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Gerry Conway

{{Short description|American comic book writer (born 1952)}}

{{About|the writer|the drummer|Gerry Conway (musician)|the baseball player|Jerry Conway|the screenwriter and actor|Gary Conway}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}

{{Infobox comics creator

| image = Gerry Conway by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Conway at the 2019 Phoenix Fan Fusion

| birth_name = Gerard Francis Conway

| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{Birth date and age|1952|09|10}}}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| death_date =

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| cartoonist =

| write = y

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| notable works = Punisher, Spider-Man, Justice League of America, Firestorm, Batman, Jason Todd, Killer Croc

| awards = Inkpot Award (2013)[https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot Inkpot Award]

| website =

| spouse = Carla Conway (divorced)
Karen
Laura Conway

| children = 2

}}

Gerard Francis ConwayThomas, Roy. "Roy's Rostrum" ("Bullpen Bulletins") in Marvel Super-Heroes #43 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1974. (born September 10, 1952){{cite news |title=Gerard Conway |work=FOOM |issue=1 |date=Spring 1973 |page=4 |via=Best, Daniel, ed., 20th Century Danny Boy |url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK742rc1hc/SnDnCQ7TnDI/AAAAAAAANJ4/SwXTcvFjUOY/s1600-h/FOOM+%2301-05.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708120844/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK742rc1hc/SnDnCQ7TnDI/AAAAAAAANJ4/SwXTcvFjUOY/s1600-h/FOOM+ |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, science fiction writer,https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ch.cgi?3287 Retrieved August 19, 2024. screenwriter, television writer, and television producer. He is known for co-creating the Marvel Comics vigilante antihero the Punisher as well as the Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly), and the first Ms. Marvel and also writing the death of the character Gwen Stacy during his long run on The Amazing Spider-Man in the story arc "The Night Gwen Stacy Died".

At DC Comics, he is known for co-creating the superheroes Firestorm, Power Girl, Jason Todd, and the villain Killer Croc, and for writing the Justice League of America for eight years. Conway wrote the first major, modern-day intercompany crossover, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man.

Early life

Conway was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was a fan of comics from a young age. A letter from him appears in Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966), written when Conway was 13.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

He attended New York University for a time.

Career

Conway published his first professional comic book work at 16,{{cite web| url= http://conwayscorner.blogspot.com/|title=Since You Asked, and Even If You Didn't| last= Conway| first=Gerry| publisher=(biographical capsule) Gerry Conway |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110423061721/http://conwayscorner.blogspot.com/|archive-date=April 23, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} with the 6{{frac|1|2}}-page horror story "Aaron Philips' Photo Finish" in DC Comics' House of Secrets #81 (Sept. 1969). He continued selling such anthological stories for that series and for Marvel's Chamber of Darkness and Tower of Shadows through the end of 1970, by which time he had also published one-page text short stories in DC's All-Star Western #1 (Sept. 1970) and Super DC Giant #S-14 (Oct. 1970). He published his first continuing-character story in DC's semi-anthological occult comic The Phantom Stranger #10 (Dec. 1970).{{gcdb|type=writer|search= Gerry+Conway|title= Gerry Conway}} and {{gcdb|type= writer|search= Gerard+F.+Conway|title= Gerard F. Conway}}

Conway recalled breaking into Marvel Comics through Marvel editor Roy Thomas:

{{blockquote|I'd been writing for DC Comics for two or three years...but to paraphrase the joke about the actor's ambitions to be a director, what I really wanted to do was write superheroes – specifically Marvel heroes. Through friends I'd become acquainted with Roy Thomas, who was Stan Lee's right-hand man at the time, and Roy offered me a shot at the Marvel 'writing test.' Stan wasn't impressed, but Roy liked what I did, and began throwing some short assignments my way, including scripting over his plot on an early Ka-Zar [story].{{cite journal|last = Harvey|first = Allan|title = Black Widow: The Gloria Steinem of the Jump-Suit Set|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 26|page = 4|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = February 2008|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}}}

