Norman LeeIn Memoriam: Norman Lee by Jerry Whitworth

 

While vacationing with his wife Jan in the Cayman Islands, comic book inker Norman Lee went missing. Snorkeling 250 yards off of the Grand Cayman, the couple became separated and Jan returned to shore believing her husband would be there waiting for her. The authorities believe strong currents in the water may have taken Lee and have since called off the search, believing it’s unlikely he will ever be recovered. Lee graduated from Southeastern Massachusetts University (known today as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) with a degree in Illustration/Design in 1990 and went to work in fashion design. A comic book fan as a child, Lee decided to try his hand at comics taking a portfolio on the convention circuit. The move eventually led to his finding work at Marvel Comics inking Wolverine Annual 1996. Ever since, Lee has worked in comics predominantly at Marvel with notable runs on titles like Deadpool, Dark Horse Extra (featuring SpyBoy), SpyBoy, Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, GeNext, DC Universe Online: Legends, and Wolverine & The X-Men from his home in North Weymouth, MA. The inker’s legacy, however, will likely be with how fondly he will be remembered by his friends. According to his loved ones, Lee had a warm personality that within five minutes of meeting him made you feel like you knew him your whole life. Norman and Jan have been married for five and a half years and he became a second father to her children. Lee’s vacation was the first he’s reportedly taken in ten years.