Born on June 19, 1915, toRomanian-Jewish parents Joseph and Bertha[2] who emigrated from a small town outsideBucharest, Romania. Julius and his parents resided at 817 Cauldwell Avenue inthe Bronx. He graduated at age seventeen fromTheodore Roosevelt High School in the Bronx.
In 1956, after the formation of theComics Code Authority, Schwartz worked along with writerRobert Kanigher and artistsCarmine Infantino andJoe Kubert on the company's first attempt at reviving superheroes: an updated version of theFlash that would appear inShowcase #4 (October 1956).[4] The eventual success of the new, science-fiction oriented Flash heralded the wholesale return of superheroes and the beginning of what fans and historians call theSilver Age of Comic Books.[5] Schwartz also worked with writersJohn Broome andGardner Fox and revived other superheroes such asGreen Lantern inShowcase #22 (October 1959);[6]Hawkman inThe Brave and the Bold #34 (February–March 1961);[7][8] and theAtom inShowcase #34 (Sept-Oct. 1961).[9][10] A character Schwartz created himself,Adam Strange,[11] debuted inShowcase #17 (Nov–Dec. 1958), and was unusual in that he used his wits and scientific knowledge, rather than superpowers, to solve problems.
Schwartz first thought the concept of theJustice League of America as an updating of the Justice Society and the idea was then developed by Gardner Fox and artistMike Sekowsky.[12] The new team debuted inThe Brave and the Bold #28 (February/March 1960), and received its own title in October 1960. It became one of the most successful series of the Silver Age.
Schwartz oversaw the introduction of theElongated Man inThe Flash #112 (May 1960) by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino.[13]
In 1964, Schwartz was made responsible for reviving the fadedBatman titles. Under his editorial instructions, Broome and Infantino jettisoned the sillier aspects that had crept into the series such asAce the Bathound andBat-Mite and gave the character a"New Look" that premiered inDetective Comics #327 (May 1964).[14] During the rise in popularity of the Batman comics thanks to theBatman TV Series,William Dozier (producer of the show), pitched an initial concept for a female hero and Schwartz, Gardner Fox, and Carmine Infantino introducedBarbara Gordon as a new version ofBatgirl in a story titled "The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!" inDetective Comics #359 (January 1967).[15]
He helped writerDennis O'Neil and artistNeal Adams come to prominence at DC Comics.[16] The duo, under the direction of Schwartz,[17] would revitalize the Batman with a series of stories reestablishing the character's dark, brooding nature. Schwartz editedDetective Comics until issue #481 (Dec. 1978/Jan. 1979) andBatman until issue #309 (March 1979).[10][18]
From 1971 to 1986 Schwartz was the editor of theSuperman titles,[10] helping to modernize the settings of the books and move them away from "gimmick" stories to stories with more of a character-driven nature. This included an attempt to scale back Superman's powers while removingkryptonite as an overused plot device.[19] This proved short-lived, with Schwartz bowing to pressure to restore both elements in the titles. Schwartz oversaw the launch ofDC Comics Presents in 1978 and edited it throughout its 97 issue run.[20]
As an editor, Schwartz was heavily involved in the writing of the stories published in his magazines. He worked out the plot with the writer in story conferences. The writer would then break down the plot into a panel-by-panel continuity, and write the dialogue and captions. Schwartz would in turn polish the script, sometimes rewriting extensively.
Schwartz retired from DC in 1986 after 42 years at the company, but continued to be active in comics and science fictionfandom until shortly before his death. As a coda to his career as a comic book editor, Schwartz edited seven releases in theDC Graphic Novel line adapted from classic science fiction works byHarlan Ellison,Robert Silverberg, Bradbury, and others. In 2000 he published hisautobiography,Man of Two Worlds: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics, co-authored withBrian Thomsen.[21]
In 1952, Schwartz married Jean , who had been his secretary. She died in 1986 fromemphysema. Schwartz's relationship with Jean had been particularly close, and he never remarried or dated following her death. Not many years later, Schwartz's stepdaughter Jeanne (Jean's daughter from a previous marriage) died from the same illness.
