Wikipedia

John Cassaday

Johnny Mac Cassaday(/ˈkæsədeɪ/;[1]December 14, 1971 – September 9, 2024) was an Americancomic book artist,writer, and television director.[2]He was best known for his work on the critically acclaimedPlanetarywith writerWarren Ellis,[3]where his art style conveyed a sense of realism despite that book's fantastical settings.[4]He later works includedAstonishing X-MenwithJoss Whedon,Captain AmericawithJohn Ney Rieber,andStar WarswithJason Aaron.

John Cassaday
Cassaday in 2015
Born(1971-12-14)December 14, 1971
Fort Worth, Texas,U.S.
DiedSeptember 9, 2024(2024-09-09)(aged 52)
New York City, U.S.
Area(s)Artist, writer, television director
Notable works
AwardsEisner Award(2005, 2006),Scream Award(2007)

BothMarvel ComicsandDC Comicsinclude many of Cassaday's iconic images in their marketing, and in their art and poster book collections. Marvel Comics-based animated films have made extensive use of his art. He received multipleEagleandEisner Awardsand nominations for his work.

Early life

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Johnny Mac Cassaday was born on December 14, 1971, in Fort Worth, Texas.[4]A self-taught illustrator, Cassaday listed his influences as, among others,NC Wyeth,[5][6]classicpulp magazine-culture iconography, and popular music.[7]Cassaday studied film in school, calling it "an equal passion to comics."[4]

Career

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Comics

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Cassaday directedtelevision newsin Texas for five years before moving to New York. He spent one summer working a construction job while working on his portfolio in prepration forSan Diego Comic-Con.[8][9]

In 1994 Cassaday broke into the comic book industry with a one-page illustration and a short story forBoneyard Press.[4]

In 1996, at San Diego Comic-Con, Cassaday showed his portfolio to popular comic book writer and editorMark Waid,who recommended him to writerJeff Mariotte,with whom Cassaday would create the seriesDesperadoes,aWeird Westseries that was published from 1997 - 2002. Waid recalled, "I refuse to take any real credit for 'discovering' John Cassaday. I can't take credit for having functioning eyeballs."[4]Soon after, Cassaday began receiving job offers from bigger publishers. He quit his construction job and left Texas for New York.[4][10]

In December1996he produced art forDark Horse Comics'Ghost.Within a year, he was hired to be the regular artist onHomage Comics'Desperadoes.

In late 1997 Cassaday was hired byDCandMarvelas artist on theTeen TitansandFlashannuals,X-Men/Alpha Flight,andUnion Jack.His work onX-Menmade him one of the title's most popular artists.[11]

In 1999, Cassaday and writerWarren ElliscreatedPlanetaryforWildStorm Productions.Relating the manner in which the episodic series would feature different settings in each issue, Ellis, recalled in 2024, "John said he'd love to try a monthly series, but hated the idea of having to draw the same thing every issue." To this end, the stories revolved around concepts as diverse asDoc Savageanalogues, an island of monsters reminiscent of Japanesekaijufilms, the ghost of a murdered Chinese police officer, and a doppelgänger ofMarilyn Monroewho was subjected to scientific experiments by the government. Cassaday's covers for the series were designed like movie posters, with the book's logo reimaginzed for each issue. He also modeled the character Drummer after himself.[4]

Cassaday subsequently worked on other titles for various publishers, includingGen13,Superman/Batman,The Hulk,andThe Avengers.He worked on multipleCaptain America projects,including an issue ofFallen Son: The Death of Captain Americawritten byJeph Loeb.

He based his cover art onWorld War IIpropaganda posters. Marvel released the covers in a series of poster art books. He has also created covers for comic books featuringThe Phantom,for US publisherMoonstone Booksand the EuropeanEgmont,as well as covers for Joss Whedon'sFireflyspinoff comicSerenity: Those Left Behind,andGuy Ritchie's Gamekeeper.He handled covers and art direction onDynamite Entertainment'sThe Lone Rangercomic-book series. Books featuring his art includeWizard's PosterMania!,Women of Marvel Poster Book,Wolverine Poster Book,New Avengers Poster Book,three editions of theCaptain America Poster Book,andDC Comics Covergirls.In 1999, he provided black-and-white interior illustrations for the novelGen13:Netherwar,byChristopher GoldenandJeff Mariotte,published byAce Books.

