Len Wein

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Len Wein
Shazam Award, 1972, 1973
Inkpot Award, 1979
Comics Buyers Guide Award, 1982
Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame, 2008
Spouse(s)Glynis Oliver (c. 1972–1985)
Christine Valada
​
(m. 1991)​

Leonard Norman Wein

Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen
.

Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.[2]

Early life and education

Wein was born on June 12, 1948, in New York City,[1] and was raised in a Jewish household.[3] One of two children of Phillip and Rosalyn (née Bauman) Wein,[4] he lived in The Bronx until age 7, when he moved with his family to Levittown, New York, on Long Island. There he graduated from Division Avenue High School in 1966, and went on to an art degree from nearby Farmingdale State College.[5] Wein's younger brother, Michael, died in 2007.[4]

In a 2003 interview, Len Wein recalled having been "a very sickly kid. While I was in the hospital at age seven, my dad brought me a stack of comic books to keep me occupied. And I was hooked. When my eighth grade art teacher, Mr. Smedley, told me he thought I had actual art talent, I decided to devote all my efforts in that direction in the hope that I might someday get into the comics biz."[6]

Approximately once a month, as a teenager, Wein and his friend

Julie Schwartz, 'Do you have any Len Wein scripts lying around? He's always easy to draw.'"[8]

Career

DC editor Joe Orlando hired both Wolfman and Wein as freelance writers.[8] Wein's first professional comics story was "Eye of the Beholder" in DC's Teen Titans #18 (Dec. 1968), for which he co-created, with Wolfman, Red Star, the first official Russian superhero in the DC universe. Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Teen Titans story which had been written by Wein and Wolfman. The story, titled "Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho!", would have introduced DC's first African American superhero but was rejected by publisher Carmine Infantino.[9] The revised story appeared in Teen Titans #20 (April 1969).

Later that year, Wein was writing

TV-series tie-ins Star Trek and The Twilight Zone
.

DC and Marvel Comics

Wein's first superhero work for Marvel was a one-off story in Daredevil #71 (Dec. 1970) co-written with staff writer/editor Roy Thomas. Wein later began scripting sporadic issues of such DC superhero titles as Adventure Comics (featuring Supergirl and Zatanna), The Flash, and Superman, while continuing to write anthological mysteries, along with well-received stories for the semi-anthological occult title The Phantom Stranger #14–26 (Aug. 1971 – Sept. 1973).

Wein and artist

syndicated television series. Abigail Arcane, a major supporting character in the character's mythos, was introduced by Wein and Wrightson in Swamp Thing #3 (March 1973).[13] Wein wrote the second story featuring Man-Thing (written circa May 1971, published in June 1972), introducing Barbara Morse and the concept that "Whatever Knows Fear Burns at the Man-Thing's Touch!", and later edited Steve Gerber
's run on that title.

Wein wrote a well-regarded run of Justice League of America (issues #100–114) wherein, together with artist Dick Dillin, he re-introduced the Seven Soldiers of Victory in issues #100–102[14] and the Freedom Fighters in issues #107–108.[15] Libra, a supervillain created by Wein and Dillin in Justice League of America #111 (June 1974),[16] would play a leading role in Grant Morrison's Final Crisis storyline in 2008.

In the fall of 1972, Wein and writers

Glynis, interacting with Marvel or DC characters at the Rutland Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont. Beginning in Marvel's Amazing Adventures #16 (by Englehart with art by Bob Brown and Frank McLaughlin), the story continued in DC's Justice League of America #103 (by Wein, Dillin and Dick Giordano), and concluded in Marvel's Thor #207 (by Conway and penciler John Buscema).[17][18] As Englehart explained in 2010, "It certainly seemed like a radical concept and we knew that we had to be subtle (laughs) and each story had to stand on its own, but we really worked it out. It's really worthwhile to read those stories back to back to back – it didn't matter to us that one was at DC and two were at Marvel – I think it was us being creative, thinking what would be really cool to do."[19]

Wein co-created the

Fox that starred Mark Valley, Chi McBride, and Jackie Earle Haley
.

