Mike Gersher was formerly an artist on the
Blondie comic strip. He started being credited as the head artist in late December 1981, after the death of the long serving
Jim Raymond
James Crossley Raymond (February 25, 1917 – October 14, 1981) was an American comic strip artist and the younger brother of ''Flash Gordon'' artist Alex Raymond. He was also the great-uncle of actors Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon.
Biography
Born ...
. Gersher had assisted Raymond for about seventeen years, originally as a trainee assistant but later becoming responsible for complete artwork. They met in 1963 after Gersher won a national cartooning contest.
[Observer-Reporter - Jul 20, 1984] Raymond's health began to fail around 1979,
and it is almost certain that Gersher was handling the majority of the strip from about April 1981.
He began signing the strip on the 28th of December of that year.
Gersher's early solo strips bore a close resemblance to those of Jim Raymond, albeit with a slightly looser drawing style. Although few exact details are known, Gersher's time as lead artist did not run smoothly. He had to rely heavily on assistants, notably future head Blondie artist
Denis Lebrun, who was soon brought in to ink backgrounds and improve the lettering.
[Moriaty, William]
"Interview with Denis Lebrun"
(Part one). ''La Floridiana''. September 12, 2002.
In 1984 Gersher was replaced by
Stan Drake, although Drake did not begin to sign the strip until some time in 1985.
References
American comic strip cartoonists
American comics artists
Living people
Blondie (comic strip)
Year of birth missing (living people)
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