I forget who it was but I remember a day not that long ago when someone who wrote or drew comic books passed away and that passing was noted with an actual obit in The New York Times. I was at some comic convention and a bunch of us got to naming other, more important comic creators who'd died with no mention whatsoever in the Times or other mainstream papers. I don't think the deaths of Syd Shores or Bill Everett got much or any attention there. When someone finally did eulogize a comic book guy — and not for his hand in a character like Superman or Batman, known from another medium — it was an important marker. It said that comic books were no longer a fringe art form and were being recognized as a significant one.
That's all a lead up to my observation that another marker may be coverage of the death of someone who didn't write comic books but wrote about them. I can't think of anyone else that was true of before this nice obit for our friend Tom Spurgeon in The New York Times. And yes, its author George Gene Gustines is well-versed and already knew all about Tom. I'm just saying it matters that the loss of someone like Tom now belongs in the obit section of the Times. I'd like to think Tom would have noted the new attitude.
And speaking of Tom, his blog The Comics Reporter now has up a lengthy, well-researched piece about him written by Douglas Wolk. The piece notes that Tom's website will be preserved online in several venues but don't take a chance. Go read Wolk's piece there now.