Keith Giffen, Comedian E-book Author-Artist Behind Lobo, Blue Beetle and Rocket Raccoon, Dies at 70

Keith Giffen, the longtime comics writer and artist who co-created fashionable characters akin to DC’s Lobo and the Jamie Reyes model of the Blue Beetle in addition to Marvel’s Rocket Raccoon, has died on the age of 70.

The household of the comics veteran introduced his dying on Fb Wednesday by way of a sardonic publish pre-written by Giffen: “I instructed them I used to be sick…Something to not go to New York Comedian Con, Thanx,” including “Bwah ha ha ha ha.”

A stroke is being attributed as the reason for dying.

Giffen is greatest recognized for writing and drawing galaxy-spanning journey e-book Legion of Tremendous-Heroes within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, at one level making the title one among DC’s prime sellers. He was additionally the artist on early Nineteen Eighties title Omega Males by which he and author Roger Slifer launched Lobo. Lobo was at first a brutal villain, however was later was a parody of overly-muscle-bound characters earlier than turning into a preferred anti-hero.

The 1987 launch of Justice League Worldwide launched followers to Giffen’s subversive and sarcastic humorousness. Written with J.M. DeMatteis and drawn by Kevin Maguire, the e-book was not afraid of dressing down or taking part in up the absurdity of characters akin to Batman, Inexperienced Lantern/Man Gardner, Martian Manhunter and Shazam, whereas additionally elevating the profiles of Fireplace and Ice (then known as Inexperienced Flame and Ice Maiden, respectively) and Blue Beetle, a brand new hero to the DC secure via an acquisition of Charlton Comics.

The comedian was a right away breakout hit, garnering award nominations and birthing a spin-off e-book. It additionally arrange character dynamics, such because the friendship between Blue Beetle and Booster Gold, in addition to the notorious one-punch thrown by Batman at Man Gardner, that also resonate in comics within the 2020s.

Earlier than making his title at DC, he did a stint at Marvel within the Seventies the place Giffen and author Invoice Mantlo launched Rocket Raccoon within the pages of Marvel Preview, a black and white journal. (Mantlo would later convey over the character to the pages of Marvel’s month-to-month books, the place a few years later the character turned a part of the Guardians of the Galaxy. James Gunn drove the into the mainstream together with his hit sci-fi trilogy, the place Rocket was at first a scene-stealer earlier than turning into the emotional centerpiece of this summer season’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

In 2006, DC redefined Blue Beetle, introducing him as Jaime Reyes, a Latino highschool scholar who bonds with a super-powered go well with of alien origin. Giffen co-created the character with TV author John Rogers and artist Cully Hamner and wrote his early adventures. The character headlined his personal Warner Bros. film this previous summer season, turning into the primary Latino-centric character to be featured in such a distinguished manner.

On X, previously often called Twitter, various colleagues and admirerers paid their respects.