The Immortal Work of Comic Book Artist and Writer George Pérez
In December of 2021, legendary comics artist, writer, and advocate George Pérez announced that he had been diagnosed with inoperable cancer and had six months to live. Outpourings of support came from comics readers everywhere. Despite the grim news, George said of the fan reaction: "It's the realization of how much of an impact I've made. It's really life-affirming."
The response was as heartwarming as it was unsurprising. George Pérez is a titan (pun very much intended) of the comics world, drawing for nearly every major publisher and bringing whole universes to life on a massive scale and in incredible detail. And all of that started in the South Bronx where he grew up. While he will not be with us forever, his work continues to move across our library shelves and inspire the imaginations of readers young and old. Here are a few of his notable works available at branches throughout the New York Public Library.
Arguably Pérez's most iconic and beloved run is his first collaboration with writer Marv Wolfman. The long-running team of DC's sidekicks and young heroes was restructured into a new, independent team. New team members like Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven would become fan favorites, while staples like Wonder Girl and Robin grew into their new identities as Donna Troy and Nightwing. Villains like Deathstroke, Brother Blood, and Trigon the Terrible made the title a dramatic and exciting cross between action-fantasy and YA soap opera (a formula still in use by The CW today). Wolfman and Pérez plotted the series together, with Wolfman writing the scripts.
The Infinity Gauntlet
Along with Teen Titans, Pérez's work has seen two major adaptations, and this one covers another famous titan nearly every reader knows now. In a story that launched the once-obscure Thanos to infamy in comics, the mad titan gathers the six Infinity Stones to win the favor of Mistress Death—the embodiment of death in the Marvel Universe. But instead of the Avengers we see in movies, it's Adam Warlock and the Silver Surfer who must rally the remaining heroes to undo damage wrought by the stones. A self-contained story written by Jim Starlin that crosses over the Marvel Universe; it's a great opportunity for Pérez to show his talents for scale of space (even if he splits art duties with the very talented Ron Lim).
Wonder Woman by George Pérez
Considered Pérez's signature achievement as a writer, the revamp of the world's greatest supheroine is a rewarding blend of Greek mythology, superhero intrigue, feminism, and utopian fiction rolled together. A new origin story placed greater emphasis on Wonder Woman's ties to Greek mythology, establishing Ares and Medusa as major villains. Alongside ancient threats, Diana faced a modern, cutthroat world, tasked by the Amazons as an ambassador of peace. Pérez collaborated with many scripters like Greg Potter and Mindy Newell, as well as artists like Tom Grummett and Jill Thompson.
Adventures of Superman: George Pérez
It's said that George Pérez has drawn every character in the DC Universe. Whether or not that's verifiable might not matter when he seems to have ended up everywhere. Every so often he came to render the Man of Steel in his signature minute detail and careful writing. Several of them are collected here for a variety of experiences from Metropolis to Krypton.