In the event you solely know Marvel and DC from its films and exhibits you could not know the identify Keith Giffen. However in the event you do watch numerous Marvel and DC exhibits and flicks, then you definately do know his work; not solely as a result of his tales as a author and artist for each firms have been tailored to the large and small screens, however as a result of his tales have been so fashionable that they resonated all by means of the world of comics and into broader popular culture.
Sadly, Giffen died this week on the age of 70. The reason for dying was reportedly a stroke. Giffen’s personal Fb web page introduced his passing, with a joke evoking the twisted humorousness that outlined lots of his greatest comics.
“I instructed them I used to be sick … something to not go to New York Comedian Con,” the submit on Giffen’s web page learn.
READ MORE: The Weirdest Marvel Comics Ever Printed
Giffen was born in Queens in 1952 and commenced writing for Marvel within the Seventies. Together with author Invoice Mantlo, Giffen co-created Rocket Raccoon within the pages of Marvel Preview #7. Rocket was a minor character within the Marvel cosmos for a few years, however was later added to a contemporary reboot of the Guardians of the Galaxy comedian. James Gunn used these comics as the premise for his Guardians of the Galaxy film, which turned Rocket right into a beloved determine within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the place he voiced by Bradley Cooper.
Giffen’s best-known work as a author got here within the mid-Eighties when he and J.M. DeMatteis launched a brand new model of the Justice League with artist Kevin Maguire. Somewhat than the sturdy barely stiff tales of heroism of the unique Justice League of America, Giffen, DeMatteis, and Maguire’s Justice League Worldwide collection was crammed with oddballs, misfits, and wild humor. To at the present time, it stays one of the vital beloved eras of Justice League comics.
Round this similar time, Giffen additionally co-created DC Comics’ Lobo, a wisecracking mercenary alien with a warped humorousness. (He’s not that dissimilar than Rocket Raccoon, if Rocket was an enormous E.T. who dressed like a biker in outer area.) Lobo has loved a long time of recognition in comics, and has been rumored as a possible topic for a big-screen adaptation lately as effectively.
Giffen was a mainstay within the comics business for many years, with runs on books starting from Suicide Squad to Legion of Tremendous-Heroes to The Defenders and Drax the Destroyer. He additionally co-created the Jaime Reyes model of DC hero Blue Beetle, who grew to become one of the vital fashionable iterations of the longtime character, and just lately received his personal live-action film. However even when Giffen’s characters hadn’t gone on to large popular culture stardom onscreen, his work in comics was hilarious and thrilling and all the time entertaining. He might be sorely missed by comics followers — however his work will stand the take a look at of time.
Each DCEU Film Ranked From Worst to Greatest
From Man of Metal to Blue Beetle, we ranked each film within the DC Prolonged Universe.
