KASMAN Ron
A painting of Ron Kasman by R. G. (Rick) Taylor
Born: 1 December 1953 in Toronto.
He graduated as an Honours Bachelor of Fine Art from York University in 1976 and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto in 1977. In the same year he began as an art teacher at General Wolfe High School (now called White Oaks High School) in the Toronto area. Thirty-one tears later he retired as a full time teacher from Abbey Park High School.
While at York University, he became involved as one of the coordinators of Cosmicon a convention of comic books, science fiction, and horror movies that occurred over March 3, 4, 5, 1972.
He is probably best known as a letterer for D.C., Image, Eclipse, and many smaller companies such as Night-Realm Publishing Inc. and Quadrant Publications. Peter Hsu recommended him to letter Adventures Publications, The Adventurers which Ron did at a rate of $16 per page.
He illustrated and lettered “Captain Canuck” in its cartoon strip format.
He produced the graphic biography William Lyon Mackenzie. (2002). The work for this biography was displayed at the Market Gallery of the City of Toronto Archives from November 1979 to February 1980. Art Eggleton, then Mayor of Toronto attended the opening.
The book was sold at a William Lyon Mackenzie celebration in September of 2002 at the William Lyon Mackenzie Printery & Newspaper Museum in Queenston. It was attended by James K. Bartleman then Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
The Face of Comedy was an exhibit at Humber College March 2003 to May 2003. It was hosted by Joe Flaherty of SCTV. The exhibit was multimedia portraits of famous comedians.
His most recent novel The Tower Of The Comic Book Freaks, is based on his experiences at cartoon conventions.
WORK:
CARTOONIST:
BOOK GRAPHIC;
Content biography & Cover book front:
William Lyon Mackenzie. Ron Kasman/Annex Publishing & Printing Inc.. January 2002.
Content novel Cover book front & back.
The Tower Of The Comic Book Freaks. Caliber Comics/Caliber Entertainment, 2017.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story:
Negative Burn, 2-5, October 2006: “Captain Bill”: 40-53.
ILLUSTRATOR:
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story:
Low Society, Comic Lab Press. 2013: “Earth Pig Reborn.” Writ., Devon Wong. Let.., Ron Kasman: 3-8.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content map:
The Adventurers, 5, 1987: “World Of Anora”: 26-27.
Cover front:
Nathan Impaler Monster Hunter, 1, 1990. Night Realm Publishing Inc.
INKER & LETTERER:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content:
Serial:
Ali-Baba: Scourge of the Desert, 1 -1, 1992: “Prologue.” Writ., James Waley. Pen., Steve LeBlanc. 1-8. “The Blood Temple Beckons.” Writ.& Lay., Dave Sim. Writ., Dave Darrigo. Pen., S. LeBlanc: 10-17. “Warriors Beyond the Veil.” Writ., D. Darrigo & J. Waley. Pen., S. 18-25. “Dark Goddess Rising.” Writ., J. Whaley. Pen., S. LeBlanc. 26-38.
Story:
Drawing the Line, May 2004: “Above and Beyond.” Writ., James Waley. Pen., Steven LeBlanc 50-51.
Quadrant, 1-2, no date: “The Love of a Good Woman.” Writ., Mark Shainblum. Plotter & Pencil, Gabrielle Morrissette.
LETTERER:
BOOK GRAPHIC:
Content:
Comic Book Confidential. 1988. A promotional booklet for the film.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content:
Serial:
| The Adventurers … reprint: “…” Writ., Scott Behnke. …. Black & white. | |
| 1, No date: “The Gate of Chaos.” Illus., Peter Hsu | 2, no date: Illus., Kent Burles., (Aircel Publishing) |
| The Adventurers … “The Gate Of Chaos.” Writ., Scott Behnke Illus.,. Kent Burles.. Adventure Publications Black & white. | |
| 3, No date.
0, 1986. An origin story inserted into the series. 4, 1986. |
5, 1987. “The Halls Of Anubis.”
