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I heard about Dave’s passing on Facebook today and found brief coverage at The Beat. I typed up a few comments on my timeline, copied below, but I hope there will be more coverage elsewhere. You can read more at his Wikipedia page.

Photo: Heidi McDonald

“Rest in peace to ink artist Dave Hunt (1942-2017) He was an ink assistant for Giacoia, Esposito and especially Joe Sinnott for many years before graduating to solo inking jobs in the bronze-age. I only met him 1-2 times at the now-defunct Ramapo NY High School comic cons in the ’90s. We talked briefly and he was a decent guy who I sadly didn’t get an autograph from. But his work over John Byrne and others on Marvel Team-Up and miscellaneous projects left a good impression on me and others.”

The following press release was released today at First Comics News:

(New Bedford, MA/USA—January 7, 2016) Legendary “Bronze-Age” comic-book artist Rich Buckler (Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Thor, creator of Deathlok, et al.) has agreed to support the artform of inking by joining the ranks of professional ambassadors for the Inkwell Awards inking advocacy.

Rich Buckler

In a statement, Buckler said:
“Let’s hear it for the ink artists of the comics! And they are artists. And you know, I have so many favorites! I will even go so far as to say that a capable and skillful inker is, for pencil artists, a veritable treasure. I have written a lot about inkers and the craft of inking comics. Many pencillers do not appreciate them enough. That’s what I think.
“As a comics industry insider, I have endeavored in my writings on various blogs and websites to increase comics fandom’s awareness of the valuable contributions of these craftspeople who devote their careers to drawing in ink. I sincerely hope I have shed some light on just what these artists contribute to the pencil art and what it is that they actual do.
“I love to collaborate. I always have. And over the years I have had the pleasure to team up with many of the very best! For that I am grateful. Yes, I do also ink my own comic art. But comics, when it comes to the covers and interior art and the sheer magic of the medium, are for the most part a collaborative art.
“So let’s hear it for the comic book inkers!”
Ambassadors have been recruited since the formation of the organization in 2008, starting with artist Adam Hughes and editor Mike Marts. The most recent recruits were author Clifford Meth, writer-artist Jim Starlin and color artist Laura Martin. Members are drawn from various community skills and professions in a display of support and solidarity for the promotion of the art form of comic-book inking.
Season 8 began last summer with a “Help Wanted” announcement to replace departed volunteers from the previous season. “We were able to reorganize and fill some vacant roles and train them on the job over the fall,” said Inkwell Awards director Bob Almond. “We can always use more capable, dedicated people to help build and strengthen our organization, especially with matters related to fundraising. But there were also some advancements in the ranks from those members who’ve been paying their dues.”
Among those is the promotion of artist-writer Mike Pascale to assistant director. Pascale, a committee member since 2013, fills a position left by outgoing assistant director Michael W. Kellar. Besides administrative matters, Pascale handles copy and graphics, proofreading, and assists with fundraising. Joining the committee as contributors are two new members recruited from last fall’s membership drive: Rhys G. Evans, who handles website maintenance and has been acting as auctioneer (along with Pascale), and inker John T. Dixon, a disabled veteran who’s taken on the duties of Inker Resources & Database updates, advertising, and Nomination Committee Assistant.
In addition, Holly Black, who portrays the company spokesmodel Ms. Inkwell, is now a senior contributor after attending and fundraising at shows in that role for nearly a year. Daniel Best, a founding committee member, also returns to the organization as a senior contributor after a several month absence.

The press release was released first thing Monday morning at FirstComicsNews following the live event that took place Friday June 19 at the Inkwell Awards’ host show Heroes Con. The 4th Joe Sinnott Inking Challenge book also has it’s own, different report of the results in it.  The only development that changed following the press release being sent to FCN was that Erick Korpi and Michael Kellar did indeed show up and attend the ceremony and accept their silver inkwells. Regrettably, while the full results and related info like statements will be added to the website this summer, there was a problem with recording the ceremony so we do not have a video of it, which is tragic because this was our best ceremony yet. We’ll probably do like five years ago and add the transcript to my speech.  Here is a quick rundown of the winners:

FAVORITE INKER: Victor Olazaba

MOST-ADAPTABLE INKER: Walden Wong

PROPS: Wade von Grawbadger

S.P.A.M.I.: Dan Parsons

ALL-IN-ONE: Fiona Staples

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD (SRA): Bernie Wrightson

JOE SINNOTT HALL OF FAME AWARD: Joe Kubert and Steve Ditko

Scan of a photocopy by Mark Sinnott of Neal’s loose sketch prior to Joe’s embellishment in ink

45 YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Neal with Joe holding the collector’s item at the Rhode Island Comic Con on 11/1/14

Please check out this preview of an exciting and historic donation collaboration between NEAL ADAMS & JOE SINNOTT on a BATMAN blank cover sketch variant for the non-profit INKWELL AWARDS!  They have not been paired up for almost 45 years (and NEVER on Batman) and this epic event is now being authenticated, graded & slabbed by CBCS- Comic Book Certification Service thanks to Inkwell former member and supporter Joe Goulart. This unique collector’s item will run on the Inkwell Awards eBay store on either the week of November 22 or December 6 at this link above so please bookmark it and we will keep you posted!

Trophy lineup from 2011

Click This Link To Vote Now

Ballots have been turned in and nominees tallied by the core committee so now you can meet the various community volunteers who took the time and effort to lend their support to the organization by researching and choosing in their opinion the most qualified and exceptional ink artists who performed in 2012. And congratulations to Robert Haines who will be awarded later this year for a silver inkwell for his five years of consecutive service on the Nomination Committee! Please visit the NomCom 2013 page!