He briefly wrote the "

Sterling Silversmith for the first time.[23]

In the early 1970s, Wein began writing regularly for Marvel Comics. He succeeded

Brother Voodoo". Wein co-created Wolverine with artist John Romita Sr. during his run on The Incredible Hulk.[27] Wein's story "Between Hammer and Anvil" from The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #182 (Dec. 1974) was later cited in Tony Isabella's book 1,000 Comics You Must Read.[28]

In 1975, he and artist

Colossus, and Thunderbird. Wein plotted the early "new X-Men" stories with artist Cockrum. These issues were then scripted as Uncanny X-Men #94-95 by Chris Claremont, who subsequently developed the title into one of Marvel's leading franchises. In 2009, Claremont said, "The history of modern comics would be incredibly different if you took [Wein's] contributions out of the mix. The fact he doesn't get credit for it half the time is disgraceful. We owe a lot of what we are – certainly on the X-Men – to Len and to Dave [Cockrum]".[30]

Return to DC

In 1977, following an offer to script the "Batman" feature in Detective Comics, Wein left Marvel to work exclusively at DC Comics as a scriptwriter and editor.

Len Wein in July 1982

He scripted

Gunfire
.

Later career

Following his second stint at DC and a move to the West Coast, Wein served as editor-in-chief of

ExoSquad, Phantom 2040, Godzilla, Pocket Dragon Adventures, ReBoot and War Planets: Shadow Raiders. In 2001, he and Wolfman wrote the screenplay Gene Pool for the production company Helkon, and later wrote a prequel to the screenplay for a one-shot comic book for IDW Publishing
.

Wein collaborated with writer Kurt Busiek and artist Kelley Jones on the four-issue miniseries Conan: The Book of Thoth for Dark Horse Comics. He scripted the comics series The Victorian for Penny-Farthing Press and wrote comic-book stories for Bongo Comics' TV-series tie-ins The Simpsons and Futurama.

From 2005 to 2008, Wein appeared as a recurring panelist on the Los Angeles-based stage revival of the TV game show What's My Line? He wrote episodes of the Cartoon Network animated series Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10: Omniverse[40] and the Marvel Super Hero Squad.[40]

Wein was interviewed for commentary tracks on comics-related DVDs, including the animated

History Channel specials Batman Unmasked and Batman Tech.[41]

He wrote the storyline for the Watchmen video game, The End Is Nigh, which serves as a backstory to both the comic and the film adaptation.[42]

Wein in 2011

Wein returned to comics writing for DC in the late 2000s,

Ozymandias with art by Jae Lee and the serialized feature "Curse of the Crimson Corsair" with art by Watchmen colorist John Higgins.[46] The hardcover collection of the Ozymandias storyline spent several weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List in 2013.[47] In 2015, he and José Luis García-López produced Batman '66: The Lost Episode, a comics adaptation of a Two-Face story pitch by Harlan Ellison originally intended for the Batman television series.[48] In 2016, DC published a six-issue limited Swamp Thing series by Wein and artist Kelley Jones
.

Personal life

Wein's first wife was Glynis Oliver,[49] a comics colorist who spent years on the X-Men titles; they were married some time prior to 1972. Following their 1985 divorce,[50] he married Christine Valada, a photographer and attorney, in 1991, and became stepfather to Michael Bieniewicz-Valada.[1]

On April 6, 2009, Wein's California home burned down with considerable loss of property and mementos, including his

Shazam Awards. He and his wife also lost their dog, Sheba, to the fire.[51] Beginning October 26, 2009, Valada appeared on and won the television game show Jeopardy!, becoming a four-time champion with winnings of over $60,000. She indicated on the show that she would use the money to recover or replace much of the artwork and books the couple lost in the fire.[52]

Wein underwent triple-bypass heart surgery on February 10, 2015.[53] He died on September 10, 2017.[1]

Awards

Bibliography

Bongo Comics

Comico

DC Comics

Dark Horse

  • Conan: The Book of Thoth #1–4 (with Kurt Busiek) (2006)

Defiant Comics

Disney Comics

Eclipse Comics

Gold Key

IDW Publishing

  • Gene Pool OGN (with Marv Wolfman) (2003)

Image Comics

Marvel Comics

Skywald Publications

  • Blazing Six-Guns #1–2 (1971)
  • Bravados #1 (1971)
  • Nightmare #1 (1970)
  • Sundance Kid #1 (1971)

