# Dave Stevens 1955-2008 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 12, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dave-stevens-1955-2008/441052 "2008-03-12T00:44:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dave-stevens-1955-2008/441052/1 "2008-03-12T00:44:50Z")
Dave Stevens, cartoonist and creator of _The Rocketeer_, has died, according to Newsarama. Stevens, who brought the tradition of “good girl art” pin-ups to new heights and single-handedly re-established interest in the career of Bettie Page, apparently died from Leukemia. The Rocketeer stands out as the superhero with the most believable motivation of them all: He donned the jetpack and costume to impress a smokin’ hot woman. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dave-stevens-1955-2008/441052/2 "2008-03-12T01:03:53Z")
Stevens was a fantastic (if not prolific) artist, and from all accounts a really good guy who was his own harshest critic. Mark Evanier wrote more about him on his website: [http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008\_03\_11.html#014911](http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_11.html#014911) We also have Stevens to thank for propping Bettie Page back up as a cultural icon in the '80s and '90s. I will probably go watch _The Rocketeer_ later, which stands as the single most gorgeous and sexy Jennifer Connelly (playing the Bettie Page character) has ever looked. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dave-stevens-1955-2008/441052/3 "2008-03-12T01:14:27Z")
I just want to say that, as somebody else born in 1955, he was just a baby. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dave-stevens-1955-2008/441052/4 "2008-03-12T05:48:17Z")
Wow. Seeing this thread title really made my heart jump. I opened it hoping it was about some other Dave Stevens, but no such luck. I’ve been a long time fan of his, and I’ve got a bunch of comics with his work, as well as posters, lithographs and books. I visited Disney World not long after the Rocketeer movie came out, and at MGM Studios they had a big display of a bunch of stuff from the film. Lots of artwork and models, even the bulldog cafe and the gyrocopter. Man, I’m really bummed now… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dave-stevens-1955-2008/441052/5 "2008-03-12T05:51:42Z")
RIP. I’ve been wanting to rewatch The Rocketeer. I’ll do it now.