It just dawned on me, that would make a great DVD set from Warner Bros.

~

Coat

R.I.P. Steve Gerber

http://arche-arc.blogspot.com/2008/0…1947-2008.html

Aside from being one of the best anthropomorphic characters ever (Pogo is his only equal, imho), Howard the Duck celebrates the ideal of the individual better than any comic hero. Post-Gerber Howard writers have always portrayed the Duck as largely an apathetic misanthrope, but Gerber’s Howard was a bit of a populist crusader… He would run from danger more often than not, but he always had a point where he would revert to full-throated act of defiance, like some mutant John Brown. I always thought Steve was probably like that, too. I also thought Steve (and the Duck, for that matter) would probably be disagree like hell with that characterization.

Steve also wrote about loneliness better than any writer I can think of, with the exception of maybe Paul Shrader.

I also have a lot of fond memories of listening to the Man-Thing Thunder Records set when I was five. My five-year-old mind thought that clown was the coolest thing imaginable.

I hope Steve’s characters live on in stories to come (although I also hope some of them will be administered better). I actually have a feeling Gerber would want other people writing his characters. And I really hope Marvel will get off their asses and put out the unpublished Man-Thing GN he did with Grey Morrow.

I must disagree with Briance Spence, though: Gerber’s passing is no good reason to kill off his creations. If anything, it’s all the better reason to keep them around. Would we be honoring the memory of Jack Kirby if we killed off Captain America or the New Gods?

What? Oh fuck ME.

A good sense of humor, especially about the things we hold dear, is the best way to honor those who lived to make us laugh while making us think. We might feel a loss, but we’re gonna be just fine.

I have a question for all of the Steve Gerber fans. Looking over the list of characters that were created by Steve Gerber, I couldn’t help notice that Korrek and Thundarr, as well as Jennifer Kale and Ariel, are very similar. My question to you guys is has Steve ever said that both Thundarr and Ariel were reworked versions of Korrek and Jennifer Kale? I wish Marvel would put out a Korrek the Barbarian special or mini series as a tribute to Steve Gerber.

Damn.

Rest in Peace Steve Gerber, you made a difference and you will be missed.

Those of us who read The Defenders when Gerber wrote that title will fondly remember his long running subplot with the elf that would pop up every once in a while and just kill people seamingly without rhyme or reason. Thinking about the elf subplot now, I’m wondering if he meant that a reflection of life itself (Gerber seemed very in tune with what he called the cosmic absurdity of everything). Steve Gerber’s life though was not like the elf or the elf’s victims, in that his stories, creations, and characters have meaning and have provided many of us with over thirty years of great thought provoking stories that will stand the test of time. I, for one, have Steve Gerber to thank for helping shape my world view.

Another story that I’m just now remebering is a story he did in Eclipse magazine (in several issues) with Val Mayrick about his experiences with the censorship boards of Saturday morning programming (Gerber wrote and created Thundarr The Barbarian with Jack Kirby). I wish some company would collect those stories.

That single issue alone was so amazing and unlike anything that was available on a comic spinner rack in 1976, when I was a kid and soaking up each issue of HTD as it spilled out of Marvel who had no idea it was publishing the seed of alternative comics of the 80’s.

That same issue stands as great a work today as it was then and is equally, if not more, relevant during this election year. Forget Hilary, Obama and McKean…give me Howard for President!

Give me Steve.

Steve wrote honestly. The words that spilled from his pen were always witty, sharp and direct to the point. He never wrote down to the reader as I remember. I’d always find myself running to a dictionary to understand a new word discovered in his work. When someone criticized the writing in comics I always waved HTD as evidence to the contrary.

Steve was a true inspiration. His impact on comics cannot be overplayed. His genius will be missed.