Steve Gerber
Encyclopedia
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber (September 20, 1947–February 10, 2008) was an American comic book
writer
best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics
character Howard the Duck
.
Other works include Man-Thing
, Omega the Unknown
, Marvel Spotlight
: Son of Satan
, The Defenders
, Marvel Presents
: Guardians of the Galaxy
, and a lengthy run on Daredevil
. At the time of his death, he was writing Countdown to Mystery: Doctor Fate
for DC Comics
, having briefly worked with a version of the character in 1983.
He was also known for including lengthy text pages in the midst of a comic book story, such as in Man-Thing, Howard the Duck, Son of Satan, Defenders, Nevada, and his graphic novel
, Stewart the Rat
.
Gerber was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2010.
, the son of Bernice Gerber, and one of four children, with siblings Jon, Michael, and Lisa. After corresponding with fellow youthful comics fans Roy Thomas
and Jerry Bails
, and starting one of the first comics fanzines, Headline, at age 13 or 14, Gerber attended college at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
, the University of Missouri
in Columbia, Missouri
, and St. Louis University, where he finished his communications
degree and did some post-graduate work.
. During this time he wrote short stories
, some of which, such as "And the Birds Hummed Dirges," later appeared in Crazy Magazine
during his stint as editor
.
In early 1972, Gerber asked Thomas, by this time Marvel editor-in-chief, about writing comics; Thomas sent him a writer's test — six pages of a Daredevil
car-chase scene drawn by Gene Colan
— which Gerber passed. He accepted a position as an associate editor and writer at Marvel Comics for $125 a week — $25 less than at the ad agency — and $13 a page for writing. Thomas said in 2007,
(three issues), and Sub-Mariner (11 issues), but soon developed an individual voice that mixed adventure with social satire and absurdist humor. In one issue of The Defenders
, for example, a group of supervillains, tired of always being beaten by the heroes, seeks out a self-help
guru for motivation. Gerber also penned anthological
horror
-fantasy
stories for Creatures on the Loose (adaptations of Lin Carter
's Thongor), Monsters Unleashed
, Chamber of Chills
, and Journey Into Mystery
, and humor pieces for Crazy
, becoming editor of that satirical magazine for issues #8-14.
), Gerber scripted Man-Thing
, about a swamp-monster
empath; Omega The Unknown
, which explored the strange link between a cosmic superhero and a boy; and Howard the Duck
, created with artist Val Mayerik
as a secondary character in a Man-Thing
story in Adventure into Fear
#19 (December 1973). Howard graduated to his own backup feature in Giant-Size Man-Thing, confronting such bizarre horror-parody characters as the Hellcow and the Man-Frog, before acquiring his own comic book title with Howard the Duck #1 in 1976. Gerber wrote 27 issues of the series, illustrated by a variety of artists, beginning with Frank Brunner
. Gene Colan
eventually became the regular penciller
. The series gradually developed a substantial cult following
, possibly amplified by Howard's entry into the 1976 U.S. presidential campaign under the auspices of the All-Night Party
. Marvel attempted a spin-off with a short-lived Howard the Duck syndicated
comic strip
from 1977 to 1978, at first written by Gerber and drawn by Colan and Mayerik, and later written by Marv Wolfman
and drawn by Alan Kupperberg
.
Gerber had been replaced on the strip in mid-1978, creating acrimony and a lawsuit
. Marvel's then editor-in-chief, Jim Shooter
, blamed Gerber's chronic tardiness, saying the creative team was "producing strips within six days of their publication dates," which he said caused several newspapers to drop the strip. Shooter added that while the syndicate threatened to drop the strip if a new writer were not brought in, "Steve can tell you a good number of horror stories — and they're all true — about the trouble we had getting artists."
Gerber recalled, in the 2000s, that
, with whom he would reunite in 2004 for the short-lived Hard Time
. Gerber collaborated with writer Carole Seuling on Shanna the She-Devil
.
Among other Marvel projects, Gerber wrote the first issue of Marvel Comics Super Special
featuring the band KISS
, in which he also introduced Dr. Doom's tutor, Dizzie the Hun. Another important part of Gerber's oeuvre was reviving forgotten characters such as in Tales of the Zombie based on a one-shot character, Simon Garth, created in the 1950s by Bill Everett
, who died shortly after the series began. In Defenders he brought back three pre-superhero characters, the Headmen
. He also reintroduced the 1969 one-time feature Guardians of the Galaxy
, first as guest stars in Marvel Two-in-One
(he wrote the first nine issues of that series, the first seven tying directly with his other storylines) and Defenders, then as a feature in Marvel Presents
. He created the characters of Starhawk
, Aleta Ogord
, and Nikki
. In this series, he depicted the first obvious sex act in a book approved by the Comics Code Authority
. He also wrote stories of Son of Satan
, Morbius the Living Vampire and Lilith, Daughter of Dracula
. He created the monk Montesi in Dracula Lives! #5, whose formula would later temporarily destroy all of the vampires
in the world.
Gerber was noted for memorable supporting or guest characters who would become cult favorites in their own right. Among his best known are Everyman
Richard Rory, who has appeared off and on in most of the Gerber books, and the Foolkiller
, a psychopathic vigilante who inspired several different individuals to adopt his identity over the years and acquired his own 10-issue limited series
in 1990. Gerber was also responsible for the creation of the Silver Samurai
during his Daredevil run, and the female Red Guardian
when writing Defenders. He also created N'Kantu, the Living Mummy
, but wrote only two stories with the character.
Toward the end of his work at Marvel, he wrote Hanna-Barbera
stories for Mark Evanier
under the anagram
matic name Reg Everbest. Only two of these, featuring Magilla Gorilla
and Clue Club
, were published in their English-language originals.
saying Gerber was "over two months late" on the titles he was writing, and "late on his contractual obligations; he was contracted to do so many pages [per month] and was not doing them." Shooter added, "I would not say there was nothing else to it; I would just say that we found it advantageous to get out of the contract we were in," while at the same time calling Gerber "one of the best writers in the business," whom he would welcome as a freelancer. Gerber, in an open letter to The Comics Journal
editor Gary Groth
, referred to his "parting of the ways with Marvel", and said, "I was dismissed from the Howard the Duck newspaper strip in a manner which violated the terms of my written agreement with Marvel. Marvel was advised that I would contemplating legal action.... As a consequence of the notice given Marvel by my lawyers, the company chose to terminate my contract on the comic books as well." Gerber subsequently launched a lengthy legal battle for control of Howard the Duck
, culminating in a lawsuit filed August 29, 1980.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, Gerber did some work for DC Comics
, including a 1982 Superman
miniseries, The Phantom Zone; the last three issues of Mr. Miracle and a run of backup stories in The Flash starring Doctor Fate
and co-written with Martin Pasko
. He also wrote for independent comic companies. One of Gerber's first major works away from Marvel was the original graphic novel
Stewart the Rat
for Eclipse Comics
, with art by Gene Colan
and Tom Palmer
. Also for Eclipse Magazine
Gerber and Mayerik created the anti-censorship
horror story, "Role Model/Caring, Sharing, and Helping Others".
In 1982 he teamed with Jack Kirby
at Eclipse to create Destroyer Duck
, a satirical comic that raised funds for his court case against Marvel. Eclipse publisher Dean Mullaney states, "Everyone involved with the 'Special Lawsuit Benefit Issue' donated their time and talents, including Eclipse as the publisher. The full and total proceeds went to pay Steve's legal bills. Among the back-up stories was the first appearance of "Groo" by Sergio Aragones." Gerber and Marvel reached a settlement in the case.
for the Epic Comics
imprint in 1984 and The Legion of Night and Suburban She-Devils in 1991) and DC (including A. Bizarro
and Nevada
for the Vertigo imprint in 1998). In the early 1980s, Gerber and Frank Miller
made a proposal to revamp DC's three biggest characters: Superman, Batman
, and Wonder Woman
. However, this proposal was not accepted. Returning briefly to Marvel, he had a 12-issue run on The Sensational She-Hulk
(four of which featured Howard the Duck, but which Gerber himself considered to be deuterocanonical Howard), a three-issue run on Cloak and Dagger
, had Hawkeye
get shot and wear a new armored costume designed by Tony Stark in Avengers Spotlight, and wrote two issues of Toxic Crusaders
, all for Marvel. During this time he also did a serial in Marvel Comics Presents
featuring Poison
, a character he created in The Evolutionary War crossover
. He also wrote the two-issue Freddy Krueger
's A Nightmare on Elm Street
which delved into the backstory of the character.
