| Martin Pasko | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jean-Claude Rochefort (1954-08-04)August 4, 1954 |
| Died | May 10, 2020(2020-05-10) (aged 65) North Hills, California, U.S. |
| Area | Writer |
| Pseudonym(s) | Patti Enders Kyle Christopher Wyatt Gwyon |
Notable works | Superman Doctor Fate The DC Vault Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (co-writer) |
| Awards | Daytime Emmy Award (1993) Inkpot Award (2013)[1] |
Martin Joseph "Marty"Pasko (bornJean-Claude Rochefort; August 4, 1954 – May 10, 2020)[2][3][4] was a Canadiancomic book writer andtelevision screenwriter.
Pasko worked for many comics publishers, but is best known for his superhero stories forDC Comics over three decades. He wroteSuperman in various media, including televisionanimation,webisodes, and a syndicated newspaper strip forTribune Media Services, as well as comic books. He also co-created the 1975 revamp ofDoctor Fate.
Pasko claimed to have been born asJean-Claude Rochefort inMontreal,Quebec, Canada.[2] As a teenager, he was a regular contributor tocomic book letter columns and co-published a fanzine,[5]Fantazine, withAlan Brennert, who is now a novelist. After attendingNorthwestern University[2] andNew York University, Pasko settled in New York.
Pasko's first published comics writing credit was a short story titled "Package Deal " forWarren Publishing'sCreepy #51 (March 1973).[6] His first published work, however, was a story titled "Eye Opener," inVampirella #20 (October 1972), which was erroneously credited to his friend and professional benefactor,Doug Moench.
Pasko started working forDC Comics and began his long association withSuperman in 1973, as a result of his association with long-time editorJulius Schwartz. As a frequent contributor to Schwartz'sletter columns, beginning in 1968, Pasko had been nicknamed "Pesky Pasko," in acknowledgment of the fact that his comments were more often than not acutely critical. His campaign to become a "lettercol regular," as a way of breaking into comics writing, was inspired and encouraged by his friend and benefactor, writerMike Friedrich, who advised Pasko that a name that was recognizable from the letter columns would have an advantage in terms of over-the-transom, or "slush pile," contributions, by being more likely to be read before the submissions of writers unknown to the editor.
Pasko's first Superman-related story was a "Private Life of Clark Kent" backup feature inSuperman #277 (July 1974).[6] In addition to writing backup stories and occasional other features inAction Comics during this period, such asThe Atom, Pasko was the featuredSuperman writer from 1977–1979.DC Comics Presents, ateam-up title starring Superman, was launched in 1978 by Pasko and artistJosé Luis García-López.[7] Pasko andCurt Swan created theAtomic Skull inSuperman #323 (May 1978)[8][9] and theMaster Jailer inSuperman #331 (January 1979).[10] From 1979–1982, Pasko contributed stories to theSuperman Family anthology title, including runs as the regular writer of theJimmy Olsen andSupergirl features. In addition, during 1978 and 1979, Pasko scripted the syndicated newspaper comic stripThe World's Greatest Superheroes which initially starred Superman,Batman,Robin,Wonder Woman, andThe Flash, but gradually changed its focus to primarily feature Superman.
A soloDoctor Fate story in1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975), written by Pasko and drawn byWalt Simonson, led to an important development in the life of the character. With this story, Pasko added the concept that the spirit ofNabu resided in Doctor Fate's helmet and took control of Fate'salter-ego Kent Nelson whenever the helmet was donned. In 1981Roy Thomas incorporated this into his seriesAll-Star Squadron, as an explanation of the changes in Fate's helmet and powers. In 1982, this led to DC featuring Kent and his wife Inza in a series of back-up stories, written by Pasko, inThe Flash.[6][11] DC later collected Pasko's stories into a three-issue limited series titledThe Immortal Dr. Fate (Jan. 1985 - March 1985).
Other titles Pasko wrote for DC includedWonder Woman from 1975–1977, featuring a major story arc documenting the heroine's attempt to gain readmission to theJustice League of America.[12] Wonder Woman had quit the organization after renouncing her powers.
Pasko wrote a number of issues ofJustice League of America between 1974 and 1977; he was the regular writer ofMetal Men in 1976–1977, and wrote all seven published issues ofKobra in 1976–1977, a feature he redeveloped and re-created, loosely based on a significantly-different concept originated byJack Kirby. The story intended to beKobra issue #8 appeared as the Batman story inDC Special Series #1.[13] In addition, Pasko wrote a number of issues ofAdventure Comics between 1976 and 1980. He wrote aDaredevil prose story forMarvel Novel Series #9 (The Marvel Superheroes) in 1979 under the pseudonym of "Kyle Christopher".[14]
In his first comics-format work forMarvel Comics, Pasko was the regular scripter of that company'sStar Trek comic book in 1980–1981. He helpedAlan Brennert enter the comics industry by having Brennert co-writeStar Trek #12 (March 1981) for Marvel.[15] Pasko was also a writer of theStar Trek comic strip from late 1982 through early 1983. In 1988, Pasko wrote an issue of the DCStar Trek comic book.
