Publishers Weekly is reporting the death of comics artist Dave Stevens on 11 March 2008. Born in Lynwood, California, on 29 July 1955, he was best known for creating The Rocketeer. He had dropped out of sight recently during his battle with leukemia, which he kept private.
His most famous creation was published, in several incarnations between 1982 and 1995, by Eclipse, Pacific, Comico, and Dark Horse, and became a Disney film in 1991. He also attracted notice for his pin-up art.
Mark Evanier has a nice obituary at this link.
Stevens’ own web site is www.davestevens.com, though it hasn’t been updated recently.