Legendary comic book artist, historian and trailblazer Trina Robbins has left us, dying of a stroke April 10, 2024, at the age of 85. Although comic books have traditionally been a male-dominated industry, she was a trailblazer and glass-ceiling-shatterer as a female artist. Not only was she involved in the Underground “Comix” (sic) of the 1960s an ’70s, she was the first female artist to draw Wonder Woman.

Trina Robbins was born August 17, 1938 in New York City, New York. She died April 10, 2024 in San Francisco, California. Robbins co-created Vampirella with the late Forrest J. Ackerman (1916-2008). Robbins designed Vampirella’s costume and hairstyle.

She is survived by her daughter, Casey, and her longtime partner Steve Leialoha.

Robbins was not only an artist, but also an editor and comics historian, especially of female characters and creators in comic book history. She wrote Women and the Comics with Catherine Yronwode, and wrote both A Century of Women Cartoonists and The Great Women Superheroes, both published by Kitchen Sink Press. She also wrote From Girls to Grrrlz: A History of Comics from Teens to Zines.

Gail Simone, noted comicbook writer, expressed her sentiments on Facebook on hearing of the death of her friend:

My hero, friend and mentor, Trina Robbins, has passed.

Not only was she a legendary creator of comics, she was also one of comics’ greatest historians and researchers, and a guiding light to countless girls and women who had a hard time believing there was space for them in this art form.

She proved there was and fought endlessly to remind people of the legacies of the incredible female creators that were often overlooked and undervalued over the decades.

She was one of the first creators to speak to me about comics before I ever even considered writing a script and she treated my goofy questions with far more kindness and scholarship than they likely deserved.

I was with her on what may have been her last convention panel, in Maul, a few short months ago. What seemed like a small pleasure is now a blessed memory. And she was as kind and generous with new aspiring creators as she had been with me.

Decades of love for this art and this community. There is no replacement for her.

I am saying this without any grace at all, I just found out that she had passed and I lack the ability to give her the memorial she deserves, at least for now.

But I hope people realize who it is that we have lost.

We are blessed with her books, her art, and her guidance, and those all will live on.

My deepest condolences for her friends and family. She is the person a lot of us aspire to be but will never quite make it, and if we even get close, it’s partially because Trina was already there to give us a boost and a light on the path.

This hurts a lot.

Every memory of her is precious to me. I hope you got to meet her, too, and you’d know exactly what I mean.

Love you, Trina.

The profound influence of Trina Robbins on the comicbook industry cannot be overstated. The profound influence she had on her friends and those who knew her is inestimable. Sleep well, Ms. Robbins. And thank you.

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