Jim Unger

Jim Unger
Born (1937-01-21)21 January 1937
London, England
Died 26 May 2012(2012-05-26) (aged 75)
Saanich, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation Cartoonist
Nationality Canadian
Period 1974–1992
Genre Comic strips

Jim Unger (21 January 1937 – 26 May 2012) was a British Canadian cartoonist, best known for his syndicated comic strip Herman which ran for 18 years in 600 newspapers in 25 countries.[1]

Early life

Unger was born in London, England, to Lillian Maud and James Unger.[2] Unger served in the British Army, was enrolled as a London bobby, and worked as an insurance clerk and a repo man[3] before emigrating to Canada in 1968 at the suggestion of one of his sisters.[2][4] In Mississauga, Ontario he began his career as a cartoonist at the Mississauga Times newspaper. In 1974, as Herman became popular, Unger moved from Mississauga to Ottawa, Ontario, bringing his parents and brother from Britain.[1][5]

Retirement and return

Unger moved to the Bahamas in 1984 and retired as a cartoonist in 1992. Unger's friends encouraged him to give up retirement. He said he would not have suggested it himself, but he liked the idea. On 2 June 1997, Herman made a comeback under the United Media umbrella.[6] "It gives me the opportunity to bring them up to date and to introduce Herman to a new generation," he said in the 31 May 1997, edition of the Detroit News. He did not expect to return to full-time cartooning but planned to add new material. Unger signed a long-term contract to bring ten years of classic Herman back to newspapers.[7] He returned to Canada in his last years, settling in Saanich, British Columbia.[8]

Intraca

Unger was a co-founder of Intraca with David Waisglass, creator of Farcus. Intraca uses the humour of popular cartoons and motivational quotes to inform and boost employees with "positive daily business messages" on their computers. Herman characters are also found on workplace posters promoting safety and improved production.[1]

Books

In 1990, Herman became the first newspaper cartoon syndicated in East Germany. Shortly afterward, Unger produced a new book, Herman: Over the Wall. He joked, "Six months later the (Berlin) Wall came down; I think that's what did it."[1]

Awards

Unger received the National Cartoonists Society's Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award twice (1982, 1987).

Death

Unger died in his sleep at his residence in Saanich, British Columbia after a period of ill health. He was predeceased by his brother Bob, who was a major influence for the Herman comic.[5] Unger was survived by his two daughters, Karen Gooda and Jenny Hopkins, and four grandchildren as well as two sisters,[5] Deborah and Shirley who were living in Canada, and brother Steve who was living in the UK.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 McLeod, Susanna (4 May 2001). "Jim Unger, Creator of Herman". TheCartoonists.ca. Retrieved 5 June 2011. External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. 1 2 Hawthorn, Tom (2 June 2012). "Cartoon everyman's exposure to ridicule made Herman universally appealing". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.universaluclick.com/comics/panel/herman
  4. ↑ CTV News: "Jim Unger, creator of 'Herman' comic strip, dead at 75", 30 May 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Herman creator Jim Unger dies in his sleep". Hamilton Spectator. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  6. ↑ "'Herman' ends retirement (sort of)". Telegraph Herald. 20 May 1997. p. 3. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  7. ↑ Detroit News, 31 May 1997.
  8. 1 2 Zilio, Michelle (31 May 2012). "Jim Unger, creator of Herman cartoon, dies at 75". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 3 June 2012.

External links

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