I’ve been dreading this all day, this entry. I don’t want to write these words. Even though I’ve seen the news all over the net, it isn’t entirely real yet, not to me. Not the way it will be when I post this entry.
I woke this morning and my first thought was about death. Yesterday, I had woken to the news of Roy Scheider’s death. It was an unnerving experience and I didn’t want to turn on the computer today, fearful of the news it might bring. I told myself that I was being ridiculous and fired the old beast up.
A post from Warren Ellis broke the news. Steve Gerber had passed away.
Many of you won’t have known who Steve was. Unlike the larger cults of celebrity, the comic world has kept largely to itself, its stars never gracing the tabloids or the entertainment news. But in the four color world, Steve was a giant among men.
He created Howard The Duck, which would earn him a place in comic history all on its own. But his work was much broader and deeper than that. At Marvel he did amazing work on Ghost Rider, Man Thing, The Defenders, and Omega The Unknown. He created Stewart The Rat, Destroyer Duck, Nevada and the infamous Void Indigo. He was currently writing Dr. Fate over at DC Comics. He was an incredibly talented writer with a unique way of looking at the world. His work was an inspiration and a blueprint to a whole generation of writers.
As a child in the 70’s, Howard The Duck was my first exposure to political satire. It left an indelible impression upon me, helping to shape my taste, my world view and later my writing. Many of my friends consider me to be a bit too biting in my humor at times, too caustic. For that, they can thank Steve as well. Howard’s voice is forever in the back of my mind.
I never met Steve Gerber, yet I feel like I’ve lost a close, personal friend. That was the magic of Steve’s work.
Good night, Steve. You are missed.
