Marvel Loses a Legendary Comic Icon at 89

Throughout Marvel Comics history, there have been a handful of artists who've truly been able to earn iconic status. Some of those people include Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita Sr., Jim Lee, and George Pérez. Another one of the company's most influential and respected artists, Sal Buscema, passed away on January 23, 2026, at 89 years old.

Marvel Legend Sal Buscema Dies at 89 Years Old

RIP Sal Buscema 1936-2026 pic.twitter.com/PHnZNXu8Zm

— Cool Comic Art (@CoolComicArt) January 26, 2026

On January 27, 2026, Forbes reported that a Marvel Comics artist named Sterling Clark had announced the sad news that Sal Buscemahad passed away at 89 years old. Clark posted on Facebook, where he wrote that Buscema died three days before his 90th birthday. Clark also paid tribute to the widely respected artist before giving his condolences to his loved ones.

"Wow. I just received word today from Mrs. Joanna Buscema that Sal Buscema passed away last Friday. He was 89. Today, he would’ve turned 90... I didn’t just read the books that he illustrated. I studied them. Every nuance in his pencils and his inks I saw and tried to mimic. He was definitely one of the greats during those years at Marvel, when handling more than three titles a month was not just a requirement but a necessity... My condolences to his wife Joan, the Buscema family and to all of us fans who grew up with and love his amazing art. He will be greatly - and I mean greatly - missed."

Marvel.com published an article paying tribute to the comic book artist's impactful life and art. The website states that he is survived by his longtime wife, Joanna (Joan) Buscema, and their three sons, Joe Buscema, Tony Buscema, and Mike Buscema.

Sal Buscema Left His Mark on Comic Books Forever

Defenders by Sal Buscema. pic.twitter.com/aYv2KZz2lU

— Scott Kolins (@ScottKolins) January 27, 2026

As the Marvel.com article about Sal Buscema shows, it is obvious that the artist had earned the respect of his peers. Perhaps the greatest indication of his talent was that he would work on comic book series for years in a row. Most notably, Buscema worked on "The Incredible Hulk" series between 1975 and 1985, drew more than 100 issues of "Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man", and co-launched "The Defenders." His work on all those series and more allowed the artist to define how readers envisioned beloved comic book characters for a long time.

During his years working for Marvel, Buscema also co-created several characters and ideas. Some notable examples of the characters he brought to life include Rom: Spaceknight, Lady Deathstrike, Thunderball, and the Hulkbusters (the comics team, not the Iron Man suit seen in the movies). Buscema also contributed to the early visual style of the Time Variance Authority (TVA), the group that was adapted for the popular Marvel show Loki.

Our thoughts are with Sal Buscema’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.