when they turn up on ebay. Happy hunting!
Elder did (at least) two different Frankenstein spoofs: one for Kurtzman's HUMBUG magazine with dead-on caricatures of Karloff, Clive and Van Sloan (reprinted in FM #1), and an earlier, whackier, longer, more generic lampoon for an early issue of MAD comics (with a Kurtzman cover tie-in). In that one, when we
finally see the Monster's face, he's Hitler, and he makes his escape by flapping his arms and flying away because the ever-fumbling lab assistant, "Bumble" (as I recall), stole a BIRD brain for the doctor's experiment.
I think Elder's series of "Goodman Beaver" adult-oriented strips for Kurtzman's HELP magazine were mighty fine -- yet another variation of Voltaire's CANDIDE, and a masculine prototype for Annie Fannie.
Hey George,
I think Bumble put it best when he said: "Ja, Boss."
Vootie,
Mike
Wonderful artist, and what a pleasure to study every millimeter of his panels for all the extra stuff! I'm sure he's still busily at work in the next world, amazing and delighting a new audience now.
... In the Spirit Realm, where thought becomes reality, WILL ELDER is younger, and, hooking-up, with ANNIE FANNY!
... I cannot count the hours, which I spent pouring over MAD magazine! I remember the FRANKENSTEIN Parody, with its classic Evil Monster Surprise Ending... His work did set the tone, as well as the demand, of talent, for so much comic art that has followed... May his soul, rest, in Peace.
EXANIMO EVERNOW,
TIMMY & THE BARON, B.G.G.
The color comic, then early b & w mag, versions of MAD were SO influential; you almost can't overstate it:
TV, movies, stand-up comedians, advertisements, other mags...
By Feldstein, Davis, Woody, Jacobs, Rickard, Martin, & so many more...
Rest, Willie. Thanks much.
-Craig W.
RIP Will !
Here is his Mad Frankenstein story..
http://www.entrecomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/elder01.gif
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http://www.entrecomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/elder04.gif
http://www.entrecomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/elder05.gif
http://www.entrecomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/elder06.gif
http://www.entrecomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/elder07.gif
http://www.entrecomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/elder08.gif
Best..
Tom
Tom, thanks a lot for posting that! His style is just great! Reminds me of the inking style in the Asterix comic books.
Mike
There was a short piece on Mr. Elder's passing on the weekend edition of the national Public Radio show, All Things Considered. It was interesting to note that before he worked for Mad magazine, during WW II Mr. Elder made highly detailed contour maps of Normandy for the U S Army to use in the D-Day invasion. As a fan of his work, I offer my humble salute to a great talent and great American who will be sorely missed.
I 'd LOVE to see one of his maps of Normandy...wonder if he included the same "Chicken Fat" incidental art work like he did in MAD.