Lee Moder, 1970-2023

Several American news sources reported on 7 February that comics artist Lee Moder, best-known for being the co-creator of DC’s Stargirl, has died, according to a family friend, ‘sometime around or before January 15th’. He was 53. His cause of death remains unknown at present.

Originating as an heroic illustrator in the style of Alan Davis, Moder gained a following through his use of extreme, almost parodic, facial expressions and the often flamboyant body language of his depictions.

Moder’s career as a comics illustrator spanned almost thirty years. He first came to public attention with long runs on DC’s Legion of Super-Heroes and Wonder Woman series, but he is best remembered now for being the co-creator, with Geoff Johns, of Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl of the Justice Society of America, who made her first appearance in Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. #0 in 1999. Stargirl subsequently helmed her own television series, on which Moder was credited as a consultant.

Other significant works of Moder include illustrating Batman: The Last Angel, contributions to Marvel’s X-Factor, Dynamite’s Highlander and Red Sonja series, and CrossGen’s Scion, as well as co-creating the Japanese vampire character Shinku for Image comics, in collaboration with writer Ron Marz.

Geoff Johns said of Moder’s death: ‘the industry lost a wonderful talent with the passing of Lee Moder’. Ron Marz stated: ‘Lee wasn’t just someone I collaborated with, he was a friend, he was almost a part of my family.’

Those wishing to honour the artist’s memory are asked to make donations to the Hero Initiative, the charity which aids needy comics creators.