In memory of John A. Lent
It is with great regret that we inform that Prof. John A. Lent passed away on May 16th, surrounded by his family.
Prof. Lent has been a member of IAMCR since 1974, and founded the Comic Art Working Group (COA) in 1984. He also was the editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Comic Book (IJOCA), a key point of encounter of comic scholars and a platform to discuss and dialogue about the comic art field along the world. His contributions have made him a prominent figure in the field of comics and communication. He was a few months shy of his 90th birthday, and remained productive up until his accident.
He was professor for more than 51 years, beginning in 1960. He used to think of himself as a research “gap filler,” studying areas that are devoid of research and stimulating others to pursue those topics. Thus, was pioneering in studying mass communication and culture in Asia and Caribbean.
Those who knew him will always remember him as an extraordinary person, always keen to give a hand, an advice, or an opportunity.
Geisa Fernandes (Former Chair of IAMCR's Comic Art Working Group)
“I first met Professor John Anthony Lent at the 2010 IAMCR meeting in Braga, Portugal. At the time, I was finishing my PhD and had some doubts about how to conduct my research. Professor Lent was, as always, an attentive listener and a great advisor. We only met again in 2013, at the IAMCR meeting in Dublin. On that occasion, I found the Professor quite discouraged, and for some reason that remains unknown to me to this day, after my presentation, I made a kind of impromptu appeal to the members of the Comic Art Working Group not to let the group fall into a small space of fifteen-minute presentations, but to use it as a true space for meeting and exchanging knowledge among researchers in the field of comics. The impassioned impromptu speech of the then junior researcher led the professor to thank me later and tell me that he was going through the loss of his youngest daughter, Lisa, at that moment. That was the beginning of our friendship.
Professor Lent became my mentor, my friend, travel companion. He was a unique, generous person, passionate about life and human in the fullest sense of the word.
In 2014 I had the honor of becoming the vice-coordinator of the Comic Art Working Group between 2014 and 2016 and followed by a term as chair of the group, coordinated the group between 2016-2020. I was also his assistant during his travels for his book on comics in South America in 2019 and returned to that role, in addition to being his translator, during his travels for his book on comics in the Caribbean in 2024. Lately I had been trying to convince him to celebrate his birthday with a trip to Brazil and we had agreed to talk more about it in a call at the end of April.
We didn't have the time for that, but that is okay, my friend. One day we will meet again, and until then, your legacy will be honored and carried forward by all of us who had the immense happiness of knowing the pioneer and giant of comic book research, the human rights activist, the devoted single father of five children, the privileged mind — in short, the great Professor John Anthony Lent. Rest in peace, my beloved friend Johnny.”
Jorge Salvador Anaya Martínez (Former Chair of IAMCR's Comic Art Working Group)
“Dr Lent was an incredible researcher, a generous human being able to suggest something for your paper, your presentation and very interested in generating a community interested in every little aspect of comic art.
He shared everything he knew about the heritage and knowledge of comic art from your country and culture, because he had an exceptional mind and memory.
But the most important thing, Dr. John Lent was an outstanding human being. He had a tip, an advice, a joke, and a big smile for every little aspect or topic you wanted to discuss with him.
I will always be grateful for all his knowledge and wisdom”.
Laura Nallely Hernández Nieto (Former Chair of IAMCR's Comic Art Working Group)
“I first met John A. Lent in 2017 at the IAMCR conference in Cartagena, Colombia. It was my first time attending the conference and, that year, Iván Rubinstein and I won the Best Paper Award. Over time, I came to realize how deeply that encounter would shape my academic path.
That same year, in July 2017, I took part in the Summer School Transnational Graphic Narratives, organized by Daniel Stein and Lukas Etter at Universität Siegen in Germany. John gave a virtual lecture there and shared the profound love he had for comics. I vividly remember that, at the beginning of the session, he remembered my name, asked if I was there, and publicly mentioned that I had won the award in Cartagena. It may seem like a small gesture, but to me it meant a great deal. John was already a central figure in comics studies, while I was still pursuing my PhD. It was the first time someone had recognized me in that way in an international academic space.