Following his first continuing-character story for Marvel, with his script for the jungle lord Ka-Zar in Astonishing Tales #3 (Dec. 1970), Conway began writing superhero stories with Daredevil #72 (Jan. 1971). He quickly went on to assignments on Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and both "The Inhumans" and "The Black Widow" features in the split book Amazing Adventures. He scripted the first Man-Thing story, in 1971,{{cite book|last1 = Sanderson|first1 = Peter| author-link = Peter Sanderson| editor= Gilbert, Laura|chapter= 1970s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 149|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= [Savage Tales #1 was] notable for the debut of Marvel's mindless swamp monster, the Man-Thing, in an origin story written by Gerry Conway and illustrated by Gray Morrow.}} sharing co-creation credit with Stan Lee and Roy Thomas. Conway eventually scripted virtually every major Marvel title, and co-created (with writers Roy & Jean Thomas and artist Mike Ploog) the lycanthropic lead character of the feature "Werewolf by Night", in Marvel Spotlight #2 (Feb. 1972);Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 154: "Roy Thomas came up with the idea for a series called 'I, Werewolf', narrated in the first person by a teenager who transformed into a werewolf. Stan Lee liked the concept but decided to name it 'Werewolf by Night'. The initial creative team on the series was scripter Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog." he also wrote the premiere issue of Marvel's The Tomb of Dracula, introducing the longstanding literary vampire into the Marvel universe.Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 155: "Following the revision of the Comics Code, Stan Lee was eager to do a comics series about the archetypal vampire, novelist Bram Stoker's Dracula. Based on a few ideas from Lee, Roy Thomas plotted the first issue of The Tomb of Dracula, which Gerry Conway then scripted. The interior art was penciled by Gene Colan."

=Spider-Man and intercompany rotation=

At 19, Conway began scripting The Amazing Spider-Man, succeeding Stan Lee as writer of one of Marvel's flagship titles.{{cite book|last1 = Manning|first1 = Matthew K.|editor= Gilbert, Laura|chapter= 1970s|title = Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging|publisher = Dorling Kindersley|year = 2012|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 62|isbn = 978-0756692360|quote= [The Amazing Spider-Man #111] marked the dawning of a new era: writer Gerry Conway came on board as Stan Lee's replacement. Alongside artist John Romita, Conway started his run by picking up where Lee left off.}} His run, from issues #111–149 (August 1972 – October 1975), included the landmark death of Gwen Stacy story in #121 (June 1973).Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 159: "In June [1973], Marvel embarked on a story that would have far-reaching effects. The Amazing Spider-Man artist John Romita, Sr. suggested killing off Spider-Man's beloved Gwen Stacy in order to shake up the book's status quo."Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 68: "This story by writer Gerry Conway and penciler Gil Kane would go down in history as one of the most memorable events of Spider-Man's life."{{cite book|last1 = David|first1 = Peter|author-link = Peter David|last2 = Greenberger| first2 = Robert|author2-link = Robert Greenberger|title = The Spider-Man Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles Spun from Marvel's Web| publisher = Running Press| year = 2010|location = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania| page = [https://archive.org/details/sinatrahollywood0000knig/page/49 49]|isbn = 978-0762437726|quote = The idea of beloved supporting characters meeting their deaths may be standard operating procedure now but in 1973 it was unprecedented...Gwen's death took villainy and victimhood to an entirely new level.|url = https://archive.org/details/sinatrahollywood0000knig/page/49}} Eight issues later, Conway and Andru introduced the Punisher as a conflicted antagonist for Spider-Man, as well as the Jackal.Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 72: "Writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru introduced two major new characters to Spider-Man's world and the Marvel Universe in this self-contained issue. Not only would the vigilante known as the Punisher go on to be one of the most important and iconic Marvel creations of the 1970s, but his instigator, the Jackal, would become the next big threat in Spider-Man's life." The Punisher became a popular star of numerous comic books and has been adapted into three movies and a live action television series. Conway additionally wrote Fantastic Four, from #133–152 (April 1973 – Nov. 1974).

