Category: News

All of us here at Time Warp Comics were devastated to hear that Darwyn Cooke, comic artist and author, has passed away after battling cancer. He was 53 years old.

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Darwyn Cooke ~ 1962-2016

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Darwyn Cooke had been a staple of modern comic book storytelling, as well as one of the foremost leaders in the medium’s art-style. Many here at Time Warp have followed his career with great enthusiasm, as his storytelling and art style evoked the kind of wonder and awe one might have felt the first time they had ever picked up a comic book. Even if your first comic book wasn’t by Darwyn Cooke, you could read one of his stories and feel as though you had never read a comic before reading one of his. He had an original style that was fresh and yet classic all at once. He was a rare treat that will be missed greatly by many of the staff here at Time Warp, and people around the world.

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 Wayne Winsett, owner of Time Warp Comics, had recently been able to chat with Darwyn Cooke last year at the Baltimore Comic Convention, stating he had intended to have Mr. Cooke make an appearance at Time Warp for a signing, that sadly never happened.

This is a signed print Wayne was able to bring back from that meeting, along with the memories of talking with one of the giants in the comic book community.

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Purely Editorial Moment from Clayton. 

I myself was introduced to Darwyn Cooke’s work when I first started working at Time Warp in 2009. Both Wayne (owner of Time Warp) and then co-worker Garry, insisted that I read this new book called, “Parker: The Hunter”.

I was loaned a copy of Parker by Garry, and it took me a while to finally get around to reading it. But once I had, it changed my outlook on comics from that point on. In a medium which I had only seen through the super-hero view-point, it was amazing to see something that felt as though it had been made in another era, but was absolutely current. (I later learned that the Parker novels by Richard Stark, or Donald E. Westlake, were published in 1962.) I then began to look into this Darwyn Cooke and his expansive career. The next thing I read from him was a single issue he did of an overlooked DC western character by the name of Jonah Hex.

After reading what I personally consider to be one of the best one-shot comics ever made, I knew I would be able to count on Darwyn Cooke to make the best comics possible. And I wasn’t let down.

Many years and comics later, the next thing that came up Darwyn Cooke related that blew me away was his cover series from DC Comics that arrived in 2014. Darwyn was approached to do alternate covers for every title coming out from DC at that time. They looked so damn good, I picked up several titles I no longer collected from DC just because Darwyn Cooke had done the cover. Here are some of my personal favorites, that I believe encapsulate his style. 

Green Lantern #37

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Green Lantern Corps #37

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(Personally I really enjoy his classic approach to Hal Jordan and the other Green Lantern characters. Green Lantern was my favorite character when I was a kid)

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He-Man and the Eternity War #1

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Sinestro #8

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Justice League Dark #37

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Superman / Wonder Woman #14

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After working on all of those amazing covers for DC, Darwyn Cooke worked on a book with Gilbert Hernandez titled “Twilight Children”, which was published by Vertigo Comics. This book was one of the last comics Darwyn Cooke worked on before he passed.

I was working at Time Warp the day the news of Darwyn Cooke’s passing had broke, and I was affected by such news as I believe many of us were. I purchased a copy of Twilight Children and read it that night in one sitting.

As I looked back at the books I had read of his, and the art I had collected from him, I thought about all he had done for the comic book community, and realized there wouldn’t be anything else we would get to see from this talented and creative man. And that thought bothered me. But that is how life works sometimes. I feel honored to have lived in a time where Darwyn Cooke existed, and changed the comic book medium with his thoughts and art.

So go out there and read something by this amazing man, and let it inspire you the way he inspired a generation of authors and artists now, and in the years to come.

Comic books are as popular as ever but why is it that fans just can’t seem to put them down? Perhaps comics teach us about our humanity or, maybe, we just enjoy them for the following reasons.

Right Vs Wrong

The interplay between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral in comic books is fascinating. On the one hand, you have clear-cut examples of Zod trying to take over the world and Superman stepping in to protect the human race. That theme repeats itself in every universe multiple times. However, there are plenty of shades of gray, and comic book lovers respect this fact. Consider Batman, for example. He operates outside the law and sometimes in direct opposition to Commissioner Gordon, but comic book readers accept Gotham’s dark knight as the anti-hero that the city needs. Watchmen is a fantastic example of a graphic novel where the battle rages eternally. Never have superheroes been more human.

Fantasy
Of course, comic books are full of fantasy, and who does it better than Neil Gaiman? The other reinvented the Sandman and gave him seven siblings, known as The Endless. While The Sandman comics are undoubtedly dark, they do a wonderful job exploring mortality, relationships and concepts such as heaven and hell. The art is just as evocative. Fans are fortunate that Gaiman has returned to the drawing board to produce more Sandman stories.
Violence
Yes, sometimes of the appeal of a comic book is watching the good guy kick the butt of the bad guy, and there’s plenty of violence to go around. Batman once carried a gun, and Watchmen is gruesome to the extreme. The movie even did a fair job of depicting Rorschach’s insanity-driven violence, and who is a better example of gratuitous violence than the Joker? He kills indiscriminately, ending the life of one Robin, Jason Todd. Joker also put a bullet into Batgirl’s spine, causing her to become paralyzed for life in The Killing Joke, which we think tells a terrible tale terrifically.

Love
In comics, love doesn’t just exist in spite of darkness and violence. Sometimes love thrives because of it. This is the case in The Crow, the most popular indie comic title by James O’Barr. O’Barr wrote the graphic novel and illustrated it himself after his fiancé died in a car accident. The reader will feel a profound sense of loss as they move through the pages, many of which are in stark black and white. The Crow follows Eric after his fiancé is murdered and a mysterious force brings him back to seek vengeance. If you haven’t seen this film yet program your DVR tonight and don’t miss it. You don’t have a DVR yet check out these Direct TV offers and pick up the Genie.

The Good Guy Wins
Sometimes there’s nothing better than seeing the good guy win. It’s why we love Superman, the X-Men and Thor. It’s also why Daredevil has become so iconic. Not only is the character fighting for his city, but he also overcomes the odds to do so as a blind man. Daredevil: The Man Without Fear takes an already interesting character and makes him more compelling than you might have realized before. Brian Michael Bendis tells the story of a character who’s senses are heightened against a noir backdrop that perfectly fits the story.

 

 

Aurora Rise, the Aug. 25-26 benefit organized by All C’s Collectibles in Aurora, Colo., to raise money for the victims of the July 20 theater shootings, announced this week that Hellboy creator Mike Mignola will join Matt Fraction, Steve Niles and Tim Daniel at the event.

They also announced that DC Comics will provide support as well. The company joins a long list of supportersproviding silent auction items and filling other needs for the event.

“The mission of Aurora Rise is simple – we are going to do everything in our power to assist and aid the victims and victim’s families,” store manager Jason Farnsworth wrote on the event’s Facebook page. All proceeds will go directly to the victims, their families or designated charities. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more updates.