George Peréz has finally and sadly succumbed to pancreatic cancer at the age of 67. He passed away peacefully on Friday May 6th surrounded by his family. The news was passed on by Constance Eza, who has been keeping and updated on his battle since we heard the sad news of his terminal cancer diagnoses. Here’s what she posted on social media:
Image: DC Comics
“To all of George’s fans and friends,
Constance here, with the update no one wants to read. George passed away yesterday, peacefully at home with his wife of 490 months and family by his side. He was not in pain and knew he was very, very loved.
We are all very much grieving but, at the same time, we are so incredibly grateful for the joy he brought to our lives. To know George was to love him; and he loved back. Fiercely and with his whole heart. The world is a lot less vibrant today without him in it.
He loved all of you. He loved hearing your posts and seeing the drawings you sent and the tributes you made. He was deeply proud to have brought so much joy to so many.
Everyone knows George’s legacy as a creator. His art, characters and stories will be revered for years to come. But, as towering as that legacy is, it pales in comparison to the legacy of the man George was. George’s true legacy is his kindness. It’s the love he had for bringing others joy – and I hope you all carry that with you always.
Today is Free Comic Book Day. A day George absolutely loved and a fitting day to remember his contributions to comics and to our lives. I hope you’ll enjoy your day today with him in mind. He would have loved that.
Please keep his wife Carol in your thoughts and again, I thank you for respecting her privacy. I remain available through the contact on the page.
George’s memorial service will take place at MEGACON Orlando at 6pm on Sunday, May 22nd. It will be open to all. Details to follow.
We will miss him always.”
Born in 1954 in the South Bronx, at the age of 19, he began working for Marvel Comics as an assistant to Fantastic Four artist Rich Buckler, then artists on The Fantastic Four. And in 1974, Pérez made his comic book debut in Astonishing Tales. During his time at Marvel Peréz drew The Avengers before moving on to work at DC Comics where he co-created The New Teen Titans in 1980 with Marv Wolfman, a lifelong collaborator and friend. He also drew Crisis on Infinite Earths that saw the once multiversal DC universe fold into one.
Across his career he has drawn countless titles, as well as writing and continuing to create new characters and stories until his retirement in 2019.
An artist who will be so sorely missed but one who’s legacy will live on for generations.
