| Mark Waid | |
|---|---|
 Waid at Big Lick Comic Con inRoanoke, Virginia in 2026 | |
| Born | March 21, 1962 (1962-03-21) (age 63) Hueytown, Alabama, U.S. |
| Area | Writer, Editor |
Notable works | The Flash Captain America Kingdom Come JLA: Year One JLA: Tower of Babel Fantastic Four Superman: Birthright 52 Irredeemable Daredevil Batman/Superman: World's Finest |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (2012)[1] |
Mark Waid (/weɪd/; born March 21, 1962)[2] is an Americancomic book writer best known for his work onDC Comics titlesThe Flash,Kingdom Come andSuperman: Birthright as well as his work onCaptain America,Fantastic Four andDaredevil forMarvel. Other comics publishers he has done work for includeFantagraphics,Event,Top Cow,Dynamite, andArchie Comics.
From August 2007 to December 2010, Waid served as Editor-in-Chief and later Chief Creative Officer ofBoom! Studios, where he also published his creator-owned seriesIrredeemable andIncorruptible.
In October 2018, Waid joinedHumanoids Publishing as Director of Creative Development before being promoted to Publisher in February 2020. Waid left Humanoids to return to freelancing in 2022.
Waid was born inHueytown, Alabama.[3] He stated in a 2000 interview that "the single most influential-to-my-craft story I ever read" wasAdventure Comics #369–370 (1968), the two-part "Legion of Super-Heroes" story byJim Shooter andMort Weisinger that introduced the villainMordru.[4]
Waid entered the comics field during the mid-1980s as an editor and writer onFantagraphics Books' comic book fan magazine,Amazing Heroes.[5] Waid's first comic book story "The Puzzle of the Purloined Fortress", an eight-pageSuperman story, was published inAction Comics #572 (Oct. 1985).[6][7]
In 1987, Waid was hired as an editor forDC Comics[5] where he worked on such titles asAction Comics,Doom Patrol,Infinity, Inc.,Legion of Super-Heroes,Secret Origins, andWonder Woman, as well as various one-shots includingBatman: Gotham by Gaslight.[8] WithGotham by Gaslight, and in tandem with writerBrian Augustyn, Waid co-created DC'sElseworlds imprint.[citation needed]
In 1989 Waid left editorial work for freelance writing assignments.[5][9] He worked for DC's short-livedImpact Comics line where he wroteThe Comet and scripted dialogue forLegend of the Shield.[7]
In 1992 Waid began the assignment which would bring him to wider recognition in the comics industry, when he was hired to writeThe Flash by editor Brian Augustyn. Waid stayed on the title for an eight-year run.[6] He wrote aMetamorpho limited series in 1993[10] and created the character known asImpulse inThe Flash (vol. 2) #92 (July 1994).[11] Impulse was launched into his own series in April 1995 by Waid and artistHumberto Ramos.[12] In November of that same year, Waid andHoward Porter collaborated on theUnderworld Unleashed limited series, which served as the center of a company-widecrossover storyline.[13]
His first major project forMarvel Comics was as one of the writers of the "Age of Apocalypse" crossover.[14] He later co-created theOnslaught character for theX-Men line.[15]
Marvel editorsRalph Macchio andMark Gruenwald hired him as Gruenwald's successor as writer ofCaptain America, during which Waid was paired with artistRon Garney. Waid and Garney garnered critical praise for their run on the title,[16][17][18] remaining on it until the title was relaunched with a different creative team as part of the 1996–1997 "Heroes Reborn" storyline.Rob Liefeld offered Waid the opportunity to scriptCaptain America over plots and artwork by his studio, but Waid declined.[18] That storyline ran a full year, after which Waid and Garney returned to the title for another relaunched series,Captain America volume 3, issues #1–23.[19] Waid also wrote the short-lived spin-off seriesCaptain America: Sentinel of Liberty from 1998 to 1999, having written 10 of the 12 issues (skipping issues #7 and 10).
