Roy Thomas

For other people named Roy Thomas, see Roy Thomas 2.1 Marvel Comics
(disambiguation).

In 1965, Thomas moved to New York City to take a job

Roy William Thomas, Jr.[1] (born November 22, at DC Comics as assistant to Mort Weisinger, then the
1940)[2] is an American comic book writer and editor,
editor of the Superman titles. Thomas said he had just
who was Stan Lee's rst successor as editor-in-chief of
accepted a fellowship to study foreign relations at George
Marvel Comics. He is possibly best known for introduc-
Washington University when he received a letter from
ing the pulp magazine hero Conan the Barbarian to Amer-
Weisinger, with whom I had exchanged one or two let-
ican comics, with a series that added to the storyline of
ters, tops, asking Thomas to become his assistant edi-
Robert E. Howard's character and helped launch a sword
tor on a several-week trial basis.[5] Thomas had already
and sorcery trend in comics. Thomas is also known for his
written a Jimmy Olsen script a few months before, while
championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes par- still living and teaching in the St. Louis area, he said
ticularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of
in 2005. I worked at DC for eight days in late June
America and for lengthy writing stints on Marvels X-
and very early July of 1965[6] before accepting a job at
Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, Marvel Comics. The Marvel "Bullpen Bulletins" in Fan-
among other titles. tastic Four #61 (April 1967) describes Thomas admit-
Thomas was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book ting that he gave up a scholarship to George Washington
Hall of Fame in 2011. University just to write for Marvel!"
This came after his chang under the notoriously di-
cult Weisinger, to a point, Thomas said in 1981, that he
would go home to my dingy little room at, coinciden-
1 Early life tally, the George Washington Hotel in Manhattan, dur-
ing that second week, and actually feeling tears well into
Thomas was born in Jackson, Missouri, United States.[3] my eyes, at the ripe old age of 24.[5] Familiar with edi-
As a child, he was a devoted comic book fan, and in grade tor and chief writer Stan Lee's Marvel work, and feeling
school he wrote and drew his own comics for distribu- them the most vital comics around,[5] Thomas just sat
tion to friends and family. The rst of these was All- down one night at the hotel and I wrote him a letter!
Giant Comics, which he recalls as having featured such Not applying for a job or anything so mundane as that
characters as Elephant Giant.[3][4] He graduated from I just said that I admired his work, and would like to buy
Southeast Missouri State University in 1961 with a BS him a drink some time. I gured he just might remember
in Education,[1] having majored in history and social sci- me from Alter Ego.[5] Lee did, and phoned Thomas to
ence. oer him a Marvel writing test.
Thomas became an early and active member of Silver The writers test, Thomas said in 1998, was four Jack
Age comic book fandom when it organized in the early Kirby pages from Fantastic Four Annual #2 ... [Stan
1960s primarily around Jerry Bails, whose enthusiasm Lee] had Sol [Brodsky] or someone take out the dialogue.
for the rebirth of superhero comics during that period It was just black-and-white. Other people like Denny
led Bails to found the fanzine Alter Ego, an early focal O'Neil and Gary Friedrich took it. But soon afterwards
point of fandom. Thomas, then a high school English we stopped using it.[7] The day after taking the test,
teacher, took over as editor in 1964 when Bails moved Thomas was at DC, proofreading a Supergirl story, when
on to other pursuits. Letters from him appeared regularly Steinberg called asking Thomas to meet with Lee during
in the letters pages of both DC and Marvel Comics, in- lunch, where Thomas agreed to work for Marvel.[8] He re-
cluding The Flash #116 (Nov. 1960), Fantastic Four #5 turned to DC to give indenite notice to Weisinger, but
(July 1962), Fantastic Four #15 (June 1963), and Fantas- Weisinger ordered him to leave immediately and I was
tic Four #22 (Jan. 1964). back at Marvel less than an hour after I rst left, and had
a Modeling with Millie assignment to do over the week-
end. It was a Friday.[8] His employment was announced
in the "Bullpen Bulletins" section of Fantastic Four #47
2 Career (Feb. 1966) under the heading How About That! De-
partment (Roys a fan whos made it!"). Thomas later

