Len Wein
| Len Wein | |
|---|---|
 Wein (right), with Swamp Thing cosplayer, at CONvergence 2005 | |
| Born | Leonard Norman Wein (1948-06-12)June 12, 1948 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 10, 2017(2017-09-10) (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor |
Notable works | Swamp Thing Wolverine X-Men The Human Target Justice League |
| Awards | Shazam Award, 1972, 1973 Inkpot Award, 1979 Comics Buyers Guide Award, 1982 Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame, 2008 |
| Spouse(s) | Glynis (Oliver) Wein (?–?) Christine Valada |
Leonard Norman Wein[1] (/wiːn/; June 12, 1948 – September 10, 2017) was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men (including the co-creation of Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
Contents
1 Biography
1.1 Early life and career
1.2 DC and Marvel Comics
1.3 Return to DC
1.4 Later career
1.5 Personal life
2 Awards
3 Bibliography
3.1 Comic books
3.1.1 Comico
3.1.2 DC Comics
3.1.3 Defiant Comics
3.1.4 Eclipse Comics
3.1.5 Marvel Comics
3.2 Television
4 References
5 External links
Biography
Early life and career
Wein was born on June 12, 1948, in New York City,[1] and was raised in a Jewish household.[2] One of two children of Phillip and Rosalyn (née Bauman) Wein,[3] he lived in The Bronx until age 7, when he moved with his family to Levittown, New York, on Long Island. There he graduated from Division Avenue High School in 1966, and went on to an art degree from nearby Farmingdale State College.[4] Wein's younger brother, Michael, died in 2007.[3]
In a 2003 interview, Len Wein recalled that he "was a very sickly kid. While I was in the hospital at age seven, my dad brought me a stack of comic books to keep me occupied. And I was hooked. When my eighth grade art teacher, Mr. Smedley, told me he thought I had actual art talent, I decided to devote all my efforts in that direction in the hope that I might someday get into the comics biz."[5]
Approximately once a month, as a teenager, Wein and his friend Marv Wolfman took DC Comics' weekly Thursday afternoon tour of the company's offices.[5] Wolfman was active in fanzine culture, and together he and Wein produced sample superhero stories to show to the DC editorial staff. At that point, Wein was more interested in becoming an artist than a writer.[6] In a 2008 interview, Wein said his origins as an artist have helped him "describe art to an artist so that I can see it all in my own head", and claimed he "used to have artists, especially at DC, guys like Irv Novick and a few of the others, who would come into the office waiting for their next assignment and ask [editor] Julie Schwartz, 'Do you have any Len Wein scripts lying around? He's always easy to draw.'"[6]
Eventually, DC editor Joe Orlando hired both Wolfman and Wein as freelance writers.[6] Wein's first professional comics story was "Eye of the Beholder" in DC's Teen Titans #18 (Dec. 1968), for which he co-created, with Wolfman, Red Star, the first official Russian superhero in the DC universe. Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Teen Titans story which had been written by Wein and Wolfman. The story, titled "Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho!", would have introduced DC's first African American superhero but was rejected by publisher Carmine Infantino.[7] The revised story appeared in Teen Titans #20 (April 1969).
Later that year, Wein was writing anthological mystery stories for DC's The House of Secrets and Marvel's Tower of Shadows and Chamber of Darkness. He additionally began writing for DC's romance comic Secret Hearts and the company's toyline tie-in Hot Wheels; Skywald Publications' horror-comics magazines Nightmare and Psycho and its short-lived Western comic books The Bravados and The Sundance Kid; and Gold Key Comics' Mod Wheels, Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery, the toyline tie-in Microbots,[8] and the TV-series tie-ins Star Trek and The Twilight Zone.
DC and Marvel Comics
Wein's first superhero work for Marvel was a one-off story in Daredevil #71 (Dec. 1970) co-written with staff writer/editor Roy Thomas. Wein later began scripting sporadic issues of such DC superhero titles as Adventure Comics (featuring Supergirl and Zatanna), The Flash, and Superman, while continuing to write anthological mysteries, along with well-received stories for the semi-anthological occult title The Phantom Stranger #14–26 (Aug. 1971 – Sept. 1973).
Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson created the horror character Swamp Thing in The House of Secrets #92 (July 1971).[9] Over the next several decades, Swamp Thing would star in DC series and miniseries – including an initial 1972–76 series begun by Wein and Wrightson,[10] and the early 1980s Saga of the Swamp Thing, edited by Wein and featuring early work by writer Alan Moore—as well as two theatrical films, and a syndicated television series. Abigail Arcane, a major supporting character in the character's mythos was introduced by Wein and Wrightson in Swamp Thing #3 (March 1973).[11] Wein wrote the second story featuring Man-Thing (written circa May 1971, published in June 1972), introducing Barbara Morse and the concept that "Whoever Knows Fear Burns at the Man-Thing's Touch", and later edited Steve Gerber's run on that title.
Wein wrote a well-regarded run of Justice League of America (issues #100–114) wherein, together with artist Dick Dillin, he re-introduced the Seven Soldiers of Victory in issues #100–102[12] and the Freedom Fighters in issues #107–108.[13] In the fall of 1972, Wein and writers Gerry Conway and Steve Englehart 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 #6 (by Englehart with art by Bob Brown and Frank McLaughlin), the story continued in Justice League of America #103 (by Wein, 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."[14][15][16]Libra, a supervillain created by Wein and Dillin in Justice League of America #111 (June 1974),[17] would play a leading role in Grant Morrison's Final Crisis storyline in 2008.
Wein co-created the Human Target with artist Carmine Infantino[18] and wrote the character's appearances as a backup feature in Action Comics, Detective Comics, and The Brave and the Bold. The character was adapted into a short-lived ABC television series starring Rick Springfield which debuted in July 1992,[19] and was briefly revived in 2010 for a two-season series on Fox that starred Mark Valley, Chi McBride, and Jackie Earle Haley.
He briefly wrote the "Batman" feature in Detective Comics and produced a storyline with artist Jim Aparo and in which Batman was framed for the murder of Talia al Ghul[20] and battled Sterling Silversmith for the first time.[21]
In the early 1970s, Wein began writing regularly for Marvel Comics. He succeeded Roy Thomas as editor-in-chief of the color-comics line in 1974, staying a little over a year before handing the reins to Wolfman. Remaining at Marvel as a writer, Wein had lengthy runs on Marvel Team-Up,[22]The Amazing Spider-Man,[23]The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Fantastic Four, as well as shorter runs on such titles as The Defenders[24] and "Brother Voodoo". Wein co-created Wolverine with Roy Thomas,[25] artists John Romita Sr. and Herb Trimpe during his run on The Incredible Hulk.[26] Wein's story "Between Hammer and Anvil" from The Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #182 (Dec. 1974) was later cited in Tony Isabella's book 1,000 Comics You Must Read.[27]
In 1975, he and artist Dave Cockrum revived the Stan Lee / Jack Kirby mutant-superhero team the X-Men after a half-decade's hiatus, reformatting the membership in Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975).[28] Among the characters the duo created for the series were Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus, and Thunderbird. Wein plotted the early "new X-Men" stories with artist Cockrum. These issues were then scripted as Uncanny X-Men #94-95 by Chris Claremont, who subsequently developed the title into one of Marvel's leading franchises.
In 2009, Claremont said, "The history of modern comics would be incredibly different if you took [Wein's] contributions out of the mix. The fact he doesn't get credit for it half the time is disgraceful. We owe a lot of what we are – certainly on the X-Men – to Len and to Dave [Cockrum]".[29]
Return to DC
In 1977, following an offer to script the "Batman" feature in Detective Comics, Wein left Marvel to work exclusively at DC Comics as a scriptwriter and editor.
He scripted Batman and collaborated on Green Lantern with artists Dave Gibbons and Mark Farmer. On his first issue of Batman, #307 (Jan. 1979), he created Wayne Foundation executive Lucius Fox,[30] later portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the movies Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. With artist Marshall Rogers, Wein co-created the third version of the supervillain Clayface in Detective Comics #478 (Aug. 1978).[31] He wrote The Untold Legend of the Batman, the first Batman miniseries, in 1980[32] and the following year wrote a DC-Marvel crossover between Batman and the Hulk in DC Special Series #27 (Fall 1981).[33]Pandora Pann was a proposed series by Wein and artist Ross Andru which was to have been published in 1982 but other commitments prevented Wein from writing it and the project was cancelled.[34] As editor, he worked on the first twelve-issue limited series Camelot 3000, and such successful series as The New Teen Titans, All-Star Squadron, Batman and the Outsiders, Who's Who in the DC Universe, and Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's acclaimed and highly influential Watchmen.[35] In 1986, he wrote a revival of the Blue Beetle,[36] two issues of the DC Challenge limited series,[37] and dialogued the miniseries Legends over the plots of John Ostrander.[38] The following year, Wein scripted the rebooted Wonder Woman series over penciller George Pérez's plots. With artist Steve Erwin, Wein co-created the superhero Gunfire.
