Static at Rest: RIP Dwayne McDuffie
February 22, 2011 2:28 PM Subscribe
Dwayne McDuffie has died. If you recognize the name, odds are you already know his resume, but here goes: founder of Milestone Media, creator of Static, executive producer of Justice League Unlimited, writer of many comics and perhaps the most visible advocate of minority engagement in comic books. Details are non-existent at this point, but McDuffie was said to appear healthy and happy within the last week at appearances for the just-released All-Star Superman DVD.
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I started writing a FPP about this earlier, but didn't think I knew enough about him. His faux-pitch of Teenage Negro Ninja Thrashers really brings home how shitty minorities were being treated in the comics community, even in supposedly enlightened times. Sadly, according to some, it hasn't really improved and may be worse thanks to the current nostalgia trend.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:44 PM on February 22, 2011 [6 favorites]
I started writing a FPP about this earlier, but didn't think I knew enough about him. His faux-pitch of Teenage Negro Ninja Thrashers really brings home how shitty minorities were being treated in the comics community, even in supposedly enlightened times. Sadly, according to some, it hasn't really improved and may be worse thanks to the current nostalgia trend.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:44 PM on February 22, 2011 [6 favorites]
CBR is reporting that he died due to complications of a surgical procedure.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 2:46 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 2:46 PM on February 22, 2011
Oh man. The guy had some serious talent. I was losing interest in capes about the point Static started being published, but it was good enough for me to pick it up despite the superheroics.
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posted by lekvar at 2:48 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by lekvar at 2:48 PM on February 22, 2011
If you're in the Seattle area or otherwise going to Emerald City Comic-Con, the McDuffie memorial panel is Saturday night, March 5th, 7pm in room 4C1-2 (source).
If you're in LA, Golden Apple Comics at La Brea and Melrose was already having a launch party for Reggie Hudlin's Reggiesworld project tomorrow night at 6pm; there will be a memorial for Dwayne McDuffie there.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 2:53 PM on February 22, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you're in LA, Golden Apple Comics at La Brea and Melrose was already having a launch party for Reggie Hudlin's Reggiesworld project tomorrow night at 6pm; there will be a memorial for Dwayne McDuffie there.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 2:53 PM on February 22, 2011 [3 favorites]
Just from his work and his online presence, I feel comfortable saying that he was a smart guy who seemed to act with a lot of grace towards his fans and was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in to his editors/publishers/etc.
His presence and his influence will be greatly missed.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 2:54 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm quite saddened by this. My first and only letter-to-the-editor appeared in Hardware #1 after he'd sent me a preview copy (which I still have). He was always pleasant in online forums, and a creator of such talent that I could barely begin to enumerate his work.
He'll be missed. And, damn, died on the very day that the All-Star Superman movie (which he scripted based on the series by Morrison and Quitely), perhaps the best of the recent DC animated features, was released
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 3:00 PM on February 22, 2011
He'll be missed. And, damn, died on the very day that the All-Star Superman movie (which he scripted based on the series by Morrison and Quitely), perhaps the best of the recent DC animated features, was released
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 3:00 PM on February 22, 2011
I've been a fan of his since I was about 12 and saw this in that month's Marvels. Shame to lose a great creator, even more so to lose someone who was a voice for minority involvement, which is one of those things nerds are at least as bad about as the general population.
posted by yerfatma at 3:12 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by yerfatma at 3:12 PM on February 22, 2011
The first post asking about the news that Dwayne had died on one of the forums he used to occasionally post on was asking if someone was playing a prank, if it was some sort of bizarre joke.
It still feels like that.
Thinking about the Six Degrees of St. Elsewhere game will be bittersweet from now on.
posted by rewil at 3:15 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
It still feels like that.
Thinking about the Six Degrees of St. Elsewhere game will be bittersweet from now on.
posted by rewil at 3:15 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
I had the screen open to on-demand All-Star Superman when I read this. I didn't know Dwayne McDuffie, but I feel close to tears anyway. He deserved so much more recognition. Damn.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:19 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by kittens for breakfast at 3:19 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Squeak Attack at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Squeak Attack at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 3:20 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by garnetgirl at 3:24 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by garnetgirl at 3:24 PM on February 22, 2011
Fuck.
How did I not know until now how involved he was with JL/JLU, one of my favorite tv shows -- not just cartoons but television shows period -- of all time. I'd always wondered why the DCAU seemed to "get it" with regard to race in a way that the comic books simply did not. Now I know.
That "Racial Politics of Regressive Storytelling" zombieflanders links to above is spot on.
He was a good person and important in ways that I'd never even understood until his passing. Mr. McDuffie will be very, very sorely missed.
