Martin Pasko
Martin Pasko | |
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Martin Joseph "Marty" Pasko (born Jean-Claude Rochefort; August 4, 1954 – May 10, 2020)[2][3][4] was a Canadian comic book writer and television screenwriter.
Pasko worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his superhero stories for
Biography
Early life and career
Pasko claimed to have been born as Jean-Claude Rochefort in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[2] As a teenager, he was a regular contributor to comic book letter columns and co-published a fanzine,[5] Fantazine, with Alan Brennert, who is now a novelist. After attending Northwestern University[2] and New York University, Pasko settled in New York.
Comics
The 1970s
Pasko's first published comics writing credit was a short story titled "Package Deal " for Warren Publishing's Creepy #51 (March 1973).[6] His first published work, however, was a story titled "Eye Opener," in Vampirella #20 (October 1972), which was erroneously credited to his friend and professional benefactor, Doug Moench.
Pasko started working for DC Comics and began his long association with Superman in 1973, as a result of his association with long-time editor Julius Schwartz. As a frequent contributor to Schwartz's letter columns, beginning in 1968, Pasko had been nicknamed "Pesky Pasko," in acknowledgment of the fact that his comments were more often than not acutely critical. His campaign to become a "lettercol regular," as a way of breaking into comics writing, was inspired and encouraged by his friend and benefactor, writer Mike Friedrich, who advised Pasko that a name that was recognizable from the letter columns would have an advantage in terms of over-the-transom, or "slush pile," contributions, by being more likely to be read before the submissions of writers unknown to the editor.
Pasko's first Superman-related story was a "Private Life of Clark Kent" backup feature in
A solo
Other titles Pasko wrote for DC included Wonder Woman from 1975–1977, featuring a major story arc documenting the heroine's attempt to gain readmission to the Justice League of America.[12] Wonder Woman had quit the organization after renouncing her powers.
Pasko wrote a number of issues of Justice League of America between 1974 and 1977; he was the regular writer of
The 1980s
In his first comics-format work for Marvel Comics, Pasko was the regular scripter of that company's Star Trek comic book in 1980–1981. He helped Alan Brennert enter the comics industry by having Brennert co-write Star Trek #12 (March 1981) for Marvel.[15] Pasko was also a writer of the Star Trek comic strip from late 1982 through early 1983. In 1988, Pasko wrote an issue of the DC Star Trek comic book.
In 1982, Pasko and artist Thomas Yeates revived Swamp Thing, in a new series titled Saga of the Swamp Thing.[16] Pasko left Swamp Thing with issue #19 (Dec. 1983)[6] and was succeeded by Alan Moore, who took the title and the character in a different direction. Pasko wrote a number of issues of the First Comics version of Joe Staton's E-Man in 1983–1984.[6]
In 1988–1989 Pasko was a regular contributor to Action Comics during its stint as a weekly anthology, where he developed a new version of "The Secret Six". He also wrote the "Blackhawk" feature therein, based on the Howard Chaykin retcon, and the subsequent monthly title (1989–1990).[6]
The 1990s and 2000s
In 1994, he wrote the Marvel Comics licensed series
During his decade on staff at DC, Pasko wrote issues of
Television
Live action
In Los Angeles in the 1980s, Pasko wrote for or served as a writer/
The partnership was dissolved in 1989, and Pasko's future TV writing credits were exclusively in animated programming. Parr continued working in sitcoms, notably becoming a writer and executive story consultant on Cheers.
Animation
Pasko began a long career in television animation in 1980, writing several episodes of
For Thundarr the Barbarian, Pasko came up with the name of
After leaving the sitcom world at the end of the 1980s, Pasko wrote for such series as
2000s work
Pasko in the 2000s has worked on nonfiction about various aspects of
Family life
Pasko was married for thirty years to Judith Faye (née Silinsky). The couple had one child, Simcha, who is a journalist.[22] They had been separated for ten years at the time of his death.[23]
Death
Pasko died of natural causes on May 10, 2020, at age 65.[4]
Comics bibliography
DC Comics
- 1st Issue Special #9 (Doctor Fate) (1975)
- Action Comics #438–439, 442, 447–448, 453–454, 465, 468, 500, 524 (1974–1981)
- Action Comics Weekly #601–612, 615–634 (1988–1989)
- Adventure Comics #445–448, 469–473, 475–478 (1976–1980)
- Alien Nation #1 (1988)
- Batman #256 (two page feature) (1974)
- The Batman Adventures #4–5 (1993)
- Blackhawk vol. 2 #1–11, Annual #1 (1989–1990)
- The Brave and the Bold #165, 176, 179 (1980–1981)
- DC Comics Presents #1–2, 9, 35, 38–39, 41 (1978–1982)
- DC Comics Presents: Green Lantern #1 (2004)
- DC Retroactive: Superman – The '70s #1 (2011)
- DC Special Series #1, 5 (1977)
- DC Super Stars #18 (1978)
- Detective Comics #458–459, 490–491 (1976–1980)
- The Flash #306–313 (Doctor Fate backup stories) (1982)
- Freedom Fighters #1, 3–4 (1976)
- Ghosts #44 (1975)
- Gross Point #2–3 (1997)
- House of Mystery #226, 277 (1974–1980)
- House of Secrets #122 (1974)
- Impulse#7, 18 (1995–1996)
- The Joker #5 (1976)
