Michael Turner

4/21/1971 - 6/27/2008 (age 37)

   It was September 1997. I was inside a Books-A-Million with my mom and sister. I had no interest in reading actual books back then so I headed straight for the comic stand. On the shelf, directly at eye level, I immediately noticed an image that stood out from the other new releases. The cover featured a captivating pose and highly detailed forest background, it was called, "Witchblade" (#17). I knew nothing about Michael Turner or this series but that moment would officially mark the beginning of my comic book collecting journey. 

As a 10 year old standing in front of a wall of inked paper I remember thinking how exotic and professional the artwork looked. Yet, it all felt intuitively familiar. The inside pages were even more impressive! The panel layouts, character proportions and sequence of events flowed smoothly throughout the crisp pages. I knew I wouldn't be leaving the store without it.

He entered the industry (mid 90s) at the right age and during a time when creative freedom was still encouraged. Before the internet and social media were common. Back then many artists were creating blonde haired blue eyed heroines. Turner's female protagonist was a brunette named Sara Pezzini. The 90s were known as the "Bad Girl Era" for comics. This was a marketing strategy the industry pushed attempting to bring in more younger male readers. I can confirm―the campaign was a success!

I always admired Turner's ability to experiment using edgy poses without crossing provocative boundaries. Because of this; the reader's mind isn't locked into one direction of thought. During interviews; he would often mention not crossing certain boundaries he made for himself. That's what I respect the most about his mindset as an artist. Decades later I still feel the same excitement from these images. His work aged well because it was always presented tastefully. Pictured right is a good example and one of my favorite cover poses.

   A large amount of my portfolio is heavily centered around his work. I very well could have the most exclusive MT collection in America and still going. Not based on volume, but rather, scarcity. Even at its current size it would be nearly impossible to mirror due to availability, expense and time required. A task no one would care to attempt during a down economy. 

Witchblade #17 was the very first comic I saw from Michael Turner. To my knowledge (pictured left) this is the only certified near mint 9.8 signed copy in the world. It's a true one of one collectible and I still can't believe I have it! I'd assume there are other nongraded copies in existence but I haven't been able to find any. 

Every time I look at this book specifically, my first thought isn't about the awesome cover, signature or childhood memories attached. No, it's much deeper than that. What I'm about to say isn't typical of comic collecting but then again―this is Blue Wolf Comics.

   The book was officially graded by CGC the same month I got back into the hobby after a 25 year hiatus from comic book collecting. I found and immediately purchased a few weeks later. BWC Origin Story explains my absence from the hobby and shows how similar our drawing styles were around the same age. Our hometowns are not far apart. Turner was born in Tennessee. I'm from South Carolina. We were born nearly 17 years apart. My birthday is September 17th. Witchblade #17 released September 1997. We both have earth signs. His sign was Taurus and mine is Virgo. Taurus' often become artists. Virgoans often become writers. When keying our first and last names (or full names) into a gematria calculator; the English Ordinal Cipher shows a gap of 25 (my 25yr hiatus from collecting) between us. His ability to draw was stronger than his writing. My ability to write is stronger than my drawing. He got the opportunity to advance into the comic book industry. I did not. He passed in 2008 at age 37, leaving the comic industry. I started recollecting comic books at age 37, later creating an online portfolio, somewhat entering the comic industry. He created all of his work before the internet blew up. I use the internet to find, buy and preserve his best work. These synchronicities are hard to ignore and even harder to replicate!

For whatever reason; I've had a strong connection with Turner's artwork from day one. There are other artist whose work resonates with me but not to the same degree. I understand the dynamics of parasocial relationships but if it weren't for the sequence of events and connecting numbers I'd say it was just that. I generally ignore most celebrity figures, actors, politicians and musicians. I don't see him as a famous artist but think of him more as a deceased brother. I could have easily left all of this out but feel it's important to document my thoughts, without question, no matter how ridiculous they may sound in the moment.  

I do believe both our life paths were orchestrated to a large degree well in advance. Although it's highly speculative; I wouldn't be surprised if we had some kind of agreement made before entering the "game" of life. He would be the artist and I would preserve his best work using the internet to collect the scattered pieces. Not as the main objective but more like a fun side quest or bonus mission. I don't remember anything consciously but intuitively it feels natural. My intuition is rarely wrong as I'm good at reading between the lines. That would certainly explain such a bond regarding pencil lines on paper from a deceased artist. I think the evidence is very compelling to say the least and worth considering as there are too many moving parts for the numbers above to be merely coincidental. If nothing else―I would hope someone decades into the future would find my work inspiring enough to preserve from beyond the grave.

   Regarding his unfortunate death due to bone cancer. In Wizard's MT Millennium Edition (2005) hardcover book he briefly mentioned during the initial days of drawing full time, after moving to California, there were a lot of "Ramen" meals as money was tight. I assume he would mix the entire seasoning pack with each serving of noodles. There are high amounts of sodium and chemical additives inside those seasoning packets. Consuming too much of that long-term can lead to various health problems. The cheaper the food―the worse nutritional quality becomes. I'd imagine his eating habits didn't change drastically once money became consistent. Early into his career he is suddenly diagnosed with cancer. I believe excessive amounts of Ramen noodle seasoning was the main contributing factor involving his battle against cancer. Who knows how popular he would've been if he were still alive today. The sheer volume of work would be unobtainable I'm sure!

The question is, "Was this item coincidentally available at the exact time needed or was it pre-determined?

Disclaimer: All information provided by Blue Wolf Comics (BWC) is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, factual, scientific, or professional advice. Always do your own research and consult a qualified professional if needed before making any objectively important decisions.  

David (8/23/26)