In collaboration with Beth Woods (later Slick), he wrote the "Contagion"
episode of the syndicated television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
, and with her wrote BBSs for Dummies.
He worked in television
animation
, working as story editor
on the animated TV series The Transformers
, G.I. Joe, and Dungeons & Dragons
; created Thundarr the Barbarian
; and shared a 1998 Daytime Emmy Award
for Outstanding Special Class — Animated Program, for the WB program The New Batman/Superman Adventures. His Berlin Wall
episode of The Puppy's New Adventures was heavily censored to prettify East Berlin
, resulting in Gerber's mock-slogan "ABC Standards and Practices... Protecting Your Children With Lies." He also wrote the pilot episode of the animated TV series Mister T
.
He was one of the founders of the Malibu Comics
Ultraverse
, co-creating Exiles and creating Sludge
. For Image
, he co-created The Cybernary
with Nick Manabat
and disbanded Codename: Strykeforce
(in their crossover with Cyberforce
, in which Gerber showed the impossibility of one leader leading two teams with any effectiveness), in addition to guest-writing Pitt
. In 2002 he created a new Howard the Duck miniseries for Marvel's MAX
line. For DC he then created Hard Time
(along with long-time collaborator Mary Skrenes), which outlasted the short-lived imprint DC Focus
, but slow sales led Hard Time: Season Two to be cancelled after only seven issues rather than the minimum twelve Gerber was initially promised.
In 2005, when Marvel Comics sponsored a vote on which of four unused characters to revive, Gerber asked his fans to vote against Wundarr the Aquarian
, a supporting character he had created in Fear and Marvel Two-in-One. Wundarr took second after Death's Head. He stated numerous times on his blog and elsewhere on the web his opinion that no one should write another's characters without the creator's endorsement. He himself endorsed the 2000s Foolkiller
series, starring a character he had created in Man-Thing, because the character was a new individual using the old persona.
Later, Gerber wrote the Helmet of Fate: Zauriel
one-shot and continued writing the Doctor Fate
serial in the Countdown to Mystery limited series
for DC Comics up to the time of his death, working on stories in the hospital. Gerber died before being able to write the concluding chapter of the serial; in his honor, four separate writers (Adam Beechen
, Mark Evanier
, Gail Simone
, and Mark Waid
) provided their own conclusions to the story, each of which referenced Gerber's best-known creations and commonly-used themes.
Due in part to the costs of the ongoing legal battle with Marvel over Howard the Duck, Gerber at one point was forced to declare bankruptcy.
, and was eventually hospitalized while continuing to work. He had gotten onto the waiting list for a transplant at UCLA Medical Center
. On February 10, 2008, Gerber died in a Las Vegas hospital from complications stemming from his condition. At the time of his death, Gerber was separated from his wife, Margo Macleod. He had a daughter, Samantha Voll.
character Stewart Caldwell, a TV writer who became Thundersword.
One of Gerber's working pen-names, Reg Everbest, was the inspiration behind the first Foolkiller's real name which was revealed as Ross G. Everbest. Gerber used the anagram
matic Reg Everbest pseudonym for Marvel-published Hanna-Barbera stories after he was banned from Marvel by Jim Shooter. Roger Stern named the original, deceased Foolkiller "Ross G. Everbest" in The Amazing Spider-Man
#225, in homage to Gerber, using Gerber's middle name as the character's first name, the middle initial restoring the anagram save for a silent e
. the character's real name never appeared in the two Gerber stories, but is seen on a computer screen in the second Foolkiller's van, next to the face of the original user of that identity.
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
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
best known as co-creator of the satiric 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...
character Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
.
Other works include Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
, Omega the Unknown
Omega The Unknown
Omega the Unknown was an American comic book published by Marvel Comics from 1976 to 1977, featuring the eponymous fictional character. The series, written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and illustrated by Jim Mooney, ran for 10 issues before cancellation for low sales...
, Marvel Spotlight
Marvel Spotlight
Marvel Spotlight is the name of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics as a try-out book for new characters. The first series ran for 33 issues from November 1971 to April 1977...
: Son of Satan
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
, The Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
, Marvel Presents
Marvel Presents
Marvel Presents was an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. Twelve issues were published from October 1975 to August 1977....
: Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy
The original Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional superhero team that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Guardians first appear in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 .-Publication history:...
, and a lengthy run on 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...
. At the time of his death, he was writing Countdown to Mystery: Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
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...
, having briefly worked with a version of the character in 1983.
He was also known for including lengthy text pages in the midst of a comic book story, such as in Man-Thing, Howard the Duck, Son of Satan, Defenders, Nevada, and his graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, Stewart the Rat
Stewart the Rat
Stewart the Rat is a graphic novel written by Steve Gerber, penciled by Gene Colan, and inked by Tom Palmer. Stewart was published in November 1980 by Eclipse Enterprises. Stewart the Rat was reprinted in January 2003 by About Comics....
.
Gerber was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2010.
Early life
Steve Gerber was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, the son of Bernice Gerber, and one of four children, with siblings Jon, Michael, and Lisa. After corresponding with fellow youthful comics fans Roy Thomas
Roy Thomas
Roy William Thomas, Jr. is an American comic book writer and editor, and Stan Lee's first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introducing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to American comics, with a series that added to the storyline of Robert E...
and 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...
, and starting one of the first comics fanzines, Headline, at age 13 or 14, Gerber attended college at the University of Missouri–St. Louis
University of Missouri–St. Louis
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is one of four universities in the University of Missouri System. Established in 1963, it is the newest university in the UM System. , it is the largest university by enrollment in the St. Louis area with 16,548 students...
, the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, and St. Louis University, where he finished his communications
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
degree and did some post-graduate work.
Career
Gerber began work as a copywriter for a St. Louis advertising agencyAdvertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
. During this time he wrote short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, some of which, such as "And the Birds Hummed Dirges," later appeared in Crazy Magazine
Crazy (magazine)
Crazy Magazine was an illustrated satire and humor magazine, and was published by Marvel Comics from 1973 to 1983 for a total of 94 regular issues...
during his stint as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
.
In early 1972, Gerber asked Thomas, by this time Marvel editor-in-chief, about writing comics; Thomas sent him a writer's test — six pages of a 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...
car-chase scene drawn by Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
— which Gerber passed. He accepted a position as an associate editor and writer at Marvel Comics for $125 a week — $25 less than at the ad agency — and $13 a page for writing. Thomas said in 2007,
Marvel Comics
Gerber initially penned standard superhero stories for titles such as Daredevil (20 issues), Iron ManIron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
(three issues), and Sub-Mariner (11 issues), but soon developed an individual voice that mixed adventure with social satire and absurdist humor. In one issue of The Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
, for example, a group of supervillains, tired of always being beaten by the heroes, seeks out a self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
guru for motivation. Gerber also penned anthological
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
-fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
stories for Creatures on the Loose (adaptations of Lin Carter
Lin Carter
Linwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
's Thongor), Monsters Unleashed
Monsters Unleashed
Monsters Unleashed was a black-and-white magazine published by Curtis Magazines from 1973-1975. The focus of Monsters Unleashed was on Marvel's own monsters: Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, and Frankenstein's monster...
, Chamber of Chills
Chamber of Chills
Chamber of Chills is the name of two anthology horror comic books, one published by Harvey Publications in the early 1950s, the other by Marvel Comics in the 1970s.-Harvey Publications:...
