R.I.P. George Perez 4 4

[silverseeker]

I’ve been a fan of George’s work since his early days on the Avengers, and had the chance to meet him once when I got a sketch from him at SDCC…he was such a joy to interact with, and you could tell he really cared about his fans.

This is a massive loss to the comic book universe…condolences to his wife, Carol, and his family and friends.

Thank you for everything, George…rest in peace.

[JollyComics]

He is in a heaven peacefully.

[MrBedrock]

On 5/7/2022 at 2:25 PM, spideyfan68 said:

I was lucky enough to meet George 2X. One at the North Texas Comic Book Show that I think was 2017. It was in the Fair Park Building at the Cotton Bowl. It was February and about 30-40°F inside the building. He and Marv were both there and both couldn't have been nicer. George took his time with every fan and such a genuinely sweet person. There must have been over 300 people in line as the line went around the inside of the building. Fast forward to 2018 I believe and Bedrock City Comics had won a contest to have  George come to their store on a Saturday. I remember dragging my poor wife down to Houston and driving at about 3AM so we could make down there by no later than 8. When we got there there must have been 100-150 people already in line and he wasn't due in the store until around 1PM.While we stood in line we thought we came a long distance from Fort Worth but met people from Chicago, Ohio and California.   He arrived and by that time the line wrapped so far behind the store you could not see the end. We finally got to see George and at the time Infinity War was just about to come out and we talked about that and he signed by Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus. Then I asked if I could get a picture with him. He jumped from the table came around grabbed and gave me a hug as my wife took the picture. It meant a lot to me that he loved his fans as much as his fans loved him. From talking to Mr Bedrock he stayed in the store until almost 9PM so that everyone in line could have their moment with him. I've gotten to meet a lot of creators over the last 15 years or so and none had they way to brighten the room the way George did. He will be genuinely missed. Godspeed George you had an impact on so many people and the world is a sadder place without you. 

The signing was supposed to start at 1:00 pm. We picked him up at his hotel and arrived at the shop a little before noon. He saw the line and didn't hesitate, he just sat down and started. He was awesome. We kept asking him if we could do things like cap the line or limit the number of items etc., but he would adamantly decline. He would chat with folks, sign whatever they wanted signed, take photos, chat some more. The only thing he wouldn't do was sketch. No sketches. Except around 7:00 pm, when we were in the homestretch and the crowd had thinned to about twenty people. A young girl and her mother were next. The girl, around 8 years old, stepped up to George with the Wonder Woman TPB and asked him if he could do a drawing in it for her. He started to say "no, I am sorry..." but he opened to the inside cover. She had written him a personal note telling him what he meant to her. He read and sat quiet for a few seconds, then sort of blubbered out "oh, baby". He was crying. I was crying sitting next to him. I'm crying now as I remember it. She got a sketch. As far as showing love for his fans George Perez is far and away the greatest comic creator we have ever had the privilege of hosting for an appearance. Just a wonderful man.

[Cobbledclam]

🙁

[chrisco37]

Very sad (but expected) news.  A remarkable talent and a gem of a person.  Any time I saw him, he was always engaging with the fans.  RIP to another one of the greats.  

[Terry JSA]

We lost both Neal Adams and George Perez in the span of a week. 

Rest in peace, Mr. Perez. 

[jdandns]

On 5/7/2022 at 11:18 AM, Point Five said:

It's kind of mindbending to look at those NTT covers and think wow, those were just the FIRST TWO covers. Beyond the richness of detail, note how each character has their own features, personality and body language right out of the gate. Most series never achieve that level of craft. And his art just got better and better for 4+ years! 

 

Absolutely mind-boggling that he was that good, that young, like the Beatles in the mid 60's.

The preview interior New Teen Titans cover inside of DC Presents #26 was similarly masterful, so he really kicked off his epic TT run with three classic covers.

The earth-shattering Crisis, spectacular runs on Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Avengers, plus Hulk Future Imperfect and that JLA/Avengers crossover we waited 20 years for, the list just goes on and on.

Rest in peace, George Perez. Love and condolences to his family, colleagues, friends, and fans worldwide.

[Math Teacher]

I do regret not meeting George Perez when I had a chance. George was a guest at C2E2 2020. I got in line around 10:00 AM, which I thought would give me plenty of time to get his autograph on the OGN, Teen Titan: Games. I had already gotten Marv Wolfman's autograph on the previous day. Soon after I got in line, I noticed that there were people carrying 40 - 50 books for George to sign. When the organizers realized that the line was barely moving, they announced that there was now a 20-book limit at George's table. Later on, they announced a 10-book limit. Toward the end, I decided I would be fine if I just had a chance to shake his hand and tell him how much I had enjoyed his work over the years. But alas, it was not too be.

[circumstances]

As I was leaving my first ever comic book convention, I saw one of my favorite artists doing a sketch for a fan. I said to myself, I've got to ask him to draw my favorite character for me before I went home.

I waited there for a few minutes, and then it was my turn. I told him I was a big fan of his work and asked him if he would draw a sketch for me.

