Jorge Zaffino (1959 - 2002) - The Punisher: Kingdom Gone Cover Promotional, 1989 - 1990, Pen and Ink / WhiteOut / Pencil, 13 7/8 x 17 Inches. Copyright Jorge Zaffino Family Estate.
One of the true masters of our time...
Jorge Zaffino was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1959. He began his career at the age of 16 as a professional artist for Ricardo and Enrique Villagran Studios, where he worked on titles for the South American and European market. Nippur de Lagash, Tierra de Elfos, Kayan, Wolf, Hoover, and Mackenzie are a few of the many series whose mythos he contributed to.
In the mid-1980s, Zaffino made a trip to the United States with Ricardo Villagran, who worked for Comico at the time. On that trip, Jorge Zaffino met Comic Writer Chuck Dixon, with whom he would later produce the critically acclaimed Winterworld Limited Series for the US market. This 1987 North American debut quickly brought him to the attention of fans and professionals alike, and even led to a sequel entitled Wintersea. His sophomore effort in the states was The Punisher: Assassin's Guild Graphic Novel. It was created with writer Jo Duffy for Marvel Comics, and garnered him even greater recognition upon it's release. He and Dixon continued to collaborate on comics - producing the Seven Block Prestige Format One-Shot for Marvel / Epic Comics, followed by The Punisher: Kingdom Gone Graphic Novel, and a Savage Sword of Conan story entitled "The Horned God." Zaffino also worked regularly with comic writer Dan G. Chichester on Critical Mass and Terror, Inc. - both of which utilized characters from the Marvel / Epic foray into mature reader superhero comics known as The Shadowline Saga. His final work in the US was a story written by Chuck Dixon for the 1996 Batman: Black & White limited series called "The Devil's Children."
Meanwhile, Zaffino continued to produce Argentine comics distributed in Italy, Spain, and England, as well as in his native Argentina. Most widely recognized amongst these was his work for a series known as Wolf. In addition to his comic work, Jorge Zaffino also worked as an Illustrator in the advertising field. Prior to his death, he focused heavily on his work as a Painter, creating a significant body of work in the fine art world and establishing an online gallery of his paintings. His art has brought him international recognition and is “widely hailed for its brutal richness and striking draftsmanship, considered some of the most impressive comics work of the past decade.”
Artist Jorge Zaffino passed away of a heart attack on July 12th, 2002 at the age of 43 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
