Born on this day in 1954: the late, great comic book writer and penciller George Pérez (accent on the first E!), who passed away so very recently (May 6, 2022). George has drawn...well, let's just say every comic book character at Marvel and DC. Sometimes even all on the same cover. And: one of the nicest people in the business! Oh boy, do I miss him.
from FOOM #8 (Marvel, December 1974)
So beloved, he got his face on the Mighty Marvel Calendar for his birthday five times!
from Mighty Marvel Calendars 1976-1980
Hey, wait, did he ever get to draw Doc Strange? You bet your sweet Amulet of Agamotto he did.
It is absolutely fair to say that DC's success in the 1980s owes a huge deal to George (and Marv Wolfman) for their creation of The New Teen Titans and Crisis on Infinite Earths. Later, George went on himself to very successfully reboot Wonder Woman!
from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)
Pérez has co-created a boatload of familiar comic book characters. Just some of 'em: Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, Nightwing, Jericho, Deathstroke, Vigilante, Taskmaster, the second Dr. Light, Hellcat, the Monitor (and his mother's sister, the Anti-Monitor), Lady Quark, Pariah, Jocasta, Texas Twister, Frankie Raye, and Zeus. He created freakin' Zeus, man!
from (top) "Bullpen Bulletins" in Marvel Comics cover-dated March 1976, and "DC Profile #80" in DC Comics cover-dated November 1981
George has often appeared within comic books, so you get to argue about which universe he lives in! (Any and all answers are correct!) Here, with the late great David Anthony Kraft!
from Logan's Run #2 (Marvel, February 1977), pencils and inks by Marie Severin
It's even more fun when George draws himself! Here he is in the green shirt) with Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Jack Kirby! Complete in this room: a Mount Rushmore of Marvel Comics!
from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #176 (Marvel, November 1976), script by Roy Thomas, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by Michele Wolfman, letters by Joe Rosen
Here's one of his appearances on the mean streets of 1970s Earth-616 New York, accompanied by the legendary Bill Mantlo!
from "An Ending!" in DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG FU (1974 magazine series) #19 (Marvel, December 1975), script by Bill Mantlo, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Jack Abel, letters by Karen Mantlo
George (white t-shirt) sketches the Thing at Alicia Masters' art opening! That's Mark Gruenwald (green shirt) and Ralph Macchio (yellow shirt) at the party with him!
from Marvel Two-in-One (1974 series) #60 (2/80), script by Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio, breakdowns by George Pérez, finishes by Gene Day, colors by Roger Slifer, letters by John Costanza
On the other side of the comics publishing street: George (orange checked shirt) and Marv Wolfman (red shirt/blue vest) meet the Teen Titans! That's Romeo Tanghal between them, and Len Wein in the green sweater vest.
from "A Titanic Tale of Titans' Tomfoolery!" in The New Teen Titans (1980 series) #20 (June 1982), script by Marv Wolfman, breakdowns by George Pérez, finishes by Romeo Tanghal, colors by Adrienne Roy, letters by John Costanza
EYES UP HERE, MARV
Within the DC Universe, Pérez is also a creator of the Wonder Woman comic. Just like in real life! It's the world outside your window! Also pictured: Jenette Kahn, Karen Berger, and Len Wein.
from Wonder Woman (1987 series) #8 (September 1987), plot and pencils by George Pérez, script by Len Wein, inks by Bruce Patterson, colors by Tatjana Wood, letters by John Costanza
A little meta appearance as Kurt Busiek and George make the Avengers follow along with their story for once!
from Avengers (1998 series) #14 (March 1999), script by Kurt Busiek, pencils by George Pérez, inks by Al Vey, colors by Tom Smith, letters by Richard Starkings and Wes Abbott
(I know you're wondering what exciting glorious double-page spread Kurt is referring to when you turn the page in that first image. Here it is in all its awesomeness! Click it to appreciate it best!
George (in red), Peter David (in blue) and Kurt Busiek (batting) get their softball game interrupted by another calamitous Marvel Universe event:
from Captain America (1998 series) #21 (September 1999), script by Mark Waid, pencils by Andy Kubert, inks by Jesse Delperdang, colors by Gregory Wright, letters by Todd Klein
And more recently, George cameoed as the owner of "Marv & George's Pizza" in the DCU. Tip him good, Dick!
from Nightwing (2016 series) #79 (June 2021), script by Tom Taylor, pencils and inks by Bruno Redondo, colors by Adriano Lucas, letters by Wes Abbott
George (not pictured!) explains how he created Gorilla Comics, the short-lived but talent-packed creator-owned imprint at Image in the early 2000s:
fromGorilla Comics cover-dated June 2000
I'm gonna go so far as to say that George Pérez is one of the most important influences on the modern comic book art. He had his own George Pérez Day! (Here, with Dan Didio)
from DC Comics cover-dated May 2009
Much of what Karen Berger says here in her farewell to George's run on Wonder Woman can be said of his entire career. He's a creator and artist whos work we will forever regard with awe and admiration.
from Wonder Woman (1987 series) #63 (DC, June 1992)
Happy birthday to you, George! We miss you very, very much.
from FOOM #21 (Marvel, March 1978) and #22 (Autumn 1978)
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1 comment:
I'm gonna have to read this later. Kudos and thanks for pulling it all together for posterity, though. He was a great fella and just the most astounding, inspirational artist.
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