I'm so sorry to read this very sad news. Pat was wayyyy too young to leave us. I hadn't heard anything about it, I hadn't heard even that he was sick, or was in an accident. I've known Pat since the early 1980s. He took me to CAPS meetings, and introduced me to Dave Rawson, Sergio Aragones, John Krikfalusi, Scott Shaw, and many others. He used to give me his extra Danish Disney comics he got from Gutenberghus/Egmont, that didn't have his own stories in them. His jovial nature and friendly spirit will be missed. Heartfelt condolences to Carol and the kids, and other family members.
For awhile in the late 1990s, as a story editor at Egmont several years out of college, I had the pleasure of editing many of Pat McGreal's stories, and was struck foremost by his curiosity. He was always asking me about Disney comics characters he hadn't used yet—so that I might send him references and he might get into their heads. He was forever reading about Japanese and other Asian mythology and incorporating it into his stories. He was a pop-culture vulture, always looking for new or legendary fads, movies, or musical trends to spoof. He was never content with the same old plots or casts of characters.
Pat's final work with me was his localization of the Italian Donald Quest saga. Amazing, hilarious work; his love of the medium never dimmed. (And that's him with his wife and fellow Disney comics author, Carol McGreal, above.)
He was responsible for some of memorable stories from my childhood like The First Olympic Champ, Twin Beaks or New Year's Grief (which i wrote a "novelization" of when I was eight). Like generations of European kids the Vicar 10-pager at the start of the weekly magazine was an essential part of the childhood reading experience, and he was a big part of that. RIP.
I'm currently writing a tribute for the next Bertel-Express issue. Can I quote and translate some of the statements made in this thread? (mostly addressed to Ramapith , RobbK1, Orora ) That would make for a better tribute than just me rambling away...
I'm currently writing a tribute for the next Bertel-Express issue. Can I quote and translate some of the statements made in this thread? (mostly addressed to Ramapith , RobbK1, Orora ) That would make for a better tribute than just me rambling away...
You might want to check out also the tribute post & comments on Joe Torcivia’s blog, and make the same request there.
I'm currently writing a tribute for the next Bertel-Express issue. Can I quote and translate some of the statements made in this thread? (mostly addressed to Ramapith , RobbK1 , Orora ) That would make for a better tribute than just me rambling away...
You might want to check out also the tribute post & comments on Joe Torcivia’s blog, and make the same request there.
I already did Just waiting for Joe to see & approve my comment. Good call though.