Cartoonist Par Holman RIP

I didn’t know cartoonist Par Holman very well. Back in my cartooning days, we met at various comic con get-togethers like the San Diego Con or the Bay Con. We corresponded a bit and traded sketches (we probably appeared in print together a few times). 

But I knew of him most of my life—at least since I was a middle schooler.

We came from the same planet of impassioned, nerdy, comic fans.

As with so many figures in the early days of geeky comics fandom, long before comic book shops, comic book conventions, cosplay, podcasts and Instagram, like minded folks got together by way of purple-inked mimeographed publications know as fanzines.

I first became aware of Par (then Parley) Holman by way of Fighting Hero Comics #12 (1964).

As suggested by the cover Dimension Man --amazingly originated in 1961 -- was from Holman’s earlier fanzine Spotlight (I never saw that one).

An ad from Rocket’s Blast Comicollector #35 (1965) for “Never to Be Forgotten” #1 (RBCC was a ‘major’ fanzine of the day boasting a press run of 650 copies !)

By way of these fanzines, I became familiar with people who seemed to remain present for the rest of my life, many became artists, writers, editors….

I met Par in the probably the late 1970’s, certainly by the beginning of the 1980’s.

This I know because I have surviving correspondence and sketches from him.

He was a nice guy, very accessible--- and a very good cartoonist.

Par Holman at his "Basil Wolverton" finest at the SD Com 1983

Around the time we met, he became an active, major (if you will) presence in the mini-comics movement.

He produced handfuls of titles and contributed to many mini-anthologies including Noo Toons, Lil New Wavers, Par Holman's Secret Files, Vault of Humor, Copy This!, Santa Punk, History and Techniques of Surrealism and on and on.

Beyond the mini world he had worked in commercial art and contributed writing and art to various comic books and magazines including Ardvark, Dr. Wirtham's Comix & Stories, Our Story Thus Far, Graphic Fantasy, Promethean Enterprises and Treasury of Mini Comics.

For more information on Par holman check out:

The Minicomix Revolution 1969-1989 by Bruce Chrislip

and the Poopsheet Foundation:

Poopsheet Foundation

https://www.poopsheetfoundation.com/index.php/list-alpha/m