J. Michael Straczynski | |
|---|---|
 Straczynski in 2008 | |
| Born | Joseph Michael Straczynski (1954-07-17)July 17, 1954 (age 71) Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Southwestern College (AA) San Diego State University (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | |
| Partner(s) | Patricia Tallman (2002–2013) |
Joseph Michael Straczynski, known asJ. Michael Straczynski (/strəˈzɪnski/;[1] born July 17, 1954) is an American filmmaker andcomic book writer. He is the founder of Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Studio JMS and is known as the creator of the science fiction television seriesBabylon 5 (1993–1998) and its spinoffCrusade (1999), as well as the seriesJeremiah (2002–2004) andSense8 (2015–2018).[2] He is theexecutor of theestate ofHarlan Ellison.[3]
Straczynski wrote the psychological drama filmChangeling (2008) and was co-writer on the martial arts thrillerNinja Assassin (2009), was one of the key writers for (and had a cameo in) Marvel'sThor (2011), as well as the horror filmUnderworld: Awakening (2012), and the apocalyptic horror filmWorld War Z (2013). From 2001 to 2007, Straczynski wroteMarvel Comics'The Amazing Spider-Man, followed by runs onThor andFantastic Four. He is the author of theSuperman: Earth One trilogy of graphic novels, and he has writtenSuperman,Wonder Woman, andBefore Watchmen forDC Comics. Straczynski is the creator and writer of several original comic book series such asRising Stars,Midnight Nation,Dream Police, andTen Grand throughJoe's Comics.
A prolific writer across a variety of media and former journalist, Straczynski is the author of the autobiographyBecoming Superman (2019) for HarperVoyager, the novelTogether We Will Go (2021) for Simon & Schuster, the instructionalBecoming a Writer, Staying a Writer (2021) for Benbella Books, and the novelThe Glass Box (2024) for Blackstone Publishing. In 2020 he was named Head of the Creative Council for the comics publishing company Artists, Writers and Artisans.
Straczynski is a long-time participant inUsenet and other early computer networks, interacting with fans through various online forums (includingGEnie,CompuServe, andAmerica Online) since 1984. He is credited as being the first TV producer to directly engage with fans on the Internet[4][5] and to allow viewer viewpoints to influence the look and feel of his show (seeBabylon 5's use of the Internet). Two prominent areas where he had a presence were GEnie and the newsgrouprec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.[6]
Straczynski was born inPaterson, New Jersey, and is the son of Charles Straczynski, a manual laborer, and Evelyn Straczynski (née Pate).[7] He was raised inNewark, New Jersey;Kankakee, Illinois;Dallas, Texas;Chula Vista, California, where he graduated from high school;[8][9] andSan Diego, California.[10] Straczynski's family religion wasCatholic although he is an atheist.[11] He hasPolish ancestry[12] and his grandparents lived in the area which today belongs toBelarus and fled to the United States from theRussian Revolution; his father was born in the United States and has lived in Poland, Germany and Russia.[12]
Straczynski began his postsecondary education atSouthwestern College, where he was mentored by Bill Virchis and received anAssociate of Arts degree. (Additionally, the two-year institution later awarded him an honorary degree.) Thereafter, he transferred to nearbySan Diego State University (SDSU), where he received aBachelor of Arts degree with a double major inpsychology andsociology (and minors inphilosophy and literature). While at SDSU, he wrote for the student newspaper,The Daily Aztec.
Straczynski metKathryn M. Drennan while they were at SDSU. They moved toLos Angeles in 1981, married in 1983,[13] separated in 1999, and they were divorced in 2001.[14][15] Sometime after his separation from Drennan, Straczynski entered into a relationship withPatricia Tallman, whom he had met when she was acting in his 1990s seriesBabylon 5.[16] She served as CEO and executive producer ofStudio JMS in partnership with him; both their relationship and partnership ended in 2013.[16][17]
Straczynski hasAsperger syndrome.[18] Straczynski had a voluntaryvasectomy when he turned 21, and wrote about the experience in the January 28, 1983 edition of theLos Angeles Reader.[19][20]
Straczynski began writing plays, having several produced atSouthwestern College andSan Diego State University before publishing his adaptation ofSnow White with Performance Publishing.[21] Several other plays were produced around San Diego, includingThe Apprenticeship for the Marquis Public Theater. During the late 1970s, Straczynski became the on-air entertainment reviewer for KSDO-FM and wrote several radio plays before being hired as a scriptwriter for the radio dramaAlien Worlds.[22][14] He produced his first television project in San Diego,Marty Sprinkle forKPBS-TV as well as worked on theXETV-TV projectDisasterpiece Theatre.[23] He worked as a journalist for theLos Angeles Times as a special San Diego correspondent and worked forSan Diego Magazine andThe San Diego Reader, and wrote for theLos Angeles Herald-Examiner, theLos Angeles Reader, TV-Cable Week, andPeople magazine.[14] Straczynski wroteThe Complete Book of Scriptwriting forWriter's Digest. Published in 1982, the book is often used as a text in introductory screenwriting courses,[24][25] and is in its third edition.
