Geoff Johns | |
|---|---|
 Johns in 2011 | |
| Born | Geoffrey Johns[1] (1973-01-25)January 25, 1973 (age 52) Detroit,Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Alma mater | Michigan State University |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Employer | DC Entertainment |
| Notable works | Comics:JSA,The Flash,Teen Titans,Green Lantern,Infinite Crisis,52,Action Comics,Blackest Night,Flashpoint,Justice League/Justice League of America,Shazam,Trinity War,Doomsday Clock,The Avengers,Ultimate X-Men Television:Robot Chicken,Blade: The Series,The Flash,Titans,Doom Patrol,Batwoman,Stargirl,Superman & Lois |
| Website | |
| ghostmachinepro | |
Geoffrey Johns (born January 25, 1973) is an Americancomic book writer,screenwriter, and film and television producer. Johns's work on theDC Comics charactersGreen Lantern,Aquaman,Flash, andSuperman has drawn critical acclaim.[2] His critically acclaimed work includesSinestro Corps War,Blackest Night,Throne of Atlantis,Flashpoint,Doomsday Clock, andSuperman: Brainiac. He co-created the DC characterCourtney Whitmore based on his deceased sister. He also expanded the Green Lantern mythology, adding in new concepts and co-creating numerous characters. Among the DC characters and concepts he co-created areLarfleeze,the Sinestro Corps,the Indigo Tribe,the Red Lantern Corps,Atrocitus,the Black Lantern Corps,Jessica Cruz,Hunter Zolomon,Tar Pit,Simon Baz,Bleez,Miss Martian, andKate Kane.
He served asChief Creative Officer (CCO) ofDC Entertainment from 2010 to 2018 and as President and CCO from 2016 to 2018.[3]
He is the co-founder and former co-chairman ofDC Films and former co-runner ofDC Extended Universe until 2018.[4][3] In film, he was a producer or executive producer ofGreen Lantern (2011),Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016),Suicide Squad (2016),Wonder Woman (2017),Justice League (2017),Shazam! (2019),Birds of Prey (2020), co-wrote and produced the story forAquaman (2018) and wrote the screenplay forWonder Woman 1984 (2020).
Johns' involvement with DC Entertainment as producer, writer and executive has helped turn the DC Extended Universe franchise into theeleventh highest-grossing film franchise of all-time, having grossed over $5.6 billion at the global box office. The franchise's highest-grossing film,Aquaman, earned over $1.15 billion worldwide, becoming thehighest-grossing DC film to-date.
He co-developed the TV seriesThe Flash (2014–2023),Titans (2018–2023), andDoom Patrol (2019–2023) and created and produced the TV seriesBatwoman (2019–2022),Stargirl (2020–2022) andSuperman & Lois (2020–2024). His other work in television includes writing and producing various episodes ofBlade,Smallville andArrow.[5]
In 2018, he stepped down from his executive role at DC Entertainment to open a production company, Mad Ghost Productions, while continuing to work with Warner Bros on writing and producing film, television and comic book titles based on DC Extended Universe and other DC properties such as filmsBlack Adam andShazam! Fury of the Gods.[5]
In 2023, he co-founded the media companyGhost Machine alongside several other comic book writers and artists to publish independent work.
