On Friday, beloved comic artist George Pérez passed away in his home at the age of 67. According to an update posted by his friend Constance Ezra, he spent his final moments surrounded by family and was not in pain.
Pérez announced back in December that he had Stage 3 pancreatic cancer, which was inoperable. At the time, he said his life expectancy was between six to twelve months.
Despite knowing that his time was limited, it’s safe to say that none of us in the comic world were emotionally prepared for the news of Pérez’s passing. In addition to being a legendary artist, he was well-known for his incredible warmth and kindness. He had been retired from full-time comics work since 2019, but his impact on the industry continues to be felt.
Read Constance Ezra’s statement on Pérez’s passing below:
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.
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