Later career
Following his second stint at DC and a move to the West Coast, Wein served as editor-in-chief of Disney Comics for three years in the early 1990s. After leaving Disney, Wein began writing and story editing for such animated television series as X-Men, Batman, Spider-Man, Street Fighter, ExoSquad, Phantom 2040, Godzilla, Pocket Dragon Adventures, ReBoot and War Planets: Shadow Raiders. In 2001, he and Wolfman wrote the screenplay Gene Pool for the production company Helkon, and later wrote a prequel to the screenplay for a one-shot comic book for IDW Publishing.
Wein collaborated with writer Kurt Busiek and artist Kelley Jones on the four-issue miniseries Conan: The Book of Thoth for Dark Horse Comics. He has scripted the comics series The Victorian for Penny-Farthing Press and has written comic-book stories for Bongo Comics' TV-series tie-ins The Simpsons and Futurama.
From 2005 to 2008, Wein appeared as a recurring panelist on the Los Angeles-based stage revival of the TV game show What's My Line? He has written episodes of the Cartoon Network animated series Ben 10: Alien Force, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10: Omniverse[39] and the Marvel Super Hero Squad.[39]
Wein was interviewed for commentary tracks on comics-related DVDs, including the animated Justice League: The New Frontier film, the live-action Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and X-Men films, the X-Men Origins: Wolverine film, the Watchmen film, the Swamp Thing TV-series sets, the Human Target first season TV series, and the July 2008 History Channel specials Batman Unmasked and Batman Tech.[40]
He wrote the storyline for the Watchmen video game, The End Is Nigh, which serves as a backstory to both the comic and the film adaptation.[41]
Wein in 2011
Wein returned to comics writing for DC in the late 2000s,[42] where he collaborated in the DC Comics nostalgic event DC Retroactive writing stories for the one-shot specials Batman – The '70s (September 2011) drawn by Tom Mandrake[43] and Green Lantern – The '80s (October 2011) drawn by Joe Staton. The hardcover collection of his 10-issue DC Universe: Legacies was published in August 2011.[44] In 2012, Wein worked on the Before Watchmen project, writing the mini-series Ozymandias with art by Jae Lee and the serialized feature "Curse of the Crimson Corsair" with art by Watchmen colorist John Higgins.[45] The hardcover collection of the Ozymandias storyline spent several weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List in 2013.[46] He and José Luis García-López produced a comics adaptation in 2015 of a Two-Face story written by Harlan Ellison originally intended for the Batman television series.[47]
Personal life
Wein's first wife was Glynis Oliver,[48] a comics colorist who spent years on the X-Men titles. Following their divorce, he married Christine Valada, a photographer and attorney, in 1991, and became stepfather to Michael Bieniewicz-Valada.[1]
On April 6, 2009, Wein's California home burned down with considerable loss of property and mementos, including his Shazam Awards. He and his wife also lost their dog, Sheba, to the fire.[49]
Beginning October 26, 2009, Valada appeared on and won the television game show Jeopardy!, becoming a four-time champion with winnings of over $60,000. She indicated on the show that she would use the money to recover or replace much of the artwork and books the couple lost in the fire.[50]
Wein underwent triple-bypass heart surgery on February 10, 2015.[51] He died on September 10, 2017.[1]
Awards
- Won Shazam Awards for Best Writer (Dramatic) for Swamp Thing and for Best Individual Story (Dramatic), for "Dark Genesis" in Swamp Thing #1 (with Bernie Wrightson) in 1972.[52]
- Nominated in the same categories in 1973. He and Wrightson won the Shazam Award that year for Best Continuing Feature again for Swamp Thing.[53]
- Won a Comic Fan Art Award in 1974 for Favorite Pro Writer
- Won an Inkpot Award in 1977.[54]