1
2 2 CAREER

described his early days at Marvel: had my job at Marvel at that point! I think I was the right
person in the right place at the right time, but there are
I was hired after taking [the] ' writers test', other people who, had they been there, might have been
and my rst ocial job title at Marvel was just as right.[13]
'sta writer'. I wasn't hired as an editor or as- Thomas took on what would be his rst long-term Marvel
sistant editor. I was supposed to come in 40 title, the World War II series Sgt. Fury and his Howling
hours a week and write scripts on sta. ... I Commandos, starting with #29 (April 1966) and contin-
sat at this corrugated metal desk with a type- uing through #41 (April 1967) and the series 1966 an-
writer in a small oce with production man- nual, Sgt. Fury Special #2. He also began writing the
ager Sol Brodsky and corresponding secretary mutant-superteam title [Uncanny] X-Men from #2043
Flo Steinberg. Everybody who came up to (May 1966 April 1968), and, nally, took over The
Marvel wound up there, and the phone was Avengers, starting with #35 (Dec. 1966), and continu-
constantly ringing, with conversations going on ing until 1972. That notable run was marked by a strong
all around me. ... Almost at once, even though sense of continuity, and stories that ranged from the per-
Stan proofed all the nished stories, he and Sol sonal to the cosmic the latter most prominently with
started having me check the corrections before the "Kree-Skrull War" in issues #8997 (June 1971
they went out, and that would break up my March 1972). Additional work included an occasional
concentration still further. ... [and] they kept "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D" and Doctor Strange
asking me to do this or that, or questions like story in Strange Tales. When that title became the solo
in which issue something happened, or Stan comic Doctor Strange, he wrote the entire run of new sto-
would come in to check something, because I ries, from #169183 (June 1968 Nov. 1969), mostly
knew a lot about Marvel continuity up to that with the art team of penciler Gene Colan and inker Tom
time. ... It quickly became apparent to them, Palmer.[12]
too, that the sta writer thing wasn't working,
and Stan segued me over to being an editorial As Thomas self-evaluated in a 1981 interview, shortly af-
assistant, which immediately worked out better ter leaving Marvel for rival DC Comics, One of the rea-
for all concerned.[9] sons Stan liked my writing ... was that after a few issues
he felt he could trust me enough that he virtually never
To that point, editor-in-chief Lee had been the main again read anything I wrote well, at least not more [14]
than
writer of Marvel publications, with his brother, Larry a page or two in a row, just to keep me honest.
Lieber, often picking up the slack scripting Lee-plotted Thomas eloped in July 1968 to marry his rst wife, Jean
stories. Thomas soon became the rst new Marvel writer Maxey,[15] returning to work a day late from a weekend
to sustain a presence, at a time when comics veterans such comic-book convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Thomas
as Robert Bernstein, Ernie Hart, Leon Lazarus, and Don said in 2000 that Brodsky, in the interim, had assigned
Rico, and fellow newcomers Steve Skeates (hired a cou- Doctor Strange to the writer Archie Goodwin, newly en-
ple of weeks earlier) and O'Neil (brought in at Thomas sconced at Marvel and writing Iron Man, but Thomas
recommendation a few months later) did not. His Marvel convinced Brodsky to return it to him. I got very posses-
debut was the romance-comics story Whom Can I Turn sive about Doctor Strange, Thomas recalled. It wasn't
To?" in the Millie the Model spin-o Modeling with Millie a huge seller, but [by the time it was canceled], we
#44 (Dec. 1965) for which the credits and the logo were were selling in the low 40 percent range of more than
inadvertently left o due to a production glitch, resulting 400,000 print run, so it was actually selling a couple hun-
in this being left o most credit lists.[10][11] Thomas rst dred thousand copies [but] at the time you needed to sell
Marvel superhero scripting was My Life for Yours, the even more.[16] He eventually did have a Caribbean hon-
Iron Man feature in Tales of Suspense #73 (Jan. 1966), eymoon, where he scripted the wedding of Hank Pym
working from a Lee plot as well as a plot assist from sec- and Janet Van Dyne in The Avengers #60 (Jan.1969).[17]
retary Steinberg. Thomas estimates that Lee rewrote ap- Thomas, who had turned over X-Men to other writers,
proximately half of that edgling attempt. returned with issue #55 (April 1969) when the series
[18]
Thomas earliest Marvel work also included the teen- was on the verge of cancellation. While eorts to
romance title Patsy and Hedy #104105 (Feb.-April save it failed the title ended its initial run with #66
1966), and two "Doctor Strange" stories, plotted by Lee Thomas collaboration with artist Neal Adams through
[19]
and Steve Ditko, in Strange Tales #143144 (April #63 (Dec. 1969) is regarded as a Silver Age creative
[20]
May 1966). Two previously written freelance stories for highlight. Thomas won the 1969 Alley Award that year
Charlton Comics also saw print: The Second Trojan for Best Writer, while Adams and inker Tom Palmer, net-
War in Son of Vulcan #50 (Jan. 1966) and The Eye of ted 1969 Alley Awards for Best Pencil Artist and Best
Horus in Blue Beetle #54 (March 1966).[12] When Stan Inking Artist, respectively.
saw the couple of Charlton stories I'd written earlier in Thomas and artist Barry Smith launched Conan the
more of a Gardner Fox style, he wasn't too impressed, Barbarian in October 1970,[21] based on Robert E.
Thomas recalled. Its probably a good thing I already
2.2 DC Comics 3

1972.[27]
Thomas co-created many other characters with Marvel
artists. Among them are Ultron (including the ctional
metal adamantium),[28][29] Carol Danvers,[30] Morbius
the Living Vampire,[26] Doc Samson, Valkyrie, Werewolf
by Night,[31] and Killraven.[32] Thomas also co-created
several characters based on already existing charac-
ters, including the Vision,[33] Yellowjacket,[34] the Black
Knight,[35] and Adam Warlock.[36]

