John Cassaday, the renowned artist known for co-creating the seminal comic series Planetary and illustrating an acclaimed X-Men storyline written by Joss Whedon for Marvel, has passed away at the age of 52.
His sister, Robin Cassaday, announced the news of his death on Facebook on Monday. She had previously disclosed that he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai West in New York on September 3, although the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Cassaday also illustrated the relaunch of the Star Wars comic series, which became the best-selling comic of 2015.
Comics writer and editor Mark Waid remarked on Cassaday’s influence, stating, “Like fellow artists Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, or Michael Golden, he is a touchstone, a reference point to the dozens of artists whose work was influenced by his. Most people are lucky if more than a dozen people are still talking about them a month after they pass. My friend John will be talked about and remembered by an entire industry for ages.”
Born in 1971, Cassaday was a self-taught artist and film school graduate who honed his skills while working in construction and directing local TV news in Texas. In the mid-1990s, he presented his portfolio to Waid at a comic convention, leading to a recommendation to author and editor Jeff Mariotte, which opened doors for him to pursue illustration full-time.
In the late 1990s, he collaborated with author Warren Ellis on Planetary, a comic that delved into superhero and pulp hero themes, focusing on a group of adventurer-archeologists associated with an organization monitoring global superpowered events. Although the series faced delays due to health issues and Cassaday’s attention to detail, its 27-issue run proved influential and garnered several Eisner Award nominations.
Cassaday gained significant commercial success with Astonishing X-Men in the mid-2000s, revitalizing the mutant team’s presence in Marvel’s lineup. His cinematic art style complemented Whedon’s storytelling, leading the series to win Eisner Awards for best comic in 2005 and 2006, with Cassaday also receiving the best artist award in 2005.
Beyond his work with Marvel, Cassaday contributed to various titles and publishers, including I Am Legion for French-based Humanoids. He also ventured into Hollywood, serving as a concept artist for Zack Snyder’s adaptation of Watchmen.
Following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 and Marvel the next year, the rights to Star Wars comics returned to Marvel. The company relaunched the Star Wars title in 2015, with Cassaday chosen to illustrate the first story arc, resulting in remarkable sales and making it the top-selling comic that year, with the first issue alone selling over a million copies.
Marvel released a statement expressing their sorrow over Cassaday’s passing: “We’re devastated by the loss of our dear friend, artist, and comic book legend John Cassaday. His art was a master class in emotion, action and storytelling, and he captured the essence of every character he drew. John was one of the best, and he will always be part of our Marvel family.”