In 1982, Pasko and artistThomas Yeates revivedSwamp Thing, in a new series titledSaga of the Swamp Thing.[16] Pasko leftSwamp Thing with issue #19 (Dec. 1983)[6] and was succeeded byAlan Moore, who took the title and the character in a different direction. Pasko wrote a number of issues of theFirst Comics version ofJoe Staton'sE-Man in 1983–1984.[6]
In 1988–1989 Pasko was a regular contributor toAction Comics during its stint as a weekly anthology, where he developed a new version of "TheSecret Six". He also wrote the "Blackhawk" feature therein, based on theHoward Chaykinretcon, and the subsequent monthly title (1989–1990).[6]
In 1994, he wrote the Marvel Comics licensed seriesGargoyles,[6] based on aDisney Television Animation series. He then returned to New York to serve as DC's Group Editor-Mass Market. While that was his official title, within the company he was known as the head of the Special Projects Group. In this capacity, he oversaw the production of DC's custom comics; licensed titles such as theStar Trek line; and various special projects such as the writing of stage and stunt shows for theSix Flags amusement park chain, and the writing and production of variouswebisodes for Warner Bros. Online. In this capacity, he also co-created, with his staff, and edited the horror satireGross Point, which ran in 1997-98.
During his decade on staff at DC, Pasko wrote issues ofImpulse, one of two stories in theGreen Lantern issue of the 2004Julius Schwartz tribute seriesDC Comics Presents, and the comics adaptation of the filmSuperman Returns. Until 2005, he was DC's liaison toWarner Bros. Studios, vetting scripts for WBA animated programming, all feature film, television, and animated development of DC brands, and the live-action seriesSmallville andBirds of Prey, as well as facilitating studio research by supplying comics and consulting on issues related to DC continuity.
In Los Angeles in the 1980s, Pasko wrote for or served as a writer/story editor on many live-action series, includingBuck Rogers in the 25th Century,Fantasy Island,The Twilight Zone (the 1985–1989CBS revival),Max Headroom,Simon & Simon, andRoseanne. Between 1985 and 1989, Pasko's writing and story editing partner wasRebecca Parr.
The partnership was dissolved in 1989, and Pasko's future TV writing credits were exclusively in animated programming. Parr continued working in sitcoms, notably becoming a writer and executive story consultant onCheers.
Pasko began a long career in television animation in 1980, writing several episodes ofThundarr the Barbarian withSteve Gerber. Pasko's many other animated TV writing credits comprise series such asTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,Exosquad,Teen Wolf,Berenstain Bears,G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, andMy Little Pony. Much, although not all, of this work was done in conjunction with Rebecca Parr.
ForThundarr the Barbarian, Pasko came up with the name ofOokla the Mok. In 1980, Gerber and Pasko were having dinner in theWestwood area one night during the period Gerber was writing the "bible" for the series. Gerber commented to Pasko that he had not yet decided upon a name for theWookiee-like character the network had insisted be added to the series. As the two walked past the gate to theUCLA campus, Pasko quipped, "Why not call him Oo-clah?".[17] After writing several scripts, singly and in collaboration with Gerber, Pasko became a story editor on the second season.
After leaving the sitcom world at the end of the 1980s, Pasko wrote for such series asBucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars,The Tick,Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (which he redeveloped in order to produce scripts acceptable to the network), andThe Legend of Prince Valiant. As well, in the early 1990s, Pasko accepted a job at Disney Consumer Products' startup comic book division,Disney Comics, developing a line of superhero titles and writing theRoger Rabbit comics series. This activity lasted nine months until, in a corporate reorganization, Disney decided to stop publishing comics altogether. The day before he was let go by Disney, Pasko finalized a deal to join Warner Bros. Animation'sBatman: The Animated Series as a writer/story editor. For his work on this series, Pasko won a 1993Daytime Emmy Award. He is a co-writer of the animated featureBatman: Mask of the Phantasm.
Pasko in the 2000s has worked on nonfiction about various aspects ofpop culture history, as a writer-researcher and consultant, as well as writing children's fiction and videogame dramatics. These projects include writingThe DC Vault, published in 2008;[18] working on the dramatics forFreaky Creatures, Abandon Interactive Entertainment'smassively multiplayer online game; co-writingThe Essential Superman Encyclopedia withRobert Greenberger;[19] writing the children's bookSuperman: Prankster of Prime Time;[20] and acting as researcher, consultant, and supplemental copywriter on75 Years of DC Comics: The Art of Modern Mythmaking.[21] He was a consultant to numerous independent entertainment companies, includingCryptozoic Entertainment, a gaming company, and a freelance comics writer.
Pasko was married for thirty years to Judith Faye (née Silinsky). The couple had one child, Simcha, who is a journalist.[22] They had been separated for ten years at the time of his death.[23]
Pasko died of natural causes on May 10, 2020, at age 65.[4]
• series head writer credits are denoted in bold
A new ongoing Superman series started to mix things up by teaming the Man of Steel with other heroes in the DC Universe. Writer Martin Pasko and artist José Luis García-López launched the inaugural issue.
We passed one of the entrances to the UCLA campus and when I saw the acronym on signage, the phonetic pronunciation leapt to mind.
| Preceded by | Wonder Woman writer 1975–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Gerry Conway | Superman writer 1977–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by n/a | Saga of the Swamp Thing writer 1982–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Blackhawk writer 1989–1990 | Succeeded by |
