- Sal Buscema, longtime Marvel artist, died Jan. 23 at age 89, days before his 90th birthday.
- Best known for long runs on The Incredible Hulk and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
- Tributes from peers and fans appeared on social media, including posts by Sterling Clark and J.M. Dematteis.
- Buscema worked across Marvel and DC, creating and shaping characters for decades.
Marvel artist Sal Buscema dies at 89
Sal Buscema, a prolific comic book artist whose decades-long work at Marvel left an indelible mark on characters from the Hulk to Spider-Man, has died. His wife, Joan, told fellow artist Sterling Clark that Buscema passed away on Friday, Jan. 23, at age 89 — just days before what would have been his 90th birthday.
Career highlights and legacy
Born in Brooklyn, Sal Buscema began his career as an inker alongside his brother John Buscema. After joining Marvel in the late 1960s, he became known for steady, reliable storytelling and an intense work ethic, often handling multiple monthly titles. His best-known runs include a decade on The Incredible Hulk and eight years on The Spectacular Spider-Man.
Buscema also worked on The Uncanny X-Men, Sub-Mariner, Captain America, Marvel Team-Up — where he helped create Jean DeWolff — New Mutants and Thor. He briefly worked for DC in the 1990s on books including Batman and Superman before returning to Marvel.
Tributes from the comics community
“Wow. I just received word from Mrs. Joan that Sal Buscema passed away last Friday. He was 89. Today, he would’ve turned 90… Sal was a very nice, kind and generous person who I am happy to have known.” — Sterling Clark (Facebook)
Sterling Clark first posted the news on Facebook after speaking with Buscema’s wife. The post reflects how many younger artists studied Buscema’s pencils and inks and adopted aspects of his craft.
“Sal Buscema turns 90 today. There’s hardly a Marvel character Sal hasn’t left his mark on… Working with Sal for two years on Spectacular Spider-Man remains a highlight of my career.” — J.M. Dematteis (BlueSky)
A life in comics
Married to Joan since 1960, Buscema is survived by their three sons: Joe, Tony and Mike. Over his career he received the Inkpot Award, Inkwell Awards and the Ringo Award. Colleagues and fans praised not only his craft but his kindness and mentorship.
Watch and remember
Comic Book Club Live noted the news and continues to feature conversations about creators like Buscema on its weekly streams. You can find their channel on YouTube and Twitch for archived tributes and panels: YouTube, Twitch.
As tributes roll in across social media, Sal Buscema’s work remains a touchstone for readers and artists. His steady storytelling and clear, muscular figure work helped define Marvel’s look for generations of fans.
Image Referance: https://comicbookclublive.com/2026/01/26/sal-buscema-comic-book-legend-dead-at-89/