Schwartz died at the age of 88, after being hospitalized forpneumonia. He was survived by his son-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He remained a "goodwill ambassador" for DC Comics and an Editor Emeritus up until his death.[22]
In addition to his induction into both of the comic-book industry's halls of fame, Schwartz received a great deal of other recognition over the course of his career, including:
In the "Flash — Fact Or Fiction" story (reprinted inThe Greatest Flash Stories Ever Told), theFlash finds himself on "Earth Prime" (the real Earth that we live on). He contacts the "one man on Earth who might believe his fantastic story and give him the money he needs. The editor of thatFlash comic mag!" Schwartz helps the Flash build acosmic treadmill so that he can return home.[32]
In "Where On Earth Am I?" and "Avenging Ghosts of the Justice Society", Schwartz tasks writersCary Bates andElliot S. Maggin with inventing a fresh plot for theJustice League of America comic book. Using thecosmic treadmill left behind by theFlash inFlash #179, Bates and Maggin are transported toEarth-Two andEarth-One, respectively, leaving Schwartz to cover for their absence when DC PublisherCarmine Infantino walks into his office.[33][34]
As a 70th birthday present, the staff at DC Comics madeSuperman #411 as a surprise tribute to Schwartz, who was involved in creating what he thought was #411. The cover shows Schwartz in his office being surprised by real-life co-workers just before Superman flies in the window with a birthday cake.[35] The story features Schwartz playing himself as a down-and-out character with a modified version of his real history.
The cover of part two of the two-partalternate-universe story "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?", written by Alan Moore and begun in the same month'sSuperman #423, shows Superman flying away from a number of DC Comics staff, including Schwartz.
Superman and Batman: World's Funnest (2000)
DuringMister Mxyzptlk andBat-Mite's rampage in numerous DC Universe realities, they find the "real" Earth and Julie Schwartz working in the DC offices.
After Schwartz's death, DC Comics issued a series of eight standaloneone-shot specials. Each issue featured two stories based on a classic DC cover from the mid-1950s and 1960sSilver Age of Comic Books, reflecting Schwartz's frequent practice of commissioning a cover concept, then telling the writers to create a story about that cover. Schwartz or adoppelganger thereof appeared in all eight issues, serving various roles.[36][37]
Schwartz appeared as a character in theAmbush Bug titles byKeith Giffen, which Schwartz edited.
Schwartz appears as the class teacher in the humorous 2018 book "JL8", featuring the DC superheroes as kingergarteners.
Nick Cardy on the popular butapocryphalanecdote, told by Schwartz, aboutCarmine Infantino firing Cardy over not following a cover layout, only to rehire him moments later when Schwartz praised the errant cover art:
[A]t one of the conventions ... I said, "You know, Carmine, Julie Schwartz wrote something in [his autobiography] that I don't remember at all and it doesn't sound like you at all." And I told him the incident ... and he said, "That's crazy. You know I always loved your work. Gee, you were one of the best artists in the business. The guy's crazy." So I said, "Okay, come on." We went over to Julie Schwartz's table and we told him what our problem was. And Carmine and I said, "We don't remember the incident." So Julie said, "Well, it's a good story, anyway." [laughs] And that was it. He let it go at that. [laughs] He just made it up.[38]
^Levitz, Paul (2010). "The Silver Age 1956–1970".75 Years of DC Comics The Art of Modern Mythmaking. Cologne, Germany:Taschen. p. 251.ISBN9783836519816.Together Schwartz, Kanigher, Infantino, and Kubert would set a tone for the Flash that was both cinematic...and influenced by Schwartz's first love of science fiction.
^Irvine, Alex (2010). "1950s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.).DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London:Dorling Kindersley. p. 80.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.The arrival of the second incarnation of the Flash in [Showcase] issue #4 is considered to be the official start of the Silver Age of comics.
^Levitz "The Silver Age 1956–1970", p. 252: "Schwartz enlisted Broome to update Green Lantern...He got a quickShowcase try before launching on his own even before sales figures came in."
^McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 102: "DC's...renaissance soared to new heights with the return of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Kubert...ushered in a pair of Winged Wonders that, costumes aside, were radically different from their Golden Age predecessors."
^Daniels, Les (1995). "The Silver Age Applying a Fine Shine".DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes. New York, New York:Bulfinch Press. p. 130.ISBN0821220764.Hawkman took a little longer to get off the ground. He showed up initially inThe Brave and the Bold #34 (March 1961), but had to wait three years forHawkman #1 (April–May 1964).
^McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 103: "The Atom was the next Golden Age hero to receive a Silver Age makeover from writer Gardner Fox and artist Gil Kane."
^Amash, Jim (2003). "Foreword".The Adam Strange Archives: Volume 1. pp. 5–8.
^McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 99: "Editor Julius Schwartz had repopulated the [superhero] subculture by revitalizing Golden Age icons like Green Lantern and the Flash..He recruited writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, and together they came up with the Justice League of America, a modern version of the legendary Justice Society of America from the 1940s."
^McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 109: "The two-part 'Crisis on Earth-One!' and 'Crisis on Earth-Two!' saga represented the first use of the term 'Crisis' in crossovers, as well as the designations 'Earth-1' and 'Earth-2'. In it editor Julius Schwartz, [writer Gardner] Fox, and artist Mike Sekowsky devised a menace worthy of the World's Greatest Heroes."
^McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 110: "The Dark Knight received a much-needed facelift from new Batman editor Julius Schwartz, writer John Broome, and artist Carmine Infantino. With sales at an all-time low and threatening the cancellation of one of DC's flagship titles, their overhaul was a lifesaving success for DC and its beloved Batman."
^McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 122: "Nine months before making her debut onBatman, a new Batgirl appeared in the pages ofDetective Comics...Yet the idea for the debut of Barbara Gordon, according to editor Julius Schwartz, was attributed to the television series executives' desire to have a character that would appeal to a female audience and for this character to originate in the comics. Hence, writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino collaborated on 'The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl!'"
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 139: "Under the editorship of Julius Schwartz, O'Neil and Adams tackled a plethora of real-world topics that helped launch comics' more socially relevant Bronze Age."
^Greenberger, Robert; Manning, Matthew K. (2009).The Batman Vault: A Museum-in-a-Book with Rare Collectibles from the Batcave. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:Running Press. p. 26.ISBN978-0-7624-3663-7.Editor Julius Schwartz had decided to darken the character's world to further distance him from the camp environment created by the 1966 ABC show. Bringing in the talented O'Neil as well as the innovative Frank Robbins and showcasing the art of rising star Neal Adams...Schwartz pointed Batman in a new and darker direction, a path the character still continues on to this day.
^Manning, Matthew K.; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014). "1970s".Batman: A Visual History. London:Dorling Kindersley. p. 130.ISBN978-1465424563.As the decade drew to a close, longtime Batman editor Julius Schwartz finally passed the torch on to Paul Levitz, marking the end of an era.{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^McAvennie "1970s" in Dolan, p. 144: "New editor Julius Schwartz, new scripter Denny O'Neil, and regular artist Curt Swan removed the Man of Steel's greatest weakness from the face of the Earth."
^Kingman, Jim (August 2013). "Men of Steel: Superman and Julius Schwartz inWorld's Finest Comics andDC Comics Presents".Back Issue! (66). Raleigh, North Carolina:TwoMorrows Publishing:53–64.
^Marx, Barry, Cavalieri, Joey and Hill, Thomas (w), Petruccio, Steven (a), Marx, Barry (ed). "Julius Schwartz The Golden Age Recreated" Fifty Who Made DC Great, p. 31 (1985). DC Comics.
^McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 130: "Trapped on 'Earth-Prime', the Flash knew only one man could possibly help him: DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz."
^Bates, Cary; Maggin, Elliot S. (w), Dillin, Dick (p), McLaughlin, Frank (i). "Avenging Ghosts of the Justice Society!" Justice League of America, no. 124 (November 1975). DC Comics.
^Eury, Michael (February 2013). "The Julius Schwartz Superman Dynasty".Back Issue! (62). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 16.
^Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 314: "When DC Comics' icon Julius Schwartz sadly passed away in February 2004, some kind of major tribute was required...To celebrate his life, DC revived theDC Comics Presents series, producing eight one-shots in which DC writers and artists put their own twists on covers inspired by Schwartz and reimagined classic Silver Age stories."
^Beck, Spencer (December 2005). "Nick Cardy: Man and Super Man".Back Issue! (13). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 6.
