One of the most acclaimed writers in comics died this morning due to complications with pneumonia. Arnold Drake collapsed shortly after the New York Comic Con at the end of February, and had been in the hopsital since. He was 83.

Drake's career spanned decades. His most famous creations were for DC, such as circus performer turned ghostly avenger Deadman and the Doom Patrol, including Teen Titans regular Beast Boy. He was an early contributer to the Batman comic, and later helped bring Batman co-creator Bill Finger his proper recognition.

Drake worked on plenty of imaginitive stories, most notably the strangely brilliant Stanley and His Monster. He also wrote It Rhymes With Lust a long comic in the Fifties which he later referred to as the first graphic novel. He was known for fighting for the rights of creators and his fellow writers against big corporations, even when it lost him jobs. He also worked with the group the Veterans Bedside Network, helping with the rehabilitation of disabled service members.

Drake was a feisty giant among comics professionals, and the funnybooks are a little sadder tonight at his loss.