In 2009, Conway reflected on writing flagship Marvel characters at a young age:

{{blockquote|Precocity is a well-known curse; most of the pressure I felt as a younger writer was self-imposed. I wanted to be accepted by other writers and artists as an equal, which put me in some awkward situations — pretending to be more mature than I was, emotionally and professionally. As it happened, I was pretty good at faking a maturity I didn't have, which had advantages and, obviously, some disadvantages. I think people often forgot how young I was, and expected me to perform at a level that was actually beyond me. The result was, I was pretty stressed for most of my early career as a writer, and I often felt like I had no idea what I was doing —which was true. I wrote instinctively and from the gut; when those instincts were appropriate to the material I was writing – for example, when I was writing [The Amazing] Spider-Man — the results were something I was quite proud of, then and now. When my instincts were off, I didn't have the experience to either recognize it, or to compensate for it, with results that were more uneven.{{cite web|url= http://www.fantasticfourheadquarters.co.uk/blog/gerry-conway-interview|title= Exclusive Gerry Conway Interview|year= 2009|publisher= | website = fantasticfourheadquarters.co.uk|access-date= August 17, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170218035842/http://www.fantasticfourheadquarters.co.uk/blog/gerry-conway-interview|archive-date= February 18, 2017|url-status= dead}}}}

In late 1972, Conway and writers Steve Englehart and Len Wein crafted a metafictional unofficial crossover spanning titles from both major comics companies. Each comic featured Englehart, Conway, and Wein, as well as Wein's first wife Glynis, interacting with Marvel or DC characters at the Rutland Halloween Parade in Rutland, Vermont. Beginning in Amazing Adventures #16 (by Englehart with art by Bob Brown and Frank McLaughlin), the story continued in Justice League of America #103 (by Wein, Dick Dillin and Dick Giordano), and concluded in Thor #207 (by Conway and penciler John Buscema). 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."{{cite web| url= http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/30/rutland-halloween-parade-marvel-dc-crossover/ |title=The Rutland Halloween Parade: Where Marvel and DC First Collided |last=Larnick |first= Eric |date=October 30, 2010 | website = ComicsAlliance.com |publisher= |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120111094055/http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/10/30/rutland-halloween-parade-marvel-dc-crossover/ |archive-date= January 11, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 5, 2011| df=mdy-all}}{{cite web| url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/10/01/comic-book-legends-revealed-280/ |title=Comic Book Legends Revealed #280 |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=October 1, 2010 |publisher= | website = ComicBookResources.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116162032/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/10/01/comic-book-legends-revealed-280/ |archive-date=January 16, 2012 |url-status= dead |access-date=December 5, 2011|df=mdy-all}}[http://www.comics.org/issue/25821/ Amazing Adventures #16 (Jan. 1973)], [http://www.comics.org/issue/25700/ Justice League of America #103 (Dec. 1972)], and [http://www.comics.org/issue/25851/ Thor #207 (Jan. 1973)] at the Grand Comics Database

Conway returned to DC Comics in mid-1975, beginning with three books cover-dated Nov. 1975: Hercules Unbound #1, Kong the Untamed #3, and Swamp Thing #19. He wrote a revival of the Golden Age comic book series All Star Comics{{cite journal|last = Thomas|first = Roy|title = All The Stars There Are in (Super-hero) Heaven!| journal = Alter Ego|volume = 3|issue = 14|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = April 2002|location= Raleigh, North Carolina| url = http://www.twomorrows.com/alterego/articles/14conway.html|access-date = June 23, 2013}} which introduced the character Power Girl.{{cite book|editor-last1=McAvennie|editor-first1= Michael| editor-last2= Dolan| editor-first2=Hannah | chapter= 1970s| title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|year=2010|location= London |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 169 |quote = Along with artist Ric Estrada, [Gerry] Conway also introduced the DC Universe to the cousin of Earth-2's Superman, Kara Zor-L a.k.a. Power Girl.}}{{cite book|author-link= Paul Levitz| last=Levitz|first= Paul|chapter= The Bronze Age 1970–1984|title= 75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking| publisher= Taschen America| year= 2010|location= Cologne, Germany| isbn= 9783836519816| page= 527|quote= The revived All-Star introduced Power Girl, conceived as Supergirl's Earth-Two counterpart. With Wallace Wood and his renowned skill at 'cheesecake' determining the finished art, her breathtaking buxomness and 'peek-a-boo' décolletage were perhaps inevitable.}} Shortly afterward, he was chosen by Marvel and DC editors to script the historic intercompany crossover Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, a 96-page, tabloid-sized, $2 one-shot, at a time when comic books sold for 25 cents.McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 170 "The tale was written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Ross Andru, both among the few [at that time] to ever have worked on both Superman and Spider-Man...The result was a defining moment in Bronze Age comics."

