THE ROY THOMAS DC COMICS CHARACTERS, CONCEPTS AND CREATIONS

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THE ROY THOMAS

DC COMICS

CHARACTERS, CONCEPTS AND CREATIONS 

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A

A.C.R.O.S.T.I.C

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #3 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Aetius

  

 Arak: Son of Thunder #16 (1982)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales
(based on historical figure)

   

Harun Al-Rashid

Arak: Son of Thunder #38 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga
(based on historical figure)


Alsind (A'sinda)

 

 Arak: Son of Thunder #32 (1984)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall

All-Star Squadron (Team)

Justice League of America #193 (1981)

co-created with Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway

The All-Star Squadron was my concept for a super-hero group, originating at the outset of America's entry into World War II, that would be potentially composed of virtually every Golden Age hero in the stable of DC Comics and Quality Comics--with occasional sidetrips to the Fawcett group's Captain Marvel and his "family."  My idea was to build that group around a small super-active core of a few members of the Justice Society of America (starting with Hawkman, Dr. Mid-Nite, and the Atom) and DC minor stars Robotman, Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle, and the Shining Knight, plus such Quality characters as Plastic Man and Phantom Lady.  

Amazing Man

(William Blake Everett)

All-Star Squadron #23 (1983)

co-created with Jerry Ordway


Amazoo

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

Amber

Arak: Son of Thunder #31 (1984)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon 


Angelica, Princess of White Cathay

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon 
(based on a character from the poem Orlando furioso)


Arak, Son of Thunder 
(Arak "Eric" Red-Hand, Bright-Sky-After-Storm)

Warlord #48 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon

ARAK was a concept created by Roy & Dann Thomas with artist Ernie Colon for DC Comics in late 1980.  The genesis of the series was Dann's (actually, Danette Couto's, since we were not yet married, nor had she legally changed her first name at that time), when she suggested the notion:  "An [American] Indian discovers Europe."  We developed it from there, from Dann's original vision of a young Indian, near death, picked up far out in the Atlantic by a wandering Viking ship.  Arak joins the Vikings and, once grown to manhood, wanders amid the Europe around the turn of the 8th/9th centuries, encountering historical figures such as Charlemagne (as "Carolus Magnus," the Latin form of "Charles the Great"), Harun Al-Rashid of Baghdad, et al., as well as mythical figures like Malagigi (the Merlin equivalent in the Arthurian-style legends that grew up about Charlemagne), Prester John, etc.--and purely fictitious ones like Valda the Iron Maiden and, later, Satyricus the satyr.

Argalia

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on a character from the poem Orlando furioso)


Argor
(Arthur Gordon Pym)

Young All-Stars #16 (1988)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Michael Bair
(revamped character named "Arthur Gordon Pym" for comics, originally from the novel THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM OF NANTUCKET (1838) created by Edgar Allan Poe)


Armordillo

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #2 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Alfredo Alcala and Scott Shaw!


 Atari Force (Team)


Li San O'Rourke
Lucas Orion
Lydia Perez
Martin Champion
Mohandas Singh

Atari Force #1 (1982)
co-created with Gerry Conway and Ross Andru

While Gerry and I did discuss the Atari Force team concept at an early stage, virtually all the real work was done by him.

Atom Man
(Heinrich Melch)

World's Finest #271 (1981)
co-created with Jack C. Harris, E. Nelson Bridwell and Rich Buckler
(revamped character for comics, originally based on the "Atom Man" from a sequence on the radio show THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN from 1945 or 46)  

Rich Buckler and I turned Atom Man into a costumed super-villain; in the radio show he simply radiated kryptonite rays, etc.  It should be noted that Atom Man from the radio show was whom the Atom Man in the "Atom Man vs Superman" (1950) serial was based on.

Axis Amerika (Team)

Fledermaus (Flieder Maus)
Gudra the Valkryie*
Horned Owl (Grosshorn Eule)
Sea Wolf
Ubermensch (Overman)
Usil, the Sun Archer

Young All-Stars #1 (1987)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Vince Argondezzi, Michael Bair and Brian Murray 

*character created by William Moulton Marston, Robert Kanigher and Harry G. Peter 

("Gudra" is indeed based on a character created by Marston, Kanigher and Peter... BUT their character was named "Gundra," and I accidentally left the "n" out of it.)

B

Baledor, Lord of the Mystic Mound

Arak: Son of Thunder #3 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Barmak

Arak: Son of Thunder #38 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga


Baron Ovis

Arak: Son of Thunder #19 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales


Baron Von Vermin

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #6 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Belphegor

Arak: Son of Thunder #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on historical demon)

  
Leon Bergstrom

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


Black Pope

Arak: Son of Thunder #7 (1982)
co-created with Gerry Conway, Dann Thomas, Mike W. Barr and Ernie Colon


Conrad Bloch

Green Lantern #138 (1981)
co-created with Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton

Bow Zar

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #7 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Boyd, the Robin Wonder

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


Brother Hood

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #2 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Alfredo Alcala and Scott Shaw!

 Brother Johannes

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Brother Philip

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Brother Theophanus

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Brother Urias 

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Brunello

Arak: Son of Thunder #16 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales

C

Frederick Cantrell

Infinity, Inc. #1 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Jerry Ordway


Captain Brutius

Arak: Son of Thunder #10 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Captain Lucky
(Re-is Hazz)

Arak: Son of Thunder #41 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga


Captain Wonder

Wonder Woman #289 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Gene Colan

"Captain Wonder" was a brief super-hero identity I gave Steve Trevor in WONDER WOMAN #289-290 back in 1982... probably co-plotted by Dann.  He was given that identity, and filled with animosity toward Wonder Woman, by the new version of Dr. Psycho artist Gene Colan and I introduced at that time.

