Jan Kruis

{{Infobox comics creator

| name = Johannes Andries “Jan” Kruis

| image = Jan Kruis 1.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date={{Birth date|df=y|1933|6|8}}

| birth_place = Rotterdam, Netherlands

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2017|1|19|1933|6|8}}

| death_place = Mantinge, Netherlands

| nationality = Dutch

| area =

| cartoonist = y

| write = y

| art = y

| pencil =

| ink =

| edit =

| publish =

| letter =

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| signature =

| alias =

| notable works = Jack, Jacky and the Juniors

| awards = Order of the Netherlands Lion (1996)

| website = {{website|http://www.janjans.nl.nu/info/jan-kruis}}

}}

Johannes Andries "Jan" Kruis ({{IPA|nl|jɑŋ ˈkrœys}}; 8 June 1933 – 19 January 2017) was a Dutch comics artist best known for the family strip Jack, Jacky and the Juniors (Jan, Jans en de Kinderen).{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}}

Biography

He began creating comics as a child. Later he worked for the Dutch comics pioneer Marten Toonder. Kruis started his own comics career drawing Prins Freddie for the magazine De Havenloods,{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}} but became famous thanks to his series of one-pagers called Jan, Jans en de Kinderen (Jack, Jacky and the Juniors). It first appeared in the woman's magazine Libelle on December 12, 1970. In German-speaking Switzerland it appeared in the magazine Spick which targeted children and teenagers; and in Germany Favorit published it for some time under the name "Ulli, Ulla und die Kinder". He also had a gag comic named Gregor running in Tintin, between 1965 and 1966, which was later reprinted in Pep.{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}} Kruis took over Sjors en Sjimmie from Frans Piët in 1969 and modernized the characters, including a less stereotypical depiction of Sjimmie's black features. The series was later taken over by Jan Steeman.{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}}

He was furthermore active as an illustrator of novels, magazines, advertisements and record covers.{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}}

Kruis received the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 1996.{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}} Two years later he retired.{{cite web| url = https://www.lambiek.net/artists/k/kruis.htm| title = Jan Kruis - Lambiek Comiclopedia}} Daughter Andrea Kruis has followed in her father's footsteps.

In 2013 his career was celebrated in a one-off glossy-zine; this includes previously unpublished gags of a comic about an infant punk raised by a gay couple; hence the nickname "Jan, Jan en de Kinderen" ("Jack, Jack and the Juniors").

Jan Kruis died in his hometown Mantinge (Drenthe) at the age of 83.{{cite web| url = http://nos.nl/artikel/2153949-strips-jan-kruis-zo-hollands-als-kaas-koeien-en-klompen.html| title = 'Strips Jan Kruis zo Hollands als kaas, koeien en klompen' {{!}} NOS| date = 20 January 2017}} On 20 January 2017, a good friend of the family informed the press about his death on the previous day.