, and Journey Into Mystery
Journey into Mystery
Journey into Mystery was an American comic book series published by Atlas Comics, and later its successor Marvel Comics. It featured horror, monster, and science fiction stories...
, and humor pieces for Crazy
Crazy (magazine)
Crazy Magazine was an illustrated satire and humor magazine, and was published by Marvel Comics from 1973 to 1983 for a total of 94 regular issues...
, becoming editor of that satirical magazine for issues #8-14.
Howard the Duck
Besides a lengthy run on The Defenders (which included the introduction of KorvacKorvac
Michael Korvac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Giant-Size Defenders #3 Michael Korvac (often called Korvac or The Enemy) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character...
), Gerber scripted Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
, about a swamp-monster
Swamp monster
Swamp monsters have been a staple of comics for years. From the 1940s to the present many murk-dwellers have made their muddy mark in comics. Swamp creatures are humanoid creatures similar to fish or resembling living piles of swamp mire. They live underwater and occasionally come to the surface,...
empath; Omega The Unknown
Omega The Unknown
Omega the Unknown was an American comic book published by Marvel Comics from 1976 to 1977, featuring the eponymous fictional character. The series, written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and illustrated by Jim Mooney, ran for 10 issues before cancellation for low sales...
, which explored the strange link between a cosmic superhero and a boy; and Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
, created with artist Val Mayerik
Val Mayerik
Val Mayerik is an American comic-book and commercial artist, best known as co-creator of Marvel Comics' satiric character Howard the Duck.-Early life and career:...
as a secondary character in a Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
story in Adventure into Fear
Adventure into Fear
Adventure into Fear is an American horror comic book series published by Marvel Comics from cover dates November 1970 through December 1975, for 31 issues...
#19 (December 1973). Howard graduated to his own backup feature in Giant-Size Man-Thing, confronting such bizarre horror-parody characters as the Hellcow and the Man-Frog, before acquiring his own comic book title with Howard the Duck #1 in 1976. Gerber wrote 27 issues of the series, illustrated by a variety of artists, beginning with Frank Brunner
Frank Brunner
Frank Brunner is an American comic book artist and illustrator best known for his work at Marvel Comics in the 1970s.-Comics:...
. Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
eventually became the regular penciller
Penciller
A penciller is an artist who works in the creation of comic books, graphic novels, and similar visual art forms.The penciller is the first step in rendering the story in visual form and may require several steps of feedback with the writer. These artists are concerned with layout to showcase...
. The series gradually developed a substantial cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
, possibly amplified by Howard's entry into the 1976 U.S. presidential campaign under the auspices of the All-Night Party
All-Night Party
Sporting the slogan, "Get Down, America!", the All-Night Party was a fictional political party created by Steve Gerber. It appeared in Gerber's Howard the Duck series for Marvel Comics during the U.S...
. Marvel attempted a spin-off with a short-lived Howard the Duck syndicated
Print syndication
Print syndication distributes news articles, columns, comic strips and other features to newspapers, magazines and websites. They offer reprint rights and grant permissions to other parties for republishing content of which they own/represent copyrights....
comic strip
Comic strip
A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions....
from 1977 to 1978, at first written by Gerber and drawn by Colan and Mayerik, and later written by Marv Wolfman
Marv Wolfman
Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
and drawn by Alan Kupperberg
Alan Kupperberg
Alan Kupperberg is an American comic artist known for working in both comic books and newspaper strips.-Career:Kupperberg began writing and drawing for Marvel Comics in 1974, mostly doing fill-ins and one-shots...
.
Gerber had been replaced on the strip in mid-1978, creating acrimony and a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
. Marvel's then editor-in-chief, Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
, blamed Gerber's chronic tardiness, saying the creative team was "producing strips within six days of their publication dates," which he said caused several newspapers to drop the strip. Shooter added that while the syndicate threatened to drop the strip if a new writer were not brought in, "Steve can tell you a good number of horror stories — and they're all true — about the trouble we had getting artists."
Gerber recalled, in the 2000s, that
Other series
During this period Gerber often worked with writer Mary SkrenesMary Skrenes
Mary Skrenes is a comic book writer and screenwriter. She may be best known as co-creator of Omega the Unknown for Marvel Comics, although she worked on other Marvel characters such as the Defenders and Guardians of the Galaxy...
, with whom he would reunite in 2004 for the short-lived Hard Time
Hard Time (comics)
Hard Time is a comic book series written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and originally published by DC Focus, a short-lived imprint of DC Comics. The aim of the imprint was to feature super-powered characters who did not follow the traditional format of classic superhero adventures...
. Gerber collaborated with writer Carole Seuling on Shanna the She-Devil
Shanna the She-Devil
Shanna the She-Devil is a fictional jungle adventuress in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Carole Seuling and penciler George Tuska, she made her first appearance in Shanna the She-Devil #1 Shanna the She-Devil is a fictional jungle adventuress in comic books published by...
.
Among other Marvel projects, Gerber wrote the first issue of Marvel Comics Super Special
Marvel Comics Super Special
Marvel Comics Super Special was a 41-issue series of one-shot comic-magazines published by Marvel Comics from 1977 to 1986. They were cover-priced $1.50 to $2.50, while regular color comics were priced 30 cents to 60 cents, Beginning with issue #5, the series' title in the its postal indicia was...
featuring the band KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, in which he also introduced Dr. Doom's tutor, Dizzie the Hun. Another important part of Gerber's oeuvre was reviving forgotten characters such as in Tales of the Zombie based on a one-shot character, Simon Garth, created in the 1950s by Bill Everett
Bill Everett
William Blake "Bill" Everett, also known as William Blake and Everett Blake was a comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner and co-creating Daredevil for Marvel Comics...
, who died shortly after the series began. In Defenders he brought back three pre-superhero characters, the Headmen
Headmen
The Headmen is a group of fictional supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. They first appeared in The Defenders #21 .-Fictional biography:...
. He also reintroduced the 1969 one-time feature Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy
The original Guardians of the Galaxy are a fictional superhero team that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Guardians first appear in Marvel Super-Heroes #18 .-Publication history:...
, first as guest stars in Marvel Two-in-One
Marvel Two-in-One
Marvel Two-In-One was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics that featured the Fantastic Four member, the Thing, in a different team-up each issue with a different character. The series continued from the team-up stories starring the Thing in the final two issues of Marvel...
(he wrote the first nine issues of that series, the first seven tying directly with his other storylines) and Defenders, then as a feature in Marvel Presents
Marvel Presents
Marvel Presents was an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. Twelve issues were published from October 1975 to August 1977....
. He created the characters of Starhawk
Starhawk (comics)
Starhawk is a fictional character created by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema . He is an antihero in the Earth-691 timeline of the Marvel Comics universe....
, Aleta Ogord
Aleta Ogord
Aleta Ogord, briefly also known as Starhawk, is a fictional character, a superheroine in a future of the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Nikki
Nikki (comics)
Nicholette "Nikki" Gold is a fictional character, a woman in the Earth-691 timeline of the fictional Marvel Universe, genetically engineered to live on the planet Mercury. As such, she has a superhuman ability to withstand heat and ultraviolet radiation, and can see clearly in very bright light...
. In this series, he depicted the first obvious sex act in a book approved by the Comics Code Authority
Comics Code Authority
The Comics Code Authority was a body created as part of the Comics Magazine Association of America, as a tool for the comics-publishing industry to self-regulate the content of comic books in the United States. Member publishers submitted comic books to the CCA, which screened them for adherence to...
. He also wrote stories of Son of Satan
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
, Morbius the Living Vampire and Lilith, Daughter of Dracula
Lilith (Marvel Comics)
Lilith is the name of two fictional American comic book characters owned by Marvel Comics. Both characters exist in the Marvel Universe.The first of these two to appear was Lilith, the daughter of Dracula. Like her father, she is also a vampire, although her powers and weaknesses differ from most...