He continued writing for DC, on titles including Superman, Detective Comics (starring Batman), Metal Men, Justice League of America, 1st Issue Special #11 starring Codename: Assassin,{{cite journal| last= Abramowitz|first= Jack| title= 1st Issue Special: It Was No Showcase (But It Was Never Meant To Be)|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 71|page= 45|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= April 2014|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} and that of the licensed character Tarzan. Conway briefly returned to Marvel where he succeeded Marv Wolfman as editor-in-chief in March 1976,{{cite book| author-link = Les Daniels | last= Daniels | first=Les | title=Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics | publisher = Harry N. Abrams | year= 1991|location= New York, New York|isbn= 0-8109-3821-9 | page= 176}} but held the job only "about a month-and-a-half,""Gerry Conway on Englehart Leaving Marvel" (sidebar) in {{cite journal|first= Shannon E.|last= Riley|title = The Man Who Saved the Justice League of America| journal= Back Issue!| publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date= September 2010|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|issue = 45|page = 15}} relinquishing the post and being succeeded by Archie Goodwin.

For a time, a confluence of publishing schedules resulted in Conway stories appearing in both Marvel and DC comics in the same month: The prolific Conway's comic books with January 1977 cover-dates alone, for example, are Marvel's The Avengers, The Defenders, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man,Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 177: "Spider-Man already starred in two monthly series: The Amazing Spider-Man and Marvel Team-Up. Now Marvel added a third, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man, initially written by Gerry Conway with art by Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito." and the premiere issues of Ms. Marvel and Logan's Run, and Superman and Action Comics.

=DC Comics and later career=

File:10.8.17GerryConwayByLuigiNovi1.jpg]]

After leaving Marvel's editorship, he again wrote exclusively for DC for the next decade writing both major and lesser titles – from those featuring Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Legion of Super-Heroes to such books as Weird Western Tales, Atari Force and Sun Devils. He had an eight-year run on Justice League of America, writing most issues from #151–255 (Feb. 1978 – Oct. 1986){{cite journal|last = Schweier|first = Philip|title = Justice League, Then and Now with Gerry Conway and Dan Jurgens|journal= Back Issue!|issue = 58|pages = 65–70|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = August 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} including the double-sized anniversary issue #200 (March 1982).{{cite journal|last = Sanderson|first = Peter |author-link = Peter Sanderson|title = Justice League #200 All-Star Affair|journal = Comics Feature|issue = 12/13|page = 17|publisher = New Media Publishing|date = September–October 1981}} Conway wrote two additional Superman projects in the oversized tabloid format, Superman vs. Wonder Woman, drawn by José Luis García-López,{{cite journal|last = Mangels|first = Andy |author-link = Andy Mangels|title = Kryptonian and Amazonian Not Living in Perfect Harmony|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 61|pages = 50–54|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = December 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}} and Superman vs. Shazam, drawn by Rich Buckler.{{cite journal|last = Hamerlinck|first = P.C.|title = When Worlds Collide The Colossal-Sized Confrontation Between Superman and Captain Marvel|journal = Back Issue!|issue = 61|pages = 65–68|publisher = TwoMorrows Publishing|date = December 2012|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}

