​Comic book legend Keith Giffen passes away at age 70

Renowned comics author and artist Keith Giffen, known for co-creating iconic characters like DC's Lobo, the Jamie Reyes version of the Blue Beetle, and Marvel's Rocket Raccoon, has sadly passed away at the age of 70.

Giffen's family confirmed his death via a Facebook announcement on Wednesday. The post, written by the comic book maestro himself, carried his signature sardonic humor: "I told them I was sick... Anything not to go to New York Comic Con. Thankx," he quipped, adding a mischievous, "Bwah ha ha ha ha."
Longtime collaborator and friend, Paul Levitz, also shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook, lamenting the loss of the creative genius. Levitz paid tribute to Giffen's prolific imagination, describing him as possibly "the most fertile creative mind of our generation in comics." He highlighted Giffen's inexhaustible wellspring of ideas, continually flowing with creativity.

"We did over 60 stories together," Levitz reminisced, emphasizing Giffen's unique ability to elevate characters and their dramatic moments. "Many of them he made far better than they might have been with any other collaborator because of his ideas and contributions to character moments and dramas," Levitz explained. He acknowledged that, like any enduring partnership, they had their share of challenges but ultimately attributed that to the depth of their creative relationship.

Keith Giffen's legacy in the comic book world is immeasurable. He gained recognition for his work on DC Comics' "Legion of Super-Heroes" throughout the 1980s and 1990s. In the early 1980s, he co-created the fan-favorite alien mercenary Lobo alongside writer Roger Slifer for the title "Omega Men." In 1987, Giffen played a pivotal role in the creation of the "Justice League International" series alongside J. M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire. He later spearheaded a spinoff in 1989 known as "Justice League Europe," also with DeMatteis.

Before his illustrious tenure at DC Comics, Giffen made significant contributions at Marvel in the 1970s. It was there that he and writer Bill Mantlo introduced Rocket Raccoon to the world through the pages of "Marvel Preview," a black-and-white magazine. Rocket Raccoon would later become a key member of the "Guardians of the Galaxy" and was brought to life by Bradley Cooper in Marvel's sci-fi film trilogy.

In 2006, Keith Giffen played an essential role in the reintroduction of the Blue Beetle character, this time as Jamie Reyes, a Latino high school student who gained superpowers when bonding with an alien scarab. Collaborating with co-creators John Rogers and Cully Hamner, Giffen contributed to Reyes' early adventures. The character, portrayed by Xolo Maridueña, took center stage in Warner Bros.' "Blue Beetle" film earlier this summer, marking a significant milestone as DC's first Latino-led superhero movie. Keith Giffen's impact on the comic book industry will be felt for generations to come, and his memory will continue to inspire fans and creators alike.