Bob Harras
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Harras is an American comics
writer and editor, who was editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics
from 1995 to 2000 and currently serves as editor-in-chief of DC Comics
.
, where he worked on such titles as The Saga of Crystar
, Dazzler
, ROM, U.S. 1, and Micronauts. Later, Harras was chief editor of Marvel's X-Men
and Midnight Sons
lines. Harras also worked as writer on a number of comics, including a run on The Avengers
lasting from 1992 to 1995.
Harras's tenure as editor-in-chief occurred during the time which Marvel teetered on bankruptcy around 1996 and 1997 (although the company was already in serious financial trouble when he became editor-in-chief). During his tenure, Harras oversaw critically acclaimed runs on titles such as Captain America
, Daredevil
, Ka-Zar
and Deadpool
.
However, the Spider-Man "Clone Saga
", in which Norman Osborn was brought back as the Green Goblin
despite the opposition of many of the writers, received enough negative reception that it overshadowed his critical successes.
After leaving Marvel, Harras joined WildStorm
as contributing editor on November 15, 2001. Harras worked from his New Jersey home office, and reported to Jim Lee
, WildStorm's editorial director. Until late September, 2010, he was the group editor for DC Comics
collected editions and editor of DC's new Who's Who
series.
On September 27, 2010, DC Comics named Bob Harras as the company's new editor-in-chief and Vice President. Harras oversees editorial for all DC Comics, DC Universe
, MAD Magazine
and Vertigo publications. He is DC's first Editor-in-Chief since Jenette Kahn
, who held the position from 1989 until 2002.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
writer and editor, who was editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
from 1995 to 2000 and currently serves as editor-in-chief of DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
.
Career
Harras started his career at Marvel as assistant editor for Ralph MacchioRalph Macchio (comics)
Ralph Macchio is an American comic book editor and writer, who has held many positions at Marvel Comics, including executive editor. Macchio is commonly associated with Daredevil, the Spider-Man line of comics and the popular Ultimate Marvel line...
, where he worked on such titles as The Saga of Crystar
The Saga of Crystar
The Saga of Crystar, Crystal Warrior was a 1983 11-issue fantasy-based Marvel comic book with an associated toy line from Remco, consisting of seven figures, some vehicles and accessories...
, Dazzler
Dazzler
Dazzler is a Marvel Comics superheroine, associated with the X-Men. She first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #130 ....
, ROM, U.S. 1, and Micronauts. Later, Harras was chief editor of Marvel's X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
and Midnight Sons
Midnight Sons
The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional...
lines. Harras also worked as writer on a number of comics, including a run on The Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
lasting from 1992 to 1995.
Harras's tenure as editor-in-chief occurred during the time which Marvel teetered on bankruptcy around 1996 and 1997 (although the company was already in serious financial trouble when he became editor-in-chief). During his tenure, Harras oversaw critically acclaimed runs on titles such as Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
, Ka-Zar
Ka-Zar
Ka-Zar is the name of two jungle-dwelling comics fictional characters published in the United States. The first appeared in pulp magazines of the 1930s, and was adapted for his second iteration, as a comic book character for Timely Comics, the 1930s and 1940s predecessor of Marvel Comics...
and Deadpool
Deadpool (comics)
Deadpool is a fictional character, a mercenary and anti-hero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist Rob Liefeld and writer Fabian Nicieza, Deadpool first appeared in The New Mutants #98 Deadpool (Wade Winston Wilson) is a fictional character, a mercenary and...
.
However, the Spider-Man "Clone Saga
Clone Saga
The Clone Saga or Spider-Clone Saga was a major story arc in Marvel Comics which ran from 1994 to 1996 involving many clones of Spider-Man.The story is considered to be one of the most controversial Spider-Man stories ever told...
", in which Norman Osborn was brought back as the Green Goblin
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
despite the opposition of many of the writers, received enough negative reception that it overshadowed his critical successes.
After leaving Marvel, Harras joined WildStorm
WildStorm
WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm, published American comic books. Originally an independent company established by Jim Lee and further expanded upon in subsequent years by other creators, WildStorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1999...
as contributing editor on November 15, 2001. Harras worked from his New Jersey home office, and reported to Jim Lee
Jim Lee
Jim Lee is a Korean-American comic book artist, writer, editor and publisher. He first broke into the industry in 1987 as an artist for Marvel Comics, illustrating titles such as Alpha Flight and Punisher War Journal, before gaining a great deal of popularity on The Uncanny X-Men...
, WildStorm's editorial director. Until late September, 2010, he was the group editor for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
collected editions and editor of DC's new Who's Who
Who's Who in the DC Universe
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional characters in their imaginary universe, the DC Universe.-History:Who's Who was the creation of Len Wein, Marv...
series.
On September 27, 2010, DC Comics named Bob Harras as the company's new editor-in-chief and Vice President. Harras oversees editorial for all DC Comics, DC Universe
DC Universe
The DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
, MAD Magazine
Mad (magazine)
Mad is an American humor magazine founded by editor Harvey Kurtzman and publisher William Gaines in 1952. Launched as a comic book before it became a magazine, it was widely imitated and influential, impacting not only satirical media but the entire cultural landscape of the 20th century.The last...
and Vertigo publications. He is DC's first Editor-in-Chief since Jenette Kahn
Jenette Kahn
Jenette Kahn is an American comic book editor and executive. She joined DC Comics in 1976 as publisher, and five years later was promoted to President. In 1989, she stepped down as publisher and assumed the title of Editor-in-Chief while retaining the office of president...
, who held the position from 1989 until 2002.