He co-created the characters Firestorm with artist Al MilgromMcAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 177 "If inventiveness is the fusion of ideas, then Firestorm was one of the most original characters to emerge from a comic book in years. Penned by Gerry Conway and drawn by Al Milgrom, the Nuclear Man was a genuine sign of the times – the explosive embodiment of a nuclear world." and Steel with artist Don HeckMcAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 177 "Thanks to scripter Gerry Conway and artist Don Heck, the red, white, and blue shone like never before – on the steel-alloyed suit of the World War II cyborg, Steel." in the premiere issues (both March 1978) of the respective titular comics. Two other Conway co-creations, the Deserter (with artist Dick Ayers){{Cite news|last = Wells|first = John|title = 'Lost' DC: The DC Implosion|newspaper = Comics Buyer's Guide|issue = 1249|page = 133|date = October 24, 1997|quote= The Deserter...was given his own ongoing title at the 11th hour, only to perish amidst the other cancellations. The origin of tormented Civil War deserter Aaron Hope (by Gerry Conway, Dick Ayers, and Romeo Tanghal) appeared only in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #1.}}{{cite journal|last= Johnson|first= Dan|title= Showcase Presents Again|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 71|pages= 54–55|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= April 2014|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|quote= Gerry Conway's the Deserter, a Western adventure that would have featured interior art by Dick Ayers and Romeo Tanghal and a cover by Joe Kubert, was originally going to be a three-issue run in Showcase #107–109. Even before Showcase's cancellation, it was greenlit as an ongoing series until the DC Implosion killed it altogether.}} and the Vixen (with artist Bob Oksner),Wells p. 134: "After being touted in house ads during the summer, details regarding The Vixen #1 appeared in a 'Daily Planet' text page in Batman #305 and The Flash #267. Ultimately, 'Who Is The Vixen?' was printed only in Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #2." were scheduled to receive their own series as well but were canceled before any issues were published. He additionally co-created the characters Vibe and Gypsy.Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 209 "The prestigious Justice League of America got a bit easier to join, thanks to writer Gerry Conway and artist Chuck Patton. Marking the debut of camouflaging hero Gypsy, the shockwave-casting Vibe, and the second generation hero Steel, this landmark comic saw many of the more famous League members step down in order to make way for a younger roster to carry on their legacy." As writer of Batman #337–359 (July 1981 – May 1983) and the feature "Batman" in Detective Comics #497–526 (Dec. 1980 – May 1983),{{cite book|last1= Manning|first1= Matthew K.|editor=Dougall, Alastair|chapter= 1980s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= Dorling Kindersley|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 138|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= Gerry Conway and artist Don Newton had become the regular team on Detective Comics at the tail end of 1980. By the middle of [1981], Conway had also taken over the writing in Batman. With the same writer handling both main Batman books, easy crossovers between the two titles soon became possible.}} he introduced the characters Killer CrocManning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 200 "Killer Croc made his mysterious debut in the pages of Detective Comics #523, written by Gerry Conway, with art by Gene Colan." "Croc would soon become a major player in Gotham's underworld." and Jason Todd,Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 201 "Jason Todd first appeared in a circus scene in the pages of Batman #357, written by Gerry Conway and illustrated by Don Newton." the latter of whom became the second Robin, succeeding original sidekick Dick Grayson. With artist Gene Colan, Conway revived the Golden Age supervillains Doctor Death in Batman #345 (March 1982)Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 141 and the Monk in Batman #350 (Aug. 1982).Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 142

Conway was a frequent collaborator with Roy Thomas. Together they wrote a two-part Superman–Captain Marvel team-up in DC Comics Presents #33–34 (May–June 1981); the Atari Force and Swordquest mini-comics packaged with Atari 2600 video games; and three Justice League of America-Justice Society of America crossovers.In Justice League of America #207–209 (Oct.-Dec. 1982) and All-Star Squadron #14–15 (Oct.–Nov. 1982); and Justice League of America #219–220 (Oct.–Nov. 1983); and Infinity, Inc. #19 (Oct. 1985) and Justice League of America #244 (Nov. 1985). Per Thomas, Roy. "The Justice League-Justice Society Team-Ups", The All-Star Companion (TwoMorrows Publishing 2000) {{ISBN|1-893905-05-5}} pp. 191–192Thomas, Roy. "Crisis on Finite Earths: The Justice League-Justice Society Team-Ups (1963–1985)", Alter Ego vol. 3, #7 (Winter 2001), pp. 31–34 Conway contributed ideas to the talking animal comic Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!, created by Thomas and Scott Shaw.Shaw, Scott [http://www.oddball-comics.com/article.php?story=2007-10-08 "Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew! Vol. 1, #1"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121090508/http://www.oddball-comics.com/article.php?story=2007-10-08 |date=January 21, 2012 }}, OddBallComics.com #1180, October 8, 2007 Thomas and Conway were to be the co-writers of the JLA/Avengers intercompany crossover,George Pérez interview, David Anthony Kraft's Comics Interview #6 (Fictioneer, Aug. 1983). but editorial disputes between DC and Marvel caused the project's cancellation.O'Neill, Patrick Daniel. "Career Moves" (Pérez interview), Wizard #35 (July 1994) Conway was one of the contributors to the DC Challenge limited series in 1986.{{cite journal| last= Greenberger|first= Robert| title= It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!| journal= Back Issue!| issue= 98|pages= 41–43|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|date= August 2017|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}

