In Memoriam: Bill Liebowitz, 1941-2004
On the morning of Wednesday, October 27, the industry lost one of its most
recognizable personages with the passing of Bill Liebowitz, the
Founder and Owner of Los Angeles, CA's Golden Apple comics
shops.
Liebowitz, who was 63, died of a cardiac arrest stemming from flu complications.
Liebowitz opened the first Golden Apple store in 1979, and followed it with Golden Apple's famous Melrose Avenue location, which has long been a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities and power players. A Diamond customer since 1992, Liebowitz was greatly respected by creators, publishers, distributors, and his peers, both for his business savvy and his tireless efforts to promote the comics art form.
"Bill was a true legend in this industry, serving as a sterling example of everything a comics retailer should aspire to, as well as the successes a store owner can achieve," said Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi. "On behalf of everyone at Diamond, I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to Bill's wife, Sharon; his family; and his friends, and wish the best of luck to the Golden Apple stores in their future endeavors."
"What's most important to me is the friendship Bill and I shared over the years," said Concord, CA's Flying Colors Comics Owner Joe Field, in regard to his memories of Liebowitz. "Regular long phone conversations, commiserating about the shared frustrations and successes of being in the comics biz. From that friendship, Bill's wife Sharon and my wife Libby also became good friends, and the four of us had many wonderful, laugh-filled times together. I am a better person for having been friends with Bill Liebowitz."
“Bill was my friend, mentor, and role model, and comics has seldom seen a truer friend,” said Berkeley, CA's Comic Relief Owner Rory Root. “Bill had a singular ability to bring his worlds together in ways few of us would have dreamed of, fewer still daring to attempt. However, it was the (relatively) quiet times in the back office at Golden Apple, the occasionally fractious DLG meetings he once chaired, the always glad times at industry events (where we would gather family and friends to break bread), and a friend's voice on my end of the phone I'm going to miss the most.”
New York, NY's Jim Hanley's Universe Owner Jim Hanley expressed similar sentiments on his store's website, www.jhuniverse.com (Hanley's entire eulogy is available on the main page of the site): "We at Jim Hanley's Universe, who knew and loved Bill, mourn his passing. His legacy will inspire us to be better retailers and better men and women. The world is poorer for his loss, but the richer for his having passed our way."
On the message boards at www.goldenapplecomics.com, noted artist Darick Robertson wrote, "Bill was such a rare combination of joy and passion for comics, and remembering it was always about fun while running a great business."
Interman creator Jeff Parker responded to the report of Liebowitz's passing at www.comicon.com/thebeat, writing, "Bill was a great guy, and I'll always be grateful of how supportive he was of my work. He also would rally L.A. area cartoonists to appear at the Los Angeles Central Library yearly, building goodwill for the whole industry. To the King of Melrose."
Far from limiting himself to improving his own shops, Liebowitz took a global view of the industry. Liebowitz was widely considered to be a pioneer of large-scale events designed to introduce mainstream readers to comics, including creator signings, television news interviews, and more. Furthermore, he helped launch and/or expand the careers of countless industry megastars -- including Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Jim Lee, Los Bros Hernadez, Matt Groening, and others -- though his signature promotional campaigns. Liebowitz also served as the spokesperson for the Direct Line Group (DLG) retailer organization, and even made it into comics on occasion, including an appearance in Archie Comics Publications' Archie #538 (art from which accompanies this article).
Though he made his mark in comics, Liebowitz had a number of other careers, beginning with a stint as a CPA for 12 years following his college graduation. In 1974, he became Vice President of U.S. Operations for real estate developer Trizec Corporation, and served as Director of Entertainment for athletes at the 1984 Olympics. Following that event, he pursued comics retailing as a full-time occupation. Additionally, Liebowitz found time to co-found Rhino Records, and became an acknowledged master of the Yo-Yo, having been an official champion and instructor for Duncan in the 1950s.
In the 20 years since he embraced comics as his "day job," Liebowitz turned his two-store chain into a multimillion-dollar organization. "Our expansion has been fueled in large measure by promotion and merchandising geared toward attracting new customers from outside the hobby," Liebowitz wrote in his biography at www.goldenapplecomics.com. "At the same time, we have also worked hard to accommodate both the traditional comic collector and the newly attracted customer. We have promoted mainstream comics, but not to the exclusion of alternative product. We are constantly changing and experimenting with new ideas, and we don't intend to stop. We're very proud of what we've achieved, and where we are today."
At press time, plans had not been finalized for Liebowitz's memorial services. Information will be posted at www.goldenapplecomics.com as it becomes available.
Please Note: The initial report of Liebowitz's death that ran in the October 28 Diamond Daily contained two factual errors. First and foremost, the article incorrectly stated that Liebowitz was survived by a stepdaughter, Kendra, when she is in fact Liebowitz's daughter-in-law, being married to Liebowitz's son, Ryan. Secondly, the article reported that Liebowitz had passed away the evening of October 26, when it was in fact the early morning of October 27. Daily regrets the errors.
