October
11 Up, up and away

In the long history between comicbooks and Hollywood, few projects are as well-regarded as the 1978 film "Superman." For many comics fans and pros, Christopher Reeve's portrayal of Superman was definitive and had a strong impact on how the character was portrayed on the comics page. For many, Reeve, who died over the weekend, was as much a hero as the character he portrayed.

Here's a sampling of what comics pros and fans are saying online in the wake of Reeve's death this past weekend:

Jim Valentino, creator of ShadowHawk and former publisher of Image Comics

"To me he was the best Superman of them all. He convinced me through his acting that people COULD be fooled by Clark Kent (the scene in SII where he took off his glasses, stood upright and deepened his voice). He became an even greater hero after his injury."

Posted by a fan on the Geoff Johns board on Sept. 23:

"Just wanted to let everyone know that Christopher Reeve's Birthday is coming up on Saturday. The Man of Steel will be 52. He is a personal hero of mine and I have given what I can each year for the last several to help in their annual birthday charity drive. I feel it is a worthwhile cause, but I'm not asking anyone else to do the same; I'd just like to let everyone know that it is there and his day is coming up. I know its corny, but the man has been a hero of mine ever since I saw the first movie oh so long ago."

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation

Happy Birthday Superman!

John Byrne, writer and artist who relaunched Superman in 1986 with the Man of Steel miniseries, on his forum.

One of those oddly disorienting moments, as my clock-radio roused me from slumber just a few minutes ago. The theme from "Superman" was playing, and the newscaster was speaking praises of Christopher Reeve -- all in the past tense. I hurried to my studio to check the internet, to see if this was merely an unfortunate choice of copy style, and the story was, in fact, good news. But no.

R.I.P. Christopher Reeve -- and condolences to all who knew and loved him.

Mark Evanier, comicbook and TV writer, on his blog:

When you think about it, it's like a really bad, contrived soap opera storyline twist: A guy who was so physically fit he could play Superman suffering an injury that left him almost paralyzed for life. If a writer came up with that, you'd say, "That kind of thing never happens in real life." But it happened to Christopher Reeve when he tried to jump a horse over a fence...and after it did, he looked more like a hero than he had when he was flying around in the blue tights. Even unable to move -- when he presented at the Tony Awards, he couldn't even open the envelope -- he just radiated courage and strength and a determination to fight his near-total disability.

Writer Mark Millar on his message boards:

It always seems insincere when someone writes about an actor they've never met and says they're affected a little by their death. That said, it's impossible for someone who does what we do or reads what we read NOT to be affected in some way by this morning's news.

Writer Peter David on his blog:

I keep thinking of that commercial where, through computer imagery, he was shown getting up out of his chair. I always thought how magnificent that would be if he was actually able to accomplish it. Instead a runner who couldn't walk has fallen. Let's hope that others pick up the baton.

A tribute site has popped up at capedwonder.com