The unparalleled star of epic film has died.

The Ten Commandments

Touch of Evil

Ben Hur

Planet of the Apes

Omega Man

Soylent Green

And one more…

Obit here.

Veteran comics artist Jim Mooney died over the weekend. He was born in 1919 and enjoyed a very long career that included most of the history of comics, as Mark Evanier summarizes:

Reared in Los Angeles, Mooney moved to New York in 1940 and was a part of the comic book industry almost from its inception. His first job was probably drawing The Moth, a Batman imitation for Fox Publication’s Mystery Men, and he worked for the legendary Eisner-Iger shop which he soon left, he said, because he was intimidated by how good all the other artists there were. He next worked for Fiction House and began freelancing for Stan Lee at Timely Comics (later Marvel), starting an association that lasted on and off for the next half-century. At first, he drew funny animal strips but Lee soon found that Mooney, along with being very dependable, was kind of a utility infielder who could do a little of everything. He was especially good at drawing cute ladies and a lot of his assignments were chosen with that in mind. (Asked how he drew such beautiful women, he usually pointed out that his sister had been a Ziegfeld Girl so he often found himself around lovely ladies.)

There’s an excerpt of an interview with Mooney from Comic Book Artist online

Are there any anecdotes, anything interesting with different personalities you’d like to go into?

JIM: Well, I think I mentioned earlier on it was such a pleasure to go into that. I used to dread going into the offices at DC, but I looked forward to going into Marvel, and I think one of the real nice pleasant things, and a lot of the guys who have great memories say the same thing. You’d come in, and Flo Steinberg would be there, and she would say (in her marvelous enthusiastic voice), “Stan, Jim Mooney’s here,” and that would just make me feel great, as if I were very important. Then I realized everybody else got that same treatment, which was darn nice. I’d occasionally hang out in the bullpen and shoot the breeze, but I don’t have too many bullpen anecdotes, because I really wasn’t there all that much. The one thing I really liked, and I haven’t had that experience before with Stan when we collaborated on the funny animal stuff, we’d get together for a story conference in the early ’70s, and Stan would act these things out, and I’d think, “This is amazing, I’ve known this guy for years, I’ve never seen anything like this!” He’d jump up on the desk, and go through the motions, the actions that he expected either from the Green Goblin or whatever the heck it was we were doing, and he was having such a great time with it, it was contagious. I’d begin to think, “Hey, this is kind of fun, I’m enjoying this.”

Mooney was what might be called a journeyman, but his work elevates that term. Not as dynamic or flamboyant as Kirby, Kane or Romita, his work was still exceptional, graceful and put the stories across with a directness that any artist would envy. His work is probably what most people think of when they think “comic book.”

As several obituaries noted, Mooney worked with the late Steve Gerber on some of his greatest Man-Thing stories and the entirety of the original run of Omega the Unknown. His strong, steady work there is as important an element as the complicated script by Gerber and Mary Skrenes, and definitely helped make it the mindbomb that it was.

Belgian comics publisher Raymond LeBlanc (above left, with Hergé) died on March 21 at age 92. Best known as the publisher who gave Tintin a home after World War II, he was also a real life hero, if such a phrase can have any meaning. A member of the Resistance during the war, he later persuaded the demoralized Hergé to begin publishing Tintin in the new Tintin Magazine. The move changed the history of comics. In later years, LeBlanc developed Lombard into a publishing powerhouse, and at 2003’s Angouleme won the first ever Honorary Alph Art award for an editor.

Tom has more, but
Forbidden Planet’s translation of an interview with LeBlanc as good a place as any to learn about this seminal figure in world comics history.

Sixty years ago Raymond Leblanc founded the Magazine Tintin, he produced six Belgian animated features and, when the final history of the Belgian comic is ever written, he will have one of the leading parts. In his glory days Leblanc seemed to lead nine different lives at once. We present you an exclusive and especially frank interview with a living legend of 92 years.

The man sitting in front of me folds his hands and holds them under his chin, the elbows full of self-confidence on his desk. “Tell me”, he says, “How may I be of service?” We are sitting in a cosy, warm and luxurious office on the eighth floor of the Lombard Publishers building near the Gare du Midi in Brussels. The man in front of me is 92 years old, but shows no signs of getting old. “You will have to speak up, though. I have a little problem hearing”. Other than that, Raymond Leblanc is as lucid as the next guy. He remembers things that happened sixty years ago as if they were yesterday. He answers to the point and without hesitation. Even at 92, Leblanc will not be silenced in what he says will be his last interview.

