Marvel Mainstay Artist Sal Buscema Dies At Age 89

Sal Buscema drew over 100 issues of the hit Marvel title The Spectacular Spider-Man.

Art by Sal Buscema, Marvel Comics

Sal Buscema, one of the last surviving comic creators whose career dates to the “Silver Age” (1960s), and whose bold, action-oriented style helped define the look of Marvel comics in the 1970s, died last week at age 89.

“I just received word from Mrs. Joanna [Buscema] that Sal Buscema passed away last Friday. He was 89. Today [Monday, January 26], he would’ve turned 90. When I think back on my childhood and all of the comic books that I read, Sal’s name seems to have appeared in just about all of them. I didn’t just read the books that he illustrated, I studied them,” wrote artist Sterling Clark, announcing the news on Facebook.

Buscema was not the flashiest stylist, but his clear storytelling and knack for drawing exciting superhero action and fight sequences captivated several generations of Marvel fans. He is best known for his work on The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, The Defenders, and ROM Space Knight.

Buscema broke in with Marvel in 1968, following in the footsteps of his older brother John Buscema (1927-2002), whose work he first inked in Dell comics in the early 1960s. Sal first embellished John’s work at Marvel on The Silver Surfer and The Avengers. Soon he began penciling stories for some of Marvel’s top titles.

While John was known for depicting dramatic, muscled figures and complex scenes, Sal’s style was more straightforward. He also worked quickly and reliably, an advantage in the deadline-driven world of comics. During a period of creative ferment for Marvel in the mid-1970s, Sal was frequently the go-to choice for launching new books or pairing with new writers on existing titles.

He was the artist on Steve Engelhart’s memorable “Secret Empire” run on Captain America in 1973-74, as Cap investigated a violent white nationalist conspiracy whose roots led all the way to the White House. He also drew writer Steve Gerber’s “Headmen” saga in The Defenders, one of the weirdest storylines to ever appear in mainstream comics. Later in the decade, he paired with writer Gerry Conway for over 100 issues of The Spectacular Spider-Man, and with Bill Mantlo on the cult-favorite ROM: Space Knight, a licensed title based on a toy. He drew the first appearances of characters including Starhawk and the Squadron Sinister, as well as the first modern teamup of Marvel’s Golden Age heroes, The Invaders.

He remained active through the 1980s, 90s and 2000s, even as fan tastes embraced more elaborate, highly-rendered artwork. He moved to DC briefly in the late 1990s, working on Superman, Batman and Green Arrow, before returning to Marvel a few years later. He was professionally active into his late 80s, and often delighted fans as a guest at local conventions.

As word of his passing spread, fans and colleagues spanning the many decades of his career celebrated his life, influence and buoyant personality.

“Sal was a rock. And Sal was what every editor dreamed of–a guy who could deliver the goods–a guy they could depend on,” wrote artist/writer Eric Larson on Facebook. “Because he was so prolific, he was frequently taken for granted. He’d do his regular books yet still step in and draw a fill-in or two. He wasn’t a fan favorite but he was one of a handful of creators who made the trains run on time–who made Marvel work.”

Buscema was born in Brooklyn in 1936, youngest of four children. Following art school, he served in the US Army for a year as an artist and graphic designer before moving into commercial art, and eventually comics. He married his wife Joanna in 1960, and they had three children together: Joe, Tony, and Mike.