WIZARD

MORE GOOD NEWS

                  NEAL ADAMS

Wizard magazine didn't need much encouragement to begin an extensive Dave Cockrum article.

            Any fees, of course, will go to benefit Dave, but most importantly, Wizard will (not for the first time) remind folks of Dave's contributions.

 Alter Ego   and  Comic Book Resources   and Comic Book Artists and Comics Buyers Guide will be doing feature articles on Dave to every ones delight.

 As we can all imagine, medical costs and possible medical insurance coverage is paramount in our mind.  Of course if Dave was on Marvel's medical insurance that would be so very important, and solve so many of Dave's on going problems.  Let's hope for the best.

     Artwork keeps coming in and everyone is doing such terrific pieces, so good in fact, that I'm doing a second piece just to keep up.  Check this site and Ardwolf.

John Byrne's got his piece up on his site.  My son Joel is doing a piece and listen to this one, oh, yeah and Jim Lee, and everyone we ask.

 Since writers don't get to do pieces for the auction we are asking writers if we can do a single print of their short piece of writing on parchment to be sold as a piece of written art.  We'll make one quality print for sale for auction to benefit Dave.

         You ask who has generously offered their pieces for this endeavor?         I can't tell you, but their initials are Harlen Elison and Alan Moore.                                                                Love and kisses

  Dave Cockrum has suffered a relapse.

Pneumonia has reappeared in one lung. He is on oxygen and antibiotics.

After a partial recovery, doctors have found spots on one lung and Dave is suffering a relapse.

Folks, I suppose I shouldn't say this for the sake of other patients in that Bronx V.A. hospital, but Dave Cockrum needs better care than that hospital can give.

The difference is money and a better health care plan. Life itself is not easy for Dave Cockrum at this time.

  Creators are stepping up to the plate, thanks to their good hearts, but all this takes time. Marvel could shorten that time if they would only step up to the plate and help one of their own. Please.

New news: artwork is beginning to increasingly flood in.
In addition, I spoke to Laurence Klein of MOCCA, The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, and he's agreed to have an exhibit of the "Benefit Dave" artwork, to publicize his plight and encourage interested bidders for the auction.

Thanks "MOCCA". And its director, Laurence Klein. More as it happens.

  Fans seem to be curious if they can do something to help. That you want to is appreciated perhaps you'd like to send get well cards to Dave at the VA Hospital. Write to:


Dave Cockrum c/o
Extended Care Nursing Facility
N.A. 1-A, Room 10-C
Bronx V.A. Medical Center
130 Kingbridge Rd.
Bronx, NY 10468

 

-Neal Adams

 Can you help Dave?

The call has gone out and growing numbers of artists are donating artwork to be auctioned to benefit Dave Cockrum.

Dave's double pneumonia has left him in a terribly weakened state in the Bronx Veteran's Hospital. This Veteran's Hospital is notorious and a damned horror. Has been for years. Ask someone who's lived in the Bronx. Dave's currently rooming with a guy they call "The Screamer." Dave's hands shake. He probably won't be able to draw again. Dave has diabetes. This same Dave Cockrum created Nightcrawler for Marvel and Storm as well as Colossus and Thunderbird and the Starjammers, and well, the

 

thing is, even through a group of creators collect royalties from the X-Men they created Dave Cockrum doesn't. He gets nothing.

 Other creators, like Chris Claremont and Jim Lee receive a large check when their X-Men characters appear in a film or as a titled Marvel comic book. Why doesn't Dave?

Well, certain media figures are asking why. We can't say who, at this time, and what publications are curious that comic book company's treatment of its creators today is no different than when Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster finally got some participation in Superman.

Was it Dave Cockrum's fault that he didn't take Marvel to court long ago?

 You could say so but the truth is Dave is just a good guy a good trooper a non-complainer a toiler in the fields. He's not Stan Lee, who gets paid a million a year to smile for the cameras. Nor is he one of the bright, new, shiny executives who lick the cream off the top of Marvel to the tune of millions of dollars.

Dave Dave's a drudge. He does his job and creates wonders for millions of kids and adults.

And now he's sick and probably won't ever be the same. He won't draw comic books about heroes who do good and help the helpless and have the compassion of heroes.

It would be nice if Marvel itself had that same compassion.

-Neal Adams

 Dave Cockrum is ill.
Dave gets no royalties from the X-Men characters he created. Other artists get royalties. What's wrong with this picture? Can you help Dave?

The dog that barks the loudest gets fed first.
Dave Cockrum created Nightcrawler and co-created Colossus, Storm, and Thunderbird.
Pretty good characters I must say. Dave gets no royalties for his creations. Surprising especially in the case of Nightcrawler, a character he created two years before his Marvel appearance, for instead, DC Comics. Never used, he proposed him to Marvel.
Other creators have gotten creator contracts and very nice royalties from their X-Men creations.
How can this possibly be?
Well, I don't honestly know. I can tell you what I've heard.
I 'heard' that there is a "window of time"... or "The window opened at a particular time, I think it was 1979." Coincidentally, that was just a year or so after the new copyright law. Hmmm?

