Dave Stevens 1955-2008

He was one of the finest artists whose work ever graced the comic book page and a true raider of the lost art. He was inspired by the serials, the pulps and the art deco style of the 30s. And he took that inspiration and bathed it in the fires of his own creativity.

The Rocketeer was admittedly, obviously, joyously an homage to Commando Cody, but so much more. It had energy to spare and the creative juice that turns nostalgic homage into something new and vital, brimming with energy and life of its own.

Dave Stevens passed away March 10th, this past Monday, at the far too young age of 52. The news hit me like a gut punch. Couldn’t sleep. I sat looking at the full-sized Rocketeer helmet that sits in my living room display case, overwhelmed with sadness, then went upstairs and watched The Rocketeer movie ‘til sleep finally overtook me.

I chatted with Dave a handful of times at the San Diego Comicons since the mid-90s, but never really connected with him mano a mano. Conventions with thousands of people milling about are not really conducive to one-on-one conversations. Doesn’t matter. His work, his art, had connected with me from the moment I laid eyes on it…

That moment, to be precise, was a sweltering summer day in 1982 at the Silver Snail comic shop in Toronto. I hadn’t read comics in years, but was frequently in the Snail to pick up movie magazines and fanzines like Jim Steranko’s Prevue. I always eyed the racks of new comics, thought about diving back in and picking some up, but could never find that one that grabbed me, made the waters warm and inviting… Until Pacific Comics Presents and the first cover appearance of Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer.

The helmet, the art deco title design, Betty Page tied up, these were all things that spoke to me and with which I was already in love. I opened the book and the art was stunning. It evoked the thirties period, but was new and hot and alive - Had to have it. From that day I was hooked. And I started reading comics again, Turned my mind to writing them. And I did. I’ve been published by Marvel and Now. Would I have been without finding The Rocketeer and Dave?

I have a number of framed art pieces on the wall. The first was – you guessed it – a Dave Stevens piece. Betty’s Bath is beautiful and playful. It was the first time I laid down serious cash for a framed, signed piece. And it was a Dave Stevens, bringing with it the baggage of nostalgia and passion for times past and adventures still, always ahead. Now the walls are filled with artists and art that speaks of my passions, and those of my lady love. But Betty and Dave were there first.

Finally, The Rocketeer movie. I remember seeing it in a preview, adoring it from the very first shot of the hangar doors being pushed apart and the title filling the screen. I remember the excitement that every film fan and comic book fan felt that summer, the buzz. In Toronto, The Rocketeer was proclaimed the perfect summer movie by Jay Scott, our finest critic for our national newspaper, The Globe and Mail. I remember the crushing disappointment of seeing The Rocketeer fail against the triple punch of competing movies Terminator 2, Naked Gun 2 and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. Yes, Robin Hood, Worthless Piece O’ Crap! It must have crushed Dave. It crushed me. And I’ll tell you, I was pitching some scripts in Hollywood about five years back. I was in one development exec’s office and noticed a piece of Rocketeer art. I said I loved it, hated to see the movie fail. He said, “We all hated to see it fail.”

Maybe the movie didn’t capture all that the comic managed to. But it was one helluva good shot at it. Maybe it deserved a better break. And so did Dave. His fortune was wrapped up in the picture, rights signed away to Disney. He’ll never get that second chance I was always hoping to see him get.

Neither will we.