Comic book writer Steve Gerber, creator of Howard the Duck, dead at 60
Steve Gerber, the comic book writer and creator whose signature character was the alienated, cigar-chomping Howard the Duck, has died. He was 60.
By Agencies |
LAS VEGAS: 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 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.
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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.
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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.
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