On Thursday the news of Michael Jackson's death came as a bolt from the blue, and legions of fans of the pop star posted their reactions online.

Shortly after it was first reported on news entertainment site TMZ that Michael Jackson had died after suffering a cardiac attack, thousands of messages flooded Chinese websites expressing disbelief, grief and remembrances.

Legions of fans of the pop star posted their reactions online.

On tianya.cn, one of the most popular online forums in China, a fan by the name of yuyuhenai initiated a memorial about his death, filling it with Jackson's biography, musical works and pictures.

A mourner who followed the message, by the name of movingahead wrote: "I can't believe it! I have been hoping he would stage a comeback someday!" Another member, by the name of jennyevee wrote: "It is a shock! I am devastated at the news, I can do nothing now…I have listened to him since I was a teenager. Even though he had been plagued with a barrage of negative reports and scandals, he was always my idol at the bottom of my heart. The mundane world misunderstood him too much and put him under great pressure. If he can't seek pleasure in the world, maybe death is his best destination. Hope he can lead a life he likes in the heaven." Hundreds of people echoed the message about the news by simply posting "May he rest in peace!"

Hordes of fans who were shocked by the news migrated to the Web to mark the death of the "King of the Pop".

During his musical career Michael received the widest acclaim as a pop icon of the age, and he also attracted scathing attacks for his eccentric lifestyle, but no one can deny his outstanding achievements in pop music.

"His death took away the last giant star on earth," said a user of tianya.cn.

(China.org.cn by He Shan, June 26, 2009)