I remember the first time I finally gave into Tom’s suggestions and take a look at Michael Turners work. I was a teenager working at none other than Tom’s comic store, Comic Central. I remember reading Witch Blade and thinking, Wow! What a great book! This whole team is amazing! But what really stood out to me was the artwork. At that time I would always compare new artists to some of the biggest names in the industry, Jim Lee, Mark Silvestri, ect ect. For someone to make me think Wow! after reading a book was very rare and very exciting. It was then that I started reading pretty much any book I missed of his and any book he would eventually do and fortunately our comic book store had everything you could ever want. Sometimes I wish I would have listened to Tom earlier but I guess better late than never, right? After Tom closed his store and went strictly online I started to slowly quit reading comic books and really more or less got out of them all together. But like most people who read comic books know, you can never truly stop reading. So after a couple years I stopped in a book store and saw that Turner had been doing work for DC and covers for Marvel and such. That was the first thing I bought that brought me back into the comic book world again. Batman/Superman: Supergirl TPB. After that it was pretty much every cover that Michael did for marvel, I’d at least pick it up and flip through it(though I knew the inside wasn’t his work). I guess what I’m trying to get at is there are so many comic books that come out each Wednesday and yes there are quite a few that are very good, but there are very few artists like Michael Turner around that would just suck you into his art and almost make you forget that other books even came out that week. When I heard the news from Tom I didn’t know what to think. I was mad that now I wouldn’t be able to read any books with his art anymore. I was sad that now when I would finally be able to make it to a San Diego convention he wouldn’t be there to sign my favorite book of his. Then I realized that what I really was was happy. Happy for what he did to this industry and happy that he renewed my interest in comic books twice and happy that he is now in a better place and can draw all the comic books he wants. Rest In Peace.
forveraspen// Sep 30, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Even though this is a few months ago, I’m still in shock. I loved his work, especially Witchblade, Fathom and some of his contributing work such as in Tomb Raider. He brought a dazzling new kind of art to the forefront and suddenly, I was back to collecting comics, something I hadn’t done in years. I had the great pleasure of meeting him at a comic con about two years ago. He was such a down-to-earth and friendly guy. He even stayed a while for pictures with his fans and even did a Tomb Raider sketch for me. I will cherish that memory forever even though I’m heartbroken that now, his work and life come to an end. People might copy or imitate his style but his work spoke for itself. I’ll never give up my Witchblade or Fathom collection for anything. When I look into his work, I find something I never really had in my childhood: excitement. That’s how much his work means to me. My deepest condolences to his family. Rest in peace Michael.
DisasterPiece// Nov 28, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Well…
I am still very sad about hearing that great man’s death…..
Truly a big loss to the comic industry…..
I live in Denmark where it’s only x-men and Spider-man that has a monthly comic here, but some years back Witchblade was a monthly comic too…
From the first glance through the comic before I bought it I fell in love with the amazing art by Michael, and it just keep growing and growing for every issue I read.
The comic only hold on for a year before the danish comic series thing decided to cancel it, wich I was very unhappy about and sent them like 20 hate mails and all that,but that didn’t work….
So I started searching for his art other places and found a little comic shop in a city 50 km from me. I got all the withcblade they had that Michael had drawn but the comic store guy said that is wasn’t even close to all of it, wich I again was very unhappy about…
So for a few years all the Turner art I got to see was the ones on the internet, wich only was covers and such.
But then one day I went to that same comic book store nad what did I find?? Superman/batman : Supergirl by Michael Turner!!!
I was like a teenage girl that just got her tickets to a Backstreet Boys live show (MEaning I was REALLY Excited)
I read the comic like 23 times over and over and I still found small new details in his drawing that I had missed out the other times I read it….
Unfortunately I got the comic only two months before I read on DeviantArt about his death….
I was stunned for like five minutes, not thinking just staring with my mout wide open on the screen that said “Michael Turner passed away”
I still haven’t gotten it completely accepted in my head and I still find myself really really sad about it…..
I even put the Superman/batman comic I had of him, in a frame and put it on my wall…
From what I’ve learned by reading about Michael’s passing was that he was one the greatest guys ever to walk on earth, always had time for his fans and not shy to talk openly about his illness….
I am still searching for all the Turner art I can find and now that I’ve found this place I have found a place to express my feelings about his lost….
And that makde me think : If his death made such a impact on me, how must his nearest not feel?
It must be almost unbearable for them and all I can do is send my condolences to them…
I know they appreciate this site if they know about it…
I can’t find more words to express myself with at the time…. Feeling really really sad just to write this was really hard for me, but I somewhat felt it had to be done…
So Rest In Peace Michael…..
I know you’r up there protecting you’r loved ones..
-Niels Bülow Hansen
Dale G// Feb 8, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I have only recently become familiar with Michael Turners work. I’ve read and/or collected comics since I was 6 years old ( I’m now 49 ). I quit collecting/buying comic almost completely around 1990, when I sold most of my collection, due to financial problems and not being able to keep up with the multitudes of different characters having multiple titles. I just no longer had the time or the money to keep up. A few years ago I started reading some of the comics & graphic novels that I still had stored away & I have recently been buying a little more.
That is when I discovered Michaels incredible art in the graphic novel form of the Batman-Superman/Supergirl saga. WOW! His artwork was/is so GOOD that it inspired me to add some of his artwork to my already huge screensaver folder of superheroes. I went through that folder just now ( it took about 10 minutes ) and discovered that I already had a few of Michaels images, but I
didn’t realize when I placed those images in that folder who the artist was. Only that he or she was REALLY GOOD. It was only when I was inspired to look for images online of the incredible artist, I now knew to be Michael Turner, did I discover to my great sadness that this true talent had died.
Now more than ever, I am going to add more of his wonderful artwork to my superhero screensaver folder in honor and as a memorial to his work. The way he drew the 2 biggest heroes in comicdom, Superman & Batman, are EXACTLY the
way I envision these two heroes as looking and how I would draw them were I blessed to be THAT great of an artist. There have been many good and great artists over the decades in comics. Some of my favorites have been Neal Adams, Jim Aparo,
George Perez, John Byrne, Jim Lee and Alex Ross. While all of these artist are VERY good and have portrayed some of my favorite heroes the way I would, I would put Michael Turners work as equal, if not BETTER, than these giants of comic book art.
