| Paul Levitz | |
|---|---|
 Paul Levitz at Comic-Con International in 2007. |
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| Born | October 21, 1956 Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor, Publisher |
| Notable works | Legion of Super-Heroes, Batman |
Paul Levitz (born October 21, 1956,[1] in Brooklyn, New York) is an American comic book writer, editor and executive. The president of DC Comics since 2002, he has worked for the company for over 35 years in a wide variety of roles. Along with publisher Jenette Kahn and managing editor Dick Giordano, Levitz was responsible for hiring such writers as Marv Wolfman, John Byrne and Alan Moore, artists such as George Pérez and Keith Giffen, and editor Karen Berger, who contributed to the 1980s revitalization of the company's line of comic book heroes.
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Biography
Levitz was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Hannah and Alfred Levitz. He attended Stuyvesant High School[2] during which time he co-wrote and published a popular comic fan magazine, The Comic Reader. He later enrolled at New York University but left before graduating to work full time at DC Comics, where he had begun working during high school.
DC Comics
Since the mid-1970s, Levitz has been an integral part of DC, working as writer and editor, and serving as vice president and executive vice president, before assuming the role of President in 2002. Among his earliest roles was helping edit DC's in-house "Pro-Zine" (professional fanzine) The Amazing World of DC Comics (1974-78), a role he was well suited to, having entered the comics field through the ranks of fandom.
After serving as Joe Orlando's assistant editor, in 1976 Levitz "fulfilled a lifelong dream" by becoming the editor of Adventure Comics on the eve of his 20th birthday.[3] He also notably served as editor for the Batman line of comics. As a writer, Levitz is best-known for his work on the title The Legion of Super-Heroes, which he wrote off and on from 1974 until 1989. Of particular note are his collaborations with artists Michael Netzer (Nasser), James Sherman, and Keith Giffen. He also wrote the Justice Society series in All Star Comics during the late 70's after Gerry Conway left the book. He was the co-creator of the Earth-2 Huntress with artist Joe Staton and of Lucien the Librarian with artist Nestor Redondo.
In 2006, Levitz returned to writing the Justice Society with issue #82 of JSA, completing that volume before writer Geoff Johns' relaunch.
On September 9, 2009, it was announced that Levitz will step down as President and Publisher of DC Comics to serve as the Contributing Editor and Overall Consultant for the newly-formed DC Entertainment,[4] and become the writer of Adventure Comics vol. 2.[5]
Personal life
Levitz married Jeanette Cusimano in 1980 and has three children, Nicole, Philip, and Garret. One of the characters he introduced to the Legion in his second run on the book, GiGi Cusimano, was named after his wife. He currently resides in Chappaqua, New York.
References
- ^ Thompson, Maggie and Miller, John Jackson. "Comics Industry Birthdays," CBGXtra Forum, Comic Buyer's Guide (June 10, 2005). Accessed May 5, 2009.
- ^ Gustines, George Gene (2006-02-07). "DC Comics' Man Upstairs Readjusts His Writer's Cap". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/07/books/07levi.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
- ^ "Dateline: Adventure," Adventure Comics #449 (Jan./Feb. 1977).
- ^ Warner Bros. Creates DC ENTERTAINMENT To Maximize DC Brands, Newsarama. Retrieved 09 September 2009.
- ^ Levitz Releases Letter of Resignation, Announced As "Adventure" Writer, Comic Book Resources, September 9, 2009
External links
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