He spent five years from 1987 to 1992 co-hosting theHour 25 radiotalk show on KPFK-FM Los Angeles withLarry DiTillio. During his tenure, he interviewedJohn Carpenter,Neil Gaiman,Ray Bradbury,Harlan Ellison and other writers, producers, actors and directors. In 2000, Straczynski returned to radio drama withThe City of Dreams forscifi.com.
Straczynski was a fan of the cartoonHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He wrote aspec script in 1984 and sent it directly toFilmation.[26] Filmation purchased his script and several others, and hired him on staff. During this time he became friends withLarry DiTillio, and when Filmation produced theHe-Man spinoffShe-Ra: Princess of Power, they worked as story editors on the show.[27][28]
Straczynski and DiTillio worked to create an animated version ofElfquest, but that project fell through when CBS attempted to retool the show to appeal to younger audiences.[29]
While working onJayce, Straczynski was hired to come aboard theLen Janson andChuck Menville project to adapt the movieGhostbusters to an animated version calledThe Real Ghostbusters. When Janson and Menville learned that there was not only a 13-episode order but a 65-episode syndication order as well, they decided that the workload was too much and that they would only work on their own scripts.[30] DIC headJean Chalopin asked Straczynski to take on the task of story editing the entire 78-episode block as well as writing his own scripts.[30] After the show's successful first season, consultants were brought in to make suggestions for the show, including changing Janine to a more maternal character, giving every character a particular "job" (Peter is the funny one, Egon is the smart one, and Winston, the only black character, was to be the driver), and to add kids into the show.[30] Straczynski left at this point, Janson and Menville resuming the story editing job for the second network season. Straczynski then began development on a show calledSpiral Zone but left after only one script, taking his name off the series, because management drastically altered his conception of the show.[31]
After leaving animation, Straczynski freelanced forThe Twilight Zone writing an episode entitled "What Are Friends For" and, forShelley Duvall'sNightmare Classics, adaptingThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which was nominated for aWriter's Guild Award.
Straczynski was offered the position of story editor on the syndicated live-action science fiction seriesCaptain Power and the Soldiers of the Future. Straczynski constructed a season long arc with lasting character changes and wrote a third of the scripts himself. After one season, the toy companyMattel demanded more input into the show, causing Straczynski to quit. He recommended DiTillio to take over the job as story editor for a second season, but the toy company financing fell through and that season was never produced.[32]
Soon after, the1988 Writers Guild of America strike began. Straczynski metHarlan Ellison during this time and later became friends with him.[33][34] Straczynski is an executor of Ellison's collected works.
After the strike ended, the producers of the newTwilight Zone needed to create more episodes to be able to sell the series into syndication with a complete 65-episode package. They hired Straczynski as executive story editor to fill in the remaining number of needed episodes.
After leavingTwilight Zone, his agent of the time asked him to pitch for the showJake and the Fatman.[35] Initially wary, Straczynski finally did and was hired on as an executive story consultant underJeri Taylor andDavid Moessinger. When Taylor and Moessinger left the show, Straczynski left too as an act of solidarity.[36]
When Moessinger was hired as executive producer forMurder, She Wrote, he offered Straczynski a job as co-producer. Straczynski joinedMurder, She Wrote for two seasons and wrote seven produced episodes. Moessinger and Straczynski moved the protagonist, Jessica Fletcher, from the sleepy Maine town ofCabot Cove to New York City to revitalize the show. The move effectively brought the show back into the top ten from the mid-thirties where it had fallen.
Straczynski wrote one episode ofWalker, Texas Ranger for Moessinger between the pilot episode forBabylon 5 and the start of its first season.[37]
Straczynski wrote an adaptation ofRobert Louis Stevenson'sThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for theShowtime network, which was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award,[38] and aMurder, She Wrote movie,Murder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For, which he produced.