In 1996, Waid and artistAlex Ross produced thegraphic novelKingdom Come.[16][20] This story, set in the future of theDC Universe, depicted the fate of Superman,Batman,Wonder Woman, and other heroes as the world around them changed. It was written in reaction to the "grim and gritty" comics of the 1980s and 1990s. DC Comics writer and executivePaul Levitz observed that "Waid's deep knowledge of the heroes' pasts served them well, and Ross' unique painted art style made a powerful statement about the reality of the world they built."[21] Many of the ideas introduced inKingdom Come were later integrated into the present-day DC Universe, and Waid himself wrote a follow-up to the series,The Kingdom.[22]
Waid and writerGrant Morrison collaborated on a number of projects that would successfully reestablish DC's Justice League to prominence. Waid's contributions includedJLA: Year One,[23] as well as work on the ongoing series. The two writers developed the concept ofHypertime to explain problems with continuity in the DC Universe, which was first introduced inThe Kingdom.
Waid collaborated with artistsBryan Hitch andPaul Neary onJLA and theJLA: Heaven's Ladder (Oct. 2000) one-shot.[24][25]
In 2000, Waid co-wrote a series namedEmpire withBarry Kitson, whoseprotagonist was aDoctor Doom-likesupervillain named Golgoth who had defeated all superheroes and conquered the world. The series was originally published byGorilla Comics, a company formed by Waid,Kurt Busiek and several others, but the company folded after only two issues were published.[26]Empire was completed under the DC Comics label in 2003 and 2004.[7] Waid wrote the first year ofCrossgen'sRuse series.[16][27]
Waid began an acclaimed run[16][28][29] as writer of Marvel'sFantastic Four in 2002 with his formerFlash artistMike Wieringo, with Marvel releasing their debut issue,Fantastic Four vol. 3 #60 (Oct. 2002) at the promotional price of 9 cents U.S. By June 2003, Marvel publisherBill Jemas tried to convince Waid to abandon his "high-adventure" approach to the series, and making the book into, in Waid's words, "a wacky suburban dramedy where Reed's a nutty professor who creates amazing but impractical inventions, Sue's the office-temp breadwinner, the cranky neighbor is their new 'arch-enemy,' etc." Waid, who felt that this was too much of a departure from what he had been hired to write, initially declined. After some discussion with editorTom Brevoort, Waid found a way to make the requested changes, but by then, the decision had been made to fire Waid and Wieringo from the series.[30] The resulting fan backlash led to Waid and Wieringo's reinstatement on the title by that September.[31][32] Waid and Wieringo completed their run onFantastic Four with issue #524 (May 2005), by which time the previously relaunched series had returned to its original numbering.[7]
In 2003 Waid wrote the origin of the "modern" Superman withSuperman: Birthright, a twelve-part limited series which was meant to be the new official origin story of the Man of Steel.[33]Birthright contained several characters and elements from theSilver andModern Age Superman comic books and homages toSuperman: The Movie and theSmallville television series.
