| Tom DeFalco | |
|---|---|
 DeFalco at the 2010 New York Comic Con | |
| Born | June 26, 1950 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor |
Notable works | The Amazing Spider-Man Fantastic Four Machine Man Spider-Girl Thor Thunderstrike New Warriors |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (1990) [1] |
Tom DeFalco (born June 26, 1950) is an American comic book writer and editor well known for his association with Marvel Comics, with long runs on Amazing Spider-Man , Thor , and Fantastic Four .
While in college, DeFalco "wrote for a few local newspapers, a weekly comic strip and did a few short stories", and after graduation "got in touch with the various comic book companies", which led to him beginning his comics career as an editorial assistant with Archie Comics in mid-1972. [2] During his tenure with Archie Comics, he "initiated and developed the Archie Comics Digest Series, which is still being produced today and remains the company's most profitable publishing series". Learning fast, DeFalco was soon writing for the flagship title Archie as well as for other titles including Scooby-Doo and Josie and the Pussycats . [3]
DeFalco briefly wrote for DC Comics in the late 1970s. [4] He scripted several Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane stories for the Superman Family title; the final issue of Starfire (Oct.–Nov. 1977); and a Cain story in House of Mystery #258 (May–June 1978). DeFalco then moved to Marvel, where he would spend the next twenty years of his career. There he wrote two issues of The Avengers and the final five issues of Machine Man plus a Machine Man issue of Marvel Team-Up , before launching Dazzler in March 1981. DeFalco wrote Marvel Two-In-One stories featuring team ups with the Thing from 1981-1982. DeFalco later wrote a Machine Man limited series in 1984, with art by Herb Trimpe and Barry Windsor-Smith. [5]
DeFalco was the chief designer and author for Dazzler, [6] [7] and later became one of the writers for the Spider-Man comic book series while at the same time rising through the editorial ranks. While writing Dazzler, he wrote a couple of issues of Marvel Team-Up, before taking over from Dennis O'Neil as editor of that title, as well as assuming editorial duties on Ghost Rider , What If...? and the Spider-Man titles, [8] which he edited throughout the early 1980s. [9]
DeFalco worked closely with toy manufacturer Hasbro in the early 1980s, heading the creative team that "produced the backstory and dossiers that served as the basis for the relaunch of the phenomenally successful G.I. Joe toy line and animated television show", in 1985. As part of this relaunch, Marvel produced a comic titled G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero in June 1982. DeFalco personally edited the first six issues (handing over to Denny O'Neil in January 1983), as well as assorted issues of the G.I. Joe series' throughout the 1980s. The core G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series would run for 155 issues over the next 12 years. [3] [10]
DeFalco was "part of the creative team that introduced the Transformers to the American public" in 1984. [3]
In August 1983, DeFalco wrote the first four issues of the third series of Red Sonja and after shedding his Spider-Man editorial duties to Danny Fingeroth, he took over from Roger Stern as writer of The Amazing Spider-Man . The two collaborated on April–May's #251–252 (the Secret Wars crossover issues), before DeFalco took over fully with #253, for a two-year run, chiefly in collaboration with artist Ron Frenz. Concurrent with editing Jim Shooter's Secret Wars, DeFalco introduced Spider-Man's "black costume" in the pages of Amazing. [11] DeFalco co-created the Rose, [12] Black Fox, and Silver Sable [13] during his tenure on the series.
DeFalco and Frenz were both removed from The Amazing Spider-Man by then Spider-editor Jim Owsley, who stated that they had chronically failed to meet deadlines. DeFalco and Frenz both state they met their deadlines more diligently than any other Marvel creative team at the time, and that Owsley caused them to miss deadlines by repeatedly changing his production schedules. [14] Issue #285 (Feb 1987) was their final issue, after which Owsley assumed writing duties. While writing Amazing, DeFalco continued editing various comics.
After co-writing two issues of Fantastic Four (#301–302; April–May 1987), DeFalco took over writing duties on Thor with #383 in September. DeFalco became Marvel's tenth editor-in-chief on April 15, 1987. [15] This change was effective in comics cover-dated November 1987. He served from 1987 to 1994, making him one of the longest serving individuals to hold that post. The only Editors-in-Chief with longer service than him were Stan Lee (1941–1942, 1944–1972), Shooter (1978–1987), and Joe Quesada (2000–2011).