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posted by lord_wolf at 3:26 PM on February 22, 2011
How did I not know until now how involved he was with JL/JLU, one of my favorite tv shows -- not just cartoons but television shows period -- of all time. I'd always wondered why the DCAU seemed to "get it" with regard to race in a way that the comic books simply did not. Now I know.
That "Racial Politics of Regressive Storytelling" zombieflanders links to above is spot on.
He was a good person and important in ways that I'd never even understood until his passing. Mr. McDuffie will be very, very sorely missed.
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posted by lord_wolf at 3:26 PM on February 22, 2011
I don't generally get attached to artists or celebrities. But this hurts.
posted by Karmakaze at 3:29 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Karmakaze at 3:29 PM on February 22, 2011
He was one of the nicest people I've ever met in the industry. I'm shocked and stunned and very, very sad.
posted by causticgnostic at 3:29 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by causticgnostic at 3:29 PM on February 22, 2011
Well Hell, this is sad news. There's a certain under-served strata of our customer base that will have fewer awesome comics to read. Milestone Media produced some great stuff, like STATIC. His influence will be missed.
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posted by Ron Thanagar at 3:52 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Ron Thanagar at 3:52 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by nooneyouknow at 4:05 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by nooneyouknow at 4:05 PM on February 22, 2011
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Proud to have met him at a con - I'll always love him for making Static a comic book geek, for putting the idea in fans' heads that superheroes rise from our ranks, too.
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 4:09 PM on February 22, 2011
Proud to have met him at a con - I'll always love him for making Static a comic book geek, for putting the idea in fans' heads that superheroes rise from our ranks, too.
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 4:09 PM on February 22, 2011
What the hell? I just read an interview McDuffie did for the new movie, and now he's gone? This is terrible.
posted by Kevin Street at 4:12 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Kevin Street at 4:12 PM on February 22, 2011
This is so incredibly sad. He was one of my favorite TV and comics writers, and is one of the reasons why the DCAU was so great for so long. I can't even.
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posted by Tesseractive at 4:35 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Tesseractive at 4:35 PM on February 22, 2011
C2E2, Chicago's mid-March comic convention, is also doing a McDuffie memorial. I'll let you guys know when I hear more.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 4:46 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 4:46 PM on February 22, 2011
Oh man. This is terrible news. He and I hung out a few times, back in the heyday of indie comics. He was a really fantastic guy, and one of the few who didn't treat a woman in comics like either a bimbo or a bitch. We lost touch, but knowing he was out there kept a mark in the good guys column.
This sucks. Rest in peace buddy.
posted by dejah420 at 4:50 PM on February 22, 2011
This sucks. Rest in peace buddy.
posted by dejah420 at 4:50 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Smart Dalek at 5:14 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Smart Dalek at 5:14 PM on February 22, 2011
Oh man, this is terrible. I love the DCAU, and I'm really looking forward to watching All-Star Superman tonight.
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posted by maqsarian at 5:39 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by maqsarian at 5:39 PM on February 22, 2011
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His Static comic was so much better than 98% of the superhero comics that were being published at the time. Pretty much all of the Milestone comics of that era are worth checking out.
posted by straight at 5:59 PM on February 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
His Static comic was so much better than 98% of the superhero comics that were being published at the time. Pretty much all of the Milestone comics of that era are worth checking out.
posted by straight at 5:59 PM on February 22, 2011 [2 favorites]
This is so sad. I'm not a big capes reader, so I just recently learned all about him & his career when I was researching for a Black History Month display at work (comic book store). It was so exciting that he was out there in the thick of things being a real advocate for nuanced, non-stereotypical black superheroes. He seemed to be able to do it with charm & grace, and I really thought he was doing great work. He's way to young to be gone. Hopefully his legacy will inspire other people out there to continue striving for diversity in comics.
posted by Fui Non Sum at 6:09 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Fui Non Sum at 6:09 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by dig_duggler at 6:11 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by dig_duggler at 6:11 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by Joey Michaels at 6:21 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:21 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by sleeping bear at 6:33 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by sleeping bear at 6:33 PM on February 22, 2011
Got online after spending all day in the car and found out he and Nicholas Courtney had passed. A sad day. McDuffie will be missed.
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posted by immlass at 8:21 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by immlass at 8:21 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by spinifex23 at 9:04 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by spinifex23 at 9:04 PM on February 22, 2011
Also, Damage Control was brilliant and funny and ahead of its time and seriously, I had to walk over to the other building and tell my production manager (who'd worked on some Ben 10 stuff at another shop) that Dwayne McDuffie had died, no, really, he was so young what the fuck, and I'm just goddamn gutted even though I never got to meet him.
