Memorial service for John Lent on May 26

 From his son, Shahnon Lent:

If you wish to send condolences or flowers, the memorial service is being held at Ruffenach Funeral Homes on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 6-8 p.m. Their address is 4900 Township Line Road, Drexel Hill, PA 19026.

Remembering John Lent, part 5: In Cuba with Marlene Pohle (2000)

 

 

It´s certainly not easy to think a Cartoon-and Comic World without our dear friend John Lent. We from FECO will also publish articles and caricatures from here and there with John. In IJOCA Vol 20, N° 2 Fall/ Winter 2018 appeared a sequence from different meetings I wrote, also illustrated with caricatures, and all had something to do with John: "A Cartoonist Chronicler of Cartoonists´Confabs," According to that I send you my sketch from Cuba 2000, a story that John liked very much to repeat each time we met. Big hugs and my condolences also to his family. 

Marlene Pohle
FECO Vice president general

CUBA 2000 -- Second Dedeté Biennial in Havana: “A Cuban Story with Police Included”

by Marlene Pohle

excerpted from "A Cartoonist Chronicler of Cartoonists’ Confabs," IJOCA 18:1 2018 

When in the Spring of 2000 we were invited as members of the jury for the 2nd Biennial Dedeté, in Havana, Cuba was just coming out of the Special Period. The expectations that preceded this visit to our dreamed Cuba of the Revolution with all its problems and its yearnings, was enormous, but several months passed until our presence on the island was confirmed. Those were years when, in addition to the bureaucratic apparatus, Internet technology was not as diversified as it is today. Especially, since in the building of the newspaper Juventud Rebelde was the only fax machine, that depended on a single telephone number. Email and all the other current media were not available.

 Many guests were invited from different countries; some of us as jury members.There were from Cuba and Latin America: Caridad Blanco, Picho, Jape, Tomy, Pilozo, Ruz, Osmani Simanca, Jorge Ocampo, Andrea Rodríguez and Martha Barragán. Furthermore, Willem Rasing and Peter Nieuwendijk from Netherlands, Marlene Pohle from Germany/Argentina, John A. Lent from U.S., Brian Bagnall from Germany. The organizing committee was formed by Ares, Garrincha, and Lauzán. We can not forget our drivers Santos and Abel, who rushed us with a nice “Que se va la guagua!” (The bus is going!).

 

We visited some interesting exhibitions. In this way, we met Tomy, or Tomy Rodriguez, one of the most prestigious Cuban artists of the moment. He died a few years ago. It was very interesting to hear his comments, obviously very Latin American, about his own works and those he made with his students. In the 1990s, when Cuba lacked everything, he went with his students to find discarded material, cardboard, metal pieces, old fabrics, acrylics, etc. to carry out their works. With this he showed that what matters is the idea and the desire to create, no matter what you work with. 

Some days were dedicated to lectures with the editors of different humor periodicals from Latin America, Spain, Italy, U.S., and FECONEWS. Another day was dedicated to a visit to the Museo del Humor de San Antonio de los Baños, a traditional and important institution with many rooms and an interesting heritage in cartoons. This museum and the biennial already occupy an important space in the world of cartooning.

The most incredible story happened to us one night when, before going to sleep in our “Social Club,” we sat in the patio next to an empty and abandoned pool, in the moonlight to chat and drink beer and a bottle of gin brought by our Dutch colleagues. We were Andrea Rodríguez, Peter and Peggy Nieuwendijk, John A. Lent, Willem Rasing, Jorge Ocampo, another of our Dutch friends, and me. A Cuban girl attended our table, the only one occupied, by the way.

Some drank more than others, as often happens, and after midnight we went to sleep. I shared the room with Andrea, who quickly fell into the arms of Morpheus and never woke up until the next day

I was also asleep when a knock on the window woke me up scared. I did not know where I was, what was happening, nothing!

The two giant policemen only told me that both Ocampo and the girl were going to be transferred to the police station. But why??? Then I got to see Ocampo half drunk sitting on a bench. The girl cried. Neither she nor Ocampo could get a word out to clarify the situation. At the same time I had to translate to John what was happening, when in reality, nothing was happening except the surreal situation of us being under the Cuban moon in a deserted courtyard, the girl crying, Ocampo drunk, the police trying to finish the story, John in shorts and barefoot, and I trying to know what happened. I asked myself, I can not believe that this is happening to me, to be in Havana in the midst of a conflict with the police of our discussed Fidel. After many sobs, I could understand that the girl was scared because Ocampo had some words with her; we do not know which ones.
 

When I managed to reason (Andrea, as I said, was asleep), I realized that it was John who was asking me for help. “Marlene, please, help!! There are two armed policemen and I do not understand anything! Could you come to translate?” Because of the fright, I do not remember if I put on a pair of pants or a skirt and I went out to the terrace where apparently a drama was being developed, of which we did not understand anything. I saw that John did not care about the clothes because he was dressed in shorts and barefoot. There was the waitress who had served us, in a sea of tears, so much that she could not articulate a word and therefore we did not know what was happening. I started to talk with the policemen, two burly guys as tall as I had not seen any Cuban before. Or was it the amount of clothing and weapons that made them so gigantic?

