If you were collecting DC comics in the mid to late 1980s, you may recall the solid Crimson Avenger mini-series that took the character back to its roots (written by Roy Thomas). Greg Brooks was the artist on the first 3 issues, but had to be replaced due to a murder rap. Here's more on the story as told by Bob (the Answer Man) Rozakis:
With thanks to my pal Bob Greenberger, who helped jostle my memory, here's the story: An artist named Greg Brooks, who did some work for DC back in the late '80s (including the CRIMSON AVENGER miniseries in 1988) lived on Staten Island with his wife and baby. His wife, Elizabeth Kessler, did some work for DC as well, coloring a couple of jobs (a story in DOOM PATROL #9 - the 80s version of the title - was one).
Elizabeth went missing and her body was eventually found by police at a construction site about a mile from their home. She had been beaten to death with a hammer and dumped there.
It turned out that Brooks and Kessler had been having problems in their relationship and she took up with another man. At one point, she returned for her things, got into an argument with Brooks, and while the baby was in the room, she bragged about what a better lover the new guy was. Enraged, he grabbed the hammer and struck her dead. Her body was dumped in the bathtub over night and at the crack of dawn, he wheeled her in a grocery cart to the construction site.
Brooks was charged and convicted of her murder and went to prison.
Turned out that was not then end of the story. Elizabeth Kessler was not really Elizabeth Kessler. She had "appropriated" the identity of her college roommate when she moved east from Kansas. And back home, she had another child who was being taken care of by her mother. Eventually, her mother ended up with custody of both children.
Bob Greenberger reports that he got a letter from Brooks while he was still in prison. He had been working on his art while incarcerated and Joe Rubinstein was helping him out by mail. Brooks was released from prison about two years ago, got a job as a bicycle messenger, and even made an appointment to bring his portfolio up to Bob to review. "He never showed up," says Bob, "and I haven't heard from him since."
And THAT is the story of the comic book murderer.