From 2004 to 2008, Cassaday illustrated the graphic novel trilogyJe suis légionby Fabien Nury fromLes Humanoïdes Associés.The English language edition was published as an eight issue comic seriesI Am LegionbyDevil's Due Publishing.[12]In July 2006, Humanoïdes announced a co-production deal withPierre Spenglerfor a screen adaptation of the work.[13]At the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, it was announced that the three picture series would be directed byNacho Cerdawith a screenplay by Richard Stanley.[14]

Cassaday wrote stories forHellboy: Weird Tales,Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream,Rocketeer Adventures,X-Men: Alpha Flight,Bela Lugosi: Takes from the Grave,andUnion Jack.He also wrote drawing instruction articles forWizard Magazine'sWizard: How to Draw.

John Cassaday appeared in theCaptain America 75th Anniversarytelevision special on ABC in January 2016.[15]That same year he provided the art on theCaptain Americaspecial anniversary issue.[16]and re-teamed with Joss Whedon on a story featuringSam WilsoninCaptain America: Sam Wilson#7.[17]

Cassaday headlined the highly successful 2015Star Warsrevival at Marvel Comics.[18]The book became the #1 selling comic for 2015. According toForbesmagazine, it was the top-selling comic of the last 20 years,[19]having sold approximately one million copies.[4][20]

Film and television

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Work

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Cassaday's art appeared in an episode ofHBO First Look,a 2003 documentary about the making of theDaredevilfilm.[21]

He worked as aconcept artiston thefilm adaptationofAlan MooreandDave Gibbons' classic graphic novelWatchmen.[22]

In 2009, theAstonishing X-Menanimated DVD series was adapted as amotion comicfrom Cassaday's art for the comic book series written by Joss Whedon.[23]

Cassaday directed "The Attic", the December 18, 2009 episode of the television seriesDollhouse,which aired as the tenth episode of that series' second season.[24][25]

Cassaday's art was used extensively in the Futureal Studio documentaryAdventures into Digital Comics(2010).

Onscreen appearances

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Cassaday himself appeared in aWizard World-sponsored documentary in 2002. He also appeared inGeneration X: The Comic Book History of the X-Men,a 2006 DVD documentary about theX-Menfranchise.

As an actor, Cassaday appeared in small roles in the 2012 horror filmHouse on the Hill[26]andITV Playhouse.

Technique and materials

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In addition to penciling and inking his interior comics pages, Cassaday did his cover work in ink and charcoal, working with frequent collaborator Laura Martin, who digitally colored most of his covers. He credited the challenges of working on complicated books likePlanetarywith making him a better artist.[27]

Personal life and death

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Cassaday's partner was Tara A. Martinez.[4]

Cassaday died fromcardiac arrestin a Manhattan hospital on September 9, 2024, at the age of 52.[4][2]He was survived by his mother and a sister, Robin Cassaday, his father having died of cancer in 1990.[4]

Awards

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Wins

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  • 2005Eisner Awardfor Best Penciller/Inker forAstonishing X-Men,Planetary,andI Am Legion: The Dancing Faun(tied with illustratorFrank Quitely)
  • 2005Wizard World Fan Awardfor Favorite Penciller (Astonishing X-Men,Planetary)[28]
  • 2006Eisner Award for Best Penciller/Inker forAstonishing X-MenandPlanetary
  • 2006 Eisner Award for Best Ongoing Series forAstonishing X-Men(with Joss Whedon)
  • 2006 Eagle Award for Favourite Comics Artist: Pencils
  • 2007Spike TV Scream Awardfor Best Comic-Book Artist

Nominations

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Bibliography

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Boneyard Press

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  • Bill the Bull: One Shot, One Bourbon, One Beer#1 ( "Justin" ) (Boneyard Press,1994)
  • Flowers on the Razorwire#5–6 (Boneyard Press, 1995)

