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Kim Thompson, one of the most pivotal editors in the comics industry over the last 30 years, passed away this Wednesday. He was 56.
Co-Publisher of Fantagraphics, Thompson edited talent such as Chris Ware, Peter Bagge, Stan Sakai and Joe Sacco and introduced the work of legendary European cartoonists such as Jacques Tardi, Jason and Guy Peelart to the North American audience over a 30 year long career
The Schulz Library remembers Thompson today.
Gary Groth y Kim Thompson. Foto: Gilbert W. Arias/Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Thompson was born in Denmark and moved to the U.S. when he was 21 in 1977. Soon after arriving, he met Gary Groth and Michael Catron, who founded Fantagraphics. He began contributing to “The Comics Journal” soon after where he worked tirelessly to treat comics as an art form worthy of critical review and praise.
Together with Gary Groth, Thompson introduced the broad audience to the Hernandez Brothers’ Love and Rockets, Daniel Clowes’ Eightball, Chris Ware’s Acme Novelty Library, Joe Sacco’s war journalism, Peter Bagge’s Hate and Robert Crumb’s complete works. Thompson’s fluency in languages proved invaluable in giving key European works by creators like Jacques Tardi, Ulli Lust and Guy Peelaert a wider audience for their creations.
His tremendous contributions, and life long devotion, to the comics medium are immeasurable. He will be missed.
You can join us in remembering Thompson’s life and work by curling up with any one of the many Fantagraphics Books publications Thomspon had a unique influence on.