Warren Publishing

Television

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Genzlinger, Neil (September 11, 2017). "Len Wein, Influential Comic Book Writer, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "Past Recipients- 2000s". Comic-con International: San Diego. SAN DIEGO COMIC CONVENTION. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Wolfman, Marv (n.d.). "Speaking With Len Wein Part Two". MarvWolfman.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Michael S. Wein". Mesabi Daily News. Virginia, Minnesota. March 7, 2007. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  5. ^ Lovece, Frank (September 12, 2017). "Len Wein, 'Wolverine' comics co-creator, dies; ex-Levittown resident was 69". Newsday. New York City/Long Island. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Wolfman, Marv (March 30, 2003). "Speaking With... Len Wein". "What Th--?" (column). Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010.
  7. ^ Siegel, Howard P. "Made in America," BEM #16 (Dec. 1977).
  8. ^ a b c Stroud, Bryan D. (2008). "Len Wein Interview". The Silver Age Sage. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013.
  9. ISBN 9780452295322
    .
  10. ^ Friedt, Stephan (October 2014). "Here Come the Microbots". Back Issue! (76). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 11–13.
  11. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 146: "Swamp Thing' was the name of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's turn-of-the-century tale, and its popularity with readers led a modernized version of the character into his own series a year later."
  12. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 153: "Following his debut in House of Secrets #92 in 1971, the Swamp Thing grew into his own series, albeit with a reimagining of his origins by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson."
  13. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 154: "Scribe Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson left Swamp Thing some company... the woman who would become Swamp Thing's soul mate, Abigail Arcane."
  14. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 152: "Through an impromptu team-up of the JLA and the Justice Society on Earth-2, writer Len Wein and artist Dick Dillin ushered in the return of DC's Seven Soldiers of Victory."
  15. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 156: "The annual Justice League-Justice Society get-together resulted in scribe Len Wein and artist Dick Dillin transporting both teams to the alternate reality of Earth-X. There, Nazi Germany ruled after winning a prolonged World War II and only a group of champions called the Freedom Fighters remained to oppose the regime."
  16. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 160: "Through the words of scripter Len Wein and the art of Dick Dillin, the masked menace of Libra established himself as a grave threat to the World's Greatest Heroes."
  17. ^ Cronin, Brian (October 1, 2010). "Comic Book Legends Revealed #280". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  18. ^ Amazing Adventures #16 (Jan. 1973), Justice League of America #103 (Dec. 1972), and Thor #207 (Jan. 1973) at the Grand Comics Database
  19. ^ Larnick, Eric (October 30, 2010). "The Rutland Halloween Parade: Where Marvel and DC First Collided". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  20. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 153: "Starting as a back-up feature in the pages of Action Comics, scribe Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino introduced Christopher Chance, a master of disguise who would turn himself into a human target – provided you could meet his price."
  21. ^ "Human Target". TV Guide. n.d. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  22. ^ Manning 2014, p. 118: "Len Wein and artist Jim Aparo began a five-issue uninterrupted storyline that was quite an event in 1975. In this interesting tale, Batman was framed for murder by his old enemy Ra's al Ghul."
  23. ^ Manning 2014, p. 118.
  24. ^ Manning & Cowsill 2012, p. 68.
  25. ^ Manning & Cowsill 2012, p. 85: "To signify the start of this new era Spider-Man's new regular chronicler writer Len Wein would come onboard with [The Amazing Spider-Man #151]."
  26. ^ DeAngelo, Daniel (July 2013). "The Not-Ready-For-Super-Team Players A History of the Defenders". Back Issue! (65). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 6–7.
  27. ^ Sanderson 2008, p. 167: "Len Wein wrote and Herb Trimpe drew Wolverine's cameo appearance in The Incredible Hulk #180 and his premiere in issue #181."
  28. ^ Buttery, Jarrod (February 2014). "Hulk Smash!: The Incredible Hulk in the 1970s". Back Issue! (70). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 11–12.
  29. ^ Sanderson 2008, p. 169: "[Editor Roy] Thomas realized that if X-Men was to be successfully revived, it needed an exciting new concept. Thomas came up with just such an idea: the X-Men would become an international team, with members from other countries as well as the United States. Writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum were assigned to the new project and the result was Giant-Size X-Men #1."
  30. ^ Krug, Kurt Anthony (April 22, 2009). "Legends: Chris Claremont". Mania.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013.
  31. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 180: "Batman #307 (Jan. 1979) Writer Len Wein and artist John Calnan introduced Bruce Wayne's new executive, Lucius Fox, in this issue of Batman."
  32. ^ McAvennie 2010, p. 179: "Writer Len Wein and artist Marshall Rogers vividly depicted Batman's battle with a third Clayface."
  33. ^ Manning 2010, p. 187: "Written by Len Wein, with art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, The Untold Legend of the Batman... delved into the origin of the fabled Dark Knight."
  34. ^ Manning 2010, p. 195: "Written by Len Wein and illustrated by José Luis García-López, the comic saw... Batman and the Hulk doing battle with both the Joker and Marvel's ultra-powerful Shaper of Worlds."
  35. ^ Mangels, Andy (February 2011). "Opening the Box: Pandora Pann's Lost Adventures". Back Issue! (46). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 37.
  36. ^ Len Wein (editor) at the Grand Comics Database
  37. ^ Manning 2010, p. 219: "The Blue Beetle swung into his own DC series with the help of writer Len Wein and artist Paris Cullins."
  38. ^ Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!". Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 36–43.
  39. ^ Manning 2010, p. 221: "DC's next big crossover showcased John Byrne's pencils on all six of the miniseries' issues. Entitled Legends, this new limited series was plotted by writer John Ostrander and scripted by Len Wein.... By the series' end, the stage was set for several new ongoing titles, including... the Suicide Squad, as well as the Justice League."
  40. ^ a b Rogers, Vaneta (May 18, 2010). "Len Wein Retells 75 Years of DCU History in Legacies". Newsarama. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  41. ^ Wein, Len (July 15, 2008). "Tivo Alert!". WeinWords. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  42. ^ Totilo, Stephen (July 23, 2008). "Watchmen Video Game Preview: Rorschach And Nite Owl Star In Subversive Prequel Set In 1970s". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  43. ^ "Dan Didio Talks Legacies, Who's Who". DC Comics. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013.
  44. ^ DC Retroactive: Batman – The '70s at the Grand Comics Database
  45. ISBN 9781401231330
    .
  46. ^ Hyde, David (February 1, 2012). "DC Entertainment Officially Announces Before Watchmen". DC Comics. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  47. ^ "The New York Times Best Seller list Hardcover Graphic Books". The New York Times. July 28, 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
  48. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (November 20, 2014). "Batman '66: The Lost Episode #1 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 23, 2014. Writer Harlan Ellison got as far as pitching a Two-Face-themed episode before the combination of the villain's gruesome appearance and Ellison's conflicts with ABC executives killed the idea. Decades later, that pitch has become the inspiration for this oversized Batman '66 comic.
  49. ^ Thomas, Roy. "Bullpen Bulletins". Marvel comics cover-dated January 1974.
  50. ^ "Glynis Oliver (b. 1949)". Grand Comics Database. Spouse - Len Wein (b. 1948). Notes: Divorced in 1985.
  51. ^ Evanier, Mark (April 6, 2009). "Dreadful News". News From ME. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  52. ^ Valada, Christine. "Christine Valada". J-Archive.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
  53. ^ Evanier, Mark (February 10, 2015). "A Public Plea". News From ME. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
  54. ^ "1972 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015.
  55. ^ "1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015.
  56. ^ a b c Miller, John Jackson (July 19, 2005). "GOETHE/COMIC FAN ART AWARD WINNERS, 1971-74". Comics Buyer's Guide. Archived from the original on September 20, 2010.
  57. ^ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  58. ^ "Comics Buyer's Guide 1996 Annual". Krause Publications. 1995. pp. 30–31.
  59. ^ "Past Stoker Award Nominees & Winners". Horror Writers Association. n.d. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000.
  60. ^ Estrada, Jackie (July 31, 2008). "Jackie Estrada on the 2008 Eisner Awards". The Comics Reporter. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.

