For anyone that might not have heard the news today, we lost one of the comic greats last night. Michael Turner, after waging a valiant fight with Cancer for the last 7+ years, Passed away last night at the age of 37.
To say I knew Mike would be a vast overstatement since I only saw him once or twice a year and it was usually just to say hello but I knew many of his friends very well and have come up in the industry hearing stories of Mike's kindness and devotion to his thousands of fans and the smile that always donned his face even when the Cancer he suffered from was at it's worst. year after year, even when in great pain, Mike would travel around the country to as many conventions as he could to show his appreciation to anyone that loved him or his work as well as pumping out cover after cover month in and month out even when the pain got so bad that he had to draw flat on his back. Mike set an example for all of us to follow whether it be work ethic or a general positive outlook on life even when things are at their worst.
They say that an artist is special because he or she is the only being in the world that is immortal. The works they create can live on forever far after the artist is gone. Mike proved this by showing all of us what is possible with hard work and determination and he created characters and worlds that will stand the test of time and keep him living in the artwork he drew.
If you knew Michael or his work, please take a moment tonight to pray for Mike as well as all the family and friends that are mourning his loss. If you're not familiar with Mike, please take a second to look him up and see the kind of art he created. We lost one of the great ones today at far too young an age and our industry is poorer for it.

If you would like to send condolences to Michael's family you are encouraged to do so. Please send them to:

Aspen MLT, Inc.
C/O Michael Turner
5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 111
Culver City, CA, 90230

His company Aspen Comics is also encouraging anyone wishing to do so to send a charitable donation big or small in Mike's name to The American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp or the Make-A-Wish Foundation http://www.wish.org/help?s_kwcid=make%20a%20wish|917760391

Till we meet again,
-Mark