2025年5月

Flipsiders, let me introduce you to a beast. An absolute beast of an artist, Katsuhiro Ōtomo, He is best known as the creator of Akira, both the original 1982 manga series and the 1988 animated film adaptation. He was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2005, promoted to Officier of the order in 2014, became the fourth manga artist ever inducted into the American Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2012, and was awarded the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government in 2013. Otomo later received the Winsor McCay Award at the 41st Annie Awards in 2014 and the 2015 Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême, the first manga artist to receive the award.  Katsuhiro Otomo was born in Tome, Miyagi Prefecture and grew […]

Clarence Matthew Baker (December 10, 1921 – August 11, 1959) was an American comic book artist best known for drawing early comics heroines such as the costumed crimefighter Phantom Lady, and romance comics. Active in the 1940s and 1950s Golden Age of comic books, he is the first known African-American artist to find success in the comic-book industry. He also penciled an early form of graphic novel, St. John Publications’ digest-sized “picture novel” It Rhymes with Lust (1950).  His influence can be seen in artists such as Dave Stevens and Adam Hughes. Baker was born December 10, 1921, in Forsyth County, North Carolina.  At a young age he relocated with his family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and after

A Flipside Inspiration Milton Caniff, often referred to as “the Rembrandt of comic strips,” was an American “adventure” cartoonist famous for his long-running comic strips, Terry and the Pirates and Steve Canyon. Unable to pursue his desire to join the military due to a medical condition, Caniff also used his artistic talents to contribute to the morale of U.S. troops during World War II with the creation of Male Call, an adventure comic strip featuring soldiers, which was available exclusively to members of the armed forces. Born in Hillsboro, Ohio, Caniff began drawing in kindergarten. While a student at Stivers High School, he created cartoons for local newspapers. It was also at Stivers where he