On Monday, April 27, the comic book world learned that legendary writer Gerry Conway had passed away.
Few creators had a hand in so many favourite comic book stories, so many different titles, and wonderful characters from both major publishers, Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as Gerry Conway did.
Breaking into the business at the young age of 16, Conway’s first published story was in the pages of the DC Comics horror anthology series, House of Secrets #81, in the fall of 1969. That tale, “Aaron Philips’ Photo Finish,” was only six and a half pages long, but it was a statement piece on the illegal proclivities of the elites and extortion. A theme that modern-day audiences could certainly understand by just reading a news story or scanning a paparazzi website. Of course, true to the periodical that published it, “Aaron Philips” had a mysterious, cliffhanger ending that pounded a deliberate fist on a table for readers (and editors) everywhere: Conway was a voice to be heard.
Over the years, Conway spent time at both DC Comics and Marvel, at first writing peripheral genre titles like Chamber of Darkness, Tower of Shades and Super DC Giant before moving on to more mainstream superhero comic books. At Marvel, specifically, he wrote memorable tales in Daredevil, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. He co-created the monstrous The Man-Thing and Count Dracula in the long-running The Tomb of Dracula series.
In the summer of 1973, Gerry Conway wrote one of his most memorable stories, perhaps the one his name is most synonymous with.
At only 19 years of age and already a veteran of the industry, Conway had been working on The Amazing Spider-Man monthly comic book for a year when he penned the shocking death of Gwen Stacy tale in issue #121. The demise of Peter Parker’s girlfriend at the hands of Spider-Man’s greatest villain, the Green Goblin, shocked readers around the world. It informed an age of comic books to come, shining a modern storytelling spotlight on the real, life-altering consequences of superheroic deeds. The story continues to reverberate, remaining a memorable and important touchpoint in pop culture history to this day.
Conway would go on to create the Punisher character, the violent, skull-fronted dealer of ultimate justice, before taking a turn on the tall-tale science fiction of the Fantastic Four series and then working again for DC Comics on their biggest titles, including Superman, Detective Comics and an amazing long run on Justice League of America.
Always a copious and adventurous writer, Conway also took turns on more obscure characters and titles, including Atari Force and Sun Devils. While at DC, he co-created Power Girl and Firestorm, Vixen, Steel, Vibe and Gypsy during the fondly remembered and cult-classic Detroit era of the Justice League of America. Even more famously, along with Batman villain Killer Croc, he co-created Jason Todd in the pages of Batman #357 (1983), the character who would become the second Robin and who would be, and still is, a fan-favourite character.
Not to be confined by just comic books, Conway wrote novels in the early nineteen eighties and was a regular screenwriter on multiple episode of some of pop culture’s favourite television shows, animated or otherwise, including G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985-1986), The Transformers (1986), The Centurions (1986) My Little Pony (1986-1987), The Father Dowling Mysteries (1990-1991), Matlock (1992-1993), Batman: The Animated Series (1992, 1994), Diagnosis: Murder (1993-1997), Law & Order (1999-2000) and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003-2006). He also co-wrote the cult-classic feature films Fire and Ice (1983) and Conan the Destroyer (1984).
Earlier this year, Gerry Conway was selected for inclusion in the Eisner Hall of Fame for his long-lasting contributions to the comic book art form. A fitting tribute to one of comicdom’s greatest creators.
Still, although he might be remembered by most for his comic book work, Conway was a writer, first and foremost, successfully covering every genre – and every medium – available to him.
R.I.P. Gerry Conway. His pantheon of character creations, the words and emotions his writing has provoked and continues to elicit in readers, stands the test of time. They are a hallmark of a great writer’s contributions over a long and storied career.
