Joe Matt was a cartoonist and illustrator best known for his autobiographical and deeply personal comic, “Peepshow.”
- Died: September 18, 2023. (Who else died on September 18?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles of a heart attack at the age of 60.
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Joe Matt’s legacy
Born and raised in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Matt began drawing at a young age. Encouraged by his mother, he earned a degree from the Philadelphia College of Art and began working on comics in 1987, often assisting his friend Matt Wagner, creator of “Grendel” and “Mage.”
Matt’s best-known work came in 1992 with the release of “Peepshow,” a deeply autobiographical and revealing work exploring his difficulties with relationships and socializing, how his Catholic upbringing affected his life, and more. He worked on “Peepshow” through 2007, with four collected editions combining the short strips and comic book issues that make up the story.
In 2004, Matt and Futurama showrunner David X. Cohen briefly partnered with HBO to create a “Peepshow” animated adaptation, but the series never materialized. When not working on his own creation, Matt was a colorist for other comics, including the “Batman/Grendel” miniseries, which earned him a Harvey Award nomination in 1989. The first “Peepshow” collection, “The Poor Bastard,” earned an Eisner Award nomination.
Tributes to Joe Matt
Full obituary: Comic Book Resources
