Rocket Raccoon creator and comics legend Keith Giffen dead at 70

Keith Giffen, the legendary comic book writer and artist responsible for co-creating Rocket Racoon and Lobo, has sadly died at the age of 70.

As reported by ComicBook, Giffen suffered from a stroke on Sunday 9 October, passing away the next day on Monday 10 October. As per his family’s wishes, the news was shared on Giffen’s Facebook page, with a statement which read: “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 had an illustrious career. While he may be best known for co-creating iconic characters like Rocket Racoon, Lobo, and Blue Beetle/Jamie Reyes, Giffen also worked on well-known series like Justice League International and Legion of Super-Heroes.

The writer and artist was born in Queens, New York, USA, on 30 November 1952. In January 1976, he had his first published work with ‘The Sword and The Star’, featured in Marvel Preview #4. In the summer of that same year, Giffen created Rocket Raccoon alongside Bill Mantlo, with the duo debuting the character in Marvel Preview #7.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Giffen would work on DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes series becoming a leading voice on the comic run by the fourth volume. In the late 1980s, Giffen was also working on Justice League International. He’d also venture over to the world of television, working on storyboards for The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy.

In recent years, Giffen worked on Green Arrow, Justice League 3000, The New 52: Futures End, Infinity Man, and Forever People. He also wrote scripts for a Sugar and Spike series, which was published as a series in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow anthology.

GAMINGbible extends its condolences to Giffen’s family, friends, and colleagues.