Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga

Osamu Tezuka, hugely influential illustrator and author, was born Nov. 3, 1928. Here are 20 things you should know about the Japanese artist and his creations.

Bernie Wrightson (1948 - 2017), Swamp Thing co-creator

Bernie Wrightson, the acclaimed comic book artist who co-created the horror creature of "Swamp Thing" fame, died Sunday, March 19, 2017, of brain cancer. He was 68. His death was announced by his wife, Liz Wrightson, on his official website.

Adam West (1928 - 2017), TV's Batman

Adam West, the actor best known for his performance as television’s Batman in the 1960s, died Friday, June 9, 2017, in Los Angeles, after a short battle with leukemia, according to multiple news sources. He was 88.

James Galton (1924 - 2017), former Marvel CEO

Former CEO helped revive Marvel Comics...

Florence Steinberg (1939 - 2017), underground comix publisher

Marvel Comics legend worked alongside Stan Lee…

Len Wein (1948–2017), co-creator of Wolverine and the ‘All-New’ X-Men

His vision of a diverse super-team reflected the future of comics fandom.

Steve Ditko (1927–2018), Spider-Man co-creator

Steve Ditko, comics artist who co-created the characters of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, was found dead in his New York City apartment on Friday, June 29, 2018, according to multiple news sources. He was 90.

Stan Lee (1922–2018), the great American writer who launched the Marvel Comics universe

Stan Lee, the Marvel Comics giant who created some of the most recognizable comic book heroes in history, died Monday, November 12, 2018, at the age of 95. According to multiple news sources, he died early in the morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Stan Lee Built the World I Live In

I was born in June of 1961, about a month and a half before the release of "Fantastic Four" #1, the comic book in which Stan Lee and Jack Kirby reinvented the American superhero. Ie28099ve always said that I was born with the Marvel Universe, and that has had a tremendous impact on my life. I can't remember a time when I didn't know Stan Lee's name.

Stan Lee Showed Me It Was OK to Love Both Art and Politics

Editor's note: This weekend's "Avengers: Endgame" will feature Stan Lee's final posthumous cameo in a Marvel film, . Playwright and Marvel fan Lissa Brennan penned this remembrance for Legacy.

Ernie Colon (1923–2019), legendary comic book artist

Artist for Richie Rich, Casper the Friendly Ghost, and co-creator of Arak, Son of Thunder.

Tom Lyle (1953–2019), comic book artist known for “Spider-Man” and “Robin”

Tom Lyle was a comic book artist for both Marvel and DC, known for co-creating “Starman” and working on “Spider-Man” and the “Robin” miniseries and its sequels.

Denny O’Neil (1939–2020), Batman & Green Arrow writer, godfather of Optimus Prime

Dennis J. “Denny” O’Neil was the fan-favorite comic book writer who revitalized Batman and Green Arrow in the 1970s, and who named the Transformers franchise’s robot hero “Optimus Prime.”

Joe Sinnott (1926–2020), one of the definitive Marvel Comics artists

Joe Sinnott was a comic artist who helped define the look of Marvel Comics with his work on “The Fantastic Four.”  

MF DOOM (1971-2020), masked rapper & master lyricist

Daniel Dumile, most widely known by the stage name MF DOOM, was one of the most influential rap lyricists of the 2000s.

Joye Hummel (1924–2021), pioneering writer for Wonder Woman comics

Joye Hummel was the first women to write for Wonder Woman comics, writing anonymously for several years in the 1940s.

Neal Adams (1941–2022), comic artist who revitalized Batman

Neal Adams was a comic book artist known for his work on characters including Batman, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow.

George Pérez (1954–2022), comic book artist who rebooted Wonder Woman

George P érez was a comic book artist and writer known for his work on series including “Wonder Woman” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Tim Sale (1956–2022), “Batman: The Long Halloween” comic artist

Tim Sale was a comic book artist known for his work on influential titles including “Batman: The Long Halloween.”