- Won the 1982 Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Award as Best Editor.[55]
- Nominated in 1998 for the Bram Stoker Award, given by the Horror Writers Association, for the one-shot The Dreaming: Trial and Error, from DC's Vertigo imprint.[56]
- Inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.[57]
Bibliography
Comic books
Comico
Justice Machine #27–29, Annual #1 (1989)
DC Comics
Action Comics #419–420, 422–423, 425–426, 429, 432 (Human Target); #515 (Atom); #519 (Aquaman) (1972–1981)
Adventure Comics #413–415, 418–420 (Supergirl and Zatanna features); #457–458 (Eclipso; #459 Deadman, and Elongated Man features); #460–466 (Deadman), #467–468 (Plastic Man) (1971–1980)
All-Star Western #11 (El Diablo) (1972)
Batman #255, 307–310, 312–319, 321—324, 326–327 (1974–1980)
Batman '66 the Lost Episode #1 (2015)
Batman Black and White vol. 2 #5 (2014)
Batman: Nevermore #1–5 (2003)
Before Watchmen: Comedian #1–2 (2012)
Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1 (2013)
Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1–2 (2012)
Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1–2 (2012)
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1–6 (2012–2013)
Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1 (2012)
Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1–2 (2012)
Blue Beetle #1–24 (1986–1988)
The Brave and the Bold #143–144 (Human Target) (1978)
Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #2 (Deadman) (1978)
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (1985)
Danger Trail #1–4 (1993)
DC Challenge #2, 12 (1985–1986)
DC Comics Presents #4–5, 24, 27–29, 38, 61, 66–67 (1978–1984)
DC Comics Presents: Batman #1 (2004)
DC Retroactive: Batman – The '70s #1 (2011)
DC Retroactive: Green Lantern – The '80s #1 (2011)
DC Special Series #27 (Batman/Hulk intercompany crossover) (1981)
DC Universe: Legacies #1–10 (2010–2011)
Deathstroke, the Terminator #18, Annual #2 (1993)
Detective Comics #408, 444–448, 466, 478–479, 500, 514 (Batman); #426 (Elongated Man); #479–480 (Hawkman); #482–485 (Etrigan the Demon); #483–484, 486, 493 (Human Target); #500 (Slam Bradley) (1971–1982)
The Dreaming Special #1 (1998)
Final Crisis: Secret Files #1 (2009)
The Flash #208, 212, 215, 217 (1971–1972)
Green Lantern vol. 2 #128, 172–183, 185–186 (1980–1985)
Green Lantern Annual #5 (1996)
Gunfire #1–13 (1994–1995)
Heroes Against Hunger #1 (1986)
Hot Wheels #4–6 (1970–1971)
House of Mystery #191, 197, 199, 221, 223, 276, 300, 303 (1971–1982)
House of Secrets #84–85, 92, 94–98, 127 (1970–1975)
Human Target #1–6 (2010)
JLA 80-Page Giant #2 (1999)
Jonah Hex #49, 51–52 (1981)
Justice League Dark: Futures End #1 (2014)
Justice League of America #100–114, Annual #1 (1972–1983)
Justice League of America vol. 2 #29–30, 35–37 (2009)
Justice League Special #1 (1990)
Justice League: Cry for Justice #1–2, 4–6 (backup stories) (2009–2010)
Korak, Son of Tarzan #46–51 (1972–1973)
Legends #1–6 (1986–1987)
Mister Miracle vol. 2 #7–13 (1989–1990)
Mystery in Space #113 (1980)
The New Titans #88 (1992)
Phantom Stranger vol. 2 #14–26 (1971–1973)
Secret Hearts #149 (1971)
Secret Origins vol. 2 #2, 19, 44 (1986–1989)
The Shadow #4 (1974)
Showcase '93 #1–2, 10 (1993)
Showcase '94 #1–2 (1994)
Sinister House of Secret Love #2 (1971)
Star Trek #31–37, 39–40 (1986–1987)
Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes #246–247 (1978–1979)
Supergirl #1–2 (Zatanna backup stories) (1972–1973)
Superman #246, 248, 251, 254, 258, 336–342, 344, 370–371, Special #3 (1971–1985)
Superman/Batman Annual #3 (2009)
Swamp Thing #1–13 (1972–1974)
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps #1–3 (1981)
Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual #1 (1985)
Teen Titans #18 (1968)
Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #19 (2014)
The Untold Legend of the Batman #1–3 (1980)
Weird War Tales #3, 10, 22–23, 30, 36, 40, 108 (1972–1982)
Weird Worlds #1–3 (1972)
The Witching Hour #13 (1971)
Wonder Woman #212 (1974)
Wonder Woman vol. 2 #3–16 (1987–1988)
World's Finest Comics #207–208 (1971)