Geoff Johns was born January 25, 1973,[6] inDetroit, Michigan,[7][8] the son of Barbara and Fred Johns.[9] He is of half-Lebanese ancestry[10] and grew up in the suburbs ofGrosse Pointe andClarkston.[7][11] As a child, Johns and his brother first discovered comics through an old box of comics they found in their grandmother's attic, which included copies ofThe Flash,Superman,Green Lantern, andBatman from the 1960s and 1970s. He has named the Flash as his favorite character, stating that he owns every issue of it.[7]
Johns eventually began to patronize a comics shop inTraverse City, recalling that the first new comics he bought wereCrisis on Infinite Earths #3 or 4 andThe Flash #348 or 349, as the latter was his favorite character. As Johns continued collecting comics, he gravitated toward DC Comics and laterVertigo, and drew comics.[7] After graduating fromClarkston High School in 1991,[9] he studied media arts, screenwriting, film production and film theory atMichigan State University.[8] He graduated from Michigan State in 1995,[12] and then moved to Los Angeles, California.[7][9]
In Los Angeles, Johns cold-called the office of directorRichard Donner looking for an internship, and while Johns was being transferred to various people, Donner picked up the phone by accident, leading to a conversation and the internship. Johns started off copying scripts, and after about two months, was hired as a production assistant for Donner, whom Johns regards as his mentor.[7][13]
While working on the production of Donner's 1997 filmConspiracy Theory, Johns visited New York City, where he met DC Comics personnel such asEddie Berganza, reigniting his childhood interest in comics.[7]
Berganza invited Johns to tour the DC Comics offices, and offered Johns the opportunity to suggest ideas, which led to Johns pitchingStars and S.T.R.I.P.E., a series based on the secondStar-Spangled Kid and her stepfather,[14] to editor Chuck Kim a year later. Johns expected to write comics "on the side", until he metDavid Goyer andJames Robinson, who were working onJSA. After looking atStars and S.T.R.I.P.E., Robinson offered Johns co-writing duties onJSA in 2000,[15] and Johns credits both him andMike Carlin with shepherding him into the comics industry. He also credits reading James Robinson'sThe Golden Age as the book responsible for his love of the characters featured in the book, and for his decision to accept writing duties onJSA.[7]
That same year, Johns became the regular writer onThe Flash ongoing series with issue 164. Johns' work onThe Flash represents one example of his modeling of various elements in his stories after aspects of his birth town, explaining, "When I wroteThe Flash, I turned Keystone City into Detroit, made it a car town. I make a lot of my characters from Detroit. I think self-made, blue-collar heroes represent Detroit. Wally West's Flash was like that. I took the inspiration of the city and the people there and used it in the books."[11] Johns'Flash run concluded with #225.[16]
He co-wrote aBeast Boy limited series withBen Raab in 2000[17] and crafted the "Return to Krypton" story arc in the Superman titles withPasqual Ferry in 2002.[18] After writingThe Avengers vol. 3 #57–76 (Oct. 2002–Feb. 2004) andAvengers Icons:The Vision #1–4 (Oct. 2002–Jan. 2003) forMarvel Comics,[19] Johns oversaw the re-launch ofHawkman andTeen Titans.[20]
Johns was responsible for the return ofHal Jordan in 2005 as the writer of theGreen Lantern: Rebirth mini-series[21] and subsequentGreen Lantern ongoing title.[22] Johns was the writer of theInfinite Crisiscrossover limited series (December 2005 – June 2006), a sequel to 1985'sCrisis on Infinite Earths.[23] Following this, Johns was one of four writers, withMark Waid,Grant Morrison, andGreg Rucka, on the 2006–2007 weekly series52.[24]
In 2006, Johns andKurt Busiek co-wrote the "Up, Up and Away!" story arc inSuperman andAction Comics. He then reunited with Richard Donner on the "Last Son" storyline inAction Comics with Donner co-plotting the series with his former assistant.[19] TheJustice Society of America series by Johns and artistDale Eaglesham began in February 2007[25] and six months later, he andJeff Katz launched the newBooster Gold series. That same year, Johns helmed the critically acclaimed[26][27][28][29][30] "Sinestro Corps War" storyline in theGreen Lantern titles.[31] He wrote the "Final Crisis"one-shotRage of the Red Lanterns with artistShane Davis[32] and collaborated withGary Frank onAction Comics.[33] Johns and Frank produced the "Brainiac" storyline in which Superman's adopted fatherJonathan Kent was killed[34] and retold Superman's origin story in 2009'sSuperman: Secret Origin.[35]
