Fuck everything and burn it down: Darwyn Cooke has died.

Atomika · May 2016

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/14/entertainment/comics-artist-darwyn-cooke-obituary/index.html

(CNN)His talents were as versatile as the classic comic book characters he brought to life. Darwyn Cooke, celebrated artist, graphic designer, writer and animator, died Saturday at 53, his wife, Marsha, said.

The Canadian-born artist died at his home in Florida following a battle with cancer. "We read all of your messages of support to him throughout the day yesterday," she wrote in a website post.
Cooke had a hand in drawing Catwoman, Batman, Green Lantern, Minutemen and a myriad of other characters emblazoned on the pages of comic books or on the screen.

"His take on the most iconic heroes in the world were breathtakingly direct and elegant, powerful and cool," DC Comics said on its website. The award-winning artist was known for his retro style.
He was a fan favorite after his work on the 1960s-based miniseries "DC: The New Frontier."

Actor Mark Hamill of "Star Wars" remembered Cooke for his exuberance and "effortless stylishness."

Cooke won more than a half dozen Eisner Awards, which are held annually during San Diego Comic-Con. It is the highest honor anyone in the comic book industry can receive.
Cooke wasn't content with success only in the superhero genre.

In 2012, he spoke with CNN regarding stylish graphic novels about Parker, a single-named anti-hero of the 1960s. Parker, a hired gun and professional thief, made his debut in 1962 in Richard Stark's "The Hunter." Stark was a pseudonym of the late Donald Westlake.

Cooke described his adaptations as being like noir movies on paper. Concerning his book "The Score," he said the work was intense and exacting, taking notes, laying out the design and adjusting the order of the scenes.

Months were spent at the table, crafting the novel.

"When I work on Parker, that's all I do. I just immerse myself in it," Cooke told CNN.

After working earlier in his career as a graphic designer and animator, he jumped into print comics.

DC Comics said: "It was the look and honest simplicity of his characters for which Cooke became famous -- as first seen in his breakout work 'Batman: Ego' ... then followed up by his popular and critically acclaimed work on 'Catwoman: Selina's Big Score' and 'The Spirit.' Even after 15 years, Darwyn's design for Catwoman is still the one used today in both comics and inspired the look for Catwoman on the hit TV show, 'Gotham.'"

CNN's Keith Allen contributed to this report.

http://twitter.com/DCComics/status/731536276797718528/photo/1

I'll have more to say on this later, I'm kinda blindsided by it and I haven't had time to collect my thoughts. Cooke was my favorite artist, ever, and one of several life-long heroes I've lost this year. His illness was only announced by his family just yesterday, so I really thought I had more time before this happened. Anyway, fuck cancer.

Grunt's Ghosts · May 2016

So much talent gone this year, and this one came from no where. I didn't know he was sick. Man... fuck 2016.

Commander Zoom · May 2016

nooooooooooooo

Shadowhope · May 2016

He was a Halifax native.

Down at Strange Adventures I expect that they're in full mourning mode.

Fencingsax · May 2016

Grunt's Ghosts wrote: »

So much talent gone this year, and this one came from no where. I didn't know he was sick. Man... fuck 2016.

We literally learned he was in palliative care yesterday.

Atomika · May 2016

Darwyn Cooke had a vision of the DC Universe that was uniquely his own, yet embraced by everyone. Once you saw his timeless designs and concepts for Batman, Catwoman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern or any other character, you immediately adopted his jubilant interpretation of these heroes as your own and wanted more. His take on the most iconic heroes in the world were breathtakingly direct and elegant, powerful and cool. His were some of the most beautiful, fun DC superhero images we have ever seen.

Darwyn Cooke lived life like a character from a Micky Spillane novel, a throwback to a bygone era that was, more than occasionally, reflected in his work. He was both compassionate and combative, approaching everything he did with a tenaciousness and temerity that is now unheard of in a world afraid to offend. The simplistic brilliance of his art and the natural flow of his storytelling not only elevated but enhanced all projects he touched and his passion and love of comics was reflected in every panel of every page. Working with Darwyn was not without its challenges. There were times we'd spend hours arguing over story then go months without talking, but we always found our way back, drawn together by the common bond and friendship comics creates. This is an industry-wide loss that I feel personally, but the sadness is mitigated in the knowing that the beauty and grace of his art will forever stand the test of time and be a monument to all that is great about comics.

Darwyn was one of our medium’s true innovators. A gifted artist and master storyteller, Darwyn began his career as a magazine art director and graphic designer. After answering an ad placed by Warner Bros animator Bruce Timm, Darwyn entered the world of animation, where he contributed to such shows as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series and Men In Black: The Series. From there, Darwyn made the leap into print comics, where his character design was never more effective, enduring or entrancing. It was the look and honest simplicity of his characters for which Cooke became famous—as first seen in his breakout work Batman: Ego published over 15 years ago today and then followed up by his popular and critically acclaimed work on Catwoman: Selina's Big Score and The Spirit. Even after 15 years, Darwyn's design for Catwoman is still the one used today in both comics and inspired the look for Catwoman on the hit TV show, Gotham.

An Eisner-award winning artist and accomplished writer, Darwyn has been a much-loved and respected member of the comics community. He lent his signature retro style to all corners of the DC Universe, from Jonah Hex to Before Watchmen to Vertigo Comic’s The Twilight Children and, of course, his master work, DC: The New Frontier. His bold, direct style, often compared to the works of Joe Kubert, Alex Toth and Jack Kirby, reflected his down to earth, no nonsense personality. Darwyn Cooke always claimed that he was a lucky man to have such a wonderful family, friends, and such a wonderful life. He lived that life with the same brilliance and fearlessness that so permeated his work. And for those of us who knew this one-of-a-kind and genuine soul, we were lucky as well.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cooke's family and friends.

- DC Comics Co-Publisher, Dan DiDio