I don’t know how I didn’t find out about this until yesterday, but we lost one of the Comic Industry’s supreme talents Friday night when artist extraordinaire Michael Turner passed away. Turner had been battling chondrosarcoma, a bone-based cancer that attacks the cartilage, since 2000, “which ultimately cost him his right hip, a portion of his pelvis and several pounds of bone.” (link) Over the past few years as Turner turned his attentions to drawing primarily covers, his artwork continued to shine as he produced some of the most memorable covers in modern comics including the covers for DC’s Flash, Identity Crisis and Justice League America and Marvel’s Civil War.
Turner got his big break when he was discovered by Marc Silvestri, the founder of Top Cow with whom his art has frequently been compared, and co-created with him Top Cow’s most famous comic character Witchblade. He then left Top Cow to start his own company Aspen Comics, where he has been producing his creator-owned titles Fathom and Soulfire. Michael Turner was 37 years old.While I didn’t know Turner personally, I had the great luck to meet him at the inaugural Wizard World Texas and spend a few minutes speaking with him while he signed and sketched for fans. He was always willing to give of his time to fans and during that time I never heard him say no to anyone. Turner was an unbelievable talent and will be truly missed throughout the industry.
There are tributes and remembrances in honor of Turner all over the web, but if you’d like to read some of the thoughts and memories of others in the comic book community check out this article from Newsarama. There is also a warm remembrance of Michael Turner by his friend and author Brad Meltzer on Meltzer’s official blog and one by Marc Silvestri on his MySpace blog.
