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2026
 [21 Aug 2026] David Lanphear, American comic book letterer for CrossGen
David Lanphear, a prolific comic book letterer who worked across the industry for decades, has died unexpectedly. The news was shared by his sister, Tera Lanphear, who described David as someone who “knew half of the World” and said he was still working on projects with several creators at the time of his passing. “David was so prolific, I could not keep up with everything he did,” Tera wrote, encouraging those who knew him to share their memories and work with the family. She also revealed that the family is trying to reconnect with David’s roommates at his apartment in Koreatown, asking anyone who may have contact information to reach out to her. Lanphear’s credits stretched across numerous publishers and titles, including Marvel, DC, CrossGen and independent comics. His lettering credits included projects such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Trial by Fire. A heartbreaking loss for his family, friends and the many creators he worked with throughout his career….. (source) [21 Aug 2026] Roger McKenzie, 75, American comic book writer for Daredevil, Captain America), heart failure
Per his official Facebook page, writer Roger McKenzie passed away on the morning of Friday, August 21. He had been dealing with end-stage heart failure and kidney disease for several months, and died peacefully while in hospice care. McKenzie was best known for his run on Marvel’s Daredevil (issues #151-66) from 1978 to 1980, which saw the introduction of Ben Urich in issue #153, and Frank Miller join the series as artist on #158. McKenzie also wrote Captain America (issues #226-237, #243-45), Ghost Rider (issues #28-34), and Battlestar Galactica (#1–7, 11–16) during the same period, and contributed to the anthology Marvel Fanfare sporadically from 1982 to 1987. He originally pitched the idea of Captain America running for President with Don Perlin, and received a story credit when Roger Stern and John Byrne used it in issue #250. Other publishers he worked for included DC, Comico (where he co-created Next Man), and Gold Key…. (source) [16 Aug 2026] Hayden Panettiere, 36, American actress for Heroes
Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” has died at 36, TMZ has learned. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Hayden passed away earlier on Sunday. We’re told she and her on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson flew from Los Angeles to the south on Saturday. Sources tell us Brian’s family is aware. “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” her rep said in a statement to ABC News. Hayden became a household name as a child actress before landing her breakout role as cheerleader Claire Bennet on NBC’s “Heroes.” She later starred as country singer Juliette Barnes on “Nashville,” earning multiple award nominations for her performance… (source) [14 Aug 2026] Brian Holguin, 61, American comic book writer for Spawn
Brian Holguin, an American writer born in 1964, passed away on August 14. mage fans will likely remember him for his work on titles such as *Cyberforce*, *Aria*, *KISS: Psycho Circus*, *Stone*, *Hellcop*, and *Mr. Majestic*. And without a doubt, *Spawn* fans hold him in the highest regard, thanks to his long-standing association with the character created by Todd McFarlane. Starting in the mid-1990s, Holguin became deeply involved with *Spawn* titles. He wrote—among others—*Spawn: The Dark Ages* and *Spawn: Godslayer*, and served as the regular writer for the main series between issues #71 and #150. Today, many of those issues are considered legendary—partly due to the quality of the stories, and partly because print runs were very low from issue #100 onwards, making them difficult to find on the secondary market… (source) [22 Jul 2026] Mitch Byrd, 63, American comic book artist, heart attack
Mitch Byrd, longtime comic book artist probably best known for his run on Guy Gardner: Warrior with writer Beau Smith and inker Dan Davis, has passed away at 63, following a recent illness. Byrd’s big break into comics came with the independent series, Cat and Mouse, about a pair of vigilante heroes in Louisiana, with writer Roland Mann and inker Steven Butler (the first issue had a cover by the great Paul Gulacy, so I’m using a later issue with cover art by Byrd), that was first published by EFGraphics, and then at Aircel Comics (when it was a Malibu Comics imprint. Mann maintained the rights to the characters, and has revived them in recent years at his Silverline Comics)… (source) [13 Jul 2026] Sam Neill, 78, Northern Irish-born New Zealand actor for Jurassic Park
