It was on Thanksgiving Sunday last year (November 26) that Dave Cockrum passed away at the age of 63. While in some regards it feels like just yesterday, in others it does feel like a whole year has passed, and given his connection to the Legion, I thought it only appropriate to remember his passing here. A lot of people on this board were lucky enough to interact with Dave while he was still alive, so he was more than just a Legion creator to us, he was a part of the online Legion community. We followed his ups and downs with his health, his continued frustration at his treatment by the industry, and his four month stay at the VA after he almost died from double pneumonia. We hoped for his comeback, but it wasn't to be.
Dave posted less as time went on, but the Internet gave us all an opportunity that simply didn't exist in our youth. Quite frankly, it knocked down walls that we didn't even know existed. If you've joined the boards since then, you missed out. It was always interesting to hear what he had to say in his own "voice," as well as learn the goings-on of the Cockrum household on a somewhat regular basis. I also know that posting online gave him a big boost emotionally and a lifeline that he otherwise wouldn't have had, so we were important to him, too.
It's been a year since Dave Cockrum passed away, but his memory lives on. If anyone has any antecodes of their own interactions with him, this would be a good place to share them.
Posted by Kent Shakespeare on :
I knew Dave through the mid-90s. He was a regular at the CBS where I worked.
He was a great guy, and he is missed.
Posted by Dain on :
Are his posts still here? Could someone post the links to threads Dave Cockrum participated in? I'm sure those of us who weren't lucky enough to get to know him here, would like to read them. I know I would...
Posted by Glen Cadigan on :
Dave's user id here was dark bamf. It was the same handle which he used over at NightScrawlers , and I know that you can find his old posts over there using the search feature. His original home on the 'net was Classically Cockrum, where he posted as Dave Cockrum. He switched over to dark bamf on the old DC boards, due to their autocensor and his last name. The old DC board posts are long gone, but a search of "dark bamf" should turn up some of his posts in both the Legion and Hawkman forums.
Posted by Dain on :
Ah, I see. Thank you! Posted by Nightcrawler on :
Type in "dark bamf" next to "Member Number or Public Display Name:" here.
(Either leave "Category: LEGION CLUBHOUSE" or switch to "Visionaries of Tomorrow" and you'll see his posts here.)
Whenever I get a chance I'll recreate some of his old DCMB topics in that forum.
Posted by Wild Jorge on :
It's been a year already?! Wow, it does feel like yesterday!
I will remember him as one of the most influential comic book creators ever.
Posted by lil'rhino on :
I'm so grateful I got to meet Dave in person a few years back, even if only for 10 mins. He was a big teddy bear of a man, and I couldn't help but give him a hug after speaking to him.
Posted by Malvolio on :
I met him, too and didn't hug him, but yes, he was a very nice guy. Actually, most comic creators seem to be nice, at least when I've met them. Only a few exceptions, which I won't name here because this thread is about Dave Cockrum, a great artist in any era.
Posted by matlock on :
I never met him in person but he was the first person on the creative side that I "met" online at the X-Fan boards. He was nice enough to answer some Legion questions (he shot down the rumor that the Colossal Boy costume he designed was originally intended for Ultra Boy) and I was one of the ones that encouraged him to post at the old DCMB Legion board. He was great about posting neat little tidbits from his sketchbooks that just made me swoon. He and Paty always made a great one-two act at Nightscrawlers. I will alway think of him as the best of the Legion artists and a true comics great.
Posted by Cobalt Kid on :
When Dave first came to the Legion Boards it was the first time (for me) that I interacted with a true 'great' in comics (re: not someone currently working on a title). It was beyond awesome.
My Legion Roadmap was such that I was much more familiar with his non-Legion work at the time I was able to interact with him. I've truly come to admire his Legion stuff, which will probably my favorite work he's ever done.
He's missed. Really, truly missed.
Posted by imskian78 on :
nobody did more for the Legion in such a small bit of time that he was on the book. The Cockrum costumes here and in Xmen are bar none the best most original costumes in Comic books...Miss you much Dave!
Posted by Lone Wolf Legionnaire on :
When I picture the Legion,The first thing I see is Dave's wonderful art.
I never got to meet Dave or even chat with him on the message boards,But if I had I would have thanked him for getting me hooked on comics.
Posted by Glen Cadigan on :
How cool is this?
Posted by Nightcrawler on :
Very cool!
Posted by Lone Wolf Legionnaire on :
Now the link to this picture is working,So I can see how cool it is.
[ November 29, 2007, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Lone Wolf Legionnaire ]
Posted by Malvolio on :
I don't like the way the big guy is staring at the Princess' bottom. He ought to remember his place!
Posted by Candle on :
I found this on Nightcrawler's Cockrum site and wanted to set it up as a poster, to contribute to his memory.
He certainly affected my life and the fact that I still enjoy comics.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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