Every year the comic industry introduces us to a new batch of multi-talented writers and artists offering their fresh take on the world of comics. This Thursday, November 30, 2017, marked the 65th birthday of one such creator. 

New York native Kieth Giffen, born on November 30, 1952, is best known for his work with DC Comics as well as for being the co-creator of Lobo and Rocket Raccoon. Giffen’s unconventional take on characters, along with his unique impressionistic style, made him a force within the industry. His first published work was a text story – entitled “The Sword and The Star” – featured in Marvel Preview #4 in 1976. That same year, Giffen and Bill Mantlo created Rocket Raccoon for Marvel Preview #7. This character has gone on to be featured in countless comics as well as feature-length films. 

Between the 1980s and 1990s, Giffen illustrated and later wrote for DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes title. During this time, Giffen partnered with writer Paul Levitz for several popular volumes of the Legion of Super-Heroes series. Following the praise received for the 1985 Legion of Substitute Heroes Special, Giffen began introducing his unorthodox brand of humor into the rest of his work. Along with J.M. DeMatteis, Giffen co-created the humorous Justice League International and Justice League Europe series. Giffen and DeMatteis went on to enjoy a successful five-year partnership working on the Justice League title. In 2003, the pair reunited for the Formerly Known as the Justice League miniseries and its sequel, I Can’t Believe It’s Not the Justice League, published in JLA Classified.

Also during the 1980s, Giffen introduced readers to his interstellar mercenary and alien bounty hunter Lobo, as well as the “want-to-be” hero Ambush Bug. Giffen’s literary and artistic talents have also been featured on titles such as The Flash, The Immortal Dr. Fate, Wonder Woman, DC Challenge, Aquaman, All Star Comics, Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos, Suicide Squad, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, Division 13, X-O Manowar, and Punx to name a few. Eventually, Giffen took a break from the comic industry to work on storyboards for television and film, contributing to shows like The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd ‘n’ Eddy.

When DC launched their 52 title, Giffen worked extensively as a breakdown artist. He continued in that role for Countdown to Final Crisis and later served as the lead writer for Marvel Comics’ Annihilation event. Along with lead-in stories for Thanos, Draax, and Silver Surfer, he also wrote the Star-Lord miniseries for Annihilation: Conquest. In recent years, Giffen has co-created the independent comics 10, Tag, Hero Squared, I Luv Halloween, Common Foe, Tabula Rasa, and Grunts. After their successful partnership on OMAC for The New 52 relaunch, Giffen and Dan DiDio reunited on Infinity Man and the Forever People. Currently, the 1991 Inkpot Award winner contributes to Scooby Doo: Apocalypse, Secret Squirrel, and The Inferior Five. 

For over 40 years, Giffen has endured as one of the best known creators from the ’70s who continues to be active in the industry today. Although the respected writer and artist has faced his fair share of ups and down, Giffen once shared that he looks back on his comic book career and thinks, “That’s what I wanted.” 

“I’ve wanted to do this since I was eight years old, and I’ve spent my life doing this. I consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world – the fact that I’m still called. I’m not just doing the convention circuit hoping someone will notice me. I’ve had a lucky career,”  Giffen said.