It’s with a heavy heart that I’m writing to let everyone know that Biff Bam Pop!’s Glenn Walker passed away on Wednesday, December 6th. Though seemingly indestructible in my eyes, the truth is that Glenn had suffered from various health issues over the years and finally, and so sadly, his time had come.
Though he wasn’t a founding member of the Biff Bam Pop! team, this site eventually became one of his many online homes, probably his favourite. Glenn often told me that Biff Bam Pop! was the best job he ever had, paid or unpaid. I always referred to Glenn as second-in-command, but the truth is simply that he kept this place going for years, as I was caught up in family life, new jobs, and writing books – outside endeavours that he encouraged and supported fully. He brought to Biff Bam Pop! his unmatched knowledge of pop culture, including Silver Age Comics and Eurovision, neither of which I understood, but which he could pontificate about with ease.
Glenn loved the world he wrote about, and he talked about those loves across a variety of platforms – our Biff Bam Popcasts, the Nerdfect Strangers podcast, the GAR podcast with his friend Ray, and the wonderful Make Mine Magic podcast, which he hosted with his beloved wife, Jennifer. Our Biff Bam Popcast’s were incredibly fun, as he and I, along with Marie Gilbert, JP Fallavollita and others, would debate and discuss pop culture happenings. Nobody ever agreed with me, to the best of my recollection. Especially Glenn.
Prior to moving down south to Florida, Glenn was an essential part of the South Jersey Writer’s Group, where he inspired and organized, and met some wonderful writers along the way, including James Knipp, Sarah Miduski and Loretta Swearingen Sisco, who he would invite into the Biff Bam Pop! fold as well. His longtime friend Robin Renee was also part of our team, and he spoke of her often and fondly.
But take all this away, and at the end of the day, Glenn Walker was my friend. One of my best friends.
Glenn and I met online through a shared Facebook connection in Jonathan Maberry. I remember our first online conversation, which took place over Facebook Messenger in March 2009, as we discussed the website. Eventually, I asked Glenn to contribute an article, then another, and then he became part of the team, and my life. Our friendship transcended location or age (he was much, much older than me), and was about mutual respect and eventually a brotherly love for one another. We’d chat nearly everyday on Messenger, about life, the universe and everything. When we finally met face to face in the spring of 2015, when he picked me up at the airport as I ventured to Jersey to see my friend, I said, “Nice to meet you.” We both laughed. We already knew each other better than most.
This year, on January 2nd, I turned 40. I threw a birthday party for myself and, to my honour and amazement, Jenn and Glenn traveled from Florida to Toronto to be there for it. We managed to spend some meals together, and have some great times. The plan was for me and Biff Bam Pop’s Princess to travel down to see Jenn and Glenn and take in Disney. While I’m sorry it didn’t work out, and that time was against this plan, I’ll make a point of the Princess, Jenn and I going together. I think Glenn would absolutely want that.
The truth is, as I sit here writing this, I’m in complete denial that Glenn Walker is gone. I keep waiting for a text from Jenn saying differently. We should be so lucky. But through what is a new sort of grief for me, the loss of a friend, I also think about what Glenn would tell me to do, to handle it and process it.
He’d tell me to write. And then keep writing. Because that’s what Glenn Walker would do.
And so I’ll keep writing, though with an emptiness in my heart knowing that my friend isn’t here to read my words any longer.
I love you, buddy. See you on the other side.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I never had the pleasure to meet Glenn in person, but he’s been a wonderful online friend and mentor for years. This news just breaks my heart. What a wonderful, warm soul. Please let Jenn know that there are so many of us that are finding this very hard to process and our thoughts and our love is with her and the rest of his family and friends today and in the weeks and months to come. The world lost a wonderful man.
Andy, this was a beautiful tribute to a man who was a good friend and mentor to many people. Thank you for being a good friend and letting people know just jiw special Glenn was
I never met Glenn but his work was something that touched me and was something that I immediately identified with. We were Facebook friends. He was the French Fry Diary guy and that is how I came to know him. I only found out after the fact that he was part of the South Jersey Writer’s Group and that he wrote for ‘Biff, Bang, Pow!”. Glenn was a writer and he was good at his craft. Much love to his family and friends at this time. Robert Lewis Stevenson once said, “Every heart that has beat strongly and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind.” I believe this is most certainly true for Mr. Walker.
Glenn was my friend over at Avengersforever. He taught me how to review s comic and write s decent fan fiction. Rest well my friend.
Larry Turner aks Hazzard
Every now and then we’d exchange a comment or two right here in this little comment box. Here too, he will be missed. 🙁
Bon Voyage Glenn.
Thank you for this, Andy. I am one of many writers who call Glenn my mentor. He talked often about Biff Bam Pop! and clearly enjoyed it and the people involved with it. Especially you.
Glenn introduced me to The Writer’s Chatroom, when it was just a little chat. Through the years, he taught me so much about the writing business. When he had a health crisis 12-13 years ago, I stepped in and kept the Chatroom going and growing. Once he was well, I tried to get him back and he refused. He said it was so wonderful to have time to actually write!
For 17 years he was my teacher, my mentor and my friend. I am devastated. He has left a huge hole in my heart.
Thank you for posting such a great tribute, Andy. While I may have had to step away from contributing to BBP these past couple of years, I follow it daily, and have read every single one of Glenn’s articles, including his ‘Heroes and Villains’ series as well as his ‘Welcome to Hell’ posts on his own website. I never got to meet the guy, but the dude knew his stuff. His life in the ‘normal’ world might be moving into its next phase, but his contributions to the ‘world of magic & fantasy’ many of us choose to coexist in will live on forever.
Sorry to hear about this sad news. While I never had a chance to meet Glenn, he was always very supportive of my writing and seemed like the best, most positive guy. His writing was always fun to read and loved his french fry reviews as well. Great tribute, Andy.
Sending love to Glenn, his family, and his friends!