A phone! We have to call one of the Cubans, Ares or Garrincha! I resolved while I translated to John. But alas! The only phone in that building was in a phone box that, of course, at that time had a huge padlock. Where in this neighborhood is there a phone? Someone told us that about two blocks down the avenue there is a kiosk that will surely be open and will have a telephone. I rummaged through my papers and saw that I had Ares‘ phone number. Salvation!

At that moment, we saw with desperation that the policemen took both the girl and Ocampo. John and I imagined all the possible horrors regarding the fate of our Colombian colleague and the Cuban girl. I could, however, ask them which police section they were taking them to. I think I remember that they said “the 35.” So, just as we were, with improvised clothes and John, always barefoot, we walked down the avenue of coconut trees zigzagging in case a coconut fell on us, until we found the kiosk.

It was open and they lent us the phone! I was able to communicate with Ares‘s wife and I apologized for this call at two in the morning, but she told me not to worry about that. I will never forget this kindness; that she would take care of us and that we go to sleep. We did that; we went back under the coconut trees and went to sleep not without some anxiety. In my room Andrea was still asleep and I do not know if John washed his feet. In the morning at breakfast we told the story. The Dutch looked at us incredulous and the girl -- without tears -- served us coffee. We did not see Ocampo, but when our Cuban colleagues and friends came, they told us they had already arranged everything. Without details. We did not ask for anything either.

 

Remembering John Lent, part 4

Rifas' IGJOCA contribution, updated

 

 I want to write something in memory of John Lent. (This is not it.) I'm about to take a ten-day trip. I hope it will not be too late to add something when I get back.

 I met John in Budapest, thanks to Joe Szabo, and a few days later, as scheduled, presented a paper on his panel in Lake Bled, Yugoslavia. It was at a Communications conference, and since both he and I were part of the academic field of Communications Research, I want to talk about how in that context (in particular, American Communications Research) his work was so unusual in focusing both on global communications and on popular communication.

Amazing to think that with his enormous contributions to comics scholarship, where he not only blazed a trail but paved the foundations, he had other scholarly interests. Asian cinema? Who could have time to read so many subtitles?

One consolation I have is remembering an email exchange in which I told him that an interviewer had asked me about which comics scholars had inspired me, and I had answered simply "John Lent." When inspiring people are gone, it's a nice thing to know that you had told them how you feel about them. I'll take this as a reminder to send more fan mail.

In my review of his book Asian Comics, I called him "a supremely knowledgeable guide to Asian comics, but also a smooth and organized writer": Lent’s 'Asian Comics' a supremely knowledgeable guide - International Examiner. What a massive research effort! And that was just one volume of his astoundingly productive scholarly career.

In the great scheme of things, this planet may not amount to much, but what a gift to have been able to share it with John Lent.

I send condolences.

And since who knows what tomorrow brings, yes, you may post this. 

Leonard Rifas 

---------------------

I never had the pleasure of meeting John Lent in person, but he had an impact on me from afar. Many of my first publishing opportunities were podcast and book reviews in IJOCA. They not only helped give me some publication lines on my CV; they also gave me a sense of the field. Some of the first conferences as a young graduate student studying comics were influenced by Lent in some way (the PCA/ACA and ICAF). I am now a member of ICAF's executive committee and am proud that the Lent Award continues to recognize cutting-edge graduate student scholarship in comics studies. I am grateful for John Lent's contributions to the field and to the opportunities he created for others, like me, to enter into it.

condolences,

Maite Urcaregui, PhD

she/they

Assistant Professor

Department of English & Comparative Literature

San José State University

 -------------

John Lent was a long-time supporter and director of CARTOONISTS RIGHTS and I believe was in touch with Robert "Bro" Russell, our founder from the very beginning. His body of research as a cartoon and comics scholar is world-renowned, and he was always at work on yet another new book, or the latest volume of the International Journal of Comic Art. His expertise, most especially on Asian cartoonists, was a well of wisdom from which I was happy to draw.

I was only ever in his company once, at the beginning of my time with Bro's organization but in the ensuing decade of travel would often meet counterparts in related fields who, even if no-one else, had heard John speak about cartoons at some conference or other, charmed by his "Père Noël" demeanor.

This gentle manner masked a fierce commitment to free expression. It was very apparent in these latter years that John despaired of the direction in which his country was headed.

Our board of directors is greatly diminished without him, and we send sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all the many colleagues around the world who cherished him as a collaborator and mentor.

