Marie Severin, a groundbreaking comic book illustrator and colorist whose career spanned decades and co-created Spider-Woman, has died. She was 89.
Irene Vartanoff, who worked with Severin at Marvel, confirmed the news on her Facebook account. Prior to her death, Severin had been in hospice care after a stroke.
“I’m very sorry to report that Marie Severin, the funniest and nicest woman in the comic book biz ever, is no more,” Vartanoff wrote on Facebook.
Severin first started at the now-defunct EC Comics after she was recruited as a colorist by her brother, the comic book artist John Severin. She would go on to work at Marvel Comics, working her way up to head colorist; she also did inkwork and lettering. Her work was noticed by Stan Lee, who gave her work on the “Doctor Strange” story in the Marvel anthology series Strange Tales. During her decades at Marvel, she worked on Iron Man, Daredevil, and the Hulk. She is also credited with co-creating Spider-Woman after designing her costume.
Later in her career, she worked at DC Comics. Her credits, which span into the early 2000s, include Superman Adventures, Pinky and the Brain, and Batman Black and White. She became a member of the Eisner Hall of Fame in 2001.
Comic creators took to Twitter to remember Severin and her contributions to the comic book industry during an era when few women worked in comics.
The news is circulating that the great Marie Severin did not survive her recent stroke. It is difficult to articulate how important she was to the medium, and what a pioneer she was for women in comic books. Sad, indeed…. https://t.co/avvQzSU5E1
— Karen Green (she/hers) 💉 💉 💉 💉 💉 🦠 💉 😷 💉 (@klg19) August 30, 2018
The last time I saw Marie, she was as she had always been, the same woman I’d met in the ’70s. Funny. Happy. Smiling. I was looking forward to seeing her again a few weeks from now so she could once more make me laugh until it hurt. There was no one in this world like her. pic.twitter.com/nPwO4oQ3MH
— Scott Edelman (@scottedelman) August 30, 2018
Marie Severin was a true comics icon. She used to do cover layouts for Kirby because he thought she was better at it then himself. He was right. pic.twitter.com/fsckl4nYtb
— Dave Acosta (@davedrawsgood) August 30, 2018
Thank you, Marie Severin. Thank you so much. pic.twitter.com/tz0zoO6CZr
— Javier Rodríguez (@javiercaster) August 30, 2018
Marie Severin, long may she reign. pic.twitter.com/HhAd7PAu0R
— mckone (@Mike2112McKone) August 30, 2018
The news is circulating that the great Marie Severin did not survive her recent stroke. It is difficult to articulate how important she was to the medium, and what a pioneer she was for women in comic books. Sad, indeed…. https://t.co/avvQzSU5E1
— Karen Green (she/hers) 💉 💉 💉 💉 💉 🦠 💉 😷 💉 (@klg19) August 30, 2018
RIP Marie Severin. One of the great cartoonists in comics and likely the greatest colorist in the history of comics. We stand on the shoulder of giants. pic.twitter.com/0ycrjVDd2F
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) August 30, 2018
We are sad to hear of the passing of Marie Severin, her contributions to the comics industry have left an indelible mark. A trailblazer and remarkable talent she will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to her family, friends and countless fans. pic.twitter.com/qvLYH58jYF
— Comic-Con International (@Comic_Con) August 30, 2018
For those who don’t know: My Twitter icon? That’s how Marie Severin saw me. It’s a detail from the going-away card she drew on my last day on staff at Marvel Comics. So I think of her every day. I guess I always will. pic.twitter.com/bGevpvkd4V
— Scott Edelman (@scottedelman) August 30, 2018
H/T CBR
