Comic book artist and writer Sam Kieth died of Lewy Body Dementia on March 15, 2026. He was 63 years old.

Kieth created The Maxx, a series set in two worlds where a man is homeless in one and the protector of the Leopard Queen in the other world. He created the Zero Girl series about a high school student that wants to date her guidance counselor, and has a strange relationship with circles and squares. Kieth was also the co-creator of The Sandman series with writer Neil Gaiman.

Born on January 11, 1963, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he started his career when he was around 17 years old with a story in a Comico book. In 1984 he worked as the inker on Matt Wagner’s Mage and then as the inker on Fish Police. Kieth penciled the first five issues of The Sandman and worked with Alan Grant on Secret Origins Special #1 in ’89. He drew Incredible Hulk #368, followed by covers for Marvel Comics Presents.

After a few years at Marvel, he left to create The Maxx at Image Comics. The book ran for 35 issues with Kieth plotting and illustrating the whole series, and featuring scripts by William Messner-Loebs and Alan Moore, among others. The Maxx was then adapted into an animated series as part of MTV’s Oddities in 1995.

Following a break from comics, Kieth worked on the Legs one-shot at Image, and then in 2001, he created Zero Girl for DC’s Wildstorm imprint. His next projects were the road trip drama Four Women, the Wolverine/Hulk miniseries, Zero Girl: Full Circle, and Scratch about a teenage werewolf.

Kieth wrote and drew the Batman: Secrets five-issue series and the Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious two-issue miniseries. After that, he provided art for Lobo: Highway to Hell and Batman Confidential #40-43, then wrote and illustrated the Arkham Asylum: Madness graphic novel.

He created a group of limited series and graphic novels for Oni Press, starting with Ojo and My Inner Bimbo. Adding UK titles to his résumé, he worked on Judge Dredd for 2000 AD and drew covers for the Nemesis the Warlock reprint title. Kieth provided art in 30 Days of Night at IDW and his work was featured in The Sam Kieth Sketchbooks from IDW.