I don’t know if the Turner family, friends and co-workers keep up with this particular blog (”Shrine”), but I hope they see my message that my heart and prayers go out to them as this tragic loss is still quite fresh. In the relatively short time he was in the
world of comic book art he has had an INCREDIBLE impact. For example, the show Witchblade that I watched and enjoyed years ago, I am just now finding out was a character/creation of Michael Turners. Thanks to comic collectors and of course now the internet, his spectacular artwork will live on for decades (at least) to come.
We will all mourn his passing every time we see his work on the net or read one of the comics he had a part in working on. Like other types of artists before him, whether it be John Ritter or of course Christopher Reeve, he left this world way too soon. But he/they left it a better place where believing in heroes, real or fictional, is alive and well.
ravenbaby// Mar 4, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Where in the hell have I been? How could I only be finding this out now?
back when Image Comics and Top Cow came about I also jumped ship along with those revolutionaries/visionaries. I bought and read Spawn, Witchblade, The Darkness, Fathom, and many other great titles, but, the artwork for these comics is what kept me interested. Michael Turner stood out from the rest.
Any comic book fan can look at a cover and see the name of the artist/s who created the cover and inner art – when it came to Michael Turner; one didn’t need to see his name or initials, you can tell just by looking at the drawing whose work it was.
I love Micheal’s work. Enough so that I have his rendition of Supergirl and His rendition of Wonder Woman (holding the noose) tattooed in my skin.
No matter where I go, people see my tattoos and inevitably comes, “Michael Turner fan, eh?”
Yep, that’s me, a huge fan of Michael Turner and his art. I plan on getting a double panel Justice League of America, drawn by Michael Turner, Tattooed onto my lower back.
greyking_1980// Mar 12, 2009 at 5:27 am
I never got to meet Micheal Turner… I went to Wondercon in San Francisco last February before he passed in hope that I would get to meet him. I have never seen art as beautiful as Micheal’s. He was beyond gifted. I know I may sound so silly but I cry often when I think about the fact that there will be no more drawings. I hope and pray that his friends, family, and fans heel with time. My heart goes out to his loved ones. His story was fantastic. In closing, I believe that your in Heaven drawing the ultimate comic book. Micheal. Thank you for your art. It made a difference in my life and I am sure of others as well. Jae
Carolyn// Mar 25, 2009 at 9:07 pm
How I wish I had gotten to meet Michael Turner! But it was not mean’t to be. I would probably have been too shy to tell him how much his work mean’t to me, how beautiful I thought his artwork was and how much I enjoyed his writing. I have loved comics since I was a little girl. I grew up in Mudgee, a country town in New South Wales, Australia and I only had access to black & white reprints of (mainly) DC titles. My favourite was Supergirl and she stayed a favourite over many years and several incarnations. I started collecting “real” comics in the late 70s through most of the 80s then gave it away. But then in late 2005 I wandered into Phantom Zone, a comic shop in Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney, and there was a beautiful poster advertising Supergirl drawn by Michael Turner. She was back and so was I, and the more I saw of Michael Turners art the more I loved it. I picked up the avalable issues of Soulfire at the same time as I picked up those first 2 new issues of Supergirl then I set about hunting down everything else I could find on Michael Turners art. I am completely blown away by everything I have found and I am still searching. I buy a lot of back issues through milehighcomics.com and it was in a newsletter from Mile High that I first learned of Mike’s passing. I started to cry while I called up the Aspen site to have my fears confirmed. I didn’t expect to be as effected as I was by the passing of a man I did not know, had never met and only knew of because of beautiful pictures…but I was and I guess that is a testament to how much Mike’s work impacted on my life. I can’t image how hard it has been for those he loved and worked with, his family and friends. Please know how much this stranger loved your son, fiance and friend and that my heart goes out to all of those touched by Michael Turner
Askinya// Apr 16, 2009 at 2:30 pm
A long time ago I saw Witchblade comics. I thought the art was fantastic and it blew me away. I have always been interested in drawing but when I saw his art, it gave me a desire to really try and get better. I was always happy to see him expand. From getting Fathom of the ground to working on so many different pieces. His style was unique and it was beautiful. I was very sad the day I heard, and when I picked up the tribute book, reading through it brought tears to my eyes.
He will always be an artistic legend to me and I will continue to learn from, cherish, and enjoy his work.
Ikixo// May 10, 2009 at 1:56 am
I just.. totally cannot believe the first I hear about Michael’s passing is from some blog while I’m just casually poking around for some Soulfire pictures. I have been out of the loop for awhile, it seems.
Michael Turner was first introduced to my world when Witchblade began. I was about 12 or 13 when I started reading it, and the best part about it for me was the art. I would like to think Michael actually helped me learn to draw. I sat for -hours- free-hand copying pages from the comic, until I could crudely mimic his style with my amateur hand. I grew as an artist, all the while retaining a Turner-esque for several years style until I was able to develop one of my own. He has remained my favorite artist for over 11 years, and I doubt anyone will come close to taking his place in my life.
I was desperately hoping to meet him briefly at an appearance when it was cancelled due to his skiing accident. After that, I don’t think I ever had the time and/or means to seek him out anywhere else. It’s heartbreaking to know now I never will. His art was stunning, seductive, beautiful.. purely awesome with loving attention to detail.
I stopped collecting comics for a few years, so I was completely unaware of this tragedy. I cried for a few minutes whilst realizing that my idol in the world of art is no longer going to be gracing us with his work, and it’s truly heartbreaking.