. He created the monk Montesi in Dracula Lives! #5, whose formula would later temporarily destroy all of the vampires
Vampire (Marvel Comics)
Vampires are fictional characters found in the Marvel Universe.-History:They were created roughly 15,000 years ago when a small band of sorcerers from the legendary city of Atlantis discovered a book known as the Darkhold, an indestructible text filled with arcane lore and dark magic written...
in the world.
Gerber was noted for memorable supporting or guest characters who would become cult favorites in their own right. Among his best known are Everyman
Everyman
In literature and drama, the term everyman has come to mean an ordinary individual, with whom the audience or reader is supposed to be able to identify easily, and who is often placed in extraordinary circumstances...
Richard Rory, who has appeared off and on in most of the Gerber books, and the Foolkiller
Foolkiller
The Foolkiller is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by writer Steve Gerber and first appeared in the pages of 1974's Man-Thing. He also had a ten-issue limited series that ran from 1990 to 1991, followed by another in 2007. There have been four different...
, a psychopathic vigilante who inspired several different individuals to adopt his identity over the years and acquired his own 10-issue limited series
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
in 1990. Gerber was also responsible for the creation of the Silver Samurai
Silver Samurai
The Silver Samurai is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' universe, occasionally a superhero and more often a supervillain. His first appearance was in Daredevil #111...
during his Daredevil run, and the female Red Guardian
Starlight (comics)
Starlight is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. Created by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema, she first appeared in Defenders # 35 .-Fictional character biography:Tania Belinsky was born in Leningrad, in the former Soviet Union...
when writing Defenders. He also created N'Kantu, the Living Mummy
N'Kantu, the Living Mummy
N'Kantu the Living Mummy is a fictional supernatural hero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Supernatural Thrillers #5 , created by Steve Gerber and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
, but wrote only two stories with the character.
Toward the end of his work at Marvel, he wrote Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
stories for Mark Evanier
Mark Evanier
Mark Stephen Evanier is an American comic book and television writer, particularly known for his humor work. He is also known for his columns and blogs, and for his work as a historian and biographer of the comics industry, in particular his award-winning Jack Kirby biography, Kirby: King of...
under the anagram
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
matic name Reg Everbest. Only two of these, featuring Magilla Gorilla
Magilla Gorilla
The Magilla Gorilla Show is an animated series for television produced by Hanna-Barbera for Screen Gems between 1963 and 1967, and originally sponsored in syndication by Ideal Toys from 1963 through 1966. The show also had other recurring characters, including Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse, and Ricochet...
and Clue Club
Clue Club
Clue Club is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from August 14, 1976 to September 3, 1977 on CBS....
, were published in their English-language originals.
Battle for Howard the Duck
Gerber was fired by Marvel in 1978, with then editor-in-chief Jim ShooterJim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
saying Gerber was "over two months late" on the titles he was writing, and "late on his contractual obligations; he was contracted to do so many pages [per month] and was not doing them." Shooter added, "I would not say there was nothing else to it; I would just say that we found it advantageous to get out of the contract we were in," while at the same time calling Gerber "one of the best writers in the business," whom he would welcome as a freelancer. Gerber, in an open letter to The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal
The Comics Journal, often abbreviated TCJ, is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books, comic strips and graphic novels...
editor Gary Groth
Gary Groth
Gary Groth is an American comic book editor, publisher and critic. He is editor-in-chief of The Comics Journal and a co-founder of Fantagraphics Books.-Early life:...
, referred to his "parting of the ways with Marvel", and said, "I was dismissed from the Howard the Duck newspaper strip in a manner which violated the terms of my written agreement with Marvel. Marvel was advised that I would contemplating legal action.... As a consequence of the notice given Marvel by my lawyers, the company chose to terminate my contract on the comic books as well." Gerber subsequently launched a lengthy legal battle for control of Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck
Howard the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
, culminating in a lawsuit filed August 29, 1980.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, Gerber did some work 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...
, including a 1982 Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
miniseries, The Phantom Zone; the last three issues of Mr. Miracle and a run of backup stories in The Flash starring Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
and co-written with Martin Pasko
Martin Pasko
Martin Pasko is a writer and editor in a diverse array of media, including comic books and television.Pasko has worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his work with DC Comics over three decades. He has written Superman in many media, including television animation, webisodes, and...
. He also wrote for independent comic companies. One of Gerber's first major works away from Marvel was the original graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
Stewart the Rat
Stewart the Rat
Stewart the Rat is a graphic novel written by Steve Gerber, penciled by Gene Colan, and inked by Tom Palmer. Stewart was published in November 1980 by Eclipse Enterprises. Stewart the Rat was reprinted in January 2003 by About Comics....
for Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics
Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
, with art by Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
and Tom Palmer
Tom Palmer (comics)
-Biography:Although Palmer has done a small amount of pencilling work , the vast majority of his artistic output since the 1960s has been as a comic book inker...
. Also for Eclipse Magazine
Eclipse Magazine
Eclipse Magazine was a black and white comics anthology magazine published by Eclipse Comics from 1981 to 1983.-Overview:...
Gerber and Mayerik created the anti-censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
horror story, "Role Model/Caring, Sharing, and Helping Others".
In 1982 he teamed with Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
at Eclipse to create Destroyer Duck
Destroyer Duck
Destroyer Duck was an anthology comic book published by Eclipse Comics in 1982, as well as the title of its primary story, written by Steve Gerber and featuring artwork by Jack Kirby....
, a satirical comic that raised funds for his court case against Marvel. Eclipse publisher Dean Mullaney states, "Everyone involved with the 'Special Lawsuit Benefit Issue' donated their time and talents, including Eclipse as the publisher. The full and total proceeds went to pay Steve's legal bills. Among the back-up stories was the first appearance of "Groo" by Sergio Aragones." Gerber and Marvel reached a settlement in the case.
Later career
After that time, Gerber worked sporadically in comics, writing several miniseries for Marvel (including Void IndigoVoid Indigo
Void Indigo was a short-lived and controversial comic book series written by Steve Gerber and drawn by Val Mayerik. It was published by Epic Comics from 1983 to 1984....
for the Epic Comics
Epic Comics
Epic Comics was a creator-owned imprint of Marvel Comics started in 1982, lasting through the mid-1990s, and being briefly revived on a small scale in the mid-2000s.- Origins :...
imprint in 1984 and The Legion of Night and Suburban She-Devils in 1991) and DC (including A. Bizarro
A. Bizarro
A. Bizarro is the title of a four-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 1999, and the name of the lead character of that series. The creators included writer Steve Gerber, penciller M. D. Bright, inker Greg Adams, colorist Tom Ziuko with separations by Digital Chameleon,...
and Nevada
Nevada (comics)
Nevada is the title of an American comic book limited series published by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint in 1998. The series was written by Steve Gerber and with art from Phil Winslade, Steve Leialoha, and Dick Giordano....
for the Vertigo imprint in 1998). In the early 1980s, Gerber and Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
made a proposal to revamp DC's three biggest characters: Superman, 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...
, and Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
. However, this proposal was not accepted. Returning briefly to Marvel, he had a 12-issue run on The Sensational She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
(four of which featured Howard the Duck, but which Gerber himself considered to be deuterocanonical Howard), a three-issue run on Cloak and Dagger
Cloak and Dagger (comics)
Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
, had Hawkeye
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
get shot and wear a new armored costume designed by Tony Stark in Avengers Spotlight, and wrote two issues of Toxic Crusaders
Toxic Crusaders
Toxic Crusaders is an animated series based on The Toxic Avenger films. It features Toxie, the lead character of the films leading a trio of misfit superheroes who combat pollution. This followed a trend of environmentally considerate cartoons of the time, including Captain Planet and the...
