Kim Thompson

Kim Thompson was born on September 25, 1956, and died on June 19, 2013. An American editor, translator, and publisher, he is best remembered as the vice president and co-publisher of Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books. Alongside co-publisher Gary Groth, Thompson used his platform to champion alternative comics in the United States, while also making it his personal mission to introduce American readers to the work of European cartoonists. His career in comics spanned from 1978 to 2017, during which he was credited as a letterer and writer on 76 issues. His most frequent credits include *The Comics Journal*, *Critters*, *Alraune*, *The Nimrod*, *Measles*, and *Talk Dirty*. Thompson’s legacy is defined by his quiet but essential role in expanding the horizons of American comics, both by publishing groundbreaking domestic work and by translating and editing key European titles.