Joe Edwards, 1921-2007

Joe Edwards, an artist from comics' initial period of great popularity perhaps best known for his creation "Li'l Jinx" and the comic of the same name in which she starred, died on February 9 at age 85.

After being educated in art and following a brief career in animation, Edwards caught on with Dell and Timely during the early 1940s, a period known for the American comic book's initial infatuation with funny animal comic books. His work at MLJ, the company that would later become Archie, included back-up features that appeared in the eventual company namesake's early issues. When by the Post-WWI period funny animals faded slightly in favor of teen comics like Archie, Edwards created Li'l Jinx, a stylishly drawn figure that presaged the next decade's fascination with precocious, emotionally driven and intellectually cognizant children. The popular kids' feature was a perennial back-up and had its own comic in the mid-1950s and again in the early 1970s. Mark Evanier notes that Edwards had a particular talent for fill-in gag pages, and could be counted on by Archie to provide fill-in work in a dependable fashion. Edwards worked by himself on most of his material. Edwards retired in the late 1980s.

He is survived by a wife of 63 years, two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren. Services were yesterday in West Babylon, New York.

Mark Evanier
Mike Lynch
 
posted 8:10 pm PST | Permalink
 

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