Carcharo

Infinity, Inc. #25 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane 


Carlo

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon

AJ Caruthers

  

 Infinity Inc. #6 (1984)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Jerry Ordway

Chau Ch'eng


Arak: Son of Thunder #47 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Tony DeZuniga


Clarence "Slim" Chance

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano

 
Charon

Arak: Son of Thunder #12 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on Greek mythology)

 Chelchak

Arak: Son of Thunder #14 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Chroma

Infinity, Inc. #14 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane


Claudus

Arak: Son of Thunder #26 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall


Cold Turkey

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #13 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

COLD TURKEY was a concept that came to me one day as a villain in CAPT. CARROT.  A visual equivalent of the term for quitting something suddenly and totally, the character himself was inspired by DC villains Icicle and the later Captain Cold

Commander Cometas

Arak: Son of Thunder #15 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales


Constantine VI

Arak: Son of Thunder #16 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales
(based on historical figure)


Cyclotron
(Terrence Kurtzberger) 

All Star Squadron #21 (1983)
co-created with Jerry Ordway
(rechristened character named "Terry Curtis," first appeared in ACTION COMICS #21 (1940) created by Jerry Seigel and Joe Shuster) 

D

Deathbolt
(Jake Simmons)

All Star Squadron #21 (1983)
co-created with Jerry Ordway


Delan

Arak: Son of Thunder #28 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall


Der Zyklon 

All-Star Squadron #45 (1985)
co-created with Tim Burgard and Arvell Jones
(the costume was originally worn by a character named "Siegfried the Speedster" worn by Jay Garrick the original Flash created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, who first appeared in WONDER WOMAN #240 (1978) created by Gerry Conway, Jose Delbo and Joe Giella) 

 I decided to re-use an old costume for a new character, just to create tighter continuity.

Digger O'Doom

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


Dinar-Zad

Arak: Son of Thunder #35 (1984)  
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall


Arthur C. "Sparky" Dobbs

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


Dr. Hoot

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


Dr. Love
(Benjamin Love)

Infinity, Inc. #18 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane


Dr. Midnight
(Elizabeth Chapel)

Infinity, Inc. #19 (1985)
co-created as "Elizabeth Chapel" with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane
(becomes "Dr. Midnight" in INFINITY, INC. #21 (1985) co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane)


Dr. Sigmund

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #10 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

Dragon King

All Star Squadron #4 (1981)
co-created with Rich Buckler


Dyanna of the Golden Arrows

Arak: Son of Thunder #27 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall 


Dziewona

Warlord #48 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on Slavic mythology)

E

Earth-C (Planet)

New Teen Titans #16 (1982)
co-created with Jerry Ordway, Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!  

Earth-C-Minus (Planet)

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

Eye of Horus

Blue Beetle #54 (1966)
co-created with Bill Fraccio
(originally in Charlton Comics, based on Egyptian mythology)

F

Brad Farley

All-Star Squadron #13 (1982)
co-created with Adrian Gonzales


Feathered Serpent

All-Star Squadron #5 (1982)
co-created with Rich Buckler


Feline Faust

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

 Fireball 
(Sonya Chuikov)

Young All-Stars #22 (1989)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Harris


Firebrand
(Danette Reilly-Arthur) 


Justice League of America #193 (1981)
co-created with Rich Buckler and Jerry Ordway


Fog
(Nebel)

All-Star Squadron #44 (1985)
co-created with Paul Kupperberg and Arvell Jones 


Frogzilla

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #3 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

G

Glamazons (Gang)

Gladys
Myrtle
Unnamed member

Jonni Thunder #3 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano

 Golroth, Guardian of the Golden Bough

Arak: Son of Thunder #28 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall


Great White Owl

Arak: Son of Thunder #33 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall 


Green Flame
(Beatriz da Costa)

Infinity, Inc. #32 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane
(rechristened character named "Green Fury," first appeared in SUPER FRIENDS #25 (1979) created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon)

Greeramada

Arak: Son of Thunder #17 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales

H

Haakon of Ultima Thule

Arak: Son of Thunder #17 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales 


Harlequin
(Marcie Cooper)
 

Infinity, Inc. #14 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane


Khodja Hassan

Arak: Son of Thunder #47 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Tony DeZuniga


Hastor
(Helene Astar)

Infinity, Inc. #34 (1987)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane
(in the background and unseen in INFINITY, INC. #30 (1986)) 

 Julian Hayden

Infinity, Inc. #4 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Gardner Fox and Jerry Ordway


Myrna Hayden

Infinity, Inc. #4 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Gardner Fox, Jerry Ordway and Joe Kubert


He-No

Arak: Son of Thunder #33 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall 


Hector Hamhock

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

 Helix (Team)

Mister Bones (Robert Todd)*

Arak, Wind-Walker 
Baby Boom (Babe)
 Kritter
Penny Dreadful
Tao Jones

*Infinity, Inc. #16 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Mike Machlan and Todd McFarlane

I not only conceived Mr. Bones on my own (though conferring with Dann, he was my idea, where other Infinity, Inc./Helix characters were sometimes initiated by her or by both of us together)... but I drew the first picture of him, costume, skull and bones design, etc., clearly influenced by the old Black Terror character visually, plus Blazing Skull and Ghost Rider at Marvel.  Besides that:  the first professional drawing of Mr. Bones--the final design of the costume--was done by Mike Machlan.  Mike, as per instructions, followed my costume and look exactly, except that he gave Bones the high boot look he sported, and maybe had improved on the cape/cowl a bit.  That drawing was later published in INFINITY, INC. #15 (and the fourth All Star Companion).  So, while I've no quarrel with Todd being considered the "co-creator" of Mr. Bones (however he may have now evolved into, yech, Director Bones), Todd was only the THIRD person to draw Mr. Bones' basic look.  By the standards used for, say, Wolverine, Todd would no more be the co-creator of Mr. Bones than Herb Trimpe is currently considered of Wolverine...although again, as I said, I'm willing to count all three of us as the co-creators of the visual aspect of Bones... though only I conceived the original character, named him, wrote him, with Dann's help.