He returned to Marvel in the 1980s and served as the regular writer of both The Spectacular Spider-Man and Web of Spider-Man from 1988 until 1990. Conway stated in 1991 that "I understand the character a lot better now than I did when I was nineteen. And one of the nice things about the Marvel characters is that you can keep them fresh by changing them just a bit."Daniels p. 222 His run on Spectacular included such story arcs as the "Lobo Brothers Gang War".DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 238: Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Sal Buscema, Carlos and Eduardo Lobo possessed the mutant ability to transform into werewolves. He relinquished writing duties on both titles when he became the story editor of the television series Father Dowling Mysteries.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Conway's last recorded comic credits for many years were Topps Comics' "Kirbyverse" NightGliderSources disagree on the spelling, sometimes even within the same source: The cover of the single issue itself appears to spell it "NightGlider". The cover of Victory #1 likewise spells it as one word, though in an all-caps typeface. The [http://comics.org/details.lasso?id=52860 Grand Comics Database entry] spells it as both "Nightglider" and "Night Glider". #1 (April 1993), scripting from a Roy Thomas plot, and a story for Disney Adventures, published in 1995.

Conway returned to comics in 2009 and wrote DC Comics' The Last Days of Animal Man, with artist Chris Batista.{{cite news |url= http://www.newsarama.com/2439-the-end-gerry-conway-on-the-last-days-of-animal-man.html |title=The End? Gerry Conway on The Last Days of Animal Man |first=Vaneta |last=Rogers |date=March 13, 2009 |work=Newsarama |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110604032200/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030913-Animal-Man-Conway.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} In 2011, he wrote the DC Retroactive: Justice League – The '80s one-shot.{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31651 |title= WC11: Exclusive – Legendary Creators Speak About Retro-Active |first= Josie |last= Campbell |date= April 1, 2011 |website= Comic Book Resources |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514141753/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31651 |archive-date= May 14, 2011 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all |access-date= March 31, 2012 }} Also for DC, he wrote the Firestorm feature in Legends of Tomorrow #1–6 in 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/conway-explains-how-legends-of-tomorrow-reignited-his-passion-for-firestorm/ |title=Conway Explains How "Legends of Tomorrow" Reignited His Passion for Firestorm |last=Renaud |first=Jeffrey |date=March 17, 2016 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=March 17, 2016}}

In 2015, he returned to Spider-Man by writing a story in Spider-Verse Team Up #2, and the "Spiral" storyline in The Amazing Spider-Man #16.1–20.1. He returned to work as a series' regular writer that same year with Carnage which ran for 16 issues until 2017. In 2016, he returned to his creation the Punisher by writing The Punisher Annual #1. From 2016 to 2017, he wrote The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1–9, followed by What If? Spider-Man #1 in 2018 and the oneshot The Amazing Spider-Man: Going Big, penciled by Mark Bagley, in 2019.

=Books, comic strips, screenplays=

In addition to comics, Conway published two science-fiction novels: The Midnight DancersThe Midnight Dancers (Ace, 1971, {{ISBN|0-441-52975-5}}; this is not the same-name book by Anne Maybury, nor Midnight Dancer by Emily Bradshaw) and Mindship (originally published as a short story in the science fiction anthology "Universe 1.")Mindship (DAW, 1974, {{ISBN|0-87997-095-2}}). He also wrote the February 14–December 3, 1983, dailies of the syndicated newspaper comic strip Star Trek, based upon the 1960s TV series.{{cite web|url=http://www.startrekcomics.info/ustosstrips.html |title=Star Trek Los Angeles Times Syndicate newspaper comic strip |first=Rich |last=Handley |year=2010 |publisher=Star Trek Communicator #121 via Star Trek Comics Checklist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619040814/http://homepage.mac.com/mmtz/stcomix/ustosstrips.html |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

