The Late Great George Pérez

George Pérez, a comic book artist known for his work on The Avengers at Marvel in the Seventies, and The New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and Wonder Woman at DC in the Eighties, died on May 6 2022 at the age of 67. The cause was complications from pancreatic cancer, with which he had been diagnosed in December 2021.

George Pérez was born on June 9 1954 in the South Bronx in New York City. His parents were Puerto Rican in descent. His father, Guzman Pérez, worked in meatpacking. His mother, Luz Maria Izquierdo, was a homemaker. George Pérez grew up reading superhero comic books and taught himself to draw.

George Pérez began work in the comic book industry as an assistant to artist Rich Buckler in 1973. He made his professional debut in Astonishing Tales no. 25 (August 1975) with a two page satire of Rich Buckler's character Deathlok. In 1975 he went to work on the Marvel magazine Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, where he co-created The White Tiger with Bill Mantlo. The White Tiger was the first Puerto Rican superhero. That same year he began drawing The Avengers with issue no. 141 (November 1975). He would remain with The Avengers until 1980. From 1977 to 1981 he also worked on Marvel Two-In-One. George Pérez also worked on such Marvel titles as Bizarre Adventures, Captain America, Creatures on the Loose, The Defenders, Fantastic Four, Inhumans, Iron Man, Logan's Run, Man Called Nova, Marvel Team-Up, and X-Men.

It was in 1980, while he was still working on The Avengers, that he began working with DC Comics. He drew the New Teen Titans preview story in DC Comics Presents no. 26  (October 1980) before going to work on the title The New Teen Titans. He would remain with the various Teen Titans titles until nearly the end of the decade. He was the penciller on DC Comics' historic crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Earths, which rebooted the DC Universe and included very nearly every DC character. Following Crisis on Infinite Earths George Pérez worked as both plotter and inker on the reboot of Wonder Woman. He returned to The New Teen Titans in 1988. In the Eighties, at DC, George Pérez also contributed to such titles as Action Comics, Adventures of Superman, All Star Squadron, Batman, Justice League of America, Secret Origins, Superman, the Swordquest miniseries, and World's Finest. In the Eighties he also did some work for Pacific Comics.

In the 1990s George Pérez returned to Marvel to work on the mini-series Infinity Gauntlet. He also worked on the mini-series Sachs and Violens, The Silver Surfer, Ultraforce/Avengers, and the Thunderbolts Annual 1997. Late in the decade he returned to The Avengers. In the Nineties he also worked on Topps Comics' adaptation of the movie Jurassic Park and on Crimson Plague at Event Comics and later Image Comics. He also returned to the Teen Titans at DC Comics and worked on Deathstroke the Terminator.

In the Naughts he worked on the DC/Marvel crossover mini-series JLA/Avengers. At DC Comics he worked on such titles as The Brave and the Bold, DC Universe, Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds, Infinite Crisis, Justice League of America, Justice Society of America, The Titans, and Wonder Woman. At Image Comics he worked on Witchblade no. 92 (December 2005). In the Teens he worked on the first issue of the mini-series Flashpoint: Secret Seven. He inked issues 1-4 of Green Arrow Vol. 5. He worked on Justice Society of America vol. 3 no. 50 (June 2011), Supergirl vol. 6 no. 8 (June 2012), Superman vol. 3 no. 1-6 (2011-2012), T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents no. 4 (April 2012), and World's Finest no. 1-7 (2012-2013)>

George Pérez was perhaps the premier artist of his generation. He was known for his realistic, highly detailed style, and had a particular gift for drawing large groups of characters. He would certainly have a lasting influence. Along with writer Marv Wolfman, he revitalized the Teen Titans, introducing several new characters (Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire) and making changes to others (Dick Grayson, the original Robin, became Nightwing, Beast Boy from Doom Patrol became Changeling, and so on). He co-created the first Puerto Rican superhero, White Tiger. He worked on Crisis on Infinite Earths, which changed DC Comics forever. He also revitalized Wonder Woman, and his influence can be seen on the two recent movies. He would have a lasting impact on artists to come.

George Pérez was also known for his kindness and his thoughtfulness of others. He was one of the founders of the Hero Initiative, a charity that helps comic book writes and artists in need. Perhaps more so than any other comic book creator George Pérez was known for his kindness to his fans. He was well known on the convention circuit for the time he devoted to his fans and his thoughtfulness towards them. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, after notifying his various relatives, he made sure to let his fans know.  If George Pérez was so loved in comic book fandom, it was not simply because he was a  great comic book artist. He was also a great man.