 Comic book artist Michael Turner died 27 June 2008 of complications from treatment for bone cancer. Born in Crossville, Tennessee, on 21 April 1971, Turner was discovered by Image Comics co-founder Marc Silvestri at the San Diego Comic Con in 1993. Turner, Silvestri, and the rest of their crew created one of Turner's best-known characters, Witchblade, who first appeared in 1995, was became a live-action series on TNT in 2001 (it ran for two seasons). In 1998, Turner created his other signature character, Fathom, which was published by Top Cow.
In 2000, Turner discovered he had chondrosarcoma, a type of cancer, in his right pelvis. Treatment cost him his hip, about half of his pelvis, and three pounds of bone before he began nine months of radiation therapy. The cancer went into remmission, but returned several times.
In 2002, Turner founded entertainment publishing company Aspen MLT Comics, to which he brought Fathom and Soulfire. And in 2004, he began painting covers for DC and Marvel Comics, including DC's seven-part "Identity Crisis."
Aspen encourages donations in Turner's name to either The American Cancer Society or The Make-A-Wish Foundation. Condolences to Turner's family may be addressed to:
Aspen MLT, Inc.
c/o Michael Turner
5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 111
Culver City, CA 90230 USA
Fuller obituaries of Turner are available at Comic Book Resources and The New York Times.
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