Today in Comics History, May 14: Happy Birthday, Bobby Darin — we miss you

from (left) Patsy Walker #92 (Marvel, December 1960), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Al Hartley, inks by Sol Brodsky (?), letters by Artie Simek, and
(right) "The Disc Jockey's Delight!" in Kathy #22 (Marvel, April 1963), script by Stan Lee, pencils and inks by Stan Goldberg
Bobby Darin, one of my very favorite vocalists, would have been 80 years old today.


from "Bobby Darin" in Ms. Tree [Rock & Roll] Summer Special #1 (Renegade Press, August 1986), script by Max Allan Collins, pencils by Terry Beatty
Much of Max Allan Collins's narrative of his love for Darin's music in this touching story parallels my discovery and love for the work of Darwyn Cooke, a great comics creator who died today.


It occurs to me that our generation and fandom will define our aging by our discovery of, love for, and the deaths of our comics creator icons, who pass mostly unknown by the general public but mourned and beloved by our close group, united by awe and admiration.


May we remember, every time we hear a song by Bobby Darin or one of our favorite musicians passed, or read the comics of Darwyn Cooke or another lost creator, the joy and excitement of our first discovery of them, a epiphany that followed throughout our fandom.



Bobby Darin
1936-1973

from DC: The New Frontier #6 (DC, November 2004); script, pencils, and inks by Darwyn Cooke; colors by Dave Stewart; letters by Jared K. Fletcher
Click panel to Darwyn Cooke-size

Darwyn Cooke
1962-2016