Gerry Conway, "a prolific comic book writer who co-created characters such as the Punisher, the first Ms. Marvel, Jason Todd, and Power Girl during his tenures at both Marvel and DC," died April 27, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was 73. A former Marvel editor-in-chief, he wrote stories for many of the company's major superheroes, but is perhaps best known for his contributions related to Spider-Man.
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| Gerry Conway (photo: Gage Skidmore) |
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Conway began his career writing short stories in horror and fantasy comics anthologies for DC and Marvel. Before long, he was writing full superhero stories for Marvel. He succeeded Stan Lee as the series writer in the 1970s. The L.A. Times noted that Conway's time on The Amazing Spider-Man included the introduction of the vigilante antihero Punisher, also known as Frank Castle, whom he co-created with artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. Other characters the writer co-created during this time are the supervillain Jackal and Peter Parker's clone Ben Reilly.
Conway also co-created a number of characters with various artists during his time as a writer for DC Comics, including superheroes such as Firestorm, Steel, and Vixen. He also helped introduce the Batman villain Killer Croc, as well as Jason Todd, the young man who would succeed Dick Grayson as Batman's sidekick Robin.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said: "Gerry Conway brought real stakes to his writing, able to weave together sensational super heroics with the human and relatable, and in doing so created some of the most memorable stories and characters of all time. His writing has been hugely impactful across our comics, but it has also inspired so much of what we've done on screen, from Werewolf by Night to Daredevil to Spider-Man and Punisher. Gerry was a wonderful collaborator and friend to so many and will be dearly missed."
Jim Lee, president and chief creative officer of DC Comics, posted on social media: "Gerry defined an era of bold, character-driven storytelling during the Bronze Age of comics, balancing heart, action, and humanity in a way that inspired and captivated generations of readers and creators. While many know his Marvel accomplishments.... Gerry's contributions to DC were equally impactful and significant: shaping Batman, Superman, the Justice League of America, and co-creating Firestorm, Jason Todd, and Power Girl and so many more.... Thank you, Gerry, for the worlds imagined and the heroes created. What an incredible legacy you leave behind. Rest in peace."
Marvel Comics editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski observed that Conway "has deftly written almost every character in the Marvel Universe. He thrilled us with new characters like the Punisher and broke our hearts in emotional tales like 'The Night Gwen Stacy Died,' a story that affects Spider-Man to this day. Gerry Conway's legacy has made an undeniable and indelible impact on the Super Hero stories we know and love. He will be dearly missed."
DC Comics posted: "Behind every character is a creator who brought them to life. Today we remember Gerry Conway, and the lasting impact of the worlds he helped shape."