 So now we have Dave, creator or co-creator of some of the best X-Men. Dave, who sits in the back of the class quietly working, expecting  little. Dave, who doesn't stand up on his hind legs to complain, bark and demand for that which Marvel gives freely to those who do demand. Dave, who is the salt of the earth. dave, who now is just recovering from life threatening illness.
Are royalties from his creations supporting his recovery? Are royalties making the lot of his family secure and easier to bear?
No. I am afraid not. Why?
Because the dog that barks the loudest gets fed first.
I think the voice of Dave Cockrum must be our voice. Yours and mine. Or just mine.
I've been through this before. I know the walls might go up. denials. Explanations, rationalizations, and excuses.
And Lawyer talk... gibberish.
Bottom line, others are getting X-Men royalties, and Dave is getting nothing... and it's simply not fair. No matter what the rationale, it's just simply not fair.
Find out the facts. don't simply accept what I say. but if you find what i say is true, let folks at Marvel know how you feel. They're real people. They'll listen.
Meanwhile, artists are doing some drawings to be auctioned or sold to benefit Dave. I did a Wolverine/Nightcrawler, and a publication is being prepared for Dave's benefit as well. Check it out at http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com

 

 This is one of the letters between Neal and Cliff who is heading up the fund raising for Dave's family.

In my view the logic is that Marvel has already consulted with their legal department. Lawyers have traditionally, little or no sensitivity in a situation like this. They deal as an opponent in a fight. They try to win.
To win against Dave Cockrum and those that care for him and his lost rights, is not a win at all. If they win, they lose. They lose respect of the fans: of the other creators and in the end they lose respect for themselves. They fight an enemy that does not fight back.
Shame.
This IS and is not a legal matter. The fact is the law is vague. It depends on two copyright laws, caught in time and lost in time. One judge or one Supreme Court could turn the law upside down, and that will happen if people get angry enough. This is a moral matter and not the province of lawyers. We know what Dave did, and we appreciate it. Marvel knows what Dave did and if they don't, they should do their homework.
I have extended my hand in friendship RE Dave to Marvel and I have been ignored.
It is not the first time this has happened.
I know how upset people feel. I feel it also, Marvel needs to know how people feel. But you know the goal is, as always, to make this work, in a positive way.

Neal Adams

 Fan Support for Dave

Mr. Adams.
 
  I am what some would call a nobody.But EVERY nobody has a name.The name of THIS particuliar nobody is Daniel Genest,a french speaking 30 something guy from Quebec in the Province of Quebec from Canada. I have been robbed at gun point in my appartement and even though there was a lot of noise NOBODY came to help me so i had to jump on this @$$#ole and take the gun out of his hand!!!! He got away with all my money,but i still live and so is my girlfriend!! ) 
 
And now we move onto ANOTHER nobody(or so Marvel would like us to think so):namely Mr. Dave Cockrum!!!!!  The man is surely one of the founding block of the phoenix-like emergence of the then almost dead X-Men franchise!!!!  And if the suits at Marvel have their way,the man can rot in a lost corner of the universe for all they care.The poor man did not want to make any waves and they tried to take advantage of it.
 
 So Mr.Adams i hope you will greatly help the man in having all the rights  that are already overdue to him.I also hope that you will continue helping the others,because i am sure there WILL be others!!!
 
 So for love,life and the creator's rights: Up,up and away!!!!

    Friendly yours!!!   Daniel

 Brian Postman on Board

Date: Sat Jan 31, 2004 2:02:45 AM US/Eastern

....hello....my name is brian postman,i worked for
marvel comics in the early 80's as a penciller on
spider-woman,captain america, and marvel
team-up......i recentely heard of dave cockrum's
situation....and i read that people were donating art
to be auctioned off to help dave....could you give me
some info on who to contact?.....i have a recent color
drawing that i would like to donate...SEE
ATTACHMENT....thanks for your help in this

We directed Brian to Cliff Meth who will be sure to include Brian's art in the auctions for Dave. Thanks Brian.

  

 We have taken a few moments to contact artists to send in art to be auctioned for Dave's benefit. We hope we haven't missed anyone. Not all the art can make it into the book. If you are a comic artist who'd like to get involved, this is where to send the art.

Aardwolf Publishing
179-9 Route 46 West
Box #252
Rockaway, NJ 07866

The Deadline for the book is March 15

  THE UNCANNY DAVE COCKRUM TRIBUTE includes a parade of industry legends who have donated unpublished art and new writings.
Neal Adams , Bob Almond, Murphy          Anderson, Sergio Aragones, Terry Austin, Dick Ayers, Mark Bagley, Charles Barnett, Al Bigley, David Boswell, Rich Buckler, John Byrne, Travis Charist, Chris Claremont, Gene Colan, Peter David, Alan Davis, Diane Duane, Harlan Ellison , Steve Englehart, Mark          Evanier, Neil Gaiman , Ron Garney, Mike Grell, Tony Isabella, Dan Jurgens, Sam Keith, Bill Messner-Loebs, Steve Lieber, Stan Lee , Pablo Marcus, Bob McLeod, Alan Moore, Jerry Ordway, Tom Palmer, Mike Pascale, George Perez, Robin Riggs, John Romita, Joe Rubinstein, Marie Severin, Dave Sim, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson, Mark Texeira, Roy Thomas, Herb Trimpe, Sal Velluto, Lee Weeks, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman.