Will Elder, R.I.P.

According to Mark Evanier’s website , Will Elder, one of the founders of MAD magazine and a longtime collaborator with Harvey Kurtzman, has died. No details are known, but he has been in a nursing home for some time now and his passing was not unexpected.

The man was a formative influence to my entire generation, on as primal a level as Ray Charles and Captain Kirk. You have been shaped by his sensibilities whether you’re aware of it or not. The world is sudenly less funny.

Aw, damn.

But, of course, his Spirit lives on.

Sigh. The passing of a great cartoon artist is always sad, there are so few of them left.

That’s Will Eisner. (D. 2005.)

Here’s some biographical info on Elder, along with some samples of his work for Mad.

Another sample here.

STAKE-
OUT!

DOMM
DA DOM
DOMM

There are several “Little Annie Fanny” cartoons here (NSFW, of course):

h ttp://www.animationarchive.org/2008/05/will-elder-1921-2008.html

One of the true greats. I’ll never forget coming across a compilation of Mad called The Mad Reader in 1961. It was my first introduction to Harvey Kurtzmann, Will Elder, Jack Davis and others. I almost died laughing that day.

Thank you, Mr Elder. RIP.