, all for Marvel. During this time he also did a serial in Marvel Comics Presents
Marvel Comics Presents
Marvel Comics Presents was an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics originally from 1988 to 1995; it returned for a second volume in 2007-2008.-Volume 1:The first volume was released on a biweekly basis and lasted for 175 issues...
featuring Poison
Poison (comics)
Poison is the name of two fictional comic book characters, owned by Marvel Comics. The first was created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Cynthia Martin and exists in the Marvel Universe while the second lives in an alternate world featured in the one-shot comic What If?: Spider-Man: The Other....
, a character he created in The Evolutionary War crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
. He also wrote the two-issue Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger
Frederick Charles "Freddy" Krueger is a fictional, horrifying character from the Nightmare on Elm Street series of horror films. He first appears in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as a disfigured dream stalker who uses a glove armed with razors to kill his victims in their dreams,...
's A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street (comics)
The popularity of the A Nightmare on Elm Street film series has led to several comic book series published by Marvel Comics, Innovation Publishing, Trident Comics, Avatar Press and WildStorm Productions. After the success of Freddy vs...
which delved into the backstory of the character.
In collaboration with Beth Woods (later Slick), he wrote the "Contagion"
Contagion (TNG episode)
-Overview:Picard and company try to protect the Enterprise against a catastrophic malfunction and simultaneously unlock the secrets of the once-powerful Iconian empire while keeping those secrets from the watchful Romulans.-Plot:...
episode of the syndicated television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
, and with her wrote BBSs for Dummies.
He worked in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
animation
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, working as story editor
Story editor
Story editor is a job title in motion picture and television production, also sometimes called "supervising producer". A story editor is a member of the screenwriting staff who edits stories for screenplays....
on the animated TV series The Transformers
The Transformers (TV series)
The Transformers is an animated television series depicting a war among giant robots who could transform into vehicles, other objects and animal-like forms. Written and recorded in America, the series was animated in Japan and South Korea...
, G.I. Joe, and Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons (TV series)
Dungeons & Dragons is an American fantasy animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, the show originally ran from 1985 through 1987 for three seasons on CBS for a total of twenty seven episodes.The show focused on a...
; created Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian
Thundarr the Barbarian is a Saturday morning animated television series, created by Steve Gerber and produced by Ruby-Spears Productions. The series ran 2 seasons, 1980-1981 and 1981-1982...
; and shared a 1998 Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
for Outstanding Special Class — Animated Program, for the WB program The New Batman/Superman Adventures. His Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
episode of The Puppy's New Adventures was heavily censored to prettify East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
, resulting in Gerber's mock-slogan "ABC Standards and Practices... Protecting Your Children With Lies." He also wrote the pilot episode of the animated TV series Mister T
Mister T (TV series)
Mister T was an animated series that aired on NBC from 1983 to 1986. A total of 30 episodes were produced during the first two seasons, with the final season consisting entirely of reruns...
.
He was one of the founders of the Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
Ultraverse
Ultraverse
The Ultraverse was the name given to a comic book imprint published by the American company Malibu Comics. The Ultraverse was a shared universe in which a variety of characters — known within the comics as "Ultras" — acquired super-human abilities.-History:...
, co-creating Exiles and creating Sludge
Sludge (comics)
Sludge was a comic book series from Malibu Comics, set in the Ultraverse. It was created by Steve Gerber, Gary Martin and Aaron Lopresti. Sludge ran for only twelve issues, with one special: Sludge: Red X-Mas...
. For Image
Image
An image is an artifact, for example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject—usually a physical object or a person.-Characteristics:...
, he co-created The Cybernary
Cybernary
Cybernary is a comic book series created by comic book artist Nick Manabat with writer Steve Gerber and published by Wildstorm Productions in 1995...
with Nick Manabat
Nick Manabat
Nick Manabat was a Filipino American comic book artist who co-created Cybernary with writer Steve Gerber in 1992 for Wildstorm Productions...
and disbanded Codename: Strykeforce
Codename: Strykeforce
Codename: Strykeforce was a comic book series by Top Cow and Image Comics, about a team of mercenary superheroes.Codename: Strykeforce was an offshoot of another series called Cyberforce, which was about a group of cyborg shock troops. The series lasted for fourteen issues...
(in their crossover with Cyberforce
Cyberforce
Cyberforce is an Image Comics super-hero team created by artist Marc Silvestri and writer Eric Silvestri in 1992. Silvestri would begin performing both the plotting and pencilling chores, but the series was subsequently drawn by other artists, including David Finch...
, in which Gerber showed the impossibility of one leader leading two teams with any effectiveness), in addition to guest-writing Pitt
Pitt (comics)
Pitt is a fictional character who appears in a comics series by American publisher Full Bleed Studios. Created by Dale Keown, he first appeared in Pitt #1 . Pitt is a human/alien hybrid, created by an alien race known as the Creed, genetically engineered to serve as a killing machine...
. In 2002 he created a new Howard the Duck miniseries for Marvel's MAX
MAX (comics)
MAX is an imprint of Marvel Comics aimed at a niche 'adults only' audience, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system...
line. For DC he then created Hard Time
Hard Time (comics)
Hard Time is a comic book series written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and originally published by DC Focus, a short-lived imprint of DC Comics. The aim of the imprint was to feature super-powered characters who did not follow the traditional format of classic superhero adventures...
(along with long-time collaborator Mary Skrenes), which outlasted the short-lived imprint DC Focus
DC Focus
DC Focus was a short-lived imprint of DC Comics. The titles published under this imprint featured super-powered characters who didn't follow the trappings and traditions of classic superhero adventures. Most titles failed to generate significant sales, forcing DC Comics to cancel them. Hard Time...
, but slow sales led Hard Time: Season Two to be cancelled after only seven issues rather than the minimum twelve Gerber was initially promised.
In 2005, when Marvel Comics sponsored a vote on which of four unused characters to revive, Gerber asked his fans to vote against Wundarr the Aquarian
Wundarr the Aquarian
Wundarr the Aquarian is a Marvel Comics character created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik in Adventure into Fear #17. His first appearance is thought of as a parody of the origin of Superman.-Publication history:...
, a supporting character he had created in Fear and Marvel Two-in-One. Wundarr took second after Death's Head. He stated numerous times on his blog and elsewhere on the web his opinion that no one should write another's characters without the creator's endorsement. He himself endorsed the 2000s Foolkiller
Foolkiller
The Foolkiller is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by writer Steve Gerber and first appeared in the pages of 1974's Man-Thing. He also had a ten-issue limited series that ran from 1990 to 1991, followed by another in 2007. There have been four different...
series, starring a character he had created in Man-Thing, because the character was a new individual using the old persona.
Later, Gerber wrote the Helmet of Fate: Zauriel
Zauriel
Zauriel is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Originally a guardian angel who served Heaven for millions of years, he willingly fell to Earth and becomes a superhero, having been a member of DC's all-star Justice League. He first appeared in JLA #6...
one-shot and continued writing the Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate
Doctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
serial in the Countdown to Mystery limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
for DC Comics up to the time of his death, working on stories in the hospital. Gerber died before being able to write the concluding chapter of the serial; in his honor, four separate writers (Adam Beechen
Adam Beechen
Adam Beechen is an American comic book writer who wrote Countdown to Adventure and co-wrote Countdown for DC Comics.-Animation:Beechen has written scripts for various cartoon, such as Teen Titans, The Wild Thornberrys, Rugrats, Pink Panther and Pals, The Batman and the Ben 10 franchise...
, Mark Evanier
Mark Evanier
Mark Stephen Evanier is an American comic book and television writer, particularly known for his humor work. He is also known for his columns and blogs, and for his work as a historian and biographer of the comics industry, in particular his award-winning Jack Kirby biography, Kirby: King of...
, Gail Simone
Gail Simone
Gail Simone is an American writer of comic books. Best known for penning DC's Birds of Prey, her other notable works include Secret Six, Welcome to Tranquility, The All-New Atom, and Deadpool. In 2007, she took over Wonder Woman...
, and Mark Waid
Mark Waid
Mark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is well known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America...
) provided their own conclusions to the story, each of which referenced Gerber's best-known creations and commonly-used themes.
