Monkey Punch, creator of Japanese megahit comic Lupin III, dies at 81

Cartoonist Monkey Punch, best known as the creator of the Japanese megahit comic series Lupin III, has died of pneumonia. He was 81.

His office, MP Pictures, said Wednesday that Monkey Punch, whose real name is Kazuhiko Kato, died April 11.

The story of master thief Lupin’s adventures with his…