| Tom DeFalco | |
|---|---|
 DeFalco at the 2010New York Comic Con | |
| Born | (1950-06-26)June 26, 1950 (age 74) Queens,New York City, U.S. |
| Area(s) | Writer, Editor |
Notable works | The Amazing Spider-Man Fantastic Four Machine Man Spider-Girl Thor Thunderstrike New Warriors |
| Awards | Inkpot Award (1990)[1] |
Tom DeFalco (born June 26, 1950) is an Americancomic book writer andeditor well known for his association withMarvel Comics, with long runs onAmazing Spider-Man,Thor, andFantastic Four.
While in college, DeFalco "wrote for a few local newspapers, a weekly comic strip and did a few short stories", and after graduation "got in touch with the various comic book companies", which led to him beginning his comics career as an editorial assistant withArchie Comics in mid-1972.[2] During his tenure with Archie Comics, he "initiated and developed theArchie Comics Digest Series, which is still being produced today and remains the company's most profitable publishing series". Learning fast, DeFalco was soon writing for the flagship titleArchie as well as for other titles includingScooby-Doo andJosie and the Pussycats.[3]
DeFalco briefly wrote for DC Comics in the late 1970s.[4] He scripted severalJimmy Olsen andLois Lane stories for theSuperman Family title; the final issue ofStarfire (Oct.–Nov. 1977); and aCain story inHouse of Mystery #258 (May–June 1978). DeFalco then moved to Marvel, where he would spend the next twenty years of his career. There he wrote two issues ofThe Avengers and the final five issues ofMachine Man plus a Machine Man issue ofMarvel Team-Up, before launchingDazzler in March 1981. DeFalco wroteMarvel Two-In-One stories featuring team ups with the Thing from 1981-1982. DeFalco later wrote aMachine Manlimited series in 1984, with art byHerb Trimpe andBarry Windsor-Smith.[5]
DeFalco was the chief designer and author forDazzler,[6][7] and later became one of the writers for theSpider-Man comic book series while at the same time rising through the editorial ranks. While writingDazzler, he wrote a couple of issues ofMarvel Team-Up, before taking over fromDennis O'Neil as editor of that title, as well as assuming editorial duties onGhost Rider,What If...? and the Spider-Man titles,[8] which he edited throughout the early 1980s.[9]
DeFalco worked closely with toy manufacturerHasbro in the early 1980s, heading the creative team that "produced the backstory and dossiers that served as the basis for therelaunch of the phenomenally successful G.I. Joe toy line andanimated television show", in 1985. As part of this relaunch, Marvel produced a comic titledG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero in June 1982. DeFalco personally edited the first six issues (handing over to Denny O'Neil in January 1983), as well as assorted issues of theG.I. Joe series' throughout the 1980s. The coreG.I. Joe: A Real American Hero series would run for 155 issues over the next 12 years.[3][10]
DeFalco was "part of the creative team that introduced theTransformers to the American public" in 1984.[3]
In August 1983, DeFalco wrote the first four issues of the third series ofRed Sonja and after shedding his Spider-Man editorial duties toDanny Fingeroth, he took over fromRoger Stern as writer ofThe Amazing Spider-Man. The two collaborated on April–May's #251–252 (theSecret Wars crossover issues), before DeFalco took over fully with #253, for a two-year run, chiefly in collaboration with artistRon Frenz. Concurrent with editingJim Shooter'sSecret Wars, DeFalco introduced Spider-Man's "black costume" in the pages ofAmazing.[11] DeFalco co-created theRose,[12]Black Fox, andSilver Sable[13] during his tenure on the series.
DeFalco and Frenz were both removed fromThe Amazing Spider-Man by then Spider-editorJim Owsley, who stated that they had chronically failed to meet deadlines. DeFalco and Frenz both state they met their deadlines more diligently than any other Marvel creative team at the time, and that Owsley caused them to miss deadlines by repeatedly changing his production schedules.[14] Issue #285 (Feb 1987) was their final issue, after which Owsley assumed writing duties. While writingAmazing, DeFalco continued editing various comics.
After co-writing two issues ofFantastic Four (#301–302; April–May 1987), DeFalco took over writing duties onThor with #383 in September. DeFalco became Marvel's tenth editor-in-chief on April 15, 1987.[15] This change was effective in comics cover-dated November 1987. He served from 1987 to 1994, making him one of the longest serving individuals to hold that post. The only Editors-in-Chief with longer service than him wereStan Lee (1941–1942, 1944–1972), Shooter (1978–1987), andJoe Quesada (2000–2011).