Defiant Comics
Dark Dominion #1–3, 5–7, 10 (1993–1994)
Warriors of Plasm #5–7 (1993–1994)
Warriors of Plasm Graphic Novel #1 (1993)
Eclipse Comics
Airboy #38–40 (1988)
Marvel Comics
2099 Unlimited #10 (1995)
The Amazing Spider-Man #151–180, Annual #10 (1975–1978)
Astonishing Tales #8 (1971)
Chamber of Darkness #6 (1970)
Conan the Barbarian #116 (1980)
Creatures on the Loose #11, 13 (1971)
Daredevil #124 (1975)
The Defenders #12–19 (1974–1975)
Dracula Lives #8 (1974)
Fantastic Four #154–156, 182, 184–188, 191–194 (1975–1978)
Giant-Size Chillers #1, 3 (1975)
Giant-Size Defenders #2 (1974)
Giant-Size Man-Thing #5 (1975)
Giant-Size Spider-Man #1–2 (1974)
Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)
The Incredible Hulk #179–220, 222, Annual #5–6 (1974–1978)
Iron Man #82–85 (1976)
Kull the Conqueror #8 (1973)
Marvel Comics Presents #11, 47, 53–56, 67, 69 (1989–1991)
Marvel Feature #11 (1973)
Marvel Premiere #16 (1974)
Marvel Preview #2, 10 (1975–1977)
Marvel Spotlight #30 (1976)
Marvel Team-Up #12–27 (1973–1974)
Midnight Sons Unlimited #1 (1993)
Power Man #17–19, 21 (1974)
Savage Tales #6 (1974)
Shadows and Light #1 (1998)
Spoof #1 (1970)
Strange Tales #169–174 (1973–1974)
Thor #242–253, 255–271 (1975–1978)
Tower of Shadows #3 (1970)
Ultraforce vol. 2 #10–15 (1996)
Ultraverse Unlimited #2 (1996)
Uncanny Origins #12, 14 (1997)
Werewolf by Night #5–8 (1973)
Western Gunfighters #5–7 (1971–1972)
Worlds Unknown #7–8 (1974)
X-Men #94–95 (1975)
X-Men: Black Sun #2 (2000)
Television
- Action Man
Avengers: United They Stand
- "Command Decision"
Batman: The Animated Series
- "Moon of the Wolf"
- "Off Balance"
- "Blind as a Bat"
- "The Demon's Quest: Part Two"
Beware the Batman
- "Attraction"
Godzilla: The Series
- "What Dreams May Come"
Iron Man
- "Fire and Rain"
Spider-Man: The Animated Series
- "The Alien Costume: Part One" (co-written with John Semper, Meg McLaughlin, and Stan Berkowitz)
- "Venom Returns" (co-written with John Semper and Stan Berkowitz)
- X-Men
References
^ abcd Genzlinger, Neil (September 11, 2017). "Len Wein, Influential Comic Book Writer, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved September 12, 2017..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Wolfman, Marv (n.d.). "Speaking With Len Wein Part Two". MarvWolfman.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013.
^ ab "Michael S. Wein". Mesabi Daily News. Virginia, Minnesota. March 7, 2007. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
^ Lovece, Frank (September 12, 2017). "Len Wein, 'Wolverine' comics co-creator, dies; ex-Levittown resident was 69". Newsday. New York City/Long Island. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
^ ab Wolfman, Marv (March 30, 2003). "Speaking With... Len Wein". "What Th--?" (column). Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010.
^ abc Stroud, Bryan D. (2008). "Len Wein Interview". The Silver Age Sage. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013.
^ Cronin, Brian (2009). Was Superman a Spy?: And Other Comic Book Legends Revealed. New York, New York: Plume. ISBN 9780452295322.
^ Friedt, Stephan (October 2014). "Here Come the Microbots". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (76): 11–13.
^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1970s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.'Swamp Thing' was the name of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's turn-of-the-century tale, and its popularity with readers led a modernized version of the character into his own series a year later.
CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153: "Following his debut in House of Secrets #92 in 1971, the Swamp Thing grew into his own series, albeit with a reimagining of his origins by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson."
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 154: "Scribe Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson left Swamp Thing some company...the woman who would become Swamp Thing's soul mate, Abigail Arcane."