Here’s to my artistic hero – he will never cease to be missed by those who admired him.
anilacsa// Jun 9, 2009 at 4:41 am
I’m a year late to find out about Michael’s passing. I just happened to be researching the upcoming movie Fathom to see if it was in fact one of Mike’s creations, which it was…and just by curiousity since I had been out of the comic circuit for so long, I wanted to see all the past comics that I had/have love Mike had created…My heart just dropped when I saw “Michael Turner 1971 – 2008″. My first thought was “NO, IT CAN’T BE!” =(
Like a few fallen fans, I have stopped collecting comic books for a few years as well. But, I tell ya, I was biased with what I collected. If it wasn’t Michael Turner’s work it was anything associated around Michael Turner. Image Comic, Top Cow…any special artwork he did for other comic lines that was not his creations, I would buy it. I just loved his artwork. I remember the inserpt of Witchblade in one of Cyberforce comic and I knew I had to buy it…so, I bought several of that 1st issue and had collected for a while. Sadly, money became tight and I just stopped collecting. =(
Michael, I want to say this…I am very happy I had the opportunity to meet you during the Bellevue, WA ComicCon back in the mid 90’s. Little did I know it would be my only time I would have the honor. I am amaze by your talent and how well you showed it with your quick sketches you whipped up for your fans…I’m glad I was able to snag one from you…it means that much more to me now than ever. I do have to say this, it sounds weird but after a couple of mos later having met you…Issue #9 of Witchblade came out and I swear it looked a lot like me (even where her beauty mark was positioned). Though I’m sure I didn’t have anything to do with the inspirition and it was just meer coinsidence but I’d like to think I did. You did inspire me.
I use to laugh at my brother for his love of comics, but now I thank him for exposing me to your talent and creativity. Cyberforce was where I first discovered your artwork and was just in awe. Sounds like a cliche, but like many others, you have inspired me to pick up a pen and draw. And for the longest while, I wanted to get into the comic book industry. My brother and I still talk about, but who know. I never progressed to do anything else with the skill, but I doodle here and there, but I always remember your style of drawing when I drew. I ‘attempted’ to capture the style that you did…but, of course I could never even come close to your work.
Mike, you will be forever missed and I will miss your creativity and all of your work that was to come. It saddens me that you will not be here to see one of your best creations come to life in a move (Fathom). but at least you got to see Witchblade come to life on television. My heart goes out to your family and friends that misses you dearly, but your legacy will forever live on.
silversky292004// Jul 16, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Today is a very sad day for me, I just find out about Micherl’s death. I can’t belived.
Comenze a ver su obra cuando aun estaba en la universidad, estudiaba artes plasticas. No sabia nada de comics, ni sus creadores; pero me llamó mucho la atención sus dibujos. Era algo totalmente diferente a lo antes visto. Así que comenze a coleccionar Witchblade, luego The Darkness hasta que aparecio Fathom y me encanto la historia y su arte.
Era bien inspirador para mi, ver su trabajo. Me enamoré de su arte.
Luego me case y por algun tiempo no segui coleccionando los comics, aunque los extrañaba.
Hoy me encuentro en medio de un proyecto y quize buscar en el internet los ultimos trabajos de Michael Turner, saber de su vida; cuando me entero de la noticia de su partida.
Quedé en “shock”, rompió mi corazón.
No me arrepiento de haber comprado sus comics, ellos me han dado mucha inspiración para seguir dibujando.
Donde quiera que estes Michael quiero decirte Gracias!
Se que tu familia y amigos te extrañan mucho y les doy mi mas sentido pésame.
Por acá cerquita de tu hogar, en una isla pequeñita pero con gente de gran corazón, hay una boricua que te recordará por siempre y le agradezco a Dios tu presencia en mi vida.
Lady K// Jul 17, 2009 at 3:50 am
I have always been a comic fan, but until I first saw Michael Turner’s art, I never before had a favorite artist. He will always be my fave and I thank him for that gift. I love everything and anything he did and would have done. For me, Mike will forever be the greatest.
Mike’s arts have big influences in my career as a photographer, especially in portraiture & model fields. I remember back when I was in my early years in university, I took photography major. But I don’t know what kind of field will I take. Coz in photography, there’re lots of fields, such as journalism, products, interior, fashion, portraiture, etc. But after I saw some of his excellent arts in witchblade (that’s the main reason why I collect comics!! & I always bought all of his comics and still trying to collect every issues that he drew), it made me realize that through his arts, I can do like he does, creating masterpiece arts. And everytime I’m doing a fashion/model photography, I always have mike’s arts as references, like the poses he drew, or the mood he created…So, in the end, I just wanna say that I really gonna miss him & his arts, farewell….
When I started to draw, for money, like that happens, anyways I was commissioned for a few ladies to grace the cover of a calender, it was Michael’s art that helped me to build a refine their look. I had to check out more, and I found that both of us were fighting sarcoma, mine osteosarcome, and I instantly felt a kinship to him. I knew kinda what was involved in this fight. We both loved our professions, and life. I have sinced then started a series of comics called Captain Cure that tell a story of fighting this ruthless disease, and Michael had a lot to do with it, he inspired me to move forward and use whatever gifts afforded to me to fight, I miss him.
jpalazzolo4// Oct 6, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Just recently I did a college project where you had to pick any artist of your interest and put his/her information on all six sides of a small square box. It was a pretty cool project. I picked Michael as my artist. We actually have a little in common. I took martial arts and play video games when I get the chance. I’m an inspiring comic book artist as well and I’m trying to get a character that I created up and running just like Mike did before he had any known characters. When I found out about his death on June 27 (the same day as my birthday) I was in awe. I thought he had been doing better with his cancer from the last article I read about him. I never got to meet him. I wish I could have, but when I look at his artwork, it inspires me to keep doing mine. He is and always will be one of my favorite comic book artists.
aeva-23// Oct 20, 2009 at 7:14 am
I live in england where there aren’t much places you can find comics, so i would spend my school lunch times looking up comics. I was searching up charachters with water manipulation abilities and Aspen Matthews was at the top of the list, i remeber looking at Michael Turners art and thinking Oh My God, this guys unbelievably amazing. Only two weeks later, i visited the Top Cow site, and the first thing that came up was a slide-show which said Michael Turner Rest In Peace Forever. I thought they were talking about someone else so went to wikipedia, which was when i realised he had passed. I could’nt beleive it, i was utterly and completely gutted. My brother got me some Fathom comics that he could find and every day i sit and stare at them wondering how he was able to draw like that. He’s truly an awesomely amazing artist.
chiara// Oct 24, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I knew that he had been diagnosed with cancer .. but I learned only recently that Michael died last year, the news still haunts me …
For drawings of Michael, it was love at first sight .. I remember the first time I saw the look of Witchblade in a poster, I was in disbelief .. it was so vivid, sensual, and decided that I could not help but ask Who was the author.
