R.I.P Darwyn Cooke

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Eisner Winner Darwyn Cooke Has Passed Away



Legendary comics artist Darwyn Cooke has passed away. He was 53.

Cooke's family released the following statement this morning:
 

We regret to inform you that Darwyn lost his battle with cancer early this morning at 1:30 AM ET. We read all of your messages of support to him throughout the day yesterday. He was filled with your love and surrounded by friends and family at his home in Florida.

Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society and Hero Initiative.

Please continue to respect our privacy as we go through this very difficult time.

A longer statement will come later today.

“Then we shall not be weary. Then we shall prevail.” -- John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier speech

The news comes less than twenty-four hours after Cooke's battle with cancer was revealed in a blog post titled “f*^k cancer” posted by Cooke’s wife, Marsha. In it, Marsha Cooke writes:

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce Darwyn is now receiving palliative care following a bout with aggressive cancer. His brother Dennis and I, along with our families appreciate the outpouring of support we have received. We ask for privacy as we go through this very difficult time. Urgent inquiries please contact David Hyde david.hyde@superfanpromotions.com

Darwyn Cooke published his first comic in 1985 but was generally known as a transplant from animation, where he worked on shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series in the 1990s before finding mainstream success in comics. He animated the opening title sequence for Batman Beyond. In 2000, DC Comics and Cooke started developing a project which would ultimately become Batman: Ego. He would work consistently in comics from that point forward, including on projects like Just Image Stan Lee Creating... and Batman/The Spirit.

Cooke would return to animation even after he became an in-demand and award-winning comics artist, notably in 2006, when he co-wrote and served as art director on Justice League: The New Frontier.

Cooke, in fact, is best known as the writer and artist of DC: The New Frontier, the comic upon which that animated feature was based, and for his four adaptations of Richard Stark’s Parker novels at IDW Publishing. He won the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue for his work on Solo #5 in 2005.

Cooke's 2002 graphic novel Selina’s Big Score and costume redesign was key to the modernization of Catwoman at DC Comics. More recently, he illustrated the four-issue Vertigo Comics miniseries The Twilight Children, written by Gilbert Hernandez, and announced plans for a new, creator-owned series titled Revengeance, at Image Comics. He was also part of developing Future Quest, an anticipated part of DC Comic's upcoming slate of Hanna-Barbera reinventions. The first issue of that series will hit the stands from Jeff Parker and Evan "Doc" Shaner on Wednesday. Cooke provided the first piece of promotional art for the series.

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DC Comics Issues Statement On The Passing Of Darwyn Cooke



Earlier this morning, it was sadly announced that multiple Eisner, Harvey and Shuster award-winning artist Darwyn Cooke lost his battle with cancer. He was 53. Because Cooke had such a huge impact with DC Comics, the company has issued a statement on his passing.

Official press release from DC Comics follows

Darwyn Cooke will be remembered for his timeless designs, masterful storytelling, and his impact on the comic book world.

BURBANK, Calif. (May 14, 2016) – Darwyn Cooke had a vision of the DC Universe that was uniquely his own, yet embraced by everyone. Once you saw his timeless designs and concepts for Batman, Catwoman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern or any other character, you immediately adopted his jubilant interpretation of these heroes as your own and wanted more. His take on the most iconic heroes in the world were breathtakingly direct and elegant, powerful and cool.  His were some of the most beautiful, fun DC superhero images we have ever seen.

"Darwyn Cooke lived life like a character from a Micky Spillane novel, a throwback to a bygone era that was, more than occasionally, reflected in his work," said DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio. "He was both compassionate and combative, approaching everything he did with a tenaciousness and temerity that is now unheard of in a world afraid to offend. The simplistic brilliance of his art and the natural flow of his storytelling not only elevated but enhanced all projects he touched and his passion and love of comics was reflected in every panel of every page. Working with Darwyn was not without its challenges. There were times we'd spend hours arguing over story then go months without talking, but we always found our way back, drawn together by the common bond and friendship comics creates. This is an industry-wide loss that I feel personally, but the sadness is mitigated in the knowing that the beauty and grace of his art will forever stand the test of time and be a monument to all that is great about comics."

Darwyn was one of our medium’s true innovators. A gifted artist and master storyteller, Darwyn began his career as a magazine art director and graphic designer.  After answering an ad placed by Warner Bros animator Bruce Timm, Darwyn entered the world of animation, where he contributed to such shows as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series and Men In Black: The Series.  From there, Darwyn made the leap into print comics, where his character design was never more effective, enduring or entrancing. It was the look and honest simplicity of his characters for which Cooke became famous—as first seen in his breakout work Batman: Ego published over 15 years ago today and then followed up by his popular and critically acclaimed work on Catwoman: Selina's Big Score and The Spirit.  Even after 15 years, Darwyn's design for Catwoman is still the one used today in both comics and inspired the look for Catwoman on the hit TV show, Gotham.

An Eisner-award winning artist and accomplished writer, Darwyn has been a much-loved and respected member of the comics community.  He lent his signature retro style to all corners of the DC Universe, from Jonah Hex to Before Watchmen to Vertigo Comic’s The Twilight Children and, of course, his master work, DC: The New Frontier.  His bold, direct style, often compared to the works of Joe Kubert, Alex Toth and Jack Kirby, reflected his down to earth, no nonsense personality.  Darwyn Cooke always claimed that he was a lucky man to have such a wonderful family, friends, and such a wonderful life. He lived that life with the same brilliance and fearlessness that so permeated his work.  And for those of us who knew this one-of-a-kind and genuine soul, we were lucky as well.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cooke's family and friends.

Source DCComics.com