NBC salutes the memory of prolific author, cartoonist and former chairman Ġorġ Mallia 

The National Book Council (NBC) salutes the memory of beloved author, cartoonist and academic Ġorġ Mallia, who tragically passed away on 19 August at the age of 68. 

He also served as the NBC Chairman from 2005 to 2013. 

Mallia was an impactful and energetic presence in both the cultural and educational sector, and his legacy will be defined by both the impressive sway of his published works as well as the inspirational influence he has had on a generation’s worth of would-be writers, cartoonists, comic book creators and journalists, though his vocation as an educator. 

“Ġorġ Mallia’s passing is a monumental loss for the Maltese cultural sector. It is not remotely hyperbolic to say that nearly any person with an interest in publishing in Malta – be it journalism or literature, children’s books or graphic novels – would have come into contact with Mallia in some capacity, whether as a mentor or fellow practitioner,” NBC Executive Chairperson Mark Camilleri said, hailing Mallia’s impact as a creative and educator – one who spurred on young talent both as a lecturer as well as through his efforts to cultivate student-led media on campus. 

“Ġorġ was a fixture of the local publishing scene and a reference point for many. He will be sorely missed,” Camilleri added. 

The author of a number of works for children – chief of which were the Pullu and Il-Professur Għasfur series, Mallia was awarded the National Book Prize in 2022 for Il-Ħamsin: 24 Awtur, 24 Storja, in-numru 50, which he edited. His other works aimed at adults include the flash-fiction anthology Mitt Ruħ (2020) as well as the poetry collection My love had eyes of blue and dreams (2019). 

A notable cartoonist and caricaturist, Mallia released his final comic strip in the Żepp series for the Times of Malta mere days prior to his passing. While Żepp was the latest – and tragically, final – of Mallia’s recurring works in the genre, having originally been developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it marks the tail-end of an otherwise hugely prolific cartooning career. Having gotten his start on Sagħtar in the early 1970s, Mallia would go on to virtually pioneer the Maltese take on the socio-political comic strip in Malta thanks to the long-running One Family series, published on The Sunday Times between 1993 and 2008. 

Mallia also came to be associated with his commemorative portraits of notable Maltese figures, which he would create and post on social media soon after their passing, and the final of which was dedicated to the late broadcaster Norman Hamilton.

Mallia was a Professor of Communications, and also the Head of Department of Media and Communications at the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences (University of Malta).

He was survived by his wife and two children. The NBC would like to extend its deepest condolences to Mallia’s loved ones during this difficult time.