6, June 1987. “Who Calls These Dead To Dance.” 7, July 1987. “”The Ways Of The Worm.” |
| Adventurers,…: “Crimson Letters ….” Writ., Scott Behnke. Pen., Brian Guice. In., Jackson Guice. Black & white. | |
| 6, June 1987: “… Part 1, a seed.” | 7 July /87: “ …Part.2: roots of unrest.” |
American Annihilator, 0, 1995. “Sheer Force”. Writ., Fred Diana. Illus., Dave Baggley. Contained a 9 page incomplete story “The Frankenstein Conspiracy: The Dead Remembered”. Team included Fred Diana, Yan Rozentsveig
| Northguard …: “The ManDes Conclusion ….” Writ., Mark Shainblum. Illus., Gabrielle Morrissette. (Matrix Production/Caliber Press. Black & white. | |
| 2, 1989: “…pt. 2 of 3.” | 3, 1990: “…pt. 3 of 3.” |
| Peter Hsu’s Quadrant … “Hellrazor.” Writ., Tara Balance. Illus., Peter Hsu. no date . | ||||||
| 1-1, 1983: 3-26. | 1-2, | 1-3 | 1-4, | 1-5, | 1-6 | 1-7 |
Ninja Elite, 1, 1987: “Ninja Elite.” Writ., Scott Behnke. Illus., James Fletcher.
Ninja Elite, 7, July 1988: “Ninja Elite.” Whisper of Doom.” Writ., Mark Ellis. Illus., Frank Reyes.
Story:
The Adventurers, 1, 1986: “A Prologue To Elfwarrior.” Writ., Elias Stevens. Illus., Peter Hsu:. 26-32. Adventure Publications. Black & white.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story:
Low Society, Ed., Rob Walton. Toronto: Comic Lab Press. 2013. “Earth Pig Reborn.” Writ., Devon Wong. Illus., Ron Kasman. 3-8. “Everything.” Writ., Sam Noir. Illus., Rina Rosen: 9-14. “Cerebus 700: That Was Then This Is Now.” Car., Rob Walton:15-20. “The Sound of One Hand Honking.” Writ., Oliver Ho. Illus., Dylan Kloepfer: 21-26. “Morning Stroll.” Writ., Jesse Saunders. Illus., Anthony Smerek: 27-32. “Legacy AKA: Issue 300.1.” Writ., Jamie Bullock. Illus., Dave Sim: 33-38.
WRITER:
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content introduction & story:
Growing Up With Comics. Desperado Publishing, 2008: “Introduction.”: 4-5. “Avengers Number Four.” Illus. R. G. Taylor: 17-21. “Growing Up With Comics.” Illus. R. G. Taylor:108-139.
WRITER & CO-ILLUSTRATOR:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story:
Negative Burn, 2-6, Nov. 2006: “Bruce Barnaby.” Co-Illus. R.G. Taylor: 62-63.
SOURCE:
Article book:
Comic Book Confidential. 1988: 1.
Growing Up With Comics. Ed., & Illus., R. G. Taylor. Desperado Publishing, 2008: “Creator Biographies.”
Article newspaper:
Oakville Beaver, 10 August 2017: “Retired Oakville teacher appreciates a good comic book.” Abigail Cukier.
Email:
Ron Kasman to Robert MacMillan 27 March 2018.
Ron Kasman to Robert MacMillan 28 March 2018.
Ron Kasman to Robert MacMillan 5 April 2018. Includes memoir “ Cosmicon 1972-1975: A Tell-All
Expose.” The memoir can also be found under the web site “York University’s Cosmicon: one of Canada’s earliest comic conventions. “ Posted 19 January 2015 by Kevin Boyd. Joe Schuster Awards. Shuster Awards Association.
GALLERY:
William Lyon Mackenzie: Front cover.
“ Anna” a painting by Ron Kasman.
A sheet of Ron’s lettering styles. It was left at the conference tables of individuals looking for a letterer.