Rik Levins: 1950-2010
Richard “Rik” Levins, a penciller for well over a hundred comic books, passed away June 12, 2010. He died peacefully at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. Levins was born on October 15, 1950, in Somerville, New Jersey. He is survived by his wife Sandra, nieces Robin and Lynn, nephew Robert, and great-nephews Kenneth and Johnathan.
Before launching a career in the comic book industry, Levins worked for the US Postal Service. He later attended art school, which lead him to become a successful artist. He penciled covers and pages for titles such as Avengers, Femforce, The Shade, X-O Manowar, and many others. He is best known for penciling Captain America from 1991 to 1994, where he worked with writer Mark Gruenwald. Levins drew for several publishers, including Marvel, AC Comics, Acclaim, and Innovation.
Levins switched to working with computer art, and became a game developer and modeler. He followed this path for fifteen years, the last seven of which he spent instructing labs for Full Sail University’s (in Winter Park, Florida) gaming department. Levins never stopped contributing his time and talent to comic books, and worked on graphic novels up into his later years. Some of his final projects were Avengers: Galactic Storm, Death Hawk: The Soulworm Saga, and Nosferatu: Plague of Terror.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for
Richard at 5:00 PM., Friday, June 18th with visitation at 4:30 at the
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, 7520 Aloma Ave., Winter
Park, FL. 32792.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard’s memory to
Moffitt Cancer Center “Gifts of Memory” at www.moffitt.org/giving or the
American Cancer Society. Please sign and view the family guest book at www.baldwinfairchild.com.
Aw crap, I was literally just re-reading some Gruenwald/Levins Captain America books last nightand pining for the old Marvel Universe.
My condolences and best wishes to Mr. Levin’s family and friends.
Rk will forever be known to me as the creator of Dragonfly for Americomics. In assembling his team, Rik wanted all the members to be based in New Jersey so that we (myself as letterer along with Kevin Dzuban as inker), as collaborators, could get together and brainstorm. So as a friend, he will be missed. But in my heart, I’ll always have a soft spot for Dragonfly.
Sad news. I only know Rik from his run on Valiant comics X-O Manowar. He was a good artist and will be missed.
Rk will forever be known to me as the creator of Dragonfly for Americomics. In assembling his team, Rik wanted all the members to be based in New Jersey so that we (myself as letterer along with Kevin Dzuban as inker), as collaborators, could get together and brainstorm. So as a friend, he will be missed. But in my heart, I'll always have a soft spot for Dragonfly.
Sad news. I only know Rik from his run on Valiant comics X-O Manowar. He was a good artist and will be missed.
Very sad news. I, too, fondly remember Dragonfly — as a reader, of course. And I lived in New Jersey at the time, so it was fun seeing places I knew pop up in the comic. Just last week I wondered what Levins was up to, and I am saddened by his passing.
Very sad news. I, too, fondly remember Dragonfly — as a reader, of course. And I lived in New Jersey at the time, so it was fun seeing places I knew pop up in the comic. Just last week I wondered what Levins was up to, and I am saddened by his passing.
I’m very sorry to hear this. I loved Rik’s work on Cap and the Avengers. For me, the early 90’s seem like yesterday so it is difficult to grasp that Mark and Rik are now both gone, both far too young. My condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
I'm very sorry to hear this. I loved Rik's work on Cap and the Avengers. For me, the early 90's seem like yesterday so it is difficult to grasp that Mark and Rik are now both gone, both far too young. My condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
I met Rik when he was an artist at a college I attended. I stumbled across this man by chance, when I went to scan some amateur comic drawings that I was working on for a school project. Rik was working on some character drawings and I had to sit down and marvel at these drawings… I had no idea who he really was till years later. An amazing artist and a great guy too. R.I.P. Rik
I met Rik when he was an artist at a college I attended. I stumbled across this man by chance, when I went to scan some amateur comic drawings that I was working on for a school project. Rik was working on some character drawings and I had to sit down and marvel at these drawings… I had no idea who he really was till years later. An amazing artist and a great guy too. R.I.P. Rik