Al Rio Reported Dead
by Brant W. Fowler
The internet was abuzz yesterday with reports of the death of artist Al Rio who apparently committed suicide by hanging himself. News of Rio's death began circulating throughout the Portuguese speaking comics community and then was picked up by Bleeding Cool. From there, the comic community on social networks and various websites exploded with shock and sadness at Rio's passing.
Al Rio, born Alvaro Araujo Lourenco do Rio, worked for several major and mid-level comic book companies, including Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, Crossgen, Chaos, Zenescope and others. His work is known on titles such as Grimm Fairy Tales, WildC.A.T.S., Gen13, Captain America and many others.
"We'd gotten together several weeks ago and were working hard on his projects, so news of his death came as quite a shock. He was a long-time friend whose art was a great joy to me and even inspired my wife's drawing career. Generous and humble, he'll be deeply missed." Wrote David Campiti, an agent and collaborator of Rio in an article for Bleeding Cool later in the day remembering his good friend.
Al leaves behind three children: Rene, Adrielle, and Isabel, and his wife Zilda. His funeral, as reported on Bleeding Cool, will be held on Wednesday, February 1st, on Cemiterio São João Batista, in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Al Rio from all of us here at Comic Related.
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