Sources

External links
Preceded by Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief
1974–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
n/a
 Swamp Thing writer
1972–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Justice League of America writer
1972–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas
 The Incredible Hulk writer
1974–1977 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Gerry Conway
 The Amazing Spider-Man writer
1975–1978 		Succeeded by
Marv Wolfman
Preceded by Thor writer
1975–1978
(with Marv Wolfman in 1976) 		Succeeded by
Roy Thomas
Preceded by
Mike Friedrich
 Iron Man writer
1976
(with Roger Slifer in part of the run) 		Succeeded by
Bill Mantlo
Preceded by
Gerry Conway
 Fantastic Four writer
1977–1978 		Succeeded by
Marv Wolfman
Preceded by Detective Comics writer
1978 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Justice League of America editor
1979–1984 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ross Andru
 The Flash editor
1979–1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Ross Andru
 Wonder Woman editor
1979–1982 		Succeeded by
Marv Wolfman
Preceded by World's Finest Comics editor
1981–1982 		Succeeded by
Mike W. Barr
Preceded by
n/a
 The New Teen Titans editor
1980–1983 		Succeeded by
Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Preceded by
n/a
 All-Star Squadron editor
1981–1982 		Succeeded by
Roy Thomas
Preceded by
n/a
 Saga of the Swamp Thing editor
1982–1984 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
n/a
 Watchmen editor
1986–1987 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Wonder Woman writer
1987–1988 		Succeeded by
George Pérez
Preceded by Justice League of America writer
2009–2009 		Succeeded by
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