As I said, I'm not saying his clothing isn't important to the story, just that the headline and lede are ill-conceived. But how the lede reinforces Cockrum's dedication to his craft...well, taken at face value, I don't think that's true. If the lede had described Cockrum as "...comic book illustrator and passionate fan of the comics industry," I might agree. I've been reading comics on and off for more than 40 years, and attended many comic book conventions in my younger days. Cockrum was one of the greats. I'm definitely a fan of the old school illustrators, like Gene Colan, Bernie Wrightson, Vaughn Bode, Val Meyerik, Joe Staton, Carmine Infantino, Curt Swan, Neal Adams (seeing a new story drawn by him always made my day), and many more. One of my prized possessions is a New York Comicon program full of original drawings done for me at the autograph tables, from such artists as Herb Trimpe (who drew the Hulk, 'natch, with a blue ink pen), Neal Adams (who drew Deadman with a black felt-tip marker), and Sergio Aragones (from Mad magazine, for those of you who don't know). For the record, Mad's Dave Berg, appearing at my college, asked a question about the magazine, noted that I'd shouted out the correct answer, and threw me one of his signed paperbacks as a prize, hitting me on my forehead. And when I asked Paul Levitz from DC comics when the Bizarros would be appearing again at a Q&A session back in the seventies, I got laughed at as if I'd forgotten to put my pants on. But don't you worry, I got the last laugh--the Bizarros soon made their way back into print. See you in the funnies! Alan, who shall forever be grateful to the New York Comicon for introducing me to Winsor McKay, creator of the greatest newspaper comic strip that ever was, Little Nemo in Slumberland John L. Micek wrote: > As a newspaper reporter, I'd say his clothing was absolutely germane, > and it lends a nice, personal touch to the story. He was devoted to > his craft to the end. The headline might be a little questionable, but > I think the lede reinforces Cockrum's dedication to his craft. > > john > (who's been reading batman comics since he was old enough to read > anything at all) > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: > To: > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 4:50 PM > Subject: Re: Dave Cockrum > > >> Quoting zoogang@cox.net: >> >>> The headline on CNN was, I thought, in really bad taste: >>> >>> "X-Men illustrator dies in Superman pajamas." >>> >>> And the lead for the story was even worse: >>> >>> COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- Wearing Superman pajamas and >>> covered with >>> his Batman blanket, comic book illustrator Dave Cockrum died Sunday. >> >> >> USA Today also mentioned that he was going to be cremated in a Green >> Lantern T >> shirt. Hey...so he was a fan of the field that he worked in. I >> haven't read it >> in a while, but I think Neal Adams had something on his site about >> the fact >> that Cockrum was ill and having trouble making ends meet while Marvel >> was >> making millions off his co-creations. Adams also championed for a >> couple of >> kids from Ohio who created some silly little character a while ago >> who wore his >> red undies outside of his blue long johns... >> >> Greg, >> who has Neal's autograph on my fave X-Men panel... >> >> > > > >