10 Comic Book Creators Who Died In 2019
6. Monkey Punch - April 11, 2019
Kazuhiko Katō, who was professionally known as Monkey Punch, passed away in April at the age of 81 following a bout with pneumonia. Though he worked in the industry for decades, he's best known for his critically-acclaimed series, Lupin III in 1967, which has been adapted into anime, video games, and a live-action film.
Katō enjoyed drawing as a child but didn't consider it as a career until he was recruited by Futabasha to draw a comic strip called yonkoma. He became a professional manga artist in 1965, though he wrote under his real name (using different characters). He made his writing debut with Playboy School, using a different pen name before he finally took on Monkey Punch, which would remain with him for the rest of his life.
Initially, Katō didn't like the name, but after Lupin III rose to international success, he was stuck with it. Lupin III was adapted into just about every type of medium possible, and he even directed the 1996 film, Dead or Alive, based on the books.
Katō participated in numerous lectures and events relating to the artform, including one on the "interaction of manga and culture throughout the world" at the Freer Gallery of Art in 2007. He was well-known and highly regarded in the industry, and his passing affected millions of fans all over the world.