Comic artist Steve Lightleꦆ has died at the age of 61 due to cardiac arrest stemming from a COVID-19 diagnosis, acc✱ording to a .

Lightle was a lifelong resident of Kansas, and made his comic debut with a story in 1984's Black Diamond #4 from AC Comic🧜s. He quickly segued to a career at DC, beginning with a 10-page story in New Talent Showcase #4 and then took over as series artist of Legion of Super-Heroes. Over the course of two years, Lightle drew numerous issues including the memorable death of Karate Kid.

"One of the great strengths of the Legion is its diversity. In fact, I hold th🐼e distinction of having suggested the first non-humanoid Legionnaires in the long history of the Legion of Super-Heroes. Tellus and Quislet were the first nonhuman members of the Legion, and I'm very happy that Paul Levitz and I broke that barrier by creating them," Lightle told CBR in 2002. 

"I think that the series has always been blessed with a very diverse readership; due in large part 🗹t🥃o the message of acceptance that people understand is an integral part of the Legion."

In 1987,☂ Lightle relaunched DC's Doom Patrol series with Paul Kupperberg. After five issues on that title, the artist segued to primarily being a cover artist, only occasionally drawing guest🃏 issues and short stories such as in Marvel Comics Presents.

In 2001, Lightle launched his own company, Lunatik Press. Through that, he self-published his own com🎐ic books and sold original art.

"Seriously, as a comic creator, whether I'm writing or drawing a story, I always try to find the thing wit💧hin it that makes it speci𝓡al for me," said Lightly in 2002. "I try to give my all to each assignment that I take on."

Lightle is survived by his wife, Marianne, and their child💞ren.