I just heard that Dave Stevens died, after a battle with leukemia

[xiphias]

Dave Stevens was a comic book artist, whose best known work was The Rocketeer, which was also made into a (pretty decent, I think) movie by Disney in 1991. The comic -- and movie -- was a retro-pulp-style work.

But let's a James-Burke-Connections-like look at some of the other effects that Stevens had on popular culture, just through that one work.

The hero's girlfriend in the comic was an "art model" named "Betty". Who looked an awful lot like Bettie Page. (In the movie, she was changed to "Jenny", and the Bettie Page homage was dropped. 'Cause it was a Disney movie. Still, she was played by Jennifer Connely, so it was still good.)

Dave Stevens is credited for creating a renewal of interest in Bettie Page. And I suspect that the current revival of burlesque wouldn't have come about without that interest. So I'd argue that Dave Stevens is indirectly, but necessarily, responsible for things like the Boston Babydolls.

Comments

[unquietsoul5.livejournal.com]

Sounds right to me. The Rocketeer was one of my favorite titles back when I used to collect comics. I was so very disappointed when the story finished and there never was another series of it.

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

Dave Stevens died? Awwwww...

[rmjwell.livejournal.com]

Another person who helped bring back Betty was Olivia DeBerardinis.

Shame about Dave; I met him at a Wondercon two years ago and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

[bostonbabydolls.livejournal.com]

So I'd argue that Dave Stevens is indirectly, but necessarily, responsible for things like the Boston Babydolls.

Not indirectly. Read this (http://bostonist.com/2008/03/19/retroville_rip.php). Dave Stevens was a huge influence on me (Scratch) — and therefore the rest of The Boston Babydolls.