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Jan Kruis

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Johannes Andries “Jan” Kruis
Born(1933-06-08)8 June 1933
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died19 January 2017(2017-01-19) (aged 83)
Mantinge, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Area(s)Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
Notable works
Jack, Jacky and the Juniors
AwardsOrder of the Netherlands Lion (1996)
www.janjans.nl.nu/info/jan-kruis

Johannes Andries "Jan" Kruis (Dutch pronunciation: [jɑŋ ˈkrœys]; 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In 2013 his career was celebrated in a one-off glossy-zine; this includes previously unpublished gags of a comic about an infant punk raised by a gay couple; hence the nickname "Jan, Jan en de Kinderen" ("Jack, Jack and the Juniors").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

  1. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  2. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  3. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  4. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  5. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  6. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  7. ^ "Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia".
  8. ^ "'Strips Jan Kruis zo Hollands als kaas, koeien en klompen' | NOS". 20 January 2017.