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posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:30 PM on February 22, 2011
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posted by fairytale of los angeles at 9:30 PM on February 22, 2011
His writing on the Justice League Unlimited animated series was some of the best treatment of those characters in any medium. I'd also urge anyone with any interest in Superman to pick up the All-Star Superman DVD (or Blu ray) that came out today. It's a great adaptation of the original Grant Morrison miniseries.
posted by MegoSteve at 9:57 PM on February 22, 2011
posted by MegoSteve at 9:57 PM on February 22, 2011
Static was and is so, so, so good. Characters that had conversations like real people. I always hoped we'd get more someday. Stupid world. :-(
posted by dvorak_beats_qwerty at 11:45 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dvorak_beats_qwerty at 11:45 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by gorgor_balabala at 1:15 AM on February 23, 2011
posted by gorgor_balabala at 1:15 AM on February 23, 2011
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posted by every_one_needs_a_hug_sometimes at 1:16 AM on February 23, 2011
posted by every_one_needs_a_hug_sometimes at 1:16 AM on February 23, 2011
Total shocker. He was so young!
Static was fantastic and certainly seems to be the Milestone character with the most staying power, but for me the most interesting book of the line was Icon, without question. It was such an imaginative twist on so many superhero tropes that I remember it much more clearly today than any of the core DC stuff I was reading at the same time. Damn, I want to dig those back out now.
All the best to his family.
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posted by EatTheWeek at 1:46 AM on February 23, 2011
Static was fantastic and certainly seems to be the Milestone character with the most staying power, but for me the most interesting book of the line was Icon, without question. It was such an imaginative twist on so many superhero tropes that I remember it much more clearly today than any of the core DC stuff I was reading at the same time. Damn, I want to dig those back out now.
All the best to his family.
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posted by EatTheWeek at 1:46 AM on February 23, 2011
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"He's not dead, he's just up there fixing the Sun. When he's done, he'll be back."
-- Christina Hendricks as Lois Lane in All-Star Superman, 2011 -- written by McDuffie
posted by vhsiv at 3:59 AM on February 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
"He's not dead, he's just up there fixing the Sun. When he's done, he'll be back."
-- Christina Hendricks as Lois Lane in All-Star Superman, 2011 -- written by McDuffie
posted by vhsiv at 3:59 AM on February 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Is there a way (not involving torrents) to get the collected Milestone comics? Were they ever collected? Did he write all of them?
posted by johnasdf at 6:01 AM on February 23, 2011
posted by johnasdf at 6:01 AM on February 23, 2011
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posted by Legomancer at 6:42 AM on February 23, 2011
posted by Legomancer at 6:42 AM on February 23, 2011
The Scans Daily community (which was linked to in one of the comic blogs - can't remember which) has a number of tributes to McDuffie, including the death of Ace, of the Royal Flush Gang. Firestorm calling a white power terrorist "Shooty McBigot" is rather lovely, also.
posted by DNye at 2:52 PM on February 23, 2011
posted by DNye at 2:52 PM on February 23, 2011
R.I.P. Mr. McDuffie, I loved your work.
posted by ooga_booga at 3:25 PM on February 23, 2011
posted by ooga_booga at 3:25 PM on February 23, 2011
That's it.
I have got to get over my awkward shyness and start telling professionals I admire that I appreciate their work. I was recently at Wondercon in New Orleans but didn't approach anyone because, what would I say to them? But McDuffie was one of those guys that I wish I could have just said, "Hey man, I really like your work and I always look forward to seeing new stuff from you."
Now I won't have that chance.
Also, 49 is too damned early.
Dwayne McDuffie, you'll be remembered and missed by many. My condolences to your family and loved ones. R.I.P.
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posted by djeo at 6:05 AM on February 24, 2011
I have got to get over my awkward shyness and start telling professionals I admire that I appreciate their work. I was recently at Wondercon in New Orleans but didn't approach anyone because, what would I say to them? But McDuffie was one of those guys that I wish I could have just said, "Hey man, I really like your work and I always look forward to seeing new stuff from you."
Now I won't have that chance.
Also, 49 is too damned early.
Dwayne McDuffie, you'll be remembered and missed by many. My condolences to your family and loved ones. R.I.P.
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posted by djeo at 6:05 AM on February 24, 2011
Weird story about McDuffie and Clarence Thomas.
posted by COBRA! at 9:36 AM on February 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by COBRA! at 9:36 AM on February 24, 2011 [3 favorites]
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He used to be on the edges of some of the internet communities I used to frequent, and because of course as a big fan of DC:AU, Grant Morrison and Superman I've been on the edge of my seat for this All-Star Superman release I've been seeing his name everywhere lately, so this is kind of shocking and weird for me. He will be sorely missed.
posted by Artw at 2:31 PM on February 22, 2011 [1 favorite]