http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-...1,4444056.story

There are also several posts on Mark Evanier's blog, with links to other tributes.
http://www.newsfromme.com/

I was tempted to post this on the Exploitation board, but I think Stevens will be best remembered for his series THE ROCKETEER, which really should have been collected in an "absolute" edition years ago. The movie was a pretty good adaptation of Stevens' work and a nice showcase for Jennifer Connoly.

((The "Exploitation" link would be Stevens connection with Bettie Page, Something Weird, and his ex-wife screen queen Brinke Stevens.))

I believe Stevens was one of the preeminent illustrators of the 80's and 90's, and I hope there is eventually a comprehensive collection of his work, which was pretty scattered. I always prized his illustrations for Something Weird's "Space Thing" (one of the few VHS tapes I still have) and a Johnny Quest t-shirt, with Jade prominently featured, taken from a comic book cover.

I'm guessing that Steven's heaven will have a lot of buxotic dames with an art deco background...

I still have a ROCKETEER poster that was released to promote the movie.

This Art Deco teaser? That thing was beautiful. I used Fun-Tack™ to hang mine. Because I'm stupid.

I can't understand why Disney has its head up its rear concerning THE ROCKETEER. We get a 2-disc Special Edition of THE LOVE BUG, but THE ROCKETEER is bare bones? Even THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG gets a commentary track.

Of course, those movies have made more dough for Disney over the years than THE ROCKETEER, but with superheroes hot right now, Disney is foolish not to capitalize on it. I wish I could figure out why THE ROCKETEER tanked at the box office.

That's the one; only mine's still on it's cardboard with the original plastic wrapping. I keep meaning to get it framed but haven't gotten around to it for what -- almost twentyish years now?

Stevens came through North Carolina a couple of times and was as nice a guy as you could ever meet. He also championed the rights of Betty Page when PD reprints with her pics were coming out left and right. He helped initiate projects where she would collect royalties for the use of her image.
Though he'd been sick for a while I'm still stunned at this news.

At least you're owning up to it, JEFFREY. That's half the battle to overcomin' it. :mellow:

...Good Luck!

I don't get it.

Tell me about it! The only reason I never got Rocketeer on DVD was that I heard the quality was utter crap.

When the movie was being promoted, I loved the poster but had no interest in buying a ticket. I belly-ached about Dick Tracy, the glut of empty comic book movies, and that none were worth seeing after the glory of Darkman. I was dragged to see Rocketeer and how wrong I was! By the big tommy gun battle at the end, I was cheering, pumping my fist, and actually yelling "Take that, you Axis rats!!!" Not a great film, but just so utterly charming and fun.

Disney, I'd buy a decent special edition DVD with a proper transfer in a heartbeat. Hell, I'd buy it just for the animated propaganda film.

I'm not that familiar with Stevens' work, but I probably should check it out. All sympathies to his family and friends.

I was completely shocked by this news. Stevens was a regular at the San Diego Comic-Con. I asked him to sign my ROCKETEER comic book one year and he told me about Bill Campbell's unscheduled appearance at a panel upstairs, which was great because there were only about 20 people in the room and we all got tickets to the Old Globe to see Campbell in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. The last time I attended Comic-Con was in 2006 and Stevens was there, looking perfectly hale and healthy.

I smell a ROCKETEER/CONDORMAN valu-pack, coming soon to a Costco near you.

Campbell would have made a terrific Superman.