#ForDarwyn

By John Freeman on August 23, 2018

James Bond visits Kendal, thanks to Darwyn Cooke

Over on some social media platforms, there’s been a storm about the appropriation of the memory ofAmerican comic creator Darwyn Cooke, and the subsequent utterly inappropriate and thoroughly distasteful attacks on his widow.

Rightly, voices on both sides of the rage around what’s become known as “Comicgate” have condemned the actions of some on social media, the latest in a number of singularly unpleasant activities that not only impacts the American comics community but has spread like a poison beyond that country.

Rather than dwell on such negativity, which does nothing to benefit comics, I’d like to join those who suggested, using the hashtag #ForDarwyn, that we go out there and celebrate Darwyn’s work and, perhaps, buy some of his work; what he should be remembered for and not, what some have tried to ascribe to him.

Thanks.

• You can find the work of Darwyn Cooke in all good book or comic shops. If you use Amazon, there’s a page listing his works here

Detail from the cover of Graphic Ink: The Art of Darwyn Cooke

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All characters © respective publishers/ copyright holders

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.