Hang in there, Martin

[Casey Rogers]

It's all over the place that the Merc, in a boneheaded move, laid off Martin Gee this weekend. I don't know Martin, but I hear he's had a rough month with the passing of his father so I just want to say hang in there and good luck from your virtual visual buddies from the Features Design group.

[Robb Montgomery]

Gee updates his "reduction in force" photo series documenting the layoffs at the San Jose Mercury News. Gee was laid off Friday and the last few entries are raw, personal and powerful.

These images document his final moments working for the paper. "">See the set.

My question: Is Martin the only newspaper journalist with the courage to photo document this tragedy?

[Grayson Mendenhall]

Wow.

I remember seeing Martin's work for the first time and being completely blown away. Nearly every page or illustration I have ever seen him produce has always been not just great graphic design, but also amazing art and true inspiration. I know I'm not alone in thinking this.

If someone as insanely talented, not only technically but in terms of idea generation, as Martin Gee isn't even safe in this culture of layoffs, I feel like just giving up.

Mercury News, you just fired the Michelangelo of news and feature illustration. If I lived in San Jose, I would boycot your paper.