DAVE COCKRUM PASSES AWAY

[MattBrady]

According to several sources, legendary X-Men and comic book artist Dave Cockrum passed away in his sleep last night, his death a result of diabetes and its resultant complications. He was 63 years old.

Cockrum, a fixture of the American Comics scene in the ‘70s was born in Oregon to a father who was a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force. As a result, Cockrum traveled frequently as a child, which allowed comic books to provide some semblance of stability from city to city.

Following his father into the military, Cockrum served in the Navy for six years following high school, and then entered comics and publishing, first at Warren Publishing, and then as an assistant inker to Murphy Anderson at DC Comics. It was during this period that Cockrum’s art became known with the Legion of Super-Heroes, helping them to move from their Silver Age roots into a more modern look.

While his Legion work is widely known to Legion fans, Cockrum will forever be known as the artist who, with Len Wein, and later with Chris Claremont, created the new X-Men, and redefined both the existing characters and revitalized the world of the mutants and the franchise for Marvel. Cockrum had two major stints as artist on Uncanny X-Men, from Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975 through 1977, and then from 1981-1983.

Though he had worked less and less in comics in recent years, Cockrum had never left the hearts of his fans, as they rallied around him when it was announced in 2004 that he was seriously ill due to complications from diabetes and pneumonia. A benefit book and action was held, while Marvel Comics announced that it would pay Cockrum retroactively for his work in design and co-creation of the new X-Men.

According to Clifford Meth, a family friend of Dave and his wife, Patty, there is no information about a funeral service at this time. According to his wishes, Cockrum will be cremated, and those wishing to send messages to Patty are asked to e-mail them to: magnetorampant@yahoo.com rather than calling.

Newsarama extends its deepest condolences to Dave’s family and friends.

[nova64]

That's very sad news. My prayers are with his family.

[Tobey Cook]

Dave was a brilliant creator who will definitely be missed. While I'm more of a fan of his Legion work, his contributions to the X-Men cannot be ignored either.

[PUCK]

[Spudman]

Thats awful..we've lost one of the best, folks

My condolences to his family

[evilive72]

Very sad news. My thoughts are with his family.

[jsf]

Sorry to hear this. His original run on the X-Men was my introduction to the team, and I LOVED his work. When he returned after leaving, I was even more happy than when Byrne was the artist. Dave Cockrum was a great artist, who will be sorely missed.

Condolences to his family.

[EmeraldGuy32]

So Sad. Cockrum will forever be my favorite X-men artist. RIP

[weaselwelch]

Rest In Peace Dave. You will be missed.

Stephen

[Waspinator]

Very sad news. Sounds like he played a big impact in comic book history.

[The Guvnor]

Rest in peace Dave. Thanks for the good times and memories.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

[Goodhomerjay]

very sad news to hear. Rest in peace, Mr. Cockrum. My best to Dave's loved ones, I hope they're going to be alright.

[Prometheus3]

Dave Cockrum was a comics legend and his work is stil some of the best art in X-Men history. Rest in peace Dave. You will be missed.

[Krypto]

I'm terribly sad to hear of the death of Mr Cockrum. His work, and its legacy, gave me a lot of pleasure through the years. May he rest in peace. My good wishes and prayers are with his loved ones.

[thefrogman]

Godspeed, Dave.

[nietoperz]

Rest In Peace. Thank you for all the joy you've brought us over the years.

[WalterKovacs]

It's strange because right now I'm reading Essential X-Men Vol 6, which is pretty much David Cockrum at this pinacle. Sorry to hear here's gone.

[vanillacyke]

Your art was nothing short of Uncanny. You'll never be forgotten. Rest in peace.

[Pack]

I met Mr. Cockrum at a few conventions in the 80s. I was too young and intimidated to get to know him but he did the first sketch I ever had from a professional and I'll always remember him fondly.
I hope, in addition to the X-Men and Legion, he's remembered for his work on his original creation, the Futurians, and his excellent work on a Batman/Blackhawks issue of Brave & Bold.
I always thought Mr. Cockrum's art was distinctive, professional (he could tell a story) and beautiful.
My condolences to Paty Cockrum.

[BClayMoore]

Without Dave Cockrum, there would be no X-Men franchise.

In his prime, he was one of the most dynamic and creative talents in comics. And evidently a really nice guy.

-BCM

[Koben Kelly]

This is terribly sad news, indeed.

I almost can't believe it. Just yesterday, I was chatting with the woman tending the H.E.R.O. (formerly A.C.T.O.R.) booth about how they had a part in my thanking the man. It was at last year's Heroes Con. Dave was sick, as usual, but he had made it a point to be there. As he was being wheeled around, oxygen on direct feed, I made it a point to thank him for his contribution to the world of comics. He didn't smile, but he did thank me. It wasn't so much that I had met and thanked the man, as I had met him years earlier at MOC. It was that I got a chance to thank him while he was still around. We all knew he was seriously ill, and that he wouldn't actually be around much longer. Because of H.E.R.O.'s assistance, I had that one last chance to offer my appreciation to the man. I can't even begin to imagine the pain and hardship of thrice weekly dialysis. Perhaps Dave knew that Heroes would be his last chance to bask in the adoration of the fans. Regardless, it was an honor.

Please, everyone, take a moment to ask whatever higher power you believe in to take care of Dave Cockrum, and to make sure his passage to the next life is a safe one.

This was a man who helped shape the current face of comics. Without his brilliant sense of design, we would not have Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, or Banshee as we know them.

This is a sad day for anyone who loves the sequential art form.

---Koben

[Blue_Shield]

The first X-Men comic I read was Classic X-Men #14(19 yrs ago), which reprinted part of the X-Men's first encounter with the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, and I've been a fan since. Truly sad news.

[MarkG72]

Holy crap... man, that is terrible. He helped create some of my favorite characters. The Nightcrawler mini frmo the 80's is still one of my favorite mini series ever. RIP, Mr. Cockrum and thank you for the enjoyment your work brought to me and may others.

[MHELLER1974]

I remember one time I was at a con, and I had the opportunity to get a sketch from the "legendary" Dave Cockrum. Unfortunately, already at that time Dave was not in the greatest of health, and he was quite busy, so when I absolutely had to leave the con, because I had to catch a plane back home, my sketch was not done. Dave quite graciously offered to send it to me, and not only did he send me this amazing Wolverine sketch, but he also inscribed in it how sorry he was that he couldn't get it done for me while I was at the show. I felt terrible myself, because I am completely understanding of the difficulty in the demands of getting sketches out to fans at cons, and I wasn't upset, other than the fact that I had always wanted a Cockrum Wolverine sketch. But it bothered him, because obviously his fans really meant a lot to him. Now more than ever I will cherish tihs amazing sketch that Dave gave me, and the letter he sent with it. I am very pleased that as a lifelong comics fan that I had the opportunity to meet him, and that he and his wife were as gracious as they were towards me.

[teternikov]

The man was a legend, and he earned it. My condolences to the family.