George Pérez, the legendary comic book artist known for numerous series and co-creating Teen Titans characters Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, Deathstroke, has died at age 67 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Pérez’s death on Friday comes five months after he shared his diagnosis back in December, as his friend Constance Eza shared the news of his death on his Facebook page this weekend.
“Everyone knows George’s legacy as a creator,” Eza wrote. “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.”
The artist was arguably best known for the strides he made in The New Teen Titans—for his role in creating many of those still-iconic characters—as well as his work on The Avengers. Pérez also wrote several comics, such as his run with Wonder Woman, and was awarded four Eagle Awards, two Jack Kirby Awards, an Inkpot Award, and a lifetime achievement Inkwell Award during his lifetime, per Variety.
“Today is Free Comic Book Day,” the statement continued. “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.”
At just 19, Pérez got his start at Marvel Comics as an assistant to Rich Buckler, artist for Fantastic Four, before making his debut with Astonishing Tales. DC Comics approached him in 1980 about a relaunch of the Teen Titans, and the rest is history.
Pérez’s memorial service will be taking place at MEGACON Orlando on May 22. More details will be announced in the coming weeks.
