CORRECTION: George Pérez’s wife’s name is Carol, not Constance. Our apologies for the mistake.
Today is a sad one for comic book fans as one of titans of the industry, George Pérez, has died from pancreatic cancer. Pérez’s wife Carol shared the news on social media, writing “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 the man that George was. George’s true legacy is his kindness. It’s the love he had for bringing others joy – and I hope you can 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.”
Born in 1954 in the South Bronx, the Puerto-Rican American writer and artist began working in the 1970s, making his professional debut for a major publisher with Marvel Comics’ Astonishing Tales #25 in 1974. Pérez went on to co-create the first Puerto Rican superhero, the White Tiger, with Bill Mantlo. He worked on titles like The Inhumans, Fantastic Four, and and The Avengers, for which he co-created Taskmaster with writer David Michelinie.
Pérez went on to work for DC Comics, most notably in Marv Wolfman’s The New Teen Titans and 1985’s epic crossover event Crisis on Infinite Earths. He then went on to reboot Wonder Woman, both writing and doing artwork for the series. Pérez was instrumental in returning the character to her Greek goddess legacy, creating the modern look and perception of Diana. Pérez worked on countles more titles for both DC and Marvel throughout his epic career, along with Image comics, BOOM! Studios, and more. Pérez’s work earned multiple awards and accolades over the years, and he was inducted into The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2017.
DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee released a statement saying, “George Pérez had an art style that was both dynamic and incredibly expressive,” DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee said in a statement. “His art was the perfect storytelling canvas for some of the most important events in DC history. While he will be sorely missed, his work will live on with a countless number of fans, as well as all the talent he’s influenced over the years.”
Many comic book creators, friends, and fans took to social media to remember George Pérez.
George’s memorial service will take place at Megacon Orlando at 6pm on Sunday, May 22nd.
(via THR, image: Paul Butterfield/Getty Images for Amazing Comic Conventions)
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