John Severin: 1921-2012

A quick word about John Severin, the prolific illustrator best known for his work with EC Comics and Cracked magazine, who died Sunday at the ripe old age of ninety: Many spoons ago I dreamt of having my own fruitful career as a comic book scribbly person, and Cracked was one of the publications I poured over like sacred religious text. Severin’s work in particular affected me; the detail the guy could convey was absolutely something I aspired to in my own doodlings. It was always such a rush to spot a new issue on the newsstand bearing one of his Sylvester P. Smythe illustrations. John brought a lot of joy into my world, and while I’m sad he’s no longer with us, at least he had a long, seemingly satisfying professional life.