Infinity, Inc. #17 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane
(Team first appearance)


Hermino

Arak: Son of Thunder #9 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Hermold the Frank

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Hooty the Owl XIV

Infinity, Inc. #20 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane

 Hourman
(Richard "Rick" Tyler)

Infinity, Inc. #20 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane 
(character and son of "Rex Tyler" (the first "Hourman"), first appeared in ADVENTURE COMICS #48 (1940) created by Ken Fitch and Bernard Baily)

I

Infinity, Inc. (Team)

Brainwave Jr. (Henry King Jr.)*
Fury (Hippolyta "Lyta" Trevor-Hall)**
Jade (Jennifer Lynn "Jennie" Hayden)
Northwind (Norda Cantrell)
Nuklon (Albert Julian Rothstein)***
Obsidian (Todd James Rice)
Silver Scarab (Hector Sanders Hall)

*All Star Squadron #24 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Mike Machlan and Jerry Ordway

**Wonder Woman #300 (1983)
"Hippolyta Trevor-Hall" co-created with Dann Thomas and Ross Andru and "Fury" (the super-heroine) co-created with Dann Thomas, Mike Machlan and Jerry Ordway

All-Star Squadron #25 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Mike Machlan and Jerry Ordway
(Team first appearance)

***(Nuklon's first appearance is in ALL-STAR SQUADRON #25, he was revamped with a new costume and renamed as "Atom Smasher" in JSA SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS #1 (1999) created by James Robinson, David S. Goyer and Scott Benefiel)  


Injustice Unlimited (Team)

Artemis aka Tigress (Artemis "Bryn" Crock)
Fiddler (Isaac Brown)*
Hazard (Becky Sharpe)
Icicle (Cameron Mahkent)**
Shade (Richard Swift)***
Wizard (William Zard)****

Infinity, Inc. #34 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane

*character created by Robert Kanigher and Lee Elias

**son of the original "Icicle" ("Joar Mahkent") created by Robert Kanigher and Alex Toth

***character created by Gardner Fox and Everett E. Hibbard

****character created by Gardner Fox and Irwin Hasen

 Irene

Arak: Son of Thunder #16 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales
(based on historical figure)


Irminsul

Arak: Son of Thunder #4 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


 Iron Munro
(Arnold Raymond "Arn" Munro)

Young All-Stars #1 (1987)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Michael Bair and Brian Murray

J

Abu Jahl

 Arak: Son of Thunder #35 (1984)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall

 Johannes

Arak: Son of Thunder #19 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales


Jailhouse Roc

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #3 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Josephus

Arak: Son of Thunder #7 (1982)
co-created with Gerry Conway, Dann Thomas, Mike W. Barr and Ernie Chan


Just'a Lotta Animals (Team)

Aquaduck
Batmouse
Crash
Elong-Gator
Firestork
Green Lambkin
Green Sparrow
Hawkmoose
Item
Martian Anteater
Rat Tornado 
Stacked Canary
Super-Squirrel
Wonder Wabbit
Zap-Panda

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
 co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

Just'a Lotta Animals was the original formation of the Zoo Crew team, and I think even Gerry Conway may have had a hand in some of the names, as perhaps did Dann Thomas.  However, DC decided it wanted new characters and a new group name, because they would've had trouble selling a TV cartoon with animal dopplegangers of Superman, Batman, et al.--the license-holders of those characters would probably have objected.  So that JLA went on a shelf for a year or two, and then came back in CAPTAIN CARROT AND HIS AMAZING ZOO CREW!... but it actually pre-dated the latter.

K

Kallinikos III

Arak: Son of Thunder #17 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales
(based on historical figure)


Kamikaze
(Tetsujiro Yoneda)

Young All-Stars #4 (1987)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Brian Murray and Howard Simpson


Kangar-Roo

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


Keres

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Alfredo Alcala
(based on Greek mythology)


Khiron

Arak: Son of Thunder #10 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on Green mythology) 


King Kalafron

Arak: Son of Thunder #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Kongaroo

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #3 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Kuei

Young All-Stars #22 (1989)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Harris
(name and look are from Chinese mythology)


Terri Kurtzberger

All-Star Squadron Annual #2 (1983)
co-created with Jerry Ordway


L

Lady Corinna


Arak: Son of Thunder #2 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon 
(based on historical figure)


Lady Lorelei


All-Star Squadron #38 (1984)
co-created with Rick Hoberg 

I don't recall anything specific about Lady Lorelei (except that, besides Tokyo Rose, Lord Haw-Haw, and Axis Sally), I was "inspired" to use that name by the combination of the Lorelei in ALL-STAR COMICS #39 and the song "Lorelei" by the Gershwins, as I often listened to it on the record by Ella Fitzgerald.  But yeah, if ALL-STAR SQUADRON had endured as long as I wanted it to, I'd probably have got around to making her an onstage character, though I had nothing more specific in mind.

