Doug Moench

Doug Moench
Born Douglas Moench
(1948-02-23) February 23, 1948
Chicago, Illinois
Nationality American
Area(s) Writer
Notable works
 Batman
Coldblood
Deathlok
Detective Comics
Electric Warrior
Lords of the Ultra-Realm
Master of Kung Fu
Moon Knight
Slash Maraud
Awards Eagle Award, 1977
Inkpot Award, 1981

Douglas Moench (born February 23, 1948),[1] better known as Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight, Deathlok and Bane.

Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Moench has written novels, short stories, newspaper feature articles, weekly newspaper comic strips, film screenplays and teleplays. His first published work was My Dog Sandy, a comic strip printed in his elementary school newspaper. He began his professional writing career with scripts for Eerie #29 and Vampirella #7 (both cover dated September 1970)[2] and articles for the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1973, he moved to New York City.

Moench began working for Marvel in 1973, with his first story for the company appearing in Chamber of Chills #7 (November 1973).[2] The following year, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes and Doc Savage, while serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. For Marvel's color comic line, Moench wrote the Werewolf by Night title[3] and followed Steve Englehart as writer of Master of Kung Fu.[4] Moench scripted the "Deathlok" feature in Astonishing Tales featuring the character co-created by Rich Buckler.[5] Moench and artist Don Perlin introduced Moon Knight in Werewolf by Night #32 (August 1975).[6] Moench and George Pérez launched The Inhumans series in October 1975[7] while "Weirdworld" was created by Moench and Mike Ploog in Marvel Super Action #1 (January 1976).[8] Continuing his work for the black-and white magazine line, Moench and Walt Simonson debuted The Rampaging Hulk in January 1977.[9] The series was retitled The Hulk! with issue #10 and switched to a full-color format.[10] Two licensed properties which Moench worked on with Herb Trimpe were Godzilla[11] and Shogun Warriors.[12]

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy.[13] The pair are probably best known for their work on Master of Kung Fu,[4] which they worked on together from 1974–1977. Comics historian Les Daniels observed that "Ingenious writing by Doug Moench and energetic art by Paul Gulacy brought Master of Kung Fu new life."[14] In 2010, Comics Bulletin ranked Moench and Gulacy's work on Master of Kung-Fu sixth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".[15] Moench and Gulacy later co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench wrote Batman and Detective Comics from 1983–1986.[16] He co-created new villains to battle Batman including Nightslayer in Detective Comics #529 (Aug. 1983)[17] the Black Mask in Batman #386 (Aug. 1985),[18] and the Film Freak in Batman #395 (May 1986).[19] He and artist Don Newton produced the story in which Jason Todd replaces Dick Grayson as Robin in Batman #368 (February 1984).[20] His first run on the title ended with issue #400 which featured work by several popular comics artists and included an introduction by novelist Stephen King.[21][22] In his second run on the title from 1992–1998, Moench was one of the writers of the "Knightfall" storyline[23] and wrote Batman #500 in which the character Azrael replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman.[24] The "KnightsEnd" arc which saw the return of Bruce Wayne to the role of Batman was co-written by Moench as well.[25] Other Batman storylines which Moench contributed to include "Contagion",[26] "Legacy",[27] and "Cataclysm".[28]

Working at DC Comics in the 1980s, Moench wrote Omega Men and The Spectre. He co-created Electric Warrior with artist Jim Baikie; Lords of the Ultra-Realm with Pat Broderick; and Slash Maraud with Gulacy.[2]

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds graphic novels, including Batman & Dracula: Red Rain[29] and a long run of the monthly Batman comic. In 1994, Moench co-wrote the Batman-Spawn: War Devil intercompany crossover with Chuck Dixon and Alan Grant.[30]

Married to Debra with a son (Derek), Moench currently lives in Pennsylvania.

Awards

Comics bibliography (selected)

Dark Horse Comics

DC Comics

Eclipse Comics

Last Gasp

Marvel Comics

Curtis Magazines

Marvel's black-and-white magazine imprint

Epic Comics

Malibu Comics

Skywald Comics

Smashout Comics

TSR, Inc.

Warren Publishing

Non-comics bibliography (selected)

Moench wrote book, movie, and music reviews for Fling, and he wrote for several other men's magazines, including Adam, Cavalier, Knight, Man to Man and Swingle. He wrote several articles for Midwest, the Sunday magazine of the Chicago Sun-Times. For the never-published WLS Generation, he interviewed The Who, The Monkees, and The Seeds. Moench wrote an article called "23 on the 23rd" a true story about his own 23rd birthday.

