Comic Creators Remember Harlan Ellison

Celebrated author and raconteur Harlan Ellison passed away on June 28 at the age of 84.

Known widely for his science fiction and fantasy works — including the Star Trek episode “City on the Edge of Forever” — Ellison’s versatility extended across a variety of genres and media.  He also displayed his versatility through one of his great passions, comics, writing stories for numerous publishers and titles, including the Dark Horse Comics anthology Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor. He even provided his own voice for an animated Ellison on Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated.

Ellison was also a huge advocate of the comic industry, a fact underlined by the number of creators who lined up to give their condolences and share stories about the prolific scribe. 

Great author and cautionary tale, arsehole and titan, Harlan Ellison died today. He was unfailingly kind to me, and he wrote the books I needed to read at exactly the right time. I am so glad he was here, and I will miss his voice.

— Wᴀʀʀᴇɴ Eʟʟɪs (@warrenellis) June 28, 2018

RIP Harlan Ellison, a sci-fi icon and a personal inspiration of mine. A true visionary, a fundamental building block of what sci-fi is today--and the reason why so many of us are writing today. https://t.co/FqWoeeoLoV

— Michael Moreci (@MichaelMoreci) June 28, 2018

When I was in my early 20s devouring Ellison books, I was always impressed by the fact that Harlan's introductions to his short stories were as engaging as the stories themselves. Sometimes more! He seemed to pour the entirety of himself into everything he wrote.

— J.M. DeMatteis (@JMDeMatteis) June 28, 2018

Harlan Ellison: There was no one quite like him in American letters, and never will be. Angry, funny, eloquent, hugely talented. If there's an afterlife, Harlan is already kicking ass and taking down names.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 28, 2018

Harlan Ellison died.
He was combative, cantankerous, loved drama, sued people frequently.
But he had great taste as an editor (so much so he almost single-handedly moved SF forward as an art form with one anthology), talent as a writer, and penned some memorable comics. pic.twitter.com/8Q6jEiuXRo

— Patch Zircher (@PatrickZircher) June 28, 2018

Once, at a Chicago Comicon, I was behind Harlan Ellison as he pulled one of my books from a dealer's longbox and praised it to the seller, but I was too scared to say anything to him. Man, I'm from Iowa.

— Phillip Hester (@philhester) June 28, 2018

My heart is broken. Off to gather what few thoughts I can for awhile.

What an awful day.

Harlan Ellison is dead.

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) June 28, 2018

I chatted to Harlan Ellison twice (about Canadian comics). He lectured me very loudly on the phone about how I was too meek to ask the other people in my office to stop typing so loudly because he could hear it on the line.

— Hope Nicholson (@HopeLNicholson) June 28, 2018

Harlan Ellison has died. He could be difficult for some, but I always liked and respected him.

— Joe Lansdale (@joelansdale) June 28, 2018

Harlan Ellison- We are saddened by the passing of Mr. Ellison. It was a point of pride that for decades he has had a standing subscription to "everything" by several of our creators.

— Antarctic Press SDCC Booth 2307, July 19-23 (@AntarcticPress) June 28, 2018

So heartbroken to learn that one of the greatest writers of our age, Harlan Ellison, has died. He was very kind to me when I was a teenager. And he taught me a great deal about writing. His stories are immortal...but damn, this hurts. #ripHarlanEllison pic.twitter.com/A06IfkKBdr

— Jonathan Maberry (@JonathanMaberry) June 28, 2018

My friend is gone. Without Harlan's words and his example, I would never have become a writer. He showed artists of all stripes how to protect the work and how to live with integrity and heart and fierce courage. The world is much smaller for his absence. https://t.co/8qrmKZpJkC

— J. Michael Straczynski (@straczynski) June 28, 2018