British comic-book artist Steve Dillon, "considered a master of his craft by colleagues" and known for "a deeply expressive, often humorous style that leapt off the page," died October 22, the New York Times reported. He was 54. Dillon was best known as co-creator of Preacher, "a long-running series, recently adapted for television, about three companions who literally search for God," the Times wrote.
Novelist and comic-book writer Warren Ellis said Dillon's "pages were as fluid as camerawork, as efficient and composed as theater. Everything breathed." Dillon started working in comics at age 16 for Marvel U.K., and in 1992 teamed with Ennis on Hellblazer, establishing a rapport that "led to Preacher, another Vertigo series, in 1995." Preacher won a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for best continuing series in 1999.
In a tribute on NPR, Etelka Lehoczky wrote: "Over his career, cut short far too soon, Dillon proved again and again that comics for adults can be as thought-provoking as they are emotionally potent. And if you aren't an adult quite yet, they might even help you survive high school."