Early in DeFalco's run as editor-in-chief, executive editor Mark Gruenwald remarked, "Tom does not seem to have as strong a personal vision for Marvel [as Shooter], and as a result he's more open to other people's visions. It remains to be seen if that's good or bad." [16] In an interview with The Comic Book Gazette, DeFalco described his experiences as editor-in-chief as being "A lot like those old Bullpen Bulletins comic strips, but with significantly more yelling!" [17]
He was a key member of the management team that took Marvel public, and under his leadership, Marvel's net profits from publishing rose by over 500%. Under DeFalco's guidance, Marvel entered a phase of expansion that provided an opportunity for "new talent" to enter the comic book industry, and released a number of new titles with original characters. [3] After clashing with the company's upper management, DeFalco resigned in 1994. [18]
During his tenure as editor-in-chief, DeFalco had continued to write as well, with noted runs on Thor where he created the New Warriors with artist Ron Frenz [19] and the spin-off Thunderstrike , as well as Fantastic Four with artist Paul Ryan, and comics for Marvel children's imprint Star Comics. [20]
Defalco was one of the writers on the "Maximum Carnage" [21] storyline in 1993. His resignation as editor-in-chief coincided with a run on The Spectacular Spider-Man (#215–229 Aug. 1994 – Oct. 1995), after which he returned to The Amazing Spider-Man in January 1996 for issues #407–439. During this time he helped co-write the "Clone Saga" which revealed (temporarily, at least) that Peter Parker was a clone of the original that had been active since 1975. Peter would be replaced by the original Spider-Man under the alias "Ben Reilly". Following several changes of creators and fan reaction, this was soon reversed. [22]
DeFalco created Spider-Girl, who first appeared in an issue of What If? [23] which led to him writing the MC2 line launched in 1998 including the Spider-Girl ongoing series [24] [25] which ran for 100 issues. Spider-Girl went on to star in Amazing Spider-Girl (30 issues) and the most recent volume, The Spectacular Spider-Girl, making her Marvel's longest-running female star of a solo series. The character also made appearances in Amazing Spider-Man Family #5–8 and Web of Spider-Man vol. 2 #1–7.
In early 2009, as the Spider-Girl series was drawing to a close, DeFalco said it might be some of his last work for Marvel as he was in danger of being typecast because of his long run with the characters. [26]
The bad news about working on the same thing for that many years is that editors start to believe that it is the only thing you can do. So the only way I can get non-Spider-related work is to work for other companies. [24]
The Spider-Girl series was cancelled in 2010. [27]
In 2009, DeFalco revisited the "Clone Saga" with the six-part mini series Spider-Man: The Clone Saga, based on the original outline of this controversial storyline. As guest writer he contributed two issues to Sensational Spider-Man vol. 2 in 2012, as well as stories for Spider-Ham 25th Anniversary Special #1 (2010), Spider-Verse Team-Up #3 (2015) and the one-shot Sensational Spider-Man: Self-Improvement in 2019.
DeFalco is the author of over a dozen graphic novels, several hundred comic book stories, several dozen cyber-comics, three novels and six children's books, including the best-selling Dorling Kindersley guides to Marvel comics characters. These include: Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide, Avengers: The Ultimate Guide, Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Guide and Hulk: The Incredible Guide. For Titan Books he has compiled three volumes in their "Comic Creators On..." series of essays and thoughts on Marvel characters (Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, between 2004 and 2006).
DeFalco has personally created and developed over three dozen characters that have all been licensed for television, toys, T-shirts, posters, trading cards and other merchandise, and has written Khan and The Phantom for Moonstone Books. [24] [28]
In April 2010, Archie Comics announced DeFalco would be returning to his roots, to write a four-part storyline, "The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.", beginning with Archie Comics issue #610. [29]
DeFalco would return to DC Comics in August 2011 with the plot for a Superman one-shot, Superman Beyond, [30] and in 2012 as guest writer on Nightwing and helping on the Ravagers for DC's The New 52 line. [31] DeFalco began scripting the Superboy series over Scott Lobdell's plots with issue #6 (April 2012) and became the full writer with issue #12 (October 2012). [32] His Superboy run ended with #18, which was co-scripted by Tony Lee. He also wrote Legion Lost #0 and 6–18 and the final four issues (#17–20) of Savage Hawkman . [33]
In December 2016, Archie Comics launched a new ongoing Reggie & Me series by DeFalco and artist Sandy Jarrell. [34] In 2021, Apex Comics Group launched a successful crowdfunding campaign for The R.I.G.H.T. Project, a new comic book written by DeFalco with pencils by Ron Frenz and inks by Sal Buscema. [35] For Marvel Comics, DeFalco wrote the limited series Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battle World in 2023, drawn by Pat Oliffe, a sequel to Marvel's Secret Wars from the 1980s.
