I’m not going to lie: the second I heard Dwayne McDuffie was dead, it felt like a tremendous punch in the gut. Such a huge, huge loss to comics.
RIP Dwayne McDuffie.
I’m at a bit of a loss for words.
UPDATED 1:15 PM PST: DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio has offered the following statement via the company’s Source blog:
“Dwayne McDuffie left a lasting legacy on the world of comics that many writers can only aspire to. He will not only be remembered as the extremely gifted writer whose scripts have been realized as comic books, in television shows and on the silver screen, but as the creator or co-creator of so many of the much-loved Milestone characters, including Static Shock. The industry has lost a true talent.
Our sincerest condolences go out to the family and many friends he leaves behind.”
– Dan DiDio, Co-Publisher, DC Comics
Feel free to voice some of your favourite McDuffie comic moments in the comments below.
I’m not going to lie and say I’m huge fan of his comic book work, because I’m not. I didn’t particularly enjoy his recent JLA run, and I treat Static Shock as a footnote, because it is. Other than that, I’m not familiar with anything else he did (in that I’ve read it), other than his work on Firestorm, which I did like.
With that said, he was a fantastic, creative mind involved in with the Justice League cartoons, and helped create some of my favourite episodes of that series. Not to mention, he gave John Stewart some face time, which is always cool as a Green Lantern fan. As of late, he’s obviously been involved with the DC animated features, most recently the All-Star Superman adaptation. I’m looking forward to seeing that most definitely.
He wasn’t the greatest comic creator to grace our hands from my perspective, but he put forth some great work in the larger comic book medium and for that we should be appreciative. His creative talents will be missed, as far as I’m concerned.
It’s sadly poignant that the All Star Superman movie (adapted by McDuffie) was released today on DVD and Blu-Ray. R.I.P.
Wow Andrew, that’s just about the worst back handed sentiment… ever! No one is asking you to “lie” but normal etiquette would be to focus on the man’s positive contributions and leave it at that. None of us are perfect so in death we want to remember and be remembered in the best light. I just hope his family doesn’t come across this site…
By the way, you’re officially not invited to my funeral…
I say two negative things amidst a sea of praise, and that’s back handed? That’s like comparing it to a floating tire amidst a beautiful ocean back dropped by a wondrous sunrise. I’ve been saying the same things for years about his work. Because I didn’t like two of his creative works, suddenly everything else I said is drowned out? And I did focus on his positive creations, that’s why I ended with them. Dwayne offered some great creative works, I appreciate him for that. His work on Justice League and the recent DC animated features I love and credit him for.
As for your funeral, okay. You’re not invited to mine then. It’ll have cake, spilled milk, and perhaps Ultimate Frisbee. So…:P
I recall watching a music video for one of my favourite indie hip-hop artists last October the day he died, much earlier in the day actually. In that you got the feeling that if he were to die today, he would do so with a smile on his face. I only found out later on the Sunday what had happened to him. It’s very surreal to watch that video now, much like I think it will be when I get my hands on a copy of All-Star Superman later.
Also, to follow your argument Charlie. When Frank Miller passes away, should we ignore the last 10-15 years of his work, which, let’s face it, falters completely compared to his early Daredevil and Batman works?
I have to agree with Charlie. We all seem to forget that these people have lives outside of their job. We judge tham as people on the books/shows they worked on, because thats all we know. Etiquette is an issue when talking about people who have recently passed away, and in this case I agree that it’s best to remember people by what affected you in a positive way. I was not familiar with his comic work. but Justice Leauge/JLU is, and probably always will be, one of my favourite t.v series, animated or not!
R.I.P Dwayne
“Sea of praise…”, huh? Well, as long as we’re not exaggerating… I’ll let you’re statements speak for themselves. I’m not denying your opinion but it seems inappropriate in this context… This particular post is less about you and more about McDuffie.
Don’t get me start on FM… I realize his recent stuff has been crap but art is not about the destination… It’s the journey which many contemporaries don’t get. In death, it’s not about covering up failures but celebrating successes. Are you seriously telling me you don’t get this?
As for my funeral, I’ll be dead long before you young lad so I probably wont need that cake where I’m going, but if you could bring down something cool to drink… that’d be nice.
We’re debating the kind of person Dwayne was, and I can assure that is the person his family misses right now. They’re not concerned about his legacy as a comic creator so much as they’re mourning the loss of their family member.
To look at someone’s body of work as anything other than the whole in favour of the selected sums doesn’t allow us to critically look at their overall place in the comic medium, and more, to fully judge the body of their work and its impact. To only focus on a selected part of someone’s work and omitting the lesser parts is a disingenuous analysis of them. Frank Miller, once he passes, will always be remembered for his work on Daredevil and Batman. However we can’t overlook the last decade and a half of his work if we’re going to properly judge his place within the comic book industry’s history. Why should the same principle not apply to Dwayne? We’re not judging the creator so much as their work. We’re not going to forget their triumphs for which Dwayne had many, but how is it sensible to omit their entire body of work?
In the end, Dwayne was an artist and his works will be critiqued, both the accomplishments and the blunders. It goes with the territory. I’m not sure where you (perhaps) got the impression I was attacking him personally.
When I’m only being critical of him for two lines amidst three paragraphs of genuine praise? What would you call that? My comment was essentially about McDuffie’s works, and whether it “seems inappropriate” or not is entirely a subjective assessment rather the universal sense of etiquette you’re treating it to be.
Your argument however in the middle offers contrary points. If we’re to understand the process as a journey and we’re to realize and acknowledge both as the leading point to successes and failures, how can we not look at the whole when assessing one’s contributions to their craft?
I did allude to spilled milk at mine, but that’s more of an underhanded (final) practical joke related to the serving of cake. Would that do though?
Andrew, this post is not an invitation to “assess” McDuffie’s work. It’s to simply bid farewell to a member of the community. My comment about the “journey” was in reference to Miller. Considering his range, I see him more as an explorer. Miller is not about the answers, it’s the questions that interests him. Besides, Millers worst stuff still looks pretty good next to some of the current crap that’s being churned out. I mean really… should I care about the Dark Avengers, Dark X-Men and the corn-ball dialogue that’s ripped right out of TV shows? I’ll take Millers Bad Boy any day. Even DK2 had some sparks in it… but it just fizzled out by book 3. Successful, heck no! But interesting as an experiment. Why don’t you put up a Miller post and we can really get into it… although I’ll have to re-read many of his stuff just to get back up to speed. It’s been fun but I think it’s time to let it go. Cheers.
Okay, then you should have clarified since we both got off-topic with the Miller example. As for the Miller-centric post, that isn’t a bad idea actually. Maybe when I have some time down the road.
And I did bid farewell to McDuffie, you and I just have different philosophies on what precisely that means.
Cheers, good sir.