2.1.1 Editor-in-chief

The following year, when Lee became Marvels publisher,

Thomas succeeded him as editor-in-chief. Thomas also
continued to script mainstream titles, including Mar-
vels agship, The Fantastic Four.[37] He launched such
new titles as the unusual non-team series The Defend-
ers,[38][39] as well as What If, a title that explored alternate
histories. In addition, he indulged his love of Golden Age
comic-book heroes in the World War II-set superhero
series The Invaders.[12][40] Thomas also helped create
such new characters as the supernatural Brother Voodoo,
the demonic, motorcycle-driving Ghost Rider,[41] and
the superpowered martial artist Iron Fist.[42] He was in-
strumental in engineering Marvels comic-book adapta-
tion of the 1977 lm Star Wars, without which, 1980s
The Avengers #57 (Oct. 1968), debut of the Silver Age Vision, Marvel editor Jim Shooter [43]
believed, "[W]e would have
created by Thomas as a homage to the Golden Age original. gone out of business. In 1975, Thomas wrote the
Cover art by John Buscema. rst joint publishing venture between Marvel and DC
Comics a 72-page Wizard of Oz movie adaptation in
an oversized Treasury Edition format with art by John
Howard's 1930s pulp-ction sword-and-sorcery charac- Buscema.[12][44] He and Buscema crafted a comics adap-
ter. Thomas, who stepped down from his editorship in tation of Tarzan for Marvel in June 1977.[45]
August 1974, wrote hundreds of Conan stories in a host
of Marvel comics and black-and-white magazines Sav-
age Tales and The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbar- 2.2 DC Comics
ian.[12] During that time, he and Smith also brought to
comics Howards little-known, sword-wielding woman- In 1981, after several years of freelancing for Marvel and
warrior Red Sonja, initially as a Conan supporting charac- a dispute with then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, Thomas
ter. Comics historian Les Daniels noted that "Conan the signed a three-year exclusivity writing/editing contract
Barbarian was something of a gamble for Marvel. The with DC. He marked his return to DC with a two-part
series contained the usual elements of action and fantasy, Green Lantern story in Green Lantern #138139 (March
to be sure, but it was set in a past that had no relation April 1981), and briey wrote Batman,[46][47] DC Comics
to the Marvel Universe, and it featured a hero who pos- Presents, and the Legion of Super-Heroes.[12] DC gave
sessed no magical powers, little humor and comparatively Thomas work a promotional push by featuring several
few moral principles.[22] of his series in free, 16-page insert previews.[48][49][50][51]
In 1971, with Stan Lee and Gerry Conway, Thomas cre- Thomas married his second wife Danette Couto in
ated Man-Thing and wrote the rst Man-Thing story in May 1981.[52] Danette legally changed her rst name
color comics, after Conway and Len Wein had intro- to Dann[53] and would become Roys regular writing
duced the character in the black-and-white comics mag- partner. Thomas credits her with the original idea
azine Savage Tales.[12] Later that year, Thomas wrote for the Arak, Son of Thunder series drawn by Ernie
the "Kree-Skrull War" storyline in The Avengers which Coln.[54] Writer Gerry Conway would also be a frequent
was drawn by Sal Buscema, Neal Adams, and John collaborator with Thomas; together they wrote a two-
Buscema.[23][24][25] Thomas was the rst person other part Superman-Captain Marvel team-up in DC Comics
than Stan Lee to receive a writers credit for The Amazing Presents; a series of Atari Force and Swordquest mini-
Spider-Man,[26] and he and artist Ross Andru launched comics packaged with Atari 2600 video games; and three
the Spider-Man spin-o title Marvel Team-Up in March Justice League-Justice Society crossovers.[12][55][56] Con-
4 2 CAREER

way also contributed ideas to the funny animal comic hoped...

Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!, created
by Thomas and Scott Shaw.[12][57] Thomas and Con- ...to let bygones be bygones, and if possi-
way were to be the co-writers of the JLA/Avengers ble, to avoid adverse comment on Marvel and
intercompany crossover[58] but editorial disputes between its policies. I've even long regretted the fact
DC and Marvel caused the projects cancellation.[59] As that your elevation to the position of editor-
a solo writer, Roy Thomas wrote Wonder Woman and, in-chief, in which you've obviously done a ne
with artist Gene Colan, updated the characters cos- job, came at a time after I'd moved to the West
tume and introduced a new supervillainess, the Silver Coast. Perhaps if we'd had more personal com-
Swan.[12] His nal work on the series, issue #300 (Feb. munication from 1977 to 1980, we could have
1983), was co-written with Dann Thomas,[60] who, as come to some sort of agreement at that time
Roy Thomas noted in 1999 became the rst woman ever or at least parted under more amicable circum-
to receive scripting credit on the worlds foremost super- stances. I leave it to you to decide if we should
heroine.[53] ever make any attempt to rectify that situation;
certainly I've never been a grudge-carrier in
Thomas realized a childhood dream in writing the Justice
other cases....[70]
Society of America (JSA). Reviving the Golden Age
group in Justice League of America #193 and continu-
By 1986, Thomas had begun writing for Marvels New
ing in All-Star Squadron,[61] he wrote retro adventures,
Universe line, beginning with Spitre and the Trou-
like those of The Invaders, set in World War II. In
bleshooters #5 (Feb. 1987). He then embarked on a
addition to the JSAs high-prole heroes, Thomas re-
multi-issue run of Nightmask, co-scripted by his wife
vived such characters as Liberty Belle, Johnny Quick, the
Dann Thomas. He went on to script titles starring Doctor
Shining Knight, Robotman, Firebrand, the Tarantula, and
Strange, Thor, the Avengers West Coast, and Conan, of-
Neptune Perkins.[12] He used the series to address the
ten co-scripting with Dann Thomas or Jean-Marc Lof-
complicated and sometimes contradictory continuity is-
cier.[12]
sues surrounding the JSA.[62]
During the following decade, Thomas began working
In 1983, Thomas and artist Jerry Ordway created Innity,
less for Marvel and DC than for independent companies.
Inc., a group composed of the JSAs children. The char-
[63] He wrote issues of the TV-series tie-ins Xena: Warrior
acters debuted in All-Star Squadron #25 (Sept. 1983)
[64] Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys for Topps
and were launched in their own series in March 1984.
Comics.[12] Additionally, he began writing more for other
Thomas wrote several limited series for DC including
media, including television, and relaunched Alter Ego as
America vs. the Justice Society,[65] Jonni Thunder a.k.a.
a formal magazine published by TwoMorrows Publishing
Thunderbolt, Shazam! The New Beginning, and Crimson
in 1999. In 2005, he earned a masters degree in Human-
Avenger. From 1986 to 1988, Thomas contributed to the
ities from California State University.[1]
Secret Origins series[66] and wrote most of the stories in-
volving the Golden Age characters including Superman With Marvels four-issue miniseries Stokers Dracula
and Batman.[67] In 1986, DC decided to write o the JSA (Oct. 2004 May 2005), Thomas and artist Dick Gior-
from active continuity. A one-shot issue titled The Last dano completed an adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel
Days of the Justice Society involved most of the JSA bat- Dracula, which the duo had begun 30 years earlier in 10-
tling the forces of evil while merged with the Norse gods to 12-page installments, beginning with Marvels black-
in an ever-repeating Ragnarok-like Limbo was written by and-white horror-comics magazine Dracula Lives! #5
Thomas, with art by David Ross.[68] Young All-Stars re- (March 1974). They had completed 76 pages, compris-
placed All-Star Squadron following the changes to DCs ing roughly one-third of the novel, through issues #6
continuity brought about by the Crisis on Innite Earths 8 and 1011 and Marvel Preview #8 (The Legion of
[12]
limited series. Thomass last major project for DC was an Monsters), before Marvel canceled Dracula Lives and
[71]
adaptation of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle drawn by Gil later many of its other black-and-whites.
Kane and published in 19891990. Since then, Thomas Anthem, a comic book series by Thomas and artists
has written a trio of Elseworlds one-shots combining DC Daniel Acua, Jorge Santamaria Garcia and Benito Gal-
characters with classic cinema and literature: Supermans lego, about World War II superheroes in an alternate re-
Metropolis, Superman: War of the Worlds, and JLA: The ality, began publication by Heroic Publishing in January
Island of Dr. Moreau.[12] 2006. Thomas returned to Red Sonja in 2006, writing
the one-shot Red Sonja: Monster Isle for Dynamite En-
tertainment. In 2007 Thomas wrote a Black Knight story
2.3 Later career
for the four-issue miniseries Mystic Arcana.[12][72]
Thomas and Gerry Conway collaborated on the screen- From 20072010 Thomas returned to Marvel to write a
plays for two movies: the animated feature Fire and Ice number of adaptations of classic literature for the im-
(1983) and Conan the Destroyer (1984).[69] In that lat- print Marvel Illustrated, including The Last of the Mo-
ter year, Thomas sent Jim Shooter a letter in which he hicans (2007), The Man in the Iron Mask (20072008),

