`Batman' writer leaves large legacy
Noted comic-book writer and editor Dennis “Denny” O'Neil died last week at the age of 81, leaving behind a large legacy on characters, including Batman, Green Arrow and Iron Man.
O'Neil, who began his career as a journalist, moved into comics at the request of then-Marvel editor-in-chief Stan Lee, penning “Doctor Strange” and other stories for the publisher before moving over to Charlton Comics. Charlton's Dick Giordano brought O'Neil with him to DC Comics in 1968.
O'Neil was known for revamping series that needed a shot in the arm; he was brought onto “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League of America” for that reason.
In 1970, O'Neil was paired with Neal Adams to revamp the “Green Lantern” title, which saw the avenging archer Green Arrow brought in as a partner.
The Green Lantern/Green Arrow stories of the time were some of the first comics to tackle social topics: racism, feminism, prejudice, poverty, pollution and drug abuse.
While the revamped series lasted 13 issues, the new anti-establishment attitude of Green Arrow — created to contrast with Green Lantern's “good cop” attitude — hit the mark with fans.
In a 2016 interview with The Oklahoman, then“Green Arrow” writer Ben Percy praised what O'Neil did for the character, as someone who “channeled the zeitgeist,” with “the way that he channeled cultural issues.
“The way he ripped from the headlines.
“The way that he made Green Arrow into a social justice warrior.”
Their 13 “Green Lantern/ Green Arrow” stories were considered classics, but the most successful O'Neil and Adams collaboration was yet to come.
Batman had permeated the public consciousness in the 1960s TV series starring Adam West.
But the campy series was canceled in March 1968.
Looking for a new take on the character for the 1970s, DC Comics went to O'Neil and Adams.
Comic-book fans who preferred the dark crusader of the early comics gravitated to the comics as realistic, dynamic drawing helped redefine Batman as a shadowy figure of the night.
Adams talked about his collaboration with O'Neil on Batman in “Tales of the Dark Knight: Batman's First 50 Years 1939-1989” by Mark Cotta Vaz.
“Batman in both our minds was this dark-night detective, a combination of the best athlete in the world and Sherlock Holmes,” Adams said.
During the O'Neil-Adams run, they created Ra's Al Ghul, the eternal assassin who seeks to rebalance the world's environment.
His daughter, Talia, is perhaps Batman's greatest love.
O'Neil and Adams also updated the Joker in “Batman” #251, creating a darker version that would inspire future versions of the character.
In 1978, O'Neil and Adams paired again on the oversized comic “Superman vs. Muhammad Ali.” In 1980, O'Neil moved back to Marvel Comics.
As an editor at Marvel, O'Neil was responsible for hiring Frank Miller on “Daredevil,” something that led to huge changes in that character and throughout comics.
As the writer on “Iron Man,” O'Neil had Tony Stark battle alcoholism and hand his Iron Man armor over to James Rhodes, who replaced Stark for a time as Iron Man.
Back at DC as the Batman line editor starting in 1986, O'Neil edited “Batman: Year One,” by Miller and David Mazzucchelli, as well as the best-selling events “Knightfall” and “No Man's Land.”
He remained “Batman” editor until his retirement in 2000.
Also during the 1980s at DC, O'Neil and artist Denys Cowan provided a Zen update of the Steve Ditko series “The Question” in a 36-issue series, and later created the antihero “Azrael,” who starred in his own series for a 100-issue run.
O'Neil continued to write after his retirement as an editor; his story “The Dove Corps,” written by Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez appeared in the June 9 release “The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1.”
His final story, drawn by Mike Grell, is set to appear in “Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular” #1 on Tuesday.