Waid returned to writingLegion of Super-Heroes in December 2004, teaming again with Barry Kitson.[34] He finished his run on the series with issue #30 (July 2007).[7] In 2005, Waid signed a two-year exclusive contract with DC Comics. He co-wrote the52 limited series with Grant Morrison,Geoff Johns,Greg Rucka, andKeith Giffen[35] that lasted for one year and covered the events that take place during the year in the DC Universe followingInfinite Crisis. Another project for DC was a new launch ofThe Brave and the Bold with artistGeorge Pérez,[36] and a brief return toThe Flash.[7]
On July 27, 2007, atSan Diego Comic-Con,Boom! Studios announced that Waid would join Boom! as Editor-in-Chief the following month. As his non-creator assignments at DC lapsed, he stated that all his future creator-owned work will be with Boom!.[37]
Waid was promoted to Chief Creative Officer of BOOM! Studios in August 2010. That December, Waid announced he would be leaving that role, and return to freelance work, though he would continue writing for the publisher.[38][39]
In the late 2000s Waid worked on theSpider-Man creative team, writing several issues ofThe Amazing Spider-Man, including a meeting between Spider-Man andStephen Colbert inThe Amazing Spider-Man #573 (Dec. 2008).[40]
Waid scripted the opening of "The Gauntlet" storyline in issue #612 (Jan. 2010).[41] Waid wrote theDoctor Strange mini-seriesStrange,[42][43][44] and several series for Boom! Studios, notablyIrredeemable with artistPeter Krause and its spinoffIncorruptible. In July 2011 Marvel relaunched a monthlyDaredevil series with Waid on writing duties.[45] Waid and artistPaolo Rivera garnered positive reviews for their work on the title,[46][47] and earned multiple 2012Eisner Awards, including Best Continuing Series and Best Single Issue for issue #7. In addition, Waid won Best Writer for his work onDaredevil, as well as his work onIrredeemable, andIncorruptible.[48] Waid received a "Best Writer"Harvey Award as well for hisDaredevil work.[49] In November 2012, Waid and artistLeinil Francis Yu launchedThe Indestructible Hulk series for Marvel.[50]
In 2011, Waid established a freedigital comics websiteThrillbent, launching the site with the titleInsufferable.[51] An essay posted on October 2, 2013, by Waid, titled "An Open Letter To Young Freelancers",[52] generated attention within the comics industry[53][54] withThe Hollywood Reporter describing it as "an important commentary on business practices that are in a state of flux at publishers both large and small."[55]In 2014, Waid launched new series forDaredevil andThe Hulk with artistsChris Samnee[56] andMark Bagley[57] respectively. In December 2014, Waid'sS.H.I.E.L.D. title began and it introduced several characters from the television seriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. into the Marvel comics universe.[58] He later wroteAll-New, All-Different Avengers,Black Widow, andThe Avengers.
Waid and artistJ. G. Jones producedStrange Fruit for Boom! Studios in July 2015.[59]
In 2016, Waid and artist Humberto Ramos co-createdThe Champions for Marvel. The following year, Waid returned to theCaptain America series beginning with issue #695 working with artistChris Samnee. A newDoctor Strange series was launched by Waid and Jesus Saiz in 2018.[60] Waid also launched with artist Javier Garrón aAnt-Man andthe Wasp miniseries to tie into the release of the 2019film of the same name.
At the 2018New York Comic Con,Humanoids Publishing announced it was creating an imprint called H1 whose contributing creators included Waid.[61]
On April 9, 2019, Marvel announced that Waid would write a five-issue miniseries featuring theInvisible Woman, her first solo series since her debut in 1961.[62]
In December 2021, it was announced that Waid would be writing a new ongoing for DC entitledBatman/Superman: World's Finest, with Dan Mora serving as artist and beginning publication in March 2022. The events ofWorld's Finest would later set up the events ofBatman vs Robin and "Lazarus Planet", also written by Waid.[63][64][65]
In April 2022, Waid was reported among the more than three dozen comics creators who contributed toOperation USA's benefit anthology book,Comics for Ukraine: Sunflower Seeds, a project spearheaded byIDW Publishing Special Projects EditorScott Dunbier, whose profits would be donated to relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees resulting from the February2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[66][67] Waid teamed up with artistGabriel Rodriguez (artist) to produce an original story with new characters created specifically for the anthology.[67][68]
In November 2022, it was announced that Waid and Mora would be working on a new ongoingShazam! series, beginning publication in May 2023. Mora departed from interior work with issue 6, while Waid left writing duties with issue 9.[69]
In April 2023, it was announced that Waid would be writing two new projects for DC set to launch in July 2023. The first is a three-issueDC Black Label miniseries entitledSuperman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor, illustrated byBryan Hitch. It is a spiritual successor toBirthright.[70] The second is a six-issue miniseries entitledWorld's Finest:Teen Titans, illustrated by Emanuela Lupacchino.[71]
