( CNN ) The search for a comic book artist missing in the Cayman Islands since Thursday is now being called a recovery mission . Norman Lee , an artist for DC and Marvel comics , went missing while snorkeling with his wife off the eastern coast of Grand Cayman , CNN affiliate WCVB reported . Strong currents hindered the search , which lasted until Friday evening , Cayman 27 reported . `` It is unlikely that we will make any recovery at this stage , '' Chief Inspector Brad Ebanks told Cayman 27 . Lee , 47 , of Weymouth , Massachusetts , was known and for his work on `` Wolverine Annual , '' `` Supergirl , '' `` Starman '' and other comic book titles . Tributes flooded his Facebook page and Twitter from friends , fans and colleagues who knew him from art school and comic conventions . `` I can not express how shaken I am that I will never get the chance to see that smile again , and it saddens me that this world has lost a wonderful man in Norman Lee . To his wife Jan , and his family and all his friends and fans that loved him , my sincerest condolences , '' friend and fellow graphic artist Chris Kinniery said on Facebook . `` I 'm so sorry to hear about Norman Lee 's disappearance . My condolences go out to his family . ... He was an amazing talent in the industry and it was always a pleasure to work with him , '' freelance artist .
Comic book artist Norman Lee went missing in the Cayman Islands on Thursday . The comic book artist, who was born and raised in New York City, has been living there for more than a decade.