(more…)

Visionary and science fiction giant Arthur C. Clarke has died at age 90.

The British-born Clarke, who lived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for decades, died early today after experiencing breathing problems, an aide, Rohan De Silva, told the Associated Press.

Clarke, a former farm boy who was knighted for his contributions to literature, wrote more than 80 fiction and nonfiction books (some in collaboration) and more than 100 short stories — as well as hundreds of articles and essays.

Among his best-known science-fiction novels are “Childhood’s End,” “Rendezvous With Rama,” “Imperial Earth” and, most famously, “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

While reading the NYT today, I was struck by the obit of Pearl Cornioley, a resistance fighter during WWII, who died a few weeks ago in France.

She was the inspiration for the novel and later film CHARLOTTE GRAY, which starred Cate Blanchett.

But…given that her code name was Marie, it made me wonder. Was she also the inspiration for the 1950s DC WWII character Mlle. Marie, who was a French resistance fighter and sometimes paramour of Sgt. Rock?

A cursory skimming around of the net didn’t reveal any answers and the connection may be dubious (Marie was a French peasant girl, Cornioley was British by birth, but raised French).

Still, it’s worth a moment to stop and honor a remarkable woman and all she did 60 years ago.

Posted by Mark Coale

I’ve just received word that Dave Stevens, the creator of the Rocketeer, died yesterday at age 52. Stevens had dropped out of sight for the most part in recent years and had been battling leukemia, a fact which he kept as private as possible.

Stevens was known for his meticulous artwork, reminiscent of the greatest illustrators of the past and the whiz bang pulpishness of the 30s and 40s. He was, of course, also obsessed with model Bettie Page. These came together in The Rocketeer, which was published by Eclipse, Pacific, Comico and Dark Horse in its various incarnations. In 1991 it was turned into a Disney film starring Billy Campbell and a young Jennifer Connelly. The film underperformed at the time but has become very fondly remembered.

In recent years “What ever happened to Dave Stevens?” became a frequent message board topic. He had always been a notoriously slow artist, and in recent years lived off of commissions for the pin-up art he excelled at.

Dave was the last artist of an innocent era when showing less and teasing more was the way to eroticism. He was much more than that, of course. His artwork burst with the heroic innocence and determination of an America that existed fully only on the printed page and the movie screen. Even when drawing some bondage or spanking scene, his art was human, lively, caring.

Like the man. I have so many memories of Dave. Cat Yronwode once told me that Dave was unique among cartoonists because he wore clothes that fit him, which sounds like a sorry compliment, but Dave did stand out among the cartoonists of that time for paying a lot of attention to his appearance — Cliff Secord, the hero of the Rocketeer, was obviously based visually on Dave. It didn’t come off as vanity, but wanting to give an appearance that went with the art. It was part of his esthetic. Once he gave me a ride to a Golden Apple party in what I called “Old Betsy” his beloved vintage Ford. (I had no car when I first moved to LA and was always dependent on the kindness of friends.) Arriving in such a vehicle with a dashing, handsome man like Dave was the kind of thing that a girl writes about in her diary that night.

The above picture was taken at 2002’s Comic-Con. As usual Dave was surrounded by artwork and beautiful women, his twin passions. Dave was always a gentleman, kind, respectful, insightful, with a love of art and beauty that truly was, more than almost any artist I can think of, his entire life.

I’m really, really going to miss him.

UPDATE: Mark Evanier has a wonderful remembrance here.

Dave was truly one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life…and the most gifted. Our first encounter was at Jack Kirby’s house around 1971 when he came to visit and show Jack some of his work. As I said, Kirby was very encouraging and he urged Dave not to try and draw like anyone else but to follow his own passions. This was advice Dave took to heart, which probably explains why he took so long with every drawing. They were rarely just jobs to Dave. Most of the time, what emerged from his drawing board or easel was a deeply personal effort. He was truly in love with every beautiful woman he drew, at least insofar as the paper versions were concerned.

British artist and colorist Steve Whitaker, perhaps best known here for coloring V FOR VENDETTA died suddenly last Friday at age 52. D’Israeli has a remembrance and links to several more heartfelt tributes.

