Judge Dredd co-creator Carlos Ezquerra dies aged 70 after cancer battle

Spanish comic book artist Carlos Ezquerra, best known as the co-creator of Judge Dredd, has died aged 70. 

Mr Ezquerra, who created the futuristic lawman for the science fiction comic book 2000AD in the 1970s, passed away following a battle with lung cancer.

Mr Ezquerra hailed from Zaragoza in Spain, but worked mainly in British comics, and lived in Andorra. 

Rest in peace: Spanish comic book artist Carlos Ezquerra, best known as the co-creator of Judge Dredd, died following a battle with lung cancer

Rest in peace: Spanish comic book artist Carlos Ezquerra, best known as the co-creator of Judge Dredd, died following a battle with lung cancer

Staff at 2000AD hailed him as the ‘heart and soul’ of the weekly comic book in a statement released today. 

They revealed that Mr Ezquerra had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, and that he continued to work throughout treatment.

However, the cancer returned earlier this year, the magazine wrote.

The statement said: ‘It is no exaggeration to call Carlos Ezquerra one of the greatest comic book artists of all time, and his name deserves to be uttered alongside Kirby, Ditko, Miller, Moebius, and Eisner.

‘Yet this doesn’t really do justice to someone whose work was loved by millions and has had an influence far beyond the comic book page. 

‘From Judge Dredd to Strontium Dog, from Rat Pack to Major Eazy, Carlos has left us with a legacy of stunning and distinctive work that was and always will be 2000 AD.

One of Mr Ezquerra's iconic images of futuristic lawman Judge Dredd

One of Mr Ezquerra’s iconic images of futuristic lawman Judge Dredd

On screen: Judge Dredd has been turned into film twice, in 1995 starring Sylvester Stallone, pictured left, and in 2012, with Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, right

On screen: Judge Dredd has been turned into film twice, in 1995 starring Sylvester Stallone, pictured left, and in 2012, with Karl Urban as Judge Dredd, right

‘He has been one of the pillars, producing the same dynamic, enthralling and arresting art we always loved him for. We thought we had many more adventures to come from the master, so we are devastated to discover we were wrong.

‘Our most profound condolences to his family, his friends, and to the generations of readers who knew instantly they were reading a Carlos Ezquerra comic book.’ 

Fans and other comic book artists have praised Mr Ezquerra’s work on social media following the news of his death.

Mark Millar, Writer of The Magic Order, Kingsman, and Kick-Ass, took to Twitter to share his thoughts.

He wrote: ‘Very sad to hear that Judge Dredd legend Carlos Ezquerra has passed away, surely the definitive Dredd artist. 

‘Had the honour of working with him back in my early 20s on the Purgatory strip. His unique style elevated every strip he touched.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk