Marvel and X-Men Family Mourn Stormbreaker Artist Joshua Cassara

The Marvel bullpen is mourning Joshua Cassara, the artist behind celebrated runs on X-Force and X-Men, who died September 22 at age 46 from heart complications. His wife Martha shared the news on Instagram, and tributes poured in quickly from across the industry.

Self-taught and known for kinetic, detail-heavy pages, Cassara broke through as the regular penciler on Benjamin Percy's X-Force starting in 2019, then rotated onto Gerry Duggan's flagship X-Men run through its landmark #700 issue in 2024. He also drew X Lives of Wolverine and contributed to Deadpool/Wolverine, with earlier credits spanning The Troop, Venom, Falcon, and the anniversary anthology Marvel Comics #1000. Marvel named him a Stormbreaker - its honor for rising superstar artists - back in 2020.

Fellow artist Russell Dauterman praised his distinctive character designs, while writer Tini Howard remembered him as part of the Krakoa-era "family," recalling warm convention encounters. Marvel itself called him "a wonderful friend and collaborator with a kind heart" who "brought energy, detail and emotion to his work." He's survived by his wife Martha and their children.

Source: The Beat