RIP: Steve Gerber

I am very sorry to inform you that my friend Steve Gerber, creator of Howard the Duck and a host of other comics, has passed away from complications of pneumonia. Steve was a great writer and a funny guy. He was also a good friend and he will be sorely missed.

Mark Evanier did a great write up on him here. He knew Steve longer than I have, but I’ve known him since 1984. He was a semi-regular attendee of our monthly writer meetings in Las Vegas. It was a writer thing that started with Steve and I having lunch together after he moved to Vegas. Len Strazewski would join us twice a year when he came to town. And then Bill Willingham and Steven Grant joined us when they moved to town. Followed by Gilbert Hernandez. We all got along and had a good time and we were always glad when Steve could join us.

But he had been battling a lung disease in the last few years. Pulmonary fibrosis. It started after he quit smoking. In the last few years he had to carry an oxygen tank everywhere and he got short of breath very easily. He was scheduled to get a lung transplant in December after being on a waiting list for a while. But he didn’t make it that far.

I was looking forward to seeing him the next time I visited Vegas. I saw him at a farewell dinner we had when I was leaving last September. He was upbeat about getting his operation, even though it has a 50% survival rate. We were all hoping he would be around for years to come. This makes me really sad.

UPDATE: This is an excellent overview of Steve’s Career. He would have been embarrassed by the praise heaped on him. He was a very humble person. But I agree with the author that he was a one of a kind voice in the business. Under-appreciated, but widely admired by his peers. 

My condolences, James. My mother also died of pulmonary fibrosis while waiting for a lung transplant last year. It’s a terrible way to go but I found consolation in the thought that her constant suffering was over. Steve will be missed, but his work leaves a lot of himself here to be fondly remembered.

Posted by Paul T  on  02/11  at  04:45 PM

Steve Gerber was a great talent, and he will be missed.

Posted by  on  02/11  at  05:26 PM

Yeah. I got to work and be friends with one of my heroes. Not many people can say that. We have to convene in LV for a personal ceremony of our group.

Len

Posted by  on  02/11  at  06:29 PM

Let’s set a date and I will try to be there.

Posted by  on  02/11  at  06:56 PM

Godspeed and prayers to his kin and such.

Posted by  on  02/11  at  07:33 PM

Sorry to hear of the loss…

Don’t want to say more.  It’s not hard to be indelicate without meaning it…

Man, what a rough weekend!

Posted by  on  02/11  at  07:39 PM

RIP.......
Sorry you lost your friend James.

Posted by  on  02/12  at  04:23 AM

That’s really sad to hear.  I’m really sorry for your loss, Hud.

Besides HOWARD THE DUCK, I also remember Steve for co-creating THUNDARR THE BARBARIAN.

May he rest peacefully.

Posted by John Cassidy  on  02/12  at  05:11 PM
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