Anyone who was around the London comics scene in the 80’s and early 90’s will remember Steve; at 6ft 4in he was hard to miss in his trademark long dark overcoat. He was a world-class colourist who will probably be remembered professionally for his work on the DC Comics edition of V for Vendetta, but he was far more than that; a brilliant draughtsman, painter, teacher and historian of comics, raconteur and ace punster. He was also my best mate.

You can see Whitaker’s painting work at his Flickr account.

French colorist Stephane Peru, who worked on a variety of books for Marvel and DC has died at age 26, of a heart attack, Newsarama reported yesterday:

Jean Wacquet, editor-in-chief of French comics publisher Soleil, has informed Newsarama.com that artist/colorist Stéphane Peru, best known for his work as a colorist on Marvel’s Ultimate X-Men, Incredible Hercules, Annihilation: Conquest and Annihilation: Conquest – Quasar, Avengers: The Initiative, Civil War: X-Men, and DC’s Teen Titans: Year One, 52, The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive and All Flash, has passed away on Monday, February 11th. His work will also be seen in several upcoming projects such as the just-announced The Invincible Iron Man and Young X-Men. He was only 26.

Calling it a “tragedy,” Wacquet said that “Everybody here [at Soleil] is so sad. Our friend and partner Stéphane Peru passed away yesterday afternoon.”

Writer Steve Gerber passed away on February 10th. He was 60 and had been hospitalized for the past few weeks due to pulmonary fibrosis. He was on the list for a lung transplant, but had developed an infection which greatly weakened his condition. Gerber had been blogging from his hospital bed about his illness.

Gerber was one of a handful of writers who significantly expanded the comics medium. He created or co-created Omega the Unknown and his best known creation, Howard the Duck and made Man-Thing the character that he is best known as. During his 70s marvel run he was also well known for a long-run on the Defenders, and wrote the first appearance of KISS in comics form.

Howard The Duck, introduced as a throwaway character in an issue of Man-Thing, was perhaps the first mainstream Marvel character to introduce the anti-establishment humor of the underground comics of the time. Howard, a sarcastic duck from Cleveland, battled such satirical foes as the Kidney Lady and Doctor Bong, romanced the beautiful human Beverly Switzer, and even ran for President.

Howard would later become one of the symbols of the failings of mainstream comics: Gerber unsuccessfully sued for ownership of the character, a benefit book, Destroyer Duck was created, and Gerber created a follow-up, Stewart the Rat, also for Eclipse.

Gerber went on to work on various projects in animation, TV and comics. His mini-series HARD TIMES for DC was one of his most recent writing highlights. At the time of his death he was working on a Dr. Fate mini-series for DC. His recent

Mark Evanier has more:

What I feel the need to tell you is just what a great guy he was. In the seventies, when New York comic professionals were banding together to find ways to elevate the stature of the field and the living standards of its practitioners, Steve was at the nexus of so many of those efforts. When Steve was involved in his lawsuit with Marvel, many fellow professionals rallied around him with loans and gifts of cash and some of us put together a benefit comic book, Destroyer Duck, to raise money. People did that because they knew, first of all, that Steve was fighting not just for his own financial reasons but for matters of principle relating to how the comic book industry treated its creators. That some of the more pernicious business practices soon went away had a lot to do with Steve taking the stand he did. Also, those who knew Steve knew that when you were in need, he would do anything to help. He was, in every sense of the word, a friend.

I’ll have a longer memorial to Gerber in a bit. Right now I am in serious mourning – it’s no exaggeration to say that no writer has had a greater influence on my life and I would not be the same person without the work of Steve Gerber. My condolences to his friends and family.

Gerber’s wikipedia page lists the characters he created or co-created.