Michael inspired me in the drawing, his comics are art .. You were great and you will be single ..
rest in peace ..
Chiara
Vixey// Nov 18, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I have been a fan of comics for my whole childhood and still am as a teen. The first art I saw of Mike’s was in the first volume of Teen Titans. It was perhaps the most amazing comic art and by far my favorite, but i had not discovered any others thus far. Just yesterday I realized it was too late. I began to model my style off of his these past years. I adore his art and love the creator of this site for easy viewing of his pieces.
Thanks for making the world more beautiful and inspiring me to be a better artist.
Vixey♥
Spartan212// Feb 10, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Wow i have been out of the loop’ I just found out today about Michael Turner’s death. I am deeply saddened by the lose of such an amazing artist. As an artist and avid Marvel fan i have loved and been inspired by his work for years now. I just can’t believe it. He will be missed greatly. Thanks Michael for creating the best work i’ve ever seen and for setting a bar i hope to one day reach with my own. Rest in peace.
Brendan// May 18, 2010 at 6:13 am
The first comics I ever owned were probably Aliens, Predator, and some Lobo, wll of which were given to me by my late Uncle. And while I read, and enjoyed, them, they never really grabbed me and got me hooked – Mike did. I was fortunate enough to have access to a number of good comic shops, here in the UK, and also fortunate that the guy who ran one of them, Richard, was so good at determining what his customers would enjoy. He introduced me to Witchblade and The Darkness, and, later, Fathom. The artwork that Mike produced, day in day out, is nothing short of spectacular. I love readnig the comics, but I can just look at the drawings for hours, marvelling in the talent that was prematurely taken from us. Having come into comics quite late, I’ve missed a lot of his works, but thanks to the internet I’m slowly getting there. The great man may be gone, but his memories and his legacy remain, to be enjoyed by all. We miss you Mike, but know that you’re in a better place and watching over the loved ones you left behind. Rest In Peace.
Ashermerkabah// Jun 21, 2010 at 7:54 am
I’ve always been into comics, starting with Spiderman back when I was in the third grade in 91 or 92. I even amassed a rather large collection of comic cards. The fantasy always drew me right in (no pun intended). Instead of getting an allowance for chores like most children, my mother agreed to taking my little brother and I to the comic book store once a week to pick up one title, up to $5. My brother was always into Wolverine, and would pick up a back issue and I would pick up a Marvel title, usually Spiderman or X-Men. One day in 1995 on the wall where my local comic shop had all the “high dollar, premium back issues” I saw the #1 Witchblade. I must have sat there for 10 minutes staring at it, how beautiful this witchblade character was, so strong, so sensual, the style touched a chord in my very soul, love at first sight. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
At that moment I got my mother, who was helping my brother find a certain Wolverine title. My parents didn’t make much money back then and with that in mind I tried not to get my hopes up and went to ask her if I could have it anyways. It was $35…She reminded me the rules of our deal, which I new was coming. I was ready with my rebuttal, telling her I was willing to strike up another deal. I told her that if she got me that comic book she wouldn’t have to buy me any new comic books for two months afterward. She hesitantly agreed, probably not sure if I meant it, but I implored that I would stick to my side of the deal.
After getting home and carefully reading the comic something like 5 times I sat content, for at least a few hours. I couldn’t stop thanking my mother that day for the comic and I worked extra hard at my chores for after then. I must admit I completely forgot about the other titles I was currently collecting and even went back the following weeks with my Marvel comics to eagerly trade in for ANYTHING Michael Turner had his hand in. I had been drawing since I was 7 or 8 years old and he was my new hero at that point.
When I was using myspace, I friended Aspen Comics and wrote a long comment (much like this one) on the page and not 2 or 3 days later I got a personal message from none other than Michael Turner himself!! I never thought one could get star struck over the internet, but there I was, light headed and smiling like a powerball winner. I must have read that message 100 times. It wasn’t a short “thanks for your comment” message either. He addressed me by name, and spoke very humbly, person to person, on the same level. He thanked me for his kind words and said that my comment made him feel so good that he thought he would pass it around the Aspen office (as I was thanking him and everyone that worked so hard to bring out such amazing titles). His message was a good paragraph long.
Fast forward a year or so and there I was in Phoenix going to college, and with a perfect attendance record to boot! I was driving to school one day in early July, listening to the radio and the DJ mentioned about a comic book artist dying the friday before. When they said it was Michael Turner, I immediately called my mother back in CO and told her. She said she thought she heard but wasn’t sure if that was “my guy”, referring to the artist I was collecting comics from for so many years. I said yes and she knew I was broken up. I couldn’t stop crying. I turned my car around and drove right back home. A bunch of my friends from class called my phone, they thought I was dead because I never missed class. I couldn’t bear to go to class, I couldn’t hold myself together long enough to focus on anything but the loss I felt.
Over the years I had collected anything I could afford to get my hands on of his, even going into a bidding war on a Soulfire Limited Edition Pittsburgh OP, that I finally one, paying over $300 for. I knew I had to have it there was only 50 of them and it just so happened to be #10 of the 10 “Artist Proof” versions, so only 9 others existed out of the 50.
