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Bite me Fanboy: All Things Giffen

giffen_2023

RIP Mr Giffen

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

Posted by Keith Giffen on Wednesday, 11 October 2023


Death sucks, I need some Oreos....

Keith Giffen was born November 11 1952 in Queens, New York. He spent a lifetime working on some of the best super hero characters in the world. An immensely talented writer/artist, he blazed a path through mainstream comics. The astounding range of art styles he could use on their own would have been enough to secure him a place in comic lore, but when matched with his take no prisoners attitude to comic writing the combination made him a leading light of the artform. He was responsible for several momentus runs on The Legion of Superheroes, the ground-breaking Justice League International, the cash cow Lobo, the hilarious Ambush Bug, the weird Heckler, and much more besides.

For a while in the late 90s he developed a career as a Cleaner, taking over on flagging titles and finishing them off in his own style. He worked with several companies in the 2000s and then signing an exclusive contract with DC comics from 2008 until 2018 when Image comics published the six part Auntie Agatha's Home For Wayward Rabbits. There wasn't any new material after 2019, but in early 2023 he started posting regularly on Facebook and soon after his own podcast full of Giffen goodness began to appear:

Guess they'll need to change the name for any future episodes...

Giffen on Comics

In regards to his career in comics he was quoted as saying Did 'em, do 'em, gonna keep on doing em.

This is what Marvel had do say about Mr. Giffen in Shadows & Light #3:

When Keith Giffen is asked to sum up his life to date, he often gives this simple response: Born, draws comics, wishes he was dead. It is humour such as this that has endeared Giffen to readers with creations such as Lobo, Rocket Raccoon and Lunatik. Fans know what to expect from me, says Giffen. I'm pretty much a tongue-in-cheek guy. So, if you want grim and gritty, go someplace else .

From Trencher #1 we have the following factoids:

Name: Keith Giffen

Powers: Able to wear corduroy pants without making that annoying "whiffing" Noise.

Height: 5' 10" Weight: 114lbs. (I know, Pretty Pathetic, ain't it?)

Origin: Recollection hazy, but still breaks out in a cold sweat whenever driving through the Lincoln tunnel.

Ambitions: Actually getting the blasted lid off the jar instead of loosening it just enough so that the next person to try...

Turn Ons: Karmic Retribution, confused sales clerks giving back too much change, cover enhancements that don't require the purchase of more than one copy of a comic.

Turn Offs: People who won't clear their throats even though it's obvious that they've got one mother of a juicer in there, the guilt that makes me return the change to the sales clerk, poly-bagged comics that are only considered mint if the bag remains unopened even though the bag is not chemically treated and will actually deep six the book in time

Biggest weakness: Two-finger typing (really makes writing this book an adventure.)

Biggest asset: Never uses ninjas in stories....NEVER!

His Philosophy of Comics

It's always surprises me how serious the comic industry is about their stories and their heroes and their, oh, so precious continuity. It's just comic books. At the end of the day, we're not curing cancer. This isn't great literature. It's barely art. It's just a really interesting, unique and fun way to tell a story. That's the way I see it. I am sure people have their own opinions and we could argue this all day. But to me, I am just a storyteller. Bugs & Kisses: Giffen Brings Back Ambush Bug - Comic Book Resources

Giffen's writings about comics

Awards

16th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Winner for Best Humor Publication
Formerly Known as the Justice League, by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, and Joe Rubinstein (DC)