• A. Bizarro
• All-Night Party
• Angar the Screamer
• Princess Ariel
• Baphomet (comics)
• Cybernary
• Death-Stalker
• Destiny
• Destroyer Duck
• Doctor Bong
• Doctor Fate (Kent V. Nelson) (Replacement version)
• Exiles (Malibu Comics)
• Foolkiller
• Hard Time
• Headmen
• Howard the Duck
• Amber Hunt
• Hydro-Base
• Hydro-Men
• Ikthalon
• Jennifer Kale
• Kamuu
• KISS (Marvel Universe versions)
• Korrek
• Korvac
• Lord Pumpkin
• Mandrill
• Montesi
• N’Kantu, the Living Mummy
• Nekra
• Nevada
• Nikki
• Aleta Ogord
• Omega the Unknown
• Ookla the Mok
• Phantom Blonde
• Poison
• Red Guardian (later known as Starlight)
• Ruby Thursday
• Richard Rory
• Shanna the She-Devil
• Silver Samurai
• Sludge
• Starhawk
• Stewart the Rat
• Therea
• Thog
• Thundarr the Barbarian
• Void Indigo
• Wundarr the Aquarian

UPDATE: Tom has a much better obit than anything I’ll ever write here.

Gus Arriola, creator of the comic strip Gordo, has died at age 90. The strip, which began in 1941, was one of the first to highlight Mexican culture on the comics page, although Arriola changed the character from a bandit to a bean farmer after some complaints.

In an interview with The Chronicle several years after he retired, Arriola said he drew the comic strip for an audience that knew little about Mexico or its culture.

“My main goal was to maintain a positive awareness of Mexico through all the years, every day, without being political,” he said in 1989. “When I started, words like ‘burrito’ were unknown in the United States.”

Oscar nominated actor Heath Ledger, who plays the Joker in this summer’s THE DARK KNIGHT was found dead in his Soho apartment this afternoon, multiple sources are reporting.

According to the NY Times, a masseuse arriving for an appointment found the actor dead in his bedroom. Pills were found near his body.

Ledger’s Joker character was the subject of an ongoing viral marketing campaign for the new Batman film. These plans will undoubtedly be reassessed in the wake of Ledger’s death.

The SF Chronicle reports that cartoonist Martha Arguello - better known as Marty Links — died on Sunday at age 90. As Links, Arguello was the creator of Bobby Sox, which ran for 35 years, although it later changed its name to Emmy Lou. The panel inspired a short-lived TV show, but more than that was a looking glass for society, capturing the moods and fashions of teen-aged girls through the 40s and 50s. Arguello raised three children while working on the strip and turned to making greeting cards and ceramics when she retired.

Like some other successful women cartoonists of the day, used a male name, Don Markstein writes:

By the way, if you happen to be confused by the the given name of the cartoonist, you’re not alone. So, apparently, was The National Cartoonists’ Society, of which she was one of the first female members. Correspondence from the Society was addressed to “Mr. Marty Links” even after she’d given birth to her first child. She offered to send them her bust size.

Arguello is survived by two daughters. There will be a reception in her honor at the Cartoon Art Museum 655 Mission St., San Francisco, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday. The family suggests donations in her name to Canine Companions for Independence, 2965 Dutton Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95402.

Word is going around that long time comics fan Paul “Zeus” Grant passed away last month. Grant was a popular and big-hearted poster on the early days of Compuserve’s Comics and Animation forum, and I’d run into him at conventions, usually with his son Phillip at his side, and we’d always share a laugh or an observation. He also wrote for the early days of Wizard magazine. John Ostrander has a lovely remembrance and more details at ComicMix, and Mark Evanier also remembers “Zeus.”.

A couple of comic book passings recently that we were remiss in not noting:

Mark Evanier notes the death of Wayne Howard who contributed much work to the Charlton line.

Comic book artist Wayne Howard has died. One of the few African-American comic book artists at the time he broke into the field, Howard learned his craft in the fanzines of the sixties and at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. But he told me he learned most of what he knew about comics from his brief time assisting Wally Wood from 1968 to 1969. (Some sources say ‘69 but you can see Wayne’s name hidden all throughout the backgrounds of Captain Action #1, which Wood and his crew produced in 1968.)

The passing of Al Scaduto, artist of They’ll Do It Every Time, one of those timeless panels that make newspapers seem eternal, is noted, most touchingly by Mike Lynch.

Back in 2005, Al told the Gang about The School of Industrial Arts reunion. SIA was founded by four young art teachers in 1936, who built desks from old orange crates and plywood. Even though it’s changed its name to the High School of Art and Design and moved from its former Civil War hospital building to a modern building on Second Avenue, it’s still referred to as SIA by those who graduated. After the graduation ceremony from the High School of Industrial Arts in 1946, Al’s father told him he would starve. That same year, Al started at King Features. By 1948, he became a full time assistant for Ben Dunn, but still found time for lots of other work. A multiple winner of the NCS Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for the strip, he’s been soloing on They’ll Do It Every Time since 1989. Not bad for a boy from the Bronx!

