Steve Gerber died at only 60 years old, due to complications with pulmonary fibrosis, a disease he was suffering from. Gerber was a the comic book writer and creator whose most well known character was Howard to the Duck. He also co-created Marvel’s “Omega the Unknown” and the 1980’s series “Thundarr the Barbarian.”
His friend and writing partner Mary Skrenes told reporters that he died in a Las Vegas hospital the other day.
The “Howard the Duck” series became a fast hit after its January 1976 debut on Marvel and remains a cult favorite. Its lead, a disgruntled duck from another universe with a bombshell sidekick named Beverly “Thunder-Thighs” Switzler, was hailed as both smart and subversive.
“Howard was his voice. Steve was able to do social commentary and sort of sneak it up on you,” she said. “Sometimes it was obvious what the message was there, and other times is was really subtle because it took place in a mystical realm or outer space.”
Or in Cleveland, where Howard was a lone talking duck “trapped in a world he never made!” according to the comic’s tagline.
Gerber split with Marvel in 1978 amid a dispute over the rights to the character. He sued the company and settled out of court.
More recently, Gerber and Skrenes created “Hard Time” for DC Comics, the story of a 15-year-old boy convicted in a Columbine-like school shooting who discovers he has special powers. Gerber was working on a revival of the DC Comics’ Dr. Fate series at the time of his death.
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