British artist and colorist Steve Whitaker, perhaps best known here for coloring V FOR VENDETTA died suddenly last Friday at age 52. D’Israeli has a remembrance and links to several more heartfelt tributes.

Anyone who was around the London comics scene in the 80’s and early 90’s will remember Steve; at 6ft 4in he was hard to miss in his trademark long dark overcoat. He was a world-class colourist who will probably be remembered professionally for his work on the DC Comics edition of V for Vendetta, but he was far more than that; a brilliant draughtsman, painter, teacher and historian of comics, raconteur and ace punster. He was also my best mate.

You can see Whitaker’s painting work at his Flickr account.