Conway as well moved into screenwriting in the 1980s, starting with the animated feature Fire and Ice (1983), co-written with Roy Thomas, based on characters created by Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta. Conway and Thomas wrote the story basis for Stanley Mann's screenplay for the film Conan the Destroyer (1984). Afterwards, Conway and Thomas also worked on the script of a live-action X-Men film for production company Nelvana that wasn't produced because of distributor Orion Pictures' financial troubles and subsequent bankruptcy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/6/11/18659771/x-men-1980s-marvel-movie-orion-pictures|title=The abandoned X-Men movie of the 1980s isn't missed by anyone involved|last=Radulovic|first=Petrana|date=2019-06-11|website=Polygon|access-date=2019-06-14}}

Conway wrote, and later produced, such TV series as Father Dowling Mysteries, Diagnosis: Murder, Matlock, Jake and the Fatman, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Baywatch Nights, Pacific Blue, Silk Stalkings, Perry Mason telefilms, Law & Order, The Huntress, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and an episode of Batman: The Animated Series ("Appointment in Crime Alley").{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/batman-the-animated-series-toured-crime-alley/ |title=When Batman: The Animated Series Toured Crime Alley |last=Kendall |first=G. |date=August 11, 2019 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=August 11, 2019}} Conway frequently referenced his comic book connections during his stint on Law & Order by naming characters on the show after comic book creators such as John Byrne.

Personal life

Conway's first wife was comic-book writer Carla Conway.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/59/Gerry-Conway.html |title=Gerry Conway Biography (1952-)| publisher= FilmReference.com|access-date= December 10, 2016|archive-date= December 2, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161202170936/http://www.filmreference.com/film/59/Gerry-Conway.html|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}{{gcdb|type=credit|search= Carla+Conway|title= Carla Conway}} The couple have a daughter, Cara. His second wife, Karen, is a psychologist who works with autistic children. They married in 1992 and have a daughter, Rachel. As of 2015, he and his wife Laura live in Thousand Oaks, California.

Conway's ancestral family background is Irish, as he described in his blog:

{{blockquote|In my case, on my mother's side, I'm a second-generation immigrant. My grandparents were born in Ireland. They came to America in the late 'teens of the last century and lived a life not very different from the life my housekeeper and her husband live today. My grandfather was a day laborer in the Brooklyn ship yards. My (step)-grandmother washed floors at Hunter College in Manhattan. (My biological grandmother died when my mother was eight years old, so I've no idea what she did to earn a living, but I assume it was either piece work or domestic work of some kind.) Because they were lower-class Irish, they were the Hispanics of their day – tolerated, but not embraced, by the larger society, and viewed with scorn by the WASP upper class. ... Even my father felt that anti-Irish prejudice, real or imagined. In the 1950s he once spoke, rather bitterly, about being one of the two 'token Irishmen' working at his company.{{cite web|url=http://conwayscorner.blogspot.com/2006/09/immigration-part-one.html |title=Immigration, Part One |first=Gerry |last=Conway |date=September 17, 2006 |publisher=Conwayscorner.blogspot.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708031924/http://conwayscorner.blogspot.com/2006/09/immigration-part-one.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=live|df=mdy-all|access-date=October 10, 2009}}}}

Conway was raised a Christian, but stated in a 2013 interview that he does not "have any religious belief at this point".{{cite journal|last= Buttery|first= Jarrod|date= February 2014|title = Hulk Smash!: The Incredible Hulk in the 1970s|journal= Back Issue!|issue= 70|page= 9|publisher= TwoMorrows Publishing|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}

In October 2022, Conway was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and underwent Whipple surgery to remove the tumor, resulting in several hospitalizations. In September 2023, he declared that he was cancer-free.{{cite web |url=https://www.superherohype.com/comics/545978-punisher-co-creator-gerry-conway-reveals-triumph-over-cancer-diagnosis |title= Punisher Co-Creator Gerry Conway Reveals Triumph Over Cancer Diagnosis |last=Dominguez |first=Noah |date= August 31, 2023|website=superherohype.com |publisher=SuperHeroHype |access-date=September 1, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/the-punishers-gerry-conway-on-his-cancer-induced-coma-and-surgery/ |title=The Punisher's Gerry Conway On His Cancer, Induced Coma And Surgery |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=September 1, 2023 |website=bleedingcool.com |publisher=Bleeding Cool |access-date=September 1, 2023}}

