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Mortality
2008-02-13 09:10:02

As has been reported almost everywhere in the comic book blogosphere, we got hit with a real double-whammy yesterday.

Upon arriving to work, we were dumbfounded to learn that colorist Stephane Peru had died suddenly and unexpectedly over the weekend. This was particularly startling to the members of my editorial group, as Stephane had just completed work on a trio of INVINCIBLE IRON MAN pages for the Previews catalogue that previous Friday. It was especially a shock given that he was so young--only 26 years of age--and that he seemed in the best of health.

I didn't really know Stephane--I can't even swear that I ever had the occasion to speak to him directly, despite his having done some work in and around our office over the last few months--so I'll leave it to others to eulogize him in greater detail. What I did know was that he was a young guy with a boatload of talent, and a really promising career ahead of him. The work he'd done on AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and the AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE ANNUAL over Salvador Larroca was outstanding, and we were all looking forward to seeing what he'd do on INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.

And then, the day wasn't even out before the second body-blow landed, and we heard that Howard the Duck creator Steve Gerber had also passed away.

In Steve's case, it wasn't too surprising, given that he'd been experiencing some serious medical problems these past few months, as he would detail on his blog. But that didn't make the news any easier to cope with.

Steve was one of the most unique voices to come out of Marvel in the 1970s, a complete iconoclast who was more at home writing the oddball characters on the fringes of the Marvel Universe than the popular headliners at its center. He was one of the first guys of his generation to develop a unique voice distinctly different from the flavor of Stan Lee. And he was a trailblazer when it came to doing very personal, very mature work within the structure of corporately-owned mainstream comics. You could never mistake a Steve Gerber comic book for the work of any other writer, because absolutely nobody else could think that way, for better or worse. That's what made Steve's stories so interesting.

My own history working with Steve has at this point been well-documented (and if you don't know about it, you might be able to find the long interview I did with Brian Bendis for Wizard.com floating around somewhere online that details the whole thing.) But despite that, I spoke to Steve just this past week, in reference to a project he was going to be doing for Marvel (Characteristically, the first time I called him up to speak to him about it, he asked, "What happened? Did you lose a bet with somebody or something?") The groundwork had been laid by Jim McLaughlin of the HERO INITIATIVE, who knew that Steve's medical bills were mounting, and that he could probably use the influx of cash. Jim seldom gets any recognition for the fine work he does, unheralded, on behalf of the elder statesman of our industry who've fallen on hard times, so I particuarly wanted to make this known.

I am presently 41 years of age, the same age my father was when he died. Mark Gruenwald was 43. Mike Wieringo, 44. So the question of mortality is perhaps a bit more on my mind these days than it had been. I've got no great insight to offer anybody on the subject. But events like those of the past 48 hours serve to underline the fact that, no matter one's age or seeming health, death can come without warning--so it remains crucial for us to fill our days and hours and minutes with as much genuine living as we can manage.

More later.

Tom B

Mortality
Well, there we go.

Honestly, we're all going to die, so I think your insistance to fill our lives with genuine living is about as good as it gets. It seems to me that the biggest difficulty with death is not that it's big and scary, but that's it's small, quiet, and leaves only an emptiness. It's hard to fight that.

(So instead we "fight" cancer and anything that smacks of aging. Ahem, sorry...)

Personally, I'd feel pretty crappy right now if I knew I was on the way out as I feel like I've left a lot of things I'd like to get done, undone. I think if I could at least look back on a life filled with doing things I loved and people I cared about (I'm at least 1 for 2) it'd be a lot easier face. Which is why I don't bemoan the passing of too many professionals that have made their lasting mark. Miss what they would have done with a few more years, yes, but not feel too bad for them.

At least they're going out with a sense that they made a dent in a way they would have liked to. It often leaves them head and shoulders above the majority of us in the long run. I'd quicker be jealous of that than piteous.

Posted by PseudoSherlock on 2008-02-13 09:29:06

ps - those pages are BEAUTIFUL BTW. So sad...

Posted by NewChad on 2008-02-13 09:32:58

Addendum
Okay, dying at 26 (a year or so younger than me) while working on your upswinging career is quite sad.

Posted by PseudoSherlock on 2008-02-13 09:35:03

Mortality
Tom Brevoort wrote: "But events like those of the past 48 hours serve to underline the fact that, no matter one's age or seeming health, death can come without warning--so it remains crucial for us to fill our days and hours and minutes with as much genuine living as we can manage. "

I agree and would add the following thought:

"Teach us [O LORD] to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Ps. 90:12. (Note also: John 3:16.)

RIP Steve Gerber & Stephane Peru !

Posted by Mon Morn Lunatic on 2008-02-13 12:28:37

Take care of yourself Tom... eat right, live healthy, and go for regular checkups. We want you around for a long time to come!

And for those who are gone, let's continually honor and remember them by making sure each new generation of comic readers knows who they are and what they did.

Posted by CylverSaber on 2008-02-13 15:02:17

Mortality
This past Sunday Feb 10, 2008 marked the fifth anniversary of my own mothers passing. she was 58 years young she loved Hard rock music. Enjoyed Cartoons and Sci-Fi. She even stood by me at various times in my life as i Made a living as an artist and more importantly as i tried to break into Comics. she actually owned a bought copy of Howard the Duck. The terrible film based on Gerber's "Master of Quack fu" She thought it was hilarious though. My own age is accurately alluded to in my own user name. the Villain that my mother lost her great battle to was Cancer. Her own Mother lost her battle before she reached 50 years, so i guess that you could say i have lived with mortality for some time. Especially in recent years. I try not to allow it to hold me back or bring me down in some depressive funk. Instead, i live my daily life working and dealing with people and doing my artwork knowing that i am having an impact on them when i see the smiles on their faces when they receive the final product. Knowing that what i have given them will long outlast me.

Steve Gerber in his passing I am sure knew this as well. He wrote and created much that will long outlast him. that will continue over time to impact people who are lucky enough to discover a plucky cigar chomping duck with a taste for adventure, Politics and beautiful woman.

So to Steve Gerber where ever you may be. sit back, relax, and share a stogie with Howard and know that you made an impact that will not soon be forgot.

Rest In Peace

Posted by BIGW1966 on 2008-02-13 18:14:40

mortality
Glad to see no one's putting Sue Richards in the same category as actual people.

Posted by ted_dahlman on 2008-02-14 08:38:56

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