Terry Anderson, Executive Director, Cartoonists Rights

--------------------

John's value for comics studies is of course enormous. I cannot even imagine the comics field without the IJOCA and the bibliographies he started. But I will especially remember him as an ever curious and supportive grandfather figure. One anecdote can illustrate this: in 2008, after a paper about Bitterkomix I presented at ICAF in Chicago, a critical voice from the audience wanted to know circulation figures of the comics I showed. When this person started to doubt the legitimacy of studying comics with a very small readership, John immediately jumped in to say that he had been in South Africa with me and that circulation figures could never represent the true importance of Bitterkomix in the country. For me, this reaction shows who John was: as a traveler, he had acquired first hand knowledge about many comics cultures worldwide, and as a colleague, he was always supportive and interested.

Gert Meesters, University of Lille, France

-----------------------

I never met John Lent in person, nor did I ever meet him virtually over video. Our connection existed only through written correspondence by email: I was in Cairo, and he was in the United States. It was Mike Rhode who first put us in touch when I contacted him to ask about the possibility of publishing my article, “The Oriental Superheroes,” in IJOCA.

From the very beginning, John represented a side of the publishing world that I had rarely encountered: one that could be generous, humane, and reassuring rather than stressful, rigid, or intimidating. At the time, I was working on the article under immense emotional pressure. My dear grandmother was seriously ill and hospitalized, and it was extremely difficult for me to focus on academic work under such painful circumstances.

When I shared this personal situation with John, he responded with remarkable kindness. He told me that he admired my ability to persevere despite what was happening in my life, and he reassured me that I should not worry about the submission deadline. He said he was interested in my article, and that even if it did not make it into the current issue, it would still have a place in the next one. His words gave me a sense of calm at a time when very little in my life felt calm.

A few days later, my grandmother passed away, which understandably delayed my work further. I wrote to John immediately to explain that I was still trying to finish the article, but that I was in a very difficult situation after losing a beloved family member. Once again, John responded with warmth and compassion. He offered his sincere condolences, acknowledged my willingness to continue working despite my grief, and reassured me that the delay was completely fine, especially since he was traveling at the time and would not be working on the article until the following week.

That is something I will never forget.

Although John knew me only through email, it felt as though he stood by me and offered me a hand at a deeply critical moment. His kindness did not make me take the work less seriously; on the contrary, it made me want to give the article everything I had. I worked on it day and night, with even more care and determination than before, hoping it would become a piece that would make my grandmother proud and reassure me, somehow, that her passing would not hinder the success she had always wanted to see me achieve.

After I submitted the article, I did not hear from John for about a month, so I emailed him to ask about the status of my manuscript. The next day, he replied: “Your paper was accepted. Congratulations!”

That message remains one of the dearest academic memories of my life. It arrived at a time of grief and made that grief a little easier to bear. I remember saying, with all sincerity, “God bless you, John.”

Since then, I have shared this story in many academic circles. I wished that every editor-in-chief could hear it and learn from it. Yes, deadlines matter. Yes, scholarly standards matter. But making room for the real circumstances of people’s lives is an act of humanity. It is the kind of kindness that people remember long after the formal process is over.

When I heard about John’s accident, hospitalization, and the fact that he remained unconscious for some time, I was devastated. I hoped deeply that he would recover, and that I might one day have the chance to meet him, thank him in person, and perhaps work with him again. Sadly, fate did not allow this.

Yet I had been praying for John long before his accident and recent passing. I had been praying for him since my grandmother’s passing in 2021, because of the comfort and compassion he offered me then. Praying now for his soul to rest in peace feels like the continuation of a ritual that began years ago.

May your soul rest in peace, John. Please know that there are people who will carry the story of your kindness wherever they go. IJOCA is not only associated with your name and legacy; for me, it will always also be associated with your humanity, compassion, and commitment to building a scholarly community grounded in care.

Noran Amin, PhD

Assistant Professor of English 

Department of English Language and Literature

Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, Egypt

-------------

I don’t remember exactly when I first met John. He was in Cuba as a jury member for the first biennial cartoon competition hosted by DDT, the famous humor magazine. It was 1998, I think.

From day one, he was El Profesor. His presence was impossible to miss in a crowd, but what truly made him unforgettable were his warmth, his paternal spirit, and his disarming laugh. He was kind, calm, and endlessly helpful to everyone—cartoonists, staff members, their families. And somehow, amid all that, he still found time to interview creators, gather information, and ask thoughtful questions. He seemed tireless.

I learned so much from him and from his publications.

Over the years, I saw him three or four more times—in Cuba, Canada, and at his home in Philly. Every meeting felt like picking up an old friendship exactly where we had left off.

The comics world has lost a devoted scholar.

I have lost a dear friend.

We will miss you terribly, John.

Garrincha

-------------------------------

I was fortunate to know Dr. John Lent through my father, Suresh Sawant, an Indian cartoonist who worked closely with Dr. Lent on IJOCA. My father always spoke highly of Dr. Lent and greatly admired him. I later had the privilege of knowing Dr. Lent personally after coming to the U.S. for higher studies. During one winter break, Dr. Lent and his wife, Xu, warmly invited me to stay with them in Pennsylvania, and I will always remember their extraordinary kindness, generosity, and gracious hospitality.