Treasure Island (20072008), The Iliad (2008), Moby-
Dick (2008), The Picture of Dorian Gray (2008), The
Three Musketeers (20082009), and Kidnapped (2009).
In 2010, Marvel Illustrated released a collection of all the
Dracula material adapted by Thomas and Giordano, orig-
inally published in the 1970s and mid-2000s.
In 2012 he teamed with artists Mike Hawthorne and Dan
Panosian on Dark Horses Conan:The Road of Kings,
which lasted 12 issues. In 2014, he wrote 75 Years
of Marvel: From the Golden Age to the Silver Screen
for Taschen, a 700-page hardcover history of Marvel
Comics.[73][74] The following year, he compiled three
volumes of World War II-era comics stories featuring
Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman for Chartwell
Books.[75]
He serves on the Disbursement Committee of the comic-
book industry charity The Hero Initiative.[76]
3 Awards
1969: Alley Award for Best Writer[77]
1971: Shazam Award for Best Writer (Dramatic
Division)[78]
1971: Goethe Award for Favorite Pro Writer[79]
1973: Shazam Award for Best Individual Story
(Song of Red Sonja, with artist Barry Smith, in
Conan the Barbarian #24)[80]
1973: Goethe Award for Favorite Pro Writer
1973: Goethe Award for Favorite Pro Editor
1974: Shazam for Superior Achievement by an
Individual[81]
1974: Angoulme International Comics Festival
Award for Best Foreign Author[82]
1974: Inkpot Award[83]
1974: Comic Fan Art Award for Favorite Pro
Editor[79]
1975: Comic Fan Art Award for Favorite Pro Writer
1975: Comic Fan Art Award for Favorite Pro Editor
1977: Favourite Comicbook Writer at the Eagle
Awards[84]
1977: Nomination: Favourite Single Comicbook
Story at the Eagle Awards for Fantastic Four #176:
Improbable as It May Seem the Impossible Man is
Back in Town with penciler George Prez[84]
1978: Nomination: Favourite Writer at the Eagle
Awards[85]
5
1978: Nomination: Favourite Continued Story at
the Eagle Awards for Star Wars #16 with George
Lucas and Howard Chaykin[85]
1979: Nomination: Best Comic Book Writer (US)
at the Eagle Awards[86]
1979: Nomination: Best Continued Story at
the Eagle Awards for Thor #272278 with John
Buscema[86]
1980: Roll of Honour at the Eagle Awards[87]
1985: Named as one of the honorees by DC Comics
in the companys 50th anniversary publication Fifty
Who Made DC Great.[88]
1996: Author That We Loved at the Haxtur
Awards[89]
2011: Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame[90]
4 Bibliography
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
5 References
[1] Roy Thomas Checklist Alter Ego Vol. 3 #50 (July 2005)
p. 16
[2] Comics Buyers Guide #1636 (December 2007) p. 135
[3] Thomas in Currie, Dave. Roy Thomas. Comic Creators
in Conversation. Archived from the original on January
23, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
[4] The Avengers Annual #1 (1967), biographical text page
[5] Interview with Roy Thomas. The Comics Journal (61):
79. Winter 1981.
[6] Roy Thomas interview (July 2005). "'Roy the Boy' in the
Marvel Age of Comics. Alter Ego. 3 (50). p. 4.
[7] Stan the Man & Roy the Boy: A Conversation Between
Stan Lee and Roy Thomas. Comic Book Artist (2). Sum-
mer 1998. Archived from the original on November 14,
2009.
[8] Thomas, The Comics Journal #61, p. 80
[9] " 'Roy the Boy' in the Marvel Age of Comics, pp. 45
[10] Alter Ego vol. 3, #50, p. 8
[11] DeFalco, Tom; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2008). 1960s.
Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United
Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 111. ISBN 978-
0756641238.
[12] Roy Thomas at the Grand Comics Database
6 5
[13] Alter Ego vol. 3, #50, pp. 910
[14] Thomas, The Comics Journal #61, p. 78
[15] Alter Ego vol. 3, #50, p. 37
[16] Thomas (interviewer) in So You Want a Job, Eh? The
Gene Colan Interview, Alter Ego vol. 3, #6 (Autumn
2000) pp. 1314
[17] "Bullpen Bulletins" page, Brilliant Bits of Block-Busting
Bombast Straight from your Blushin' Bullpen!" in Marvel
Comics cover-dated March 1969, including The Incredi-
ble Hulk vol. 2, #113
[18] Stiles, Steve. The Groundbreaking Neal Adams.
SteveStiles.com (ocial site). Archived from the original
on July 16, 2011. Additional WebCitation archive.
[19] Schumer, Arlen (Winter 1999). Neal Adams: The Mar-
vel Years. Comic Book Artist. Raleigh, North Carolina:
TwoMorrows Publishing (3). Archived from the original
on October 29, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
[20] For example: Hill, Shawn, "Essential Avengers v4 (re-
view), Comics Bulletin, February 15, 2006, re: the Kree-
Skrull War arc: This story set the standard for years to
come, even if it has since been surpassed (WebCitation
archive); and Sanderson, Peter. Marvel Universe (Harry
N. Abrams, 1998) ISBN 0-8109-8171-8, ISBN 978-0-
8109-8171-3, p. 127: Running nine issues, much of it
spectacularly illustrated by Neal Adams, the Kree-Skrull
War had no precedent in comics.... With this story The
Avengers unquestionably established its reputation as one
of Marvels leading books"; and Stiles, re: X-Men: Even
knowing that the book was slated for the axe, Adams
poured out some of the nest, most innovative work of
his career.
[21] Sanderson, Peter 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 146:
""Writer Roy Thomas and British artist Barry Smith
(later known as Barry Windsor-Smith) launched Marvels
sword-and-sorcery comics with Conan the Barbarian, in a
series that ran for 275 issues.
[22] Daniels, Les (1991). Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of
the Worlds Greatest Comics. New York, New York: Harry
N. Abrams. p. 148. ISBN 9780810938212.
[23] Thomas, Roy; Buscema, Sal; Adams, Neal; Buscema,
John (2000). Avengers: The Kree-Skrull War. Marvel
Comics. p. 208. ISBN 978-0785107453.
[24] Daniels p. 150: This wild tale...attempted to tie together
more than thirty years of the companys stories...More
than any previous work, 'The Kree-Skrull War' solidied
the idea that every comic book Marvel had ever published
was part of an endless, ongoing saga.
[25] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 150: Unprece-
dented in Marvel history, this epic spanned nine issues of
The Avengers. The saga began in The Avengers #89.
[26] Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012).
1970s. Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years
of Web-Slinging. London, United Kingdom: Dorling
Kindersley. p. 59. ISBN 978-0756692360. In the rst is-
sue of The Amazing Spider-Man to be written by someone
REFERENCES
other than Stan Lee...Thomas also managed to introduce
a major new player to Spideys life the scientically cre-
ated vampire known as Morbius.
[27] Manning 1970s in Gilbert (2012), p. 60: Spider-Man
was a proven hit, so Marvel decided to expand the wall-
crawlers horizons with a new Spider-Man title...Its rst
issue featured Spidey teaming up with the Human Torch
against the Sandman in a Christmas tale written by Roy
Thomas with art by Ross Andru.
[28] DeFalco 1960s in Gilbert (2008), p. 131: A precursor
of the unstoppable robot in the Terminator lms, Ultron
sprang from the minds of writer Roy Thomas and artist
John Buscema.
[29] Walker, Karen (February 2010). Ultron: The Black
Sheep of the Avengers Family. Back Issue!. Raleigh,
North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (38): 2330.
[30] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 178: Danvers
rst appeared in March 1968, as a NASA security chief
in the Captain Mar-Vell story in Marvel Super-Heroes #13,
and was originally created by writer Roy Thomas and artist
Gene Colan.
[31] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 154: ""Roy
Thomas came up with the idea for a series called 'I, Were-
wolf', narrated in the rst person by a teenager who trans-
formed into a werewolf. Stan Lee liked the concept but
decided to name it 'Werewolf by Night'. The initial cre-
ative team on the series was scripter Gerry Conway and
artist Mike Ploog.
[32] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 159: Roy
Thomas conceived the initial idea of an alternate-future
Earth sequel to H. G. Wells classic science ction novel
The War of the Worlds...Neal Adams plotted the rst story
with a script by Gerry Conway and art by Adams and
Howard Chaykin.
[33] DeFalco 1960s in Gilbert (2008), p. 132: The updated
Vision was created by writer Roy Thomas, who contin-
ued his trick of taking a name that Marvel already owned
and creating a new super hero around it...The new Vision,
drawn by John Buscema, was a synthozoid an android
with synthetic human organs.
[34] DeFalco 1960s in Gilbert (2008), p. 133
[35] DeFalco 1960s in Gilbert (2008), p. 128: "[Thomas]
often employed a name that Marvel already owned and
built a new character around it. Such was the case with
the Black Knight.
[36] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 155
[37] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 157: Septem-
ber [1972] witnessed a new generation taking command
at Marvel Comics. Roy Thomas not only became writer
of 'The Worlds Greatest Comic Magazine' with Fantas-
tic Four #126, but also simultaneously became Marvels
Editor-in-Chief.
[38] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 151: "[Roy]
Thomas and artist Ross Andru reunited [Doctor] Strange,
the Hulk, and Namor as a brand new Marvel superhero
team the Defenders.

