RIP Spain Rodriguez

[Johnny P. Sartre]

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing this morning of Spain Rodriguez. He passed at home with his daughter and wife at his bedside at about 7 this morning. He had been fighting cancer for a long time. He was a wonderful father, husband, and friend. His art challenged, changed and enlightened and entertained us for over five decades. His passing coincided with the penumbra eclipse of the moon, like Spain’s shadow from the outer edge of the art world’s face. Services are pending, please give the family some

http://comicsbeat.com/rip-spain-rodriguez/

[FanboyStranger]

Oh, man. Spain is my favorite of the great underground comix artists. This is a major loss for the medium as a whole. RIP, Spain, and thank you for all the excellent (and frequently challenging) work you've given us over the years.

Jeez, what a year for deaths in the industry: Moebius, Kubert, Severin, Toppi, Chan, and now Spain.

[Slam_Bradley]

I mentioned this in the Meanwhile thread.

I'm not terribly well versed in underground artists. But Rodriguez's adaptation of Nightmare Alley was outstanding.

[T Hedge Coke]

Damn. Man was super talented.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

He was one of the few creators whose art and stories got better he aged.

[berk]

Always liked the look of his artwork, though I know very little about him apart from random samples I've seen here and there online. Based on that very limited exposure, he's probably the Underground guy whose work I'm most curious about, after Crumb. Sorry to hear he's gone before I even got to explore his work.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

Check his work

http://www.amazon.com/Cruisin-With-H...pain+rodriguez

http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Alle...pain+rodriguez

[MDG]

"My True Story" is my favorite collection by Spain, but apparently it's rare according to these Amazon prices.

http://www.amazon.com/My-True-Story-...ue+story+spain

I think I got my copy on sale from Bud Plant.

[DubipR]

I never met Spain but a fan of his work, like most underground fans. The closest encounter I had with Spain was his work with the Hero Initiative. We contacted him to do a cover for us for the Archie book we were working on. When I was helping out in the office, Spain's FedEx package came and I got to open it:



He will be missed.

[inferno]

I really dug his stuff in Fantagraphics' Bush Junta volume.

Was listening to Junta's editor Mack White eulogize Spain on his podcast PsiOp Radio -- http://psiopradio.com/media/2012/POR121129a.mp3

Starts at 11:15