Kevin O'Neill, artist best known for work on 2000 AD and League of Extraordinary Gentleman, has died
Gosh Comics, a comics shop in London which often worked with the artist, made the announcement early Monday morning
Kevin O'Neill, English comics artist best known for his work on Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law, and The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, passed away last week after a long illness. This news was announced early this morning by Gosh Comics, a London-based comics store that has often worked with O'Neill.
A portion of the statement from Gosh Comics reads: "It's with a great deal of sadness that we have learned of the passing of Kevin O'Neill last week after a long illness. We had worked a lot with Kevin over the past two decades and had the highest personal and professional regard for him, and of course the impact he has had on the comics landscape cannot be overstated."
Over a career which has spanned more than five decades creating and co-creating iconic and influential comics, Kevin O'Neill's art has represented a distinct, loud, sometimes maximalist, style -- a style that, according to popular belief, famously landed him into conflict with the Comics Code Authority, who, when asked what could be changed to make O'Neill's work get approval, answered that his entire style was what they found objectionable. Pretty cool, right?
Comics creators on Twitter have begun to post their remembrances of O'Neill. You can read some of them below.
Hugely saddened by Kevin O'Neill's passing. One of the absolute greats. Only met once, and he was as charming as the edifices of ornate gleeful horror he produced were berserk. I love all his periods, but the frenzy of the 1980s stuff was something else. https://t.co/u387aMNrq5
— Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen) November 7, 2022
Absolutely gutted to hear we've lost the great Kevin O'Neill. A passionate advocate for creator rights, a visionary artist, and an inspiration. x pic.twitter.com/GY4xPt8HaI
— Andy Diggle (@andydiggle) November 7, 2022
Kevin O’Neill was an absolute masterclass story teller and comic composer. His art was beautifully horrific and horrifically beautiful. Probably not a day goes by that I don’t think of the Invisible Man putting on his costume. How in KO’s hands the simple becomes enthralling. RIP pic.twitter.com/vHPXxPqDsc
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) November 7, 2022
Extremely sad to hear of the passing of Kevin O'Neill. One of the pivotal figures in 2000AD's birth and development as well as being one of the finest and most unique talents of the British invasion. We're all richer for having read his work and much poorer now he's gone. x pic.twitter.com/bOPxP7crCe
— James Peaty (@JamesPeaty1575) November 7, 2022