Lex Lemur

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


  Liutgard

Arak: Son of Thunder #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon 


Lord Hessa


Arak: Son of Thunder #2 (1981)
 co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Lord of Serpents

Arak: Son of Thunder #36 (1984)
 co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall


Lord Yoritomo

Arak: Son of Thunder #50 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Tony DeZuniga
(based on historical figure)


Lui the Pious

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on historical figure)

M

  Makados

Arak: Son of Thunder #15 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales


Marius

Arak: Son of Thunder #9 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Mayor Czarniak

Infinity, Inc. #5 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Jerry Ordway


Sargent McGuffin

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


Mekanique

Infinity, Inc. #19 (1985)
co-created with Gerry Conway, Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane

Moirai (Group)

Atropos
Clotho
Lachesis

Arak: Son of Thunder #14 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on Greek mythology)


Montagu

Arak: Son of Thunder #9 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Maria Montez

Infinity, Inc. #26 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane


Mora


Infinity, Inc. #26 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane

 Moves-With-Stealth

Arak: Son of Thunder #33 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall 


Mu-Lan

Arak: Son of Thunder #47 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Tony DeZuniga
(based on historical figure)


Mudd

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #4 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

N

Nergal, Prince of Plague

Arak: Son of Thunder #43 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga


Nessim

Arak: Son of Thunder #9 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Night 
(Natch)

All-Star Squadron #44 (1985)
co-created with Paul Kupperberg and Arvell Jones


O

 A.K. O'Fallon

America vs. The Justice Society #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Rafael Kayanan


Oklahoma Bones and Whipley

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Oni

Arak: Son of Thunder #50 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Tony DeZuniga
(based on Japanese mythology)


Osoro

Infinity Inc. #1 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Jerry Ordway


Ottar

Arak: Son of Thunder #31 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Owl Robot


Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Chad Grothkopf and Scott Shaw!

P

Peers of the Kingdom (Team)

Archbishop Turpin
Astolpho of Mercia
Carolus Magnus***
Duke Namo of Bavaria
Farrau the Saracen
Ganelon
Malagigi*
Ogier the Dane
Olivar
Rinaldo
Valda the Iron Maiden (Daughter of Bradamante)**

*Arak: Son of Thunder #2 (1981) 
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(from "the legends of Charlemagne")

**Arak: Son of Thunder #3 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon

("Carolus Magnus" first mentioned in this issue) 

Arak: Son of Thunder #4 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon 

(Team first appearance, all characters except "Valda" are from "the legends of Charlemagne")

***"Carolus Magnus" is the Latin form of the name "Charlemagne," who is a true historical character

Pepin

Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Phantasmo
(Jean-Marc de Villars)

Young All-Stars #22 (1989)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean Marc-Lofficier and Ron Harris


Phantom of the Fair
(Gerald Zimmerman)

Secret Origins #7 (1986)
co-created with Michael Bair
(re-thought up character called "Fantom of the Fair," first appeared in AMAZING MYSTERY FUNNIES #7 (1939) created by Paul Gustavon)


Picos

Arak: Son of Thunder #16 (1982)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales

Pope Hadrian

Arak: Son of Thunder #7 (1982)
co-created with Gerry Conway, Dann Thomas, Mike W. Barr and Ernie Chan
(based on historical figure)


Porker

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


President Mallard Fillmore


Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!


Prince Daka

All-Star Squadron #42 (1985)
co-created with Arvell Jones
(revamped character for comics called "Dr. Tito Daka," originally from "The Batman" (1943) serial created by Victor McLeod, Leslie Swabacker and Harry L. Fraser) 


Prince Ecgfrith of Mercia


Arak: Son of Thunder #37 (1984)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on historical figure)


Professor Thule

Young All-Stars #16 (1988)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean Marc-Lofficier and Michael Bair


Q

Queen Ereshkigal

Arak: Son of Thunder #43 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga
(based on Mesopotamian mythology)


Queen Fastrada


Arak: Son of Thunder #13 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on historical figure)

R

Ralph-124C4U

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #6 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!


Real American

All-Star Squadron #38 (1984)
co-created with Rick Hoberg


Red Nails Dobbs

Jonni Thunder #2 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


Rema

Infinity, Inc. #26 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane

 James Rice

Infinity, Inc. #12 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Don Newton and Tim Burgard


Jeremy Rice

Infinity, Inc. #33 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Todd McFarlane and Ron Harris


Shirley Rice

Infinity, Inc. #33 (1986)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Todd McFarlane and Ron Harris

 Rishi


 Arak: Son of Thunder #48 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Carmine Infantino

Roadblock Ramsey

Jonni Thunder #2 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


S


Detective Michael Sanchez


Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


Satyricus

Arak: Son of Thunder #10 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon

Screeching Tire
(Starski N. Hatch)

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #16 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Rick Hoberg and Scott Shaw!

Shaggy Dawg

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


Shamus

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


Sharizad

Arak: Son of Thunder #32 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall 
 (just another name for the Arabian Nights legendary character "Scheherezade")


Huo Shih

Arak: Son of Thunder #17 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales 


Siduri, Daughter of Shamash

Arak: Son of Thunder #42 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga
(based on historical figure)


Sigvald the Skull-Splitter

Arak: Son of Thunder #1 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon


Silver Scarab II

Infinity, Inc. #38 (1987)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Martin King

Silver Swan
(Helen Alexandros)

Wonder Woman #288 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Gene Colan

Snowman
(Klaus Kristin)

Batman #337 (1981)
co-created with Gerry Conway and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez 


Sportsman
(Martin Mantel Jr.)

