John Adcock – RIP

Comics scholar and illustrator John Adcock has passed away.

From the Obituary:

On June 1, 2024, John Kenneth Adcock of Edmonton, Alberta, passed away peacefully at the age of 74 years.

Born in Nelson, BC in May 1950 and raised in Trail, BC, he was a cartoonist, illustrator, storyteller, and blogger. He was a huge lover of music and books, nature and animals. He illustrated a children’s book with Lawrie Peters in 1975 called Ronald and the Dragon. He spent numerous years in the early 80s airbrushing vehicles and signs in and around Edmonton. Sharing his vast knowledge since 2003, he started numerous platforms on the worldwide web, which grew into his greatest success: Yesterday’s Papers, his historiography of comics, cartoons, penny dreadfuls and dime novels. Online since early 2008, his incredible research was widely praised by experts and scholars.

A highly respected and long time comics researcher and historian John’s Yesterday’s Papers is a must-read for anyone interested in 19th and early 20th Century cartooning and, as the obit mentioned, penny dreadfuls and dime novels. Though he was known to discuss more modern comics. And had an interest in animation.

Yesterday’s Papers Archive and John’s Punch in Canada site provide even more Adcock comic research.

Folk, Country, Bluegrass and Roots Music were also among John’s interests.

John’s passing is a major loss to the field of comics research and he will be missed.

Condolences to John’s family and friends.