DC Comics Releases Tribute to Darwyn Cooke

If you've been reading this week's DC Comics publications, including the series of Rebirth specials featuring characters like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Superman, you've already seen how they ended each issue this week, with a stunning and stirring tribute to writer/artist/cartoonist/animator Darwyn Cooke.

The two-page spread features artwork by Cooke in his signature style that was showcased in the pages of New Frontier and many other works for DC over the years. A smiling, Golden Age-style Wonder Woman is front and center, along with The Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, and some non-super characters like Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. It also include a quote from another legendary artist and creator, Jack Kirby, who had a hand in a large swathe of characters for both Marvel Comics and DC, "Our dreams make us large."

After Cooke's untimely loss after a battle with cancer last month, the outpouring of support has been exceptional. From his closest friends like comicbook creator Jimmy Palmiotti, who has shared stories and pictures from throughout their friendship to publishers to journalists and of course down to simply his fans, Cooke has been memorialized extensively. DC Comics released a statement the day of his passing that praised Cooke's "simplistic brilliance" and "natural flow of his storytelling. They called him a "true innovator... a much-loved and respected member of the comics community."

As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, and this simple tribute (click below to see the full image) shows how much Darwyn loved the characters of DC Comics, and why fans considered themselves lucky to see his work, which will live forever.