Irwin Hasen's comics career started in the late 1930s, and he was actively drawing until a few years ago. Irwin drew the long running Dondi newspaper strip, the Justice Society of America, Wonder Woman, Wildcat, and many other features. He was an incredibly lively, funny, observant man. Always the life of the party, a great Toastmaster, and a wonderful raconteur. He could do slapstick, and sarcastic humor with a broad smile or a hearty laugh. He was never afraid to speak his mind, and was very colorful when he did, but he could be tactful when necessary. He feared no authority, and he had more energy than a fuzzy bunny in a TV commercial. Irwin was entertainingly irrepressible.
Irwin lived for 96 years. I knew him for fifteen. We shared lots of lunches and dinners and drinks over the years. Occasionally, we'd verbally spar for fun, or as Irwin once said, "We traded shots between drinks, or was it drinks between shots?" A couple of times, our sparring was a little combustible when the New York in Irwin was in full force, but it never got beyond the laughing stage. He’d would get on me if I fell behind him in drinks, which always happened, because I’m really not a drinker. He’d say, “I’m a short guy and you’re a big guy. Why can’t you keep up with me?” I said, “Because I wasn’t drinking with Adam and Eve like you were.” He laughed and called me a name I can’t repeat here, but he was laughing hard when he said it.
I’ll miss that laugh, Irwin. I’ll miss your great stories. I’ll miss the banter. I’ll miss you.
Irwin lived for 96 years. I knew him for fifteen. We shared lots of lunches and dinners and drinks over the years. Occasionally, we'd verbally spar for fun, or as Irwin once said, "We traded shots between drinks, or was it drinks between shots?" A couple of times, our sparring was a little combustible when the New York in Irwin was in full force, but it never got beyond the laughing stage. He’d would get on me if I fell behind him in drinks, which always happened, because I’m really not a drinker. He’d say, “I’m a short guy and you’re a big guy. Why can’t you keep up with me?” I said, “Because I wasn’t drinking with Adam and Eve like you were.” He laughed and called me a name I can’t repeat here, but he was laughing hard when he said it.
I’ll miss that laugh, Irwin. I’ll miss your great stories. I’ll miss the banter. I’ll miss you.
