This is really sad. Writer Dwayne McDuffie has died. I know him, as most did, as creator of Static Shock (which became a cartoon), and his continual work promoting non-white characters in teams like JLA. Apart from his comics work, which included co-founding Milestone Media, he also worked on animated series (Justice League Unlimited, Ben 10) and films (Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, and the just released All-Star Superman).
His run on JLA and the DC animated films is great and his desire to continually promote diversity within the ranks of superhero titles will hopefully be continued by others.
McDuffie passed away due to complications from a recent surgical procedure. Fond remembrances of the writer can be read here, here and here.
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