STÉPHANE PERU DIES

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Jean Wacquet, editor-in-chief of French comics publisher Soleil, has informed Newsarama.com that artist/colorist Stéphane Peru, best known for his work as a colorist on Marvel’s Ultimate X-Men, Incredible Hercules, Annihilation: Conquest and Annihilation: Conquest – Quasar, Avengers: The Initiative, Civil War: X-Men, and DC’s Teen Titans: Year One, 52, The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive and All Flash, has passed away on Monday, February 11th. His work will also be seen in several upcoming projects such as the just-announced The Invincible Iron Man and Young X-Men. He was only 26.

Calling it a “tragedy,” Wacquet said that “Everybody here [at Soleil] is so sad. Our friend and partner Stéphane Peru passed away yesterday afternoon.” Wacquet added that Peru died of an apparent heart attack.

When contacted by Newsarama, Marvel consulting editor CB Cebulski, who had negotiated the deal to bring Soleil’s books to the US, also called it a “tragedy” and added that he had met Stéphane’s brother, Olivier, at the recent Angoulême International Comics Festival which was held from January 24th-29th. According to Cebulski, the Peru brothers had recently released Parallel War through Soleil and it was a “beautiful” piece of work.

Marvel’s assistant editor Nathan Cosby posted on Marvel.com: “He was a great guy, a true gentleman. Whenever I talked to him, he was always enthusiastic, always sunny in his disposition. An email with Incredible Hercules colors was always opened immediately, to see what amazing ideas he'd come up with.

“He felt blessed to be doing a job he was passionate about, and his attitude was contagious. I felt blessed to know him briefly. He made the things we gave him better."

“I miss him.”

Fellow Soleil creator and comic book artist Clement Sauve, who’d collaborated with Stéphane on the upcoming Pantheon City, Les Filles de Soleil and several G.I. Joe covers, commented that “I heard of Stéphane's passing Monday from Yanick [Paquette, who had worked with Stéphane on Ultimate X-Men], and I'm still in shock. I can only imagine how his brother must feel, and my thoughts are with him and his mother.” Sauve, who had spent a few days with the Peru brothers in Paris early this year, then in Belgium for the Andenne Festival, added that “Stéphane was the most generous person I've ever known, he got along with everybody, and I don't think he's ever met anyone who didn't love him. He was an incredible artist, but more importantly he was an amazing human being. I miss him already, and I am honored to have been his friend.”

Newsarama extends its deepest condolences to Stéphane Peru’s family and friends.

[Fredy2k3]

I miss you my friend.




Stéphane with Yanick Paquette.


Stuart Immonen & Steph.


Éric Thériault, Serge LaPointe, Steph, Marie-Pier Fillion, Yanick Paquette, Olivier Peru, Clement Sauve, Kristelle Pélland & ReedMan.


Olivier, Serge, Yanick & Steph.


Steph & me.


Jean-Luc Cano & Steph.


Me & Steph.


Steph at Montréal.


Me & Stéph.


Stéph & Éric Thériault.




Stéph, Jean-Luc & Olivier.


I'll remember you my friend... Thanks to Serge, Yanick & Jean-Luc for this pics.

† "He is Cimerian. He will not cry. So I cry for him..."

[utiti77]

Stephane was not only an excellent colorist, but a writer and artist as well, as part of the Peru brothers creative team. If you want to have an idea of the stuff they created, take a look at these links :

http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-5653-BD-Shaman.html
(Click on the covers)

http://www.sceneario.com/bd_4344_shaman_tome_3.html#
(Click on "voir une planche")

http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-1634...aralleles.html
(Click on the page)

http://www.guerresparalleles.com/preview.html
(Click on the cover)

And there's also Zak Blackhole, a cooler-than-cool space thriller they produced with their dear friend, filmmaker Jean-Luc Cano :
http://www.bedetheque.com/serie-1008...Blackhole.html

[Nikolavitch]

He was one of the good guys.

[Savok]

What the ____ happened? 26 is way, way too young, and considering how good he was now, he'd of been one of the all-time best eventually.