Batman #338 (1981)
co-created with Gerry Conway and Irv Novick

I got a "plot assist" credit on BATMAN #338, which was a misnomer and came about when Gerry wrote the credits.  I had done, I believe, a full plot for the story... I called the antagonist the Sportsman from the very beginning, though perhaps Earth-One's equivalent of Sportsmaster.  I remember being annoyed when I read the credits, but by then it was too late to get them changed.  I got paid, anyway.

Squire
(Percy Sheldrake)

Young All-Stars #22 (1989)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Harris
(rechristened character named "The Knight," first appeared in BATMAN #62 (1950) created by Bill Finger and Dick Sprang)

 
  Star-of-Dawn

Arak: Son of Thunder #33 (1984)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ron Randall 

Sun Devils (Team)

Anomie "Anne" Zitar
Clone One**
Clone Two**
Clone Three**
Myste (Mi-Yin)**
Pook
Scyla
Shikon
Rik Sunn

Sun Devils #1 (1984)
co-created with Gerry Conway and Dan Jurgens
(Team first appearance) 

**Sun Devils #2 (1984)
co-created with Gerry Conway and Dan Jurgens
  

I worked with Gerry Conway on the general concept of the team. Our original idea was to revive the Blackhawks in the future, but DC decided we should make it a new group entirely... so we (perhaps both of us, maybe just Gerry, maybe even just I) came up with the name "Sun Devils." Basically, it's the concept we both had, with a new name. Gerry came up with just about everything else.

Sunshine

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Gerry Conway, Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


T

Tarantula
(Jonathan Law)

All-Star Squadron #24 (1983)
co-created with Jerry Ordway  
(revamped costume for character named "Tarantula" who first appeared in STAR-SPANGLED COMICS #1 (1941) created by Mort Weisinger, Lee Harris and Harold Wilson Sharp) 

When I reintroduced Tarantula in ALL-STAR SQUADRON #18 (1983), I had him have a best selling book called ALTER EGOS: THE MYSTERY MEN OF WORLD WAR II.

Theodota

Arak: Son of Thunder #16 (1982)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales
(based on historical figure)

  

Jim Thunder 


Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


 Jonni Thunder
(Thunderbolt aka Mzzttexxal)

Jonni Thunder #1 (1985)
co-created with Gerry Conway, Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano

Thunderbolt
(Zzlrrrzzzm)

Infinity, Inc. #41 (1987)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Vince Argondezzi

 Tigress
(Paula Brooks)

Young All-Stars #6 (1987)
rechristened the Golden Age character at a younger age with Dann Thomas, Howard Simpson, Michael Bair and Brian Murray
(first appeared as "Huntress" in SENSATION COMICS #68 (1947) created by Mort Meskin and an unknown writer)


Time-Keeper

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #8 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Derek Trevor

Infinity Inc. #48 (1988)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Vince Argondezzi

 Trouble 

Infinity, Inc. #16 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Todd McFarlane


Harrison Trump

Jonni Thunder #2 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Dick Giordano


U


Utnapishtim

Arak: Son of Thunder #42 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Tony DeZuniga
(based on historical figure)

V
----
W

Weather Weasel

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!


Wen-Chi

Arak: Son of Thunder #47 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Jean-Marc Lofficier and Tony DeZuniga


Widukind

Arak: Son of Thunder #4 (1981)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Ernie Colon
(based on historical figure)

Wildcat
(Yolanda Montez)

Infinity, Inc. #12 (1985)
co-created with Dann Thomas, Don Newton and Tim Burgard
(inspired by the original "Wildcat" from SENSATION COMICS #1 (1942) created by Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen)

Wuz-Wolf

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #10 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas, E. Nelson Bridwell and Scott Shaw!

WUZ-WOLF was my idea of what to do with A. Wolf (a.k.a. Wolfie), the main antagonist in the old DC series PETER PORKCHOP, once Scott Shaw! had suggested adding Pig-Iron to the line-up of CAPTAIN CARROT & HIS AMAZING ZOO CREW!  Wolfie turns into a werewolf... only, on Earth-C, he's a Wuz-Wolf.

X

Xandox Son of Xandox

Arak: Son of Thunder #25 (1983)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Adrian Gonzales 

Y

Yolk

Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew #5 (1982)
co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

 Young All-Stars (Team)

Dan the Dyna-Mite (Daniel Dunbar)*

Flying Fox***

Fury (Helena Kosmatos)*****

Iron Munro (Arnold Raymond "Arn" Munro)***

Neptune Perkins****

Tsunami (Miya Shimada)**

*character created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris

 **All-Star Squadron #33 (1984)

co-created with Rick Hoberg

***Young All-Stars #1 (1987)

co-created with Dann Thomas, Vince Argondezzi, Michael Bair and Brian Murray

(Team first appearance)

****character created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert

*****"Fury" first appeared in YOUNG ALL-STARS#1 (1987) as seen above as she was always part of the Young All-Stars team concept.  There was a story I did with Dann Thomas and Tom Grindberg in SECRET ORIGINS #2 (1987) which may have come out first or around the same time, but it was not her first appearance.

Z

Zoo Crew (Team)

Alley-Cat-Abra  (Felina Furr)
American Eagle (Johnny Jingo)
Captain Carrot (Roger Rabbit)
Fastback (Timothy Joseph Terrapin)
Pig-Iron (Peter Porkchops)
Rubberduck (Byrd Rentals)
Yankee Poodle (Rova Barkitt)

New Teen Titans #16 (1982)

co-created with Dann Thomas and Scott Shaw!