Also in 2009, Johns teamed with artistEthan Van Sciver onThe Flash: Rebirth miniseries, which centered on the return ofBarry Allen as the Flash[36][37] and wrote theBlackest Night limited series.[38] Commenting on Johns's creation of such concepts as theBlue Lantern Corps, theRed Lantern Corps, and theIndigo Tribe, DC Comics writer and executivePaul Levitz noted in 2010 that "One of Johns' sharpest additions to DC mythology is the notion that the Green Lanterns are but one color within a rainbow spectrum, and that the other hues have their own champions. Folding in old concepts and inventing new ones, Johns has established limitless story possibilities."[39]
On February 18, 2010, Johns was named theChief Creative Officer ofDC Entertainment, which was established to expand the DC Comics brand across other media platforms.[40][41] Johns stated that the position would not affect his writing.[42] He then co-wrote theBrightest Day series withPeter Tomasi.[43] He andMarv Wolfman were the principal writers ofDC Universe Online, amassively multiplayer online role-playing game released in 2011.[44][45]
In September 2011, following the conclusion of Johns's mini series,Flashpoint, and the crossover storyline of the same name, DC Comics instituted an initiative calledThe New 52, in which the publisher cancelled all of its superhero titles and relaunched 52 new series with #1 issues, wiping out most of the then-current continuity. Johns and artistJim Lee, DC Comics' Co-Publisher, launched the line with a newJustice League series, written and illustrated by Johns and Lee, respectively. The series' first story arc was a new origin of the Justice League, which depicted the return of DC's primary superheroes to the team.[46] Johns's contributions to The New 52 include a serializedShazam! (Captain Marvel) backup feature inJustice League that began with issue #7, as well as the relaunchedAquaman andGreen Lantern monthly titles.[47][48][49]
Johns and Gary Frank collaborated on theBatman: Earth One graphic novel, an out of continuity story, released in mid-2012,[50][51] which served as the first in a series of graphic novels intended to redefine Batman.[52] In 2013, after writingGreen Lantern for nine years, Johns ended his run with issue 20 of the New 52 series,[53] which was released May 22, 2013.[54] DC Comics' All Access webcast announced on February 4, 2014, that Johns would be writing theSuperman series which would be drawn byJohn Romita Jr.[55][56] The Johns/Romita Jr. team was joined by inkerKlaus Janson.[57] In May 2016, Johns was promoted to President and Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment and reported toDiane Nelson, the President of DC Entertainment.[58][59]
Johns and Gary Frank collaborated onDoomsday Clock, a limited series featuring Superman andDoctor Manhattan.[60][61] Johns and Richard Donner co-wrote "The Car" chapter inAction Comics #1000 (June 2018) which was drawn byOlivier Coipel.[62]
In June 2018, Johns stepped down from his executive role at DC Entertainment and entered into a writer and producer deal with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment. He opened Mad Ghost Productions, a production company that works on film, television and comic books based on DC Comics properties.[63]
AtSan Diego Comic-Con in 2018, DC announced a new "pop-up" imprint,The Killing Zone, to be curated by Johns.[64][65] It was initially set to begin publishing in May 2019.[66] In May 2020, Johns confirmed that the imprint was in development.[67]
In November 2020, it was announced that Johns would launch a new creator-owned series fromImage Comics titledGeiger with long-time collaboratorGary Frank, to debut in April 2021. The series would be his first independent comics series in more than ten years.[68] In September 2021 it was reported that Johns and Frank would expand "The Unnamed Universe" ofGeiger, starting withJunkyard Joe in October 2022.[69][70]
