Howard The Duck Creater Steve Gerber Dies

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Howard the Duck Creater Gerber Dies
2008-02-15 21:50:16
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Steve Gerber, the comic book writer and creator whose signature character was the alienated, cigar-chomping Howard the Duck, has died. He was 60. Gerber, who also co-created Marvel's "Omega the Unknown" and created the 1980s animated series "Thundarr the Barbarian," suffered from pulmonary fibrosis.

He died Sunday in a Las Vegas hospital from complications related to the disease, said Mary Skrenes, a friend and writing partner on "Omega" and other comics.

The "Howard the Duck" series became a fast hit after its January 1976 debut on Marvel and remains a cult favorite. Its lead, a disgruntled duck from another universe with a bombshell sidekick named Beverly "Thunder-Thighs" Switzler, was hailed as both smart and subversive.

The adjectives could be applied to Gerber, Skrenes said.

"Howard was his voice. Steve was able to do social commentary and sort of sneak it up on you," she said. "Sometimes it was obvious what the message was there, and other times is was really subtle because it took place in a mystical realm or outer space."

Or in Cleveland, where Howard was a lone talking duck "trapped in a world he never made!" according to the comic's tagline.

Gerber split with Marvel in 1978 amid a dispute over the rights to the character. He sued the company and settled out of court.

Skrenes said Gerber was not closely involved in George Lucas' 1986 "Howard the Duck" film, which fared poorly at the box office.

Gerber also worked in television as a story editor on "G.I. Joe" and "Dungeon & Dragons."

More recently, Gerber and Skrenes created "Hard Time" for DC Comics, the story of a 15-year-old boy convicted in a Columbine-like school shooting who discovers he has special powers. Gerber was working on a revival of the DC Comics' Dr. Fate series at the time of his death.

"He was the kind of guy people would give an old, moribund idea to and he would come up with a fresh idea for it," said Mark Evanier, a friend.

Gerber was born Sept. 20, 1947, in St. Louis and received a bachelor's degree from St. Louis University, before joining Marvel as an assistant editor in 1972. He is survived by his mother, Bernice; his daughter, Samantha Voll; and three siblings.

Private services are pending.


Read more: http://myembarq.com/news/news_reader.php?storyid=15826941&feedid=241

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Because posting snarky comments, please be aware that Howrd The Duck was a brilliant and ground-breaking for a comic book and that Gerber had nothing to do with the shitty movie.

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Spooky, I just finished watching Howard the Duck on cable.

I know the movie is often panned by many, but as a child, I loved it. I caught it for the first time in years tonight and even though it's terribly outdated, I still enjoyed it.

I do know Gerber disliked the movie a lot, though.

But I didn't. :)

[The Traveler]

2. Howard the Duck ... a hero for our times

Many a bong hit spent discussing Howard and his significance to those dark times. Times which I now regard with nostalgia, and which seem light and airy compared to what is going on now. Heh. Howard's plight is more poignant than ever.

Happy trails, Steve Gerber.

[Captain Angry]

3. No snark here.

I liked the movie. :-)

It had nothing to do with a young and fantastic Leah Thompson, I assure you.

I wasn't much of a comic book reader, so I never saw the origin of the character. But I remember reading about him in Dragon magazine. They had a section dedicated to the Marvel Superheroes RPG with statistics for famous comic book characters as well as not so famous guys.

The best one was Willy Lumpkin, the mailman. But he was rumored to be a Herald of Galactus. Pretty funny back stories.

Thanks for posting the information.

[Kolesar]

4. I remember the line from the Pretender's "Precious"

...about Howard the Duck. Never read it. If anybody wants to mail me a dogeared copy, well... :)

[daleo]

12. Here's the verse, anyway

I was feeling kind of ethereal cause Im precious
I had my eye on your imperial youre so precious
Now howard the duck and mr stress both stayed
Trapped in a world that they never made
But not me baby Im too precious I had to fuck off

[Kolesar]

15. Mr. Stress is a Cleveland blues-band

I must have listened to the album a hundred times. It's the cartoon that I have never seen. Thanks.

[daleo]

16. That's interesting information, regarding Mr. Stress

I have always been a big Pretenders fan, myself. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to google the lyrics.

[Kolesar]

18. Chrissie Hynde just opened a restaurant in Akron called "Vegeterranean"

Mediterranean food is quite the hit around here. Actually, Lebanese food has been popular here for as long as I remember. So, she opened a restaurant meeting her vegetarian standards. Not been there yet. Reservations are a good idea because the restaurant is quite popular. A poster on another board put up photos of Chrissie bringing a plate of hors d'oeuvres to him in a waitresses' uniform with a "Chrissie" monogram. Way cool.

I think that Mr. Stress has been around since before "The Pretenders" was released (in 1979?). I didn't even have a car then, so I would not have driven to a show.

Yes, there is something about the Pretenders.

[chemp]

5. America- GET DOWN!

Howard for President.
Again.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

6. Hiya Steve, say hi to Lee for me

and give him my love.

You met Lee at one of the Chicago Comicons, I forget which one. He was a cartoonist too. We loved your work.

In 1976, in a Sun-Times story about the presidential election results in Cook County, it was reported that one vote had been written in for Howard the Duck.

That was Lee's vote.

I was pissed off with him over it, but that's how little he liked politicians. He voted for the duck.

He beat you off the planet by about seven years. You both died too young. If you see Lee, say hi.


http://farm1.static.flickr.com.nyud.net:8090/26/38040550_dd0871a052.jpg

[onehandle]

7. WAAAUGH!

WAAAUGH!

[kevsand]

8. He was a genius.

A rare voice of sanity in "a world of talking hairless apes..."

[Jazzgirl]

9. I was up really early this morning watching the movie!

I always liked it, even though it was kinda stupid but it was entertaining. RIP Steve...

[hadrons]

10. I loved Gerber's run on the Defenders as a kid along with Howard ...

he really was good writer, RIP Steve

[ReadTomPaine]

11. Thundarr was one of the coolest cartoons ever made.

RIP Steve.

[HuffleClaw]

13. DUCK !

"and proud of it!"

[HuffleClaw]

14. you dare impugn a CLASSIC film such as this?

a film with such truly inspired lines such as:

"That's it, no more Mr. Nice Duck."

&

"No one laughs at a master of Quack Fu!"

[MrScorpio]

17. Rest in Peace, Steve

Also, Steve and my favorite comic book artist Jack Kirby combined their talents to create DESTROYER DUCK.

I've always appreciated Steve Gerber's integrity which impelled him to stand by Jack Kirby's side as they both fought for the rights of creators against the corporate abuse of the major comic book companies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destroyer_Duck