Comic book fans were dealt a hard blow with the news that artist John Cassaday has passed away at the tragically young age of 52. Cassaday was widely regarded as one of the best artists in the industry, with groundbreaking runs on titles like Astonishing X-Men, Planetary, Captain America, and Desperadoes showcasing the true depth of his storytelling talent.
To celebrate Cassaday’s life and impressive career, let’s take a look at 13 images that best represent his unique talent for telling sweeping and cinematic yet wholly character-driven stories. These are the iconic images that made John Cassaday a comic book legend.
Cyclops & Emma Frost (Astonishing X-Men)
Every single one of Cassaday’s covers for Astonishing X-Men is a true work of art, but this early example remains one of the most striking X-Men images ever created. We see Emma Frost covering Cyclops’ eyes, his optic blasts threatening to burst forth from her cupped hands. At this stage, X-fans were still getting used to the idea of Emma being one of the good guys and officially dating Scott Summers. This cover speaks to the sinister undertones of their relationship and the fear that Emma’s tenure as an X-Man might turn out badly (something the series would continue to explore as it went along).
Elijah Snow Solves the Puzzle (Planetary)
There’s no single image that better encapsulates Cassaday and Warren Ellis’ bold sci-fi/pulp series Planetary than this one. Planetary is all about the journey of cranky, foul-mouthed investigator Elijah Snow as he slowly comes to terms with the sheer strangeness the world has to offer and his own mysterious past with the Planetary organization. This cover shows Elijah piecing together the final clues and completing the puzzle that is existence.
Han Solo and Chewbacca vs. The Empire (Star Wars)
Cassaday may be known for his cinematic layouts and detailed figures, but there’s also a real comedic quality to his art that can’t be denied. Case in point - this cover from his brief but entertaining Star Wars run with writer Jason Aaron. Set shortly after the events of A New Hope, this issue sees Han Solo and Chewbacca facing down the wrath of Darth Vader and the Empire. Never has this scruffy nerf-herder been so hilariously out of his depth.
The Return of Colossus (Astonishing X-Men)
If there’s any one, single comic book page that defines Cassaday’s artistic career, it’s probably this one. The X-Men’s mission takes a deeply emotional turn when Kitty Pryde is confronted by Colossus, her former lover and a man who had given his life years earlier in order to rid the world of the Legacy Virus. This page is a real testament to the strong working relationship between Cassaday and writer Joss Whedon. Whedon, normally known for his sharp, quippy dialogue, takes a backseat and allows Cassaday to sell the moment with visuals alone.
Inside the Shiftship (Planetary)
Planetary is a series that reveals the strange and surreal universe that exists beneath our seemingly ordinary reality. That’s embodied in the series’ motto, “The world is a strange place. Let’s keep it that way.” Cassaday always excelled at conveying that strangeness on the page, and never more so than with this glimpse inside the Shiftship from issue #4. Like the hapless Mr. Wilder, the reader’s eyes are opened to a much bigger world when they see the fantastical architecture inside.
Nazis and Vampires (I Am Legion)
Among many other things, Cassaday was always an accomplished horror artist (particularly when his pencils were combined with the expert color work of Laura Martin). Few images convey that better than the cover to I Am Legion, Cassaday’s sole foray into French comics. When you combine the horror of Nazi Germany with the spookiness of vampires, the result is this striking image.
Wolverine Saved by Beer (Astonishing X-Men)
In another example of Astonishing X-Men letting Cassaday’s art do all the talking, we have this hilarious sequence from Whedon and Cassaday’s third major storyline. At this point in the series, Logan has been brainwashed by Cassandra Nova into reverting to his fearful childhood self. But Logan snaps out of it after being bonked on the head by a can of beer, like some sort of mutant, Canadian Popeye. We see his mental shift unfold on this page, with Cassaday cleverly toying with the focus of his “camera” as Logan sees the beer and remembers the animal rage within.
Steve Rogers After 9/11 (Captain America)
Easily one of Cassaday’s most haunting superhero works, Captain America: The New Deal paired him with writer John Ney Reiber for a series set in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Unsurprisingly, the specter of that tragedy loomed large over the series, with Cap helping first responders and going on to fight in the War on Terror. Whatever your thoughts on the idea of Marvel’s superhero universe intersecting with the real world in such a significant way, there’s no denying that Cassaday brought a striking aesthetic to the series. In particular, covers like this one celebrated the iconography of Captain America. The Sentinel of Liberty has never felt so real.
Cassaday Does Steranko (Planetary)
Cassaday certainly developed his own, distinctive style over the years, but that’s not to say he wasn’t also capable of homaging and referencing other great artists. One of his best homages comes in the form of the cover to Planetary #11. This image pays tribute to the great Jim Steranko and his psychedelic spy covers to Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Many have followed Steranko’s example over the years, but few capture that vibe as well as Cassaday.
Darth Vader’s Chilling Discovery (Star Wars)
Marvel's various Star Wars comics have added to the Skywalker Saga lore in surprisingly profound ways, addressing some major loose ends from the movies and revisiting key characters along the way. But perhaps no moment stands out more than the climax of Cassaday and Aaron’s arc on the main Star Wars series.
Here, Boba Fett delivers to Darth Vader the name of the Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Vader is chilled to his core when he realizes his own son is the newfound savior of the Rebel Alliance. We can only guess as to what exactly is going on in the Dark Lord of the Sith’s mind here, but the combination of his posture and the cracks forming in the transparisteel window tell us enough. It’s yet another example of Cassaday nailing the complex emotion of a scene without the need for many words.
A Wild West Yarn (Desperadoes)
Cassaday first made a name for himself working on the Wild West–themed series Desperadoes. This cover shows how much of his storytelling talent was apparent even at this early stage. It’s detailed, dynamic, and with a striking quality that invotes readers to peel back the cover and dig in. Just what a good comic book cover should do.
Kitty Pryde’s Revenge (Astonishing X-Men)
Here’s another terrific example of Cassaday paying tribute to a classic Marvel artist while putting his own spin on the material. This shot of Kitty Pryde emerging from the sewer with revenge on her mind is a clear callback to John Byrne’s work on The Dark Phoenix Saga, with one memorable chapter showing Wolverine going to town on the Hellfire Club’s guards. This image is a wonderful recreation of that iconic moment, and a reminder of just how much Logan has influenced Kitty’s growth as a character over the years.
The Dark Knight Soars (Planetary/Batman: Night on Earth)
Despite being one of the biggest names in comics, Cassaday worked surprisingly rarely with the most popular superhero of them all. We never got to see him tackle a monthly Batman comic, but Planetary/Batman did offer a taste of how wonderful that pairing might have been. In this crossover issue, Elijah Snow and his team are dragged through the many Gotham Cities of the DC multiverse, encountering one kooky version of Batman after another. But it’s Cassaday’s take on the classic, modern Batman that stands head and shoulders above all. Rarely has the Dark Knight looked this powerful and dynamic, before or since.
What’s your favorite John Cassaday comic? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below.
For more on the late legends of the comic book industry, find out why Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko probably wouldn't have wanted to become a Disney Legend.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
