As a gamer with a deep affection for comic book artistry, I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of John Cassaday. His work has been a significant part of my journey through the vibrant world of comics, from his groundbreaking collaboration with Warren Ellis on “Planetary” to his stunning illustrations for Joss Whedon’s “Astonishing X-Men.
John Cassaday, a renowned comic artist known for co-creating the impactful late 1900s series ‘Planetary’ and subsequently illustrating the award-winning ‘X-Men’ comic penned by Joss Whedon for Marvel, has passed away at the age of 52.
On Facebook, Robin Cassaday shared the news of his passing on Monday. Previously, she had posted that he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai West in New York on September 3rd. The reason for his death remains undisclosed.
Cassaday also drew the relaunch of Star Wars that became the best-selling comic of 2015.
In the same vein as Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, or Michael Golden, he serves as a benchmark, a point of reference for countless other artists whose work was impacted by his, according to comics writer and editor Mark Waid. While many individuals are fortunate if their name is still mentioned by more than a dozen people a month after they’ve passed away, my friend John will be discussed and remembered by the entire comics industry for generations to come.
1971 saw the birth of Cassaday, an artist who was self-taught and had graduated from film school. Simultaneously, he honed his skills while working in construction and managing local Texas news programs on TV. In the mid-90s, he displayed his work to Waid during a comic convention.
Later on, Waid introduced the artist to author and editor Jeff Mariotte. This connection paved the way for Cassaday to secure high-paying illustration jobs, ultimately allowing him to leave his regular job behind and focus solely on drawing.
In the late 1990s, he collaborated with author Warren Ellis for the comic book series “Planetary”, which delved into the realms of superheroes and pulp heroes. The story revolves around a group of archaeologist-adventurers who formed part of an organization dedicated to monitoring and managing global supernatural events.
To begin with, the comic first appeared every two months, but Ellis’ health issues and Cassaday’s meticulous nature led to numerous setbacks. However, despite these delays, the comic spanning 27 issues under Image imprint Wildstorm, managed to delve into comics archetypes before it was fashionable, amassing a devoted fanbase in the process. Additionally, it garnered several nominations for the Eisner Awards.
John Cassaday achieved significant commercial success with the comic series “Astonishing X-Men”, a 25-issue run during the mid-2000s that significantly boosted the mutant group’s standing among Marvel comics. His cinematic art style perfectly complemented the stories by Joss Whedon, the creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly”. The series was highly praised by critics, winning the Eisner Award for Best Comic in 2005 and 2006, with Cassaday receiving the Best Artist prize in 2005. One of the storylines even influenced Brett Ratner’s film “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006).
This artist created title ideas for multiple publishing houses, such as “I Am Legion” for the French company Humanoids. Additionally, he continued to illustrate for Marvel, and contributed to a Captain America comic series. He also ventured into the film industry, serving as a concept artist for Zack Snyder’s 2009 adaptation of “Watchmen,” along with other projects.
In 2012 when Disney bought Lucasfilm and again in 2013 with Marvel, the rights for Star Wars comics went back to Marvel. Marvel reintroduced the series in 2015, which was the first time they published a Star Wars comic since the 1980s.
Cassaday was selected to illustrate the initial narrative sequence of the book, catapulting sales to unprecedented levels. Consequently, the title turned out to be the top-selling comic book of that year, with the debut issue selling over a million copies.
Marvel expressed deep sorrow over the passing of their dear friend, artist and comic book legend, John Cassaday. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, they praised his artwork as a remarkable blend of emotion, action, and storytelling that perfectly encapsulated every character he illustrated. John was truly exceptional, and his presence will forever remain in the Marvel family.
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2024-09-10 20:54