I later saw John again at the IAMCR conferences in Oregon in 2018 and Madrid in 2019. I remember that, beginning in Oregon, he encouraged me to run for chair of the Comic Art Working Group. Although I doubted myself greatly, I eventually ran, won the election, and in 2021 began my first year as chair. Over time, I understood that John believed in me more than I believed in myself then.
When the pandemic arrived and IAMCR became virtual, John continued supporting the group. He presented the Best Paper Award to younger scholars and remained consistently collaborative. Even after stepping down from leadership, he stayed a close and constant presence within the Comic Art Working Group that he himself had founded.
John also supported the beginnings of many academic careers through the International Journal of Comic Art (IJOCA). My first paper appeared there, and that gave me the confidence to continue researching and working on comics. And mine was not the only case: many scholars who are now leading voices in the field also published in that journal. John Lent leaves behind a journal that is, in itself, an institution.
I believe that, in the end, one of the most valuable things John left behind was his understanding of academia as a kind, welcoming, and open space for anyone interested in comics studies.
I also remember John’s enthusiasm during the IAMCR gatherings, especially in Madrid, where he seemed genuinely happy to see younger scholars sharing space, talking, and dancing together. Looking back, I think that sense of community meant a great deal to him.
Today, I remember him with deep affection and gratitude.”
Iván Facundo Rubinstein (current Chair of IAMCR 's Comic Art Working Group)
“My first encounter with John was nearly ten years ago, in the Cartagena conference. It was my first experience presenting research at an international conference and it was wonderful from the start. In those years Geisa Fernandes was the Chair of the group, with Jorge Anaya as Vice-chair. In all the sessions, I remember, John was actively present in all the meetings, always listening and supporting the work of the other members.
He had started the Best Paper Award as a way to foster scholars who work on comic fields. In that first conference my colleague Laura Hernández and I had the pleasure to be awarded with that recognition. With the cheers came the opportunity to publish in the IJOCA, my first publication in English. Moreover, John sends us the published books (and others from his personal library), with his best wishes written inside. That kind of action reveals not only a great courtesy and kindness, but also the way through which John saw the academic field: not a space for competition but instead a network of people from all over the world who seek for knowledge and justice - among the chapter of the books it was possible to see the efforts to understand how different kind of comics around the world seeks to challenge power and oppressive structures, to condemn injustice or to foster human rights. That was the interest of the group, and John was a central part of it.
Far from being an award to promote papers of COA’s members, the Best Paper Award was a recognition of the creativity, the seeks of justice, and the hard work of scholars around the globe.
The COA was always a space of friendship, kind collaboration and a place for thinking about the complex life of comics in contemporary society. That vision kept the group working for more than 3 decades, and all thanks to the hard work of John and the wonderful team he built to support it.
Although during the last conferences John wasn’t the Chair of COA, we always try to keep his view and his ways of doing things. We try to continue strengthening the connections and networks of scholarships and friendships. This is his legacy.”
Citlaly Aguilar Campos (Vice-Chair of IAMCR 's Comic Art Working Group)
Dr. John embraced the study of graphic art and comics as a way of life. He was an incredibly generous human being, readily sharing his knowledge and treating others with kindness
Through the Comic Art Working Group, he built a community not only of specialists in the field but also of colleagues and friends who shared the same passion.
At every IAMCR conference, he encouraged people to have confidence in their presentations, always with a broad smile and a genuine interest in what each person shared.
As the group's founder, he fostered the continuous generation of knowledge about comics, motivating presenters through opportunities such as publication in IJOCA. He was a great leader for all of us. His heart was so immense that he always had room for anyone interested in joining the group.
Dr. John, you will be greatly missed, but your magnificent academic work over these years remains as a testament to your legacy.
Cartagena 2017 
Madrid 2019