[39] DeAngelo, Daniel (July 2013). The Not-Ready-For-
Super-Team Players A History of the Defenders. Back
Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing
(65): 35.
[40] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 170: In 1975,
Thomas and adventure comic strip artist Frank Robbins
created the Invaders.
[41] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 156: Co-
created by editor Roy Thomas, writer Gary Friedrich, and
artist Mike Ploog, the new Ghost Rider was Johnny Blaze,
a motorcycle stunt performer.
[42] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 165: Mar-
vel combined the superhero and martial arts genres when
writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane created Iron Fist
in Marvel Premiere #15.
[43] Jim Shooter Interview, Part 1. ComicBookRe-
sources.com. October 6, 2000. Archived from the origi-
nal on October 17, 2010. We had been losing money for
several years in the publishing. And y'know, actually a lot
of credit should go to Roy Thomas, who kicking and
screaming had dragged Marvel into doing Star Wars. If
we hadn't done Star Wars what was that, '77? well, we
would have gone out of business. Additional WebCitation
archive.
[44] McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010).
1970s. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.
London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 165.
ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The Yellow Brick Road from
Munchkin Land to the Emerald City was also wide enough
to accommodate DC and Marvel as they produced their
rst-ever joint publication...Roy Thomas scripted a faith-
ful, seventy-two-page adaptation of Dorothy Gales ad-
venture, while John Buscemas artwork depicted the land-
scape of Oz in lavish detail.
[45] Sanderson 1970s in Gilbert (2008), p. 179: Writer
Roy Thomas and artist John Buscema created Marvels
new Tarzan series, based on author Edgar Rice Burroughs
character.
[46] Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014).
1980s. Batman: A Visual History. London, United
Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 139. ISBN 978-
1465424563. Batman #337 Gerry Conway was assisted
by writer Roy Thomas and the pencils of Jos Luis Garca-
Lpez in this issue that introduced Batman to the new
threat of the Snowman.
[47] Manning 1980s in Dougall, p. 139: Batman #340
Writers Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas collaborated
with artist Gene Colan for the dramatic return of the Mole,
an old Batman villain given a serious upgrade.
[48] Catron, Michael (June 1981). Thomas Revives WWII
Superheroes. Amazing Heroes. Seattle, Washington:
Fantagraphics Books (1): 2830. All-Star Squadron, DCs
new World War II-era superhero series debuts in May in a
16-page preview insert in Justice League of America #193.
[49] Catron, Michael (June 1981). Thomass Indian/Viking
to Roam Medieval Europe. Amazing Heroes. Seattle,
7
Washington: Fantagraphics Books (1): 2830. Arak, Son
of Thunder, described as an 'Indian/Viking,' makes his
debut in a preview insert in Warlord #48, on sale in May.
[50] Sanderson, Peter (SeptemberOctober 1981).
Thomas/Colan Premiere Wonder Womans New
Look. Comics Feature. New Media Publishing (12/13):
23. The hotly-debated new Wonder Woman uniform
will be bestowed on the Amazon Princess in her rst
adventure written and drawn by her new creative team:
Roy Thomas and Gene Colan...This story will appear as
an insert in DC Comics Presents #41.
[51] Manning, Matthew K. 1980s in Dolan, p. 196: "The
New Teen Titans #16 In a sixteen-page bonus preview
insert in the middle of The New Teen Titans...was the de-
but story of Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew.
[52] Catron, Michael (August 1981). Personal Notes. Amaz-
ing Heroes. Seattle, Washington: Fantagraphics Books
(3): 23.
[53] Thomas, Roy The Secret Origins of Innity, Inc. Alter
Ego Vol. 3 #1 (Summer 1999) TwoMorrows Publishing
p. 27
[54] Thomas, Roy Roy Thomas Checklist Alter Ego (Vol. 3)
#50 (July 2005) TwoMorrows Publishing p. 23
[55] Thomas, Roy. The Justice League-Justice Society Team-
Ups The All-Star Companion TwoMorrows Publishing
2000 ISBN 1-893905-05-5 pp. 191192
[56] Thomas, Roy Crisis on Finite Earths The Justice League-
Justice Society Team-Ups (19631985)" Alter Ego, vol. 3,
#7 (Winter 2001) TwoMorrows Publishing, pp. 3134
[57] Shaw, Scott Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!
Vol. 1, No. 1, OddBallComics.com #1180, October 8,
2007
[58] George Prez interview, David Anthony Krafts Comics In-
terview #6 (Fictioneer, Aug. 1983).
[59] O'Neill, Patrick Daniel. Career Moves (Prez inter-
view), Wizard #35 (July 1994).
[60] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 200: The Amazing
Amazon was joined by a host of DCs greatest heroes
to celebrate her 300th issue in a seventy-two-page block-
buster...Written by Roy and Dann Thomas, and penciled
by Gene Colan, Ross Andru, Jan Duursema, Dick Gior-
dano, Keith Pollard, Keith Gien, and Rich Buckler.
[61] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 195: The creative team
of writer Roy Thomas and artist Rich Buckler on All-
Star Squadron oered readers a nostalgic glimpse back in
time, albeit through the slightly distorted lens of Earth-2s
history.
[62] One of Thomass goals is to resolve problems in past