References

  1. ↑ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Doug Moench at the Grand Comics Database
  3. ↑ Sanderson, Peter; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). "1970s". Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 154. ISBN 978-0756641238. The initial creative team on the series was scripter Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog, though they would eventually be succeeded by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin.
  4. 1 2 Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 161: "Master of Kung-Fu would later reach its creative peak under the team of writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy."
  5. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 166: "Created by artist Rich Buckler and writer Doug Moench, the original Deathlok was Colonel Luther Manning, a soldier in an alternate, post-apocalyptic future."
  6. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 170: "In August [1975], Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, encountered a new mysterious enemy called Moon Knight, created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin."
  7. ↑ Boney, Alex (July 2013). "Inhuman Nature: Genetics, Social Science, and Superhero Evolution". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (65): 61–64.
  8. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 174: "In the tradition of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the prolific writer Doug Moench and artist Mike Ploog created 'Weirdworld'."
  9. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 178: "In these stories, written by Doug Moench and drawn by Walter Simonson, the Hulk contended against an invading race of aliens called the Krylorians."
  10. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 186: "To appeal to the audience of the popular new Incredible Hulk TV series, Marvel revamped The Rampaging Hulk magazine, calling it The Hulk!"
  11. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 180: "In August 1977, Marvel produced comics featuring the most famous monster in Japanese cinema, Godzilla, in a series by writer Doug Moench and penciller Herb Trimpe."
  12. ↑ Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 188: "Writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe created Shogun Warriors, a Marvel comics series based on a line of Japanese toys imported by Mattel."
  13. ↑ Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy collaborations at the Grand Comics Database
  14. ↑ Daniels, Les (1991). Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics. New York, New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 159. ISBN 9780810938212.
  15. ↑ Sacks, Jason (September 6, 2010). "Top 10 1970s Marvels". Comics Bulletin. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  16. ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014). "1980s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 145. ISBN 978-1465424563. When Gerry Conway parted ways with the Caped Crusader, a new regular writer was needed for both titles. That honor fell to Doug Moench.
  17. ↑ Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 146: "Doug Moench and artist Gene Colan introduced readers to the Thief of the Night (later called Nightslayer), a shadowy burglar."
  18. ↑ Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 153: "Writer Doug Moench and artist Tom Mandrake would make an important contribution to the Batman mythos with the villain Black Mask."
  19. ↑ Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 161: "In this start of a three-part story, writer Doug Moench and artist Tom Mandrake introduced the villain Film Freak."
  20. ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
  21. ↑ Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 221: "Batman celebrated the 400th issue of his self-titled comic with a blockbuster featuring dozens of famous comic book creators and nearly as many infamous villains. Written by Doug Moench, with an introduction by novelist Stephen King...[it was] drawn by George Pérez, Bill Sienkiewicz, Arthur Adams, Joe Kubert, Brian Bolland, and others."
  22. ↑ Trumbull, John (December 2013). "A New Beginning...And a Probable End Batman #300 and #400". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (69): 49–53.
  23. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 259: "'Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover event that passed through the pages of Batman by writer Doug Moench and artists Norm Breyfogle, Jim Aparo, and Mike Manley."
  24. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 260: "By Batman #500, the last chapter of the 'Knightfall' saga by writer Doug Moench and artist Jim Aparo and Mike Manley, Azrael was truly his own [version of] Batman."
  25. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 265
  26. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 272: "In the latest crossover to shake up Batman's universe, a manufactured virus nicknamed 'the Clench' was unleashed on the public of Gotham City...by writers Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Denny O'Neil, and Doug Moench."
  27. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 274
  28. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 283: "The seventeen-part 'Cataclysm' storyline showed a Gotham City devastated by an earthquake. It was written by Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Dennis O'Neil, [and others]."
  29. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 251: "Written by Batman alumnus Doug Moench, and illustrated with the shadowy pencils of Kelley Jones, Red Rain chronicled the clash between Batman and the legendary Dracula."
  30. ↑ Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 267: "Fans were also treated to a companion special entitled Batman-Spawn...by writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant, and artist Klaus Janson."
  31. ↑ "Eagle Awards 1977". Eagle Awards. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012.
  32. ↑ "Inkpot Award Winners". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012.
  33. ↑ "1997 Haxtur Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012.
Preceded by
Mike Friedrich		 Werewolf by Night writer
1974–1977 		Succeeded by
n/a
Preceded by
Steve Englehart		 Master of Kung Fu writer
1974–1983 		Succeeded by
Alan Zelenetz
Preceded by
John Byrne		 Fantastic Four writer
1980–1981 		Succeeded by
John Byrne
Preceded by
Mark Gruenwald and
Ralph Macchio		 Thor writer
1981–1983 		Succeeded by
Alan Zelenetz
Preceded by
Gerry Conway		 Detective Comics writer
1983–1986 		Succeeded by
Mike W. Barr
Preceded by
Gerry Conway		 Batman writer
1983–1986 		Succeeded by
Barbara Randall
Preceded by
Len Wein		 Mister Miracle writer
1990–1991 		Succeeded by
n/a
Preceded by
Alan Grant		 Batman writer
1992–1998 		Succeeded by
Chuck Dixon
Preceded by
Chuck Dixon		 Catwoman writer
1997–1998 		Succeeded by
Devin Grayson
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