Due in part to the costs of the ongoing legal battle with Marvel over Howard the Duck, Gerber at one point was forced to declare bankruptcy.
Death
In 2007, Gerber was diagnosed with an early stage of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic, progressive form of lung disease characterized by fibrosis of the supporting framework of the lungs...
, and was eventually hospitalized while continuing to work. He had gotten onto the waiting list for a transplant at UCLA Medical Center
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California....
. On February 10, 2008, Gerber died in a Las Vegas hospital from complications stemming from his condition. At the time of his death, Gerber was separated from his wife, Margo Macleod. He had a daughter, Samantha Voll.
In fiction
Gerber was the inspiration for the Marvel UniverseMarvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
character Stewart Caldwell, a TV writer who became Thundersword.
One of Gerber's working pen-names, Reg Everbest, was the inspiration behind the first Foolkiller's real name which was revealed as Ross G. Everbest. Gerber used the anagram
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
matic Reg Everbest pseudonym for Marvel-published Hanna-Barbera stories after he was banned from Marvel by Jim Shooter. Roger Stern named the original, deceased Foolkiller "Ross G. Everbest" in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#225, in homage to Gerber, using Gerber's middle name as the character's first name, the middle initial restoring the anagram save for a silent e
Silent E
Silent e is a writing convention in English spelling. A silent letter e at the end of a word often signals a specific pronunciation of the preceding vowel letter, as in the difference between "rid" and "ride" . This orthographic pattern followed the phonological changes of the Great Vowel Shift...
. the character's real name never appeared in the two Gerber stories, but is seen on a computer screen in the second Foolkiller's van, next to the face of the original user of that identity.
Awards and nominations
- 1974: Nominated for Shazam Award for Best Writer in both the Dramatic and Humor Divisions
- 1977: Eagle Award for Favourite Single Comicbook Story for Howard the DuckHoward the DuckHoward the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
#3: "Four Feathers of Death", with artist John BuscemaJohn BuscemaJohn Buscema, born Giovanni Natale Buscema , was an American comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate... - 1977: Also nominated for same award for Howard the Duck #1: "Howard the Barbarian", with artist Frank BrunnerFrank BrunnerFrank Brunner is an American comic book artist and illustrator best known for his work at Marvel Comics in the 1970s.-Comics:...
- 1977: Nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook Writer
- 1977 Nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Continued Comicbook Story for The DefendersDefenders (comics)The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
#31-40 + The Defenders Annual #1, with artist Sal BuscemaSal BuscemaSilvio "Sal" Buscema is an American comic book artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of The Incredible Hulk... - 1977: Eagle Award for Howard the Duck as Favourite Comicbook - Humour
- 1977 Eagle Award for Howard the Duck as Favourite New Comic Title
- 1977 Howard the Duck nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook Character
- 1978: Inkpot AwardInkpot AwardThe Inkpot Award, bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International, is given to some of the professionals in comic book, comic strip, animation, science fiction, and related pop-culture fields, who are guests of that organization's yearly multigenre fan convention, commonly known as...
- 1978: Nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Comicbook Writer
- 1978: Nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Single Comicbook Story for Howard the Duck #16: "The Zen and Art of Comic Book Writing"
- 1978: Beverly SwitzlerBeverly SwitzlerBeverly Switzler is a fictional comic book character who exists in the Marvel universe. She is mostly a companion and sometime girlfriend to Howard the Duck.-Publication history:Switzler first appeared in Howard the Duck #1 Beverly Switzler is a fictional comic book character who exists in the...
nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Supporting Character - 1978: Howard the Duck nominated for Eagle Award Roll of Honour
- 1979: Nominated for Eagle Award for Best Comicbook Writer (US)
- 1979: Howard the Duck nominated for Eagle Award Favourite Character (US)
- 1979: Doctor BongDoctor BongDoctor Bong is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He possess an advanced knowledge of genetic engineering, and his bell-shaped helmet can be struck to create a number of effects...
nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Villain - 1979: Beverly Switzler nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Supporting Character
- 1979: Nominated for Eagle Award for Favourite Single Story for The Avengers #178: "The Martyr Perplex", with artist Carmine InfantinoCarmine InfantinoCarmine Infantino Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books...
- 1979: Nominated for Eagle Award Roll of Honour
- 1980: Nominated for Eagle Award Roll of Honour
- 2002: Nominated for Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated NarrativeBram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated NarrativeNominees are listed below the winner for each year.* 1998: ** Sergio Aragones' Dia de las Muertos by Sergio Aragones & Mark Evanier** Preacher by Garth Ennis** The Son of Man by Garth Ennis...
for Howard the Duck vol. 2, #1-6 - 2010: Inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame
DC Comics
- A. BizarroA. BizarroA. Bizarro is the title of a four-issue comic book limited series published by DC Comics in 1999, and the name of the lead character of that series. The creators included writer Steve Gerber, penciller M. D. Bright, inker Greg Adams, colorist Tom Ziuko with separations by Digital Chameleon,...
#1-4 (1999) - Countdown to Mystery #1-7 (Doctor FateDoctor FateDoctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear in books published by DC Comics. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
) (2007–2008) - DC Comics PresentsDC Comics PresentsDC Comics Presents was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 featuring team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters of the DC Universe...
#97 (1986) - The FlashThe Flash (comic book)The Flash is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The character's first incarnation, Jay Garrick, first appeared in Flash Comics #1...
#310-313 (Doctor Fate backup stories, reprinted in The Immortal Doctor Fate #3) (1982) - Hard TimeHard Time (comics)Hard Time is a comic book series written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and originally published by DC Focus, a short-lived imprint of DC Comics. The aim of the imprint was to feature super-powered characters who did not follow the traditional format of classic superhero adventures...
#1-12 (2004–2005) - Hard Time: Season Two #1-7 (2006)
- Heartthrobs #4 (1999)
- Helmet of Fate: ZaurielZaurielZauriel is a fictional character in the DC Universe. Originally a guardian angel who served Heaven for millions of years, he willingly fell to Earth and becomes a superhero, having been a member of DC's all-star Justice League. He first appeared in JLA #6...
#1 (2007) - Metal MenMetal MenThe Metal Men are fictional characters that appear in comic books published by DC Comics. The characters first appeared in Showcase #37 and were created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciller Ross Andru...
#45 (1976) - Mister MiracleMister MiracleMister Miracle is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mister Miracle #1 and was created by Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
#23-25 (1978) - NevadaNevada (comics)Nevada is the title of an American comic book limited series published by DC Comics under its Vertigo imprint in 1998. The series was written by Steve Gerber and with art from Phil Winslade, Steve Leialoha, and Dick Giordano....
#1-6 (1998) - Phantom ZonePhantom ZoneThe Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp...
#1-4 (1982) - Superman: Last Son of EarthSuperman: Last Son of EarthSuperman: Last Son of Earth is a DC Comics Elseworlds tale released in the year 2000. It was written by Steve Gerber with art by Doug Wheatley. There was a sequel in 2003 called Superman: Last Stand on Krypton....
#1-2 (2000) - Vertigo: Winter's Edge #1-2 (Nevada stories; Leonard the Duck cameo) (1998–1999)
- Weird War TalesWeird War TalesWeird War Tales was a war comic book title with supernatural overtones published by DC Comics which ran from September 1971 to June 1983.-Background:...
#80 (1979)
Eclipse Comics
- Destroyer DuckDestroyer DuckDestroyer Duck was an anthology comic book published by Eclipse Comics in 1982, as well as the title of its primary story, written by Steve Gerber and featuring artwork by Jack Kirby....
#1-5 (1982–1983) - Eclipse, The MagazineEclipse MagazineEclipse Magazine was a black and white comics anthology magazine published by Eclipse Comics from 1981 to 1983.-Overview:...