Roy William Thomas Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor. He was Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes – particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America – and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and The Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Sal Buscema is an American comics artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of The Incredible Hulk and an eight-year run as artist of The Spectacular Spider-Man. He is the younger brother of comics artist John Buscema.
Mark Eugene Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler known for his long association with Marvel Comics.
Mark Bagley is an American comics artist. He has worked for Marvel Comics on such titles as The Amazing Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, New Warriors, Venom and Ultimate Spider-Man and for DC Comics on Justice League of America, Batman, and Trinity.
Roger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.
John Salvatore Romita is an American comics artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the 2010s. He is the son of artist John Romita Sr.
Marvel Comics 2 was an imprint from Marvel Comics whose comic books depict an alternative future timeline for the Marvel Universe. The imprint was spun off from the events of What If? #105, which was the first appearance of the character Spider-Girl, Spider-Man's daughter from an alternative future. This Earth has been designated as Earth-982.
Thomas Grummett is a Canadian comic book artist and penciller. He is best known for his work as penciller on titles such as The New Titans, The Adventures of Superman, Superboy, Power Company, Robin, New Thunderbolts and Heroes.
Rick Leonardi is an American comics artist who has worked on various series for Marvel Comics and DC Comics, including Cloak and Dagger, The Uncanny X-Men, The New Mutants, Spider-Man 2099, Nightwing, Batgirl, Green Lantern Versus Aliens and Superman. He has worked on feature film tie-in comics such as Star Wars: General Grievous and Superman Returns Prequel #3.
Ronald Wade Frenz is an American comics artist known for his work for Marvel Comics. He is well known for his 1980s work on The Amazing Spider-Man, particularly introducing the hero's black costume, and later for his work on Spider-Girl whom he co-created with writer Tom DeFalco. Frenz and DeFalco had earlier co-created the New Warriors in the pages of Thor.
Allen L. Milgrom is an American comic book writer, penciller, inker and editor, primarily for Marvel Comics. He is known for his 10-year run as editor of Marvel Fanfare; his long involvement as writer, penciler, and inker on Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man; his four-year tenure as West Coast Avengers penciller; and his long stint as the inker of X-Factor. He often inks Jim Starlin's work. Milgrom is the co-creator of DC superhero Firestorm.
Ronald Lim is an American comic book artist living in Sacramento, California. He is best known for his work for Marvel Comics on their various "cosmic" titles, most particularly the Silver Surfer series.
Lee Weeks is an American comics artist known for his work on such titles as Daredevil.
Stuart Immonen is a Canadian comics artist. He is best known for his work on the Marvel Comics series Nextwave, Ultimate X-Men, The New Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Ultimate Spider-Man, the DC Comics series Action Comics and The Adventures of Superman, as well as for the original Millarworld series Empress, co-created with Mark Millar. His pencils are usually inked by Wade Von Grawbadger.
Puma is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, he first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #256, as an adversary of the superhero Spider-Man. Despite this, the character does not lack morals or a sense of justice, and eventually reforms and becomes an ally of Spider-Man. Puma is the alter ego of Thomas Fireheart, a Native American who was bred to be a perfect warrior prophesied to stop a future threat that might destroy the world, gaining the ability to transform into an anthropomorphic mountain lion. He later became a businessman and the CEO of Fireheart Enterprises, as well as a mercenary.
Spider-Man Family is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics.
Paul Ryan was an American comic artist. Ryan worked extensively for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on a number of super-hero comic book titles. He is best known for his 1991 to 1996 run as penciler on Fantastic Four, which represents his longest association with an individual comic book series. From 2005 until his death in 2016, Ryan penciled and inked the daily newspaper comic strip The Phantom for King Features Syndicate.
Fantastic Four is the name of several comic book titles featuring the team the Fantastic Four and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original Fantastic Four comic book series which debuted in 1961.
Brett Breeding is an American comic book artist who was active in the industry in the 1980s and 1990s, primarily as an inker. He is most well known for his work on the DC Comics character Superman.
Writer Tom DeFalco, who was hired to develop the character, decided that Dazzler would be a mutant with the ability to convert sound waves into a beam of concussive force.
{{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)I've scripted a number of issues. I was originally brought in because Scott Lobdell was juggling so many different assignments that he needed a little assistance in order to catch up.
Written by industry legend Tom DeFalco, with art by Sandy Jarrell, Reggie and Me launches this December and promises to give readers an inside look at the most 'loved, revered, admired and adored' teen in Riverdale.
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