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 152 "Through an impromptu team-up of the JLA and the Justice Society on Earth-2, writer Len Wein and artist Dick Dillin ushered in the return of DC's Seven Soldiers of Victory."
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 156 "The annual Justice League-Justice Society get-together resulted in scribe Len Wein and artist Dick Dillin transporting both teams to the alternate reality of Earth-X. There, Nazi Germany ruled after winning a prolonged World War II and only a group of champions called the Freedom Fighters remained to oppose the regime."
^ Larnick, Eric (October 30, 2010). "The Rutland Halloween Parade: Where Marvel and DC First Collided". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
^ Cronin, Brian (October 1, 2010). "Comic Book Legends Revealed #280". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
^ Amazing Adventures #16 (Jan. 1973), Justice League of America #103 (Dec. 1972), and Thor #207 (Jan. 1973) at the Grand Comics Database
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 160 "Through the words of scripter Len Wein and the art of Dick Dillin, the masked menace of Libra established himself as a grave threat to the World's Greatest Heroes."
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 153 "Starting as a back-up feature in the pages of Action Comics, scribe Len Wein and artist Carmine Infantino introduced Christopher Chance, a master of disguise who would turn himself into a human target – provided you could meet his price."
^ "Human Target". TV Guide. n.d. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
^ Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014). "1970s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 118. ISBN 978-1465424563.Len Wein and artist Jim Aparo began a five-issue uninterrupted storyline that was quite an event in 1975. In this interesting tale, Batman was framed for murder by his old enemy Ra's al Ghul.
CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
^ Manning "1970s" in Dougall, p. 118
^ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1970s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 68. ISBN 978-0756692360.CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
^ Manning "1970s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 85: "To signify the start of this new era Spider-Man's new regular chronicler writer Len Wein would come onboard with [The Amazing Spider-Man #151]."
^ DeAngelo, Daniel (July 2013). "The Not-Ready-For-Super-Team Players A History of the Defenders". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (65): 6–7.
^ https://www.semissourian.com/story/2555171.html
^ Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 167. ISBN 978-0756641238.Len Wein wrote and Herb Trimpe drew Wolverine's cameo appearance in The Incredible Hulk #180 and his premiere in issue #181.
CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list (link)
^ Buttery, Jarrod (February 2014). "Hulk Smash!: The Incredible Hulk in the 1970s". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (70): 11–12.
^ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 169: "[Editor Roy] Thomas realized that if X-Men was to be successfully revived, it needed an exciting new concept. Thomas came up with just such an idea: the X-Men would become an international team, with members from other countries as well as the United States. Writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum were assigned to the new project and the result was Giant-Size X-Men #1."
^ Krug, Kurt Anthony (April 22, 2009). "Legends: Chris Claremont". Mania.com. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013.
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 180 "Batman #307 (Jan. 1979) Writer Len Wein and artist John Calnan introduced Bruce Wayne's new executive, Lucius Fox, in this issue of Batman."
^ McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 179: "Writer Len Wein and artist Marshall Rogers vividly depicted Batman's battle with a third Clayface."
^ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 187 "Written by Len Wein, with art by John Byrne and Jim Aparo, The Untold Legend of the Batman...delved into the origin of the fabled Dark Knight."
^ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 195 "Written by Len Wein and illustrated by José Luis García-López, the comic saw...Batman and the Hulk doing battle with both the Joker and Marvel's ultra-powerful Shaper of Worlds."
^ Mangels, Andy (February 2011). "Opening the Box: Pandora Pann's Lost Adventures". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (46): 37.
^ Len Wein (editor) at the Grand Comics Database
^ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 219 "The Blue Beetle swung into his own DC series with the help of writer Len Wein and artist Paris Cullins."
^ Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at the DC Challenge!". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (98): 36–43.
^ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 221 "DC's next big crossover showcased John Byrne's pencils on all six of the miniseries' issues. Entitled Legends, this new limited series was plotted by writer John Ostrander and scripted by Len Wein...By the series' end, the stage was set for several new ongoing titles, including...the Suicide Squad, as well as the Justice League."
^ ab Rogers, Vaneta (May 18, 2010). "Len Wein Retells 75 Years of DCU History in Legacies". Newsarama. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
^ Wein, Len (July 15, 2008). "Tivo Alert!". WeinWords. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
^ Totilo, Stephen (July 23, 2008). "Watchmen Video Game Preview: Rorschach And Nite Owl Star In Subversive Prequel Set In 1970s". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
^ "Dan Didio Talks Legacies, Who's Who". DC Comics. January 7, 2010. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013.
