Butch

Jackson “Butch” Guice has passed away.

Like everyone, I was a huge fan of his work. His relaunch of THE FLASH back in ‘87 is seared into my brain, filled with the kind of energy and power you can only find in comics while still feeling so incredibly real. A consummate draftsman who inherited the mantle of a style originated by greats like Alex Raymond and Al Williamson, Butch was their equal, the artist you went to when you needed to feel like these characters actually existed, actually had real, genuine emotions.

I’d wanted to work with him right from the start of my career. Very few people know this but he was going to be the original artist on my run of DAREDEVIL, but ended up not being able to commit. I was heartbroken but swore we’d eventually work together.

And we did, on our INVADERS series a few years ago. Butch was the perfect fit for our flashback scenes and he jumped at the chance and showed us all how it’s done. He cared about the page, about story. Even though he was one of the best to ever do it, he never phoned it in. He thought about these pages and gave them his all.

I’m not the easiest writer to work with, because I draw as well so I tend to have notes for the artists on our projects. But during that period all I needed to do was see the pages come in and smile at how perfect they were. Butch was a storyteller first in an industry that prioritizes that fact less and less it seems.

We never got to meet in person and that fact is hitting me really hard right now. I looked so forward to shaking his hand one day to thank him for the books I loved and for the work that he did with me. Butch Guice! I got to work with Butch Guice! It’s still unbelievable.

Below is all of his art from INVADERS #4. He loved the World War II issues, but this one was something more quiet, set after the war. Other artists would have maybe been upset to draw diners and seaside cliffs and conversations, but Butch jumped at the chance and made each panel and page sing.

Butch was the gold standard of a comic book artist and we’re all so incredibly lucky that he left us so much of his work to enjoy.

Rest in Peace, Butch.

Thanks for everything.