This is such ________.

[Tom Daylight]

I loved his work with Yanick Paquette on Ultimate X-Men. Horrible to see him go at such a young age. I'd like to know what took him from us so cruelly.

[RedRonin]

Unbelievably tragic. Another very talented and very young person passes away.

[nietoperz]

My God! This is just heartbreaking: 26 really is no age to die. So sad.

[David Hine]

This hit me like a punch in the gut. I knew Stephane through his work on Civil War X-Men and he was one of the nicest guys I've met in the industry. Friendly, enthusiastic, hard-working, dedicated and incredibly talented.

Only this week I have been talking with an artist about Steph. We were hoping to get him to colour a major project we are working on.

I'm crap at this... what I'm trying to say is, there's always going to be something missing. The art that Stephane would have given us, the friendships, the life he should have had.

It's a sad day.

[spidey 85]

he will be missed one of the best to come along in along time .

[ITALIA]

So sad. Another talented man we must say goodbye to. I don't know this man as well as other, but I can sya I've enjoyed his work on Ultimate X-men. God, 26 years old, thats terrible. R.I.P.

[DAV!S]

26 is no age to die at, is it?

Really sad.

[Punchy]

This is terrible.

Too young, and an excellent colourist, just looking at the colours on last week's Amazing Spider-Man #549, it makes me feel sad.

[Fred VL]

Everyone on the Incredible Hercules crew was completely stunned and upset by this news.

Steph was a great guy, a brilliant artist and really gave our book a distinct look -- and he even helped us out with our French when we needed it.

I'll miss working with him and talking with him -- our loss of him this young just isn't fair.

[Wormdrink]

it always sad when someone in comics dies. it's especially disheartening when they are so young and talented. godspeed.

[RIsanove]

Stephane was up to great things and he really was the nicest guy. It seems incredible that someone with such energy and passion could just go so suddenly.
I met him last year in New York and the world got a little bigger, knowing there was another French colorist out there and that he was such a cool guy. Now, it's just sad.

[dudedarama]

Jesus! 26? this is so sad. Didn't Marvel lose another colorist last year to a tragedy?
Condolences to the family.

[flamebird867]

Condolences to his family. Its so sad that he died, especially so young.

[Robert Kirkman]

Stephane was an absolute joy to work with. The synergy Yanick Paquette, Serge LaPointe and Stephane achieved on Ultimate X-Men was unparalleled in this industry. They were an art team in every sense of the word, a well-oiled machine of comics genius.

I was ecstatic to have Stephane stay on Ultimate X-Men when Yanick and Serge moved over to Young X-Men and Salvador Larocca came on board recently. Salvador was reluctant at first, never having been colored by Stephane--but he immediately fell in love with his work and the two of them together produced some fantastic looking issues.

I will be the first in line to purchase their Invincible Iron Man.

As far as colorists go, Stephane was one of the best. As a person, his emails were always cheery and hilarious. He was a delight to work with. I knew him, but I didn't know him well.

I think that's what's the most upsetting about this to me.

-Robert

[swol]

Originally Posted by Savok

What the ____ happened? 26 is way, way too young, and considering how good he was now, he'd of been one of the all-time best eventually.

This is such ________.

My thoughts exactly.
Condolances to all.

[mikey_danger]

how terribly tragic. My prayers to his friends and family.

[KaijubotX]

Terrible to see a talented creator pass at such a young age. I've really been enjoying his work in Annihilation and Avengers: The Initiative. RIP.

[TheTyrantVirus]

This is such a horrible thing to happen. It's weird, I was just reading a book the other day and the colors impressed me so much I had to flip back and see who the colorist was, and of course it was Stephane Peru. I can't remember which comic it was, probably Ult. X-Men, but the talent was evident. Rest in peace, you'll be missed.

[-Armando523-]

sad sad news.
he was such a talent

[razorwing77]

His work was great. It's rare that you truly take note of a colorist's work, but Stephane Peru's work was a distinct step above the rest. And it sounds like from those who knew him, he was a great guy, too.

RIP.