Dwayne McDuffie, a pioneering African-American comic creator who wrote for Marvel and DC, co-founded his own publishing company, Milestone Media, and also tackled the world of television and animation, passed away today. Comic Book Resource reports that he died of complications due to a surgical procedure he underwent Monday. McDuffie, who had been a prevalent voice in the comic world since the '80s, produced not only great comics but also called out his industry for the stereotypical and limiting ways in which minorities were portrayed in comics. For a better sense of who McDuffie was and why he is so important, read Percy Carey's 2008 Complex interview with him and our rundown of his most important contributions to the comic world.
Damage Control
Damage Control in 1989. The book centered on a company that was in charge of reconstructing all of the buildings that got destroyed during superhero battles. This concept was unique to the world of superhero comics and showcased a sense of humor that would become one of the trademarks of McDuffie’s writing. This was McDuffie's breakout book and laid the groundwork for the rest of his career. He also worked on the Avengers, She-Hulk and Deathlok during his time at Marvel. His last notable work at Marvel came in 2006 when he added Storm and the Black Panther to the Fantastic Four roster after Sue Storm and Reed Richards took a leave of absence.