SHELDON DORF, 76

Comic-Con founder

Sheldon Dorf, who founded the Comic-Con International comic book convention, died in San Diego on Tuesday.

A longtime friend, Greg Koudoulian, said the Ocean Beach, Calif., resident died at a hospital of kidney failure. He had diabetes and had been hospitalized for about a year.

Mr. Dorf, a freelance artist and comic-strip letterer, founded Comic-Con in San Diego in 1970 after moving from Detroit.

The convention now draws 125,000 fans a year and is a major gathering for comic-book fans, artists, writers and movie stars.

Mr. Koudoulian said Mr. Dorf was friends with greats such as Marvel artist Jack Kirby and "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz. He said Mr. Dorf was also instrumental in helping budding artists find audiences.