Though his name may not be as well known as that of Stan Lee or Joe Kubert, Fantagraphics co-publisher Kim Thompson was a giant in the world of comics. A huge fan, he met future partners Gary Groth and Michael Catron after moving to America and encountering their zine, The Comics Journal. Becoming more and more integral over time, when Fantagraphics began publishing comics in 1981, Thompson was involved with every part of the company.
In the 30 years since, he worked on everything from selecting books to shepherding new authors and working in production. He translated multiple European comics, brought us Stan Sakai and Usagi Yojimbo, and showed his love for the medium in everything he did.
“He was my partner and close friend for 36 years,” Groth says. “I can’t truly convey how crushing this is for all of us who’ve known and loved and worked with him over the years.”