Sid Jacobson (1929–2022), Richie Rich writer and Frankie Avalon songwriter

Sid Jacobson was a writer and songwriter who wrote titles for Harvey Comics including Richie Rich and Flash Gordon.

Raymond Briggs (1934–2022), children’s author known for “The Snowman”

Raymond Briggs was a British author and illustrator of graphic novels and children’s books including the beloved classic “The Snowman.”

Diane Noomin (1947–2022), pioneering underground comics artist

Diane Noomin was one of the first women working in underground comics, writing and drawing characters including DiDi Glitz.

Lily Renée Phillips (1921–2022), pioneering comic book artist

Lily Ren ée Phillips was one of the first women working in the comic book industry, drawing Señorita Rio in the 1940s.

Kim Jung Gi (1975–2022), influential comic book artist

Kim Jung Gi was a South Korean comic book artist known for creating large drawings for live audiences.

Aline Kominsky-Crumb (1948–2022), pioneer of women’s underground comics

Aline Kominsky-Crumb was a comics artist and a leader of the movement of women writing and drawing underground comics.

Rachel Pollack (1945–2023), leading tarot expert

Rachel Pollack was a writer whose guides to reading tarot cards are considered definitive resources on the art.

Ian McGinty (1985–2023), Welcome to Showside comic book artist

Ian McGinty was a comic book artist known for his creator-owned series “Welcome to Showside.”

John Romita Sr. (1930–2023), iconic Marvel Comics artist 

John Romita Sr., long-time Marvel Comicsartist, was best known for his iconic work on Spider-Man, as well as for co-creating characters such as Mary Jane Watson, Wolverine, and The Punisher.

Joe Matt (1963–2023), cartoonist of the autobiographical Peepshow

Joe Matt was a cartoonist and illustrator best known for his autobiographical and deeply personal comic, “Peepshow.”

Keith Giffen (1952–2023), co-creator of Rocket Raccoon, Lobo 

Keith Giffen was a comic book artist and writer who co-created the superhero Rocket Raccoon of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the anti-hero Lobo, in addition to popular runs on comics like “Legion of Super-Heroes" and “Justice League International.” 

José Delbo (1933–2024), Wonder Woman, Transformers artist

José Delbo was a comic book artist for seven decades, arguably best known for his work on “Wonder Woman,” “The Transformers,” and “Billy the Kid.”

Ramona Fradon (1926–2024), trailblazing comic artist

Ramona Fradon was a trailblazing comic artist who was one of just two women artists working professionally in comics when she began, and who helped co-create characters like Metamorpho and Aqualad.

Trina Robbins (1938–2024), pioneering cartoonist and comics historian

Trina Robbins was a pioneering cartoonist who was among the first female artists of the underground comix movement, who later became a noted comics historian.

Don Perlin (1929–2024), co-creator of Marvel’s Moon Knight

Don Perlin was a longtime comic book artist on comics like “The Defenders,” “Werewolf by Night,” and “Ghost Rider,” who is best known as the co-creator of Moon Knight and Valiant’s Bloodshot.

Ben Potter (1984–2024), YouTube star better known as Comicstorian 

Ben Potter was a YouTube star better known as Comicstorian, whose audio drama adaptations of comics entertained millions of subscribers.

Sarah Becker (2024), The Real World: Miami star 

Sarah Becker was a therapist and comic book editor best known as a cast member of MTV’s “The Real World: Miami.” 

Michael Zulli (1952–2024), artist known for The Sandman, Puma Blues

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.” 

Joyce Brabner (1952–2024), comics writer and activist 

Joyce Brabner was a comic book writer, social activist, and the widow of independent comics creator .

John Cassaday (1971–2024), noted X-Men, Planetary comic book artist

John Cassaday was a comic book artist best known for his work with Joss Whedon on “Astonishing X-Men" and as the co-creator of “Planetary.” 

A Look at Notable & Celebrity Deaths from January 2025 Week 3

Here are the most recent deaths in the national news, as reviewed and fact-checked by the Legacy.com news team in the third week of January 2025.