On October 12, 2023, Johns and a group of colleagues announced at theNew York Comic Con that they were forming acooperative media company calledGhost Machine, which would publishcreator-owned comics, and allow the participating creators to benefit from the development of theirintellectual properties. The company publishes its books throughImage Comics, and its other founders includesBrad Meltzer,Jason Fabok,Gary Frank,Bryan Hitch,Francis Manapul, andPeter J. Tomasi, all of whom would produce comics work exclusively through that company.[71][72] Johns' inaugural work for the company was writingGeiger: Ground Zero, a two-issue series drawing by Frank that serves as a prequel to their 2021 miniseries of the same name.[73] Set in apost-apocalyptic future, the book centers upon a man named Tariq Geiger[74][75] who lost his family and his humanity in a nuclear war, when he was transformed into the Glowing Man, a being who can absorb radiation but struggles to contain it.[74]Ground Zero would be followed by an ongoingGeiger series.[71][73]
Johns served as a co-producer and creative consultant for the 2011Green Lantern film directed byMartin Campbell and starringRyan Reynolds.[76]
Johns was an executive producer on the 2016 filmBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[77] Following negative critical reception to the film, Johns and Jon Berg were named to jointly run theDC Extended Universe and a newly established Warner Bros. division,DC Films, in May 2016.[78] They served as producers on the 2017 filmJustice League.[79] Johns also co-wrote the story forAquaman withJames Wan andWill Beall, co-wrote the story forGreen Lantern Corps withDavid S. Goyer and co-wroteWonder Woman 1984 withPatty Jenkins andDavid Callaham.[80][81][82] In January 2018, afterJustice League underperformed at the box office, Jon Berg was replaced byWalter Hamada as the head of DC Films, with Johns still working "closely" with Hamada on future productions.[83][84][85]
"Recruit", a 2005 episode of theSuperman prequel seriesSmallville, on which Johns's studio mateJeph Loeb was a writer–producer, featured a villain by the name of Geoff Johns. In 2008, Johns wrote "Legion", the eleventh episode of theeighth season, in which he introduced the three core members of theLegion of Super-Heroes.[86] At the 2009San Diego Comic-Con, he announced that he was writing anotherSmallville episode, titled "Society", based on theJustice Society of America. The success of his first episode and the ambitious nature of his follow-up episode enabled the producers to transform it into a two-part story, which subsequently aired as a feature-length episode titled "Absolute Justice".[87]
In 2006, Johns co-wrote the story for theJustice League Unlimited episode "Ancient History", which starredGreen Lantern,Hawkgirl,Hawkman,Shadow Thief, andVixen.
Johns and David S. Goyer co-wrote thepilot for theSpike TV dramaBlade, which premiered in June 2006. Johns served as one of the writing staff on the television show. Later that year, Johns teamed up withMatthew Senreich ofRobot Chicken fame to write the screenplay for a holiday family-friendly movie titledNaughty or Nice forDimension Films. Johns and Senreich are billed as directors of the movie, with actor/producerSeth Green set to provide a lead voice as well as serving as voice director on the film. This association led to Johns contributing material to the fourth season ofRobot Chicken.[88]
In 2012, Johns joinedThe CW'sGreen Arrow origin seriesArrow, as a writer. He first contributed to the first-season episode "Muse of Fire", which served as the introduction ofThe Huntress, the teleplay for which he co-wrote with executive producerMarc Guggenheim from a story by co-creatorAndrew Kreisberg. Later in the season, Johns wrote the sixteenth episode, "Dead to Rights". The episode was directed by frequent Johns collaboratorGlen Winter.[89]
On July 30, 2013, it was announced at thesummer TCA tour that Johns andArrow co-creators Kreisberg andGreg Berlanti would be introducingBarry Allen in the second season of the show, with the potential of a spin-off for the character with the 20th episode acting as a backdoor pilot.[90] CW executives were so pleased with the handling of the character that they forwent the backdoor pilot, in favor of a full-fledged version.[91] In May 2014,The Flash was picked up to series, to premiere later that year.[92] Johns serves as co-developer and executive producer. He co-wrote, withKai Yu Wu, the episodes "Going Rogue", which introduces the villainLeonard Snart/Captain Cold to the series, and "Revenge of the Rogues", which brought the rogue Heat Wave to the series fully after being introduced off screen in "Going Rogue".
