Allen Shapiro, also known as A. Jay, was one of the most prominent US gay illustrators and cartoonists of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. A pioneer in the genre, he created one of the first gay comic strips ever, called 'The Adventures of Harry Chess: The Man from A.U.N.T.I.E.' Known for his work as the Art Editor of the gay leather magazine Drummer, Shapiro also gained notoriety for the erotic artwork he created for the infamous Cauldron Club and Slot Bathhouse in San Francisco, in addition to the posters and logos for many other gay bathhouses. In 1987 he passed away at age 55 from AIDS. Other comic writers/artists who passed away from AIDS have been Copi, Henfil, Keith Haring, Dom Orejudos, Neal Pozner and Ted Stearn.