In Memoriam: George Pérez, 1954-2022

Certified Guaranty Company© (CGC©) was saddened to learn of the passing of legendary comic world icon George Pérez at the age of 67 on May 6, 2022. His artwork helped energize the Bronze and Copper Age of comics, and he was responsible for some of the most memorable characters and stories from Marvel and DC Comics over the past 50 years.

“Creators like George Pérez come along maybe once in a generation,” said Brittany McManus, CGC Signature Series Director. “Not only was he an immense talent, he was incredibly kindhearted and a pleasure to know. The comics community has lost a real giant, and we’ve lost a great friend.”

Pérez’s rise to fame started when he took over Marvel’s The Avengers in the 1970s. His artistic skills skyrocketed him to the stratosphere and led to him illustrating The New Teen Titans and the groundbreaking series Crisis on Infinite Earths (DC Comics). Then, during the 1980s, he played a major role in the Wonder Woman reboot and contributed to Superman. He even appeared in animated form in multiple episodes of “Teen Titans Go!” on Cartoon Network.

In the 1990s, Pérez went back to Marvel and signed on to illustrate the epic limited series, The Infinity Gauntlet, which would inspire the box-office record-shattering Marvel movies. Throughout his long and successful career, Pérez continued to illustrate renditions of characters that fans will always hold dear and remember forever.

A special custom label was created for Pérez’s anticipated final CGC Signature Series signing, which was sadly canceled due to his health. The label remains available, and all proceeds from the labels go directly to the Pérez family and their estate. Pérez is one of the most iconic and influential comic book artists of all time and this custom label pays tribute to his sensational career.

Friend Constance Eza announced Perez’s passing on his Facebook page on Saturday, writing, “Everyone knows George’s legacy as a creator. His art, characters and stories will be revered for years to come. But, as towering as that legacy is, it pales in comparison to the legacy of the man George was. George’s true legacy is his kindness. It’s the love he had for bringing others joy — and I hope you all carry that with you always.”

A special memorial service will be held at MEGACON Orlando, which will be held May 19-22.

Thanks for all the stories, George!