R.I.P. DWAYNE MCDUFFIE
Loading...Whoa—It’s been quite a week. With the comics industry losing a major, major force in Mr. Dwayne McDuffie. If you don’t know who he is, just look at the incredble amount of nice sh– people are posting about him all over the web.
I first learned about Dwayne when the Comics Journal featured him and his Milestone cohorts, in the “infamous” Black Comics issue in 1991 (?). I say infamous because people wrote in to say how racist it was to have a “Black issue”, and how there would never be a white issue.
It prompted me to write the mag and say you could’ve considered every Comics Journal issue before that as “White” issues. I also wrote that I never would’ve picked up the Comics Journal if it wasn’t for that black issue. So thanks to them for doing it.
They printed my letter along with a fancy pants drawing I did. It was my official arrival on the national comics scene.
Anyhoo, since then, Dwayne had conquered the comics world. He has written for just about every major superhero out there on the scene today. Because of Dwayne, a generation of kids are wondering why there’s a white guy playing Green Lantern. His latest project, the animated All-Star Superman, was released just last week. Dwayne was supposed to do a signing at Golden Apple Books in L.A. this past Weds. Instead, it became an impromptu memorial.
The store was packed with the likes of Reggie Hudlin, Denys Cowan, Michael Davis and–California Attorney General Kamala Harris!!
There was laughter. There were tears. Folks talked about how generous he was with his time. I should know. Dwayne was one of the panelists on my inaugural Nappy Hour panel last summer at San Diego Comic Con. It was an honor and privilege to have him participate. He certainly had more important things to do.
The one thing I kept on telling people at the memorial was that I wouldn’t have driven all the way across town if Dwayne was alive and doing the signing. I would’ve thought it too much of a drive.
That’s going to change..I/We need to get out and support fellow creators as much as possible.
Cuz you never know when they might be gone.
My upcoming post will focus on my conversation with Ms. Kamala Harris, whom I believe will be the first female president of these United States!
that video was great, thanks for sharing it!
Dwayne’s passing slapped me in the face, and made me school my kids on his storytelling. The outpouring of love and appreciation continue to remind us to do our best and celebrate those who lift us. Glad you got to be at Golden Apple, so sorry for the occasion. Thanks for your work (clever, poignant, gut punching all at once) – ATTS