Dennis O’Neil - The DC Comics Guide to Writing Comics

WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS / NEW YORK

The material in this book was first published in print in 2001. It has been reissued in eBook format, with no editorial changes, in 2013.

Copyright 2001 by DC Comics (print edtion)
Copyright 2013 by DC Comics (eBook edition)
All related characters and elements are trademarks of and DC Comics.
WB SHIELD: TM & Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s13)

For Watson-Guptill Publications:
Senior Acquisitions Editor: Candace Raney
Editor: Jacqueline Ching
Production Manager: Hector Campbell
Cover and Interior Design: Kapo Ng
Cover Illustration: Neal Adams and Dick Giordano

For DC Comics:
Senior Editor: Steve Kort
Managing Editor: Trent Duffy
Associate Editor: Jaye Gardner

First published in 2001 by Watson-Guptill Publications,
Crown Publishing Group
a division of Random House, Inc., New York
www.crownpublishing.com
www.watsonguptill.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available

eISBN: 978-0-7704-3455-7

All rights reserved.

v3.1

Ive learned from dozens of people, perhaps hundreds. I wish I could remember and acknowledge every one of them. But I cant. Below, a few who I can remember and whose help has been particularly valuable in preparing this book.

In no particular order: Scott Peterson, Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Devin K. Grayson, Stan Lee, Julius Schwartz, Greg Rucka, Darren Vincenzo, Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Lawrence ONeil, Joe Illidge, Kelley Puckett, Will Eisner, Larry Hama, Jack C. Harris, Mark Gruenwald, Dick Giordano, Paul Levitz, Archie Goodwin and, as always, Mari.

Although you may not be aware of it, you helped me write these pages and Im grateful to you all.

CONTENTS

I know of no one more qualified to write a book about writing for comics than Denny ONeiland hey, I know a lot of people.

One of the most impressive things about Denny (nobody calls him Dennis except those who dont like him, and they dont exist) is the fact that hes done it all. In addition to his comic book writing and editing, hes penned short stories and articles for such a wide variety of publications as Gentlemens Quarterly, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, New York, The Village Voice and Publishers Weekly , among countless others.

Now youd think that would be enough for any writer, right? Wrong! Dynamic Denny has also had five teleplays produced, done comic book versions of the four Batman movies, and is the author of several novels and nonfiction books. His book, Knightfall , published by Bantam, which converted 1,162 pages of comic book continuity in a hardcover novel, became a national bestsellerduring which time Denny also assisted BBC Radio with an adaptation of the books story line.

I could go on and on, and since Im such a big fan of his, I will.

Proving he knows whereof he writes (not that any additional proof can possibly be needed), he has taught writing at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan and lectured at dozens of colleges and universities. In fact, by the time you read these imperishable words, hell probably have started teaching his course in comics at Sarah Lawrence College.

So, when Dynamic Denny tells you how it is, you can take that to the bank, Bunkythats how it is!

But everything I have to say about Denny isnt good. Heres the bad part

In the 1960s he worked at Marvel Comics as my editorial assistant. He wrote and edited a lot of great stuff for us, but then, I guess because he figured DC Comics needed him more than we did, he left our bullpen and ended up at the bastion of Batman, the shrine of Superman, and the gate of the Green Lantern. To clobber you with an old clich, our loss was most definitely DCs gain.

But the things Ive enumerated so far are just facts and statistics. Id like to give you an insight into the real Denny ONeil, to help you realize why hes so eminently qualified to write a book like this.

One prime example comes to mind. In 1970 Denny wrote one of his many exciting Green Lantern scripts. It was issue #76, and it was destined to become a true classic. Illustrated by the gifted Neal Adams, the story plot had the Green Lantern talking to a black man in the ghetto of a large city. It was there that Denny penned a passage which has been quoted and requoted, printed and reprinted countless times in countless languages; a passage that so clearly proves why Denny ONeil is one of the finest writers in comic booksor indeed, in any type of books.

Not to keep you in suspense any longer, Denny has the black man saying to the Green Lantern, I been readin about you how you work for the blue skins and how on a planet someplace you helped out the orange skins and you done considerable for the purple skins! Only theres skins you never bothered with! the Black skins! I want to know how come?! Answer me that, Mr. Green Lantern!!

The Green Lantern can only reply, I cant

In a few short sentences, Denny managed to say volumes. With quotes such as those and the many, many other thought-provoking tales he has written, Denny helped to lift comics out of the category of little kid stuff and endow them with substance and intelligence, thus bringing them into the realm of true literature.

Well, if I keep lauding him so much you might think Im trying to sell you something. Although, come to think of it, I guess I am. Im trying to sell you on the fact that Denny ONeil is one of the finest practitioners of his art. Hes a writers writer, a professionals professional, and for those of you who genuinely want to learn how comics are written, you couldnt find a better guide.

In fact, Im gonna end this exotic little essay right now because I cant wait to join you in reading the pages that follow.

So lets both get to the good stuff, secure in the knowledge that with Denny ONeil at the helm, were in very good hands.

Excelsior!

Stan Lee

PART
ONE

Heres what Id like you to do for me:

Make me laugh. Make me cry. Tell me my place in the world. Lift me out of my skin and place me in another. Show me places I have never visited and carry me to the ends of time and space. Give my demons names and help me to confront them. Demonstrate for me possibilities Ive never thought of and present me with heroes who will give me courage and hope. Ease my sorrows and increase my joy. Teach me compassion. Entertain and enchant and enlighten me.