Sam Neill, the versatile New Zealand actor whose career spanned Oscar winners and blockbusters such as The Piano and Jurassic Park, has died aged 78. The actor’s death was announced on Monday in a statement shared on his Instagram account. No cause of death was given, but Neill had only recently revealed he was cancer-free after being diagnosed with stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in 2022. (source) [12 Jul 2026] Chris Scheuer, 73, Austrian comic book author and illustrator
As early as the first Comic-Salon Erlangen in 1984, Chris Scheuer was honored with the Max and Moritz Prize as “Best German-language Comic Artist,” and just last year, he received the PENG Prize for his lifetime achievement at the Munich Comic Festival. In the 1980s—a time when the local comic scene was beginning to professionalize anew, driven by the rise of the *auteur* comic—Matthias Schultheiss and Chris Scheuer were the first German-language artists to achieve success in France, the “promised land” of comics, with their own series. It was hardly surprising, given that they had perfectly mastered the virtuosity of modern Franco-Belgian genre comics. “Marie Jade,” scripted by Rodolphe, was subsequently published as an album by Alpha Verlag; Scheuer also contributed over 30 pieces to the publisher’s legendary sci-fi magazine, *Schwermetall*. (source) [09 Jul 2026] Jean-Louis Lechat, 83, Belgian journalist and comic book writer
It is with deep sadness that Éditions du Lombard announces the passing of Jean-Louis Lechat on July 9, 2026, at the age of 83. A living embodiment of the company’s history, Jean-Louis Lechat was far more than a journalist: he was the passionate guardian of our heritage, the meticulous archivist of our publishing adventures, and a beloved figure within the extended Lombard family. Éditions du Lombard extends its heartfelt sympathies to his family, friends, and loved ones. More broadly, the entire world of Belgian comics and cultural journalism has today lost one of its most devoted servants. (source) [07 Jul 2026] Tadeusz Baranowski, 81, Polish painter and comic book artist
He was one of the most outstanding creators of Polish comics—an illustrator and graphic artist whose stories, filled with absurd humor, have entertained successive generations of readers for decades. Tadeusz Baranowski created cult series such as *Podróż smokiem Diplodokiem*, *Profesor Nerwosolek*, *Orient Men*, and *Kudłaczek i Bąbelek*, and his work garnered acclaim beyond Poland’s borders as well. The International Festival of Comics and Games in Łódź, among others, announced the artist’s death on its Facebook page: “It is hard to find words to convey this terribly sad news. Yesterday, a great artist passed away—a master of the art of comics, a virtuoso of humor and playful form, and the creator of legendary characters who will remain with us forever.” (source) [07 Jul 2026] Eduard Maidenberg, Moldovan graphic artist painter
In Moldova, the artist Eduard Maidenberg, a renowned master of book graphics, passed away. The news of his death was announced by the Jewish community of Moldova, which expressed its condolences to the family, loved ones, friends and all those affected by this loss. GEduard Maidenberg was one of the artists in whose work the Bessarabian Jewish theme occupied a special place. In his works, he addressed the history, traditions and life of the Jewish community, preserving its memory through art. The Jewish community recalled that, in 2024, Maidenberg participated in the KEDEM Jacobs JCC project “Cultural Dialogue – Jewish Moldova”, carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova. As part of the project, the artist presented his works at an exhibition dedicated to the Jewish cultural heritage of Moldova. “We are grateful for the opportunity to meet him and come into contact with his work. His works will remain a testimony of great talent, sincerity and love for his own culture,” the statement said…. (source) [01 July 2026] Akiko Hayashi, 81, Japanese illustrator
Akiko Hayashi, picture book author and illustrator of long-selling children’s books including “Miki’s First Errand” and “Good Evening Mr. Moon,” has died, the publisher of many of her books said Wednesday. She was 81. Hayashi, who made her debut as a picture book illustrator in 1973 with the book “Kamihikoki” (paper plane) died of pneumonia on July 1 at a hospital in central Japan’s Nagano Prefecture. She is also known for illustrating the first volume of Eiko Kadono’s children’s novel “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” which was later adapted into the animated film of the same name by director Hayao Miyazaki. (source) [29 June 2026] Franco Devescovi, 83, Italian cartoonist
With the passing of Franco Devescovi on June 29, 2026, at the age of 83, Trieste has lost one of its most iconic figures in the Italian comic book world. Born in the city on May 7, 1943, Devescovi spanned over half a century of Italian publishing history, contributing his unmistakable artistic style to the growth of some of the series most beloved by fans. Before becoming one of the industry’s most highly regarded artists, Devescovi was simply a young man from Trieste with a deep passion for drawing. After completing his scientific studies and initially pursuing a university degree in Law, he realized that his true path lay elsewhere… triestecafe [25 June 2026] Eriamel, 73, French comic book writer
