Comic creator Keith Giffen, known for titles like Legion of Super-Heroes and Justice League International, died on Monday, October 10, 2023. Giffen had reportedly suffered a stroke on Sunday, October 9 then passed one day later. He was 70 years old.

Giffen was known for having a dark sense of humor, evidenced by the announcement of his passing, which was prepared in advance and posted on his Facebook page. His message stated, “I told them I was sick…Anything not to go to New York Comic Con / Thanx / Keith Giffen 1952-2023 / Bwah ha ha ha ha.”

Giffen was a New York native, born on November 30, 1952, and was best known for his work with DC Comics as well as for being the co-creator of Lobo and Rocket Raccoon. Giffen’s unconventional take on characters, along with his unique impressionistic style, made him a force within the industry. His first published work was a text story – entitled “The Sword and The Star” – featured in Marvel Preview #4 in 1976. That same year, Giffen and Bill Mantlo created Rocket Raccoon for Marvel Preview #7. This character has gone on to be featured in countless comics as well as feature-length films. 

Between the 1980s and 1990s, Giffen illustrated and later wrote for DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes title. During this time, Giffen partnered with writer Paul Levitz for several popular volumes of the Legion of Super-Heroes series. Following the praise received for the 1985 Legion of Substitute Heroes Special, Giffen began introducing his unorthodox brand of humor into the rest of his work. Along with J.M. DeMatteis, Giffen co-created the humorous Justice League International and Justice League Europe series. Giffen and DeMatteis went on to enjoy a successful five-year partnership working on the Justice League title. In 2003, the pair reunited for the Formerly Known as the Justice League miniseries and its sequel, I Can’t Believe It’s Not the Justice League, published in JLA Classified.

Also during the 1980s, Giffen introduced readers to his interstellar mercenary and alien bounty hunter Lobo, as well as the “want to be” hero Ambush Bug. Giffen’s literary and artistic talents were also featured on titles such as The Flash, The Immortal Dr. Fate, Wonder Woman, DC Challenge, Aquaman, All Star Comics, Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos, Suicide Squad, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Division 13, X-O Manowar, and Punx to name a few. Eventually, Giffen took a break from the comic industry to work on storyboards for television and film, contributing to shows like The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy.

When DC launched their 52 title, Giffen worked extensively as a breakdown artist. He continued in that role for Countdown to Final Crisis and later served as the lead writer for Marvel’s Annihilation event. Along with lead-in stories for Thanos, Draax, and Silver Surfer, he also wrote the Star-Lord miniseries for Annihilation: Conquest. In recent years, Giffen co-created the independent comics 10, Tag, Hero Squared, I Luv Halloween, Common Foe, Tabula Rasa, and Grunts. After their successful partnership on OMAC for The New 52 relaunch, Giffen and Dan DiDio reunited on Infinity Man and the Forever People.

For nearly 50 years, Giffen endured as one of the best known creators from the ’70s who continued to be active in the industry into his later years.