Jerry Robinson, perhaps best known for creating Batman’s famous enemy The Joker, has passed away at the age of 89.
Over the course of his early years in comics, Robinson proved a creative and social dynamo, moonlighting as a comics artist on projects such as the infamous “created in one night” issue of “Daredevil” while taking classes in Journalism at Columbia University. “I was always a political animal,” Robinson told CBR News last year. As the production of comic books wound down near the end of World War II, Robinson moved primarily to newspaper comic strips where he remained for the late ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, becoming known for Editorial illustration, political satire strips such as his long-running “Still Life With Robinson” and lush cover paintings for Broadway’s “Playbill.” The artist also served as President of both the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) and the National Cartoonists Society (NCS), and remains the only person to receive both honors.
Read the rest of their obituary
UPDATE: An individual of his reputation is going to get main stream media attention. I’ll link to some of the larger news orgs.
LA Times: Jerry Robinson, key creator behind the Joker and Robin, dead at 89
Hollywood Reporter: Batman Artist Jerry Robinson Dies at 89
NY Times: Jerry Robinson, Godfather of a Comic-Book Villain, Dies at 89
So sad to hear the news. He was a great guy to chat with.
R.I.P. Mr. Robinson
Jerry was a personal friend and a great talent. His contributions to the profession are too numerous to count and he will be greatly missed. Profound sympathies to his wife, Gro, and their son, Jens.
What a giant in our profession. He represented the pinnacle of our cartooning. Not only did Jerry help create Robin in Batman , but he alone created the Joker , one of the great villains of all time. Along with the many books he wrote or the organizations he started , In the 70’s when the Superman movies started he fought to get the creators of Superman ,Siegel and Shuster, to recieve the honor , financially and creatively ,that they richly deserved . It was all because of Jerry. What a giant we’ve lost Mike Peters
Jerry was one of the GREATS if not THE greatest….and will be missed…!
Clearly one of the all time greats. I enjoyed talking about our Batman connection with him at the Reubens.
Very sad news indeed. What a great talent and influence we have all lost.
Wow! 89 years old … Cartooning, Mother Nature’s secret Fountain of Youth!
One of a small handful of cartoonists I was truly star-struck meeting. RIP, Jerry.
What the heck is posting #6? Get this Pratik Kumar permanently banned from the Daily Cartoonist comments board. For crying out loud….!
Sad news, met him as an editorial cartoonist, later I found out he was THE Jerry Robinson from Batman, he promised to draw something for me at some point, some years later, in one of the AAEC gatherings, he came to me and say ” I have something for you” it was a nice Joker&Batman drawing, may he rest in peace.
Jerry Robinson fans might also enjoy this November 2010 Mr. Media audio interview with the legendary comic book artist, editorial cartoonist and international human rights crusader: http://www.mrmedia.com/?p=1092 .
Jerry had a great run and was always a pleasure to talk to. I interviewed him back in Ye Twentiethe Centurie at his apartment on Riverside Drive for Cartoonist PROfiles I think. I was just some kid and he couldn’t have been nicer.
Great guy, endlessly creative and worked apparently in just about every field open to cartoonists! What a great legacy he leaves.