Paul Coker

For the EastEnders character, see Paul Coker (EastEnders).

Paul Coker Jr.
Born	Paul Coker Jr. (1929-03-05)March 5, 1929 Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
Died	July 23, 2022 (aged 93) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.
Occupation	Comic artist, Illustrator
Signature
150px

Paul Coker Jr. (March 5, 1929 – July 23, 2022) was an American illustrator. He worked in many media, including Mad, character design for Rankin-Bass TV specials, and advertising.

Career

Coker's first appearance in Mad was in 1961; he has since gone on to illustrate over 375 articles for the magazine. Beginning in 1967, Coker was a production designer on more than a dozen Rankin/Bass specials and shorts, including Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph's Shiny New Year and The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town. In 1968, he illustrated the Mad paperback "MAD for Better or Verse"; written by Frank Jacobs, it was the first of eight all-new paperbacks drawn by Coker. In 2002, the magazine also published a collection of "Horrifying Cliches," the long-running feature that featured Coker art. Coker collaborated with writer Don Edwing on two comic strips: "Lancelot" and "Horace and Buggy."

Works

Rankin/Bass Productions

• The Wacky World of Mother Goose (1967) (uncredited)
• Cricket on the Hearth (1967)
• Frosty the Snowman (1969)
• The Reluctant Dragon & Mr. Toad Show (1970)
• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)
• Here Comes Peter Cottontail (1971)
• The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye (1972)
• The Red Baron (1972)
• Mad Mad Mad Monsters (1972) (uncredited)
• Festival of Family Classics (1972–73)
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1974)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
• Rudolph's Shiny New Year (1976)
• The First Easter Rabbit (1976)
• Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976)
• The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town (1977)
• Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977)
• The Stingiest Man in Town (1978)
• Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979)
• Jack Frost (1979)
• Pinocchio's Christmas (1980)
• The Leprechauns' Christmas Gold (1981)
• Santa, Baby! (2001)

External links

• Lambiek Comiclopedia article.
• Paul Coker at the Internet Movie Database
• Complete list of Coker's work for MAD Magazine
• Two examples of Coker's original art
• The Ohio State University Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Art Database