After all this, being someone who’s never actually really “met” Michael Turner, I can’t even begin to imagine how his family and friends must feel with this. I want to wish those people as well as all his fans who feel the same way I do about this person that wasn’t just a great artist, but also someone who was very humble, and treated his fans like extended family. I’ll always remember Mike and how seeing that first Witchblade #1 hanging on the wall made me feel those 15 years ago, a feeling that has kept me enthralled through all his work, falling in love again and again….and remembering how he treated me with such kindness and uniqueness when I finally was able to contact him through the internet. He will truly be missed by all. Rest In Peace Mike, I hope you don’t mind I call you that, I feel like we’ve come that far by now.
I remember the first time I finally gave into Tom’s suggestions and take a look at Michael Turners work. I was a teenager working at none other than Tom’s comic store, Comic Central. I remember reading Witch Blade and thinking, Wow! What a great book! This whole team is amazing! But what really stood out to me was the artwork. At that time I would always compare new artists to some of the biggest names in the industry, Jim Lee, Mark Silvestri, ect ect. For someone to make me think Wow! after reading a book was very rare and very exciting. It was then that I started reading pretty much any book I missed of his and any book he would eventually do and fortunately our comic book store had everything you could ever want. Sometimes I wish I would have listened to Tom earlier but I guess better late than never, right? After Tom closed his store and went strictly online I started to slowly quit reading comic books and really more or less got out of them all together. But like most people who read comic books know, you can never truly stop reading. So after a couple years I stopped in a book store and saw that Turner had been doing work for DC and covers for Marvel and such. That was the first thing I bought that brought me back into the comic book world again. Batman/Superman: Supergirl TPB. After that it was pretty much every cover that Michael did for marvel, I’d at least pick it up and flip through it(though I knew the inside wasn’t his work). I guess what I’m trying to get at is there are so many comic books that come out each Wednesday and yes there are quite a few that are very good, but there are very few artists like Michael Turner around that would just suck you into his art and almost make you forget that other books even came out that week. When I heard the news from Tom I didn’t know what to think. I was mad that now I wouldn’t be able to read any books with his art anymore. I was sad that now when I would finally be able to make it to a San Diego convention he wouldn’t be there to sign my favorite book of his. Then I realized that what I really was was happy. Happy for what he did to this industry and happy that he renewed my interest in comic books twice and happy that he is now in a better place and can draw all the comic books he wants. Rest In Peace.
Even though this is a few months ago, I’m still in shock. I loved his work, especially Witchblade, Fathom and some of his contributing work such as in Tomb Raider. He brought a dazzling new kind of art to the forefront and suddenly, I was back to collecting comics, something I hadn’t done in years. I had the great pleasure of meeting him at a comic con about two years ago. He was such a down-to-earth and friendly guy. He even stayed a while for pictures with his fans and even did a Tomb Raider sketch for me. I will cherish that memory forever even though I’m heartbroken that now, his work and life come to an end. People might copy or imitate his style but his work spoke for itself. I’ll never give up my Witchblade or Fathom collection for anything. When I look into his work, I find something I never really had in my childhood: excitement. That’s how much his work means to me. My deepest condolences to his family. Rest in peace Michael.
Well…
I am still very sad about hearing that great man’s death…..
Truly a big loss to the comic industry…..
I live in Denmark where it’s only x-men and Spider-man that has a monthly comic here, but some years back Witchblade was a monthly comic too…
From the first glance through the comic before I bought it I fell in love with the amazing art by Michael, and it just keep growing and growing for every issue I read.
The comic only hold on for a year before the danish comic series thing decided to cancel it, wich I was very unhappy about and sent them like 20 hate mails and all that,but that didn’t work….
So I started searching for his art other places and found a little comic shop in a city 50 km from me. I got all the withcblade they had that Michael had drawn but the comic store guy said that is wasn’t even close to all of it, wich I again was very unhappy about…
So for a few years all the Turner art I got to see was the ones on the internet, wich only was covers and such.
But then one day I went to that same comic book store nad what did I find?? Superman/batman : Supergirl by Michael Turner!!!
I was like a teenage girl that just got her tickets to a Backstreet Boys live show (MEaning I was REALLY Excited)
I read the comic like 23 times over and over and I still found small new details in his drawing that I had missed out the other times I read it….
Unfortunately I got the comic only two months before I read on DeviantArt about his death….
I was stunned for like five minutes, not thinking just staring with my mout wide open on the screen that said “Michael Turner passed away”
I still haven’t gotten it completely accepted in my head and I still find myself really really sad about it…..
I even put the Superman/batman comic I had of him, in a frame and put it on my wall…
From what I’ve learned by reading about Michael’s passing was that he was one the greatest guys ever to walk on earth, always had time for his fans and not shy to talk openly about his illness….
I am still searching for all the Turner art I can find and now that I’ve found this place I have found a place to express my feelings about his lost….
And that makde me think : If his death made such a impact on me, how must his nearest not feel?
It must be almost unbearable for them and all I can do is send my condolences to them…
I know they appreciate this site if they know about it…
I can’t find more words to express myself with at the time…. Feeling really really sad just to write this was really hard for me, but I somewhat felt it had to be done…
So Rest In Peace Michael…..
I know you’r up there protecting you’r loved ones..
-Niels Bülow Hansen
I have only recently become familiar with Michael Turners work. I’ve read and/or collected comics since I was 6 years old ( I’m now 49 ). I quit collecting/buying comic almost completely around 1990, when I sold most of my collection, due to financial problems and not being able to keep up with the multitudes of different characters having multiple titles. I just no longer had the time or the money to keep up. A few years ago I started reading some of the comics & graphic novels that I still had stored away & I have recently been buying a little more.
That is when I discovered Michaels incredible art in the graphic novel form of the Batman-Superman/Supergirl saga. WOW! His artwork was/is so GOOD that it inspired me to add some of his artwork to my already huge screensaver folder of superheroes. I went through that folder just now ( it took about 10 minutes ) and discovered that I already had a few of Michaels images, but I
didn’t realize when I placed those images in that folder who the artist was. Only that he or she was REALLY GOOD. It was only when I was inspired to look for images online of the incredible artist, I now knew to be Michael Turner, did I discover to my great sadness that this true talent had died.
