Anthony Horton, 1968-2012



Anthony Horton, the New York City man whose story of living in tunnels beneath the city and unlikely friendship with a children's book illustrator became the subject of the graphic novel Pitch Black, died on February 5 in a fire in one of the rooms he kept underground.

Horton was raised in New York's foster care system after being given up by his parents.

In 2004 he struck up an extended conversation with the artist Youme Landowne during a series of subway rides around the city. Their friendship and Horton's unique experiences in carving out living space for himself underground led to the 2008 graphic novel from El Paso's Cinco Puntos Press. Horton and Landowne are both credited for the story; Landowne made the art. While it was conceived of as an all-ages book, Landowne expressed hope in interviews supporting the work that adults, particularly those that ride the subways, might take notice of the book and its subject matter.

An artist in is own right, Horton was in jail from 1990 to 1991 and then again from 1999 to 2003 for crimes related to assault; he was actually incarcerated at the time the book was released for possession of stolen property. His collaborator described Horton's existence at the time in terms of it being a continuing struggle against addiction and despair.

According to the Times article, Horton's final resting place was a home he created for himself in a space "about 150 feet north of the Queens-bound platform at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue."

Anthony Horton was 43 years old.
 
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