Image courtesy of Marvel Comics

Famed comic book artist Michael Turner recently passed away after a struggle with cancer. Turner broke into comics in the late 90’s working for Image comics where he developed his own creator owned title, Fathom. He eventually left Image and founded his own studio Aspen MLT. He was most recognized for his beautiful work on covers. Both DC and Marvel called upon him to draw the covers to their most notable books, including recent “event” books such as Identity Crisis for DC and Marvel’s Civil War. (more…)

“SG-1, you have a go.”

With those five simple words, Gen. George Hammond sent the heroes of Stargate SG-1 through a portal to adventure every week for eight years, before his character moved on to working directly with the White House and “Homeworld Security.”

The man who played Hammond was Don S. Davis, and according to the fan site GateWorld, which quoted his representative and wife, the actor died Sunday at the all-too-young age of 65.

In addition to his role on SG-1, which ceased production last year, and an appearance on its spinoff Stargate Atlantis, Davis played a coach in the 1992 film A League of their Own and a dog show judge in 2000’s Best in Show. He also portrayed FBI agent Dana Scully’s father in several episodes of The X-Files. (His character was fond of Moby Dick, and his nickname for Scully was “Starbuck” after the first mate in that novel.)

Davis can be seen later this month in his final appearance as Hammond in the SG-1 direct-to-DVD sequel Continuum.

MGM photo

Comedian Harvey Korman, a fixture on The Carol Burnett Show who played the celestial chef Gormaanda in the apocryphal 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special, has passed away at the age of 81.

Korman filled several other roles on the Holiday Special, which also featured Jefferson Starship, Diahann Carroll, Art Carney and Bea Arthur. (Seriously.)

Despite introducing Boba Fett to the galaxy, the show is a one-time event that George Lucas considers never to have happened (like Han shooting first). But Lucas liked Korman enough to bring him back for his 1994 film Radioland Murders (a fine little movie.)

Pictured: Harvey Korman as Gormaanda the four-armed Julia Child of the Star Wars galaxy.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Arthur C. Clarke, the author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, passed away today at the age of 90. He had post-polio syndrome since the early 1960s and died after suffering breathing problems. To many he was one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. His novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, was the basis for Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 cinematic masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey. Clarke co-wrote the screenplay with Kubrick and created one of the most memorable fictional sci-fi characters of all time: HAL 9000. Click here to read The Associated Press story.

HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey

Gamers everywhere should pause their endeavors for a moment of silence: AP is reporting that Gary Gygax, the co-creator (with Dave Arneson) of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, has died at age 69.

If you play any RPG, whether it be D&D at a kitchen table with pencils and paper, online with World or Warcraft or on a console such as the Xbox 360 with Mass Effect, you should know that none of it would have been possible without this man. He started it all with the miniatures wargame Chainmail in 1971, the foundation upon which D&D and all of modern roleplaying would rise three years later. (more…)

I had to read the headline twice for it to sink in. Heath Ledger’s death today at the age of 28 is shocking, made only more so by the fact that excitement was still building for his appearance as the Joker in The Dark Knight, a sequel to Christopher Nolan’s excellent Batman Begins. Actually, it’s been building since summer and San Diego Comic-Con, but I’ve only recently started turning an ear to the buzz. Still, I always thought the casting was inspired. It’s a shame that such a talented young man felt so troubled at the end of his days, but sadly it’s nothing new. (more…)

James Oliver Rigney Jr., better known as Robert Jordan, has passed away after a short illness. He was 58.Jordan was the author of the best-selling “Wheel of Time” epic fantasy series, which began with “The Eye of the World.” He also wrote many of the modern Conan the Barbarian novels.The 12th and final book in the “Wheel of Time” series remains unfinished and was not due for release until 2009.

Publisher’s Weekly is reporting that Madeleine L’Engle, the author of children’s fantasy classics such as the 1963 Newbery Medal-winning “A Wrinkle in Time” and other books in the Time Quintet, has died at the age of 88. She leaves a legacy of weaving modern scientific notions (tesseracts, DNA) into kidlit and capturing the imagination of untold millions.