In late 1991,Warner Bros. contracted with Straczynski andDoug Netter as partners to produceBabylon 5 as the flagship program for the newPrime Time Entertainment Network.[39]
Straczynski and Netter hired many of the people fromCaptain Power, as well as hiring Ellison as a consultant and DiTillio as a story editor.Babylon 5 won twoEmmy Awards, back-to-backHugo Awards, and dozens of other awards. Straczynski wrote 92 of the 110episodes, as well as the pilot and five television movies. The show is a character-drivenspace opera and features an intentional emphasis on realism in its portrayal of space operations. It pioneered extensive use ofCGI for itsspecial effects.Babylon 5 was produced and broadcast for five seasons completing Stracynski's planned story arc.
He wrote the outlines for nine of thecanonicalBabylon 5 novels, supervised the three producedBabylon 5 telefilm novelizations (In the Beginning,Thirdspace, andA Call to Arms), and is the author of fourBabylon 5 short stories published in magazines, not yet reprinted (as of 2008[update]).
In 2005, Straczynski began publishing hisBabylon 5 scripts.[40] This process ended in June 2008, with the scripts no longer being available from the end of July of that year. His scripts for the television movies were published for a limited time in January 2009.[41]
Straczynski has long been a comic fan and began writing comics in the late 1980s. His work in comics includes the adaptations ofCaptain Power and the Soldiers of the Future,The Twilight Zone,Star Trek, andBabylon 5. In 1999 he createdRising Stars forTop Cow/Image Comics.
Marvel Comics signed him to an exclusive contract, beginning with a run onThe Amazing Spider-Man, from 2001 to 2007. He took over the series with Volume 2 issue #30 (cover dated June 2001).[42] Straczynski and artistJohn Romita Jr. crafted an acclaimed story forThe Amazing Spider-Man #36 (Dec. 2001) in response to theSeptember 11 attacks.[43] He wrote or co-wrote several major Spider-Man story arcs including "Spider-Man: The Other",[44] "Back in Black",[45] and the infamous "One More Day".[46] He later wrote several other Marvel titles includingSupreme Power,[47]Strange,[48]Fantastic Four,Thor,[49] and mini-series featuring the Silver Surfer and a "What If" scenario,Bullet Points.
Straczynski ranJeremiah, loosely based on the Belgianpost-apocalyptic comicJeremiah, from 2002–2004. Straczynski ran the series for two seasons but was frustrated with the conflicting directions thatMGM andShowtime wanted from the show,[50] and even used the pseudonym "Fettes Grey" for the first time sinceSpiral Zone on one of the scripts. In the second season, Straczynski decided to leave the show if things did not improve,[51] and the show ended after two seasons.
Straczynski wroteChangeling, a psychological drama film based partly on the"Wineville Chicken Coop" kidnapping and murder case inLos Angeles,California. Directed byClint Eastwood, produced byRon Howard, and starringAngelina Jolie, the film premiered in 2008 and subsequently received eight nominations for theBAFTA Award, including a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.[52] The first draft script was written in eleven days, after Straczynski figured out "how to tell" the story,[53] which ended up being the shooting draft, after Eastwood declined to make any changes.[54] It was optioned immediately by Howard, who at first intended to direct the film but later stepped down after scheduling conflicts.[53]
At first, Straczynski expressed disbelief at the story,[55] but spent a year researching the case, compiling over six thousands pages of documentation. Straczynski claimed that 95% of the script's content came from the historical record,[56] and went through the script withUniversal Studios's legal department, providing attribution for every scene so the film would be described as "a true story" rather than "based on" one. On how his journalistic background helped him write the film, Straczynski stated:
It was hugely important. Usually, when you're asked to tell a true story in film, there's already an article or something where the legwork's been done. In this case, there was nothing available. It was all primary research—City Hall archives, county courthouse archives, criminal records, hospital records. I just sifted through stuff, often spending a whole day paging through records just to find one reference.[57]
Straczynski announced on February 23, 2007, that he had been hired to write the feature film adaptation ofMax Brooks's novelWorld War Z forParamount Pictures and production companyPlan B Entertainment, taking screen story credit on the finished film.[58]
