I Before E
R.I.P. Sam Kieth (January 11, 1963 – March 15, 2026), my favorite comic book artist, responsible for my favorite comic book, The Maxx (later an animated series on MTV). I was so taken by Sam's art that I had a page from the first issue of The Maxx tattooed on my back (by the also insanely talented Cory Kruger, who did my entire backpiece; pictured below). Sam wrote and/or illustrated many, many other comics as well, all worthwhile, and I have no doubt in my mind that I missed something from my collection in the images below. Kieth had a one-of-a-kind (and instantly recognizable) voice and style, often blending techniques and media in ways that no other comic artist did. His work ran the gamut from child-like sketches to beautifully painted fine art, and his stories were deeply human and characters deeply (often endearingly) flawed. You'll be missed, Sam .
