Dave Stevens, RIP

Not a good month for creators. Dave Stevens, creator of the Rocketeer, passed away this week from a rare form of leukemia. I credit Stevens with coalescing my interest in retro-futurism and pulp adventure into a form that, in 1982, was dear to me, the comic book.

Stevens’ artwork had a classic warmth to it that distanced him from the overmuscled “underwear pervert” comics of the day. It’s a shame that the comics public didn’t follow along, despite (or because of) the flimsy Rocketeer film by Disney–which I nevertheless enjoyed. And the Rocketeer had the coolest “costume” ever, period.