Now more than ever, I am going to add more of his wonderful artwork to my superhero screensaver folder in honor and as a memorial to his work. The way he drew the 2 biggest heroes in comicdom, Superman & Batman, are EXACTLY the
way I envision these two heroes as looking and how I would draw them were I blessed to be THAT great of an artist. There have been many good and great artists over the decades in comics. Some of my favorites have been Neal Adams, Jim Aparo,
George Perez, John Byrne, Jim Lee and Alex Ross. While all of these artist are VERY good and have portrayed some of my favorite heroes the way I would, I would put Michael Turners work as equal, if not BETTER, than these giants of comic book art.
I don’t know if the Turner family, friends and co-workers keep up with this particular blog (”Shrine”), but I hope they see my message that my heart and prayers go out to them as this tragic loss is still quite fresh. In the relatively short time he was in the
world of comic book art he has had an INCREDIBLE impact. For example, the show Witchblade that I watched and enjoyed years ago, I am just now finding out was a character/creation of Michael Turners. Thanks to comic collectors and of course now the internet, his spectacular artwork will live on for decades (at least) to come.
We will all mourn his passing every time we see his work on the net or read one of the comics he had a part in working on. Like other types of artists before him, whether it be John Ritter or of course Christopher Reeve, he left this world way too soon. But he/they left it a better place where believing in heroes, real or fictional, is alive and well.
Where in the hell have I been? How could I only be finding this out now?
back when Image Comics and Top Cow came about I also jumped ship along with those revolutionaries/visionaries. I bought and read Spawn, Witchblade, The Darkness, Fathom, and many other great titles, but, the artwork for these comics is what kept me interested. Michael Turner stood out from the rest.
Any comic book fan can look at a cover and see the name of the artist/s who created the cover and inner art – when it came to Michael Turner; one didn’t need to see his name or initials, you can tell just by looking at the drawing whose work it was.
I love Micheal’s work. Enough so that I have his rendition of Supergirl and His rendition of Wonder Woman (holding the noose) tattooed in my skin.
No matter where I go, people see my tattoos and inevitably comes, “Michael Turner fan, eh?”
Yep, that’s me, a huge fan of Michael Turner and his art. I plan on getting a double panel Justice League of America, drawn by Michael Turner, Tattooed onto my lower back.
I never got to meet Micheal Turner… I went to Wondercon in San Francisco last February before he passed in hope that I would get to meet him. I have never seen art as beautiful as Micheal’s. He was beyond gifted. I know I may sound so silly but I cry often when I think about the fact that there will be no more drawings. I hope and pray that his friends, family, and fans heel with time. My heart goes out to his loved ones. His story was fantastic. In closing, I believe that your in Heaven drawing the ultimate comic book. Micheal. Thank you for your art. It made a difference in my life and I am sure of others as well. Jae
How I wish I had gotten to meet Michael Turner! But it was not mean’t to be. I would probably have been too shy to tell him how much his work mean’t to me, how beautiful I thought his artwork was and how much I enjoyed his writing. I have loved comics since I was a little girl. I grew up in Mudgee, a country town in New South Wales, Australia and I only had access to black & white reprints of (mainly) DC titles. My favourite was Supergirl and she stayed a favourite over many years and several incarnations. I started collecting “real” comics in the late 70s through most of the 80s then gave it away. But then in late 2005 I wandered into Phantom Zone, a comic shop in Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney, and there was a beautiful poster advertising Supergirl drawn by Michael Turner. She was back and so was I, and the more I saw of Michael Turners art the more I loved it. I picked up the avalable issues of Soulfire at the same time as I picked up those first 2 new issues of Supergirl then I set about hunting down everything else I could find on Michael Turners art. I am completely blown away by everything I have found and I am still searching. I buy a lot of back issues through milehighcomics.com and it was in a newsletter from Mile High that I first learned of Mike’s passing. I started to cry while I called up the Aspen site to have my fears confirmed. I didn’t expect to be as effected as I was by the passing of a man I did not know, had never met and only knew of because of beautiful pictures…but I was and I guess that is a testament to how much Mike’s work impacted on my life. I can’t image how hard it has been for those he loved and worked with, his family and friends. Please know how much this stranger loved your son, fiance and friend and that my heart goes out to all of those touched by Michael Turner
A long time ago I saw Witchblade comics. I thought the art was fantastic and it blew me away. I have always been interested in drawing but when I saw his art, it gave me a desire to really try and get better. I was always happy to see him expand. From getting Fathom of the ground to working on so many different pieces. His style was unique and it was beautiful. I was very sad the day I heard, and when I picked up the tribute book, reading through it brought tears to my eyes.
He will always be an artistic legend to me and I will continue to learn from, cherish, and enjoy his work.
I just.. totally cannot believe the first I hear about Michael’s passing is from some blog while I’m just casually poking around for some Soulfire pictures. I have been out of the loop for awhile, it seems.
Michael Turner was first introduced to my world when Witchblade began. I was about 12 or 13 when I started reading it, and the best part about it for me was the art. I would like to think Michael actually helped me learn to draw. I sat for -hours- free-hand copying pages from the comic, until I could crudely mimic his style with my amateur hand. I grew as an artist, all the while retaining a Turner-esque for several years style until I was able to develop one of my own. He has remained my favorite artist for over 11 years, and I doubt anyone will come close to taking his place in my life.
I was desperately hoping to meet him briefly at an appearance when it was cancelled due to his skiing accident. After that, I don’t think I ever had the time and/or means to seek him out anywhere else. It’s heartbreaking to know now I never will. His art was stunning, seductive, beautiful.. purely awesome with loving attention to detail.
I stopped collecting comics for a few years, so I was completely unaware of this tragedy. I cried for a few minutes whilst realizing that my idol in the world of art is no longer going to be gracing us with his work, and it’s truly heartbreaking.
Here’s to my artistic hero – he will never cease to be missed by those who admired him.
