Collin Kelly andJackson Lanzing are an American writing duo known primarily for their work oncomics andstreaming series. They are colloquially known as the "Hivemind."[1][2]
Kelly and Lanzing met and became friends when they both went toUSC,[4] bonding over comics.[5] Per Kelly: "Comics let us write stories — stories weirder and more wonderful than Hollywood would ever dream of green-lighting — and then within six months, they can be on the shelves. In comics, you can actually tell stories that people can READ; for a writer, that’s the first step towards happiness." Their first script together was "a Samurai vs. Feral Monster movie calledSundown."[5] Their first major comic writing credit was a 2014 four-issue mini-series withBoom! Studios calledHacktivist, where they collaborated withAlyssa Milano and artistMarcus To.[6] They followed that up with a six-issue sequel.[citation needed]
In 2016, they got their first writing job for DC Comics, where they wrote issues ofBatman and Robin Eternal,[7] and then took over writingGrayson fromTom King andTim Seeley.[8] Their first creator-owned series, published in 2016 through Boom! Studios, wasJoyride, where they teamed up again with artist Marcus To to tell the story of some disaffected teenagers who steal a spaceship, which AiPT called a "space epic with a punk-rock attitude."[9] The book lasted twelve issues and they followed it up withZojaquan, published in 2017 throughVault Comics, a fantasy comic about a woman who wakes up on a primordial world.[10]
In 2017, they wroteGotham City Garage, a mini-series set in a dystopianElseworld inspired byDC Collectibles' Gotham City Garage statues.[16] Per Kelly: "Gotham City Garage is an anti-fascist anthem for the open road, starring reimagined takes on DC's great female characters through an outlaw lens. We’re bringingBig Barda,Steel,Catwoman,Harley Quinn,Silver Banshee,Hawkgirl and the first Kryptonian this world has ever seen--the mysterious girl namedKara Gordon--into a world of bikes, outlaws and elaborate tattoos."[citation needed] The series lasted twelve issues.[citation needed]
In 2018, they took over writing the bookGreen Arrow starting with issue #48 and wrote it until issue #50, when it was cancelled.[17] In 2019, they became the writers for DC's six-issuegen:LOCK mini-series.[18] Also in 2019, they were announced as the showrunners ofStar Trek: Year Five forIDW, which told the "final year of the Enterprise’s original five-year mission."[19] Lanzing spoke atWonderCon 2019 about it:
To me it is one of the greatest unanswered questions ofStar Trek canon: how did the five-year mission end? How did we end up where we begin inStar Trek: The Motion Picture? How do these characters – the last time we saw them in season three – function so strongly as a family and so strongly as a crew. How do we then find them splintered – particularly with Spock – at the beginning ofThe Motion Picture?[20]
TheStar Trek series ran for twenty-five issues and ended in 2021.[21] In 2022, IDW announced that Kelly and Lanzing were the writers of their newStar Trek comic which would include bring together "characters from across the galaxy--and all eras and variations of the beloved franchise--who must band together to prevent the mysterious murder of the gods."[22] As of 2024[update], it is still ongoing and has spun off several other comics, such asStar Trek: Defiant.[citation needed]
In 2021, they wrote their first work forMarvel Comics, a five-issue mini-series forKang the Conqueror.[23] Per Kelly: "We are hoping to, by the end of issue five, take you through the entirety of King’s[sic] life. So that any Kang story that you have read over the course of the last several decades, you can look at it and see where it fits inside the secret history of Kang the Conqueror, and the personal story he’s been through."[24] Also in 2021, withBrandon Sanderson, they wrote the graphic novelDark One, throughVault Comics.[25]
In 2022, they wrote the one-shotDevil's Reign:Winter Soldier, which explored the dark past of Bucky Barnes[26] and led into the announcement of their ongoing Captain America series,Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty. "Steve is a member of the Greatest Generation. That's so important, especially now, because he's seen so much of the 20th century and he's really able to weigh it."[27] In 2023, they crossed over their book with theSam Wilson-ledCaptain America: Symbol of Truth, written byTochi Onyebuchi, in a crossover titled "Cold War."[28]Sentinel of Liberty came to an end after thirteen issues, with the book leading intoCaptain America #750 andCaptain America Finale.[citation needed]
Starting in 2022, they wrote two mini-series for DC:Batman Beyond: Neo-Year[29] andAquaman & the Flash: Voidsong.[30] The next year, they wrote a follow-up toNeo-Year,Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic.[31] The same year, they wrote the oversized one-shotBatman: One Bad Day -- Clayface. Per Kelly, "We love the character and that entire side of Gotham -- that goopy, monstrous side of Gotham."[32]
In 2023, they were announced as the writers for the new volume ofGuardians of the Galaxy with artistKev Walker.[33] The driving force of the series was an event called "Grootfall."[34] The series lasted ten issues and an annual.[citation needed] They were also announced as the writers for the new volume ofThunderbolts, focusing on a team led by Bucky Barnes;[35] the series ran from December 2023 to March 2024 with four issues total.[36][37] In 2024, it was announced that the series would receive a sequel,Thunderbolts: Doomstrike, during Marvel's "One World Under Doom" event.[38][39] The five issue limited series started in February 2025.[40]
They also were the writers for 2023'sTimeless #1, an annual issue exploring Marvel's future storylines.[41] That year, they also published their firstmiddle-grade novel,Thor Quest: Hammer of the Gods, throughDisney Books.[42] In 2023, it was announced that they would be writing a new volume ofOutsiders for DC, aboutLuke Fox andKate Kane exploring mysteries of the DC universe. Per Lanzing, "What does it mean to live in that kind of universe? What does it mean to be a historian or an archaeologist in that kind of universe? And what does it mean to try to understand your place in a constantly shifting, changing, rebooting universe?"[43] The series came to an end after eleven issues.[44]
In 2024, they were part of theX-Men: From the Ashes relaunch for theX-Men, writing the ongoing seriesNYX (vol. 2). Per Lanzing: "The cool thing about teen superhero books is that [characters] tend not to come together over a big threat. They tend to instead be a lot closer to hang out or friendship books. They tend to be a little bit closer to a teen drama, than they do to a big action extravaganza."[45]NYX (vol. 2) ran for ten issues with its finale scheduled for release in April 2025.[46][47] Lanzing commented that they knew in advanceNYX would end so they were able to include a finale for the characters, however, Kamala 's story would continue in the Giant-Size X-Men Anniversary Event.[47] With artistAdam Kubert, the two wrote the one-shotGiant-Size X-Men #1 (May 2025).[48][49]
Collin Kelly is a professor atUSC School of Cinematic Arts.[52] Jackson Lanzing is a creative director in brand marketing.[53] They both live in Los Angeles, California, minutes away from each other.[54]
Episode: "Staff of Forlorn Hope" (Lanzing only); Lanzing was also an author on theTitansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana role-playing gamesourcebook[56]
VAST
Alpha/Geek & Sundry
2016–2017
—N/a
Yes
Yes
Gamemaster (Lanzing) This Might be a Good Idea (Kelly)
VAST has no writers in the traditional sense as it is anactual play web series; it relies on improvisation and collaborative storytelling through arole-playing game system.
