Released from a World He Never Made

Steve Gerber, a leading light in 1970s American comic books, a singular writer of odd and affecting comics for mainstream publishers, an advocate for and icon of creators rights, and the creator and co-creator of several characters including Howard the Duck and Omega the Unknown, died Sunday in a Las Vegas hospital. The cause of death is believed to be pneumonia, although he had been suffering from a long-term illness, pulmonary fibrosis. He was 60 years old.

Tom Spurgeon's obituary of Gerber continues here.

Mike Sterling offers a remembrance and a linked history of Gerber's marvelous creations.

Mark Evanier's personal thoughts on his friend here.

Here's a cover gallery of the original run of Gerber's Howard the Duck.

If you only know of Howard the Duck through the craptacular 1986 film, you owe it to yourself to read the bitingly satiric and surprisingly subversive (for a mainstream publisher) comic book series. Ten bucks at Amazon will get you a complete run of the series.

Waugh.