Christian Cooper

{{Infobox comics creator

| image =March On for Voting Rights 1000309 02 (cropped).jpg

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| caption = Cooper in 2021

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1963}}

| death_date =

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| nationality = American

| area = Writer, editor

| alias = C F Cooper

| signature =

| notable works = Songs of the Metamythos

| awards =

| website =

}}

Christian Cooper (born 1963) is an American science writer and editor, and also a comics writer and editor. He is based in New York City. In 2023, Random House published Cooper's memoir, Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World. He gained cultural notoriety after a false police report was made by a white woman who went viral for her erratic behavior while calling the police on him in a New York park in 2020.{{cite web |title=Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593242384 |website=Publisher's Weekly |access-date=13 June 2023 |date=March 29, 2023 |archive-date=June 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613175003/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593242384 |url-status=live }}

Career

Cooper is currently a senior biomedical editor at Health Science Communications and has become a frequent substitute co-host for the public access television news series Gay USA.{{cite web|last=Fink|first=Jenni|date=May 26, 2020|title=Amy Cooper, White Woman Who Called Cops on Black Man in Central Park, Fired From Job at Franklin Templeton|url=https://www.newsweek.com/amy-cooper-franklin-templeton-central-park-termination-viral-video-1506611|work=Newsweek|access-date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613031241/https://www.newsweek.com/amy-cooper-franklin-templeton-central-park-termination-viral-video-1506611|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=CHRIS COOPER |url=https://gayusatv.org/chris-cooper/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=GAY USA |language=en}} On May 16, 2022, National Geographic announced Cooper would host a show on their American TV channel called Extraordinary Birder, exploring the world of birds alongside experts in the field.{{cite news|title='Central Park Karen' birdwatcher Christian Cooper lands new TV series|last=Ibrahim|first=Samantha|url=https://nypost.com/2022/05/19/central-park-birdwatcher-christian-cooper-lands-new-tv-series/|work=New York Post|date=May 19, 2022|access-date=May 20, 2022|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520130012/https://nypost.com/2022/05/19/central-park-birdwatcher-christian-cooper-lands-new-tv-series/|url-status=live}} The show premiered on June 17, 2023.{{Cite web |title=Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper - Nat Geo Wild Reality Series |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/show/extraordinary-birder-with-christian-cooper/ |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=TV Insider |date=January 16, 2023 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404175901/https://www.tvinsider.com/show/extraordinary-birder-with-christian-cooper/ |url-status=live }}

On June 8, 2024, Cooper won a Daytime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Daytime Personality category for his work on Extraordinary Birder.{{cite web | title=From racist Central Park encounter with a 'Karen' to Emmy-winning birdwatcher | website=Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder | date=June 15, 2024 | url=https://spokesman-recorder.com/2024/06/15/christian-cooper-racial-incident-emmy/ | access-date=June 20, 2024}}

= Comics =

Cooper was one of the first openly gay editors at Marvel; colleague and friend Kelly Corvese was the first.{{Cite web |title=Chris Cooper on Northstar and the Historic 'Alpha Flight' #106 Issue |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/podcasts/chris-cooper-voices-northstar-alpha-flight |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=www.marvel.com}} He introduced the first gay male character in Star Trek, Yoshi Mishima, in the Starfleet Academy series,{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Josh |date=June 6, 2020 |title=Christian Cooper, Central Park birder with roots at Marvel, looks back on pioneering LGBTQ comics |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/christian-cooper-looks-back-on-lgbtq-comic-storytelling-for-marvel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620185436/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/christian-cooper-looks-back-on-lgbtq-comic-storytelling-for-marvel |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |website=SYFY WIRE}} which was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award in 1999.{{Cite web|title=GLAAD|url=http://www.glaad.org/org/projects/media_awards/index.html?record=70|date=June 28, 2001|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010628093923/http://www.glaad.org/org/projects/media_awards/index.html?record=70|access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-date = June 28, 2001}} He also introduced the first openly lesbian character for Marvel, Victoria Montesi{{Cite web|title=Christian Cooper, victim in racist Central Park video, is a trailblazing gay editor|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/05/christian-cooper-victim-in-racist-central-park-video-is-a-trailblazing-gay-editor/|date=May 27, 2020|website=Metro Weekly|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-date=June 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621175158/https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/05/christian-cooper-victim-in-racist-central-park-video-is-a-trailblazing-gay-editor/|url-status=live}} and created and authored Queer Nation: The Online Gay Comic.{{Cite web|title='Black Gay Icon': Christian Cooper's Long History Of Activism Before Central Park Incident|url=https://newsone.com/3949030/black-gay-icon-christian-coopers-activism-central-park-incident/|date=May 27, 2020|website=NewsOne|access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623095022/https://newsone.com/3949030/black-gay-icon-christian-coopers-activism-central-park-incident/|url-status=live}} Cooper was also an associate editor for Alpha Flight #106 in which the character Northstar came out as gay.{{Cite web|title=Astonishing X-Men (2004) #51 {{!}} Comic Issues {{!}} Marvel|url=https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/40803/astonishing_x-men_2004_51|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=Marvel Entertainment|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609190249/https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/40803/astonishing_x-men_2004_51|url-status=live}}

