Comic book artist and writer Michael Turner was born in Crossville, Tennessee on April 21, 1971. He had been a pre-medicine student at the University of Tennessee before moving to Aspen and San Diego, where he taught martial arts. At the 1993 Comic-Con in San Diego his artistic talent was discovered by the staff of Top Cow Productions. Turner illustrated backgrounds for Top Cow titles before co-creating the popular comic book character Witchblade, who was named for the supernatural weapon that affixed itself to the arm of New York homicide detective Sara Pezzini. In 1998 he debuted the aquatic Fathom character, whose secret identity was marine biologist Aspen Matthews. In 2002 Turner left Top Cow to found his own entertainment publishing company, Aspen MLT Inc. In 2004 he began contributing art to DC Comics and Marvel Comics, including cover designs for issues of the Teen Titans, Superman, Identity Crisis, The Flash, Supergirl, Wolverine, Civil War, Incredible Hulk, Black Panther, and Sub-Mariner. In 2004 he provided the cover art and co-wrote the Superman "Godfall" story arc, and Soulfire began publication. Turner died at age 37 of complications from bone cancer and is survived by his family and fiancée, Kelly Carmichael.
