Remembering David Faught, Ozarks comic book and pinup artist, at celebration of life ceremony

Greta Cross, Springfield News-Leader
·4 min read
A sample cover of "Flesh-Eating Cheerleaders from Outerspace," a series of comic books, created by David Faught, a local comic and pinup artist.
A sample cover of "Flesh-Eating Cheerleaders from Outerspace," a series of comic books, created by David Faught, a local comic and pinup artist.

The Springfield art and comic communities lost a beloved friend earlier this month.

David Faught, 45, died Sunday, April 3 after a battle with colon cancer. Faught was a local comic and pinup artist, who made a name for himself through his work in the comic book industry, along with stylized commissions.

Faught's passion for drawing began more than 40 years ago on his family's farm in Walnut Grove.

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Christy Faught, David's older sister, said she believes David was born with a pen and pencil in each hand. When he wasn't busy working on the farm, he'd spend time doodling. David won several art awards throughout grade and high school, but his art career really started after graduation.

David Faught was a local comic and pinup artist. According to his sister, Christy Faught, David drew works for several comics, movies and television shows, including Marvel. Faught died on April 3 after a long battle with colon cancer. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse Friday, May 20 from 6-7 p.m.
David Faught was a local comic and pinup artist. According to his sister, Christy Faught, David drew works for several comics, movies and television shows, including Marvel. Faught died on April 3 after a long battle with colon cancer. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse Friday, May 20 from 6-7 p.m.

"He did a picture for a girl, a friend of his in New Jersey, holding her ferret and Tom Welling from Smallville running away from a disaster, with an explosion in the background," Christy said. "Well, Tom Welling saw it and it took off from there."

Following, Faught began shadowing background artists for Marvel Comics, Christy said. She did not specify which.

A drawing of Clark Kent from the television series "Smallville" saving a woman and her pet ferret from an explosion, completed by David Faught. Faught was a local comic and pinup artist. Tom Welling, who plays Kent in the television show, saw the drawing once shared online, which kickstarted Faught's drawing career.
A drawing of Clark Kent from the television series "Smallville" saving a woman and her pet ferret from an explosion, completed by David Faught. Faught was a local comic and pinup artist. Tom Welling, who plays Kent in the television show, saw the drawing once shared online, which kickstarted Faught's drawing career.

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Throughout his career, Faught was also a cover artist for Big Dog Ink, a collaborative comic book publisher, and artist for Totally Rad Comics, a pinup comic publisher. Faught also enjoyed creating custom, unique commissions.

"(David) saw the beauty in everybody, no matter what," Christy said. "The guy never knew a stranger, even when we went out of town. Anything he could have done to help anybody, he would have. He would give you the shirt off his back."

During his free time, David enjoyed attending and selling his work at comic conventions throughout the Midwest. He shared these experiences with Christy, which she recalls fondly.

The sibling duo began attending comic cons in the late '90s and the first comic con he sold his own work at was the 2008 Wizard World Comic Con in Chicago. The Wizard World franchise is now owned by Fan Expo.

Christy Faught, left, smiles for a photo with brother David Faught at a comic convention. David was a local comic and pinup artist. According to Christy, David drew works for several comics, movies and television shows, including Marvel. David died on April 3 after a long battle with colon cancer. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse Friday, May 20 from 6-7 p.m.
Christy Faught, left, smiles for a photo with brother David Faught at a comic convention. David was a local comic and pinup artist. According to Christy, David drew works for several comics, movies and television shows, including Marvel. David died on April 3 after a long battle with colon cancer. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at the Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse Friday, May 20 from 6-7 p.m.

"We ended up friends with some celebrities," Christy said. "The wrestler Jerry 'The King' Lawler would always pick up a super girl (drawing) from (David); he was always wanting him to draw a super girl."

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Jerry Lawler is a color commentator and professional WWE wrestler.

"It was like when we would go back (to comic cons), we were all getting together for a family reunion," Christy said about the comic con community. "The people we met before, hanging out, laughing and joking. I loved going with (David) because we would sit and talk ... it was just a bonding experience, not just with us, but (being able) to see everyone again."

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Christy hopes to create this sense of familial bond and community for David's celebration of life.

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"(David) just wanted a celebration," Christy said. "He told me, 'I don't want anybody crying over me. I just want everybody to have fun. I want it to be a party and for everybody to live it up.'"

The celebration of life ceremony and potluck is Friday, May 20 from 6-9 p.m. at the Lake Springfield Park and Boathouse, located at 2312 Lake Springfield Park Road. Food will be served from 6-7 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m., Christy hopes for friends and family to share songs and stories about David. Guests are encouraged to dress in cosplay, if they wish.

A sample cover of "The Sapphire Spectre," a series of comic books, created by David Faught, a local comic and pinup artist.
A sample cover of "The Sapphire Spectre," a series of comic books, created by David Faught, a local comic and pinup artist.

Christy and David lived together in Brookline, now a part of Republic, up until David's death. Christy wanted to thank a neighbor in her apartment complex at Old Stone Apartments, who she remembers as Justin, who works as a firefighter. This neighbor not only replaced Christy's car battery without charge, but called 911 the night of David's death.

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"There was an angel looking over both of us that night," Christy said. "I can't thank this guy enough. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been able to be at the hospital with David."

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Southwest Missouri Humane Society at 3161 W. Norton Road.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozarks art, comic community invited to celebrate life of David Faught

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