Moench's first published work wasMy Dog Sandy, a comic strip printed in his elementary school newspaper.[4] Moench had afan letter printed inThe Amazing Spider-Man issue #17 (Oct. 1964) in which he praised the art ofSteve Ditko[5] and others printed inAvengers #51 (April 1968),Captain America #102 (June 1968), andSilver Surfer #14 (March 1970). He began his professional writing career with scripts forEerie #29 andVampirella #7 (bothcover dated September 1970)[6] and articles for theChicago Sun-Times. In 1973, he moved to New York City.
Moench began working forMarvel Comics in 1973, with his first story for the company appearing inChamber of Chills #7 (November 1973).[6] The following year, Moench became thede facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprintCurtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs ofPlanet of the Apes andDoc Savage, while serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. For Marvel's color comic line, Moench wrote theWerewolf by Night title[7] and followedSteve Englehart as writer ofMaster of Kung Fu.[8] Moench scripted the "Deathlok" feature inAstonishing Tales featuring the character co-created byRich Buckler.[9] Moench and artistDon Perlin introducedMoon Knight inWerewolf by Night #32 (August 1975). The character of Moon Knight would then go on to be featured in other Marvel titles, eventually getting his own solo series in 1980.[10] Moench andGeorge Pérez launchedThe Inhumans series in October 1975[11] while "Weirdworld" was created by Moench andMike Ploog inMarvel Super Action #1 (January 1976).[12]
Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artistPaul Gulacy.[17] The pair are probably best known for their work onMaster of Kung Fu,[8] which they worked on together from 1974 to 1977. Comics historianLes Daniels observed that "Ingenious writing by Doug Moench and energetic art by Paul Gulacy broughtMaster of Kung Fu new life."[18] In 2010,Comics Bulletin ranked Moench and Gulacy's work onMaster of Kung-Fu sixth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels".[19] Moench and Gulacy later co-createdSix from Sirius,Slash Maraud, andS.C.I. Spy,[20] and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman,Conan the Barbarian andJames Bond.
In late August 1982, Moench left Marvel due to disagreements with then editor-in-chiefJim Shooter.[21] He was hired by DC, and from 1983 to 1986 he wroteBatman andDetective Comics.[22] He co-created new villains includingNightslayer inDetective Comics #529 (Aug. 1983)[23]Black Mask inBatman #386 (Aug. 1985),[24] and theFilm Freak inBatman #395 (May 1986).[25] He and artistDon Newton produced the story in whichJason Todd replacesDick Grayson asRobin inBatman #368 (February 1984).[26] His first run on the title ended with issue #400, which featured work by several popular comics artists and included an introduction by novelistStephen King.[27][28] In his second run on the title from 1992 to 1998, Moench was one of the writers of the "Knightfall" storyline[29] and wroteBatman #500 in which the characterAzrael replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman.[30] The "KnightsEnd" arc which saw the return of Bruce Wayne to the role of Batman was co-written by Moench as well.[31] Other Batman storylines which Moench contributed to include "Contagion",[32] "Legacy",[33] and "Cataclysm".[34]
More Than Human, inHeavy Metal magazine vol. 2, issues #2 (June 1978), #3 (July 1978), and #4 (August 1978). Adaptation of theTheodore Sturgeon novel of the same name, illustrated byAlex Niño. Trade paperback collection co-published in 1979 by HM Communications andSimon & Schuster asHeavy Metal Presents Theodore Sturgeon's More Than Human
Moench wrote book, movie, and music reviews forFling, and he wrote for several other men's magazines, includingAdam,Cavalier,Knight,Man to Man andSwingle. He wrote several articles forMidwest, theSunday magazine of theChicago Sun-Times. For the never-publishedWLS Generation, he interviewedThe Who,The Monkees, andThe Seeds. Moench wrote an article called "23 on the 23rd" a true story about his own 23rd birthday.
Batman Masters Collection – Set of 120trading cards, with front art by artistsScott Hampton,Carl Critchlow,Duncan Fegredo, andDermot Power. The flip sides of the first 90 cards, when read in order, form a storyline in which Batman fakes his own death. The set provides a look at the posthumous feelings of the residents ofGotham City andArkham Asylum towards the Dark Knight. A special collector's binder was released for the card set. This card set was reprinted as a 208-page coffeetable book entitledBatman Masterpieces. It contains full-page reproductions of the card art opposite the card's text (so one can still follow the story), art concepts (instructions to the artists) and comments by the artist. Additionally, early sketches have been printed for most of the cards.
Batgirl: To Dare the Darkness – A young-reader novel that was released with the marketing blitz for theBatman & Robin movie, set immediately after the events of the film.
