Comic Conservator Blackbeard Dies: Totally Not a Pirate Thing

 

Too soon, Mark Trail, too soon

Bill Blackbeard, known as the scholar of newspaper comics, died at 84 years of age on March 10th. 

Banned Library tends to look to the lighter side, sometimes in a mocking and neener-neener kinda way, but what this guy did was pretty cool.

When the awesomely-named Mr. Blackbeard saw there was no archive of newspaper comics, he started one.  His appreciation for the art form lead to the preservation, knowledge and recognition of comics in general.   Mr. Blackbeard wrote scholarly papers on the subject, even a collection of comics published by the Smithsonian.  Even if you do not enjoy comics, we should celebrate anyone who attempts to hold on to any part of our culture and traditions, especially those that are fading away as we head towards newer technologies.

One of my favorite things as a kid was grabbing the big Sunday paper and pulling out the "funnies."  While that may never again occur in this society, I am thankful Bill Blackbeard was thoughtful enough to hold onto all those items. 

LA Times

Sheep-Pig Author Passes On, Sheep-Pigs Mourn

Dick King-Smith, the author of Sheep-Pig, died in his sleep Tuesday.  Sheep-Pig is best know for its large screen debut, Sheep-Pig, and the sequel, Sheep-Pig 2: Sheep-Pig in the City.  The author of over 100 children's books, King-Smith will be missed by all who knew him and those that grew up on his books.  Not like that other pig book with the rats and spiders that spell.  Evil.

Better obit here