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Joseph Samachson (October 13, 1906 – June 2, 1980)[1] was an American scientist and writer, primarily of science fiction andcomic books.
Joseph Samachson was born on October 13, 1906, inTrenton, New Jersey, the son of Russian Jewish parents, Anna (Roshansky) and David Louis Samachson, a businessman.[2][3][4]
Samachson died of complications fromParkinson's disease on June 2, 1980, inChicago, Illinois. He had a son, Michael Samachson, and a daughter, the photographerMiriam Berkley.[citation needed]
A graduate ofRutgers University, he earned a Ph.D. in chemistry fromYale at the age of 23. He was an assistant professor at the College of Medicine, University of Illinois. He also headed a laboratory in metabolic research at the Veterans Administration Hospital inHines, Illinois, a research unit dealing with diseases that affect the skeleton. Comics historianJerry Bails wrote that Samachson worked as aresearch chemist for theAmerican Molasses Company until 1938, leaving to become a "freelance technical writer".[5]
As a writer, Samachson translated several scientific papers.[6] He also wrote science fiction and comics.
He wrote many science fiction works (under the pseudonym William Morrison), including two novels published inStartling Stories,[2] the 1937 pulp titleMurder of a Professor and short stories for several magazines, includingMoney from Heaven (1942).[5] He also penned a couple ofCaptain Futurepulp novels c.1941–1942 (under the house name "Brett Sterling"), and had work appear in thescience fiction magazineGalaxy.[2][5] Gnome Press publishedMel Oliver and Space Rover on Mars in1954. and was also published in a Dutch translation.[2]
He is believed[by whom?] to have begun working forDC Comics in late 1942, working on comics scripts for characters notably includingBatman. He also wrote scripts for comics and characters includingSandman,Green Arrow,Airwave andRobotman, as well as "a string of 17 science-fiction stories in 1955 and 1956".[2][5]
In 1955, he created (with artistJoe Certa) theMartian Manhunter in the pages ofDetective Comics #225. Usually credited as author on the initial strip, some commentators believe that he may have produced the plot, but that writer Jack Miller (who most believe succeeded Samachson in writing the character with the next issue), may have produced the first script.[7]Don Markstein's Toonopedia also suggests that Samachson wrote "many subsequent" appearances of J'Onn J'Onzz rather than just the first.[8] Jerry Bails also lists Samachson as having co-created the historical DC characterTomahawk.[5] In 1943 Samachson also created the characterTwo-Gun Percy, which first appeared under theDC Comics imprint All Funny Comics and was drawn by Bernard Baily.
In 1975, DC Comics adapted an unused story he wrote in the 1940s featuring theSeven Soldiers of Victory into a six-part serial inAdventure Comics #438-443.
Samachson also wrote scripts forCaptain Video and His Video Rangers.[9]
With his wifeDorothy Samachson, he wrote about theater ("Let's Meet the Theatre" and "The Dramatic Story of the Theatre"), music ("Masters of Music" andThe Fabulous World of Opera), ballet, archeology (Good Digging) and a number of other titles, includingRome, aRand McNally "Cities of the World" title.[2]
In addition, Samachson was a frequent contributor to scientific journals and the author ofThe Armor Within Us: The Story of Bone.
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