Starocotes
06-23-2008, 06:00 AM
Steve Gerber was a very special man, I guess we all can agree on that. His views and oppinions, which he expressed on his blog, where strange, enlightening, funny and showed that he allways wanted to look "behind" things. This habit made was one of the things that drove him to create some of the most influencial comics since Lee and Kirby introduced us to Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. He paved the road that creators like Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Grant Morrison walk on. His absurd creations that where real at the same time, like a talking Duck that didn't sit well with Disney or a showgirl with an ostrich, brought joy and tears at the same time and mde you think about more then just the obvious story.
I would hate to see his last great work be just another footnote in the endless cycle of reimaginations of the character Dr. Fate. I loved the classic 1943 version of Kent Nelson, alsolut adore what Steve and Martin Pasko did with him in the Flash Backups and even grew acustomed to Hector Hall as a replacement. But Kent V. Nelson in Countdown to Mystery was something entierly else. It was a character that you could relate to, even if you didn't have issues with alcohol or a magical helmet. Steves interpretation was such a hugh step towards a belivable magical character AND an interesting person that it would be a crime to waste that idea alone. Even more so since it was the last work by Steve and I really hope that some time in the future we can look at Dr. Fate and say: "This character was build on the groundwork Steve did" much like Swamp Thing will allways be somehow connected to Alan Moore.
So here's my plea: Get somebody on Dr. Fate (either a monthly book or as part of something like CtM) who will take what Steve build and continue from there. I know that nobody really can replace Steve and nobody should try, but that are some basics that Steve found important in his interpretation (clear cut rules for the used magic, believable character progression, development includes setbacks) and I think somebody should take Kent V. Nelson, this basics and at least try to build a memorial will make Steve Gerbers last work a bit more meaningfull.
I would hate to see his last great work be just another footnote in the endless cycle of reimaginations of the character Dr. Fate. I loved the classic 1943 version of Kent Nelson, alsolut adore what Steve and Martin Pasko did with him in the Flash Backups and even grew acustomed to Hector Hall as a replacement. But Kent V. Nelson in Countdown to Mystery was something entierly else. It was a character that you could relate to, even if you didn't have issues with alcohol or a magical helmet. Steves interpretation was such a hugh step towards a belivable magical character AND an interesting person that it would be a crime to waste that idea alone. Even more so since it was the last work by Steve and I really hope that some time in the future we can look at Dr. Fate and say: "This character was build on the groundwork Steve did" much like Swamp Thing will allways be somehow connected to Alan Moore.
So here's my plea: Get somebody on Dr. Fate (either a monthly book or as part of something like CtM) who will take what Steve build and continue from there. I know that nobody really can replace Steve and nobody should try, but that are some basics that Steve found important in his interpretation (clear cut rules for the used magic, believable character progression, development includes setbacks) and I think somebody should take Kent V. Nelson, this basics and at least try to build a memorial will make Steve Gerbers last work a bit more meaningfull.