The Dark Knight News team was saddened last week by the passing of our Editor & Chief Steve J Ray. Steve was an all inspiring, passionate, kind and influential leader who hired and led the amazing team here at DKN. Steve’s passion for DC Comics, Batman and Pop Culture was infectious. He inspired me and those around him to share our news and reviews of DC to like minded fans around the world.
Steve worked tirelessly to lead the Dark Knight News team while managing his day job, caring for his family, running his own personal website while being a regular on the DC Comics News podcast. Steve led with passion in everything he did and above everything else he was always kind, happy and positive. His attitude and how he engaged with everyone around him generated a love and warmness that rippled across the world.
Steve – we here at Dark Knight News & DC Comics News will miss and love you forever. You were the best of us, and we will never ever forget you. You are in our hearts and minds forever.
The teams at Dark Knight News and DC Comics News remember the phenomenal man that Steve was, he will continue to inspire us with his legacy.
When Batman finally falls in battle, they turn the bat signal upside down. Shine it in the sky to show a bat at rest. In our small corner of the multiverse a bat is at rest. Steve was my mentor, my friend, my brother. Not many people have influenced and brought as much warmth and life as he did to so many. As soon as we met it was as if we’d known each other for years. And now that he’s gone, the quiet left behind is deafening. I know that where Steve is now will be a better place thanks to him. And we will all have to rally together to form a fraction of the love, hard work and personification of good. That he was, is and always will be.
Rest now Steve. Your fight is over.
We love you.
- James Attias
Assistant Editor Dark Knight NewsI would call him Uncle Steve because of how great of a mentor he was. He was also quickly loving and caring to all of us here at DKN. He and I were both hired here on the same day, and I remember him reaching out saying how happy he was to work on anything Batman. He was passionate about all things Batman so becoming a writer here at DKN & DCN was a perfect fit for him. Soon he became an editor, because he was just that brilliant!
You know he worked here until his last days? I can’t believe how much love he had for DKN. He is the reason why my articles would get views as he edited so well, many of the articles here all have a part of Steve. He was always happy for his family and friend’s successes and milestones. I loved telling him good news and updates, he would always cheer us on. I miss him deeply. You can’t find people like him so easily, and if you have the pleasure and luck of meeting someone like him, learn from them. They will always encourage you to do better and make the world a better, happier place. Rest in Happiness and Love, our very own Bright Knight.
I was shocked when I first found out about Steve’s passing because it didn’t make sense. How was that possible? We’d spoken just days ago and he was about to celebrate his wedding anniversary. I’d said that he was getting out just in time to have better food than the hospital could offer for it. I thought that that meant he was getting better. When the news did finally sink in I was devastated. The first time we met, I was playing Dungeons and Dragons in his living room with his son and our friends. He was so excited to show me his collection of DC comics, books and merchandise when he saw my Batman shirt. In that first meeting, he dubbed me his Bat Baby and quickly became a father figure to me, as he was to so many people. Steve was the kindest, most enthusiastic, positive person I knew. And it isn’t fair that he’s gone so soon. Steve was a beacon of light to everyone around him, an inspiring role model.
Rest in peace Steve, like all legends, you will live on in stories and memories: never forgotten. “Death is powerless against you if you leave a legacy of good behind.” -Batman,I have written and rewritten several thoughts about Steve and how his loss is and will continue to affect me and others. Steve should be getting to edit my writing as he did countless times before and it’s unexplainable trying to process that he won’t be correcting and improving my reviews anymore. DKN and other publications Steve worked for will still go on and we’ll keep writing and reading and reviewing and reporting, but there is a gap that exists now. We still have editors and others to fix articles, find new sources, send us the comics we review. But that’s not why we miss Steve. We miss him for everything he as an individual person was. It’s impossible to describe Steve in ways that haven’t already been said, but because we all are repeating ourselves talking about Steve’s kindness, his passion, his encouragement, his humor, and many more qualities, it just goes to show how genuine and wonderful Steve was to every person in his life. It’s rare to find an editor of the caliber and personality like Steve. However and more importantly, it’s even rarer to find a friend that you can connect with across an ocean. That’s who Steve was and will continue to be for me. And that’s who I will miss for years to come.
Steve, Batdad, Papa Ray, Uncle Steve, Work Dad, Batman; You came into my life when I was 12, just after I lost my own father to cancer. I didn’t know how much I needed you until the universe sent you to me. You helped me heal wounds I didn’t even know I had. There are many times that you protected me and stood up for me when I wasn’t able or didn’t think I was worthy enough.