Cooper has written stories for Marvel Comics Presents, which often feature characters such as Ghost Rider and Vengeance. He has also edited a number of X-Men collections,{{Cite web|title=White woman lied to police that an innocent Black man was threatening her. He just so happens to be a queer comic hero|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/26/amy-cooper-christian-racism-african-american-police-investigation-new-york-star-trek/|last=Maurice|first=Emma Powys|date=May 26, 2020|website=PinkNews|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526132137/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/26/amy-cooper-christian-racism-african-american-police-investigation-new-york-star-trek/ |archive-date=May 26, 2020 |access-date=May 27, 2020}} and the final two issues of the Marvel Swimsuit Special.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Rich |title=Warren Ellis Remembers When Marvel Illustrated Swimsuit Went Gay |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/warren-ellis-marvel-illustrated-swimsuit-went-gay/ |website=Bleeding Cool |accessdate=June 7, 2020 |date=June 7, 2020 |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609190326/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/warren-ellis-marvel-illustrated-swimsuit-went-gay/ |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Born in 1963 to parents who were both teachers, Cooper found his interest in birds while reading a birdwatching book during a roadtrip from his Long Island childhood home to California.{{Cite news |title=Christian Cooper hopes America can change. Because he's not going to. |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/06/23/christian-cooper-central-park-birder-comics/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=April 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415051233/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/06/23/christian-cooper-central-park-birder-comics/ |url-status=live }} In the 1980s, he was president of the Harvard Ornithological Club, and is currently on the Board of Directors for NYC Audubon.{{Cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=http://www.nycaudubon.org/leadership-a-governance/board-of-directors|access-date=May 30, 2020|website=www.nycaudubon.org|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620033309/http://www.nycaudubon.org/leadership-a-governance/board-of-directors|url-status=dead}} Cooper has a long history of LGBT activism including being the co-chair of the board of directors of GLAAD in the 1980s.{{Cite web|last=Dunmore|first=Royce|date=May 27, 2020|title='Black Gay Icon': Christian Cooper's Long History Of Activism Before Central Park Incident|url=https://newsone.com/3949030/black-gay-icon-christian-coopers-activism-central-park-incident/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606065924/https://newsone.com/3949030/black-gay-icon-christian-coopers-activism-central-park-incident/ |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2020|website=NewsOne}}{{Cite web|last=Milton|first=Josh|date=May 27, 2020|title=The gay Black man targeted by a 'Central Park Karen' doesn't know if her 'racist actions' make her a racist person|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/27/amy-cooper-christian-cooper-franklin-templeton-fired-central-park-dog-video/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604161153/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/27/amy-cooper-christian-cooper-franklin-templeton-fired-central-park-dog-video/ |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |access-date=June 8, 2020|website=PinkNews}}

On May 25, 2020, Cooper was involved in the Central Park birdwatching incident,{{Cite news|title=White Woman in Viral Central Park Video Issues Apology|website=NBC New York|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/white-woman-in-viral-central-park-video-issues-apology/2431912/|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620212051/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/on-air/as-seen-on/white-woman-in-viral-central-park-video-issues-apology/2431912/|url-status=live}} which led to the creation of Black Birders Week.{{Cite web|last=Willingham|first=AJ|title=These Black nature lovers are busting stereotypes, one cool bird at a time|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/us/black-birders-week-black-in-stem-christian-cooper-scn-trnd/index.html|access-date=June 5, 2020|website=CNN|date=June 3, 2020|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603141536/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/us/black-birders-week-black-in-stem-christian-cooper-scn-trnd/index.html|url-status=live}} The incident is also the basis for his online comic book about racism, illustrated by Alitha Martinez and published by DC Comics, called "It's a Bird".{{Cite news|last=Nir|first=Sarah Maslin|date=2020-09-09|title=Central Park Birder Turns Clash Into Graphic Novel About Racism|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/nyregion/christian-cooper-amy-comic-graphic-novel.html|access-date=2020-09-09|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909120029/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/nyregion/christian-cooper-amy-comic-graphic-novel.html|url-status=live}}

Bibliography

Marvel Comics Presents:
"Return of the Braineaters" (featuring Ghost Rider and Werewolf by Night, with pencils by John Stanisci and inks by Jimmy Palmiotti, in Marvel Comics Presents #107–112, Marvel Comics, 1992)
"Siege of Darkness" (featuring Ghost Rider, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #144–146, Marvel Comics, 1993–1994)
"Tower of Blood" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #147–148, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"The Price" (featuring Vengeance, with Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #149, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"Dangerous Games" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #152–153, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"Altered Spirits" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #156–157, Marvel Comics, 1994)
"Final Gambit" (featuring Vengeance, with pencils by Reggie Jones and inks by Fred Harper, in Marvel Comics Presents #175, Marvel Comics, 1995)
Darkhold #1–16 (with Richard Case, Marvel Comics, 1992–1994)
Excalibur #77–81 (Marvel Comics, 1994)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy #1–19 (with pencils by Chris Renaud and inks by Andy Lanning, Marvel Comics, 1996–1998)
Songs of the Metamythos (as C. F. Cooper)
"It's a Bird" (with Alitha E. Martinez, Mark Morales, Emilio Lopez, and Rob Clark Jr., DC Comics, 2020)
{{Cite book |date=13 June 2023 |title=Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World |location=New York |publisher=Random House |isbn=9780593242384 |oclc=1346618419}}