Very sorry to hear today of the death of comic book/strip artist Paul Ryan. None of the obits I've seen give a cause but he was 66 and a very nice, talented guy. Paul worked for Marvel, DC, Wildstorm, Crossgen and other companies, and since 2005 had been the illustrator of the Phantom daily newspaper strip. At DC and Marvel, he quickly ascended to drawing their top characters: Superman, The Flash, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, etc. He was a dependable professional who knew how to tell a story in a bold, exciting manner.
Some years ago, Paul and I were going to collaborate on a new comic book based on a leftover idea of Jack Kirby's. I was disappointed when the project fell through because I'd been looking forward to working with Paul. I knew from seeing his work he could draw well but when we got into discussions, I discovered what a smart, conscientious artist he was — the kind who not only produces fine work but understands what he's doing and why. What a shame to lose a good man like that.