Happy Birthday, Gardner Fox!

On May 20, 1911, a boy named Garder Fox was born in Brooklyn. He grew up and became a lawyer. However, in 1935 he began to write pulp stories and comic-books for the publisher that would eventually become DC Comics. He eventually stopped being a lawyer and became a comic-book legend, instead. By the time he retired from writing DC comics in 1968, he had created or had helped create HUNDREDS of DC Universe characters. 

He was one of the first writers whose names I learned, because from 1960 until 1968 HE WAS THE ONLY WRITER of THE JUSTICE LEAGUE. Yes, you read that right. He wrote more than sixty issues over more than eight years. During the Silver Age only Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have beaten this run. 

Gardner Fox donated his personal collection to the University of Oregon several years before his death. They are now stored in the university's Special Collections library. Anyone in that part of the country should check it out. Here's an article about some of the best of the stuff that was on display in 2009.

Gardner Fox passed away on December 24, 1986. He was 75 years old.

Here are a few of my favorite Gardner Fox creations....

STARRO, as well as all JLA bad guys for 8 years!

AMAZO the super android

DR. LIGHT the evil and twisted JLA bad guy

The Silver Age BATGIRL

ZATANNA (also the Silver Age Atom
and Hawkman & Hawkwoman)

Happy Birthday, Gardner Fox! You are not forgotten!!