RIP Joe Gill (?)

[Rob Allen]

I've seen several third-hand reports of the death of longtime Charlton Comics scripter Joe Gill. This news was apparently posted on a Charlton fan list by artist Frank McLaughlin, who got the info second-hand himself. No more details are available at this time.

[Lone Ranger]

Joe Gill is one of those creators about whom I know nothing, which is off considering I must have read a couple hundred of his stories.

He may not be Alan Moore or Stan Lee, but he played an important role in comic book history. His prolific work helped to keep Charlton afloat and everyone knows that it's nice to have an alternative to the Big Two.

My condolences to his family and friends.

I believe he was the co-creator of several of the Charlton Action Heroes.

Thanks for the info, Rob.

[Sir Tim Drake]

Assuming this news is accurate, it is sad news indeed. Joe was an important and extremely prolific writer, even if, as Scott says, he was not a particularly great one.

There was an interview with him in Comic Book Artist vol. 1 #9, incidentally.

May he rest in peace.

[benday-dot]

I've read that Joe Gill frequently turned out over a 100 pages of comic book script day. He was perhaps the single most prolific writer in the business. What he meant to the Lone Ranger's and other's beloved Charlton was, as aptly stated above, provide the daily oxygen that kept the old Connecticut house going through flood, lean times, and happy obscurity.

Above all, Joe Gill provided for me, whose only read but the smallest amount of that prodigious ouput others here have had the greater pleasure of, some of the most fun I've encountered in reading a comic book.

That big old and love lorn ape Konga is somewhere shedding one more tear for the guy who surely put more love than we might know into the little company that could.

[jam]

I *hope* this isn't true. If it is, sad news indeed.

I've just finished reading the Joe Gill interview in a recent Charlton Spotlight.

It's clear to me he was a very gifted and talented writer who could, and did, turn his hand to just about anything and deliver the goods.

[Shaqui]

I gather from Chris Irving that Joe Gill had been ill for some time, and in and out of hospital - I think he was well into his 80s - so even though it saddens me to say so, it was not entirely unexpected...

:(

[Cei-U!]

Mark Evanier (http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_01_16.html#012760) has confirmed that Joe is indeed gone. Rest well, Mr. Gill.

Cei-U!
I summon the loss!

[Lone Ranger]

Thanks for the update, Kurt.

Mark continues to provide an invaluable service to the comic book fan community with his thoughtful and well-written obituaries.

[Kirk G]

Mark Evanier (http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2007_01_16.html#012760) has confirmed that Joe is indeed gone. Rest well, Mr. Gill.

Cei-U!
I summon the loss!

A very nice summary by Mr. Evanier. He does a good job paying tribute to all kinds of comic artists and does research until he's got the story right!:)
Hense, my signature file...

[Reptisaurus!]

Awwww man. Very sad.

The man who brought us Reptisaurus is gone, huh?

He's my absoulte favorite of the straight-ahead pulp style writers. I mean, sure it was quality over quantity, sometimes but when he was ON (like in Reptisaurus and Gorgo, and Konga) he had this straightforward, hell-bent-fer-leather enthusiasm that was just increddibly fun to read. And sometimes you could tell there was this wicked sense of humor kind of lurking behind his scripts:

I'm paraphrasing Reptisaurs # 3 here. Two aliens are getting ready to destroy earth:

First Alien: HEY! Earl! Ready the Death Ray Cannon!
Second Alien: You got it Roger!