In February 2024, it was announced that Waid would be writingAbsolute Power, a 4-issue event miniseries that would conclude theDawn of DC publishing initiative and lead directly into the DC All-In initiative. The series reunites Waid with artist Dan Mora and followsAmanda Waller, having teamed up withFailsafe and theBrainiac Queen, as she seek to put an end to the metahuman population of the DC Universe, once and for all.[72]
In July 2024, it was announced Waid would be reuniting with Chris Samnee forBatman and Robin: Year One, a 12-issue series set to begin publication in October 2024.[73]
In September 2018 writer Richard Meyer, the creator of theYouTube channel Diversity & Comics, filed a civil lawsuit in Texas against Waid, claiming defamation andtortious interference on Waid's part. Meyer accused Waid of convincingAntarctic Press not to publish Meyer's graphic novelJawbreakers. Waid launched aGoFundMe campaign to raise money to fight the suit, and denied having anything to do with Antarctic Press' decision, a statement verified in deposition by the publisher of Antarctic Press.[74][75] Waid's fellow comics creatorsNeil Gaiman,Kurt Busiek,Dan Slott andYanick Paquette contributed to his campaign, while artistEthan Van Sciver began a similar campaign for Meyer which quickly surpassed Waid's in funding.[76][unreliable source?] Waid filed for the case to be dismissed.[77] In December 2020, Meyer voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit and reached a confidential agreement.[78]
As of 2019, Waid lives inLos Angeles.[74] He previously lived in Los Angeles from 2002-2014 before moving toIndiana to open a comic book shop; after the shop closed, he moved back to Los Angeles in 2019.[79]
Written by Mark Waid, with co-plotting and art chores handled by Graham Nolan, everyone's favorite walking chemistry set was in good hands.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The story began in [the]X-Men Alpha special by writers Scott Lobdell and Mark Waid and pencillers Roger Cruz and Steve Epting.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)The issue [#573] also saw TV star Stephen Colbert team up with Spider-Man in a back-up story written by Mark Waid and drawn by Patrick Olliffe.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Yesterday, Mark Waid wrote a clarion call for comic book creators, warning of the dangers of being too submissive in the face of editorial dictat. It had quite the reaction.
Mark Waid, from a lengthy 'Open Letter to Young Freelancers' that's a must-read not only for comics creators — of any age, and at any stage in their careers — but also for freelancers in other fields, to say nothing of editors, publishers and consumers.
Marvel announced that Waid and artist Chris Samnee will be returning to helm the fourth volume ofDaredevil.
| Preceded by | The Flash writer 1992–1997 (withBrian Augustyn in 1996–1997) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | L.E.G.I.O.N. '93 writer 1993 (with Barry Kitson) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Valor writer 1993–1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Justice League Task Force writer 1994–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Legion of Super-Heroes writer 1994–1995 (with Tom McCraw) | Succeeded by Tom Peyer Tom McCraw |
| Preceded by | Deadpool writer 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by n/a | Impulse writer 1995–1997 | Succeeded by William Messner-Loebs |
| Preceded by | Captain America writer 1995–1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Fabian Nicieza | X-Men writer 1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ka-Zar writer 1997–1998 | Succeeded by Christopher Priest |
| Preceded by | Captain America writer 1998–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Grant Morrison Mark Millar | The Flash writer 1998–2000 (with Brian Augustyn) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Grant Morrison | JLA writer 2000–2002 | Succeeded by Joe Kelly |
| Preceded by | Fantastic Four writer 2002–2005 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Legion of Super-Heroes writer 2005–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Brave and the Bold writer 2007–2008 | Succeeded by J. Michael Straczynski |
| Preceded by | The Flash writer 2007–2008 | Succeeded by Tom Peyer |
| Preceded by | Daredevil writer 2011–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Hulk writer 2012–2014 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Avengers writer 2015–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Black Widow writer 2016–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Champions writer 2016–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Captain America writer 2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Doctor Strange writer 2018–2020 | Succeeded by |
| The Flash Family |
| ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting characters | |||||||||||
| Enemies |
| ||||||||||
| Publications |
| ||||||||||
| Storylines |
| ||||||||||
| Locations |
| ||||||||||
| In other media |
| ||||||||||
