Louis Dale “Lou” Mougin (November 27, 1954 – December 31, 2022) was an American comic book writer, historian, indexer, interviewer, editor, and prose author whose knowledge of superhero comics spanned the Golden Age through the modern era. Known to many fans by the pen name DarkMark, Lou spent decades researching, documenting, discussing, and creating comics.

Lou contributed to comics and fan publications including Amazing Heroes and The Comics Reader. During the 1970s and 1980s, he worked with George Olshevsky on extensive Marvel Comics indexing projects, part of a long career devoted to preserving comics history. As a comics writer, his credits included work for Marvel, Heroic Publishing, Eclipse, Claypool, Lucky Comics, Warrant Publishing, Pro Se Productions, and other independent publishers. His work for Heroic Publishing included Sparkplug.

Lou was also an author and comics historian. His books included the 2020 McFarland volume Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics, a wide-ranging reference work examining hundreds of lesser-known costumed heroes from publishers including Fox, Harvey, MLJ, Nedor, Lev Gleason, Hillman, Prize, Street & Smith, and others. He also wrote prose fiction, including Monster in the Lost World.

Lou had a particular affection for the Mighty Crusaders and wrote extensive indexes of their adventures as DarkMark. He also wrote fan fiction featuring the Mighty Crusaders and Archie characters and was interviewed about comics both under his own name and as DarkMark.

Lou played an important role in the formative years of G-Man Comics, serving as script and story editor across the line. His experience as a professional writer and comics historian helped guide the development of the early G-Man Universe and its stories. He worked closely with Editor-in-Chief Rik Offenberger, helping Rik make the transition from comics journalist to comic book writer. Lou’s editorial contribution can be found throughout G-Man Comics’ early publications, and his influence remains part of the foundation of the shared universe.

Lou died on December 31, 2022, at the age of 68. G-Man Comics remembers him not only for his remarkable knowledge of comics history and decades of creative work, but as a colleague and friend whose guidance helped shape the company in its earliest years.