Early in DeFalco's run as editor-in-chief, executive editorMark Gruenwald remarked, "Tom does not seem to have as strong a personal vision for Marvel [as Shooter], and as a result he's more open to other people's visions. It remains to be seen if that's good or bad."[16] In an interview withThe Comic Book Gazette, DeFalco described his experiences as editor-in-chief as being "A lot like those oldBullpen Bulletins comic strips, but with significantly more yelling!"[17]
He was a key member of the management team that took Marvelpublic, and under his leadership, Marvel's net profits from publishing rose by over 500%. Under DeFalco's guidance, Marvel entered a phase of expansion that provided an opportunity for "new talent" to enter the comic book industry, and released a number of new titles with original characters.[3] After clashing with the company's upper management, DeFalco resigned in 1994.[18]
During his tenure as editor-in-chief, DeFalco had continued to write as well, with noted runs onThor where he created theNew Warriors with artistRon Frenz[19] and thespin-offThunderstrike, as well asFantastic Four with artistPaul Ryan, and comics for Marvel children's imprintStar Comics.[20]
Defalco was one of the writers on the "Maximum Carnage"[21] storyline in 1993. His resignation as editor-in-chief coincided with a run onThe Spectacular Spider-Man (#215–229 Aug. 1994 – Oct. 1995), after which he returned toThe Amazing Spider-Man in January 1996 for issues #407–439. During this time he helped co-write the "Clone Saga" which revealed (temporarily, at least) thatPeter Parker was aclone of the original that had been active since 1975. Peter would be replaced by the original Spider-Man under the alias "Ben Reilly". Following several changes of creators and fan reaction, this was soon reversed.[22]
DeFalco createdSpider-Girl, who first appeared in an issue ofWhat If?[23] which led to him writing the MC2 line launched in 1998 including theSpider-Girl ongoing series[24][25] which ran for 100 issues. Spider-Girl went on to star inAmazing Spider-Girl (30 issues) and the most recent volume,The Spectacular Spider-Girl, making her Marvel's longest-running female star of a solo series. The character also made appearances inAmazing Spider-Man Family #5–8 andWeb of Spider-Man vol. 2 #1–7.
In early 2009, as the Spider-Girl series was drawing to a close, DeFalco said it might be some of his last work for Marvel as he was in danger of beingtypecast because of his long run with the characters.[26]
The bad news about working on the same thing for that many years is that editors start to believe that it is the only thing you can do. So the only way I can get non-Spider-related work is to work for other companies.[24]
TheSpider-Girl series was cancelled in 2010.[27]
In 2009, DeFalco revisited the "Clone Saga" with the six-part mini seriesSpider-Man: The Clone Saga, based on the original outline of this controversial storyline. As guest writer he contributed two issues toSensational Spider-Man vol. 2 in 2012, as well as stories forSpider-Ham 25th Anniversary Special #1 (2010),Spider-Verse Team-Up #3 (2015) and the one-shotSensational Spider-Man: Self-Improvement in 2019.
DeFalco is the author of over a dozengraphic novels, several hundred comic book stories, several dozen cyber-comics, three novels and six children's books, including the best-sellingDorling Kindersley guides to Marvel comics characters. These include:Spider-Man: The Ultimate Guide,Avengers: The Ultimate Guide,Fantastic Four: The Ultimate Guide andHulk: The Incredible Guide. ForTitan Books he has compiled three volumes in their "Comic Creators On..." series of essays and thoughts on Marvel characters (Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, between 2004 and 2006).
DeFalco has personally created and developed over three dozen characters that have all been licensed for television, toys, T-shirts, posters,trading cards and other merchandise, and has writtenKhan andThe Phantom forMoonstone Books.[24][28]
In April 2010, Archie Comics announced DeFalco would be returning to his roots, to write a four-part storyline, "The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.", beginning withArchie Comics issue #610.[29]
DeFalco would return to DC Comics in August 2011 with the plot for a Supermanone-shot,Superman Beyond,[30] and in 2012 as guest writer onNightwing and helping on theRavagers for DC'sThe New 52 line.[31] DeFalco began scripting theSuperboy series overScott Lobdell's plots with issue #6 (April 2012) and became the full writer with issue #12 (October 2012).[32] HisSuperboy run ended with #18, which was co-scripted by Tony Lee. He also wroteLegion Lost #0 and 6–18 and the final four issues (#17–20) ofSavage Hawkman.[33]
In December 2016, Archie Comics launched a new ongoingReggie & Me series by DeFalco and artist Sandy Jarrell.[34] In 2021, Apex Comics Group launched a successful crowdfunding campaign forThe R.I.G.H.T. Project, a new comic book written by DeFalco with pencils by Ron Frenz and inks by Sal Buscema.[35] For Marvel Comics, DeFalco wrote the limited seriesMarvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battle World in 2023, drawn by Pat Oliffe, a sequel to Marvel'sSecret Wars from the 1980s.
Writer Tom DeFalco, who was hired to develop the character, decided that Dazzler would be a mutant with the ability to convert sound waves into a beam of concussive force.
{{cite book}}:|first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)I've scripted a number of issues. I was originally brought in because Scott Lobdell was juggling so many different assignments that he needed a little assistance in order to catch up.
Written by industry legend Tom DeFalco, with art by Sandy Jarrell,Reggie and Me launches this December and promises to give readers an inside look at the most 'loved, revered, admired and adored' teen in Riverdale.
| Preceded by | Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief 1987–1994 | Succeeded by Group Editors-in-Chief: Bob Budiansky,Spider-Man titles; |
| Preceded by Jim Shooter | The Avengers writer 1979 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by n/a | Dazzler writer 1981 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Amazing Spider-Man writer 1984–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Thor writer 1987–1993 (withRon Frenz credited as co-writer from 1989–1993) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Walt Simonson | Fantastic Four writer 1991–1996 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Spectacular Spider-Man writer 1994–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | The Amazing Spider-Man writer 1996–1998 | Succeeded by |
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