Legendary comic book artist and writer George Pérez dies at 67 after battling pancreatic cancer
George Pérez, the legendary comic book artist for Marvel and DC, has died after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 67.
Pérez was the artist behind Marvel's "The Avengers" and DC's "Superman," "Wonder Woman," "New Teen Titans," and "Fantastic Four" among others. His death was announced on his Facebook page Saturday through his friend, Constance. DC and Marvel also confirmed his death with statements on social media.
"George passed away yesterday, peacefully at home with his wife of (40 years) and family by his side. He was not in pain and knew he was very, very loved," the post read. "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."
In December Pérez announced on Facebook he was diagnosed with stage 3 pancreatic cancer that was "surgically inoperable," and said he was told he'd have six months to a year to live.
The announcement came on Free Comic Book Day, a day dedicated to making a handful of comic titles free at locations around the country. According to the statement, it was a day Pérez "absolutely loved."
"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," the Facebook post read.
"George Pérez made everything look effortless. His contributions were pivotal in both driving and reinventing DC’s long and rich history," DC Comics tweeted Saturday. "He will be missed by those here at DC and fans worldwide."
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Marvel also made a statement honoring Pérez's contributions to the comic industry: "George Pérez was an artist, a writer, a role model, and a friend. His work paved seminal stories across comics, and his legacy of kindness and generosity will never be forgotten."
The artist's contributions spanned several decades with the last portion of his career with Boom! Studios and creating the series "Sirens." Pérez retired from comic book production almost three years ago after his vision began failing.
In 2014 he told USA TODAY that inking a deal with Boom! Studios offered him the chance to be creative again after beginning to feel unfulfilled with his former homes, Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
"I was not recognizing the characters I grew up with and it seemed like the perfect time to branch out," admitted Pérez. "Thanks to the substantial royalties I've been receiving due to all the merchandising and licensing of characters I helped create in my 40 years with the majors, I can afford to dedicate as much time as I want to making Sirens the book I hope it will be without fear of losing my house in the process. Writing and drawing comics for the sheer joy of it — that's true bliss."
Contributing: Brian Truitt
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Pérez death: Comic book artist diest at 67 after cancer battle
