We’re sorry to report the passing of Catalan illustrator and comic artist Sanjulián (Manuel Pérez-Sanjulián Clemente) who passed on Wednesday aged 85; his death initially announced to the wider world by David García Sariñena, director of the documentary Sanjulián: El poder de la ilustración (“San Julián: The Power of Illustration”) and a friend of the artist.
David also wrote a feature for the book Sanjulian: La fantasía ilustrada, published in Spanish by Diábolo last year, a superb collection of some of the artist’s best illustrations from his long career.
“I have no words right now to describe the deep sorrow I feel,” he said of the artist’s passing on Facebook. “I was fortunate enough to pay tribute to him with the documentary Sanjulián: El poder de la ilustración, and share unforgettable moments with him.
“My condolences to the family and friends. Rest in peace, maestro.”
Sanjulián’s son, Manuel Sanjulian Jr., subsequently paid tribute to his much-missed father yesterday.
“With deep sorrow and an indescribable sadness, I announce the passing of my dear father Sanjulian, which occurred on October 14, 2026.
“Today, I must face one of the most difficult moments of my life: saying goodbye to a father I love deeply, whose absence leaves an immense void in my heart. Beyond being my father, he has been a role model, a source of inspiration, and an enormous and irreplaceable presence. His memory, his teachings, and the love he instilled in me will remain with me forever.
“He was also a beloved artist, admired and recognized worldwide, whose sensitivity, talent, and career leave a lasting impact; he used to say, “In every painting I paint, there is an adventure. I enjoy them and live them out, so I have had a life full of emotions.”
“In these moments of deep mourning, I want to thank everyone for the expressions of affection received. Knowing that my father was loved by so many people around the world is a source of comfort in the midst of this grief.
“… Thank you to everyone who is with us in our time of grief and who keeps his memory alive.”
Considered one of the most important fantasy, horror and science fiction illustrators in the world, some of the artist’s paintings are on display in the recently opened Lucas Museum of Narrative Artr in Los Angeles. His art featured on the covers of many a title from publisher Warren Publishing, including Creepy and Vampirella, his take on that character considered definitive.
“The Lucas Museum is saddened to learn of Sanjulián’s passing,” they commented. “His vibrant works are a highlight of our Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Adventure galleries, and we’re proud they’re a part of our inaugural exhibition.”
Sanjulián also provided covers for Conan the Barbarian novels, created numerous film posters and illustrations, earning him deserving admiration from directors such as George Lucas and Peter Jackson.
Born in Barcelona in 1941, Sanjulián initially considered drawing a hobby rather than a career, and enrolled in the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies after school, intending to become a merchant marine. To earn some extra money, he decided to create a portfolio of portraits of film stars and offer his services to distribution agencies of the time, as a poster artist. After several rejections, he finally landed a trial job with Fox around 1959, his first commission an advertising piece for The Diary of Anne Frank.
A family friend, an art restorer, recommended he begin studying Fine Arts and he considered pursuing drawing professionally, enrolling at the Sant Jordi Academy in his twenties.
His first comics work was for romance comics published by the Bruguera publishing house, but, not liking the style, he sought work from Josep Toutain’s Selecciones Ilustradas agency, drawing historical, detective, western comics and more.
He began to paint comic covers after his military service in the 1960s, creating art for British publishers such as Futura, Fontana, and Harrow; an aspect of his work which further developed in the 1970s, creating horror and fantasy work for Warren, and book covers for other publishers including Dell, Avon, Bantam, and Berkeley, among others.
“When paperback books became popular, I was commissioned to create two covers featuring the character of Conan,” Sanjulián himself once noted of his Conan work, “which were so well received that I was immediately offered countless commissions to draw illustrations and covers for sword and sorcery books
“It’s really impossible to pick any favourite painting, or even to put together a small sample because he did so much great work, but I will always associate him with the classic Vampirella covers,” noted artist Tom Taggart, marking his passing. “The way he made those pale skin tones so real, and how Vampi just popped right off the covers … just amazing work.
He continued drawing comics, too, including two film adaptations and a series for Cimoc magazine.
He left Selecciones Ilustradas in 1984, represented instead by the Norma Agency, part of Norma Editorial, working largely for American publishers, although he did create some advertising work in his home country, such as campaigns for brands such as Winston and the PortAventura Park theme park. He has also created several film posters, including some for director Juan Piquer Simón, a great admirer of his work, as well as several posters for the Sitges Fantastic Film Festival , the city where he lived.
Over the years, Sanjulián, married with two children, received numerous awards and recognitions from his peers, living in Sitges (creating several posters for the annual SITGES Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya there) until his death.
Our sympathies to family and friends at this time. His work will live on, much admired and hugely appreciated by his many fans across the globe.
Sanjulián (Manuel Pérez-Sanjulián Clemente), born 24th June 1941 in Barcelona, died 14th October 2026 in Sitges
Tributes for Sanjulián
“Even moreso than [Michael] Kaluta, Sanjulián’s career was steeped in the weird and uncanny,” notes author D.M. Ritzlin. “Most American fans of ‘genre’ art first came to know him through the covers of Warren magazines like Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella, which venues he dominated after Frazetta moved on to greener pastures. When Warren folded in the early ’80s, Sanjulián continued to paint works of dark fantasy and horror for various magazines, book covers and private commissions almost until the day he died. It strikes me that Sanjulián was born during the height of summer – echoed in his paintings of high adventure – and died two weeks short of Halloween/Samhain. It seems fitting.”
“Sanjulián was one of those extraordinary artists whose work could stop you in your tracks,” noted artist Frederick Cooper. “His masterful use of colour, light, and shadow, combined with his remarkable ability to capture both beauty and menace, made his paintings instantly recognisable. His legendary covers for Warren Publishing’s Vampirella, Creepy, and Eerie remain some of the finest examples of fantasy and horror illustration ever produced.
“As an artist, I’ve admired his work for decades. There was an elegance and richness to his paintings that few could match. He belonged to that remarkable generation of illustrators who elevated commercial illustration into genuine fine art, and his influence will continue to be felt for generations.
“We’ve lost another giant in the world of illustration, but what an extraordinary body of work he leaves behind.”
Head downthetubes for…
• Sanjulián: Official Facebook Page
• Sanjulián’s new art for sale can be found at corner4art.com
• Sanjulian: Master of Fantasy Art (Limited Edition)
An illustrators Special limited to 1000 copies worldwide from Book Palace, introduced by Joe Jusko. Published in 2022, this 312-page, illustrated book celebrates the full breadth of Sanjulian’s amazing career, with hundreds of beautiful full colour paintings and pencil sketches, unpublished illustrations and rarely seen early work along with exclusive photos and artwork from the Master’s own personal archives.
• Sanjulian: La fantasía ilustrada
Spanish language book offering a glorious collection of his covers for Warren, Conan novels, Vampirella and more. Includes prologues by Manuel Auad and Marcos Ordóñez and an epilogue by David García Sariñena.
• Sanjulián: Eight Decades of Great Art by Deuce Richardson, a 2021 tribute marking the artist’s 80th birthday
• Masters of Spanish Comic Book Art by David Roach (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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