ARTIST SETH FISHER DIES

[MattBrady]

Seth Fisher, who’s final issue of Fantastic Four/Iron Man came out this week, has died, according to various sources, and independently confirmed by Newsarama. Neither cause of death nor age were given, though it's widely believed he was in his early to mid 30s.

Initial word came late last night from JH Williams III, who posted the news on the Barbelith Underground messageboard, writing:

“i just received some very saddening news this evening. my friend seth fisher has died. he was a great artist and i had the pleasure of calling him my friend. i also had the pleasure of working with him. he had such a great outlook to life and was always willing to think of things from another perspective. his work is some of most unique i have seen. for those who don't know what seth fisher has done in comics do a search for his name. pick up anything he has done and you will be amazed and delighted forever by his imagination. myself and those who knew him personally will miss him enormously. he always had this way to make you laugh and not to take things too seriously. cheers seth.

Williams and Fisher most recently worked together on a Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight arc which Williams and Dan Curtis Johnson co-wrote, and Fisher illustrated.

Fisher, a 1994 graduate of Colorado College opted not to use his math degree professionally, and moved into illustration shortly after he graduated. Fisher also moved, literally, to Japan shortly after graduation, where he taught English, refined his art, and eventually married his wife, Hisako, with whom he had a child. Fisher had been currently living in Nagoya, Japan with his family.

Though he moved away from math professionally, it still played a role in his art. In an interview with the College of Colorado Bulletin, Fisher described his view of art as: “Art is really just problem solving in action. You start with a few lines, then you try to balance those lines with other lines compositionally, then you balance that with trying to explain a certain space or emotion….Perspective, composition, timing, and color theory are technical skills. You have a problem, and you have this toolbox full of techniques that you use to paint a totally unique bridge from an assumption to its implications.”

His approach and thought process about his art may have been somewhat technical and perhaps a little dry, but his work was anything but. From the publication of his first work in 2001, DC’s Green Lantern: Willworld, Fisher received critical acclaim for his work, including an Eisner nomination in 2003 for Flash: Time Flies and Vertigo Pop: Tokyo. Fisher’s “pop-thriller” Tokyo has been featured in LA Weekly.

But comics weren’t the only home for the artist – he had done extensive conceptual design work for Myst III, and drew for a wide variety of outlets.

It’s unknown at this time whether or not there will be any forthcoming projects with Fisher’s art in them, but in talking with Newsarama about Fantastic Four/Iron Man, Fisher discussed the well of his ideas, saying about his creatures, “I dream about these things. I dream about other things too, sick twisted things that I can’t talk about without being arrested... but this is one of the things that I can talk about. I don’t really talk too much about my books because they sort of speak a lot better for themselves, but I will say that Zeb [Wells] is probably the best new writer around. Lots of praise for him and the whole team. Basically, whatever you have become used to in your monthly comic, this is not it. Imagine if you were stopped at a stoplight, and suddenly you saw a woman driving an amoeba (or a protozoa... whatever… some weird creature that is not normally used for transportation) pull up next [to] you. That’s what reading this comic will be like. But more fun probably because there is no danger of being absorbed for nutrition.”

“It was always clear to me that I was an artist waiting to happen,” Fisher told the CC Bulletin.

Fisher’s website is at: http://www.floweringnose.com/

Of the artist, Marvel Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada said:

"Seth was a true original.

"I've never met anyone quite like him and I sincerely doubt I'll ever again.

"Seth was fun, he was the epitamy of fun, the very definition of it. It showed on his face, it showed in his actions and it showed on every page he drew that all we fans had the sheer joy of viewing, he was a human thring ring circus! Sadly, he has been taken from us way too soon, his art was taking us to strange and mystical places . Unfortunately for us, we won't be able to see were Seth was planning on taking us next."

Newsarama extends its heartfelt condolences to Fisher’s friends and family.

[algertman]

The artworld is a lesser place wthout him in it.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.

[tim seeley]

This is terrible news. My condolences to his family. What an incredible artist.....
TIM

[Skyldt]

RIP Seth.

[onslaughtall]

not something you'd like to see when you wake up in the morning..


My prayers go out to his soul and his family..

[RocketBoy]

wow, it's always horrible to hear news like this. I certainly send my sympathy to his friends and family.

[Jeffbot]

What a shock. His art in FF/Iron Man was some of the most innovative and indelibly creative that I've seen in a long time.

Rest in peace, go with God...

[vicvondoom]

Among the glut of carbon copy artists, Seth was unique. What a great artist... My condolences to friends and family.

[BradyKiller]

Oh my Lord - what sad news - he was such a young guy and I feel like I just saw him last week even though it was July at San Diego...

My sincerest condolences to his family - truly a great artist has passed.

[Jimmy Palmiotti]

heartbreaking...

[James Seals]

I loved his work on Batman. In fact, that entire arc was spot perfect for me. And his GL work was a real trip -- lots of fun. This is disheartening indeed.

Best of wishes to his family, and loved ones.

-James

[kingofcities]

Seth was one of the nicest creators I had the pleasure of talking with. I contacted him a few years back to commision him for a sketch. He didn't have the time so instead he sent me a bunch of free thumbnails from the Doom Patrol issues he drew, on his dime all the way from Japan. He always took time out of his busy schedule to chat to a relative stranger like myself. Heck of a great guy and one of the real talents in the business. He will be missed.

Kent

[Benjamin Ong]

My wife and I send our deepest condolences to his family. Seth fills a very special place in our life as a couple.

RIP, Seth.

[Bllesed]

God damn
i really hate news like that..

A sample of his great art:



Rest in peace Mate

[dryponder]

just horribly sad news.

[blankpoint]

A damn shame. I've loved all of his work and was looking forward to seeing where he'd go next.

[JustAnothaSucka]

damn.......
this was one of my favorite "newbreed" artist, i hope his death wasn't intentional or drug-related.

[Derek Ruiz]

Wow. I didn't even know the guy but I feel a great loss has taken place in the comic community...

As I get older I am starting to love artist who make your brain get all twisted up as you see the crazy ideas that come from the tips of thier pencils. Seth was one of those guys...he will be missed.

My condolence go to Seths family and friends.

[Krishna Sadasivam]

My heartfelt condolenses to Seth's family. We've lost another incredibly talented artist - way too soon.

-Krishna

[astronato]

What a terrible loss.

I brought home FF and Iron Man in Japan just last night and was thinking about what a unique style he had.

My condolences to his family and friends.

[eh_ver]

My prayers go out to his friends and family. Seth Fisher was most definitely a unique and wonderful artist.

[saiyanspider]

May you rest in peace.

[Gordon McAlpin]

Damn. Damn. Damn. I've been following Fisher's work for years, yet to express disappointment over missing out on the incredible artwork Fisher should still be making seems awfully trivial right now.

Condolences to his friends and family.

[sequart]

Our prayers go out to his family.

[Ian]

Seth Fisher was a brilliant illustrator and storyteller. His passing is all of our loss. Condolences to his family.