Also: Evanier, Spurgeon

Mark Evanier reports the death of Paul Norris, the co-creator of Aquaman.

Ohio-born Norris studied art before ending up at DC in 1940:

A year later, he was at DC Comics where his most memorable assignment was Aquaman, which he and editor-writer Mort Weisinger created. (DC now puts a “created by Paul Norris” credit on all Aquaman comics. The absence of Weisinger’s name is apparently a legal problem on DC’s end, not a case of Norris squeezing out his former collaborator.) Paul also worked on, among others, the Sandman in Adventure Comics. He was the artist who revamped the character from his old costume — a business suit and a device that looked like a gas mask — and turned him, at editorial insistence, into a Batman knock-off. When Norris left the strip, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby took it over. During this period, Paul also worked on the Vic Jordan newspaper strip for the New York Daily PM.

Tom Spurgeon has more here.

We’re late but heartbroken:

Mary Lillian Ellison, whose flying drop kicks, flying head scissors and hair-pulling “flying mare” body slams brought her renown as the professional wrestler the Fabulous Moolah, died Friday in Lexington, S.C., near her home in Columbia. She was 84.

She died at a hospital after shoulder replacement surgery and might have had a heart attack or a blood clot, said her daughter, Maryetta Austin.

Moolah was women’s wrestling champ for 28 years or so. A farmgirl who found wrestling a way to make a name for herself and find a place in the world, she was a champion in every sense of the word. She won the women’s championship for the last time at age 76. She did a job when she was 80 (above). Indisputably the greatest female wrestler of all time, she came up in the time when a woman in a singlet was expected to put on a show with grit, determination and fighting spirit, not just silicon, and held her own against anyone.

She was an inspiration. Some great pics and info here.
(more…)

The recent deaths of past and preseng comics execs Steve Massarsky and Richard Goldwater have a bit of online commentary. Marv Evanier discusses Goldwater here. Masssarsly so was instrumental to the face of early 90s comics via his involvement with Valient/Voyager, was a more controversial figure, as comments in the Newsarama thread and this Comicmix obit show. Tom Spurgeon has a more comprehensive look at the Valiant years, including Massarsky’s battles with Jim Shooter.

Archie Comics President and Co-Publisher Richard Goldwater passed away last week. Archie released the following obituary:

Richard H. Goldwater, President/Co-Publisher of Archie Comics, passed away October 2, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer. Richard’s father, John Goldwater, was the creator of “Archie Andrews” – America’s perennial teenage “everyman,” and his girlfriends “Betty Cooper” and “Veronica Lodge.” In 1941, John and his business partners, Louis Silberkleit and Maurice Coyne, founded MLJ, the company that later came to be known as Archie Comic Publications. Richard joined the Company after college and, after working his way up through the Company learning all facets of running a successful comic book publishing business, took the Company private together with his life-long friend, Louis’ son, Michael Silberkleit, Chairman/Co-Publisher.

As Editor-In-Chief, Richard strived to produce good, clean, wholesome comics suitable for family entertainment. Under Richard’s careful stewardship, millions of fans all over the world have grown up chuckling at the antics of “Archie” and his friends. He helped make the “bff” relationship between “Betty” and “Veronica” and the “Archie,” “Betty” and “Veronica” love triangle an integral part of American popular culture. Over the years, “Archie” and his friends have changed with the times and embraced current fads. They’ve gone from poodle skirts and sock hops to e-mail and in-line skating. But the age-old teenage issues of dating, crushes, school, homework, sports and parents that they struggle with have remained the same. Nowadays, “Archie” and his friends interact with fans online at ArchieComics.com.

(more…)

Steve Massarsky, co-founder of Valiant comics has died at the age of 59. A key player in the Chromium Age of comics in the 90s, in recent years he was the CEO of The Business Incubation group, which helped launch various companies. Prior to his involvement with Valient/Voyager he was an enertainment lawyer who worked with various music acts and properties ranging from the Cabbage Patch Dolls, the Psychedelic Furs, Collins Management, Aerosmith, Tom Chapin and Willie Mays. He was also credited with helping launch the career of Cyndi Lauper.