Very soon after it debuted, CAPTAIN CARROT AND HIS AMAZING ZOO CREW! was optioned for a CBS cartoon show.  Both a "bible" for the show and a pilot script were written by then-prominent animation writer Jeff Scott (the working name of one of the sons of longtime comicbook artist Norman Maurer and his wife Joan, the daughter of Moe Howard of the Three Stooges.  The show was fairly faithful to the comic, except that the character Alley-Kat-Abra was dropped... I can only surmise they didn't want to deal with magic as a super-power.  I remember that they also, understandably, changed the name of the city "Gnu York," which works in print but not on audible TV, to "New Yak."  Seems like there was even talk of doing some sort of live-action team-up with Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman.  However, I don't recall ever seeing any real animation or designs of the show and it was never quite made.

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THE DC COMICS
CONCEPTS, CREATIONS
AND MORE...

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Black Adam's second appearance

Alter Ego #7 (1964)

What most people don't seem to know (and why should they?) is that, in all probability, the SECOND appearance ever of Black Adam visually... after the lead story in MARVEL FAMILY COMICS #1 in 1945... was the cover I had Biljo White draw (and it WAS my idea) for the first issue of ALTER EGO of which I was editor/publisher, V1#7 in 1964.  I had Biljo White draw the cover, and one of the interior illos for my article on the Golden Age Marvel Family, titled "One Man's Family."  The article won a fan award, the Alley, for that year, by the way... and has been credited by many from that era with first introducing them to Captain Marvel and the gang (since XERO's late-60 "The Big Red Cheese" in the "All in Color for a Dime" series reached only 100-150 people, while ALTER EGO V1#7 had a print run of around 1000, plus a later reprinting of at least several hundred, even though it was distributed and advertised only through the mail.

Captain Marvel (SHAZAM!)
(Billy Batson)

Secret Origins #3 (1986)

In the early 1980s DC had finally realized that their light-hearted revival of Captain Marvel in SHAZAM! wasn't working, although there had been some nice latter art by Alan Weiss and Don Newton and some better scripts by Nelson Bridwell. So managing editor Dick Giordano had no problem with me deciding, in SECRET ORIGINS, to alter the re-telling of the origin to make Billy Batson the main ingredient in both his and Cap's incarnations. So artist Jerry Bingham and I (he drew another ultra-realistic treatment of the World's Mightiest Mortal) put Billy in charge of Cap's Superman-level body, which I believe is the first time that had been done. Dann and I followed it up, not long afterward, with the SHAZAM! A NEW BEGINNING series (with darkish artwork by Tom Mandrake) which made that approach canonical for the post-CRISIS One-Big-Earth, where the SECRET ORIGINS version had been a revamping of the Earth-Two Cap/Billy. The four-issue series sold well, but DC screwed around, and we never got a chance to launch the ongoing monthly series we should have had to follow it up.  Dick later apologized to me for that business, but it was too late. This version of Captain Marvel is still used today and inspired the character in the SHAZAM! movie in 2019.

Captain Thunder


A new incarnation of Captain Marvel Jr.

Several years before I conceived the notion of a "Captain Thunder" super-hero for an independent comicbook, I had contractual first dibs on doing the Shazam/Captain Marvel heroes at DC.  I had Don Newton draw an African American, teenage "Captain Thunder" who would replace Captain Marvel Jr. in the "Marvel/Shazam Family."  Except for a single drawing of that hero and his teenage alter ego, however, which was published in THE COMICS BUYER'S GUIDE #538 in 1984 (as inked, ironically, by Jerry Ordway), nothing was ever done with that concept.  He was never drawn in any pages or stories, published or un-.

Dann Thomas makes comicbook history

Wonder Woman #300 (1983)

Although I had quit writing the WONDER WOMAN title several issues earlier, DC asked me to return to write its anniversary 300th issue, a giant-size comic.  Although Dann had worked with me on the plots to my previous issues, I had then thought it too early to push for a credit for her--but in #300, I did.  She also wrote a first draft of much of the issue's dialogue.  I wrote in a credit for her as "Danette Thomas," then still her legal name.  Although Joye Murchison had scripted a number of WW stories in the latter 1940s, Dann thus became the first woman ever to receive an official credit as a writer of the Amazon's adventures.  (By happy coincidence, DC also assigned newcomer Jan Duursema to pencil one chapter of WW #300, so that she became the first female artist to receive a credit on the character, at the same time.  And, as they say, it was ABOUT time.)

First DC and Marvel Comics intercompany collaboration

MGM'S Marvelous Wizard of Oz (1975)

In 1975, Marvel and DC discovered that each of them had a potential WIZARD OF OZ in the works.  DC had gotten the rights to the film and had someone, perhaps Shelly Mayer, lined up to do breakdowns.  Meanwhile (though I don't know if this was Stan Lee's suggestion, or mine, or what...probably Stan's), John Buscema and I had started adapting the L. Frank Baum novel, which is in the public domain.  Stan and Carmine Infantino got together and decided it would be a joint Marvel/DC venture adapting the film, although all the personnel would be supplied by Marvel (John, Tony DeZuniga's studio, and myself).  We were allowed to use the story and dialogue from the film, but none of the lyrics of the songs.  This became the first Marvel/DC joint venture, followed shortly by SUPERMAN VS. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.

