Archie Comics have shared the news that Editor-in-Chief Victor Gorelick has died at the age of 78. A cause of death was not disclosed.
Gorelick was born on April 5, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York. He joined Archie Comics at the age of 16 after studying at the School of Industrial Art (now known as the High School of Art and Design) when the publisher was being run by its founders, John Goldwater and Louis Silberkleit. Gorelick started his time at the publisher in the art department, learning how to color and ink a comic as well as making corrections to other work. Throughout his 62-year tenure at the publisher, he worked as production coordinator and art director before taking the role of editor-in-chief in 2007. It was Gorelick who oversaw the collaborations between Archie Comics and Kraft General Foods, Radio Shack, and the FBI.
In addition to his roles at Archie Comics, Gorelick was also a member of the Comic Magazine Association of America’s Code Authority Guidelines Committee, and had a seat on the Board of Advisors of the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. He was also a cartooning instructor at Kingsborough Community College in New York City. Gorelick’s achievements were honored with an Inkpot Award in 2008.
Gorelick is survived by his wife, Kathie, and the rest of his family.