 

Of course he would, and I watched as he drew it. Then he handed it to me, and said "that will be $5.00." I had no idea artists charged money for their sketches at conventions, and I didn't see the sign posting the price (if there was one, at that time on Sunday).

 

I apologized, and told him I only had enough money for the bus to get me home, and started to hand back the sketch. He told me not to worry about it, and even though I was mortified by the whole situation, I thanked him and told him I would pay him the next time I saw him. "Sure, sure."

 

That was July 4th weekend, 1978, Phil Seuling's New York Comic Art Convention. I was 14 years old, and my mom had let me fly to New York from South Florida to attend the convention (my mom was, and is, great like that).

 

Jump ahead one year to the 1979 4th of July New York Comic Art Convention. I had such a great time the first time, I went back for more. The first thing I did when I got into the convention was look for the artist I stiffed the previous year.

 

Even though it was an entire year later, when I walked up to him and put the $5.00 bill in his hand, and thanked him for being so gracious to an insufficiently_thoughtful_person kid, he remembered me immediately, gave me that big smile, and said something along the lines of not ever worrying about it.

 

We laughed, and started a friendship that spanned over 40 years.

 

He was a tremendous talent, but the person is who I will miss.

Edited May 7, 2022 by circumstances

[D84]

On 5/7/2022 at 6:19 PM, circumstances said:

As I was leaving my first ever comic book convention, I saw one of my favorite artists doing a sketch for a fan. I said to myself, I've got to ask him to draw my favorite character for me before I went home.

I waited there for a few minutes, and then it was my turn. I told him I was a big fan of his work and asked him if he would draw a sketch for me.

 

Of course he would, and I watched as he drew it. Then he handed it to me, and said "that will be $5.00." I had no idea artists charged money for their sketches at conventions, and I didn't see the sign posting the price (if there was one, at that time on Sunday).

 

I apologized, and told him I only had enough money for the bus to get me home, and started to hand back the sketch. He told me not to worry about it, and even though I was mortified by the whole situation, I thanked him and told him I would pay him the next time I saw him. "Sure, sure."

 

That was July 4th weekend, 1978, Phil Seuling's New York Comic Art Convention. I was 14 years old, and my mom had let me fly to New York from South Florida to attend the convention (my mom was, and is, great like that).

 

Jump ahead one year to the 1979 4th of July New York Comic Art Convention. I had such a great time the first time, I went back for more. The first thing I did when I got into the convention was look for the artist I stiffed the previous year.

 

Even though it was an entire year later, when I walked up to him and put the $5.00 bill in his hand, and thanked him for being so gracious to an insufficiently_thoughtful_person kid, he remembered me immediately, gave me that big smile, and said something along the lines of not ever worrying about it.

 

We laughed, and started a friendship that spanned over 40 years.

 

He was a tremendous talent, but the person is who I will miss.

That's a beautiful story.

[fastballspecial]

I love all these stories. Put me in tears reading them.

 

[captainzombie]

George sounds like such an awesome human being from everything that I read over the years on him. Sad I never did get to meet him at a con. May he rest in peace and glad that he will not have to suffer any longer. He was in such high spirits its sounded like too these last 6 months, hopefully he did pass with a smile on his face because all of the pictures I always seen of him was with a huge smile.

The last few months I did go on a New Teen Titans hunt collecting many of George's iconic issues. I did get NTT #2 in a 9.6 slab a few weeks ago and I do need to get Tales of Teen Titans #44 before that books starts to go crazy in prices.

[mr_highgrade]

RIP George 

[ComicLink Rick]

It's hard to sum up the incredible impact on my life that my love for George Perez and Neal Adams has had over the past 47 years. That love helped me to make it through some difficult years as an awkward teenager. Later, that love connected me to a community where I met some of my most treasured friends.  In recent years it has given me a sense of financial security, an amazing career that I love and a beautiful home. I'm blessed to have original works by my idols cross my desk on a regular basis and to have the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for their game-changing work with other collectors.  

Thank you gentlemen from the bottom of my heart. You did good.

Rest in Peace.  

Edited May 8, 2022 by ComicLink Rick

[LudaToke]

Can we rename Free Comic Book Day to George Perez Day?

[musicmeta]

RIP George.  Such a loss for the comic book community. 

[csaag]

On the days when I expected expected a new issue of NTT to be out, I remember picking up speed on my bike as I approached my LCS 

When I was a little younger, I'd be beyond  thrilled to find Neal Adams work in the dollar bins.  Collecting NTT/WW as they came out gave me that same feeling.

RIP gentlemen.

[thehumantorch]

So sorry to hear.  Great artist.  Darn, we've lost a lot of greats  lately.

[littledoom]

Can’t believe it two weekends back to back in a row two pillars are gone 

[Robot Man]

We all knew it was coming but it sure doesn’t make it any easier.

Some very touching tributes here. All well deserved. I had the honor a couple of times to spend a few minutes with him. A wonderful man with such a warm and friendly attitude. So talented and well respected. I can still picture that loud shirt and huge smile. Always smiling. 

A rough couple of weeks. But he is now out of pain and up in the bill pen in the sky rubbing elbows with all the greats.

He will be missed but he left us so much.

RIP George!