It has been announced that Dave Stevens of “Rocketeer” fame has passed away of leukemia at the age of 53.
Unbelievable.
PAD
35 comments on “Dave Stevens”
I met him a couple of times at DragonCon. Nice guy. Ðámņ shame.
Well, that stinks. A dámņ shame.
TWL
Ðámņ.
He was a great artist. News like that just never seems fair.
Ðámņ. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family. He has gone on way too soon.
What???
Unbelievable is right. I had no idea he was ill. He was a fantastic talent and his promotion of Betty Page had an impact on popular culture that few artists can match. What a shame.
Ðámņ shame. The one and only time I ever got to meet Dave was back in ’94 at a con on Portland, OR. He informed me that, in the movie, he played the German Rocketeer in the black & white footage. He also told me that various crew members played the other Nazis, and that some of them seemed just a little too comfortable in those uniforms. I always wished that I’d get to meet him again. Rest in peace, pal.
According to Mark Evanier, he’d been keeping the illness quiet… reading this came like a gut-punch – I met him a few times over the years at DragonCon and ComicCon, and he was always nice to everyone I saw him interact with…
Peter, you did the novelization of the film, didn’t you?
He was a fantastic talent and his promotion of Betty Page had an impact on popular culture that few artists can match.
Indeed. I think I am safe in saying that The Notorious Betty Page would not have been produced if not for the Dave Stevens bringing her back into popular consciousness.
Very sad news. I had the opportunity to meet Dave at a couple of conventions. I used to have one of the Rocketeer movie posters signed by him, but gave it away a few years ago.
My condolences to his family and many friends.
I am shocked, stunned and saddened at this news.
My condolences to his friends and family.
“Indeed. I think I am safe in saying that The Notorious Betty Page would not have been produced if not for the Dave Stevens bringing her back into popular consciousness.”
Agreed. I just wrote something about his passing on my blog before swinging back by here. One of the things that I pointed out was how Dave practically returned Betty Paige to popular cult status all by himself. His work using her likeness was amazing.
The other thing that should always be noted when discussing his work with Betty Paige is what he did for her. I remember reading several news stories and seeing a TV blip about how the new cult following for her that he started in the 80s and 90s revealed that she was, much to the surprise of many, actually still alive and well. Dave sought her out and set something up to pay her for using her likeness and arranged ways for others to do the same. She didn’t seek him out, he sought her out.
I always thought that was a classy thing to do. I really respected him for that when I read about it.
Yes, I did do the film novelization. Also the comic book adaptation. Actually, now that I think about it, I also did a short original Rocketeer comic for “Disney Adventures,” which I guess makes me one of the only people to write a Rocketeer comic story other than Dave.
PAD
Oh my god! When I was younger, seeing The Rocketeer for the first time was a life changing experience. It stands as my most watched movie to this day, and is easily the one factor I can point to that influenced my deep love of the pulp genre. Those of you that know RPGs might have heard of Spirit of the Century, a pulp RPG based around the 1920’s/30’s. I’ve been running a campaign that has had subterainian empires, intelligent gorillas and a cameo from the Phantom. Guess I know who’s gonna be cameoing next week.
I have the trade of the original comics as well. Gotta read them again this weekend.
He was remarkably talented and had marvelous taste. Without Dave Stevens the original graphic novel would have been set back several years.
I think I read that Disney Adventures story, Peter. I of course have the novelization right here, as well as the DVD (which is going to see some action tonight).
Seeing The Rocketeer was one of the highlights of my childhood. Probably, along with Star Wars and Indiana Jones, the film that cemented my love of two-fisted adventure stories. Jennifer Connelly and Timothy Dalton were great. Definitely an underappreciated classic.
What a shame. Stevens deserved much more respect and acclaim from this industry than he got in life (which was itself quite a bit).
What lousy news. I had the good fortune of meeting Stevens at a couple of conventions and he seemed like a tremendously nice chap. I was a huge fan of The Rocketeer and it’s a shame that the film wasn’t a hit; if so, maybe the character’s increased visibility (and commercial viability might have given him a bit more financial security, in terms of sequels, spin-offs or whatever.
The last time I met Stevens, I bought one of his beautiful Sheena prints and had him autograph it for Sheena TV series show runner Steve Sears as a thank you for all the interviews that Steve had given me while working on Xena a few years earlier. As far as I know, that print ended up in Steve’s office and I’d like to think an awful lot of people were exposed to the beautiful work of Dave Stevens as a result. Incidentally I bought one of those prints for myself and I’m awfully glad I did.