In a July 2015 interview, Johns said he was collaborating withReginald Hudlin andDenys Cowan on alive-action digitalStatic series from DC and Warner Bros. Blue Ribbon division.[93]
Kreisberg, a producer on the TV seriesSupergirl, credits Johns with the idea that Hank Henshaw was reallyMartian Manhunter during production of that series' pilot in 2015.[94]
In July 2018, Johns announced that he would be writing and executive-producing aDC Universe television series aboutCourtney Whitmore, a character that he created, titledStargirl.[95] The series premiered in May 2020.[96]
In April 2020, it was reported that Johns is to produce a series based onGreen Lantern forHBO Max.[97]
In October 2022, it was announced thatParamount Television Studios would develop a TV adaptation of Geiger from Johns andJustin Simien, with Johns writing the pilot, serving asshowrunner, and executive producing along with Jamie Iracleanos for Mad Ghost Productions, and Gary Frank.[98]
Johns' younger sister, Courtney, was a victim of theTWA Flight 800 crash. The DC Comics superheroine Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl, whom Johns created, is based on her.[99]
In a 2010 interview, Johns namedSteve McNiven as an artist he would like to collaborate with,J. Michael Straczynski's run onThor as his then-favorite ongoing comic book.[7]
Johns is acomic book retailer[100] who co-owns Earth-2 Comics inNorthridge, California.[7]
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Producer | |||
| 1997 | Conspiracy Theory | No | No | Assistant toRichard Donner, as Geoffrey Johns |
| Double Tap | Assistant toMills Goodloe and Alex Collet | |||
| 1998 | Lethal Weapon 4 | Assistant to Richard Donner | ||
| 2011 | Green Lantern: Emerald Knights | Yes | Two segments | |
| Green Lantern | No | Yes | ||
| 2013 | Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox | Executive | ||
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | |||
| Suicide Squad | No | Additional photography/ reshoots[101] | ||
| 2017 | Wonder Woman | Uncredited | ||
| Justice League | No | |||
| 2018 | Aquaman | Story | Executive | Wrote story withJames Wan andWill Beall |
| 2019 | Shazam! | No | ||
| 2020 | Birds of Prey | |||
| Wonder Woman 1984 | Yes | Wrote screenplay with Patty Jenkins andDave Callaham, story with Patty Jenkins | ||
| 2022 | Black Adam | No | ||
| 2023 | Shazam! Fury of the Gods | |||
| The Flash | Uncredited | No | Additional literary material[102] | |
| Year | Title | Credited as | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Writer | Producer | |||
| 2005–2006 | Justice League Unlimited | Yes | No | 1 episode |
| 2006 | Blade | Consulting | Writer (4 episodes), consulting producer (12 episodes) | |
| 2008–2009 | Robot Chicken | No | 5 episodes | |
| 2009 | Titan Maximum | Story | Yes | Story by (8 episodes), co-producer (9 episodes) |
| 2009–2011 | Smallville | Yes | No | Writer (3 episodes), actor (1 episode) |
| 2010 | Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III | |||
| 2012 | Robot Chicken DC Comics Special | Executive | ||
| Metal Hurlant Chronicles | No | 1 episode | ||
| 2012–2014 | Arrow | 5 episodes | ||
| 2014 | Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise | Executive | ||
| 2014–2018 | The Flash | No | Developed withGreg Berlanti andAndrew Kreisberg Writer (4 episodes) | |
| 2015 | Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship | |||
| 2018–2023 | Titans | Executive | Created withAkiva Goldsman and Greg Berlanti Writer (5 episodes) | |
| 2019–2023 | Doom Patrol | No | ||
| 2019–2022 | Batwoman | |||
| 2020–2022 | Stargirl | Yes | Also creator and showrunner Writer (4 episodes) | |
| 2021–2024 | Superman & Lois | No | ||
Geoff Johns showed his love for the obscure corners of the DCU with his titleStars and S.T.R.I.P.E..
The new senior executive team includes Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, who have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics, and Geoff Johns, who will serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.
The Batman mythos was reimagined in this alternate take on the hero's origin in this hardcover special. It brought together writer Geoff Johns and artist Gary Frank for their first Batman story.
Johns, artist Gary Frank and colorist Brad Anderson will chronicle the long-awaited meeting between Superman andWatchmen's Doctor Manhattan in a mini-series entitledDoomsday Clock.
Richard Donner joins Geoff Johns and Olivier Coipel in the inspiring 'The Car', finally explaining just what happened after the events shown on the iconic cover ofAction Comics #1.
| Preceded by | Justice Society of America writer 2000–2009 (with David S. Goyer in 2000–2003) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Flash writer 2000–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Hawkman writer 2002–2004 (with James Robinson in 2002–2003) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Superman writer 2002–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Avengers writer 2002–2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Teen Titans writer 2003–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Green Lantern writer 2005–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Kurt Busiek | JLA writer 2005 (withAllan Heinberg) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Action Comics writer 2006–2009 (withRichard Donner in 2006–2008) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Booster Gold writer 2007–2008 (withJeff Katz) | Succeeded by Dan Jurgens |
| Preceded by | The Flash writer 2010–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Justice League writer 2011–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by James Robinson | Justice League of America writer 2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Aquaman writer 2011–2013 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Superman writer 2014–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Justice Society of America writer 2022 | Succeeded by Incumbent |