From shared family meals and heartfelt conversations to the genuine care they showed in making me feel completely at home, those moments remain among the most cherished memories of my life. Dr. Lent was especially proud of his home library, which reflected his lifelong passion for cartoons and journalism, as well as his remarkable dedication to scholarship and learning.

Over the years, we stayed in touch through occasional phone calls, often speaking about life and his health. He always listened with patience, warmth, and sincerity. He was one of the kindest and most wholehearted individuals I have ever known

I feel deeply humbled and truly fortunate to have known Dr. John Lent. He will be profoundly missed.

Sonal Sawant Centofante

------------------------

Thank you, John, for your foundational contributions to comics studies. I hope you know the extent of your work's influence and how long it will be remembered.  

Jennie S Law

Remembering John Lent, part 3: Contributions from China

edited by Xu Ying

 The following pieces have been sent in by John's wife Xu Ying, and are posted directly as received without any editing.  (updated 5/19 9:30 pm to correct the citations by assigning the websites to them]

------------

[John A. Lent evangelist of anime culture in China and Asia and Latin America]

约翰·兰特--------中国与亚洲、拉丁美洲动漫文化的布道者

 https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/SeAhmlU9Ewl3qsG3P8gUHw

 

昨天从大西洋彼岸传来中国动漫界的老朋友约翰·A·兰特（John A. Lent）博士不幸逝世的消息。兰特先生是国际著名传播学者、 漫画与动画研究先驱，半个多世纪以来，为推动国际，特别是亚洲与拉丁美洲各国的传播学、动漫文化的交流与合作的发展，作出巨大的贡献。哲人其萎，精神不死，谨以此文纪念兰特先生。

 

在亚洲和拉丁美洲动漫学术和教育界，提起约翰 A兰特的名字几乎无人不晓。这位身材魁梧，具有学者风度，长着浓浓的长胡子，被许多中国人戏称为马克思的美国博士，成长经历，学术生涯，充分体现了美国的精神与梦想。

 

当他在动漫研究上硕果累累，功成名就后，一次在接受采访的时候，当记者问及他的最大成就时，他略加思索后回答：“我最大的成就，就是走出了那座煤矿小镇”。兰特博士几十年来不仅走出了那个小镇，还走出了美国，走向了世界，他的足迹已经遍布全球50多个国家和地区，而他的学术成就是在亚洲发轫，开花，结果的。

兰特出生在美国宾夕法尼亚州的一个名为东米尔斯波洛荒废的煤矿小镇。在他的记忆中，那是一个非常贫穷、闭塞的小镇，人们终日生活在黑与白的世界里，生活中充满了愚昧、无知，不断的争吵和打斗。他的父亲约翰·兰特（John Lent）在铁路上做工，母亲罗丝 (Rose Marano Lent) 在家照看四个孩子并料理家务。他们全家人挤住在一间没有暖气的屋子里，冬天异常寒冷时，他和弟弟只得相拥而睡，互相靠体温取暖。在那样一个缺乏爱和温暖的地方，作为长子的小约翰感到窒息和绝望。他发奋读书，立志将来要走出这个小镇，成就一番大事业。作为当地少有的品学兼优的好学生， 他获得了俄亥俄大学颁发的安克尔·霍京奖学金（Anchor Hocking Scholarship）。 满心欢喜的父亲用100美元给他买了一身西服，准备了一个简单的行李箱，送他离开家乡上大学。从此他从煤矿走向了另一个世界。

 

 

 

 

兰特博士 许颖 王六一在菲律宾

 

他就读大学新闻系期间，兰特先生与他的室友，一位马来西亚留学生在朝夕相处中建立了深厚的友谊。通过这个同学，他逐渐被略有几分神秘的、历史悠久，丰富多彩的亚洲文化所感染和吸引。他想更多地了解美国以外的世界，想通过自己的学术研究让更多的美国人了解其他地区和国家的文化。

 

1964—1965年他开始走向亚洲，向实现自己的理想迈出了第一步。当时他首次获得富布莱特奖学金（Fulbright Scholarship），在菲律宾马尼拉的德拉萨勒学院（De La Salle College）任新闻系讲师，并参与设立新闻课程。1965年，他又获得了日本东京索非亚大学亚洲研究夏季学院（Sophia University Summer School of Asian Studies）的参与证书。他在亚洲的经历对他的一生产生了巨大的影响。亚洲的文化与他结下不解之缘，在20世纪70年代，他又到马来西亚担任大众传媒教授，从那时起他就开始对亚洲、拉丁美洲和加勒比海地区的动漫进行研究，色彩斑斓，丰富多样的动漫构成了他一生最为辉煌的篇章。

 

 