  Funky Flashman and Houseroy

Mr. Miracle #6 (1972)

The "Funky Flashman/Houseroy" episode in the early 1970s was Jack Kirby taking a shot at Stan Lee when he left Marvel and began working for DC...  I was standing in Stan's office when he was talking about that issue of MR. MIRICALE--"raging" is too strong a word, but he was both angry and hurt by what Jack had done.  Even if Stan years later told people that the story didn't bother him, he was just soft-pedaling his earlier reaction...  or maybe by then he'd forgotten.  Sure, I was unhappy about it, too, but Jack's attack was clearly made at Stan, not me...  I was just collateral damage, and I recognized that.

 Genomorph

Infinity, Inc. #18 (1985)

"Genomorph" is the term that Dann Thomas and I created for INFINITY, INC. #18 (Sept. 1985) as their DC equivalent of Marvel's "mutants."  Some of the first genomorphs were the six members of Helix (Mr. Bones, Tao Jones, Penny Dreadful, Arak Wind-Walker, Kritter, and Baby Boom), who were developed by the evil geneticist Dr. Love.  As Tao Jones says in INFINITY, INC #18, they were called "genomorphs" " 'cause our genes sure were changed."  "Gen" is from "generic," and "morph" means change.  The term has since been used in "Young Justice" and other DC series.  I'm informed that the term was actually used at least occasionally in scientific treatises as far back as 1949, but apparently it never caught on, and the later DC usages are probably based on the term's usage in INFINITY, INC., without acknowledging the original source of the term.

JLA / Avengers (1983)

Co-created with Gerry Conway and George Perez

After Marvel rejected much of Gerry Conway's synopsis, to the fury of Dick Giordano and others at DC, it was given to me to do a re-write of the plot.  Working with Dann, I did that.  I don't know the disposition of that, because I think the project was killed before any other work was done.  Dick's feeling--and mine--was that someone(s) at Marvel just plain didn't want that book done.  Naturally, I resented it when DC and Marvel revived the project years later and Gerry and I were cut out.  But Gerry'd had the honor of writing the very first DC/Marvel super-hero crossover, and I of doing the WIZARD OF OZ, which was the first DC/Marvel collaboration, period, so we survived.  If we want fairness, we'll play chess, not blackjack in a system loaded for the house.

JLA: Barbarians (2000)

Last work of John Buscema

The last project on which John Buscema worked before his death in 2000 (I believe) was JLA:  BARBARIANS, an Elseworlds graphic novel--which was first to be published as 5 or 6 individual issues.  He completed the pencils for the first issue and was working on the inking (with, if I heard a-right, his granddaughter) when his cancer abruptly returned, and he passed away.  My original concept was basically KAL-EL THE BARBARIAN, in which baby Kal was rocketed to Earth in what was (unnamed) the Hyborian Age, but DC insisted I change it to the JLA.  John did concept drawings of the JLAers as barbarians, and of Captain Marvel/Shazam as the villain.  But they never even responded to my repeated suggestions that they honor John's final work by publishing that issue and having Sal and/or others complete the story.  A few pages & the concept art have been published in ALTER EGO, but most of the issue remains unpublished to this day. 

Superman's Metropolis (1997) 

The first time I wrote for DC's Elseworlds publication 

Very soon after the first one (GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT), I had proposed to DC and editor Denny O'Neil that I do an Elseworlds graphic novel of Batman vs. Dracula in the era of Stoker's book.  The general idea was approved, except I remember I had to wait for some sort of formal approval in order to write a synopsis and get paid.  Next thing I knew, but at least a year or so later, DC announced Doug Moench's Batman/Dracula series/g.n.  I immediate contacted Denny to remind him that I had got there first.  He told me that the one did not preclude the other... but still, I was never able to get any approval to go ahead with my version.  Jean-Marc (not sure how much Randy was involved) suggested we approach DC about putting Batman in a revamp of the movie "Metropolis"--but Batman was felt to be over-exposed at the moment (imagine that!), and they pushed us into Superman instead... a much better idea, not least because Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" was pretty certainly a source of the name of Clark Kent's adopted hometown.  Jean-Marc probably did most of the plot-adapting, though we coordinated, since I was to be the writer of the dialogue and helped make the project doable.  I liked the art very much, except that I felt that Clark should have looked a bit more in face and physique like the one in the comics... after all, the idea was that basically the same Kal-L/Kal-El had come to Earth, only in an alternate universe... he wouldn't have grown up looking physically different from the one we knew.  Liked the costume changes, the development we made of the story.  After that, by design, Jean-Marc and I went different directions... he did the other two sequel movie-adaptations BATMAN:  NOSFERATU and WONDER WOMAN:  THE BLUE AMAZON, while I went on to SUPERMAN:  WAR OF THE WORLDS, JLA: ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, and what would have been a never-approved BATMAN: THE TIME MACHINE, which would have brought the Morlocks to turn-of-the-20th-century London.

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show

(Animated Series)

 Plastic Man/Plastic Family/Baby Plas 61 episodes (1979-1981)

Yech!  My experience at Ruby-Spears Studios working on the PLASTIC MAN cartoon was less fun than it was working on THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR cartoon.  I only worked on one episode.  I can't recall much about it, except that it involved, at one point, a rich guy I named William Randolph Scott, two famous names (Hearst and a cowboy star)... and Ruby-Spear changed that, ruining the joke.  I didn't apply to write any more episodes after that for them, although I was part of a group coming up with possible notions in the early 80s for a Jack Kirby-designed Indiana Jones copy.