And thanks to Alan for pointing out the correct spelling of Bettie. I only just watched the movie for the first time a few weeks ago, which of course I only about from the work of Dave Stevens.
I met Dave at ComicCon back in the mid-80s. The nicest guy in the world! I ignorantly asked if he could sign 3 posters I had that Eclipse had done up without his permission. I was unaware of this, Dave told me he hadn’t approved them, but since I had brought them to the con he said, “I really shouldn’t sign these…but I did pretty good on them, didn’t I?” “Are you kidding, Mr. Stevens?” I replied. Dave Stevens’s influence on comics, let alone Bettie Page, will be around forever.
Just visited Mark Evanier’s page. Verteran colourist Jerry Serpe just passed away as well. Hopefully that’s it for comic book folks passing today. 🙁
Aw, man. That stinks.
Indeed. Didn’t care as much for the movie, preferring the ROCKETMAN/CODY serials, but I loved the comic. Still have them boxed away somewhere. Was sorry to see it peter out.
Denis – SPIRIT OF THE CENTURY? Oh yes. I’ve suffered through it. A games group meets here pretty much every Saturday and one of the regular Games Masters has opted to convert one of his ongoing campaigns to this system and, let’s just say it’s pretty clumsy and leave it at that.
I’m the official blogger for Bettie Page’s official blog. I’m also a huge fan of both you, Mr. David, and Dave Stevens. I got on board early with Rocketeer and had the poster of his version of Valkyrie (from the revamp of Airboy that Eclipse did) on my wall for years.
I agree with others that Bettie’s profile (or my current post) would not be possible without Dave’s stellar work.
The blog just went “live” a few days ago, so if you (and anyone you know) would like to email me a tribute, I’d love to post it.
I can remember a long time ago picking up an issue of Pacific Presents with this great story that harkened back to the old movie serials of the 40s and 50s. The art was really just astounding at a time when there was a lot of good stuff on the market as the industry was exploding with a wave of new titles and publishers.
That was Dave Stevens.
Man! This has been a bad year for a bunch of creators whose work I loved starting with Marshall Rogers to Mike Wieringo, Steve Gerber and now Dave Stevens… all relatively young men gone way before their times.
Sad news indeed (my first thought was a far less wordy, ‘this sucks!’)
Very sad news. Entirely too young.
and goons like Peter Paul still walk the earth…
truly only the good die young.
I met him (and interviewed him) in Paris more than ten years ago. That meeting is one of my happiest moments in my life as a comic book geek. Learning of his death this morning was certainly not the best way to begin the day. He will be missed. We need more people like him in the world, not less.
When I was dating my wife, she introduced the books to me. A friend of hers modelled as Orsino in Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #2. I loved the art and the easy to follow story.
I loved his art. I loved his writing. I really will miss his material.
ps-
Yes, he put Bettie back in the light…
I saw the news online when I got home last night. “Gut punch” is right. Just a day or two earlier I was wishing (for about the zillionth time) that he would do more Rocketeer one day.
Never had the pleasure of meeting him but I’ll have the pleasure of his work for the rest of my life.
Thanks, Dave.
I met him at a few Chiller Cons in NJ. He was very friendly. One project he mentioned that he proposed but didn’t go anywhere was a Superman/Rocketeer team-up. The deal breaker was that he wanted to use the 1938 version of Superman, while DC insisted it should be the modern day version. I would’ve killed to have seen Dave Stevens’ take on the 1938 Superman.
He’s amongst the greats in that comic book bullpen in the sky.
Mark Evanier’s obit will bring tears to your eyes. He has funny and touching things to says about both Dave and Bette. I got a giggle out of Dave’s comment that he had fantasised about Bette when he was young, and now he was driving her to get her Social Security checks cashed…
Dave was only a couple of years older than me, and when someone close to your own age dies, the sense of mortality smacks the hëll outta you. Add to that my longtime love of his work, and the loss is doubly painful.
Dave was one of the greatest in the comics trade. His loss is devastating.
Miles
Omigod. Thanks for telling us about this. Terrible.
Does anyone know if Bettie Page has made a comment about Dave Stevens’ death? She certainly owed him a debt of gratitude since he arranged for her to be compensated for the use of her likeness.
I know she’s a recluse, but some acknowledgment of his passing would seem appropriate.
• 
I met him a couple of times at DragonCon. Nice guy. Ðámņ shame.
Well, that stinks. A dámņ shame.
TWL
Ðámņ.
He was a great artist. News like that just never seems fair.
Ðámņ. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family. He has gone on way too soon.
What???