兰特先生不是一个囿于书斋，穷经皓首，做枯燥学问之人。他云游天下，广交欧亚各国的动漫大师、艺术家，通过与他们的接触交往，获得了许许多多的第一手材料。兰特先生永远都随身带着笔和纸，他有善于提问，勤于写作的良好习惯，他会充分利用任何一次机会进行资料的收集和采访。我曾见到他在早餐时和中国的动漫艺术家进行交流，利用晚上的时间与菲律宾促膝谈心，他对艺术家的心路历程都做了记录。他所掌握的第一手材料使他能够在研究亚洲动漫的历史与现状时能如鱼得水，游刃有余。兰特先生治学方式严谨认真，他所出的书和论文言之有据，旁征博引，他众多的著述和论文都成了许多研究亚洲加勒比海动漫的必备读物和参考书籍。兰特先生具有老式学者的考据之癖，又能紧跟现代动漫的时尚，他守旧又能创新，将亚太动漫的历史与发展尽收眼底，具有开阔的视野和博大的胸襟。

 

兰特博士与土耳其 伊朗 俄罗斯 艺术家评委

 

每次外出他都会尽量的收集各国的动漫书籍杂志报刊，集腋成裘，聚沙成丘。他所收藏的漫画可谓是五花八门，应有尽有，令人有眼花缭乱，美不胜收之感。我曾在一次学术研讨会上见到他为了佐证自己观点，从自己的藏品中展现给观众埃及、古巴和加勒比海地区的漫画，使人们惊讶不已，大开眼界。这只是他的丰富藏品的冰山一角而已，有朋友告诉我，如果要在美国费城查询亚洲和中国的图书资料，他的家庭图书馆则是首选之地，在他家里你不仅有丰富的出版物可供查阅，还能欣赏到大量的讽刺、幽默漫画，这些佳作都出自多年来他采访过的世界各国漫画艺术家为他画的素描和写生之手。兰特博士将这些收藏品视为珍宝，他将一些大师的作品轮流挂在墙上欣赏，这也成了他家的一景。

 

 

通过亲身对亚洲动漫的考察和研究，拥有的资料和书籍，孜孜不倦地进行研究，言传身教，自立门派，他构成了兰特作为一位动漫研究专家、动漫出版家和动漫教育家的地位，他有效地将这三者结合起来，通过对动漫艺术家的评论，出版他们的专著或论文，教学相长，他扶持和培养了一批亚太地区的动漫艺术家。据我所知，我国著名的动漫专家、教授贾否和王雷就是他门下的博士生中的两位。兰特惠及的亚洲中青年动漫艺术家不胜枚举，他获得了大家的尊重和爱戴，伊朗漫画协会主席、著名漫画家马苏德所出的个人专辑，请了兰特先生作序，而马来西亚动漫大师哈桑的专著的跋也出自他的手笔。

 

 

对亚洲动漫的研究，他大有一番舍我而能其谁乎的气概和决心，他每年推出的漫画杂志从编辑出版发行，尽出自他家的作坊。这本每期有500多页的杂志，汇集了全世界动漫研究者和动漫艺术家的有关各个国家和地区的评论、论文和介绍的专业书籍，凝聚了他心血的结晶。

 

兰特博士与中外艺术家

 

兰特博士对亚太动漫的研究，可圈可点的是对中国大陆和中国台湾地区的所下的功夫与取得的成就，早在20世纪80年代他就到中国参加国际会议，并对中国动画的重镇上海美术电影制片厂进行了参观访问。机会是为做好准备的人所提供的，他曾与著名的动漫画家詹同交谈，两次采访动漫大师特伟，也是大漫画家丁聪、方成家的座上客，先后与我国著名的中青年动漫画家结下了友情。他在《亚太动画》一书中发表了对詹同的专访文章，以纪念这位逝去的中国艺术家，在这篇《詹同—中国风格的不懈追求者》一文中，他饱含深情地描述了这位才华出众的艺术家一生的艺术创作生涯。詹同坚持艺术追求，保持民族艺术风格，从传统艺术中汲取养分的观点获得了他的高度评价。兰特博士认为这是中国艺术家应该坚忍不拔走下去的艺术之道。

 

更令人感慨至深的是，兰特博士对动漫的研究还触及了我国尚未充分进行研究的抗战时期漫画动画这一领域，他不仅进行海外推介了我国抗战时期著名的漫画家张光宇、丁聪、华君武等大师的作品，他还发掘出了当年活跃在内地的中国漫画家黄尧的作品《牛鼻子》。这些去掉历史的尘埃，经过他的发现和推介给国际动漫界的早期作品，其艺术价值和历史意义得到了国际动漫界的充分的肯定。兰特先生还寻觅到一批日本侵占中国时期所散发的军国主义漫画，它们已经成了日本人侵略我们的铁证。他对中国动漫的研究范围之广，程度之深，收获之大，令我们感到汗颜。

兰特在亚洲青年动漫大赛

 

兰特博士身体力行，倡导和发起了亚太动漫协会，为亚洲青年动漫大赛的成功举行出谋献策，为亚太动漫交流中心的建立通过他的努力将中国的动漫通过这些平台推向世界。

 

