He did a cover for my Image book SEASON OF THE WITCH.

I always call him 'D' and he always calls me ‘J’ (even though he knows my name is Jai). In the days since his unfortunate death, I’ve seen more than a few stories like mine, and a deep admiration for his sense of friendship and selflessness. Although I was already enamored of his comics work before we spoke, it was that warm, “I owe you one” mentality that really drew me to him as a man. This kind of passionate gratitude and kindness was something Darwyn demonstrated throughout his life. It felt like I had been given a magic wish. The way he said it made the promise feel like something meaningful. He sincerely thanked me and told me if I ever needed anything, at any time, to call him and let him know. The move strained my relationship with my editor, but the line was replaced at the last moment. The issue had already been sent to the printer but I went to bat for Darwyn anyway. Darwyn was not happy about it and he pleaded for me to have the Journal change the text.

TCJ had added a provocative tagline over his Power Girl artwork about him pouring beer over an editor’s head. I interviewed him a couple times about his work, but it wasn’t until the TCJ interview that we chatted in-depth about his life – his childhood in Canada, his artistic influences, finding his way into comics, his difficulties working with editors and other creators, and his triumphs. We talked for hours over those summer weeks, and when we were done there were 40 pages worth of conversation for the Journal and a few more that were just between us.īefore the interview was printed, I remember sending the final cover design to Darwyn. He ended up writing an apology that was published in the All the Rage column I wrote for, and we stayed in touch. Earlier that year he made some impulsive comments about Frank Miller and I offered him some unsolicited advice on how to handle the potential fallout. TCJ had asked him to do an interview, but he insisted I be the one to conduct it because we had become friendly in the months prior. In 2007 I spent weeks interviewing Darwyn on the phone for the cover interview in The Comics Journal #285. I never met Darwyn Cooke in person, but nine years ago he offered me a magic wish.

DC by Darwyn Cooke