Legendary comic book artist, Gene Colan, died at the age of 84, on June 23, 2011. The New Yorker passed away at Calvary Hospital, in the Bronx, from complications related to liver disease, cancer and a broken hip received in a fall he took.
Gene Colan, a master and giant in the comics industry, had a career that spanned almost 70 years. An American comic book artist, he is best known for his work with Marvel. His runs included the superhero title, Daredevil, and the cult satirical series, Howard the Duck. Colan illustrated all seventy issues of The Tomb of Dracula, a classic horror series from the 1970s. Aside from Marvel, he also worked on the Batman title, Detective Comics, at DC.
A pioneer, he co-created the Falcon, the first African-American superhero in mainstream comics. Recently, he illustrated Captain America #601, which received the Eisner Award for Best Single Issue. Gene Colan was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2005.
As a devout comic book fan who yearns for a time when most artists did not prefer using Wacom tablet, I will miss him. Rest in Peace, Gene Colan.
Jim Lee, in a statement, said, “Gene Colan was like no other artist of his generation. His ability to create dramatic, multi-valued tonal illustrations using straight India ink and board was unparalleled. The comics industry has lost one of its true visionaries today.”
Axel Alonso, Marvel’s Editor in Chief, said, “Gene Colan is a one-of-a-kind artist whose style is as synonymous with my early comics-reading experience as that of Jack Kirby, Neal Adams or John Buscema. When you read a comic book that Gene illustrated you are transported into his world. When I think Dracula, the first image that pops into my mind is Gene’s rendition. I’m sure I’m not alone.”
And Dan Didio said, “Gene Colan was one of the great draftsmen in the industry and his work is a fond part of some of my best comic book memories.”