兰特博士还在用他手中的笔不断地谱写着中国传统文化的赞歌，他不仅计划写出“中国漫画家访谈纪实”，将他多年来采访中国漫画家及所了解的中国漫画现状与问题汇集成文，还想充分利用他所收集到的有关中国漫画的资料，撰写《中国漫画》专著，为此，他所采访过的中国漫画家、评论家和艺术家们都热情地给予配合和帮助，他的这一本著作将会使世界了解到中国的动漫、中国的文化。

 

兰特博士半个多世纪一路走来，名至所归。他不愧是中国与亚洲、拉丁美洲动漫文化的布道者。

-----------------

兰特博士是怎样的人 

[Painful Tribute: Dr. John A. Lent]

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/CXeErfO3RvxHuVXNHiyE2g 

郑化改

 

提及美国的兰特博士，中国漫画界和动漫界人士大都知道，他是一位享誉国际漫坛的著名漫画学者。

他作为《国际漫画杂志》主编，自 1999 年开始，十多次来中国，

在该杂志许颖副主编的协助下，采访中国漫画家和动漫专家达 200多人次，在《国际漫画杂志》上撰写专门介绍中国漫画和漫画家的文章达 300 余篇。

他在各类国际漫画会议和活动中，竭尽全力介绍中国漫画发展的历史和中国漫画家，是中美，乃至中国与世界各国漫画界和动漫界相互交流桥梁的建造者。

美国东部时间 2026 年 5 月 16 日下午 2：47 分，他因伤病医治

无效，与世长辞，享年 90 岁。

 

1、实在不想当军官

John A. Lent 兰特博士 1936 年 9 月 8 日出生于美国宾夕法尼亚州一个煤矿小镇，父亲是一位铁路系统的工长。

1954 年 18 岁的他是一所大学里军官培养系的学员。该系的学生学习四年毕业后就是少尉军官。

那时朝鲜战争刚结束不久，他们的教官大都是刚从朝鲜战场上回来的军官。他们在授课时，时常炫耀他们是如何将炸弹准确地投向目标，使得敌方血肉横飞。兰特就想：他们怎么就不想想被炸的人，难道人家就没有妻子儿女和父母双亲吗？

他越想越觉得自己不当这样的军官，下决心主动退出该系，转入新闻系了。 

2、漫画艺术太迷恋

John A. Lent 兰特进入新闻系之后，在各种新闻媒体上发现大量的漫画作品，这些漫画作者的美术功底很深，作品绘制十分精妙，令年轻的兰特倾慕不已，他开始爱上了这门艺术，开始进行了搜集和研究工作，一发而不可收。

毕业后，从 1960 年至 2011 年退休，他在美国多地大学教授新

闻学和大众传播学。从 2005 年至 2026 年，他任中国传媒大学博士生导师；上海大学、吉林动画学院、南京财经大学、青岛电影学院等大学担任客座教授，他重点教授国际动画和漫画艺术。

 

3、培育桃李遍天下

兰特教授的博士生们，持有教授和其他职业职位的遍布全世界，有韩国、日本、中国、台湾、泰国、马来西亚、土耳其、黎巴嫩、印度、也门、肯尼亚等等，虽然他们来自不同国家和地区，但有一个共同点：兰特教授是他们最尊敬的人。他不仅教会他们如何搞研究、做学问，更重要的是教会他们如何做人，做一个好人。兰特教授在他的教学生涯中改变了很多学生的人生命运，帮助了无数的学生就业和升

迁，然而，不管多少人受惠于他，他都一直还是那么朴实、谦逊。

 

 

4、采访足迹遍五洲

兰特教授在世界五大洲的 50 多个国家采访过好几百位动画家和漫画家，收集到很多珍贵的第一手研究资料，这些年来很多他曾采访过的艺术家朋友相继去世，他撰写了很多纪念文章，他的采访资料更成为难得的历史记录。他自 1990 年代[自 2000 年和许颖一起]开始采访中国漫画家和动画家，结交了很多著名的大师级朋友，如在 1930-40 年代的廖冰兄、特伟、张仃、麦非、华君武、丁聪、陈惠龄、江有声、韩尚义；建国前后活跃的漫画家、动画家方成、王复羊、何韦、毕克官 等等。兰特先生通过他的文章将中国动漫大师及其佳作介绍到全世界。他创建、出版和主编

的两本杂志《国际漫画杂志》和《亚洲电影》上发表了许多文章介绍中国动画发展史。他还在很多国际会议上演讲介绍中国漫画家和中国漫画。

 

 

 

5、国际漫坛组织者

兰特教授还积极参加世界各地发起或为提高专业研究水平的各种学术活动， 除了 1998 年他创建并主编的《国际漫画杂志》和始于 1994 年主编的《亚洲电影》，早在 1976 年他就创建了马来西亚、

新加坡、文莱研究小组并在 1975 年创建并编辑了 26 年的《新闻》期刊；1987 至 2001 年，他联合创立了《世界漫画杂志》并兼任责任编辑；从 1994 年至 2011 年，联合创立并担任亚洲电影研究会主席； 从 1996 年至今，创立美国大众文化协会亚洲大众文化协会并担任主席；1984-2016 年创立国际传媒研究协会连环漫画工作组并

