In memory of Dick Giordano

You have probably read countless obits on Dick Giordano by now. This one won't add anything new to them but I felt compelled to write it. I never met Dick Giordano and as I was never going to conventions when he was a guest so I never even saw him in person. I did hear his voice once. In the mid 1970's, those days before news was spread before the internet exizted, DC comics ran an 800 # that if the fans dialed it they would be told by one of the writers, artists or editors what was going on in the DC offices at that time. The one and only time I called it was Dick Gordano who had recorded the very friendly message. I don't recall what he said but from that call I learned what he sounded like and how to pronounce his name. Now some people don't believe this story as Mr. Giordano was to have left C for awhile befre this hotline came about. Well he must have come back for awhile as I did hear him on the phone.

My first exposure to Mr. Giordano's work was with Charlton Comics. I couldn't read at the time but I loved to look at Captain Atom, Blue Beetle and Sarge Steel,or as i called him at that time, that man with the steel hand. Eventually he went to DC and much of Charlton's talent followed him. When he was put in charge at DC in the early 80's their books really took off. DC ruled the 60's but slowly Marvel took over that decade before it was over. Marvel ruled the 70's and DC in someways seemed to try to copy Marvel. But Mr. Giordano had the talent not only to draw but t handle people. That is an important part of being an editor as the best talent seems to always go toward that type of leader. I didn't know him so there isn't much more I can write but he left his stamp on comics in a big way. I read that he learned to draw when he was a child who was verfy sick and he loved to read the comics. From that smiple beginning over the years he touched many lives through comics. Rest in peace Dick Giordano.