On Saturday, January 24, 2026, comics luminary Sal Buscema died. He illustrated many of the biggest names in superhero comics, was one of the most in-demand pencilers and inkers of the 1970s and ‘80s, and his influence is still seen today. After the news of his death was released, comic industry professionals shared their reactions, some of which appear below.

“We lost Sal Buscema over the weekend, and despite him being a mightily accomplished 89 at the time of his passing – he would have turned 90 today – I’m crushed that we lost him. I had the good fortune to get to know Sal and his wife Joan over the years, and to work with him here and there, but mostly, I had the great fortune of getting to experience his art for pretty much my entire comic-reading life,” Chris Ryall, co-owner and Executive Editor of Syzgy Publishing, noted Marvel historian posted on Facebook on January 26, 2026.

“It was Sal’s version of the Hulk that will forever be lodged in my head; it was Sal’s work on Rom that makes that comic still loom so large for me; his work on Spider-Man over the years – from Marvel Team-Up to launching Spectacular Spider-Man to returning to Spectacular years later alongside [Gerry Conway] and [J.M. DeMatteis] – so good and lasting. And on and on.

Sal has been working in comics since the 1960s, first inking his big brother John’s pencils in such an effective way, to becoming an established, impressive, and reliable artist in his own right.

“He was still inking work into his late 80s – mostly pencils by Ron Frenz and Guy Dorian, Sr. –and did some great work on a few titles for me over the past decade,” Ryall wrote.

“Sal was a truly wonderful human being and I was honored to call him my actual pal for the past fifteen years,” said Darin Henry, publisher and creator of the Sit Comics “Binge Books.” “Sal made the kind of comics that everyone could enjoy, and yet when I was reading a comic drawn by Sal, when I’d turn a page and see a punch that would send a bad guy flying straight toward me, it always felt like Sal had drawn that just for me. My deepest condolences to Sal’s wonderful wife Joan and their entire family. The man may be gone but his memory and his talent will bless us forever.”

“Sal Buscema has passed away. There’s hardly a Marvel character Sal didn’t leave his mark on, from Captain America to the Hulk, Avengers to Thor. Working with Sal for two years on Spectacular Spider-Man remains a highlight of my career. Not just a great artist, he was a truly good guy. Safe journeys, Sal. You will be missed,” comic writer J.M. DeMatteis wrote on Facebook.

“Sal Buscema has climbed aboard Thor’s chariot and pulled by the goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, he has taken that last ride over Bifrost into the mystic. I had the privilege of working with him on The Mighty Thor and he became a good friend,” Walter Simonson shared on Facebook. “Sal drew Thor #355, a fill in that gave me a break as I was concluding the Surtur Saga. The issue dealt with the aftermath of Odin’s apparent death and Thor’s reaction to it. We worked ‘Marvel-style”, meaning I sent Sal the issue’s plot, and got back 22 pages of penciled storytelling. I had always admired Sal’s work, but it wasn’t till that issue that I realized what a masterful storyteller he was. There was a scene where Thor is talking to a freshly born little woman of ice about the nature of life and death as Thor is having difficulty reconciling his own life with the loss of his father. And the little creature offers some words of wisdom even as she herself is melting. Sal drew the scene so beautifully that it was both easy to write and a pleasure to do, and it remains a personal favorite of all the stuff I’ve written, including work I’ve drawn myself. So when I decided to leave off drawing the book, Sal was my first choice as the new artist. He penciled and inked his issues and we had great fun and told some good stories.”

“I had the pleasure of meeting and working with the man many years ago on Spider-Man and it was a gift. He and his brother John were responsible for my colorful childhood in comics. We lost a giant here today,” comics writer-artist Jimmy Palmiotti shared on X.

“He was a consummate comic book artist and a major part of my childhood. A terrific and versatile storyteller and a prolific and dependable talent. His early 1970’s Avengers and Captain America runs are still all time favorites,” comic artist Joe Jusko shared on Facebook.

“In 1976, my dad bought me my very first comic book – Defenders #33 by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema. That moment and that comic set the course for my entire life. When I think of the Marvel Universe, it is as depicted by Sal Buscema. My absolute all-time favorite artist. RIP,” novelist, comics writer Brian Keene shared on X.