Louis J. Stathis (September 29, 1952 – May 4, 1997)[1] was an American author, critic and editor, mainly in the areas of fantasy and science fiction. During the last four years of his life he was an editor for DC Comics' Vertigo line,[2] working on such titles as Preacher, Doom Patrol, Industrial Gothic, Peter Kuper's The System, and Dhampire.
Lou Stathis
Lou Stathis in his New York City rooftop apartment, summer 1986. Photo by Jeff Schalles.
Stathis was a columnist and editor for Heavy Metal and a columnist for Ted White's Fantastic magazine; during the late 1970s and early 1980s, he also wrote a monthly column on contemporary popular music for Gallery magazine. He worked as an editor for Ace Books, High Times and Reflex magazine.[3][4]
Stathis collaborated with cartoonist Matt Howarth, co-writing the first few issues of Those Annoying Post Bros., published by Vortex Comics in 1985. In 1989, Stathis wrote The Venus Interface (originally advertised as Interzone: The Wild & Curious Times of Sheldon Zone), a Heavy Metal graphic novel with a cover by Olivia De Berardinis and interior art by Jim Fletcher, Rick Geary, Peter Kuper, Mark Pacella, Kenneth Smith, Arthur Suydam and Michael Uman.
In writing and editing, Stathis took a prismatic approach, noting popular culture linkages:
"I see connections between all vital forms of popular art. At Heavy Metal and Reflex, we would feature side-by-side profiles of guys like Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, The Residents, Sun Ra, Voivod, Ice Cube, Francis Coppola, David Cronenberg, Susan Sontag (by Samuel R. Delany), James Ellroy (by Lewis Shiner), Kathy Acker, Neil Gaiman (who also interviewed Lou Reed for us), Alan Moore, Moebius, Brian Bolland, and Dave McKean––as if they all deserved commensurate attention (they do). The idea was––and still is––that it's all in the mix, and to erect barriers between, say, comics and music, to ignore the noise from any part of the system, is counterproductive and just plain stupid. Most of the artists and writers I know listen to and take inspiration from music while they work. Most of the musicians I know read comics and get off on the imagery. There's an intense, cross-cultural/media conversation going on, and all you have to do to hear it is stop listening selectively."[5]
While he was an editor at Vertigo, Stathis began having headaches that kept him from working. He died of respiratory failure ten months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
^Anderson, Paul M. (August 1997). "Vertigo Editor Stathis Succumbs to Cancer". Wizard. No. 72. p. 22.
^"Apparatchik 78: In the Midst of Life, Dr. Fandom". Retrieved 19 May 2006.
^. Archived from the original on 17 January 2006. Retrieved 19 May 2006.
^"Lou Stathis : Mixing and Maxing : Interview" by Pepé Valdez, p. 11-12 in Shop Talk (Sept. 1993)". Retrieved 11 Dec 2020.
^"International Horror Guild". Retrieved 19 May 2006.
External linksedit
Business Wire: "Obituary: Lou Stathis"
Heavy Metal: Lou Stathis interviews David Lynch (full text)
Who's Who of American Comic Books: Lou Stathis
January 01, 1970
stathis, louis, stathis, september, 1952, 1997, american, author, critic, editor, mainly, areas, fantasy, science, fiction, during, last, four, years, life, editor, comics, vertigo, line, working, such, titles, preacher, doom, patrol, industrial, gothic, peter. Louis J Stathis September 29 1952 May 4 1997 1 was an American author critic and editor mainly in the areas of fantasy and science fiction During the last four years of his life he was an editor for DC Comics Vertigo line 2 working on such titles as Preacher Doom Patrol Industrial Gothic Peter Kuper s The System and Dhampire Lou StathisLou Stathis in his New York City rooftop apartment summer 1986 Photo by Jeff Schalles Born 1952 09 29 September 29 1952DiedMay 4 1997 1997 05 04 aged 44 NationalityAmericanArea s Writer EditorAwardsInternational Horror Guild Award 1997 Kyle Baker s portrait of Lou Stathis at work Lou Stathis in his office at Heavy Metal magazine mid 1980 s photo by Jeff Schalles Contents 1 Work 2 Awards 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksWork editStathis was a columnist and editor for Heavy Metal and a columnist for Ted White s Fantastic magazine during the late 1970s and early 1980s he also wrote a monthly column on contemporary popular music for Gallery magazine He worked as an editor for Ace Books High Times and Reflex magazine 3 4 Stathis collaborated with cartoonist Matt Howarth co writing the first few issues of Those Annoying Post Bros published by Vortex Comics in 1985 In 1989 Stathis wrote The Venus Interface originally advertised as Interzone The Wild amp Curious Times of Sheldon Zone a Heavy Metal graphic novel with a cover by Olivia De Berardinis and interior art by Jim Fletcher Rick Geary Peter Kuper Mark Pacella Kenneth Smith Arthur Suydam and Michael Uman In writing and editing Stathis took a prismatic approach noting popular culture linkages I see connections between all vital forms of popular art At Heavy Metal and Reflex we would feature side by side profiles of guys like Tom Waits Captain Beefheart The Residents Sun Ra Voivod Ice Cube Francis Coppola David Cronenberg Susan Sontag by Samuel R Delany James Ellroy by Lewis Shiner Kathy Acker Neil Gaiman who also interviewed Lou Reed for us Alan Moore Moebius Brian Bolland and Dave McKean as if they all deserved commensurate attention they do The idea was and still is that it s all in the mix and to erect barriers between say comics and music to ignore the noise from any part of the system is counterproductive and just plain stupid Most of the artists and writers I know listen to and take inspiration from music while they work Most of the musicians I know read comics and get off on the imagery There s an intense cross cultural media conversation going on and all you have to do to hear it is stop listening selectively 5 While he was an editor at Vertigo Stathis began having headaches that kept him from working He died of respiratory failure ten months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor Awards editIn June 1997 he received a special award from the International Horror Guild 6 See also editList of notable brain tumor patientsReferences edit United States Social Security Death Index index FamilySearch https familysearch org pal MM9 1 1 VSNS 25S accessed 19 Mar 2013 Louis J Stathis 4 May 1997 Anderson Paul M August 1997 Vertigo Editor Stathis Succumbs to Cancer Wizard No 72 p 22 Apparatchik 78 In the Midst of Life Dr Fandom Retrieved 19 May 2006 Michigan State University Libraries Index to Comic Art Collection Loos to Loque Archived from the original on 17 January 2006 Retrieved 19 May 2006 Lou Stathis Mixing and Maxing Interview by Pepe Valdez p 11 12 in Shop Talk Sept 1993 Retrieved 11 Dec 2020 International Horror Guild Retrieved 19 May 2006 External links editBusiness Wire Obituary Lou Stathis Heavy Metal Lou Stathis interviews David Lynch full text Remembering Lou Stathis by Patty Jeres Who s Who of American Comic Books Lou Stathis Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lou Stathis amp oldid 1186412871, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