担任主席；还是漫画家权力网络国际的长期成员之一。 他也是在乌克兰勒维夫市和意大利佛罗伦萨市三届国际银蝇动画活动周的联合组织者；2007-2017 年中国贵阳亚洲青年动漫大赛的联合创办者和联合主席；任亚太动漫研究协会主席和联合创办人；2007-2008 年他曾连续两届被聘任为美国普利策奖政治漫画奖评委。

 

 

6、获奖频频光灿灿

兰特教授因其服务获得多项嘉奖，如哥伦比亚国际漫画奖“幽默认证”、塞浦路斯金色橄榄幽默服务奖 、秘鲁西米恩奖、西班牙约翰(巴斯马热爱漫画奖)、新加坡亚洲传媒研究协会亚洲传播学奖、中国贵阳（亚洲青年动漫大赛奖）；一部纪念文集；在印度和美国出版的献给他的书籍；书籍和

出版物的部分中描述他的职业生涯（在荷兰、孟加拉、美国、香港）；林(巴塞洛缪杰出学者奖；以他的名字命名的奖项有大众文化协会漫画组约翰 A. 兰特奖、国际漫画论坛约翰 A.兰特奖和马来西亚/新加坡/文莱研究小组约翰 A. 兰特奖，等等。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

兰特博士获得的部分奖状

 

 

7、照料残女四十年

兰特博士与前妻育有五个孩子，1969 年 6 月出生的三女儿丽萨有先天性残疾，生活不能自理，几十年一直由兰特博士独自照顾。兰特博士在担负繁重的教学和组织国际漫画活动之余，他

既当爹又当妈，直至 2013 年 1 月丽萨病故，共计照料 44 年。

 

8、资助贫弱爱满满

兰特博士家的冰箱门上粘贴着许多孩子的照片。这些孩子中有女有男，皮肤有黑、有白、有棕、有黄。年龄大都在 10 岁左右。笔者有机会到兰特博士家时，问他这些都是谁？他答道：这是他资助的多个国家上不起学的孩子，他们的生活费都是兰特博士提供的。

据了解，兰特博士每年都向慈善机构捐款资助贫穷国家的孩子。这些孩子们的照片是受资助孩子们自愿寄给慈善机构后，该机构又转给兰特博士的。

 

9、世上根本没神仙

笔者问兰特博士：“您信仰哪个宗教？”他说：“我哪个宗教

也不信，我不认为除了人性之外，还有一个能制造人、管理人的能量无穷的神仙。

各类宗教中向美向善的思想是值得肯定的。但硬要说有一个神仙，那是不现实的，也是不可能存在的。”

看着他走向书桌的背影，我深刻感到兰特博士有信仰，他信仰的是“真善美”，因而，他在世界各地学生们和粉丝们对他格外的尊重。

 

10、勤奋耕耘撰新篇

兰特博士每天早上 7 点左右就开始坐在写字台前，进入资料整理和写作状态。他一天只吃两顿饭。

笔者问兰特博士：“您平常进行体育锻炼吗？”他淡定地说： “是的，我每天都走路锻炼”。随后他站起来用手势指给我说：“我

的锻炼路线是：从餐厅走到卫生间，再从卫生间走到办公桌，一天要循环反复许多次”。

他说的确实如此。从早到晚，他除了做饭之外就是坐在一楼他的办公桌前读书，记录和翻阅资料卡片，没看到过他看电视。一天，兰特博士指着书房当中的一个书柜告诉我：“这个柜子

里都是我编著的图书”。哇！人们常用“著作等身”来评论一位学者。而我看着这个书柜估算了一下，如果把柜子里的书全部摞起来至少是兰特博士身高的两倍。

这是何等的画面，这是何等的辛劳！这是怎样的学者！ 兰特博士太热爱自己的专业了。88 岁的他在几十年里做了多

少事情啊！他就像一只春蚕，不间断地吐丝，为世人编织着锦绣。

 

 

11、全部书籍捐中国

笔者听说兰特博士要将他所有的图书捐给中国，便问到：“您把图书全部捐赠出去，难道不心疼吗？”他说：“我今年 88 岁了，我不想让它们与我一起死。”他还说：“我把图书全部捐出去之后，我再找个小房子去住，否则，我在这空空的，曾经的书房会不好受的。” 笔者问他：“您为什么不把这些图书捐给美国？”他说： “我与美国国会图书馆和其他几个大学图书馆联系过，他们各自想收藏其中的一部分。这样我的图书就会分成四部分，分散放在

不同的地方。而中国方面愿意全部收藏并放在一起，这正中我意。我爱中国，更爱中国的漫画家。”

兰特博士在自己书房中凝视一生攒下的书籍资料

 

