I heard the news last night that comic artist Michael Turner lost his battle with cancer. I nearly cried. While not a reader of Turner's creator owned work, I have always enjoyed his art, especially his covers. It seems like comics have lost a lot of great people in the last year or two. It's really shocking that such a small industry has lost so many great people in such a short time. But that's not all that saddens me about his death.

While I realize that comics are a niche industry, they are still a staple of American art. Yet when we have lost these great comic artists recently (such as Turner and Mike Wieringo, most notably) nothing is said in a any national media. We can hear about Britt's latest drinking binge, the new perfume from Paris, or who Jennifer Aniston is sleeping with this week, yet we can't get 30 seconds to mention a great man that the comic industry lost. It's a little sickening, really, but I don't see it changing.

To all of my artist friends with talent out there, take a minute to look at Turner's art if you aren't familiar with it. Then, if you feel so bold, take one of his many scetches he did (for friends, for fans at Cons, and for dozens of covers) and apply some loving colors to them. It's a fitting tribute. RIP Michael. I hope you enjoy the water up there.