Jerry Thomas

Justice League of America #16 (1962)

"Jerry Thomas" was an off-stage character created by writer Gardner Fox (and doubtless editor Julius Schwartz) for JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #16 in 1962.  He was a fan who had drawn his own fannish JLA story and sent it in to the JLA, as revealed near story's end.  They told us later it was designed to be a tribute to Jerry Bails and myself, for our fannish efforts (which included starting ALTER EGO in 1961).  Since then, Jerry Thomas has appeared onstage once or twice, I believe--I think in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, if nothing else.  In late '64 or early '65 I myself sent Julie a JLA sample script I had written in which Jerry Thomas appeared onstage and played a prominent part in the story, wielding an other-dimensional pen he found which forced the JLA to repeat whatever ridiculous actions Jerry drew them doing in a parody comic he created, "Bestest League of America"--named after the MAD-style group I had created for ALTER-EGO #1.  But I never heard any response, and never got it back... and don't think I was bright enough to have made a carbon copy at the time.

Oddballs
(aka the Misfits) 

Team concept co-created with Gary Friedrich and Stan Goldberg

 

Here's a page of original art of Oddballs--I'm almost 100% certain the script isn't mine. Probably Gary Friedrich's or somebody else's, but I was the guy who created the concept with its four members and sold it to DC.  Stan Goldberg penciled... not sure if he inked or not.  The four teenagers changed names a time or two.  AIRHEAD I think was fairly consistent.  EARTHA was originally, I believe, called MIASMA, but then that name turned out to be taken or some such thing.  The fire-guy was originally PYRO, but I'm not sure what name (starting with a "T") was to be lettered in instead.  Something related perhaps to "Torrid"?  HYDRO-TEEN was probably originally just HYDRO and again we had to change it.  He is closest to the old Hydro-Man character created in the 1940s by Bill Everett.  Marvel eventually had a Hydro-Man who was a total ripoff of Bill's character, but I don't know if that came before or after the early-80s time when Stan and I worked out details of THE MISFITS... which I believe DC wanted to rename THE ODDBALLS... or was it the other way around?  The villain is THE SILVER SKATER, clearly a takeoff on Kirby's Black Racer.  DC publisher Jenette Kahn announced she was looking for some new humor titles with a fantasy feel, I think it was.  When she first saw the written proposals, she allegedly told the editor who brought them to her (probably Dick Giordano):  "Roy really goes for the jugular, doesn't he?"  I don't know she meant that in a good or bad way (but she bought both of them, right?), but I was proud to hear it.

Retroactive Continuity

 All-Star Squadron #18 (1983)

For some years now, I've been asked by various people if I made up that term... or met others who assumed I did.  As it turned out, I didn't... but I am credited in Wikipedia with "the first known printed use of [the term] 'retroactive continuity' referring to the altering of history," at least.  As that piece correctly notes, in the letters section of ALL-STAR SQUADRON #18, I referred to what I was basically doing in that favorite title of mine--the writing and overseeing of new stories that were intended to take place between other, older stories that had been published, in this case, nearly four decades earlier--in this paragraph:

"As to what Roy himself (myself) is trying to do, we like to think an enthusiastic ALL-STAR booster at one of Adam Malin's Creation Conventions in San Diego came up with the best name for it, a few months back:  'Retroactive Continuity."  Has kind of a ring, don't you think?"

I've no idea, at this late date, who that person on the West Coast was, or whether he/she was personally speaking to me or just holding forth on a discussion panel, when he/she used that term... and apparently it does go back a bit further.  But, at least as implied by Wikipedia, it quickly spread to other areas, and is today a common term.

And no, I didn't make up the word "retcon," either, which I don't much care for.  I do know I prefer that term to "continuity implants," which sounds like synthetic breast enhancement.  Actually, that kind of thing in one form or another has been going on at least since DC editors had various writers make up early events in the lives of Superman and/or Batman that hadn't been covered in their actual origins and the like.  At Marvel in the 1960s, what was the notion that Captain American had been frozen in ice since 1945 until AVENGERS #4 but retroactive continuity?  I suppose I seized on it with a vengeance for series like THE INVADERS (set in WWII) and 3-D Man (set in the 1950s) and even in a certain sense WHAT IF?  Stan himself had no special interest in retroactive continuity, but if it made a good story and sold comics, it was fine by him.  When I went to DC in 1980-81, I went all out in ALL-STAR SQUADRON and later perhaps in SECRET ORIGINS, but there had been other such stories before me even of the JSA, such as Paul Levitz's JSA origin and the group's alleged 1951 retirement after a bad experience with a Congressional investigating committee.  In my mind, retroactive continuity is neither a good thing nor a bad.  It all depends on how it's done.

Thudd and Blunder

Co-created with Jim Engel and John Costanza

I came up with idea for a humorous/satirical sword-and-sorcery feature in the very early 1970s, when Barry Smith and I were doing CONAN THE BARBARIAN.  Barry drew a sample page (of panels, I believe, not a concept drawing as such), but I remember little about it, except that the idea from the start was that Thudd was the dumb barbarian of the duo and Blunder (sometimes spelled Blundar) was a failed sorcerer or sorcerer's apprentice.  When Jenette Kahn sent out a call sometime in 1984 for humor features, I responded with "The Misfits/Oddballs" concept (as seen above), and "Thudd and Blunder."  For some reason, the powers-that-be at DC decided I could write only one of them at most... and I think I opted for the former, the teenage heroes.  "Thudd and Blunder" was given to the talented Jim Engel who came up with the character designs and was set to write it while John Costanza was to do the art and I would do the editing. Sadly, nothing was ever published of either concept.  Jim has written of a woefully unhappy and anger-producing experience with DC over "Thudd and Blunder" and other humor projects at that time, which I believed was written up in COMIC BUYERS GUIDE or some such place, but I was not involved in that.

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