Caliber Comics

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CFD Productions

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Dark Horse

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  • Ghost#27 (June 1997)
    • Ghost: Black October,Dark Horse, 1999,ISBN1-56971-377-4
  • Hellboy: Weird Tales,miniseries, #1–8 (among other artists) (2003–04)

DC

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Image

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Marvel

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Notes

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  1. ^"Comic-Con 2010: John Cassaday"
  2. ^abBrooke, David (September 9, 2024)."Comic book artist John Cassaday passes away at 52".AIPT Comics.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
  3. ^Kreiner, Rich (February 2004). "Firing Line:Planetary/Batman".The Comics Journal.1(258): 50–51.ISSN0194-7869.
  4. ^abcdefghijkGustines, George Gene(September 18, 2024)."John Cassaday, Award-Winning Comic Book Artist, Dies at 52".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on September 18, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  5. ^"John Cassaday, una carriera da sogno".Fumettologica.Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  6. ^Roberts, Sidra (2002). His earliest documented work was in the Coleman, OK Highschool yearbook, where he also graduated in 1990."An Interview With John Cassaday"Archived2005-08-31 at theWayback Machine.Coville's Clubhouse.
  7. ^Giles, Keith (August 17, 2001)."It's official! John Cassaday takes on 'Captain America'".Comic Book Resources.
  8. ^Ellis, Jonathan."John Cassaday: Tellurian With Technique".PopImage. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-28.Retrieved2016-03-01.
  9. ^Kim, Albert (April 28, 2008)."Comic Genius".Upstart Business Journal.
  10. ^"PopImage".Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-28.Retrieved2016-03-01.
  11. ^"The Top 10 X-Men Artists".Complex Networks.
  12. ^Phegley, Kiel (October 30, 2008)."Cassaday's I Am Legion Lands at Devil's Due".Comic Book Resources.RetrievedOctober 30,2008.
  13. ^Masters, Charles (July 14, 2006)."Spengler back in swing with comic-book lineup".The Hollywood Reporter.Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2009.RetrievedMarch 17,2008.
  14. ^"Humanoids Expands Film Adaptation Business".
  15. ^Ching, Albert (December 18, 2015)."Captain America Gets 75th Anniversary Special on ABC in January".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on April 24, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
  16. ^Phegley, Kiel (February 26, 2016)."John Cassaday Returns to 'Captain America' for 75th Anniversary Story".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
  17. ^"Joss Whedon Reunites with John Cassaday for 'Captain America' Anniversary Issue".Comic Book Resources.March 3, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on September 10, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 10,2024.
  18. ^Todd, Dylan (January 12, 2015)."Review: Marvel's New 'Star Wars' #1 by Aaron & Cassaday".Comics Alliance.Archivedfrom the original on March 11, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  19. ^Gonzales, David (January 13, 2015)."'Star Wars #1' is Already 2015's Top Selling Comic ".Forbes.Archivedfrom the original on January 14, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  20. ^"January 2015 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops".Comichron. January 2015.Archivedfrom the original on February 18, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  21. ^"Albert Moy: Original Comic Art - Original Comic Art by John Cassaday".
  22. ^"Exclusive Watchmen Concept Art - IGN".22 January 2009.
  23. ^"Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men is Getting Animated".11 July 2012.
  24. ^"The Attic".Dollhouse.Season 2. Episode 10. December 19, 2009.Fox Broadcasting Company.
  25. ^Furey, Emmett (July 28, 2009)."CCI: Joss Whedon on" Dollhouse "".Comic Book Resources.
  26. ^"What are the characters in The House on the Hill movie".actorole.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-05-19.
  27. ^Arrant, Chris (March 24, 2010)."Circling Back Around PLANETARY W/ Artist John Cassaday".Newsarama.Archived fromthe originalon August 30, 2014.
  28. ^"Wizard World Chicago Sets Attendance Records".Raving Toy Maniac - The Latest News and Pictures from the World of Toys(Press release). Congers, New York: www.toymania.com. Aug 7, 2006.
  29. ^"2008 Eisner Nominations Announced".Comic Book Resources. April 14, 2008
  30. ^Spurgeon, Tom(April 8, 2010)."Your 2010 Eisner Award Nominees".The Comics Reporter.

References

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