“Graphic Novel” illustrator Dave Cockrum wasn’t just drawing the dream, he lived it, all the way down to his Underoos.
X-Men’s Dave Cockrum Dies at 63
By KATRINA A. GOGGINS
The Associated Press
Tuesday, November 28, 2006; 6:01 PMCOLUMBIA, S.C.—Comic book illustrator Dave Cockrum, who in the 1970s overhauled the X-Men and helped popularize the relatively obscure Marvel Comics title into a publishing sensation and eventually a major film franchise, died Sunday. He was 63.
In his Superman pajamas and with his Batman blanket, Cockrum died in his favorite chair at his home in Belton, S.C., early Sunday morning. He had suffered a long battle with diabetes and related complications, his wife, Paty, said Tuesday.
Cockrum and Wein took the existing comic, added their own heroes and published “Giant-Size X-Men No. 1” in 1975. Many signature characters Cockrum designed and co-created _ such as Storm, Mystique, Nightcrawler and Colossus _ went on to become part of the “X-Men” films starring Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry.
Cockrum received no movie royalties, said family friend Clifford Meth, who organized efforts to help Cockrum and his family during his protracted medical care.
“Dave saw the movie and he cried _ not because he was bitter,” Meth said. “He cried because his characters were on screen and they were living.”
It was Halle Berry that got me.
Meth said Cockrum, who will be cremated in a Green Lantern shirt, will be remembered as “a comic incarnate.”
“He had a genuine love for comics and for science fiction and for fantasy, and he lived in it,” Meth said. “He loved his work.”
Rest in Peace, Dave. Up, up and away!
This guy’s name is “Meth.” Now there’s a handle to get stuck with.
Probably has an unlisted number.
Cock_rum and Meth? I’d say the armadillo’s behind this.
Rest in peace, Dave.
Dave Cockrum, along with writer Chris Claremont, created many of the ‘new’ X-men and other great comics icons like the Imperial Guard and the Starjammers that I remember from my teens. Thanks for all the fun, Dave. You were a cool dude. Rest in peace.
The guy helped shape a popular Marvel franchise, and dies… in DC gear. What’s up with THAT?
These days the Marvel-DC rivalry is pro forma, like the rivalry between the boys in marketing and the stuffed shirts in accounting.
I’ve never been high enough to get it talking back to me like Yosemite Sam. Jealous.
That reminds me. I forgot to kill my mother.
Fucking Flash #1 was in that box, too. And all the Mad magazines from back when it was a comic. And… And…
I need whiskey. And a chainsaw. Two chainsaws. And Superman pajamas. And some of that talking speed.
MOTHER!
You should definitely build a wall, BoZ. It’s gonna get ugly.
Giant Size X-men is the book that got me reading comics. The characters Cockrum created were paramount in bringing comic book/graphic novel reading to the forefront. It used to be embarassing to buy comics – “you’re a nerd/geek/whatever” but now, even at my age, I can walk into any comic shop and buy what I want.
Giant Size X-men and the characters it contained was a HUGE reason for comics going mainstream.
Dave Cockrum and Chris Claremont (along with George Pérez and Marv Wolfman on the Avengers side of the house) introduced me to a wide world of art and sci-fantasy that I still treasure to this day.
I owe all of my ability as an artist (which pales in comparison to their’s) to the hundreds of hours practicing/honing my skills with their comics as my guide.
Godspeed, Dave.
Not to be too pedantic, but I don’t think Cockrum created Mystique. As I recall from my yout’, she wasn’t in the X-Men books until Cockrum had left, and I don’t think Cockrum was working on Ms Marvel (except for the occasional cover) when Mystique first showed up there.
Where’s Kurt when you need these quesitons answered?