| Leo Dorfman | |
|---|---|
 Dorfman being interviewed on the game showTwo for the Money | |
| Born | (1914-02-17)February 17, 1914 New York City. U.S. |
| Died | July 9, 1974(1974-07-09) (aged 60) |
| Area | Writer |
| Pseudonym(s) | Geoff Brown, David George |
Notable works | Action Comics Superboy Superman Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen |
| Awards | Bill Finger Award 2020 (posthumously) |
Leo Dorfman (February 17, 1914[1] – July 9, 1974)[2] (also credited asGeoff Brown[3] andDavid George[4]) was an American writer ofcomic books throughout theSilver Age. Although the majority of his work was forDC Comics, he also wrote forDell Comics andGold Key Comics.
Dorfman grew up on New York City'sLower East Side in the southeastern part ofManhattan.[5]
Leo Dorfman began working forNational Periodical Publications, the predecessor toDC Comics, in the 1950s. Comics historianMark Evanier has estimated that Dorfman may have been "the most prolific scripter" forSuperman during the 1960s.[6]
Dorfman's work included the creation of the Superman supporting characterPete Ross in 1961[7] as well as writing the "Superman Red/Superman Blue" story inSuperman #162 (July 1963), which inspired a year-long plot arc in 1998.[8] As the writer ofSuperman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane, he and artistKurt Schaffenberger craftedCatwoman's first appearance in theSilver Age of Comic Books in issue #70 (Nov. 1966)[9] and updated Lois Lane's fashions to a then-more contemporary look in #80 (Jan. 1968).[10] Dorfman also modernized Jimmy Olsen, making him a more independent figure who solved crimes as "Mr. Action", with less help from Superman.[11] Dorfman wroteWorld's Finest Comics #175 (May 1968) which featuredNeal Adams' first Batman story.[12] In 1971, Dorfman created theGhostsanthology series for DC.[13]
He produced stories forGold Key Comics' supernaturally-themedThe Twilight Zone,Ripley's Believe It or Not!,Boris Karloff Mystery andGrimm's Ghost Stories. One of Gold Key's editors at the time told Mark Evanier "Leo writes stories and then he decides whether he's going to sell them to DC [forGhosts] or to us. He tells us that if they come out good, they go to us and if they don't, they go to DC. I assume he tells DC the opposite."[6]
Leo Dorfman died unexpectedly on July 9, 1974, at the age of 60 while still writing forGhosts. Editor and longtime friendMurray Boltinoff replaced Dorfman withCarl Wessler as the series' primary writer.[4] Dorfman's final comics stories were published posthumously inThe Superman Family #170 (April–May 1975),The Unexpected #170 (November–December 1975), andDC Special Series #7 (1977).[14]
Dorfman was posthumously awarded theBill Finger Award in 2020[15] along with fellow honoreesVirginia Hubbell,Nicola Cuti,Gaylord DuBois,Joe Gill, andFrance Herron.
In this wacky story, written by Leo Dorfman and drawn by Kurt Schaffenberger, Catwoman kidnapped Lois Lane as she was investigating the Penguin's escape from prison.
Scripter Leo Dorfman and artist Kurt Schaffenberger presented her dilemma in the story 'Get Out of My Life, Superman!'...She started trading in her generic blouse-and-pencil skirt combinations for a "mod" wardrobe filled with printed dresses, go-go boots, mini-skirts, and hot pants.
| Preceded by | Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen writer 1961–1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by n/a | Ghosts writer 1971–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen writer 1972–1974 | Succeeded by n/a |
| Preceded by n/a | "Jimmy Olsen" feature inThe Superman Family writer 1974–1975 | Succeeded by |
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