Ernie Colón, R.I.P.

Well, I have something to write about here but sadly, it's an obit for a dear, talented man named Ernie Colón. Ernie passed away yesterday in his home at the age of 88. He had been battling cancer for some time and whoever posted the death announcement on his Facebook page emphasized the "battling" part. Knowing Ernie, I absolutely believe that. He went down swinging…and probably also trying to top the last drawing he did.

I never knew an artist in comics who tried harder. You may not have liked everything he drew — and Ernie, who was deeply self-critical certainly didn't — but no one ever cared more.

Puerto Rican by birth, Ernie was an actor and a sculptor before turning to comics. He assisted for a time on the Joe Palooka newspaper strip and in 1964 began working for Harvey Comics, first as a letterer and before long as one of the main artists for Richie Rich, Casper the Friendly Ghost and various allied comics. He loved the work but felt confined by the style, and a few years later began drawing for Warren (Creepy, Eerie) busting out in unexpected ways. His work there was wonderful and energetic and in practically every story, he was experimenting with a new style or a new approach or some new way of designing a page.

This article will tell you more of the biographical stuff. Basically, he worked for every company that would have him — for DC, he did Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld and Arak, Son of Thunder; for Marvel, he did Damage Control — and he also illustrated a line of documentary comics in partnership with his friend and former editor Sid Jacobson. Ernie was also my former editor. For a time, he was an editor at DC and mine on Blackhawk. I do not compliment editors lightly but Ernie was an absolute joy to work with. A very good man.