You kept me sane while being completely insane. Reintroduced me to comics and all things nerdy and helped mould me into the full geeky person I am today. We were terrible influences on each other, you got me into Teen wolf, and I got you into Supernatural. We spent hours at your house watching shows and enjoying eachothers company. You took me to my 1st MCM and walked around with your Monkey and 3 of your adopted Brood like the proud father you are. We spent many an hours around your table playing DnD and making jokes.
Your sense of humour was terrible in the best way. I could never resist laughing with you. Even in my worst days, seeing you put a smile on my face and your massive bear hugs made me feel so completely safe. I knew there was always room in your heart for me. Your big, generous, glorious, optimistic, positive, accepting heart. You were truly one of the most stunningly bright lights in this world. You hired me for Dark Knight News, and I was worried I wouldn’t be good enough, as I’m dyslexic and terrible with writing.
Steve pushed me to try, and over the last 5 years, I have loved every second of it. You made me a better, more confident writer and couldn’t have been kinder or more patient with me. Every time you edited and said you loved my review, it lifted my spirits immeasurably. I keep reaching for my phone, wanting to text you about something or nothing, and realising that after 17 years, I won’t be receiving a reply. It is one of the most difficult things to cope with. I have no idea how we are supposed to continue in this awful world. I will always love you and miss you more than I can fathom right now. I promise you that Gotham will be safe, and I will do your legacy proud.
Steve J. Ray is and always will be one of my favourite people. He was a constant ray of light in my life, radiating positivity and encouragement. I will forever cherish our daily correspondence, whether that involved geeking out over the latest DC Comics news, checking on each other‘s well being or simply putting the world to rights. Steve has been a real mentor to me, in terms of my writing. From not thinking I really had it in me, to writing with conviction, was all down to Steve. He had a way of offering constructive critiques that always made me feel ten feet tall about it, and to receive praise from him was the highest of accolades. In addition to his immensely impressive knowledge of pop culture, the thing that was most evident with Steve was the huge love he had for his family. His sense of pride was always on show and he was clearly a devoted husband and father. I will forever carry Steve in my heart and in my head. Steve, I hope that one day we will talk again and resume all the fascinating conversations we had over the years. Rest well until we meet again Max
I first met Steve when I started writing for for DC Comics News, and he later recruited me to occasionally write for Dark Knight News. I was pleased to meet another DC fan of a similar age, as he remembered and loved the same old comics and popular culture. But he also loved new and exciting stories as well. And he had a great sense of humour. I was gutted to hear of Steve’s passing. Steve has been a good friend for the past few years that I knew him, and I am sorry that I never got the chance to meet him in person. Rest in peace, Steve, you will be missed.
Steve was an amazing Editor-in-Chief at Dark Knight News and his personal fan site: Fantastic Universes. He was kind and always enthusiastic about Batman and any geeky topics. He was firm when he needed to be, yet you can also tell he had a veneer of gentleness and commitment to excellence in geek journalism. Above all else, Steve’s excitement over any new Batman and comics related project was positively-infectious. You can’t help but feel joy when talking to Steve about the latest DC comic or Marvel movie. His love for geeky things have connected so many people together from all over the world. It will be a little less special without Steve’s presence. We’ll miss you, Steve.
The world feels so big right now. It is usually in these moments I am waiting for a prod or a poke, a gentle reminder that my review is needed soon. A spark of conversation as a new idea for a podcast is released, would I like to come on for a chat? Did I see the latest art released for the next Zatanna project, Harley project…Freeze? I first met Steve J. Ray shortly after joining Dark Knight News. I was a news writer at the time. I had never thought of reviews but Steve was steps ahead of me having read my news pieces. Would I like to review comics? Would I like to review Harley Quinn? Join the podcast and just talk with the others on a level I hadn’t before. Do a series review with friends about the most hilarious animated series I have watched to date. Join two other writing sites?
Steve opened the world not just for me but for so many other passionate individuals. Like his beloved Bruce Wayne, he sought the sparks in us all and nourished the good he saw. I don’t know if Steve knew an enemy. Not a true one, that’s for sure. Knowledgeable, dedicated, passionate, kind, and a true gentleman. A man who showcased how to love life and still be a diligent word slinger, someone who enjoyed things for the sole reason to enjoy. Because it is a privilege and an honor to live in the world, we are watching magic come to life on pages, silver screens, from our phones.
In these last few days, it has felt akin to a fever dream. And I feared putting any words to the act of goodbye because it makes it real. Viscerally so. But Steve always believed in the greatness of all of us. He believed in my voice, so I will use it. Thank you, sir, Uncle Steve. Thank you for always being kind, for teaching me that this world has many perspectives and ways of being seen. That the world is only as big as we make it. That to say no to an opportunity because of fear is silly. Thank you for being my dearest friend. Thank you for all the talks and debates that went way over podcast times. I am so honored to have known you. And I hope I get to talk once more. Thank you for always being our Batman. We will miss you so very much, but we will carry your light with us. Just like we know you would want us to. So good night, not goodbye. For this is not the end. You just got your reader’s advanced copy first. I can’t wait to hear all about it.
