Remembering Darwyn Cooke

   Comic fans everywhere were rocked today by the news of Darwyn Cooke's passing.

   It's a terrible shock, given that Cooke was only 54 years old - and only the day before it was revealed that he had been fighting cancer.

   Cooke was a rare artist who had a unique style all his own - one that evoked the joy and energy of the Silver Age of comics. His style seemed to contain some on the minimalism of Alex Toth, the raw energy of Jack Kirby, and a dynamic style of Steve Rude - all rolled into a distinctive and fresh package.

   His work in comics is not vast, but it's certainly important - he redrafted Catwoman into her modern look, he revitalized the Wild West in Jonah Hex, he gave the entire industry a much-needed shot of optimism with his reimagining of the Silver Age in DC's New Frontier, and he gave his own steely edge to hardboiled fiction with his adaptation of the Parker stories.

   He also crafted a number of covers - mostly for DC - that will hopefully one day be collected for fans to read and enjoy.

   In a just world, he would have had decades more to tell his stories and share his vision - but we can take some comfort that he leaves behind so much great work that we can enjoy - and treasure.

Posted in: Reviews