Gina Heslop
The world of comic books is mourning the loss of one of its most talented artists, John Cassaday, who passed away at the age of 52.
Cassaday was known for his incredible work on Astonishing X-Men and left a lasting impact on fans and fellow artists alike. His death came as a shock to many, and heartfelt tributes have been pouring in from those who admired his talent and creativity.
Cassaday’s sister, Robin, was the one to share the sad news of her brother’s passing. She posted online that her brother died at 6:51 p.m. in Texas. While the exact cause of his death hasn’t been revealed yet, Robin did share that he had been in the intensive care unit for six days before he passed away.
She mentioned that his organs and heart were functioning normally, but she was worried about his brain, which was her main concern during those final days. Robin asked for prayers and support as she and their mother dealt with this difficult loss.
John Cassaday’s journey in the comic book world began in 1997 when he started working for Dark Horse and Homage Comics. His incredible skill soon caught the attention of major publishers like Marvel and DC, where he contributed to iconic stories for characters like the X-Men, Superman, Batman, and Captain America.
However, Cassaday’s most celebrated work was co-creating the DC comic Planetary alongside writer Warren Ellis. Planetary was widely praised for its unique storytelling and artwork and spanned 27 issues before ending in 2009.
Aside from his work in comics, Cassaday also explored other creative ventures. He directed the TV miniseries Astonishing X-Men and contributed to the design of various projects, including commercials for Levi’s and designs for the Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus.
In recent years, he worked on developing new stories for the comic book company Humanoids and was involved in the revival of Marvel’s Star Wars comics.
Upon hearing the news of Cassaday’s death, many of his colleagues and fans took to social media to express their sadness and share memories of the artist. Comic book writer Mark Waid called Cassaday one of the most gifted illustrators of his generation.
Waid recalled their long friendship and how quickly Cassaday became one of the top talents in the industry. He described him as one of the best storytellers ever to work in comics, a sentiment echoed by other artists and writers.
Mark Millar, another prominent comic book creator, shared his grief, stating that although no one could match Cassaday’s impressive body of work, his legacy would live on in the hearts of his fans and on their bookshelves.
Scott Snyder, a well-known comic book writer, also expressed how deeply Cassaday’s work had influenced him, calling it a huge loss for the comics community. Fans, too, spoke out about how much they admired Cassaday’s contributions to comics, with many remembering Planetary and his work on X-Men as some of the best in the industry.
John Cassaday’s death is a great loss to the world of comics, but his incredible talent and unique artistic vision will continue to inspire both current and future generations of comic book lovers.