In 2008, Straczynski wrote a draft ofNinja Assassin forJoel Silver, which he completed in just 53 hours.[59] The film was produced byThe Wachowskis and released on November 25, 2009.[60][61]
Straczynski is credited as "story writer" along withMark Protosevich for the 2011 film,Thor.[62] He makes acameo appearance in the film,[63] his first appearance in a movie and his second appearance as an actor (the first being "Sleeping in Light", the final episode ofBabylon 5).[64] Straczynski was part of the writers room (along withTerry Rossio, Patrick McKay, J. D. Payne, Lindsey Beer, Cat Vasko,T. S. Nowlin, and Jack Paglen) to developGodzilla vs. Kong, though was uncredited on the final script.[65]
When his exclusive contract with Marvel ended, he was announced as the writer for a run onThe Brave and the Bold forDC Comics.[66] He collaborated with artistShane Davis on an out-of-continuity original graphic novel starringSuperman titledSuperman: Earth One.[67][68] The story features a young Superman and focus on his decision about the role he wants to assume in life.[69] On March 8, 2010, it was announced he would be taking over writing duties for the monthlySuperman title[70] with a story arc entitled "Grounded", and theWonder Woman title, beginning with issues 701 and 601 respectively.[71][72] Less than a year later he was asked by DC to step away from both titles in order to concentrate on the second volume ofSuperman: Earth One and handed them over toChris Roberson andPhil Hester to finish his Superman and Wonder Woman stories respectively. In 2012, Straczynski wroteBefore Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan drawn byAdam Hughes andBefore Watchmen: Nite Owl drawn byAndy Kubert andJoe Kubert.[73][74] A second volume ofSuperman: Earth One was released later that same year.[75]
AtSan Diego Comic-Con in 2015, DC Comics announcedThe Flash: Earth One, a new graphic novel of itsEarth One line to be written by Straczynski, set to be published in 2016.[76][77][78] As of 2023, it has still not been published.
In July 2012, J. Michael Straczynski announced the launch ofStudio JMS to produce TV series, movies, comics and, in the future, games and web series.[79] On March 27, 2013, Netflix announced they would produce the showSense8 with Studio JMS andThe Wachowskis, which aired on June 5, 2015, and earned a season 2 announcement by August 10, 2015.[80]
TheJoe's Comics line was revived atImage Comics in 2013 with the launch ofTen Grand drawn byBen Templesmith[81] andSidekick drawn byTom Mandrake.[82]
Dynamite Entertainment announced in July 2013 a new 12 issueThe Twilight Zone comic book series penned by Straczynski.[83] The series ran for its projected 12 issues, from December 2013 to February 2015, with art by Guiu Vilanova. Straczynski was announced as the writer ofTerminator Salvation: The Final Battle, a 12 issue comic book series from Dark Horse Comics, along with artist Pete Woods.[84]
Sense8, a science fiction television series created by Straczynski andThe Wachowskis was ordered straight-to-series by Netflix in March 2013.[85]Sense8's first season debuted in June 2015 on Netflix, fromStudio JMS andGeorgeville Television. Straczynski executive produced and co-wrote all 12 episodes of the first season with fellow creators, executive producers, and directors Lilly and Lana Wachowski.[80] In August 2015, Netflix renewedSense8 for a second season.[86]
In 2020, Straczynski was named head of the Creative Council for the new comics publishing companyAWA, where he was responsible for creating the shared universe used by many of its writers.[87]
Following the publication of his autobiographyBecoming Superman in 2019 fromHarperVoyager, the novelTogether We Will Go was published in 2021 by Simon & Schuster's Scout Press, and the instructionalBecoming A Writer, Staying A Writer was published in 2021 by Benbella Books.[88] In 2024 he published the novel The Glass Box (2024) Blackstone Publishing.
In 2022, Straczynski announced that a reboot of his seriesBabylon 5 was in the works at The CW, with the pilot script written by him. Following a buy-out of the CW by NextStar and strike action by the WGA, work on the project was stalled.[89]
In 2023, it was announced by Straczynski that a fully animatedBabylon 5 feature film,Babylon 5: The Road Home, had been produced in secret and was scheduled for release in the summer of that year, reunited the surviving members of the original cast. It was released in August 2023.
