I was speaking with a friend the other day and the subject of Michael Turner came up, a subject that always pulls at my heartstrings. I decided that since I didn’t do it at the time, that I would share what he meant/means to me and why more people in and out of the industry should more closely follow the way this man lived his life.
On June 27th, 2008, a light went out in the world when it lost one of its greatest souls. As most of us know, Michael Turner was an accomplished Comic Book artist who got his start with Top Cow and later formed his own company Aspen MLT inc.. Be it his covers or interior work, you could always spot a book that Michael Turner had touched, from his beautifully drawn women to his larger than life superheroes, I personally couldn’t get enough of his work, I was a follower the instant I saw it.
Fans of Michael Turner have their favorites but one piece of art that I hold near and dear is a signed copy of Superman/Batman: The Supergirl From Krypton. This book marked the only time in his career that he provided interior art for a company other than Top Cow or his own publisher Aspen MLT and I was happy to see him draw my ALL TIME favorite character, The Batman. He captured all the characters moods and emotions and he drew a Darkseid that really looked like he could give Superman a showdown that he might not end up winning.
Some didn’t like his art style, some loved it but the one thing that ALWAYS comes up when I talk to people or have read in articles is that Michael Turner really cared about people and his fans were very important to him. According to a good friend of mine, one year at a Comic Book convention, during his battle with cancer, he looked to be in a lot of pain and discomfort. He sat and signed autographs and he wouldn’t leave until EVERY fan that had waited in line for an autograph got one. As someone who has been to several Comic Conventions, I know those lines can become HUGE and for Michael Turner to stay, especially batting cancer and make sure that no one left disappointed, speaks volumes about how this man lived his life. So I guess that leads to this..
Every time I look at my signed copy of Superman/Batman, I remember that I need to have more patience, I need to try and forget about the petty things that don’t really matter and most importantly, I need to try everyday to be a better man than I was the day before.
R.I.P. Michael Turner, thank you for the gifts you left here, you are missed every single day..
