Bob Wakelin, the legendary artist behind some of the most iconic game box art of the ’80s and ’90s, has passed away.
Although some of you might not recognize the name, there’s a good chance you’ll know his work, and Wakelin was responsible for creating the covers to a number of classics including Contra, Operation Wolf, Rainbow Islands, and Ocean Software’s Batman.
During his time at Ocean, the publisher would often ask Wakelin to improve the fortunes of its more pedestrian titles by designing stellar covers.
“A couple of times the guys at Ocean said to me ‘Look Bob,’ this game really isn’t very good so we need an extra special cover,” he said in an interview with the BBC. “I suppose I should feel guilty for it.”
Of course, the industry was a richer place because of Wakelin’s vibrant creations, and since news of his passing broke on Twitter the video game community has been paying tribute to his life and work.