#2-3 (1981) - Miracleman Book OneMiraclemanMarvelman, also known as Miracleman for trademark reasons in his American reprints and story continuation, is a fictional comic book superhero created in 1954 by writer-artist Mick Anglo for publisher L. Miller & Son. Originally intended as a United Kingdom home-grown substitute for the American...
(introduction only) (1988) - Stewart the RatStewart the RatStewart the Rat is a graphic novel written by Steve Gerber, penciled by Gene Colan, and inked by Tom Palmer. Stewart was published in November 1980 by Eclipse Enterprises. Stewart the Rat was reprinted in January 2003 by About Comics....
Graphic Novel (1980) - Total Eclipse #3 (1988)
Image Comics
- Codename: StrykeforceCodename: StrykeforceCodename: Strykeforce was a comic book series by Top Cow and Image Comics, about a team of mercenary superheroes.Codename: Strykeforce was an offshoot of another series called Cyberforce, which was about a group of cyborg shock troops. The series lasted for fourteen issues...
#10-14 (1995) - CyberforceCyberforceCyberforce is an Image Comics super-hero team created by artist Marc Silvestri and writer Eric Silvestri in 1992. Silvestri would begin performing both the plotting and pencilling chores, but the series was subsequently drawn by other artists, including David Finch...
, Strykeforce; Opposing Forces #1-2 (1995) - CybernaryCybernaryCybernary is a comic book series created by comic book artist Nick Manabat with writer Steve Gerber and published by Wildstorm Productions in 1995...
#1-5 (1995–1996) - DeathblowDeathblowDeathblow is a fictional character in the . He first appears in Darker Image #1 was created by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi.-Fictional character biography:...
#1-4 (CybernaryCybernaryCybernary is a comic book series created by comic book artist Nick Manabat with writer Steve Gerber and published by Wildstorm Productions in 1995...
backup stories) (1993–1994) - PittPitt (comics)Pitt is a fictional character who appears in a comics series by American publisher Full Bleed Studios. Created by Dale Keown, he first appeared in Pitt #1 . Pitt is a human/alien hybrid, created by an alien race known as the Creed, genetically engineered to serve as a killing machine...
#9-10 (1995) - Savage DragonSavage DragonSavage Dragon is an ongoing American comic book series created by Erik Larsen, published by Image Comics and taking place in the Image Universe. The comic features the adventures of a superheroic police officer named the Dragon...
/ Destroyer Duck #1 (1996)
Malibu Comics
- ExilesExiles (Malibu Comics)Exiles was the name of two American comic book series, both of which were published by Malibu Comics.-Exiles :The first Exiles comic was written by Steve Gerber and illustrated by Paul Pelletier, with plot contributions from Tom Mason, Dave Olbrich and Chris Ulm Exiles was the name of two American...
#1-4 (1993) - SludgeSludge (comics)Sludge was a comic book series from Malibu Comics, set in the Ultraverse. It was created by Steve Gerber, Gary Martin and Aaron Lopresti. Sludge ran for only twelve issues, with one special: Sludge: Red X-Mas...
#1-3, 6-11 (1993–1994) - Sludge Red X-Mas #1 (1994)
Marvel Comics
- Adventure into FearAdventure into FearAdventure into Fear is an American horror comic book series published by Marvel Comics from cover dates November 1970 through December 1975, for 31 issues...
#11-19 (Man-Thing), #21-25 (MorbiusMorbius, the Living VampireMorbius, the Living Vampire, is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Gil Kane, the character, a living human suffering from vampiric abilities resulting from scientific rather than supernatural means, first appeared as...
) (1972–1974) - Avengers SpotlightSolo AvengersSolo Avengers was an American comic book series, published by Marvel Comics, and was a spin-off from the company's superhero team title Avengers. It ran for 20 issues until it was renamed Avengers Spotlight with issue 21...
#30-34, 36 (HawkeyeHawkeye (comics)Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
) (1990) - AvengersAvengers (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...
#178 (BeastBeast (comics)Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
) (1978) - Captain AmericaCaptain AmericaCaptain 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...
#157, 221-223, 225 (1973–1978) - Cloak and DaggerCloak and Dagger (comics)Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
#14-16 (1990–1991) - Crazy Magazine #2-14 (1974–1975)
- Creatures on the Loose #28-29 (Thongor, Lin CarterLin CarterLinwood Vrooman Carter was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor and critic. He usually wrote as Lin Carter; known pseudonyms include H. P. Lowcraft and Grail Undwin.-Life:Carter was born in St. Petersburg, Florida...
adaptation) (1974) - DaredevilDaredevil (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...
#97-101, 103-117 (1973–1975) - DefendersDefenders (comics)The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
#20-29, 31-41, Annual #1 (1975–1976) - Dracula Lives #1-2, 6, 10-11 (1973–1975)
- FoolkillerFoolkillerThe Foolkiller is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by writer Steve Gerber and first appeared in the pages of 1974's Man-Thing. He also had a ten-issue limited series that ran from 1990 to 1991, followed by another in 2007. There have been four different...
#1-10 - Freddy Krueger's A Nightmare on Elm Street #1-2 (1989)
- Giant-Size Defenders #3-5 (1975)
- Giant-Size Man-Thing #1-5 (1974–1975)
- Haunt of Horror #1-3 (1974)
- Howard the DuckHoward the DuckHoward the Duck is a comic book character in the Marvel Comics universe created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Val Mayerik. The character first appeared in Adventure into Fear #19 and several subsequent series have chronicled the misadventures of the ill-tempered, anthropomorphic, "funny...
#1-27, 29, Annual #1 (1976–1979) - Howard the Duck Vol. 2, #1-6 (2002)
- Incredible HulkHulk (comics)The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
#158 (1972) - Iron ManIron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
#56-58, Annual #3 (1973–1976) - Journey into MysteryJourney into MysteryJourney into Mystery was an American comic book series published by Atlas Comics, and later its successor Marvel Comics. It featured horror, monster, and science fiction stories...
Vol. 2 #4 (1973) - The Legion of Night #1-2 (1991)
- Man-ThingMan-ThingThe Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
#1-22 (1974–1975) - Man-Thing: Screenplay of the Living Dead Man (original graphic novel) (posthumous; forthcoming)
- Marvel Comics PresentsMarvel Comics PresentsMarvel Comics Presents was an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics originally from 1988 to 1995; it returned for a second volume in 2007-2008.-Volume 1:The first volume was released on a biweekly basis and lasted for 175 issues...
#1-12 (Man-Thing serial), #60-67 (PoisonPoison (comics)Poison is the name of two fictional comic book characters, owned by Marvel Comics. The first was created by writer Steve Gerber and artist Cynthia Martin and exists in the Marvel Universe while the second lives in an alternate world featured in the one-shot comic What If?: Spider-Man: The Other....
serial) (1988–1990) - Marvel Comics Super SpecialMarvel Comics Super SpecialMarvel Comics Super Special was a 41-issue series of one-shot comic-magazines published by Marvel Comics from 1977 to 1986. They were cover-priced $1.50 to $2.50, while regular color comics were priced 30 cents to 60 cents, Beginning with issue #5, the series' title in the its postal indicia was...
#1 (KISSKISS (band)Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
) (1977) - Marvel FanfareMarvel FanfareMarvel Fanfare is the title of two comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Both versions of Marvel Fanfare were anthology, showcase titles featuring a variety of characters from the Marvel universe.-Volume One:...
#56-59 (Shanna the She-Devil) (1991) - Marvel Graphic NovelMarvel Graphic NovelMarvel Graphic Novel was a series of graphic novel trade paperbacks published from 1982 to 1993 by Marvel Comics. The books were published in oversized format, 8.5" x 11", similar to French albums...
#11 (Void Indigo) (1984) - Marvel PresentsMarvel PresentsMarvel Presents was an American comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. Twelve issues were published from October 1975 to August 1977....
#3-7, 9 (Guardians of the Galaxy) (with Mary SkrenesMary SkrenesMary Skrenes is a comic book writer and screenwriter. She may be best known as co-creator of Omega the Unknown for Marvel Comics, although she worked on other Marvel characters such as the Defenders and Guardians of the Galaxy...