I’m a year late to find out about Michael’s passing. I just happened to be researching the upcoming movie Fathom to see if it was in fact one of Mike’s creations, which it was…and just by curiousity since I had been out of the comic circuit for so long, I wanted to see all the past comics that I had/have love Mike had created…My heart just dropped when I saw “Michael Turner 1971 – 2008″. My first thought was “NO, IT CAN’T BE!” =(
Like a few fallen fans, I have stopped collecting comic books for a few years as well. But, I tell ya, I was biased with what I collected. If it wasn’t Michael Turner’s work it was anything associated around Michael Turner. Image Comic, Top Cow…any special artwork he did for other comic lines that was not his creations, I would buy it. I just loved his artwork. I remember the inserpt of Witchblade in one of Cyberforce comic and I knew I had to buy it…so, I bought several of that 1st issue and had collected for a while. Sadly, money became tight and I just stopped collecting. =(
Michael, I want to say this…I am very happy I had the opportunity to meet you during the Bellevue, WA ComicCon back in the mid 90’s. Little did I know it would be my only time I would have the honor. I am amaze by your talent and how well you showed it with your quick sketches you whipped up for your fans…I’m glad I was able to snag one from you…it means that much more to me now than ever. I do have to say this, it sounds weird but after a couple of mos later having met you…Issue #9 of Witchblade came out and I swear it looked a lot like me (even where her beauty mark was positioned). Though I’m sure I didn’t have anything to do with the inspirition and it was just meer coinsidence but I’d like to think I did. You did inspire me.
I use to laugh at my brother for his love of comics, but now I thank him for exposing me to your talent and creativity. Cyberforce was where I first discovered your artwork and was just in awe. Sounds like a cliche, but like many others, you have inspired me to pick up a pen and draw. And for the longest while, I wanted to get into the comic book industry. My brother and I still talk about, but who know. I never progressed to do anything else with the skill, but I doodle here and there, but I always remember your style of drawing when I drew. I ‘attempted’ to capture the style that you did…but, of course I could never even come close to your work.
Mike, you will be forever missed and I will miss your creativity and all of your work that was to come. It saddens me that you will not be here to see one of your best creations come to life in a move (Fathom). but at least you got to see Witchblade come to life on television. My heart goes out to your family and friends that misses you dearly, but your legacy will forever live on.
Today is a very sad day for me, I just find out about Micherl’s death. I can’t belived.
Comenze a ver su obra cuando aun estaba en la universidad, estudiaba artes plasticas. No sabia nada de comics, ni sus creadores; pero me llamó mucho la atención sus dibujos. Era algo totalmente diferente a lo antes visto. Así que comenze a coleccionar Witchblade, luego The Darkness hasta que aparecio Fathom y me encanto la historia y su arte.
Era bien inspirador para mi, ver su trabajo. Me enamoré de su arte.
Luego me case y por algun tiempo no segui coleccionando los comics, aunque los extrañaba.
Hoy me encuentro en medio de un proyecto y quize buscar en el internet los ultimos trabajos de Michael Turner, saber de su vida; cuando me entero de la noticia de su partida.
Quedé en “shock”, rompió mi corazón.
No me arrepiento de haber comprado sus comics, ellos me han dado mucha inspiración para seguir dibujando.
Donde quiera que estes Michael quiero decirte Gracias!
Se que tu familia y amigos te extrañan mucho y les doy mi mas sentido pésame.
Por acá cerquita de tu hogar, en una isla pequeñita pero con gente de gran corazón, hay una boricua que te recordará por siempre y le agradezco a Dios tu presencia en mi vida.
I have always been a comic fan, but until I first saw Michael Turner’s art, I never before had a favorite artist. He will always be my fave and I thank him for that gift. I love everything and anything he did and would have done. For me, Mike will forever be the greatest.
Mike’s arts have big influences in my career as a photographer, especially in portraiture & model fields. I remember back when I was in my early years in university, I took photography major. But I don’t know what kind of field will I take. Coz in photography, there’re lots of fields, such as journalism, products, interior, fashion, portraiture, etc. But after I saw some of his excellent arts in witchblade (that’s the main reason why I collect comics!! & I always bought all of his comics and still trying to collect every issues that he drew), it made me realize that through his arts, I can do like he does, creating masterpiece arts. And everytime I’m doing a fashion/model photography, I always have mike’s arts as references, like the poses he drew, or the mood he created…So, in the end, I just wanna say that I really gonna miss him & his arts, farewell….
for some portfolios that I shots, based on several mike’s arts, u can visit my blog at http://www.fujimiyagokunaga.blogspot.com
When I started to draw, for money, like that happens, anyways I was commissioned for a few ladies to grace the cover of a calender, it was Michael’s art that helped me to build a refine their look. I had to check out more, and I found that both of us were fighting sarcoma, mine osteosarcome, and I instantly felt a kinship to him. I knew kinda what was involved in this fight. We both loved our professions, and life. I have sinced then started a series of comics called Captain Cure that tell a story of fighting this ruthless disease, and Michael had a lot to do with it, he inspired me to move forward and use whatever gifts afforded to me to fight, I miss him.
Just recently I did a college project where you had to pick any artist of your interest and put his/her information on all six sides of a small square box. It was a pretty cool project. I picked Michael as my artist. We actually have a little in common. I took martial arts and play video games when I get the chance. I’m an inspiring comic book artist as well and I’m trying to get a character that I created up and running just like Mike did before he had any known characters. When I found out about his death on June 27 (the same day as my birthday) I was in awe. I thought he had been doing better with his cancer from the last article I read about him. I never got to meet him. I wish I could have, but when I look at his artwork, it inspires me to keep doing mine. He is and always will be one of my favorite comic book artists.
I live in england where there aren’t much places you can find comics, so i would spend my school lunch times looking up comics. I was searching up charachters with water manipulation abilities and Aspen Matthews was at the top of the list, i remeber looking at Michael Turners art and thinking Oh My God, this guys unbelievably amazing. Only two weeks later, i visited the Top Cow site, and the first thing that came up was a slide-show which said Michael Turner Rest In Peace Forever. I thought they were talking about someone else so went to wikipedia, which was when i realised he had passed. I could’nt beleive it, i was utterly and completely gutted. My brother got me some Fathom comics that he could find and every day i sit and stare at them wondering how he was able to draw like that. He’s truly an awesomely amazing artist.
