Comic Book Artist and 'Sandman' Co-Creator Sam Kieth Dies at 63

Kieth, known for his work on 'The Maxx' and 'Zero Girl', passed away after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:50pm

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Sam Kieth, the comic book artist who co-created the iconic Sandman series with Neil Gaiman and also created his own acclaimed works like The Maxx and Zero Girl, has passed away at the age of 63. Kieth, who was diagnosed with the degenerative disease Lewy Body Dementia, died on Saturday, with the news being first reported by Bleeding Cool.

Why it matters

Kieth was a highly influential and innovative artist who helped shape the comic book industry with his unique and groundbreaking style. His work on The Maxx in particular was seen as redefining what mainstream comics could be, bridging the gap between mainstream and alternative comics. His passing is a major loss for the comics community.

The details

Kieth started his career in the 1980s, inking for titles like Mage and Fish Police before getting his big break at DC Comics in 1989, penciling the first five issues of The Sandman. He then went on to create his own acclaimed series The Maxx for Image Comics, which ran for 35 issues over five years. In addition to his creator-owned work, Kieth also did notable runs on Batman, Wolverine, Hulk, and Spider-Man for the major publishers.

  • Sam Kieth was born on January 11, 1963.
  • Kieth passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026.

The players

Sam Kieth

A comic book artist known for co-creating The Sandman with Neil Gaiman and creating his own acclaimed series like The Maxx and Zero Girl. He passed away at the age of 63 after being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.

Neil Gaiman

The acclaimed writer who co-created The Sandman comic series with Sam Kieth.

Bleeding Cool

The news outlet that first reported Kieth's passing.

Image Comics

The publisher of Kieth's creator-owned series The Maxx.

C. Robert Cargill

A horror movie writer who praised Kieth's groundbreaking work on The Maxx.

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What they’re saying

“It cannot be overstated how weird & groundbreaking THE MAXX was upon release. It was this crazy culture grenade, bridging the Venn diagram between mainstream comics & Alt (not indie) comics. In an era of anti-heroes, The Maxx satirized that, redefining what mainstream comics could be. RIP Sam Kieth.”

— C. Robert Cargill

“Sam Kieth didn't bend for comics. Comics bent to him. Maybe not since Kirby had mainstream comics seen an artist with less filter between his imagination and the printed page.”

— Phil Hester, Artist and Writer

“Sam's influence will be felt for generations. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

— Image Comics

The takeaway

Sam Kieth's passing is a major loss for the comic book industry, as he was a pioneering and influential artist whose unique and groundbreaking style helped redefine what mainstream comics could be. His creator-owned works like The Maxx showed the potential for comics to push boundaries and explore new creative territory.