A great enthusiast of Viking tales and medieval Norman sagas, writer and publisher Eriamel passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the age of 73. When he published the graphic novel *Moi, Svein, compagnon d’Hasting* in 1992, Thierry Lemaire—his real name—produced a debut album that defined his style and ambitions. He went on to found his own publishing house, Assor, to support not only his own projects but also those of other authors in whom he believed… paris-normandie [24 May 2026] JA (aka Jordi Amorós), 82, Spanish cartoonist and animator
The cartoonist and animated film director Jordi Amorós i Ballester (Barcelona, 1945), known by the initials JA as one of the masters of the most caustic humor published in satirical magazines like Barrabás, El Papus, and El Jueves, has died today at the age of 82. With a deliberately rough style but at the same time very detailed, heir to the French school of authors like Reiser, Amorós created characters and sections like Sor Angustias de la Cruz, Encuesta Papus, and Obispo Morales, unabashedly anti-clerical and almost against anything that smelled of established powers and social conventions… elpuntavui [27 Apr 2026] Len Strazewski, 71, American comic book writer for Starman
Longstanding comic book writer Len Strazewski died late last night at the age of 71. Len Strazewski had been in an ICU for a few days with an infection, but had been discharged three days ago to the Westminster Place nursing home in Evanston, Cook County. However, this came after being very ill for the past six months and having been in another nursing home, Birchwood Plaza in Chicago, where he recently wrote about having to learn to walk all over again. Len Strazewski was best known for co-creating both Prime and Prototype as a founder of Malibu’s Ultraverse, writing Starman, Flash, JSA, Phantom Lady, The Fly, and Action Comics Weekly for DC Comics, Speed Racer and Dai Kamikaze for Now Comics, Trollords for Tru Studios, Super-Teens for Archie, Street Fighters and Elven for Malibu, as well as creating Terror Tots with Paul Fricke about warrior monks reincarnated as suburban toddlers, published at Caliber, and Totally Horse, a graphic novel about horse riding for girls…. bleedingcool [26 Apr 2026] Gerry Conway, 73, American comic book writer for The Amazing Spider-Man, pancreatic cancer
Remembering Gerry Conway, 1952-2026 Marvel pays tribute to the legendary comic book writer who redefined comics storytelling throughout his prolific career. On behalf of his family, we are sad to share that writer and former editor-in-chief Gerry Conway has passed away. Gerry was a tremendous icon in comics who shaped pop culture itself. He was a dear friend, partner, and mentor, and our hearts are with his family and the millions he touched through his work. Marvel extends its sincerest condolences to all who knew and loved him. “Gerry Conway was a gifted writer. He was thoughtful, deeply attuned to the emotional and moral core of storytelling, and a wonderful and articulate advocate for comics and creators. His writing has inspired all of us at Marvel, and will continue to inspire generations of writers, readers and fans to come,” remembers Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Comics and Franchise… marvel [26 Apr 2026] Dick Matena, 83, Dutch comics writer for Storm and cartoonist for Tom Puss
It is with great regret that we announce the passing of Dutch comic creator Dick Matena, a towering figure in the history of Dutch comics. His name is associated with series such as *Storm*, *De Argonautjes*, *Grote Pyr*, and *Kleine Pier*, as well as—in collaboration with Marten Toonder—*Tom Poes* and *Panda*. He also gained renown in literary circles for his comic adaptations of novels such as *De Avonden*, *Kort Amerikaans*, *Kaas*, and *Turks Fruit*. He turned 83 on April 24th; according to our sources, his health was already failing at that time, and he was near death. He passed away today. Publisher L is planning to release a collected edition of his internationally recognized sci-fi series *Virl* in the coming months… stripspeciaalzaak [23 Apr 2026] Nicole Hollander, 86, American cartoonist for Sylvia
Feminist cartoonist and Sylvia creator Nicole Hollander has passed away. Nicole Marilyn Hollander (née Garrison) April 25, 1939 – April 23, 2026. It is being credibly reported on social media that cartoonist Nicole Hollander has passed away. Nicole began her cartooning career by creating Feminist Funnies for The Spokeswoman in 1978. That is where her character Sylvia first appeared. In 1979 or 1980 Sylvia became a syndicated comic strip from the Toronto Star syndicate. Nicole retired the comic strip in 2012… dailycartoonist [21 Apr 2026] Barrie Tomlinson, 88, British comic book editor and writer for Roy of the Rovers
Everyone at Rebellion is deeply saddened to learn of the death of editor and writer Barrie Tomlinson, who passed away on 21 April 2026. Probably one of the most successful editors of his time, Barrie combined a deep knowledge of and passion for comics with a salesman’s eye for publicity. Thanks to him, Roy of the Rovers remains a household name while generations of readers have been thrilled, educated, and scared in equal measure by titles he launched and championed… 2000ad [21 Apr 2026] Jean-Benoît Meybeck, 53, French comic book author and illustrator
Death of Jean-Benoît Meybeck. Farewell, comrade! The Tears of *Le Rasoir* Jean-Benoît Meybeck—a friend and founding member of *Le Rasoir d’Oc*—passed away this Wednesday, April 21, at the age of 53, following a long battle with illness. We wanted to express in a few words what he meant to us. “The big difference is that we had what I call the bad-temper gene, and the people who do humor nowadays don’t have it, even though they get annoyed when I say that. I’ve experienced it with my own health: I only work well and get ideas when I’m in a hurry or feel pressure, which is why I was always the last to submit my pages to the editorial office. I’d get up at six in the morning on the day something was due, and that pressure is what made me work and woke up the bad-temper gene, which then showed up in the topics I tackled,” Jordi Amorós explained in an interview… rasoirdoc [12 Apr 2026] Frank Stack, 88, American cartoonist for Our Cancer Year
Frank Stack, the cartoonist, painter and educator whose 1964 The Adventures of Jesus is considered by some historians to be the very first “underground comic book,” died on April 12 at the University of Missouri’s University Hospital. He was 88. For decades Stack straddled the fences of academia, fine art and comics; he produced countless oil and watercolor paintings, etchings and prints, and taught generations of students at the University of Missouri, where he taught art and printmaking from 1963 until 2001 when he became professor emeritus. During those years, he also contributed many beautiful comic book pages to a number of publications, often going under the pseudonym “Foolbert Sturgeon.”.. tcj [31 Mar 2026] Jean-Paul Krassinsky, 53, French comics artist
Jean-Paul Krassinsky passed away on Tuesday, March 31. The announcement was made the following day by his publisher, Dupuis, in a statement released from Paris. He was 53 years old. “There are authors we love through their books, and others we love through their way of being in the world. Jean-Paul Krassinsky was both,” the publisher wrote. The statement highlights the unique nature of his perspective—one keenly attentive to human relationships, capturing both their heartfelt impulses and their missteps. Romantic relationships played a central role in his graphic novels. He explored themes such as desire, awkwardness, violence, and even the unintentional comedy that runs through the connections between people. Works like *Les Cœurs boudinés* and *Toutoute première fois* exemplify this approach, focusing on everyday situations without idealizing them… actualitte [25 Mar 2026] Jerry Moriarty, 88, American artist, cartoonist and writer
Jerry Moriarty, Painter Whose Brushstrokes Elevated Comics, Is Dead at 88. A self-described “paintoonist,” Mr. Moriarty created cartoons with spare dialogue that reminded his admirers of poetry or Samuel Beckett’s plays. In the late 1970s, the comic artist Art Spiegelman and his wife, the editor Françoise Mouly, began dreaming up a new magazine, one they hoped would elevate cartooning into the realm of high art… nytimes [22 Mar 2026] Hermann Huppen, 87, Belgian comic book creator for Jeremiah
The world of comics has just lost one of its true greats. Hermann—born Hermann Huppen—died on March 22, 2026, at the age of 88. Le Lombard, his longtime publisher, announced with emotion the passing of a man who was a pillar of *Tintin* magazine, a titan of European comics, and one of the most respected masters of realistic illustration. With him fades a certain vision of Franco-Belgian comics: a style that was mature, gritty, at times violent, but above all, deeply human. Hermann was not merely a virtuoso artist; he was a creator of atmospheres and a builder of worlds—a man defined by silence and the gaze, by dust, mud, wood, blood, and wind… breizh-info [15 Mar 2026] Sam Kieth, 63, American comic book artist for The Maxx, Lewy Body dementia
Sam Kieth, creator of The Maxx and co-creator of The Sandman, comic book writer, artist, painter and publisher, has died at the age of 63 …. bleedingcool- [10 Mar 2026] Ticoune, 69, Canadian cartoonist and artist.