- Justice League of America #111–112 (two page features), #122, 128–130, 135–137, 147–148 (1974–1977)
- Kamandi #43, 45 (1976)
- Kobra#1–7 (1976–1977)
- Man-Bat #2 (1976)
- Metal Men #48–53 (1976–1977)
- The New Adventures of Superboy #25 (1982)
- Plop! #24 (1976)
- Robotech: Love & War #5 (text article) (2003)
- Saga of the Swamp Thing #1–13, 16–19 (1982–1983)
- Secret Origins vol. 2 #45 (Blackhawk) (1989)
- Secrets of Haunted House #7 (1977)
- Star Trek #56 (1988)
- Strange Sports Stories #5–6 (1974)
- Super Friends #43, 45 (Plastic Man) (1981)
- Superman #277, 280, 282, 285–286, 292, 294, 305–306, 310–335, 349, 367 (1974–1982)
- The Superman Family #184–185, 195, 209–216 (1977–1982)
- Superman Returns: The Movie and Other Tales of the Man of Steel #1 (2006)
- Tales of Ghost Castle #1 (1975)
- The Unexpected #190, 222 (1982)
- Weird War Tales #113 (1982)
- Wonder Woman #218–224, 226–232 (1975–1977)
- World's Finest Comics #273 (Plastic Man) (1981)
Disney Comics
- Roger Rabbit#10, 13–14, 16, 18 (1991)
Eclipse Comics
- Destroyer Duck #1 (1982)
First Comics
- E-Man #1–3, 5–8, 10 (1983–1984)
Marvel Comics
Seaboard
- Weird Tales of the Macabre #1 (1975)
Warren Publishing
- Creepy #51, 63 (1973–1974)
- Vampirella #36 (1974)
Television and film credits
Television
• series head writer credits are denoted in bold
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1980)
- Thundarr the Barbarian (1980)
- Blackstar (1981)
- Goldie Gold and Action Jack (1981)
- The Incredible Hulk (1982)
- Fantasy Island (1983)
- Mister T (1983): seasons 1-2
- The Berenstain Bears (1985)
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985)
- The Twilight Zone (1985)
- My Little Pony (1986)
- Max Headroom (1987)
- Superman (1988)
- Simon & Simon (1988)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1988, 1990)
- Free Spirit (1989)
- Roseanne (1989)
- Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars! (1991)
- The Legend of Prince Valiant (1991-1992)
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1993)
- Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993)
- The Tick (1994)
- Mega Man (1994)
- Exosquad (1994)
- Skysurfer Strike Force (1995): as Kyle Christopher
- Cannon Busters (2019)
Film
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
References
- ^ Inkpot Award
- ^ a b c Bails, Jerry (2006). "Pasko, Martin". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on August 22, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
- ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
- ^ a b Johnston, Rich (May 11, 2020). "Marty Pasko, Writer on Superman, Doctor Fate and Roseanne, Dies At 65". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
- ^ Siegel, Howard P. "Made in America," BEM #16 (Dec. 1977).
- ^ a b c d e f g Martin Pasko at the Grand Comics Database
- ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.)
A new ongoing Superman series started to mix things up by teaming the Man of Steel with other heroes in the DC Universe. Writer Martin Pasko and artist José Luis García-López launched the inaugural issue.
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has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Phegley, Kiel (April 22, 2013). "Superman At 75: Martin Pasko's View of The Man of Steel". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ Larochelle, Christopher (February 2013). "The Atomic Skull". Back Issue! (62). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 55–58.
- ^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 180: "Writer Martin Pasko and artist Curt Swan introduced...the Master Jailer."
- ^ Riley, Shannon E. (May 2013). "A Matter of (Dr.) Fate Martin Pasko and Keith Giffen Discuss Their Magical Flash Backup Series". Back Issue! (64). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 64–68.
- ISBN 978-0-345-50107-3. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
- ^ Kelly, Rob (August 2009). "Kobra". Back Issue! (35). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 63–66.
- ^ Cronin, Brian (April 20, 2006). "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #47!". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on July 31, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ^ Kelly, Rob (October 2015). "The Alan Brennert Interview". Back Issue! (84). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 53.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 197: "Swamp Thing returned to the pages of a new ongoing series, written by Martin Pasko and drawn by artist Tom Yeates."
- ISBN 1-893905-61-6.
We passed one of the entrances to the UCLA campus and when I saw the acronym on signage, the phonetic pronunciation leapt to mind.
- ISBN 978-0-7624-3257-8.
- ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
- ISBN 978-1-4342-1986-2.
- ISBN 978-3-8365-1981-6.
- ^ Pasko, Simcha (14 August 2021). "Perseids meteor shower lights up Mitzpe Ramon's night sky". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ Kupperberg, Paul (12 May 2020). "Marty Pasko (1954-2020)". And then I wrote... Retrieved November 18, 2020.
External links
- Martin Pasko at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- "DC Profiles #22: Martin Pasko" at the Grand Comics Database
- Martin Pasko at IMDb
- Martin Pasko at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
- The Speeding Bullet: A Complete Archive of Superman Newspaper Strips
- Roger Rabbit comic book bibliography