Robert Kraus

Robert Kraus was born on June 21, 1925, and died on August 7, 2001. An American children’s author, illustrator, cartoonist, and publisher, he is best known for his long-running tenure at *The New Yorker*, where he contributed hundreds of cartoons and nearly two dozen covers over fifteen years. Kraus later shifted his focus to children’s literature, writing and illustrating more than 100 books. He also founded Windmill Books, which became an imprint of Simon & Schuster, publishing many additional titles. His work often featured determined animal protagonists who persevered despite challenges—a theme rooted in his own early life. In comics, Kraus contributed as an artist, inker, and writer across a dozen issues between 1945 and 1990, with his most credited titles including *Thunder Mace*, *Stephen Darklord, the Survivor*, *Army & Navy Grins*, and *Thundermace: The Telling of the Legend*. His legacy endures through his prolific output and the gentle, resilient spirit of his characters.