Sal Buscema Swings Into the Sunset: Marvel Comics Legend Dies Just Shy of 90th Birthday
Legendary Marvel Comics artist Sal Buscema, renowned for his dynamic pencils on titles like The Incredible Hulk and The Spectacular Spider-Man, passed away on January 23, 2026, at age 89.
Here’s the TL;DR...
Sal Buscema died on January 23, 2026, three days before turning 90.
He was a key Marvel artist from the late 1960s through the 1990s, with long runs on major series.
Buscema co-created characters like Rom the Spaceknight and worked extensively on Spider-Man and Hulk stories.
His death was confirmed by family and reported across comic industry outlets.
Tributes highlight his influence on superhero comics and his family legacy in the field.
Who Was Sal Buscema and How Did He Start in Comics?
Sal Buscema, born Silvio Buscema on January 26, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, grew up in a Sicilian-American family. His father worked as a barber, and Buscema was the youngest of four siblings.
He attended the High School of Music & Art, graduating in 1955, and drew inspiration from artists like Hal Foster and Norman Rockwell.
What Early Career Steps Led Sal Buscema to Marvel?
After high school, Buscema worked in advertising studios in New York and Washington, D.C.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956, he served as an illustrator in the Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Post-discharge, he returned to advertising before entering comics in the 1960s.
How Did Family Ties Shape Sal Buscema’s Comic Book Path?
Buscema’s older brother, John Buscema, a prominent Marvel artist, played a pivotal role.
Sal began by inking John’s work on Dell Comics titles in the early 1950s. This sibling connection opened doors at Marvel in 1968, where Sal started as an inker on books like Silver Surfer and The Rawhide Kid.
What Were Sal Buscema’s Breakthrough Moments at Marvel?
Buscema quickly moved to penciling.
In 1969, with writer Roy Thomas, he introduced the Squadron Sinister in The Avengers #69 and created the villain Llyra in Sub-Mariner #32.
He contributed to The Uncanny X-Men before its reprint era.
Which Collaborations Defined Sal Buscema’s 1970s Output?
Teaming with Steve Englehart, Buscema launched The Defenders in 1972, introducing Valkyrie in issue #4.
They handled Captain America from 1972 to 1975, boosting sales.
Buscema also penciled multiple Avengers issues and created Graviton with Jim Shooter in The Avengers #158.
What Made Sal Buscema’s Hulk Run Legendary?
From 1975 to 1985, Buscema delivered a 10-year stint on The Incredible Hulk, which he called his favorite character.
With Bill Mantlo, he created the U-Foes and Soviet Super-Soldiers.
His dynamic action sequences captured the Hulk’s raw power.
How Did Sal Buscema Impact Spider-Man Comics in the 1980s and 1990s?
Buscema was the original artist on The Spectacular Spider-Man starting in 1976, with an eight-year initial run.
He returned for a 100-issue stretch from 1988 to 1996, including the “Lobo Brothers Gang War” arc.
Issue #200 featured the death of Harry Osborn as the Green Goblin.
What Other Characters Did Sal Buscema Co-Create or Develop?
With Mantlo, Buscema launched Rom: Spaceknight in 1979 and created police captain Jean DeWolff in Marvel Team-Up #48.
He worked on Guardians of the Galaxy, introducing Starhawk with Steve Gerber, and inked Thor during Walt Simonson’s 1986–1987 run.
Did Sal Buscema Work Beyond Marvel and What Awards Did He Earn?
In the late 1990s, Buscema inked for DC Comics, including Superman Beyond in 2011.
He received:
the Inkpot Award in 2003
the Hero Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013
multiple Inkwell Awards, including the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame in 2021
a Ringo Award for best inker in 2022
How Did Sal Buscema’s Style Evolve Over His Career?
Buscema often inked his own pencils from the late 1970s onward.
Known for expressive panels that conveyed emotion without dialogue, he brought life to superheroes through fluid motion and detailed storytelling.
Fans praised his Spider-Man afterimages for emphasizing the character’s speed.
What Tributes Followed Sal Buscema’s Passing?
Industry figures mourned Buscema on social media.
Comic writer Jim Zub called him a “storytelling machine” whose work shaped generations.
Artist Mark Bagley noted Buscema’s influence on his own Spider-Man art.
Family confirmed the news to outlets like Bleeding Cool.
Why Is Sal Buscema’s Death Poignant Given the Timing?
Buscema passed away on January 23, 2026, just days before his 90th birthday on January 26.
Reports from his wife, Joan Buscema, shared the news, sparking reflections on his near-milestone and enduring legacy.
Sal Buscema’s death marks another loss for Marvel’s golden era artists, following his brother John in 2002.
His contributions to iconic runs on Hulk, Spider-Man, and Defenders continue to inspire new creators and fans.
As comics evolve with digital tools, Buscema’s hand-drawn mastery reminds us of the medium’s human roots, ensuring his panels remain timeless in superhero lore.
Hat Tips
https://www.comicsbeat.com/sal-buscema-beloved-comics-artist-passes-away
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/sal-buscema-co-creator-of-rom-the-defenders-has-died-aged-89
https://comicbookclublive.com/2026/01/26/sal-buscema-comic-book-legend-dead-at-89
Wikipedia, Sal Buscema, accessed January 26, 2026
https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2026/01/26/sal-buscema-rip
Article Compiled and Edited by Derek Gibbs on January 26, 2026 for Clownfish TV D/REZZED
Really appreciate the depth here covering Buscema's full arc. That 10-year Hulk run is kinda underappreciated compared to other Bronze Age work, but it really captured the character's internal chaos alongside the smashing. The timing of his death beng just days before 90 makes this even more poignant tbh.