Liebowitz, who was 63, died of a cardiac arrest stemming from flu complications.
Liebowitz opened the first Golden Apple store in 1979, and followed it with Golden Apple's famous Melrose Avenue location, which has long been a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities and power players. A Diamond customer since 1992, Liebowitz was greatly respected by creators, publishers, distributors, and his peers, both for his business savvy and his tireless efforts to promote the comics art form.
"Bill was a true legend in this industry, serving as a sterling example of everything a comics retailer should aspire to, as well as the successes a store owner can achieve," said Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi. "On behalf of everyone at Diamond, I'd like to extend my deepest condolences to Bill's wife, Sharon; his family; and his friends, and wish the best of luck to the Golden Apple stores in their future endeavors."
"What's most important to me is the friendship Bill and I shared over the years," said Concord, CA's Flying Colors Comics Owner Joe Field, in regard to his memories of Liebowitz. "Regular long phone conversations, commiserating about the shared frustrations and successes of being in the comics biz. From that friendship, Bill's wife Sharon and my wife Libby also became good friends, and the four of us had many wonderful, laugh-filled times together. I am a better person for having been friends with Bill Liebowitz."
“Bill was my friend, mentor, and role model, and comics has seldom seen a truer friend,” said Berkeley, CA's Comic Relief Owner Rory Root. “Bill had a singular ability to bring his worlds together in ways few of us would have dreamed of, fewer still daring to attempt. However, it was the (relatively) quiet times in the back office at Golden Apple, the occasionally fractious DLG meetings he once chaired, the always glad times at industry events (where we would gather family and friends to break bread), and a friend's voice on my end of the phone I'm going to miss the most.”
New York, NY's Jim Hanley's Universe Owner Jim Hanley expressed similar sentiments on his store's website, www.jhuniverse.com (Hanley's entire eulogy is available on the main page of the site): "We at Jim Hanley's Universe, who knew and loved Bill, mourn his passing. His legacy will inspire us to be better retailers and better men and women. The world is poorer for his loss, but the richer for his having passed our way."
On the message boards at www.goldenapplecomics.com, noted artist Darick Robertson wrote, "Bill was such a rare combination of joy and passion for comics, and remembering it was always about fun while running a great business."
Interman creator Jeff Parker responded to the report of Liebowitz's passing at www.comicon.com/thebeat, writing, "Bill was a great guy, and I'll always be grateful of how supportive he was of my work. He also would rally L.A. area cartoonists to appear at the Los Angeles Central Library yearly, building goodwill for the whole industry. To the King of Melrose."
Far from limiting himself to improving his own shops, Liebowitz took a global view of the industry. Liebowitz was widely considered to be a pioneer of large-scale events designed to introduce mainstream readers to comics, including creator signings, television news interviews, and more. Furthermore, he helped launch and/or expand the careers of countless industry megastars -- including Neil Gaiman, Grant Morrison, Jim Lee, Los Bros Hernadez, Matt Groening, and others -- though his signature promotional campaigns. Liebowitz also served as the spokesperson for the Direct Line Group (DLG) retailer organization, and even made it into comics on occasion, including an appearance in Archie Comics Publications' Archie #538 (art from which accompanies this article).
Though he made his mark in comics, Liebowitz had a number of other careers, beginning with a stint as a CPA for 12 years following his college graduation. In 1974, he became Vice President of U.S. Operations for real estate developer Trizec Corporation, and served as Director of Entertainment for athletes at the 1984 Olympics. Following that event, he pursued comics retailing as a full-time occupation. Additionally, Liebowitz found time to co-found Rhino Records, and became an acknowledged master of the Yo-Yo, having been an official champion and instructor for Duncan in the 1950s.
In the 20 years since he embraced comics as his "day job," Liebowitz turned his two-store chain into a multimillion-dollar organization. "Our expansion has been fueled in large measure by promotion and merchandising geared toward attracting new customers from outside the hobby," Liebowitz wrote in his biography at www.goldenapplecomics.com. "At the same time, we have also worked hard to accommodate both the traditional comic collector and the newly attracted customer. We have promoted mainstream comics, but not to the exclusion of alternative product. We are constantly changing and experimenting with new ideas, and we don't intend to stop. We're very proud of what we've achieved, and where we are today."
At press time, plans had not been finalized for Liebowitz's memorial services. Information will be posted at www.goldenapplecomics.com as it becomes available.
Please Note: The initial report of Liebowitz's death that ran in the October 28 Diamond Daily contained two factual errors. First and foremost, the article incorrectly stated that Liebowitz was survived by a stepdaughter, Kendra, when she is in fact Liebowitz's daughter-in-law, being married to Liebowitz's son, Ryan. Secondly, the article reported that Liebowitz had passed away the evening of October 26, when it was in fact the early morning of October 27. Daily regrets the errors.
