Ziggy comic creator Tom Wilson Sr. has passed away from complications relating to pneumonia, he was 80-years-old. Wilson’s family announced the comic creators passing on Monday.
While the Ziggy character has remained a newspaper mainstay for decades it has been Tom Wilson Jr. who has been penning the Ziggy character since 1987 when he took over responsibilities from his dad.
According to Wilson Jr. his father moved into a Cincinnati nursing home eight years ago to be closer to his family.
The former American Greetings card employee first published Ziggy in 1969 in a cartoon collection titled “When You’re Not Around” by 1971 Ziggy was featured in 15 newspapers. Today Ziggy appears in more than 500 daily and Sunday newspapers.
When asked what Ziggy stands for Wilson Jr. said:
“Ziggy is a last-in-line character” and “The last picked for everything and kind of a lovable kind of loser character.”
I’ve enjoyed the Ziggy comic strip since I was a child as many other American’s have, my condolences go out to his family, I’m just happy to know that Ziggy will continue entertaining his fans thanks to Tom Wilson Jr.
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