Across 2021 and 2022, Straczynski contributed short stories to several anthology and milestone editions of comics published by Marvel Comics, this led to him writing a mystery six issue event mini-series for the publisher. In June 2023, it was announced Straczynski would write the next volume ofCaptain America, beginning in September of that year.[90] Straczynski also returned to theSpider-Man franchise around this time, contributing a short story to the anthology mini-seriesSpider-Man: Black Suit & Blood as well as penning guest appearances by the character in storylines forCaptain America.
In October of 2024, Straczynski confirmed on social media that he would be departingCaptain America in December of that year, while the mystery six-part event announced some years back was ultimately revealed that same month as being an anthology series pairing up two different 'unlikely' Marvel characters per issue.
Strazynski would announce in spring of 2025 that he would be returning to Spider-Man to pen a five issue mini-series,Torn, set during Peter Parker's days spent at Empire State University. The book would launch in October.
In 2004, Straczynski was approached byParamount Studios to become a producer of theStar Trek: Enterprise series. He declined, believing that he would not be allowed to take the show in the direction he felt it should go.[91] He did write a treatment for a newStar Trek series with colleagueBryce Zabel.[92]
After bothBabylon 5 andJeremiah ended, Straczynski transitioned to working as a feature film screenwriter. In 2006, he was hired to write a feature film based on the story ofKing David for Universal by producersErwin Stoff andAkiva Goldsman.[93] In June 2007, it was announced that Straczynski had written a feature screenplay for theSilver Surfer movie for Fox, the production of which would depend on the success of theFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.[94] Additionally, he has written a script forTom Hanks' Playtone Productions and Universal Pictures calledThey Marched into Sunlight based upon the Pulitzer nominated novel of the same name and an outline byPaul Greengrass, for Greengrass to direct, should it get a greenlight.[95]
In June 2008,Daily Variety named Straczynski one of the top Ten Screenwriters to Watch. They announced Straczynski was writingLensman forRon Howard (to whom he had sold a screenplay entitledThe Flickering Light), that he was selling another spec,Proving Ground, toTom Cruise andUnited Artists.[59] In October 2008, it was announced that Straczynski was engaged to pen a remake of the science fiction classicForbidden Planet.[96] In the fall of 2009, it was reported that Straczynski was writing a movie titledShattered Union forJerry Bruckheimer and Disney. The screenplay, based on the video game of that name, concerns itself with a present-day Americancivil war.[97][98]
In October 2012, Valiant Entertainment announced a live-action feature film adaptation on its comic book seriesShadowman, written and executive produced by Straczynski.[99]The Flickering Light, Straczynski's directorial debut, was announced in February 2013, with the World War II drama set to be written and produced by Straczynski through his Studio JMS.[100] Straczynski and Studio JMS optionedHarlan Ellison's short story"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman, who granted the option only after reading a finished screenplay written by Straczynski.[101]
At San Diego Comic-Con in 2014, it was announced that Straczynski and Graphic India would team up withChernin Entertainment to produce a feature film adaptation of his upcoming graphic novelTitans, to be written and produced by Straczynski, through Studio JMS.[102]
Straczynski was hired to adaptRed Mars forSpike TV, based on theKim Stanley Robinson novels, withVince Gerardis as producer.[103] In December 2015, Spike TV gave a 10-episode straight-to-series order toRed Mars, set to premiere in January 2017, with Straczynski serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner throughStudio JMS, and production set to begin in Summer 2016.[104][105] On March 25, 2016Deadline reported that Straczynski had left his position as showrunner withPeter Noah replacing him but he too left due to creative differences with Spike. Spike has put the series on hold for further development.[106]
On July 30, 2021, Straczynski expressed an interest in becoming showrunner of theBBC Television seriesDoctor Who, following the departure ofChris Chibnall, confirming his representatives had been contacting the BBC.[107][108] On August 19, Straczynski confirmed contact had been made with the BBC, but that the organization had already begun their own selection process and were not seeking new candidates.[109] On September 24, 2021, the BBC confirmed former showrunnerRussell T Davies would return,[110] which Straczynski commended.[111]
