Robert K. Bindig passes as at 87

Alan Gardner November 9, 2007 1 minute 4 comments

Bob Bindig's Mischievous Twin Bears comic from WWII
Robert “Bob” Bindig, the artist for the comic strip Big Boy from 1985 to 1995 passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87. Bob was drafted into World War II where he served in the Pacific theater from 1943 to 1946. According to the Veterans History Project, he was assigned to the Psychological Warfare Detachment and spent much of his time in Korea where he spent ran the art department. As far as Psychological warfare is concerned, this was no Dick Cheney type warfare, for Bob spent most of his time drawing propaganda leaflets, cartooning for newspapers and during postwar Korea, he created a wordless comic strip called The Mischievous Twin Bears (pictured above) for “Korean children aching for diversion.”

I was warned never to volunteer for anything in the army but I ignored this advice and when they asked was anyone an artist I raised my hand for I was a commercial artist in civilian life.

You can see an archive of his artwork (mostly cartoons on envelopes sent home) over on the Library of Congress’ web site.

Back in civilian life he became an advertising art director. Retiring in 1985, he illustrated the Big Boy comic strip until his next retirement in 1995. He was also a comics historian.

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Comments ⁴

Dawn

Interesting life.

It took me a minute to realize the frames are running right to left! I can see why Korean children liked this. Cool that they did it.

Pab Sungenis

And very subtle propaganda, too. Note the sickle (as in “hammer and…”) and how trying to use it hurts the one bear.

Has anyone ever attempted a proper study of American propaganda through the centuries?

Allan Holtz

And another of the great comic strip fans and collectors (not to mention pretty fine cartoonist) leaves us. Bob and I carried on an occasional correspondence for many years, and he was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever (not) met. My condolences to his family.

Allan Holtz

Rob Stolzer

I would echo Allan’s comments. Bob was simply wonderful; a real mensch. I knew Bob for many years, finally getting to meet Dorris and him at Ohio State University’s cartoon conference in 2001. He was as wonderful in person as he was on the phone or in letters. He shall truly be missed.

Rob

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