Michael Zulli was a comic artist best known for his work on Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed series “The Sandman,” as well as his independent book, “The Puma Blues.”
- Died: July 8, 2024 (Who else died on July 8?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 71.
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Michael Zulli’s legacy
Michael Zulli did not set out to be a comic book illustrator. He was a struggling wildlife artist when a studio assistant introduced him to independent comics. Zulli soon connected with writer Stephen Murphy, and the pair created “The Puma Blues.” Published independently, the book’s highly detailed art and surrealistic imagery earned underground acclaim and changed the trajectory of Zulli’s career.
In 1990 and 1991, Zulli’s highly detailed and grim work on “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” divided fans, but has since become seen as an artistic milestone for the series. His other significant pencil work includes art in “Taboo,” “Batman: No Man’s Land,” “Alice Cooper: The Last Temptation” and others.
Zulli is perhaps best known for his work on Neil Gaiman’s legendary comic series, “The Sandman.” He co-created the character Hob Gadling in issue #13, but more notably, illustrated what was then the series finale, “The Wake,” bringing to a close a series that had become one of the most acclaimed in comics history. Zulli earned three Eisner Award nominations for his work on “The Wake,” which has since been reprinted countless times.
He retired from comics in 2011.
On his early days in independent comics:
“At the time, it seemed like it was possible really to really stretch or even burn the envelope entirely to get to a new place where the medium itself – which (has) always been creative and vital and largely misunderstood as a junk culture – could grow up and flourish and entertain any segment of society that it wished to.” — Interview with The Comics Journal, 2016
Tributes to Michael Zulli
Full obituary: ComicBook.com
