Remembering the art of John Cassaday

Word Balloons #1233: The notable comics artist passed away this week

Bringing a classic flair to a wide variety of characters, artist John Cassaday made his mark on many of the best-loved and best-selling comics of the 21st Century. 

Cassaday died Sept. 9 at age 52, leaving behind a catalog of artistic triumphs. 

Cassaday was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, but spent some time in Oklahoma in his youth, which added additional interest to his career here locally. 

This week, the column will look at a few of Cassaday’s notable works. 

Desperadoes 

Cassaday first came to my attention on this series, a Western/horror series written by Jeff Marriotte.  “Desperadoes: A Moment’s Sunlight” features a detective, a serial killer and a group of three “desperadoes” of the title, who want the killer brought to justice. Cassaday’s panoramic vistas and expressive characters made him an artist to watch during this series, which led to even bigger things. 

Planetary 

The entire 27-issue “Planetary” run by Cassaday with writer Warren Ellis is worth seeking out and reading, as archaeologists of the impossible continue to plumb the mysterious depths of the universe. 

The first issue is a terrific dive into the world. But if you want to try a slightly different entry point, 2003’s prestige format miniseries "Batman/Planetary: Night on Earth," is a must-have for any fan of any Batman, from Adam West to the Dark Knight.

Captain America

Following 9/11, these Captain America stories examined what the character meant in the changed world that followed. Writer John Ney Reiber joined Cassaday to launch the series with a dramatic cover recalling a World War II recruitment poster. While the stories can be hit-or-miss, the detail and intensity brought to the art by Cassaday make each issue worth examining.  

Cassaday’s issues are collected in “The New Deal” trade paperback. 

Astonishing X-Men

Joining writer Joss Whedon, Cassaday became the artist for what was the de facto main “X-Men” title during their run. It’s a love letter to, and exploration of, the Chris Claremont era, while at the same time opening up new vistas. Cassaday’s ability to mix action and emotion is showcased here. 

The first 12 issues of the 24-issue collaboration are found in the “Astonishing X-Men Gifted” modern era “Epic Collection” from Marvel.  

Star Wars 

Marvel regained the license to "Star Wars" at the beginning of 2015 after two decades of Dark Horse Comics featuring the "Star Wars" characters.

Marvel sold more than 1 million copies of "Star Wars" No. 1, by writer Jason Aaron and artist John Cassaday, formerly of Oklahoma, making it the best-selling comic of the current century.

Cassaday’s six issues focused on adventures from the original trilogy characters of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia dealing with a failed Rebel raid shortly after the events of “A New Hope.” 

Cassaday’s issues are collected in the “Skywalker Strikes” trade paperback. 

These are just a few of the comics Cassaday brought his talents to; nearly anything with his name on it is worth picking up for the art alone, and additional comics he worked on could fill many more columns. I encourage you to seek out his work and remember a modern comics master. 

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewLprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.