Giordano portrait illustration by colleague Michael Netzer
It is with great regret that I report the passing of Dick Giordano. He passed this last weekend away from complications of pneumonia at the age of 77.
Dick Giordano is one of those names that has been around for as long as I can remember, and he has bequeathed to all of us a lifetime of work. For many of us, especially the younger readers (and today, I get to include myself in that number), Dick Giordano was synonymous with DC, but he actually began his career at Charlton Comics, the original home of Blue Beetle, Captain Atom and the Question.
The first time I discovered Mr Giordano was in his role as inker on Crisis On Infinite Earths, and as he wrote the weekly column ‘Meanwhile’…’ in each issue, a column that immediately made you feel as if he was your friend. And friend indeed he was to the great legion of fans he has left behind, with a reputation of being a total gentleman.
Back in 1988 and the debate that led to the Creators Bill Of Rights, Dick Giordano was quoted by many as being a great advocate for DC. Still the diversity that was called for seems to have finally arrived in the industry, and Dick was instrumental in using that diversity in creating Future Comics. Future Comics only lasted for about two and a half years, but rumour has it (or at least Wikipedia) that Hollywood is still interested in using the properties.
I hope so, I feel that may well be a fitting tribute.