Unbelievable is right. I had no idea he was ill. He was a fantastic talent and his promotion of Betty Page had an impact on popular culture that few artists can match. What a shame.
Ðámņ shame. The one and only time I ever got to meet Dave was back in ’94 at a con on Portland, OR. He informed me that, in the movie, he played the German Rocketeer in the black & white footage. He also told me that various crew members played the other Nazis, and that some of them seemed just a little too comfortable in those uniforms. I always wished that I’d get to meet him again. Rest in peace, pal.
According to Mark Evanier, he’d been keeping the illness quiet… reading this came like a gut-punch – I met him a few times over the years at DragonCon and ComicCon, and he was always nice to everyone I saw him interact with…
Peter, you did the novelization of the film, didn’t you?
He was a fantastic talent and his promotion of Betty Page had an impact on popular culture that few artists can match.
Indeed. I think I am safe in saying that The Notorious Betty Page would not have been produced if not for the Dave Stevens bringing her back into popular consciousness.
Very sad news. I had the opportunity to meet Dave at a couple of conventions. I used to have one of the Rocketeer movie posters signed by him, but gave it away a few years ago.
My condolences to his family and many friends.
I am shocked, stunned and saddened at this news.
My condolences to his friends and family.
“Indeed. I think I am safe in saying that The Notorious Betty Page would not have been produced if not for the Dave Stevens bringing her back into popular consciousness.”
Agreed. I just wrote something about his passing on my blog before swinging back by here. One of the things that I pointed out was how Dave practically returned Betty Paige to popular cult status all by himself. His work using her likeness was amazing.
The other thing that should always be noted when discussing his work with Betty Paige is what he did for her. I remember reading several news stories and seeing a TV blip about how the new cult following for her that he started in the 80s and 90s revealed that she was, much to the surprise of many, actually still alive and well. Dave sought her out and set something up to pay her for using her likeness and arranged ways for others to do the same. She didn’t seek him out, he sought her out.
I always thought that was a classy thing to do. I really respected him for that when I read about it.
Yes, I did do the film novelization. Also the comic book adaptation. Actually, now that I think about it, I also did a short original Rocketeer comic for “Disney Adventures,” which I guess makes me one of the only people to write a Rocketeer comic story other than Dave.
PAD
Oh my god! When I was younger, seeing The Rocketeer for the first time was a life changing experience. It stands as my most watched movie to this day, and is easily the one factor I can point to that influenced my deep love of the pulp genre. Those of you that know RPGs might have heard of Spirit of the Century, a pulp RPG based around the 1920’s/30’s. I’ve been running a campaign that has had subterainian empires, intelligent gorillas and a cameo from the Phantom. Guess I know who’s gonna be cameoing next week.
I have the trade of the original comics as well. Gotta read them again this weekend.
He was remarkably talented and had marvelous taste. Without Dave Stevens the original graphic novel would have been set back several years.
I think I read that Disney Adventures story, Peter. I of course have the novelization right here, as well as the DVD (which is going to see some action tonight).
Seeing The Rocketeer was one of the highlights of my childhood. Probably, along with Star Wars and Indiana Jones, the film that cemented my love of two-fisted adventure stories. Jennifer Connelly and Timothy Dalton were great. Definitely an underappreciated classic.
What a shame. Stevens deserved much more respect and acclaim from this industry than he got in life (which was itself quite a bit).
Mark Evanier has a nice tribute to Dave here:
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_11.html#014911
Mark Evanier has a nice tribute to Dave here:
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_11.html#014911
2 corrections
Even though it has been reported widely already as 53, Dave was 52. His birthday was July 29, 1955.
Not Betty, but Bettie Page.
I’m not sure if I ever met Dave Stevens. I vaguely remember that he might have been at one of the Chicago conventions years ago, but I’m not sure.
A friend of mine did meet Dave, got some encouraging words from Dave about his art, and had his picture taken with him. He idolized Dave.
Yeah, and the really braindead part is that I know it’s Bettie Page.
Did this once already and it caught in the spam filter. Mark Evanier has a nice tribute here:
http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_11.html#014911
What lousy news. I had the good fortune of meeting Stevens at a couple of conventions and he seemed like a tremendously nice chap. I was a huge fan of The Rocketeer and it’s a shame that the film wasn’t a hit; if so, maybe the character’s increased visibility (and commercial viability might have given him a bit more financial security, in terms of sequels, spin-offs or whatever.
The last time I met Stevens, I bought one of his beautiful Sheena prints and had him autograph it for Sheena TV series show runner Steve Sears as a thank you for all the interviews that Steve had given me while working on Xena a few years earlier. As far as I know, that print ended up in Steve’s office and I’d like to think an awful lot of people were exposed to the beautiful work of Dave Stevens as a result. Incidentally I bought one of those prints for myself and I’m awfully glad I did.