RIP. Quebec’s satirical scene mourns the passing of Luc Giard—also known by his pseudonym, Ticoune—who died of a heart attack on March 10 at the age of 69. His death was announced on the artist’s official Facebook page and has been lamented by many figures within Quebec’s underground comics community. …. actuabd
- [01 Mar 2026] Jacopo Camagni, 48, Italian illustrator and comics artist, heart surgery
Jacopo Camagni, the Italian comic book artist best known in the USA for his work for both Marvel Comics and Image Comics, passed away this morning, after complications during heart surgery. He was only 48 years old. …. bleedingcool
- [01 Mar 2026] Clément Oubrerie, 59, French comics artist for Aya de Yopougon
French comic book artist Clément Oubrerie passed away on Sunday at the age of 59, publisher Dargaud announced on Monday. …. nouvelobs
- [27 Feb 2026] Tatjana Wood, 99, German-born American comic book artist
When I heard that Tatjana Wood — one of the greatest of all comics colorists — died at the age of 99, I was hard pressed to come up with images that exemplified her work. As the regular cover colorist for DC for most of the Bronze Age, let alone all her other storied work …. 13thdimension
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[23 Jan 2026] Sal Buscema, 89, American comic book artist for Hulk, Spider-Man, ROM
Comic book creator Sal Buscema, famed for his work on Hulk, Rom, Defenders, Spectacular Spider-Man, New Mutants and more, died last Friday at the age of 89, noting that today would have been his 90th birthday. …. bleedingcool
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[13 Jan 2026] Scott Adams, 68, American cartoonist for Dilbert, prostate cancer
Scott Adams, who kept cubicle denizens laughing for more than three decades with Dilbert, the bitingly funny comic strip that poked fun at the absurdity of corporate life, before racist remarks got him pink-slipped, died Tuesday. He was 68…. hollywoodreporter
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[09 Jan 2026] Ulf Granberg, 80, Swedish comics creator and editor for The Phantom
Ulf Granberg became the 12th editor of Fantomen in 1973, succeeding Per-Anders Jonsson, and continued until 1987 and then returned again in 2003. He did, however, remain in charge of the Team Fantomen production between his two periods as an editor, serving as editor-in-chief. In addition, Ulf was the editor for numerous issues of Fantomen Krönika…. chroniclechamber
2025
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[16 Dec 2025] Édika, 84, Egyptian-born French comics artist
Pillar of the magazine “Fluide glacial” alongside Gotlib and Goossens, the cartoonist who died this Tuesday, December 16 was one of the great representatives of Franco-Belgian humor trash… liberation
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[29 Nov 2025] Frank Pé, 69, Belgian comic book artist
Editions Dupuis announces Saturday the death of comic book author Frank Pé, at the age of 69.The Brussels native is best known for his series Broussaille, whose hero originally appeared in the newspaper Spirou, and Zoo, a series in three volumes. … lalibre
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[04 Nov 2025] Giorgio Forattini,94, Italian political cartoonist for La Repubblica
Cartoonist Giorgio Forattini has died at the age of 94, his family said Tuesday. Born in 1931 in Rome, he worked for Panorama and left-leaning daily la Repubblica, edited satirical magazine Il Male, and later created illustrations for liberal daily La Stampa, conservative daily Il Giornale, the first to report the news of his death, and centrist daily QN. … ansa
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[13 Oct 2025] Drew Struzan, 78, American film poster illustrator, Alzheimer’s disease
Drew Struzan, the iconic movie poster artist who created the marketing art for an enormous number of popular films, has died at 78. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago and retreated from public life…. hollywoodreporter
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[01 Oct 2025] Eric De Rop, 71, Belgian comic book artist
In 2021, Eric De Rop created ‘Bas en de Belhamels’, a humorous comic book about a father who works from home, while managing his two sons and an equally demanding dog. The comic was written by the Dutchman Paul Reichenbach, who also published the book through his Pear Productions imprint. These were De Rop’s final new projects. In ill health for some time, he passed away in the morning of 1 October 2025. He was 71 years old…. lambiek
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[21 Sep 2025] Serdu, 85, Belgian cartoonist for Spirou and illustrator
Serdu had turned to drawing rather late but with talent: he made hundreds of thousands of drawings published in various media (including the Courrier de l’Scaut) and live during demonstrations. The Hollinese artist died at the age of 85…. lavenir
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[23 Aug 2025] Dave Taylor, 61, British comic book artist for Force Works, prostate cancer
On August 23, we sadly lost Dave Taylor to prostate cancer. A British artist, among North American comics readers, he’s probably best known for his Batman work, pairing with Alan Grant for a run on Shadow of the Bat and with Chip Kidd for the Death by Design graphic novel. His early career was populated with Marvel UK work like Gene Dogs with John Freeman and his later work for Rebellion on 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine, contributing notable serials like the Judge Anderson “Big Robots” again with Grant, the Judge Dredd story “High Spirits” and some Fiends of the Eastern Front, both with Ian Edginton. … comicsbeat
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[11 Aug 2025] Marie-Mad, 102, French comic books author and illustrator for Titounet and Titounette
Marie-Madeleine Bourdin, creator of Titounet and Titounette and renowned cartoonist, died Monday, August 11, at the age of 102. She had been living in Vernon since the 60’s. … actu
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[05 Aug 2025] Angelo Maria Ricci, 79, Italian comics artist for Diabolik
Mourning in Grottammare for the death of Angelo Maria Ricci well-known illustrator and national cartoonist. He died at the age of 79 in the hospital of San Benedetto where he was hospitalized for a disease discovered a few years ago. … ilrestodelcarlino
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