Joseph Samachson
Encyclopedia
Dr. Joseph "Joe" Samachson (1906–1980) was a scientist
and author
, primarily of science fiction
and comic
books.
. A graduate of Rutgers University
, he earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale
at the age of 23. He was an Assistant Professor
at the College of Medicine, University of Illinois. He also headed a laboratory in metabolic research at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois
, a research unit dealing with diseases that affect the skeleton. Comics historian Jerry Bails
wrote that Samachson worked as a Research Chemist
for the American Molasses Company until 1938, leaving to become a "freelance technical writer".
Dr. Samachson also taught himself Russian.
, which was also published in a Dutch translation.
works (under the pseudonym
William Morrison), including two novels published in Startling Stories
. He wrote the 1937 pulp title Murder of a Professor and short stories for a number of magazines, including Money from Heaven (1942). He also penned a couple of Captain Future
pulp novels
c.1941-1942 (under the house name "Brett Sterling"), and had work appear in the science fiction magazine
Galaxy
.
in late 1942, working on comics scripts for characters notably including Batman
. He also wrote scripts for comics and characters including Sandman
, Green Arrow
, Airwave
and Robotman, as well as "a string of 17 science-fiction stories in 1955 and 1956".
In 1955, he created (with artist Joe Certa) the Martian Manhunter
in the pages of Detective Comics
#225. Credited as author on the initial strip, some commentators believe that he may have produced the plot, but that writer Jack Miller (who officially succeeded Samachson in writing the character with the next issue, but - according to Jerry Bails - may actually be a Samachson pseudonym) may have produced the first script also. Don Markstein's Toonopedia also suggests that Samachson wrote "many subsequent" appearances of J'Onn J'Onzz rather than just the first.
Jerry Bails also lists Samachson as having co-created the historical DC character Tomahawk
.
"Cities of the World" title.
In addition, Dr. Samachson was a frequent contributor to scientific journals and the author of The Armor Within Us: The Story of Bone.
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, primarily of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and comic
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...
books.
Biochemist
Joseph Samachson was born to David and Anna Samachson on October 13, 1906 in Trenton, New JerseyTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. A graduate of Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, he earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
at the age of 23. He was an Assistant Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the College of Medicine, University of Illinois. He also headed a laboratory in metabolic research at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, Illinois
Hines, Illinois
Hines is an unincorporated community in Cook County, Illinois, United States.The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, is located at 5000 South Fifth Avenue in Hines.-Government and infrastructure:...
, a research unit dealing with diseases that affect the skeleton. Comics historian Jerry Bails
Jerry Bails
Jerry Gwin Bails was an American popular culturist. Known as the "Father of Comic Book Fandom", he was one of the first to approach the comic book field as a subject worthy of academic study, and was a primary force in establishing 1960s comics fandom.- Early life :Jerry G. Bails was born June...
wrote that Samachson worked as a Research Chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
for the American Molasses Company until 1938, leaving to become a "freelance technical writer".
Dr. Samachson also taught himself Russian.
Author
As a writer, Samachson translated a number of scientific papers, and in addition to his scientific work, earned a well-deserved reputation as an author, writing books for young people such as Mel Oliver and Space Rover on MarsMel Oliver and Space Rover on Mars
Mel Oliver and Space Rover on Mars is a science fiction novel by William Morrison . It was released in 1954 by Gnome Press in an edition of 4,000 copies.-Plot introduction:...
, which was also published in a Dutch translation.
Science fiction & pulps
He also wrote a number of science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
works (under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
William Morrison), including two novels published in Startling Stories
Startling Stories
Startling Stories was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1939 to 1955 by Standard Magazines. It was initially edited by Mort Weisinger, who was also the editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories, Standard's other science fiction title. Startling ran a lead novel in every issue;...
. He wrote the 1937 pulp title Murder of a Professor and short stories for a number of magazines, including Money from Heaven (1942). He also penned a couple of Captain Future
Captain Future
Captain Future is a science fictional hero pulp character originally published in self-titled American pulp magazines during the 1940s and early 50s.-Origins:...
pulp novels
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
c.1941-1942 (under the house name "Brett Sterling"), and had work appear in the science fiction magazine
Science fiction magazine
A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard copy periodical format or on the Internet....
Galaxy
Galaxy Science Fiction
Galaxy Science Fiction was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by an Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break in to the American market. World Editions hired as editor H. L...
.
Comics
He is believed to have begun working for DC ComicsDC 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...
in late 1942, working on comics scripts for characters notably including Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. He also wrote scripts for comics and characters including Sandman
Sandman (DC Comics)
Sandman is the name of seven fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. All are connected in one way or the other, though there are three largely dissimilar concepts, with two or three persons having served in each role various times...
, Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
, Airwave
Air Wave
Air Wave is the name of three fictional superheroes in the DC Comics universe. The first two were active in the Golden Age of Comic Books...
and Robotman, as well as "a string of 17 science-fiction stories in 1955 and 1956".
In 1955, he created (with artist Joe Certa) the Martian Manhunter
Martian Manhunter
The Martian Manhunter is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225...
in the pages of Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
#225. Credited as author on the initial strip, some commentators believe that he may have produced the plot, but that writer Jack Miller (who officially succeeded Samachson in writing the character with the next issue, but - according to Jerry Bails - may actually be a Samachson pseudonym) may have produced the first script also. Don Markstein's Toonopedia also suggests that Samachson wrote "many subsequent" appearances of J'Onn J'Onzz rather than just the first.
Jerry Bails also lists Samachson as having co-created the historical DC character Tomahawk
Tomahawk (comics)
Tomahawk is a comic book character whose adventures were published by DC Comics during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s as a backup feature in Star Spangled Comics and World's Finest Comics and in his own eponymous series...
.
Other work
With his wife Dorothy Samachson, he wrote about theater ("Let's Meet the Theatre" and "The Dramatic Story of the Theatre"), music ("Masters of Music" and The Fabulous World of Opera), ballet, archeology (Good Digging) and a number of other titles, including Rome, a Rand McNallyRand McNally
Rand McNally is an American publisher of maps, atlases, textbooks, and globes for travel, reference, commercial, and educational uses. It also provides online consumer street maps and directions, as well as commercial transportation routing software and mileage data...
"Cities of the World" title.
In addition, Dr. Samachson was a frequent contributor to scientific journals and the author of The Armor Within Us: The Story of Bone.