The Forensic Files of Batman – A short story collection about how Batman uses clues found at crime scenes to foil the plans of his most famous villains. Each chapter is a different case presented from the notes, journals, and case files of the Batman, Bruce Wayne,Alfred Pennyworth, andJim Gordon.
^Sanderson 2008, p. 154: "The initial creative team on the series was scripter Gerry Conway and artist Mike Ploog, though they would eventually be succeeded by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin."
^abSanderson 2008, p. 161: "Master of Kung-Fu would later reach its creative peak under the team of writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy."
^Sanderson 2008, p. 166: "Created by artist Rich Buckler and writer Doug Moench, the original Deathlok was Colonel Luther Manning, a soldier in an alternate,post-apocalyptic future."
^Sanderson 2008, p. 170: "In August [1975], Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, encountered a new mysterious enemy called Moon Knight, created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin."
^Boney, Alex (July 2013). "Inhuman Nature: Genetics, Social Science, and Superhero Evolution".Back Issue! (65). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing:61–64.
^Sanderson 2008, p. 174: "In the tradition of J. R. R. Tolkien'sThe Lord of the Rings, the prolific writer Doug Moench and artist Mike Ploog created 'Weirdworld'."
^Sanderson 2008, p. 178: "In these stories, written by Doug Moench and drawn by Walter Simonson, the Hulk contended against an invading race of aliens called the Krylorians."
^Sanderson 2008, p. 186: "To appeal to the audience of the popular newIncredible Hulk TV series, Marvel revampedThe Rampaging Hulk magazine, calling itThe Hulk!"
^Sanderson 2008, p. 180: "In August 1977, Marvel produced comics featuring the most famous monster in Japanese cinema, Godzilla, in a series by writer Doug Moench and penciller Herb Trimpe."
^Sanderson 2008, p. 188: "Writer Doug Moench and artist Herb Trimpe createdShogun Warriors, a Marvel comics series based on a line of Japanese toys imported by Mattel."
^Manning 2014, p. 145: "When Gerry Conway parted ways with the Caped Crusader, a new regular writer was needed for both titles. That honor fell to Doug Moench."
^Manning 2014, p. 146: "Doug Moench and artist Gene Colan introduced readers to the Thief of the Night (later called Nightslayer), a shadowy burglar."
^Manning 2014, p. 153: "Writer Doug Moench and artist Tom Mandrake would make an important contribution to the Batman mythos with the villain Black Mask."
^Manning 2014, p. 161: "In this start of a three-part story, writer Doug Moench and artist Tom Mandrake introduced the villain Film Freak."
^Manning 2010, p. 221: "Batman celebrated the 400th issue of his self-titled comic with a blockbuster featuring dozens of famous comic book creators and nearly as many infamous villains. Written by Doug Moench, with an introduction by novelist Stephen King...[it was] drawn by George Pérez, Bill Sienkiewicz, Arthur Adams, Joe Kubert, Brian Bolland, and others."
^Trumbull, John (December 2013). "A New Beginning... And a Probable EndBatman #300 and #400".Back Issue! (69). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing:49–53.
^Manning 2010a, p. 259: "'Knightfall' was a nineteen-part crossover event that passed through the pages ofBatman by writer Doug Moench and artists Norm Breyfogle, Jim Aparo, and Mike Manley."
^Manning 2010a, p. 260: "ByBatman #500, the last chapter of the 'Knightfall' saga by writer Doug Moench and artist Jim Aparo and Mike Manley, Azrael was truly his own [version of] Batman."
^Manning 2010a, p. 272: "In the latest crossover to shake up Batman's universe, a manufactured virus nicknamed 'the Clench' was unleashed on the public of Gotham City... by writers Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Denny O'Neil, and Doug Moench."
^Manning 2010a, p. 283: "The seventeen-part 'Cataclysm' storyline showed a Gotham City devastated by an earthquake. It was written by Alan Grant, Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench, Dennis O'Neil, [and others]."
^Greenberger, Robert (August 2017). "It Sounded Like a Good Idea at the Time: A Look at theDC Challenge!".Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing: 37.
^Powers, Tom (August 2017). "Does Doug Moench Still Dream ofElectric Warrior?".Back Issue! (98). Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing:50–59.
^Manning 2010a, p. 251: "Written by Batman alumnus Doug Moench, and illustrated with the shadowy pencils of Kelley Jones,Red Rain chronicled the clash between Batman and the legendary Dracula."
^Manning 2010a, p. 267: "Fans were also treated to a companion special entitledBatman-Spawn... by writers Doug Moench, Chuck Dixon, and Alan Grant, and artist Klaus Janson."