I knew that he had been diagnosed with cancer .. but I learned only recently that Michael died last year, the news still haunts me …
For drawings of Michael, it was love at first sight .. I remember the first time I saw the look of Witchblade in a poster, I was in disbelief .. it was so vivid, sensual, and decided that I could not help but ask Who was the author.
Michael inspired me in the drawing, his comics are art .. You were great and you will be single ..
rest in peace ..
Chiara
I have been a fan of comics for my whole childhood and still am as a teen. The first art I saw of Mike’s was in the first volume of Teen Titans. It was perhaps the most amazing comic art and by far my favorite, but i had not discovered any others thus far. Just yesterday I realized it was too late. I began to model my style off of his these past years. I adore his art and love the creator of this site for easy viewing of his pieces.
Thanks for making the world more beautiful and inspiring me to be a better artist.
Vixey♥
Wow i have been out of the loop’ I just found out today about Michael Turner’s death. I am deeply saddened by the lose of such an amazing artist. As an artist and avid Marvel fan i have loved and been inspired by his work for years now. I just can’t believe it. He will be missed greatly. Thanks Michael for creating the best work i’ve ever seen and for setting a bar i hope to one day reach with my own. Rest in peace.
The first comics I ever owned were probably Aliens, Predator, and some Lobo, wll of which were given to me by my late Uncle. And while I read, and enjoyed, them, they never really grabbed me and got me hooked – Mike did. I was fortunate enough to have access to a number of good comic shops, here in the UK, and also fortunate that the guy who ran one of them, Richard, was so good at determining what his customers would enjoy. He introduced me to Witchblade and The Darkness, and, later, Fathom. The artwork that Mike produced, day in day out, is nothing short of spectacular. I love readnig the comics, but I can just look at the drawings for hours, marvelling in the talent that was prematurely taken from us. Having come into comics quite late, I’ve missed a lot of his works, but thanks to the internet I’m slowly getting there. The great man may be gone, but his memories and his legacy remain, to be enjoyed by all. We miss you Mike, but know that you’re in a better place and watching over the loved ones you left behind. Rest In Peace.
I’ve always been into comics, starting with Spiderman back when I was in the third grade in 91 or 92. I even amassed a rather large collection of comic cards. The fantasy always drew me right in (no pun intended). Instead of getting an allowance for chores like most children, my mother agreed to taking my little brother and I to the comic book store once a week to pick up one title, up to $5. My brother was always into Wolverine, and would pick up a back issue and I would pick up a Marvel title, usually Spiderman or X-Men. One day in 1995 on the wall where my local comic shop had all the “high dollar, premium back issues” I saw the #1 Witchblade. I must have sat there for 10 minutes staring at it, how beautiful this witchblade character was, so strong, so sensual, the style touched a chord in my very soul, love at first sight. It hit me like a ton of bricks.
At that moment I got my mother, who was helping my brother find a certain Wolverine title. My parents didn’t make much money back then and with that in mind I tried not to get my hopes up and went to ask her if I could have it anyways. It was $35…She reminded me the rules of our deal, which I new was coming. I was ready with my rebuttal, telling her I was willing to strike up another deal. I told her that if she got me that comic book she wouldn’t have to buy me any new comic books for two months afterward. She hesitantly agreed, probably not sure if I meant it, but I implored that I would stick to my side of the deal.
After getting home and carefully reading the comic something like 5 times I sat content, for at least a few hours. I couldn’t stop thanking my mother that day for the comic and I worked extra hard at my chores for after then. I must admit I completely forgot about the other titles I was currently collecting and even went back the following weeks with my Marvel comics to eagerly trade in for ANYTHING Michael Turner had his hand in. I had been drawing since I was 7 or 8 years old and he was my new hero at that point.
When I was using myspace, I friended Aspen Comics and wrote a long comment (much like this one) on the page and not 2 or 3 days later I got a personal message from none other than Michael Turner himself!! I never thought one could get star struck over the internet, but there I was, light headed and smiling like a powerball winner. I must have read that message 100 times. It wasn’t a short “thanks for your comment” message either. He addressed me by name, and spoke very humbly, person to person, on the same level. He thanked me for his kind words and said that my comment made him feel so good that he thought he would pass it around the Aspen office (as I was thanking him and everyone that worked so hard to bring out such amazing titles). His message was a good paragraph long.
Fast forward a year or so and there I was in Phoenix going to college, and with a perfect attendance record to boot! I was driving to school one day in early July, listening to the radio and the DJ mentioned about a comic book artist dying the friday before. When they said it was Michael Turner, I immediately called my mother back in CO and told her. She said she thought she heard but wasn’t sure if that was “my guy”, referring to the artist I was collecting comics from for so many years. I said yes and she knew I was broken up. I couldn’t stop crying. I turned my car around and drove right back home. A bunch of my friends from class called my phone, they thought I was dead because I never missed class. I couldn’t bear to go to class, I couldn’t hold myself together long enough to focus on anything but the loss I felt.
Over the years I had collected anything I could afford to get my hands on of his, even going into a bidding war on a Soulfire Limited Edition Pittsburgh OP, that I finally one, paying over $300 for. I knew I had to have it there was only 50 of them and it just so happened to be #10 of the 10 “Artist Proof” versions, so only 9 others existed out of the 50.
After all this, being someone who’s never actually really “met” Michael Turner, I can’t even begin to imagine how his family and friends must feel with this. I want to wish those people as well as all his fans who feel the same way I do about this person that wasn’t just a great artist, but also someone who was very humble, and treated his fans like extended family. I’ll always remember Mike and how seeing that first Witchblade #1 hanging on the wall made me feel those 15 years ago, a feeling that has kept me enthralled through all his work, falling in love again and again….and remembering how he treated me with such kindness and uniqueness when I finally was able to contact him through the internet. He will truly be missed by all. Rest In Peace Mike, I hope you don’t mind I call you that, I feel like we’ve come that far by now.
Joshua Romo