^ DC Retroactive: Batman – The '70s at the Grand Comics Database
^ Wein, Len (2011). DC Universe: Legacies. DC Comics. p. 336. ISBN 9781401231330.
^ Hyde, David (February 1, 2012). "DC Entertainment Officially Announces Before Watchmen". DC Comics. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
^ "The New York Times Best Seller list Hardcover Graphic Books". The New York Times. July 28, 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
^ Schedeen, Jesse (November 20, 2014). "Batman '66: The Lost Episode #1 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 23, 2014.Writer Harlan Ellison got as far as pitching a Two-Face-themed episode before the combination of the villain's gruesome appearance and Ellison's conflicts with ABC executives killed the idea. Decades later, that pitch has become the inspiration for this oversized Batman '66 comic.
^ Thomas, Roy. "Bullpen Bulletins," Marvel comics cover-dated January 1974.
^ Evanier, Mark (April 6, 2009). "Dreadful News". News From ME. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
^ Valada, Christine. "Christine Valada". J-Archive.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2010.
^ Evanier, Mark (February 10, 2015). "A Public Plea". News From ME. Archived from the original on September 17, 2015.
^ "1972 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015.
^ "1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015.
^ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
^ Comics Buyer's Guide 1996 Annual Krause Publications 1995 pp. 30–31
^ "Past Stoker Award Nominees & Winners". Horror Writers Association. n.d. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000.
^ Estrada, Jackie (July 31, 2008). "Jackie Estrada on the 2008 Eisner Awards". The Comics Reporter. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.
External links
 | Wikiquote has quotations related to: Len Wein |
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Len Wein. |
Bails, Jerry; Ware, Hames (eds.). "Len Wein". Who's Who of American Comic Books 1928-1999. Archived from the original on May 11, 2007.
Len Wein at the Grand Comics Database
Len Wein at the Comic Book DB
Len Wein at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
Len Wein on IMDb
Len Wein at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
"Len Wein Interview". FantasticFourHeadquarters.co.uk. July 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
| Preceded by Roy Thomas | Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief 1974–1975 | Succeeded by Marv Wolfman |
| Preceded by n/a | Swamp Thing writer 1971–1974 | Succeeded by David Michelinie |
| Preceded by Mike Friedrich | Justice League of America writer 1972–1974 | Succeeded by Dennis O'Neil |
| Preceded by Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas | The Incredible Hulk writer 1974–1977 | Succeeded by Roger Stern |
| Preceded by Gerry Conway | The Amazing Spider-Man writer 1975–1978 | Succeeded by Marv Wolfman |
| Preceded by Bill Mantlo | Thor writer 1975–1978 (with Marv Wolfman in 1976) | Succeeded by Roy Thomas |
| Preceded by Mike Friedrich | Iron Man writer 1976 (with Roger Slifer in part of the run) | Succeeded by Bill Mantlo |
| Preceded by Gerry Conway | Fantastic Four writer 1977–1978 | Succeeded by Marv Wolfman |
| Preceded by Steve Englehart | Detective Comics writer 1978 | Succeeded by Dennis O'Neil |
| Preceded by Ross Andru | Justice League of America editor 1979–1984 | Succeeded by Alan Gold |
| Preceded by Ross Andru | The Flash editor 1979–1982 | Succeeded by Mike W. Barr |
| Preceded by Ross Andru | Wonder Woman editor 1979–1982 | Succeeded by Marv Wolfman |
| Preceded by Jack C. Harris | World's Finest Comics editor 1981–1982 | Succeeded by Mike W. Barr |
| Preceded by n/a | The New Teen Titans editor 1980–1983 | Succeeded by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez |
| Preceded by n/a | All-Star Squadron editor 1981–1982 | Succeeded by Roy Thomas |
| Preceded by n/a | Saga of the Swamp Thing editor 1982–1984 | Succeeded by Karen Berger |
| Preceded by n/a | Watchmen editor 1986–1987 | Succeeded by Barbara Randall |
| Preceded by Greg Potter | Wonder Woman writer 1987–1988 | Succeeded by George Pérez |
| Preceded by Dwayne McDuffie | Justice League of America writer 2009–2009 | Succeeded by James Robinson |
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