Salt Lake City Comics Scene Rallies Around Artist Adrian Ropp
by Tony Thornley
Adrian Ropp has worked in the comics, video games, and more for over thirty years. He’s been a variant cover artist for Dynamite and Archie Comics, and has written and drawn for characters like Casper the Friendly Ghost, the Pink Panther, and Underdog. But recently, he nearly succumbed to serious illness.
About five weeks ago, Ropp received a life saving kidney transplant. As many know, a transplant of any type is a serious surgery that requires lots of time and energy to heal and recover from. It’s also an expensive procedure for everyone involved. That’s why the comics scene in Salt Lake City, Utah, has rallied around Ropp to help with his recovery.
This past weekend, creators from in and around Salt Lake City, including Archie legend Bill Galvan as well as small press artists and writers Travis Romney, Chris Hoffman, Andrew Malin and Mike Lovins, held a benefit for Ropp at Black Cat Comics in Sugarhouse, UT. The event featured art auctions, live drawing and art sales.
About Ropp, Black Cat Comics owner Greg Gage said “Adrian Ropp has not only been a staple in the comics community in Utah for years, but is an amazing human being. He’s a friend of the store’s and, really, anyone he meets. We wanted to do everything we could to help him out in the toughest of times, and everyone involved has gone above and beyond. He’s the epitome of a great person going through a very rough road, and any help we can continue to give is extremely appreciated.”
Donations are still being accepted in Ropp’s name through Hoffman’s Paypal and Venmo accounts, hoffmangler@gmail.com. Specify that the donation is for Adrian Ropp recovery with any donation please.
Ropp can be found on most social media platforms as @toonbaboon and on Adrianropp.com.