And thanks to Alan for pointing out the correct spelling of Bettie. I only just watched the movie for the first time a few weeks ago, which of course I only about from the work of Dave Stevens.
I met Dave at ComicCon back in the mid-80s. The nicest guy in the world! I ignorantly asked if he could sign 3 posters I had that Eclipse had done up without his permission. I was unaware of this, Dave told me he hadn’t approved them, but since I had brought them to the con he said, “I really shouldn’t sign these…but I did pretty good on them, didn’t I?” “Are you kidding, Mr. Stevens?” I replied. Dave Stevens’s influence on comics, let alone Bettie Page, will be around forever.
Just visited Mark Evanier’s page. Verteran colourist Jerry Serpe just passed away as well. Hopefully that’s it for comic book folks passing today. 🙁
Aw, man. That stinks.
Indeed. Didn’t care as much for the movie, preferring the ROCKETMAN/CODY serials, but I loved the comic. Still have them boxed away somewhere. Was sorry to see it peter out.
Denis – SPIRIT OF THE CENTURY? Oh yes. I’ve suffered through it. A games group meets here pretty much every Saturday and one of the regular Games Masters has opted to convert one of his ongoing campaigns to this system and, let’s just say it’s pretty clumsy and leave it at that.
I’m the official blogger for Bettie Page’s official blog. I’m also a huge fan of both you, Mr. David, and Dave Stevens. I got on board early with Rocketeer and had the poster of his version of Valkyrie (from the revamp of Airboy that Eclipse did) on my wall for years.
I agree with others that Bettie’s profile (or my current post) would not be possible without Dave’s stellar work.
The blog just went “live” a few days ago, so if you (and anyone you know) would like to email me a tribute, I’d love to post it.
Best,
Kevin
http://www.bettiepage.com
bettiepageblog@gmail.com
I can remember a long time ago picking up an issue of Pacific Presents with this great story that harkened back to the old movie serials of the 40s and 50s. The art was really just astounding at a time when there was a lot of good stuff on the market as the industry was exploding with a wave of new titles and publishers.
That was Dave Stevens.
Man! This has been a bad year for a bunch of creators whose work I loved starting with Marshall Rogers to Mike Wieringo, Steve Gerber and now Dave Stevens… all relatively young men gone way before their times.
Sad news indeed (my first thought was a far less wordy, ‘this sucks!’)
Very sad news. Entirely too young.
and goons like Peter Paul still walk the earth…
truly only the good die young.
I met him (and interviewed him) in Paris more than ten years ago. That meeting is one of my happiest moments in my life as a comic book geek. Learning of his death this morning was certainly not the best way to begin the day. He will be missed. We need more people like him in the world, not less.
When I was dating my wife, she introduced the books to me. A friend of hers modelled as Orsino in Rocketeer Adventure Magazine #2. I loved the art and the easy to follow story.
I loved his art. I loved his writing. I really will miss his material.
ps-
Yes, he put Bettie back in the light…
I saw the news online when I got home last night. “Gut punch” is right. Just a day or two earlier I was wishing (for about the zillionth time) that he would do more Rocketeer one day.
Never had the pleasure of meeting him but I’ll have the pleasure of his work for the rest of my life.
Thanks, Dave.
I met him at a few Chiller Cons in NJ. He was very friendly. One project he mentioned that he proposed but didn’t go anywhere was a Superman/Rocketeer team-up. The deal breaker was that he wanted to use the 1938 version of Superman, while DC insisted it should be the modern day version. I would’ve killed to have seen Dave Stevens’ take on the 1938 Superman.
He’s amongst the greats in that comic book bullpen in the sky.
Mark Evanier’s obit will bring tears to your eyes. He has funny and touching things to says about both Dave and Bette. I got a giggle out of Dave’s comment that he had fantasised about Bette when he was young, and now he was driving her to get her Social Security checks cashed…
Dave was only a couple of years older than me, and when someone close to your own age dies, the sense of mortality smacks the hëll outta you. Add to that my longtime love of his work, and the loss is doubly painful.
Dave was one of the greatest in the comics trade. His loss is devastating.
Miles
Omigod. Thanks for telling us about this. Terrible.
Does anyone know if Bettie Page has made a comment about Dave Stevens’ death? She certainly owed him a debt of gratitude since he arranged for her to be compensated for the use of her likeness.
I know she’s a recluse, but some acknowledgment of his passing would seem appropriate.