Sorry to report that we have some sad news for our Marvel fans. Legendary comic book artist George Perez has passed away at the age of 67. Perez was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2021 and had been fighting hard to beat it ever since. Sadly, his friend Constance confirmed that he succumbed to his illness the other day. Perez was known for the beautiful artwork he created for both Marvel and DC Comics. His contemporaries called him one of the greatest comic book artists of all time.
Constance shared news of Perez’s passing on Facebook, writing:
To all of George’s fans and friends,
Constance here, with the update no one wants to read. George passed away yesterday, peacefully at home with his wife of 490 months and family by his side. He was not in pain and knew he was very, very loved.We are all very much grieving but, at the same time, we are so incredibly grateful for the joy he brought to our lives. To know George was to love him; and he loved back. Fiercely and with his whole heart. The world is a lot less vibrant today without him in it.He loved all of you. He loved hearing your posts and seeing the drawings you sent and the tributes you made. He was deeply proud to have brought so much joy to so many.Everyone knows George’s legacy as a creator. His art, characters and stories will be revered for years to come. But, as towering as that legacy is, it pales in comparison to the legacy of the man George was. George’s true legacy is his kindness. It’s the love he had for bringing others joy – and I hope you all carry that with you always.Today is Free Comic Book Day. A day George absolutely loved and a fitting day to remember his contributions to comics and to our lives. I hope you’ll enjoy your day today with him in mind. He would have loved that.Please keep his wife Carol in your thoughts and again, I thank you for respecting her privacy. I remain available through the contact on the page.George’s memorial service will take place at MEGACON Orlando at 6pm on Sunday, May 22nd. It will be open to all. Details to follow.We will miss him always.
Perez was born in the south Bronx and began working for Marvel Comics when he was just 19-years-old. His first job was as an assistant to Marvel artist Rich Buckler as he worked on pieces for Fantastic Four. Just one year later, he would make his own Marvel debut as an artist for his work on the anthology series Astonishing Tales. That would be just the beginning of an illustrious career that included work on The Avengers and Wonder Woman. Perez also co-created the characters Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Deathstroke for The New Teen Titans.
During his career, Perez won four Eagle Awards — awards given to comic book titles and creators. He also won two Jack Kirby Awards, an Inkpot Award, and a lifetime achievement Inkwell Award for his work as an artist on a number of projects.
Perez is survived by his wife, Carol Flynn. A memorial honoring Perez will be held at MegaCon in Orlando. MegaCon will be taking place this year from May 19 until May 22.