Earth-2 continuity. as noted in From Here to Inn-
ity Sanderson, Peter Amazing Heroes #36 (December 1,
1983) p. 47
8 6
[63] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 203: The children of the
original Justice Society of America made their smash de-
but in this issue by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Jerry
Ordway...All-Star Squadron #25 marked the rst appear-
ances of future cult-favorite heroes Jade, Obsidian, Fury,
Brainwave Jr., the Silver Scarab, Northwind, and Nuk-
lon.
[64] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 207: Written by DCs [79] Thomas entry, Whos Who in Comic Books: 19281999.
Golden Age guru Roy Thomas and drawn by Jerry Ord-
way, Innity, Inc. was released in DCs new deluxe format
on bright Baxter paper.
[65] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 212: In this limited series
by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Rafael Kayanan, the
JSA was taken to trial following a modern-day witchhunt.
[66] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 218: The heroes of the
DC Universe got a little more exposed thanks to the new
ongoing eort Secret Origins, a title oering new inter-
pretations to the backgrounds of some of comics biggest
icons. [Its] debut issue featur[ed] the origin of the rst
true super-hero the Golden Age Superman by writer
Roy Thomas and illustrator Wayne Boring.
[67] Manning 1980s in Dougall, p. 162: Earth-Two Bat-
mans history was chronicled by writer Roy Thomas and
artist Marshall Rogers.
[68] Manning 1980s in Dolan, p. 221: The worlds rst
super-team saw its adventures come to a temporary end
thanks to its biggest fan. Writer/editor Roy Thomas ac-
knowledged that, after...the Crisis maxiseries, the JSA
seemed no longer relevant.
[69] Roy Thomas Checklist p. 17
[70] Shooter, Jim (August 18, 2011). Writer/Editors Part
6: Years Later. JimShooter.com (ocial site). Archived
from the original on September 5, 2011.
[71] Weiland, Jonah (September 30, 2004). 30 Years of Hor-
ror: Editor Beazley talks the return of Stokers Dracula".
ComicBookResources.com. Archived from the original
on September 5, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2011.
[72] Smith, Zack (February 24, 2007). NYCC '07/D2: Mar-
vel Magic Gets Spotlight in Mystic Arcana". Newsarama.
Archived from the original on October 13, 2007.
[73] Wilson, Matt D. (July 9, 2014). Roy Thomas And
Taschen Drop 700-Page Hardcover Celebrating 75 Years
Of Marvel Comics". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the
original on August 21, 2014.
[74] Melrose, Kevin (July 8, 2014). Taschen and Roy Thomas
chronicle 75 Years of Marvel". Comic Book Resources.
Archived from the original on September 25, 2014.
[75] Johnston, Rich (July 24, 2015). Roy Thomas Tells The
War Years Of Batman, Superman And Wonder Woman.
Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on October 27,
2015.
[76] Hero Initiative Board Members Disbursement Commit-
tee. The Hero Initiative. 2013. Archived from the origi-
nal on June 21, 2013.
EXTERNAL LINKS
[77] 1969 Alley Awards. Hahn Library Comic Book Awards
Almanac. n.d. Archived from the original on September
10, 2015.
[78] 1971 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards. Hahn Li-
brary Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from
the original on September 5, 2015.
Accessed Feb. 3, 2016.
[80] 1973 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards. Hahn Li-
brary Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from
the original on September 8, 2015.
[81] 1974 Academy of Comic Book Arts Awards. Hahn Li-
brary Comic Book Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from
the original on September 5, 2015.
[82] Bullpen Bulletins page, Wondrously Witty Words
From a Woomful of Wombats!" in Marvel Comics
cover-dated October 1974: Our own Rascally Roy
Thomas...was recently awarded an Alfred by the rst
International Comic-Strip Congress at Angouleme,
France...The award was given to Roy as best comics
writer in a foreign language. Sheesh! And here all these
years he thought he was writing in English!"
[83] Inkpot Award Winners. Hahn Library Comic Book
Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on July 9,
2012.
[84] Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1977. Eagle Awards.
2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
Retrieved November 3, 2013.
[85] Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1978. Eagle Awards.
2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
Retrieved November 3, 2013.
[86] Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1979. Eagle Awards.
2013. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
Retrieved November 3, 2013.
[87] Eagle Awards Previous Winners 1980. Eagle Awards.
1980. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
Retrieved November 3, 2013.
[88] Marx, Barry, Cavalieri, Joey and Hill, Thomas (w),
Petruccio, Steven (a), Marx, Barry (ed). Roy Thomas
From Fan to Professional Fifty Who Made DC Great: 33
(1985), DC Comics
[89] 1996 Haxtur Awards. Hahn Library Comic Book
Awards Almanac. n.d. Archived from the original on May
14, 2015.
[90] 2010s Eisner Award Recipients. San Diego Comic-
Con International. 2015. Archived from the original on
September 5, 2015.
6 External links
Roy Thomas at the Comic Book DB
Roy Thomas at Mikes Amazing World of Comics
 9

