He liked that imagery. He liked the war. He liked the fight

December 9, 2010 4:02 AM

How 2000AD artist and MS sufferer John Hicklenton chose to end his life: The Herald reports on the death of John Hinckleton - Pat Mills writes on his life. See some of his art here.

As well as his own chronicle of his last days, Channel 4 screened the documentary about his life, work and illness, Here's Johnny, in 2009.

posted by mippy (17 comments total)

I would not go down that road myself, but it's a good thing that an adult has that choice in some places at least.
posted by unigolyn at 4:40 AM on December 9, 2010

A wonderful artist. I'm very sad to hear this.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:41 AM on December 9, 2010

Hope I have the strength to be able to make that choice, if and when such a time comes.
posted by Old'n'Busted at 4:55 AM on December 9, 2010

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posted by Halloween Jack at 5:15 AM on December 9, 2010

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And thank you, Dignitas.
posted by ryanshepard at 5:41 AM on December 9, 2010 [2 favorites]

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posted by Happy Dave at 5:57 AM on December 9, 2010

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posted by limeonaire at 5:58 AM on December 9, 2010

"When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man."
posted by CarlRossi at 6:48 AM on December 9, 2010 [2 favorites]

Instead, he decided to finish the battle on his own terms. Even when we went to Dignitas,” Lavis recalls, “it was, ‘I’m pulling the pin on the hand grenade. I’m murdering MS. It’s not murdering me.’”

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posted by Joe Beese at 6:49 AM on December 9, 2010

"He was commissioned to do something for Marvel in America when the Spider-Man film came out. They commissioned a few artists to pitch for the adult Spider-Man. He was one of their first choices. He did a great shot of Spider-Man but with quite hefty genitalia under his suit. He said he had a great conversation with Marvel: ‘Johnny, we love your art. Could you tone down the genitalia a bit?’ And Johnny said, ‘It’s adult Spiderman,’ and he wouldn’t do it."

This man is a hero. I get the 'could you tone down the genitalia a bit' thing CONSTANTLY where I work (telcom management).
posted by FatherDagon at 7:02 AM on December 9, 2010 [2 favorites]

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posted by brand-gnu at 7:52 AM on December 9, 2010

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posted by fido~depravo at 8:45 AM on December 9, 2010

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posted by clavdivs at 8:59 AM on December 9, 2010

I, too, am grateful it is a choice somewhere.

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posted by thankyouforyourconsideration at 9:32 AM on December 9, 2010

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posted by Superfrankenstein at 12:19 PM on December 9, 2010

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posted by kinnakeet at 1:14 PM on December 9, 2010

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I'm crying now at the end of that first article. Rest in peace, or maybe in an eternal fight for joy, Mr. Hicklenton...
posted by dubitable at 5:26 PM on December 9, 2010