Chad Burdette
The comic book community was shocked with the news that another industry icon and prolific creator has passed away, according to a post over on Marvel.com
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Gerry Conway was a comic book writer and editor, a science fiction writer and screenwriter, and wrote and produced for television.
His contributions to the comic book world included creations for both Marvel and DC Comics, such as co-creating the vigilante antihero the Punisher (with artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru), a clone of Peter Parker, Ben Reilly, the supervillain The Jackal (with Ross Andru), and Carol Danvers as Ms. Marvel (artist John Buscema).
For DC Comics he co-created the characters Firestorm (with artist Al Milgrom) and Steel ( with artist Don Heck), Vixen (with artist Bob Oksner), along with Vibe and Gypsy. As writer of Batman #337–359 (July 1981 – May 1983) and the feature “Batman” in Detective Comics #497–526 (Dec. 1980 – May 1983), he introduced the characters Killer Croc and Jason Todd
In his years working for Marvel Comics he wrote such iconic stories such as the death Gwen Stacy, gave Frank Castle his character-defining tragic backstory, along with his work on titles such as FANTASTIC FOUR (1961), THOR (1966), AVENGERS (1963), and DEFENDERS (1972), and MS. MARVEL (1977),
His DC Comics work also included an eight year run on Justice League of America and the first major, modern-day intercompany crossover, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man.
Conway was born in Brooklyn, New York City in 1952 and began his work in comics at the age of 16 with “Aaron Philips’ Photo Finish” in DC Comics’ House of Secrets #81 and Marvel’s Chamber of Darkness and Tower of Shadows through the end of 1970. He followed these works with his first continuing-character story in DC’s The Phantom Stranger #10 and scripts for Marvel’s jungle lord Ka-Zar in Astonishing Tales #3. After serving briefly as the Editor-in-Chief at Marvel Comics in the mid-70’s, he returned to DC Comics exclusively writing Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Legion of Super-Heroes, along with titles such as Weird Western Tales, Atari Force, and Sun Devils
During the ’80s, Conway wrote, and later produced TV series such as Father Dowling Mysteries, Diagnosis: Murder, Matlock, Law & Order, The Huntress, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series (“Appointment in Crime Alley”, “Second Chance”).
Conway will always be remembered for these and many other contributions to the comic lore and industry.
Comic Watch offers condolences to Gerry’s family and friends in this time of loss.