12、留下遗嘱捐器官

2026 年 4 月 29 日晚，兰特博士在家里二楼楼梯上倒摔下来，右脑出血，腰椎节小骨骨折，经急诊和几次转院和 ICU，病情一路恶化，从呛咳到肺部感染和左脑中风，导致右侧偏瘫和失语，虽然儿女同意插管和呼吸机抢救。几天后他的儿子找到他的手写遗嘱：不要任何插管和呼吸机抢救，捐献眼角膜和可用器官，医生在家属同意后拔管撤掉呼吸机。

因为他年事已高，又有基础病，医生没有接受他的遗体器官捐献。

 

 

 

 

 

兰特博士的家人遵遗嘱在简单的遗体告别后火化，然后将他骨灰带回他的老家，撒入家门口的大河。

至此，他向中国浙江桐乡丰子恺纪念馆捐赠的全部图书正在运作当中。

------------

约翰·A·兰特博⼠：⽤漫画架起跨⽂化桥梁的使者

 

2025年底，许颖⽼师问我，《漫画研究》是否需要兰特博⼠最新的研究成果。我直⾔⾮常欢迎。然⽽，我⼀直在等待，等来的却是兰特博⼠去世的噩耗。

兰特博⼠与中国漫画界的情缘，远不⽌因为他的夫⼈许颖⽼师是北京⼈。三⼗年前，他便开始系统采访我国众多漫画家，⽤笔和录⾳机记录下中国漫画发展的珍贵⼝述史。那些泛⻩的笔记和磁带，后来化为他主编的《国际漫画》杂志上的⼀篇篇专 论，将中国漫画的故事传向世界。

 

他是学者，更是信使。他⽤⼀本七百⻚的学术年刊，将加勒⽐海⼩岛上的漫画与北京画家的线条并置，让不同⽂化背景下的幽默与沉思在同⼀版⾯相遇。

2024年初，我担任《漫画研究》编委。这本中国⾸部漫画学术刊物，急需有分量的国际稿件。我想起了兰特博⼠。那时他刚参加完美国⼤众⽂化年会，正埋头撰写加勒⽐地区漫画史——⼀个鲜有⼈涉⾜的冷⻔领域。⾃1968年起，他⼆⼗余次登上阿鲁巴、库拉索、⽛买加等岛屿，逐⼀采访当地漫画家，像考古学家般梳理出每个岛国的漫画脉络。他的论⽂最终在《漫画研究》第⼆期发表，填补了世界漫画研究的空

⽩。字⾥⾏间，没有虚⾔，只有实据。

 

2024年底，我再次向他约稿，希望他为王复⽺先⽣诞⾠90周年写⼀篇纪念⽂章。他很快发来⽂稿。2025年，北京漫画学会在《北京⽇报》北京号专栏刊登了

《王复⽺：亲切的回忆》，反响热烈。

我与兰特博⼠的第⼀次⻅⾯，是在2011年10⽉28⽇。⼈⺠⽇报漫画增刊的国际版⾯上，我正尝试把中国漫画推向海外。夏⼤川先⽣邀我参加⼀场晚宴，说美国《国际漫画》杂志主编来了。那晚，兰特博⼠温⽂尔雅，夫⼈许颖⽼师为他翻译。我们交谈不多，但他那双温和的眼睛，让我感到⼀种跨越语⾔的理解。

 

 

  右起：夏⼤川、徐鹏⻜、许颖、兰特博⼠、杨玲、权迎升、朱丞  2013年，我们同任贵阳亚洲⻘年动漫⼤赛评委。他送我⼀本新出的《国际漫

画》——32开，近七百⻚，像⼀块知识的砖。此后⼗余年，他从未间断赠刊。每⼀本我都珍藏。它们是⼯具书，也是友谊的⻅证。

兰特博⼠与作者 2013年

2023年，《国际漫画》创刊⼆⼗五周年。许颖⽼师约我画⼀幅贺图。我构思三天，画了这样⼀幅场景：戴着博⼠帽的兰特博⼠坐在⼆⼗五周年特制⻜碟中，⼀⼿拉着超⼈（象征美国漫画），⼀⼿拉着孙悟空（象征中国漫画）。下⽅是蔚蓝地球，和平鸽衔橄榄枝⻜翔。我想表达的是：他是⼀位⽂化使者，将中美漫画聚在⼀起，记 录、推⼴到全世界。兰特博⼠收到画后⾮常⾼兴，将它刊发在纪念专刊上。

 

我有个遗憾：作为⼈⺠⽇报国际漫画记者，我始终没能正式采访兰特博⼠，为后

⼈留下更多他的亲⼝讲述。⽅成先⽣百岁时，我曾请他题写“国际漫画”四字。我梦想有⼀天，这本杂志能在中国落地。

 

如今，兰特博⼠去了天堂。想必他已与许多故去的中国漫画家相聚，继续他热爱的漫画事业。⽽我相信，《国际漫画》的精神不会消失——它会继续搭载着不同国度的线条与故事，在世界的书架上，绽放华彩。