Comics bibliography

=Atlas/Seaboard Comics=

  • Destructor #4 (1975)
  • Targitt #3 (1975)
  • Tiger-Man #2–3 (1975)

=DC Comics=

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=DC Comics and Marvel Comics=

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=Disney Comics=

=Eclipse Comics=

=First Comics=

=Marvel Comics=

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=Papercutz=

=Skywald Publications=

=Topps Comics=

=Warren Publications=

Television and film credits

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=Television=

=Feature films=

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References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/episodes/comic_geek_speak-891.php A Conversation with Gerry Conway] (Comic Geek Speak: Episode 701, Podcast)
  • {{Comicbookdb|type=creator|id=377}}
  • [http://docs.comics.org/images/5/51/DC_Profiles_36.jpg "DC Profiles #36: Gerry Conway"] at the Grand Comics Database
  • {{IMDb name|0176689}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20170218035842/http://www.fantasticfourheadquarters.co.uk/blog/gerry-conway-interview Gerry Conway interview at Fantastic Four Headquarters]
  • [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=265 Gerry Conway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031726/http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=265 |date=December 29, 2018 }} at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
  • [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namc30.htm#N83 Gerry Conway] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
  • [http://www.lby3.com/wir/c-gconw.html Women in Refrigerators: "Gerry Conway Responds"]
  • [http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/filmography.html?p_id=172381 The New York Times- Movies: Gerry Conway]

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box

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| before = Marv Wolfman

| after = Archie Goodwin

| years = 1976

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{{Succession box

| title = Iron Man writer

| before = Allyn Brodsky

| after = Gary Friedrich

| years = 1971–1972
(with Allyn Brodsky in early 1971)

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| before = Roy Thomas

| after = Steve Gerber

| years = 1971–1973

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| before = Gary Friedrich

| after = Steve Englehart

| years = 1972

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{{Succession box

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| before = Stan Lee

| after = Bill Mantlo

| years = 1971–1975

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{{Succession box

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| before = Roy Thomas

| after = Roy Thomas

| years = 1973–1974

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{{Succession box

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| before = Stan Lee

| after = Len Wein

| years = 1973–1975

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{{Succession box

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| before = Steve Englehart

| after = Len Wein

| years = 1974
(with Roy Thomas)

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| before = Steve Englehart

| after = Jim Shooter

| years = 1976–1977

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{{Succession box

| title = Iron Man writer

| before = Archie Goodwin

| after = Bill Mantlo

| years = 1976–1977
(with Herb Trimpe in late 1976 and early 1977)
(with Bill Mantlo in late 1977)

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{{Succession box

| title = Daredevil writer

| before = Marv Wolfman

| after = Jim Shooter

| years = 1976–1977
(with Jim Shooter)

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{{Succession box

| title = Justice League of America writer

| before = Steve Englehart

| after = J. M. DeMatteis

| years = 1978–1986

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| title = Wonder Woman writer

| before = Paul Levitz and Paul Kupperberg

| after = Robert Kanigher

| years = 1979–1981

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| before = Michael Fleisher

| after = Doug Moench

| years = 1980–1983

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{{Succession box

| title = Batman writer

| before = Bob Rozakis and Roy Thomas

| after = Doug Moench

| years = 1981–1983

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{{Succession box

| title = The Fury of Firestorm writer

| before = n/a

| after = Paul Kupperberg

| years = 1982–1986

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{{Succession box

| title = The Spectacular Spider-Man writer

| before = Peter David

| after = David Michelinie

| years = 1988–1991

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{{Succession box

| title = Web of Spider-Man writer

| before = Peter David

| after = Danny Fingeroth

| years = 1989–1990

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{{end}}

{{Firestorm}}

{{Man-Thing}}

{{Punisher}}

{{Marvel Comics}}

{{Inkpot Award 2010s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conway, Gerry}}

Category:1952 births

Category:20th-century American screenwriters

Category:21st-century American writers

Category:American comics writers

Category:American television writers

Category:American male television writers

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:American comic book editors

Category:Inkpot Award winners

Category:Living people

Category:Marvel Comics editors-in-chief

Category:Marvel Comics writers

Category:DC Comics people

Category:Writers from Brooklyn

Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)

Category:20th-century American male writers