
Just a few days after his 90th birthday, we lost a comic legend! Artist Dick Ayers passed away peacefully at his home in White Plains, New York on May 5th. Dick is survived by Lindy, his loving wife and soul mate.
When we think of the history of Marvel Comics, we certainly think of Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby (who Dick inked) as the architects, but it was guys like Dick Ayers that help with the look and feel of what Marvel became in the future. In his time there he co-created the original western Ghost Rider and a long run on Sgt. Fury which was where I first discovered his talent (pictured above the reprinted Sgt. Fury # 135). Later on he worked on some of my favorites like Unknown Soldier (with Gary Talaoc) and Jonah Hex.
I first met Mr. Ayers and his wife at a comic show in New York City (the National 2003). The Ayers were incredibly kind and loving people who took me and my family into their world and once Secret Identity started he adopted Brian too. One of my favorite memories involving Dick was being at a New York Big Apple show and being asked by Lindy to celebrate Dick's birthday with him; sing happy birthday and of course have cake with him. As the years went on when I would go see him he and Lindy would always refer to me as 'Beky and Samantha's dad'.
Lindy lost a husband, Fred, Steve and Elaine lost a father, comic fans lost a legend, but the world lost an incredibly warm, kind and generous man who was able to live the dream more ways than one.
Thank you for your talent and your friendship, sir!