Veteran comics writer and editor Joe Pruett has been hospitalized following an apparent stroke.

The news was delivered last night on Facebook by his aunt Valerie Pruett Smith, who wrote, "Please say prayers for my nephew, Joe Pruett, he's the father of six and is at the hospital with possible stroke."

Perhaps best known as creative director of Caliber Press and editor of its acclaimed Negative Burn anthology in the 1990s, Pruett went on to write several issues of Marvel's Cable and X-Men Unlimited. In 2004, he founded Desperado Publishing and, initially in partnership with Image Comics, revived Negative Burn and released such series as Flaming Carrot, Hatter M, Deadworld, Roundeye and The Revenant.

Pruett most recently contributed a story to IDW Publishing's Rocketeer Adventures, and, according to his Facebook page, has been collaborating on a project with artist Michael Gaydos.

"I trust Joe Pruett will soon realize he's too young to be laid up from a stroke and will instead fully recover and get out of the hospital before long," IDW Publishing Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall wrote last night. "But until he does, please send best wishes his way to help him along in that recovery. Those six kids, as well as the rest of us, need you back on your feet soon, Joe."