John Cassaday

John Cassaday (November 9, 1971 – September 25, 2024) was an artist whose photorealistic style and mastery of cinematic panel composition made him one of the most acclaimed illustrators of his generation. His landmark collaboration with writer Warren Ellis on Planetary defined an era of deconstructionist superhero storytelling in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His run on Astonishing X-Men with writer Joss Whedon was the most widely read X-Men comic of its decade. His Star Wars #1 with Jason Aaron for Marvel set a sales record. Known for meticulous detail and powerful visual clarity, Cassaday was also beloved by colleagues for his warmth and generosity. He passed away from a heart attack at age 52.