I was a huge fan of Michael Turner during my comicbook collecting years (and tat was eons ago). I wasn't really fond of the materials churned out by the Big Two (DC and Marvel) during that time, so I found myself reading mostly the darker titles by Image and Top Cow. Among the pencilers who I totally adore are, J. Scott Campbell, Travis Charest, Greg Capullo and Michael. And when I picked up Witchblade for the first time, Turner's pencil work totally bowled me over.

After Turner left Top Cow, I kinda lost interest and my comic book collecting hobby gradually tappered off. About a few years ago, I stumbled upon some info that he was battling chondrosarcoma, a form of cancer, in the right pelvis. He was treated at UCLA Medical Center with surgery in which he lost a hip, 40% of his pelvis, and three pounds of bone. Which kinda dumbfarked me since he was only in his early 30s.

But he recovered and went on to create his own comic book publishing company, Aspen MLT Inc; which published new titles like Fathom, Soulfire and Ekos (which unfortunately were not to my liking even though his penciling were still amazing).

Anways, I was very shocked when I wiki-ed his name and learnt that Turner died on June 27, 2008 at the Santa Monica Hospital in California, due to complications from the bone cancer he was fighting. He was 37.

The comicbook industry really lost one of the more amazing talents around.

You rawk Michael Turner... and your artwork still inspires me.

May your soul rest in peace.