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Bram Stoker Award | Best First Novel | Demon Night | Nominated | [112] |
| 1994 | Inkpot Award | — | — | Won | [113] |
| 1996 | Hugo Award | Best Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5 episode: "The Coming of Shadows" | Won | [114] |
| 1997 | Hugo Award | Best Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5 episode: "Severed Dreams" | Won | [115] |
| 1998 | Saturn Award | Saturn Award for Best Writing | Babylon 5 | Won | |
| 1999 | Bradbury Award | Outstanding Dramatic Presentation | Babylon 5 | Won | [116] |
| 2002 | Eisner Award | Best Serialized Story | The Amazing Spider-Man: "Coming Home" | Won | [117] |
| 2005 | Eagle Award | Favourite Comics Writer | — | Won | [118] |
| 2008 | Christopher Award | Feature Films | Changeling | Won | [119] |
| 2009 | BAFTA Award | Best Original Screenplay | Changeling | Nominated | [52] |
| 2009 | Saturn Award | Best Writing | Changeling | Nominated | [120] |
| 2013 | International Icon Award | — | — | Won | [121] |
| 2016 | GLAAD Media Award | Outstanding Drama Series | Sense8 | Won | [122] |
| 2016 | Saturn Award | Best New Media Television Series | Sense8 | Nominated | [123] |
| 2021 | Best Indie Book Award | Best Book on Writing | Becoming A Writer, Staying A Writer | Won | [124] |
Anasteroid, discovered in 1992 at theKitt Peak National Observatory, was honorarily named8379 Straczynski.[125]
Joe's Comics[edit]See also:Joe's Comics
| Marvel Comics[edit]See also:Marvel Comics
|
DC Comics[edit]See also:DC Comics
|
| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Changeling | Written by | |
| 2009 | Ninja Assassin | Screenplay | With Matthew Sand |
| 2011 | Thor | Story | WithAshley Edward Miller &Zack Stentz andDon Payne andMark Protosevich |
| 2012 | Underworld: Awakening | Screenplay | WithLen Wiseman & John Hlavin andAllison Burnett |
| 2013 | World War Z | Screen Story | WithMatthew Michael Carnahan andDrew Goddard &Damon Lindelof, based on thenovel byMax Brooks |
| 2023 | Babylon 5: The Road Home | Creator, Story, and Produced | With Rick Morales |
| 2024 | Watchmen | Written by |
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Director | Producer | Executive producer | |||
| 1984–1985 | He-Man and the Masters of the Universe | Yes | Staff writer (9 episodes) | |||
| 1985 | She-Ra: Princess of Power | Yes | Co-creator,[126][127] Writer (9 episodes), story editor | |||
| 1985 | Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors | Yes | Staff writer (13 episodes) | |||
| 1986–1989 | The Twilight Zone | Yes | Writer (12 episodes), story editor | |||
| 1986–1990 | The Real Ghostbusters | Yes | Writer (21 episodes), story editor | |||
| 1987 | CBS Storybreak | Yes | Writer (1 episode) | |||
| 1987 | Spiral Zone | Yes | Writer (1 episode) | |||
| 1987–1988 | Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future | Yes | Writer (14 episodes), executive story consultant | |||
| 1989 | Nightmare Classics | Yes | Writer (1 episode) | |||
| 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Yes | Writer (5 episodes), executive story consultant | |||
| 1991–1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Yes | Yes | Writer (7 episodes), co-producer, producer | ||
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Yes | Yes | Writer (1 episode), supervising producer | ||
| 1993–1998 | Babylon 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Creator; writer (92 episodes), director (1 episode), cameo (final episode) | |
| 1999 | Crusade | Yes | Yes | Creator; writer (10 episodes) | ||
| 2002–2004 | Jeremiah | Yes | Yes | Creator; writer (22 episodes) | ||
| 2015–2018 | Sense8 | Yes | Yes | Co-creator; writer (23 episodes) | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[permanent dead link]TV creator J. Michael Straczynski and comics legend John Romita, Jr. not only exposed Spider-Man to a horde of mystical foes, they also introduced the idea that [Peter] Parker's origin may not be as accidental as he had thought.
The most powerful Spider-Man comic of the year was Straczynski and Romita, Jr.'s response to the horrific events of 9–11...Spider-Man's 9-11 story was a highly charged, beautifully produced tribute to the heroes and victims of the attack.
The 700th issue ofSuperman was fifty-six pages long...comicdom's talented writers created very special Superman tales...newSuperman writer J. Michael Straczynski gave a preview of his much-anticipated run that would begin in the following issue."
| Preceded by | The Amazing Spider-Man writer 2001–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Fantastic Four writer 2005–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Thor writer 2007–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Mark Waid | The Brave and the Bold writer 2009–2010 | Succeeded by n/a |
| Preceded by | Superman writer 2010–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Wonder Woman writer 2010–2011 | Succeeded by |