R.I.P. Cinamon Hadley

Body-piercer and goth icon Cinamon Hadley, whose look inspired Death, from Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, passed away this January 6th. She was previously diagnosed with cancer of the colon, which returned after a brief remission.

Rest in Peace, or head off to your next adventure, Cinamon Hadley. You gave Death of the Endless her face and her smile. https://t.co/lsikh0BHCW

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) January 6, 2018

When Gaiman described Death’s design by Mike Dringenberg, which also had a role on ‘Death: The High Cost Of Living,’ he said that:

Death is the only major character whose visuals didn’t spring from me; that credit goes to Mike Dringenberg. In my original Sandman outline, I suggested Death look like rock star Nico in 1968, with the perfect cheekbones and perfect face she has on the cover of her Chelsea Girl album. But Mike Dringenberg had his own ideas, so he sent me a drawing based on a woman he knew named Cinamon Hadley — the drawing that was later printed in Sandman 11 — and I looked at it and had the immediate reaction of, “Wow. That’s really cool.” Later that day, Dave McKean and I went to dinner in Chelsea at the My Old Dutch Pancake House and the waitress who served us was a kind of vision. She was American, had long black hair, was dressed entirely in black — black jeans, T-shirt, etc. — and wore a big silver ankh on a silver necklace. And she looked exactly like Mike Dringenberg’s drawing of Death.

Several followers of Hadley, Gaiman and the comic itself have expressed their condolences for the loss, with even some comenting about doing a possible tribute for the icon.

Some of us were thinking of putting a collection of stories and photos together (@Victorianrose23 was thinking of it). That is a project that will be in the works - after some recovery.

— 🕯️Lizzybo🕯️ (@lizzybo) January 7, 2018

We will definitely keep everyone in the loop. Some of us started putting together the bare bones of the idea last night, while we waited, and drank WAY too much whiskey. We want anyone who wants to be involved to be included. Give me a few days.

— Tracy Hyland Painter (@Victorianrose23) January 7, 2018

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