Steven J. Massarsky, an attorney and businessman who was a mentor to many and always generous when it came to sharing knowledge and guiding others to follow their dreams, died October 5, 2007 at 12:26 p.m. in Manhattan.

The cause was complications related to cancer.

Steven Massarsky was founder and CEO of the Business Incubation Group Inc. The Business Incubation Group primarily focused on incubating companies that market and sell consumer products and services.

Funeral services will take place on Sunday October 7 at 1pm at the Gutterman-Musicant 402 Park Avenue in Hackensack, NJ. He will be buried at the Riverside Cemetery.

Donations can be made to the James F. Holland Research Fund c/o Dr. James Holland Mount Sinai Hospital, One Gustave L. Levy Place Box 1129 New York, NY 10029

RIP Lois Maxwell.

Oh Miss Moneypenny, forever, typing memos, answering phones and taking dictation, secretly keeping the nation secure, all with spackled on eyeliner and an Aquanet Hairshield — I’d like to see James Bond type 100 wpm.

San Francisco Chronicle cartoonist Phil Frank creator of FARLEY died this week at age 64. He had announced his retirement due to illness only a few days before.

Frank, a longtime resident of Sausalito, was 64 and had suffered from a brain tumor for months.

His alter ego was a newspaper reporter and sometime park ranger named Farley, the central character in his Farley comic strip that he once described as “really a horizontal column, documenting the life and times of the characters in the Bay Area.” It was the only local comic strip in the country.

Frank also combined with writer Joe Troise to produce Elderberries, a syndicated daily strip about life in a retirement home.

500 mp3 milessongs mp3 addmp3 12 stones5 mp3 1st editor 8 tag forummp3 3 doorsrock s 60 mp3 garagemp3 011 alias911 mp3 download Map

Phil Gascoine, a veteran of the British comics scene who worked on such american books as UNKNOWN SOLIDER, died this week after a short illness. This interview serves as a memorial and a place to post tributes:

Artist Phil Gascoine left school aged 15 and worked in an art studio until leaving to complete two years National Service.
As a freelancer, Phil drew for several girls’ comics for over 10 years, including such titles as DC Thomson’s Bunty and School Friend, and IPC’s much-admired Jinty. Among many other boys adventures strips, he’s well known for his work on Battle Action!, on The Sarge.
In addition to work for Marvel UK, Phil also drew strips for the US market, including The Unknown Soldier, The Punisher and various titles for DC Vertigo such as Shade The Changing Man.

We had a hard time finding much of Gascoine;s work on the web, but managed to find this Epic series he illustrated at last.

Mike’s brother Matt has posted the following: :

First, let me thank everyone who has expressed their condolences online and over the phone. We have been, frankly, overwhelmed by all the good will from all over the world. I don’t think our parents fully understood (nor did Mike) just how much he was loved and admired. To get us through this, my wife and I have spent a couple of sleepless nights reading the postings here and at Newsarama (thank you, Matt Brady) and the John Byrne Forum and it’s helped a great deal. Most touching of all was Cully Hamner’s heartfelt eulogy at Newsarama. Thank you so much, Cully. You are a beautiful man.

Now to the hard part. Mike will have two funeral services.

First, there will be a public viewing this Friday (August 17th) from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service at 1113 West Main Street in Durham, NC, followed by a chapel service at 2:00. This will be open to any of Mike’s friends and colleagues who’d like to attend. Please come prepared to share a Mike story. I plan on putting you on the spot. It would really help our Mom and Dad through this.

Second, at a time to be determined, there will be a private service for Mike’s family in Lynchburg, where we grew up.

As mentioned before, in lieu of flowers, if you’d like please send donations to the A.S.P.C.A. (aspca.org) or to the Hero Initiative (heroinitiative.org). I had previously mentioned the CBLDF but, having time to think about it, I realized that the Hero Initiative was more Mike’s style. Those wishing to contribute to the CBLDF anyway, please feel free as it’s a worthwhile cause as well.

You should check out Wieringo’s art gallery and read Tom’s collection of memories. The sadness grows in the telling. And Tom Brevoort notes that Wieringo died on August 12 — the same day that Marvel editor Mark Gruenwald dropped dead of a sudden heart attack at age 43. Certainly the memory of both these fine men will live for a long time.