Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Infobox comics creator Johannes Andries "Jan" Kruis (Template:IPA; 8 June 1933 – 19 January 2017) was a Dutch comics artist best known for the family strip Jack, Jacky and the Juniors (Jan, Jans en de Kinderen).[1]
Biography
He began creating comics as a child. Later he worked for the Dutch comics pioneer Marten Toonder. Kruis started his own comics career drawing Prins Freddie for the magazine De Havenloods,[2] but became famous thanks to his series of one-pagers called Jan, Jans en de Kinderen (Jack, Jacky and the Juniors). It first appeared in the woman's magazine Libelle on December 12, 1970. In German-speaking Switzerland it appeared in the magazine Spick which targeted children and teenagers; and in Germany Favorit published it for some time under the name "Ulli, Ulla und die Kinder". He also had a gag comic named Gregor running in Tintin, between 1965 and 1966, which was later reprinted in Pep.[3] Kruis took over Sjors en Sjimmie from Frans Piët in 1969 and modernized the characters, including a less stereotypical depiction of Sjimmie's black features. The series was later taken over by Jan Steeman.[4]
He was furthermore active as an illustrator of novels, magazines, advertisements and record covers.[5]
Kruis received the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 1996.[6] Two years later he retired.[7] Daughter Andrea Kruis has followed in her father's footsteps.
In 2013 his career was celebrated in a one-off glossy-zine; this includes previously unpublished gags of a comic about an infant punk raised by a gay couple; hence the nickname "Jan, Jan en de Kinderen" ("Jack, Jack and the Juniors").
Jan Kruis died in his hometown Mantinge (Drenthe) at the age of 83.[8] On 20 January 2017, a good friend of the family informed the press about his death on the previous day.
See also
Sources
External links
- Template:Official website
- https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm
- http://www.libelle.nl/lifestyle/interview-jan-kruis