Comic fans all over the world are mourning the death of famed cartoonist Hy Eisman. Eisman’s outstanding works in comic strips like Popeye and The Katzenjammer Kids changed the dynamics of comics. His career, which spanned decades, significantly influenced the comic industry, mostly with his original artwork and unique storytelling.
The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art announced the sad news of his death. Eisman was a dedicated instructor at the school from 1976 to 2019. In the statement shared on the school’s official social media page, Eisman passed away on March 27, which was highly coincidental as it was also the day he would have celebrated his 98th birthday.
Remembering Hy EIsman and the legacy he created
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In its Facebook post announcing Eisman’s death, the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art revealed that the late cartoonist was a celebrated artist, a beloved instructor, and a dear friend to many people within the school community.
The post paid tribute to him for his talent and dedication to mentoring aspiring creators, thus contributing to the development of many generations of artists. The school also emphasized that Eisman’s legacy will forever be remembered, primarily through the countless students and fans inspired by his amazing collections.
POPEYE, Animated Series (Cartoon), 1956-
Hy Eisman’s journey to becoming a legendary cartoonist
Eisman had always wanted to be a cartoonist, a passion he developed watching a Fleischer Studio animator, his aunt’s tenant, make magic with a pencil. He began his artistic career designing types and packages and producing cartoons for a greeting card company after graduating from the Art Career School in 1950.
From the ‘50s to the ‘60s, Eisman’s works appeared in many American Comic Group titles such as It Happened in New Jersey!, Kerry Drake and Bringing Up Father. The late cartoonist, however, gained popularity with his later contributions to comics like Little Iodine and Katzenjammer Kids, for which he was the final artist from 1986 to 2006, and most especially, Popeye, which he worked on from 1994 to 2022.