) (1976–1977) - Marvel PreviewMarvel PreviewMarvel Preview was a magazine-sized black-and-white showcase comic book published by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of Marvel....
#12, 16 (Lilith, Daughter of DraculaLilith (Marvel Comics)Lilith is the name of two fictional American comic book characters owned by Marvel Comics. Both characters exist in the Marvel Universe.The first of these two to appear was Lilith, the daughter of Dracula. Like her father, she is also a vampire, although her powers and weaknesses differ from most...
) (1977–1978) - Marvel SpotlightMarvel SpotlightMarvel Spotlight is the name of several comic book series published by Marvel Comics as a try-out book for new characters. The first series ran for 33 issues from November 1971 to April 1977...
#14-23 (Son of Satan) (1974–1975) - Marvel Treasury Edition #12 (Howard the Duck) (1976)
- Marvel Two-in-OneMarvel Two-in-OneMarvel Two-In-One was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics that featured the Fantastic Four member, the Thing, in a different team-up each issue with a different character. The series continued from the team-up stories starring the Thing in the final two issues of Marvel...
#1-9 (1974–1975) - Midnight Sons UnlimitedMidnight SonsThe 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...
#9 (1995) - Monsters UnleashedMonsters UnleashedMonsters Unleashed was a black-and-white magazine published by Curtis Magazines from 1973-1975. The focus of Monsters Unleashed was on Marvel's own monsters: Man-Thing, Werewolf by Night, and Frankenstein's monster...
#4, 8-9 (1974) - Omega the UnknownOmega The UnknownOmega the Unknown was an American comic book published by Marvel Comics from 1976 to 1977, featuring the eponymous fictional character. The series, written by Steve Gerber and Mary Skrenes and illustrated by Jim Mooney, ran for 10 issues before cancellation for low sales...
#1-6, 9-10 (with Mary Skrenes) (1976–1977) - Rampaging Hulk #7-9 (1978)
- Sensational She-HulkShe-HulkShe-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
#10-11, 13-23 (1990–1991) - Shanna the She-DevilShanna the She-DevilShanna the She-Devil is a fictional jungle adventuress in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Carole Seuling and penciler George Tuska, she made her first appearance in Shanna the She-Devil #1 Shanna the She-Devil is a fictional jungle adventuress in comic books published by...
#1, 4-5 (1972–1973) - Spider-Man Team-Up #5 (1996)
- Spoof #3-4 (1973)
- Spotlight #4 (Magilla GorillaMagilla GorillaThe Magilla Gorilla Show is an animated series for television produced by Hanna-Barbera for Screen Gems between 1963 and 1967, and originally sponsored in syndication by Ideal Toys from 1963 through 1966. The show also had other recurring characters, including Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse, and Ricochet...
) (1979) - Sub-Mariner #58-69 (1973–1974)
- Suburban She-Devils #1 (1991)
- Supernatural ThrillersSupernatural ThrillersSupernatural Thrillers was a horror fiction comic book published by Marvel Comics in the 1970s that adapted classic stories of that genre, including works by Robert Louis Stevenson and H.G. Wells, before becoming a vehicle for a supernatural action series starring an original character, The Living...
#5, 7 (N'Kantu, the Living MummyN'Kantu, the Living MummyN'Kantu the Living Mummy is a fictional supernatural hero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Supernatural Thrillers #5 , created by Steve Gerber and Rich Buckler.-Publication history:...
) (1974) - Tales of the Zombie #1-8, Annual #1 (1973–1975); also letter response in #10
- Toxic CrusadersToxic CrusadersToxic Crusaders is an animated series based on The Toxic Avenger films. It features Toxie, the lead character of the films leading a trio of misfit superheroes who combat pollution. This followed a trend of environmentally considerate cartoons of the time, including Captain Planet and the...
#3, 5 (1992) - TV Stars #4 (Clue ClubClue ClubClue Club is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from August 14, 1976 to September 3, 1977 on CBS....
) (1979) - Vampire TalesVampire TalesVampire Tales was a black-and-white horror-comics magazine series published by Curtis Magazines in the 1970s, featuring vampires as both protagonists and antagonists....
#1, 6 (Morbius, Lilith, respectively) (1973–1974) - Void IndigoVoid IndigoVoid Indigo was a short-lived and controversial comic book series written by Steve Gerber and drawn by Val Mayerik. It was published by Epic Comics from 1983 to 1984....
#1-2 (1984–1985) - Web of Spider-ManWeb of Spider-ManWeb of Spider-Man is the name of two different monthly comic book series starring Spider-Man that have been published by Marvel Comics since 1985, the first volume of which ran for 129 issues between 1985 and 1995, and the second of which ran for 12 issues between 2009 and 2010.-Volume 1:The first...
Annual #4 (1988)
Other publishers
- Pitt #10 (1996) (Full Bleed StudiosFull Bleed StudiosFull Bleed Studios is a small comic book publishing company founded by Canadian artist Dale Keown in 1992....
) - Quack #2 (1977) (Star*ReachStar ReachStar Reach was an influential, American science fiction and fantasy comics anthology published from 1974 to 1979 by Mike Friedrich...
)
Comic books
- 52 Companion, DC
- Blade 2: Bloodhunt, Marvel
- Countdown to Mystery: Doctor Fate, DC
- Essential Avengers Vol. 5, Marvel (Daredevil #99 only)
- Essential Captain America Vol. 4, Marvel
- Essential Daredevil Vol. 4-5, Marvel
- Essential Defenders Vol. 2-3, Marvel
- Essential Howard the Duck Vol. 1, Marvel
- Essential Incredible Hulk Vol. 4, Marvel
- Essential Man-Thing Vol. 1-2, Marvel
- Essential Marvel Horror Vol. 1-2, Marvel
- Essential Marvel Two-in-One Vol. 1, Marvel
- Essential Tales of the Zombie Vol. 1, Marvel
- Giant-Size Marvel, Marvel
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Earth Shall Overcome, Marvel
- Guardians of the Galaxy: The Power of Starhawk, Marvel
- Hard Time: 50 to Life, DC
- The Helmet of Fate, DC
- Howard the Duck Omnibus, Marvel
- Howard the Duck (MAX), Marvel
- Nevada, DC
- Omega the Unknown Classic, Marvel
- Stewart the Rat (with Gene Colan and Tom Palmer), Eclipse ComicsEclipse ComicsEclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book specialty store market...
, reprinted by About Comics, 48 pgs - Superman: Last Son of Earth (ElseworldsElseworldsElseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
), DC - Superman: Last Stand on Krypton (Elseworlds), DC
- Women of Marvel, Marvel
DVDs
- Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons (TV series)Dungeons & Dragons is an American fantasy animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, the show originally ran from 1985 through 1987 for three seasons on CBS for a total of twenty seven episodes.The show focused on a...
: The Complete Animated Series - The Batman/Superman Movie
- Yu-Gi-Oh!Yu-Gi-Oh!is a Japanese manga created by Kazuki Takahashi. It has produced a franchise that includes multiple anime shows, a trading card game and numerous video games...
Further reading
- "Steve Gerber's Crazy Days" (in Comic Book ArtistComic Book ArtistComic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
#7, February 2000, reprinted in Comic Book Artist Collection Volume 3, TwoMorrows PublishingTwoMorrows PublishingTwoMorrows Publishing is a publisher of magazines about comic books, founded in 1994 by John and Pam Morrow out of their small advertising agency in Raleigh, North Carolina...
, 2005)
External links
- Steve Gerber at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
- Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Daytime Emmy Awards WebCitation archive.
- Hatcher, Greg. "Trapped in a Friday He Never Made", Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, August 5, 2006. WebCitation archive. - McLellan, Dennis. "Steve Gerber, 1947–2008: Comic-book writer created Howard the Duck and worked on TV series", Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, February 15, 2008. WebCitation archive.