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I wonder how much intent can really be considered when someone knows he's working on his last issue?

As I have mentioned before, when Archie Goodwin offered me the job, he told me Dave was leaving voluntarily, since Marvel desperately needed to make the book monthly, and Dave understood he could not handle that schedule.

Only a few years ago, Terry Austin told me the full story, beginning with Archie approaching Terry to ask if he would be interested in inking the book if I was interested in penciling it. Archie had been impressed, apparently, with the job Terry and I had done on STARLORD, and thought we'd be a good fit for the X-Men. Unfortunately, all this was going on without Dave knowing about it until it was a done deal and he was "invited off".

Perhaps I was naive to have simply accepted the version Archie gave me originally, but I was eager to do the book, and the way Archie told the story Dave came across as quite the noble figure, leaving his "children" so that they could have a greater chance to thrive.

The true story certainly explains a good deal of the hostility Dave directed towards me over the years.

"This book is dedicated with respect and admiration to Dave Cockrum -- who helped make the dream a reality."

"I'm not dead -- Dave Cockrum."

••

That line referenced the dedication in 106, to Bob Brown, who had died before the issue was published.