Roy Thomas at the Internet Movie Database

Roy Thomas at the Unocial Handbook of Marvel

Comics Creators

Roy Thomas interview (May 2001). Son of Stan:

Roys Years of Horror Marvels Editor-in-Chief
discusses the '70s macabre mags. Comic Book
Artist (13). Archived from the original on June 29,
2011. Additional WebCitation archive.
10 7 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

7 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

7.1 Text
Roy Thomas Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Thomas?oldid=763177302 Contributors: Paul A, John K, Michael Rawdon,
Robbot, Lowellian, Timrollpickering, Anym, Gtrmp, Gamaliel, Beardo, Alvestrand, MistToys, Cjewell, D6, SoM, Bender235, Howard
Drake~enwiki, TMC1982, CDN99, AKGhetto, Thanos6, Giraedata, DCEdwards1966, Pearle, Pfahlstrom, BDD, Jerey O. Gustafson,
Bjones, Tabletop, Stefanomione, BD2412, Nightscream, TracBenBoy, Matt Deres, A Man In Black, Who, Bgwhite, Roygbiv666, Russ-
Bot, Tenebrae, Jamie B, Tony1, CLW, ElHornberg, Deville, ChrisGriswold, Fram, CapPixel, Garion96, Sugar Bear, That Guy, From
That Show!, Attilios, SmackBot, T.A.O., Cooksey87, Chris the speller, Bluebot, Jm307, Chlewbot, JMLocier, Deathpie, Badbilltucker,
Zen611, Phillg, Salamurai, Marcus Brute, Zahid Abdassabur, Shsh, Redmosquito720, Shiai, Redeagle688, Doczilla, Eduardo Corra, Dr-
warpmind, ChrisCork, H3G3M0N, Fordmadoxfraud, Cydebot, CovenantD, Kmcneil, Lugnuts, Ttenchantr, HelenKMarks, Stoshmaster,
JustAGal, Icarus 23, Scottandrewhutchins, RobotG, Jgbook2007, J Greb, TAnthony, MegX, Mark Staeri, Magioladitis, Murgh, Hulla-
balloo Wolfowitz, Gwern, Lilac Soul, Gothamgazette, Seanviola, Spshu, Kengaroo, WOSlinker, Natg 19, Sesshomaru, Truthvaliant, Das-
Booch, Leocomix, StaticGull, Locaracle, Martarius, DuaneThomas, ClueBot, Wedineinheck, All Hallows Wraith, Niceguyedc, XLinkBot,
Kbdankbot, Addbot, Warrentim, H92Bot, Lightbot, Mtminchi08, Contributor777, Luckas-bot, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Jamalfreeman, Green
Cardamom, FrescoBot, Fortdj33, D'ohBot, Full-date unlinking bot, EmausBot, Asw138, Dewritech, GoingBatty, SporkBot, Helpful Pixie
Bot, BG19bot, Fluyroll11, Argento Surfer, BattyBot, Johnny Nevada, Khazar2, VIAFbot, Peterjhobbs, Alexwho314, Doctordoom61,
ComicsAreJustAllRight, Rsh0878, KasparBot, GreenC bot and Anonymous: 68

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