In February of 2017, while on the hunt for new writers to join our roster of enthusiastic journalists, we received an email from a talented freelance writer and devoted Batfan. At that moment, it was clear to me that we had just discovered someone who could contribute greatly to DKN, but I didn’t realize that I had just met a new friend that I’d come to cherish.
On the frontlines, as a news writer and critic for DKN, not only did his talent shine through, but also his reverence for the material. It was always infectious. Behind the scenes, in the digital writers’ room, Steve was a warm presence who was always available for long chats about pop culture, tech, life, and you guessed it, Batman. And despite being a stranger, Steve would invariably end the conversation by sending a virtual hug. It was a gesture that demonstrated the kind and loving person he was.
Though I never had the opportunity to meet him face to face, I will fondly remember his passion and how it felt working alongside Steve J. Ray: a phenomenal writer, a great friend, and a wonderful human.
I learned today that we’ve lost a great man, Steve J Ray due to complications with cancer. Steve was my editor for Dark Knight News. He was the one who hired me, and I have been thankful for his presence in my life since. What always struck me about Steve was just how hard he worked. Along with being a loving husband and father, he wrote for multiple websites, while working a day job, while also tutoring students. Despite his multiple responsibilities, he always had time to answer a question – even when that question came from a dude six time zones away.
Steve was a walking encyclopedia of comics. He had a DEEP love for Batman but also DC comics in general. He was one of the few people in my life that I could geek out over the latest happenings at DC. He knew the industry and its history. If I ever had a question, he was a human Wikipedia of sorts that could point in the right direction. But what made Steve great wasn’t necessarily his love of comics or his skills as an editor. No – what made Steve wonderful was his seemingly infinite capacity for kindness. Steve was one of the most encouraging individuals I have ever met. Up until the very end he was not only editing my work but also complimentary of it. He never missed the opportunity to tell me how much he loved my reviews (even when I thought they were meddling at best).
Even when my work was late, Steve would show an infinite amount of patience, and when I would finally complete my assignment, he would still take the time to send me a kind message. Steve knew my shortcomings as a writer/person. He knew I was off the charts ADHD, and he received some gnarly, poorly written reviews that he somehow had to whip into shape. Nevertheless, he refused to speak an unkind word to me. He never complained, and he was always kind in his interactions. You see – Steve knew something that many never learn: that despite kindness and compassion’s limitless bounty, these two things are in short supply in our daily discourse. In the face of toxic fandom and divisive politics, Steve strove to rise above it all. He wanted to create content that was never exclusionary and always welcoming. He was nothing short of heroic. Godspeed, Steve. The streets of Gotham won’t be the same without you.
Steve was bigger than life. His personality filled up the space wherever he was. He loved comics and was incredibly knowledgeable about them. I’ve never met a bigger fan of Batman and Swamp Thing. He was also excited to share what he loved and what was good. It often felt like I was talking to a British version of myself. At the same time his experiences led to different conclusions and explorations that expanded my own horizons. I won’t be able to read Miracleman without thinking of Steve. I won’t be able to see a Batman comic and not wonder what Steve would think of it. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to be a guest on his podcast multiple times. I’ll always be grateful for his kind words to me. His last message to me was “That’s because you know what you’re talking about”
Steve J Ray was someone I’d known for the better part of a decade. He was one of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and it was a great honor to call him a friend. As I look back at the time I knew him, I think about all the great conversations we had, not just about DC Comics, but other things as well, like wrestling and Doctor Who. When something exciting was announced, he was always one of the first people I’d talk to about it. And while there were times I felt jealous of his drive and passion and his ability to juggle so much, he was always a kind presence in my life. I will miss him greatly. I just hope he knew how much I loved him. R.I.P. Steve
- Josh Raynor
Editor & Chief DC Comics NewsAs I write this, i’m looking at a copy of X-Men #136 I have framed on my bookshelf that Steve gave to me. He gave it to me simply because, I quote, “I know it’s going to a good home.” That was the kind of person Steve was. No matter how long he’d known you, no matter how much he’d spoken to you, he just had this innate ability to understand you, and a bottomless well of kindness and love to those he held dear. No matter what you would be going through, or what he was going through in turn, he would be there to talk to you about anything. Mainly Batman, of course, but anything.
Steve was one of the kindest, warmest, deepest people i’ve ever met in my life. It was an absolute privilege to know him and spend so much time with him over the last three years.
Rest in peace, brother. I love you.
Dark Knight News Remembers Steve J Ray
